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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: The Theatre of Glass and Shadows by Anne Corlett

Published May 23rd, 2024 by Black & White Publishing
Historical Fiction, Historical Fantasy, Contemporary Fantasy, Science Fiction Alternative History

Today is my stop on the blog tour for this glittering and mesmerising novel. Thank you to Tracy at Compuslive Readers Tours for the invitation to take part, and to Flora at Black & White Publishing for the gifted proof copies of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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BOOK DESCRIPTION:

‘Marvellous’ Bridget Collins, The Sunday Times bestselling author of The Binding

Sometimes the greatest spectacle hides the darkest secrets . . .

In an alternate London, the city’s Theatre District is a walled area south of the river where an immersive production – the Show – has been running for centuries, growing ever bigger, more sprawling and lavish. The Show is open to anyone who can afford a ticket but the District itself is a closed world; even the police have no jurisdiction within its walls.

Juliet’s mother died when she was a baby. Brought up by her emotionally distant father and even more distant stepmother, she has never felt wanted. It’s only when her father passes away that Juliet – now nineteen – learns her birth was registered in the District. Desperate to belong somewhere at last, she travels to London where she hopes to unearth the truth about her identity, her mother’s death and her father’s years of silence – and claim her birthright.

But in the District, there is only one central truth: the Show must go on. And in a world where illusions abound, and powerful men control the narrative, Juliet has no idea of just how far some will go to ensure certain stories are never told . . .

For fans of The Miniaturist and The Doll Factory, The Theatre of Glass and Shadows is a place where nothing is as it seems.

‘Original and captivating’ Karen Coles, author of The Asylum

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MY REVIEW:

“There are all sorts of stories – well, fragments of stories really – about some people being let in in some way. That the Show is just the tip of the iceberg, with the real mysteries hidden below the surface…”

Luminous, breathtaking, and beguiling, The Theatre of Shadows is a mesmerising story that I never wanted to end. Set in an alternative London, the story follows 19-year-old Juliet who is searching for answers following her father’s death. She grew up feeling unwanted and unloved, raised by her distant father and stepmother after her mother’s death when she was just a baby. Her father refused to talk about her mother, leaving their past shrouded in secrets that seem destined to remain hidden. But when two detectives turn up asking questions, Juliet is determined to uncover the truth about her mother and her past. After discovering that her birth was registered in the Theatre District, she travels to London hoping to finally uncover the truth. But the Theatre District is a place of stories and illusion, where the only truth is ‘the Show must go on’. And, as Juliet is about to discover, there are some who will do anything to make sure that happens…

“As she crossed the river, the feeling of almost and so close was like electricity, sparking through her. This was every Christmas, every birthday, every magical thing that only happened to other people, all rolled together, and she could hardly breathe with the press of it inside her.”

Take a bow, Anne Corlett. A lush dreamscape, this was one of the best books I’ve read this year. It has that perfect combination of lyrical, poetic prose and page-turning momentum that you rarely find. There is also a quiet intensity to the story that tells you there is something sinister bubbling beneath the surface, of dark secrets hidden alongside the fairytales and fantasies told in the Theatre District. Ms. Corlett is a masterful storyteller and dreamweaver, expertly spinning together the gossamer threads of this intricately woven tale and the storytelling is so pitch-perfect that it actually unfolds like a piece of theatre that I could see in vivid technicolour. I loved the darkly mysterious aspect of this story and how I didn’t see some of the twists coming before they pulled the rug from under me. I was captivated, held in Corlett’s thrall from beginning to end as I devoured this glorious tale. 

“The whole place was a dense, multi-layered tapestry… The various loops wove together to create a complex narrative, with a few main strands running through it all.”

At the heart of this book are two things: Juliet, and the Theatre District. Juliet is a flawed but realistic heroine who I was rooting for at every step. Her story is so heartrending that you can’t help but want her to find happiness and a place to belong after always feeling on the outside of her own family. But, while Juliet and the other characters are richly drawn and compelling, it is the Theatre District that feels like the star of the show. Cloaked in mystery, myth and secrets, the Theatre District is a glamorous tableau where hopes and dreams come true and magic and stories are embedded into every crevice. It is like a character in its own right, and Corlett made it come alive with spellbinding imagery that made me want to live inside this magical place she had created. The secretive nature of the real identity of its cast, its inner workings and the Show itself, along with the black masquerade mask that they require everyone to wear, adds to the enigmatic atmosphere that pervades it. There is a magnetism that is impossible to resist and from the moment she arrives, Juliet feels like she has finally found her home. Like her, I was enchanted by this unusual but also desperate to unlock the secrets it was hiding. This is a story ripe for an adaptation and I can imagine watching it over the festive period surrounded by the twinkling lights on the Christmas tree. So, I’m going to need someone to make it ASAP.

Glittering, soulful, haunting and evocative, this magnificent novel is one you won’t forget and I can’t recommend it highly enough. 

Rating: 🎭🎭🎭🎭🎭

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Anne is originally from the north-east, but somehow slid down the map and finished up in a small village near Bath, where she lives with her partner and three sons. She has an MA in English Language and Linguistics from Edinburgh University, and an MSt in Linguistics from Oxford University. During her postgraduate studies, she worked as an etymologist and proofreader for a dictionary, carrying out research at the Bodleian Library.

Armed with her linguistics-related degrees and work experience, Anne took the somewhat illogical next step and became a criminal lawyer. In 2011, after several years spent working in the London courts and police stations, Anne remembered that she’d actually planned to be a writer, and commenced work on her first novel.  This was slightly unfortunate timing, given that she was right in the middle of relocating to Somerset with her family, who seemed to feel that a little less novel-writing and a little more packing might be warranted.  They probably had a point.

Over the next couple of years Anne fitted writing work around her day job as a solicitor. Her writing has appeared in various newspapers, magazines and anthologies, and has won various awards.

In 2016, The Space Between the Stars was published by Pan Macmillan in the UK and Random House in the US. She wrote most of this novel while studying for a Creative Writing MA at Bath Spa University. Her second novel, The Theatre of Glass and Shadows, will be published in May 2024 by Bonnier.

Anne enjoys working with other writers, through editing, mentoring and teaching. For more information about her services, please get in touch using the contact form.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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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

PUBLICATION DAY REVIEW: The Nightingale’s Castle by Sonia Velton

Published May 2nd, 2024 by Abacus
Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction

Happy Publication Day to this haunting and mesmerising novel. Thank you to Niamh at Little Brown Book Group for the sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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BOOK DESCRIPTION:

‘I was blown away by this dark, enchanting story of witchcraft, power and injustice. ..nothing short of brilliant’ Mary Chamberlain

Erzsébet Báthory, whose infamous place in history characterises her as the ‘Blood Countess’, was accused of the murder of over 600 peasant girls in Hungary, 1610. The Nightingale’s Castle tells the story of a woman fighting for her survival and the complicated, often cruel, household over which she presides.

Praise for The Nightingale’s Castle

‘Moving, fascinating and haunting.. A mesmerising combination of gothic horror and elegant restraint’ Francesca De Tores, author of Saltblood

‘Gripping… a fascinating exploration of women’s struggle to have their truth heard’ Louise O’Neill

In 1573, Countess Erzsébet Báthory gave birth to an illegitimate child. The infant, a girl, was swiftly bundled up and handed to a local peasant family to be brought up in one of the hamlets surrounding the Castle. Many years later, 15-year-old Boróka reluctantly leaves the safety of the only home she has ever known in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. Trusted members of the countess’s household have been sent out to gather new serving girls, and the kindly old man who has taken care of Boróka for almost all her life knows that it is dangerous to turn them away.

Boróka struggles to find her place at Cachtice Castle: she is frightened of the countess’s reputation as an alleged murderer of young girls, and the women who run the castle are terrifyingly cruel. When plague comes into the heart of the castle, a tentative bond begins to form between Boróka and the Countess Báthory. But powerful forces are moving against a woman whose wealth poses such a threat to the king: can the countess really trust the women who are so close to her? And when the show trial begins against the infamous ‘Blood Countess’ where will Boróka’s loyalties lie?

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MY REVIEW:

“I’ve heard that the girls who go to Čachtice Castle never return.”

The Nightingale’s Castle is a mesmerising tale of witchcraft, myth, murder, power and injustice. A harmony of historical fiction, gothic horror and dark fairytale, fact and fiction seamlessly blend to tell the story of Countess Erzsébet Báthory, the woman who currently holds the Guiness World Record for being the most prolific female serial killer of all time and was believed to have murdered over six hundred girls and bathed in their blood to preserve her youth. 
When the Countess’s servants come to her home in the Carpathian Mountains looking for girls to work for the Countess at Čachtice Castle,  15-year-old Boróka is reluctant to leave her home and confused by her father’s insistence that she go with them. Terrified of the Countess’s fearsome reputation for allegedly murdering young servant girls and the cruel women charged with managing the servants, Boróka struggles to fit in. But things are changing and there are those who will do anything to destroy a woman whose wealth is a threat to the king. Can Countess Báthory really trust the women closest to her? And what is the truth behind the rumours of murder that surround her?

“The nightingale is still the bird of darkness and mourning, even though its song is sweet.”

Sometimes you can tell from just looking at a book that you are going to love it. This was one of those times. Haunting, luxurious and beguiling, the story between the covers is every bit as luxurious as its cover. This isn’t a story you simply read, it’s one you get lost in and has that intoxicating combination where I want to take my time to soak in every word, and never want the story to end. But, ultimately, I devoured this book whole, unable to bear being away from it for longer than necessary. I was already a fan of Sonia Velton’s writing after loving her debut Blackberry and Wild Rose, but she blew me away with this one. Evocatively told, intricately woven and complex, it is a rich tapestry laced with history, infused with malevolence and threaded with the supernatural. Velton’s meticulous research is evident on every page as she reminds us of the vulnerable and precarious position women of that time were forced to live in. Because, at the heart of this book, is a story about how dangerous it is to be a woman in a patriarchal world, of women’s fight to have their voices and truth heard, and of men abusing their power. 

“The countess is impossible to predict. Her moods are like opal stones constantly shifting their colours. She is at once caustic and kind. One minute dismissive and the next, like now, if they say the wrong thing, or presume too much, they might find themselves crushed like an insect under the countess’s pointy pink-satined toe.”

Merging fact and fiction is no easy task, but Velton pulls it off with finesse.  Čachtice Castle came alive around me and she breathed life into every character. Countess Erzsébet Báthory is intimidating, imperious, acerbic and self-assured. Her murderous reputation precedes her, surrounding her with a chilling air that strikes fear in many of the people she meets. Boróka is gutsy, likeable and easy to root for, and I really enjoyed her scenes with the countess. I’ve never read anything about Countess Báthory before so, like Boróka, I found myself unsure what the truth was about the countess which kept me on tenterhooks as I read. Dorka and Ilona Jó, the two women in charge of the servant girls, sent shivers down my spine and I was sure of their cruelty from the start. Ficzkó was a more complex character with his heartbreaking backstory and alarming personality ‘quirks’. But every one of them, and the many background characters, were expertly written and fascinating. 

Heady, dark, unsettling and absorbing, The Nightingale’s Castle is an absolute masterpiece. It is one of my favourite books of this year and a must read for fans of gothic or historical fiction. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Sonia Velton has been a solicitor in Hong Kong, a Robert Schuman Scholar in Luxembourg and spent eight years being an expat Mum of three in Dubai. She now lives with her children in Kent. Her writing has been short-listed for the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize, long-listed for the HWA Debut Crown and optioned for film. Her new book, The Nightingale’s Castle, is a fresh look at the legend of Countess Bathory, the sixteenth century ‘Blood Countess’.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2024

BOOK REVIEW: Song of the Huntress by Lucy Holland

Published March 21st, 2024 by Pan Macmillan
Historical Fiction, Historical Fantasy, Fantasy Fiction, Fairy Tale, Norse & Viking Mythology

Happy Publication Day to Song of the Huntress, the dark and fierce feminist historical fantasy by Lucy Holland. Thank you to Bookbreak, Pan Macmillan, and NetGalley for my proof copies.

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SYNOPSIS:

FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF SISTERSONG

‘Lucy Holland’s lyrical prose and powerful storytelling will lure you in’ – Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne

A must-read for fans of Circe, Song of the Huntress recasts the folklore behind the Wild Hunt into a dark, feminist fantasy set amidst the legends and beauty of ancient Britain.

Britain, 60 AD. Hoping to save her lover and her land from the Romans, Herla makes a desperate pact with the Otherworld King. She becomes Lord of the Hunt and for centuries she rides, reaping wanderers’ souls. Until the night she meets a woman on a bloody battlefield – a Saxon queen with ice-blue eyes.

Queen Æthelburg of Wessex is a proven fighter, but after a battlefield defeat she finds her husband’s court turning against her. Yet King Ine needs Æthel more than ever: the dead kings of Wessex are waking, and Ine must master his bloodline’s ancient magic if they are to survive.

When their paths cross, Herla knows it’s no coincidence. Something dark and dangerous is at work in the Wessex court. As she and Æthel grow closer, Herla must find her humanity – and a way to break the curse – before it’s too late.

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MY REVIEW:

“Tonight, Herla will give them a monster.”

Happy Publication Day to Song of the Huntress, the dark, fierce, feminist historical fantasy retelling of the folklore behind the Wild Hunt. This propulsive fantasy novel transports us to ancient Britain and introduces us to Herla, who has been cursed to be Lord of the Wild Hunt after making a desperate deal with the Otherworld King. For centuries she has ridden, reaping the souls of those she has slain in battle. When she meets Queen Æthelburg of Wessex on a bloody battlefield, Herla knows that her meeting with this fierce warrior Queen is no accident as there is danger lurking,, whispers about Æthel are louder than ever in court, the King is fighting his own brother, tensions between Christians and Pagans are at an all time high, people are dying strange deaths, and the Otherworld is getting ready to strike. Can Herla find a way to break her curse and help the Queen?

This was a gorgeously woven tapestry of history, folklore, fantasy and magic. I listened to this on audiobook, and was immediately captivated by the riveting narration. And, despite the fact it was quite a long story, the quality of both the storytelling and the narration never faltered, keeping me completely immersed in its pages from beginning to end. It is expertly written, richly drawn, and meticulously researched, Lucy Holland’s knowledge and passion for the myth evident in every word. Her evocative characters leaped from the pages and I was caught up in the emotions of these ferocious women and their unique love story.

Powerful, savage and striking, Song of the Huntress is a must read for anyone who enjoys stories filled with history, myth and magic. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

*You can listen to this book on Bookbeat as part of your free 60-day trial via this affiliate link*

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

I’m a writer living in south-west England on the red shores of the Jurassic Coast. It’s a beautiful, mysterious part of the country, steeped in myth and folklore. And so unsurprisingly, it’s a perfect place in which to make up stories.

In the vein of most writers, I’ve been making up stories for a long time. Despite attending theatre school for six years, books were my first love. My parents read a lot to us as children – I guess it’s their fault my sister and I both turned out as authors!

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BUY THE BOOK:

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Audio Books Beat the Backlist book reviews

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Daughters of Night by Laura Shepherd-Robinson

Published February 18th, 2021 by Mantle
Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Historical Mystery, Women Sleuths

Thank you to Mantle Books for my proof copy of this book.

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SYNOPSIS:

‘The best historical crime novel I will read this year’ – The Times

‘This is right up there with the best of C. J. Sansom and Andrew Taylor’ – Amanda Craig, author of The Golden Rule

From the pleasure palaces and gin-shops of Covent Garden to the elegant townhouses of Mayfair, Laura Shepherd-Robinson’s Daughters of Night follows Caroline Corsham as she seeks justice for a murdered woman whom London society would rather forget . . .

London, 1782. Desperate for her politician husband to return home from France, Caroline ‘Caro’ Corsham is already in a state of anxiety when she finds a well-dressed woman mortally wounded in the bowers of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. The Bow Street constables are swift to act, until they discover that the deceased woman was a highly paid prostitute, at which point they cease to care entirely. But Caro has motives of her own for wanting to see justice done, and so sets out to solve the crime herself. Enlisting the help of thieftaker Peregrine Child, their inquiry delves into the hidden corners of Georgian society, a world of artifice, deception and secret lives.

But with many gentlemen refusing to speak about their dealings with the dead woman, and Caro’s own reputation under threat, finding the killer will be harder, and more treacherous, than she can know . . .

‘Spectacularly brilliant . . . One of the most enjoyable and enduring stories I have ever read’ – James O’Brien, journalist, author and LBC Presenter

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MY REVIEW:

“In the wrong hands, a secret is a weapon.”

Atmospheric and absorbing, this riveting historical crime story opens on a dark night in Georgian London when Caroline ‘Caro’ Corsham finds the bloodied and mortally wounded body of a woman she knows as Lucia, an Italian Contessa. Lucia’s fingers find Caro’s, she gazes into her eyes, and with her last breath she whispers, ‘He knows’. The police are initially quick to investigate but drop the case when they discover that Lucia is in fact Lucy Loveless, a highly paid prostitute. Caro is incensed. So, with the help of  thieftaker Peregrine Child, she sets out to solve the crime. Their investigation leads them into the darkest corners of Georgian society and gentlemen who refuse to talk for fear of sullying their reputation. Can Caro and Perry find the killer before they too are silenced?

Daughters of Night has been sitting on my shelf ever since I received the proof in early 2021 and I am so glad I finally got around to reading it. Laura Shepherd-Robinson is an exquisite storyteller, bringing Georgian London and its dark, shadowy underbelly to life in vivid detail. Her research is evident in the authenticity that runs throughout the book, making me feel like I’d been transported back in time. Exploring topics such as shame, lack of female agency, and the unrelenting exploitation and abuse of women, Shepherd-Robinson writes with compassion, but there is also a brutal honesty, and some of the scenes in this book are not for the faint hearted. 

The huge cast of characters felt reminiscent of Dickens which added to the authentic historic feel. The richly drawn and varied cast of characters leaped from the pages and I connected quickly with Caro and young Pamela, the latter breaking my heart in every scene. Evocatively narrated, I lost myself in the elaborate and intricate plot, my heart pounding as the mystery deepened and the many threads began to weave together to finally reveal the full shocking picture. 

A tense, gripping and intriguing historical mystery that is a must-read for anyone who enjoys this genre. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Laura Shepherd-Robinson was born in Bristol in 1976. She has a BSc in Politics from the University of Bristol and an MSc in Political Theory from the London School of Economics.

Laura worked in politics for nearly twenty years before re-entering normal life to complete an MA in Creative Writing at City University. She lives in London with her husband, Adrian.

Blood & Sugar, her first novel, won the Historical Writers’ Association Debut Crown and the Specsaver’s Debut Crime Novel award, was a Waterstones Thriller of the Month, and a Guardian and Telegraph novel of the year. It was also shortlisted for the Crime Writers’ Association John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger and the Sapere Historical Dagger; the Amazon Publishing/Capital Crime Best Debut Novel; and the Goldsboro Glass Bell; and longlisted for the Theakston’s Crime Novel of the Year.

Her second novel, Daughters of Night, was been shortlisted for the Theakston’s Crime Novel of the Year, the Goldsboro Glass Bell, the Capital Crime Fingerprint Historical Novel Award and the Historical Writers’ Association Gold Crown, longlisted for the Crime Writers’ Association Gold Dagger and was a Book of the Year in The Times, The i, and the Guardian.

Her third novel, The Square of Sevens, is a Sunday Times bestseller and available from all good bookshops now.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxx

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Blog Tours Book Features

BLOG TOUR FEATURE: Secrets of Malta by Cecily Blench

Published February 29th, 2024 by Zaffre
Historical Fiction, Romance Novel, Historical Romance, Saga, War Story

Today I’m featuring Secrets of Malta by Cecily Blench. Thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers Tours for the invitation to take part.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Malta, 1943. The war in the air above Malta is over, but the battle for Europe is about to begin.

Margarita, a young singer in a Valletta nightclub, has seen her former lover Henry Dunn only once since breaking off their affair. His wife Vera, an enigmatic archaeologist, arrives at the club to tell her that Henry has disappeared, presumed dead. While investigating, Margarita stumbles upon the hunt for a notorious and dangerous spy: Nero.

As an unlikely bond develops between the two women, and strange secrets emerge, an urgent quest to unmask Nero starts – before he can enact a deadly plan that may threaten the course of the war.

‘An atmospheric tale of adventure and espionage’ Sunday Times of Malta

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Cecily Blench grew up in Herefordshire and studied at the University of York. She worked for an independent publisher before her debut novel The Long Journey Home was published in 2021. She now lives in Bristol and is a freelance writer and editor.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*
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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

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

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2024

BOOKBREAK BOOK CLUB: The Women by Kristin Hannah

Published February 15th, 2024 by Pan Macmillan
Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Medical Fiction, War Story

Happy International Women’s Day! To celebrate, I’m sharing my review of the phenomenal The Women. Thank you to BookBreak for the invitation to take part in this book club, and to BookBreak and Pan Macmillan for the copy of the book.

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SYNOPSIS:

Soon to be a major motion picture!

‘Astonishing. Compelling. Powerful’ – Delia Owens, bestselling author of Where the Crawdads Sing

‘Stuns with sacrifice. Uplifts with heroism’ – Bonnie Garmus, bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry

‘Powerful’ – Matt Haig, bestselling author of The Midnight Library

From the worldwide bestselling author of The Four Winds, The Nightingale and Firefly Lane (a Number One series on Netflix),The Women is a story of devastating loss and epic love.

It would be the journey of a lifetime . . .

‘Women can be heroes, too’. When twenty-year-old nursing student, Frances “Frankie” McGrath, hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. Raised on California’s idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing, being a good girl. But in 1965 the world is changing, and she suddenly imagines a different path for her life. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she impulsively joins the Army Nurses Corps and follows his path.

As green and inexperienced as the young men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed America. Frankie will also discover the true value of female friendship and the heartbreak that love can cause.

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MY REVIEW:

“Women can be heroes,too…The idea of it was like an earthquake, an upending of her sheltered view of the world, of herself.”

Oh, my heart. This is how you write historical fiction. Phenomenal, breathtaking and immersive, this book stole my heart, broke it, and then pieced it back together. And when I was finished it left a part of itself behind in my soul forever. It is truly a masterpiece.

The Women is a story of friendship, love, self-discovery and war that is told by Frankie, a twenty-year-old nurse from California who joins the Army Nurse Corps and goes to serve in war-torn Vietnam. At first she is overwhelmed by the stark and horrific reality of the conflict, but with the help of her new friends, Ethel and Barb, Frankie soon adjusts and becomes one of the best combat nurses in the field. But when she returns to the US after her service, Frankie no longer recognises herself of her country and finds herself facing a new battle. One that she will need the help of those around her to win. 

Kristin Hannah is an author who has been on my radar for many years. I own almost all of her books but have somehow never got around to reading any of them. So when I was offered the chance to read her latest book with the BookBreak book club I jumped at the chance. Why did I leave Hannah’s books languishing on my shelves for so long? I have to prioritise reading her backlist after being swept away by this beautiful novel. Hannah is a masterful storyteller who knows how to draw the reader in with evocative descriptions that bring history to life, richly drawn characters who you feel an instant connection with, and riveting plotlines that will make you laugh, cry and rage. And I couldn’t get enough. I lost myself in the story and couldn’t stop reading, devouring the second half of the book in just one sitting and reading late into the night as I had to know the end of Frankie’s story before I could even think about sleeping.

Two things are vital for good historical fiction: great characters and authentic details. This book has them both in spades. Let’s talk about the characters first. Frankie is a wonderful protagonist who I immediately felt a connection with. She’s fierce but flawed. And she’s relatable; someone I could imagine being friends with. And I loved her friendship with Ethel and Barb. Their dynamic was fun to read and an example of the kind of true friendship we all want. They were really there for each other, even after coming home, and I loved how they would all drop everything for the others if they needed them and how they knew what their friend needed even when she herself  had no idea. 
Now, let’s discuss the details. This book is rich in historic detail and the author’s meticulous research is evident in those finer points that give it authenticity. The Vietnam War is a time I didn’t know a lot about so I also found it to be very educational. And while it is undoubtedly beautifully written, Hannah never shies away from the brutal realities of war and there are many raw, agonising and heart-breaking scenes. Hannah also asks hard-hitting questions about the war, examining the protests that were happening back in the USA and how veterans were treated when they returned home. This led into a heart-rending exploration of PTSD that was written with truth and compassion. All of these darker moments are balanced out by more jovial topics and scenes that remind us we can find light even in the darkest of times and how others can help us to find it when we can’t do that for ourselves.

Powerful, moving and achingly real, The Women is an astonishing piece of historical fiction that I can’t recommend highly enough. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Kristin Hannah is the award-winning and bestselling author of more than 20 novels. Her newest novel, The Women, about the nurses who served in the Vietnam war, will be released on February 6, 2024.

The Four Winds was published in February of 2021 and immediately hit #1 on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Indie bookstore’s bestseller lists. Additionally, it was selected as a book club pick by the both Today Show and The Book Of the Month club, which named it the best book of 2021.

In 2018, The Great Alone became an instant New York Times #1 bestseller and was named the Best Historical Novel of the Year by Goodreads.

In 2015, The Nightingale became an international blockbuster and was Goodreads Best Historical fiction novel for 2015 and won the coveted People’s Choice award for best fiction in the same year. It was named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, iTunes, Buzzfeed, the Wall Street Journal, Paste, and The Week.

The Nightingale is currently in pre-production at Tri Star. Firefly Lane, her beloved novel about two best friends, was the #1 Netflix series around the world, in the week it came out. The popular tv show stars Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke.

A former attorney, Kristin lives in the Pacific Northwest.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxx

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: The London Bookshop Affair by Louise Fein

Published February 29th, 20204 by Harper 360
Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, War Story, Urban Fiction

Today is my stop on the blog tour for this moving story, Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part, and to Louise Fein and Harper 360 for the gifted proof.

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SYNOPSIS:

From the bestselling author of Daughter of the Reich, an historical drama set in London about a bookshop involved in an espionage network.

“An utterly atmospheric and completely compelling read!” —Julia Kelly, international bestselling author of The Lost English Girl

Two courageous women. One astonishing secret. A world on the brink of war.

London, 1962: The world is teetering on the brink of nuclear war but life must go on. Celia Duchesne longs for a career, but with no means or qualifications, passes her time working at a dusty bookshop. The day a handsome American enters the shop, she thinks she might have found her way out of the monotony. Just as the excitement of a budding relationship engulfs her, a devastating secret draws her into the murky world of espionage.

France, 1942: Nineteen-year-old Anya Moreau was dropped behind enemy lines to aid the resistance, sending messages back home to London via wireless transmitter. When she was cruelly betrayed, evidence of her legacy and the truth of her actions were buried by wartime injustices.

As Celia learns more about Anya—and her unexpected connection to the undercover agent—she becomes increasingly aware of furious efforts, both past and present, to protect state secrets. With her newly formed romance taking a surprising turn and the world on the verge of nuclear annihilation, Celia must risk everything she holds dear, in the name of justice.

Propulsive and illuminating, The London Bookshop Affair is a gripping story of secrets and love, inspired by true events and figures of the Cold War.

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MY REVIEW:

“This will remain a mystery unless Celia can find a way to unravel it.”

Atmospheric, gripping and emotive, The London Bookshop Affair is a dual timeline novel set against the backdrop of World War 2 and the Cold War. A story of courageous women, old secrets and love, we follow Celia and Jeannie, two women connected by a long-buried secret who find themselves caught up in the cloak and dagger world of espionage. There is mystery, intrigue, cover-ups, lies, betrayal and romance that are all woven together to create a compelling story that had me hooked. 

I’m a huge history lover, so I’m a sucker for a historical fiction book, and as a big fan of Louise Fein’s last novel, The Hidden Child, I couldn’t wait to read this one. Well written, multi-layered and evocative, I loved how Fein brought the past to life through the small historic details, making me feel like I’d stepped inside a time machine. I could picture 1940s London with its dark, dank heaviness, air raid sirens, food shortages and oppressive fear in the air. In the 1960s I could see the bleak housing, devastation left over from bombings, smell the smoky pubs and cafes and hear the rock music. And in the bookshop where Celia works I could smell the old books and see the dust motes flying in the air. The novel is based on actual historical events, primarily focusing on the threat of nuclear war that lingered over the world at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Special Operations Executive and their secret missions during World War Two. I know very little about the Cold War and knew nothing of the SOE, so I found it to be a very interesting and educational read. 

Against this backdrop of real events were our two heroines, Celia and Jeannie, who leapt from the page in vivid technicolour. These two brave women were fascinating to read and I enjoyed viewing important historical events through the personal lens that their stories provided. The secret that links them was heartrending and there were many times I was near tears while reading. There is also a third narrator: Septimus, a mysterious American who begins a blossoming romance with Celia. I enjoyed watching their relationship grow, though I admit that, like Celia, I wasn’t sure if Septimus could be trusted. But Celia must decide who and what she can believe in, the tension palpable and keeping me on tenterhooks until the big reveal. 

I highly recommend this moving and suspenseful story to anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction. And don’t miss the author’s note at the end of the book which provides a fascinating insight into the real life people and events that inspired the book.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

From Louise’s Blog:
For just about as long as I could read, I have wanted to be an author.

Much of my childhood, when not pretending to be a pony or on my bike, was spent with my nose in a book, or escaping the mundane of everyday life in the vastly more interesting world of my imagination. 

I have always loved to write and as I grew into adulthood, I wrote stories, diaries and poetry. Writing was always just a hobby, as I needed to earn a living and I never once considered it could be a career.

After I finished university, I took some time out to travel, qualified as a lawyer and worked in finance. Life became busy with a career, husband and three children and I had little time for writing. But the bug wouldn’t leave me alone. I used the train journey home from work to scribble ideas, the beginnings of novels, stories and poems. I took an evening class in creative writing at the CityLit and thought one day. 

One day came when I saw an advertisement for a master’s degree in creative writing, aimed at writing a first novel at St. Mary’s University, London. I went home and told my husband with a sigh how much I would love to sign up for that course. Go for it, he said. By this time I was running my own consultancy business, and after realising he wasn’t joking, I didn’t hesitate. I’ll give myself a year, I thought, certain I could get a novel written in that time, and then go back to my job. 

Of course, the year turned into a few, but the result was People Like Us (Daughter of the Reich in the USA) and I’ve not looked back. I’m incredibly lucky in that I have a supportive spouse and am now able to write full time around family commitments. 

I live in Surrey with my family, two naughty cats, and small dog Bonnie, who is the best writing companion I could ask for. Always at my side when I write and she listens most patiently when I need to talk through a tricky plot problem. 

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BOOK REVIEW: Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati

Published March 2nd, 2023 by Michael Joseph
Historical Fiction, Fairy Tale, Greek Mythology

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SYNOPSIS:

Mother. Monarch. Murderer. Magnificent . . . meet Clytemnestra, the ancient world’s most wronged woman . . .

‘Vivid with fury, passion and strength, this is a fabulous myth retelling’ JENNIFER SAINT

‘A blaze of a novel, fiery and furious – and alight with murderous revenge’ DAILY MAIL

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She is born to a king but marries a tyrant.

She watches helplessly as he sacrifices her child to the gods.

She bides her time. She plots revenge. She knows how to play this game.

If power will not be given to her, then she will take it for herself.

She is Clytemnestra.

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MY REVIEW:

Mother. Queen. Wronged Woman. Murderer. Heroine. It’s time for Clytemnestra to tell her story in this glorious feminist retelling. 

Before reading this book I’d only heard Clytemnestra’s story as part of the background to the stories of her sister, Helen of Troy, and her daughter Elektra. So I was excited to learn more about this strong and fascinating woman. Though she was born to a King, Clytemnestra always felt second best as the sister to Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world. She manages to find love but it is soon snatched away in a despicable act of betrayal by the cruel tyrant Agamemnon, who is determined to make her his wife at any cost. And so she becomes a woman motivated by vengeance, spending her life plotting and waiting for the perfect moment to strike. 

Exquisitely written, evocative and atmospheric, this isn’t a book you simply read, but one you step into. This phenomenal debut highlights Costanza Casati as a talent to watch and I will certainly be reading whatever she writes next. I listened to it on audiobook and I was hooked from the start. It consumed me, feeling alive as it burned with fury. And although I knew a lot of the things that happened in these myths, I was still on the edge of my seat, listening with baited breath to discover what would happen next, as if it was all new rather than a retelling, something that is a testament to Casati’s masterful storytelling. 

Now, let’s talk about  the woman at the heart of it all: the eponymous Clytemnestra. Fierce, feisty, intelligent, passionate, and unforgiving, she is a remarkable heroine who refuses to be broken or shackled by the rules of the patriarchal society. The fire inside her radiated from the page, Casati making me feel her heartache, rage, vengeance and strength so vividly that it was like it was coursing through my own veins. I wanted Agamemnon dead. Right now! I rooted for her at every step as she bided her time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike and avenge all of the betrayal. After all, revenge is a dish best served cold. And when Clytemnestra’s vengeance is served, it is glacial. 

A furious, devastating, enthralling and magnificent retelling you won’t want to put down, Clytemnestra is a must-read.

Rating: 🏹🏹🏹🏹🏹

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Costanza was born in Texas in 1995, grew up in a village in Northern Italy and lived in the UK for five years. Before moving to London, she attended a classical Liceo in Italy, where she studied Ancient Greek, and Ancient Greek literature, for five years. Costanza is a graduate of the Warwick Writing MA programme, where she studied under Sarah Moss, and currently works as a freelance journalist and screenwriter. The art and history documentary she wrote on the 16th century painter Tintoretto had over 1 million viewers. Costanza’s short fiction has appeared in the collective Nothing in the Rulebook and broadcast on RAW1251 Warwick Radio.

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AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Now She Is Witch by Kirsty Logan

Published January 12th, 2023 by Harvill Secker
Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Women Sleuths, Lesbian Literature

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SYNOPSIS:

In this witch story unlike any other, Lux and Else join forces to take their revenge on a powerful man. Their journey through the wild world will uncover both secrets and danger.

Lux has lost everything when Else finds her, alone in the woods. Her family, her lover, her home – all burned. The world is suspicious of women like her. But Lux is cunning; she knows how to exploit people’s expectations, how to blend into the background. And she knows a lot about poisons.

Else has not found Lux by accident. She needs her help to seek revenge against the man who wronged her, and together they pursue him north. But on their hunt they will uncover dark secrets that entangle them with dangerous adversaries.

From the snowy winter woods to the bright midnight sun; from lost and powerless to finding your path, Now She is Witch conjures a world of violence and beauty – a world where women grasp at power through witchcraft, sexuality and performance, and most of all through throwing each other to the wolves.

‘Mesmerising and evocative…an imaginative triumph’ Observer

‘‘An impassioned reclaiming of female desire. Stuffed, Russian-doll like, with stories,… an absorbingly atmospheric adventure’ Daily Mail

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MY REVIEW:

“Beauty is dangerous. Beauty has power. Beauty has violence.”

When Else finds Lux in the woods she has nothing. Everything she had was burned. The world is suspicious of women like Lux but she is cunning and knows how to blend into the background. Lux also knows a lot about poisons, which is perfect for Else because she needs her help to destroy the man who wronged her. But it will take them on a dangerous path where dark secrets are revealed…

It’s the first day of Booksta Review Week and I’m using it as an excuse to finally catch up on the many reviews I still have to write. Most of them are for books I listened to on audiobook, including Now She Is Witch, which I listened to back in October. 

Atmospheric, evocative and enthralling, this is a dark and witchy feminist fairytale about  power, love, loss, bravery, wisdom, and magic. It’s a timely story about disempowered women finally taking back what is theirs, utilising the magic that can be found in nature to do it. Kirsty Logan’s bewitching and poetic prose is transporting and stirring, telling truths that feel as real today as they did in history, helping the reader to connect with Lux and her story. I didn’t take many notes while listening, choosing instead to just enjoy the experience and what stays with me is the bawdy humour, compelling characters and riveting storytelling. 

Powerful, alluring, eerie, and unexpected, I highly recommend this book. 

Rating: 🧙🏻‍♀️🧙🏻‍♀️🧙🏻‍♀️🧙🏻‍♀️

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Kirsty Logan is the author of three novels, three story collections, a memoir, two chapbooks, a 10-hour audio play for Audible, and several collaborative projects with musicians and visual artists. Her books have won the Lambda, Polari, Saboteur, Scott and Gavin Wallace awards. Her work has been optioned for TV, adapted for stage, recorded for radio and podcasts, exhibited in galleries and distributed from a vintage Wurlitzer cigarette machine. She lives in Glasgow with her wife, baby and rescue dog.

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SQUADPOD BOOK CLUB: The Knowing by Emma Hinds

Published January 18th, 2024 by Bedford Square Publishers
Historical Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Historical Fantasy Fiction, Alternative History, LGBTQ Romance

Welcome to my review for the gorgeous gothic debut, The Knowing , which was the first Squadpod Book Club book for 2024. Thank you to Bedford Square Publishers and EDpr for the gifted copy of the book. Join us here on Instagram Live at 7.30pm tonight (22nd January) for our live discussion with the author.

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SYNOPSIS:

‘If you love Sarah Waters and dark historical fiction, you will no doubt be hooked.’ – Diva magazine

‘Vivid, visceral and utterly immersive. Extraordinary’ Liz Hyder

In the slums of 19th-century New York.

A tattooed mystic fights for her life.

Her survival hangs on the turn of a tarot card.

Powerful, intoxicating and full of suspense. The Knowing is a darkly spellbinding novel about a girl fighting for her survival in the decaying criminal underworlds.

Whilst working as a living canvas for an abusive tattoo artist, Flora meets Minnie, an enigmatic circus performer who offers her love and refuge in an opulent townhouse, home to the menacing Mr Chester Merton. Flora earns her keep reading tarot cards for his guests whilst struggling to harness her gift, the Knowing – an ability to summon the dead. Caught in a dark love triangle between Minnie and Chester, Flora begins to unravel the secrets inside their house. Then at her first public séance, Flora hears the spirit of a murdered boy prostitute and exposes his killer, setting off a train of events which put her life at risk.

The Knowing is a stunning debut inspired by real historical characters including Maud Wagner, one of the first known female tattoo artists, New York gang the Dead Rabbits, and characters from PT Barnum’s circus.

Something Powerful Is Coming.

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MY REVIEW:

Something powerful is coming… 🔮🐉💜

Darkly atmospheric, intoxicating, unapologetic and consuming, The Knowing is pure gothic escapism. This magnificent debut brought the past to life in a breathtaking story of love, passion, self-discovery, secrets, lies, betrayal and murder that is inspired by real people from history including Maud Wagner, one of the first known female tattoo artists,  New York gang the Dead Rabbits, and characters from PT Barnum’s circus.

Flora, the only female tattoo artist in New York, lives in the slums with her abusive tattoo artist boyfriend and reads cards for a living. She meets Minnie, a charismatic circus performer, who offers Flora a new life in her upmarket home. Still earning cards to read her keep while struggling to harness the Knowing – her gift for summoning the dead. When the Knowing begins to whisper dark secrets that some don’t want revealed it sparks a chain of events that sees Flora fighting for her life. 

Wow! What a phenomenal start to 2024’s Squadpod Book Club. This is one of those decadent reads that you want to luxuriate in and savour every word, providing a sensory experience that makes you forget the world around you and lose yourself in the one the author created. Emma Hinds has immediately secured a place on my autobuy list with this magnificent tale and I still can’t believe this is a debut. The writing is exquisite and evocative, transporting me back in time and across the ocean to Flora’s world. It was like the story had been conjured into being around me in vivid technicolour and I could  see the grimy streets, smell the stench of the slum, and hear the whispers of the dead from the shadows. From the opening pages there’s a sinister suspense that pervades every page which comes from the Knowing and the ghosts who lurk in the shadows and I loved the memorable moments where Flora’s gift takes centre stage and the atmosphere is at its darkest. It leaves shivers down your spine and I read most of the book in a sense of breathless anticipation.

“I’d learned to turn my eyes away from dark corners where spirits might lurk. The  Knowing was like having a broken bone that never healed quite right. It twinged. Occasionally the world would show and the shadows would lengthen, my breath would catch in my windpipe and my heart would lurch, but I would look away. Growing up in Five Points had knocked the truth into me: there was safety in not knowing.”

The book is filled with richly drawn characters that I loved reading. The women are strong, fierce, courageous, and inspiring who have a fire that can’t be extinguished whatever they are put through. They have the misfortune to be born in an era where men own and control them but they fight for their power and independence wherever they can. On the flip side, most of the men were vile, menacing, dominating and predatory. These are the kinds of men who see women as things, not people, and care only about power and control, using them as reasons to subject women to terrible things. Much of what is on these pages is taken from history, so of course the women who refused to be submissive or behaved in a way they didn’t like were labelled as ‘hysterical’ or ‘insane’. No matter how often I read this kind of behaviour it always enrages me. Heaven forbid women have their own thoughts and feelings. 

Unsettling, haunting, potent and mesmerising, I was bewitched by this gorgeous gothic debut. It is the kind of book that is just screaming for an adaptation and I’m going to need that to happen ASAP. An absolute must-read, I can’t recommend it highly enough. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Emma is a Queer playwright and author living and working in Manchester. She has a Masters in Creative Writing from the University of St Andrews. She focuses on historical narratives, female voices, and Queer stories. Emma’s debut novel, The Knowing, is an exploration of female trauma in the vivid and cruel world of the Victorian freak show. Her latest play, PURE, was featured in Turn On festival at Hope Mill Theatre Manchester and she was the recipient of the Artist Development grant at Hope Mill Theatre. She has written a few previous non-fiction books in her capacity as an academic (in another life she was a theologian) with an essay published, Tarantino and Theology; with Gray Matter Books and her book, Ineffable Love: Christian Themes in Good Omens; published by Darton Longman Todd. Emma uses she/her pronouns.

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