Another victim of the COVID-19 release date delay, Girl, Serpent, Thorn was originally supposed to be published in May, and has now been moved to July instead – I’m running out of books to feature for my May Hype Post as all of the ones I was planning on writing about keep having their dates moved! But never worry, Girl, Serpent, Thorn is worth the wait. A lavish retelling of a Persian myth, featuring the most amazing bi protagonist? I’m so in. And the cover is simply stunning – I’ve been drooling over this book ever since I first heard about it!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Hodder for the advance copy in exchange for this honest review.

RELEASE DATE: 07/07/20

STAR RATING: 4.5/5 ✶

SUMMARY: There was and there was not, as all stories begin, a princess cursed to be poisonous to the touch. But for Soraya, who has lived her life hidden away from everyone, apart from her family, safe only in her gardens, it’s not just a story.

As the day of her twin brother’s wedding approaches, Soraya must decide if she’s willing to step outside of the shadows for the first time. Below in the dungeon is a demon who holds knowledge that she craves, the answer to her freedom. And above is a young man who isn’t afraid of her, whose eyes linger not with fear, but with an understanding of who she is beneath the poison.

Soraya thought she knew her place in the world, but when her choices lead to consequences she never imagined, she begins to question who she is and who she is becoming . . . human or demon. Princess or monster. (from Hodder & Stoughton)

OPINIONS: Over the past couple of years, I’ve been noticing that among the books I enjoy most are the ones that are based on mythology and fairy tales. Having a gem like Girl, Serpent, Thorn be based on myth from a culture that is all too rarely represented in YA fantasy is refreshing and made me love the book from the beginning – before reading this, I had never considered that ‘Once upon a time…’ is a Western concept, and of course stories based in other cultures would follow different rhetorical conventions. I had simply not interrogated the customs of storytelling – which is silly, given that I have done multiple university degrees in literature, history and related subjects – and I now want to go back and read as much traditional storytelling in a form as close to the oral tales as possible, because I am curious about how these customs of storytelling differ between cultures. So what I mean to say is that Girl, Serpent, Thorn is an amazing book, and has already affected me in ways I haven’t thought possible for a single book. Or maybe quarantine is doing funny things to my brain.

Anyway, Girl, Serpent, Thorn is full of beautiful, lavish prose, evoking a world of mystery and betrayal. It is compulsively readable, and the pacing works well. The plot is twisty and not what you expect – there is no rescuing the princess in this book! Soraya makes for a great main character. Over the course of the story, she undergoes character growth, and develops from a mostly weak and scared princess into a complex, morally gray character to be reckoned with. She is also obviously bi – and I’m all here for that rep! She also forces her way into so much agency, something which is all too often sorely lacking in YA fantasy. Not only does she make mistakes, she owns them, she lives with them, and she actively tries to do better. We need more characters like her. The romance is slow-burning and seductive, which is wonderful too, but I don’t want to say too much about it because I don’t want to spoil anything…

This is it. We need more books like Girl, Serpent, Thorn. Publishers, listen up, and commission them, please! I recommend you help me shout about it, and add this to your Goodreads, and pre-order it from Hive, Waterstones, Book Depository or your favourite indie.

There has rarely been a book that I’ve heard as much buzz about from authors whose judgement I trust as there has been for Queen of Coin and Whispers by Helen Corcoran. I already wrote about it in my Hype Post for April, so I obviously jumped at the chance to read this gem early, and could not put it down until I finished. All the praise is warranted, and I hope Helen gets all the success that she deserves once this wonderful book comes out on June 1st [moved release date due to COVID]!

Many thanks to Netgalley and O’Brien Press for the advance reading copy in exchange for this honest review.

RELEASE DATE: 01/06/20

STAR RATING: 4.5/5 ✶

SUMMARY: When Lia, an idealistic queen, falls for Xania, her new spymaster – who took the job to avenge her murdered father – they realise all isn’t fair in love and treason. 

Lia won’t mourn her uncle: he’s left her a bankrupt kingdom considered easy pickings by its neighbours. She’s sworn to be a better ruler, but if she wants to push through her reforms, she needs to beat the Court at its own games. For years, Xania’s been determined to uncover her father’s murderer. She finally gets a chance when Lia gives her a choice: become her new spymaster, or take a one way trip to the executioner’s axe. It’s an easy decision.

When they fall for each other, their love complicates Lia’s responsibilities and Xania’s plans for vengeance. As they’re drawn together amid royal suitors and new diplomats, they uncover treason that could not only end Lia’s reign, but ruin their weakened country. They must decide not only what to sacrifice for duty, but also for each other. (from O’Brien Press)

OPINIONS: Three queer teenagers against the rest of the world. What more is there to want? And, oh, they don’t have magic or anything, their superpowers are brains, logic and spy-craft in a medieval-level second world setting. Lia, Xania and Matthias are amazing lead characters for a novel and damn, I need more!

The world-building is strong with this one, and while I was worried that I went into Queen of Coin and Whispers with expectations too many expectations, they were entirely warranted. This is not to say that the book is without its flaws – in parts it feels like issues get resolved too quickly on a psychological level and in some instances trust, at least superficial trust, gets established very soon. I guess what I mean to say is that I wish that it was paced slower, allowing for even more focus on the wonderful, multi-dimensional characters. But then, I’m weird and I like slower books.

And oh, I’m here for all the wonderful sapphic books coming out in 2020. The nuanced portrayals of consent and developing relationships between ladies, in worlds where there is no inherent judgement about same-sex relationships (apart from the obvious issues about heirs, but that is a different matter altogether) is refreshing. I’m not sure if it has to do with the nature of FF relationships, or if writers of heterosexual romanced have simply not made it past toxic masculinity yet, but the depicted relationships are on much more even footing and serve as better role models for the teens the YA. People actually talk things out!

Back to the reasons why Queen of Coins and Whispers is great. There is a learning curve! Neither Lia nor Xania start out being great at their jobs or knowing everything – they have to figure out how the position works, how to navigate it and learn to get good at what they do. They make mistakes, they do better next time. And the writing is great. It does not let you escape the lavishly built world until the very end. In short, I need more. And you need this book in your life. Add it on Goodreads here, and pre-order it from Hive, Waterstones, Book Depository, or preferably, your indie of choice.

Today is the second of April, official Autism Awareness Day – so it seems fitting that this review goes up today. This is one of the most special books I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing and I hope you give it a chance too! Add it on Goodreads, and pre-order it directly from the publisher’s bookshop, Round Table Books here.

Thank you so much to Knights Of and Eishar Brar for sending me an advance copy for reviewing.

RELEASE DATE: 04/06/20

STAR RATING: 5/5 ✶

SYNOPSIS: Autistic eleven-year old Addie thinks sharks are way cooler than dolphins. When she learns about witches in school, she is shocked to find out about her small Scottish town’s involvement in the early modern witch hunts. Feeling the need to do something, she decides to petition for a memorial to be put up for the victims. However, that’s easier said than done…

OPINIONS: A Kind of Spark is one of those rare treasures of a book that have the potential to change the world for the better. Addie is an unapologetically autistic girl fighting for what she believes in, despite what people around her think. Just like her, Elle and her book pave the way for autistic girls and their acceptance in a world determined to make things difficult for them.

I could go and write about how inspiring Addie’s story is. But I feel that that would be both besides the point and belittling – Addie is, and Addie follows her dreams and that’s that. And that is why I think it is so great that this is an own voices story. Elle captures the struggles and insecurities, the obstacles faced from both within and without of a girl growing up and feeling like she is somehow never enough with nuance and turns them into a captivating story. She is a writer to watch, and I can’t wait to read more of what she has to say in the future.

Growing up with an autistic brother as an overly smart, bookish, socially awkward and not necessarily neuro-typical kid, I learned about the world through reading books for most of my life. Reading a book like A Kind of Spark as an eight or nine year old would have helped me understand much better. So, from me, and on behalf of kids like me, a heartfelt thank you for writing this book.

Today, I’ve got something truly special for you: The House of Hidden Wonders by Sharon Gosling (with a gorgeous cover by Hannah Peck). I don’t write about children’s books a lot, and I don’t read them nearly enough, but I really hope to do so more, as this was an absolute treat from beginning to end.

Many thanks to Charlie Morris and Little Tiger Publishing for the review copy in exchange for this honest review.

RELEASE DATE: 02/04/20

STAR RATING: 5/5 ✶

SYNOPSIS: Zinnie and her sisters live in the murky tunnels beneath Edinburgh’s Old Town. They keep out of the way of the authorities and remain undetected. Until, that is, rumours of a ghost bring unwanted visitors into the caverns they call home. Among them, a young Arthur Conan Doyle, keen to investigate, and MacDuff, the shady owner of Edinburgh’s newest attraction, the House of Wonders.

Caught up in a world of intrigue and adventure, Zinnie seeks answers. But how can she discover what secrets lie in the House of Wonders while also protecting the sisters she holds so dear? (from Little Tiger)

OPINIONS: So, all I had to hear was history, adventure, museum and curious girls, and I was hooked! Once I started reading, it took no time for me to lose myself in Zinnie’s Edinburgh, and join her on her quest to protect her sisters and discover the secret of the House of Wonders. The House of Hidden Wonders is a thrilling story of a group of young girls making their way in a world stacked against them, featuring themes of found family, diversity and acceptance. Through the story of ghosts and mystery, ultimately, Zinnie shows the world around her how crucial it is to see beyond the obvious and accept and support each other for who they are. We modern grown-ups would do well to listen to her!

In its historical Edinburgh setting, we encounter some familiar figures, such as a young Arthur Conan Doyle, a medical student who is embarking on his first writing exploits, or Sophia Jex-Blake, one of the first female doctors, who opened a practice in Edinburgh in the late nineteenth-century. Others, such as Lady Sarah or Macduff might not be historical figures, but fit into the story just as well, and round out the cast of adults. The girls, Zannie, Sadie, Nell and Aelfine are all utterly different and equally wonderful, each with their quirks and flaws, but lovable to the core. Nell is portrayed as dark-skinned, and Aelfine was likely born with what we would call Down Syndrome today – making Zannie fiercly protective of them, and educating the world in how they should be treating them. It is clear that much care went into researching The House of Hidden Wonders, and the effort pays off.

In short, this is everything I would have wanted in a children’s book back when I was a child, and I would happily buy The House of Hidden Wonders for any child in my life! (And really, kidlit is great for getting your mind off things during this awful situation, so why not try it for yourself?) Add it on Goodreads here, or pre-order it from Waterstones or your retailer of choice, you won’t regret it!

With everything going on at the moment, I’ve been struggling with reading – being me, I’m still reading more than most, but I’m having a really hard time focusing for extended periods of time and usually get distracted every few pages. So I’ve been trying to trick myself by reading fifty page bits and having multiple books on the go in different formats at the same time to keep up with reviewing. But The Rearranged Life of Oona Lockhart managed to bypass all of that, and I accidentally finished the whole book in a single sitting!

Oona’s refreshing, humorous voice hits the tone of the time, and is the perfect story to read in these troubled times. A massive thanks to Will O’Mullane and Gollancz for the review copy of this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review!

RELEASE DATE: 05/03/20

STAR RATING: 5/5 ✶

SYNOPSIS: Brooklyn, 1982. Oona Lockhart is about to celebrate her 19th birthday and ring in the New Year. But at the stroke of midnight, she is torn from her friends and boyfriend, finding herself in her fifty-one-year-old body, thirty-two years into the future.

Greeted by a friendly stranger, Oona learns that on every birthday she will leap into a different age at random. Still a young woman on the inside, but ever changing on the outside, who will she be next year? Wealthy philanthropist? Nineties Club Kid? World traveller? Wife to a man she’s never met?

As she struggles between fighting her fate and accepting it, Oona must learn to navigate a life that’s out of order – but is it broken? (from Gollancz)

OPINIONS: I find it really interesting that the US and UK versions are so different! It’s not unusual to have separate covers, but this is one of the first books where I’ve seen them change the title – they seem to speak to different audiences, which I guess makes sense when you consider the imprints publishing the novel in both markets. Where the UK cover focuses on the time-traveling aspect, being published by a SFF imprint, the US version seems to be aimed at more of a chick-lit audience, where Oona is published by a general fiction publisher.

But whether as The Rearranged Life of Oona Lockhart or Oona Out of Order, Margarita Montimore has presented us with a magnificent debut, crossing genre boundaries and speaking directly to a generation of millennials trying find their place in the world. Oona’s first jump is reminiscent of the classic Jennifer Garner film 13 going on 30, which probably everyone in my generation has seen, and thus immediately evokes a feeling of comfort and nostalgia. As a nineteen-year-old in a middle-aged body, skipping from the eighties to the modern day, Oona has a lot of adjusting to do – some days I still feel like Oona, displaced into a modern world reliant on technology, having forgotten how to live in the moment.

As Oona learns how to navigate the world and her unique life, we get to meet many of her companions through the years. Some are positive figures, some less so, but something that they all have in common is that they are utterly human. Just like Oona is so real it hurts at times, her supporting cast come with their own sets of issues and aims, hurts and wants. Margarita Montimore makes these flawed characters come to life and tell their story in a way that makes it exciting, even if you sometimes already know how it will end.

A story of love and loss, trust and betrayal, and most of all, finding out who you are, The Rearranged Life of Oona Lockhart is a gem of a debut, and I savoured every moment of it. I expect I will be rereading it every once in a while, and I highly suggest you add it to your TBR as well. Add it on Goodreads here, and here are your order links for Hive and Waterstones.

I am Renata Convida.
I have lived a hundred stolen lives.
Now I live my own.

The Spanish Inqusition is one of the periods of history that scares me most of all. While xenophobia and hatred is in no way unique to that period, its setting in an age that is usually perceived as the Renaissance, supposedly an age of great civilisation and progress, combined with an extreme level of state-sanctioned cruelty is harrowing. Inspired by this period of Latin history, Zoraida Còrdova’s new novel Incendiary, the first in the Hollow Crown series, is set against the background of a war between Andalucía and Moria – with the remaining Moria, possessing magical abilities, slowly but surely being decimated.

As a history nerd, I simply had to read Incendiary as soon as possible, and am immensely grateful to Kate Keehan and Hodder for providing me with an advance copy via Netgalley in exchange for this honest review.

RELEASE DATE: 28/04/20

STAR RATING: 4.5/5 ✶

SYNOPSIS: Renata was only a child when she was kidnapped by the King’s Justice and brought to the luxurious palace of Andalucía. As a memory thief, the rarest and most feared of the magical Moria, Renata was used by the crown to carry out the King’s Wrath, a siege that resulted in the deaths of thousands of her own people.

Now Renata is one of the Whispers, rebel spies working against the crown. The Whispers may have rescued Renata from the palace years ago, but she cannot escape their mistrust and hatred—or the overpowering memories of the hundreds of souls she drained during her time in the palace. 

When Dez, the commander of her unit—and the boy she’s grown to love—is taken captive by the notorious Príncipe Dorado, Renata must return to the palace and complete Dez’s top secret mission herself. Can she keep her cover, even as she burns for vengeance against the brutal, enigmatic prince? Her life and the fate of the Moria depend on it.

But returning to the palace stirs childhood memories long locked away. As Renata grows more deeply embedded in the politics of the royal court, she uncovers a secret in her past that could change the fate of the entire kingdom—and end the war that has cost her everything. (from Zoraida’s website)

OPINIONS: I loved Incendiary from start to finish, I could not put it down. I would argue that it is Zoraida’s best work to date, and I cannot wait for the sequel (WHY DOES READING ARCS MEAN WAITING SO LONG FOR THE STORY TO CONTINUE?!) Renata is a wonderfully complex heroine struggling against the world, the regime, and, most of all, herself. Over the course of the story, she grows, learns, and realises that the world is not as black and white as she had believed, and that she might need to learn how to trust in order to survive and succeed. As a Moria with the powers of memory, a Robari, rare and valuable to the regime, Renata is coveted by both sides, but trusted by neither, and one of the most important elements of the story is that she needs to find herself in this mess.

But of course Incendiary is not centered around a single character – it would not be a true Zoraida Còrdova novel if there were not group heist shenanigans and ensuing chaos! Combined with the spring 2020 revolution trend, I think we can safely assume that we have a hit on our hands. An imaginative world, well-crafted characters and a thrilling story are bound to enchant readers and leave them wanting more.

I’m actually having a hard time thinking about what to say about Incendiary apart from READ IT – it is a wonderful book, and I do highly recommend it! It has everything I like in a book (except, maybe, dragons, but those wouldn’t make any sense), and I loved that it based a high fantasy world on a Latin perspective, rather than classical mid-European sword-and-sorcery imagery. Add Incendiary on Goodreads here, and pre-order it from Hive or Waterstones, or your indie of choice!