Steph Warren - Bookshine posted: " First a quick explanation! Due to some severe health issues over the last few years, and a lingering chronic condition, my planned review schedule went right out of the window and I have been scrabbling ever since to get it bac" Bookshine And Readbows
Due to some severe health issues over the last few years, and a lingering chronic condition, my planned review schedule went right out of the window and I have been scrabbling ever since to get it back on track.
In my latest attempt to try to regain some lost ground, I have been scrunching some of my (overdue) NetGalley reviews together into one or two posts each week: shorter reviews, but still covering all of the points I intended to.
That's the plan anyway, so let's cosy up with a cuppa and that towering TBR...!
Title: The Essential Peter S. Beagle, Volume 2: Oakland Dragon Blues and Other Stories Author: Peter S. Beagle Publisher:Tachyon Publications
Blurb: The essential first volume of bestselling author Peter S. Beagle's (The Last Unicorn) short stories demonstrates why he is one of America's most influential fantasists. With his celebrated versatility, humor, and grace, Beagle is at home in a dazzling variety of subgenres. Evoking comparison to such iconic authors as Twain, Tolkien, Carroll, L'Engle, and Vonnegut, this career retrospective celebrates Beagle's mastery of the short-story form.
An unlikely friendship based on philosophy develops between an aging academic and a mythological beast. A mysterious, beautiful attendee who attends a ball thrown in her honor chooses whether or not to become mortal. A dysfunctional relationship is not improved by the consequences of lycanthropy. One very brave young mouse questions his identity and redefines feline wiles.
From heartbreaking to humorous, these carefully curated stories by Peter S. Beagle show the depth and power of his incomparable prose and storytelling. Featuring an original introduction from Jane Yolen (Owl Moon) and gorgeous illustrations from Stephanie Pui-Mun Law (Shadowscapes), this elegant collection is a must-have for any fan of classic fantasy.
Review: Another superb collection of fantasy stories that richly invoke the author's childhood streets, friends and imagination.
Inside these pages are dragons and centaurs, ghosts and illusions, monsters (supernatural and human) and werewolves, unicorns (of course!), aliens, death dogs, time travel, a jaunt through the Overneath and an Edgar Rice Burroughs homage mash-up - so an eclectic mix of different sci-fi, fantasy and speculative styles across the stories.
My personal favourites were the stories based on the author's childhood friends: 'The Rock in the Park', 'Marty and the Messenger', 'Mr McCaslin' and 'The Fifth Season'. They really conjured up a nostalgic atmosphere of hot childhood summers lived in your wildest imaginations, roaming wild and responsibility-free... I felt like I was transported back in time with each one.
I was less keen on the Edgar Rice Burroughs inspired 'Tarzan Swings by Barsoom', which makes sense as I haven't read any of that authors work and so felt pretty lost in space with the whole adventure. I'm sure fans familiar with the original stories will love it though!
As usual though, Peter S. Beagle knocks it right out of the park when it comes to fantasy of any description, short stories in particular, and the knack of bringing the world into vivid focus in ways you hadn't thought to see it before.
Blurb: Many would find much to fear in Fyneshade's dark and crumbling corridors, its unseen master and silent servants. But not I. For they have far more to fear from me...
On the day of her beloved grandmother's funeral, Marta discovers that she is to become governess to the young daughter of Sir William Pritchard. Separated from her lover and discarded by her family, Marta has no choice but to journey to Pritchard's ancient and crumbling house, Fyneshade, in the wilds of Derbyshire.
All is not well at Fyneshade. Marta's pupil, little Grace, can be taught nothing, and Marta takes no comfort from the silent servants who will not meet her eye. More intriguing is that Sir William is mysteriously absent, and his son and heir Vaughan is forbidden to enter the house. Marta finds herself drawn to Vaughan, despite the warnings of the housekeeper that he is a danger to all around him. But Marta is no innocent to be preyed upon. Guided by the dark gift taught to her by her grandmother, she has made her own plans. And it will take more than a family riven by murderous secrets to stop her...
Perfect for readers of Laura Purcell, Jessie Burton and Stacey Halls, Fyneshade is a dark and twisted gothic novel unlike any you've read before...
Review: I was drawn to this book by the brooding, Gothic cover and blurb, then realised whilst reading that it was inspired by Henry James' The Turn of the Screw - I won't give away how, but readers of that story will spot the link!
Here the author has cleverly reversed many Gothic mystery tropes, so that the 'innocent young governess' arriving at the creepy big house full of dark family secrets appears to be more predator than prey... but you know what they say about appearances and this story is FULL of deception!
I was reminded of classic books like Jane Eyre and Rebecca at first, but as the story unfolded and the characters revealed deeper layers, the story also brought to mind Philippa Gregory's Wideacre series (but with an even less sympathetic narrator than Beatrice Lacey!)
While I absolutely love the twist of seeing a story through the eyes of a sociopath or villain, it also makes for quite uncomfortable reading. Marta's attitude and behaviour towards children and animals was particularly disturbing and could trigger sensitive readers.
This has a great setup and builds tension very effectively, with the oppressive atmosphere and devious main character, but doesn't quite deliver on all of the foreshadowing in the climax of the plot. Still, the twists are well-delivered (even if I saw some of them coming) and fans of the abovementioned Gothic comparators will enjoy this clever new take on the genre.
Title: Alice the Cat Author: Tim Cummings Publisher:Regal House, Fitzroy Books
Blurb: On the verge of her thirteenth birthday, Tess's life is falling apart. Her mother is dead. Her father is like a zombie. And now her beloved cat, Alice, has started rushing into the street when cars go by, trying to get run over. The only thing Tess can think of that might help? Running away.
This book is considered upper middle grade and is ideal for readers aged 11-14.
Review: Be warned - this book is absolutely heartbreaking! I cried and cried!
Everything that can go wrong seems to have gone wrong for the poor main character, Tess, and her beloved cat being lured by a ghost feels like the last straw, tipping her into going on the run in a desperate attempt to keep hold of the one loved one she has left. And while attempting to run and hide from unpleasant realities, Tess meets some unusual new friends: brain-injured Eddie; sweet stalker Cotter; Goth couple Dami and Lunar; and the aforementioned ghostly cat-poacher.
So, this is a coming of age story about dealing with loss and the ensuing trauma, anger and bewilderment it leaves behind. All of the characters are wonderfully drawn and instantly compelling and the writing plunges you deep into Tess's grief and keeps you immersed there with her, holding your breath that you will both surface by the end of the story.
The supernatural elements are neatly woven in with the realism of the emotion and characters and are, in turns, scary, clever and comforting. And while nothing is 'all fixed' by the end of the book (again, realism) there is hope that Tess is on a brighter, healing path.
I couldn't stop turning the pages and was rooting for Tess, Alice and co. all the way, and although I did cry a lot, they were cathartic tears that left me with a warm, comforted glow when I finally put the book down.
Title: The Murder Affair (A Beth Haldane Mystery Book 9) Author: Alice Castle Publisher:Bookouture
Blurb: In a quiet little village, mourners gather for a church funeral. But some of the tears flowing are fake – and Beth Haldane suspects foul play…
On a rainy afternoon, Beth Haldane accompanies her elderly mother Wendy to the funeral of her boyfriend and local councillor Len. But as they gather in the church, Beth can't help but notice how many women are there who look just like her mother.
As the service begins it soon becomes clear that all of the women thought they were Len's special someone – and one of them even claims to be his distraught wife. Wendy suspects foul play and immediately asks Beth to investigate.
As Beth begins to speak to the women she has to ask, was one of Len's many disgruntled girlfriends out for revenge? Why was Len borrowing money from the ladies he romanced? And why did his work for the local council seem so suspicious?
Then, Len's secretary Bella is found dead amongst the dahlias in the churchyard. Beth starts to suspect Len was involved in something far more dangerous than she'd assumed but what did Bella know about his business that led to her unfortunate end?
With the village rumour mill in full swing, fingers start to point at Wendy. After all, distraught Wendy is telling everyone who lends her an ear that Len was murdered – and she saw Len the very evening he was found dead. The clock is ticking for Beth to clear her mother's name before it's too late!
A deliciously cozy and gripping murder mystery, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and The Thursday Murder Club.
Review: I've been following this series since the beginning (when they were the Dulwich mysteries!) and they are great cosy British mystery stories with a very relatable main character and clever plots.
Beth Haldane returns in this 9th instalment to investigate the murder of an aging Lothario and attempt to balance that with the demands of her unreasonable mother, chaperoning teen school discos, smoothing out her friends' personal problems and avoiding doing any work at her day job!
It is not only Beth that is likable and endearing, I also love her relationships with regular side character - son Jake, partner Harry, her pets and her various friends and family members - and how they have all developed as the series has progressed.
The plot technically stands alone perfectly well, but I would really recommend reading the series in order and seeing how Beth grows from a broke and lonely single mum to an intrepid investigator, mostly-confident teen boy mum, police partner and professional skiver (I seriously love her approach to her archive work!).
There were SO many suspects in this particular plot that I was amazed Beth even managed to narrow them down, but with the help of frequent sidekick Katie and her irrepressible pup Beth manages to sniff out a killer with a minimum of head-bonking this time round. It's all a bit far-fetched but such good, entertaining fun, well-written and easy to read, so most mystery fans won't mind the odd pinch of salt!
Title: Perilous Times Author: Thomas D. Lee Publisher:Little, Brown Book Group UK, Orbit
Blurb: IN PERILOUS TIMES LIKE THESE, THE REALM DOESN'T JUST NEED A HERO. IT NEEDS A KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR.
Sir Kay and his fellow knights awake from their mythical slumber whenever Britain has need of them; they fought at Agincourt and at the Somme. But in these perilous modern times, the realm is more divided than ever, a dragon has been seen for the first time in centuries, and Kay is not the only ancient and terrible thing to come crawling up out of the ground . . .
Perilous Times is a fiercely entertaining contemporary take on the myths of Camelot, which asks: what happens when the Knights of the Round Table return to fix the problems of the modern world?
This debut is perfect for fans of Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, Jodi Taylor and Ben Aaronovitch.
Review: Arthurian characters are resurrected in modern times to face challenges such as climate change and capitalism instead of dragons and witches... although those are there too!
This sounds like a Pratchett-esque romp based on the blurb, cover and comparators but it is weighed down by the massive responsibility of its moral messages and also by the sheer depressing helplessness and crippling self-doubtful moral agonising that plagues the main characters throughout. The plot and (most of the) characters are clever and well-developed but large chunks of the standing staring hopelessly at the unfolding disasters all round could have been trimmed and still kept the overall structure intact (and lighter!) My average reading time for a novel of this size is 3-4 hours spread over a day or two. This one took me more like 8 hours and a week!
I did like the overall message of the story and the main plotline, and I really enjoyed following loyal Kay, conflicted Lancelot, cynical Marlowe and egomaniacal Arthur. I never quite clicked with Mariam's character though - she didn't feel as real or well-rounded as the others, which was a shame as she carries a lot of the story's weight.
This feels like a really good light fantasy romp bogged down by hefty moral messaging, or a really interesting moral tome constantly interrupted by interludes of inopportune levity - I enjoyed both sides, but felt they were hard work when taken together!
This was a really mixed bunch of fantasy and crime in different styles (and for different ages!) but they are all united in being entertaining reads.
I'm ramping up my reading and reviewing efforts in a bid to finally get up to date before the new year, so expect more brilliant books coming to this blog soon.
In the meantime, happy reading, stay warm and keep shining! 🙂
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