The Adventures of Amina Al- Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty

Pages: 496 

Publisher: Harper Voyager 

Released: 28th of February 2023 

Shannon Chakraborty, the bestselling author of The City of Brass, spins a new trilogy of magic and mayhem on the high seas in this tale of pirates and sorcerers, forbidden artifacts and ancient mysteries, in one woman’s determined quest to seize a final chance at glory—and write her own legend.

Amina al-Sirafi should be content. After a storied and scandalous career as one of the Indian Ocean’s most notorious pirates, she’s survived backstabbing rogues, vengeful merchant princes, several husbands, and one actual demon to retire peacefully with her family to a life of piety, motherhood, and absolutely nothing that hints of the supernatural.

But when she’s tracked down by the obscenely wealthy mother of a former crewman, she’s offered a job no bandit could refuse: retrieve her comrade’s kidnapped daughter for a kingly sum. The chance to have one last adventure with her crew, do right by an old friend, and win a fortune that will secure her family’s future forever? It seems like such an obvious choice that it must be God’s will.

Yet the deeper Amina dives, the more it becomes alarmingly clear there’s more to this job, and the girl’s disappearance, than she was led to believe. For there’s always risk in wanting to become a legend, to seize one last chance at glory, to savor just a bit more power…and the price might be your very soul.

 What I Have to Say 

This book was everything I wanted it to be! It was a wonderful historical setting full of diversity and the kind of rich mix of cultures that really makes the world interesting, it was a beautiful arrangements of fantasy creatures and elements that went into this world to make it just that much more exciting. And it was a character who was different and interesting and funny! 

I don't honestly know what to say other than that. It was a thrilling book that engrossed me completely, maybe not from the first page, but from very early on. There were so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming. It was just perfection. 

I appreciate a slightly older character. Not being a young spry teenager myself anymore, it was really nice to read about someone a bit different in one of these books. I couldn't relate to her entirely as she's a little older than me and a parent, but I've never found that an obstacle to liking the character. 

I just want to scream about this book from the treetops! Go read it! 

5 stars 

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

Weyward by Emilia Hart

Pages: 368 

Publisher: The Borough Press 

Released: 2nd of February 2023 

KATE, 2019

Kate flees London – abandoning everything – for Cumbria and Weyward Cottage, inherited from her great-aunt. There, a secret lurks in the bones of the house, hidden ever since the witch-hunts of the 17th century.

VIOLET, 1942

Violet is more interested in collecting insects and climbing trees than in becoming a proper young lady. Until a chain of shocking events changes her life forever.

ALTHA, 1619

Altha is on trial for witchcraft, accused of killing a local man. Known for her uncanny connection with nature and animals, she is a threat that must be eliminated.

But Weyward women belong to the wild. And they cannot be tamed…

Weaving together the stories of three women across five centuries, Weyward is an enthralling novel of female resilience and the transformative power of the natural world.

TW: Rape, Domestic Abuse, Abortion, Death of a parent, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Dead Animals 

What I Have To Say 

I really enjoyed this, but it is really really important to read the content warnings. It does not go easy on them. The second scene in the book is about an abusive relationship and contains domestic abuse.  

As I said though this was a really enjoyable read. It was atmospheric and full of  an appreciation of nature. It really made me think about the birds and insects all around me! I loved that the magic was so tied up with the natural world. The only problem with is was that I would have liked more magic. 

My favourite storyline was Violet's I loved the rebellious girl who had such a connection to nature that no one could tame. I love the idea that everyone who reads this will have a different connection to the three characters and will like a different character best! 

If you want a story about three strong women with themes of witchcraft and overcoming the place of women in society, then this is the perfect book to pick up. 

(4 stars) 

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

The Elemental Detectives by Patrice Lawrence (audio)

Pages: 432 

Publisher: Bolinda Audio 

Released: 1st of September 2023 

A stunningly imagined, action-packed fantasy adventure for fans of Nevermoor, Neverwhere and Mortal Engines, from bestselling and award-winning author Patrice Lawrence.

Step into a London lit up by the Elemental spirits: the fiery Dragons, the airy Fumis, the watery Chads and the earthbound Magogs. But humans have been causing chaos for centuries, trampling through the landscape trailing noise, mess and pollution. What if the Elements could slow down this new world... or stop it all together?

The revenge-fuelled Shepherdess, who moves between the everyday and the supernatural London worlds, is the perfect weapon. She brings a sleeping sickness down on the city with the destruction of society in her sights. Marisee and Robert are the Elemental Detectives chasing the clues to avoid catastrophe: they must face the ghosts of Hyde Park, the monstrous coiled snake of the Serpentine, and a whole host of other fantastical creatures in their mission to stop the Shepherdess and prevent London slumbering for all eternity...

Big, bold, future classic storytelling for a new generation.

A London where magic sparks just beneath the surface - this book is set to ignite young imaginations.

The page-turning, empowering, heart-racing first book in a major new series.

 What I Have To Say 

I enjoyed this, but it's not what I expected from the title. I expected more of a whodunnit mystery with the characters investigating whereas this was more of a adventure story where they had an adventure and solved the mystery on the way. It's a shame because I would have enjoyed it more if I'd know what I was getting in for, but oh well. 

The characters were great but obviously, I was more interested in the elemental characters than the human ones. The fumis were my favourite. I loved the way they were named and the suggestions of their language. I really want to see more of them in the next book. 

All in all, I think this was a good start to a series. I definitely want to see more of these books. 

 

3.5 stars 

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

A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon

Pages: 880 

Publisher: Bloomsbury 

Released: 28th of February 2023 

The stunning, standalone prequel to the New York Times bestselling The Priory of the Orange Tree.

Tunuva Melim is a sister of the Priory. For fifty years, she has trained to slay wyrms – but none have appeared since the Nameless One, and the younger generation is starting to question the Priory's purpose.

To the north, in the Queendom of Inys, Sabran the Ambitious has married the new King of Hróth, narrowly saving both realms from ruin. Their daughter, Glorian, trails in their shadow – exactly where she wants to be.

The dragons of the East have slept for centuries. Dumai has spent her life in a Seiikinese mountain temple, trying to wake the gods from their long slumber. Now someone from her mother's past is coming to upend her fate.

When the Dreadmount erupts, bringing with it an age of terror and violence, these women must find the strength to protect humankind from a devastating threat.

Intricate and epic, Samantha Shannon sweeps readers back to the world of A Priory of the Orange Tree, showing us a course of events that shaped it for generations to come. 

What I Have to Say 

It is an honour to review this book. The Priory of the Orange Tree means so much to me and getting to dive back into the world was a joy. I am so happy to get to share this experience with all of you. 

Though not as good as Priory (because what really could have been as good as Priory), A Day of Fallen Night is a beautifully written prequel. It picks up a lot of the same themes as Priory and takes  you straight back into this world. While I was a little slow to get into it (which I put down to the lack of dragons in the first half ) it soon picked up and reminded me what I loved about Priory, 

This book is an epic. It is long and detailed and you have to buckle yourself in for a big commitment. But while some books this size are long winded and honestly not worth the effort, that's not true for either Priory or A Day of Fallen Night. It is worth the commitment and doesn't feel nearly as long when you buckle in and get reading. 

My favourite parts, I think were the parts with Tunuva and Siyu. I loved seeing more about the Priory and what it was like in a time of peace. But I also really liked the bits with Glorian a lot and obviously the bits with Dumai and the dragons. It was nice that we had such a scope of storylines, with lots of themes to explore but it was also nice to see them connect together at the end. 

I would recommend reading Priory again first though. I didn't have time for a reread and though I did remember a lot of stuff as I went on, I got a little frustrated that I couldn't remember certain details. 

In short, this series is amazing but do reread before you get stuck in! 

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

The Thorns Remain by JJA Harwood

Pages: 416 

Publisher: Magpie 

Released: 16th of February 2023

From the Sunday Times bestselling historical fantasy author of THE SHADOW IN THE GLASS comes a tour-de-force of faerie bargains, perfect for fans of THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LA RUE, MEXICAN GOTHIC, and TEN THOUSAND DOORS OF JANUARY

A dance with the fae will change everything

1919. In a highland village forgotten by the world, harvest season is over and the young who remain after war and flu have ravaged the village will soon head south to make something of themselves.

Moira Jean and her friends head to the forest for a last night of laughter before parting ways. Moira Jean is being left behind. She had plans to leave once – but her lover died in France and with him, her future. The friends light a fire, sing and dance. But with every twirl about the flames, strange new dancers thread between them, music streaming from the trees.

The fae are here.

Suddenly Moira Jean finds herself all alone, her friends spirited away. The iron medal of her lost love, pinned to her dress, protected her from magic.

For the Fae feel forgotten too. Lead by the darkly handsome Lord of the Fae, they are out to make themselves known once more. Moira Jean must enter into a bargain with the Lord to save her friends – and fast, for the longer one spends with the Fae, the less like themselves they are upon return. If Moira Jean cannot save her friends before Beltine, they will be lost forever…

Completely bewitching, threaded with Highland charm and sparkling with dark romance, this is a fairytale that will carry you away.

TW: obsession, toxic relationship, sickness, death, injury, brief suicide mentions, grief 

What I Have to Say 

This is how to do fae romance right. It was obsession, it was tricks, it was every twisted thing I want from a fey who's become interested in a human. It was good because it wasn't love. It wasn't treated as love. I didn't like the ending, but up until that it was everything I wanted it to be. 

I loved the relationships that Moira Jean had with different ones of the fey. The brownie was my favourite. I also loved how the changeling flirted with her and made the book so much gayer. I like how Moira Jean's bisexuality was acknowledged in a way that fitted in with the times though I do wish there had been more of it. 

Moira Jean's grief made her character and I don't think she would have been the same without it. It was a good way of getting more romance into the book because there were flashbacks. I don't think it would have been the same book without it. 

All in all, I really enjoyed this book and I hope there'll be more in the genre like this. 

4 stars 

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

The Fifth Horseman by Jon Smith

Pages: 320 

Publisher: Balkon Media 

Released: 7th of February 2023 

Internationally published bestselling author Jon Smith makes his adult debut with The Fifth Horseman, a modern light-hearted fantasy that rides roughshod over established mythology and the rules of life… and death.

The Fifth Horseman is a darkly comic tale of two thirty-somethings caught between our world and the afterlife, who must embrace their role as reapers to prevent the End Times. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy meets Father Ted, perfect for fans of Ben Aaronovitch, Terry Pratchett, and Neil Gaiman.

Death is just a day job you can’t quit…

Emma and Mark had a bad day. The worst part of it was dying. But, according to Death, the Rider on the Pale Horse and first horseman of the apocalypse, things aren’t that simple. Turns out the sand in their hourglass is stuck in place. Somewhere between life and death, they’re put to work as Death’s assistants, reaping the souls of the living until it’s time for their final clock out…

To compound matters, despite their omnipotence, the four horsemen are facing an existential threat – one they’re ill-equipped and ill-prepared to combat. They’re suddenly getting old, weak, and succumbing to illness. What has brought on this uncharacteristic frailty? Does Charon, the ferryman of the River Styx, have more up his sleeve than just the coins proffered by the dead to secure passage to the afterlife? And why do you never see baby pigeons?

Emma and Mark must reap like their afterlives depend on it, to help prevent the End Times – even if it means scuppering the one opportunity they have at being granted a second chance at life.

Filled with humour, romantic tension, and suspense, Jon Smith utilises a witty, lightly sarcastic ensemble of flawed but loveable characters. It will appeal to mainstream fantasy readers and hopeless romantics, as well as those who enjoy a good story, a good laugh, a few tears, and a happy ending.

TW: Child Death, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Violence, Death, Injury,/ injury detail, Suicide and Suicide attempt 

What I Have to Say 

I don't think I can put into words how much I hated this book. First it went straight into someone trying to commit suicide with no warning. I wasn't ready for that kind of content. Then it was just boring. It was meant to be funny, but I didn't really think it was to be honest. But most of the book was just one death after the next, just one reap after the other. There were different conditions and at some points he tried to get philosophical but it just felt really repetitive. 

Then there was the misogyny. I'm not even gonna go into the fact that he had War as a woman because that's apparently all that men fight about. But the main character Emma was treated terribly. The entire "romance" in this book was Emma being pursued by Mark who just can't take no for an answer. And of course because this is written by a man, we all know how it ends. Also at every tricky death, she wavered and Mark stepped in and made the hard choice because apparently men are better at this sort of thing. 

The ending came out of nowhere. I thought I could see how it was going to go but then something completely different which wasn't really foreshadowed happened instead. 

To say this book wasn't for me is putting it really really lightly. Do not read without checking the trigger warnings. 

 

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

Pages: 304 

Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton 

Released: 16th of February 2023 

A sumptuous, gothic-infused story about a marriage that is unraveled by dark secrets, a friendship cursed to end in tragedy, and the danger of believing in fairy tales—the breathtaking adult debut from New York Times bestselling author Roshani Chokshi.

Once upon a time, a man who believed in fairy tales married a beautiful, mysterious woman named Indigo Maxwell-Casteñada. He was a scholar of myths. She was heiress to a fortune. They exchanged gifts and stories and believed they would live happily ever after—and in exchange for her love, Indigo extracted a promise: that her bridegroom would never pry into her past.

But when Indigo learns that her estranged aunt is dying and the couple is forced to return to her childhood home, the House of Dreams, the bridegroom will soon find himself unable to resist. For within the crumbling manor’s extravagant rooms and musty halls, there lurks the shadow of another girl: Azure, Indigo’s dearest childhood friend who suddenly disappeared. As the house slowly reveals his wife’s secrets, the bridegroom will be forced to choose between reality and fantasy, even if doing so threatens to destroy their marriage . . . or their lives.

Combining the lush, haunting atmosphere of Mexican Gothic with the dreamy enchantment of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is a spellbinding and darkly romantic page-turner about love and lies, secrets and betrayal, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive.

TW: blood, violence, gore, animal death, paedophilia, harassment, child abuse, death, forced starvation, forced self-harm

What I Have to Say 

I enjoyed this book for the most part, but do not go into it without reading the trigger warnings. This is not a book to go into with preparing yourself for what you have to face. 

As usual, I loved the fairy tale aspect of the book. I loved the Azure chapters and I loved the constant metaphors that the main character made between the mythology and fairy tales he knew and the events of the stories. It was perfect. It led to a general vibe of the mysterious and fantastical. 

However this vibe was not always there and when it wasn't, the book kind of fell flat. Before the Azure chapters started, I was honestly a bit bored. I hadn't warmed to the story yet and I was impatient for the story to start. I also found it went away at the end when the characters had to return to reality as it were. 

It was only really the first half an hour of reading and the last half an hour though, other than that the book was fantastic. 

(4 stars) 

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

Six Times We Almost Kissed (and One Time We Did)

Pages: 356

Publisher: Hodder Children's Books 

Released: 2nd of February 2023 

Six moments lead us to two girls, one kiss, and three little words that were maybe always true in this gorgeous novel perfect for fans of Nina LaCour and Jenny Han.

Penny and Tate have always clashed. Unfortunately, their mothers are lifelong best friends, so the girls’ bickering has carried them through playdates, tragedy, and more than one rom-com marathon with the Moms. When Penny’s mother decides to become a living donor to Tate’s mom, ending her wait for a liver transplant, things go from clashing to cataclysmic. Because in order to help their families recover physically, emotionally, and financially, the Moms combine their households the summer before senior year.

So Penny and Tate make a pact: They’ll play nice. Be the drama-free daughters their mothers need through this scary and hopeful time. There’s only one little hitch in their plan: Penny and Tate keep almost kissing.

It’s just this confusing thing that keeps happening. You know, from time to time. For basically their entire teenaged existence.

They’ve never talked about it. They’ve always ignored it in the aftermath. But now they’re living across the hall from each other. And some things—like their kisses—can’t be almosts forever.

What I Have to Say 

I'm reading so many queer books lately and I am living! This one broke me though. It was so sad! The relationship between Penny and her mum and the trauma that had happened to cause it were so tragic. I could really feel the pain in the words. 

I wasn't so into the relationship between the two girls. The kisses were good, but other than that I just didn't really feel the tension between them. It was however beautiful writing. There were some really touching metaphors that I'm certain are gonna be picked up and quoted from the book for years to come. 

It was definitely worth reading. I enjoy books that discuss trauma and healing and I was very interested in those parts of the story. 

 4 stars 

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

Friday I'm in Love by Camryn Garrett

Pages: 288 

Publisher: Penguin Random House 

Released: 2nd of February 2023 

It's too late for a Sweet Sixteen but what if Mahalia had a Coming Out Party? A love letter to romantic comedies, sweet sixteen blowouts, black joy and queer pride.

Mahalia Harris wants.

She wants a big Sweet Sixteen like her best friend Naomi.

She wants the super cute new girl Siobhan to like her back.

She wants a break from worrying--about money, snide remarks from white classmates, pitying looks from church ladies . . . all of it.

Then inspiration strikes: It's too late for a Sweet Sixteen, but what if she had a Coming Out Party? A singing, dancing, rainbow-cake-eating celebration of queerness on her own terms.

The idea lights a fire in her, and soon Mahalia is scrimping and saving, taking on extra hours at her afterschool job, trying on dresses, and awkwardly flirting with Siobhan, all in preparation for the Coming Out of her dreams. But it's not long before she's buried in a mountain of bills, unfinished schoolwork, and enough drama to make her English Lit teacher blush. With all the responsibility on her shoulders, will Mahalia's party be over before it's even begun?

A novel about finding yourself, falling in love, and celebrating what makes you you.

What I Have to Say 

Ahhh! So much gay, so much longing, so much music stuck in my head. This book was a delight to read. The idea of a coming out party is so wonderful to me as a queer woman. The idea of everyone coming together to celebrate your sexuality and show you that they accept you is just so affirming.

It was good to see a book about someone scraping the money together to get what they want. I feel like so much of YA has become about rich kids recently and it's definitely been hard to find queer literature about people who don't have loads of money. There's a few more books this year that have come out about working class people and it's been good to see. 

There was so much longing in this book too. It was painful at some points, but in a good way.  It was a very good representation of the agony of having a crush. 

Definitely a good read for feel good vibes even if it takes a little while to get there. 

(four stars) 

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

Song Like Silver, Flame Like Night by Amélie Wen Zhao

 Today I was going to review Song Like Silver, Flame Like Night, but in support of the Harper Collins Union strike (fighting for fair wages, union rights and diversity), I will not be publishing the review at this time. 

If the strike has ended and you're seeing this post, then I give my apologies it's because I haven't had a chance to see the news yet and will be putting the review up asap. 

I hope you will support the strikers during this troubled time and look forward to the review which will be posted at a later date. 

Thanks for reading. 

Wild and Wicked Things by Francesca May (audiobook)

Pages: 416 

Publisher: Orbit 

Released: 31st of March 2022 

In the aftermath of World War I, a naive woman is swept into a glittering world filled with dark magic, romance, and murder in this lush and decadent debut.

On Crow Island, people whisper, real magic lurks just below the surface. 

Neither real magic nor faux magic interests Annie Mason. Not after it stole her future. She’s only on the island to settle her late father’s estate and, hopefully, reconnect with her long-absent best friend, Beatrice, who fled their dreary lives for a more glamorous one. 

Yet Crow Island is brimming with temptation, and the biggest one may be her enigmatic new neighbor. 

Mysterious and alluring, Emmeline Delacroix is a figure shadowed by rumors of witchcraft. And when Annie witnesses a confrontation between Bea and Emmeline at one of the island's extravagant parties, she is drawn into a glittering, haunted world. A world where the boundaries of wickedness are tested, and the cost of illicit magic might be death. 

What I Have to Say 

There was just something about this book that put me off it. I think a big part of it was the narrator, who annoyed me by making everything sound so tragic, but I don't think it was just that. The story just didn't quite hit the mark. 

It's a real shame because I was really interested by the alternate history setting and the way witchcraft fitted into it all. It was a really skilfully created world with witchcraft slotted into the first world war and the prohibition period after it. I was really interested to read all that, but the story didn't quite live up to the premise. 

There was also one piece of music that they played over certain chapters that just completely creeped me out. I couldn't concentrate on what was being said because I was made so anxious by the music. 

All this added up to a not very enjoyable experience, but I hope that other people might like it where I didn't. 

2 stars 

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

 

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

Pages:  384 

Publisher: Penguin Random House 

Released: 2nd of February 2023 

The Davenports delivers a totally escapist, swoon-worthy romance while offering a glimpse into a period of African American history often overlooked.

The Davenports are one of the few Black families of immense wealth and status in a changing United States, their fortune made through the entrepreneurship of William Davenport, a formerly enslaved man who founded the Davenport Carriage Company years ago. Now it's 1910, and the Davenports live surrounded by servants, crystal chandeliers, and endless parties, finding their way and finding love—even where they’re not supposed to.

There is Olivia, the beautiful elder Davenport daughter, ready to do her duty by getting married . . . until she meets the charismatic civil rights leader Washington DeWight and sparks fly. The younger daughter, Helen, is more interested in fixing cars than falling in love—unless it’s with her sister’s suitor. Amy-Rose, the childhood friend turned maid to the Davenport sisters, dreams of opening her own business—and marrying the one man she could never be with, Olivia and Helen’s brother, John. But Olivia’s best friend, Ruby, also has her sights set on John Davenport, though she can’t seem to keep his interest . . . until family pressure has her scheming to win his heart, just as someone else wins hers.

Inspired by the real-life story of the Patterson family, The Davenports is the tale of four determined and passionate young Black women discovering the courage to steer their own path in life—and love.

What I Have to Say 

I love this period of history, when the rules are starting to lapse and things are starting to become a bit freer. I really liked this opportunity to learn about the history of black society in this time. It's something I'll admit, I hadn't thought much about, but I will definitely be doing more research into it going onward. 

The characters were this book's greatest strength. The four girls are strong, intelligent and tell the story beautifully. Though I liked some characters more than others, the story wouldn't be the same if even one of these girls was missing. It showed different ways to be a woman and different ways to be black, whether striving out to set up your own business, skilfully evading your etiquette tutor, setting out into a world of activism and protests or simply trying to secure a husband so that she cans survive on in a world that is so cruel to women, each girl brought a different story to the mix and I loved every one. 

I liked how there was the suggestion of lives without husbands in the mix. It's clear that each girl is on a journey of power for themselves, not just a journey to get with the dashing man that each of them finds along the way. I have no doubt that each girl will end up in a life that she has built for herself with no need of a husband but oh look there's the perfect man by her side anyway. 

I didn't know this was a duology at first, so be warned it doesn't all wrap up at the end! I can't wait to read the conclusion though! 

4 stars 

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