Book Review: The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

In a shabby house, on a shabby street, in the new capital of Madrid, Luzia Cotado uses scraps of magic to get through her days of endless toil as a scullion. But when her scheming mistress discovers the lump of a servant cowering in the kitchen is actually hiding a talent for little miracles, she demands Luzia use those gifts to better the family’s social position.

What begins as simple amusement for the bored nobility takes a perilous turn when Luzia garners the notice of Antonio Pérez, the disgraced secretary to Spain’s king. Still reeling from the defeat of his armada, the king is desperate for any advantage in the war against England’s heretic queen—and Pérez will stop at nothing to regain the king’s favor.

Determined to seize this one chance to better her fortunes, Luzia plunges into a world of seers and alchemists, holy men and hucksters, where the line between magic, science, and fraud is never certain. But as her notoriety grows, so does the danger that her Jewish blood will doom her to the Inquisition’s wrath. She will have to use every bit of her wit and will to survive—even if that means enlisting the help of Guillén Santangel, an embittered immortal familiar whose own secrets could prove deadly for them both.

’Maybe if she’d been born on a different day, or even at a different hour, without the prayers for a queen’s soul echoing in her ears, she might have done just that. But she could be no one but herself.’

Not only is ’The Familiar’ an exquisite gem of a book that will quickly bewitch its readers it’s also my favourite Leigh Bardugo book to date, and my favourite read of 2024 so far (which truly does say something as I’ve read some absolutely beguiling books so far this year). Naturally when I picked this book up I hoped to love it but I truly am stunned by just how thoroughly it’s enchanted me. There’s something so wonderfully luxurious about reading ’The Familiar’ that makes it worthy of that rare ‘masterpiece’ label.

Surely anyone who’s read books by Leigh Bardugo previously will have noticed how gorgeously she manages to paint the openings of her novels. Whenever I’ve picked up a book by her in the past the opening sequences have had this gloriously enchanting and polished feel to them, reminiscent of a modern classic. Yet within ’The Familiar’ this mesmerising effect seemed to appear consistently throughout. There were so many segments of this story where I wanted to simply languish in its writing, numerous sequences that moved me or captured sentiments in such a way that I longed to share them with the world. I don’t know if it’s something to do with the historical fantasy nature of this novel or not but something about this book certainly made it feel instantly special. I always adore the author’s writing but even so this stood apart somehow. So it’s safe to say that the writing utterly captivated me.

Another thing that Leigh Bardugo always seems to excel in is her crafting of characters and this book is certainly no exception to that. Everyone within these pages is so complicated and layered, everyone is interesting to discover and learn the histories of. Everyone is also, to some degree, seemingly morally flawed. Whilst reading this book it’s impossible not to notice the sometimes selfish nature of certain individuals or to flinch at some of their antics. And yet, somehow, by the end of this novel I’d be surprised if you hadn’t felt sympathy for most of its central characters on occasion too. It’s stunning to witness the transformation that certain individuals undertake and I’m honestly speechless at the way that I felt myself moved by some characters.

Setting wise this book was utterly immersive and never shied away from depicting its bleakest moments as well as it’s more dazzling ones. Similarly the magic was wonderfully well depicted and fit within the novel seamlessly. Together the effect of an intriguing historical setting (that I’ll confess to knowing nowhere near enough about) with a captivating magic system made this book impossible to put down.

The plot kept me riveted and guessing throughout and the end was beautifully well portrayed in a manner that is impossible to forget. Scattered throughout are numerous little details that are seemingly simple background details at the time but later make the importance of their presence known. This, together with the utterly beguiling writing, is what makes ’The Familiar’ feel so worthy of that rare ‘masterpiece’ label.

Needless to say I recommend this book, whether you’re familiar with Leigh Bardugo’s previous works or not. It’s a gloriously crafted and riveting historical fantasy novel that kept its claws in me throughout. It’s beautifully crafted and pure luxury to lose yourself within its pages. Here’s hoping the author will pen another adult historical fantasy novel in the future as I’d ravenously read hundreds of them after this.

Just as a final note I brought the Waterstones special edition of this book and highly recommend it. The stencil sprayed edges look stunning and the end pages look simply divine (if I hadn’t been so thoroughly engrossed by the story I honestly would have kept flicking back to gaze at them).

Check out The Familiar on Goodreads here.

I strive to keep my reviews completely spoiler free but if anyone wants to discuss anything about the book in more detail (or just gush about it with me because I NEED to do so now) then feel free to contact me in the comment section below.

Book Review: A Letter To The Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall

A beautiful discovery outside the window of her underwater home prompts the reclusive E. to begin a correspondence with renowned scholar Henerey Clel. The letters they share are filled with passion, at first for their mutual interests, and then, inevitably, for each other.

Together, they uncover a mystery from the unknown depths, destined to transform the underwater world they both equally fear and love. But by no mere coincidence, a seaquake destroys E.’s home, and she and Henerey vanish.

A year later, E.’s sister Sophy, and Henerey’s brother Vyerin, are left to solve the mystery of their siblings’ disappearances with the letters, sketches and field notes left behind. As they uncover the wondrous love their siblings shared, Sophy and Vyerin learn the key to their disappearance – and what it could mean for life as they know it.

A cosy fantasy, with an absolutely stunning cover, written mostly in the form of letters and set beneath the sea; how could anyone possibly resist that? I certainly couldn’t and I’m thrilled to say that my first dive into the cosy fantasy world (somehow ‘Emily Wilde’ is still on my TBR) was a resounding success. With charming characters, an intriguing setting and a delightful epistolary format ’A Letter To The Luminous Deep’ was a dream come true.

It didn’t take long for the characters within this novel to charm me. There’s something so sweet and heart warming about watching two socially awkward individuals fall in love via the written word. The romance really burrowed beneath my skin and found its way into my bones. There’s one section – involving the suggestion of a note on a window – that made me laugh and melt at the very same time. Henerey is such a warm, sweet individual that you can’t help but fall for and E is someone that I connected to in a way that I truly did not expect. As someone who struggles with severe social anxiety I felt a rare sense of acknowledgment seeing her struggles show up on the page. The OCD side of her storyline was wonderfully depicted too, capturing the sorts of intrusive thoughts and overwhelming compulsions that can consume an individual.

Possibly due to this personal connection it was E’s story that I fell into most swiftly but with time I came to adore my time spent reading letters exchanged between Sophy and Vyerin too, as well as discovering the story behind the Ridge Expedition. If anybody picks this book up with a particular interest in its deep sea setting then this dynamic will make it a must read for you. Truthfully I think I would have found myself engulfed by this side of the story sooner (as I was riveted by it once I got about a third of the way in) if I’d been more experienced with sci-fi novels as some of the terminology felt as if it was going straight over my head initially.

Besides feeling a little lost by those elements early on I adored exploring the setting and discovering a truly mesmerising world. The overall storyline went in a rather different direction than I’d initially anticipated too and by the end of it I simply could not put this book down. For the first book that I’ve read in the epistolary format in a very long time it was utterly delightful to find myself as riveted by the plot as I was charmed by its cast of characters.

Altogether I wholeheartedly recommend ’A Letter To The Luminous Deep’ and simply cannot wait to return to its world and characters with its sequel. It’s the perfect example of a cosy novel with a warm mixture of characters who can’t fail to charm you yet has a twisty plot that left me speechless by its end. Thanks to my rather unexpected affinity to E this book will also hold a special place in my heart for quite some time. Needless to say I’ll be sure to check out more by this author.

Check out A Letter To The Luminous Deep on Goodreads here.

I strive to keep my reviews completely spoiler free but if anyone wants to discuss anything about the book in more detail (or just gush about it with me) then feel free to contact me in the comment section below.

Book Review: Song Of The Six Realms by Judy I. Lin

Xue, a talented young musician, has no past and probably no future. Orphaned at a young age, her kindly poet uncle took her in and arranged for an apprenticeship at one of the most esteemed entertainment houses in the kingdom. She doesn’t remember much from before entering the House of Flowing Water, and when her uncle is suddenly killed in a bandit attack, she is devastated to lose her last connection to a life outside of her indenture contract.

With no family and no patron, Xue is facing the possibility of a lifetime of servitude playing the qin for nobles that praise her talent with one breath and sneer at her lowly social status with the next. Then one night she is unexpectedly called to the garden to put on a private performance for the enigmatic Duke Meng. The young man is strangely kind and awkward for nobility, and surprises Xue further with an irresistible offer: serve as a musician in residence at his manor for one year, and he’ll set her free of her indenture.

But the Duke’s motives become increasingly more suspect when he and Xue barely survive an attack by a nightmarish monster, and when he whisks her away to his estate, she discovers he’s not just some country noble: He’s the Duke of Dreams, one of the divine rulers of the Celestial Realm. There she learns the Six Realms are on the brink of disaster, and incursions by demonic beasts are growing more frequent.

The Duke needs Xue’s help to unlock memories from her past that could hold the answers to how to stop the impending war… but first Xue will need to survive being the target of every monster and deity in the Six Realms.

This is one of those reviews that is a real struggle to write. The fact that I wanted to love this novel is undeniable; I adore all of the books that I’ve previously read inspired by Asian mythology, I fell in love with the author’s debut duology and I have a total weakness for all things gothic. I went into this book utterly convinced that it would become a new favourite and it breaks my heart to admit that, that sadly wasn’t the case.

The start of the book really reeled me in, depicting a vibrant world that I longed to explore. The beautiful clothes and delicious sounding food practically leapt off of the page whilst the appreciation for music was beautifully woven throughout. One of my highlights of this novel was how passionately it wrote about the music that Xue brought to life; music that you could practically hear, given the vivid descriptions of it. Another of my highlights was the little tales dotted throughout and I can safely say that I’d happily devour a collection of those, penned by the author.

Oddly – given my love of all things fantastical – I struggled with the Celestials in this book when they came into play. I never really brought into them; I never really felt that otherworldly presence. Truthfully it was only really the mention of their abilities that made clear what they were; otherwise, to me, they didn’t really stand apart from the mortals that were shown. Perhaps that was intentional as the book revolves around their aversion to certain mortal ‘corruptions’ but sadly it didn’t really work for me. Although I do think that the ravagers were depicted well.

Similarly I didn’t really connect with the characters although this could be due to the aforementioned struggles as many of them are Celestial beings. Everybody had their own distinct personality after all. I just missed that spark.

Speaking of sparks, I missed that in the romance too unfortunately. I feel like the potential for the bond was there but that it needed more time to develop. As a reader you’re told of the characters’ love yet you don’t truly get to see them interact over much. I wish that there’d been more scenes within the manor; more interactions, more yearning and more discovery. Not only would this have rounded out the romantic elements but it could have helped the Celestials to stand out a little more too.

So this ultimately truly is a novel that left me conflicted. The overall ideas and plot arc had the potential to be a new favourite of mine. There were segments that I loved but others that I personally felt needed more development. My personal recommendation would be to start with the author’s debut duology, ’A Magic Steeped In Poison’, but if the magic here clicks into place for you (and I seriously do hope that this was a weird ‘me’ issue) then this could still be a truly enjoyable read. Regardless the strong start, and my aforementioned positive experience with the author’s debut, means that I still plan to check out more by this author in the future.

Check out Song Of The Six Realms on Goodreads here.

I strive to keep my reviews completely spoiler free but if anyone wants to discuss anything about the book in more detail then feel free to contact me in the comment section below.

Book Review: The Shadow Key by Susan Stokes-Chapman

There’s something mysterious about the village of Penhelyg. Will unlocking its truth bring light or darkness?

Meirionydd, 1783. Henry Talbot has been dismissed from his post at a prestigious London hospital. The only job he can find is as a physician in the backwaters of Wales where he can’t speak the language, belief in myth and magic is rife, and the villagers treat him with bewildering suspicion. When Henry discovers his predecessor died under mysterious circumstances, he is determined to find answers.

Linette Tresilian, the unconventional mistress of Plas Helyg, lives a lonely life. Her father is long dead, her mother haunted by demons which keep her locked away in her room, and her cousin treats her with cool disdain – she has had no choice but to become fiercely self-reliant.

Linette has always suspected something is not quite right in the village, but it is only through Henry’s investigations that the truth about those closest to her will come to light…a truth that will bind hers and Henry’s destinies together in ways neither thought possible.

’He wakes to the unmistakable smell of sulphur and a room as black as pitch.’

Fans of gothic fiction rejoice, this is the book that you’ve been waiting for. If there was any doubt in my mind about my ever growing love of the genre ’The Shadow Key’ has vanquished it. If you enjoy the genre at all, or are simply curious about it, then I strongly advice that you go and find yourself a copy of this book as soon as possible. It truly is a decadent, atmospheric delight.

From the start I was utterly entranced by this book; it’s eerie opening reeling me in and leaving me questioning exactly what was going to happen. I don’t think I’ve read a book within the setting before, 1783 Wales, and it worked wonderfully for creating the necessary sense of unease. The rural location, the hostility of the residents, the dangers of the mines and the glorious inclusion of superstition and folklore. Oh how those last two aspects in particular can’t help but draw me in. This book has left me itching to learn more about the myths and legends of Wales, and longing to dive into as many gothic narratives as possible. So I think it’s pretty safe to say that it was a dynamic success.

Throughout I can honestly say that the plot kept me guessing consistently. Like many gothic novels it walks a thin line between the natural and supernatural, leaving you querying over exactly what is going on. And with so many legends referenced, and so much uncertainty hanging in the air I truly didn’t know what to expect. The overall direction utterly staggered me and the journey to get there came with so many twists and turns too.

Character wise I adored this novel and everyone felt realistically fleshed out. It’s told mainly from the perspectives of Henry, a doctor who reluctantly takes a job in Penhelyg, and Linette the owner of the estate, who flouts convention at every turn. Both offered a different perspective than the novels that I’ve read in the past and kept me invested throughout. The supporting characters were wonderfully compelling too and came together to offer so much. There’s one medical scene in particular that I’d be surprised if anyone could read without flinching.

Naturally I recommend ’The Shadow Key’ and am currently kicking myself for having not yet read the author’s debut. If you’re a fan of atmospheric gothic fiction novels that keep you invested, and guessing, throughout, then this is an absolute must read. It sets it scene vividly, unravels its mysteries hauntingly and crafts an atmosphere that will sink beneath your skin. Needless to say I’ll be keeping an eye out for whatever the author pens next.

Check out The Shadow Key on Goodreads here.

I strive to keep my reviews completely spoiler free but if anyone wants to discuss anything about the book in more detail (or just gush about it with me) then feel free to contact me in the comment section below.

Book Review: The Household by Stacey Halls

In a quiet house in the countryside outside London, the finishing touches are being made to welcome a group of young women. The house and its location are top secret, its residents unknown to one another, but the girls have one thing in they are fallen. Offering refuge for prostitutes, petty thieves and the destitute, Urania Cottage is a second chance at life – but how badly do they want it?

Meanwhile, a few miles away in a Piccadilly mansion, millionairess Angela Burdett-Coutts, one of the benefactors of Urania Cottage, makes a discovery that leaves her her stalker of 10 years has been released from prison . . .

As the women’s worlds collide in ways they could never have expected, they will discover that freedom always comes at a price . . .

’Before she goes to bed, she looks back at the handsome instrument, silent for so long, wondering how it is that, though everybody has left her, she is the ghost.’

Somehow, despite being intrigued by the premises of all her previous books, ’The Household’ is my first time reading a novel by Stacey Halls. Now I can safely say that it certainly won’t be the last. If you’re a fan of historical fiction or shows like ‘Call The Midwife’ then this will surely be a hit with you too.

Within moments I was whisked away by the immersive writing within ’The Household’ transported to a world that is vividly depicted and felt grimly true to life for the ‘fallen’ women of Victorian London. The writing style really suited the historical setting of the novel, including its variations of speech, without feeling overtly heavy as some novels can do. It vividly captures the stiflingly vast divide between life for the various classes of London at the time, taking the reader from grand stately homes to the slum style housing that many were forced to resort too. It never shies away from the bleak reality of life at this time, and depicts a range of how these women came to be ‘fallen’, yet somehow transfuses the tale with touches of warmth too. Hence my mention of ‘Call The Midwife’; it’s historical setting (albeit an earlier one than the series), true to life approach and heartfelt moments of warmth can’t help but bring the comparison to mind.

Character wise there’s a variety of individuals to meet, most of them female. From a variety of backgrounds, with differing troubles in their pasts, they felt fleshed out in a realistic manner. Surprisingly my favourite was probably Mrs Holdsworth, the matron of Urania Cottage, along with Martha who you can’t help but feel for. Charles Dickens is referenced frequently but keeps an air of mystery by never appearing upon the page in person.

Seeing how the various ‘fallen’ women reacted to life within Urania Cottage was one of my highlights and I was always intrigued whilst within this setting. The stalker storyline was one of the features that initially drew me towards this novel and that, I’ll admit, I’m somewhat conflicted about. On the whole I felt that it realistically depicted the kind of obsession that can occur and the route that it ultimately went down certainly caught me off guard. Yet the conclusion to this aspect of the storyline felt rushed to me and the motivations behind Dunn’s actions somewhat contradictory on occasion. Money and attraction both seemed to drive him but when one overrode the other I wasn’t fully convinced.

Ultimately I recommend ’The Household’ to anyone who enjoys historical fiction; especially the ones that aren’t afraid to depict its bleakest realities whilst somehow infusing them with a sense of warmth. It’s a novel that I can see appealing to many a reader although the stalker storyline, for me personally, had its highs and lows. Regardless I shall certainly be checking out more by the author in the future.

As a final note to UK readers the hardback edition is beautifully set out with gorgeous endpages.

Check out The Household on Goodreads here.

I strive to keep my reviews completely spoiler free but if anyone wants to discuss anything about the book in more detail (or just gush about it with me) then feel free to contact me in the comment section below.

Book Review: Day One by Abigail Dean

Stonesmere will never be the same again… A village hall, a primary school play, a beautiful Lake District town. Into this idyllic scene steps a lone gunman whose actions set off a train of events that will have devastating consequences for the close-knit community of Stonesmere. At the epicentre of the tragedy is Marty, daughter of the teacher who dies trying to protect her pupils. What did she see? How is she involved? In the weeks and months following the killings, conspiracy theorists start questioning what happened. For outsider Trent Casey, the truther movement offers him a chance to step into the spotlight to expose the ‘sham’ of the killings. Marty’s and Trent’s lives will become entwined as events spiral out of control. The true story is gradually revealed, but at what cost to those caught up in the maelstrom…

’”I wish he were a fiction. I mean, Christ. How easy would that be? If I’d never known him at all.”’

Several years ago I was utterly blown away by Abigail Dean’s debut ’Girl A’ so naturally I was eager to check ’Day One’ out as well. And let’s just say it did not disappoint in the slightest. If you like your thrillers with a devastating, harrowing, emotional edge then this is absolutely the book for you.

One thing that everyone should probably be aware of before going into this book is that it’s not an easy read, although given the subject matter that’s to be expected really. There’s a lot of potentially triggering content and it can be emotionally unsettling reading this book. That very factor is part of this novel’s beauty though; it should be uncomfortable reading about a massacre at a school. It should put you through an emotional ringer and leave you feeling hollowed out. It should make you despair and experience a sense of horror. And this book manages to do just that; yet it does so without revelling in any gory details. Instead it puts the focus on the characters involved and makes them so vividly real that it can be hard to carry on at times.

The emotional depth and believability of the characters really does seem to be a major strength of the author, within both of her books. Two viewpoints you see frequently throughout the novel during ‘day one’ itself and over the following eight years. Everybody else you only view on the day itself but it’s so beautifully crafted that they feel perfectly filled out regardless. You learn a little about everybody’s background, you discover their usual day to day routine and you feel the total devastation that follows. There’s something utterly horrifying about seeing a normal family morning, knowing what will come after. Who knew such commonplace moments could come with such an emotional blow?

Alongside the story of ‘day one’ itself you learn about the aftermath that follows. The media frenzy, the devastating secrets someone struggles with and a conspiracy theory that causes such chaos that it broke my heart. Some of what’s said – let alone done – haunted me to read about. This book captures the obsessive nature that can follow in an eerily believable manner. It balanced its two main narratives wonderfully and kept me riveted – albeit uncomfortably so on many an occasion – throughout.

So it goes without saying that I recommend ’Day One’ although given it’s dark subject matter it isn’t an easy read. Haunting, harrowing and utterly human too; the beauty of this novel truly is in how realistically it brings its characters to life and how thoroughly it immerses you within their viewpoints. It’s also an eye opening look into just how much devastation and despair conspiracy theories can cause. Whatever Abigail Dean decides to write next it’s going to be a ‘must read’ for me.

Check out Day One on Goodreads here.

I strive to keep my reviews completely spoiler free but if anyone wants to discuss anything about the book in more detail (or just gush about it with me) then feel free to contact me in the comment section below.

Book Review: What Monstrous Gods by Rosamund Hodge

Centuries ago, the heretic sorcerer Ruven raised a deadly briar around Runakhia’s palace, casting the royal family into an enchanted sleep – and silencing the kingdom’s gods.

Born with a miraculous gift, Lia’s destiny is to kill Ruven and wake the royals. But when she succeeds, she finds her duty is not yet complete, for now she must marry into the royal family and forge a pact with a god – or die.

To make matters even worse, Ruven’s spirit is haunting her.

As discord grows between the old and new guards, the queen sends Lia and Prince Araunn, her betrothed, on a pilgrimage to awaken the gods. But the old gods are more dangerous than Lia ever knew – and Ruven may offer her only hope of survival.

As the two work together, Lia learns that they’re more alike than she expected. And with tensions rising, Lia must choose between what she was raised to believe and what she knows is right – and between the prince she is bound to by duty…and the boy she killed.

’Seven girls they had sent, and none ever returned.
     The eighth girl is me.’

Promise me gods in a fairytale inspired world and I’m naturally going to be eager to pick a book up. What fantasy fan can resist a novel that shows it most mystical and mighty beings interacting with the world? And I’m always entranced by the prospect of fairytale inspired narratives; particularly ones that appear to promise very different takes on the original tales. As you can probably figure out for yourself from this book’s blurb ’What Monstrous Gods’ only takes loose inspiration from the tale of Sleeping Beauty, namely it’s sleeping curse, and gives it a completely different focus in the form of some very devastating gods.

As soon as I read the descriptions of the various gods of Runakhia and the afflictions that their individual saints each suffered I was hooked on this book. There’s something deeply compelling and horrifying about tales such as this one and the bond between mortals and the gods was crafted wonderfully. The viewpoints of both – and how a 500 year absence had shaped it – was portrayed beautifully and Lia’s perspective was a fascinating one to follow in as you got to see how her past and the present shaped and changed her feelings towards the divine.

The world is one that I thoroughly enjoyed exploring and would happily revisit again, particularly for the aforementioned gods, saints and the history surrounding them (surely I’m not alone in longing for a companion similar to ’The Lives Of Saint’ given some of the horrors and miracles that are referenced here?). There were other elements within the setting that intrigued me too though such as the religious divides, devastating plague and political manoeuvring. Let’s be honest though, the central drama of this book revolves around two things – the gods and romance.

Thankfully I can say that I quite enjoyed the romantic elements on the whole. There was the type of taunting and teasing that never fails to reel me in and the unique nature of the pairing made it an intriguing one to watch unravel. Personally I do wish that certain shifts in feelings had been given a little bit more page time however. Similarly I do feel that certain major events could have benefited from the same thing. There wasn’t any drama that I found truly out of place, I just feel that with a bit more time spent on certain sections the impact could have hit me harder, making this more of a five star read.

On the whole I certainly recommend ’What Monstrous Gods’ though and can see it appealing to many young adult fantasy fans. The godly involvement – which given the title will surely intrigue most readers – is fascinating to discover and the struggles of Lia concerning her faith are believably managed too. Admittedly there was one occasion when I felt that the gods could have been more impactful but on the whole they were gloriously well depicted. So if the title and premise intrigues you I’d certainly recommend checking this out. Personally I’m even more eager to read more of Rosamund Hodge’s previous novels now.

Check out What Monstrous Gods on Goodreads here.

I strive to keep my reviews completely spoiler free but if anyone wants to discuss anything about the book in more detail then feel free to contact me in the comment section below.

Book Review: A Feather So Black by Lyra Selene

In a kingdom where magic has been lost, Fia is a rare changeling, left behind by the wicked Fair Folk when they stole the High Queen’s daughter and retreated behind the locked gates of Tír na nÓg.

Most despise Fia’s fae blood. But the queen raises her as a daughter and trains her to be a spy. Meanwhile, the real princess Eala is bound to Tír na nÓg, cursed to become a swan by day and only returning to her true form at night.

When a hidden gate to the realm is discovered, Fia is tasked by the queen to retrieve the princess and break her curse. But she doesn’t go alone: with her is prince Rogan, Fia’s dearest childhood friend—and Eala’s betrothed.

As they journey through the forests of the Folk, where magic winds through the roots of the trees and beauty can be a deadly illusion, Fia’s mission is complicated by her feelings for the prince…and her unexpected attraction to the dark-hearted fae lord holding Eala captive. Irian might be more monster than man, but he seems to understand Fia in a way no one ever has.

Soon, Fia begins to question the truth of her mission. But time is running out to break her sister’s curse. And unraveling the secrets of the past might destroy everything she has come to love.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book in exchange for a review.

’She was raised to be strong, hammered to be hard, and whetted to be sharp. But she had a weakness for green things, for she carried the forest in her blood.’

Writing this review is hard and it truly does feel as if it’s pulling me in two directions to do so. This book had elements that I long to gush about, particularly it’s mesmerising writing that can’t fail to haunt you, and left me entranced for about two thirds of its narrative. Yet I struggled with its final section which has deeply impacted my enjoyment of the novel as a whole. Hopefully I’m in the minority with that though as for its writing alone this novel deserves to be a hit.

Naturally I need to start by praising the aforementioned writing which enchanted me from its very first page. There were so many segments that I jotted down for potential quotes to accompany this review; so many sentiments that haunted me and were depicted beautifully. The writing is lyrical and mesmerising, reeling you in with its haunting prose that perfectly ties in with both this novel’s retelling nature and its fae dynamics.

Similarly I swiftly found myself beguiled by the world that this book is set within. Any mention of the fae tends to grab my attention and this book depicted them gloriously. There are differing species, some seeming more monstrous than others. The human world is aware of their existence and, given past events that I’ll leave you to uncover, despise them. Plus their own lands have intriguing characters to uncover and political scheming brewing at all times.

For the most part I found myself fascinated by the characters depicted here (Corra was an instant favourite for me) and loved uncovering their various pasts. There was banter that brought a smile to my face on many an occasion, friends and enemies to lovers, intriguing nature based magic and sultry scenes that will make your toes curl. It also depicted ideas surrounding love, hate and self worth beautifully.

So yes it pains me to get to the aspects that I struggled with but I can’t deny the difficulty I had with this book’s third section. Throughout the pace is fairly slow but this didn’t really bother me as it suited the lyrical style of the writing beautifully. Yet as more and more time passed for Fia I couldn’t help but feel that she needed to be a bit more proactive. With curses and deadlines involved I didn’t really feel like she was making much of an effort to get the answers that she was looking for. Instead as more and more time passed the focus seemed to increasingly fall upon her relationships. And yes I enjoyed the banter, yes the seductive scenes were beautifully described bur personally a lot of the interactions felt more lust than loved based to me.

My other major struggle comes down to Eala who I wasn’t fully convinced by although I won’t go into details due to the spoiler risk. Personally I’d have loved a few more scenes showing her among the other swan maidens though, something I feel may have helped with this aspect.

So altogether I’m torn although I would still advice checking this book out for yourself. It’s beautifully and lyrically written and depicts a world that I adored exploring. I had a couple of struggles with it towards the end but I truly hope that I’m in the minority in that regard. The romance focus, I’m sure, will appeal to a lot of fantasy romance fans and going into this book expecting it to be more character than plot led could also help. I probably will check out the sequel given how bewitching the writing was and how enchanted I was by its world.

Check out A Feather So Black on Goodreads here.

I strive to keep my reviews completely spoiler free but if anyone wants to discuss anything about the book in more detail then feel free to contact me in the comment section below.

Book Review: The Revenant Games by Margie Fuston

Blood is survival for seventeen-year-old Bly, who lives in the poverty-stricken human villages caught between enemy vampire and witch kingdoms. Most of the time, vampires and witches live in uneasy truce, buying human blood for their food and spells. But for two weeks a year, the ceasefire dissolves, and they hold the Revenant Games.

Any human can play in the games for either the witches or the vampires. Alongside life-changing riches, the witches will raise one person from the dead for whoever captures the highest-ranking vampire. In turn, the vampires offer immortality to whoever captures the most powerful witch. For most humans, the games are a ticket out of poverty. For Bly, it’s a chance to get back her dead sister, Elise, and save the life of her dying best friend, Emerson.

Together, she and Emerson forge a dangerous plan to play both sides and win both resurrection for Elise and immortality for Emerson. But when the vampire they capture stirs a passion in Bly that she hasn’t felt in a long time, she’ll have to make a her sister or the boy who’s shown her there’s more to life than just survival.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

’Blood always came first in this world, in more ways than one.’ *

Vampires, witches and a deadly competition for the humans trapped between the two. Obviously this was a ‘must read’ for me as any one of those features would have piqued my interest, let alone all three combined. I’m sure there are many readers that feel similarly too and thankfully I can say that this did not disappoint.

One of my favourite features of ’The Revenant Games’ has to be the world that it is set within. Over the course of the novel you get to glimpse how each of these beings live and learn a little about their lands. The hardships that humans suffer is experienced firsthand by Bly, whose perspective the novel is in, yet you still get to discover a fair bit about the more magical territories and those who live within them. There are little nuggets of history and lore scattered throughout too and – most likely unsurprisingly to anyone who knows me – I adored these offerings immensely.

There’s a varied cast of characters who are intriguing to discover. Unsurprisingly my personal favourite was Kerrigan, one of the vampires whose story I loved uncovering over the course of the novel. Another, who featured fairly briefly, was Hazel who offered intriguing possibilities for the future. Bly was an interesting enough individual to follow – and I loved her interactions with Kerrigan throughout – yet I did find her a bit unconvincing on occasion too. For someone who’d spent over a year planning to enter the games she seemed utterly unprepared in many ways and made the occasional decision that frustrated me. There were a couple of occasions where other characters made choices that conflicted me too, seeming to go against some of what had previously been established of their natures.

As a whole the plot kept me riveted throughout with an enjoyable mix of danger, intrigue and exploration of its world. The general direction that it went in was fascinating and it’s only the aforementioned character inconsistencies, particularly towards the end, that frustrated me somewhat. Although I do also feel that more could have been made of the games too. The build up to them, particularly with the trials, was fascinating and the experience of Bly, and those around her, was engaging too. Yet I can’t help but wish that there’d been a bit more made of the other competitors too; yes it’s ultimately Bly’s story but it would have been nice if she’d crossed paths with others a little more too.

Ultimately I recommend ’The Revenant Games’ and am intrigued to see where the sequel will go. It was an action packed story with its fair share of heartbreaking moments throughout too. It had interactions that made me smile and a world that I loved learning about. Certain elements could have been stronger but it was still a wholly enjoyable read, leaving off with a mystery that I can’t wait to uncover.

*The quote included within this review came from an arc and may differ from the final version.

Check out The Revenant Games on Goodreads here.

I strive to keep my reviews completely spoiler free but if anyone wants to discuss anything about the book in more detail then feel free to contact me in the comment section below.

Book Review: A Tempest Of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

On the streets of White Roaring, Arthie Casimir is a criminal mastermind and collector of secrets. Her prestigious tearoom transforms into an illegal bloodhouse by dark, catering to the vampires feared by society. But when her establishment is threatened, Arthie is forced to strike an unlikely deal with an alluring adversary to save it—and she can’t do the job alone.

Calling upon a band of misfits, Arthie formulates a plan to infiltrate the dark and glittering vampire society known as the Athereum. But not every member of her crew is on her side, and as the truth behind the heist unfolds, Arthie finds herself in the midst of a conspiracy that will threaten the world as she knows it. Dark, action-packed, and swoonworthy, this is Hafsah Faizal better than ever.

’He was fascinated by the world of the living, enamored by the concept of the undead, and wanted to make life better for all.’

Dark, decadent, divine; all words that can apply to vampires but also to the writing within this book. Within moments I was entranced by its beautiful prose and on numerous occasions found myself longing to share quote after quote with the world. Below is the early quote that convinced me that this was absolutely going to be a ‘me’ book but there were numerous others that I adored throughout, depicting a variety of themes, emotions and sentiments.

’Every good love story starts with a bullet to the heart.’

Not only was the writing beautifully hypnotic but the banter between characters brought a smile to my face too. This book contained the kind of dynamics that I adore and has interactions that I can see appealing to many a reader. There were conversations that I loved, taunting that lured me in and harrowing moments of heartbreak throughout. The pasts that some of these characters have suffered was depicted unflinchingly and there was one thirst related section that will stay with me for quite some time.

The characters were well crafted and enabled me to swiftly become invested in their stories. Jin is the kind of charming individual that you can’t help but fall for with the bonus of a brilliantly creative mind. Arthie in many ways is what you’d envision for the leader of a criminal gang; living and breathing secrets and on her own mission for revenge. Whilst Flick is an unexpected ray of light who fits into this world in an oddly brilliant way. Raised in high society with a fondness for bright, beautiful dresses she should stick out like a sore thumb. Yet I never felt like she didn’t belong.

There are intriguing politics at play too with a mysterious masked leader and it’s hard not to feel oddly compelled by the imagery of vampires drinking blood within a teahouse. It’s a setting that I really enjoyed spending time in.

If you’re looking at this and wandering why I felt forced to knock half a star off of my review it’s because I didn’t find myself as fully enamoured with Laith and Arthie’s interactions as I could have been. There were moments that I loved but others that felt too forced or sudden. There was so much potential there for a twisty, intense connection yet for some reason the chemistry never seemed to completely engulf me. And if it had; wow. I honestly don’t know how I’d have handled certain events.

That ending though? If anyone finishes this book and doesn’t immediately want to beg for a copy of the follow up I’d be surprised. What is it about vampire based books leaving off in such gloriously cruel ways?

In case it wasn’t obvious I absolutely recommend ’A Tempest Of Tea’ and think that it will appeal to a variety of readers. There’s criminal gangs, a very unusual King Arthur connection, blood based tea shops, scheming, mysterious masked leaders, vampires and so much more. Topped off with some truly mesmerising writing, this is definitely a read that should not be missed.

Check out A Tempest Of Tea on Goodreads here.

I strive to keep my reviews completely spoiler free but if anyone wants to discuss anything about the book in more detail (or just gush about it with me) then feel free to contact me in the comment section below.