Review: The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak
28 December 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, Books, fiction, Jason Rekulak, The Last One at THe Wedding
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Entertaining, well written domestic thriller
The Last One at the Wedding was an easy read, it kept me moving forward at a decent pace and the story was intriguing but I didn’t enjoy it as much as Hidden Pictures and I did have a few small issues that prevented me from loving it. That being said, the writing is good, and as already mentioned, this definitely kept my attention. I will certainly be watching very carefully to see what this author comes up with next.
As the story begins we meet Frank. He’s been estranged from his daughter Maggie for three years now so when he receives a phone call from her – inviting him to her wedding – he’s overjoyed. At this point we’re not sure about much of the history between father and daughter so I won’t relay any of that here as it’s best discovered as the plot unfolds. So, the surprise news is that Maggie has only known her intended, Aidan, for six months. Frank is keen to meet his future son in law and sets off eagerly to join them both for a quiet dinner. Unfortunately, Frank isn’t at first enamoured by Aiden who seems detached and not exactly welcoming. The dinner goes okay but it certainly doesn’t settle Frank’s doubts. Not only is this a very new relationship but as it also happens Aidan’s father is very, very rich. It did kind of give me warning bells why he’d be rushing into this so frantically but I put it to one side for the moment.
As the wedding weekend draws closer, Frank receives a picture of a missing girl – a girl linked to Aidan – and his doubts increase. But, at the same time he doesn’t want to alienate Maggie too much and so he sets off for Osprey Cove – where the event of the season will be taking place – with his sister and foster child in tow.
Now, I’m not going to go any further into the plot because I don’t want to give away any spoilers.
This is well written, I enjoy the author’s style very much indeed – enough so that it kept me reading even though I wouldn’t exactly say that the story itself was particularly exciting In a way this felt more like lots of little blips, driven by Frank’s unease about the situation and the fact that he wanted to protect his daughter – whether she wanted, or needed, him to or not.
The characters. I struggled a little with them all to be honest. Frank isn’t particularly unlikable but nor is he easy to become attached to. He’s a bit like a dog with a bone when it comes to his doubts and, to be fair, he has a strong case but he seems to bash around like a bull in a china shop – in fact I think a bull might be a tad more subtle. Maggie. We spend very little time with her and she is decidedly detached when it comes to Frank, everything she does feels very much like a token gesture. Aiden’s family. Well, Aiden’s father is an over privileged man with so much money that he’s started to believe he can do anything without reprisal and he’s surrounded by a bunch of ‘yes’ people. His wife is practically non-existent. She apparently suffers with migraines and remains locked away (like the mad aunt in the attic!). Frank’s sister. I wanted to like her but some of her decisions were also a little bit suspect.
Osprey Cove belongs to Aidan’s family and is a deluxe retreat with multiple cabins and places to hold an event. The wedding is a society affair with over 300 people attending and there are almost as many staff – although sometimes it had the feeling of a very attractive prison camp. I liked the setting, it had elements enough to make it spooky and atmospheric.
In terms of criticisms. Well, they’re mostly little issues, but the sort of thing that nag away at the back of my mind. And, I don’t really think it’s fair to other readers to list them here. Without being a spoiler I think a combination of difficult to like characters, a bit of a thin plot, and a slightly odd ending left me with the overall impression that this was an easy and entertaining read but not something that I absolutely loved.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 3.5 of 5 stars
Friday Face Off: The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
27 December 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: book-blog, book-blogger, Books, Friday Face off, reading, Sarah Beth Durst, The Spellshop
Today I’m returning to the Friday Face Off, originally created by Books by Proxy). I’ve missed these for the past few months and so would like to get back to comparing covers (and hopefully I will be updating this page with a new banner. This is an opportunity to look at a book of your choice and shine the spotlight on the covers. Of course this only works for those books that have alternative covers (although sometimes I use this to look at a series of books to choose a favourite). . So, if you have a book that has alternative covers, highlight them and choose your favourite. If you’re taking part it would be great if you leave a link so I can take a look at what you’ve chosen.
This week I’ve chosen a book that I read this year and loved. Two of the covers are very similar but then there’s an extra cover that is definitely different. Check them out:
My favourite this week:
Have you read this book already? What did you think and which is your favourite?
Join me next week in highlighting one of your reads with different covers.
Review: The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door by HG Parry
23 December 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Books, Fantasy, fiction, HG Parry, reading, Review, The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door
My Five Word TL:DR Review: This Book is Utterly Delicious
What more can I say. I loved this book. This is one of those books that is simply beautiful. It’s well written, it has so many things going for it. It wants to be savoured but begs to be devoured. It’s magic, it’s fae, it’s dark academia. It has this wisp of A Secret of History, coupled with magical studies, found family and is set during a chaotic period of history where things were changing rapidly.
The story is told by Clover Hill. Clover lives on a farm in the shadow of Pendle Hill but she has ambitions and she’s bright and intelligent. All she needs is a little push and so when her brother is cursed during a battle (WW1) Clover is determined to find the cure. With this in mind, and a little help from others, she gains access to an elite school of magic, shrouded (quite literally) in mist and mystery, this is a place for Family – the upper echelons of society who send their children here to learn magic. As you might imagine, at first Clover doesn’t really blend in very easily until, quite remarkably she’s taken under the wing of the golden boy of the school and his small group of friends. What could possibly go wrong.
Let me tell you the ways in which I loved this book.
Firstly, the writing is so lovely, I found myself reading this in a leisurely way, absorbing the words and not giving a fig how long it was taking to move forward. In fact, I’m sorry it’s over, I really am.
Secondly, the characters. Clover is a great character. She’s real. She’s honest. She recognises that sometimes she does things for selfish purposes, she tries occasionally to kid herself but then she just calls it out for what it is. The secondary characters are really well drawn. They’re all different, with different motivations and they form into this really great unit – until everything goes horribly wrong.
The setting works really well. We have the period feel, WW1 has just ended, it’s a time of change and possibility. Then we have the secret magical world, hidden from most, by the upper classes who believe that magic should be kept for them alone, a belief that has led to the keeping of some very terrible secrets. And, we have the world of the fae, tantalisingly close but locked away (for the most part at least).
And, then, the story. I’m not going to go into any details. I loved it.
In case you can’t tell, I loved this and I’m only here to say good things and spread the love. My one wish – I would love to return to this world, but this feels like a novel that is complete (I hope I’m wrong though). Time to go back and check out this author’s backlist methinks.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 5 of 5 stars
Review: Strange Beasts by Susan J Morris
19 December 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Review, Books, fiction, Mystery, Strange Beasts, Susan J Morris
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Gothic Mystery with Great Setting
Strange Beasts was an entertaining read with a supernatural mystery at its heart and a couple of characters that will undoubtedly appeal to many readers.
Set in the early Twentieth century the main character is Samantha Harker, daughter of Jonathan and Mina Harker. Sam is a researcher at the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena. She loves her job working with books but at the same time is keen to try some field work so when a series of puzzling murder mysteries take place in Paris, she pulls out all the stops to be assigned. The murders look like the work of a werewolf and yet werewolves have long since been eradicated. Paris calls upon the Society for help and Sam succeeds in wrangling herself a place. Perhaps this is because she’s the only one foolish enough to team up with Dr. Helena Moriarty, yep, daughter of the infamous criminal mastermind and arch nemesis of Sherlock Holmes. Helena has had a lot of bad luck when it comes to partners, mainly, they don’t usually survive the experience and there’s a story behind this of course. As it is, Helena is very private and not keen to trust others. Sam also comes with her own self doubts and dire warnings from her mother. Sam can see into the minds of monsters, unfortunately this is more likely to lead to committal in the nearest asylum rather then gaining her acclaim.
So, the two set off for Paris. I did really enjoy the setting. Paris really lends itself to this type of gothic mystery. There are the miles of underground catacombs, steeped in history and crawling with the unknown and then on the opposite side of the coin the sumptuous opera house with it’s fantastic interior and haunted boxes.
I’m not going to delve into the murder mysteries but allow others to discover the story for themselves. There is a side element to the mystery. Sam has her own motivations for wanting to get out into the field. Her grandfather disappeared and she’s been trying to follow a strange trail. Helena also has her own family issues that are leading her on a merry dance.
I thought the writing was really good, very impressive for a debut and the pacing was pretty consistent with enough going on to keep me interested in turning the pages quickly.
In terms of little issues. I think that there was perhaps too much going on. What with the personal issues that both characters had, plus the murder mystery, plus trying to not be usurped on the case by another agent, it felt like the actual detecting was a bit thin. I really liked the two main characters, they’re a perfect pairing in so many ways, Sam is very feminine and loves fashionable clothing, she’s intelligent and knowledgeable but lacks experience outside the walls of the library. Helena is razor sharp witted, she has a strength about her and a no nonsense attitude. I didn’t particularly feel chemistry between the two at this point and I think the romantic aspect would have been better developing a lot more slowly over the course of the next book or books (I’m thinking there are more books planned given the ending). I just didn’t particularly feel like the romance felt real at this point. And, yes, I would have liked more from the mystery element. I also couldn’t really get a feel for the world, there are supernatural creatures – is everyone aware of these beasts living in their midst or are they all muddling along in ignorance?
Anyway, in conclusion, this was an entertaining read, perhaps a little over ambitious in some ways but well written and intriguing. I had no problem speeding through this and I will definitely read any future instalments.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 3.5 of 5 stars
Review: The Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso
16 December 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, Books, Fantasy, Melissa Caruso, Review, The Last Hour Between Worlds
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Groundhog Day meets Dante’s Inferno
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from The Last Hour but Melissa Caruso is an author I like so I was immediately attracted to this and I’m really happy that I requested it. This is such a captivating story, I loved the writing, the characters the plot and the setting. Put simply it was quite magical.
I’m loving my mysteries at the moment and this definitely brings that element to the story by the bucket load. Caruso has taken a setting which she then uses relentlessly throughout the entire story. You’d think it would become tedious but it’s actually exactly the opposite because each time the clock tolls the hour the room is transformed. Basically, in this world there are echoes. Echoes are like the ‘real’ world but with changes, subtle at first but increasing in oddity and danger as the echoes get lower and lower. I realise I’ve probably made an absolute mess of explaining that but in my head it all makes perfect sense.
So, picture the scene. It’s New Years Eve and Kembral Thorne is going to a party. Kem is an investigator for the Hounds but currently on maternity leave with a young baby. She’s still struggling to come to grips with everything, especially as the father made a swift exit when he discovered the pregnancy. This is the first time that Kem has been out since the birth and she’s 50% elation and 60% guilt. She’s absolutely determined to enjoy this decadent party, even though some of her colleagues, also in attendance, are also determined to plague her about when she’s going to return to work.
Also at the party, Rika Nonesuch (which, can I just say I love that name for some inexplicable reason). The two have a history that ended in tears. Well, Rika is a Cat – and we all know that cats and dogs can be at each other’s throats. She’s a burglar, and one of the best.
On top of this something just feels wrong. Even though she’s exhausted, sleep deprived and ridden with guilt Kem can’t help detecting little things that seem amiss, not to mention having a sudden pull towards an old clock that seems to be a relic from the past – and also haunted by a young girl.
I don’t want to give away too much about the plot, basically, there are some seriously big players (by which I mean powerful) using this party as their own personal playground to try and score points over each other. Each level gets more and more intense until the bodycount and action are crazy.
The setting. Well, we have a few little excursions out into the wilder parts of some of the echoes and they are creepy and yet strangely exhilarating. But, the majority of the action takes place within the mansion where the party is being held. The absolutely winning element is that as the clock strikes the hour the house finds itself an echo lower with the danger cranking up each time. Also, each time the house ‘falls’, for want of a better word, it’s like a reset button has been pressed and all the players (mostly) are back on the board. I loved this idea – hence the groundhog day comparison. Each level the mansion changes. I mean, could you make it any more complicated for yourself as an author – but I loved this idea. There’s such a lot of creativity and it’s so cunningly explored.
I think the two main characters are good together. They know each other, they have a history, they start things definitely on a rocky footing but gradually have to pull together to survive and this is when all the kinks start to get worked out.
The pacing is really good. There is time to reflect, there’s plenty of action and sometimes it feels like hardly enough time to catch your breath before the next crisis, but, as I said, this is very well executed and there are always little moments for respite.
The writing is beautiful. I was quite mesmerised really. I don’t know what else I can say other than it was a lovely read. I wouldn’t say I sped through this but that’s more to do with my reading at the moment and I actually enjoyed taking my time and savouring every element.
In conclusion. A beautifully written mystery with plenty of magic, critters and characters that really grow on you. I can’t wait for the next instalment.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publishers, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 4.5 of 5 stars
Books and travelling with Lynn 