Tag Part of a Series

No Time For Doubt by Robert Crouch @rcrouchauthor #crime #mystery #murder #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today of No Time For Doubt by Robert Crouch. I have read and enjoyed every book in this series and this latest one is the 10th. This one is another wonderful story and things are personal once again for Kent Fisher.

My huge thanks to Rob for inviting me to read and review this book. My review is my own and unbiased.

Can the wounds left by the past ever heal?
The decomposed remains of a murdered woman are found in a bedsit. Forced to confront a past he’s tried to forget, Kent Fisher discovers crimes that were brushed aside and hidden almost thirty years ago. Crimes that could destroy what’s left of his family.
When more murders silence those who know the truth, only one person remains to reveal what happened all those years ago.
Can Kent find her before the killer makes one final strike? Or will she die, taking the truth with her?

MY REVIEW

It is always great to pick up a new Kent Fisher book and this one is twisted, and devious and took me back into Kent’s past. If you have not read any of these books, I would suggest reading them in order, but they would work as stand-alone as the author does give background information.

Kent is a complex character and he has an interesting backstory, this is expanded upon in this latest book. As always Kent manages to find himself in an investigation, this one will test Kent more than some others have. He is still trying to sort out what he feels about Gemma while working out this latest murder and wondering what his future looks like.

The author really has nailed this one and there were more twists and turns, red herrings and misdirection. I will say that this is something that he does well, but this particular one seemed to take it up a notch. The murder victim comes with a whole load of questions and the answers do not come easily, when they do are they the answers Kent is looking for? He does have the help of Francis and Belinda and he does fall back on his contacts from his days working as an Environmental Health Officer.

As well as being an ex-environmental health officer, he also runs an animal sanctuary, it started small but then expanded and took on a different route. It has been run by various people and volunteers if you have read the previous books you will know how this has come about. He also solves murders and has done so since his time as an EHO, dead bodies and unhygienic premises seem to go hand in hand for Kent!

This story is intense for Kent and he does question what he knows against what he is discovering. He still needs to work out who is who, sort the truth from the lies and finally get to grips with what is going on. This one is a dangerous one for Kent and those around him and it has repercussions for many.

If you are a fan of crime and mystery books with a difference then have a look a this series, I have read and enjoyed each one and this is another that I would definitely recommend.

About the author…

Robert Crouch combined his love of murder mystery novels with his extensive experience as an environmental health officer to create a new kind of private detective.

Motivated. by desire for justice and fair play, Robert wanted to show how an ordinary person could solve complex murders. Inspired by Sue Grafton’s irreverent detective, Kinsey Millhone, Robert crafted an investigator who’s rooted in the classic whodunit, but firmly set in the contemporary world.

When he’s not creating complex mysteries, Robert can be found among the gentle hills and coastline of the South Downs with his camera.

You can find out more about Robert at his website, https://robertcrouch.co.uk, where you can also join his Readers Group for more news, insights and giveaways, including a free short story. 

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

Making Memories at the Cornish Cove by Kim Nash @KimTheBookworm @rararesources @BoldwoodBooks #NetGalley #fiction #romance #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I have been waiting an age to share my review for this book and today I finally can 🙂 here is my review of Making Memories at the Cornish Cove by Kim Nash. This is the 3rd book in the Cornish Cove series and her latest book is another wonderful addition.

My huge thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my copy from the publisher Boldwood Books.

It’s never too late…

After five husbands and five broken hearts, Lydia feels like she’s always been chasing something. But now she’s found her purpose, and having moved to Driftwood Bay to spend more time with her daughter Meredith, she’s happier than ever.

But there’s still life in these old bones yet! With her newfound sense of identity, she’s keen to re-explore the things that made her happy as a younger person. Lydia’s passion was dancing – she used to compete in her younger years, and there’s no place she’s more at home than on the dancefloor.

So when widower and antiques restorer Martin tells her about a big dance competition, she’s ready and raring to bring more joy into her life. But while making memories with Martin, the more she realises that both of their hearts need restoring too…

MY REVIEW

What another fabulous book in the Cornish Cove series this one is. Returning to some of the characters to catch up with things going on in their lives as well as learning more about them and newer characters is great.

This one focuses on Lydia, she is Meredith’s mum and they have reconnected after many years. There is a past that gradually emerges and it is a chance for pasts to be dealt with. Lydia is enjoying being in her 70s and she is a very capable lady who does not feel old and has plenty of things to look forward to. She is given the chance for some new opportunities and a chance to do something she thought she never would. She has been married before and she is deciding if she needs a relationship or if she is happy in her own company. Living in this community of Driftwood is a way of finding herself if you like.

Along with Lydia and Meredith, we have Clem and his Dad Martin, a new neighbour and the vocal and wonderful Vi. Everyone needs a Vi in their lives, and they probably know someone similar… I am saying nothing about who she occasionally reminds me of! I think this is wonderful about this author’s characters, they feel familiar and that is not just through reading the books in order, but that they do remind you of people you already know in everyday life. I think this is what makes this series so good and for me, it means the balance is right.

With new starts and fresh opportunities, things are going well, but there are some more serious aspects that the author brings in. This does leave a cloud over things and these are dealt with as any of us do in reality. We dwell and overthink and wonder about the what-ifs. Don’t think this means the book is down and moody because it never is, the author knows her characters too well to let them suffer in silence. They do live in a close-knit community after all.

There are some wonderful heartwarming moments in this book and I will admit to a tear or two at some scenes. This is a fabulous book and would work as a stand-alone, but reading in order helps with the continuing stories of what are becoming regulars. One for fans of heartwarming contemporary fiction and romance, with some very humorous moments and great characters. I would definitely recommend this book.

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

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

Leave No Trace by Jo Callaghan @JoCallaghanKat @simonschusterUK @RandomTTours #crime #thriller #bookreview

yvonnembee 5 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today of Leave No Trace by Jo Callaghan. This is the 2nd book in the Kat & Locke series and it is a fabulous series that mixes technology with police procedural and the mix is just brilliant.

My huge thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my copy of the book from the publisher Simon & Schuster UK.

DCS Kat Frank and AIDE Lock return in the provocative new thriller from the author of In the Blink of an Eye.

One detective driven by instinct, the other by logic.
It will take both to find a killer who knows the true meaning of fear . . .

When the body of a man is found crucified at the top of Mount Judd, AIDE Lock – the world’s first AI Detective – and DCS Kat Frank are thrust into the spotlight as they are given their first live case.

But with the discovery of another man’s body – also crucified – it appears that their killer is only just getting started. With the police warning local men to be vigilant, the Future Policing Unit is thrust into a hostile media frenzy as they desperately search for connections between the victims. But time is running out for them to join the dots and prevent another death.

MY REVIEW

After reading the author’s previous book, In the Blink of an Eye, I was eager to read the next book to see if it would be as thrilling as the first one, I have to say it was and I enjoyed this one just as much as the first.

Kat & Lock are two very different entities. DCS Kat Frank is in charge of the team, one of which is AIDE Lock, an artificial intelligence detective. While he is not able to perform some of the things that a human would, he can also do things a lot quicker when it comes to processing and searching databases and tech that is involved with running a case.

The author did a great job with the first book and gave some different perspectives and opinions, this book also follows those and also, more importantly, adds more to this. The idea of Lock working alongside a team of detectives as they investigate a crime is for the system to learn and adapt. Lock can be seen via a holographic projection.

The discovery of a body on the top of a mount that has been crucified is bad enough, but there are more details to add. These make the case unique and when another body is discovered some think there may be a link, but not everyone shares this view.

Being introduced to the team in the first book was good and the author has fleshed her characters out more, which sounds a little odd when one of them has no flesh as they are a hologram! However, she has added more details and given the reader a chance to get to know them and this is building a great sense of camaraderie between them.

There is a sense of time being important because Lock is being brought into an active case. He is also being seen by the general public properly so not only do the police force have to make sure things are done quickly, the politicians want a quick wrap-up to show that this way of investigating can be beneficial. There is no pushing Kat or the team into making a quick decision though, all things have to line up.

So with a mix of instincts and logic, this book provides two approaches to a crime and the investigation. Mixing crime fiction with a slight sci-fi feel but not one that is full of techno-speak so it makes for seamless reading.

I am loving this series and if you are looking for something with a twist as well as being an excellent crime thriller then this is a series you may well be interested in. It is a cracking read and one that I would definitely recommend.

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

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

A Fresh Start at Wagging Tails Dogs’ Home by Sarah Hope #NetGalley @boldwoodbooks #romance #romcom #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today of A Fresh Start at Waggin Tails Dogs’ Home by Sarah Hope. This is a wonderful story and the 3rd in the series but it reads well as a stand-alone.

My huge thanks to Boldwood Books for accepting my request to review this title via NetGalley.

There’s no place like home… Although dog trainer Sally is relatively new to Wagging Tails, the team she works with have quickly become her family and the dogs her friends.

But when Andy, the one that got away, turns up for a brief respite from the city, she is at a crossroads. As tempting as a life with him is, she loves her home of West Par, and anyway, she has responsibilities here.

Number one on that list is ensuring the dogs’ home stays in business. A developer has been sniffing around wanting to buy the land, and the team is worried.

Sally will do anything to save her home and her friends’ livelihoods but the lure of reuniting with her lost love is strong. Is there a way for her to have both?

MY REVIEW

This is the 3rd book in the series and, as is often the case, the first one I have read. This is one of those books that has a wonderful feel and I have read other series that give that same sense of community.

The story is set around Wagging Tails Dogs’ Home, a rescue centre for pouches who are lost, found or needing some care. I will say the author obviously loves her doggy cast and she has definitely done her research into how this type of establishment is run. As a dog owner and dog lover this is impressive and also adds to the overall importance of the message behind the story.

The fields alongside the Dogs’ Home have been bought and Flora, the owner of the Dogs’ Home, is being pressured into selling up. Flora has run this home for many years and remembers all the dogs that have passed through her gates and gone on to be re-homed. Selling up is not an option for her.

Sally is one of those who work with Flora and she left her very different career to do what she loves and works with the dogs to train them and their owners. Let’s be honest here, it is often the owners that need training, our dog Billy has spent years training us so that we know when he is asking for a treat, to be let out or wants you to chase him around the garden because he has just pinched a sock! But on a serious note, the author does have some points to make about training.

Sally, sorry I got a little sidetracked… she has been working at the home and loves her life. A blast from her past suddenly comes back into the picture and she is in turmoil about it. She also has some news from home that rocks her.

The story ambles along at a wonderful pace, bringing in characters and other threads. All the time the author shows a sense of family and friendship. It is a story and a series that many fans of romance, rom-com and contemporary fiction will enjoy. It is light-hearted but with some serious things as well. Gorgeous story and one I would definitely recommend.

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

Empire of The Damned Jay Kristoff #NetGalley #horror #fantasy #supernatural #vampires #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for Empire of The Damned by Jay Kristoff. This is the second book in the series and it is another fabulous book. I would recommend reading the first book in this series. My full review of that book, Empire of The Vampire, can be read HERE

My thanks to Harper Voyager for my e-copy of this book via NetGalley.

Gabriel de León has saved the Holy Grail from death, but his chance to end the endless night is lost.

After turning his back on his Silversaint brothers once and for all, Gabriel and the Grail set out to learn the truth of how Daysdeath might finally be undone.

But the last Silversaint faces peril, within and without. Pursued by children of the Forever King, drawn into wars and webs centuries in the weaving, and ravaged by his own rising bloodlust, Gabriel may not survive to see the truth of the Grail revealed.

A truth that may be too awful for any to imagine.

MY REVIEW

This is the second book in the Empire of The Vampire series and I would recommend reading these in order as the first book gives a lot of background information.

In this second book, the story continues, well, Gabe’s recounting of his story continues. He is protecting The Grail and trying to find who can help unlock the secrets of how The Grail can end the darkness that hangs over the world the author has created. Gabe is a silversaint and is sworn to protect and kill vampires and their spawn. He is on the edge; if you have read the previous book, you will know how this makes him dangerous. He is still in control but there are other forces that are testing his resolve.

This is another brilliant installment in the series and once again the author has created a tense and atmospheric thrill to the book. While he continues the journey there are more things that are brought into the equation. There is The Grail and what people think is the right thing to do, will The Grail end the darkness and the vampires? It is still unclear, and there are only a couple of people alive who can potentially solve the mystery.

This is a fast-paced story and it never lets up, the chase is continuous and there is little respite for the characters. The danger lurks everywhere and the battles they have are ferocious. I adore how this is all brought together and the author has a brilliant way of creating some very vivid imagery.

This is a series that is a mix of horror and fantasy, mystery, suspense, action, danger and supernatural thriller. I adored this second book as much as the first and I cannot wait for the next one. I would definitely recommend it.

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

Stop at Nothing by Lucy Martin @lucymartinbooks #psychological #thriller #crime #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today of Stop at Nothing by Lucy Martin. I was very fortunate to win this and a further two books in this series after entering a competition on Karen’s fabulous Blog – My Reading Corner.

The chilling break out thriller, perfect for fans of Cara Hunter, Fiona Barton and Gillian Flynn.

How far would you go to get what you want?

Amie Slade’s sexual assault feels too close to home for DS Ronnie Delmar. Forced to face the demons of her past, she vows to protect the family at all costs.

But everyone’s got a secret in this leafy suburb and when a child goes missing and a woman’s body is found, it becomes clear that this perfect family hides a sinister reality.

Someone here will stop at nothing to win, but can Ronnie beat them to it?

MY REVIEW

This is the first book in the DS Ronnie DElmas series and what an amazing introduction this book is to Ronnie. The book focuses on the Slade family and in particular Amie Slade. She lives with her older brother Andrew, her mum and dad Maeve and Stuart. The family is broken with Maeve being obsessive about having an orderly and tidy house, Andrew is always in his room and getting ready to go to university and Stuart is about to drop a bombshell.

Amie is a young teen who has had trouble in past. She was the victim of sexual abuse and this is something that hangs over her constantly as you would expect. She moves schools and has only one friend.

Ronnie (Veronica) is a hard-working single mum and also a Detective Sergeant, she has split from her husband and has two children. She has a secret from her past. Her second in command so to speak is Baz, he is someone whom she is not totally sure about and when an accusation is made about Ronnie she is not sure who made it. Ronnie has some very close friends and she will rely on these as this complex case gradually unfolds.

What is the case? Well, that is not really revealed as such until much later when the body of a woman is discovered. The author cleverly lays out the story and gives a lot of information leading up to the discovery of the body which occurs when a child goes missing.

This story will have you second-guessing yourself, well it did me for sure. I like it when an author can twist me around like this. One moment feeling sorry then suspicious and then guilty for feeling suspicious. This is something that I love in a psychological thriller and this definitely has a psychological theme to it.

The story starts out well and there was something about it that just kept me hooked and I found myself just reading one more chapter, and another until I got to the end. There were many twists and revelations to be had.

Seeing this is the start of the series I am looking forward to getting to know Ronnie a bit more. She is definitely a female lead that I like. If you are a fan of very devious and twisted psychological crime thrillers then this is one that will keep you on your toes. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading the next book.

About the Author…

One-time reluctant lawyer, turned entrepreneur and novelist with a life-long passion for supporting women…

My first book was Make It Your Business, a business start-up guide for women co-authored with Bella Mehta in 2002, followed by The Childcare Bible in 2010 and then when I became a teacher, a series of modern language handbooks for my students. I am now working on a crime thriller series to be published by Welbeck in October 2021.

I grew up in Brussels and London, and have a first class degree in French and Russian from Wadham College, Oxford. I am a qualified solicitor, contributor to BBC Bitesize French and the founder of networking group Wimbledon Women in Business.

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

Birds of Prey by Wilbur Smith @thewilbursmith @Tr4cyF3nt0n @ZaffreBooks #teamwilbur #TheCourtneys #historicalfiction #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review of Birds of Prey by Wilbur Smith. This is the 9th published book and the 1st in the Birds of Prey Trilogy.

My huge thanks to Tracy at Compulsive Readers for arranging my copy of this and the previous book was part of the ongoing promotional campaign with Zaffre Books.

“Africa!” The sound of that mysterious name on his own lips raised goose pimples along his arms and made the thick dark hair prickle on the back of his neck.

A simple mission. A battle for their lives.

It is 1667 and the war between the Dutch and the English continues apace. Sir Francis Courtney, his son Hal, and their crew are carried around the southern tip of the African colonies by the good ship Lady Edwina, licensed to attack and seize the treasure-laden ships of the Dutch East India Company. When they capture a Dutch trader and hold the passengers to ransom, Sir Francis hopes only for a good price and a small sense of satisfaction.

But this is unlawful territory they sail in. An unexpected betrayal will mean the men on board will face greater peril than they have ever faced before – and many good men may never see home again…

MY REVIEW

If you have read any of The Courtney series books, then you will be aware that they often come in trilogies and flit across each one. Birds of Prey is the 9th published Courtney title and the 1st in the Birds of Prey Trilogie. This one starts in 1667, during the Ottoman Empire, Moguls, slave trade, Dutch East India Company and the Dutch had raided the dockyards at Medway, it is during this period the story starts and a peace agreement is just being signed.

This is the story of Hal, or to give him his full name, Henry Courtney, son of Sir Francis Courtney and they are aboard the Lady Edwina. They follow the order of knights known as Nautonniers, and Hal is learning from his father what this will mean.

During a skirmish, the crew and ship are taken, not before father and son have removed the treasure and coin they have amassed and hidden it. This is where Hal will learn what it takes to grow up into a man and what he needs to do to prove his father’s innocence and look at revenge for what he has been through.

With these books, the Courtney men are strong and easy on the eye as they always appear to have no shortage of women. Hal is no different, he like most of the others though, is not a womaniser. He is growing into a man and he has beside him some friends who have helped bring him up aboard the ship. These men are loyal and help imbue morals, loyalty, respect and empathy.

This is what I would call a “proper swash-buckler”, it is full of pirates, battles, warfare, travel, missions escapes and so much more. It is a book full of action and adventure, romance, life and death from the first pages through to the last.

As Hal moves through into being a young man he has dealt with a lot, but his upbringing has prepared him. Even though he is young he has experience and this will prove essential as he asks seasoned seamen to follow him.

The story takes Hal from life on the sea to being imprisoned, taking revenge and following an idea and religious mission. The author brings so many things to this book and I do think this is one of my favourites. The battles are amazing to read as are the trials and tribulations that are part of the journey.

This is one for those who like historical fiction and one I would definitely recommend.

About the Author…

Wilbur Smith was the bestselling author of many novels, each researched on his numerous expeditions worldwide. His bestselling Courtney series includes Assegai, The Sound of Thunder, Birds of Prey, Monsoon, and Blue Horizon. His other books include Those in Peril, River God, Warlock, The Seventh Scroll, and The Sunbird.

His books have been translated into twenty-six languages and have sold over 120 million copies. Smith was born to a British family in Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia, in Central Africa, and attended Rhodes University in South Africa. By the time of his death in 2021 he had published 49 books and had sold more than 140 million copies.

Wilbur Smith died at his Cape Town home on November 13, 2021. He was 88 years old at the time of his death.

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

Last Orders at Mulberry Lane by Rosie Clark @AnneHerries @rararesources @BoldwoodBooks #historicalfiction #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today of Last Orders at Mulberry Lane y Rosie Clark. This is the 10th and final book in the series and it is one for those who like historical romance and fiction.

My huge thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the blog tour and for arranging my copy from the publisher Boldwood Books.

MY REVIEW

This is the 10th and final book in the Mulberry Lane series, not bad as it was only due to be a trilogy. I am so glad it lasted longer than the original 3 planned books.

Last Orders at Mulberry Lane is a book that enjoys memories from the past but also about what the future holds for the community in Mulberry Lane. Families have lived, grown up and had children of their own and are welcoming the next generation into the world. As some arrive others pass as is the way of things.

The lanes have been the focus of the story but it is about the community within not just the area. This final book brings the series into the ’60s, and while changes are going on our group does not get caught up in the wilder side of life. They have focus and are either hard studying or have other responsibilities to deal with. That doesn’t mean that they are straight-laced and prudish though.

The book was a goodbye but also it was a way to move on and this for me was done so well. The author could have easily been caught up with the “what was” but also focused on the future and the different options and prospects open to the families and community. Remembering that this was a community that went through the bombing of the war and it brought a special bond and friendship over the years.

This is a book about families and also how things have changed socially. There are new relationships and things for the next generation to look forward to. But for the Mulberry Lane Community, it is a chance to have a final get-together with friends.

If you are a fan of historical romance and fiction then this is a series I would recommend. It has been a wonderful journey and not only would I recommend this book but also the whole series.

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

Relight My Fire by C.K McDonnell @Caimh @TransworldBooks #fantasy #supernatural #fiction #mystery #crime #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today of Relight My Fire by C.K McDonnell. This is the 4th book in the Stranger Times series and it is absolutely brilliant.

My huge thanks to Transworld Books for granting my request to read this book via NetGalley.

Some comebacks can be murder . . .

Stella is enjoying life as an almost student, or at least she is until a man falls from the sky right in front of her, leaving a big old hole in the pavement for Manchester Council to fill. The obvious question of how he ended up in the sky in the first place has no obvious answers, which is where The Stranger Times come in. This isn’t just the hunt for another story though. Dark powers think Stella might have been involved and the only way she and the team can prove her innocence is to find out what the hell is really going on. What have dodgy gear, disturbed graves and a decommissioned rock star got to do with all this?

Vincent Banecroft has problems of his own in the form of a tall, dark but-definitely-not-handsome man dressed like a one-man funeral who has been sent to make the paper’s editor atone for his sins. Once he finds out exactly what that entails, Banecroft is not keen. Being banished to a Hellscape for all eternity looks like being no fun at all, not least because he has that pale Irish skin that burns really easily . . .

All that plus territorial ghouls, homicidal felines, eternal (and seemingly unstoppable) gnomes and a celebrity ‘Who’s Who’ that’d put a royal wedding to shame, and you’re looking at a wild few days for The Stranger Times .

MY REVIEW

This is another fabulous and brilliant book in this series. The Stranger Times is a newspaper, you know the old printed sort and no way online at all, that is responsible for reporting the bizarre, unusual, weird, odd, batty, peculiar, outlandish, curious and downright unfathomable stories that come across the desks of the reporters. It is owned by Vincent Bancroft, whose favoured weapon of choice is a blunderbuss. Also Manny, a Rastafarian with an additional side to him, Stella, who also has an additional side to her, Grace who keeps everyone supplied with tea and prayers, and Reg, a ghoul, and a Detective inspector who is deemed to be ok to deal with the “weirdy bollocks” that the newspaper seems to deal with.

Vincent has had a curious past, it seems that it has now caught up with him as a mysterious man takes great delight in informing him. Vincent will soon be residing elsewhere for his part in the “Simon episode” from the last book. The story starts with Stella, leaving her college course for the evening and going home only to have a man fall from the sky in front of her. This is the start of some strange events that even those on the Stranger Times newspaper will find unsettling.

This is another brilliantly funny book in the series and yes it could be read as a stand-alone but I do urge you to read all the books in the series as not only do they give you the bigger picture on this crew at the paper, but they are all fabulous, funny and brilliant books to read.

The story will delve into the dark magic scene in this urban fantasy world the author has created. It runs alongside our everyday boring world with a few extras such as ghosts, ghouls, things that go bump in the night and lurk in dark corners and damp cellars. The author creates a story that is totally within keeping of the characters and as you read the story it feels like the author is having as much fun as I was reading it.

This is a fabulous book in a fabulous series. It is a mix of urban fantasy, mild horror, humour, mystery and crime. A mix of all sorts and then some! Yes, I adored this one and I would definitely recommend it.

About the Author…

Irishman Caimh McDonnell is a former professional stand-up comedian and TV writer who now concentrates all of his energies on writing books. Born in Limerick and raised in Dublin, he has taken the hop across the water and calls Manchester his home.

His TV writing work has seen him work on some of the biggest topical comedy shows on British TV, such as the The Sarah Millican Television Programme, Mock the Week and Have I Got News for You. His work as a children’s TV writer earned him a BAFTA nomination for the CBBC animated series ‘Pet Squad’ which he created.

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

House of Open Wounds by Adrian Tchaikovsky @HoZ_Books @#NetGalley #fantasy #bookreview @AdAstraFiction #NetGalley #fantasy #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for House of Open Wounds by Adrian Tchaikovsky. This is a fantasy book and the 2nd in the series. It works well as a stand-alone and it was very enjoyable reading.

My thanks to Head of Zeus and Ad Astra Fiction publishers for granting my request to read this title via NetGalley.

City-by-city, kingdom-by-kingdom, the Palleseen have sworn to bring Perfection and Correctness to an imperfect world. As their legions scour the world of superstition with the bright flame of reason, so they deliver a mountain of ragged, holed and scorched flesh to the field hospital tents just behind the frontline.

Which is where Yasnic, one-time priest, healer and rebel, finds himself. Reprieved from the gallows and sent to war clutching a box of orphan Gods, he has been sequestered to a particularity unorthodox medical unit.

Led by ‘the Butcher’, an ogre of a man who’s a dab hand with a bone-saw and an alchemical tincture, the unit’s motley crew of conscripts, healers and orderlies are no strangers to the horrors of war. Their’s is an unspeakable elbow-deep in gore they have a first-hand view of the suffering caused by flesh-rending monsters, arcane magical weaponry and embittered enemy soldiers.

Entrusted – for now – with saving lives deemed otherwise un-saveable, the field hospital’s crew face a precarious existence. Their work with unapproved magic, necromancy, demonology and Yansic’s thoroughly illicit Gods could lead to the unit being disbanded, arrested or worse.

Beset by enemies within and without, the last thing anyone needs is a miracle…

MY REVIEW

This is a wonderful book and is one that is set behind the scenes of an army. Set in the hospital division of the Pel army, this army is responsible for bringing order to chaos and battling kingdoms and realms as they go. They believe in one religion and are banishing all others, from local gods and deities, priests, believers and worshippers are all targets for them. So when Maric Jack is arrested and then forced to work in the hospital it is a little odd, not only is he a priest but he has in his possession a box of gods!

This is a book that is a fantasy but is also full of action and adventure. Think of the TV show MASH, this is a fantasy version of that… well sort of! The Butcher runs the unit, he is helped by a motley bunch that have a great sense of camaraderie and look out for each other. So, as the newcomer, Jack is looked on with interest especially as he tries to explain that he was a priest, but is no longer one.

This fabulous story shows how Jack gradually earns his place in the unit, the troubles he has and the troubles his box of gods makes for him. At times this is entertaining and at others it is action-packed. The author brings in politics, religion and the general area and society of his world. There are rules that have to be followed and protocols that are in place and this helps to build up the world of the author that his characters inhabit. As they are a medical unit, they are not exactly in the thick of the fighting, but that does not mean they are only on the edge of the action. They have plenty of reasons for the authorities to keep a check on them and their antics.

This is a fantasy story that is a fair old length, at times it does slow, but plenty is going on to keep the reader occupied. There are some good twists and overall I really enjoyed reading this book. Some great and entertaining characters with a good storyline and one that I would happily recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY was born in Lincolnshire and studied zoology and psychology at Reading, before practising law in Leeds. He is a keen live role-player and occasional amateur actor and is trained in stage-fighting. His literary influences include Gene Wolfe, Mervyn Peake, China Miéville, Mary Gently, Steven Erikson, Naomi Novak, Scott Lynch and Alan Campbell.

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