BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: Rose Red Undead (Fablenoir book 2) - Vic Sinclair

After descending into the terrifying underbelly of magickal New York and uncovering unspeakable crimes, Detective Jackson Slade and the fierce outlaw Goldilocks must face a whole new level of death and destruction festering from a strange world below the earth.

Meanwhile in Los Angeles, an orphan nicknamed Snow White reunites with her black-winged guardian angel Lucifer as he appears during her shift in the night cafe. When the archangel convinces Snow her magickal abilities are needed to stop the darkness consuming New York City, harrowing memories are brought to the surface as she’s forced to face the demonic creatures from her past.

As paths of chaos cross and uncertain alliances are tested, the reanimated sorceress known as Rose Red stands at the center of a decaying world, leaving utter destruction in her wake.

With the wolves closing in and the butchered bodies piling high, it’s up to Jack, Goldilocks, and Snow to try and put an end to this nightmare of a fairy tale.

 

What did I think?

Having absolutely loved Fablenoir I couldn't wait to to read the sequel, Rose Red Undead,  and once again Vic Sinclair takes the reader on a dark and twisted journey with an unusual cast of characters.

The characters are all inspired by fairy tales, nursery rhymes and children's literature but they are nothing like the originals.  Jack (of beanstalk fame) is a detective who is addicted to magic beans and turns to outlaw Goldilocks to fight the powerful sorceress Rose Red, the sister of Snow White.

Although it's a different story to Fablenoir with some new characters, I would advise reading Fablenoir first as it's brilliant but also gives you the story behind the Jack and Goldilocks partnership.  I sometimes got a bit confused about the characters, especially those who had several names like Elizabeth Snow, who is also Lili and Snow White.  I was reading too fast though so part of the confusion was my own greed in devouring every dark and delicious word as fast as I could.

The plot is very dark and gripping and Vic Sinclair's writing is breathtakingly evocative, resulting in a book that is difficult to put down and impossible to forget.  Rose Red Undead is an original and imaginative urban fantasy novel that is well worth a read.

I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the LBT bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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Only Girls Bleed - Elaine Lawless

 

Abandoned by her husband, and with her daughter, Molly, suddenly unable to walk, Alice Campbell is barely holding her life together. No doctor can explain what's behind this – or why Molly is now tormented by night terrors. But when Alice uncovers the unthinkable truth behind her daughter's suffering, she flees, unsure whether the man responsible is dead or alive. Haunted by the past, and on the run from the law, Alice and Molly are trying to navigate a future neither one of them is prepared to face.

Taut, urgent, and deeply compassionate, this novel is a haunting portrait of maternal love, survival, and the devastating consequences of the overturning of Roe v. Wade in America.

What did I think?

I hadn't heard of the Roe v. Wade case, or its overturning, in America so I have had my eyes well and truly opened by Elaine Lawless after reading Only Girls Bleed and I read it in a constant state of fury.

Alice blames herself for missing the signs that led to her ten-year-old disabled daughter becoming pregnant.  Her absent husband blames Alice too, which ignited my fury further, and he's lucky he didn't end up in the same position as Molly's abuser.  You should never underestimate a mother protecting her child and as soon as Alice discovered what was going on she became a wanted woman. 

Although Only Girls Bleed is fiction, it reads like a true story and I can't even begin to imagine the number of people whose own stories are similar to that of Alice and Molly.  I didn't realise some states in America still ban abortion completely, even if the pregnancy resulted from sexual assault or incest.  WOW!  Not only do only girls bleed, the letter of the law leaves them literally holding the baby.  Have I stepped back in time to a period when the patriarchal church laid down the law?  

The title itself is incredibly powerful as it is women who have to live with the consequences of acts to which they have not consented.  I don't think it's unreasonable to say that if men were in the same position there wouldn't even be a debate about abortion and there would be no  ridiculous laws banning it.  Americans have the right to bear arms but they don't have the right to have something removed from their bodies that they didn't consent to being put there in the first place.  Is this 'the land of the free'?

Incredibly powerful and extremely thought-provoking, Only Girls Bleed is a timely and important novel that is unflinching in its candour.  Unmissable and unforgettable - I'll be recommending this one for a very long time.

I received a gifted paperback from the publisher and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: Never To Be Found - Jo Spain

She helped him disappear.

She'll wish she hadn't . . .

In Japan, one hundred thousand people voluntarily disappear every year, aided by those who help them start over. They call them Johatsu - the evaporated.

I brought the idea to England. No judgement, no questions. Just new identities, packed bags, and discreet escape plans from abusive partners, debt, or simply lives that no longer fit.

I thought I was doing something good - honourable, even. Until now.

I know now that not everyone is fleeing hardship. I've helped someone who committed a crime to flee the police. I've disappeared a murderer.

And unless I find him, I don't know what he'll do next . . .

 

What did I think?

I love Jo Spain books and I really think she's raised the bar with her latest thriller, Never To Be Found.  It is outstanding and incredibly thought-provoking as it is inspired by the jōhatsu phenomenon, the voluntary disappearance of people in Japan.  I had never heard of jōhatsu before and I can't stop thinking about it, long after finishing the book.

Veronica's dad disappeared in Japan when she was young and the police ruled it as suicide but Veronica never gave up hope of her dad still being alive, especially when she heard about the jōhatsu phenomenon.   People can be helped to disappear, leaving all their problems behind, and start afresh with a new identity.  Whilst this is a better alternative to suicide, the loved ones left behind have no body to bury and no closure.

The moral dilemma of the story comes many years later when Veronica is providing this service in England and one of her clients turns out to be a murderer.  The police want to know the details of the new identity but by breaking her own rules, Veronica puts the trustworthy reputation of her business on the line.  What a conundrum!  I wouldn't have wanted to be in Veronica's shoes at all, although I was constantly considering what I would have done in her position.

Jo Spain once again draws her readers in with an intriguing and gripping storyline that entertains, shocks and surprises.  The pacing is fast and furious as the hunt for the murderer progresses and I was reading faster and faster as the breathtaking conclusion approached.  

Incredibly thought-provoking and completely compelling, Never To Be Found is an unforgettable and unmissable novel.  An easy five stars and a highly recommended read.

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: Dead Air - Freddie Pickard

BEING ON AIR CAN BE MURDER!

When a well know DJ is murdered at the radio station’s annual party there’s no shortage of suspects. Could it be his egotistical boss? Was it his fame obsessed co-presenter or their producer? Or had he crossed someone in his past who was now getting even?

For newly promoted DCI Joel Jennings and his team it feels like everyone has a motive and the race to catch the killer is on. When a second body is discovered the question is… do they have a serial killer on their hands?

With dead DJs, exploding sports cars and a drug dealer in a hole, Dead Air is a fun, easy to read irreverent murder mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. 

What did I think?

What a cracking start to a new series! I absolutely loved Dead Air and had to double check that it is Freddie Pickard's debut novel as it is simply outstanding.  It's virtually impossible to put Dead Air down once you pick it up and I didn't want it to finish so I can't wait to read more in the DCI Joel Jennings series.

I'm not sure I've read a book set in a radio station before so it was a very unusual setting and there were many suspects to keep me on my toes.  As with most stars, they have several different personas and Bobby Sligo might be a much loved radio show host but he's a nightmare to work with.  Even when he's found dead, nobody has a good word to say about him.

What a tricky case for DCI Joel Jennings and his team.  Any number of people had motive to kill Bobby but the second victim has them scratching their heads.  I didn't have a clue 'whodunnit' and to be honest, I didn't really try too hard to work it out as I was just thoroughly enjoying the story.

A magnificent debut novel and a very impressive murder mystery, Dead Air is a thrilling start to a new series and Freddie Pickard can consider me hooked.  Absolutely fantastic and very highly recommended.

I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the LBT bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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The Women Are Not Fine: The Dark History of a Poisonous Sisterhood - Hope Reese

Abusive husbands. Desperate women. Poisonous solutions.

At the turn of the 20th century, the women of Nagyrév, Hungary, were in trouble. Their stories were hauntingly similar: husbands who drank, who beat them, who made their lives unbearable.

The village midwife - their confidante - offered an answer: arsenic. Soon, women began slipping poison into their husbands' brandy, porridge, and stews. Over the next twenty years, the quiet village became the epicentre of one of the deadliest series of poisonings in modern history.

In The Women Are Not Fine, journalist Hope Reese pieces together archival newspapers, court documents, police records and more to uncover the truth behind this extraordinary case. Her findings serve as a stark warning: when women are pushed to the brink, the consequences can reverberate through history.

What did I think?

The Women Are Not Fine is the true story of a number of women from a small village in Hungary who fought back in the deadliest way.   I had never heard of this famous case, a case I'm sure the patriarchy don't want us to know about in case we get ideas, so it was a complete eye-opener for me.

Hope Reese gathers all of the evidence in one concise and informative account of what really happened.  It is very well written and easy to follow, despite a lot of the names being very similar, as each woman's story is the same: in fear for their lives, they must either kill or be killed. 

Whilst the abusive husbands are naturally painted in a bad light, there are heartbreaking reasons for their actions and unfortunately history never seems to learn from this.  It's interesting that the village midwife is at the heart of the scandal and if it was an earlier period of history she would have been branded as a witch.  Whether she was a witch or a saviour, the relief for the abused women was short-lived as the consequences of their actions catch up with them.

I loved poring over the documents and photographs that are included in the book; it really brings the true story to life and reminds us that these were real women and these poisonings actually happened.  I'm so pleased that Hope Reese has written the book as it's a story that shouldn't be forgotten and I only wish that we could learn from our mistakes when it comes to mental health and domestic abuse.

Fascinating, informative and poignant, The Women Are Not Fine is a moving and thought-provoking account of the Angel Makers of Nagyrév.  Are they criminals or victims?  Read the book and decide for yourself.

I received a gifted paperback from the author and publisher and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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REVIEW TOUR: The Shattered Radiant - Luca Ottonello

The Shattered Radiant is the first in a series of fantasy books that follows an irreverent archaeologist by the name of Artemis Stark, an adventurer who comes into possession of a mysterious artefact that is linked to the spirit of a girl from ancient Palmyra, who can only inhabit animals.

Choosing to accompany Artemis by possessing a cat, together they unwillingly end up in a race against time to search for a series of powerful stones, each granting abilities Artemis struggles to control. The situation turns deadly when a mysterious antagonist arrives at the museum where Artemis works and murders the director using one of the stones.

Their epic journey takes them across the Americas, Europe, and Africa and even through time to the 1700s. As the story unfolds, the stones are revealed to be part of an ancient prophecy tied to advanced technology from a previous version of Earth, connected to a mysterious device called the Radiant. This discovery uncovers a far greater threat: an alien race that was nearly wiped out by humanity billions of years ago and is now heading their way.

 

What did I think?

I was drawn to The Shattered Radiant as I enjoy archaeology as a subject and the promise of a possessed cat sealed the deal.  Luca Ottonello's debut novel, and the first book in The Shattered Saga, certainly delivered on both counts.

It's like a cross between Indiana Jones and The Mummy as we follow the adventure of treasure hunter/archaeologist Artemis Stark and Bandit the cat who is possessed by a spirit.  It's a little bonkers at times but it's constantly entertaining with a lot of adventure and the appearance of some unexpected characters from science and history.

It's very entertaining and although some threads of the story are incomplete (with it being the first book in the series) it was still a satisfying conclusion.  I am invested in Artemis' story and can't wait to find out what happens next.

Imaginative, amusing and enjoyable, The Shattered Radiant is a fun and eventful adventure that will appeal to fans of Indiana Jones and it's well worth a read.

I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the Literally PR Online Book Review Tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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READALONG: Tam's Tale - Michael Findlay

Tam grows up in a remote rural village, dreaming of escape across swamps, forests, and mountain passes to reach the famed city of Colonia. When he finally sets out, his adventure yields more than he bargained for: a mysterious golden eye, a treacherous sea serpent, and an encounter with a young woman of royal blood living rough in a mountain hideaway. She is Queen Kristina — determined, dispossessed, and fighting to reclaim a throne seized by a savage tyrant. What begins as an unlikely alliance becomes a dangerous quest to overthrow a ruler who has turned justice into a distant memory — and to fulfill a prophecy neither of them fully understands.

Tam's Tale sits proudly in the tradition of classic heroic fantasy.

 

What did I think?

Tam's Tale is a fantasy adventure story that is aimed at readers aged 8 and over.  Michael Findlay has created an eventful journey for the main character of Tam and the illustrations by Lon Eric Craven are exquisite.

There's a fabulous map and a very useful cast of characters at the start of the book and there's a glossary at the back to help with some of the Scottish words with which some readers may be unfamiliar.  There are a lot of characters so I found that I often referred to the character list to remind me who was who.

Although I don't have children, the writing seems quite advanced for young readers and the story feels more aimed at adult readers to me.  It's an entertaining adventure story but I couldn't really get into a good reading rhythm with it, I think perhaps due to the number of characters so younger readers will probably fare better than me with my old and pickled brain.

The hardback edition is stunning and it has the look and feel of a classic tale so it's one to consider adding to your bookshelf.

I received a gifted hardback for the Love Books Tours readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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