Category: book reviews

Book Review: The Girl in Seat 2A – Diana Wilkinson

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Good evening readers and welcome to another review post! If I keep up this pace, I’ll review my backlist in no time, right?! Funny! However, The Girl in Seat 2A get a priority review as the book is coming out in just a few days. I was able to get hold of a copy through NetGalley in order to provide my review ahead of publication on Friday. If you enjoy action-packed psychological thrillers, then The Girl in Seat 2A could well be for you!

Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the chance to review The Girl in Seat 2A ahead of publication. As always, my opinions shared are my own. 

Now, shall we take a look at the book?

 

The Girl in Seat 2A – Diana Wilkinson

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Pages: 359

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 19 Jan 2023

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

 

Goodreads – The Girl in Seat 2A

Funny how one lie can spiral…

One thing about me: I HATE flying. It’s my worst nightmare.

That’s why I book seat 2A every time I fly. Since my big win, I’ve been booking seats 2B and 2C as well. They’re my comfort seats, they cushion the claustrophobia, and at last I can afford them.

I am now determined to live the life of luxury. I deserve it, after all.

How to Live Like a Millionaire is the book I’m reading on this flight. When it lands on the floor, a handsome guy hands it back to me. I know he clocks the title, because he’s totally charming and talks to me as if I’m one of the Marbella Millionaire set.

When I land in sunny Spain, I’ll be acting like a millionairess, that’s for sure – even if it’s stretching the truth, just a bit. We all know that money talks, and I intend to talk my way into a better life.

Who knows… maybe this guy, the one who had the cheek to sit down in seat 2C, might be someone special. He has an air of danger, but who cares?

 

My Thoughts

 

Plot

The Girl in Seat 2A has a unique and captivating storyline that I have never read before. The book features protagonist Jade, who embarks on a millionaire lifestyle and finding a partner whilst on holiday abroad in Marbella. However, not all is as first appears. Jade has secrets to hide about her funds, and she’s on the clock to secure the lifestyle for good.

There is enough action to keep the plot moving, but not so much to overwhelm. I enjoyed the pace and watching events as they unravelled.

The ending to The Girl in Seat 2A has a few surprises as well. Whilst I’d already got some measure of events as they played out, I didn’t work it all out! You sleuths out there will have your work cut out for you if that’s how you like to enjoy your thrillers!

 

Characters

If I’m honest, I found Jade unrelatable as a character and so I couldn’t really invest in her too much. I wouldn’t have put myself in her position in the first place and then, in my opinion, she makes questionable choices throughout. I spent most of her narrative frustrated with her.

Just because I didn’t get on with her doesn’t mean her part isn’t well written. Her character and personality are consistent throughout. They also shape those decisions I found myself mentally shouting at her for. Overall, she’s a well written character… just not my kind of person.

On the other hand, I found Martha a much more relatable and reliable character perspective. I would have liked to see more of her perspective, or perhaps it be more spaced out throughout the book. There is a perfectly good reason why the chapters and perspectives are set out the way they are, and it works. Had I enjoyed Jade’s character more I might feel differently. Martha was my favourite character though!

It is through Martha’s alternate perspective that we start to see some depth to other characters and events, but also the plot unravel. I’d already come to similar conclusions of what was happening but as I mention, there are still some surprises!

 

Narrative Style

The structure of split perspective’s definitely adds to The Girl in Seat 2A. Through the lens of Martha we get to see truths that we would never have experienced through the perspective of Jade. The change in narrative voice is also distinct and refreshing.

Each perspective is easy to read and follow. The book is also written through a multitude of short chapters, making this an approachable read for all and easy to pick up and put down as necessary.

 

Summary

Overall I rated The Girl in Seat 2A four stars. It’s an enjoyable psychological thriller that’s engaging and keeps the reader guessing what happens next!

Is this on your list of upcoming reads to try?

 

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Book Review: Leadership and Culture – John and Katie McCann

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For high performing or aspirational readers who are about to undergo the appraisal and objective-setting season at work, today’s book may just be of interest! In today’s review, I share my thoughts on the practical guide, Leadership and Culture by John and Katie McCann.

Are you looking to develop yourselves or your career in 2024?

I downloaded and read Leadership and Culture after seeing the book available on Netgalley. I am not at a managerial level at work, but I would like to give myself the skillset to be considered in future. Even if you’re not – consider this. Leadership comes from a select few, but workplace culture is a collective environment and contributed to by everyone. We all have the power to change culture. For that reason, I think this book has value to all.

Shall we take a look in more detail?

 

Leadership and Culture – John and Katie McCann

Genre: Non-fiction

Pages: 210

Audience: Adult

Publisher: 27 Sept 2022

Publication Date:

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

 

Goodreads – Leadership and Culture

Every team has a manager… But not every team is lucky enough to have a true leader. Get ready to break the mold!

Did you know that 82% of employees would consider quitting their job because of a bad boss?

And it isn’t just that you don’t want to be a bad boss… You don’t want to be a boss at all – you want to be a leader. A boss commands … A leader inspires and influences – and that’s the route to happy employees, a dedicated workforce, and an organization that achieves its goals .

Whether you’re a new manager, an aspiring one, or an experienced manager or business owner, there’s always more to learn… and there’s always room to develop your leadership skills so that you can be sure you’re an inspirational and empathetic leader … and not a disconnected boss.

It all starts with the workplace culture you cultivate… one that is positive, inclusive, and authentic … one that motivates your team to go above and beyond… and to do so happily.

Any successful organization has, at its core, a team that trusts and respects its leaders and is willing to do what it takes to help the company reach its goals… and behind every team like this, there’s a leader who knows just what to do to steer the ship.

You can be that leader.

And with this comprehensive guide by your side, you’ll have something to refer to every time you flounder. Inside, you’ll And much more.

Every company has a boss… but the most successful ones have a leader. And if you have any doubt in your mind as to whether you can be one, it’s time to silence that inner critic for good.

If you’re passionate about leading your team to success, you have everything you need to be the driving force behind an outstanding team… All you need now is the manual…

 

My Thoughts

 

Structure

The book is broken down into five key skills, and then further into related chapters with subtopics on each skill. From building trust to inspiring motivation, Leadership and Culture starts from the ground up.

The length of the book makes it approachable to pick up. At 210 pages in its entirety, it concisely covers the skills, examples and action points to succinctly set you on the path for success.

Although I read the book in chronological order, I would argue that it would be possible to go back to any of these sections at any point and revisit the content. To an extent there are references to early chapters and content as a foundation, but this wouldn’t stop anyone from being able to read a section standalone.

On a practical level, it means the book can be picked up countless times and never lose its value, regardless of how many times you pick it up again. I can see myself picking this up and revisiting the book, especially if there are certain skills I want to brush up on, or scenarios where I am inexperienced in handling them!

 

Ideas

The content of the book would be especially great for either aspiring or first time managers, or as a refresher of fundamentals for the more experienced. The book’s content is both approachable and relatable, whilst demonstrating the extensive research that asks up each idea. Throughout, I was able to visualise the examples in the practical terms of my own experience at work.

Not only do the scenarios in the book ring true, but then the author’s have outlined practical action points for managers to adopt to resolve conflict or pressure in a way that promotes positivity. It’s as much a practical guide as it is a compilation of case studies of what can happen when things go wrong.

I think this also has value for all employees. As I mention in the introduction, culture isn’t strictly created by the few at the top. It’s about the whole workplace. Sure, managers and senior staff will have a lot of influence over it, but not entirely.

Leadership and Culture has value in helping us understand where workplace culture isn’t working and raise awareness. Often, we can recognise that something isn’t quite right but are unable to identify a problem exactly. The topics and downfalls explored in this book are ones that I can see happening in every workplace at some point in time. Even in big name companies! Many of the examples within are names we know.

 

Summary

Leadership and Culture is all about positive change. If you are looking to make positive change in your life in 2024, or would like to start making improvements in your workplace, this book is a great place to start!

Are you looking to develop yourselves or your career in 2024?

 

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Book Review: Order and Chaos – An Anthology

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Good evening readers! I’m excited to bring you a book review today. I’m sharing my thoughts on a short story anthology I just finished – Order and Chaos!

You may recall that I read and reviewed another short story anthology earlier this year. Taking Liberties was a great anthology that got me to read something different. When Stephanie Bretherton, an author contributing to both these anthologies, approached me for a review for a second time, it was an easy decision!

 

Order and Chaos

Genre: Short Stories

Pages: 185

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Breakthrough Books

Publication Date: 31 Oct 2023

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

 

 

Goodreads – Order and Chaos

Ancient gods in conflict and a zombie on welfare, a disappearing boyfriend and AI with daddy issues, a balloon bound for icy danger and a mysterious theft at the museum, a sinister woodland cabin and a pleasure house that’ll cost much more than you can afford.

Raiding parties in dystopia, art classes in the city, opposites attracting and love catching fire. Separations and siblings, life and death decisions, flying into trouble and traveling to self-discovery…

Which comes first, chaos or order? The cycles between may seem inevitable, and change may be the only constant, but what does that mean for the human experience?

Sixteen authors from the Breakthrough Books collective explore our relationships with nature and technology, science and the sacred, each other and ourselves, offering an array of stories as individual as every reader.

Eli Allison, Mark Bowsher, Stephanie Bretherton, Jamie Chipperfield, Jason Cobley, Stevyn Colgan, Sue Clark, Samuel Dodson, Miles Hudson, A.B. Kyazze, Pete Langman, Virginia Moffatt, Eamon Somers, Nicole Swengley, Damon L. Wakes, PJ Whiteley.

Also from the Breakthrough Books collective, Taking Liberties , a short story anthology on the theme of freedom.

 

My Thoughts

Much like Taking Liberties, Order and Chaos is an anthology of stories that loosely fit around the titular themes. Otherwise, they are very varied! In the grand scheme of things, the themes of the book can be interpreted very broadly… and they are by the authors who have contributed to the book. From stories with science and/or futuristic settings, to modern day encounters, it’s all here!

Order and Chaos is a quick and engaging read. I found it easy to pick up and put down around my busy schedule this month. In truth, I read the book in three sittings, but could easily have read it sooner if I’d read for longer sessions.

The beauty about short stories though is that you don’t have to do that. You can read stories one at a time, or maybe a couple in one go. With none being that long in length, they can fit into a bite-size break as and when time is available. For readers who are on the go, or need to make the most of small window opportunities, this would be a great book to do that with!

Even though Order and Chaos doesn’t require much in the way of commitment to read, the stories are still immersive and emotive. Quality isn’t compromised as a result of the quantity. I enjoyed each of the stories within for different reasons. What they all have in common are characters that I cared about.

If as a reader you are unsure of what to read next, need a spice of variety and/or a palate cleanser between books, look again at anthologies. They are a great way to sample new authors or settings to you decide if you want to explore them further. At least one of the stories in this book references additional material should you want to expand on the story just read if you liked it.

 

Summary

Order and Chaos is a fun anthology that brings together the diverse works of multiple authors around these common themes. Easy to pick up and even easier to read, I enjoyed the flexibility of shorter narratives and being able to try the works of different authors. The change of pace has been enjoyable in the busy days over Christmas; as a result, I recommend this to anybody who wants to try and make the most of even short breaks to pick up a book and read!

If you’re setting yourself a New Year’s resolution to try and read a little more, wouldn’t this would be a perfect start?

 

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Book Review: Ashes of Guilt – Isabella Steele

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In today’s book review post, I’m excited to share my thoughts on Ashes of Guilt by Isabella Steele! If you are interested in a fast-paced thriller, full of action and intrigue, then read on!

I disclose here that I received a free copy of the book from Reedsy Discovery for the purpose of review. My review below is my honest opinion.

 

Ashes of Guilt – Isabella Steele

Genre: Thriller

Pages: 222

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Cosmic Phoenix Publishing

Publication Date: 04 Oct 2023

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟

 

Goodreads – Ashes of Guilt

In the chilling heart of a quiet town, Detective Olivia Morgan is thrust into a mystery that’s eerily linked to her darkest secret. At the tender age of eight, an accident led her to mistakenly take a man’s life. Two decades later, as disappearances plague her hometown, Olivia faces a haunting every vanished person had connections to that very man she believed she had killed.

Olivia’s return to her roots becomes a harrowing journey as she grapples with a past that relentlessly shadows her. The town, with its whispers and judgmental glares, doesn’t make it any easier. As the net tightens around the disappearances, the sense of being surveilled grows more acute for Olivia. Mysterious threats, chilling reminders of her traumatic past, and an unexpected appearance by her estranged sister—who seems intent on halting her investigation—makes Olivia question everything she thought she knew. But the most chilling question of all What if the narrative she’d believed for two decades—that she was a murderer—was flipped, revealing Olivia as the victim in a twisted game of deceit and vengeance? Delve into this spine-tingling thriller where secrets of the past entwine with the present’s deadly mysteries. “Detective Morgan’s Haunting” isn’t just a story—it’s an experience you won’t forget. Grab your copy today and unravel the truth alongside Olivia. Can you solve the enigma before it’s too late?

 

My Thoughts

 

Plot

Ashes of Guilt throws you right into a busy narrative. With action kicking off in the first few pages, it sets the scene, and our expectations, for the rest of the book.

From the synopsis, we glean that all that has occurred in the past is not as it seems. When Olivia travels back to her hometown to help local police investigate what appear to be a string of murders, she finds her past lurking around every corner.

Quite quickly we progress through events hinted at in the synopsis, leaving the rest of the book to explore the finer details and range into unchartered territory. Ashes of Guilt had me guessing throughout as to who I could trust, and who I could not. What would happen next?

Whilst I had some ideas, there were plenty of surprises to keep me invested and wanting to find out more!

 

Characters

There is a complexity to each of the characters involved in this book that keep us asking questions. Who are these people? What relationships do they have – and are we getting the full picture? For those who enjoy a character-driven narrative, these are the questions that will hook you into this book.

There is more to this narrative than first meets the eye, and this ultimately colours our perception of some of the characters as event play out.

The plot centres round a select few key characters. I quickly formed opinions on some of these central pillars of the narrative. However, there is a full cast of complementary characters that bolster the narrative and create the small-town vibe that lends itself to the genre perfectly.

Olivia cannot feel more acutely that she is an outsider in a town she once called home. As somebody who lives in a relatively small community herself, I can attest to the attitudes of the people in this book. Everyone knows your business before you do, and are more than willing to weigh in on the subject. This is something that Olivia has to deal with on top of trying to track down a potential serial killer. No pressure…

 

Narrative Style

Whilst the pace of this thriller novel is faster than I would typically read, it was no less enjoyable. The stakes are high and has us readers wondering what was coming next.

The chapter lengths are nice and short, keeping the action snappy and to the point whilst retaining our interest. I also enjoyed how the perspectives changed throughout the book. Each individual main character has a unique perspective on the action as it’s taking place. It’s through these different narratives that we get to see the different pieces of the puzzle eventually come together.

 

Summary

Ashes of Guilt is an interesting and twisty page-turner. Compulsively readable, it is a book that draws into the depths of humanity and has us asking ourselves, what could possibly happen next?

 

Have you read Ashes of Guilt yet?

 

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Book Review: The Appeal – Janice Hallett

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I’m excited to bring you my thoughts on a fun mixed media book I read in June last year – The Appeal by Janice Hallett. It’s the book that introduced me to this narrative style, and I loved it! I’ve gone on to read other books in this style since and I’m still a fan, regardless of genre.

Shall we take a look at the details?

 

The Appeal – Janice Hallett

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 432

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Viper

Publication Date: 14 Jan 2021

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

 

Goodreads – The Appeal

 

Dear Reader,

Enclosed are documents relating to the events surrounding the Fairway Players’ staging of All My Sons, and the tragic death of one of its members. Another member is currently in prison for the crime. We have reason to suspect that they are innocent, and that there were far darker secrets that have yet to be revealed.

We believe that the killer has given themselves away. It’s there in writing, hidden in the emails, texts, and letters. Will you accept the challenge? Can you uncover the truth? Do you dare?

 

My Thoughts

 

Narrative Style

The selling point of this book is the format in which the story is told. Written in mixed media, we unravel the lives of a wide cast of characters through emails, texts and posters, to give just a few examples. 

The interesting thing about this format is that you experience a lot of different voices and perspectives. As a result, a lot of the story is told in subtext and us readers need to pay attention to what isn’t said as much as what is.

The opening media is a letter to the junior lawyers, who are in the same position as the reader. We are reviewing the evidence of a murder case, we’re invited to scrutinise everything. We’re told at the beginning that the senior lawyer believes the wrong person has been arrested, and so our journey into the mystery begins…

 

Plot

The Appeal unveils an intricate mystery that starts off quite simple, but quickly branches out. The local Theatre troupe, Fairway Players, pull together when they receive the news that their star performer’s grandchild is diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. However, not all is as it seems. Whilst we discover in the opening pages that at some point, a murder takes place, this doesn’t happen early on in the narrative. We spend a good portion of the book getting to the point of this event, and naturally, wondering who the victim is.

The Appeal has a clever, complex and twisty narrative. Nothing is as it first appears. As we delve deeper into the narrative, we uncover truths and deceptions that keep us compulsively turning the pages. Honestly, it is a book where you are best off not believing what you are told and making up your own mind.

Whilst had worked out something fishy was going on pretty early on, there are plenty of false trails planted that kept me from uncovering the truth entirely. I’m sure that will be the same for most readers. I can honestly say that when I wasn’t reading this book, I was thinking about it and trying to unpick the tangled threads that create this fantastic read!

 

Characters

The cast of characters is vast and complex. Couple that with a small town like community, who are distrustful of newcomers by nature and wreathed in gossip, subterfuge and scandal, and this is a simmering pot begging to overspill!

The two-facedness we see in some characters and their relationships with others is relatable. Sadly, it’s something we’re all too familiar with. Naturally, as we experience the narrative through multiple subjective points of view, we rarely get an unbiased view of events. Characters either colour themselves and their actions through rose-tinted spectacles, or alternatively, we get equal or opposing biased viewpoints from others.

Some characters seem more independent and objective than others. But, with questionable pasts, are we getting the truth? Equally, there are blantant attention seekers and liars. For those types, any readers like me will quickly formulate their own opinions as to who to take with a pinch of salt, and those to disregard completely! With a full spectrum of characters and underlying motives, readers can experience every emotion going in this book. The question is, who do we believe?

Imagine trying to unpick a murder mystery from suspects that are in your social circle. You already have your opinions of people; who is most likely to have an agenda, who wouldn’t harm a fly etc. It’s all subjective and consequently full of bias. The same goes for The Appeal! With over 20 characters to keep tabs on at a semi-intimate level, it’s a lot to digest. But, that’s fun if that’s your bag.

 

Summary

The Appeal is a fun and intriguing mystery with a lot of layers and complexity. With questionable characters, events and a narrative style that keeps readers engaged, it’s the perfect read for anyone looking for a change of pace!

Have you read The Appeal, or any other books by Janice Hallett? I own a copy of The Curious Case of the Alperton Angels, but I haven’t read it yet.

As always, I would love to hear your thoughts or comments!

 

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Book Review: Cinderella’s Crimes – Kelsey Josund

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In today’s review post, I have the pleasure to share my thoughts on a unique fairytale retelling that held my attention throughout. Cinderella’s Crimes is loosely based on the classic fairytale, but quickly deviates and develops a world of its own.

What’s more exciting is that I have the privilege of sharing my thoughts on the book’s re-publication day; it was originally released under the title Pretty Deadly. I hope you are as excited for this book as I am to tell you about it. Let’s check out the details of the book and then dive into my review!

 

Cinderella’s Crimes – Kelsey Josund

Genre: Fairytale Retelling

Pages: 230

Audience: Young Adult

Publisher: Kelsey Josund

Publication Date: 31 Oct 2023

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

 

Goodreads – Cinderella’s Crimes

 

Cinna would quite literally kill for the throne.

For years, Cinna has been forced to serve her wealthy cousins rather than attend society events alongside them. She has waited for the chance to prove herself and exact revenge. When a ball at the castle is announced, promising to bring many powerful people to town, she seizes the opportunity to strike.

She bets her best friend, Johann, a small-time thief and con-man, that she can land a greater score the night of the ball than he can, and they embark on parallel heists. But as their plots unfold, things begin to unravel: by the end of the night, the castle’s on lock down, a duchess is dead, a mansion has burnt to the ground—and Cinna hasn’t even stolen anything.

Or has she captured something far more valuable than gold and jewels?

 

My Thoughts

 

Plot

A complex heist is the feature of this retelling, and it far surpassed my expectation in details and intrigue. There is no way I had anticipated the events that unfold in the book; it is a real page-turner! If you are a follower of my blog and keep up with my weekly Sunday Summary updates, you will know that I read Cinderella’s Crimes in just a handful of days earlier this month. If that doesn’t prove my point, then I don’t know what does!

Regardless of the intricacies, the plot is easy to follow and engaging to the reader. The narrative is also full of plot twists, with us not knowing what will happen next at any given moment.

Who scores the greatest haul on the night? Well, I’m not going to tell you that! You’ll just have to read the book for yourself!

 

Characters

Cinna, unlike her fairytale counterpart, is a cold and calculating individual. Subjected to a fall of grace in her family as a result of mistreatment by her stepmother and step-siblings, she plots her revenge every day. In order to break out of her desperate circumstances, she plans the most daring of heists, and sets herself against her friend Johann in scoring the greatest haul on the night. Cinna is a complex character and a fun perspective to enjoy this story from.

Johann is also an interesting counterpart to Cinna. Like Cinna, he is far from altruistic, and this isn’t his first criminal venture. It’s by far the biggest yet, however, and he rises to the challenge! With little time to prepare, Johann is incredibly resourceful and determined to best Cinna, even though he suspects deep down she’ll trump him. He’s determined pull it off anyway.

The dynamic between the two adds intrigue to an already high stakes story. I enjoyed their complicated relationship at every stage of the book.

 

Narrative Style

The short and concise chapters make this already compulsively readable story even easier to read.

The chapters intertwine between Johann and Cinna’s perspective, combining two different angles of the heist into one comprehensive story. As these two seemingly separate parts come together into the full picture, we’re surprised by how their daring endeavours unravel in tandem.

 

Summary

Cinderella’s Crimes is a dark twist to a classic fairytale with high stakes, daring adventure, and a shot at revenge that is best served cold!

Are you intrigued by Cinderella’s Crimes? Would you like to read it for yourself?

 

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Blog Tour Review: Warrior Prince – J.C. Duncan

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It’s time for another book review and I’m excited to share it as part of the blog tour for Warrior Prince. I personally chose to pick up the book as I wanted to read something with a Viking theme. At the same time, I wanted something a little different from other books on the market focussing them in a Saxon setting.

Warrior Prince does just that, and more besides! Before I get into the nitty-gritty, I will firstly say thank you to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources, and to the author, J.C. Duncan. I appreciate the opportunity to review the book as part of the tour.

Now, let’s get to the bit you are here for – the book!

 

Warrior Prince – J.C. Duncan

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 355

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: 23 Oct 2023

Rating: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

 

Goodreads – Warrior Prince

Prince. Mercenary. Exile.

The lost throne of Norway must be won in foreign lands.

1030 AD

Some men are gifted a crown. Others have to fight to claim it.

Exiled from Norway, Harald Sigurdsson, brother to murdered King Olaf, must battle mercilessly for survival in the lands of the Kievan Rus.

His brother’s legacy gifts him a warband of hardened warriors and entry to the court of Prince Yaroslav the Wise. By his wits, sword and skill in battle, Harald must learn not just to survive but to triumph.

He fights for glory, for fame, and to regain his family’s battle-stolen throne. But his greatest

challenge may not come from battlefield foes but from those who stand by his side.

The first instalment in a remarkable story of an exiled boy’s incredible journey to become Harald

Hardrada; The Hard Ruler and The Last Viking.

Perfect for fans of Matthew Harffy, Peter Gibbons, Bernard Cornwell and Christian Cameron

 

Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/warriorprincesocial

 

My Thoughts…

 

Plot

Warrior Prince is full action and daring. Harald Sigurdsson is exiled from his homeland. In order to build reputation to one day claim the throne, he sets out with a warband of battle-hardened men loyal to him. His travels take him to Prince Yaroslav the Wise, and from there, across territories contested and hard fought for by many… including Harald and his men.

The battle scenes and conflict are the main drivers of the plot, and they are the scenes I most enjoyed in Warrior Prince. They are the essence of life as a Viking warrior. To emphasise their importance, they are very well written to immerse us in each battle as they play out. The danger of every moment is apparent, and has us questioning whether our favourite characters are safe throughout.

However, there is more to the book than endless battles. Harald, in the service of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, has to deal with court politics – something he is not used to or adept at. In his quest to make a name for himself and become a leader, he has to learn when words serve better than swords, and who to watch to avoid a knife in the back…

  

Characters

Harald is already established at the beginning of the book as a capable man with a weapon. What becomes apparent quite quickly is that he has very little knowledge or experience when it comes to diplomacy; if he can’t use his sword to get his way, he’s lost.

It’s a character arc we see develop over the course of the narrative. It doesn’t seem to come naturally to him. But, Harald proves his determination to become a leader by learning from his shortcomings as they present themselves. He and his warband are tested repeatedly, and by individuals out to discredit or outright kill them. As a result, we see this repeatedly over the course of the book!

 

Setting

It was for the book’s unique setting that I wanted to pick it up in the first place! I have read a lot of Viking fiction based around conflict for and within English land. And I have enjoyed those books very much. However, I was excited for the promise of something a little different. Warrior Prince is set across Eastern Europe and the Nordic countries. It’s not a setting I have read before, and consequently, it provided a unique and compelling narrative.

Naturally, there is far greater scope for travel and new scenery… and of that we see plenty. Harald and his band travel extensively over the course of the book, and we get to see and experience more variety in characters, setting and culture.

Each location, and even the narrative whilst traveling, is finely balanced between description and action. There is plenty of detail to paint a vivid description in a reader’s mind whilst not bogging down the action within the plot.

 

Narrative Style

Warrior Prince is told in the form of a recollection of one of Harald‘s right-hand men. When I realised this was the format of the book, I got really excited. It is a style I have loved in fantasy books such as Patrick Rothfuss’s The Name of the Wind, R. R. Virdi’s The First Binding and Jay Kristoff’s Empire of the Vampire. All of these books got a five star rating from me. Consequently, I went in to this book with high expectations. Warrior Prince met them! 

It is an interesting narrative style, because it makes us question the perception we get. Is the story being told from a wiser and more rounded individual than that same person in their youth? Or, are their perceptions of events coloured through time and/or outcomes? For example, would battles in this book be considered foolhardy in circumstances of defeat, where they are painted as phenomenal feats when recalled after victory? I suppose we will never know. But, if you enjoy thinking about that sort of thing, then it adds a layer of complexity to the narrative. Do we believe all we are told?

 

Summary

Full of action and intrigue, Warrior Prince gives us everything we’d expect from a Viking novel, but in a new setting and with new challenges to face. Unable to know what is immediately around the corner for Harald and his men, the book keeps us readers on the edge of our seat throughout!

Firstly, having read books in the genre by Bernard Cornwell, Matthew Harffy and Peter Gibbons, fans will enjoy Warrior Prince. Secondly, the book has its own unique spin on the genre and deviates from these authors in a way that makes it readable and standalone in its own right. So do it – you won’t regret it!

 

Author Bio

J. C. Duncan is a well-reviewed historical fiction author and amateur bladesmith, with a passion for Vikings.

Social Media Links –

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JCDuncanAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JCDuncanauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j.c.duncan/?hl=enn

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-c-duncan

Blog Tour Review: The Puppet Maker – Jenny O’Brien

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Happy Friday friends and welcome to a highly anticipated review. I’ve been looking forward to sharing my thoughts on The Puppet Maker since I finished the book about a week ago.

Before I jump into my thoughts on this fantastic book, I always like to take the chance to thank both Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources and the author Jenny O’Brien, for giving me the chance to read this book and share my thoughts today.

I really enjoyed The Puppet Maker. It’s been a little while since I picked up a book of this genre and it was a great re-introduction!

 

The Puppet Maker – Jenny O’Brien

Genre: Police Procedural

Pages: 298

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Storm Publishing

Publication Date: 17 Oct 2023

Rating: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

 

Goodreads – The Puppet Maker

The scrap of paper looked as if it had been torn from a diary. The words written in faint pencil. The letters rounded, almost childlike: Please look after her. Her life and mine depend on you not trying to find me.

When Detective Alana Mack arrives at Clonabee police station, in a small Irish seaside town on the outskirts of Dublin, she doesn’t expect to find a distressed two-year-old girl sobbing on the floor.

Abandoned in a local supermarket, the child tells them her name is Casey. All Alana and her team have to go on is a crumpled note begging for someone to look after her little girl. This mother doesn’t want to be found.

Still recovering from a terrible accident that has left Alana navigating a new life as a wheelchair user, Alana finds herself suddenly responsible for Casey while trying to track down the missing mother and solve another missing person’s case… a retired newsagent who has seemingly vanished from his home.

Forced to ask her ex-husband and child psychiatrist Colm for help, through Forensic Art Therapy, Alana discovers that whatever darkness lies behind the black windows in Casey’s crayon drawing, the little girl was terrified of the house she lived in.

Then a bag of human remains is found in a bin, and a chilling link is made – the DNA matches Casey’s.

Alana and her team must find the body and make the connection with the missing newsagent fast if she is to prevent another life from being taken. But with someone in her department leaking confidential details of the investigation to the media, can Alana set aside her emotional involvement in this case and find Casey’s mother and the killer before it’s too late?

Heart-pounding and totally addictive, The Puppet Maker is the first in the Detective Alana Mack series that will have fans of Ann Cleeves, Angela Marsons and LJ Ross racing through the pages late into the night.

 

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C9JJ5XYB/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9JJ5XYB/

 

My Thoughts…

 

Plot

The Puppet Maker has a lot of dark and difficult themes. That shouldn’t come as a surprise in a narrative whose synopsis involves body parts. There’s a lot more to it than that, however. Poverty, abuse, illness and disability also have their place this book. It colours what could be a beautiful setting (and I’m sure it is when painted in a more natural light) into a city with an underbelly… and that’s perfect for this type of book. It’s gritty and highlights the less savoury side of life – something we are perhaps too keen to look away and ignore otherwise.

The plot unravels at a perfect pace to keep us readers on our toes and guessing what could possibly come next. Every chapter has a purpose, from setting the scene to sharing pivotal information. Overall, I enjoyed the balance in establishing the setting and characters with the action within. I enjoy both aspects, so taking time  to make the most of both appealed to me as a reader.

 

Characters

I enjoyed the representation in our protagonist Alana. It isn’t very often we find ourselves with a detective with a disability. Alana’s disability is physical and the book does a fantastic job of illustrating difficulties wheelchair users suffer… even down to being able to perform such basic and mundane tasks by themselves. Taking the time to explore such detail within this complex narrative adds to the overall setting and makes for an immersive experience.

That said, Alana isn’t defined by her disability either. She is a complex character with a strength of spirit even before you consider her recent history. Alana has suffered more misery than the loss of her legs. It’s abundantly clear to us readers that this has a profound effect on her, but she’s doesn’t let it drag her down into the darkest depths either.

Alana is just one character amongst a complex cast. Whilst she unravels the mystery of a young girl and a missing parent, there are lots of other characters that add to this interesting narrative. Casey’s mother is also a really exciting character to read the perspective of. Could you imagine leaving your daughter in a supermarket in the hopes that someone will take her in and care for her? A lot of people might consider that unthinkable, but believe me, she has her reasons and those come to light as the book unfolds.

 

Narrative Style

The Puppet Maker is multi perspective, which really worked for me. This writing style is my preference, and with this type of book and narrative it works really well to unveil plot twists and secrets to the reader in a timely fashion and maintain suspense until all the pieces come together.

The chapters are a great length. Each voice has plenty of page-time to explore their own stories within the wider narrative. At the same time, they are concise enough to get the message across and have us compulsively reading the next chapter for a further revelation. This balance, in my opinion, was perfect for the genre and subject of the book!

Each character and perspective has a distinct voice and narrative style, so we know whose perspective we are reading at any given time. With a decent number of characters to pull off, this is well managed throughout.

 

Summary

The Puppet Maker is a compulsive page-turner with an intricate and twisty plot line to keep readers engaged. It’s a wonder I managed to put the book down from time to time and actually function as an adult. Well, I suppose that’s a matter of opinion, eh?

 

Author Bio

Born in Dublin, Jenny O’Brien moved to Wales and then Guernsey, where she tries to

find time to write in between working as a nurse and ferrying around 3 teenagers.

In her spare time she can be found frowning at her wonky cakes and even wonkier breads. You’ll be pleased to note she won’t be entering Bake-Off. She’s also an all-year-round sea swimmer.

Jenny is represented by Nicola Barr of The Bent Agency and published by Storm Publishing and HQ Digital (Harper Collins).

Social Media Links

Twitter – https://twitter.com/ScribblerJB
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/scribblerjb/

Book Review: Norse Mythology – Neil Gaiman

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Today’s book review is for a relatively short book I enjoyed by an author I’ve had a mixed experience with in the past. I felt comfortable enough with picking this up as the topic of the book is relatively safe territory – Norse Mythology. That’s exactly what the book is called too!

Let’s share the details!

 

Norse Mythology – Neil Gaiman

 

Genre: Mythology

Pages: 283

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Publication Date: 06 Mar 2018

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

 

Goodreads – Norse Mythology

Neil Gaiman, long inspired by ancient mythology in creating the fantastical realms of his fiction, presents a bravura rendition of the Norse gods and their world from their origin though their upheaval in Ragnarok.

In Norse Mythology, Gaiman stays true to the myths in envisioning the major Norse pantheon: Odin, the highest of the high, wise, daring, and cunning; Thor, Odin’s son, incredibly strong yet not the wisest of gods; and Loki—son of a giant—blood brother to Odin and a trickster and unsurpassable manipulator.

Gaiman fashions these primeval stories into a novelistic arc that begins with the genesis of the legendary nine worlds and delves into the exploits of deities, dwarfs, and giants. Through Gaiman’s deft and witty prose, these gods emerge with their fiercely competitive natures, their susceptibility to being duped and to duping others, and their tendency to let passion ignite their actions, making these long-ago myths breathe pungent life again.

 

My Thoughts

 

Plot

Norse Mythology, as you would expect if you are familiar with the genre, is made up of lots of short stories. The range of stories is vast, and as a result, we get to see a multitude of characters throughout this relatively short book.

As can only be expected in the realms of Gods and tricksters alike, the stories are fantastical and entertaining. As someone who hasn’t read too much in the way of North mythology in the past, this particular book made for a great gateway. I definitely intend to pick up more north mythology in future to explore the genre in detail.

 

Characters

Thor, Loki and many several well known Norse Gods have their place in this book. I believe fans of Marvel really enjoy this book as we see a lot of the characters they also feature. I confess I’m not overly a Marvel fan, so I can’t comment on this myself. However, I am reliably informed by other bloggers!

With one of the main characters, being a terrible trickster, it’s oddly surprising that conflict and tension make up a significant proportion of the book.

 

Narrative Style

Given the style of the book, the mini stories within are broken up, and as a result, make for some nice and relatively short chapters with clean breaks between. It makes the book easy to pick up and put down, whatever your reading pace or level of commitment.

Having struggled to read books by Neil Gaiman in the past, I found this format went a long way towards making each chapter nicely digestible… that and the subject matter anyway! Along these lines, Norse mythology is a book to enjoy in the moment. It’s not the kind of book you need to heavily invest in to be able to enjoy.

 

Summary

Norse mythology is a short book, so there’s only so much possible to say about it. To summarise:-

Compulsively readable and unputdownable, I enjoyed Norse Mythology and exploring a new regional mythology. My experience of the book was that I read and enjoyed it pretty much over the course of a weekend. It’s not a long one, so it is quite approachable to pick up by any level of reader. Despite having had less positive experiences with Neil Gaiman books before, I was excited to pick up this book at every opportunity I could!

Have you read Norse Mythology or any other books by Neil Gaiman? What did you think?

 

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Sunday Summary – 1st October 2023

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Good evening readers and welcome to this week’s Sunday Summary update. As always, I hope you’ve had a great week, however you’ve spent it?

It’s been a very busy one here, and that reflects my reading progress, which I’ll touch on later. As a brief recap of what’s been going on outside of my reading and blogging life, I spent a couple of evenings baking for a MacMillan coffee morning held at work. That event was really successful and definitely worth the hours in the kitchen… all five or six of them! As well, I was out with friends on Thursday evening, and hosting family on Saturday. I’ve had an unusual number of plans this week!

Around that, I squeezed in a book tag post on Wednesday. In that post, I touched upon my firsts of 2023. Coming up to the three-quarter mark in the year, it was nice to go back and recap some of my milestones of the year.

On Friday, it was the turn of the next instalment in my Shelf Control series. This weeks feature was a young adult novel by one of my favourite authors of all time!

 

Books Read

 

A Storm of Swords

Last week, I shared with you how my reading progress was down, and that I thought that was partly down to a lack of urgency as I was re-reading a book. That’s definitely the case this week again, although it has been compounded by the additional plans and obligations I’ve had!

In all, I’ve only read a couple more chapters of A Storm of Swords this week. Progress isn’t going great, and so yesterday I made the decision to pick up a book I haven’t read yet in the hopes that it would spur me back into reading. I’ll try reading the two books in tandem, but if necessary, I’ll make a call next week as to whether I set aside A Storm of Swords. It’s not like I haven’t read it already…

 

Priest of Bones

I’m not a fan of reading via the Kindle app on my phone, but that is how I started this book yesterday. That was for practical reasons; I was at my hairdressers and my phone is honestly the easiest way to take books with me for the appointment.

I managed to read the first three chapters of the book whilst I was there. I’m already a fan of the writing style and the characters, so we’ve got off to a good start here. I’m hoping this is the book that will give me a kick up the bum to get back on with reading. Failing that, I’ve got some reading obligations coming up – a deadline might be what I need!

 

Books Discovered

Having added a couple of books to the reading list last week, I’ve decided to behave and I’ve not added anything new this time!

 

Coming Up…

With the beginning of a new month, next week promises both my monthly wrap up post for September on Tuesday, as well as a brand-new reading list on Friday. Out of necessity, this month’s list is probably going to include some carryovers from September, as well as three books that I need to review before the end of the month as I’ve signed up to do so. I hope you’re as excited for those posts as I am!

You know the drill – I will round off the week with another Sunday Summary update.

Hopefully I’ll have considerably more news to share with you next week! Now that I’ve decided to change tack a little, and gotten through the period of other obligations, I’m optimistic for a better run next week. You’ll have to tune into next week Sunday Summary to find out if that is the case though!

Until then, I hope to see you in the next post.

 

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