BLOG TOUR: Realm of Fear (Mirror Wars Book 3) - Alan Bayles

After cheating death with the aid from a mysterious cosmic entity, Dave Barnes and Claire Tulley find themselves on the parallel world of Terra, where the sudden appearance of Claire’s supposedly deceased twin sister, a revered Terran resistance leader throws them off balance.

A former enemy, now potential ally, may hold the key to returning home and continuing their battle against the sentient AI, Oracle.

New threats emerge, forcing Claire and Dave to make an impossible choice: keep the portal sealed, stranding them on Terra with a hostile inhuman presence, or do they jeopardise the whole multiverse just to get home?

GRAB YOUR COPY OF REALM OF FEAR NOW TO DISCOVER THEIR FATE!

 

What did I think?

Even though I don't usually read science fiction, I am really enjoying the Mirror Wars series and Realm of Fear is the thrilling third book in this gripping series.  It's a book I wouldn't advise reading as a standalone as you need to have read the earlier books to understand the various worlds and how they and the characters link together.

What links all of the worlds is Oracle, a scary AI that sends chills down my spine.  When you take emotions out of the equation, you really can't predict what Oracle will do next.  I loved how the Tulley sisters are reunited in this book but they have some unfinished business to deal with first to do with the last time they saw each other.

It's quite thought-provoking to see different versions of people in each world and it is surprising how similar they actually are.  I like to think that would be the case if I ever did run into another version of me from another world.

The pacing really ramps up in this instalment and especially so at the end where the reader is left right on the edge of the cliff with a beady eye out for book four.  I can't wait to read the conclusion. 

I received a gifted paperback for the Love Books Tours bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: Oracle's Vision (Mirror Wars Book 2) - Alan Bayles

The battle for the fate of Earth has only begun as Detective Inspector Dave Barnes and his team must fight against a malevolent AI hell-bent on dominating multiple worlds.

With Terra, a counter-Earth in a parallel dimension, under its control, the tyrannical AI known as Oracle continues her relentless march across the multiverse‚ and now she holds Earth Prime in her sights.

While Dave Barnes and members of The Castle battle to stop the dangerous AI from succeeding in her invasion, all is not lost on Terra where a group of resistance fighters are marshalling their forces to free those who have been assimilated as mindless foot soldiers.

With conflict waging on both worlds, and Oracle tightening her grip, hope comes from an unlikely source when the duplicitous Colonel David Barnes offers information that could prove vital. But can this master of deception be trusted to aid in the fight for two worlds?

As Oracle becomes increasingly unhinged, and with the fate of humanity at stake, it becomes clear to those who resist that the AI will stop at nothing to rule the multiverse. In a desperate struggle to survive, can those on opposite sides unite in a mission to save two worlds? And, with the stakes so high, will all who fight live to see freedom from Oracle's reign of terror?

 

What did I think?

After reading Double Jeopardy, the first book in the Mirror Wars series, I raced on to book 2, Oracle's Vision and it's a fantastic sequel.  

The story has taken a dark turn now that Oracle has arrived to take control of our world and whilst it sometimes is a bit techy (and Trekkie) for me, I was completely invested in the story.  You can tell that Alan Bayles is a big Star Trek fan so this book will definitely appeal to Trekkies and sci-fi fans alike.  There are also some movie references to look out for and although I haven't seen any Star Trek, I did notice the Back to the Future ones.

As it's the second book in the series, I think you do need to have read the first book to fully understand the different dimensions and the story behind some of the characters,  I think I would have been completely lost if I'd tried to read it as a standalone.

The pacing is fast and the plot is gripping so, even though it's quite a chunky book, I read it a lot quicker than I expected.  I can't wait to find out what happens next and I will be reading book 3, Realm of Fear very soon.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon

Follow the tour:

Morph: Demise of Knacc (The MorphEn Files Book 1) - Tim Ferguson

Dan Fletcher was never meant to exist. Now someone wants him dead.

Enhanced at birth without his knowledge, Dan is one of the MorphEns—a covert generation of genetically engineered humans, designed to be faster, stronger, and smarter than everyone else. He’s spent thirty years believing he’s normal. That illusion ends in a brutal ambush in the French Alps.

Hunted across Europe, Dan is forced on the run with his brother and sister as the Apfel—a ruthless organisation with unlimited reach—closes in. Assassins strike without warning. Safe houses burn. And the people chasing him know exactly what he is.

As MI6 fights to keep him alive, the CIA and FSB wage a silent war to seize control of the programme that created him. Trapped between rival agencies, betrayed at every turn, and pursued by enemies who never miss, Dan must rely on instinct, courage, and the few people he can still trust to survive.

No one can be trusted. Nowhere is safe.

And when evolution makes you a weapon, how do you outrun the people who built you? 

What did I think?

Morph: Demise of Knacc is a cracking debut novel from Tim Ferguson.  It took me a few chapters to get into it as the scene is set but once the danger levels ramp up I couldn't put it down.

I can't say too much about the story without spoiling it but the plot is so sharp, intelligent and gripping.  It's like taking a combination of Jason Bourne, Jack Bauer and James Bond and making a family of super-humans.  The best thing is that the Fletchers don't even know they are special until someone tries to kill them.

It's a very accomplished debut novel that is filled with action and danger.  The pacing is blistering and I couldn't read fast enough to try to keep up.  It's definitely a 'just one more chapter' kind of book!

Mixing espionage with genetic engineering, Tim Ferguson has found the formula to create a blistering modern-day espionage thriller.  It's a fantastic start to a new series and I can't wait to read more. 

I received a digital ARC from the author and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon

BLOG TOUR: Silent Y - Katherine Benfante

In 2142, women control human reproduction—and they're about to weaponize it.

Dart Maylord is a brilliant but isolated endocrinology researcher working for the Department of Reproduction in the female-ruled half of a divided America. She’s never met a man, never questioned the wall that splits Washington, D.C., or the lies told about what stretches beyond it.

Until one day, a male researcher crosses that wall.

Alex Smern isn’t the violent Neanderthal Dart was led to expect—he’s sharp, disarmingly funny, and curious about the world she’s never dared to question. Their collaboration begins with science but quickly becomes something more dangerous: connection. Trust. Desire.

Then Dart stumbles on a classified document she shouldn’t see. The reproductive system isn't just being managed—it's being manipulated. And men are being systematically erased.

Worse still, Dart’s own family may be orchestrating the scheme.

As she digs deeper, Dart must choose between protecting the people she loves and exposing a truth that could unravel the fragile balance of power. With Alex by her side and everything she thought she knew crumbling around her, Dart has to decide: is losing family worth rebellion?

Because if she doesn’t act soon, there may be nothing left to save.

 

What did I think?

Wow, just wow!  I'm putting my head above the parapet and stating that Silent Y is THE feminist, dystopian novel of our time.  It is simply breathtaking!

This is a disturbing future that sees men and women so strictly segregated that reproduction is controlled via IVF with boy babies sent through the wall to the men and girl babies remaining with their mothers.  The women controlling reproduction want to go a step further and completely remove men from existence.  This gives me chills just thinking about it now.

Dart Maylord has been brought up on the female side of the wall and her life is about to change when she is asked to collaborate with a scientist from the other side.  The chemistry between Dart and Alex is clear to see and, even though society demands that they are kept  apart, they find a way to be together...and they're not the only ones.  I'm singing 'Stand Up For Your Love Rights' in my head now!

Katherine Benfante's writing is as stunning as her imagination and she certainly 'puts the science in science fiction' in an way that is easy to understand.  I was completely drawn into the story and couldn't read it fast enough.  I will definitely be reading it again - it's THAT good!

Compelling, thought-provoking and highly original, Silent Y is a powerful and essential novel that absolutely blew me away.  You will never say you 'don't read science fiction' after reading this unforgettable and unmissable book!  An easy five stars and very highly recommended.

I received a gifted paperback for the Love Books Tours Bookstagram Tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Waterstones

Amazon

About the author:

Katherine Benfante writes science fiction, and she likes to “put the science in science fiction.” Of all the dream careers she’s been fortunate to have so far, including as mechanical engineer and French teacher, being an author is the most satisfying and enjoyable. Katherine lives in New Jersey with her husband and two daughters, across the street from a lake overrun by swans and Canadian geese. Voracious readers all, her family can be found reading together, playing games, hiking Jersey’s remaining wilderness, and visiting family. Her short story "Convergence” appeared in The Accidental Time Traveler's Collective Volume 3. She's currently working on a standalone science fiction novel and drafting a sequel to Scattered.

Social media links:

Website: https://katherinebenfante.com/

Instagram: @KatherineBenfante

Facebook: KatherineBenfanteAuthor

X: @KDBenfante

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: Double Jeopardy (Mirror Wars Book 1) - Alan Bayles

 

Called to the scene of a grisly double murder in a northern English village, Detective Inspector Dave Barnes thinks he's seen everything - until the threads of his investigation unwind an otherworldly secret.

As the Inspector and his team delve deeper into the case, a former history professor, with a personal interest in the crime, steps forward to provide bizarre clues that seem too impossible to be true. And, as Professor Claire Tulley shares her discoveries dating back to a failed military experiment 90 years earlier, DI Barnes realises that he's embroiled in a cover-up that reaches the highest levels of the government and beyond.

On a parallel Earth, Colonel David Barnes observes his doppelgänger with contempt as the detective edges closer to learning the truth about alternate worlds and the multi-dimensional portals that link them. But, as the Colonel seeks to assume control, he will do whatever it takes to overcome those in his way, even if that means assassinating the man reflected in the mirror.

With the fate of his Earth at stake, and realizing that not everyone around him is who they appear to be, Detective Inspector Barnes and his team must battle for their survival. But how can he win the fight when his own reflection is plotting against him?

What did I think?

I don't usually read science fiction but I was drawn to Double Jeopardy by the amazing cover and the fact that Alan Bayles and I support the same football team.  I read it a lot quicker than I expected as it cleverly combines science fiction with a police procedural.

Alternate worlds and the multiverse is a fascinating subject and I loved how Alan Bayles' vivid imagination sets out two different dimensions for this story.  The County Durham setting is unusual and I love that actual buildings I know of (and some I didn't) are included in the book.

I set aside a good few days to read Double Jeopardy but I was surprised how hooked by the story I was and I absolutely raced through it.  Alan Bayles includes a number of references to his favourite books and films and it was fun picking them up, although I will have missed a lot as I'm not a Trekkie.

Incredibly imaginative and completely compelling, Double Jeopardy is a fantastic start to a new series and I don't have to wait long for more as I'm heading straight on to book 2: Oracle's Vision.

I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the Bookstagram Tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: Mimeograph - Eira A. Ekre

What if the future isn’t malfunctioning... it’s unfolding exactly as predicted?

Talia spends her days untangling the strange objects produced by Mimeographs, machines that seem to know more about their owners than they should. But when one of them prints an anomaly that can’t be explained, her entire world begins to collapse. Faced with the incomprehensible, Talia must confront the possibility that the Mimes aren’t malfunctioning at all. They’re evolving.

Mimeograph is a haunting tale of unravelling, desire colliding with dread, and a future that may already be written.

 

What did I think?

I really enjoyed reading Mimeograph and I was surprised to learn that the author is Swedish as her English is word perfect.  It's a short novella at 61 pages long, which makes it perfect for reading in one sitting and also great for reading again to re-experience this unusual story.

Just re-reading the first line gives me goosebumps and sets the scene for the story that is about to unfold.  I'm not going to share the line or the plot in my review as it will spoil it for others but it's certainly a highly original idea that will provoke lively debate.  I think it would be a wonderful book for book clubs to discuss.

Mind-bending and thought-provoking, Mimeograph is an unforgettable book that stays with you long after turning the final page.  The L'il Factory hardback is a stunning edition that is as mesmerising inside as out.  A very highly recommended read.

I received a gifted hardback from Literally PR for the Online Book Review Tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon

About the author:

Eira A. Ekre is a Swedish writer and narrative designer who has worked in the game and tech industry since the early 2010s. She runs the studio Might & Delight, whose cozy adventure Twinkleby launches in September 2025. Her award-winning YA audio drama Klara, färdiga..., created with the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, was named “Podcast of the Year” and distributed to teens across Sweden.

Ekre’s work blends the fantastical with the everyday to explore identity, art and technology. She writes in both English and Swedish and teaches narrative design nationwide.

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: The Transcendent Tide (The Enceladons Trilogy) - Doug Johnstone

It’s been eighteen months since the Enceladons escaped the clutches of an American military determined to exterminate the peaceful alien creatures.

Lennox and Vonnie have been lying low in the Scottish Highlands, Ava has been caring for her young daughter Chloe, and Heather is adjusting to her new life with Sandy and the other Enceladons in the Arctic Ocean, off the coast of Greenland. But fate is about to bring them together again for one last battle.

When Lennox and Vonnie are visited by Karl Jensen, a Norwegian billionaire intent on making contact with the Encedalons again, they are wary of subjecting the aliens to further dangers. But when word arrives that Ava’s daughter has suffered an attack and might die without urgent help, they reluctantly make the trip to Greenland, where they enlist the vital help of local woman Niviaq.

It's not long before they’re drawn into a complex web of lies, deceit and death. What is Karl’s company really up to? Why are sea creatures attacking boats? Why is Sandy acting so strangely, and why are polar bears getting involved?

Profound, ambitious and moving, The Transcendent Tide is the epic conclusion to the Encedalons Trilogy, and a final showdown between the best and worst of humanity, the animal kingdom and the Encedalons. The future of life on earth will be changed forever, but not everyone will survive to see it...

 

What did I think?

Oh my goodness, I really didn't want this fantastic book to end so I was torn between gobbling up every word as if I hadn't read for months and savouring every single word so I could make it last longer.  The Transcendent Tide is the perfect ending to an epic and unforgettable trilogy.

You do need to read the books in order to get the most out of the incredibly powerful storyline and to fully understand the characters, which is why I felt so many different emotions whilst reading.  I was shocked, angered and upset as I lived and breathed every moment of this magnificent journey with Sandy, the Enceladons and their friends.

The writing is flawless and the plotting sublime as Doug Johnstone takes the reader on a memorable journey through the Arctic.  I felt like I needed my thermals on as I kept getting goosebumps as the vivid scenes were described.

Haunting, poignant and powerful, The Transcendent Tide is a highly original book and an outstanding finale to an epic trilogy.  It has a tentacle in so many genres that it will appeal to all readers and leave a lasting impression.  I can award nothing less than five stars for this amazing novel.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

Orenda Books

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

About the author:

Doug Johnstone is the author of 18 previous novels, most recently Living Is a Problem (2024) and The Collapsing Wave (2024). The Big Chill (2020) was longlisted for Theakston Crime Novel of the Year, and Black Hearts was shortlisted for the same award. Three of his books, A Dark Matter (2020), Breakers (2019) and The Jump (2015), have been shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year.  

He’s taught creative writing and been writer in residence at various institutions over the last decade, and has been an arts journalist for over twenty years. Doug is a songwriter and musician with six albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers. He’s also co-founder of the Scotland Writers Football Club, and has a PhD in nuclear physics. He lives in Edinburgh. 

Follow the tour:

The Hero Virus - Russell Dumper

‘The Hero Virus’ tells the thrilling story of Chris Taylor, who is hanging on to life by a thread.

Recently widowed, his only reason to carry on is his faithful Labrador, but even that doesn’t stop his willingness to gamble with death every day. When his companion suffers a violent demise, Taylor thinks he has nothing left to live for, until he discovers he has chanced upon a precious gift… he has become very ill.

The illness gives him special powers and, fairly soon, the authorities are swooping on to the ever-increasing list of cases. The Hero Virus might be different to other illnesses, but it’s no less dangerous. The effect it has on the world, though, is wildly different to any other virus that has come before. The unique reaction of the human body to infection means that everyone wants it. And some will do anything to get it.

How do you stop a pandemic when there are people who will kill for the virus? How do you stop people getting infected when they’re willing to die for it? How do you stop the infected when they have abilities nobody has ever seen before?

What did I think?

I was drawn to The Hero Virus as I do like my superhero films and this is like X-Men on steroids with mutations resulting from a viral infection.  It's a really interesting premise and you can't help but draw comparisons with the coronavirus pandemic with one huge difference: the hero virus is something that everyone wants to be infected with.

Widower Chris Taylor has suicidal thoughts every day as he puts a gun loaded with a single bullet to his mouth and presses the trigger.  The resulting click means he's not dying today and must get on with his empty life with just his dog for company.  When his dog dies from a mystery infection, Chris also becomes ill but rather than wake up weaker, he wakes up a LOT stronger.

As the virus spreads, the authorities try to contain the infection but the population want to get superpowers too and they will do anything to get infected.  It's gorey at times and the writing is very vivid so I did find my stomach clenching at some of the scenes.  It would be a fantastic film and it was almost like a film was playing in my head whilst I was reading the book.

Vividly written with an imaginative and original plot, The Hero Virus is a high-octane thriller that is packed with action.  It's a real page-turner with a jaw-dropping ending that made me actually gasp out loud.  I can't imagine anyone not enjoying this book, even if you think it's not your usual genre - give it a go!  Very highly recommended.

Many thanks to Russell Dumper for sending me a gifted paperback to read and review; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

BLOG TOUR: The Collapsing Wave (The Enceladons Trilogy, Book 2) - Doug Johnstone

Six months since the earth-shattering events of The Space Between Us, the revelatory hope of the aliens’ visit has turned to dust and the creatures have disappeared into the water off Scotland’s west coast.

 

Teenager Lennox and grieving mother Heather are being held in New Broom, a makeshift US military base, the subject of experiments, alongside the Enceladons who have been captured by the authorities.

 

Ava, who has given birth, is awaiting the jury verdict at her trial for the murder of her husband. And MI7 agent Oscar Fellowes, who has been sidelined by the US military, is beginning to think he might be on the wrong side of history.

 

When alien Sandy makes contact, Lennox and Heather make a plan to escape with Ava. All three of them are heading for a profound confrontation between the worst of humanity and a possible brighter future, as the stakes get higher for the alien Enceladons and the entire human race…

 

Sequel to the bestselling The Space Between Us, The Collapsing Wave is an exquisite, epic first-contact novel, laced with peril and populated by unforgettable characters, and the awe-inspiring book we all need right now…

What did I think?

Sandy is back!!!!  The Collapsing Wave is one of my most eagerly anticipated sequels and not only does it not disappoint, it totally blew me away.  I thought book one, The Space Between Us, was exceptional but The Collapsing Wave is exquisite.  It's made me even more excited to see how Doug Johnstone follows this one with the final book in the trilogy.

It's so good to be back with Lennox, Heather and Ava again although they are all in a right pickle: Lennox and Heather are being held on an American military base in Scotland and Ava is on trial for the murder of her husband.  The Americans are capturing and experimenting on the aliens and it's both cruel and shocking.  If only Sandy, my favourite alien, could be contacted...

Oh my goodness, this book is simply breathtaking.  It's filled with so much action and suspense that I was on the edge of my seat and racing through the pages as fast as I possibly could.  The writing is vivid and expressive, creating multicoloured scenes in my mind as the story played out on the page.

For anyone who says they don't read science fiction, you haven't read Doug Johnstone's form of sci-fi.  It's written like a thriller with characters (both human and alien) that you completely root for and you almost forget that the Enceladons are from outer space.  I am really looking forward to reading the final book but, at the same time, I simply don't want this wonderful series to finish.

The Collapsing Wave is an absolute must read and I really can't recommend it highly enough.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

About the author:

Doug Johnstone is the author of 16 previous novels, most recently The Opposite of Lonely (2023) and The Space Between Us (2023). The Big Chill (2020) was longlisted for Theakston Crime Novel of the Year, and Black Hearts was shortlisted for the same award. Three of his books, A Dark Matter (2020), Breakers (2019) and The Jump (2015), have been shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year. He’s taught creative writing and been writer in residence at various institutions over the last decade, and has been an arts journalist for over twenty years. Doug is a songwriter and musician with six albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers. He’s also co-founder of the Scotland Writers Football Club, and has a PhD in nuclear physics.

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: The Space Between Us - Doug Johnstone

Lennox is a troubled teenager with no family. Ava is eight months pregnant and fleeing her abusive husband. Heather is a grieving mother and cancer sufferer. They don’t know each other, but when a meteor streaks over Edinburgh, all three suffer instant, catastrophic strokes...

…only to wake up the following day in hospital, miraculously recovered.

When news reaches them of an octopus-like creature washed up on the shore near where the meteor came to earth, Lennox senses that some extra-terrestrial force is at play. With the help of Ava, Heather and a journalist, Ewan, he rescues the creature they call 'Sandy' and goes on the run.

But they aren’t the only ones with an interest in the alien … close behind are Ava’s husband, the police and a government unit who wants to capture the creature, at all costs. And Sandy’s arrival may have implications beyond anything anyone could imagine…

 

What did I think?

I already know that Doug Johnstone is a talented author but his new novel, The Space Between Us, is absolutely outstanding.  I am completely speechless and I'm afraid that any review I write will not do it justice but I'll give it a go.

Three very different people are brought together when they all inexplicably recover from a severe stroke.  The universe isn't yet done with Lennox, Ava and Heather so when they hear reports of a cephalopod on a local beach, they feel compelled to rescue it.  Lennox names the mysterious creature Sandy and the bond between them is beautiful to behold.

The vivid imagery created by Doug Johnstone's words is stunning, it did actually take my breath away on several occasions.  The bursts of colour that exploded in my mind, simply by reading words on a page, felt so intense and magical that I will never forget it.  I absolutely loved Sandy; their innocence and intelligence reminded me a little of E.T. and their attempts to understand our crazy world were entertaining and amusing.

My thoughts have been well and truly provoked after reading this exceptional novel; it really makes you consider your place in the universe and realise how very insignificant we are.  I wouldn't normally read something that sounds so much like science fiction but I'm very glad that I did.  A highly recommended read and a well-deserved 5 stars.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

About the author:

Doug Johnstone is the author of fourteen previous novels, most recently Black Hearts (2022). The Big Chill (2020) was longlisted for the Theakston Crime Novel of the Year and three of his books, A Dark Matter (2020), Breakers (2019) and The Jump (2015), have been shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year. He’s taught creative writing and been writer in residence at various institutions over the last decade, and has been an arts journalist for over twenty years. Doug is a songwriter and musician with six albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers, a band of writers. He’s also co-founder of the Scotland Writers Football Club, and has a PhD in nuclear physics.

Follow Doug on Twitter @doug_johnstone

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: The Gifts - Liz Hyder

In an age defined by men, it will take something extraordinary to show four women who they truly are . . .

October 1840. A young woman staggers alone through a forest in Shropshire as a huge pair of impossible wings rip themselves from her shoulders.

Meanwhile, when rumours of a 'fallen angel' cause a frenzy across London, a surgeon desperate for fame and fortune finds himself in the grips of a dangerous obsession, one that will place the women he seeks in the most terrible danger . . .

THE GIFTS is the astonishing debut adult novel from the lauded author of BEARMOUTH. A gripping and ambitious book told through five different perspectives and set against the luminous backdrop of nineteenth century London, it explores science, nature and religion, enlightenment, the role of women in society and the dark danger of ambition.

 

What did I think?

I think The Gifts is a novel that we will be hearing about a lot this year, and rightly so.  The writing is beautiful, the plot is completely immersive and the finished copies (complete with illustrations) will be stunning.

Through the character of surgeon Edward Meake, Liz Hyder has really captured the Victorian obsession with science and the workings of the human body.  So it's no wonder that Edward's interest is piqued when he hears rumours about the body of an angel being found in the Thames.  Intent on capturing and studying a live angel, Edward begins his quest to acquire the impossible: a live angel.

It's both fascinating and horrifying to see the way that women were treated in the 19th century.  Not just the angels, who were treated as things rather than women, but Edward's wife Annie and budding writer Mary.  Annie is very much kept in the dark about her husband's work and Mary has to adopt a male pseudonym for her writing to be taken seriously.  I absolutely loved the character of Mary; she's bold, courageous and strong, especially when she's following a story.

Although the story is completely immersive, I had difficulty getting into the rhythm of the book as most of the chapters are very short and they swap between the viewpoints of several characters.  I think the finished copy with illustrations will be better as it allows the reader to pause and absorb what they have just read.  I loved the newspaper articles that are scattered throughout the novel - it really brings the book to life.

Haunting, powerful and mesmerising, The Gifts is an astonishing novel that combines historical and feminist fiction with a touch of the ethereal.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

Follow the tour:

Substitute - Susi Holliday

 

Three people live. Three people die. You make the choice.

Like any mother, Chrissie wants to protect her family. She would do anything to keep them safe. So when a mysterious stranger turns up at her door, offering to prevent the deaths of the people she loves, it sounds too good to be true. The only problem: she must choose someone to die in their place. A substitute.

When her daughter Holly has a terrible accident, Chrissie has no option but to enter the programme. In that horrifying moment, she would do anything to save her. But even after Holly makes a miraculous recovery, Chrissie is convinced it’s just a coincidence. After all, who can really control the laws of life and death?

But as the dangers to her family escalate and her chosen substitutes begin to disappear, Chrissie finds herself in an underworld of hidden laboratories and secretive doctors. And the consequences of playing by their rules are far deadlier than she ever imagined…

What did I think?

Oh I really enjoyed this book.  I usually only read ebooks at particular times of the day so it's the sign of a good book when I sneak in extra reading when I can, which is what happened with Substitute.  I just couldn't put it down!

It's all very mysterious when a stranger knocks on Chrissie's door and tells her that she never needs to experience grief again.  Chrissie only has to choose 3 people to die in place of her chosen 3 loved ones if something happens to them.  Thinking that there's no way this strange man can do what he's promising, Chrissie sees no harm in giving him 3 names to live and 3 to die.  Until there's an accident...

Oh my goodness, what a scorching plot!  I just couldn't tear my eyes away from the page, devouring every single word as quickly as I could as I raced towards the heart-pounding conclusion.  I've only read a couple of her books but Susi Holliday has really outdone herself with the brilliant Substitute.

Incredibly imaginative but also scarily possible, Substitute is an outstanding techno-thriller that had me on the edge of my seat.  I definitely recommend it; it's disturbing, twisty and completely addictive.  An easy 5 stars from me!

Many thanks to Susi Holliday for sending me a digital ARC to read and review.  This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon