The Boy on the Bridge (The Girl With All the Gifts #2) by M.R. Carey #SpooktasticReads
31 October 2018
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: #Spooktasticreads, MR Carey, The Boy on the Bridge, Wyrd and Wonder
mage credit: Photo by Mark Tegethoff on Unsplash
The Boy on the Bridge is my final review for Wyrd and Wonder’s SpooktasticReads event. I’ve loved the inspiration that this event has given me to read all sorts of creepy, spooky or chilling reads and The Boy on the Bridge fits in perfectly because whilst this isn’t a scary read as such it is about a post apocalyptic world, overrun with Hungries (think zombies) and the potential extinction of the human race.
I genuinely don’t know how to start this review so I’m going to go with my overall feeling upon finishing. Wow. The end of this book was nothing short of amazing, I kid you not, it gave me goosebumps and set my mind racing. I can’t deny that part way through the read I was thinking that this couldn’t possible top or match The Girl With All the Gifts. To an extent having already read book 1, and this being described by some as a companion novel or prequel to that book, you expect to have lost the element of surprise, and that much is true with regard to the plague (for want of a better word), but in spite of that there’s a gripping story as we follow a number of people, scientists and soldiers, as they travel the country, cooped up in an armoured vehicle and just wait for heads to start to butt. Definitely a few great character studies here and some desperate struggles along the way. However, with Book 1 in mind you can’t help trying to put together the pieces of how everything fits together and obviously you’re more than well aware of what the real threat really is – and it isn’t the hungries per se. On reflection I actually think that’s part of the beauty of this book. Misdirection. Whilst you’re reading with the first book in mind, thinking ‘how does this person fit into what comes later’, the author is pulling the rug out from under your feet because the eventual conclusion to this story – and I won’t spoil things so don’t worry – actually jumps forward in time. It’s totally not what I expected and I was most happily surprised.
So, what does this book bring to the table? Well, as mentioned there’s this claustrophobic story as we watch a team of people fall apart slowly but surely. There’s betrayal and conspiracy, chases and death along the way. We have an unexpected event that plays a central role which I won’t discuss and obviously there’s the desperate attempt to find a cure – which actually becomes the catalyst for a couple of other events – which again, I can’t really elaborate upon without spoiling. Oh dear, how to write a review when everything you want to discuss involves spoilers. Look, I’m not going to be that person, the one who spoils the read for others so I’m going to move on to some other thoughts instead.
One of my favourite books, and quite possibly the book that was the inspiration for so many later zombie stories, is I am Legend. The ending of that book is also, for me, jaw dropping and amazing and well, all sorts of other things that I can’t even put into words. Now, clearly this is just my interpretation but The Boy on the Bridge is an odyssey to survival that gives a little nod in the direction of I am Legend . Again, it’s really difficult to say what I want to say without spoilers but I just loved the way this concludes and without doubt it changed a 4 star read into a 5 star read for me. I love endings that make me think and I now find myself in a whirlwind of emotions and thoughts as I try to backtrack through both books in an attempt to place all my thoughts in order because basically, the ending to this changes everything else. That is all. Is that a big enough teaser to make you pick it up – I hope so.
Anyway, I have no doubt that this is quite possibly the most annoying review I’ve ever written, not to mention frustrating and even medal award winning in being the only review ever to use about 800 words saying very little at all. With the benefit of hindsight you could have stopped reading after that ‘wow’ in the second paragraph.
The TL:DR version is this: read The Girl With All the Gifts, take a moment and then, read The Boy on the Bridge. It’s that easy. I’ll even throw in a pretty please for good measure.
For information, both books are standalone novels but personally I would suggest it’s necessary to read both, and in the order of release, in order to gain the best from both.
Where I got a copy: bought (this was the audio version and it was very well done).
House of Glass by Susan Fletcher #SpooktasticReads
30 October 2018
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: #Spooktasticreads, House of Glass, Susan Fletcher, Wyrd and Wonder
mage credit: Photo by Mark Tegethoff on Unsplash
Today I’m reviewing another book for Wyrd and Wonder’s Spooktastic Reads event. This is another gothic tale of haunting that I highly recommend.
I am on a winning streak with my gothic reads these past few weeks and here is yet another little beauty to add to your wishlists. I know, I know, I’m sorry, you have too many books already but you and I both know you don’t want to miss a good book – after all that’s how your TBR grew into such a monster in the first place and, whilst I hate to add to your ever growing stacks, trust me, this book is worth it. Don’t miss out. Described as being reminiscent of duMaurier I would suggest this also gave me Jane Eyre vibes and yet at the same time it absolutely stands on it’s own two feet. Beautifully written and powerfully evocative it contains all the elements that woven together make an engrossing gothic story.
The thing I love about this book is the voice. Clara is a wonderful narrator and I was quite hooked to the page as she recounted her early years. Clara was born with a condition that makes her skeleton incredibly vulnerable, apologies but I didn’t make a note of the name but it seems to be akin to ‘glass bones’. A simple fall can result in serious damage and Clara spends her youth spent largely recuperating, mainly in the company of her mother and in a house that is all but wrapped in cotton wool to prevent, as far as possible, further injuries. As she grows older her condition stabilises a little but of course by that time, and with so many broken bones already in her past Clara finds it difficult to walk without the aid of a stick. On top of this her appearance is almost ethereal. With a diminutive frame, strangely entrancing eyes and white blond hair she certainly catches attention although quite often of the negative variety. And, finally, with a lack of social encounters in her past she has a certain way of interacting with others that is brutally frank and often borders on abrupt. Here we have a female character, set in a period where societal restrictions would prevent her having any freedom, enjoying a lifestyle that is totally unexpected. She is a wonderful creation, I loved her and I absolutely applaud the author for taking a character, born with such difficulties to surmount and instead of letting this restrict the story using it instead to create a strong and no-nonsense woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind or talk frankly. I want more of this.
The story moves forward to approximately 1914. Unfortunately Clara’s mother and only friend has passed away and Clara needs a purpose. She takes to visiting Kew Gardens, fascinated by the plants and keen to learn. She develops an almost teacher/student relationship with one of the head gardeners and from there stems an invitation to a country manor where the new owner, having recently built a grand greenhouse, requires someone with the expertise to fill it with exotic plants. Shadowbrook House is appropriately named. The villagers whisper about it, the housekeeper and maids are convinced it’s haunted and there are certainly plenty of strange noises of an evening. Noises that whisper of footsteps treading along creaking floorboards, or perhaps just noises of an old house settling in to sleep at night.
I don’t think I need to really elaborate too much on the plot, this is a house with a history, it could be haunted or maybe it’s simply a house that is haunted by it’s past, people unable or unwilling to forget the ‘goings on’ that took place within its walls. It has a forbidden attic, a reclusive owner and plenty of dark secrets just waiting to be unveiled. I certainly didn’t foresee the final outcome but I confess I never try overly hard to second guess the endings to books – I prefer to let them reveal themselves as intended so it’s possible that others might not find the reveals as surprising as I did. Undoubtedly this ticks a lot of the trope boxes that you would expect from a gothic read and I can almost picture you rolling your eyes thinking the ‘same old, same old’ but, apart from the fact that these tropes are so enjoyable anyway, what makes this book refreshingly different is the main protagonist who is such an original character. Clara is an intelligent and practical woman. She has a scientific mind and so as such refuses to believe in ghosts and things that go bump in the night. Instead she looks for rational explanation where others simply give in to superstition and she isn’t afraid to go and investigate. Obviously, her nature is tempered by her easily broken bones. Clara can’t go flinging herself around or dashing about the countryside, she has to take certain precautions but she doesn’t let her condition dictate who she is or use it as an excuse not to get on with life.
Added to a great protagonist and an eerie tale is of course the writing. Susan Fletcher is a wonderful writer. She has an almost magical way with words that simply transports you into whatever vision she is currently creating. I’ve read a couple of her books before and it’s always the same for me – I rush through the book, devouring the words like a raging maniac and then finish the story feeling almost teary eyed and bereft. There’s almost a poetic beauty to her words and yet at the same time a simplicity that just brings forth memories. For this particular book it’s the garden, the scent of the flowers and the herbs, the beautiful colours and the feeling of nature doing what it does best. Please, don’t take my word for it – go and pick up a copy and see what you think.
In terms of criticisms. I have nothing. I think the only proviso I would make is that whilst this is a ghostly tale I don’t think it’s a tale of terror – which I think is mainly down to Clara’s unwillingness to give in to flights of fancy. But, I don’t really think of that as a criticism, just something to note.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
October : My Month in Covers
Hi everyone, hope you’ve all had a lovely October. I’ve had a good month – but then I love this time of the year with the early dark nights – it makes me want to sit down just that little bit earlier in the evening and pick up a spooky and atmospheric read. And I’ve had quite a few reads this month. I’ve read 12 books and there have been some excellent ones to share. My month in review will follow tomorrow with links to the reviews. For now, feast your eyes on my last month of covers. I’m also including my #SPFBO book covers.
My SPFBO books:
Hope you’ve read some good books this month..
Chasing Graves (The Chasing Graves Trilogy Book #1) by Ben Galley
29 October 2018
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Ben Galley, Chasing Graves, The Chasing Graves Trilogy Book #1
Image credit: Photo by Mark Tegethoff on Unsplash
Today I’m reviewing Ben Galley’s most recent book Chasing Graves which, with it’s dark subject matter is definitely a good read for not only this time of year but also for Wyrd and Wonder’s Spooktastic reads event.
It’s unusual to pick up a book where the main protagonist is murdered from virtually the start but that’s the case here. Caltro Basalt is a locksmith on a mission. He’s heading to Araxes with a special invitation to the Cloudpiercer from which he has high expectations. Unfortunately, as soon as he steps off the boat he find himself hounded down by a gang with murder on their mind. Araxes may be the jewel in the Arctian Empire’s crown but it’s also known as the City of Countless Souls with very good reason. Murdering and the resultant souls for sale is big business. Called Shades these unfortunates are basically slaves, cheap labour that can provide an eternity of servitude , a business that came into being with the death of the Gods and a little manipulation of old customs and rites of passage.
In terms of the plot I’m going to give you a snippet of the blurb because it says everything quite succinctly:
‘While Caltro struggles to survive, those around him strive for the emperor’s throne in Araxes’ cutthroat game of power. The dead gods whisper from corpses, a soulstealer seeks to make a name for himself with the help of an ancient cult, a princess plots to purge the emperor from his armoured Sanctuary, and a murderer drags a body across the desert, intent on reaching Araxes no matter the cost.’
I have to say that the world and character building is very well done and and although I had a couple of issues this was without doubt a well written and incredibly unique book.
Told from varying POVs we primarily focus on Caltro who finds himself gone from an esteemed locksmith with prospects to an indentured ghost slave with no rights or belongings. It is possible to become a free Shade and really if that happens I guess it’s almost akin to attaining immortality. On top of Caltro’s less than desirable position he also finds himself the receptacle of attention from the Gods – one of them even speaking to him through a reanimated dead cat no less. The whole place is one huge boiling pot of back stabbing, double crossing, dirty dealing, two faced, political maneuvering low lifes. Including the nobles and the royals.
Alongside this we have Nilith. Nilith is a very resourceful woman indeed and I particularly enjoyed her passages even though her current scheme is dubious. Basically, and this isn’t a spoiler, she’s transporting her ex-husband’s dead body across The Long Sands (and never was an area more aptly named) to Araxes where she aims to bind his soul and take possession of all his worldly goods. Her ex-husband’s shade is joining her for the trip across the desert and is being somewhat belligerent and unhelpful as you might imagine. This aspect of the story is for the majority of the book wrapped in mystery but in spite of that I found it the most enjoyable thread and one that I was always more than happy to return to.
Alongside the above two we have a gang boss named Temsa who has very high ambitions. He’s a ruthless, manipulative thug of a man who makes his way in life by murdering people and selling shades. He’s got a much bigger scheme in mind though and his eye is fixed on the end goal which sees him making strange alliances.
Finally, Sisine, A young princess who in spite of her youth is as manipulative as the other key players. She also aims for greatness and with a life lived at court experiencing danger and scheming on a regular basis she’s quite well grounded in the art of cunning herself.
I think this is probably one of the most unique concepts I’ve read for a while and like many of the characters the author has been very ambitious here. There’s a lot to fit into this story and I think the author makes a good job of giving his world a firm foundation to build the rest of the series on. Of course, with such an ambitious story I did think the pacing of the first half of the book was a little slow and in fact on completion I would say this book definitely feels like a set up book. Now, I realise that sounds a little bit negative but I don’t think it matters too much for this first in series. There’s such a lot of new ideas that I think the author has taken the most sensible route by giving his creation room to grow in the minds of readers. It would be easy to rush into a frantically paced plot but I think that way would have led to confusion for the most part.
In terms of criticisms. Well, it did take me quite a while to become invested in the story. I can’t say that Caltro has worked his magic on me at the moment but I’m still open to persuasion. I think that this is a very cold and brutal world. Nobody bats an eye at the taking of life and I have to be honest it felt almost a little too grim. Araxes is so lawless that I struggled a little bit coming to terms with it. In a place where the strongest wins it feels like the place is just one step away from falling into a murderous spiral of killing and mayhem until the last man or woman remains standing. I guess it felt a little bit too cut throat in a way and I would have liked a small glimmer of hope. That all being said Nilith’s storyline was very entertaining and although filled with danger and tension the revelations along the way were surprisingly unexpected.
All in all, and little niggles aside, I think this is a very promising start to series – it does have something of a cliffhanger ending so bear that in mind when you pick it up and hopefully there won’t be too long a wait to see how these stories pan out.
My thanks to the author for a review copy. The above is my own opinion.
The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell #Spooktasticread
28 October 2018
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: #Spooktasticreads, Laura Purcell, The Silent Companions, Wyrd and Wonder
Image credit: Photo by Mark Tegethoff on Unsplash
Not many more days left now with the Wyrd and Wonder #Spooktasticreads event – and I have so much to cram in. Reviews, reviews, reviews. I’ll give it a shot. Today, The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell.
Oh my. This book is just about perfect, for me. Well, no, it’s probably perfect for anybody who wants to read beautiful writing, a gothic story, split timelines and just some major spooky goings on. I loved this book. I don’t know if it could be any better to be honest. I didn’t have a single quibble, not one. Commence the gushing.
Okay, I’m late to the Purcell Party so I’m sure that not too much plot outline is needed here, everybody has probably already read this book and waxed lyrical but for those like me, who live under a rock, allow me to gush emphatically for a few hundred words in a bid to tempt you to pick this one up. If you don’t want to give up more of your precious time reading the rest of this, okay, I relate, the TL:DR version is read the book. Simples.
So, the good, the better and the best. Here goes.
The plot, which I will only briefly elaborate on. Set in 1865 Elsie Bainbridge is the central focus of the story. Recently married and then widowed she went from the dizzy euphoria of being raised from the stigma of being a spinster to being married and then with crashing finality became the focus of malicious gossip almost overnight when her husband died suddenly leaving her the soul heir of his fortune. Yeah, these things don’t fly to well with most people. Elsie and Rupert’s marriage was something of a business deal in the beginning but Elsie definitely cared for her husband and with a baby on the way had expectations of falling in love. With Rupert’s demise Elsie finds herself on a road she hadn’t anticipated. Her younger brother, and co runner of the business they operate, thinks it best if Elsie escapes to the country until the gossip dies down. Unfortunately the country retreat isn’t exactly Pemberley. The estate is run down, the house worn and tired and the nearest village a hotbed of poverty and resentment.
Now, the story begins to unfold in a delicious fashion. Evocative and spooky the Bridge (the country home) is something of an enigma. The locals won’t step near the place, one too many skeletons have been found, not even in closets but on the actual estate, a few too many suspicious deaths, in fact if you look closely at the family and it’s heritage it’s almost like they’re cursed.
Elsie is keen for new beginnings though. She has something of a dark past, her one shining light is her brother, who she tried to protect. Of course, being a heiress comes with a certain amount of baggage. Resentment and pure dislike topping the list. On top of that things are not as they seem at The Bridge. Secrets are the order of the day and in spite of Elsie’s attempts to spruce the place up and help the local residents things slowly start to unravel. Particularly after the Garret, a room that was previously locked, is mysteriously opened.
On top of getting a feel for Elsie’s life we also jump back in time when a couple of journals are found in the Garret. These journals document the life of Anne Bainbridge. Her’s is a fascinating story and an equally intriguing storyline to read. Her husband is ambitious and longs to impress the Court. When the King and Queen announce that they will stay at his country seat for one night during their summer tour it’s like all his dreams have come true. However, the locals fear Alice. They think she’s a witch – common enough during the period (1635) given her love and natural affinity for herb lore but – Annie’s fourth child, a daughter that she desperately longed for and shouldn’t have been able to carry after complications with her third son’s birth, was born mute. Hetta is an unusual child, like her mother, she loves plants and herbs and is something of a deft hand even at a tender age. But there’s something different about her, something a little unsettling. Her father thinks she should remain out of sight during the royal visit and so the start of their troubles commence.
Haha – did I say I wasn’t going to elaborate on the plot. I guess I got carried away with the wish to dish. And, I haven’t even given away the best part yet. I recall being in English class when I was about 12/13 years of age. Our teacher was making a point about something in particular and it’s with stories like these that that point really comes back to mind. Deceptively simple and yet stunningly effective – a lot is given away in the title. Of course I had no idea about that when I picked this up and the cleverness here is that the title could relate to a couple of other characters, Hetta for example who is unable to communicate, or Sarah – Rupert’s cousin and now companion to Elsie – she doesn’t really have much of a say in things being a dependent. Yes, of course the title could easily include those and does so quite beautifully – but the scariness of the story, the absolute genius – is the Silent Companions. And that is all. I’m not going to say anything further – you can discover it for yourself just like I did. You’ll just have to trust me when I say you will be gripped. Boy oh boy could the Victorians come up with some creepy crap – and here I was thinking that taking photographs of people after they died was a bit scary. Noooo. This, this. What on earth was this all about – I mean, okay, I’m not going to tell you what I’m talking about but why oh why would you have these hideous creations about your home. Just why?
And, the icing on the cake – we have yet another time jump. We’re still with Elsie but she’s a little older and she’s being held in an asylum, pending an enquiry into a number of deaths. I know. How freaking good is this book – really, you have to read it if you haven’t already.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, because I was convinced this was going to be a short and pithy review, I loved this. The writing is exquisite the concept is brilliant. I truly didn’t have a clue what to think or expect. I couldn’t put the book down except for absolute essentials, everybody in the family is convinced I’ve run away because I’ve been secreted in a closet for approximately 24 hours reading none stop. Oh hell yes. Purcell is on the list. Give me the next book now. I won’t be waiting quite so long next time.
Where I got a copy – bought.
