Tag: Historical Ficiton

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BLOG TOUR: Yule Island by Johana Gustawsson

Published November 21st, 2024 by Orenda Books
Mystery, Thriller, Crime Fiction, Noir Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Suspense, Fairy Tale, Historical Mystery

Today is my stop on the blog tour to celebrate the paperback publication of this mesmerising gothic fiction. Thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part and to Orenda for the proof copy of the book.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

An art expert joins a detective to investigate a horrific murder on a Swedish island, leading them to a mystery rooted in Viking rites and Scandinavia’s deepest, darkest winter. The Queen of French Noir returns with a chilling, utterly captivating gothic thriller, based on a true story. FIRST in the The Lidingö Mysteries series.
 
‘Scarier than anything … a dark, dark slice of atmospheric Scandi Noir’ Heat
Heat magazine *Book of the Month*
 
‘The pace steadily accelerates as Gustawsson orchestrates her plot with breathless ingenuity. A successful page-turner from a rising star’ Financial Times

‘Gustawsson’s writing is so vivid, it’s electrifying’ Peter James
  
** Winner of the Livre de Poche Readers Crime of the Year and Cultura Ligue de l’Imaginaire Award**

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Don’t
 
Art expert Emma Lindahl is anxious when she’s asked to appraise the antiques and artefacts in the infamous manor house of one of Sweden’s wealthiest families, on the island of Storholmen, where a young woman was murdered nine years earlier, her killer never found. 
 
Emma must work alone, and with the Gussman family apparently avoiding her, she sees virtually no one in the house. Do they have something to hide?
 
Trust
 
As she goes about her painstaking work and one shocking discovery yields clues that lead to another, Emma becomes determined to uncover the secrets of the house and its occupants.
 
When the lifeless body of another young woman is found in the icy waters surrounding the island, Detective Karl Rosén arrives to investigate, and memories of his failure to solve the first case come rushing back. Could this young woman’s tragic death somehow hold the key?
 
Anyone
 
Battling her own demons, Emma joins forces with Karl to embark upon a chilling investigation, plunging them into horrifying secrets from the past – Viking rites and tainted love – and Scandinavia’s deepest, darkest winter…

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MY REVIEW:

OMG. My mind is completely blown and I’m still trying to pick my jaw up from the floor after reading this mesmerising gothic thriller. Darkly atmospheric, unsettling and original, this is one of the best books I’ve read this year.

Art expert Emma Lindahl has come to the manor house on the island of Storholmen to appraise the artwork belonging to the Gussman family. But that isn’t all this house is famous for. It is also the place where the infamous hanging girl was found nine years ago. A brutal murder that remains unsolved. And when the body of another young woman is found in the icy waters that surround the island, it looks like Detective Karl Rosen might have found a connection between the crimes. What follows is a breathtaking story of murder, dark secrets and Norse mythology that you won’t be able to put down.

You know when you pick up one of Johana Gustawsson’s books that you should expect the unexpected; a heart-stopping thrill-ride that you can’t put down. Yule Island is all that and more. From the moment I read the author’s note at the start I was in Gustawsson’s thrall, feeling like I’d actually stepped inside the book as I read in breathless anticipation. Expertly written and cleverly plotted, this is a masterclass in storytelling. I was blindsided as she pulled the rug from under me again and again, not giving me time to catch my breath before delivering yet another shocking revelation. As tension builds, Gustawsson intricately interweaves meticulously researched Norse mythology and Swedish history to keep you on the edge of your seat. ‘The Queen of French Noir’ is living up to her title and it’s easy to see why this book has already received so much acclaim.

Gothic fiction is one of my favourite genres and Gustawsson absolutely nailed the dark, gothic vibes of this story from the start: the cold weather, an isolated island shrouded in silence, an old, echoing manor house filled with mysterious residents and the trappings of faded opulence, the screams that can be heard randomly, and the haunting history of the hanging tree. Knowing that Storholmen is a real island and this is all based on a true story adds to the unease that permeates every page. This is one of those books that will have you looking for the monsters that lurk in the shadows and I loved every second.

Told from multiple points of view, the characters are fascinating, relatable and richly drawn. The two protagonists, Emma and Karl, are very different in terms of age, circumstance and perspective. I enjoyed their distinct voices and seeing the investigation from both a professional and lay perspective. But they have similarities too: both are intelligent, determined and have a sober air that surrounds them. I enjoyed how Gustawsson slowly teased their backstories, allowing us to feel invested in their lives and root for them before making us question everything as we wonder if they are unreliable after all. There was a third narrator, Viktoria, who was a housekeeper at the manor. Her chapters gave us a glimpse of life behind the closed doors of the manor and added to the mystery that surrounds it. The background characters are just as well written and I loved the sense of community that existed on the island and how they welcomed Emma into their midst when a lot of small communities will make outsiders feel like just that. But it did make me wonder about the killer as it surely had to be one of the three hundred residents on Storholmen. Could one of them really commit vicious crimes like these while looking their neighbours in the eye? Or was there another explanation?

Claustrophobic, eerie, sinister and unnerving, Yule Island is an absolute must-read. An outstanding Gothic thriller that is perfect for this time of year, I have no hesitation in highly recommending it.

Rating: ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born in Marseille, France, and with a degree in Political Science, Johana Gustawsson has worked as a journalist for the French and Spanish press and television. Her critically acclaimed Roy & Castells series (Block 46, Keeper and Blood Song) has won the Plume d’Argent, Balai de la découverte, Balai d’Or and Prix Marseillais du Polar awards, and is now published in twenty-three countries. The third in the series, Blood Song, was longlisted for the CWA International Dagger. A TV adaptation is currently underway in a French, Swedish and UK co-production. Johana lives in London with her Swedish husband, and three young sons, and is currently working on the book four in the Roy & Castells series. 

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BUY THE BOOK:

Orenda Books | Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These links are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the blog tour.

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: My Lady’s Secrets by Katy Moran

Published July 4th, 2024 by Aria
Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Regency Romance

Welcome to my review for this bingeable regency romance. Thank you to Aria for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Regency England

When rebellious aristocrat Cressida and Lord Greville parted ways, they swore never to meet again. Their short marriage had already descended into bitter estrangement, destroyed by scandal and betrayal.

Years later, Greville is a soldier in the Peninsular War and Cressida is following the drum as another man’s lover. Scorned by society, she has learned to survive as a spy – until the day she is caught behind enemy lines, by none other than Greville himself.

Threatened with paying the ultimate price, Cressida is offered a deal: she must entrap and betray the most famous man in England. And Greville, unforgiving, angry and still shockingly attractive, must ensure she complies.

Catapulted to the heights of fame, Lord Byron is just as chaotic, charming and ruthless as he was when he, Greville and Cressida were teenagers. As the three old friends gather for a summer house party in the Scottish Highlands, Cressida is forced to confront her past and ask herself a terrifying question: is it too late for she and Greville to fight for one another at last?

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MY REVIEW:

Cressida, a rebellious and disgraced aristocrat turned spy is forced back to the high society world she thought she’d left behind when she’s arrested by her estranged husband on suspicion of treason. There is only one way for her to regain her freedom: betray her friend, Lord Byron. But despite their acrimonious divorce, the old lovers soon discover that their spark still burns bright. Is it too late for them to reunite?

Sexy, smart and suspenseful, this book was regency heaven. But there’s something for every reader in this crazy and chaotic rollercoaster ride of mystery, intrigue, deception, lust, lies, secrets, history, scandal and romance. It’s action-packed and compelling, Katy Moran’s evocative storytelling, meticulous research and captivating characters transporting me to the world of politics and society she’d created. It was so vivid that I felt like I’d been picked up and placed in the halls of regency aristocracy with all the gossip, games and calculated manoeuvring. This was a treacherous place where every word and move must be carefully calculated and you’re never sure who might be secretly scheming to betray you. Convoluted and intricate, everyone has their hand in multiple pies and people you’d never suspect are caught up in plots to betray those close to them. The stakes are sky-high and you feel that radiating from the pages and keeping you on the edge of your seat. 

In a regency romance you obviously need great chemistry, and you can feel the desire between Cressida and Greville sizzling from the pages. You can feel their regret over giving up on their marriage and how they both still want each other. I couldn’t help but root for them despite all the odds that were stacked against them. I also really liked Cressida. She was a compelling character that was easy to root for and I loved that she was so feisty, determined and different to what was the norm for women in her era. 

Atmospheric, clever, witty and tense, My Lady’s Secret is a bingeable historical romance with a sassy heroine you’ll love rooting for. 

Rating: ✭✭✭✭✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Katy Moran writes romantic historical fiction filled with adventure, passion and political intrigue. Her books are set in an alternate history just a step away from our own. She lives in the Welsh borders with her family and four miniature sheep.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These links are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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BOOK REVIEW: The Burial Plot by Elizabeth Macneal

Published June 6th, 2024 by Picador
Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Historical Romance

Welcome to my review of this outstanding gothic thriller. Thanks to Picador for sending me a proof copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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BOOK DESCRIPTION:

The Burial Plot is a spellbinding historical Gothic thriller about murder and manipulation, set in Victorian London. From Elizabeth Macneal, the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Doll Factory.

London, 1839. With the cemeteries full and money to be made in death, tricksters Crawford and Bonnie survive on wicked schemes and ill-gotten coin. But one blistering evening, their fortunes flip. A man lies in a pool of blood at Bonnie’s feet and now she needs to disappear.

Crawford secures her a position as lady’s maid in a grand house on the Thames. As Bonnie comes to understand the family – the eccentric Mr Moncrieff, obsessively drawing mausoleums for his dead wife, and their peculiar daughter Cissie, scribbling imaginary love letters to herself – she begins to question what secrets are lying behind the house’s paper-thin walls and whether her own presence here was planned from the beginning.

Because Crawford is watching, and perhaps he is plotting his greatest trick yet . . .

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MY REVIEW:

As the nights darken I find myself drawn to darker books, particularly those with a gothic or supernatural element, so it felt like the perfect time to start this book. And it was. Darkly atmospheric, hypnotic and alluring, The Burial Plot is a gorgeous gothic thriller perfect for this time of year. It consumed me and I devoured it whole, enrapt by the story of murder, manipulation, secrets and betrayal. This is Elizabeth Macneal’s best book yet; a haunting tour-de-force that you won’t be able to put down.

It transports us to London, 1839, where we meet Bonnie, a young woman surviving on schemes and tricks she carries out under the guidance of her boyfriend, Crawford. But one night their tricks go too far and a man lies dead in a pool of blood. Bonnie needs to disappear. And, luckily, Crawford knows the perfect place. So, Bonnie travels to Endellion, a grand house on the Thames, to begin working as a Lady’s Maid. Endellion is inhabited by Aubrey Moncrieff, a strange man who spends his days obsessively drawing mausoleums for his dead wife, and his daughter, Cissie, who lives in a daydream scribbling imaginary love notes to herself. The late Mrs. Moncrieff died in mysterious circumstances, and it is soon clear that there are secrets hidden at Endellion. Secrets that some will kill to protect.…

It’s no secret that I’ve been a huge fan of Elizabeth Macneal ever since her debut and will buy anything she writes. Masterfully written, cleverly choreographed and intricately woven, I was bewitched from the start. Macneal’s meticulous research about the fascinating historical period and subject is expertly woven into the mystery, allowing her reader to lose themselves completely in the story. Dark, ominous, oppressive and foreboding vibes radiate from the pages and there’s a twisted game of cat and mouse being played between Bonnie and Crawford. Then there’s the overwhelming sense of claustrophobia that we feel as Bonnie wrestles with her conscience. She’s trapped. Imprisoned by not only her crime but by Crawford and the lies she’s already told. 

The book is filled with very real, vivid characters. The protagonist, Bonnie, is a complicated and flawed heroine, an anti-hero who wades in murky moral territory with all of her lies, schemes and plots. But despite this she’s very compelling, likeable and easy to root for. You want her to win despite all she does wrong and you get the sense that many of her erroneous deeds stem from her toxic and controlling relationship with Crawford. I really hated Crawford. He’s a mass of red flags from the beginning but has a charm to him that allows you to understand Bonnie’s attraction to him. And as we hear about Bonnie’s past, we understand she thinks he saved her when she needed it, never realising he was trapping her in a cycle of abuse from the start. The background characters are equally as richly drawn and compelling, with young Cissie stealing my heart. My heart broke for this young girl and all she’d gone through and I loved the bond that grew between her and Bonnie. 

Taut, twisty, unnerving and utterly breathtaking, The Burial Plot is a gothic masterpiece that demands to be read. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. You can get 60 days listening free with this link*

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Elizabeth Macneal was born in Scotland and now lives in East London. She is a writer and potter and works from a small studio at the bottom of her garden. The Doll Factory, Elizabeth’s debut novel, was a Sunday Times bestseller, has been translated into twenty-nine languages and has been optioned for a major television series. It won the Caledonia Novel Award in 2018, and was a No. 2 Sunday Times bestseller. In 2019, Elizabeth was chosen as one of The Observers ‘hottest-tipped debut novelists’. Her second novel, Circus of Wonders, was an immediate Sunday Times bestseller, hitting No. 4 after only a partial week of sales.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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BOOK REVIEW: The Whistling by Rebecca Netley

Published October 14th, 2021 by Michael Joseph
Ghost Story, Horror Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Suspense, Supernatural Fiction

Welcome to my review for this unsettling gothic thriller. Thank you to Michael Joseph Books for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

FEEL SHIVERS DOWN YOUR SPINE WITH THIS CHILLING AND GRIPPING GHOST STORY SET ON A FAR-FLUNG SCOTTISH ISLAND . . .

‘Wonderfully atmospheric, genuinely eerie’ GUARDIAN
‘Gripping, chilling and very, very satisfying’ DAILY MAIL
‘A ghost story that kept me guessing’ SUSAN STOKES-CHAPMAN
‘Perfect for a cold winter’s night’ DAILY MIRROR
‘It will chill you to the bone’ ANITA FRANK
‘If you’re looking for a chilling tale as we head towards Halloween, you’ve found it’ HEAT
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When Elspeth arrives on a remote Scottish island to become nanny to a young child, she hopes to bond with her. Until she learns that, for reasons no one will explain, Mary has not spoken for months.

And the girl’s silence is not the only mystery.

Hypnotic lullabies drift down empty corridors.
Strange dolls appear in abandoned rooms.
And as the nights draw in, darker questions arise . . .

What happened to Mary’s late twin, William? Why did their previous nanny disappear so suddenly?

And is the whistling Elspeth hears at night just the storm outside?

Or is somebody coming for her . . . ?

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MY REVIEW:

As it’s spooky season I decided to finally read The Whistling. It follows Elspeth who has taken up the position of nanny on the remote Scottish island of Skelthsea. Her new charge, Mary, is a troubled child who hasn’t spoken a word since the sudden death of her twin brother, William, and the disappearance of their former nanny. No one will speak of what happened, and in a desperate attempt to help her charge, Elspeth searches for answers. But the islanders remain defiantly silent. And then there’s the strange whistling that Elspeth hears at night. Is the house haunted? Or is there a more human explanation for what’s happening at Iskar House.

Chilling, eerie and unsettling, this gothic tale was definitely a book you need to read in the daytime. I decided to listen to it on audiobook and from the opening pages I was hooked. Skillfully written and expertly choreographed, Rebecca Netley has created a sensational debut. Also woven into the narrative is a heart-rending exploration of loss and grief that adds depth, while the remote setting merges with the atmosphere of unease to create a gloriously ghostly tale.

Elspeth is a fascinating protagonist who was easy to like, while young Mary is a heartbreaking and unsettling youngster that I couldn’t make my mind up about. The background characters are equally compelling and there’s a real sense of this small island closing ranks to protect their own. 

Dark, spine-tingling and addictive, The Whistling is the perfect read for spooky season.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rebecca Netley grew up as part of an eccentric family in a house full of books and music, and these things have fed her passions.

Family and writing remain at the heart of Rebecca’s life. She lives in Reading with her family and an over-enthusiastic dog, who gives her writing tips.

Rebecca is a writer of long and prize-winning short fiction. The Whistling, Rebecca Netley’s debut novel won the Exeter Novel Prize and was longlisted for the Michael Ondaatje Prize. The Whistling has been adapted for stage.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*these are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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BOOK REVIEW: The House of Fever by Polly Crosby

Published August 15th, 2024 by HQ
Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Romance Novel, Historical Mystery

Today I’m sharing my review for this haunting gothic hisotrical ficiton. Thank you to HQ for sending me a proof copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘Simmering with secrets, this beguiling mystery is a dark delight’ Essie Fox, author of The Fascination

‘Builds an uneasy atmosphere that crept under my skin and kept me guessing until the end’ Hester Musson, author of The Beholders

Can she unlock the secrets of The House of Fever?

1935, Hedoné House, a luxurious sanatorium for the creative elite dedicated to the groundbreaking treatment of tuberculosis. As the doctor’s new wife, Agnes Templeton has pledged her life to a house of fever.

But Hedoné is no ordinary hospital. High society rubs shoulders with artists, poets and musicians. No expense is spared on the comfort of the guests, and champagne flows freely. It’s a world away from everything Agnes knows.

Her husband’s methods are unusual. There are whisperings about past patients and even a cure. Hedoné’s secrets draw Agnes in, revealing truths she could never anticipate, and soon she is caught between a past she is desperate to escape and a future she may forever regret.

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MY REVIEW:

“Something is rotten here. Very rotten indeed.” 

1935. Agnes Templeton arrives at Hedone House, a sanatorium that is to be her home after marrying the doctor who runs it. But this is not your average sanatorium. Picturesque and luxurious, there is no expense spared and the champagne flows as freely as the medication. It caters to the creative elite and specialises in groundbreaking treatment for tuberculosis. Before long, Agnes is hearing whispers about past patients, a possible cure and she discovers that the methods Dr Christian uses are as unusual as everything else about this place. And when shocking secrets uncover unforeseen truths, Agnes wonders if she can escape the house of fever before it’s too late…

Atmospheric, eerie, claustrophobic and beguiling, The House of Fever is a gorgeously gothic, Du Maurier-esque tale from storytelling extraordinaire Polly Crosby. Her hauntingly beautiful prose, compelling characters and multi-layered plot held me in her thrall. Ms. Crosby became an auto-buy author for me when I read her sensational debut, The Illustrated Child. She’s got even better with each book and The House of Fever is without a doubt her best yet. It is more complex and twisty than her previous books and I have no idea how she did it. I didn’t see the revelations coming and was blown away at how intricately she had woven the threads. Emotionally resonant, affecting and deeply human, I felt all the feelings while reading this book. I was on the edge of my seat from beginning to end, totally consumed by this book to the point where I couldn’t even put it down while I ate. 

As someone with chronic illness I found it very relatable. Ms. Crosby writes with honesty and compassion, reminding us that these characters are more than their illness. They are people with fascinating personalities, with hopes, dreams and entire lives that are being snatched away by this disease. It made me feel seen and heard in a way that is rare for disabled people in the media and there were times it made me quite emotional. Ms. Crosby has talked about how she was inspired to write this book by her own experiences with chronic illness and I feel like that is evident in how well she writes this part of the story. 

“…all those names, all this death, threaded through with glitter and glamour, so intoxicating, so terribly, addictively compelling that you could do nothing but come back again and again.”

One of my favourite things about this book is the atmosphere of the sanatorium. Hedone House is a sanctuary and a place of acceptance where its guests can live some semblance of an ordinary life. Everyone has a body ravaged by the same sickness so there are no uncomfortable stares and they aren’t shunned for fear of infection. It gives them a chance to forget their uncertain futures and a hope that they might actually be cured. But, this utopia is brimming with secrets and has an undercurrent of something sinister that tells us all might not be as it seems at Hedone House. I love a good claustrophobic thriller; how a picturesque home or resort becomes terrifying when people begin to die and the only suspects are those surrounding you. No one is safe and you have no idea who to trust. And in this book the tension and fear are ramped up tenfold with the addition of debilitating chronic illness and people who are desperate for a cure. 

Evocative, dark, unnerving, poignant and totally mesmerising, The House of Fever is an absolute must-read and one of my top books this year. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Polly grew up on the Suffolk coast, and now lives in the heart of Norfolk with her husband and son, and her very loud and much loved rescue Oriental cat, Dali. She is passionate about nature, and her writing is very much inspired by the local landscape.

After a whirlwind of a year which saw Polly receive writing scholarships from both Curtis Brown Creative and The University of East Anglia’s MA in Creative Writing, she went on to be runner up in the Bridport Prize’s Peggy Chapman Andrews Award for a First Novel.

Polly’s debut novel, The Illustrated Child, was snapped up by HarperCollins HQ in the UK in a 48 hour pre-empt, and a few days later by HarperCollins Park Row Books in North America.

The House of Fever is her fourth novel.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones*| Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: Hera by Jennifer Saint

Published May 23rd, 2024 by Wildfire
Greek Mythology, Historical Fiction, Fairy Tale, Literary Fiction

Thank you Wildfire Books for sending me a proof copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The enthralling tale of a powerful Greek goddess maligned in both myth and ancient history, as told by Sunday Times bestselling author Jennifer Saint.

‘An exceptional achievement’ ELODIE HARPER
‘A very special novel’ COSTANZA CASATI
‘The essential mythological book of the decade’ NIKITA GILL

When Hera, immortal goddess and daughter of the ancient Titan Cronus, helps her brother Zeus to overthrow their tyrannical father, she dreams of ruling at his side.

As they establish their reign on Mount Olympus, Hera suspects that Zeus might be just as ruthless and cruel as the father they betrayed.

She was always born to rule, but must she lose herself in perpetuating this cycle of violence and cruelty? Or can she find a way to forge a better world?

Often portrayed as the jealous wife or the wicked stepmother, this retelling captures the many sides of Hera, vengeful when she needs to be but also compassionate and most importantly, an all-powerful queen to the gods.

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MY REVIEW:

“Zeus thinks he has the upper hand. He’s made her the goddess of marriage, thinking she’s nothing more than a dutiful wife.
But he never imagines the mistake he’s made in making her his enemy and inviting her so close.”

Jennifer Saint’s latest novel sees her tackle the myth of Hera, Queen of Heaven and the Goddess of Marriage. Beautifully written and evocative, I was immediately drawn into the world of this complex immortal goddess.

Hera. Daughter of the  tyrannical Titan ruler, Cronus, she helps her brother, Zeus, overthrow their father and establish a new reign on Mount Olympus ruling by his side. But Zeus quickly betrays her, offering thrones to their brothers. She faces further humiliation when he forces her to become his bride and makes her the patron of women, marriage and childbirth. Hera swears vengeance, plotting quietly while playing the dutiful wife and queen. But she can’t stay quiet for long, and soon she and Zeus are caught in a perpetual cycle of violence, betrayal and revenge that has far-reaching repercussions. 

Hera is a complicated goddess who isn’t easy to like. She’s beautiful, regal, formidable and fierce, but also vengeful, scheming, vindictive, vicious and cruel. But interwoven with all of that is a traumatised, broken woman who is deeply unhappy. There is a caring side of her, and I liked seeing those glimmers of compassion that she had at times. But I could understand that it was hard for her to be that way as a woman who had never been shown how to be caring, maternal or loving; someone trapped in a toxic marriage; and someone who has faced a battle for survival and power from the day she was conceived. 

One of the things I liked about this book is that Ms. Saint never shied away from Hera’s flaws, excuse her abhorrent behaviour, or tried to make her likeable and sympathetic. She faces her faults head-on, instead giving us an anti-hero who we can understand on a deeper level by the end of the book, even if we don’t like her. I’ll admit, I struggled with the idea that Hera’s actions had a feminist motivation as I found her to be self-focused and motivated by power, wrath and revenge. And she often took out her rage at Zeus’ behaviour out on the women he often forced himself on. But I could understand that Hera is a product of trauma who has never developed a sisterhood with other women or been taught how to be caring and maternal. This is a woman who has known only fighting to survive from the time she was born and is trapped in a toxic marriage that she can’t find her way out of. I had sympathy for that even if I didn’t like her actions. 

One of my favourite aspects of this book is how Ms. Saint humanised the monsters of Greek mythology. I found myself grieving alongside Hera as Typhon and his children were slain and saw so-called heroes such as Hercules in a different light. The monsters were simply existing and yet they were hunted down and brutally killed in the name of glory. I shared Hera’s revulsion at this, and will definitely see those usually demonised in these myths through another lens from now on.

A feisty and glorious novel, this is a must-read for fans of Greek mythology. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Jennifer Saint grew up reading Greek mythology and was always drawn to the untold stories hidden within the myths. She read Classical Studies at King’s College, London where she is now a Visiting Research Fellow in the Classics Department. After thirteen years as a high school English teacher, she wrote Ariadne which was an instant Sunday Times bestseller. It was shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year in 2021 and was  a Waterstones Book of the Month. Her second novel, Elektra, and third novel Atalanta, were number one Sunday Times bestsellers. Her latest mesmerising mythological retelling, Hera, will be published in the UK on 23rd May and in the US on 23rd July.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon* |
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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BOOK REVIEW: An Idle Woman by Wendy Parkins

Published June 14th, 2024 by Legend Press
Historical Fiction, Biographical Fiction

Welcome to my review for this powerful and moving novel. Thank you Legend Press for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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BOOK DESCRIPTION:

ONE WOMAN CLAIMS THE POWER TO TAKE CHARGE OF HER OWN DESTINY

1838, England: When eighteen-year-old Frances Dickinson impulsively marries Lieutenant John Geils, all her hopes for her future are quickly shattered as she finds there is much about her husband she did not know. A cruel and violent man, John keeps Frances in isolation on his family’s estate, while spending her fortune and preying upon their maids.

Frances yearns to break free from her marriage but the law is not on her side. Only when John’s abuse escalates can she set in motion a daring plan to secure her freedom.

A story of gaslighting, control and one woman’s fight, An Idle Woman is the true story behind one of the most sensational divorce trials of the nineteenth century.

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MY REVIEW:

Powerful, heartfelt and affecting, An Idle Woman tells the true story of one of Britain’s most sensational divorce trials. I had never heard of Frances Dickinson or this divorce trial, but as a domestic abuse survivor I felt compelled to read her story. Told in mixed media from multiple points of view, it took me a while to get into but once I’d got used to the writing style I couldn’t put it down. The addition of the historical note on marriage and divorce that the publisher enclosed with the book was fascinating, as was the author’s note at the end, and was helpful in allowing me to understand how society viewed women, marriage, and divorce at the time of this story. Wendy Parkins’ meticulous research is evident throughout the book and combines with her evocative writing to breathe life into the story and real-life people it portrays. Emotion drenches the pages and Parkin evoked such a visceral reaction from me that at times I wanted to scream at some of the characters as I witnessed the agony, manipulation and injustice that was suffered. 

Domestic abuse is not an easy subject to read about, and while this is obviously an unsettling and difficult read, it is an important one. As a fellow survivor of domestic abuse there were many times I felt like I was reading my own history on these pages. I know what it’s like to think you’re going crazy because someone is gaslighting you into believing that’s true, to walk on eggshells, and to think that if only you could be a better wife he might be a better husband. But despite all I went through, I know I was lucky. Because once I found the strength to leave my abuser I knew the law was on my side, that I could get a divorce, and that I could protect my son. Frances had none of those things available to her and I can only begin to imagine the terror and despair she must have felt, especially knowing that John would legally be entitled to their children. She was a remarkable woman and her strength, resilience and bravery were evident throughout.  The inclusion of so many of her diary entries and letters made it feel like we were really getting a glimpse of who Frances was, and it felt like she’d poured out her heart onto those pages. Frances’ story is one many of us will recognise, but what I’ve taken away from it is how she refused to lose herself, her children or her freedom and fought seemingly insurmountable odds to live a happy life. 

Captivating, moving and heartbreakingly real, this is a story that demands to be read. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

TW: Domestic abuse, gaslighting, coercive control. 

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Wendy Parkins was born in Sydney and now lives in Dunedin, New Zealand. She has held academic posts at universities in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK, where she was Professor of Victorian Literature at the University of Kent until 2018. Her memoir, Every Morning, So Far, I’m Alive, was published in 2019. An Idle Woman is her first novel.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: Once A Monster by Robert Dinsdale

Published September 21st, 2023 by Pan Macmillan
Historical Fiction, Mythlogy, Fantasy

I’m a little late due to illness, but here is my review for this laybrinthing and mesmerising gothic tale. Thanks to Chloe and Pan Macmillan for the invitation to take part in the blog tour and for the gifted copy of the book.

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SYNOPSIS:

‘A labyrinthine delight of a novel . . . Dickensian darkness is infused with ancient myth. Historical writing at its finest . . . .’ Essie Fox, bestselling author of The Somnambulist and The Fascination

London, 1861: Ten-year-old Nell belongs to a crew of mudlarks who work a stretch of the Thames along the Ratcliffe Highway. An orphan since her mother died four years past, leaving Nell with only broken dreams and a pair of satin slippers in her possession, she spends her days dredging up coals, copper and pieces of iron spilled by the river barges – searching for treasure in the mud in order to appease her master, Benjamin Murdstone.

But one day, Nell discovers a body on the shore. It’s not the first corpse she’s encountered, but by far the strangest. Nearly seven feet tall, the creature has matted hair covering his legs, and on his head are the suggestion of horns. Nell’s fellow mudlarks urge her to steal his boots and rifle his pockets, but as she ventures closer the figure draws breath and Nell is forced to make a decision which will change her life forever . . .

From the critically acclaimed author of The Toymakers comes an imaginative retelling of the legend of the Minotaur, full of myth and magic and steeped in the grime of Victorian London; perfect for lovers of historical fiction with a mythical twist.

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MY REVIEW:

“They damned him in legend. Well, it’s always easy to damn a man who’s different, isn’t it?”

The familiar legend of the minotaur gets a makeover in this magnificent tale. 

London, 1861. Ten-year-old Nell is part of a crew of mudlarks who spend their days searching a stretch of the Thames along Ratcliffe Highway for treasures to placate their master, Benjamin Murdstone. Then one day she finds something unexpected among the usual lumps of coal and iron: the corpse of a huge creature, almost seven feet tall with what seem to be horns on his head. But as she’s trying to decide if she should take his boots and rifle his pockets for things to sell, she realises it is still alive and is forced to make a decision that will change the course of her life…

“From the front, he was less car a man; in profile, more bestial still… His eyes were marked not in fury but in caution and terror. They rolled, just like a fawn’s as it tries to take in the world it’s just been instructed it will have to survive. 
It wasn’t only Nell who was shaking. The stranger was shaking too.”

What comes to mind when you think of the Minotour? Beast. Giant. Brute. Savage. Behemoth. Monster. But what about his human side? It is here that Dinsdale succeeds in showing us that we may think we know this mythical creature but there is so much we don’t know. Have we ever taken the time to understand his pain, dreams and desires? This is the Minotour like you have never seen or imagined him before. Through Minos’ character, Dinsdale lays bare the deepest parts of the Minotaur’s soul, showing us the human side of him for what feels like the first time while examining the monster that lives inside all of us and asking us to consider what it is that makes us human. 

“The mudlark and the monster, staring at each other across the dancing flames. The things I find in the mud, they should change my life. Those words seemed to fill up the whole of the seaward cave – for wasn’t Minos one of those things?”

Robert Dinsdale’s The Toymakers is one of my all-time favourite books, and I’m a sucker for a Greek mythology retelling, so I was excited to read his take on the Minotaur myth. At almost 500 pages this book is quite the tome, and I did think it could have done with being a bit shorter as there are times it seems to lose its way a little. But it always finds its way back and Dinsdale has created a story that truly stands out from the crowd, not only because of the book’s striking cover. The writing is melodic and almost dreamlike in places, giving us a Dickensian vibe as Dinsdale merges Victorian Gothic with myth and history. It is evocatively illustrated, transporting me back to Victorian London so vividly that it felt like I could see the smoke rising from the chimneys, smell the pungent air, and feel the biting cold of winter. It was a cruel and unforgiving place for many, something Dinsdale explores through characters who are living on the margins of life, doing whatever they must to survive another day, and dreaming of maybe one day lifting themselves into a better life. They are a flawed, fractured group of people and some choose to be kind, while others choose cruelty or betrayal. But they all pull us into their lives and make us root for their success or comeuppance. Young Nell was by far my favourite character and a real joy to read. Feisty, determined, this young orphan has no-one and nothing in the world yet she has the kindest soul. I was rooting for her to fulfil her dreams and adored the sweet friendship she and Minos shared. 

Labyrinthine, mesmerising, imaginative and heartfelt, Dinsdale held me in his thrall as he spun his magical tale, my heart pounding as we raced towards that chilling finale. A truly astonishing piece of gothic fiction, Once A Monster will change how you look at this well-known myth forever.. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Robert Dinsdale was born in North Yorkshire and currently lives in Leigh on Sea. His novels include; The Harrowing (Faber 2010) Three Miles (Faber, 2011) Little Exiles (HarperCollins, 2013) Gingerbread (HarperCollins, 2014), and Paris by Starlight (Del Rey, 2020).

His first venture into magic, The Toymakers, was published by Ebury in 2018.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the blog tour.

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Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2022

REVIEW: Elektra by Jennifer Saint

Published: April 28th, 2022
Publisher: Wildfire
Genre: Greek Mythology, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Fairy Tale
Format: Hardcover, Kindle, Audiobook

Happy Publication Day to one of my most anticipated books of the year!

Thank you to Caitlin at Wildfire for the gifted ARC and gorgeous finished copy of the book.

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SYNOPSIS:

An exciting and equally lyrical new retelling from Jennifer Saint, the Sunday Times bestselling author of ARIADNE

‘Saint’s immersive novel thrusts the reader straight into the heart of Greek mythology’ ipaper on Ariadne

The House of Atreus is cursed. A bloodline tainted by a generational cycle of violence and vengeance. This is the story of three women, their fates inextricably tied to this curse, and the fickle nature of men and gods.

Clytemnestra
The sister of Helen, wife of Agamemnon – her hopes of averting the curse are dashed when her sister is taken to Troy by the feckless Paris. Her husband raises a great army against them and determines to win, whatever the cost.

Cassandra
Princess of Troy, and cursed by Apollo to see the future but never to be believed when she speaks of it. She is powerless in her knowledge that the city will fall.

Elektra
The youngest daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon, Elektra is horrified by the bloodletting of her kin. But can she escape the curse, or is her own destiny also bound by violence?

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MY REVIEW:

Jennifer Saint has done it again.  Elektra was one of my most anticipated books of this year, but would it live up to the splendour of Ariadne, one of my favourite books of 2021?  The answer is yes!  Enthralling, powerful and mesmerising, Elektra is a glorious tapestry of a novel, a richly drawn portrayal of war and betrayal, of families torn apart by men’s lust for women, power and the so-called will of the gods, and of women trying to find agency in a man’s world.

This time the author retells the story of the Trojan War.  But instead of taking the obvious route of telling the story from Helen’s perspective she gives a voice to three other women: Elektra, Clytemnestra and Cassandra.  Elektra is the daughter of Agamenmon, a young girl who idolises her father and longs for his victorious return from Troy, Clytemnestra is Helen’s twin sister and wife of Agamenmon, a dutiful wife until a shocking act that leaves her devastated and plotting revenge, and Cassandra is a princess of Troy who is given the gift of visions by Apollo yet no one will believe her predictions or listen when she tries to tell them what lies in store for their city.  They are very different women whose fates are inextricably intertwined and share feelings of rage at their powerlessness in a world controlled by men.  Moving between their stories the author paints a vivid and illuminating picture of the Trojan War through the prism of these strong, fascinating and unforgettable women.  

Jennifer Saint is an author I could read every day and never get bored.  Her books are a masterclass in storytelling as she brings ancient Greece and its myths back to life in vivid technicolour with her lush and evocative prose.  You find yourself completely immersed in their world as the one around you completely falls away.  Her passion and knowledge of not only the myths, but the women themselves leaps from the pages and makes me want to read more; in fact, it was reading Ariadne that awakened my love of mythology.  

Lyrical, atmospheric and consuming, I couldn’t get enough of this book, devouring it quickly and feeling bereft when I’d finished.  Elektra is another masterpiece from the talented Jennifer Saint that I will be telling everyone to read.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Jennifer Saint grew up reading Greek mythology and was always drawn to the untold stories hidden within the myths. After thirteen years as a high school English teacher, she wrote ARIADNE which tells the legend of Theseus and the Minotaur from the perspective of Ariadne – the woman who made it happen. Her second novel, ELEKTRA, explores the curse upon the House of Atreus, giving voice to three women who are caught up in its shadows: Clytemnestra, Cassandra and Elektra whose lives are shattered by the Trojan War and who seek to find justice at any cost. Jennifer Saint is now a full-time author, living in Yorkshire, England, with her husband and two children.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Amazon* | Bookshop.org*
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles 😊 Emma xxx