Title: A Head for Murder Author: Keith Moray In: The Mammoth Book of Jack the Ripper Stories (Maxim Jakubowski) Rating Out of 5: 2.5 (Readable, but not worth reading again) My Bookshelves:Crime, Historical fiction Dates read: 11th September 2019 Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Robinson Year: 2015 5th sentence, 74th page: Who better, the prince has reasoned, than the greatest batsman of his day to save the day.
A group of gentlemen gather to play cricket and discuss their passions. But does one of them have a head for murder?
This story felt so very, very British. After all, it starts
off with the cricket whites and a bunch of gentlemen playing the age-old sport.
Just something which is far too English to be ignored… and then it jumps over
into the realm of Jack the Ripper and things get really intense really quickly.
I’ll admit, while I was reading this story, I wasn’t really
paying attention. But I gave it a low score because even though I wasn’t paying
attention, it also didn’t draw me in at all. As I’m trying to write this
review, I just have these vague recollections of moments throughout the tale. Nothing
obvious and concrete… all just very… vague.
From my hazy memory of this tale, I remember that Jack the Ripper was moving in more privileged circles… I liked that it took this spin. Most of the other stories thus far in the The Mammoth Book of Jack the Ripper Stories collection have taken more of a working-class angle to the killer or the telling of his choices. This, instead made it sound as though he was of a higher class and far removed from the realities of the victims who he butchered.
Title: Spinning Silver Author: Naomi Novik Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Fairy tales, Magic, Retellings, Strong women Dates read: 5th – 9th September 2019 Pace: Fast Format: Novel Publisher: MacMillan Year: 2018 5th sentence, 74th page: I woke thinking not of my mother, but of the ring; I wanted a chance to touch it, to hold it.
WILL DARK MAGIC CLAIM THEIR HOME?
Miryem is the daughter of a moneylender, but her father’s too kind-hearted to collect his debts. They face poverty, until Miryem hardens her own heart to collect his debts. Her success creates rumours she can turn silver into gold, which attract the fairy king of winter himself. He sets Miryem an impossible challenge – and if she fails, she dies. Yet if she triumphs, it could mean a fate worse than death. And in her desperate efforts to succeed, Miryem unwittingly involves the unhappy daughter of a lord.
Irina’s father schemes to wed her to the tsar. However, their dashing ruler hides a terrible secret that threatens mortals and winter alike. Torn between deadly choices, Miryem and Irina embark on a quest that will encompass sacrifice, power and love.
This is my first every Naomi Novik. I know that there’s been a lot of hype around her work, so I was kind of looking forward to seeing what all the fuss was about. And now I understand the fuss. It is well deserved fuss. This book was amazingly written, incredible fun and seriously intense. For some reason I was kind of expecting a young adult, easy read which would sweep me away to a beautiful, magical kingdom. This is not that book. This is a book about three different women and how they become the strong, independent women they need to be to defeat a great evil.
I normally struggle a little with storylines that jump
between narrator voices. Especially when it isn’t necessarily clear who is the
primary voice. The first few jumps between Miryem, Wanda and Irina kind of
frustrated me because it was a little difficult to follow each storyline. And
then I started recognising their narrations and their voices. Suddenly, I loved
jumping between the three girls as they became women. Jumping across voices and
storylines in a completely haphazard way which sucked me in completely.
One of the themes that is incredibly strong and prevalent
throughout this story is the idea of paying what you are owed. Whether that was
to the moneylender or paying the debts that you have accrued through your
actions. It is this great reminder that every action has a consequence, and
sometimes you have to face up to those at the worst possible moments. Although,
this wasn’t entirely negative. Wanda helps to save Miryem because she feels like
she owes her and is thankful to her actions. Miryem finds her own happily ever
after partly because she honors another being and does what is right, rather
than what is easy.
I love how each of the three women who are featured in this
story come into their own powers under their own volition. They aren’t immediately
strong. And all of the decisions that they make are for survival and their
families – it’s not about suddenly being a grown up, but the process through
which it occurs. There is a fantastic gradual change to the characters
throughout. One which makes you reflect on your own life at sixteen and how you
changed over those years (alright, I wasn’t getting married to demon spawn and
fighting for the survival of the world, but still…)
From broomsticks to black magic, leather-clad warriors to love potions gone wrong, here you’ll find four stories of supernatural sex and suspense from some of today’s hottest bestselling authors.
MaryJanice Davidson – “The Majicka” Life’s a bit crowded for Ireland and her roommates–a fairy, a werewolf, a vampire, and now a zombie…especially when a mysterious man walks through the door. Will there be any room left for love?
Lori Handeland – “Voodoo Moon” For Devil’s Fork-based FBI Agent Dana Duran, the only way to fight a supernatural serial killer just may be to embrace life. But little did she know that voodoo could be so viciously sexy…
Cheyenne McCray – “Breath of Magic” San Francisco’s witches are in an epic battle. But even if Sydney can use her sultry ways and ancient Druid powers to save the world, can she risk losing her heart to handsome warrior Conlan?
Christine Warren – “Any Witch Way She Can” A desperately lonely witch decides to take matters of love into her own hands when she casts a cosmic personal ad…only to find that the perfect formula for love is a strange brew indeed.
This was one of those random books that I picked up in a
second hand shop. I had no idea what it was about. Really what genre it
belonged to, and only vaguely recognised the names of the authors who had
contributed. I really just liked the name of the collection, it was a fun
little pun that made me quite intrigued…
From beginning to end, this collection has women who pack an
amazing punch. They’re strong, they’re powerful and they’re constantly finding
themselves in a spot of trouble. All things which I thoroughly love in a good,
strong protagonist. The fact that sex, lust and magic are all mixed in with
each other to create some incredibly fun and often times awkward stories just makes
it that much better. Mostly the sex and lust. A girls gotta get her kicks
where she can…
All four of these novellas, like many other similar
collections have sent me down the path of finding new beloved authors and
series. They’re always a good way to escape for only a short amount of time
when I have to be responsible, but long enough that I get completely sucked
into a whole new world. The fact that these were all paranormal fantasy and filled
with a good dose of romance just made me sink all the quicker into these
stories. Definitely one that I would suggest to anybody who likes their witches
with a bit of extra steam!
Title: The Constable of Abal Author: Kelly Link In: The Coyote Road (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling) Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Easy reading, Ghosts, Mythology Dates read: 5th September 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Firebird Fantasy Year: 2007 5th sentence, 74th page: Don’t tell her then, the constable said.
Ozma and her mother, Ziller, have made ghosts all the fashion. But when her mother kills the constable, things start to take a turn for the weird. And Ozma might have to find a way to start a new life all on her own.
This was one of those enjoyable, easy reads that leaves you
with a nice big smile after you turn the final page. It’s a little bit sad, and
it’s a lot bit dark. But, that smile still lingers. Which was the part of it
that I loved the most. There’s a happy ending that just feels like a beginning…
One of my favourite tropes in a story is the idea of being
completely unloved and unaccepted by your family. Especially daughters by their
mothers… I’m not sure why this draws me so thoroughly. But it does, and I
always enjoy these stories. Which meant that Ozma and Ziller’s relationship is
one that I completely lapped up. Especially even more once I found out exactly
who Ziller is and what her history was… then I just sat there with a giant,
slightly manic smile on my face.
I was honestly expecting the constable in this story to be
the one who solves a crime or goes toe to toe with a trickster. Instead, he is
just a catalyst for the split between Ozma and Ziller. One that ends up being
an incredibly healthy and fun one. Not quite the trickster story I was expecting,
but definitely one that was well suited to my mood…
Title: Picking Up the Pieces Author: Pat Cadigan In: Naked City (Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Family, Historical fiction Dates read: 5th September 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: St. Martin’s Press Year: 2011 5th sentence, 74th page: Working my way through the crowd, I began hearing snatches of English.
The youngest daughter, Quinn, has always been a little different. But in 1989, when there are happenings afoot, she might just realise that she’s not so special after all…
The use of the Berlin Wall coming down in this story took me somewhat by surprise. Probably mostly because I didn’t actually know in what year it came down and so couldn’t make an educated guess on what life-altering moment was about to occur… I need to brush up on my history badly.
I’ve now read a few Pat Cadiganshort stories and I always find them surprisingly fun. And just plain surprising… they never quite fit into the storyline and themes of the rest of the collections I find them in. But yet, their tenuous connections work so well that I’m surprised I never thought of it myself. Picking Up the Pieces is exactly the kind of story which does that for me. It’s got the great trickster vibe to it, but in a completely contemporary and family driven set up. After all, we will all do anything for our family, even when they’re kind of difficult and definitely an avenue for chaos.
I too have a little sister that just seemed to be golden. She
is just so unbelievably good. Alright, she’s not like Quinn in this story because
she’s not over the top. Or a little too easily distracted. But I would still
totally fly to Germany to try and help get her out of trouble… even if it was
of her own making…
Title: Smithfield Author: James P. Blaylock In: Queen Victoria’s Book of Spells (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling) Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one) My Bookshelves:Easy reading, Gaslamp Dates read: 5th September 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Tor Year: 2013 5th sentence, 74th page: The moon had climbed higher into the sky now and shone on the cobbles in the street.
It’s the turn of the century and things are beginning to change. Will they be able to catch this through the lens of a camera?
This was a really fun, easy read. But it wasn’t one that I
really got into. I very quickly skimmed through it, and although it was
enjoyable, it wasn’t memorable. The writing was really good though which is
probably why I did enjoy it as much as I did… it was well written, fun, but
just not enough to keep my easily distractible self paying attention…
I really liked the turn of the century feel to this story. The
use of cameras and gas lighting throughout was very atmospheric and helped to pull
along the fantastical elements of the story. It left you with a feeling of mystery
and wonder when you finally turned that last page – not quite sure what
happened, but certain that you enjoyed it.
Smithfield is one of those short stories that I’ll probably read
again in the future. Just because that lingering feeling of wonder and mystery
is still hanging around over 24 hours after I turned that final page. It is the
type of story that will keep on feeding on itself and I’m sure that I’ll find
something new to love each and every time I read it…
A desperately lonely witch decides to take matters of love into her own hands when she casts a cosmic personal ad…only to find that the perfect formula for love is a strange brew indeed.
I was thinking just the other day that if I could, I would
probably cast a spell for my sister to find her one true love. This novella made
me rethink that desire. Although, it did have a happy ending… so maybe it
wouldn’t be such a bad idea…
Most paranormal romance stories I read feature… well, the
paranormal. I’ve never read one in which the thing that makes the girl special
is that she isn’t paranormal. Unlike the rest of her extended family.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s hints that she could have more talent than expected,
but all in all, the magic-less woman is a great breath of fresh air. One that I
absolutely adored and would love to read more about… although I don’t think
she’ll feature so strongly in any of the other stories in this series…
Although the romance takes centre stage in this novella, the
fixing of old wounds and reconnecting with a family member is a fantastic
secondary story. Actually, I was more drawn in by the secondary storyline than
I was by the first. After all, the first is just another romance, the secondary
is about finding what you have in common with your insane family and finding a
way to make things work…
Title: Eragon’s Guide to Alagaesia Author: Christopher Paolini Series: The Inheritance Cycle Companion Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Dragons, Medieval fantasy Dates read: 28th August – 4th September 2019 Pace: Slow Format: Graphic novel Publisher: Doubleday Year: 2009 5th sentence, 74th page: His order, which has endured for a least five hundred years, believes that all knowledge is sacred.
From the creators of the bestselling books Dragonology, Egyptology, Piratelogy, and others, this is a never-before-seen glimpse into the world of Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance cycle. Alagaësia comes alive in a lush and detailed look at an unforgettable magical land. From elves, dwarves, Urgals, humans, and dragons, to the natural landscape and the magic it contains, Eragon himself offers the reader an unsurpassed tour. This oversized, full-color book provides 15 spreads chock full of spectacular artwork, engaging novelty elements, and fascinating insights into Eragon’s home. With gorgeous jewels adorning the cover and pages filled with envelopes, gatefolds, samples of dragon skin, and more, Eragon’s Guide to Alagaësia is sure to appeal to the legions of fans of Christopher Paolini’s bestselling Inheritance cycle.
This is one of those fun, cute and easy reads. Albeit a
little hard to lug around anywhere, hence the fact that it took me so long to actually
read this. It’s only about half an hour of reading, but you actually need to be
able to sit in a comfortable spot with a ginormous book for that period. With
two dogs trying to climb all over me… that’s difficult.
I might be a grown woman, but I love interactive stories and
pretty pictures as much as the next girl. They’re just fun. And all of the
different textured pieces placed throughout were even more enjoyable. It bought
back the enjoyment of my first books as a child. Before I was really able to
read to any decent level.
I read this companion before Eldest, and I’m so grateful that there weren’t many spoilers throughout. I was expecting far more, but except for one tiny slip about Eragon’s father, there was nothing to hint at what was going to happen in the future of the series.
This was a really nice and easy read for the last few days when my head has been full of PhD work and event planning. And it just makes me want to pick up Eldest all the more… although maybe I should finish a few books that I’ve already started first…
Jean has finally handfasted with the boy that she’s been dreaming of. But her family doesn’t think that he’s right for her. Will they ruin everything, or will blood prove thicker than water?
Yeah. This story didn’t have a happy ending. At all. Although,
it was kind of bittersweet which made me enjoy it. Although I definitely wanted
to punch Jean’s family in the face. They were just plain evil. And horrible.
And it was all just heartbreakingly wrong!
I’ve honestly always hated the saying that blood is thicker
than water. I think that it tends to be used a little too much to justify the
atrocities that we commit upon our kin. So the play on this in “thinner than
water” was really beautiful. Especially considering what a horrible family Jean
comes from… and the small minded prejudice of the town that she is from.
Although this is a fantasy story, it feels a little more
real world. It also highlights the fact that our unacceptance of others can
have some incredibly horrible consequences. Not often involving a horrific
death, but there’s often a death of some kind involved. And it’s the ones who
have tried to survive and exist that truly suffer. The ones, like Jean who are
left behind that have to feel the consequences of prejudice.
The messages in this novella have lingered long after I
turned that final page. I think the horribleness and bitter sweet ending to
this tale is why it’s hung around so long. The themes, the love and the loyalty
were heartbreaking and beautiful. It’s not the kind of novella you’re likely to
forget.
Title: The Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe Author: Annette Blair Series: Accidental Witch Trilogy #3 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Chic lit, Contemporary, Contemporary romance Dates read: 4th – 6th September 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Berkley Sensation Year: 2006 5th sentence, 74th page: Damn it!
He sought his birthright
Long ago, Rory MacKenzie’s Scottish ancestor lost the bewitching woman he loved and regretted it forever. Before he died, he sent her his greatest work of art, a beautifully carved unicorn, as a token of his eternal devotion. Now, Rory is determined to reclaim the unicorn and restore his clan to glory.
She fought her birthright
Like all the women in her family, Victoria Cartwright has inherited the key to the mysterious wardrobe in the family attic. Legend says that only the girl who possesses the magic of her ancestor can reveal the treasure within. But Vickie refuses to believe she is any sort of enchantress.
They both got more than they bargained for…
When Vickie unexpectedly opens the wardrobe, the unicorn makes her dreams come true – until the handsome Rory shows up with his own plans for the unicorn, and for Vickie…
This is a beautiful, fantastic, breathtaking end to a
beautiful little trilogy. It has the same level of cute, sweet, heart-happy
overload of the first two books. But with just that little bit of extra magic
thrown in to spice the pot. There’s nothing like fate, destiny and a magical
spell or two to help sweep along the romance. To a beautiful Scotsman. With a
serious attitude problem.
It’s hard to find someone who will accept you for who and
what you are. Even when you don’t have the extra burden of magical powers. And
a man who is inherently terrified of that extra something that this woman
possesses. Vicky and Rory’s constant tango as they both try to come to terms
with her magic is kind of a beautiful symbolism of the battle which many of us
go through to find someone who just accepts us for us.
I have a Scottish background, it’s diluted, but it’s enough
that I’m constantly fascinated by any character from the country. There is
something weird about it that seems to keep drawing me back in. Which, of
course, is why I immediately found Rory fascinating. He is a cantankerous Scottish
hermit with a HUGE chip on his shoulder. All things that will immediately draw
me in. Partnering him with an absolute sweetheart like Vicky and intertwining
their lives with foolish ancestors and a prophecy or two was just brilliant. I found
myself completely drawn in by the title, let alone when the story started…
Unlike the first two books in this series, The Scot, the
Witch and the Wardrobe ties much tighter to family and history. Kira and
Mel are both in difficult family situations, but they are a backdrop to the
main storyline. Vicky’s family on the other hand act as a major plot twist and moment.
Their relationships not only drive Vicky’s attraction to Rory, but also provide
her with a moment of power that she would have been otherwise unable to
achieve. Sisters are wonderful, and irritating, and quite possibly going to
drive us all completely insane. But they are also the people who give us the
most strength. And I think that Vicky’s discovery of her family reflects that
perfectly.
