Best of the Best
1 January 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Best of 2023, Best of the Best, Danielle Valentine, Elodie Harper, Josiah Bancroft, Laura Purcell, Louisa Morgan, Mark Lawrence, Richard swan, Robert Dinsdale, T Kingfisher, Tananarive Due
As with previous years at the start of each year I take a look back over the past twelve months and choose my top ten books. This year, without dwelling too much upon things, was something of a shocker for me due to family matters and my reading and blogging was forced to take a back seat. I didn’t read for probably about three months and my blogging came to a complete stop. Fortunately, later in the year I got myself back on board. This past year I’ve read just shy of 80 books – which is probably the least amount of books I’ve read for years – but, I’ve had some fantastic reads and so choosing ten books was still difficult. But here goes:
***
The Whispering Muse by Laura Purcell
I love Laura Purcell’s writing, she is the queen of all things gothic and The Whispering Muse is another great novel in which she comes into her own.
Set in the theatre this is a dark and atmospheric read. It revolves around five key plays that reflect the story as it progresses. It’s a tale involving plenty of drama, unholy deals that come at a price, jealousy, ambition and tragedy.
***
A House With Good Bones by T Kingfisher
T Kingfisher is a relatively new to me author but I’m enjoying her work very much. In fact Nettle and Bone was on my ‘best of’ list last year.
This is a Southern Gothic horror that manages to temper the creepy horror elements with a good dose of humour and brings us a wonderful central character who has a great outlook on life.
***
The Tyranny of Faith by Richard Swan
This is the second book in the Empire of the Wolf series. The Justice of the Kings is the first book in the series and is a fantastic start. Fortunately, this second in series doesn’t suffer from middle book syndrome. This is a rollercoaster of a ride emotionally, the characters continue to impress and the story is packed with treachery and surprise. I highly recommend this series and can’t wait to jump into the third instalment.
***
The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence
Mark Lawrence is one of my favourite authors. I’ve read all of his series and it’s absolutely astonishing to me that he keeps on producing such amazing books. To be honest I’d be hard pressed to pick a favourite book or series but I would say that The Book that Wouldn’t Burn is a serious contender for the crown.
This first in series is without doubt a masterpiece. It blew me away. The whole story is so overwhelmingly clever and gripping. The tension is off the charts and the long story in play is just brilliant.
***
Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine
Delicate Condition is a psychological thriller with a surprise twist. I was a little bit hesitant about picking this one up initially and so I’m really happy that I made the right choice – it would have been such a shame to miss out on this one.
This really was a very absorbing read. The main protagonist seems to suffer a constant string of ‘things’ or mishaps that for the most part seem coincidental or imaginary. The author throws in plenty of red herrings along the way and the tension is really cranked up as the conclusion goes into complete overdrive. A compelling read with a twisted ending.
***
The Hexologist by Josiah Bancroft
My first book by this author – and definitely the kick in the pants I need to go back and pick up his Babel series!
The Hexologists is a Victorian inspired world bursting with invention but at the same time still playing host to some wonderfully fantastical creatures. The imagination at play is superb and the writing – I am speechless. This is a book for lovers of intricate and exquisite writing. The detail is almost decadent and the style has clever flourishes and little snippets that make you want to wallow around and reread the page you’ve just read. I couldn’t tear my eyes away. It’s heartwarmingly cosy in parts, fiendishly clever in others and full of wonderful concepts that lovers of fantasy will be able to soak themselves in.
***
Once a Monster by Robert Dinsdale
I absolutely loved this book – of course I did (doh), otherwise it wouldn’t be on my list!
The story is exquisite, the writing is mesmerising, the characters are amazing. It gave me the goosebumps (good goosebumps these!), it filled my eyes with tears and the ending was magical.
Seriously, when I read the description for Once a Monster I was a little unsure, I do like a good period story, especially anything Victorian, on top of that I am loving my greek mythology retellings – but, you know, the two seemed to make unlikely playmates. How wrong I was. Put simply I requested this because I’ve read and enjoyed two books already by the author and so I just thought ‘what’s the worst that can happen, really? Maybe I won’t like it, it’s not the end of the world.’ As it happens, not only was it not the end of the world but I adored this book. Dickens meets the Minotaur. A story filled with good and evil, bravery and villainy sitting cheek by jowl with the impossible search for answers and finding oneself all whilst holding such fragile hopes alive and kicking. This is a story where actual monsters might not necessarily be the real monsters of the piece.
***
Temple of Fortuna by Elodie Harper
Temple of Fortuna is the stunning conclusion to the Wolf Den series. I absolutely loved this series and I have my fingers and toes crossed that this is a world that the author will return to (perhaps from a different pov). One can but hope.
What a journey Elodie Harper has taken us on here, every book has contained different aspects from the tense start in the infamous Wolf’s Den where we first met Amara to her precarious rise in fortune that eventually sees her escape the Den to this final episode where she has become established as a courtesan in Rome with an influential patron.
***
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
The Reformatory is without doubt one of the most powerful stories that I’ve read so far this year. An absolute tempest of shock, horror, unbridled emotions and abject terror. And then, there’s also the ghostly elements of the story to take into account. Yes, for me, the most horrifying aspect to this particular story was not the haints of tortured boys but the historical facts that this tale is grounded upon. What a story. I mean, literally this story made me want to cry, it made me feel outraged and the final chapters had my pulse racing imagining all the many disasters that felt inevitable. A difficult but totally absorbing read.
***
The Ghosts of Beatrice Bird by Louisa Morgan
The Ghosts of Beatrice Bird is a beautifully told mystery circulating around the lives of two women who are both trying to escape something. An unusual ghost story that took me in a direction that I didn’t expect and was emotionally incredibly satisfying. I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
Countdown to 2024 Day 9: Fairy Lights – something magical
9 December 2023
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Countdown to 2024, Day 9, Fairy Lights, Once a Monster, Robert Dinsdale, Something Magical
Today is day 9 of my countdown to 2024. Using a series of prompts each day I will post a book title that I believe fits the prompt. The aim is to highlight as many books as possible that I read from 2023 and shine the spotlight on them once again (although for some prompts I will be looking at future reads). A list of prompts can be found here if you wish to join me in counting down to 2024.
Today’s prompt: Fairy Lights – something magical
Once a Monster by Robert Dinsdale. A book that manages to marry the Victorian period with a creature straight out of Greek mythology. Beautifully written and absolutely wonderful. I loved it.
22 Days Remaining
Once a Monster by Robert Dinsdale
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Where to Begin? Simply Brilliant
Ohh. I am undone. I loved this book. I loved everything about it. The story is exquisite, the writing is mesmerising, the characters are amazing. It gave me the goosebumps (good goosebumps these!), it filled my eyes with tears. The ending was magical. I want to read it again. I am undone. Send help.
Seriously, when I read the description for Once a Monster I was a little unsure, I do like a good period story, especially anything Victorian, on top of that I am loving my greek mythology retellings – but, you know, the two seemed to make unlikely playmates. How wrong I was. Put simply I requested this because I’ve read and enjoyed two books already by the author and so I just thought ‘what’s the worst that can happen, really? Maybe I won’t like it, it’s not the end of the world.’ But, this author has some writing chops. Dickens meets the Minotaur. A story filled with good and evil, bravery and villainy sitting cheek by jowl with the impossible search for answers and finding oneself all whilst holding such fragile hopes alive and kicking. This is a story where actual monsters might not necessarily be the real monsters of the piece. Are you not intrigued?
Set in the early 1860s the story is brought to us by Nell. An orphan since her seamstress mother passed away she dreams of becoming a dancer since visiting the ballerinas whose slippers and costumes her mother helped to stitch. The grim reality couldn’t be further from the truth. Nell is a mudlark, one of a small gang who have almost become family to each other, although there is still jostling for favour. Each day they search the mud banks for small treasures to give to their master until one day Nell uncovers the body of a strange man, hurt and in need of help, Nell is compelled to help him and to keep him secret from the master who would exploit him.
The writing has a Dickensian feel as does the period and, I think, in recognition of this the author gives little nods here and there to Dickens works (although I haven’t read them all so can’t speak with authority). We have this grimy version of London, a collection of barely surviving orphans and their master – it’s positively Oliver Twist(ish) but with scavenging rather than pickpocketing. It brings other classics to mind such as Jekyll and Hyde and Dorian Gray and also incorporates the sad tale of Giselle.
Nell has a heart of gold. She becomes attached to Minos, the strange man she rescued, and the two share a bond of loyalty, each helping the other to enjoy small glimpses of hope in an otherwise grim landscape. Minos is tortured. He has nightmares that speak of his past in which he is constantly running, until he hears a small voice in the dark that helps to guide him to safety.
The entire story is magical. We have Minos, of course, and the mythology surrounding his story. We eventually follow him to a labyrinth of tunnels beneath the city of London. On top of this there’s a kind of fairytale quality in Nell’s hopes and desires that eventually lead her to the theatre to pursue her dreams of becoming a dancer.
Nell and Minos are really stand out characters. We discover their stories and, in the case of Minos, I particularly loved the way his story works backwards to unravel the mystery of who he is. On top of this the two are supported by a very good cast of characters. Benjamin Murdstone, the villain of the piece and Nell’s master. He once rose above the muddy banks of the Thames but has since been brought low again and longs for another opportunity to rise above it all. We have the other mudlarks, they don’t have as much page time but still play a great role. And, we have Sophia. A celebrated dancer who has herself fallen on hard times but who becomes involved with Nell when a strange deal is struck.
Everything about this book worked for me. The pacing was good. I pretty much read this in three days which tells you how much I enjoyed it and I couldn’t put the book down at all towards the end. In fact I found myself racing a little towards the conclusion which is something of a shame because I would have liked to savour it all a little more.
Anyway, a very unique way indeed of reimagining an ancient myth and shining a new light on one of its monstrous characters. There are elements of dark and light in most people but this story takes a more direct route by bringing to the page a much more physical representation of a monster but then allowing us to take a deeper look to find the man beneath the surface.
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
Paris by Starlight by Robert Dinsdale
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Beautifully written tale of home
The Toymakers by Robert Dinsdale is an absolutely gorgeous book full of magic, toys and beauty, I loved it and so you may imagine that my expectations were astronomical when it came to Paris by Starlight and whilst I might not have loved this book as much as The Toymakers it certainly demonstrates the writing chops of this particular author.
The story is essentially a tale of home, and the fact that home can be found anywhere that family resides, intertwined with a love story of two characters searching for something more.
Isabelle is a young musician. She trawls the streets of Paris, playing her lute at bars. Essentially she’s looking for the father who left home when she was only a child. Isabelle’s father was also a musician and Isabelle hopes that she might draw his attention by playing the precious lute that he gave her. One evening Isabelle finds herself responsible for the care of a young lost girl and this is when she meets Levon and his family, refugees living a hidden life in Paris.
The People, as they are known, were cast out of their own country where they lived and worked on the landlocked sea. They’ve travelled thousands of miles carrying their few belongings and clinging to thoughts of safety and new beginnings. Eventually, their traditions, cultures and stories create a magic of their own, the rooftops are full of night blooming flowers and beautiful birds, water dogs begin to appear and underground caverns lit by phosphorous plants appear. More People flock to the City, keen to find a home amongst their own and the magic spreads further. Unfortunately, not everyone welcomes these changes and soon enough the People find themselves in a war between those who live by day and those who live by night.
What I really loved about Paris by Starlight is the writing. Dinsdale writes with a beauty and style that is really captivating and brings scenes to life with vibrant detail. The magic here is captivating and well wrought and without doubt this envisaging of Paris is something truly wonderful to read about. I can see where the comparisons to Gaiman come from with the place being split between two worlds, in a similar way that Neverwhere existed beneath the streets of London.
The setting and magic are amazing. Paris is an enchanting place to begin with and really lends itself to the magic created here. The Eiffel Tower alive with tendrils and flowers, hotels with underground tunnels and caverns and the many dark clubs where haunting music plays into the night.
We predominantly follow Isabelle and to be honest that’s something of a relief as she is a good character filled with hope and love. Some of the other characters are less easy to like, they have their own agendas, or are filled with anger and resentment.
In terms of criticisms. I felt that this could perhaps have been cut a little, only because it felt a little repetitive in some parts and there was a slowing of pace about half way through where I began to wonder if anything more would actually happen. Obviously, I got past this point and the tension and action were ramped up but for a moment I started to feel like everything was dragging out a little more than I liked and it definitely held things up for me.
I enjoyed Paris by Starlight but I didn’t fall completely in love with it as much as I’d hoped or expected and I think that this lies mainly at my own door, probably because elements of this felt more real than I expected and at the moment I’m all about the escapism. Without doubt, this is a tale with a message. It’s about finding home and overcoming adversity in a way that really drives home what is truly important. There’s a message about acceptance and learning to live amicably with others in spite of differences.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the author, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 3.5 of 5 stars
Can’t Wait Wednesday : Paris By Starlight by Robert Dinsdale
5 August 2020
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Can't wait Wednesday, Paris by Starlight, Robert Dinsdale
“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that was originally created by Breaking the Spine. Unfortunately Breaking the Spine are no longer hosting so I’m now linking my posts up to Wishful Endings Can’t Wait Wednesday. Don’t forget to stop over, link up and check out what books everyone else is waiting for. If you want to take part, basically, every Wednesday, we highlight a book that we’re really looking forward to. This week my book is : Paris By Starlight by Robert Dinsdale. This sounds amazing and I loved The Toymakers so I’m very excited for this release:
Every city has its own magic…
Every night on their long journey to Paris from their troubled homeland, Levon’s grandfather has read to them from a very special book. Called The Nocturne, it is a book full of fairy stories and the heroic adventures of their people who generations before chose to live by starlight.
And with every story that Levon’s grandfather tells them in their new home, the desire to live as their ancestors did grows. And that is when the magic begins…
Nobody can explain why nocturnal water dogs, only native to Asov, start appearing at the heels of every citizen of Paris-by-Starlight like the loyal retainers they once were. There are suddenly night finches in the skies and the city is transforming: the Eiffel Tower lit up by strange ethereal flowers that drink in the light of the moon.
But not everyone in Paris is won over by the spectacle of Paris-by-Starlight. There are always those that fear the other, the unexplained, the strangers in our midst. How long can the magic of night rub up against the ordinariness of day? How long can two worlds occupy the same streets and squares before there is an outright war?
Expected publication : August 2020
Books and travelling with Lynn 