Duckling by Eve Ainsworth

Publisher: Penguin

Released: 1st of April 2022

What if your neighbour asked you to watch her seven-year-old daughter for an afternoon, and didn't come back?

Lucy's life is small, but safe. Every day she goes to work, checks in on her unstable, alcoholic father, then spends her evenings watching old Columbo reruns, isolating herself away from the rest of the community on her South London estate.

Her routine is all that she can handle, given what happened in her past.

So when her new neighbour Cassie asks Lucy if she could look after her seven-year-old daughter Rubi, she is reluctant to agree.

Then when the hours pass, and then days, and Rubi's Mum doesn't come back, Lucy's worst-case-scenario is now her reality. Lucy is not only responsible for herself anymore. She is responsible for a scared little girl who needs her help.

Something has happened to Cassie, and Lucy must find her before it's too late.

What I Have to Say 

I enjoyed this book a lot. It's not my usual sort of book. I prefer contemporary YA, but it didn't have the sorts of things that put me off adult books (stress about jobs, worrying that they haven't done enough with their lives ect.) It was up to Ainsworth's usual quality of writing, had characters that I could really care about and love and had a great mystery element to it that was really great to read. 

The mystery was really the big thing about this book for me. It's what hooked me in and made me keep reading. It was well done, though perhaps not as gripping as I would have liked. But it was well set up and had a conclusion that really made sense. 

I loved Rubi so much. All the characters were great, but Rubi was really sweet. My favourite thing about her was how she kept listening in on all the adult conversations. 

In all, this was a great book. I'll definitely read more of Ainsworth's adult stuff in the future. 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Penguin for providing me with this copy for review. 

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (audiobook)

Pages: 336

Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton 

Released: 23rd of August 2022 

A warm and uplifting novel about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a quirky new family—and a new love—changes the course of her life.

As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don’t mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she’s used to being alone and she follows the rules...with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos "pretending" to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously.

But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and…Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he’s concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.

As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn't the only danger in the world, and when a threat comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn’t know she was looking for....

What I Have to Say 

This was such a cute book. It had a cosy atmosphere that I love in romances. It was very enjoyable to read. I loved the family and their quirks, I loved the descriptions of Nowhere House and I loved the way that the magic was described and used. 

Mika Moon, despite having a really stupid name, is a really great character. She is well rounded and her voice is funny, easy to read and completely right for the story. The narration added to this well and brought her and the other characters to life in a great way. 

There were just a couple of things that bugged me. The first was the plot. It was all hinged around the fact that the girls would have to be at the house when the lawyer came and so their magic had to be kept in control. But during the book they leave the house! Rosetta goes to the bookshop, the other two are taken to the beach at the same time and all three girls go out foraging with Mika. There was no reason that they couldn't be taken out into the woods while the lawyer was there! 

The other thing was explained and it made sense but was confusing for me through most of the book. Despite the witches being orphaned at an early age and it being stated at several times that they can't have siblings for that reason, a couple of witches are mentioned to have sisters!! It wasn't said out loud but it finally clicked why during the finale of the book, but it frustrated me a bit while reading. I think it would have been better if they'd explained earlier that it can happen. 

All in all though, this was a good read and I really enjoyed it. 

(4 stars) 

My thanks goes to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for providing me with this copy for review. 

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Pages: 368 

Publisher: Hutchinson Heinemann 

Released: 30th of August 2022 

Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular.

By the time Carrie retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Slam titles. And if you ask her, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father as her coach.

But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning, British player named Nicki Chan.

At thirty-seven years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record. Even if the sports media says that they never liked the 'Battle-Axe' anyway. Even if her body doesn't move as fast as it did. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever.

In spite of it all: Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season. In this riveting and unforgettable novel, Taylor Jenkins Reid tells a story about the cost of greatness and a legendary athlete attempting a comeback.

What I Have to Say 

I started reading this book and was completely absorbed within the first few sentences. I literally sat down and read almost a quarter of it without stopping, which with my dyslexia these days is a hard task. It wasn't that the plot was gripping because it had hardly started, it was the writing was just so enthralling that it dragged me in and held me there. 

Carrie Soto is an interesting character. She's not very likeable, she's honestly called a bitch throughout most of the novel, but despite this I found myself caring about her a lot. I wanted her to achieve her goals. I wanted her to find love. I wanted her to make a damn friend! She needed more in her life than winning and I wanted her to find it. 

There were some twists and turns that I didn't see coming and some I did, but I didn't know how the end would go until the very last moment. Was this a novel about winning? Was this a novel about learning to take loss? Was it both and she would learn to take loss and be rewarded at the very end by winning anyway? I literally had no idea. It made the final match thrilling because I couldn't guess the result at all. 

I know I'm late to discovering Taylor Jenkins Reid, but I'm so excited to read the other books she's written. 

(5 stars) 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Hutchinson Heinemann for providing me with this copy for review. 

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace (audiobook)

Pages: 416 

Publisher:  Hodder & Stoughton 

Released: 30th of August 2022

For as long as Signa Farrow has been alive, the people in her life have fallen like stars...

Orphaned as a baby, nineteen-year-old Signa has been raised by a string of guardians, each more interested in her wealth than her well-being – and each has met an untimely end. Her remaining relatives are the elusive Hawthornes, an eccentric family living at Thorn Grove, an estate both glittering and gloomy.

Its patriarch mourns his late wife through wild parties, while his son grapples for control of the family’s waning reputation and his daughter suffers from a mysterious illness. But when their mother’s restless spirit appears claiming she was poisoned, Signa realizes that the family she depends on could be in grave danger, and enlists the help of a surly stable boy to hunt down the killer.

Signa’s best chance of uncovering the murderer, though, is an alliance with Death himself, a fascinating, dangerous shadow who has never been far from her side. Though he’s made her life a living hell, Death shows Signa that their growing connection may be more powerful – and more irresistible – than she ever dared imagine. 

What I Have to Say 

I loved this book and I also didn't. I loved the writing and the atmosphere and the romance between Signa and Death, but other parts of the book weren't so good for me. I would have liked it to be more of a mystery: with clues and investigation, but it wasn't. It felt like Signa spent most of the book trying to fend off the effects of the belladonna and save her cousin and then when she actually bothered to look for the killer it all just sort of fell into her lap. 

There were also certain things that were revealed a bit too late, leaving me floundering to match everything up in my head, because Signa had come to realise stuff that wasn't told to the reader until much later. The biggest thing about this was to do with Margery, though I won't say much more because of spoilers. 

But oh the romance. Death was such a great character and Signa worked so well with him! The narration was just spot on with his voice which added to this. And with that ending I'm definitely going to read on to the next book! 

(3.5 stars) 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with this copy for review. 

Sara Barnard - Desert Island Books!

 

Today we have a very special blog tour post from Sara Barnard where she shares what books she'd take with her to a desert island! 

My favourite book: Station Eleven, by Emily St John Mandel. I could read it over and over and not get tired of it. I have a particular love of post-apocalyptic fiction, and this does that with such heart and depth.

The book of my heart: Marlena, by Julie Buntin. This book had a profound effect on me when I first read it a few years ago, and all the times I’ve reread it since. It isn’t a huge bestseller or even a book many people know, but it really feels like a part of my heart.

The book made for a desert island: American Wife, by Curtis Sittenfeld. This book is wonderful, and also very long. You’d want to have a proper good doorstop for a desert island, I think. 

The YA book: Code Name Verity, by Elizabeth Wein. This is a historical YA about two young women during the second world war, but no words will do justice to what this book is. It’s an utterly beautiful book in so many ways – a perfect companion for a desert island.

The classic: The Sound and the Fury, by William Faulker. This is one of my favourite books of all time, that I first read because I had to, for an American Lit class at university. (I named my own fictional Caddy after the Caddy in this book!) It’s such a dense, complicated book that requires a fair amount of concentration. Perfect for isolation, right? 

Sara's latest book, Something Certain Maybe is now available from all good bookstores and online retailers. 

What books would you take with you to a desert island? 

Infamous by Lex Croucher

Pages: 400

Publisher: Bonnier Zaffre 

Released: 21st July 2022 

22-year-old aspiring writer Edith 'Eddie' Miller and her best friend Rose have always done everything together-climbing trees, throwing grapes at boys, sneaking bottles of wine, practicing kissing . . .

But following their debutante ball Rose is suddenly talking about marriage, and Eddie is horrified.

When Eddie meets charming, renowned poet Nash Nicholson, he invites her to his crumbling Gothic estate in the countryside. The entourage of eccentric artists indulging in pure hedonism is exactly what Eddie needs in order to forget Rose and finish her novel.

But Eddie might discover the world of famous literary icons isn't all poems and pleasure . . .

What I Have to Say

There should be more regency books written about the rebels of society, it really is so fun to read about. I enjoyed the differences between the society balls and the literary parties thrown by Nash immensely. I enjoyed reading about women who wore trousers and artists who went by there first names and Valentine, who was never given a gender. With this and watching Gentleman Jack on the BBC, I've definitely developed a taste for stories about the people who went against the rules of society and didn't let anyone define who they were. 

Beyond this, however, I was a little bored. Despite starting out with two girls kissing ("for practice") there was no real hint of romance until after the half way point. And I never really felt the romance. Eddie was supposed to be confused about her feelings and that was fine, but it didn't really feel like she was interested in anyone. 

I also got such bad vibes from one of the characters. It was probably intentional and other people may look at it as a plus, but I felt really uncomfortable about it. 

(3 stars) 

My thanks go to Bonnier and Negalley for providing me with this copy for review. 

The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri

Pages: 512

Publisher: Orbit 

Released: 16th of August 2022 

Series: The Burning Kingdom #2 

The prophecy of the nameless god—the words that declared Malini the rightful empress of Parijatdvipa—has proven a blessing and curse. She is determined to claim the throne that fate offered her. But even with the strength of the rage in her heart and the army of loyal men by her side, deposing her brother is going to be a brutal and bloody fight.

The power of the deathless waters flows through Priya’s blood. Thrice born priestess, Elder of Ahiranya, Priya’s dream is to see her country rid of the rot that plagues it: both Parijatdvipa's poisonous rule, and the blooming sickness that is slowly spreading through all living things. But she doesn’t yet understand the truth of the magic she carries.

Their chosen paths once pulled them apart. But Malini and Priya's souls remain as entwined as their destinies. And they soon realize that coming together is the only way to save their kingdom from those who would rather see it burn—even if it will cost them.

What I Have to Say 

I'm not always into big chunky fantasy books with tons of politics and different threads you have to follow, but this series is something special. Suri has a way of writing that makes it really easy to keep track of everyone and understand what's happening all the time. It was also really easy to get into this book despite not remembering much from the previous book, she had reminders of what happened worked in so subtly that I barely noticed they were there. 

I love all the different religions in this book and how they all seem to have some truth to them. In this book you could really see the different religions start work against each other and the consequences of that. It really feels like there are different gods out there with their own believers and different feelings about how things should be. 

I love Malini and Priya together. They work well as a pair whilst having some interesting contrasts in personality. I have a fondness for Priya but I love how Malini is ambitious and pragmatic (and all the traits that are often see as bad in a women) and is still treated as a sympathetic and worthy of love. Priya pulls at my heartstrings, Malini is my empress. 

The ending of the book naturally had me devastated, so definitely don't read it without tissues to hand, and I can't wait for the next book. 

(5 stars) 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Orbit for providing me with this copy for review. 

 

The Dragon's Promise by Elizabeth Lim

Pages: 400 

Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton 

Released: 30th of August 2022 

Series: Six Crimson Cranes #2 

From the New York Times Bestselling author of Six Crimson Cranes comes a thrilling new adventure! A journey to the kingdom of dragons, a star-crossed love, and a cursed pearl with the power to mend the world or break it... Fans of Shadow and Bone will devour this soaring fantasy.

Princess Shiori made a deathbed promise to return the dragon's pearl to its rightful owner, but keeping that promise is more dangerous than she ever imagined.

She must journey to the kingdom of dragons, navigate political intrigue among humans and dragons alike, fend off thieves who covet the pearl for themselves and will go to any lengths to get it, all while cultivating the appearance of a perfect princess to dissuade those who would see her burned at the stake for the magic that runs in her blood.

The pearl itself is no ordinary cargo; it thrums with malevolent power, jumping to Shiori's aid one minute, and betraying her the next—threatening to shatter her family and sever the thread of fate that binds her to her true love, Takkan. It will take every ounce of strength Shiori can muster to defend the life and the love she's fought so hard to win.

What I Have to Say 

Six Crimson Cranes was one of my favourite books from last years, so I had high expectations for this book but I wasn't disappointed in the slightest. 

It took me a little time to remember what had happened in the last book (I was confused for a little while about why she had made the promise to Raikama until I remembered them reconciling), but it quickly came back to me and I fell back in love with the characters once more. Shiori is one of my favourite characters of all time and Kiki has a special place in my heart, so it felt very much like coming home again. I'm really going to miss these characters. 

I loved how so many elements of Chinese mythology are bound up in this duology. From the dragons and their pearls to the red string of fate that connects Shiori and Takkan, it is full of Lim's take on these very Chinese elements while adding her own fantasy elements as well. 

I also thought it came together in a very satisfying way. I definitely hope this isn't the last we hear from the characters as I know she's had cameos before. 

I was so relieved that I still have the Spin the Dawn duology on my shelf to read as I'm so in love with Lim's writing. 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for this copy for review. 

The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean

Pages: 304

Publisher: Harper Voyager 

Released: 18th of August 2022 

Sunyi Dean's The Book Eaters is a contemporary fantasy debut. It's a story of motherhood, sacrifice, and hope; of queer identity and learning to accept who you are; of gilded lies and the danger of believing the narratives others create for you.

Out on the Yorkshire Moors lives a secret line of people for whom books are food, and who retain all of a book's content after eating it. To them, spy novels are a peppery snack; romance novels are sweet and delicious. Eating a map can help them remember destinations, and children, when they misbehave, are forced to eat dry, musty pages from dictionaries.

Devon is part of The Family, an old and reclusive clan of book eaters. Her brothers grow up feasting on stories of valor and adventure, and Devon—like all other book eater women—is raised on a carefully curated diet of fairytales and cautionary stories.

But real life doesn't always come with happy endings, as Devon learns when her son is born with a rare and darker kind of hunger—not for books, but for human minds. 

What I Have To Say 

I think I read this book at entirely the wrong time. It wasn't nice to read about women being treated poorly and being forced to have babies at a time when abortion laws were being passed to do precisely that. It just made me so tired with the state of the world. 

The other parts of the book were interesting though. I really liked the descriptions of the houses and the peek into book eater society that we saw. I wonder if maybe there could have been more viewpoints or a bit more time when Devon was ignorant of how bad it was, just to give us a bit of a break from the doom and gloom. I'd have liked to enjoy a world where books can be absorbed just by eating them and whole languages can be learned in a single bite but there was no time for that. 

Perhaps if I'd read this book at a different time of my life, I would have felt differently, but for now it was just not the book for me. 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for providing me with this copy for review.