An author known for his historical fiction (as Christian Cameron) and historically inspired epic fantasy goes and ventures into Science Fiction. What to expect from a book like that? Artifact Space is classic space opera as it should be, drawing from Cameron’s expertise in assorted genres when it comes to pacing and story structure, presenting a fun and gripping adventure.

Many thanks to Will O’Mullane and Gollancz for sending me a review copy. All opinions are my own.

RELEASE DATE: 24/06/2021

STAR RATING: 4/5 ✶

SUMMARY: Out in the darkness of space, something is targeting the Greatships.

With their vast cargo holds and a crew that could fill a city, the Greatships are the lifeblood of human occupied space, transporting an unimaginable volume – and value – of goods from City, the greatest human orbital, all the way to Tradepoint at the other, to trade for xenoglas with an unknowable alien species.

It has always been Marca Nbaro’s dream to achieve the near-impossible: escape her upbringing and venture into space.

All it took, to make her way onto the crew of the Greatship Athens was thousands of hours in simulators, dedication, and pawning or selling every scrap of her old life in order to forge a new one. But though she’s made her way onboard with faked papers, leaving her old life – and scandals – behind isn’t so easy.

She may have just combined all the dangers of her former life, with all the perils of the new… (from Gollancz)

OPINIONS: This is a fun, fast-paced space opera. Ultimately, it follows the beats of the genre to deliver a satisfying read without reinventing the wheel. I enjoyed Marca Nbaro as a leading character, her rigidness combined with a heavy dash of naiveté in many regards and a sprinkle of curiosity worked very well for me. She is a strong character, but not a flawless one, and her story is intriguing. I found her a great vessel to tell this story of exploration and danger.

I did feel a bit uncomfortable reading a story with the only PoV character being a Black women in a book written by a middle-aged white man. While the character in herself was one that ended up working for me, I am no judge of the representation more generally – which means I want to note it but not discuss in detail.

In terms of plot, this isn’t anything too special. It’s interesting throughout and it’s a fast read, and it’s compelling. I found it entertaining and I’m curious to read on in the series. I think this is very much a book to pick up if you tend to like space opera, and are on the hunt for a good book to take on holiday with you or spend a lazy weekend reading – it’s perfect for that. It’s not a literary masterwork, but it delivers exactly what it says on the tin, and that is perfect for what I wanted it for.

Add Artifact Space to your Goodreads here, and join the crew of the Athens by ordering a copy from Bookshop here (affiliate link).

I’ve been a Susan Dennard fan ever since her debut, Something Strange and Deadly was published many many years ago – I’m very proud to say I’ve read everything she’s published! I also blame her for my Twitter addiction, her The Luminaries choose-your-own-adventure megathread back in 2019 got me hooked and now I can’t wait for the book version to come out at some point. Sooz also has a website and a newsletter full of amazing writing resources, so if you’re a budding writer yourself, check that out!

Massive thanks to Black Crow PR and UK Tor for sending me a review copy of Witchshadow. All opinions are my own.

RELEASE DATE: 24/06/2021

STAR RATING: 4.5/5 ✶

SUMMARY: Iseult has found her heartsister Safi at last, but their reunion is brief. For Iseult to stay alive, she must flee Cartorra while Safi remains. And though Iseult has plans to save her friend, they will require her to summon magic more dangerous than anything she has ever faced before.

Meanwhile, the Bloodwitch Aeduan is beset by forces he cannot understand. And Vivia – rightful queen of Nubrevna – finds herself without a crown or home.

As villains from legend reawaken across the Witchlands, only the mythical Cahr Awen can stop the gathering war. Iseult could embrace this power and heal the land, but first she must choose on which side of the shadows her destiny will lie. (from UK Tor)

OPINIONS: So this is book four in a series. Which is probably information that you need to know beforehand. It might even be considered book five, though that’s debateable as the UK missed out on the novella in between books two and three. And the Witchlands series is one of my favourite series out there. It is complex and nuanced and full of amazing characters and a detailed magic system. Safi and Iseult are the two heroines of the series, though by now there are many more characters that have become central to the story (#baeduan! Vivia! Owl! and so many more). Safi is a Truthwitch and Iseult is a Threadwitch. Each book centres on one of the characters, and Witchshadow is Iseult’s book.

Which is a good thing. Because Iseult is my fave. She and Owl, the feisty little girl that accompanies here are the best. And I love that Sooz found a way to keep her and Aeduan apart after bringing them together at the end of the last book, Bloodwitch, rather than reducing tensions and having them be all happy together. Mistress of character tension, Sooz is. But this book being focussed on Iseult and her history, family and developing her magic doesn’t mean that the others don’t get their time in the spotlight.

Safi deals with marriage, rebellion and the like. Ryber and Vivia explore the past and secrets. The worldbuilding in this series is just top notch, and I once again fell so hard for it. I couldn’t stop myself from reading and getting immersed in the world and I already want more. There was quite a bit of a wait between Bloodwitch and Witchshadow, but damn, this was so worth it. Please please go and give this series a shot.

If you think you might love the Witchlands as much as I do, you can add Witchshadow to your Goodreads here, and order a copy from Bookshop here (affiliate link).

Last year, Elle wowed me with her debut, A Kind of Spark. I wrote a glowing review here, and pretty much everyone has been agreeing with me. This week, she won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2021 – so well deserved. See more about that here, and click through to the SPECIAL EDITION! But we’re here to talk about her sophomore novel, Show Us Who You Are. I am finding this one much harder to review in many ways – it’s brilliant, but also tough, and I felt like some elements ultimately didn’t fit together quite as well as I hoped. I still loved it and I hope you will too.

Many thanks to Annabelle at ed PR and Knights Of for sending me a review copy – all opinions are my own.

RELEASE DATE: 04/03/2021

SUMMARY: When Cora’s brother drags her along to his boss’s house, she doesn’t expect to strike up a friendship with Adrien, son of the intimidating CEO of Pomegranate Technologies. As she becomes part of Adrien’s life, she is also drawn into the mysterious projects at Pomegranate.

At first, she’s intrigued by them – Pomegranate is using AI to recreate real people in hologram form. As she digs deeper, however, she uncovers darker secrets… Cora knows she must unravel their plans, but can she fight to make her voice heard, whilst never losing sight of herself? (from Knighs Of)

OPINIONS: I think Show Us Who You Are is an incredibly difficult book to review, especially because I, late twenties, possibly, no, most probably neurodivergent, something which I’m currently trying to figure out, am not really the target audience. The book really is written for neurodivergent kids and is a love letter to being different. But, at the same time, it is also a manifest of rage against the status quo, against how the world expects people to slot into preconceived notions. I have spoken about the story with readers who are neurotypical, who did not understand how the book worked at all – who saw Cora and Adrien’s friendship and were confused, who saw two kids who shared nothing but neurodivergency. To them I say that IS how friendship works for those to whom it doesn’t come easily. In that relationship, I saw myself as a kid. Meeting someone and adopting them as a friend immediately even if it wasn’t perfect from the start. Heck, I made a new friend just last week by simply deciding that we’re friends now.

And the story in Show is compelling. It is a mystery and Cora is a fantastic heroine. She’s driven and she is principled and I adore her. It is a really good book. What I did think detracted from the story at times though is that the political messaging overshadowed the story itself. There were moments where it seemed more like a book aimed at adult readers featuring child characters than a true middle grade adventure – but that might be connected to my perception and subtext that would not be as visible to a child reader as it was to me as an older one. I have already read it a couple of times while trying to figure out how to review it, and I’m sure I will read it again – Elle McNicoll is a brilliant writer, and one to keep watching!

Add Show Us Who You Are to your Goodreads here, and order a copy via Bookshop here (affiliate link).

It does not often happen that I receive a review copy and read it on the same day. But that is exactly how it played out with Daughters of Sparta. I couldn’t resist the lure of the shiny gold foil and once in the world of Ancient Greece and Troy I couldn’t snap out of it again until the story was over. I am thrilled that 2021 is bringing so many books inspired by mythology – just my thing.

Massive thanks to Maria at Hodder for sending me a review copy, all opinions are my own.

RELEASE DATE: 22/07/2021

STAR RATING: 4.5/5 ✶

SUMMARY: As princesses of Sparta, Helen and Klytemnestra have known nothing but luxury and plenty. With their high birth and unrivalled beauty, they are the envy of all of Greece.

Such privilege comes at a high price, though, and their destinies are not theirs to command. While still only girls they are separated and married off to legendary foreign kings Agamemnon and Menelaos, never to meet again. Their duty is now to give birth to the heirs society demands and be the meek, submissive queens their men expect.

But when the weight of their husbands’ neglect, cruelty and ambition becomes too heavy to bear, they must push against the constraints of their sex to carve new lives for themselves – and in doing so make waves that will ripple throughout the next three thousand years. (from Hodder & Stroughton)

OPINIONS: Daughters of Sparta is extremely compelling. I’ve always wanted to know more about Helen – who is such a catalyst in the Homerian epic, but such a passive figure without a voice of her own. Traditionally she is reduced merely to her beauty, when really, she should be presented as a woman in her own right, making decisions that have repercussions rippling across all of Ancient Greece and Troy. And her sister Klytemnestra – famous for murdering her husband – is often similarly pigeonholed due to a single moment in her legendary life, missing all the other moments that led to this one. In this novel, Claire Heywood manages to make the sisters into flawed women, trying to live their lives the best they can.

Neither Helen nor Klytemnestra are presented as heroines – or villainesses, for that matter – in the story. They are simply human. They struggle, they suffer, they make mistakes. And they are at the mercy of men. Because no matter how feminist one wants to present this story, that remains a central aspect of it – both of their lives were heavily driven by the whims of men – fathers, husbands, lovers. And while the reader knows how this story goes, it is after all one that is thousands of years old, Claire Heywood packages it in a compelling voice that leaves the reader captivated and unable to stop reading on. Daughters of Sparta is an excellent example for the magic of strong characterisations and emotional investment being the crucial ingredients in a fantastic book.

If you want to join me in my squeeing about mythology, you can add Daughters of Sparta to your Goodreads here, and pre-order a copy from Bookshop here (affiliate link).

I devoured this book. It didn’t even make it onto my kindle – I was having a bad day and I read it like a gremlin on my phone while I was curled up. And every time I put it down I had to immediately pick it back up because I needed to know how the story continued. It is addictive and fun and just an all-around-great read and I DESPERATELY need a physical copy (hint, hint).

Massive thanks to Will O’Mullane and NetGalley for a super early eARC, all opinions are my own.

RELEASE DATE: 11/11/2021

STAR RATING: 4.5/5 ✶

SUMMARY: After the publication of a salacious tell-all book, the remote city of Ilvernath is thrust into the spotlight. Tourists, protesters, and reporters alike flock to its spellshops and historic ruins to witness an ancient curse unfold: every generation, seven families name a champion among them to compete in a tournament to the death. The winner awards their family exclusive control over the city’s high magick supply, the most powerful resource in the world.

In the past, the villainous Lowes have won nearly every tournament, and their champion is prepared to continue his family’s reign. But this year, thanks to the influence of their newfound notoriety, each of the champions has a means to win. Or better yet–a chance to rewrite their story.

But this is a story that must be penned in blood. (from Gollancz)

OPINIONS: Think of this as a magical Gossip Girl meets The Hunger Games with a dash of Nevernight. So, pretty damn addictive. It hits that easy reading and moreish vibe that I’ve been looking for. I need more ASAP and desperately. Also this will be PERFECT for a screen adaptation. I don’t think I’ve read anything that is as suited to adaptation as this is.

All Of Us Villains is one of those books where having a larger cast of main characters works great – it follows the seven contestants through the story as well as some tangential characters. Through its limited setting in the game, the world is contained and small, and tensions are high, leading to extreme reactions from everyone involved. This is a lot of fun to read. Honestly, none of the characters were especially NICE people, but all of them were interesting. I think my favourites were Isobel and Briony, and I might even have shipped them a little – and while that’s not where the story went, who knows where the twists of book two will take the contestants!

One thing I really loved about this is that the characters are thrown into this situation where they are all competing against each other, battle royale style. But Briony realises just before the competition starts that there might be a way to stop the whole thing from happening if they all work together, and a major part of the story is her trying to get the contestants to work together in a situation that is designed to pit them against each other. These psychological dynamics are really interesting, and I am super curious where the authors will be taking this in the second book, especially after the way this one ends.

So, um, you need this book ASAP. Add it to your Goodreads here, and pre-order a copy from Bookshop here (affiliate link).

Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s work is the epitome of books that in theory sound like they’re perfect for me but somehow fail to capture me. This is the third of her books that I’ve read – after Gods of Jade and Shadow and Mexican Gothic – and again, the pitch sounded like something that I’d absolutely love. Fantasy of manners, combining high society with magic and courtship. But once again, I struggled with its execution.

Many thanks to Ella Patel and Jo Fletcher Books for sending me an ARC of The Beautiful Ones. All opinions are my own.

RELEASE DATE: 27/04/2021

STAR RATING: 3.5/5 ✶

SUMMARY: They are the Beautiful Ones, Loisail’s most notable socialites, and this spring is Nina’s chance to join their ranks, courtesy of her well-connected cousin and his calculating wife. But the Grand Season has just begun and already Nina’s debut has gone disastrously awry. She has always struggled to control her telekinesis: the haphazard manifestations of her powers have long made her the subject of gossip – malicious neighbours even call her the Witch of Oldhouse.

But Nina’s life is about to change, for there is a new arrival in town: Hector Auvray, the renowned entertainer, who has used his own telekinetic talent to perform for admiring audiences around the world. Nina is dazzled by Hector, for he sees her not as a witch, but ripe with magical potential. Under his tutelage, Nina’s talent blossoms – as does her love for the great man.

But great romances are for fairy-tales, and Hector is hiding a secret bitter truth from Nina – and himself – that threatens their courtship. (from Jo Fletcher)

OPINIONS: The Beautiful Ones is a beautifully written story of intrigue, high society and romance, with a dash of magic thrown in. But while there isn’t anything wrong with the book itself, it failed to capture my heart and maintain tension throughout the story. In what seems to have become a pattern with Moreno-Garcia’s books for me, I love the openings, and then get distracted and bored as the story sputters on. I really struggle to put my finger on what exactly it is that makes me disconnect with her work so much as all of the books I’ve picked up are quite different in genre and have fantastic premises that tempt me into trying again – but then the issues I end up having are quite similar.

I think it might be something that comes down to characters. They are well-crafted, but they lack emotions – and the emotional connection is something that I find crucial to the enjoyment of a book for me. This is probably also partially down to the setting, as The Beautiful Ones, as all of the books by Moreno-Garcia I’ve read, are set in the early twentieth century, in a society that is rather stilted and stiff, and thus not as open and ready to show emotions. It really comes down to personal preference I think – in no way is The Beautiful Ones a bad book, just one that doesn’t work too well for me personally.

If you are a fan of Regency romances, of fantasy of manners books in general, this is a book for you. If you adored Bridgerton, check this out. If you are intrigued, you can add The Beautiful Ones to your Goodreads here, and order a copy from Bookshop here (affiliate link).