Rabbits is a new novel based on the podcast Rabbits – set in the same universe, this is a new story. Centred around K and the mysterious game called Rabbits, I thought this had an interesting concept, but ultimately I felt very disappointed.

Many thanks to Black Crow PR and Pan Macmillan for sending me an ARC, all opinions are my own as always.

RELEASE DATE: 10/06/2021

STAR RATING: 2/5 ✶

SUMMARY: What happens in the game, stays in the game…

Rabbits is a secret, dangerous and sometimes fatal underground game. The rewards for winning are unclear, but there are rumours of money, CIA recruitment or even immortality. Or it might unlock the universe’s greatest secrets. But everyone knows that the deeper you get, the more deadly the game becomes – and the body count is rising. Since the game first started, ten iterations have taken place… and the eleventh round is about to begin.

K can’t get enough of the game and has been trying to find a way in for years. Then Alan Scarpio, reclusive billionaire and alleged Rabbits winner, shows up out of nowhere. And he charges K with a desperate mission. Something has gone badly wrong with the game and K needs to fix it – before Eleven starts – or the world will pay the price.

Five days later, Scarpio is declared missing.

Two weeks after that Eleven begins, so K blows the deadline.

And suddenly, the fate of the entire universe is at stake. (from Pan Macmillan)

OPINIONS: I was very intrigued by the concept of Rabbits – it’s not unique, reminding the reader of books like The God Game or Ready Player One, but one thing these books tend to have in common is that they are fun. I expected Rabbits to be similar – fast paced escapism with a fun message. And it does start out like that. Except that all the plot strands that are introduced don’t really fit together to make a coherent puzzle, and I ended the book feeling very confused. It has the feel of a series of curve balls, without them stringing the story and world together properly.

Added to that, the characters felt incredibly superficial. At the end of the book I felt like I didn’t really know anything about K or Chloe, never mind any of the more minor characters. I feel like the audiodrama podcast version of Rabbits probably worked better – I can see parts of this translating really well to that format. But as a novel, the writing isn’t strong enough in my opinion. Through relying on plot twists and curve balls to try and keep readers compelled, the overarching plot and worldbuilding suffers, and I felt like twists did not make sense in the story as a whole. So I was left fairly disappointed in the end – though it may well be that my experience is not your experience.

If you’re interested in Rabbits, you can find it on Goodreads here, or order a copy via Bookshop here (affiliate link).

For The Wolf by Hannah Whitten has one of the most tempting book covers out there – it screams READ ME very loudly. I love the design so much I requested the book before even really looking at the blurb. But that too is great: For The Wolf is a mix of Beauty and the Beast and Red Riding Hood, turned into a creepy gothic fairy tale all of the author’s own. It’s not a perfect book, but a very entertaining and compelling one.

Massive thanks to Orbit and Netgalley for sending me an eARC for review – all opinions are my own.

RELEASE DATE: 03/06/2021

STAR RATING: 3.5/5 ✶

SUMMARY: As the only Second Daughter born in centuries, Red has one purpose – to be sacrificed to the Wolf in the Wood in the hope he’ll return the world’s captured gods.

Red is almost relieved to go. Plagued by a dangerous power she can’t control, at least she knows that in the Wilderwood, she can’t hurt those she loves. Again.

But the legends lie. The Wolf is a man, not a monster. Her magic is a calling, not a curse. And if she doesn’t learn how to use it, the monsters the gods have become will swallow the Wilderwood – and her world – whole. (from Orbit)

OPINIONS: I really enjoyed For The Wolf. This is a fun, compelling fairy-tale inspired atmospheric story with a large dash of romance. I think the atmosphere of the Wilderwood was probably my favourite element of the book, as it is really immersive and I’m a dark and gloomy atmosphere kind of person. While this has clear elements of Red Riding Hood and her story with the wolf, it really is a story about human monsters rather than traditional ones. I am very happy that there are quite a lot of forest-set fantasy novels published this year, and For The Wolf is in good company.

I did feel like the book was tethering on the border between YA and adult quite a lot – it feels like a YA fantasy that is trying really hard to be adult, but really it would have been more natural to sell it as a YA novel. Red, Eammon and Neve all seemed more like characters who had to finish growing up rather than as settled adults. Especially Red and Neve, the sisters at the heart of the story, are still acting like YA characters. In general, the characters weren’t quite as well-developed as I would have liked and I felt like the book as a whole would have benefitted from some more ruthless cutting in terms of dead plot. Nevertheless, I enjoyed my reading experience a lot.

Add For The Wolf to your Goodreads here, and order a copy from Bookshop here (affiliate link).

This is the second installment in the Rosetta Academy series – I was lucky enough to get to review the first one, Of Curses and Kisses last year (find my review here). Of Princes and Promises is set in the same world, around the same characters, but focusing on a different set of protagonists. Thus, it works as a standalone as well, no need to read the first book to understand what is going on. And this is the wonderful kind of addictive book that I read in a single sitting, which I haven’t done in a while.

Many thanks to Kate Keehan and Hodder for sending me a copy for review, all opinions are my own.

RELEASE DATE: 08/06/2021

STAR RATING: 4/5 ✶

SUMMARY: Caterina LaValle is determined to show she’s still the queen of St. Rosetta’s Academy. Sure, her crown may be slightly askew after her ex-boyfriend, Alaric, cheated on her, but she’s a LaValle. She’ll find a way to march right back in there, her hands clutching the strings to the whole puppet show. This time, she’s going to be untouchable.

Rahul Chopra knows that moment he shared with Caterina LaValle at the winter formal meant something. Surely she feels it, too. He’s a little uncertain how someone like him (socially inept to a point way past “adorkable”) could fit into her world, but he’s loved Caterina for years. He knows they’ll find a way.

When Caterina finds out Alaric is taking a supermodel to the upcoming gala, she knows she cannot arrive without the perfect date. But the thought of taking another superficial St. R’s boy exhausts her. The solution? Sweet-but-clueless Rahul Chopra and a mysterious pot of hair gel with the power to alter the wearer into whatever his heart desires.

When Rahul tries it, he transforms instantly into RC-debonair, handsome, and charming. But transformation comes with a price: As Rahul enjoys his new social standing, the line between his two personas begins to blur. Will he give up everything, including Caterina, to remain RC? Or will this unlikely pair find their way back to each other? (from Hodder)

OPINIONS: This is a perfect escapist book to spend a cosy evening reading with a hot chocolate. I read the whole thing in a couple of hours earlier this week and just loved it so much. It’s not necessarily the kind of book I tend to gravitate towards – I am more likely to pick up slightly ‘darker’ books, with much less of a romance focus. But this series just keeps surprising me and making me enjoy books out of what I tend to read. Of Princes and Promises is a modern fairy tale, with romance as a major theme. It’s basically a comfort read.

Caterina and Rahul are wonderful leading characters – both deeply flawed but undergoing a lot of development over the course of the story. I feel a lot of kinship with Rahul, who is the awkward teen, not sure how social interactions work and more comfortable with books than people. So when he finds a (magical) way to fit in, it changes him. And on the surface, that is a bad choice. But if you dig deeper, that is an understandable way to react. I know I wouldn’t be all that different. Caterina goes from mean girl in the first book of the series to a relateable protagonist – if a more spoiled one than most teens.

So, TL:DR – if you’re into fluffy romantic fantasy, do check this one out, it’s delightful. Add it on Goodreads here, and order a copy from Bookshop here (affiliate link).

I really hate not being able to write a positive review for books. But sometimes, a book just doesn’t work for you. I think Strange Creatures is one of those for me. Based on its components, I should have really liked it, but I ended up feeling very meh about it as a whole.

Massive thanks to Harper360YA for sending me an ARC of Strange Creatures. All opinions are my own.

RELEASE DATE: 01/06/2021

STAR RATING: 3/5 ✶

SUMMARY: From the moment that Annie was born, she and her older brother, Jamie, were inseparable. Alike in almost every way, they promised to always take care of each other while facing the challenges of growing up different in suburban America. And when life became too much for them, they created their own space in the woods behind their house: a fantasy world, called Gumlea, where no one else could find them.

And it was enough, for a while. But then came middle school, when Jamie grew dark and distant. He found new friends, a girlfriend, and a life away from Annie and Gumlea. Soon it was as if she hardly knew the brother who was her other half.

And then, one day, he disappears.

Annie, her family, and the entire community are devastated. And as the days turn into months turn into years, everyone begins to accept that Jamie is gone for good. Everyone, that is, except Annie, who believes that Jamie, somehow, has entered Gumlea, and who believes that she’s the only one who can bring him back.

But as Annie searches for answers and finds a new relationship with a girl she did not expect, she makes startling discoveries about her brother’s disappearance—and has to decide how much of herself she’s willing to give up in order to keep hope alive. (from Harper Teen)

OPINIONS: So, this has elements of story within a story, dealing with mental health issues and queer discovery. Which means that in its parts, I should have really liked it – but as the whole is greater than its parts, it ended up not working for me. I think the main issue I had with it is that it felt really meandering, with no clear direction for the plot to be propelled forward. Added to that was that I found almost all of the characters really unlikeable – not in a villain/anti-hero sort of way, but more in a ‘I couldn’t care less about you’ way.

But! this does feature a wonderful book-girlfriend in its later parts. I loved Court’s character and found her parts a wonderful antidote to the rest of the book. I just wish she ended up playing a more important role in the grand scale of the story. Sadly, one great character does not make up for the rest of the book. Another thing that might have helped cause my disconnect with the story is that it follows Annie from childhood almost through her college degree. For that amount of time spent in a characters head and throughout the course of their life, Annie stays a bland character without much development.

It is also most certainly not the almost whimsical portal-fantasy adventure I expected this to be when I picked it up. It is closer to a contemporary drama – which is less my thing to start with. It touches on a lot of interesting topics, but I feel like it doesn’t actually carry them through to their conclusion, which means that it is much harder for the reader to connect to the story.

If you’re intrigued, add Strange Creatures to your Goodreads here, or order a copy from Bookshop here (affiliate link).

Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of the most prolific authors we currently have working in science fiction and fantasy. In the last few months alone, I have read his last doorstopper sci-fi novel The Doors of Eden (released in Fall 2020, mini review here) and the novella One Day All This Will Be Yours (review here) which was one of the funniest things I’ve ever read. He writes spanning the breadth of the genres, and always at high levels of quality. So I was thrilled when I was offered a review copy of Shards of Earth by the lovely Black Crow PR and UK Tor. All opinions are my own, and if you’re intrigued, I’m doing a flash giveaway on Twitter for an Adrian Tchaikovsky bundle today!

RELEASE DATE: 27/05/2021

STAR RATING: 4/5 ✶

SUMMARY: Idris has neither aged nor slept since they remade his mind in the war. And one of humanity’s heroes now scrapes by on a freelance salvage vessel, to avoid the attention of greater powers.

Eighty years ago, Earth was destroyed by an alien enemy. Many escaped, but millions more died. So mankind created enhanced humans ­such as Idris – who could communicate mind-to-mind with our aggressors. Then these ‘Architects’ simply disappeared and Idris and his kind became obsolete.

Now, Idris and his crew have something strange, abandoned in space. It’s clearly the work of the Architects – but are they really returning? And if so, why? Hunted by gangsters, cults and governments, Idris and his crew race across the galaxy as they search for answers. For they now possess something of incalculable value, and many would kill to obtain it. (from UK Tor)

OPINIONS: This is epic space opera the way it should be written. It is compelling, well-paced and interesting. 550 pages of action in space. I really enjoyed reading another Tchaikovsky, and I am looking forward to seeing where this series goes. Grand scale intergalactic war, yes please. I’m usually far more of a fantasy person than a sci-fi reader, but I will always make an exception for Tchaikovsky.

The architects are a true menace to the world as we know it – giant entities capable of reforming space. Earth has basically exploded years ago, and now the threat seems to be reforming. Idris – an intermediary, a sort of superhuman capable of piloting ships faster than light speed – and his crew are on a mission to figure out what is going on. And I just want to give all of the characters in this story a big massive hug. Humanity is on the brink of extinction and the exhaustion of the characters is palpable.

There is a lot going on in Shards of Earth, and I for one am grateful for the inclusion of a glossary and timeline at the back of the book. I feel like I already want to reread the book to get even more out of it now that I know about those aids (because, obviously, I’m too silly to go check in the first place). But it’s a great sign that the story captivated me so even if I was a bit confused at times and wasn’t fully sure of what was going on.

Add Shards of Earth to your Goodreads here, and order a copy from Bookshop here (affiliate link).

You know a book is good when a friend makes you send it to them before you even manage to review it. Heartbreak Incorporated is such a fun urban fantasy with paranormal romance elements. If you’re into that kind of thing, this is a must read!

Massive thanks to Hanna Waigh and Rebellion for sending me a review copy – all opinions are my own.

RELEASE DATE: 24/06/2021

STAR RATING: 4/5 ✶

SUMMARY: Evie Cross had big dreams of becoming an investigative journalist but at 25 and struggling to make it in New York City, she’s finally starting to admit that her dream is her side hustle and her day job is actually… her job. That is, until she signs on as a temp for a small consultancy whose principal, Misha Meserov, specializes in breaking up relationships. Misha is tall, infuriatingly handsome, and effortlessly charismatic—he can make almost anyone, man or woman, fall into bed with him. And he often does.

But the more Evie is exposed to Misha’s scandalous world, the more she becomes convinced that he’s hiding something… when a wealthy San Francisco tech CEO with a dissolving marriage starts delving into the occult and turns up dead, Evie has to decide between her journalistic desire for the truth and her growing desire for Misha. (from Solaris)

OPINIONS: Remember the urban fantasy/paranormal romance boom of the early 2000s/2010s? Because, I do. And those books are a large part of the reason why I stuck to reading predominately YA for a very long time. Heartbreak Incorporated both is and isn’t like that – it has the fun and irreverent elements of classic books from that genre, but it avoids quite a lot of the more frustrating tropes that put me off them. This is smart and character-driven, and DOES NOT fall into the alpha male trap – even though the love interest could easily serve as one. In short, Heartbreak Incorporated is exactly the kind of fun book to get me enthused about paranormal romance again.

Can we talk about the concept hook? An agency that breaks people up. It sounds so cliché and out there, but it is very well done – Alex de Campi has really managed to turn this into a smart story aimed to entertain.Oh, also, this is queer. It’s not super out-there, but there are a number of different elements that make it so (not going to actually mention them to avoid spoilers). And generally, I really enjoyed the characters. Misha is such a loveable idiot, and Evie is VERY relatable. I mean, how much more relatable does it get than struggling to make ends meet in your twenties, pursuing your dream and somehow working more on other things?

I really enjoyed Heartbreak Incorporated, and have already been yelling at many of my friends about it. It is compelling, fast-paced, and while it doesn’t have the most unique plot, it doesn’t need to. Evie and Misha are strong enough leads to carry it through any weaknesses the book has, ensuring a great reading experience.

Add Heartbreak Incorporated to your Goodreads here, or order a copy via Bookshop here (affiliate link) if you too want to be seduced by Misha.

This year is really blessing us with the folklore-inspired fantasy novels. And The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid is ready to compete with the best of them. I also really enjoyed The Second Bell by Gabriela Houston, and am super excited about For the Wolf by Hannah Witten. Forest-y, folklore-y fantasy galore, and I hope you’ll join me on this journey.

Many thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC, all opinions are my own.

RELEASE DATE: 08/06/2021

STAR RATING: 4/5 ✶

SUMMARY: In her forest-veiled pagan village, Évike is the only woman without power, making her an outcast clearly abandoned by the gods. When soldiers arrive from the Holy Order of Woodsmen to claim a pagan girl for the king’s blood sacrifice, Évike is betrayed by her fellow villagers and surrendered.

But when monsters attack the Woodsmen and their captive en route, slaughtering everyone but Évike and the cold, one-eyed captain, they have no choice but to rely on each other. Except he’s no ordinary Woodsman – he’s the disgraced prince, Gáspár Bárány, whose father needs pagan magic to consolidate his power. Gáspár fears that his cruelly zealous brother plans to seize the throne and instigate a violent reign that would damn the pagans and the Yehuli alike. As the son of a reviled foreign queen, Gáspár understands what it’s like to be an outcast, and he and Évike make a tenuous pact to stop his brother.

As their mission takes them from the bitter northern tundra to the smog-choked capital, their mutual loathing slowly turns to affection, bound by a shared history of alienation and oppression. However, trust can easily turn to betrayal, and as Évike reconnects with her estranged father and discovers her own hidden magic, she and Gáspár need to decide whose side they’re on, and what they’re willing to give up for a nation that never cared for them at all. (from Del Rey)

OPINIONS: This is simply a wonderful story. It is not an easy read – it addresses trauma, both personal and that of social groups – but as a whole, it packages them in a story that is a delight. Ava Reid’s debut is lyrical, compelling, heart-breaking at times and like with many of the great books that I’ve been able to read and review this year, I already have a finished copy organised and I am looking forward to re-reading it in its finished form.

I devoured The Wolf and the Woodsman – I think I read it in a little more than a single sitting. It is an addictive story with strong worldbuilding that draws the reader in. And I loved Évike as a main character. She is stubborn and gives few shits about what others want for her. She stands up for herself, her family and her people. And Gáspár is a soft boi hiding behind a tough shell – I don’t read a lot of m/f romantic stories these days, but this was one that I found worked really well for me. I definitely need more of Ava Reid’s writing and nuanced approach to trauma and social issues.

The story has a strong Jewish element – and with that I mean both in terms of Évike finding her father and his community, finding a place to belong, but also a community that struggles against prejudice, against prosecution. But ultimately, the book’s message is one of hope. And that is, I think, a large part of why it deals so well with difficult themes. I highly recommend this one.

Add The Wolf and the Woodsman to your Goodreads here, and order a copy via Bookshop here (affiliate link).