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justgeekingby's reviews
2934 reviews
Elusive by Genevieve Cogman
This book contains scenes of violence, death, blood, gore, gun violence, bloodletting, abduction, forced captivity, drugged against will, attempted abduction of a woman, prejudice, racism, misogyny, ableism and discussions of executions.
Vampires have toxic views of humans, viewing them as their property
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Elusive by Genevieve Cogman continues the story of maid Eleanor and her involvement with the Scarlet Pimpernel. Now working as a maid in the Blakeney household when not accompanying Sir Percy and his friends on missions, Eleanor’s perspective of the world and her place in it has started to change since the events of her first mission to France. She has been back there several times since, and can’t help comparing the ways that the English aristocracy while away their time drinking as people die in France.
It’s not just Eleanor’s world view that has grown; she’s recognising the way that her friends, especially the noblemen, treat her. When they need a woman, especially someone who can pose as a servant, they are happy to have her along on their missions, but when she tries to act on her own she is told it is too dangerous. Those feelings grow even stronger when Sir Percy goes missing in France while on the hunt for the notorious French diplomat Charles-Maurice de Talleyran.
For safety, the Chief likes to keep things close to the vest, meaning that if a member of the League is caught, they only so know much. It’s a good tactic until he’s the one that’s missing, leaving the rest of the League struggling to put the pieces together with little intel to go on. Determined to be of use and not made to sit on the sidelines, Eleanor starts to make her own plans alongside those of the League with the help of Anima, the mage spirit inhabiting her body.
But things in France are getting more dangerous, and as Eleanor and the League try to find Sir Percy and their other missing friends, they stumble across more than they bargained for.
After finishing the first book, I had hoped to see more development of Eleanor in this book, and Cogman certainly delivered on that front! I felt that the way her thoughts and awareness changed were very on point with her experiences as well as the period she lived in. It was particularly startling to start the novel with her as a maid, to be honest, rather than living as a peer to the Blakeneys or running a modiste as discussed at the end of the last book. There are also multiple times during Elusive when Cogman steers the point back to Eleanor’s low social status, as Eleanor herself reminds us of the harsh reality of living in Georgian England.
That didn’t get tedious, however, at the start of the book Eleanor’s constant back and forth about whether the nobles considered her part of the team or even cared for her was beginning to wear on me. While a maid might find it difficult to accept, members of the aristocracy could act honourably or accept her as family, the situation Eleanor finds herself in isn’t a normal situation. She has, by this point, been on several missions and in incredible danger alongside these men. The bond between them is beyond social classes.
What it isn’t, is beyond gender, and Cogman does a fine job of showing the disparity between how they treat Eleanor compared to Marguerite. Whether it is Lady Blakeney’s history, experience with age or that she is the Chief’s wife, she is treated with much more respect and while they protect her, they would never dream of telling her she couldn’t go somewhere if she put her mind to it. Unlike Eleanor, who they treat as a little sister rather than one of them.
A lot happens in Elusive, and Cogman has done a wonderful job of spinning a conspiracy. A character who I expected never to see again (and wrote off as a nobody) is suddenly very much in the thick of it, and I am looking forward to seeing where the story goes. There is also a scene between Eleanor and someone else which was my favourite part of the book, and I’m very happy with the way that Cogman chose to handle that character.
I would have liked to have learned a bit more about some things, but I can also see why Cogman chose to only reveal so much in this book. Book three is going to be an absolute cracker, that’s for sure!
It’s not just Eleanor’s world view that has grown; she’s recognising the way that her friends, especially the noblemen, treat her. When they need a woman, especially someone who can pose as a servant, they are happy to have her along on their missions, but when she tries to act on her own she is told it is too dangerous. Those feelings grow even stronger when Sir Percy goes missing in France while on the hunt for the notorious French diplomat Charles-Maurice de Talleyran.
For safety, the Chief likes to keep things close to the vest, meaning that if a member of the League is caught, they only so know much. It’s a good tactic until he’s the one that’s missing, leaving the rest of the League struggling to put the pieces together with little intel to go on. Determined to be of use and not made to sit on the sidelines, Eleanor starts to make her own plans alongside those of the League with the help of Anima, the mage spirit inhabiting her body.
But things in France are getting more dangerous, and as Eleanor and the League try to find Sir Percy and their other missing friends, they stumble across more than they bargained for.
After finishing the first book, I had hoped to see more development of Eleanor in this book, and Cogman certainly delivered on that front! I felt that the way her thoughts and awareness changed were very on point with her experiences as well as the period she lived in. It was particularly startling to start the novel with her as a maid, to be honest, rather than living as a peer to the Blakeneys or running a modiste as discussed at the end of the last book. There are also multiple times during Elusive when Cogman steers the point back to Eleanor’s low social status, as Eleanor herself reminds us of the harsh reality of living in Georgian England.
That didn’t get tedious, however, at the start of the book Eleanor’s constant back and forth about whether the nobles considered her part of the team or even cared for her was beginning to wear on me. While a maid might find it difficult to accept, members of the aristocracy could act honourably or accept her as family, the situation Eleanor finds herself in isn’t a normal situation. She has, by this point, been on several missions and in incredible danger alongside these men. The bond between them is beyond social classes.
What it isn’t, is beyond gender, and Cogman does a fine job of showing the disparity between how they treat Eleanor compared to Marguerite. Whether it is Lady Blakeney’s history, experience with age or that she is the Chief’s wife, she is treated with much more respect and while they protect her, they would never dream of telling her she couldn’t go somewhere if she put her mind to it. Unlike Eleanor, who they treat as a little sister rather than one of them.
A lot happens in Elusive, and Cogman has done a wonderful job of spinning a conspiracy. A character who I expected never to see again (and wrote off as a nobody) is suddenly very much in the thick of it, and I am looking forward to seeing where the story goes. There is also a scene between Eleanor and someone else which was my favourite part of the book, and I’m very happy with the way that Cogman chose to handle that character.
I would have liked to have learned a bit more about some things, but I can also see why Cogman chose to only reveal so much in this book. Book three is going to be an absolute cracker, that’s for sure!
Content Warnings
The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le
This book contains scenes of violence (gun and knife), death, attempted murder by a drug causing paralysis, grief, vehicle accident, blood, blood-letting, gore, classism, genocide, colonisation, experimentation on/vivisections of magic users, mention of internment camps, prejudice, racism, forced captivity, dehumanisation of magic users, animal and bird deaths, abusive relationship with coercive control, blackmail, threats, decaying flesh, mistreatment of a corpse (not sexual), hospital/medical settings and open-heart surgery while the patient is awake and without their consent.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
In The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le, Nhika is a healer, following an ancient tradition using abilities she was born with. Under the guise of a homoeopathic healer, she uses her abilities in secret, accepting payment at clandestine appointments where she heals patients failed by doctors. While doctors rely on science, Nhika can look directly inside a body and seek out the root of an illness or injury. But healer isn’t what people call her; she’s known as a Bloodcarver, feared for her abilities and hunted for them.
When an appointment goes wrong and Nhika gets caught, she finds herself being sold to the highest bidder. Among the buyers is someone who wants to eat her. When she’s bought by a teenage girl who turns up with an absurdly high bid, Nhika has no idea what could happen next. Prepared to run for it at the first opportunity, she’s stunned when she finds she’s been bought by one of the wealthiest families to help heal a man in a coma.
The more time she spends with the siblings and their bodyguard, she realises there is more going on, and she eventually learns that the injured man is the only witness to their father’s murder. As Nhika works to help heal her patient, she struggles with her past, and identity as a Bloodcarver. Her limited training might be her undoing, and as she seeks help, she unwittingly puts herself in danger. Is the enigmatic yet confusing physician’s aide, Ven Kochin, someone she can trust or someone who will destroy her?
The Last Bloodcarver is an ambitious fantasy novel that aims to mix elements of fantasy, folklore and science. It’s a bold task and one that Le accomplishes well. I think what makes it work is that Le doesn’t try to blend the scientific and fantasy elements too much. For example, Nhika’s training, while spotty, is very different to the medical training of a doctor. This means that she has no medical jargon for what is happening in the body, and that allows Le to wash over a lot of science through her protagonist’s ignorance.
While that may seem like a convenient way to avoid dealing with the subject, Le’s character-building is solid, and it is completely fitting with Nhika’s character that she does not know these things. Le also introduces other information that shows further merging of science and fantasy, but that is a spoiler, and you’ll need to read The Last Bloodcarver for yourself to find out more 😉
There are many layers to this book, and through the characters and sub-plots, Le tackles many difficult themes and topics in The Last Bloodcarver. These include but are not limited to grief, trauma, generational trauma and genocide. I’ve not seen anyone else list this as dark fantasy, however, due to some of the content in it, I feel that it fits that genre.
The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le offers unique world-building, characters you will grow to love and a story that will draw you in.
When an appointment goes wrong and Nhika gets caught, she finds herself being sold to the highest bidder. Among the buyers is someone who wants to eat her. When she’s bought by a teenage girl who turns up with an absurdly high bid, Nhika has no idea what could happen next. Prepared to run for it at the first opportunity, she’s stunned when she finds she’s been bought by one of the wealthiest families to help heal a man in a coma.
The more time she spends with the siblings and their bodyguard, she realises there is more going on, and she eventually learns that the injured man is the only witness to their father’s murder. As Nhika works to help heal her patient, she struggles with her past, and identity as a Bloodcarver. Her limited training might be her undoing, and as she seeks help, she unwittingly puts herself in danger. Is the enigmatic yet confusing physician’s aide, Ven Kochin, someone she can trust or someone who will destroy her?
The Last Bloodcarver is an ambitious fantasy novel that aims to mix elements of fantasy, folklore and science. It’s a bold task and one that Le accomplishes well. I think what makes it work is that Le doesn’t try to blend the scientific and fantasy elements too much. For example, Nhika’s training, while spotty, is very different to the medical training of a doctor. This means that she has no medical jargon for what is happening in the body, and that allows Le to wash over a lot of science through her protagonist’s ignorance.
While that may seem like a convenient way to avoid dealing with the subject, Le’s character-building is solid, and it is completely fitting with Nhika’s character that she does not know these things. Le also introduces other information that shows further merging of science and fantasy, but that is a spoiler, and you’ll need to read The Last Bloodcarver for yourself to find out more 😉
There are many layers to this book, and through the characters and sub-plots, Le tackles many difficult themes and topics in The Last Bloodcarver. These include but are not limited to grief, trauma, generational trauma and genocide. I’ve not seen anyone else list this as dark fantasy, however, due to some of the content in it, I feel that it fits that genre.
The Last Bloodcarver by Vanessa Le offers unique world-building, characters you will grow to love and a story that will draw you in.
Content Warnings
Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne
The author lists the following content warnings: violence, injury, swearing, near-death experiences.
Additionally:
This book contains scenes of blood, poison, tyrannical rule, a toxic relationship between a male friend/coworker and female friend/coworker, toxic workplaces and an emotionally abusive employer.
There are references to events off page: corpses put on display, spiked drinks, and death of loved ones.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Guarding the Queen is all Reyna has ever known. It’s the family business, and it was assumed from birth that she would follow in the footsteps of her mother. The thought of doing something else hadn’t crossed her mind until she met Kianthe, the Arcandor, the infamous Mage of Ages. Falling in love with Kianthe was a risk, and the two sneaked midnight rendezvous afraid that the Queen, not known for her mercy, would find out.
After a particularly nasty assassination attempt leaves Reyna realising just how expendable she is to the Queen despite her loyalty, Reyna decides to accept the offer Kianthe made to her – to run away and set up a bookshop with a tearoom.
Of course, Queen Tilaine is never going to just let Reyna go. Finding the seemingly perfect place in Tawney, a town with uncertain borders far away from the Queen’s court, the couple set up shop in an old bandit hideout. But life was never going to be quiet for the Mage of Ages, and Tawney, well, it’s a town that has more happening than they first realised, including dragon attacks.
Can Reyna and Kianthe help the town, avoid the Queen’s guards, and get their business off the ground, all while working out their relationship as a proper couple?
I picked up Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne because the title practically begged me to, and the synopsis backed it up. I was expecting a cosy fantasy that would be fun and interesting and was blown away by how good it was. Thorne’s writing is brilliant. From her characters to her plot twists and her world building, her writing was a delight to read and I love her style. Her unique narrative style fits well with the cosy fantasy genre, and I loved the way that the narrative slipped into omniscient narration at times, commenting on how Renya and Kianthe reacted to a situation later. For example, when they tell a necessary white lie to save a teenager from a life of crime, the narration mentions that it’s something that they never dissuade him of his belief.
Speaking of said teenager, the whole bandit subplot was such a laugh, and I enjoyed the way that Thorne seamlessly blended humour with romance and fantasy in this book. While this cosy fantasy definitely comes under the romantasy genre, there is a lot more happening other than just the romance. Also while there are a lot of displays of care, snuggles, hugs and kisses, that is the only intimacy shown on the page, although there are plenty of hints in the dialogue that more is happening off the page. I’ve seen other reviewers referring to the flirting scenes as being a lot more involved.
I don’t know if the author has reworked the book for this Tor reprint in 2024 or if other people have a much lower tolerance for scenes like this. But I did not find anything to be “inappropriate for a workplace”, especially one that is run by a couple that is clearly in love.
Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea also has great mental health representation, which was a nice surprise, and I was very impressed with how well these scenes were written. There is a focus on anxiety, intrusive thoughts and recovering from abusive and toxic situations.
What stops this book from being a full five stars for me is that I realised a bit of a big plot hole. Reyna is running for her life from the Queen, and a huge deal is made about how dangerous it is for her… and yet she doesn’t change her appearance at all? It also takes a while for both her and Kianthe to realise that Reyna running around with her Queen’s guard sword probably isn’t the smartest idea! Everything else in the book fits together very well, and Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea has one of the most daringly funny endings I’ve read in a long time. But that bit let it down for me, and once I realised it, I couldn’t stop going back to it.
I fell completely in love with the world and characters that Thorne has created, and can’t wait to continue the adventures of Renya and Kianthe in the next Tomes & Tea book!
After a particularly nasty assassination attempt leaves Reyna realising just how expendable she is to the Queen despite her loyalty, Reyna decides to accept the offer Kianthe made to her – to run away and set up a bookshop with a tearoom.
Of course, Queen Tilaine is never going to just let Reyna go. Finding the seemingly perfect place in Tawney, a town with uncertain borders far away from the Queen’s court, the couple set up shop in an old bandit hideout. But life was never going to be quiet for the Mage of Ages, and Tawney, well, it’s a town that has more happening than they first realised, including dragon attacks.
Can Reyna and Kianthe help the town, avoid the Queen’s guards, and get their business off the ground, all while working out their relationship as a proper couple?
I picked up Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne because the title practically begged me to, and the synopsis backed it up. I was expecting a cosy fantasy that would be fun and interesting and was blown away by how good it was. Thorne’s writing is brilliant. From her characters to her plot twists and her world building, her writing was a delight to read and I love her style. Her unique narrative style fits well with the cosy fantasy genre, and I loved the way that the narrative slipped into omniscient narration at times, commenting on how Renya and Kianthe reacted to a situation later. For example, when they tell a necessary white lie to save a teenager from a life of crime, the narration mentions that it’s something that they never dissuade him of his belief.
Speaking of said teenager, the whole bandit subplot was such a laugh, and I enjoyed the way that Thorne seamlessly blended humour with romance and fantasy in this book. While this cosy fantasy definitely comes under the romantasy genre, there is a lot more happening other than just the romance. Also while there are a lot of displays of care, snuggles, hugs and kisses, that is the only intimacy shown on the page, although there are plenty of hints in the dialogue that more is happening off the page. I’ve seen other reviewers referring to the flirting scenes as being a lot more involved.
I don’t know if the author has reworked the book for this Tor reprint in 2024 or if other people have a much lower tolerance for scenes like this. But I did not find anything to be “inappropriate for a workplace”, especially one that is run by a couple that is clearly in love.
Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea also has great mental health representation, which was a nice surprise, and I was very impressed with how well these scenes were written. There is a focus on anxiety, intrusive thoughts and recovering from abusive and toxic situations.
What stops this book from being a full five stars for me is that I realised a bit of a big plot hole. Reyna is running for her life from the Queen, and a huge deal is made about how dangerous it is for her… and yet she doesn’t change her appearance at all? It also takes a while for both her and Kianthe to realise that Reyna running around with her Queen’s guard sword probably isn’t the smartest idea! Everything else in the book fits together very well, and Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea has one of the most daringly funny endings I’ve read in a long time. But that bit let it down for me, and once I realised it, I couldn’t stop going back to it.
I fell completely in love with the world and characters that Thorne has created, and can’t wait to continue the adventures of Renya and Kianthe in the next Tomes & Tea book!
Content Warnings
Once Upon a Spring: A Folk and Fairy Tale Anthology by Katherine Shaw, S. Markem, Jenna Smithwick, Ella T. Holmes, Caroline Logan, Laila Amado, Jake Curran-Pipe, A. J. Van Belle, Fiona Simpson, Bharat Krishnan, H.L. Macfarlane, M. J. Weatherall, Josie Jaffrey, Elanna Bellows, Kate Longstone, R. a. Gerritse, Adie Hart
‘But for a Dream’ by Ella T Holmes – Violence, death.
‘Far Far Awake’ by Adie Hart – Illness recovery.
‘Darkness Green’ by Laila Amado – Murdered girls, violence, death, blood, burned bodies.
‘The Circus of Forgotten Things’ by Caroline Logan – Stolen/missing children, blood,
‘She Vanishes’ by Josie Jaffrey – Death, grief, mention of suicide, toxic spousal relationship,
‘Forget-Me-Not Jones’ by Jake Curran-Pipe – Misogyny, sexual harassment, suicide ideation.
‘Perennial’ by Katherine Shaw – Toxic relationship (manipulative, obsessive, possessive), physical assault, victim blaming.
‘I Like Quiet Places’ by Fiona Simpson – Deaths, alcohol, brutal physical assault, heart attack, car accident (off page), hospital setting.
‘Spring Tide’ by Kate Longstone – Stolen child.
‘To Name a Rose’ by Elanna Bellows – Prejudice.
‘It Started with Bluebells’ by M. J. Weatherall – Effects of Climate Change, poisoning, details of someone slowly dying, animal death.
‘Radhakrishna’ by Bharat Krishnan – Racism, prejudice.
‘The Girls of Spring’ by Jenna Smithwick – Violence against women, death, victim blaming.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
The third season-themed anthology released by Macfarlane Lantern Publishing, Once Upon a Spring: A Folk and Fairy Tale Anthology, was another solid four-star read for me. Unlike my previous reviews, I managed to read this one at the start of the appropriate season, and my timing fit beautifully with the themes of this anthology in particular. With themes of rebirth, renewal and change, Once Upon a Spring was the perfect read for me as I said goodbye to winter and watched the world around me change into spring.
I will note that having read the other anthologies at completely different times of the year from the season they were representing, it isn’t necessary to read them during the correct season. Sometimes it’s nice to read stories about summer during the cold heart of winter, or the cooler seasons during a blistering summer.
The anthology starts with the excellent ‘But for a Dream’ by Ella T Holmes, a bittersweet story of love, belonging and dreaming. Adie Hart continues her fabulous stories of sapphic witches in ‘Far Far Awake’ a spin on Sleeping Beauty. The universe Hart has created in these stories is just begging to be made into a full series of books. I have adored reading these stories in each anthology, with their incredible world-building and amazing characters. I want and need more.
‘Season’s Keep’ by R. A. Gerritse is beautiful, and this one truly touched me as I sat reading it at the start of spring. For those who like their stories a bit darker, the gothic horror of ‘Darkness Green’ by Laila Amado will be right up your alley. I lapped this one up with delight, wishing there was more. Caroline Logan’s ‘The Circus of Forgotten Things’ is a creepy delight that will stay with you long after you’ve finished; Logan nails it with that last line.
‘Forget-Me-Not Jones’ by Jake Curran-Pipe takes a much different approach, and I’m not usually a fan of magical realism. But the themes of misogyny in science and depression that Curran-Pipe tackles in this one caught my attention, and I liked the ending. This is one of those that you need to stick with. I love clever stories and ‘Lady of the Flame’ by A. J. Van Belle falls under that category. I was definitely kicking myself though for not realising things sooner though. Sometimes you can’t see what is right in front of you.
In ‘Perennial’ Katherine Shaw retells the Narcissus myth, and her story is heartbreaking. It is very well written, but please check the content warnings for this one. Another cleverly written story that reimagined folklore (I can’t say what because it’s a huge spoiler!) is ‘I Like Quiet Places’ by Fiona Simpson. This one stuck with me after I finished it.
‘To Name a Rose’ by Elanna Bellows focuses on the theme of change in multiple ways in this intriguing fantasy story. It is followed by ‘It Started with Bluebells’ by M. J. Weatherall a hauntingly dark tale of renewal that ticked all the boxes for me.
I enjoyed the variety of the stories in Once Upon a Spring and how the authors each interpreted the themes of change and renewal associated with Spring. There is something for everyone in this anthology.
The full list of stories in Once Upon a Spring: A Folk and Fairy Tale Anthology are:
‘But for a Dream’ by Ella T Holmes
‘Far Far Awake’ by Adie Hart
‘Season’s Keep’ by R. A. Gerritse
‘Darkness Green’ by Laila Amado
‘The Circus of Forgotten Things’ by Caroline Logan
‘She Vanishes’ by Josie Jaffrey
‘Be Careful What You Wish’ For by S. Markem
‘Forget-Me-Not Jones’ by Jake Curran-Pipe
‘Lady of the Flame’ by A. J. Van Belle
‘Perennial’ by Katherine Shaw
‘I Like Quiet Places’ by Fiona Simpson
‘Spring Tide’ by Kate Longstone
‘To Name a Rose’ by Elanna Bellows
‘It Started with Bluebells’ by M. J. Weatherall
‘Radhakrishna’ by Bharat Krishnan
‘The Girls of Spring’ by Jenna Smithwick
I will note that having read the other anthologies at completely different times of the year from the season they were representing, it isn’t necessary to read them during the correct season. Sometimes it’s nice to read stories about summer during the cold heart of winter, or the cooler seasons during a blistering summer.
The anthology starts with the excellent ‘But for a Dream’ by Ella T Holmes, a bittersweet story of love, belonging and dreaming. Adie Hart continues her fabulous stories of sapphic witches in ‘Far Far Awake’ a spin on Sleeping Beauty. The universe Hart has created in these stories is just begging to be made into a full series of books. I have adored reading these stories in each anthology, with their incredible world-building and amazing characters. I want and need more.
‘Season’s Keep’ by R. A. Gerritse is beautiful, and this one truly touched me as I sat reading it at the start of spring. For those who like their stories a bit darker, the gothic horror of ‘Darkness Green’ by Laila Amado will be right up your alley. I lapped this one up with delight, wishing there was more. Caroline Logan’s ‘The Circus of Forgotten Things’ is a creepy delight that will stay with you long after you’ve finished; Logan nails it with that last line.
‘Forget-Me-Not Jones’ by Jake Curran-Pipe takes a much different approach, and I’m not usually a fan of magical realism. But the themes of misogyny in science and depression that Curran-Pipe tackles in this one caught my attention, and I liked the ending. This is one of those that you need to stick with. I love clever stories and ‘Lady of the Flame’ by A. J. Van Belle falls under that category. I was definitely kicking myself though for not realising things sooner though. Sometimes you can’t see what is right in front of you.
In ‘Perennial’ Katherine Shaw retells the Narcissus myth, and her story is heartbreaking. It is very well written, but please check the content warnings for this one. Another cleverly written story that reimagined folklore (I can’t say what because it’s a huge spoiler!) is ‘I Like Quiet Places’ by Fiona Simpson. This one stuck with me after I finished it.
‘To Name a Rose’ by Elanna Bellows focuses on the theme of change in multiple ways in this intriguing fantasy story. It is followed by ‘It Started with Bluebells’ by M. J. Weatherall a hauntingly dark tale of renewal that ticked all the boxes for me.
I enjoyed the variety of the stories in Once Upon a Spring and how the authors each interpreted the themes of change and renewal associated with Spring. There is something for everyone in this anthology.
The full list of stories in Once Upon a Spring: A Folk and Fairy Tale Anthology are:
‘But for a Dream’ by Ella T Holmes
‘Far Far Awake’ by Adie Hart
‘Season’s Keep’ by R. A. Gerritse
‘Darkness Green’ by Laila Amado
‘The Circus of Forgotten Things’ by Caroline Logan
‘She Vanishes’ by Josie Jaffrey
‘Be Careful What You Wish’ For by S. Markem
‘Forget-Me-Not Jones’ by Jake Curran-Pipe
‘Lady of the Flame’ by A. J. Van Belle
‘Perennial’ by Katherine Shaw
‘I Like Quiet Places’ by Fiona Simpson
‘Spring Tide’ by Kate Longstone
‘To Name a Rose’ by Elanna Bellows
‘It Started with Bluebells’ by M. J. Weatherall
‘Radhakrishna’ by Bharat Krishnan
‘The Girls of Spring’ by Jenna Smithwick
Content Warnings
The Hemlock Queen by Hannah Whitten
The author lists the following content warnings on her website:
alcohol and tobacco use
parental abuse (emotional, physical)
explicit sexual content
adult language
religious abuse
intimate partner violence (emotional, sexual, physical)
gore/violence (fairly severe)
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
In The Foxglove King, Lore and Bastian survived a prophecy that would have seen Lore dead and Bastian’s body taken over by a god. Bastian is about to be crowned King, Gabriel is now Priest Exalted and Lore, a former poison smuggler, has been elevated to Bastian’s right hand. As Bastian begins to rule the Court, Lore starts to notice changes in his behaviour and fears the worst. Something is whispering in her ear, and she’s beginning to wonder what or who is whispering in Bastian’s ear…
The Hemlock Queen is everything I hoped that the previous book would be, and I loved every moment of it. The character development was much better for a start, and the overall plot was more interesting to me. It’s a lot less religious-based, and leans more towards mythology and folklore, which is what I tend to expect from Whitten. It was a wild ride of suspense and emotion, and I can’t wait for book three!
The Hemlock Queen is everything I hoped that the previous book would be, and I loved every moment of it. The character development was much better for a start, and the overall plot was more interesting to me. It’s a lot less religious-based, and leans more towards mythology and folklore, which is what I tend to expect from Whitten. It was a wild ride of suspense and emotion, and I can’t wait for book three!
Content Warnings
Your Blood, My Bones by Kelly Andrew
The author lists the following content warnings:
Animal death (not pets)
Blood
Allusions to violence / abuse
Poisoning
Cults
Bones / skeletons
Allusions to sexual assault
Paranormal activity
Elements of body horror
Mild gore
Insects / Spiders
Mild depictions of torture
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Heading back to the farmhouse where she spent her summers, Wyatt is planning to burn the place and her memories of her father’s neglect to the ground with it. She is not expecting to find, Peter, one of her childhood friends, locked up in the basement. Her desire to leave the past behind in one large, fiery gesture is put on hold as she learns there was a lot more happening every summer while she, Peter and their friend James hung out. The place has a history, her family has a legacy, and it’s now hers, and it’s a bloody one that Wyatt can’t avoid.
Your Blood, My Bones by Kelly Andrew grew on me as I read it. It’s set in the same world as The Whispering Dark, but it is a lot darker in tone and content, and I wasn’t expecting it. That isn’t to say it’s a bad thing, far from it, it just took me a minute to get my footing when I first started reading it. Andrew has such a unique way with words, and her descriptions are out of this world. Every time I read something by her, it’s a complete experience in itself.
In Your Blood, My Bones she has spun a wonderfully dark story filled with cryptids, plant magic and friendship tinged with trauma and grief. It took me a ridiculously long time to recognise that a certain name being dropped was THAT person from The Whispering Dark until it was right in my face. I loved the way that Andrew linked the two books, and that her next book is also set in the same world.
This is one of those books that you need to experience rather than read about. If you enjoy gothic horror, unique world-building, dark magic and found family friendships then this is for you!
Your Blood, My Bones by Kelly Andrew grew on me as I read it. It’s set in the same world as The Whispering Dark, but it is a lot darker in tone and content, and I wasn’t expecting it. That isn’t to say it’s a bad thing, far from it, it just took me a minute to get my footing when I first started reading it. Andrew has such a unique way with words, and her descriptions are out of this world. Every time I read something by her, it’s a complete experience in itself.
In Your Blood, My Bones she has spun a wonderfully dark story filled with cryptids, plant magic and friendship tinged with trauma and grief. It took me a ridiculously long time to recognise that a certain name being dropped was THAT person from The Whispering Dark until it was right in my face. I loved the way that Andrew linked the two books, and that her next book is also set in the same world.
This is one of those books that you need to experience rather than read about. If you enjoy gothic horror, unique world-building, dark magic and found family friendships then this is for you!
Content Warnings
Jump Cut by Helen Grant
This book contains scenes discussing the death of loved ones off page, this includes deaths from cancer and a stroke. Grief is an ongoing theme throughout the book. There are deaths on page, and flash-back scenes with details of deaths.
World War I is discussed, including discussions of men dying in action and a scene in a hospital detailing war injuries in graphic detail.
A character is the victim of domestic abuse (physical and emotional abuse) and flashback scenes give details of the abuse. This includes a miscarriage.
A character also experiences coercive and financial abuse, on page. As an abuse survivor, I found these scenes and the topic of abuse handled sensitively by the author. Please be aware that these scenes may be difficult for some readers.
This book also contains violence, alcohol use, body horror, blackmail, coercion, physical assault, fire, and death by fire.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I’ve had the pleasure of reading several works by Helen Grant, including her novel Too Near the Dead and her short story collection, The Sea Change & Other Stories, and in my opinion, Jump Cut is her best work yet.
Theda Garrick has just lost her husband, Max, and in an attempt to run away from her grief and everything that reminds her of her new status as a widow, she has jumped on the opportunity of a lifetime. Ageing actress Mary Arden has never given an interview – until now. That in itself is enough to get Theda heading for Arden’s, but the icing on the cake is that Arden is willing to discuss The Simulacrum, an infamous lost film that Arden starred in. No one has ever seen the film, and no one involved with it has ever spoken about it. It’s the perfect topic for Theda’s first book.
Since no one has seen Mary Arden in decades, Theda doesn’t know quite what to expect from the one-hundred-and-four-year-old film star. She certainly isn’t expecting a conniving old hag who will only talk to her in return for details about Theda’s life, and Arden is only satisfied with the ones that hurt Theda the most; her life with Max. The exact thing she was hoping to escape.
As Theda does her best to handle Arden’s requests, she slowly gets the information she came for; the story of The Simulacrum. It’s more unbelievable than anything she could have imagined. She gets one hour a day with Arden and the rest of the day she has the grounds of Arden’s Art Deco mansion Garthside to herself, everywhere apart from the East Wing where Arden lives.
The more time Theda spends at Garthside, the more she realises something is going on. Something dangerous, something that can’t possibly be real. Just when she thinks of leaving, Arden drops a bombshell that ensures Theda will stick around a bit longer. But soon Theda realises that no price is worth what Arden is offering…
In Jump Cut, the reader gets three stories for the price of one. Through Mary Arden, we hear the story of director Lillian Velderkaust and her lover Hugh Mason, which led to Lillian making The Simulacrum starring Arden. Part of the story that Arden retells has been told to her second-hand, and as she tells it, she recalls how Lillian told it to her and how she reacted to it. Jump Cut is narrated from a first-person perspective, offering us Theda’s thoughts and responses as Arden speaks.
Grant capitalises on the power of oral storytelling to create a powerful bond between the storyteller, Arden, and the listener, Theda and the reader. As a result, the interview scenes between Arden and Theda are highly emotional scenes that draw the reader in. I felt as though I was sitting in the room with the characters.
Having lulled the reader into a false sense of security, Grant vividly breaks that bond when Arden switches from the role of storyteller to that of manipulator as she breaks roles and demands details of Theda’s life. The whiplash of emotions is shocking and doesn’t stop being shocking in future interview sessions. Through Arden’s interrogations, Theda tells her story, and here Grant handles a difficult topic with sensitivity (see the content warnings for more details).
I found Mary Arden to be completely fascinating, and it is in the scenes between her and Theda that Grant’s skill shines. Most of the time, the ageing actress just seems like a bored rich crone getting her last thrills from harassing a young woman mourning the recent loss of her husband. At times, there are brief flickers of concern as she coaxes details from Theda, taking on the role of a perverse therapist before she turns cold again.
The third story that is told in Jump Cut is that of Theda’s time at Garthside, and here Grant draws on her considerable background in horror. With things going bump in the night, secret off-limit areas of the manor, and shifty answers from staff, Grant has the reader primed for answers.
I refer to these as stories rather than plots because storytelling is such a prominent and important feature of Jump Cut, and Grant masterfully uses it to build suspense. It accumulates throughout the book as each of the stories converge into the final reveal, and what a reveal it is! Grant has a wicked imagination, as seen in her previous work, but she has outdone herself in Jump Cut. This thrill ride will stick with you long after you have read it. I highly recommend it for horror and thriller fans, especially those who like to learn new things. Old films have never been something of interest to me, but I enjoyed learning about them in this book.
Theda Garrick has just lost her husband, Max, and in an attempt to run away from her grief and everything that reminds her of her new status as a widow, she has jumped on the opportunity of a lifetime. Ageing actress Mary Arden has never given an interview – until now. That in itself is enough to get Theda heading for Arden’s, but the icing on the cake is that Arden is willing to discuss The Simulacrum, an infamous lost film that Arden starred in. No one has ever seen the film, and no one involved with it has ever spoken about it. It’s the perfect topic for Theda’s first book.
Since no one has seen Mary Arden in decades, Theda doesn’t know quite what to expect from the one-hundred-and-four-year-old film star. She certainly isn’t expecting a conniving old hag who will only talk to her in return for details about Theda’s life, and Arden is only satisfied with the ones that hurt Theda the most; her life with Max. The exact thing she was hoping to escape.
As Theda does her best to handle Arden’s requests, she slowly gets the information she came for; the story of The Simulacrum. It’s more unbelievable than anything she could have imagined. She gets one hour a day with Arden and the rest of the day she has the grounds of Arden’s Art Deco mansion Garthside to herself, everywhere apart from the East Wing where Arden lives.
The more time Theda spends at Garthside, the more she realises something is going on. Something dangerous, something that can’t possibly be real. Just when she thinks of leaving, Arden drops a bombshell that ensures Theda will stick around a bit longer. But soon Theda realises that no price is worth what Arden is offering…
In Jump Cut, the reader gets three stories for the price of one. Through Mary Arden, we hear the story of director Lillian Velderkaust and her lover Hugh Mason, which led to Lillian making The Simulacrum starring Arden. Part of the story that Arden retells has been told to her second-hand, and as she tells it, she recalls how Lillian told it to her and how she reacted to it. Jump Cut is narrated from a first-person perspective, offering us Theda’s thoughts and responses as Arden speaks.
Grant capitalises on the power of oral storytelling to create a powerful bond between the storyteller, Arden, and the listener, Theda and the reader. As a result, the interview scenes between Arden and Theda are highly emotional scenes that draw the reader in. I felt as though I was sitting in the room with the characters.
Having lulled the reader into a false sense of security, Grant vividly breaks that bond when Arden switches from the role of storyteller to that of manipulator as she breaks roles and demands details of Theda’s life. The whiplash of emotions is shocking and doesn’t stop being shocking in future interview sessions. Through Arden’s interrogations, Theda tells her story, and here Grant handles a difficult topic with sensitivity (see the content warnings for more details).
I found Mary Arden to be completely fascinating, and it is in the scenes between her and Theda that Grant’s skill shines. Most of the time, the ageing actress just seems like a bored rich crone getting her last thrills from harassing a young woman mourning the recent loss of her husband. At times, there are brief flickers of concern as she coaxes details from Theda, taking on the role of a perverse therapist before she turns cold again.
The third story that is told in Jump Cut is that of Theda’s time at Garthside, and here Grant draws on her considerable background in horror. With things going bump in the night, secret off-limit areas of the manor, and shifty answers from staff, Grant has the reader primed for answers.
I refer to these as stories rather than plots because storytelling is such a prominent and important feature of Jump Cut, and Grant masterfully uses it to build suspense. It accumulates throughout the book as each of the stories converge into the final reveal, and what a reveal it is! Grant has a wicked imagination, as seen in her previous work, but she has outdone herself in Jump Cut. This thrill ride will stick with you long after you have read it. I highly recommend it for horror and thriller fans, especially those who like to learn new things. Old films have never been something of interest to me, but I enjoyed learning about them in this book.
Content Warnings
Rise of the Darkness by F.C. Gomez
This book contains scenes of death, grief, blood, violence, ritual bloodletting, massacres, forced captivity, misogyny, wildfires, and mass animal deaths from wildfires.
There are flashbacks to an emotionally abusive relationship between a character and their father, child abandonment, bullying including physical abuse, homophobic and transphobic comments,
There are references to police harassing and attacking protesters, discussion of pollution, fuelling hate, worldwide pandemics and mass casualty events.
Please be aware that myths and stories from multiple pantheons are discussed throughout, and the content of these may be triggering.
adventurous
dark
funny
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Eighteen-year-old Leo Clarkson thought that the most difficult things he needed to worry about were dodging girls trying to give him their number, and trying to work out whether his friend David likes him too. That’s until the curator supervising his research internship suddenly disappears without a trace. He can’t imagine that this turn of fate will prove his research theories true but will bring him face-to-face with mythological beings long thought to just be stories.
Athena, the Greek goddess of war and wisdom, was tasked by the Council of Elders to investigate the mysterious disappearance of deities from multiple Pantheons. When her fate collides with Leo’s, the immortal goddess and human find themselves unlikely companions as Leo’s research into talismans becomes crucial to Athena completing her mission. It’s a mission that will take them all over the world as they find allies and avoid danger as their enemies try to stop them.
Rise of the Darkness has the potential to be a brilliant novel. It has an intriguing and engaging plot that unites all the pantheons in a quest against a dangerous foe. Gomez’s strength lies in her characters, and her ability to humanise immortal deities. Very often these characters are written as aloof and impersonal, having no emotions in common with humans despite stories about them being littered with examples of love, anger and jealousy.
Gomez does a great job of bringing the deities to life as people the reader can relate to, leading to some great scenes that delve deep into Athena’s personality and bring her to life on the page. The way that she writes Athena’s thoughts of her fellow Olympians feels very natural, and I liked the way that Gomez wove in the details of myths as if they were family history, which of course they are to Athena.
Gomez has a real talent for bringing the gods into modern times and pondering how they would react to it, and the results are great. There’s a fantastic scene between Leo and another Olympian on a plane that is just perfection. Gomez has created an adventure story with an epic quest, and with the god of wisdom and war as a main character you can bet the fight scenes are on point too.
Rise of the Darkness is a novel that has been written with a lot of passion and research, however, as I said what could be a great novel has been let down by some common mistakes. There is a lot of information introduced throughout the novel, which is to be expected considering one of the main characters is a research student and the other is the goddess of wisdom.
The problem is that this information is not dispersed throughout the story naturally, it occurs in large chunks, especially at the start of new chapters when the characters arrive at a new location. The syntax of these sentences also changes from past tense to present tense, reading like an encyclopedic entry. While the information is interesting, this is a fiction book, and I’m more interested in the characters’ thoughts about the location than statistics.
Despite the huge amount of research done, huge mistakes have been made regarding English school systems, which make Leo’s background quite unlikely. Leo is said to be eighteen years old, however, he has also not finished high school. Despite this, he is attending King’s College London, which Gomez refers to as a “prep school” where he helps teach classes.
Everything about this is incorrect. Let’s start with ‘high school’; from age 11 to 16 children in England attend compulsory secondary education, in public schooling this is called a secondary school. After the age of 16, they have the choice of attending college or sixth-form college to gain further qualifications. If they wish to attend University, they must do this, and they enter university at 18 years old.
King’s College London is a University, not a prep school, and accepts adult students from the age of 18 onwards (source). In UK universities the only students that teach classes, in my considerable experience, are PhD students. To start a PhD, students need to first complete an undergraduate degree (three to four years) and then a postgraduate degree (one to two years). That means that at eighteen, Leo is a first-year student who would need to have completed a lot more than just (secondary) school to even attend University, and there is no chance that he would be teaching (or helping out with) classes.
It seems an odd thing to overlook such important details for the background of one of your main characters. Unfortunately, this is a very common mistake that I come across when non-British authors choose the UK for the setting of their book.
Despite these problems, Gomez’s writing shines through, and she has written a compelling story that had me hooked from start to finish. I am definitely looking forward to the next book.
Athena, the Greek goddess of war and wisdom, was tasked by the Council of Elders to investigate the mysterious disappearance of deities from multiple Pantheons. When her fate collides with Leo’s, the immortal goddess and human find themselves unlikely companions as Leo’s research into talismans becomes crucial to Athena completing her mission. It’s a mission that will take them all over the world as they find allies and avoid danger as their enemies try to stop them.
Rise of the Darkness has the potential to be a brilliant novel. It has an intriguing and engaging plot that unites all the pantheons in a quest against a dangerous foe. Gomez’s strength lies in her characters, and her ability to humanise immortal deities. Very often these characters are written as aloof and impersonal, having no emotions in common with humans despite stories about them being littered with examples of love, anger and jealousy.
Gomez does a great job of bringing the deities to life as people the reader can relate to, leading to some great scenes that delve deep into Athena’s personality and bring her to life on the page. The way that she writes Athena’s thoughts of her fellow Olympians feels very natural, and I liked the way that Gomez wove in the details of myths as if they were family history, which of course they are to Athena.
Gomez has a real talent for bringing the gods into modern times and pondering how they would react to it, and the results are great. There’s a fantastic scene between Leo and another Olympian on a plane that is just perfection. Gomez has created an adventure story with an epic quest, and with the god of wisdom and war as a main character you can bet the fight scenes are on point too.
Rise of the Darkness is a novel that has been written with a lot of passion and research, however, as I said what could be a great novel has been let down by some common mistakes. There is a lot of information introduced throughout the novel, which is to be expected considering one of the main characters is a research student and the other is the goddess of wisdom.
The problem is that this information is not dispersed throughout the story naturally, it occurs in large chunks, especially at the start of new chapters when the characters arrive at a new location. The syntax of these sentences also changes from past tense to present tense, reading like an encyclopedic entry. While the information is interesting, this is a fiction book, and I’m more interested in the characters’ thoughts about the location than statistics.
Despite the huge amount of research done, huge mistakes have been made regarding English school systems, which make Leo’s background quite unlikely. Leo is said to be eighteen years old, however, he has also not finished high school. Despite this, he is attending King’s College London, which Gomez refers to as a “prep school” where he helps teach classes.
Everything about this is incorrect. Let’s start with ‘high school’; from age 11 to 16 children in England attend compulsory secondary education, in public schooling this is called a secondary school. After the age of 16, they have the choice of attending college or sixth-form college to gain further qualifications. If they wish to attend University, they must do this, and they enter university at 18 years old.
King’s College London is a University, not a prep school, and accepts adult students from the age of 18 onwards (source). In UK universities the only students that teach classes, in my considerable experience, are PhD students. To start a PhD, students need to first complete an undergraduate degree (three to four years) and then a postgraduate degree (one to two years). That means that at eighteen, Leo is a first-year student who would need to have completed a lot more than just (secondary) school to even attend University, and there is no chance that he would be teaching (or helping out with) classes.
It seems an odd thing to overlook such important details for the background of one of your main characters. Unfortunately, this is a very common mistake that I come across when non-British authors choose the UK for the setting of their book.
Despite these problems, Gomez’s writing shines through, and she has written a compelling story that had me hooked from start to finish. I am definitely looking forward to the next book.
Content Warnings
Song of the Six Realms by Judy I. Lin
Listed at the start of the ARC by the publisher:
mentioned death of family members
grief,
assault
fantasy violence
death
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Xue’s past is marked by a tragedy that left her orphaned and her family name struck from memory in an ancient custom. Taken in by her uncle, he does everything he can to help Xue prosper in a society that treats her as lesser. She’s a talented musician, and he arranges an apprenticeship at the esteemed House of Flowing Waters, a house that provides entertainment from the most skilled entertainers in the kingdom.
While Xue is treated well at the House, her future is bleak. Unlike the other adepts, her low social status means that her only option is to play the qin for rich nobles. A life that would turn her love of music into one of servitude rather than letting her explore her music and travel. So when an unusual noble asks for her to perform for him several times, leading to him offering to buy her contract. It’s unexpected, but Duke Meng is offering Xue a future that she thought would never be possible. It’s a chance she has to take.
Xue has no way of knowing that the estate Duke Meng is taking to her isn’t in the mountains… it’s on the Celestial Plane, and he’s actually the Duke of Dreams, a Celestial who watches over mortal’s dreams. He needs Xue’s help, her music is the only thing that can help unlock secrets that will save the Six Realms from a malevolent evil.
In Song of the Six Realms, Lin has once again created a magical combination of East Asian folklore and fantasy. In the Book of Tea duology, tea and poison were the foundation of her world-building and in this new book Lin has focused on music, poetry and dreams. These themes suffuse every fibre of this book as Lin tells us Xue’s story, weaving her and Meng’s stories together along with their shared love of music and poetry.
This is a romance, however, it is one of many themes and sub-plots in Song of the Six Realms. If it isn’t something you’re a fan of, or like me, you can take it or leave it, then there is plenty more happening. Lin’s world-building is beautiful and filled with wonderful twists and turns that kept my interest piqued from start to finish. The only thing that kept this from being a four-star to me was that I felt the big reveal and related details were a little rushed.
Other than that, everything else was the quality I expected to find in a book by Judy I. Lin, with strong character writing, and backstories that drew me in at every turn. Song of the Six Realms is a must-read!
While Xue is treated well at the House, her future is bleak. Unlike the other adepts, her low social status means that her only option is to play the qin for rich nobles. A life that would turn her love of music into one of servitude rather than letting her explore her music and travel. So when an unusual noble asks for her to perform for him several times, leading to him offering to buy her contract. It’s unexpected, but Duke Meng is offering Xue a future that she thought would never be possible. It’s a chance she has to take.
Xue has no way of knowing that the estate Duke Meng is taking to her isn’t in the mountains… it’s on the Celestial Plane, and he’s actually the Duke of Dreams, a Celestial who watches over mortal’s dreams. He needs Xue’s help, her music is the only thing that can help unlock secrets that will save the Six Realms from a malevolent evil.
In Song of the Six Realms, Lin has once again created a magical combination of East Asian folklore and fantasy. In the Book of Tea duology, tea and poison were the foundation of her world-building and in this new book Lin has focused on music, poetry and dreams. These themes suffuse every fibre of this book as Lin tells us Xue’s story, weaving her and Meng’s stories together along with their shared love of music and poetry.
This is a romance, however, it is one of many themes and sub-plots in Song of the Six Realms. If it isn’t something you’re a fan of, or like me, you can take it or leave it, then there is plenty more happening. Lin’s world-building is beautiful and filled with wonderful twists and turns that kept my interest piqued from start to finish. The only thing that kept this from being a four-star to me was that I felt the big reveal and related details were a little rushed.
Other than that, everything else was the quality I expected to find in a book by Judy I. Lin, with strong character writing, and backstories that drew me in at every turn. Song of the Six Realms is a must-read!
Content Warnings
Fathomfolk by Eliza Chan
As listed on the author’s website:
Alcohol
Blackmail
Class discrimination
Coercive control
Confinement of a minority group (historical)
Corrupt government
Death
Kidnapping
Racism
Mild sexual content
Strong language
Verbal and emotional abuse
Violence
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Fathomfolk by Eliza Chan is equal parts delight and frustration as she invites the reader to venture into a world where humans live in cities on the ocean alongside the Fathomfolk, people who have sea creature forms and magical abilities. The world-building is superb, and combined with Chan’s gorgeous writing, I felt like I had truly stepped beneath the sea. While some humans have adapted to their new neighbours, others are always looking to build walls between humans and Fathomfolk.
I liked the way that Chan chose to show the history of Tiankawi and current events through the eyes of three women from different ages and places in society. Serena, a human mother of two children and wife of the Minister of Defence, provides a view into high human society. In comparison, Nami is a dragon and considered Fathomfolk royalty, however, she has lived a sheltered life in a sea haven. When she is exiled to Tiankawi she is treated as a lesser being, a far cry from her royal upbringing, and throughout the book she learns a lot of hard truths.
Mira stands with a foot in both worlds. As a half-human, half-siren, she has struggled to find where and how she fits into either world her whole life. She has just been made Captain of the border guard and is painfully aware that the human council that promoted her is waiting for her to screw up so they can blame it on her Fathomfolk side.
Her perspective is imperative to the novel, and if I had any complaints, it is that I felt that her voice was drowned out a bit by Serena and Nami despite the synopsis suggesting that she was the main focus. Rather, it felt that Nami was more the focus, which I have no complaint about and understand it was necessary for the storyline, I’m just not a fan of being misled by a synopsis.
I mentioned that Fathomfolk is frustrating, not due to anything wrong with the novel. Chan approaches topics of marginalisation and alienation through a fantasy lens with a familiarity that is heartbreaking. It is clear that she has poured her own experience into this book, and as a disabled queer reader, many scenes were painfully recognisable.
I appreciated that Chan wove every marginalised identity into her universe. Fathomfolk features a queer normative society and as a result of the pollution humans have caused, Fathomfolk are developing a chronic illness called gill rot from spending time in the polluted water. It shortens their life span and is forcing them out of their natural habitat and onto land.
Fathomfolk is an extraordinary debut that draws on “Under the Sea” nostalgia and elements of fairytales, while also being reminiscent of the movie Waterworld. I don’t want to outright compare Fathomfolk to any of these because what Chan has created is unique and deserves to be viewed on its own merits. Fathomfolk reminds us that there is beauty in difference, but being different is a painful existence.
This is most certainly a must-read for 2024, and the way the book ends promises a dramatic sequel.
I liked the way that Chan chose to show the history of Tiankawi and current events through the eyes of three women from different ages and places in society. Serena, a human mother of two children and wife of the Minister of Defence, provides a view into high human society. In comparison, Nami is a dragon and considered Fathomfolk royalty, however, she has lived a sheltered life in a sea haven. When she is exiled to Tiankawi she is treated as a lesser being, a far cry from her royal upbringing, and throughout the book she learns a lot of hard truths.
Mira stands with a foot in both worlds. As a half-human, half-siren, she has struggled to find where and how she fits into either world her whole life. She has just been made Captain of the border guard and is painfully aware that the human council that promoted her is waiting for her to screw up so they can blame it on her Fathomfolk side.
Her perspective is imperative to the novel, and if I had any complaints, it is that I felt that her voice was drowned out a bit by Serena and Nami despite the synopsis suggesting that she was the main focus. Rather, it felt that Nami was more the focus, which I have no complaint about and understand it was necessary for the storyline, I’m just not a fan of being misled by a synopsis.
I mentioned that Fathomfolk is frustrating, not due to anything wrong with the novel. Chan approaches topics of marginalisation and alienation through a fantasy lens with a familiarity that is heartbreaking. It is clear that she has poured her own experience into this book, and as a disabled queer reader, many scenes were painfully recognisable.
I appreciated that Chan wove every marginalised identity into her universe. Fathomfolk features a queer normative society and as a result of the pollution humans have caused, Fathomfolk are developing a chronic illness called gill rot from spending time in the polluted water. It shortens their life span and is forcing them out of their natural habitat and onto land.
Fathomfolk is an extraordinary debut that draws on “Under the Sea” nostalgia and elements of fairytales, while also being reminiscent of the movie Waterworld. I don’t want to outright compare Fathomfolk to any of these because what Chan has created is unique and deserves to be viewed on its own merits. Fathomfolk reminds us that there is beauty in difference, but being different is a painful existence.
This is most certainly a must-read for 2024, and the way the book ends promises a dramatic sequel.
Content Warnings