Book Review: A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur

Hope is dangerous. Love is deadly.

1506, Joseon. The people suffer under the cruel reign of the tyrant King Yeonsan, powerless to stop him from commandeering their land for his recreational use, banning and burning books, and kidnapping and horrifically abusing women and girls as his personal playthings.

Seventeen-year-old Iseul has lived a sheltered, privileged life despite the kingdom’s turmoil. When her older sister, Suyeon, becomes the king’s latest prey, Iseul leaves the relative safety of her village, traveling through forbidden territory to reach the capital in hopes of stealing her sister back. But she soon discovers the king’s power is absolute, and to challenge his rule is to court certain death.

Prince Daehyun has lived his whole life in the terrifying shadow of his despicable half-brother, the king. Forced to watch King Yeonsan flaunt his predation through executions and rampant abuse of the common folk, Daehyun aches to find a way to dethrone his half-brother once and for all. When staging a coup, failure is fatal, and he’ll need help to pull it off—but there’s no way to know who he can trust.

When Iseul’s and Daehyun’s fates collide, their contempt for each other is transcended only by their mutual hate for the king. Armed with Iseul’s family connections and Daehyun’s royal access, they reluctantly join forces to launch the riskiest gamble the kingdom has ever

Save her sister. Free the people. Destroy a tyrant.

Beautiful and devastating, heart-warming and heartbreaking; ’A Crane Among Wolves’ takes a brutal and bloody tale and manages to intertwine moments of humanity and love throughout. This book had a heart at its core that burrowed its way into my soul, yet it simultaneously created a chilling picture of life under King Yeonsan’s rule.

History has always fascinated me but King Yeonsan, and Korean history in general, is new to. Now I know that I definitely need to discover more of it. Life within this time and setting is vibrantly depicted within this novel from its clothing and cuisine to the terrors of a tyrant’s rule. Mentions of superstitions even pop up on occasion, creating a truly immersive world to discover. The horrors and atrocities of King Yeonsan are mentioned throughout and utterly appalling to behold. The level of devastation that one country, in one short span, must have felt (which I’m sure many others are unaware of) is devastating to behold.

What really surprised me about this novel was the moments of warmth, love and general sense of found family scattered throughout. The sisterly bond that drives Iseul’s actions is beautifully complex and exquisitely crafted, showing how wedges can form between siblings but love remains buried beneath throughout. The romance is also wonderfully crafted, showing a slow and tender shift of feelings between two individuals who, utterly understandably given their pasts, are afraid to let love in. Possibly my favourite bond though was that of Iseul and Wonsik; the unexpected mentor/apprentice dynamics brought a smile to my face on more than one occasion and the way that Wonsik connected to and guided the younger characters at the centre of this novel was beautifully captured on the page.

So the world, characters and bonds between them were all beautifully described. Whilst the villains of this novel were all believably crafted and collected a vast catalogue of horrors between them. The ‘Nameless Flower’ revelation managed to catch me off guard and I found the investigation into those crimes fascinating to discover.

Personally my only wish is that there’d been a little bit more attention paid to the coup itself. Given the dual perspective narrative much of the events understandably can’t be displayed upon the page but I do think more of Daehyun ‘s role during the event could have been shown. Similarly I’d have liked to have seen one or two more interactions between Daehyun and King Yeonsan towards the end too and preferably at least one scene showing Grand Prince Jinseong as he’s everybody’s hopes for the future.

Altogether I absolutely recommend ’A Crane Among Wolves’ though and found it a fascinating story to uncover. It’s a beautiful but brutal, well rounded depiction of life under a real life tyrant in 1506 Korea which manages to intertwine a sense of humanity and warmth throughout thanks to its central characters and those surrounding them. Needless to say I’m now itching to read more by this author.

Check out A Crane Among Wolves 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 Silence Factory by Bridget Collins

Henry dreams of silence.

A world without the clattering of carriages through cobbled streets, the distant cries of drunken brawls, the relentless ticking of the clock.

Then he meets a fascinating, mysterious gentleman who sells just that. Precious silk that can drown out the clamour of the world – and everything Henry is so desperate to escape.

Summoned to Sir Edward’s secluded factory to try to cure his young daughter’s deafness, Henry is soon drawn deeper and deeper into the origins of this otherworldly gift: a gift that has travelled from ancient Mediterranean glades to English libraries.

Ignoring repeated warnings from the girl’s secretive governess, he allows himself to fall under the spell of Sir Edward and his silk… but when he learns its true cost, will it be too late to turn back?

’”Silence is not only silence, sir, it is attention – it is sanity. It is sleep for infants, medicine for invalids, rest for the working man – it is money for the man who must think or stave.”’

Mesmerising, enchanting, beguiling; ’The Silence Factory’ cast a spell over me and left me utterly entranced from its very first page. Reading this book was like being struck by Telverton silk itself, although it was the world that drifted away from me, rather than sound, as the pages of this book dragged me in and kept me lost within its mesmerising world. As a fan of the author’s debut perhaps that’s not entirely surprising but even so this book left me speechless.

Getting hooked upon this narrative is easy thanks to how beautifully it’s crafted and how vividly it depicts it setting. There’s something about Bridget Collins’ writing that lends itself perfectly to the gothic delights that she pens. And this one; this one was almost like a fever dream at times to read. It’s not surreal – don’t let that description put you off – but it’s simply the way that it gets under your skin and sinks its teeth into you. Reading this book the atmosphere overwhelms you, leaving you totally immersed within all that the characters feel. Which, given the effect of the silk, leads to that haunting experience.

The narrative is split between two perspectives. The main one, Henry’s, is told through his voice and lets you discover Telverton silk as he does. It’s a fascinating storyline to unravel and left me mesmerised throughout. Wrapped around this narrative are extracts from Sophia’s diary back when she and her husband first came across the spiders who create this bewitching silk. And those segments were equally impossible to tear my eyes away from. If the narrative had focused upon either I’d have been delighted but to have both felt like a perfectly precious gift.

The characters are wonderfully well depicted and brimming with life. Everybody felt fleshed out in a believable manner and there wasn’t anyone involved who didn’t leave me intrigued. The more villainous characters of this novel though; goodness they chilled me. There are scenes in both storylines that were uncomfortable to read and made my skin crawl with loathing. That’s how deplorable, yet realistically depicted, some of the darkest deeds are within this book.

Set within a factory in a historic setting this book naturally touches on some of the horrific conditions that people were forced to work in during this time and setting (and yes, it will make you despair and seethe). Similarly it shines a light on colonialism, class divides and sexism in a manner that fits perfectly within the story that is told. The topics are there, and depicted in a way that will inevitably move you, yet not pushed in a way that disrupts the story’s flow.

Finally I just want to say that the ending was beautifully captured. Honestly I long to go into details about exactly how it moved me but won’t due to the spoiler risk. But it fits the narrative perfectly and will certainly make you feel…something.

Altogether I think it goes without saying that I recommend ’The Silence Factory’. It’s a beautiful, beguiling wonder of a book that will swiftly cast its spell over you. The atmosphere is vivid enough to engulf you entirely and the plot will leave you mesmerised throughout. Needless to say I can’t wait to read more by the author.

’I do not know if this is the birthplace of silence, but I am sure that there is something strange here, something of which I should be afraid. But I am not.’

I don’t generally go into depth with triggers (I know that I’ll inevitably overlook one and worry that they can venture into spoiler territory at times) but I do feel compelled to warn readers that this book could be difficult at times for readers triggered by mentions of suicide and/or miscarriage.

Check out The Silence Factory 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 Sins On Their Bones by Laura R. Samotin

Dimitri Alexeyev used to be the Tzar of Novo-Svitsevo. Now, he is merely a broken man, languishing in exile after losing a devastating civil war instigated by his estranged husband, Alexey Balakin. In hiding with what remains of his court, Dimitri and his spymaster, Vasily Sokolov, engineer a dangerous ruse. Vasily will sneak into Alexey’s court under a false identity to gather information, paving the way for the usurper’s downfall, while Dimitri finds a way to kill him for good.

But stopping Alexey is not so easy as plotting to kill an ordinary man. Through a perversion of the Ludayzim religion that he terms the Holy Science, Alexey has died and resurrected himself in an immortal, indestructible body—and now claims he is guided by the voice of God Himself. Able to summon forth creatures from the realm of demons, he seeks to build an army, turning Novo-Svitsevo into the greatest empire that history has ever seen.

Dimitri is determined not to let Alexey corrupt his country, but saving Novo-Svitsevo and its people will mean forfeiting the soul of the husband he can’t bring himself to forsake—or the spymaster he’s come to love.

‘Because while fears were often the result of minds spinning tales, they were also often based on kernels of truth. And Vasily’s special talent was collecting truths, molding them together into stories, and using those stories to whisper to others.’

Beautiful and devastating, harrowing and heart warming; this book manages to blend the turmoil of trauma with the wonders of healing, and leaves it gorgeously wrapped up within an addictive brilliant fantasy offering. ’The Sins On Their Bones’ doesn’t just give readers an exhilarating new fantasy world to lose themselves within but somehow simultaneously poignantly depicts the realities of abusive relationships and the clashing emotions that form as a result of them.

If the premise of ’The Sins On Their Bones’ appeals to you then I sincerely doubt that you’ll find yourself disappointed. The fantasy offerings involved were fascinating to discover and ventured into some very dark territory at times too. Personally I’m not really familiar with the Jewish mythology that this novel draws inspiration from but it was mesmerising to discover and I’d definitely read similarly inspired narratives in the future. The world was intriguing to learn about and the politics at play kept me riveted throughout. Being set after a ‘disastrous civil war’ makes for a wonderfully refreshing viewpoint too, beginning the story at the point where many others would be nearing their middle or end.

Character wise I was enthralled by this novel and I love how poignantly it made you feel both the hurts and loves that these individuals experienced. Dimitri enters the scene a broken man and his journey of healing – and untangling the exact road that led to his state of mind – will devastate you. Alexey is a villain that you’ll find yourself simultaneously intrigued and disgusted by, his viewpoint crafted so masterfully that you won’t be able to look away. And Vasily is the spymaster caught between the two; his current mission dangerous enough to leave you brimming with intrigue. Those are the three viewpoints that you get to discover but the supporting cast is brilliantly depicted too and there are numerous characters that I can see burrowing their way into readers’ hearts. Especially given how wonderfully this book captures those ‘found family’ feels.

What truly amazed me about this novel is how painstakingly it captured the complicated relationship between Dimitri and Alexey though. This is a pairing that will hurt to unravel but it’s so believably crafted too. The heartbreak and devastation; the clashes for power and control. It isn’t an easy match to read about but its depiction is superb.

I also feel the need to mention how much I adored the library that featured in this book on occasion. It’s the sort of magical, and disturbing, book filled environment that I’d read many a story set within. (And features some surprisingly intriguing characters too).

Altogether I absolutely recommend ’The Sins On Their Bones’ and can see it appealing to both fans of fantasy (for it’s intriguing mystical elements, dark horrors and political manoeuvring) as well as those who pick novels up for its characters over anything else. It’s a debut that’s left me mesmerised and managed to balance its plot and more emotional aspects beautifully. Needless to say I’m looking forward to picking up whatever the author writes next.

Check out The Sins On Their Bones 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 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.