Frank – no ordinary sixteen-year-old – lives with his father outside a remote Scottish village. Their life is, to say the least, unconventional. Frank’s mother abandoned them years ago: his elder brother Eric is confined to a psychiatric hospital; and his father measures out his eccentricities on an imperial scale. Frank has turned to strange acts of violence to vent his frustrations. In the bizarre daily rituals there is some solace. But when news comes of Eric’s escape from the hospital Frank has to prepare the ground for his brother’s inevitable return – an event that explodes the mysteries of the past and changes Frank utterly.
This book is one of those books you put down after finishing it and say, out loud to yourself, what the f**k did I just read.
I’d never read an Iain Banks book, and this was not necessarily one I’d have picked up for myself. However, I recently borrowed a few of my friends most-loved books, and this is one of the books he lent to me.
This book is clever, it is visceral, it is dark and twisting and twisted, and I honestly do not think it will ever leave me. It’s been a week or so since I finished this book, and it probably pops into my head at least once a day. Although most of this story is the day to day life of a teenager, it is the life of a rather messed up teenager. It focuses on some very difficult and hard topics, and is not one for the faint of heart.
However, there is something so compelling about this book. Despite the dark themes, I constantly wanted to pick it up while I was reading it. Although this one doesn’t necessarily read as a thriller or mystery, there is this constant feeling of walking up a mountain and knowing there will be something incredible at the top. There’s a sense of such intrigue to this story and the payoff is just brilliant.
Yes, this book is dark and shocking and twisted and I cannot say I necessarily found it an ‘enjoyable’ read. It is disgusting and it gets under your skin. But it is undeniably, one of the cleverest books I have ever read, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. For that, it was definitely a 5 star read for me.
Experience the propulsive love story of two Greek gods—Hades and Persephone—brought to life with lavish artwork and an irresistible contemporary voice. Scandalous gossip, wild parties, and forbidden love—witness what the gods do after dark in this stylish and contemporary reimagining of one of mythology’s most well-known stories from creator Rachel Smythe. Featuring a brand-new, exclusive short story, Smythe’s original Eisner-nominated web-comic Lore Olympus brings the Greek Pantheon into the modern age with this sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel.
This review is for Volumes 1-4 of Lore Olympus. I’ve read volumes 1 and 2 before, but it was my first time reading volumes 3 and 4. I decided to pick up all of these in one day, and it was such fun to be able to immerse myself fully into this world and story.
I love the artwork in these graphic novels and the colour palette is absolutely beautiful. I also appreciate and enjoy how all of the characters have a different colour theme, and it does change how each volume is presented. Having not a lot of previous knowledge of the Greek Gods, I do find these quite accessible and the idea of this being a story of the Greek Gods ‘after dark’ is such a fun idea.
However, my main criticism of these books, especially volume 4, is that I feel like the focus is sometimes lost. These books are mainly meant to be about Hades and Persephone, and I really wanted more of their relationship and sexual tension in the later volumes, 3 and 4. I hope we get more focus on them as the volumes continue.
These graphic novels do cover some quite difficult and emotional themes, and it is worth checking content warnings before reading.
Keiko is 36 years old. She’s never had a boyfriend, and she’s been working in the same supermarket for eighteen years. Keiko’s family wishes she’d get a proper job. Her friends wonder why she won’t get married. But Keiko knows what makes her happy, and she’s not going to let anyone come between her and her convenience store…
I’ve had this book for a while and just wasn’t sure why I hadn’t picked it up. It’s quite a short book and interested me at the time of picking it up, so I decided to finally read it.
This isn’t the kind of book that I would really say I enjoyed reading, but I found it very intriguing to read. It is quite strange and a little odd, but is a very interesting societal study. It is kind of visceral and honest in a way, and holds nothing back in terms of looking at internal thoughts and feelings our main character, Keiko.
I found the concept of this really interesting, and definitely found it relatable in some aspects. Although I am not necessarily feeling ‘stuck’ in a job or another aspect of my life, I think this book does a good job of discussing how all of our lives vary and we are all combatting societal ‘norms’. Having worked several retail jobs in my life, I did also find some of the more day-to-day aspects relatable.
I did find some of this story, including the characters, quite infuriating. However, I can appreciate how well-written even these aspects of the book were. Overall, some mixed thoughts and feelings here, and I do struggle with not being able to say I necessarily ‘enjoyed’ a book.
A snow-dusted love story. In the Autumn of 1931, eighteen-year-old Freya Trevelyan runs away from her home in Cornwall to follow her dream of becoming an actress. When she is invited to join a theatrical company about to head out on tour, Freya thinks the path to success is clear, and, amidst all the glamour and bustle of stage life, she finds – for the first time – a place to belong. But can reality ever live up to her expectations? What if her life – and falling in love – turn out to be nothing like she planned? An enchanting coming of age romance about following your dreams – even when they aren’t quite what you expected.
Myself and Courtney have read a lot of Laura Wood’s books now, but we tend to pick them up on our summer reading holidays. We always wondered when we would get around to reading A Snowfall of Silver, as this one is set in winter and it never quite felt like the right time. When we booked a winter reading retreat for January, we knew it would be the perfect time to pick this up, and we were right.
Every time we pick up a Laura Wood book, we’re astounded by how enveloped in the story we end up being. We read this in one sitting because we didn’t want to put it down, and we both absolutely loved how much we felt like we were in the story. It was so lovely to follow Freya, who is the sister of the main character in A Sky Painted Gold.
I loved the plot of this story and I found it so much fun to follow Freya as she travels around the UK. The atmosphere is brilliant and I would argue this is more of a wintery story than autumn – reading it on a cold, frosty January afternoon was absolutely perfect.
The group of main characters who travel with this theatre company were so much fun to read about and such a lovely friendship group to be a part of. I also really enjoyed the romance, as I always do with Laura Wood stories! Overall, this one was a very enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to picking up The Agency for Scandal on our next reading holiday.
Marjorie Glatt’s life hasn’t been the same ever since she discovered a group of ghosts hiding in her family’s laundromat. Wendell, who died young and now must wander Earth as a ghost with nothing more than a sheet for a body, soon became one of Marjorie’s only friends. But when Marjorie finally gets accepted by the popular kids at school, she begins to worry that if anyone learns about her secret ghost friends, she’ll be labeled as a freak who sees dead people. With Marjorie’s insistence on keeping Wendell’s ghost identity a secret from her new friends, Wendell begins to feel even more invisible than he already is. Eliza Duncan feels invisible too. She’s an avid photographer, and her zealous interest in finding and photographing ghosts gets her labeled as “different” by all the other kids in school. Constantly feeling on the outside, Eliza begins to feel like a ghost herself. Marjorie must soon come to terms with the price she pays to be accepted by the popular kids. Is it worth losing Wendell? Is she partially to blame for the bullying Eliza endures?
Myself and Courtney read Sheets on our reading retreat last year, and we decided to pick up Delicates on our winter reading retreat this January. We both read this in one sitting, sat in a lovely cafe, and it was joyful. I love these graphic novels and they have such beautiful artwork. When me and Courtney read them together, we are constantly pointing out our favourite pages. Some of the panels are entire pages or even double pages, and the colour palettes are stunning.
In the first volume, we follow Majorie as she becomes friends with a ghost, and both of their stories are woven into the book, with both points of view. This second volume does still follow our ghost, Wendell, but also follows Majorie as she becomes friends with Eliza, who is a fellow pupil at Majorie’s school.
I loved the introduction of Eliza. Not only did it give the opportunity for a new and complex storyline, but Eliza also is really into photography. It’s been years since I’ve done any film photography or developing, but this book, along with discussing photography with a friend, brought that love back. I even purchased a new film camera to carry around with me!
This book got a lot darker and more emotional towards the end than I expected, especially as the characters are only in their early teens. I would recommend checking out content warnings before picking this one up! However, I really loved how this book manages to weave through these complex and emotional storylines on top of the beautiful artwork. I think it’s hard sometimes to relay such emotion in few words and in artwork, but this one does it so well.
I really loved this second instalment to the story and I’m looking forward to picking up volume 3, Lights.
In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad is forced from the arms of her beloved husband, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once thought Khalid a monster—a merciless killer of wives, responsible for immeasurable heartache and pain—but as she unraveled his secrets, she found instead an extraordinary man and a love she could not deny. Still, a curse threatens to keep Shazi and Khalid apart forever. Now she’s reunited with her family, who have found refuge in the desert, where a deadly force is gathering against Khalid—a force set on destroying his empire and commanded by Shazi’s spurned childhood sweetheart. Trapped between loyalties to those she loves, the only thing Shazi can do is act. Using the burgeoning magic within her as a guide, she strikes out on her own to end both this terrible curse and the brewing war once and for all. But to do it, she must evade enemies of her own to stay alive.
After many years of having this on my TBR list and knowing I needed to reread The Wrath & the Dawn before diving into it, I have finally read this book. I decided to pick up the audiobook for this one after listening the audiobook of The Wrath & the Dawn and finding it quite engaging.
Sadly, I definitely found The Rose & the Dagger quite a lot less engaging than the first book, but it was also my first time reading this one. I will admit that moving the setting away from the palace itself felt a little disappointing to me, but I did really enjoy the fact that we were joined by Shazi’s family. Although I found it a little difficult to follow as an audiobook, I believe we are joined with a viewpoint from Shazi’s sister.
As the book went on, we see some of the characters from the first book meet some of the main characters from this book, mainly Shazi’s family. I enjoyed seeing the fire and passion of Shazi’s sister, and the dynamic between her and Khalid was really interesting.
One of the most enjoyable parts of this book for me was the romance, which does follow on from the first book as I also loved the romance as we see it initially develop. I will say I felt like this book was not the most memorable read, and the main memories I am taking away from this read are the relationships between the characters.
Overall, I’m glad I’ve finally completed this series, but I definitely didn’t enjoy this as much as the first book.
In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-ols Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sisteen-year-old Shahrzad’s dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance. She knows just how to get it: by volunteering to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph’s reign of terror once and for all. Night after night, Shahrzad beguiles Khalid, weaving stories that both enchant and ensure her survival, though she knows each dawn could be herlast. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she’d imagined him to be. This monster is a boy with a tormented heart, and incredibly, Shahrzad finds herself falling in love. It’s an unforgivable betrayal, but Shahrzad has come to understand all is not as it seems in this palace of marble and stone. She resolves to uncover whatever secrets lurk and, despite her love, be ready to take Khalid’s life as retribution for the many lives he’s stolen. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets? Inspired by A Thousand and One Nights, The Wrath and the Dawn is a sumptuous and enthralling read from beginning to end.
It’s been a very long time since I first read this book (7 years, to be precise), and I never continued to read The Rose and the Dagger. I’ve finally re-read this book in order to continue with the series, and it was really interesting to see how I feel about the book now.
I genuinely did enjoy this book the second time around, which was a little bit of a surprise for me. I didn’t think I wouldn’t enjoy this book now, but I did definitely feel like I’d be too old to enjoy the romance, as I was a teenager when I first picked it up.
The romance does definitely make this book feel like a teen story, and it does feel quite insta-love as an adult, but I could see why I fell in love with this story so much the first time around. I was still so enthralled with the world, the story, and the characters. Shazi is such a strong female main character, and I do enjoy knowing I had such a role model in books I read as a teenager.
I read this mostly on audio this time around, and I did enjoy the narration, and I’ll continue with the series on audio. However, I read the last 50 pages as a physical read and really enjoyed the experience. I can see why it was such a quick read for me many years ago!
Overall, this book isn’t perfect, and I could definitely see through the romance as an adult and found it had less development, but I still really enjoyed it. The plot is clever, the characters are likeable beyond their initial actions and situations, the world felt all-encompassing, and the writing is beautiful. I’m glad I finally took the plunge and re-read!
Eli Ward hasn’t been back to his suffocating hometown of New Port Stephen, Florida, in ages. Post-transition and sober, he’s a completely different person from the one who left years ago. But when a scandal threatens his career as a TV writer and comedian, he has no choice but to return home for the holidays. He can only hope he’ll survive his boisterous, loving, but often misguided family and hide the fact that his dream of comedy success has become a nightmare. Just when he thinks this trip couldn’t get any worse, Eli bumps into his high school ex, Nick Wu, who’s somehow hotter than ever. Divorced and in his forties, Nick’s world revolves around his father, his daughter, and his job. But even a busy life can’t keep him from being intrigued by the reappearance of Eli. Against the backdrop of one weird Floridian Christmas, the two must decide whether to leave the past in the past…or move on together.
As soon as I read the synopsis of this book, I felt like I was going to enjoy it. I love a festive romance, and this one felt like it had some themes I haven’t seen before in Christmas contemporaries.
I really loved how this book was revisiting a relationship, a small town, an old life. This book had so many discussions of both nostalgia but also the difficulties of revisiting the place you were in and people you were around as a teen, especially as a trans man. There were so many layers to this story, and it did include a lot of difficult topics, outlined in a thoughtful content warning at the start of the book (see the bottom of this review).
Although this book did tackle some heavy topics, it also felt so touching and heartwarming at every step. Yes, these topics are discussed and do trigger some emotional scenes within the plotline, but they are also explored with understanding and heart. They are balanced with a blossoming romance, some lovely side characters and a very cute character in Nick’s daughter.
I really loved the way this book explored all topics with understanding and openness, but also showed a myriad of characters, not all of them approaching these topics in the same way. I particularly enjoyed Nick’s plotline of exploring his queerness as an almost forty year old man, and the discussions of demisexuality.
Overall, this book had so many joyous moments and often felt like a warm hug, with all of the difficult discussions being approached with care. I’ll definitely be checking out more books by this author!
Author’s Note (from the start of the book: This is a funny book with a happy ending. However, it contains some heavy subject matter, including the rise of hateful trans-phobic legislation; the loss of a parent in an accident, which occurs before the events of the book; discussions of racism; and alcoholism. You can find a detailed list of content warnings at tjalexander.com.
On New Year’s Eve, Rhys Lloyd has a house full of guests. His lakeside holiday homes are a success, and he’s generously invited the village to drink champagne with their wealthy new neighbours. This will be the party to end all parties. But not everyone is there to celebrate. By midnight, Rhys will be floating dead in the freezing waters of the lake. On New Year’s Day, DC Ffion Morgan has a village full of suspects. The tiny community is her home, so the suspects are her neighbours, friends and family – and Ffion has her own secrets to protect. With a lie uncovered at every turn, soon the question isn’t who wanted Rhys dead . . . but who finally killed him. In a village with this many secrets, a murder is just the beginning.
I’m not often drawn to an adult thriller, but there was something capturing my attention about The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh. When I found out this book was set in Snowdonia, where the author now lives, I found myself much more interested than I originally expected. I also heard the author talk about this book, which definitely made me want to pick it up!
However, it didn’t quite hit the spot for me. I listened to the audiobook, and I found it not as gripping as I expected it to be. I did really enjoy the setting, and the lakeside location was enjoyable to read about and fit the plot well. However, it didn’t feel overwhelmingly like it was Snowdonia, it felt like it could have been set in a lot of remote, mountainous locations.
I also found the cast of characters to be very large, and difficult to follow, especially on the audiobook. Because there was so many characters, it was difficult to connect to any one of them, meaning I was not too tied up or interested in the murder or who the murderer was.
I did enjoy the plot, however, and it was the strongest part of the book in my opinion. I was interested in the ending especially and finding out how everything tied together by the end.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read with some elements I liked, but I don’t think I’ll be continuing with the series.
Hi everyone! It’s time for my April wrap up – I read 9 books in April, which definitely isn’t my best month but it’s not too shabby either. If you want to watch a video about all the books I read, you can view this below.
What if men built a tower from Earth to Heaven-and broke through to Heaven’s other side? What if we discovered that the fundamentals of mathematics were arbitrary and inconsistent? What if there were a science of naming things that calls life into being from inanimate matter? What if exposure to an alien language forever changed our perception of time? What if all the beliefs of fundamentalist Christianity were literally true, and the sight of sinners being swallowed into fiery pits were a routine event on city streets? These are the kinds of outrageous questions posed by the stories of Ted Chiang. Stories of your life . . . and others.
In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series. The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them…
Nora Stephens’ life is books—she’s read them all—and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby. Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away—with visions of a small town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute. If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow—what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.
After decades of adventuring, Viv the orc barbarian is finally hanging up her sword for good. Now she sets her sights on a new dream – for she plans to open the first coffee shop in the city of Thune. Even though no one there knows what coffee actually is. If Viv wants to put the past behind her, she can’t go it alone. And help might arrive from unexpected quarters. Yet old rivals and new stand in the way of success. And Thune’s shady underbelly could make it all too easy for Viv to take up the blade once more. But the true reward of the uncharted path is the travellers you meet along the way. Whether bound by ancient magic, delicious pastries or a freshly brewed cup, they may become something deeper than Viv ever could have imagined.
‘But where are you REALLY from?’ Phil Wang has been asked this question so many times he’s finally written a book about it. In this mix of comic memoir and observational essay, one of the UK’s most exciting stand-up comedians reflects on his experiences as a Eurasian man in the West and in the East. Phil was born in Stoke-on-Trent, raised in Malaysia, and then came of age in Bath – ‘a spa town for people who find Cheltenham too ethnic’. Phil takes an incisive look at what it means to be mixed race, as he explores the contrasts between cultures and delves into Britain and Malaysia’s shared histories, bringing his trademark cynicism and wit to topics ranging from family, food, and comedy to race, empire, and colonialism.
In the early 1900s, a young woman embarks on a fantastical journey of self-discovery after finding a mysterious book in this captivating and lyrical debut. In a sprawling mansion filled with peculiar treasures, January Scaller is a curiosity herself. As the ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke, she feels little different from the artifacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored, and utterly out of place. Then she finds a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds, and tells a tale of secret doors, of love, adventure and danger. Each page turn reveals impossible truths about the world and January discovers a story increasingly entwined with her own.
Roach – bookseller, loner and true crime obsessive – is not interested in making friends. She has all the company she needs in her serial killer books, murder podcasts and her pet snail, Bleep. That is, until Laura joins the bookshop. Smelling of roses, with her cute literary tote bags and beautiful poetry, she’s everyone’s new favourite bookseller. But beneath the shiny veneer, Roach senses a darkness within Laura, the same darkness Roach possesses. As Roach’s curiosity blooms into morbid obsession, it becomes clear that she is prepared to infiltrate Laura’s life at any cost.
An all-new collection of spring-themed mysteries from the master of the genre. The days are growing warmer and the nights are growing shorter… It’s the perfect time to relax in the garden with this spring-themed collection from legendary mystery writer Agatha Christie. Blossoming flowers and countryside strolls may sound innocent enough, but not when there’s murder in the air. Beware of secluded cottages, stolen treasure and fatal revenge schemes. This compendium of short stories, some featuring beloved detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, is an essential omnibus for Christie fans and the perfect gift for mystery lovers.
It’s the summer before senior year. Gabriel, Reese, Sal, and Heath are best friends, bonded in their small, rural town by their queerness, their good grades, and their big dreams. But they have plans for the summer, each about to embark on a new adventure. Gabriel is volunteering at an environmental nonprofit in Boston. Reese is attending design school in Paris. Sal is interning on Capitol Hill for a senator. Heath is heading to Florida, to help out at his aunt’s boardwalk arcade. What will this season of world-expanding travel and life-changing experiences mean for each of them–and for their friendship?
★★★★ 4 out of 5 stars
I had quite a positive month and I enjoyed all of my reads. The one I enjoyed the least was Sinister Spring, and my favourite was either Book Lovers or Legends and Lattes – both were so good I can’t decide which was better!
The Books are Everywhere 