Category: Book Reviews

Biblioshelf Musings – Faebound by Saara el-Arifi

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Hey Bibliofriends!

This week’s Biblioshelf Musings are about Faebound by Saara el-Arifi. Normally I am such a mood reader, however in April I was taking part in the Magical Readathon so had pre-picked all of my TBR and prompts beforehand. Sometimes when I do this, I almost feel like I’m forcing myself to read something just to tick it off the list, rather than because I wanted to – however, this was definitely not the case with Faebound! I was caught hook, line and sinker from the first few pages! It gave me everything I was craving in a brand-new fantasy and I just had to give it the full 5 stars at the end! Read on to find out more in my spoiler-free review!

Book: Faebound by Saara el-Arifi
Genre: Fantasy
Publication Date: January 2024
Publisher: Del Rey
Pages: 392
Rating: 📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Two elven sisters become imprisoned in the hidden world of the fae where danger, and love, lies in wait. Faebound is the first book in an enchanting new trilogy from the internationally bestselling author of The Final Strife.

A thousand years ago, the world held three beings: fae, elves, and humans. But now the fae and humans exist only in myth and legend, survived by the elves who are trapped in an endless war over the remaining lands.

Yeeran is a colonel in the elven army and has known nothing but a life of violence and hardship. Her sister, Lettle, is a diviner whose magic promises a different future for her and her sister, but the prophecies have yet come to pass.  

When a fatal mistake leads to Yeeran’s exile from the Elven Lands, Lettle, fearful for her sister’s life, follows her into the uncharted territory beyond their borders. In the wilderness the sisters encounter the largest obeah they have ever seen. Part leopard, part stag, the obeah’s magic is harnessed to make weapons for the elven war. It is during this hunt that they are confronted with the impossible: a group of fae who take them captive. Imprisoned in a new land, they must navigate the politics of the fae court all while planning their escape.

Now Yeeran and Lettle are fighting a different kind of war: between their loyalty to their elven homeland and the intoxicating world of the fae, between what duty decrees is right, and what their hearts tell them they need.

My Musings

Sometimes, you just come across a book which grabs hold of you from the very first lines – for me Faebound was that book! I haven’t really read many stories about Elves, other than Lord of the Rings so I had a pretty preconceived idea about what I anticipated an elf to be. Saara el-Arifi completely made my perceptions of the elfish shift and I am so here for how she has represented them in this book!

I adored the sisterly relationship between Yeeran and Lettle. The story was a split narrative between their two perspectives. It took me a little time to find my balance between the two, but further into the story their characteristics were so distinctive that I didn’t need the heading at the chapter beginnings to know who I was reading.

As a Colonel, Yeeran is an exceptional warrior – fierce, strong, smart, always ready for a fight and constantly with some kind of battle weapon or armour. I was thoroughly intrigued by her and the military vibes she was giving off. Add into that the Africanesque, desert style surroundings and this presented my reading brain with an aesthetic I couldn’t get enough of.

Lettle on the other hand, is almost a complete antithesis of Yeeran. Whilst Yeeran is all about strength, mettle and fighting – Lettle reads prophecies about the future. She has a more wistful and romantic outlook on life which perfectly complements her sister. Lettle’s strength comes from more than just physicality, it comes from the devotion and loyalty she feels towards those that she loves, and also the conviction of her beliefs and actions.

The plot was pacy and clearly driving towards goals and revelations. It had me turning page after page, and I was so happy when my train was delayed so I could keep reading those extra few pages! The magic style offered a familiarity that I expected with elves and the fae, whilst still bringing in this breath of fresh air about how they use their magic within their environment.

The obeahs were also thoroughly intriguing characters. I’m a little jealous that I don’t have an obeah of my own in all honesty! The role that they play within the story reminds me of the deamons from Philip Pullman’s The Northern Lights. They are characters within their own right and I loved how these personalities intertwined between the lives of the elves and fae.

Political tensions were well-written, without being dull or long-drawn out. We found out all we needed to know and there was still room for a few plot twists and revelations to see how all of the threads were coming together.

When you think of a story about Elves and Fae, you might think that you’ve heard it all before. But Saara el-Arifi has absolutely smashed that threshold with this amazing novel. I devoured every inch of the wild escapist ride it gave me and am now eagerly awaiting the next instalment to find our what on earth is going to happen to my merry band of el-Arfians!

Have you read Faebound yet or is it on your TBR list? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

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Biblioshelf Musings – A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft

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Hey Bibliofriends!

This week’s Biblioshelf Musings are about A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft. This review post has been sat with me for a fair while as it’s been a good couple of weeks since I finished reading it. Themes of dressmaking, the historical setting and the fact that this is a fantasy standalone had me reaching it from my shelves. The cover of my Fairyloot edition and the hidden detailing under the dust jacket were mighty fine too! Read on to find out more in my spoiler-free review!

Book: A Fragile Enchantment
Genre: YA / Fantasy / Romance / Historical
Publication Date: January 2024
Publisher: Orion
Pages: 370
Rating: 📚📚📚

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Niamh Ó Conchobhair has never let herself long for more. The magic in her blood that lets her stitch emotions and memories into every dress she makes is the same one that will kill her—sooner rather than later—and she’s determined to spend the little time she has left guaranteeing a better life for her family. When she’s commissioned to design the wardrobe for a nearby kingdom’s royal wedding, she knows this is her one chance to make something of herself.

Niamh arrives in Avaland, where young nobles are making their debuts into society during the candlelit balls and elegant garden parties that fill the social Season. The only damper on the festivities is the groom himself: Kit Carmine, prickly, abrasive, and begrudgingly being dragged to the altar as a desperate political act. Beneath Avaland’s glittery façade, unrest is brewing, and an anonymous gossip columnist has been spreading rumors about corruption within the royal family. As Niamh grows closer to Kit, an unlikely friendship begins to blossom into something more…until the columnist starts buzzing about her chemistry with the prince, promising to leave her alone only if she helps uncover the royal family’s secrets. Niamh discovers that the rot at the heart of Avaland goes far deeper than she bargained for—but exposing it could risk a future she never let herself dream of, and a love she never thought possible.

Transporting readers to a Regency England-inspired fantasy world, A Fragile Enchantment is a sweeping romance threaded with intrigue, unforgettable characters, and a love story for the ages.

My Musings

I desperately, desperately wanted to love this book. All of the themes seemed to appeal to things that I enjoy – the regency element, the creation of dresses with a hint of magic, the enemies to lovers / forbidden love vibes…. but sadly, my overall reading experience just felt a little lacklustre – which is probably why it’s been so hard for me to cobble together thoughts.

Firstly, I couldn’t quite pinpoint the roots behind the setting of this book and these characters. Supposedly inspired by regency England, there is not much within the text to actually suggest that. From Niamh’s name, my main guesses were that the Machlish were supposed to be inspired by Ireland – however asides from her surname, little else in the book hinted to the Emerald Isle. There are brief mentions of the Fair Ones and place names which have an Irish vibe, however these are not referred to in greater detail. At certain points, the characters referred to Niamh’s surname Ó Conchobhair as O’Connor which was slightly confusing. Assumedly this use of watered-down name derivatives is to try and highlight the oppression of the Machlish from those in Avaland (or the English butchering of the Irish language perhaps?!), but it wasn’t clearly pointed out or developed into the plot. All in all, although the descriptions of gardens, court life and castles were quite decorous, I felt like there was a little bit of a missed opportunity here to widen the depths of this fantasy setting and craft an incredible world based on a place which is steeped in legend, folklore and political disputes.

The characters in the story offered enough drama to keep me winding my way through the story’s pages. Niamh is pure-hearted and just wants what is best for her family. I loved the way she can magically infuse emotions into the clothing that she stitches. She is a fairly well-balanced heroine in that she stands up for the greater good but with some cajoling will also pursue her heart’s desires at the same time. Kit Carmine, the Prince of Avaland – epic character name… a little broody, secretive and possibly misunderstood by those around him. I loved the snark and sass that he offered. His darkness was the perfect parallel to Niamh’s sunny disposition. The presence of a mystery gossip writer gave me total Bridgerton vibes, but ultimately didn’t have quite the same pull and witty sarcasm as Lady Whistledown. Rosa was a character which I was very intrigued by. Her magical talents were quite at odds with everyone else’s in the story. Her character exuded peculiarity and mysticism which was an excellent buffer against all of the regency romance.

Overall, A Fragile Enchantment has a lot to offer fans of Regency, Whimsy and Romance. The plot is revealed at a steady pace to the development of the characters, there are some twists and turns along the way, as well as the big reveal of the mysterious gossip-writer Lovelace. My particular Fairyloot Special Edition was exceptionally well designed with an incredible amount of detail on the hardcover by @bluelyboo and endpapers by @sashac_art. For me personally, I just wanted a little bit more depth and intrigue from what this book was promising and it didn’t quite hit the mark.

Have you read A Fragile Enchantment or is it on your TBR list? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

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Biblioshelf Musings – House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas

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Hey Bibliofriends!

This week’s Biblioshelf Musings are about House of Flame and Shadow [Crescent City #3] by Sarah J. Maas. My brain is literally all over my kitchen floor right now after finishing this book – and I’m kinda grateful for that considering I thought I’d be finishing this book in Starbucks, whilst waiting for my car to be serviced, and everyone around me would witness the fully blown mental breakdown that often comes at the end of a Maas tale. 🙈 Luckily, Urd helped me to escape that fate! I’m not sure whether this post is going to form as an actual ‘review’ or whether I’m just going to be rambling on about my feelings and theorising about where the Hel this series goes next!

🚨 Needless to say there are spoilers ahead for the entire Maasverse so if you are not up to speed with ANY of Maas’ other books, you might want to pop back to this at a later date…! 🚨

Book: House of Flame and Shadow [Crescent City #3] by Sarah J. Maas
Genre: Fantasy
Publication Date: January 2024
Publisher: HarperTeen / Magpie
Pages: 835
Rating: 📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

The stunning third book in the sexy, action-packed Crescent City series, following the global bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath.

Bryce Quinlan never expected to see a world other than Midgard, but now that she has, all she wants is to get back. Everything she loves is in Midgard: her family, her friends, her mate. Stranded in a strange new world, she’s going to need all her wits about her to get home again. And that’s no easy feat when she has no idea who to trust.

Hunt Athalar has found himself in some deep holes in his life, but this one might be the deepest of all. After a few brief months with everything he ever wanted, he’s in the Asteri’s dungeons again, stripped of his freedom and without a clue as to Bryce’s fate. He’s desperate to help her, but until he can escape the Asteri’s leash, his hands are quite literally tied.

In this sexy, breathtaking sequel to the #1 bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath, Sarah J. Maas’s Crescent City series reaches new heights as Bryce and Hunt’s world is brought to the brink of collapse-with its future resting on their shoulders.

My Musings

Erm, excuse me – I don’t mean to be rude… but I think my edition of HOFAS is missing a few pages… particularly towards the end… it’s missing an epilogue with a rather twisty cliffhanger…? Right?!

Not five minutes after finishing this book, I had to go on Google and just check whether or not this was the final book in this series – I never had it pegged down for a trilogy, however with that final chapter having all of this weird closure… it’s something I’m not used to as a Maas reader. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not arguing or saying that I dislike the ending, I had just hoped that we wouldn’t necessarily be having quite so much finality just yet.

My theory on this is that with four main houses on Midgard’s world, surely the next novel has to be The House of Many Waters right… so are we having another ACOTAR situation where after book 3, the main narrative now moves onto one of the side characters (à la A Court of Silver Flames)? Hmm, who do we know from the House of Many Waters who has taken on a central part in Crescent City… Tharion Ketos. I’m predicting that he’s now taking over the main storyline from Bryce and Hunt and we’re going to find out how his life pans out with the Viper, River and Ocean Queens, plus his (rather sassy) wife Sathia.

Throne of Glass stan that I am, by far my favourite reveal was about Lidia’s ancestry. It had always been hovering at the back of my mind (in the same way that any ‘stag’ symbolism has me immediately thinking of the Lord of the North), that there had to be some connection in these books with the world of Erilea. References to the shifter fae with their elongated canines had me absolutely screaming internally! I was getting major green-eyed Reaper envy of all the Prythian links and cross-overs, with hardly any references at all to my beloved Fireheart… enter The Hind! I had so many Kingdom of Ash flashbacks when Lidia strode out onto that battlefield! It even reminded me of the Yielding of the Thirteen and my eyes were immediately welling up. And omg Brann… Brannon! *kicks myself for not spotting this link sooner…* Asides from the creepy-ass ‘fertility ritual’ stuff, I am so here for this ancestry line and neeeeed to know more!

Overall, I’m satisfied with how this all played out. Nesta and Azriel got some pretty epic cameos which I loved, especially the mirroring and parallels between the two worlds and their hidden cave systems and carvings. The mists, ley lines and thin places elements are setting up so much in the way of crossovers for whatever Maas brings us next within her multiverse [clearly someone’s been watching a lot of Phase 1-3 Marvel! 😍].

The fight scenes towards the final summit with the Asteri were incredibly intense, fairly predictable SJM self-sacrificing stuff, but I enjoyed seeing Jesiba’s softer side and her forfeit for Bryce towards the end. All of the Midgardians and Princes of Hel pulling Bryce and Hunt out of that Black Hole had me in absolute floods, even if I did know deep down that Maas wasn’t really going to kill Bryce off. It was a pretty epic finale, I’m not even sure how anything on Midgard could even follow that, hence the reason for all of my procrastinating over where the supposed next book in this series goes. I can’t really imagine Maas writing up a whole novel on setting up a new Midgarian senate and energy system.

I rewatched the Today interview that SJM did when bringing out House of Flame and Shadow purely to see if I could glean anything I hadn’t already picked up on. Clearly we know that there’s still some major shit going down in Prythian, hence the giving of the Starsword over to Nesta – something tells me it’s going to become a vital weapon in a future battle. I’m also insanely curious as to the ’emotional’ secret project that SJM is working on after the next ACOTAR instalment. Any thoughts on what it is? Could we be diving back into the Throne of Glass world, maybe something about Manon and the witches…? A Princes of Hel novel? Or something entirely new?

Hopefully if you made it this far, you’ve definitely read all the Maaslore that’s currently available and I haven’t just ruined anything for you. I’m so desperate to chat about this series so if you have any thoughts, theories, major gaping plot holes which you also feel the need to talk about, as always, drop me a comment below to chat!

T xx

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Biblioshelf Musings – Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

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Hey Bibliofriends!

This week’s Biblioshelf Musings are about Yellowface by R.F. Kuang. I remember reading Babel as soon as it was released, and although the story wasn’t quite my usual vibe, it was incredibly clear that R.F. Kuang was a master at depicting important messages about people and their judgements and interactions with one another into her narratives. Yellowface was no exception to this and packed an incredible punch right from the first chapter! Read on to find out more in my spoiler-free review!

Book: Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
Genre: Fiction (Contemporary)
Publication Date: May 2023
Publisher: William Morrow / Harper Collins
Pages: 336
Rating: 📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Athena Liu is a literary darling and June Hayward is literally nobody.

White lies
When Athena dies in a freak accident, June steals her unpublished manuscript and publishes it as her own under the ambiguous name Juniper Song.

Dark humour
But as evidence threatens June’s stolen success, she will discover exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves.

Deadly consequences…
What happens next is entirely everyone else’s fault.

With its totally immersive first-person voice, Yellowface grapples with questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation, as well as the terrifying alienation of social media. R.F. Kuang’s novel is timely, razor-sharp, and eminently readable.

My Musings

Wow, oh wow did Yellowface pique my curisoities with every single chapter! After the historical academia tones from Babel, this contemporary, memoir-like tale was so incredibly refreshing! Through its portrayal of the publishing industry, this book has everything – drama, twists and turns, an unpredictable main character, comedy and sinisterness – yet at its heart it tells the story of a writer and the true nature of the person that lies underneath that career-driven persona. This book is so witty and intelligently crafted that it blew my mind and made me reevaluate my own perspectives.

June/Juniper is a spectacularly written character! I didn’t know whether to sympathise with her, defend her, champion her or just completely abandon her. She is so morally grey, that the twists and turns in this story have your feelings towards her shift more rapidly than waves in a storm. There are obviously moments within this plot where you just want to point blank question her actions and her motives – I mean, what did she think would happen after plagiarising someone else’s story? But then, the treatment of her afterwards… some of it is wholly unjustified and wrong. Here is Kuang again making a point that some people have to go through this treatment and these accusations from the outside world every single day – and not all of them are deserved or come from a place of actual facts and knowledge. [Take the recent reactions to the Fairyloot special editions of the Throne of Glass series into account and you’ll see this first hand.]

The depiction of the publishing industry is a strong one with heroes and villains on both sides. I really enjoyed reading the viewpoints and flip-flopping around diversity – is it right to have someone who isn’t Chinese writing about Chinese Labour Corps? Is it right to try and disguise the heritage of the person writing the book to make people think that it has been written by a person with Chinese ancestry? Does it matter about a person’s ethnicity if they have done the appropriate, in-depth research…? At what point does cultural appropriation become a gatekeeper for someone’s voice or story? Where is the line in the sand between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation…? This entire story makes you question your own views about real-world issues and think about what you stand for. And it’s purely Kuang’s clever writing that has done that.

Throughout my reading, some parts of this novel felt like fictionalised accounts of Kuang’s own journey through the publishing industry (without the manuscript stealing obviously!). There were times I had to check myself with a reminder that this is not an autobiography (and hope that Kuang’s experience’s were far better than Juniper’s!). The stark parallel stuck out in my mind that I was reading about the publication of a novel within a novel which had likely had to go through an incredibly similar process – almost like the play within a play in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It really hit the ‘nerd-level coolness’ spot in my bookish heart!

Although Kuang is hitting weighty themes head-on by tackling racism, diversity, cultural appropriation, the darkside of social media etc, it didn’t leave this overwhelming sense of doom and gloom or preachiness in its wake. Yellowface does not stand on a grandiose soapbox blaring its message out to you, until you wholeheartedly accept it whether you wanted to or not. Yellowface gently guides you and opens your eyes to all of these difficult topics. It encourages you to truly think about what elements are right or wrong in each of Juniper’s situations, or whether such a reaction can be entirely black or white, rather than a shade of grey somewhere in-between.

If I had just one word to sum up this book, it would be CLEVER. This is an exceptionally astute piece of writing which manages to provide the humour and escapism that we seek in a fiction story, yet balance it with an incredibly thought-provoking message and outlook which will resonate with you long after closing that final page.

Have you read Yellowface or is it on your TBR list? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

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Biblioshelf Musings – If I Have To Be Haunted by Miranda Sun

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Hey Bibliofriends!

This week’s Biblioshelf Musings are about If I Have To Be Haunted by Miranda Sun. I’ve been chugging through a few standalones recently and this YA fantasy was both spooky and sweet. If you love a straightforward, linear plot with wide-ranging yet descriptive world-building, then If I Have To Be Haunted may be right up your street. Read on to find out more in my spoiler-free review!

Book: If I Have To Be Haunted by Miranda Sun
Genre: YA / Fantasy
Publication Date: September 2023
Publisher: HarperTeen / Magpie
Pages: 371
Rating: 📚📚📚

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Your first love will always haunt you…

The most haunting, heartwarming debut of 2023. Perfect for fans of strong female leads and supernatural stakes in Buffy, with all the sweetness and romance of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.

Cara’s just trying to stay on top of all her classes, excel at her extracurriculars, and prepare for college – which means not speaking to the dead, an ability she inherited from her grandmother. Ghosts are trouble, and Cara doesn’t need to add their problems to her own.

But then she stumbles upon the body of Zach – the super popular but very newly dead high school golden boy – in the woods, and guess what? He wants her to resurrect him.

Cue trouble.

Miranda Sun’s debut touches on the power and conflicts in a mother-daughter love, first romance – and finding your place in the world while honouring your culture. Full of heart, humour and thrills, If I Have to be Haunted will put a spell on you.

My Musings

If I Have To Be Haunted centres around ghost-speaker Cara, who attempts to resurrect her high school enemy Zach who has been turned into a ghost. Their mission, much like the entirety of the plot, is pretty linear and straightforward. The quest they embark upon plays out almost like a video game. Each stage of their journey through the liminal world is like a gaming level with a mini-boss at the end to either defeat or escape. They pick up a sidekick along the way whose assistance is integral to the overall outcome of the plot and when they reach the culmination of their journey, sacrifices must be made and truths come out.

On the one hand this overarching plot is quite simplistic – our characters mainly have the one goal to achieve. However, due to the number of different settings and locations they visit, the whole story ended up feeling a bit choppy and jumpy. This did enable me to read through each chapter fairly quickly, but personally I don’t think I ever really got my teeth stuck into the novel.

What I did love about all of these hoppy sections, was that it felt like we were getting a tiny glimpse into Miranda Sun’s amazingly creative brain. Each setting is described in wondrously vivid details. She creates exceptional atmospheres to match each of the liminal thresholds she has designed, whether these are tropical rainforest-style settings with a multitude of flora and fauna, or whether they are ghostly fogs pits with creatures who have the ability to make you see the thing you desire most in the world. Transporting the reader to the various settings of her novel is definitely one of Miranda Sun’s strengths and it was by far my favourite aspect of the whole book.

The mother/daughter relationship was well executed for a YA novel. We got to feel the tension and strain in the relationship between Cara and her mother. As a Chinese American, Cara had to strike the right balance between her mother’s high expectations, her destiny as a ghost-speaker and her own sense of self-identity being a young girl still in high school.

The romance element was fairly light and predictable. Although it came across as quite saccharine at times, I couldn’t help but have a smile on my face during Zach’s scenes. His personality is endearing and grew on me more and more with each chapter. It also brought an air of comedy to the story.

On the whole, I enjoyed my read of If I Have To Be Haunted. Several times, I had to remind myself that this was a YA book. It definitely fits within that genre due to the linear style of the plot and the PG romance and horror vibes. There’s no doubt that Miranda Sun is a tremendously talented writer. She created so many dreamy worldscapes within the one novel, that I’m actually a little jealous that we didn’t get to explore them in more depth. If you’re after a rather light, ghostly fantasy with a charming little hint of enemies to lovers on the side, then If I Have To Be Haunted may be your perfect TBR pick!

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Biblioshelf Musings – This Golden Flame by Emily Victoria

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Hey Bibliofriends!

This week’s Biblioshelf Musings are about This Golden Flame by Emily Victoria. If I’m being perfectly honest, the reason I picked up this book was because it has been sat on my TBR shelf for so long and I needed to clear out a bit of space. Also, being a YA SFF standalone was a bonus as it meant I wasn’t in danger of adding any sequels to my ever-expanding TBR. Read on to find out more in my spoiler-free review!

Book: This Golden Flame by Emily Victoria
Genre: Science Fiction / Fantasy / YA
Publication Date: February 2021
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Pages: 383
Rating: 📚📚📚

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Orphaned and forced to serve her country’s ruling group of scribes, Karis wants nothing more than to find her brother, long ago shipped away. But family bonds don’t matter to the Scriptorium, whose sole focus is unlocking the magic of an ancient automaton army.

In her search for her brother, Karis does the seemingly impossible—she awakens a hidden automaton. Intelligent, with a conscience of his own, Alix has no idea why he was made. Or why his father—their nation’s greatest traitor—once tried to destroy the automatons.

Suddenly, the Scriptorium isn’t just trying to control Karis; it’s hunting her. Together with Alix, Karis must find her brother…and the secret that’s held her country in its power for centuries.

My Musings

This Golden Flame blends Ancient Greece history with Artificial Intelligence exceptionally well. The story is told is told through the split narratives of Karis and Alix and each of their viewpoints offer differing glimpses to the world around them.

Karis is practically enslaved as a member of the Scriptorium – classical Greek architecture and columns surround her and references to her himation really put you in the mindset of Ancient Greece. Whilst her values and motives come across quite strongly, I found her to be a little nondescript throughout the first half to two thirds of the story. She seems to be a character that despite being driven to find her long lost brother, seems to have lost her way herself. I found her quite difficult to warm to until she had forged relationships with other characters in the story.

Alix on the other hand was a brilliant character. Without stereotyping Automatons, I couldn’t help but see him as a cross between C-3PO and David from the film A.I. Artificial Intelligence. Emotions pour out him, all over his dialogue which I found incredibly intriguing considering he is meant to be programmed and without conscience. I loved seeing his perspective on the world and the vulnerabilities he exuded made him an endearing character.

When we first come across Karis (who is on a mission to discover the whereabouts of her long lost brother), we see her attempting to wield runic magic. The introduction of this plot device, paves the way for the central themes of manipulation and control which are integral to the whole story. Runes are used to unlock buildings, automatons are carved with runes which feature as their main operating instructions and they are even used as a way to try and control the rebels within society. The idea of authority and having power over people or automatons is driven by the usage of runes and this compelling and poignant convention was really hammered home through the voices of the characters and the overarching plot. Bear in mind, this being YA fiction, we don’t delve too far into the nitty-gritty of sentient rights and politics, however Emily Victoria balances these points really well with the whole tone of her story.

The pace was pretty steady throughout. There was enough action to keep pushing the story forwards and character relationships were driven at an appropriate rate and in enough detail. By the ending of the story, things become a gradually more tense as we head towards the final showdown. All-in-all, events were concluded satisfactorily with no major twists or surprises. The resolution gives enough closure over the futures of the characters which is exactly what I need from a YA standalone. Overall, the main enjoyment factor for me in This Golden Flame was the balance of the ancient and the futuristic. It’s quite a unique concept that I haven’t yet come across in the rest of my readings and made for an entertaining read.

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Biblioshelf Musings – We Shall Sing a Song Into the Deep by Andrew Kelly Stewart

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Hey Bibliofriends!

This week’s Biblioshelf Musings are about We Shall Sing a Song Into the Deep by Andrew Kelly Stewart. I first heard about this novella on Book Riot’s SFF Yeah podcast back in 2021. At the time, it sounded intriguing and I’m a bit of a sucker for anything set underwater so a post-apocalyptic submarine adventure seemed right up my street. Read on to find out more in my spoiler-free review!

Book: We Shall Sing a Song Into the Deep by Andrew Kelly Stewart
Genre: Science Fiction / Novella
Publication Date: March 2021
Publisher: Tor.com Publishing
Pages: 160
Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Remy is a Chorister, one of the chosen few rescued from the surface world and raised to sing the Hours in a choir of young boys. Remy lives with a devoted order of monks who control the Leviathan, an aging nuclear submarine that survives in the ocean’s depths. Their secret mission: to trigger the Second Coming when the time is right, ready to unleash its final, terrible weapon.

But Remy has a secret too— she’s the only girl onboard. It is because of this secret that the sub’s dying caplain gifts her with the missile’s launch key, saying that it is her duty to keep it safe. Safety, however, is not the sub’s priority, especially when the new caplain has his own ideas about the Leviathan’s mission. Remy’s own perspective is about to shift drastically when a surface-dweller is captured during a raid, and she learns the truth about the world.

At once lyrical and page-turning, We Shall Sing a Song Into the Deep is a captivating debut from newcomer author Andrew Kelly Stewart.

My Musings

It’s not often that I read many novellas but I find that they’re the perfect quick reads for getting through the TBR. We Shall Sing a Song Into the Deep is set in a post-apocalyptic world upon a submarine which is trying to escape the rest of the world on the surface. The crew mates of the sub are organised into monastery style groups with Remy, our leading protagonist as one of the choristers.

Remy’s narrative voice was so beautifully written. Her perspective of life on board the sub is incredibly vulnerable and innocent. She can’t quite remember life upon the surface but doesn’t fully believe the spiel and directive which the Caplain continues to weave. Although the Leviathan should be a refuge for her, Remy doesn’t consider it a place of home or safety. As a girl in disguise, the friendships and bonds she makes are few and far between – this constant secret, allows the atmosphere of the novella to feel quite edgy and tense. You cannot help but warm to her character, especially towards the end of the story when Remy has to demonstrate her true potential and fight for what she believes is right.

The dystopian submarine warfare of the plot with its nuclear missile overtones and masculine vibes of religious grooming and control are perfectly balanced with the archaic forms of monastical heritage. Latin phrases and the inclusion of choral hymns juxtapose the military style discussions of launch keys and tactical strategy. Mentions of whale songs in the deep reinforce the lyrical, resplendent storytelling that Andrew Kelly Stewart weaves.

This is the perfect novella to dip your toe into the dystopian elements of the sci-fi genre. The pace is kept graciously consistent before rapidly ramping up to an explosive conclusion. Villainous characters achieve a shot of redemption, and whilst some take it… some don’t. We get to see perspectives on life both above and below the surface and are allowed to make our own minds about what the right or wrong courses of action are. My main take away from reading this was the superb storytelling – the way Andrew Kelly Stewart made me feel about Remy’s character, the military/monastic blends in the narrative, and those ending chapters ramping the tension right up just had to make me give it a solid 4 stars!

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Biblioshelf Musings – A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas

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Hey Bibliofriends!

This week’s Biblioshelf Musings are about A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas. I don’t know why I left it so long to pick this book up. I’m not sure if it was the utter tragedy of finishing A Court of Wings and Ruin, or if it was more that I felt that the original ACOTAR series had already been wrapped up nicely. 🤷🏻‍♀️ However, after sinking my teeth into all 784 pages of this tome, I now realise how much I needed this Nesta / Cassian instalment in my life! Read on to find out more in my spoiler-free review!

Book: A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas
Genre: Fantasy
Publication Date: February 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 784
Rating: 📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Sarah J. Maas’s sexy, richly imagined series continues with the journey of Feyre’s fiery sister, Nesta.

Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she’s struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Worse, she can’t seem to move past the horrors of the war with Hybern and all she lost in it.

The one person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred warrior whose position in Rhysand and Feyre’s Night Court keeps him constantly in Nesta’s orbit. But her temper isn’t the only thing Cassian ignites. The fire between them is undeniable, and only burns hotter as they are forced into close quarters with each other.

Meanwhile, the treacherous human queens who returned to the Continent during the last war have forged a dangerous new alliance, threatening the fragile peace that has settled over the realms. And the key to halting them might very well rely on Cassian and Nesta facing their haunting pasts.

Against the sweeping backdrop of a world seared by war and plagued with uncertainty, Nesta and Cassian battle monsters from within and without as they search for acceptance-and healing-in each other’s arms.

My Musings

First and foremost, Sarah J Maas was the writer I found after coming out of my major “Harry Potter is over” reading slump. I love all of her books and she is pretty much at the top of my auto-buy authors list. At the time A Court of Silver Flames was published, I didn’t fully see the need for a whole 780-odd pages on Nesta’s character… this was where I was incredibly wrong!! The character arc that Nesta goes through is one of epic proportions and it has taken me this fourth instalment of the ACOTAR series to finally see that. I have unequivocally fallen in love with her through reading this book (watch out Aelin 😂)!

As a character, Nesta goes through (pretty much) every emotion imaginable. There is rage, aggression, despair, self-loathing, denial, perseverance, compassion, respect, resilience, love – the list is a whole rainbow of feelings! I really admire the way that she faced up to herself and her own fears throughout the plot of this book. It was interesting to see the good, the bad and the ugly of her innermost thoughts, but also to witness her develop and grow into her own personality traits. Again, Nesta’s journey is one of self-acceptance – and once that has been established, other relationships can be built up or healed.

I loved the introduction of Gwyn and Emerie. There was such a need within this tale to incorporate new characters rather than just rely on the ones we have already come across in the previous four novels. Whilst Emerie and Gwyn can be seen as plot devices in Nesta’s redemption arc, they also bring their own backstories which add freshness and contribute to the overarching plot of this tale. In addition to this, they emphasise the theme of how women are treated with negativity and how we can rise up against those which oppress us.

The magical house and Made items were the plot drivers which I enjoyed the most. The house is almost a character in itself with all the sentient sass it hands out to those who visit. The extension of the storyline with the Cauldron since A Court of Wings and Ruin ended, seamlessly weaves a new narrative for us to follow without feeling like too much of a main series spin-off. And with that cliffhanger ending… I’m eagerly anticipating where the next ACOTAR novel will take us!

One thing that almost had me holding back from giving this the full five stars was the smut. This may need an ‘unpopular opinion warning’ on it but parts of the ‘romance’ in here was so graphic and cringe that I’m not sure I’d even call it romance! Whilst it seems that every SJM novel gets chunkier and chunkier (I like big books and I cannot lie 😉), I just pray that we don’t end up with them becoming hornier and pornier as time goes on – I loved seeing Nesta’s relationship blossom in this book, however I’m not really liking the fifty shades of fae vibes of it all… Am I a total prude? Anyone else feel like that or is it just me?

All in all, I am on tenterhooks now to find out what is going to happen to these characters next. I’m desperate for more knowledge of Elain / Azriel / Tamlin / Lucien and what the hell is going on there! With Crescent City 3 still sitting on my TBR bookshelf, I’m also desperate to know how this is factoring in to the whole Maasverse fae-quation! I’d better hurry off to the House of Flame and Shadow pretty sharpish!

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Biblioshelf Musings – Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

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Hey Bibliofriends!

This week’s Biblioshelf Musings are about Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. I had seen this book everwhere: all over Insta, all over Goodreads, all over my bookish socials and even on Sarah Michelle Gellar’s beach towel! In the Christmas sales (which seems like an eternity ago now), I picked up a hardback of Fourth Wing for half price and proceeded to immerse myself fully on this hype train! Read on to find out more in my spoiler-free review!

Book: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Genre: Fantasy
Publication Date: May 2023
Publisher: Piatkus
Pages: 498
Rating: 📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Welcome to the brutal and elite world of Basgiath War College, where everyone has an agenda, and every night could be your last . . .

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general-also known as her tough-as-talons mother-has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away . . . because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter-like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.

She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

Alliances will be forged. Lives will be lost. Traitors will become allies . . . or even lovers. But sleep with one eye open because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die.

My Musings

Fourth Wing was a crazy ride filled with dragons, friendships, romance, betrayal and magic! The whole setting for Basgiath War College reminded me a little of Hogwarts, but with a Dauntless-esque initiation ceremony thrown in to actually prove that you deserve to be there. From there, the quests and challenges bordered on Hunger Games-style crazy, and each element of Violet’s journey was filled with extra danger and tension. I appreciated the academia side to this novel, it appealed to my inner geekiness.

As a character, I warmed to Violet. She had to overcome the expectations and demands put on her by her family and friends in order to find her own true self – this was a process that took time and felt fairly well developed. The ordeals she went through helped to strengthen her character and I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this journey. For me, it was the perfect pacing – not too quick, not too drawn out. Violet’s chronic pain representation made her have to work harder than most in order to succeed. This part of her character was dealt with quite well, without coming across as just a plot device. Xaden was the typical: dark, handsome and brooding type – what’s not to love about that Rhysand stans?! 😂

The dragons are by far my favourite thing about this entire novel. They bring the sass, the drama, the cuteness and the eye-widening action. I don’t want to say too much about them without spoiling everything, but imagine How to Train Your Dragon grew up and got a pair of vicious, look-at-me-the-wrong-way-and-die fangs! I cherished the dynamic between Andarna and Tairn, as well as the additional interactions with Sgaeyl. The bonds between the dragons and their riders made for some interesting dialogue.

I was really intrigued by the wyverns and venin. The fight scenes had me on the edge of my seat with how on earth they were going to make it out alive. The venin themselves had a different style of magic to the dragon riders which added more depth to world-building across the whole kingdom.

Admittedly, I did not see the plot twist coming at the end. I actually gasped out loud when reading it. I knew there had to be something more to the story… but that was not it!! I cannot wait to see where this goes in Iron Flame and what happens to these characters! I hope we get to experience more of the entire world as well. There are definitely more places on my endpaper map that need exploring!

Overall, was this a masterfully written novel? Not quite… yes, as others who are not on the hype-train have pointed out, elements of this story feel like an immense melee of Hogwarts, Divergent, How To Train Your Dragon and the Hunger Games, but hey, I love all of these things individually so why wouldn’t I love them altogether? This was what made me fall in love with these characters and these dragons. This was what made me keep turning page after page. This was what made me wish it wasn’t quite so ‘spicy’ and adult so that I could tell my class of 9 year old bookworms that I was reading an amazing book! The tension had me on the edge of my seat, constantly questioning who was betraying who or what would happen next. My spidey-senses were always on the lookout for potential twists or secrets. I love the way this book swept me up and completely absorbed me into its world. It sure as hell was one rollercoaster of a dragon ride and I will definitely be reading Iron Flame before 2024 is out!

Why Should I Read This?

For:
> Dragons
> Dragons
> and more Dragons… That’s all.

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Biblioshelf Musings – A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin

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Hey Bibliofriends!

This week’s Biblioshelf Musings are about A Storm of Swords (Game of Thrones #3) by George R.R. Martin.

Book: A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire Book 3)
Genre: Fantasy
Publication Date: First published August 2000 (Audiobook copyrighted 2011)
Publisher: Harper Collins / Audible
Pages: 1177
Audiobook Duration: 47hrs 32mins
Audiobook Narrator: Roy Dotrice
Rating: 📚📚📚📚

I first began reading the Game of Thrones series when the buzz about the upcoming TV adaptation was becoming global. I had found A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings as paperbacks in a second hand book store and started reading them pretty much immediately. The first book was fairly easy to get through, the second one a little less so. Then by the time I had started reading A Storm of Swords Part One (again as a paperback), I found myself struggling a little with some particular character-based chapters (not mentioning any names, Bran…!). I did something I don’t usually do, and DNF’d the book.

At some point during my reading mission, I watched the first couple of series when they came out on TV and got hooked by the characters. Needless to say, without a continuously rolling Sky subscription, I eventually abandoned the TV series as well. Fast forward to end of 2023 and I had still neither finished the TV show or the book series and was getting a little curious as to how the whole saga had progressed. I was also quite pleased that I’d managed to avoid all spoilers as to who finally wins the Iron Throne. Having a tiny stash of Audible credits to spare, I eventually downloaded the A Storm of Swords audiobook and it has definitely reignited my love for this series again!

🚨🚨🚨 Normally, I try not to write spoilers into my reviews and musings, however with the content of this book, I’m not going to be able to stop myself from discussing key events – take this as your spoiler warning if you’re still making your way through the series or you’re yet to reach it! If you haven’t got to it yet, but you love your fantasies on the more ‘epic’ side, you should totally check this series out. Complex world-building, mixed with equally complex characters make for a gripping peregrination through the world of the Seven Kingdoms!

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as violently as ever, as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey, of House Lannister, sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of the land of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, the victim of the jealous sorceress who holds him in her evil thrall. But young Robb, of House Stark, still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Robb plots against his despised Lannister enemies, even as they hold his sister hostage at King’s Landing, the seat of the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons still left in the world. . . .

But as opposing forces maneuver for the final titanic showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost line of civilization. In their vanguard is a horde of mythical Others–a supernatural army of the living dead whose animated corpses are unstoppable. As the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords. . . .

My Musings

First and foremost, I think I need to address the issue of audiobook narration by Roy Dotrice. If you read some of the Audible reviews, he comes across as quite a marmite narrator – people either love his style of they hate it. Personally, I absolutely loved Roy’s voice and felt like the intonation and voiceovers he used matched the rural, rugged image I have of Westeros in my head. At times, he comes across as gruff, sometimes incredibly Welsh; other times, he puts on a lighter more feminine lilt to reflect Sansa’s or other ladies’ characters.

The power of Roy’s voice is really the main driver as to why I think I fell in love with this series again. He put entertainment back into character arcs which had dried up a little bit in my head. According to Wikipedia, he holds the Guinness World Record for the most character voices by an individual for an audiobook – a pretty remarkable achievement. His background in Shakespeare and the theatre can be heard through the clarity of these different voices and the expression with which he reads. Obviously, his style will not suit every listener which is where audio samplers are brilliant at helping you know what you’re letting yourself in for.

Now onto the book itself… My mind was blown all over the place throughout this almost two day audiobook journey. Here are some of my favourite parts from the book!

Jon Snow – I was already aware that Jon and Ygritte were a bit of an item from the TV show and that eventually Jon turned his back on her in order to get back to The Wall. I found the descriptions of the fights along The Wall itself to be filled with excellent amounts of tension and an eye for detail. From the battle strategies and details of weapon supplies, especially the contrasts from battling in the dark at different altitudes, these scenes provided an adequate break from the more political/courtly style conversations happening in King’s Landing. I found the part where Jon becomes elected as Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch to be quite poignant and moving. Dotrice’s narration helped to emphasise that this was a major moment in this character’s development to set him up as a key player within the world of Westeros.

The Red Wedding – I felt like Robb Stark’s journey was starting to stagnate and he is one of the characters I was struggling with in the first read around of this book. I mean, yes he’s the King in the North and yes he is amassing a whole host of troops to move towards the Iron Throne, but marrying a bit of a randomner called Jeyne … really? That is where his decision-making went completely downhill! I’m not adverse to a bit of blood and gore, but I have to say that what happened at the Red Wedding was brutal yet brilliant. I feel so sorry for poor Grey Wind, but my mind was reeling that we had essentially lost two main characters in Robb and Catelyn. Martin is forever proving that he isn’t afraid to hold his punches and no character is at all safe! I adored Catelyn’s character so much, although she married into a household with a sigil of the direwolf, Catelyn protected her flock like an absolute lioness. I loved her ferocity, shrewdness and common-sense approach to the power-plays evolving around her.

Tyrion Lannister – I cannot read his parts without thinking of the awesomeness that is Peter Dinklage. He was so made for this role! I’m glad we got some extra depth to his character in this book. I love the fact that he admits he isn’t a hero, but also tries so hard to show everyone that he isn’t a villain either. He doesn’t necessarily treat Sansa kindly, but at least he shows her a little bit of respect and honesty in a world filled with liars and schemers. Major, major kudos points for the showdown with Tywin at the end of the book. I couldn’t help myself but to laugh out loud – Tywin only got the shit that he deserved! 😂

Joffrey’s Wedding – the audiobook definitely brought this particular segment to life with the song elements! I don’t usually have a smile on my face when a character dies (despite what I just said about Tywin above!), but then again some characters don’t really deserve death in the way that Joffrey did – it was giving me major ‘ding, dong the witch is dead’ vibes! And go Olenna Tyrell, having the guts to help organise what countless characters had dreamed about!

Arya and Sandor Clegane – I love this pairing! And not in some weird -ship way (eew!). Arya is such an aggressive little character, she needs someone strong like Clegane to show her the ropes and simmer down that hot temperament of hers. I was mentally screaming in my head when they parted ways, I hope their paths cross again in the future of the series!

Daenerys – For me, Dany’s storyline here was a little bit of character filler before she moves into action again. This is the part of her character arc where she is building bonds, working out who she can trust and figuring out what she really wants from being a Queen. Is that the Iron Throne and conquering the Seven Kingdoms? Is it ruling in one place kingdom filled with loyal followers where everyone can live in freedom and peace? Who will be at her side when she achieves this? Jorah… seriously, what is his game? Obviously, I’m predicting that Daenerys is going to be a major power player when this series comes to a head – I can’t wait to see where that journey takes her – especially as she’s packing in that whole Mother of Dragons vibe!

Return of the dead – OK, I totally did not see that major ending plot twist coming!! I clearly haven’t caught up to this part of the TV show and to be honest, I’m glad! Finding out that Catelyn Stark is actually ALIVE, my eyes were popping out of my head! Imagine the PTSD she must be going through after what she’s witnessed – I mean, whoa! This also blows another part of the storyline wide open again, because she must have been brought back for a reason right?! I can’t wait to find out what that is!

All in all, listening to this audiobook has been the most excited I have been about this series in a long time and I’m so glad I took the plunge! Once I’m done with my current audio read, you can damn well bet that A Feast for Crows will be queued up right away!

Have you read or watched the Game of Thrones series? Have you got any tips for getting through books 4 and 5? Who are your favourite characters? As always, drop me a comment to chat!

T xx

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