A Power Unbound by Freya Marske (audiobook)

Pages: 432 

Publisher: Tor 

Released: 9th of November 2023 

A Power Unbound is the final entry in Freya Marske’s beloved, award-winning Last Binding trilogy, the queer historical fantasy series that began with A Marvellous Light.

Secrets! Magic! Enemies to. . .something more?

Jack Alston, Lord Hawthorn, would love a nice, safe, comfortable life. After the death of his twin sister, he thought he was done with magic for good. But with the threat of a dangerous ritual hanging over every magician in Britain, he’s drawn reluctantly back into that world.

Now Jack is living in a bizarre puzzle-box of a magical London townhouse, helping an unlikely group of friends track down the final piece of the Last Contract before their enemies can do the same. And to make matters worse, they need the help of writer and thief Alan Ross.

Cagey and argumentative, Alan is only in this for the money. The aristocratic Lord Hawthorn, with all his unearned power, is everything that Alan hates. And unfortunately, Alan happens to be everything that Jack wants in one gorgeous, infuriating package.

When a plot to seize unimaginable power comes to a head at Cheetham Hall―Jack’s ancestral family estate, a land so old and bound in oaths that it’s grown a personality as prickly as its owner―Jack, Alan and their allies will become entangled in a night of champagne, secrets, and bloody sacrifice . . . and the foundations of magic in Britain will be torn up by the roots before the end.

What I Have to Say 

I really love this world and I'm honestly so sad to leave it, but the ending of this series was so clever. I spent most of the book wondering how the hell they were gonna get out of this, but the conclusion was satisfying and wrapped everything up. 

I did find it a bit hard to keep track of the characters. Because of the way the books are set out, there are some characters in this that we haven't heard from since the first book so I really struggled. There was also the fact that the two POV characters were referred to by their last names or first names depending who's perspective it was. But I got it all straight by the end! 

The audio was fantastic, they captured Jack and Alan's voices perfectly and was really pleasant to listen to. 

I would recommend reading this series all at once so that you don't have so much to remember, but overall it was a really strong trilogy! 

4 stars 

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

 

The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch by Melinda Taub

Pages: 400

Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books 

Released: 3rd of October 2023 

Miss Lydia Bennet may be the youngest, but what she lacks in maturity and responsibility, she more than makes up for in energy, fun - and magic.

In this exuberant reimagining of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Lydia Bennet puts pen to paper to relate the real events and aftermath of the classic story from her own perspective. Some facts are well known: Mrs. Bennet suffers from her nerves; Mr. Bennet suffers from Mrs. Bennet, and all five daughters suffer from an estate that is entailed only to male heirs.

But Lydia also suffers from entirely different concerns: her best-loved sister Kitty is really a barn cat, and Wickham is every bit as wicked as the world believes him to be, but what else would you expect from a demon? And if you think Mr. Darcy was uptight about dancing etiquette, wait till you see how he reacts to witchcraft. Most of all, Lydia has yet to learn that when you're a witch, promises have power . . .

Full of enchantment, intrigue, danger, and boundless magic, The Shocking Confessions of Miss Lydia Bennet, Witch, has all the irreverent wit, strength, and romance of Pride and Prejudice - while offering a highly unexpected redemption for the wildest Bennet sister.

What I Have to Say 

This was everything I wanted it to be. Magic, regency society and a nice scattering of Jane Austen. It was the perfect blend of a regency novel full of scandal and a fantasy novel of witchcraft and danger. The author also captured Lydia's voice perfectly. There was not a moment of this book where I wasn't entirely convinced this was the same Lydia from Pride and Prejudice. And this is the Jane Austen inspired book the I've seen that goes into what happens to Lydia after the scandal. 

I loved how the magic fit in perfectly to regency society. It was easy to go from a ball with women in tight dresses dancing with suiters to a coven meeting where naked witches danced around a bonfire. The style it was written made it feel completely natural. As though there was witchcraft in Jane Austen all along! 

The story itself was skilfully written. Everything fit perfectly with the events of the original text. I was so excited to see how it would all end and there was plenty of suspense and mystery created throughout the novel. The ending was perfect, it was clever, unexpected and it just fit so well. 

4 stars 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Jo Fletcher books for providing me with this gifted copy for review. 

A Lady's Guide to Scandal by Sophie Irwin

Pages: 400 

Publisher: Harper Collins 

Released: 31st of August 2023 

When shy Miss Eliza Balfour married the austere Earl of Somerset, twenty years her senior, it was the match of the season--no matter that he was not the husband Eliza would have chosen.

But ten years later, Eliza is widowed. And at eight and twenty years, she is suddenly left titled, rich, and, for the first time in her life, utterly in control of her own future. Instead of living out her mourning quietly, Eliza heads to Bath with her cousin Margaret. After years of living according to everyone else’s rules, Eliza has resolved, at last, to do as she wants.

But when the ripples of the dowager Lady Somerset’s behavior reach the new Lord Somerset—whom Eliza knew, once, as a younger woman—Eliza is forced to confront the fact that freedom does not come without consequences, though it also brings unexpected opportunities . . .

What I Have to Say 

I love these books so much. The characters are just so sassy and real. Margaret was a treasure and I loved Melville's wit so much. Also this book stands alone from A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting and while I was sad none of the characters in that book appeared, it does mean that readers can pick up Scandal without having read Fortune Hunting! 

There was something so refreshing about seeing a widow as a character in this book. While I don't read much Regency so I don't know what's the norm, most of the regency books I've read are young girls looking for a husband, so it was refreshing to see a widow with her own money and no need to rely on a man looking her way to save her family. Though of course we knew that romance was coming, it was nice to see someone living in this time who didn't necessarily need it. 

I also really felt for Eliza. This was her second chance at love after having married for her family. It was her chance to actually have a love match and be with someone who didn't disparage her all the time. I was really invested in her journey. 

If you haven't picked up one of these books yet, you definitely should. Even if you don't read regency or romance, these are just so refreshing to read! 

5 stars 

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

Ten Thousand Stitches by Olivia Atwater

Pages: 257 

Publisher: Orbit 

Released: 21st of July 2022 (first published: October 2020) 

Regency housemaid Euphemia Reeves has acquired a faerie godfather. Unfortunately, he has no idea what he's doing.

Effie has most inconveniently fallen in love with the dashing Mr Benedict Ashbrooke. There's only one problem; Effie is a housemaid, and a housemaid cannot marry a gentleman. It seems that Effie is out of luck until she stumbles into the faerie realm of Lord Blackthorn, who is only too eager to help Effie win Mr Ashbrooke's heart. All he asks in return is that Effie sew ten thousand stitches onto his favourite jacket.

Effie has heard rumours about what happens to those who accept help from faeries, but life as a maid at Hartfield is so awful that she is willing to risk even her immortal soul for a chance at something better. Now, she has one hundred days - and ten thousand stitches - to make Mr Ashbrooke fall in love and propose. . . if Lord Blackthorn doesn't wreck things by accident, that is. For Effie's greatest obstacle might well prove to be Lord Blackthorn's overwhelmingly good intentions.

From the author of HALF A SOUL comes a whimsical fantasy romance with a Cinderella twist. Pick up TEN THOUSAND STITCHES, and dive into another enchanting faerie tale set in Olivia Atwater's charming, magical version of Regency England!

What I Have to Say 

This was honestly a delight to read. I love that Atwater is going back to the roots of faerie stories and making them dark again. In this one, the faerie is not as cruel as the last one. His intentions are always the best! But the cruelty lies in that he honestly hasn't a clue what he's doing or what is good or ill. It was the perfect way to make a faerie into a good love interest without completely abandoning the dark side of the fae. 

I haven't heard any talk of this book, so I don't know if the regency setting has improved at all since Half a Soul, which apparently had some really bad errors. But as someone who doesn't read regency that much at all, that didn't bother me. In this one, we got a look downstairs in one of the big houses and took a look at how the servants lived! I love how in these books we get to see rights being fought for. 

I loved the characters and the magic we saw in this book a lot. Effie was perfect, just the right balance of anger over the situation and the way she and the other servants are treated and friendship and loyalty towards the other maid and her brother. She wasn't full of bitterness, just righteous anger and it made for a good character. 

I just had such a good time with this book. I love the series and hope the next one is just as good! 

5 stars 

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

 

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. 

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

Pages: 305

Publisher: Little Brown Book Group 

Released: 30th of June 2022

It's difficult to find a husband in Regency England when you're a young lady with only half a soul.

Ever since she was cursed by a faerie, Theodora Ettings has had no sense of fear or embarrassment - a condition which makes her prone to accidental scandal. Dora hopes to be a quiet, sensible wallflower during the London Season - but when the strange, handsome and utterly uncouth Lord Sorcier discovers her condition, she is instead drawn into dangerous and peculiar faerie affairs.

If Dora's reputation can survive both her curse and her sudden connection with the least-liked man in all of high society, then she may yet reclaim her normal place in the world. . . but the longer Dora spends with Elias Wilder, the more she begins to suspect that one may indeed fall in love, even with only half a soul.

What I have to say

Two regency books in the last few months! What's going on with that! But Half a Soul is regency with a difference. It's a faerie tale that just happens to be set in regency England!

I really enjoyed it. Though I can't say it was an accurate reflection of the time period, or that regency fans would like it, I feel like fans of the fae and fairytales would really like it.

Though Dora has only half a soul and therefore doesn't feel emotions in the same way as everyone else, this book doesn't lack in emotion. She feels what she calls "long tailed emotions" like hurt and passion and slow burning anger.

What I loved most about her was her passionate anger when faced with the injustices of the workhouse and the world. I also felt that there are parallels between her and some neurodiversities!  I don't know if it was intentional, but some of the bluntness in the way Dora spoke and the way she saw the world around her felt really familiar to me and I couldn't help comparing it to my autism. In many ways this felt like a disability story as well. 

So read for: dark irredeemable faeries, swoon-worthy magicians and a sizable helping of magic!

My thanks go to Little Brown Books and Netgalley for providing me with this copy for review. 

A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting by Sophie Irwin

Pages: 400

Publisher: Harper Collins 

Released: 12th of May 2022 

The season is about to begin—and there’s not a minute to lose.

Kitty Talbot needs a fortune. Or rather, she needs a husband who has a fortune. This is 1818 after all, and only men have the privilege of seeking their own riches.

With only twelve weeks until the bailiffs call, launching herself into London society is the only avenue open to her, and Kitty must use every ounce of cunning and ingenuity she possesses to climb the ranks.

The only one to see through her plans is the worldly Lord Radcliffe and he is determined to thwart her at any cost, especially when it comes to his own brother falling for her charms.

Can Kitty secure a fortune and save her sisters from poverty? There is not a day to lose and no one—not even a lord—will stand in her way...

What I Have to Say 

I absolutely adore Kitty Talbot. She is manipulative, conniving and absolutely wonderful. In the book, she sets out to manipulate her way into the high reaches of society and she is damn good at it. It was also obvious from every step how much she loved her sisters and I think the fact that her motivations were to save her family were what kept her from seeming cruel. It was just so refreshing to see a character who was so set on reaching up to a level that wasn't given to her at birth. 

And it was not just Kitty I loved. Cecily was also a wonderful character. I loved the richness that the two girls brought to the plot as they took the London society by storm. The way it played out was satisfying and exciting with parallels to Austen that felt right to the story, while still bringing it's own original feminist twists to the telling. 

I haven't read much regency, I'll admit, but even I could tell that this one was something else. 

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