Lady knights? A medieval-inspired setting? A rich magical world built around loyalty, sacrifice, and political conflict? It sounded as though it had been written specifically for me. And while there is a great deal here that I genuinely enjoyed, it ultimately never quite came together in the way I’d hoped. … More Review: The Second Death of Locke by V.L. Bovalino
Historical fiction lives and dies by its ability to breathe life into figures from the past, and while El-Arifi presents an interesting interpretation of one of history’s most famous women, I never truly felt as though I was reading about Cleopatra. … More Review: Cleopatra by Saara El-Arifi
If ever there was a fantasy series that just keeps ascending, this is it. The Dark Mirror, the long-awaited fifth volume in The Bone Season saga, is everything I wanted – and then some. Samantha Shannon doesn’t just revisit her world – she expands it. … More Book Review: The Dark Mirror by Samantha Shannon
The Raven Scholar is exactly the kind of fantasy novel I’ve been hankering for. It’s not just escapism – it’s high fantasy executed with intelligence, depth, and a sense of wonder that hearkens back to why I fell in love with the genre in the first place. … More Book Review: The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson
In The Fall of Egypt and the Rise of Rome, Guy de la Bédoyère takes readers on a sweeping journey from the glittering courts of the Ptolemies to the marble-lined forums of the early Roman Empire. … More Book Review: The Fall of Egypt and The Rise of Rome by Guy de la Bédoyère
Shauna Lawless delivers another immersive journey with the third instalment of her Gael Song series. In The Land of the Living and the Dead, she masterfully blends ancient myth with modern emotions, drawing readers into a world where the veil between life and death is as thin as it is treacherous. … More Book Review: The Land of the Living and the Dead by Shauna Lawless
Susan Dennard’s conclusion to The Luminaries trilogy, The Whispering Night, once again transports readers into a realm where mystery and magic quietly lurk behind every shadow. Dennard’s lyrical prose paints a vivid picture of a world steeped in intrigue, where the boundaries between reality and the supernatural blur, inviting us to lose ourselves in its atmospheric embrace. … More Book Review: The Whispering Night by Susan Dennard
At the heart of The Monsoon Rising is its emotionally charged romance and character-driven storytelling. The relationship between Talasyn and Alaric continues to shine – volatile, fraught, yet irresistibly magnetic. Guanzon explores their dynamic with nuance, delivering the angst and tension readers crave while allowing both characters to evolve individually. … More Book Review: The Monsoon Rising
Paul Dettman’s British Gangs: From 1900 to 1950 is a meticulously researched exploration of gang culture in early 20th-century Britain, shedding light on a shadowy and often misunderstood aspect of social history. … More Book Review: British Gangs by Paul Dettman
What makes The Voyage Home truly remarkable is Barker’s ability to give voice to those who have been traditionally silenced in ancient epics. Much like in The Silence of the Girls and The Women of Troy, the female characters take centre stage, offering a different perspective on the epic journey. … More Book Review: The Voyage Home by Pat Barker
The Ink Thief 