Tag Fantasy

The Whispering Skull by Jonathan Stroud #fantasy #fiction #youngadult #mystery #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for The Whispering Skull by Jonathan Stroud. This is the 2nd book in the Lockwood and Co series and it is a fabulous follow-up for this Young Adult fantasy series.

When the dead return to haunt the living, Lockwood & Co. step in.

A series of grisly thefts have been taking place across the capital: powerful supernatural artefacts have been stolen, and their warders murdered. In an atmosphere of mounting panic, a mysterious skull in an iron box is unearthed in Kensal Green Cemetery.

Witnesses hear it whispering urgently, but the words cannot be understood. Lockwood & Co. will have to use all their ingenuity and skill to uncover the secret of the whispering skull.

MY REVIEW

Having read the first book not so long ago, I decided it was time to continue with the second book. I have been told that the Netflix series is good but to be honest I am enjoying the books so I won’t probably watch the series.

As this second book gets off to a great start. Things have been slightly easier for Lockwood & Co when it comes to getting cases to solve and therefore being paid. Their latest one is of an old relic or artefact that had been removed from a recently discovered lead coffin. The artefact is extremely dangerous and Lockwood & Co, as well as their rivals Fittes Agency, have been called in to work this case together. If you have read the previous book then you will know that these two agencies do not see eye to eye when it comes down to working together.

I really enjoyed this one as much, if not more so than the first. I think this is because I was already aware of the characters and also the feel of the story. It meant I was able to get straight into the story and plot as I knew who was who. The author has once again created a superb story that has mystery, suspense, and danger and it is a thriller that has some great humour to it as well.

While this is aimed at a younger adult audience, I have to say it also works so well for grown-up readers! It does have an almost gothic feel to it and I wouldn’t be surprised if carriages, police with whistles and truncheons and lamplighters were seen. It is when the author mentions phones, cabs and the more modern items that I realise this is not a Victorian gothic fiction story, but a modern-day one. It has the right vibes and then there is the atmospherics that the author injects into it as well.

As the characters creep around there are orbs of light, glimmers, ghosts, lurkers and various other spectre and creepy things hovering around. It does give it a gentle horror feel but for me, it feels more suspense based.

If you are looking for a fantasy, mystery thriller series and you also enjoy reading YA fiction then this is a series that you should read, if you haven’t already. I have only recently started it and it has been around for quite a few years already. A brilliant book and it is one I would definitely recommend reading.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jonathan Anthony Stroud is an author of fantasy books, mainly for children and youths.

Stroud grew up in St Albans where he enjoyed reading books, drawing pictures, and writing stories. Between the ages seven and nine he was often ill, so he spent most of his days in the hospital or in his bed at home. To escape boredom he would occupy himself with books and stories. After he completed his studies of English literature at the University of York, he worked in London as an editor for the Walker Books store. He worked with different types of books there and this soon led to the writing of his own books. During the 1990s, he started publishing his own works and quickly gained success.

In May 1999, Stroud published his first children’s novel, Buried Fire, which was the first of a line of fantasy/mythology children’s books.

Among his most prominent works are the bestselling Bartimaeus Trilogy. A special feature of these novels compared to others of their genre is that Stroud examines the stereotypes and ethics of the magician class and the enslaved demons. This is done by examining the perspective of the sarcastic and slightly egomaniacal djinni Bartimaeus. The books in this series are The Amulet of Samarkand, The Golem’s Eye, and Ptolemy’s Gate, his first books to be published in the United States.

Stroud lives in St Albans, Hertfordshire, with his two children, Isabelle and Arthur, and his wife Gina, an illustrator of children’s books.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Our Hideous Progeny by C.E. McGill @DoubledayUK #NetGalley #gothic #fantasy #historicalfantasy #publicationday #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today of Our Hideous Progeny by C.E. McGill. This is a wonderful book that is set in the 1850s, a tale of mystery with a fantasy gothic theme to it. I would like to wish the author a Happy Publication Day today 🙂

My huge thanks to Doubleday UK for granting my request to read this title via NetGalley.

I have to mention something about this cover, it is dark but it fits in so well with so many elements of the story.

Mary is the great-niece of Victor Frankenstein. She knows her great uncle disappeared in mysterious circumstances in the Arctic but she doesn’t know why or how…

The 1850s is a time of discovery and London is ablaze with the latest scientific theories and debates, especially when a spectacular new exhibition of dinosaur sculptures opens at the Crystal Palace. Mary, with a sharp mind and a sharper tongue, is keen to make her name in this world of science, alongside her geologist husband Henry, but without wealth and connections, their options are limited.

But when Mary discovers some old family papers that allude to the shocking truth behind her great-uncle’s past, she thinks she may have found the key to securing their future… Their quest takes them to the wilds of Scotland, to Henry’s intriguing but reclusive sister Maisie, and to a deadly chase with a rival who is out to steal their secret…

MY REVIEW

I have read Frankenstein several times over the years, which is a book have enjoyed. When I saw this title on NetGalley it was the title that caught my eye, and then I read the synopsis. Rather than retelling the story, the author has decided to go on a slightly different path.

Mary had no idea who her grandfather was until she finally discovered a briefcase with some papers in it. It turns out that she is the niece of a certain Viktor Frankenstein, of course, we know the name from the Mary Shelly story, but in this story, he is someone who notes may just help Mary and her husband, James, make their mark in history.

Wanting to be recognised and acknowledged in scientific fields, Mary and Henry Sutherland are on the edge. They are not deemed important enough or, if I am being honest, rich enough to warrant being taken seriously. They have caused a few ructions and this has not helped their cause. They decide to travel to Scotland where they can continue their experiments based on her great uncle’s notes, they need solitude and secrecy and this isolated house is one that can offer that. It is Henry’s childhood home where his sister still lives.

This is a gothic horror novel as such, although not so much horror, then I didn’t think Frankenstein was either. But, it does exude that gothic vibe and also being set in the 1850s fit in well with the society at the time, with The Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace Gardens, Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species and advances in electricity and research and discovery were happening at a fast rate. It is a great era to set a novel that mixes science, history and experimentation.

The characters of Mary and Henry are well done and the author does show the disparities between the different sexes in terms of academia. Women are and do attend scientific discussions, but they are merely seen as socials where they can gather with their male counterparts. Don’t forget this is a time when women are seen to support their husbands by attending functions with them, but do not have the brainpower or the stamina to understand such topics completely. We do now, of course, know differently, but the author does a great job of showing how difficult it is to be seen.

Having a husband and wife team does help to alleviate this, but the underlying problem is always there. With this new experiment they attempt to undertake, they each have their own tasks, and their own strengths and only by working together do they stand a chance of succeeding. The inclusion of a sister adds to the appeal and for me she was a great character to add. She is prone to ailments, but she also has a very good part to play in her own right.

This is a really enjoyable read, it does show perspectives of the society of the time and makes it a very good historical fiction story, it does have mystery and a wonderful gothic feel to it. I would not say it is very fast-paced, but it suits the era. I really enjoyed this one, it is full of descriptions if you are a fan of novels that do have a more classical fiction feel to them then this is one I would definitely recommend.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch #RiversofLondon #fantasy #mystery #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for the 2nd book in the Rivers of London series. Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch sees Constable Peter Grant investigating the deaths of Jazz Men under the leadership of his mentor DCI Nightingale.

The song. That’s what London constable and sorcerer’s apprentice Peter Grant first notices when he examines the corpse of Cyrus Wilkins, part-time jazz drummer and full-time accountant, who dropped dead of a heart attack while playing a gig at Soho’s 606 Club. The notes of the old jazz standard are rising from the body—a sure sign that something about the man’s death was not at all natural but instead supernatural.

Body and soul. They’re also what Peter will risk as he investigates a pattern of similar deaths in and around Soho. With the help of his superior officer, Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, the last registered wizard in England, and the assistance of beautiful jazz aficionado Simone Fitzwilliam, Peter will uncover a deadly magical menace—one that leads right to his own doorstep and to the squandered promise of a young jazz musician: a talented trumpet player named Richard “Lord” Grant—otherwise known as Peter’s dear old dad.

MY REVIEW

Having read the first book in the series, I knew I wanted to continue with this. Book 2 follows on from the first book and continues with the same humour and madcap antics of Constable Peter Grant. He is not only a constable but also an apprentice with one of the force’s most minor departments. It is run by one man who is supposed to take it easy.

Peter’s wingman was left with a large section of her jaw missing after being caught in a magical crossfire. While on leave, she offers to help Peter with his latest case. It has family connections. Jazz men are being murdered, and Peter can detect the remnants of music on their bodies. He has been brought in because of this and works alongside the ‘standard’ officers in the MET.

Once again this is a fabulous read, it is fast-paced and brings back some characters that I had met in the first book, those being the relations of Mother Thames. As Peter investigates he comes into contact with wanna-be Jazzmen, this is where his father’s love of Jazz comes into its own and it is why Peter is an invaluable asset in this case.

Where there is one body another will follow, and another and yeah you guessed it another. As the bodies line up the mystery deepens and some wonder what is behind these murders. It is a dark force and one that Peter is not equipped to stand up to, although he does try, dear of him! He is still in the early stages of learning his magical craft, and this is proving something that does need a lot of practice.

I think one of the things that I enjoy about this series is the way the magic sits side by side as such with the normal everyday stuff. Only certain people are aware of the department and it works well. Peter is not a mixer so he is rather suited to working with one other person.

I also really enjoy the journey around the streets of London, its back alleys, its dodgy areas and also all the other weird and wonderful things that the author brings into his story.

As I mentioned I am enjoying this series and it is one that fans of urban fantasy and mystery genres will most likely enjoy. I do think that reading this series in order is good as the first book gives a great basis for the characters and the way things work. Fabulous second book and I am looking forward to the next one. I would definitely recommend this and the first book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ben Aaronovitch’s career started with a bang writing for Doctor Who, subsided in the middle and then, as is traditional, a third act resurgence with the bestselling Rivers of London series.

Born and raised in London he says that he’ll leave his home when they prise his city out of his cold dead fingers.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Infinity Gate by M.R. Carey @ michaelcarey191 @OrbitBooks @Tr4cyF3nt0n #Pandominion #dystopia #scifi #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for Infinity Gate by M.R. Carey. This is the first book in the Pandominion trilogy and it is fabulous.

I have to say a huge thanks to Tracey at Compulsive Readers for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my paperback copy of this brilliant book from Orbit Books.

The Pandominion: a political and trading alliance of a million worlds – except that they’re really just the one world, Earth, in many different realities. And when an AI threat arises that could destroy everything the Pandominion has built, they’ll eradicate it by whatever means necessary, no matter the cost to human life.

Scientist Hadiz Tambuwal is looking for a solution to her own Earth’s environmental collapse when she stumbles across the secret of inter-dimensional travel. It could save everyone on her dying planet, but now she’s walked into the middle of a war on a scale she never dreamed of.

And she needs to choose a side before it kills her.

INFINITY IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.

MY REVIEW

What a brilliant first book in the Pandominion series Infinity Gate is. The Pandominion is a series of worlds, well actually millions upon millions of worlds. They are all a variation of Earth and The Pandominion is the alliance that runs them, well most of them, some are not deemed acceptable. Our version of Earth is dying, there is nothing worth saving so the Pandominion has ignored it. However, a scientist by the name of Hadiz Tembuwal discovers that there are multiverses and this could mean a way of saving our Earth.

It can be a little difficult to review the first book in a series that you know is going to be huge, I mean in the way the book is laid out and how far into the galaxy, multiverse or time it goes. This author does know how to deal with large areas, dimensions and spaces and he also knows how to fill them. He has some main characters such as Paz, Essien, Moon, Dulcie and Rupshe. There are obviously many others, but not too many to get confusing.

Mixing in travel through different dimensions of universes would make you think that this was very science-based, it isn’t, well it is, but not over-the-top tech speak. The terms used are part of the story and kind of make sense. Tactical soldiers with enhanced armour known as the Cielo were interesting to come across, as were the various other inhabitants of the different verses. YOu will soon discover how the author manages to mingle and mix machines with beings and gradually work towards a more AI form. There are those that are alive and then there is the machinery.

This first book lays out the foundations and gives great detail about how things are seen from a viewpoint of someone who has never heard of the Pandominion. This makes it more accessible to different readers. There are also different perspectives from the different beings and they have worked together to start to form a great image of this alternative verse.

Having great characters and a storyline that is building momentum makes for a really great read. I have read this over a few days or so and even when I had put it down due to work I could remember what was going on. I found that the characters are very memorable and I am already starting to have favourites.

The author obviously has a lot more up his sleeve for this series and it will be interesting to how or where he lets his imagination run.

It is a mix of sci-fi, fantasy and dystopian and with some fabulously explained characters. I have already started to build up a picture in my head of how some of these appear, I just couldn’t help it.

A brilliant first book and one I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mike Carey is the acclaimed writer of Lucifer and Hellblazer (now filmed as Constantine). He has recently completed a comics adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere, and is the current writer on Marvel’s X-Men and Ultimate Fantastic Four. He has also written the screenplay for a movie, Frost Flowers, which is soon to be produced by Hadaly Films and Bluestar Pictures.

The End of Men by Christina Sweeney-Baird @ChristinaRoseSB @BoroughPress #NetGalley #pandemic #scifi #dystopian #bookreview

yvonnembee 5 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for The End of Men by Christina Sweeney-Baird. This was published initially in 2021, at the time I had seen it out and being reviewed, but at the time I didn’t want to read it as Covid was still too prominent. However, a year on and it was obviously the right time because I really enjoyed it and thought it was a great book to read.

My huge thanks to Borough Press, a branch of Harper Collins, for granting my request to read this title via NetGalley.

This was a really great book to read and I do like the way the author approached the story and then went further with it. Not just the lead-up and during, but the after-effects of living in a world that had undergone huge changes.

When a mysterious disease starts in Scotland, Dr Amanda Maclean is ignored. She is just a female doctor and does not know enough to be making such a rash call that this is something to be worried about. It is brushed under the carpet. It then starts to spread. It affects only men and they are dying by the millions as it spreads around the globe.

This story was written before the start of the Covid pandemic in 2018/19, it was then published in 2021. A lot of what is discussed in this story did happen when Covid struck. Initially, it was seen as a problem on the other side of the world, governments were slow to react and as we know the pandemic was to kill millions around the world. The End of Men is a similar story and one that the author imagined prior to the pandemic.

This story is told from the perspective of different characters around the world. They are female characters as they now are prominent, not every man has died, and there are some that are immune. The race is on to discover where the virus started, what makes it spread, who are carriers and why only certain people live.

As much as I really enjoyed the beginning of the story, and this was really good, it was the recovery and adapting to the virus that really turned this story around for me. The author imagines so many scenarios that I had not even considered. There are the obvious ones about having a depleted workforce, of women retraining and having a prominent role in how countries are run and how they have new freedom, especially in countries where women were definitely not seen as equal. Yes, in some ways this story is about empowerment and also feminism but it is also about how people adapt to change.

A story like this is easy to relate to as we are still living with Covid. As we are adapting to the world after this pandemic it is nothing compared to how the author sees a world with a significantly reduced male population. Without men, it becomes a matter of how the human race will recover with a limited supply of males to help repopulate.

I liked this book a huge amount. Set in a future that is all too real to imagine and the way the author uses her story to envision a future that has changed drastically. This is one for those who like dystopian, futuristic and feminist viewpoints, it is a mystery and a thriller as the race is also on to find and develop a cure. It is one I would definitely recommend.

The really alarming thing about this book is that the author did imagine this prior to the Covid Pandemic. I have a copy of a letter sent via NetGalley detailing this…

Here’s a letter from Christina Sweeney-Baird: 

I first heard about corona virus as most people likely did; through snippets of news and emails from friends saying, ‘Have you seen this? So weird!’ For a number of weeks, it felt distant in that way so many foreign news stories do. Something awful and scary but ultimately a disease I would remain personally unaffected by.

 Only a few months on from those emails and news reports, I’m sitting in my flat in central London in lockdown. I leave the house once a day for exercise, and shop for food and other essentials once a week. I don’t know when I’ll next see my family in Scotland, my boyfriend who is living in Dubai at the moment for work or my friends and colleagues. Billions of people around the world are in the same position. I feel immeasurably fortunate to still be employed and to have recovered from suspected corona virus (I have not been tested but experienced the virus’s tell-tale cough, breathlessness and extreme fatigue after returning to London from a trip to Northern Italy). I know you’re meant to ‘live your truth’ through art and everything, but contracting corona virus was a step towards authenticity I could have done without.

 It’s an understatement to say it feels surreal that I wrote a book about a pandemic disproportionately affecting men just before a pandemic disproportionately affecting men swept the world. More than one person has half-jokingly called me Cassandra. When I started writing The End of Men in September 2018 it felt like the ultimate thought experiment. How far could I take my imagination? How would a global pandemic with an enormous death rate change the world? What would the world look like without men, or the majority of them? I wrote the first draft of the book in nine months, finishing with a burst of intense writing in June 2019. Now, as I edit the book for my editors wondering what this summer will bring, I find myself testing my imaginary world against the real one. I gauge the distance between what I have written and what is happening. As a writer of speculative fiction, this is not something I ever expected.

 I’m relieved that corona virus doesn’t have a death rate as high as the virus I have imagined in my novel, and that it will not kill nine in ten of the world’s men. The imaginary world I have written belongs safely in fiction, within the pages of a novel. Nonetheless, we are experiencing in real life the greatest pandemic of our lifetimes, which is more than I ever could have imagined in my wildest nightmares. I hope that by the time you’re reading this, there is a vaccine. I hope our healthcare systems survive and economies recover. I hope your loved ones are safe and that the world has returned to that wonderful, boring, nostalgic state I now crave: normality.

Christina Sweeney-Baird

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Hunted by Shalini Boland @ShaliniBoland @SecondSkyBooks #NetGalley #paranormal #youngadult #fiction #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for the final book in the Vampires of Marchwood trilogy. Hunted by Shalini Boland brings the answers to the questions and settles old scores and while it has ended I am going to miss these books.

My huge thanks to Second Sky Books for granting my request to read these titles on NetGalley.

My name is Madison Greene and my boyfriend is a vampire. And not just any vampire, one with brooding good looks and a smile that makes my heart skip a beat. As I curl up against Alexandre’s side, our hands entwined, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

Although our relationship hasn’t been easy. I’m human, so there were always going to be complications. But I thought we’d banished the demons from his previous life. I couldn’t have been more wrong…

Because there’s a new threat in the form of Nadia – a blue-eyed beauty who seems determined to do everything she can to break us apart. I trust Alexandre but I don’t trust her.

As I start digging into the truth to find out who Nadia really is, centuries-old secrets begin to unravel. And in order to set Alexandre free from the chains of his past, we must return to the ancient underground city of vampires to defeat Alexandre’s archnemesis once and for all.

Can I finally save Alexandre? Or will loving a vampire be the death of me?

MY REVIEW

After reading the first two books in this trilogy I was definitely eager to see what happened to Maddie and the rather unusual family at Marchwood. Maddie and her brother Ben have inherited Marchwood House and also discovered they have a family they knew nothing about. This family are o100 years old and are vampires. The previous two books have been brilliant at introducing the characters and then showing their journey together. Now, in this final episode, lives are at stake.

Once again the author has created a wonderfully addictive story. The previous books have followed a split timeline and with each book, the historical sections have got older and gone further back into history and time. This is where we begin to see some of the threads wrapping up and also to see what twists and surprises the author has had in store for us readers. I will admit now, I did not envisage the ending how the author did, but it does work brilliantly.

The journey from being alone to being part of a family has been a wonderful one. It has been fraught with danger but at the same time, it has brought these two branches of the family closer. Along with the two families, there is also Alex he was turned at the same time as the older members and is an important person in Maddie’s life.

Slipping back and forth between times is a great way of keeping up to date with present-day events, but also giving something more sinister that lurks from the past. I really enjoyed the way the author made the past events exciting and atmospheric with a sense of mistrust and an ancient being.

Even though this is a mix of horror and a fantasy book, the way it has been written is fabulous no matter what your age. There are some things in the books that reminded me of Twilight but this book also had a lot more uniqueness. There are several routes the author has gone down that make for riveting if at times quite a gory blood-fest. Among all this there is also a romantic element, this is one that has a good feel to it, while other is confusion and arguments there is also a sense of getting used to new situations and feelings. Of young adults finding their place and dealing with a whole array of challenges.

This final book had some great twists and it saw the series brought to its conclusion. It felt right and the author for me has finished it properly, by this I mean it does feel that their story is at an end. There is however a little opening that has been left, well you never know!

This has been a wonderful set of books and if you are a fan of horror, vampires, Young Adult stories, romance and vampires then you will enjoy this one. I am so glad I came across this series and I would definitely recommend this final book and the series as a whole.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shalini –  I write psychological thrillers and dark adventures, and I live in Dorset, England with my husband, two children and our dog. I only write reviews for books I enjoy!

See all the books in the series…

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Taken by Shalini Boland @ShaliniBoland @SecondSkyBooks #NetGalley #youngadult #paranormal #romance c#bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for Taken by Shalini Boland. This is the 2nd book in The Vampires of Marchwood trilogy. You can read my review of the first, Hidden, HERE.

This has been republished by Second Sky, this is the sci-fi and fantasy part of Bookouture and Hatchett. My huge thanks to the publishers for granting my request this read this title via NetGalley.

Falling in love has never been so deadly…

From USA Today bestselling author Shalini Boland comes the addictive Vampires of Marchwood series. Perfect for fans of K.F. Breene, Sarah J. Maas and Tracy Wolff.

My name is Madison Greene and I was an ordinary teenager until I fell in love… with a vampire. Alexandre is tall, with a sexy French accent and mesmerizing eyes. He makes me feel protected, and he’s completely captured my heart.

At Marchwood House, our sprawling mansion nestled in the English countryside, we’re in our own perfect bubble together. But, in the blink of an eye, everything changes when an old enemy of Alexandre’s sets a trap and rips me away from my boyfriend’s arms.

The ancient demon takes me to his underground city, deep beneath the windswept desert. In the twisting tunnels and enormous vaulted caverns, there’s a bloodthirsty vampire around every corner. I’ve never been so terrified…

It seems like there’s no way out from this underground maze. My life is hanging by a thread, and every second I’m here is a step closer to death. I can’t just sit here and hope that Alexandre will rescue me.

Can I outsmart a city of vampires to escape from this hellish place? And will I ever see Alexandre again?

(Previously published as: Thicker Than Blood)

MY REVIEW

This is the second book in the Vampires of Marchwood trilogy and it follows so well from the first book. Where the first book was very good and I thoroughly enjoyed it, this second one really does give you something to get your teeth into, so to speak!

Maddie did not expect to share her house with a long-lost and unknown section of her family. As far as she was aware it was just her and her brother Ben, but it turns out she does have more and they are vampires. The first book laid the foundations and this second book takes on a brilliant turn of pace and ups the ante for all involved. When Maddie is kidnapped, her vampire boyfriend Alex knows where he has to go. What follows is a cat-and-mouse game across Europe and back to Turkey, where Alewx and his friends were first turned.

I adore the way the author uses a duel timeline for these books, not only do they give a good idea of the trials of the present-day setting, but they also take the reader back in history. This is where they first became aware of the vampires. The story focuses on a young woman as well as those who live in a Marchwood House. It is such an interesting story and one that I really enjoyed, how a young woman manages to survive. It is also a chance to see how far Alex will go to save Maddie, and yes what she will do to try to save herself.

There are some things that are reminiscent of Twilight, but only small bits. The general feeling of this series is something older and dangerous at play and there are some wonderfully tense and edge-of-your-seat scenes.

This is a horror as there are vampires, so there are sections of blood and guts. But this is also a story about a family coming together and learning to adapt to new surroundings, even though they can only see these surroundings at night!

This story has a good pace to it and it brings the characters together and shows how they get on. It is not all easy though and there is some tension at times but there are things that the author has thought about that make these books very addictive. It has left me eager but also sad to read the third and final book.

This is a really good book, it has tension, a good atmospheric eerie and creepiness that I really liked. A sense of family and friendship and building trust. Ideal for those who like stories aimed more at Young Adult readers but also works incredibly well for older young adult readers! I would definitely recommend this book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shalini – I write psychological thrillers and dark adventures, and I live in Dorset, England with my husband, two children and our dog. I only write reviews for books I enjoy!

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten @LittleBrownUK @orbitbooks #NetGalley #fantasy #bookreview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten. This is the first book in The Nightshade Kindom series and it is a fabulous book to delve into.

I wish to thank the publisher Little, Brown Books and Orbit Books for accepting my request to read this title via NetGalley.This title is due for publication tomorrow and I would like to wish the author a very Happy Publication Day 🙂

In this lush, romantic new epic fantasy series from New York Times bestselling author Hannah Whitten, a young woman’s secret power to raise the dead plunges her into the dangerous and glamorous world of the Sainted King’s royal court.

When Lore was thirteen, she escaped a cult in the catacombs beneath the city of Dellaire. And in the ten years since, she’s lived by one rule: don’t let them find you. Easier said than done, when her death magic ties her to the city.

Mortem, the magic born from death, is a high-priced and illicit commodity in Dellaire, and Lore’s job running poisons keeps her in food, shelter, and relative security. But when a run goes wrong and Lore’s power is revealed, she’s taken by the Presque Mort, a group of warrior-monks sanctioned to use Mortem working for the Sainted King. Lore fully expects a pyre, but King August has a different plan. Entire villages on the outskirts of the country have been dying overnight, seemingly at random. Lore can either use her magic to find out what’s happening and who in the King’s court is responsible, or die.

Lore is thrust into the Sainted King’s glittering court, where no one can be believed and even fewer can be trusted. Guarded by Gabriel, a duke-turned-monk, and continually running up against Bastian, August’s ne’er-do-well heir, Lore tangles in politics, religion, and forbidden romance as she attempts to navigate a debauched and opulent society.

But the life she left behind in the catacombs is catching up with her. And even as Lore makes her way through the Sainted court above, they might be drawing closer than she thinks.

MY REVIEW

I absolutely adored this book, a mix of dark magic, fantasy, conspiracy, cults, kings and monks all woven together to create not only a brilliant world but also an addictive story. The synopsis gives a tantalising glimpse into the story and it was one that caught my eye when I read it.

Death is something that Lore knows about, she is able to work the essence of death. She was born in the dark catacombs and doesn’t remember too much. As she gets older she is taken up into the world above where she becomes a spy, a runner of poisons. In this fantasy world poison is something to help prolong life.

When Lore is caught she is taken to the citadel where she is asked to spy on a traitor. Who is the traitor, well that becomes more confusing as there are differing opinions, theories, religious interpretations and also the quest for power. With the eclipse coming up time starts to become more important as answers need to be found. When everyone is hiding something it is difficult to know who to trust.

This is such a wonderful first book in The Nightshade series by this author, who is new to me. A world where death and life are in the balance just as much as truth and conspiracy. The differences between life outside the citadel and that inside are something that doesn’t sit well with some, and I do like the way the author touched upon the differences and how expendable people actually are. Having theories and differences is something that I really enjoy within a story as it pits characters against each other and creates such a mysterious element for the reader.

The way the author has described her characters, the realm, the religion and the way of life is wonderful. The imagery was great so I was able to visualise certain things as I read. There are some major characters and while I am not going into too much detail about them, they all have a reason for being there.

There is a sense of action and adventure in this story and I like this search for the truth as well as people being slightly less honest. It helps to build intrigue and suspicion in a setting that works well with the storyline and the characters.

I really enjoyed this book and I am definitely looking forward to following this series. An addictive fantasy story that I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hannah Whitten has been writing to amuse herself since she could hold a pen, and sometime in high school, figured out that what amused her might also amuse others. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, making music, or attempting to bake. She lives in Tennessee with her husband and children in a house ruled by a temperamental cat.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Lockwood and Co by Jonathon Stroud #fantasy #mystery #YA #bookreview

yvonnembee 1 Comment

I am delighted to share my review today for Lockwood & Co by Jonathan Stroud. This is a book that I adored and I might even watch the NetFlix version! I was fortunate to receive a paperback copy from Amazon Vine for review.

‘The Screaming Staircase?’ Lockwood edged forward in his chair. ‘Please, Mr Fairfax, tell us more.’

For more than fifty years, Britain has been terrorised by an epidemic of murderous ghosts. A number of Psychic Investigations Agencies have sprung up to destroy them – with mixed results . . .

Lucy Carlyle, a talented young agent, arrives in London hoping to begin a shining new chapter in her career. Instead she finds herself joining Lockwood & Co., the most ramshackle agency in the city, whose ineptitude is matched only by the charisma of its owner.

But Lockwood & Co. have one last chance for redemption. All they have to do is spend the night in one of the most haunted houses in England . . . and come out alive.

The first book in an amazingly addictive, binge-worthy series, this is an electrifying, witty and brilliantly spooky thriller, perfect for fans of Rivers of London and Good Omens.

MY REVIEW

It has been a while since I have read anything by this author, so when I saw that this series had been released to coincide with the Netflix series I wanted to give the book a go. I prefer to read books prior to watching a program.

Lucy has just started work for Lockwood & Co, this company is made up of the owner, Lockwood and his colleague George. It is children or teens that are most perceptive to visitors, ghosts, paranormal entities and psychic energies. Lockwood & Co is one of the smaller investigating units and Lucy’s first case with them doesn’t really go to plan. It is, however, licky when a rich industrialist who then approaches them to help him with a notorious haunted house.

This is aimed at a young adult audience, but this older adult thoroughly enjoyed it. Sometimes it is great to go back to books aimed at a younger audience as it brings back the sense of action and adventure that these books exude.

Having the main characters as children makes sense as it is often said that it is the younger generation that is more sensitive to paranormal events. It is also great that these three are living and working in an adult world and are doing very well, well almost!

The three definitely have more bravery than I would, I definitely wouldn’t be wandering around a strange house haunted or not with just a candle and a few bags of salt, iron and magnesium. Thank goodness the author has created characters that are far braver than I am.

This is a fabulous book and is full of excitement, adventure, daring and a good amount of humour. It has been a wonderful book to pick up and read and I am looking forward to reading more in this series. Ideal for young and older adult readers who like fantasy adventure and mystery stories. I would definitely recommend this.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jonathan Anthony Stroud is an author of fantasy books, mainly for children and youths.

Stroud grew up in St Albans where he enjoyed reading books, drawing pictures, and writing stories. Between the ages seven and nine he was often ill, so he spent most of his days in the hospital or in his bed at home. To escape boredom he would occupy himself with books and stories. After he completed his studies of English literature at the University of York, he worked in London as an editor for the Walker Books store. He worked with different types of books there and this soon led to the writing of his own books. During the 1990s, he started publishing his own works and quickly gained success.

In May 1999, Stroud published his first children’s novel, Buried Fire, which was the first of a line of fantasy/mythology children’s books.

Among his most prominent works are the bestselling Bartimaeus Trilogy. A special feature of these novels compared to others of their genre is that Stroud examines the stereotypes and ethics of the magician class and the enslaved demons. This is done by examining the perspective of the sarcastic and slightly egomaniacal djinni Bartimaeus. The books in this series are The Amulet of Samarkand, The Golem’s Eye, and Ptolemy’s Gate, his first books to be published in the United States.

Stroud lives in St Albans, Hertfordshire, with his two children, Isabelle and Arthur, and his wife Gina, an illustrator of children’s books.

Many thanks for reading my post,a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Love Will Tear Us Apart by C.K. McDonnell @Caimh @TransworldBooks #NetGalley #LoveWillTearUSApart #fantasy #fiction #PublicationDay

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review of Love Will Tear Us Apart by C.K. McDonnell. This is a fabulous book and it is the 3rd one in the series that I adore it a huge amount. I was delighted to be able to review this book early via NetGalley from Transworld Books.

Love can be a truly terrible thing.

Marriages are tricky at the best of times, especially when one of you is dead.

Vincent Banecroft, the irascible editor of The Stranger Times, has never believed his wife died despite emphatic evidence to the contrary. Now, against all odds, it seems he may actually be proved right; but what lengths will he go to in an attempt to rescue her?

With Banecroft distracted, the shock resignation of assistant editor, Hannah Willis, couldn’t have come at a worse time. It speaks volumes that her decision to reconcile with her philandering ex-husband is only marginally less surprising than Banecroft and his wife getting back together. In this time of crisis, is her decision to swan off to a fancy new-age retreat run by a celebrity cult really the best thing for anyone?

As if that wasn’t enough, one of the paper’s ex-columnists has disappeared, a particularly impressive trick seeing as he never existed in the first place.

Floating statues, hijacked ghosts, homicidal cherubs, irate starlings, Reliant Robins and quite possibly several deeply sinister conspiracies; all-in-all, a typical week for the staff of The Stranger Times.

MY REVIEW

This is the 3rd book in the Stranger Times series. Stranger Times is a newspaper that reports on stories that are a little different, well a lot different to mainstream papers. If there is a UFO sighting or a conspiracy that needs an airing, the moon is hollow or any other number of strange theories, bits of gossip or potential stories then you will find these in Stranger Times.

The editor is Banecroft, and his assistant editor Hannah has left, in her shoes has stepped the indomitable force that is the new assistant editor and the rest of the news team is trying to work out what on earth is going on in the office.

Having read and adored the previous two books in the series I was looking forward to seeing what delights the author had in store. As you can see from the synopsis there is a lot going on in this story. It is as if each member of the team at the paper has their own story or mystery that they are following. This means the office is more than its usual organised chaos and is in just plain chaos. The author has mixed stories from the past with the present.

With pretty much every member of staff trying to discover their own thing, you would think that the plots would become mixed but the author keeps his cast in order and the stories flow between one another. This makes it quite difficult to write a review, if I mention too much about one plot then it will inevitably spoil another. I will say that lives are on the line with this one, lives of the living and of the dead, or the nearly dead or of whatever state of death they are in!!!

This is another brilliant read that mixes fantasy and humour together so well. The author has moments of real tense drama and the next had me chuckling at some of the situations his characters find themselves in.

I am loving this series and as it continues I am getting to know the characters more and I can see how this disjointed group are coming together. A fabulous book and series for fans of urban fantasy with a strong humourous slant, full of mystery and mayhem and an altogether excellent read. It is one I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

C.K. McDonnell is the paranormal pen name of the Irish bestselling author Caimh McDonnell. Born in Limerick and raised in Dublin, Caimh is a former stand-up comedian and TV writer. He performed all around the world, had several well-received Edinburgh shows and supported acts such as Sarah Millican and Gary Delaney on tour before hanging up his clowning shoes to concentrate on writing. He has also written for numerous TV shows and been nominated for a Kid’s TV BAFTA.

When not writing about the adventures of the staff at The Stranger Times in his adopted home of Manchester, he is the author of the Increasingly Inaccurately titled Dublin Trilogy of books and the various spinoffs, all of which have been Amazon bestsellers on both sides of the Atlantic.

Caimh lives in Manchester with Wonderwife and their two dogs. To find out more about him, visit whitehairedirishman.com, and to find out more about The Stranger Times, and to join the mailing list for updates plus a free short story collection, go to TheStrangerTimes.com.

Also check out The Stranger Times podcast, available almost everywhere, and featuring short stories set in the world of The Stranger Times, written by C.K. and read by some of the finest stand-up comedian talent that are willing to do it for the money.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx