A gold mining town lost all its inhabitants along with all its wealth on the Christmas Dar of 1893. Intrepid explorers have searched for the lost soulA gold mining town lost all its inhabitants along with all its wealth on the Christmas Dar of 1893. Intrepid explorers have searched for the lost souls, and the gold they seemingly took with them into the afterlife, to no avail but that doesn't stop a new group from venturing where others have tread, However, not all have merely the goal of uncovering the past in mind.
This book truly was a rollercoaster of emotions and I went through the full spectrum of them! This was, throughout, a very sad and unsettling read. I initially thought there were going to be horror elements introduced and was disappointed to find that not to be the case. Then the past-and-present timeline started to grate on me a little as I found one not to benefit from the other as much of what had occurred had already been found out. But any negativity altered as the book progressed and I became sucked into the relentless darkness of the town of Abandon.
This was a strange book and one I thought about for long after finishing it. It isn't one I can see myself revisiting yet it continues to haunt me, for its bleak portrayal of humanity. I am a big fan of Crouch's writing and whilst this one seems like a story with far less high-stakes, tension, and intrigue as it is a quieter and slower-paced story, it is no less incredible. It took me a while to see this but I turned the final page enamoured with all I had read....more
Oona is a whole made from the halves of two different people. She is consigned to belong to neither but she will always beloActual rating 4.5/5 stars.
Oona is a whole made from the halves of two different people. She is consigned to belong to neither but she will always belong to the land. Even after she betrays it for a decade it will always have her back.
This is was a sorrowful, unsettling, fantastical, and magical tale, which seems to be Harrow's unique signature. This was partly a historical insight to North American colonisation, partly a homage to both the land and the people who honour it, and partly a purely wonderous and whimsical creation.
Merged review:
Actual rating 4.5/5 stars.
Oona is a whole made from the halves of two different people. She is consigned to belong to neither but she will always belong to the land. Even after she betrays it for a decade it will always have her back.
This is was a sorrowful, unsettling, fantastical, and magical tale, which seems to be Harrow's unique signature. This was partly a historical insight to North American colonisation, partly a homage to both the land and the people who honour it, and partly a purely wonderous and whimsical creation....more
Seventeen-year-old Jason longs for more in life. He spends his days fearing his father's fists and pouring pints for the equally as unlikable locals wSeventeen-year-old Jason longs for more in life. He spends his days fearing his father's fists and pouring pints for the equally as unlikable locals who frequent the dingy bar they own. Fate brings him a glimpse of freedom in the form of wealthy twins, Daisy and Bea, along with their silver-spooned circle of friends who holiday nearby. He gains access to their privileged lifestyle and is determined to break free from past constraints and become one of them.
Jason became James and this sought-after life is achieved, but at what cost? And what skeletons are determined to claw their way to freedom, no matter the years that pass or the dirt heaped atop of them.
I enjoyed the pacing of this story immensely, which alternated in perspective and shifted in timeline. Modern-day and adult James is introduced at the same time as his shy and awkward teenage self. It remained interesting to note the differences in the two individuals, so determinedly had James removed all traces of his impoverished upbringing and the introverted individual he had once been.
Just as intriguing were the wealthy circle he becomes enamoured with. Each member felt real and raw and, whether likable or unlikable, I was always eager for more page-time with them. None more so than twins, Daisy and Bea, who were as unlike each other as Jason's present and past selves.
I did guess the two major reveals far ahead of time but this still remained solidly enjoyable and intriguingly well-penned, regardless. I would be eager to read more from this author, in the future.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Joanna Nadin, and the publisher, Mantle, for this opportunity.
Merged review:
Seventeen-year-old Jason longs for more in life. He spends his days fearing his father's fists and pouring pints for the equally as unlikable locals who frequent the dingy bar they own. Fate brings him a glimpse of freedom in the form of wealthy twins, Daisy and Bea, along with their silver-spooned circle of friends who holiday nearby. He gains access to their privileged lifestyle and is determined to break free from past constraints and become one of them.
Jason became James and this sought-after life is achieved, but at what cost? And what skeletons are determined to claw their way to freedom, no matter the years that pass or the dirt heaped atop of them.
I enjoyed the pacing of this story immensely, which alternated in perspective and shifted in timeline. Modern-day and adult James is introduced at the same time as his shy and awkward teenage self. It remained interesting to note the differences in the two individuals, so determinedly had James removed all traces of his impoverished upbringing and the introverted individual he had once been.
Just as intriguing were the wealthy circle he becomes enamoured with. Each member felt real and raw and, whether likable or unlikable, I was always eager for more page-time with them. None more so than twins, Daisy and Bea, who were as unlike each other as Jason's present and past selves.
I did guess the two major reveals far ahead of time but this still remained solidly enjoyable and intriguingly well-penned, regardless. I would be eager to read more from this author, in the future.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Joanna Nadin, and the publisher, Mantle, for this opportunity....more
I found this wonderfully well-written but just different to what I had anticipated. Of all the mythological retellings in thActual rating 3.5/5 stars.
I found this wonderfully well-written but just different to what I had anticipated. Of all the mythological retellings in this series, this bore the most resemblance to the originals and was also the one I thought would be the most altered.
It was set in our war torn world and focused on a girl who used stories to initially escape from and then to attempt to understand the suffering around her. This seemed like a brilliant set-up but most of the novel was merely retelling these original tales with very limited focus on the girl reading them. If not for the sheer beauty of the penmanship I would have enjoyed this one far less....more
Atlas carries the weight of the world on his shoulders but when he begins to question just why, Heracles steps in to share hActual rating 4.5/5 stars.
Atlas carries the weight of the world on his shoulders but when he begins to question just why, Heracles steps in to share his burden, if only for a short while. But when one's lifetime is spent at the peripheries, holding on just so others can live, can he ever be expected to return to his post when faced with pleasure over pain for the first time?
Jeanette Winterson's lyrical prose immediately sold me to this tragic and slightly unsettling tale. I adored how she constructed these two characters and introduced the reader to their individual personalities, histories, and sufferings without it seeming like a simple rehashing of things I already knew before diving into this mythological retelling....more
The Odyssey is a Greek Myth I know well. Atwood is an author I know well. I knew she was going to divorce what every reader thought they knew about thThe Odyssey is a Greek Myth I know well. Atwood is an author I know well. I knew she was going to divorce what every reader thought they knew about the original tale and paint something entirely knew here and she did just that.
There are a slew of feminist mythological retellings available right now and I honestly could eat every single one of them up. They give the women voices and make their pain and suffering the forefront of the story. They also make them appear as far more than the helpless maidens, awaiting their fate of rape or death, or the horrid sirens, luring men to their death. These, traditionally, were the only roles allowed for them. Here, Penelope is delivered a tragic life and, through it, shows her resourcefulness and her ingenuity, her creativity and her strength. The men around her deem her without any of these attributes and that in itself is just another way in which she is allowed to showcase her brilliance....more
The body of a child is pulled from the Thames and the search for the beloved missing child of the widely admired Liberal MP, Ralph Gethin, is finally The body of a child is pulled from the Thames and the search for the beloved missing child of the widely admired Liberal MP, Ralph Gethin, is finally over. Four months prior, Harriet was a maid newly employed in the MP's home but she rarely saw him or his child. Instead it was his wife, Clara Gethin, who walked the many hallways alone. Harriet became equally as enraptured and fearful of her new employer, as well as the multitude of strange items that filled her home. Harriet filled her days with her duties and her nights with attempting to discover the truths behind them all.
This became a far different story to the one I thought I would be reading, full of many dark subject matters and sordid narrative twists. I did, however, find the setting up of the story and its conclusion to be my favourite aspects, as knowing the tragedy that this centres on led to some middle sections feeling just a little mundane when nothing entirely new felt delivered for some span of pages. The ending, however, had me enamoured with the storyline all over again although, overall, this remained only an enjoyable experience but one I can't see myself revisiting.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Hester Musson, and the publisher, Fourth Estate, for this opportunity....more
This is a reworking of the life of the fictional and renowned Lydia Bennett, the youngest Bennett sister in Pride and Prejudice. The novel starts afteThis is a reworking of the life of the fictional and renowned Lydia Bennett, the youngest Bennett sister in Pride and Prejudice. The novel starts after her ill-fated match with a solider and we watch her rise and fall (many times over) from there.
I fully didn't expect to adore this as much as I did! It measures in at just over two hours long in its Audible narration and I adored every single second of it! Some parts were silly and witty and others dark and tragic. The author blended the two seamlessly to deliver a clever and unflinching portrayal of 18th century society as well as to provide a redemption arc for my girl, Lydia. I think its safe to say I will never read Pride and Prejudice in the same way again and if an author can make me rethink Jane Austen then she is fully deserving of five stars....more
This is the second instalment in the Emily Lime - Librarian Detective series.
It might be a new term but Daphne is still the new girl at St Rita’s, an This is the second instalment in the Emily Lime - Librarian Detective series.
It might be a new term but Daphne is still the new girl at St Rita’s, an exclusive girls’ boarding school. She is Head Librarian, Emily Lime's, Assistant’s Assistant and also helps her defend the school against the chaos always seeming to descend upon it and the evil that lurks outside its walls.
This was such a fun middle-grade read. It provided me with the perfect palette cleanser for a busy life and in-between some thick back-to-back fantasy reads with its light-hearted humour, action-packed focus, and multitude of mysteries to uncover....more
This is the first instalment in the Emily Lime - Librarian Detective series.
Daphne is the new girl at St Rita’s, an exclusive girls’ boarding school, This is the first instalment in the Emily Lime - Librarian Detective series.
Daphne is the new girl at St Rita’s, an exclusive girls’ boarding school, and, as a self-professed book worm, is excited to interview for Librarian’s assistant’s assistant immediately upon arrival. Head Librarian, Emily Lime, is more than a bit intimidating and the rest of the girls only add to the chaos that never seems to end in this school, even after lights out or when the teachers are involved! She soon finds she must buddy up with Emily if they both hope to save their school and their classmates, however.
This was such a fun middle-grade read. It provided me with the perfect palette cleanser for a busy life and in-between some thick back-to-back fantasy reads with its light-hearted humour, action-packed focus, and multitude of mysteries to uncover....more
Judith resides with her widowed sister Alice and both are looking for love. When a hunter arrives in their isolated village she believes her prayers hJudith resides with her widowed sister Alice and both are looking for love. When a hunter arrives in their isolated village she believes her prayers have been answered but when he enters into her family it is as her sister's new husband, and not hers. She escapes to the woods with her grief but wolves prowl amongst the trees and as winter descends no-one is safe from what lurks there, no matter how much they long to make this place their sanctuary.
This was a very loosely-based retelling of 'Little Red Rising Hood' and I really liked how dark events were and how slowly they unfurled, despite the brief page count of this short story. This was a brooding and sensual tale, whose tone, transpiring events, and evocative writing style all matched. The ending was a little inconclusive but perfectly matched all that came before it and left me with a wicked grin on my face and really longing for more.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and the publisher, , for this opportunity....more
This was a harrowing and tragic historic read, which, unfortunately, bears a stark resemblance to the harrowing and tragic world we continue to live iThis was a harrowing and tragic historic read, which, unfortunately, bears a stark resemblance to the harrowing and tragic world we continue to live in.
I thought the author took a clever narrative choice here as the minute details and dry tone almost lulled me into a false sense of calm and made the drama and tragedy that soon followed these quieter and monotone moments all the more hard-hitting. Sections like the one following initially dominated before horror overtook:
Before the patrol, he stopped by one of the huts, which he had taken as his quarters, and began moving his belongings from the entrance, where he had stacked them, to a corner of the room. Then he took a jerry can from the stack, and poured water from it into a small tin bowl. He took a towel from his kitbag, dipped it in the water he had poured into the bowl and used it to wipe the sweat from his face. He rinsed the towel, then took off his shirt and wiped his armpits. He put his shirt back on, buttoned it up, then rinsed the towel thoroughly and hung it on one of the old nails that remained in the wall. Then he took the bowl outside, poured the dirty water onto the sand, went back into the room, put the bowl in the corner with the rest of his belongings and left.
Every single moment was elongated, which ensured the reader was spared none of the terror felt by those experiencing it, none of the wrongness of what these callous humans were doing to others, and would never for one second believe this to be a work of fiction when it is our own history we are reading and, unfortunately, continuing to fail to learn from and so forced to repeat....more
Frankenstein is a title I have long adored, even more so after a course studying it at university. None of my studies ever allowed me insights to and Frankenstein is a title I have long adored, even more so after a course studying it at university. None of my studies ever allowed me insights to and an understanding of the author's life quite like this fictional reimaging did, however.
The timeline was ever shifting throughout but the cuts from scene-to-scene felt very fitting with the emotional nature of the text, both here and in Mary's own writing. These sudden movements to, and removals from, certain scenes allowed the reader an easy insight into how they factored in to other later or earlier sufferings in the author's life. And, then, how all these were reawakened in her gothic writing.
The writing here was mesmerising in its beauty. Each sentence was crisply executed and no emotion was spared the reader as Mary's life was fictionalised for our entertainment. It made me bond all the more with this historical figure and provided a greater appreciation for her creations.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Anne Eekhout, and the publisher, Pushkin Press, for this opportunity. ...more
Saint Perpetua's College is isolated and ancient. The girls who study there are close-knit but do they also close ranks to oActual rating 4.5/5 stars.
Saint Perpetua's College is isolated and ancient. The girls who study there are close-knit but do they also close ranks to outsiders or will newcomer, Laura, find a new home there?
She makes acquaintances but struggles to feel properly understood anywhere other than in the classroom of her demanding poetry professor, De Lafontaine. She finds Laura a promising student and a rival to further the brilliance of her star pupil, Carmilla. The two girls begin an intense academic rivalry but soon their studies are all but forgotten as new discoveries are made and they must face them together or perish alone.
The dark academia setting and focus are more than just mere backdrops for the tale to play itself out upon and Gibson has put some real thought into delivering her characters into an authentic setting and with some actual classes being attended. Too often do I see this fail to happen but here I could really feel that they were not only college students, but as gifted and passionate about their studies as the professor stated them as being.
I think it is a testament to the author's ability at crafting these aspects that I could have enjoyed reading about them and nothing more, so brilliantly was this academic world created. Pretty soon, however, supernatural entities began to appear and a more gothic focus uncovered.
The truly sensual nature of the writing lent itself well to the appearance of vampiric entities and I adored the nods to classics featuring these creatures, that appeared throughout. The link between lesbianism and vampires in fiction has long been noted and I even studied a course upon it whilst at university. Previously, both had been demonised but here there was merely a connotation created.
Also, surprisingly, a light and innocence arrived into the novel as these romantic relationships were explored. They played out amidst this backdrop of gothic beauty and alongside the appearance of night-time entities. This entire novel was full of Sapphic beauty, gothic creations, and some of the most glorious writing that I have ever had the intense pleasure of reading. A truly brilliant read!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, S.T. Gibson, and the publisher, Orbit, for this opportunity. ...more
This was an unsettling retelling of Poe's short Gothic tale, The Fall of the House of Usher. I had read the original previously but also revisited it This was an unsettling retelling of Poe's short Gothic tale, The Fall of the House of Usher. I had read the original previously but also revisited it before this novel and am so glad I had it fresh in my mind for reference.
Many similarities remained but I did admire how Kingfisher ensured this felt like her own creation, in terms of character and storyline. The genesis for them still shone through, however.
I did find, much to my dismay, that eerie vibes dominated and plot came second to this. I'm unsure if this author is the one for me but I respect her creations and how she brings new readers to renowned classics, updating them to a present setting and for a new audience....more
An entirely new spin on Shakespeare's well-known Romeo and Juliet, that paints each character in an entirely new light, all Actual rating 4.5/5 stars.
An entirely new spin on Shakespeare's well-known Romeo and Juliet, that paints each character in an entirely new light, all told from Rosaline's perspective.
I adore Shakespeare's original and so when I received an arc for this retelling I dropped all my other reading plans to start this, straight-away. I did not read any of the synopsis and so feared it might be too accurate a revisit to the original, and so provide the reader with nothing new, but I need not have feared.
Rosaline is given life, rather than being a female who hides off page, and through her insights we start to see both Romeo and Juliet for who they are, which is very different from the star-crossed and ill-fated lovers we already know them as. All characters feel far more human here and I loved this new take on such a beloved tale. It remained a sinister tragedy and I mourned the events that occurred just as much as I did the conclusion to this tale, that meant my time with these characters was done.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Natasha Solomons, and the publisher, Manilla Press, for this opportunity....more
The Latah is a figure that bears the burden of suffering for the people who reside in Vietnam, an area of the world torn apart by ethnic and religiousThe Latah is a figure that bears the burden of suffering for the people who reside in Vietnam, an area of the world torn apart by ethnic and religious wars and invasion. For them, it is a protector, a god, reincarnated inside of a human sacrifice. It bears the pain of the people until the burden becomes too heavy and every ounce of fear, aggression, anger, and terror emerges and it kills blindly until another sacrifice is found to replace it.
This story centres around soldiers trekking through the Vietnamese jungles. Tensions between them revolve around an as-of-yet undisclosed event that occurred before the readers were introduced to them but, over the course of the graphic novel, flashback scenes reveal exactly what this is. Learning about their shared history and that of the Latah unfold in tandem, for a horrifying story to emerge.
Everything about this was tragic but by the story's close I could not view the central characters with any of the warmth I felt at its genesis. Shocking reveals ensured that, as did the fantastical inclusions that aided in the showcasing and understanding of the brutalities of war.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author and illustrator, Thomas Legrain, and the publisher, Europa Comics, for this opportunity....more
This is the second and final instalment in the Ghosts and Shadows series.
Sophie has only been married for a short while and the entirety of it has beeThis is the second and final instalment in the Ghosts and Shadows series.
Sophie has only been married for a short while and the entirety of it has been plagued with terror. Her husband, Joseph, might not be responsible but he is at the heart of it. And now that the terrors have ceased, their close bond seems to have followed suite. That is, until a letter arrives and the pair must once again face their fears, together or alone, and return to the thing that almost once ended their marriage and their lives.
It feels so good to both start and finish a series in one day! This duology of historical, Gothic, horror stories are the perfect one-sitting reads, due to their relatively short size, the fast-pacing of the plot, and the mysteries that urge the reader onto the conclusion in order to find peace there.
I loved seeing these characters in a new setting but facing off against the same demons, this time, housed inside a new body. I thought the horrors were less prevalent here but the tension was increased exponentially, meaning my enjoyment was on par with book one and I finished this series impressed with what it delivered and satisfied with the apt conclusion to it....more
This is the first instalment in the Ghosts and Shadows series.
Sophie has two choices. She can either see her family bankrupt or marry Mr Argenton. SheThis is the first instalment in the Ghosts and Shadows series.
Sophie has two choices. She can either see her family bankrupt or marry Mr Argenton. She choses the latter and travels far from the only faces she has ever known to his sprawling and isolated manor. There she encounters far more than she ever anticipated with shifting shadows and eerie sounds permeating through the night, a young cousin who draws strange images and hears whispers on the breeze, and a red door that lies at the heart of the troubles plaguing her new husband's, and now her own, family.
This had all the trappings of a traditional Gothic horror novel and I loved it for that. Whilst it did not bring much freshness to the genre, it had all the elements that make it one of my favourites to read. The supernatural elements begun early on in the novel and, whilst never truly horrifying, definitely made me uneasy whilst reading about them. I quickly formed an attachment to the central character, Sophie, and also found all of the Argenton's intriguing figures, which also aided in my bonding so quickly with this text. The final lines sent chills down my spine and my fingers immediately reaching for the second series instalment. I can always count of Darcy Coates for an entertaining, page-turning, and spooky read, and this one was no expection....more
Isda has no memories of her early days. She was cast into a well at birth, destined to die for her sin of being born with the ability to manipulate meIsda has no memories of her early days. She was cast into a well at birth, destined to die for her sin of being born with the ability to manipulate memory when song can be heard. She was saved from this fate by Cyril, the owner of an opera house, who gave her sanctuary from the world of the unmarked in the sewers below his establishment. She lived there with her music, her organ, and her voice for company but always with a longing in her heart to dwell with the masses above. When she meets Emeric, the hatred for her solitude intensifies and she begins to break free from the constraints that might have been keeping her safe but were also holding her hostage.
The Phantom of the Opera is a favourite book, musical theatre, and movie adaptation of mine and so when I read the synopsis, and realised that this was a gender-swapped variation of the story, I was immediately intrigued. I thought the author did a stellar job of making this initially similar enough to the original to retain the same Gothic-infused atmosphere and eerie undertones but varied enough, as the storyline progressed, to retain something of its own magical flavour.
The fantastical inclusions aided in this story's progression differing vastly from its genesis. I loved learning about the odd magical abilities some in this world obtain and exploring how Isda uses her own strengths for both personal gain and to extort Cyril's customers and grow his business. The inclusion of this magic was slow to be revealed, meaning I got to understand the characters and this world absolutely before further revelations were made.
My main source of love for this story stemmed from the abundant emotion that featured there. Blossoming romance was sweetly spoken of but the longing in Isda's heart to belong was fiercely felt and overwhelmed her senses and most scenes. Olson wonderfully recreated these feelings for the reader to experience and it transported me into the story and bonded me absolutely with its central character.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Jessica S. Olson, and the publisher, Harper Collins, for this opportunity....more