Not Good For Maidens by Tori Bovalino

Pages: 352

Publisher: Titan Books 

Released: 13th of September 2022 

Louisa doesn’t believe in magic, until her teenage aunt Neela is kidnapped to the goblin market.

The market is a place of magic, where twisting streets, succulent fruits, glimmering jewels, and death are on offer to the unwary human. An enticing place that her mother and aunt barely escaped seventeen years ago, paying a terrible price.

With only three days before the market disappears, Lou must navigate the treacherous market, controlled by bloodthirsty goblins who crave vengeance against her family. She must learn the songs and tricks of the goblins to save Neela, or the market might just end up claiming her too.

What I Have to Say 

This was the dark faerie story I wanted! It was deliciously dark, with the kind of Fae that will trick you and kill you for no other reason than it brings them pleasure. I really enjoyed the twists and turns of this book and guessing what would happen next. 

I loved the relationship between Laura and Eitra. This is how paranormal romance should be done. The Goblin being so Other and dark that Laura doesn't know whether to trust her or not and Eitra being just sympathetic enough to think that maybe she might be different, leaving you questioning who's side she's really on. 

I did think that Lou was rushing in to the market without a plan a bit too much. Especially the first time. She went in with no idea how to find Neela and somehow that was okay? There's not knowing what to expect and there's going in completely blind and just hoping it would turn out okay. 

But even with this, I absolutely loved this book. I hope Tori Bovalino does more fae stuff in the future. 

(5 stars) 

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

Safe by Vanessa Harbour

Pages: 247 

Publisher: Firefly Press

Released: 1st of September 2022 

In the chaotic last days of World War II, Jacob and Kizzy are tricked into a life or death journey.

Heinz, their guardian, thinks they are simply helping to fetch some rare horses, but they are really being used to get over the border. Far from home, they are attacked and only just escape. They hide in a seemingly deserted mansion, but they keep hearing strange noises…

Investigating, they find it shelters not only forty abandoned horses but a small band of lost children, displaced by the war. With danger on every side, can Kizzy and Jakob keep them safe and get them all home?

What I Have to Say 

I didn't realise this was a sequel and had to go and read the first book in the series first and I'm glad I did because there were so many references to different things that happened in Flight. I did however like it a whole lot better than Flight. There was more story to it and therefore it felt less predictable. I also felt like there was more danger in this book, the danger felt more abstract in Flight. It felt more like they were alone, whereas in Safe there was the constant reminder that they were right by the roads the Nazis were travelling along. 

There was also less animal death in this one. There's a bit of hunting and fishing, but that's it, unlike Flight. 

I really enjoyed getting to know the children's and their different stories and background. It was nice to see a physically disabled character and a character with mutism added to the cast, especially as with the background of war and illnesses like polio, both these things would have been fairly common at the time. I thought they were handled fairly well but having neither of these things myself, I can't be sure. I also can't be sure of the handling of the Romani character, who was the POV character for this book though I questioned whether her identity was being stripped away since she no longer rode the horses bareback in this book. 

Overall I really enjoyed this book, which was a surprise since I wasn't into Flight. 

(4 stars) 

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

The Lost Girl King by Catherine Doyle

Pages: 336 

Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books 

Released: 1st of September 2022 

Amy and Liam Bell have been packed off to stay at Gran's house in the wilds of Connemara for the summer. Out for a walk on the first morning of their holiday, they trace the flight of a hawk to  waterfall  only to watch the bird disappear through it. Intrigued, the children follow and soon realise they've discovered the entrance to Tír na nÓg, the legendary land of eternal youth.

But they've been tricked. Almost immediately Liam is captured by a troop of headless horsemen who take him to Tarlock, the ruling sorcerer of Tír na nÓg, who is seeking the bones of a human child for a sinister new spell.

What I Have to Say 

I was really disappointed in this book, especially because I loved The Stormkeeper's Island so much. I was really looking forward to see Catherine Doyle's take on Tir na nÓg, but it just fell flat for me. It was also really predictable. 

 There wasn't enough fae in it for me. Tir na nÓg just felt like a not very thoroughly built fantasy world to me. The citizen's were exactly like a medieval society of us would be like, except they had pointed ears and were allergic to a six pence taken from this world.  I was looking forward to exploring a new take on a faery world full of rules and tricks, but what I got was a poorly made fantasy world. 

I also really hated Liam. His sibling squabbles with Amy were too real and really annoyed me and I didn't see enough of them actually getting on before he was captured to really care if she got him back or not. I get theoretically that they love each other really, but I really just didn't see that in the book. Before he was captured her was mean, condescending and just plain annoying. 

I am just so disappointed. This book could have been something really good and it just wasn't. I really hope other people can get something out of it, because I really didn't. 

2 Stars

My thanks go to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Children's Books for providing me with this copy for review. 

The Children of Gods and Fighting Men by Shauna Lawless

Pages: 416 

Publisher: Head of Zeus 

Released: 1st of September 2022 

The first in a gripping new historical fantasy series that intertwines Irish mythology with real-life history, The Children of Gods and Fighting Men is the thrilling debut novel by Shauna Lawless.

They think they've killed the last of us...

981 AD. The Viking King of Dublin is dead. His young widow, Gormflaith, has ambitions for her son – and herself – but Ireland is a dangerous place and kings tend not to stay kings for long. Gormflaith also has a secret. She is one of the Fomorians, an immortal race who can do fire-magic. She has kept her powers hidden at all costs, for there are other immortals in this world – like the Tuatha Dé Danann, a race of warriors who are sworn to kill Fomorians.

Fódla is one of the Tuatha Dé Danann with the gift of healing. Her kind dwell hidden in a fortress, forbidden to live amongst the mortals. Fódla agrees to help her kin by going to spy on Brian Boru, a powerful man who aims to be High King of Ireland. She finds a land on the brink of war – a war she is desperate to stop. However, preventing the loss of mortal lives is not easy with Ireland in turmoil and the Fomorians now on the rise...

What I Have To Say 

This book was very meh for me. I didn't hate it at all and it was easy to read, but I just didn't really get much out of it. I liked one of the view point characters, but the other was just very manipulative and used her body several times in order to get her way. I get that she was grasping for power in any way she could, but it annoyed me that the only ways she could get that power was bossing her son around or having sex with people. 

I also expected more battles. We seemed to be constantly on the edge of one, but it didn't actually happen until the end of the book. There were a lot of negotiations or almost battles. It meant that there didn't really seem to be a lot of danger in the book so there wasn't a lot of excitement. 

I did like the history element. It was interesting to learn about the Vikings in Ireland and see how much conflict between the Norse religion and the Christian church. I like how much she used real history and events to make up the story but still had fantasy elements. 

I probably won't bother continuing with this series. 

3 stars

My thanks go to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for providing me with this copy for review.

 

Three Kisses, One Midnight by Roshani Chokshi, Evelyn Skye and Sandhya Menon

Pages: 288 

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton 

Released: 1st of September 2022 

Three New York Times bestselling authors craft a delicious concoction of storytelling about best friends who discover that love is the most powerful magic of all.

This Halloween, magic will reawaken in the town of Moon Ridge, and any love forged that night will last forever. At least, that’s what the founder’s fable says, and best friends Onny, Ash, and True—better known as “The Coven”—aren’t taking any chances.

After brewing a supposed love potion from a recipe passed down by Onny’s grandmother, each member of The Coven sets off to try to charm the love of their life. One falls for an unexpected suitor. Another paints himself into a corner. And the third refuses to believe in magic at all… until true love proves her wrong.

To All the Boys I've Loved Before meets Gilmore Girls: Three Kisses, One Midnight will put you under its spell and keep you reading long past the witching hour!

What I Have to Say 

This was so cute! It was such a comforting read, three adorable romance stories and a load of small town charm. I don't know which author wrote which story, some were better than others, but I really enjoyed all three of them. 

The first story was a bit predictable but damn if I don't love an enemies to lovers plot line. All the sass and bickering. The second was my favourite. A shy artistic boy and and the girl next door! What's not to like. It was still predictable in places, but in a good way. In a comforting way. The third was also good though not as good as the first two. it felt a bit like True being closed off was forced, especially towards the end when it was clear she was gonna open up. 

The overarching story was great too. The star missing from the sky, the ghost making appearances and all the spooky romance of the anniversary. This would be a great read for Halloween if you're looking for something that isn't too spooky with a lot of romance. 

(4 stars) 

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

 

Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong

Pages: 528

Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton 

Released: 27th of September 2022 

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends comes the first book in a captivating new duology following an ill-matched pair of spies posing as a married couple to investigate a series of brutal murders in 1930s Shanghai.

It’s 1931 in Shanghai, and the stage is set for a new decade of intrigue.

Four years ago, Rosalind Lang was brought back from the brink of death, but the strange experiment that saved her also stopped her from sleeping and aging—and allows her to heal from any wound. In short, Rosalind cannot die. Now, desperate for redemption from her traitorous past, she uses her abilities as an assassin for her country.

Code name: Fortune.

But when the Japanese Imperial Army begins its invasion march, Rosalind’s mission pivots. A series of murders is causing unrest in Shanghai, and the Japanese are under suspicion. Rosalind’s new orders are to infiltrate foreign society and identify the culprits behind the terror plot before more of her people are killed.

To reduce suspicion, however, she must pose as the wife of another Nationalist spy, Orion Hong, and though Rosalind finds Orion’s cavalier attitude and playboy demeanour infuriating, she is willing to work with him for the greater good. But Orion has an agenda of his own, and Rosalind has secrets that she wants to keep buried. As they both attempt to unravel the conspiracy, the two spies soon find that there are deeper and more horrifying layers to this mystery than they ever imagined.

What I Have to Say 

I put so much expectation on this book and I'm so glad it didn't disappoint.  I think I liked it even better than These Violent Delights. Spies and immortality is more my kind of thing than gangsters and monsters, so this was just right up my alley. The fake marriage trope was pulled off really well. I wasn't especially into the trope when I started the book, but with Orion's casual use of "beloved" I was quickly invested in their relationship. 

 I would honestly give my life for Alisa Montagova  and Phoebe Hong. They are perfect I and adore them. I don't know what it is about little sisters, but Chloe Gong writes them perfectly.  Honestly, all the characters in Foul Lady Fortune were wonderful. There wasn't a single of the main characters who didn't stick out for me in different ways. It was a very good cast. 

I can't end this review without talking about the historical elements. I love a good historical as it gives me a glimpse into a historical setting and China has such an interesting history, especially during and after the second world war, so I was really interested to read more about it. Half of me wants to research and find out more about the time period and the other half wants to keep reading Chloe Gong's books and see it all unfold alongside the plot. 

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

Mindwalker by Kate Dylan (audiobook)

Pages: 320 

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton 

Released: 1st of September 2022

Eighteen-year-old Sil Sarrah is determined to die a legend. In the ten years she's been rescuing imperilled field agents for the Syntex Corporation—by commandeering their minds from afar and leading them to safety—Sil hasn't lost a single life. And she's not about to start now.

She's got twelve months left on the clock before the supercomputer grafted to her brain kills her, and she's hell-bent on using that time to cement her legacy. Sil's going to be the only Mindwalker to ever pitch a perfect game—even despite the debilitating glitches she's experiencing. But when a critical mission goes south, Sil is forced to flee the very company she once called home.

Desperate to prove she's no traitor, Sil infiltrates the Analog Army, an activist faction working to bring Syntex down. Her plan is to win back her employer's trust by destroying the group from within. Instead, she and the Army's reckless leader, Ryder, uncover a horrifying truth that threatens to undo all the good Sil's ever done.

With her tech rapidly degrading and her new ally keeping dangerous secrets of his own, Sil must find a way to stop Syntex in order to save her friends, her reputation—and maybe even herself.

What I Have to Say 

I had a very good time reading this book. Sil was an amazing character with great humour and sarcasm. The narrator was spot on as well really capturing Sil's voice and bringing life to the piece. I think I would have enjoyed it either way, but I especially enjoyed it as an audiobook. 

The world was well built, if slightly depressing. It's sort of post- post-apocalypse. The apocalypse has happened, people survived and the world has been rebuilt. I found it good that it was an apocalypse by bombing the shit out of each other, rather than climate change because if I'm honest, books about climate change have started to scare me. 

The mindwalking was really interesting. It really makes you think about consent and the idea that someone could literally take control of your body. Some of the scenes made me really uncomfortable and definitely showed the issues around that sort of thing. 

All in all, this was a really good sci fi book. 

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

Unraveller by Francis Hardinge

Pages: 496 

Publisher: Macmillan 

Released: 2nd of September 2022 

Kellen and Nettle live in a world where anyone can create a life-destroying curse, but only one person has the power to unravel them. But not everyone is happy he can do so and, suddenly, he’s in a race to save both himself and all those who have been touched by magic…

A spell-binding new tale from the master of speculative fiction.

What I Have so Say 

What I love most about Frances Hardinge, is how creative she is. She creates stories that no one else would think of. She creates fantasies that are unique and beautiful and just so fun to read. I'm sure there are other authors out there who are just as good, but I haven't found any who intrigue and compel me as much as her. 

I think I did my disservice reading this book though, because I went into it wanting it to be as good as Cuckoo Song, but can anything really be as good as Cuckoo Song? I tried to focus on the good stuff though and there was certainly a lot there. 

I loved the relationships between the characters, especially later in the book with certain reveals and with the cursers having more of a role. Nothing is as it seems in this book and the relationships were strained and tested during the process and it really showed the beauty of those relationships. 

There are so many different ways of being in this book. Whether it was cursed or curser or the unique case of Kellen being an Unraveller. Then there were the people in the shallow wilds and the deep wilds who were touched by the wilds in different ways. In many ways, this book was a celebration of what it  means to read this book. 

This is a really long review but I want to just touch on one more subject. If anyone is worried about agoraphobia, I have it pretty bad and this book didn't really bother me. I think the descriptions of the little brothers was well managed and written in a sensitive way. I don't want to say you'll be fine picking up this book with a fear of spiders, but don't let it put you off. Though the little brothers and their curse eggs are at the heart of this story, they only feature in a few scenes. 

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