A Feather So Black by Lyra Selene

 

A Feather So Black
by Lyra Selene

Genre: Religion & Spirituality, Romance, Sci Fi & Fantasy

I wasn’t sure what to expect here, an adult debut, an author unknown to me but I adore stories involving fae so requested it. I loved it. After A Court of Thorns and Roses ( loved that too) there seem to be hundreds of fae stories with that type of title, trying to emulate the trilogy. Most for me are just fails, don’t have the magic of the story, believable characters or decent writing/dialogue. Sue me, I’m picky about what I read 😉
So this was a gamble, hoping it was not one of those….and it isn’t. Its perfect, great storytelling and plots, realistic characters, fabulously descriptive wring with venturing into “ writing to fill word count” territory and a host of twists, turns and surprises.

I love Fia and her special talents, felt for her awful upbringing even as she’s grateful for it and loves the Queen deeply. The settings were perfect, both human and Fae. I would have liked to see more of the Fae folk, mostly we just meet Irian. And Corra of course, I love Corra. I’d rhyme something but I can’t..we need morra Corra, that best I can do 😉
Poor Fia, trained for one thing her whole life and then she finds that maybe things were not as she was let to believe, maybe by following the queens orders things will be worse not better. Who is telling the truth? Who to believe, so much hinges on her decisions.
I am so keen to read more of this series, its fabulous.
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Stars: Five, a fantastic fae read, great journey, fab ending but I need more ASAP!

ARC supplied by netgalley and publishers

A Woman of Pleasure by Kiyoko Murata

A Woman of Pleasure
by Kiyoko Murata

Genre: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Multicultural Interest

I love books like this, that give an insight into different cultures, historical actions and the effects on individual people.

I enjoyed reading it from a more personal level, seeing Ichi’s thoughts, her way of rationlising and making sense of the world she’s been dropped in. It helped me understand her actions. This kind of writing always holds my interest more, has me thinking “what would I have done?”
Prostitution is often known as the oldest profession and of course its always with us in some form, whether openly as in this novel or hidden from sight – supposedly- as illegal….
Its was interesting to see how the brothels worked, how they varied and how the more exclusive ones valued education. Its not something that springs to mind, but was really interesting to read that the girls were taught how to read and write, how to calculate, even if it was for practical reasons rather than for their own benefit.
I did feel sorry for Ichi and the girls like her ( and no doubt boys too) , caught up in a world where they have no choice about what they do. Sadly there are still too many children caught up in some form of prostitution/slavery worldwide even today.

Stars: Four, a story that felt very real, based upon historical reality.

ARC supplied by netgalley and publishers

Relight My Fire (The Stranger Times 4) by C. K. McDonnell

Relight My Fire
(The Stranger Times 4)
by C. K. McDonnell

Genre: General Fiction (adult), Sci Fi & Fantasy, mystery and thrillers.

Oh, I just love the whole silliness of this series, combined with the witty fun dialogue. Banecroft still wins at that, he is such a curmudgeon, sharp tongue (but accurate), drunken workaholic, and yet hidden deep he’s actually got a caring side underneath.
Stella is lovely, I do feel for her, she doesn’t know what she is, or how to control her powers. Then the rest of the gang, they all work so well together.
Its another fun story, involving more supernatural entities, a new drug that gives people temporary powers but inevitably ends in death, the spook squad of the police trying to work out how to prevent more, and cover up whats happening so as not to alarm the public. The founders doing their usual, another group creating mayhem, a new character joining the ST gang, its business as normal for the ST group.
What I love about this series is the supernatural has elements of spooky but its all wrapped up with some sheer silliness, stuff that’s so improbable and yet fits in perfectly and becomes almost believable. You never quite know quite way the story will turn.
I loved it again. Do I know exactly who’s behind what and how it resolved after finishing the story? Not really, it becomes so complex its quite hard to keep track, but I have the gist. This is one of the stories for me where its about the journey not the ending, the enjoyment is in just how things play out along the way, not in finding out exactly who did what.
Roll on more for the cast of The Stranger Times.

Stars: Five, a fun read, full of weird and wonderful events and surprises.

ARC supplied by netgalley and publishers
#RelightMyFire #NetGalley

The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting by KJ Charles

The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting
by KJ Charles

Genre: General Fiction (adult), Romance

I love KJ Charles writing, have read many of her books now and they are such fun. The historical setting, the gentle art of rebuff, the hypocrisy in all things, and the dangers of being at the top of society but not what society wants to see…..I love it.
It took me a while to get the Robin Loxleigh etc part, in fact I didn’t get there until Hart points it out. How embarrassing 😉 It fits perfectly with that whole regency type say one thing, mean another aspect though.
I loved Robin, Marianne took a bit for me to warm up to. As did Hart. There are some terrific side characters too. I couldn’t help liking Robin in spite of his actions, but of course we’re all shaped by our pasts and for him and Marianne it had been particularly grim. I’m trying to think of a phrase Nan used to say – ah got it. Pride butters no parsnips. Had Robin and Marianne kept their pride and not taken the route they did they’d likely have starved. In those times to survive was tough and sometimes people just did whatever they could. Its easy to judge from a nice warm home, but in their place – well, I suspect many may have taken the same decision. Does it make you a bad person if to survive you do things that society doesn’t like?
I really enjoyed the story line, very simple and straightforward, in as much as Regency times allow of course, spiced up with some pretty intense scenes between Robin and Hart. And as always happy endings 😉 brought about by some devious machinations and surprising revelations.

Stars: Five, as always a fun, spicy story.

ARC supplied by netgalley and publishers

 

Deceptive Silence Reily Garrett

Deceptive Silence
Reily Garrett

Genre: Sci-fi and fantasy, General Fiction (Adult)
Hailey is back in the thick of action again, witnessing a murder while out photographing nature. Once more she’s in danger, and the puzzle of who has been killed, why, by whom and who else is at risk wrap around her. Trenton is, of course, involved again, and Caspar, from another of Reily’s series gets involved. I have to say Haley is far more patient with her when the teen says she cant explain things. That would ( and did ) irritate me, I wanted to say “what, how, tell me why”.
Hailey also had help from another unexpected source, as she starts to develop her powers. I think that’s going to prove really interesting, and certainly was needed in this book.
Its another action packed, supernatural filled, suspense. At times I did get a bit confused about how everything connected, as its a pretty complex, involved story. That’s just me though, I find concentration a bit hard at the moment.

Stars: four, if you enjoy a solid, plot dense supernatural adventure this is perfect.

ARC supplied by author

The Witchwood Knot Victorian Faerie Tales, Book 1 by Olivia Atwater

The Witchwood Knot
Victorian Faerie Tales, Book 1
by Olivia Atwater

Genre: Sci-fi and fantasy, General Fiction , Romance

What a fantastic FMC Winnie is, never mind touching deaths whiskers, she’d give them a good tug and give him a lecture at the same time. Is she scared – yes, of course, but it doesn’t deter her from what she feels is the right thing to do.
Of course that plunges her deep into danger, in a scary manor, with some weird and not so weird characters, and a vulnerable young charge to look after. When, despite her best efforts, he’s stolen away by the faeries she’s determined to rescue him and needs all the help she can muster to get in – and out – of that dangerous realm safely
I loved the deceptiveness of this story, of working out who was in danger, who would, could help and what Winnie could do to help those caught up in the trap. Then of course who was and wasn’t trustworthy, who were more than they seemed and what on earth poor Winnie could do without bringing others into even more danger. I so enjoy Fae stories where its not all romance and sweetness but where the fae are dark, difficult, dangerous and mortals need to tread very very carefully.

Stars: Four, another fun read, very different to the usual Fae stories.

ARC supplied by netgalley and publishers

Of Pears & Spears The Thule Cycle #1.5 by C. Monk

Of Pears & Spears
The Thule Cycle #1.5
by C. Monk

Genre: Novellas & Short Stories, Romance, Sci Fi & Fantasy

I rarely read novellas, but as I’d read the first Thule story, this was just like continuing, in that I knew all the major characters and the world setting so it was fine for me. It was like joining old friends on a new adventure.
I’m so glad we got Sfjona as a main character, I hoped for that after the Dance(s) with Sir Natameus Bedivere of Bedrydant in the last book.
Of course they’re opposites in so many ways, not least in social standing but Sir Bedivere isn’t going to let that stand in his way. Tall and imposing he may seem, but to Sfjona he is gentle, pursuing slowly and carefully, always conscious of the need to not frighten her off.
Of course its not just a romance, but one with the wonderful Arthurian type whimsy and regulations, Capybaras, ( behaving badly) and now some creatures that may or may not be more than a child’s fairy tale.
It all adds up to a quick, delightful read, very unusual in the range of fantasy. I love finding something fresh and new.

Stars: Five, a fun, short read that I really enjoyed.

ARC supplied by netgalley and publishers

The Christmas Love Letters by Sue Moorcroft

The Christmas Love Letters
by Sue Moorcroft

 

Genre: romance, General Fiction (Adult)

I live in Norfolk, close to the setting this book exists in. And that north sea wind is just as cold as Sue writes!!
I loved this story, the gentle romance, the relationship between Maddy and Ruthie, the wonderful Lyla.
Maddy has some great friends too, she;s needed them after the disappearance of Adey, and the uselessness of her in laws after he went missing. She had a fight to save their home thanks to Adey’s actions, at a time when she was dealing with unexpected pregnancy. Its been a tough few years for her but with the help of the wonderful Ruthie and her friends she’s squeezed through.
Its not just Maddy’s burgeoning romance her though, nor the missing husband, but another beautiful romance involving Ruthie, which brings out secrets long held, and Raff to her vicinity. That had me on the edge of tears, poor, poor Ruthie, who lost so much.
I was talking about this book with a friend yesterday, saying one of the things I always love about Sue’s books and the myriad of plots, they’re never just single plots books but ones where there are several running concurrently, just waiting to be woven together with some Sue magic. That’s what turns a book from just OK to a re-reader for me. I need those extras, the drama, the background, all the different things happening.

Stars: Five, another tear jerking read but which also had me laughing at times and rooting for Raff and Maddy.

ARC supplied by author

Perfect In Death: A murder mystery with a ghostly twist Reily Garrett

Perfect In Death: A murder mystery with a ghostly twist
Reily Garrett

Genre: Sci-fi and fantasy, General Fiction (Adult)

I’m always stunned how authors put together a story, or series, so many characters and plots to weave together in a way that makes sense. I’d be useless ;-).

Hailey, loved her humour, loved her dedication to her job, but occasionally her decisions were a little too risky. There’s a balance and she strays at times. Trenton was so opposite to her, though I did understand his protective streak, at times it was too much. I could see why Leigh and Hailey were annoyed and tried to evade him.
The Vodou was an unusual addition, something that I enjoyed. Its good to have something different in the way of magics, and the history of this is rich and varied, so many ways to fit in a story.
Hailey is determined to bring justice for the teen, but it puts her in dangers she could never have foreseen, It connects to her family on a personal level too, which came as a surprise to me. Trent’s unsure if there’s a connection to his case too, which has brought out threats to his family. You can see what I mean now about the different pieces that slowly come together. Then – Caspar from a previous series turns up, I loved that. She was a great character and will slot in perfectly with Leigh and Hailey. I hope she deters them from that annoying “twin speak” though….
This particular plot wraps up but with a few open ends that leave things set up for the next book.
As usual in Reily’s stories the star of the show is Gunther the Wolf/dog hybrid 🙂 Wish my dogs were that well behaved ( though to be fair one is only six months).

Stars: Five, a great start to a new series. More magic, mayhem and mischief to come.

ARC supplied by author

A Power Unbound, Freya Marske

A Power Unbound
A spicy, magical historical romp
by Freya Marske

Genre: Sci-fi and fantasy, General Fiction (Adult) , Romance.

This has been a lighthearted, fun read, mixing magical families, with lands and homes that are almost sentient, with some subtle romance. Its got great characters, fun ones, serious ones and of course some good old fashioned purely bad ones. I loved Jack and Alan, two very diverse characters but the sensuality, wow….Of course the folk we’ve met before are here too, fighting for the good of magic, risking dangers at every turn. The bad characters here really will stop at nothing to get the power the perceive as their due.
It brings together the events of the previous novels, wrapping the story up in a very dramatic finale.

Stars: Five, I really enjoyed this, though at times had to mentally re-track on who was who and where they belonged in the story. It would have worked best for me to read the novels back-to-back, but that’s because I read so much there have been lots of other fantasy reads between these.

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers