Tag: historical fiction

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2025

BOOK REVIEW: The Woman in the Wallpaper by Lora Jones

Published February 20th, 2025 by Sphere
Historical Fiction, Psychological Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘Spellbinding’ SUSAN STOKES-CHAPMAN
‘Enthralling’ HESTER MUSSON
‘Astonishingly accomplished’ CARI THOMAS
‘Beautifully woven’ HARRIET CONSTABLE
‘Exquisite’ ANNA MAZZOLA
‘Expertly plotted’ JOANNE BURN
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Paris, 1789. The Oberst Factory, which crafts exquisite wallpaper for the most fashionable French homes, is a place shrouded in mystery. Most enigmatic is the woman pictured in each of its prints, rumoured to be the late Mrs Oberst, who died in peculiar circumstances.

When sisters Lara and Sofi arrive there for work, they quickly form a friendship with Josef Oberst, the motherless heir to the factory. Whilst Sofi’s political fervour intensifies, Lara is disturbed by the uncanny way her life appears mirrored in the wallpaper. Meanwhile Hortense, Josef’s spoilt aristocratic wife, is similarly unnerved by the scenes that line the walls of her new home. With the mobs growing ever more violent, is she in danger of meeting the same untimely end as the last Mrs Oberst?

As revolution blazes across France, the lives of Sofi, Lara and Hortense are set to collide in unimaginable and irrevocable ways. Can they change what lies ahead, or are some patterns destined to be repeated?

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MY REVIEW:

Eerie, unnerving, mysterious and spellbinding, The Woman in the Wallpaper is a haunting debut steeped in gothic allure that transports us to eighteenth century France and the French Revolution. 

After the death of their father, sisters Sofi and Lara arrive at The Oberst Factory in Paris, which crafts exquisite and particular toile de Jouy wallpaper for the country’s most fashionable and elite homes. But the factory is a place that has been shrouded in mystery ever since the death of Madame Oberst in strange circumstances five years earlier. There are whispers she haunts the grounds and that it is her image that is featured on all of the factory’s prints. The sisters soon form a friendship with Josef Oberst, a motherless loner who is heir to the factory. 

Meanwhile, Hortense, a spoiled aristocrat’s daughter who lives in the palace of Versailles, is forced into an arranged marriage with Josef and sent to live in the family’s mansion by the factory. Lara is set to work as her lady’s maid and is shocked to find that her new bedchamber is covered in violet wallpaper patterned with vignetted scenes from a woman’s life. Unnervingly, the woman looks exactly like her and scenes from her own life are mirrored on the paper. 

As the worker’s grievances increase, the mob becomes more violent, political unrest takes a greater hold, and revolution rages throughout France, the lives of the three women are set to collide in unthinkable ways and with deadly and explosive consequences.

A gorgeous tapestry of a novel that is rich in sumptuous historical detail, Lora Jones had me in her thrall from the first page to the very last. Expertly choreographed and beautifully interwoven, Jone’s beautiful prose tells this an intoxicating story of love, loss, mystery, hostility and conviction, all set against the volatile backdrop of the French revolution. Her meticulous research is evident on every page and I loved learning the intricacies of working in a wallpaper factory, the contrast between the lives of the workers and aristocracy, and more about the revolution, which is all brought to life in full, terrible detail thanks to Jones’ spectacular and vivid imagery. The story is atmospheric, forbidding and has hints of the supernatural from the start. But soon terror began to bleed into the pages, the words gleamed with a chilling malice and shivers ran down my spine.

All of the characters in this story, whether they are the narrators or background characters, are richly drawn and compelling. The three women who narrate the story – Sofi, Lara and Hortense – are very different people with their own interests and concerns. But as life at the factory, and in all of France, becomes more dangerous, they find that their fates are interwoven in unexpected ways. I enjoyed reaching each of their narratives but admit that it was Lara I found most enthralling. I was mesmerised by her story; the idea of seeing yourself and your life depicted in the wallpaper that is pasted in a place you’ve never been before and fear consuming you as you feel sure someone is watching you and you think you see the woman in the wallpaper move. It was so haunting that even eight months after reading it the memory still gives me chills. And I must mention Hortense, who was a wonderful villain filled with  arrogance and snobbiness. She was fun to read and I loved to hate her, but I admit that I did feel some sympathy as time went on.

A magnificent and unsettling gothic mystery, I highly recommend this haunting debut.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thank you Sphere for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

After studying English Literature at the University of Durham, Lora began her career working in the TV industry in London, reading scripts for ITV’s Drama Department, and writing factual programme content and comedy material for the BBC, Channel 4 and others. She also spent over a decade assisting professional TV and stage magicians, and gathering up their secrets.

Lora now lives amongst the rugged hills of North Wales where she is currently rewilding an 18th century sheep farm. In her spare time she paints wildlife and sells her work in aid of wildlife conservation charities.

Passionate about creating and writing original stories, The Woman in the Wallpaper is Lora’s first novel. She is also the co-creator/host of The Magician’s Wife podcast.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: The Last Witch by C. J. Cooke

Published October 9th, 2025 by Harper Collins
Historical Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Thriller, Horror Fiction, Supernatural Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Will she be damned by flame… or cursed by magic?

Innsbruck 1485

Helena should be doing what every other wealthy young wife is doing: keeping her husband’s house, bearing his children. But when their footman is found dead, Helena is accused of killing him. Worse, she is accused of being a witch.

Imprisoned with six other women, Helena is plunged into a world of terror. When a cursed witch totem is smuggled into the prison, the prisoners attempt to use it to escape only to unleash a malevolent spirit which places all their lives in danger.

Does Helena risk her life and the lives of others by standing up to the terrifying witchfinder and risk death at the stake if found guilty? Or is the real threat the world beyond this one…?

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MY REVIEW:

“He calls us witches but he does not know what a witch is. He believes a witch is a woman and that women are inherently evil.”

Gorgeously gothic, haunting, harrowing and powerful, The Last Witch is a bewitching story about witch trials, sisterhood, female rage, courage, justice and misogyny.

Innsbruck, Austria, 1485. After the death of their footman, Helena finds herself on the radar of a witchfinder who has come to town. Whisked out of her comfortable life and into a world of terror, she is imprisoned in the dungeon with six other women. They are tortured to try and coerce their confessions, but stand firm in their innocence. The witchfinder and the town are determined to see them burn, but can they escape the stake?

Spooky season wouldn’t be the same without a new C. J. Cooke book and The Last Witch could be my favourite yet. It maintains Cooke’s reputation as the Queen of the Gothic Thriller and showcases why she counts the legendary Stephen King among her fans. Seamlessly blending folklore, fact and fiction, Cooke creates a spellbinding concoction of gothic, historical, mystery and the supernatural. The tension and horror are balanced with warmth and tenderness, creating a story that keeps you guessing, sends chills down your spine and touches your heart. It’s exquisitely written, pacy, evocative, and her meticulous research is evident in the minute details and the author’s note at the end of the book. I learned so much but what struck me most of all was how terrifyingly quickly friends and family turned on the accused and supported the witchfinder. A totally mesmerising and immersive tale, I lost myself in these pages and haven’t found my way out since. Not even after finishing the book.

Strong female characters who stand courageous in the face of adversity is a theme throughout Ms. Cooke’s books and the women in this book are some of the bravest I’ve read. While even the most minor characters are interesting, well written and compelling, her central characters really shine. They are richly drawn, fascinating and flawed women that felt as relevant and real today as in the fifteenth century. Finding out that Helena is based on a real woman just made me love this bold, brave, formidable and empathetic woman even more. And if you’re looking for a villain you can really hate, look no further than brutal witchfinder Father Kramer. Ruthless, vile and malevolent, he has a warped view of women and enjoys inflicting pain on them. This man is a prime example of the danger of power in the wrong hands and it seemed there was no escape once he had you on his radar. I was desperately rooting for his downfall and hoping justice would prevail for Helena and the others.

Eerily atmospheric, dark and menacing, this is the perfect witchy read to lose yourself in this autumn. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thank you Netgalley for my proof copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

CJ Cooke, also known as Carolyn Jess-Cooke, grew up on a council estate in Belfast, Northern Ireland, at the height of the Troubles. She started writing at the age of 7 and pestered publishers for many years with manuscripts typed on her grandparents’ old typewriter and cover notes written on pages ripped from school jotters. 

Since then, she has published 16 books in 23 languages and won numerous awards, including an Eric Gregory Award from the Society of Authors, a Tyrone Guthrie Prize, a K Blundell Award, and she has won a Northern Writer’s Award three times. Her sixth novel, The Lighthouse Witches, was published in October 2021, and was an Indigo Book of the Month, an international bestseller, a New York Public Library Book of the Year and nominated for both an Edgar Award by Mystery Writers of America and an ITW Thriller Award in 2022. It is soon to be a major TV series produced by StudioCanal and The Picture Company. A Haunting in the Arctic is her latest novel and is published in October 2023.

CJ holds a BA (Hons), MA, and PhD from Queen’s University, Belfast, and commenced her academic career in 2005 as a Lecturer in Film Studies at the University of Sunderland. Shortly thereafter, she published four academic works in swift succession on Shakespearean Cinema and Film Sequels, before establishing her career as a poet, editor, and novelist.

Now Reader in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow, CJ convenes the prestigious MLitt Creative Writing and researches ways that creative writing can help with trauma and mental health. Throughout 2013-18 she directed the Writing Motherhood project, which explored the impact of motherhood on women’s writing. She is also the founder and director of the Stay-at-Home! Literary Festival, which is dedicated to providing people with accessible, inclusive, and eco-friendly ways to access literature.

CJ has four children and lives with her family in Glasgow, Scotland.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito

Published February 13th, 2025 by Fourth Estate
Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror Fiction, Suspense, Dark Comedy, Satire

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Winifred Notty arrives at Ensor House prepared to play the perfect Victorian governess. She’ll dutifully tutor her charges, Drusilla and Andrew, tell them bedtime stories, and only joke about eating children. But the longer Winifred spends within the estate’s dreary confines and the more she learns of the perversions and pathetic preoccupations of the Pounds family, the more trouble she has sticking to her plan.

Whether creeping across the moonlit lawns in her undergarments or gently tormenting the house staff, Winifred struggles at every turn to stifle the horrid compulsions of her past until her chillingly dark imagination breaches the feeble boundary of reality on Christmas morning. Wielding her signature sardonic wit and a penchant for the gorgeously macabre, Virginia Feito returns with a vengeance in Victorian Psycho.

NOW BEING ADAPTED FOR A MAJOR FILM BY A24

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MY REVIEW:

Delightfully dark, psychotic, twisted and haunting, Victorian Psycho is a wonderfully unhinged slice of victoriana that was the perfect read for a dull autumn day. 

When the Pound family welcome their new governess to Enscor House, they have no idea what they are letting themselves in for. On the outside Winifred Nottey is the perfect Victorian governess: polite and dutifully tutors and cares for her charges. But on the inside Winifred is deranged, dark and hell-bent on revenge. And she has a plan for Christmas day that isn’t quite the jolly and merry celebration the Pounds are expecting…

From the moment I read this book’s synopsis I knew I’d love it. And as soon as I read the unnerving opening lines I was transfixed. This is Sweetpea in a corset and I loved every absurd moment  of rage, revenge, dark humour, brutal murder, a high body count, and perfect Victorian politeness. The writing is sinister and witty, the imagery evocative, and chapters short and punchy with hilarious titles. It was my first time reading a book by Virginia Feito and it won’t be my last. I laughed out loud at Winifred’s exploits, got chills as she haunted the halls by candlelight and cheered her on at every step. And that macabre finale? *chef’s kiss*

Winifred is a brilliant anti-hero. I don’t know what it says about me that I love twisted, psychotic anti-heroines so much, but I do, and Winifred has now joined ranks with Rhiannon Lewis (Sweetpea) and Kitty Collins (How To Kill Men and Get Away With It) as one of my favourite anti-heroes in literature. She’s wonderfully disturbed, witty, sharp, scathing, and I loved how she would say and do the most outrageous thing with a smile on her face. She’s also very self-aware and has an uncanny way of perfectly psycho-analysising everyone she meets, including herself. But aside from her wit, I think what I loved most about her was how she was totally remorseless and clearly enjoyed every minute of her long-planned vengeance.

The other characters are all equally well written and compelling and mostly what you’d expect in Victorian society. Although, the Pounds’ daughter, Drucilla, still had some sass that her parents were trying to curtail and force her into submission. But back to the adults, it was the stereotypical smug Victorian men who made me understand Winifred’s murderous rage. These were men who think women are unintelligent, should obey them, and be seen and not heard. Talk about an advertisement for feminism. 

Chillingly atmospheric, menacing, wicked and witty, Victorian Psycho is the perfect read for spooky season. I can’t wait for the upcoming adaptation so I can enjoy Winifred’s story all over again.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A native of Spain, Virginia Feito was raised in Madrid and Paris, and studied English and drama at Queen Mary University of London. She lives in Madrid, where she writes her fiction in English.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: The Boleyn Traitor by Philippa Gregory

Published October 7th, 2025 by Harper Fiction
Historical Fiction, Biographical Ficiton, Political Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

She ​survives four queens. Will she fall to a tyrant?

Jane Boleyn watches from the shadows of the Tudor court. Where nothing is more powerful than a secret – or more deadly.

As the Boleyns rise, Jane rises with them. But the king’s love is a fickle thing. And when the royal gaze turns elsewhere, Jane uses the only weapon she has: her voice.

To survive in this dazzling, dangerous world she has mastered many masks: loving wife, devoted sister, and obedient spy. Now she must step out of the shadows.

She might outlive her rivals. She might know the court’s darkest secrets. But power rests on the edge of a tyrant king’s sword. Where will it fall next?

Philippa Gregory brings the Boleyn traitor into the light in an explosive story of one woman’s survival in the treacherous heart of the Tudor court.

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MY REVIEW:

Historical storyteller extraordinaire Philippa Gregory takes on the life of Jane Boleyn, England’s most hated lady-in-waiting, in her latest epic reimagining. 

Summer, 1534. Jane is lady-in-waiting to Anne, the infamous second wife of Henry VIII. It is a tense and tumultuous time; Henry’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon, has been exiled, Henry has broken ties with the Catholic church, and Anne is pregnant for the second time, hopefully with a boy. But Jane is no newcomer to court, she’s served for many years and has learned to wear different masks to survive: wife, sister, servant, witness, liar and spy. And, as Anne’s fortunes fall, Jane’s talent for trading secrets just might be the key to her survival. But as the King becomes increasingly tyrannical, can she escape his wrath?

This is a story of family, ambition, power, tyranny and sexism that exposes the dark side of Tudor court that simmered beneath the jewels, extravagant clothes and lavish balls. Told by Jane Boleyn, this is an evocative portrayal of what life was really like at court. It was a precarious existence where your fortunes could change on the whims of the king and no one – not even his wives – were ever safe. There’s a constant sense of fear and foreboding, of trying to predict Henry’s every mood and desire. People are always trying to stay one step ahead and trade in secrets and betrayal in order to survive. It felt like a lonely existence where you can’t even trust your own spouse or family. And Jane is nothing if she isn’t a survivor. 

I’ve been a fan of Philippa Gregory ever since I first read The Other Boleyn Girl many years ago and have long been fascinated with the Tudor era, so I couldn’t wait to revisit it once again. And what a joy it was! Expertly written, meticulously researched, richly imagined and transportive, this novel is the epitome of a master at work. Ms. Gregory’s love for these characters and the time period is evident in every word and she brings history to life in such vivid detail it bursts from the pages and feels like you’re in the room with them. 

A magnificent piece of historical fiction from a legendary author, I highly recommend this book.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

Thank you to Harper Fiction for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Philippa Gregory is an internationally renowned historian and novelist. She holds a PhD in eighteenth-century literature at the University of Edinburgh and is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Universities of Sussex and Cardiff, an honorary research fellow at Birkbeck University of London and she was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for her services to literature and to charity. Her novels have been adapted for stage and screen and in 2023 she published her groundbreaking history book, Normal Women – 900 Years of Making History, which was also released as a podcast, a teen edition and a series for young children.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: The Waterfall by Gareth Rubin

Published September 25th, 2025 by Simon & Schuster UK
Historical Fiction, Suspense, Thriller

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this intricately intweroven historical mystery. Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part, and to Simon & Schuster UK for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A story about stories within stories, as four interconnected mysteries take the reader through the ages, from Shakespeare’s day to a 19th-century Gothic former Priory, to 1920s Venice, and finally to 1940s California, from the internationally bestselling author of The Turnglass.

We begin with the last testament of William Shakespeare as he investigates the real-life murder mystery of his friend, playwright Christopher Marlowe.

The second story is a 19th-century Gothic tale about the discovery of Shakespeare’s manuscript, set in an isolated former Priory, now a clinic for those who cannot sleep.

The third is a lighter Golden Age detective tale set in Venice, where private investigator Honora Feldman looks into a baffling case of theft and murder in the British expat community, with the Gothic story at its heart.

And finally, a 1940s American Noir, as Ken Kourian finds that a serial killer is recreating all the murders in The Waterfall, the companion book to his friend Oliver Tooke’s The Turnglass.

The Waterfall is a beguiling and intricate mystery that cements Gareth Rubin’s position as one of the most original authors writing today.

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MY REVIEW:

Darkly atmospheric, intricate and compelling, The Waterfall is a book about stories within stories that transports us from Shakespere’s Stratford to a 19th century Gothic former priory, to 1920s Venice, and then 1940s California in four interconnected mysteries.

Original, immersive and layered, this captivating story is a unique experience. Beautifully written, cleverly choreographed and rich in historic detail, Gareth Rubin showcases himself as a masterful storyteller with a style that is all his own. From the first pages I felt like I’d stepped back in time, Rubin bringing each era to life with his skillful use of language, vivid imagery and richly drawn characters. I’ll admit, it took me a little time to get used to the language used in the first story, but once I did I was completely lost in the narrative. 

I love reading books that merge fact with fiction, so the fact that the first story featured real people and a real murder piqued my interest straight away. Rubin’s reimagining of that mystery and the way that he connected it with the four other stories is nothing short of genius. I loved the concept of four interconnected stories but after reading this first one I couldn’t imagine how he could connect this 16th century murder to the other three timelines but Rubin pulls it off with finesse, expertly interweaving them together to create a story that moves between timelines and narrators. It is so well done that there were times I had to remind myself that the other characters weren’t real people and I was reading a work of fiction, not fact. All of the characters were richly drawn, dynamic and compelling, but my favourite was Pips and I wish there’d been more of her. 

There is so much more I’d love to say about this book but that would mean spoilers and I don’t do those! So, I’ll just say that if you’re looking for a well-written historical mystery with a difference, then this is the book for you.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gareth Rubin writes about social affairs, travel and the arts for British newspapers. In 2013 he directed a documentary about therapeutic art at the Bethlem Royal Hospital in London (‘Bedlam’). 
His books include Liberation Square, set in Soviet-occupied London; The Winter Agent, about British agents in Paris on the eve of D-Day and The Turnglass, two entwined mysteries that take place in Essex in 1881 and Los Angeles in 1939.
He read English literature at the University of St Andrews and trained at East 15 Acting School.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | 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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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Featured Books

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOKS: The Nightingale Dilemma by Katy Moran

Published July 3rd, 2025 by Aria
Historical Romance

Welcome to my review for this bingeable historical 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:

1812

Following the drum in Spain, rebellious aristocrat Cressida Nightingale has put her tumultuous past far behind her, and with it her short-lived marriage to Lord Greville.

Having escaped the constraints of her previous life and now scorned by society, Cressida has spent years surviving as a spy for her government. Whilst this is a hard life, it’s hers and she will fight to keep it. Then her world comes crashing down when she is caught behind enemy lines by none other than her estranged husband.

Betrayed by those who have willingly taken the information she offered, Cressida is offered a deal. Entrap her childhood friend, Lord Byron, now the most famous man in England and one who is suspected of treason, or pay the ultimate price for her own treasonous acts.

Can this nightingale escape the shackles of her past, and what price will she pay for it is she can’t?

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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, The Nightingale Dilemma 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:

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

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOKS: Seascraper by Benjamin Wood

Published July 17th, 2025 by Viking
Historical Fiction

Welcome to my review for this atmoshperic and evoacative novel. Thank you to Viking for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A mesmerising portrait of a young man confined in by his class and the ghosts of his family’s past, dreaming of artistic fulfilment. It confirms Benjamin Wood as an exceptional talent in British literature.

‘A huge talent’ Hilary Mantel

‘Benjamin Wood is a magnificent writer and I intend to read everything he has written’ Douglas Stuart

Thomas lives a slow, deliberate life with his mother in Longferry, working his grandpa’s trade as a shanker. He rises early to take his horse and cart to the grey, gloomy beach to scrape for shrimp; spending the rest of the day selling his wares, trying to wash away the salt and scum, pining for Joan Wyeth down the street and rehearsing songs on his guitar. At heart, he is a folk musician, but it remains a private dream.

When a striking visitor turns up, bringing the promise of Hollywood glamour, Thomas is shaken from the drudgery of his days and begins to see a different future. But how much of what the American claims is true, and how far can his inspiration carry Thomas?

Haunting and timeless, this is the story of a young man hemmed in by his circumstances, striving to achieve fulfilment far beyond the world he knows.

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MY REVIEW:

Atmospheric, evocative, poignant and poetic, Seascraper is a beautifully composed portrait of a young man confined by circumstance and dreaming of a brighter future. Set in the fictitious northern coastal town of Longberry, a young man named Thomas Fleet rises at dawn each day and traverses the bleak and grey beach with his horse and cart, shanking for shrimp to sell to eke out a meagre living. It’s a life of drudgery, hardship and poverty, and he dreams of more, trying to work up the courage to play the songs he writes in secret on the stage, and to muster up the nerve to ask out the girl he likes. But then a bright light appears on the horizon: a Hollywood film maker named Edgar who wants to make a movie on the beach and hires Thomas to be his local guide. Suddenly, his dreams don’t seem so out of reach. But can Thomas trust him? Or is what he’s promising too good to be true?

Benjamin Wood is a skilled storyteller. His prose is beautiful, haunting and moving, the story told with detailed finesse that feels delicate and precise. It’s achingly real, portraying the harsh realities of Thomas’s gloomy life and the dreary beach where he spends his days. He brings it all to life with cinematic precision, making me feel for the characters and lose myself in this affecting story. The characters are richly imagined and real, with Thomas and his mother perfectly portraying a life of poverty and Edgar being the embodiment of a Hollywood executive. I enjoyed the stark contrast between them and how they seemed to learn a lot from each other in the short time they were acquainted. But it was Thomas who my heart ached for and I was cheering him on, hoping he’d fulfil his dreams and get the girl. At 163 pages this is a short but powerful read, my only complaint being that I’d have liked it to be a bit longer and for Wood to give us more answers about Thomas’s future. But I feel like the unanswered questions are deliberate and make the story more true to life, where we don’t always get all the answers and things aren’t wrapped up in a neat bow.

A short but powerful read, it’s easy to see why this book made The Booker Prize longlist. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

​​Benjamin Wood was born in 1981 and grew up in Merseyside. He is the author of four acclaimed novels.

THE BELLWETHER REVIVALS (2012) was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award and the Commonwealth Book Prize, and won one of France’s foremost literary awards, Le Prix du Roman Fnac. THE ECLIPTIC (2015) was shortlisted for the Encore Award and the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award. A STATION ON THE PATH TO SOMEWHERE BETTER (2018), was shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award and the European Union Prize for Literature. THE YOUNG ACCOMPLICE (2022) was selected as one of the books of the year by The Times, Sunday Times, New Statesman, The Spectator, The Irish Times, and others. A serialised version of the novel was broadcast as a BBC Radio 4 Book at Bedtime.

His fifth novel, SEASCRAPER, will be published by Viking Penguin in July 2025.

He is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at King’s College London, where he teaches fiction modules and founded the PhD in Creative Writing programme. ​He lives in Surrey with his wife and sons.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Audio Books Beat the Backlist book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes

Published September 15th, 2022 by Mantle
Greek Mythology, Historical Fiction, Fairy Tale, Fantasy

Today I’m sharing my review for this fierce feminist retelling. Thank you to Mantle for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2023.

In Stone Blind, the instant Sunday Times bestseller, Natalie Haynes brings the infamous Medusa to life as you have never seen her before.

‘Witty, gripping, ruthless’ – Margaret Atwood via X (Twitter)

‘So to mortal men, we are monsters. Because of our flight, our strength. They fear us, so they call us monsters’

Medusa is the sole mortal in a family of gods. Growing up with her Gorgon sisters, she begins to realize that she is the only one who experiences change, the only one who can be hurt.

When Poseidon commits an unforgiveable act against Medusa in the temple of Athene, the goddess takes her revenge where she can: on his victim. Medusa is changed forever – writhing snakes for hair and her gaze now turns any living creature to stone. She can look at nothing without destroying it.

Desperate to protect her beloved sisters, Medusa condemns herself to a life of shadows. Until Perseus embarks upon a quest to fetch the head of a Gorgon . . .

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MY REVIEW:

“They will fear you and flee you and call you a monster, just like they do your sisters.”

Fierce, feminist, moving and addictive, Stone Blind is a powerful story full of humour, strength, empathy, heartbreak and righteous female rage. It tells the story of Medusa, offering you a new way to see the myths we think we know so well. And it tells us how a story can be warped and twisted until the truth is no longer recognisable.

Medusa is a myth I have long been fascinated with, and as a long-time fan of Natalie Haynes, I was excited to see her bring her and her story to life in a new way. Medusa is the original complicated protagonist, and I have a soft spot for those kinds of characters. Traditionally billed as the villain, this book finally exposes the truth of Medusa’s fate in all of its devastating and complicated glory. It’s unsettling and hard to read in places, but never gratuitous, exposing the so-called heroes for the villains they really are. And while it is billed as Medusa’s story, the snake-haired Gorgan is actually only a part of this tale. It is also a book about the bickering, jealous, selfish and vengeful gods and goddesses who are inextricably linked with Medusa and her tragic fate. 

“I feel like becoming the monster he made.”

The story itself is exquisitely written, richly layered and intricate. I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by Haynes. Her narration is evocative and emotive, making the world around me disappear as the story came to life around me. It’s emotional, raw and heartbreaking, but also funny, insightful and passionate. Natalie’s meticulous research and extensive knowledge is evident throughout, making these ancient stories feel as relatable and resonant today as they were when first written. 

A magnificent retelling, I highly recommend this to anyone who likes Greek Mythology or stories about strong women.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Natalie Haynes is a writer and broadcaster and – according to the Washington Post – a rock star mythologist. Her first novel, The Amber Fury, was published to great acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic, as was The Ancient Guide to Modern Life, her previous book. Her second novel, The Children of Jocasta, was published in 2017. Her retelling of the Trojan War, A Thousand Ships, was published in 2019. It was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2020. It has been translated into more multiple languages than she can now remember. Her non-fiction book, Pandora’s Jar: Women in the Greek Myth was published in Oct 2020, and reached number 2 in the New York Times Bestseller chart. Her novel about Medusa, Stone Blind, was published in Sep 2022 and Margaret Atwood liked it.

Natalie has been speaking on the modern relevance of the classical world for the last fifteen years, on tours which have spanned many countries and three continents.

Natalie is a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4: ten series of her show, Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics, have been broadcast on Radio 4: all series are available now on BBC Sounds. She will make series 11 in 2025.

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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 reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Book Club

SQUADPOD BOOK CLUB: L.A. Women by Ella Berman

Published August 5th, 2025 by Aria
Historical Fiction, Suspense, Psychological Fiction

Happy publication day to this atmospheric and seductive story. 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:

‘My Brilliant Friend meets Daisy Jones and the Six in this immersive story of friendship and rivalry… Berman is at her finest’ T. Greenwood, author of Keeping Lucy

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An electrifying novel about the complicated friendship between two ambitious writers and the ultimate artistic betrayal: one writes a book based upon the other’s life, revealing everything.from the author of Reese’s Book Club Pick Before We Were Innocent.

After a steady descent from literary stardom, Lane Warren is back. She’s secured a new book deal based off the life of her sometime friend and, more often, rival Gala Margolis. Lane’s only problem is that notorious free spirit Gala has been missing for months.

Ten years earlier, Gala was a charming socialite and Lane was a Hollywood outsider amidst the glittering 1960s L.A. party scene. Though they were never best friends, Lane found Gala sharp and compelling. Gala liked that Lane took her seriously. They were both writers. They were drawn to each other.

That was until Gala’s star began to rise, and Lane grew envious. Then Lane did something that she wouldn’t ever be able to take back.changing the trajectories of both their lives.

Bold, dazzling, and crackling with tension, L.A. Women plunges readers into the legendary parties and unparalleled creativity of iconic Laurel Canyon, while exploring the impossible choices women face when ambition collides with intimacy. At what cost does great art emerge? And who pays the price?

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MY REVIEW:

Los Angeles, 1965. Lane Warren moves from New York in order to work on her first novel.  As she tries to acclimatise to her new home, she begins to attend parties in the Hollywood Hills. It is there that she first meets Gala Margolis, a free spirit who seems to know everyone. The two are never best friends but they are drawn to one another and develop a friendship. As Gala’s literary star begins to rise, Lane is offered a book deal to write about their friendship. As the months go by, Lane feels deep guilt about writing the book, leading to a search for her friend that will uncover dark and shocking secrets…

Seductive, bold, mysterious and suspenseful, L. A. Women is a slow-burning story about friendship, rivalry, jealousy and betrayal. Set in L.A. during the 60s and 70s, Ella Berman brings the city and its Laurel Canyon music and art scene to life in vivid technicolour. It is these alcohol and drug-fuelled parties that serve as a backdrop for the story and the friendship between our two central characters, Lane and Gala. These women are fantastic characters. Richly drawn and compelling, they were fun to read, had me invested in their lives and pulled me into their glamorous but murky world. While both are ambitious writers trying to make a name for themselves in a male-dominated industry, that is where their similarities end. Lane is quieter, more reserved and barely drinks, while Gala is the bawdy, flirty and wild party girl. Their relationship is toxic from the start and I’d call them more frenemies than friends, having a years-long rivalry that leaves a trail of destruction in both their lives. 

Twist-filled, surprising, and full of the ups and downs life brings, this is a book that takes you through every emotion as Berman explores topics such as homophobia, reproductive rights, addiction, marriage, motherhood and fame. Gala’s disappearance also hangs over the story from the start, giving the whole book an air of mystery, foreboding and a ton of questions I needed to know the answers to. Central to the story is Lane’s book about Gala, which is intricately interwoven with not only Gala’s disappearance, but also Lane’s inner fears of failure. She is wracked with guilt and remorse and worried that by writing the book she’s using Gala just as so many others have done. Gala haunts her wherever she goes and nothing she writes is working. So, she decides to find her, but is unprepared for the life-changing revelations she will uncover. 

An atmospheric and thought-provoking read.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ella Berman grew up in both Los Angeles and London, where she studied psychology before working at Sony Music. Her debut novel, The Comeback, was selected as a Read with Jenna book club pick, and her follow-up, Before We Were Innocent, was a Reese’s Book Club pick. Raised by two former hippies on the music and art of the 1960s and 70s, she lives in London with her husband, their senior dog, and their daughter. Her third novel, L.A WOMEN is out in August, 2025.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

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Beat the Backlist book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: All the Colours of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

Published June 25th, 2024 by Orion
Thriller, Mystery, Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Literary Fiction, Coming-of-Age Story

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

OVER ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE

A sweeping coming-of-age tale, an epic love story and a searing thriller, all unfolding on a vast canvas.

There is a moment when childhood ends.

For Joseph ‘Patch’ Macauley and Saint Brown, it comes late one summer as Patch is abducted from their hometown. Devastated, Saint devotes her days to finding her best friend.

Held in total darkness, Patch is hopeless and alone – until he feels a hand in his. Though he never sees the girl, they fall in love. When he escapes, he’s left with only her voice and name – and promises to spend the rest of his life searching for her.

As Saint’s heart breaks for the boy she lost – and the man he becomes – she will shadow his journey, to uncover the truth behind who took him.

Over a lifetime driven by obsession, Patch and Saint must sacrifice everything for redemption, justice, and, ultimately, love – even if that means losing each other forever …

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MY REVIEW:

Monta Clare, Missouri, 1975. 13 year-old Joseph ‘Patch’ Macaulay is abducted after bravely stepping in when he sees a masked man assaulting a young girl. Patch is held captive in complete darkness. But he isn’t alone. Also in the dark is a girl named Grace who tells his stories and paints pictures with her words to comfort him. When he eventually escapes, Grace is nowhere to be found and investigators can find no proof that she ever existed. But Patch is convinced she is real and begins what will become a life-long search for Grace. His best friend, Saint, is devastated by the loss of the boy she knew, but pledges to keep helping him in his search. Following them both over their lifetimes, this is a story of love, obsession and the relentless search for justice.

Where on earth do I begin with this review? This is honestly one of the hardest reviews I’ve written. Not only because of the scale of this epic story, but because of the writing and the emotion it conveys. Both are difficult to describe adequately. But I will try my best to do it justice. 

Hypnotic, breathtaking and totally consuming, ‘All the Colours of the Dark’ is a masterpiece. It had been on my TBR for over a year and I had avoided reading as I was intimidated by its sheer size and all the hype that surrounded it. So, when some blogger friends invited me to join their readalong it seemed like the perfect chance to read it in a manageable way. But I failed miserably, devouring it in under a day. It stole my attention, made it impossible to think about anything else and pulled me in. I didn’t just read this book. I lived it. It wreaked havoc on my emotions and hasn’t left me since.

Chris Whitaker is a masterful storyteller and I was unprepared for the sheer beauty of what I was about to read when I started this book. The writing is breathtaking, cinematic, mesmerising, and somehow feels both gentle and raw. He paints pictures with words, just as Grace did in the darkness for Patch, using imagery and prose that is poetic, evocative and colourful. Complex, intricate, epic and sweeping, it is a story about what lurks in the shadows. It defies genre, merging a serial killer thriller, historical mystery, small-town drama and love story. The characters are richly drawn, nuanced, compelling and fractured people who make you care about them deeply. It is full of twists and turns, many of which pack a powerful punch, and moments of high drama and intensity are lightened with humour or contrast with the slower and quieter moments. Whitaker explores a variety of themes, some of which are dark and disturbing, while others inspire hope. Friendship, loss, obsession, morality and the pursuit of justice feature heavily, but it is love, trauma and human resilience that are at the centre of this story. 

Phenomenal, moving, mysterious and utterly magnificent, this is my favourite book so far this year. I can’t recommend it highly enough. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Chris Whitaker is the author of the New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling All The Colours Of The Dark. His other acclaimed and bestselling novels include We Begin At The End, Tall Oaks, and All The Wicked Girls.

Chris’s novels have been translated into thirty languages and have won the CWA Gold Dagger, the CWA John Creasey Dagger, the Theakston Crime Novel of the Year, the Ned Kelly International Award, and numerous awards around the world.

His books have also been selected for the Read With Jenna Book Club, Waterstones Thriller of the Month, Barnes & Noble Book Club, Good Morning America Book Club, and for BBC2’s Between The Covers.

All The Colours Of The Dark is currently in development with Universal Pictures. We Begin At The End is currently in development with A24.

Chris was born in London and lives in the UK.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx