Tag: review

Blog Tour Review: Grace – A.M. Shine

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If you enjoy sinister, supernatural horror, you must read on and find out more about Grace by A.M. Shine. This newly released novel packs a punch with its plot-twists; I read the book in just a few days! 

Before I tell you why you should read this book, first I’d like to say thanks to Rachel and the author, A.M. Shine, for the opportunity to read this and review the book. And, I’m reviewing this book on the first day of the organised tour, which is a privilege. I had a great time with this book, and I have no doubt you will too! Let’s just hope I can convince you to pick up this exciting read. 

Are you ready to find out more? 

 

Grace – A.M. Shine

Genre: Horror

Pages: 304

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Head of Zeus

Original Publication Date: 10 Feb 2026

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.25

 

Goodreads / Storygraph

A haunting, atmospheric modern Gothic horror tale based on traditional Irish mythology, from the author of smash hit The Watchers. Ancient evil is awakened on a lonely isle off the coast of Ireland.

TO LEARN THE TRUTH
WOULD YOU DESCEND INTO HELL?

Off the west coast of Ireland lies a lonely island, isolated and wilfully forgotten. Some say there hasn’t been a child born on the island for thirty years. Others speak of strange deaths there, decades ago. But no one really knows what happened. Locals believe that the dark times are behind them.

They are mistaken.

Grace, adopted at four years old, has never known where she came from. A mysterious phone call leads her back to the island where she was born – and where a terrible evil has been disturbed.

As the evil starts to spread, Grace finds herself dragged back into a living nightmare that threatens to engulf anyone who steps into its path.

Grace is perfect for fans of horror classics, Paul Tremblay, and Kealan Patrick Burke.

 

Purchase Link – https://geni.us/GraceCR

 

My Thoughts… 

Plot

Grace is a spooky narrative with a dark past and sinister current events to unravel. 

Grace has plenty of twists in its tale. Just as we think we know where the plot is going to take us, there’s an unseen curveball that challenges what we think we know. I loved reading this book and questioning what I was being told. What is true, what is just superstition and what isn’t quite what it seems. The answer is a lot, but can you see it coming? 

The tension of the narrative had me reading chapter after chapter. What more could I learn, or discern over the next few pages? I was determined to find out. And so, reading this book became both easy in its compulsivity and challenging in its stretching the supernatural boundaries. I loved it! 

 

Characters

The personification of the Bodach in Irish mythology intrigued me and had me reading more. Turns out, there are also occasional ties of this figure to us here in the Isle of Man (Manannán mac Lir). Might explain why we call the fog Manannan’s cloak, right? I enjoyed this link! Local mythology, not just the Isle of Man, but including the UK and Ireland, isn’t something I see a lot of. However, I enjoyed exploring this in the context of a horror novel. 

I don’t think any character in Grace is innocent. We enter the story of Grace from the titular characters perspective. Grace travels to the island of Croaghnakeela (pronounced KROH-nuh-keel-uh), knowing very little about the history or what she’s getting into. We know very little at the start, but it’s very apparent the residents are hiding something. Something big. They’re frightened, and if we are, then so should we be. These ordinary people have lived extraordinary lives, in supplication to an evil that haunts their past. 

 

Setting

The setting of this desolate, sparsely populated island is deeply atmospheric in a way that felt lifelike. As a Manxie, I live geographically not far away from Croaghnakeela Island. Similar climate, topography, maybe just a bit bigger. Even so, the quiet, sometimes dilapidated small town community of both my life and in the setting of Grace is on-point. Maybe our boats are a fraction more reliable. Maybe… 

The atmosphere of the book lends well to the plot, working alongside each other to complement the supernatural events and secretiveness of the island’s dark past. I loved how well this was done; not laying it on thick and overdoing it, on the contrary, in an entirely believable way. As I say, I have the benefit of a benchmark for credibility, but its fair to say fans of the horror genre will doubt agree with me. 

 

Narrative Style

The pacing of Grace is perfect. Whilst we know very little about events both in the past and what is unfolding in modern day, we’re teased with tidbits as the novel and storyline unfolds. The pace ramps up the further along we get. Towards the end of the book, I was so hooked I stayed up to read to the end and discover the truth. Reading the conclusion of this book at midnight – maybe not for the faint of heart.  

At just over 300 pages, it’s an approachable narrative for readers of all lengths and abilities. I read this book over four days, meaning I was easily averaging 70 pages a day. It wasn’t any degree of effort to do it either – the pacing of the story, combined with the mystery, had me desperate to find out more! 

 

Summary 

Grace is perfect for fans of horror and supernatural reads! At 300 pages, it’s a quick, dark and atmospheric read that leans into Irish mythology to create the sinister plot that has us readers asking questions throughout the narrative. 

If you’re still undecided, check out my fellow reviewers thoughts on the book over the coming days of the tour. You won’t regret giving it a try – promise! 

 

Author Bio 

A.M. Shine writes in the Gothic horror tradition. Born in Galway, Ireland, he received his Master’s Degree in History there before sharpening his quill and pursuing all things literary and macabre. He is a member of the Irish Writers Centre. His debut novel, The Watchers, has been made into a major motion picture produced by M. Night Shyamalan. Follow him on @AMShineWriter and www.amshinewriter.com

Social Media Links – 

https://x.com/AMShineWriter

https://www.instagram.com/nocturn_al_shine/

 

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Book Review – Illuminae: Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

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In today’s book review, I share my thoughts on a young adult mixed-media book I really enjoyed! The best part is, Illuminae is the start of a trilogy. Therefore, fans of this first book will be pleased to know that the saga continues; book two is largely set around different characters, and book three brings them all together for an epic conclusion.

But, I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start at the beginning…


Illuminae – Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 608

Audience: Young Adult

Publisher: Knopf Books

Publication Date: 20 Oct 2015

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟


Goodreads –  Illuminae

 

The internationally and New York Times bestselling first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy that bends the sci-fi genre into a new dimension.

Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the worst thing she’d ever been through. That was before her planet was invaded. Now, with enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra are forced to fight their way onto one of the evacuating craft, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But the warship could be the least of their problems. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their biggest threat; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady plunges into a web of data hacking to get to the truth, it’s clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: Ezra.

Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents, Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy.


My Thoughts


Plot

Well, I say let’s start at the beginning, but actually the book begins near the end. In the courtroom, with us readers almost as one of the jury, Kady, Ezra, and many characters we meet along the way present their case against Beitech Corporation.

Greedy corporations remain at large in this fictional world. Beitech are accused of killing and displacing many of the characters within this first book when attacking their home planet in favour of gaining resources. From there, it’s a mad scramble for civilian survival. And the clock is ticking…

Not for one moment can we accuse this novel of lacking in action. For fans of an action-driven plot, this will appeal to you for its time-pressured and high-stakes drama.

Naturally, I can’t say too much as I don’t want to give away any aspects of the storyline (either in Illuminae or in the subsequent books). Just take my word for it that it’s amazing and go and read it!


Characters

A number of characters contribute to the overall storyline within. Not only is this a multiple-perspective book, but it’s also a multiple-media book. In that regard, this appealed to me as I enjoy seeing things from a variety of perspectives. That naturally fits with this narrative and media type well. One person can’t be everywhere at once, and with so many elements going into the storyline, we need everybody’s perspective in order to paste together the final picture.

The primary perspectives are that of Kady Grant and Ezra Mason. If you enjoy teenagers who totally dig each other but you know, aren’t in a relationship, then you’ll like these pair. Personally, I liked both perspectives but not necessarily for their romance or relationship with each other. That’s not to say I wasn’t rooting for them reuniting though.

If I had to say which aspect of the book leaned most heavily towards making this a young adult book, it is the characters. This plotline could be set with much older characters and sit well in the adult genre.


Setting

Illuminae is set across several intergalactic places. Thankfully for readers, it’s very obvious where things are going on with location and timestamps where applicable. The nature of the story and following that characters means that things are pretty chronological and don’t jump around too much either.

Set in our nearish future, it doesn’t feel too far-fetched. Although the idea of living in space probably feels a bit off, I think the technology available feels largely reminiscent of what we have today. It’s only a small leap for mankind – excuse the pun.

If you enjoy reading or watching science fiction, then reading Illuminae won’t be too far of a stretch. Even if you aren’t that imaginative when it comes to imagining the spaceship layout or dynamics of what’s going on, this book is very good at illustrating that for you. Literally. I remember technical diagrams of each of the ships. It makes it a very easy narrative to get on with.


Narrative Style

Told in a mixed-media format, this book is great for readers who have short attention spans or benefit from short, snappy content.

With everything from transcripts to posters and images, the action is spread across a variety of media that keeps us engaged. It’s a fun way of telling the story too. With the science-fiction slant on the narrative, it helps circumnavigate any understanding issues and makes the content more applicable to its intended younger audience.

Because of its format, I was able to read a large quantity of page count without too much effort. The constantly changing content types kept me reading on just that little bit longer and kept me engaged with the storyline throughout.


Summary

Regardless of whether you are a fan of the young adult genre, or even the science-fiction genre, I cannot recommend Illuminae enough. It’s a great introduction to reading something a little different. With plenty of action to keep readers’ attention, combined with a variety of mixed media to help with understanding and engagement, Illuminae is a fabulous start to a series I have since gone on to read voraciously and enjoy!

Have you read Illuminae or any other books by Jay Kristoff or Amie Kaufman?

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Audiobook Review: Darkdawn – Jay Kristoff

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Hi everyone and welcome to today’s review of Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff. Apologies I haven’t posted for a few days. You may remember in my Sunday Summary post last weekend I mentioned that I was sitting an exam yesterday and that I wouldn’t be posting for a few days whilst I focussed on my exam revision for a couple of days. Well, the good news is I passed and so the hard work paid off. So sorry, not sorry for the brief wait for today’s post.

Given that circumstantially my posting schedule is light this week I wanted to fit in another review I have on my list to write. The next on my list is Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff. Also, coincidentally, it has been nearly three months to the day since I shared a review of an audiobook! I’m being really careful in this review to be very general and therefore not spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read the book yet.

If you haven’t checked out my previous reviews, now might be the time to go and check those out before today’s review.

Anyway, enough preamble… shall I get into it?

 

Darkdawn – Jay Kristoff

Goodreads – Darkdawn

The epic conclusion to the internationally bestselling Nevernight Chronicle from New York Times bestselling author Jay Kristoff.

The greatest games in Godsgrave’s history have ended with the most audacious murders in the history of the Itreyan Republic.

Mia Corvere, gladiatii, escaped slave and infamous assassin, is on the run. Pursued by Blades of the Red Church and soldiers of the Luminatii legion, she may never escape the City of Bridges and Bones alive. Her mentor Mercurio is now in the clutches of her enemies. Her own family wishes her dead. And her nemesis, Consul Julius Scaeva, stands but a breath from total dominance over the Republic.

But beneath the city, a dark secret awaits. Together with her lover Ashlinn, brother Jonnen and a mysterious benefactor returned from beyond the veil of death, she must undertake a perilous journey across the Republic, seeking the final answer to the riddle of her life. Truedark approaches. Night is falling on the Republic for perhaps the final time.

Can Mia survive in a world where even daylight must die?

New York Times and internationally bestselling author Jay Kristoff’s writing has been praised by critics and readers alike and has won many awards, including four Aurealis Awards, an ABIA, and David Gemmell Morningstar and Legend awards.

 

My Thoughts…

I had no idea how Jay Kristoff was going to round off what had already become an epic series, but Darkdawn didn’t disappoint! I’m not generally in the habit of pre-ordering titles before they are released, but I happened to see the book available to pre-order on Audible with only a couple of months to wait until its release. So, needless to say, I spent that credit without a second thought!

I am a huge fan of the series – the narrative, the characters… the whole package! It is unlike anything else I have read or listened to and I absolutely want to read it again. Since I listened to the audiobooks and love the series so much, I would like to get a paperback copy of the series to read for myself next time. Maybe that’s a Christmas present idea!

It’s a small thing to enjoy, but I like how the narrative has footnotes to clarify some points. As I listened to the audiobook, reading these little notes is mandatory, but I suppose if reading the book for yourself you could not read them if you weren’t interested. I don’t see why you wouldn’t be though – a lot of the author’s humour and own narrative voice shines through in these sections, as well as provides the necessary background information to events in and around the narrative. Regular readers will know that I love fictional worlds with a lot of history and detail, so this is a big plus for me as a reader!

As can be expected in this epic conclusion, all our favourite characters are back and more determined than ever to upend the Republic as we know it. Mia is her usual dark, hell-bent, sarcastic self and I loved every second of it. She is a unique character, if nothing else because she defies the trope of being the “Chosen One”. She isn’t looking out for anyone’s interest but her own. She is everything a hero isn’t and it’s refreshing to read something so unlike a lot of modern fantasy.

This audiobook was everything I was hoping and expecting it to be. As the conclusion drew closer I found myself listening to it every second I could, whilst simultaneously hoping it would never end. Of course, all good things come to an end and once I finished this, I had no idea what I could read next. The book hangover was real. Nothing could live up to what I had just listened to then, and even now I think I will struggle to find anything just as good!

If you haven’t read this series yet, please, please do! I don’t think you will regret it for one second.

 

 

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Book Review: The Watcher of Dead Time – Edward Cox

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Today, I am really looking forward to sharing my honest thoughts with you all about the final book of an amazing trilogy. Before I was offered a copy of the series by Gollancz in exchange for a review, I’ll freely admit that I hadn’t heard of Edward Cox before. The Relic Guild series has made a huge impression on me… so much so that Edward Cox has been added to the small list of authors I’ll auto-buy books for.

Quite an impression, wouldn’t you agree?

If you haven’t read my reviews of The Relic Guild or The Cathedral of Known Things, please take a minute to check these out!

 

The Watcher of Dead Time

Goodreads – The Watcher of Dead Time

 

Labrys Town, home to a million humans cut off from the rest of the universe, has been invaded. Those who protected it have been deposed.

The Relic Guild are scattered across the worlds of the Aelfir. Many of them are dead or dying. The Genii control everything. The war is almost over.

Clara, a young woman barely able to control her werewolf side, has seen her friends and mentors killed in front of her. She is the last hope for Labrys Town.

But someone else is watching…

The dramatic conclusion to the award-nominated fantasy trilogy which began with THE RELIC GUILD.

 

My Thoughts…

There are so many amazing things that I really enjoyed about this series that I don’t really know where to begin! The world-building, magic system, characters – each is unique, refined and complements the other. They work together to build a detailed, cohesive narrative that flows and lulls us on to read the ever-famous “just one more chapter”.

First, let’s talk about the world-building! The concept of the Labyrinth and its history is unlike anything I have ever heard of before. Built to serve as a neutral place for warring houses, Labrys Town becomes a sought-after weapon. Each House is separated by what is called the Nothing of the Far and Deep, (which in my head I equate to something similar to Space) but portals can link these Houses and Labrys Town together. After narrowly neutralising the threat 40 years ago, most of Labrys Town’s portals have been deactivated. They are cut off from all houses but one. However, that puts them in more danger further down the line… Genii, powerful magickers strive to take over the Labyrinth.

The rich history of the world really shines through throughout the trilogy.

The entire narrative is split between two timelines, the first during the first Genii War and the second forty years later. Each timeline concludes in this final instalment. Whilst in the latter timeline we have a vague idea of how the war ended previously, there are enough secrets kept to make that ending just as exciting as the present day conclusion! Each timeline is also written cleverly so as to be well-distinguishable from the other. There are many overlapping characters in both timelines, but there are also enough subtle differences to serve as a reminder.

There is such a diverse range of characters that there is someone for every reader to relate to. Clara is new to the Relic Guild, having endeavoured to hide her power of transforming into a werewolf. She is the first Magicker in forty years. Through her we get to learn the history of the Relic Guild and their sacrifices for the residents in the Labrys Town. The veteran Magickers are easy to warm to as well. Despite their struggles to win an impossible war, we cannot forget how human and vulnerable they are. Old Man Sam, a mistrustful sharpshooter and Marney, whose power is empathic, are my favourite characters. I’m not one for gushy romance, but even I lamented the loss of Marney’s potential relationship with Van Bam.

The Watcher of Dead Time has a brilliantly immersive narrative. I was eager to see how events in both timelines reached their conclusions. Alternately switching between then and now keeps a steady momentum, but the chapter lengths aren’t so short that this becomes chaotic.

What’s next…

Once again, a huge thank you to both Gollancz and Edward Cox for the opportunity to read and review this amazing series! It’s the first series I have been sent in entirety to review and I am really glad I have!

I expect great things from Edward Cox, if The Relic Guild is anything to go by! I’ve already been looking ahead to see if he has any other works in the pipeline, and I wasn’t disappointed! The Song of the Sycamore is expected to be published in August this year! I can guarantee I’ll be picking this one up for sure!

 

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Blog Tour and Giveaway: A Stain on the Soul – Elizabeth Davies

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A Stain on the Soul is the second book in the Caitlyn series by Elizabeth Davies. If you want to read my thoughts about the first book, Three Bloody Pieces, please do and then come right back!

 

Good morning, fellow blog lovers! I hope you are well! As ever, I’ve been looking forward to this blog tour! Who doesn’t love a blog tour?!

I’ve recently read A Stain on the Soul in anticipation of the tour; I am even more excited about the series because the THIRD book of the series, Another Kind of Magic, landed in my inbox last night!

A Stain on the Soul has taken everything I enjoyed in Three Bloody Pieces and succeeded in making it better!

 

Pre-Order Link

Goodreads

Resigned to another lifetime of being a witch’s familiar, Caitlyn has found a degree of peace in her role as the Duke of Normandy’s protector and spy.

But that peace is shattered when she returns to her native land only to come face-to-face with her past, and fall in love with a man who she desperately hopes will become her future.

 

My Thoughts…

Caitlyn, our sassy protagonist, is back and better than ever! Enthralled to Arlette, former protégé of Herleva, she is bound to serve and protect her only son, the Duke of Normandy. Raising him almost like her own child, she would happily give her life in exchange for his. In the depths of a political minefield, Caitlyn must be careful procuring other’s secrets whilst guarding her own.

Whilst she doesn’t age, Caitlyn has certainly matured since the first book. Her wild hopes of returning to her former self after the death of Herleva are dead. She is more resigned to her fate… but a small ember of hope remains that the power binding her will weaken. She is no longer the naive young girl she was. Adopting a motherly role has changed her… and for the better, in my opinion.

The plot tackles mature themes well; death, witchcraft (obviously) and the odd intimate encounter run throughout the book, but aren’t so graphically detailed so as to put a sensitive reader off. Anyone following my blog will know I’m not a fan of anything detailed by the way of romance or intimacy. I didn’t cringe away from it on this occasion, although it was close. It’s just a personal thing – it can make me feel awkward if I’m honest.

The narrative picks up from the first book really well. Whilst I think it advantageous that I have not long read Three Bloody Pieces, it isn’t essential. There are more than enough hints to remind you of events in the first book if you haven’t read it recently. This is done very well, so it doesn’t clutter the narrative of current events either. I found the pace and flow of the text better developed than the first book. Overall, I found A Stain on the Soul a little easier to read, with a greater depth of historical background.

 

Author Bio

Elizabeth Davies is a paranormal author, whose books have a romantic flavour with more than a hint of suspense. And death. There’s usually death…

Social Media Links –

Website – www.elizabethdaviesauthor.co.uk

Twitter  – @bethsbooks

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethDaviesAuthor/

Instagram – @elizabethdavies.author

 

 

Giveaway!

Win signed copies of Three Bloody Pieces and A Stain on the Soul plus a magic mug and a coaster. (Open Internationally)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

Rafflecopter – ENTER HERE!

 

Audiobook Review: Nevernight – Jay Kristoff

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I feel like this review is a little overdue, just because Nevernight took so long to listen to.

It’s no fault of the audiobook at all – I loved it (and I’ll go into more detail on that below). I haven’t been able to listen to it as quickly as I would like though. Typically I listen to audiobooks in the morning, whilst getting ready for work. Lately, I’ve been finding it difficult to wake up and get out of bed. As a result of being tired, I can’t concentrate, so I didn’t want to start listening to Nevernight and find myself lost.

Anyway, less self-pity and more of the review!

 Nevernight

Goodreads – Nevernight

Synopsis…

In a land where three suns almost never set, a fledgling killer joins a school of assassins, seeking vengeance against the powers who destroyed her family.

Daughter of an executed traitor, Mia Corvere is barely able to escape her father’s failed rebellion with her life. Alone and friendless, she hides in a city built from the bones of a dead god, hunted by the Senate and her father’s former comrades. But her gift for speaking with the shadows leads her to the door of a retired killer, and a future she never imagined.

Now, Mia is apprenticed to the deadliest flock of assassins in the entire Republic—the Red Church. If she bests her fellow students in contests of steel, poison and the subtle arts, she’ll be inducted among the Blades of the Lady of Blessed Murder, and one step closer to the vengeance she desires. But a killer is loose within the Church’s halls, the bloody secrets of Mia’s past return to haunt her, and a plot to bring down the entire congregation is unfolding in the shadows she so loves.

Will she even survive to initiation, let alone have her revenge?

 

My Thoughts…

I really enjoyed listening to this as an audiobook because the narrative is easy to follow. Holter Graham does a fantastic job of bringing each character to life in his own style. The text is itself written as a narration, and the “narrator” is incredibly sassy. No one is safe against a witty remark or sharp retort. There is as much friendship in storytelling as there is training to become an assassin, apparently. I love it!

Naturally with fantasy books, there is the need to impart information about how the realm differs from others. I have to say, this is written exceptionally well; there is never too much information put upon you at any one time. There are gentle reminders to certain facts to refresh the reader’s memory, rather than outright telling us again and treating us like idiots.

The plot itself unfolds in an unexpected way. An environment full of assassins is hardly going to be safe and predictable. Jay Kristoff has developed each of his characters so well, however, that anything can happen. And I mean anything. That can also include some… steamy things. Things that I shouldn’t want to listen to at 7am in the morning. But I kinda did? It wasn’t too alienating; otherwise, I wouldn’t like it AT ALL! It was okay though. I don’t think it contributed a whole lot to the storyline, but you can’t help but want the two characters to reach out to each other.

The magic in the book is desirably dark. Mia thrives in the shadows, and the amount of distrust for her kind adds a new depth to the mystery of those known as Darken. Just when you think you have seen Mia at her most powerful, cunning and daring, she will surprise you yet again.

 

Conclusion…

All these things make a great combination within dark fantasy. It is deadly, gruesome, brutal and backstabbing, and as a result I loved every second of it. I cannot wait to listen to Godsgrave.