IRON FLAME BY REBECCA YARROS

Another re-read in preparation for Onyx Storm. The writing and characters are on a par with Fourth Wing, and the juxtaposition of modern speech in a fantasy setting still amuses me, but a lot of what I enjoyed about the first book is missing.

I’m not a fan of the push and pull of the main relationship, some plot points are telegraphed strongly enough to make Violet seem dim, the characters are a bit more foolish, and it veers towards the ponderous at times.

Overall, the worst thing about Iron Flame is simply that it’s less fun than Fourth Wing. ★★★☆☆

CHARACTER LIMIT BY KATE CONGER & RYAN MAC

Fascinating account of the Twitter debacle a couple of years ago. Learning more about what actually went on behind the scenes was equal parts illuminating and enraging. Definitely worth a read! ★★★☆☆

FIGURE DRAWING: RHYTHM AND LANGUAGE OF THE HUMAN FORM BY GABRIELLE DAHMS

Thanks to NetGalley, I was able to read a digital ARC of Figure Drawing: Rhythm and Language of the Human Form by Gabrielle Dahms.

The book begins with a short introduction, then covers a wide range of subjects pertaining to drawing the human figure, and ending with an index. Though text-heavy, it is interspersed by a number of drawings in various styles, showcasing different techniques.

This is not for beginners or those wanting to learn how to draw. I’m not entirely sure who the target audience is. I suspect the companion workbook is needed to gain any real benefit, as the author seems more concerned with theory and contemplation rather than hands-on lessons.

In all honesty, it reads more as a love-letter to figure drawing than a manual in how to actually accomplish it. It’s not a particularly instructive book. I’m glad to have read it, but I personally prefer a more didactic style. ★★★☆☆

FANGIRL BY RAINBOW ROWELL

Quick read about a young woman navigating her first year of college, whilst trying to finish her increasingly popular fan-fiction series. Add in burgeoning romantic feelings, her twin’s withdrawal, some parental drama, and an ethical quandary, you get an engaging YA novel.

Excerpts from the Potteresque “Simon Snow” books, as well as snippets of Cather’s fan-fiction, are interspersed throughout the text. Though, for me, it didn’t quite stick the landing, it’s an enjoyable read. ★★★☆☆

ORBITAL BY SAMANTHA HARVEY

This was so not for me, I’m shocked I finished it. A meandering contemplation of our planet as a group of astronauts aboard a spacecraft circle the Earth for multiple orbits.

Read for ruminations on the fragility and beauty of Earth as seen from space. Do not read for plot, characterization, dialogue, introspection or action, there is none. And, although the prose at times could be quite beautiful, most of the time it felt like wording for word’s sake. ★★★☆☆

A SORCERESS COMES TO CALL BY T. KINGFISHER

You get what it says on the tin with this one. A sprinkle of romance, some mild horror elements, a bit of cosiness, believable characters, and Kingfisher’s signature pragmatic protagonists.

While I vastly prefer her Paladin series, this was an enjoyable read while I wait for the next White Rat book to be published. Could have done with a bit more fancy geese, but all in all, a nice read and I liked it. ★★★☆☆

A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC BY V. E. SCHWAB

I didn’t care much for this. Kell was an OK if somewhat dull protagonist, but I found Delilah tediously annoying. Neither the magic system nor the various Londons were particularly interesting, and I found the plot a bit thin. It’s a fair enough fantasy novel, but I’d rather try a different Schwab novel than continue this particular series. ★★★☆☆

COMANCHE MOON BY LARRY MCMURTRY

Fourth in publication and second in chronological order, it’s a good read that doesn’t quite live up to Lonesome Dove. The writing is good, and though it’s interesting to find out what happened before the events in Lonesome Dove, I didn’t find the story as compelling. There is also a section where a specific torture method described really bothered me, and I had to struggle past it in order to finish.

Worth the read, but I’m very glad to have started the series with Lonesome Dove. ★★★☆☆

UNDER THE RADAR: AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO AUTISM AND GIRLS BY EMILIA MISHEVA

A relatively thorough look at how autism can present in girls. The book has a fairly academic perspective of little use to me personally, but should be valuable for adults who spend time around children.

An interesting read, and though this is a book I wish adults around me had read when I was young, ultimately it wasn’t particularly useful to me now. ★★★☆☆

SELF-CARE FOR AUTISTIC PEOPLE BY MEGAN ANNA NEFF

Perhaps this book might be most useful to younger people? Once you’ve been an adult for a few (too many) decades, a lot of the content is information you’ve no doubt seen many times before. That being said, I found a new-to-me technique called cognitive shuffling which sounded both interesting, and potentially very helpful.

Age and experiences aside, there is absolutely value in having actionable stuff listed in one place conveniently sorted into categories such as physical, emotional, mental, social, and professional self-care. ★★★☆☆

SOME DESPERATE GLORY BY EMILY TESH

At first, I was very taken with this and thoroughly enjoyed a good chunk of it. However, at a certain point the narrative veers into a type of sci-fi I don’t enjoy, and it became a slog to finish.

Though well written, interesting and with well drawn characters, once the pivot happened I simply lost interest and found the rest of the book slow and long-winded. Regardless of how I felt about the book as a whole, I also found the ending disappointing. ★★★☆☆

IN THE GARDEN OF IDEN BY KAGE BAKER

This was recommended to me years ago as something I’d love. A female protagonist involved in timey-wimey shenanigans, mainly around in Tudor times? Made for me. If I’d read it back then, I’d have loved it. Now it fizzled out as a merely OK read.

The writing is fine, and I didn’t dislike it, but the subtleties of the plot whizzed past me and though I know there is a compelling read lurking inside this book, I just couldn’t seem to access it. Liked it enough to read the rest of the series at a later date when in a more compatible headspace.★★★☆☆

SCALES AND SENSIBILITY BY STEPHANIE BURGIS

I was hoping for “Austen meets Pratchettian swamp dragons” in this novel, set in fantasy Regency England. I did not get that. All the characters felt one-dimensional, the obstacles contrived, and the dearth of shoulder dragon world-building inexcusable disappointing. How do you breed them, train them, show them? Nothing!

Romance fans who like fantasy may enjoy this, but it’s becoming apparent that I don’t appreciate some (many?) of the standard romance tropes, and it might not be the genre for me. ★★★☆☆

THE LIBRARY AT MOUNT CHAR BY SCOTT HAWKINS

A strange and interesting fantasy novel set in a warped version of our world where magic, of a sort, is real. Featuring multiple interesting characters, some more unpleasant than others, and a good dose of weirdness, it was quite an enjoyable, though not pleasant, read.

I liked being unable to predict where the story was going to end up, and had the ending been slightly more satisfactory it would have garnered 4 stars from me. Worth the read. ★★★☆☆

THE PASSIONATE TUDOR BY ALISON WEIR

Historical fiction about Mary I of England. I enjoy reading about this period but haven’t read much about Mary Tudor herself. Most of the novel is tedious with uninteresting writing and characters, and though the last part, concerning Mary’s final years, was more interesting it was still a stodgy read.

Generally, I prefer Weir’s nonfiction, and this was no exception. Weir does not care for Mary, and it clearly shows in both the novel and the afterword. Whatever your opinion of Mary, I’d skip this and choose another of Weir’s books, almost all of them are better. ★★★☆☆

TALK SWEETLY TO ME BY COURTNEY MILAN

Another in the Brother’s Sinister series, but other than being a romance set in Victorian England, I failed to see any connection. Rose Sweetly works as a computer for a scientist and has a crush on her rakish neighbourhood writer. All my previous complaints about Milan books are back in force; an overly rushed romance, an implausibly wonderful love interest, and an oh-so-exceptional protagonist.

My biggest peeve is that Rose’s experiences as a Victorian-era British Black woman seem under-explored, but if you like Milan’s “formula”, you’ll like this. ★★★☆☆

GOBLINS & GREATCOATS BY TRAVIS BALDREE

A very short, very sweet story set in the Legends & Latte world. I hope Zyll will show up in more of Baldree’s writing. ★★★☆☆

THE TAINTED CUP BY ROBERT JACKSON BENNETT

A fantasy murder mystery served with a dollop of Pacific Rim, garnished with a hint of The Goblin Emperor, and a tiny sprig of romance. It was nicely written with interesting world-building and enjoyable characters; Ana, in particular, was a delight.

The murder plot and its somewhat deflated resolution kept this at a 3-star rating for me. Though the opportunity is rarely afforded in fantasy whodunnits, I like to follow along and solve crimes too! While it didn’t guarantee a sequel a place on my to-read list, I might try more from this author. ★★★☆☆

THE DUCHESS WAR BY COURTNEY MILAN

The first novel in the Brother’s Sinister series and my second Milan book. Again, I found the romance much too rushed, and the male protagonist implausibly perfect. Also, implausible is the notion of a peer thinking and acting as the Duke of Clermont does in this book.

It just didn’t work for me, I could not suspend my disbelief enough to accommodate it. Milan writes nicely and delivers escapism, but I don’t really enjoy her books. There simply isn’t enough angst or “realistic” characters who behave credibly in them for my tastes. ★★★☆☆

THE SCANDALOUS CONFESSIONS OF LYDIA BENNET, WITCH BY MELINDA TAUB

A magical version of Lydia Bennet’s story in her own words. I’m no Janeite but do enjoy reading Austen, her sparkling prose and ability to make “dull” romance/marriage plots interesting and funny is always a delight. I’m also fond of fantasy and a good retelling, but I did not enjoy “The Scandalous Confessions…” very much. The magic system was dull, the various subplots tedious, and I didn’t care for the writing. I was vaguely bored throughout and didn’t care about what happened to any of the characters. Original flavour for me from now on. ★★★☆☆

THE MINISTRY OF TIME BY KALIANE BRADLEY

I was excited to read this as the premise is brilliant. Sadly, I found it a bit of a dud. The story got progressively less engaging and incorporated a “twist” I found trite, and the middling resolution made the whole story weaker. No characters were particularly engaging, and I found the arctic chapters and the musings of the main character more of a distraction than an enhancement.

I didn’t particularly care for the writing style, and also lamp shading something doesn’t magically make it not bad. All told, an ok read, but not a book for me. ★★★☆☆

GEEK LOVE BY KATHERINE DUNN

A book about the chicken-biting type of Geek Love. An engineered “freak”, the hunchbacked dwarf protagonist Oly, tells the story of her childhood and teen years living deeply enmeshed with her family in a travelling carnival, interspersed with chapters of her life at 38.

It’s a strange but interesting read for the most part, though at times, horrifying. The first third grabbed me, but later in the book my attention waned at times and I found the ending a little unsatisfactory. I’m not sure I like it very much. ★★★☆☆

HOW LUCKY BY WILL LEITCH

A novel reminiscent, in some ways, of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time”. Diagnosed as a child with spinal muscular atrophy, much of the book is preoccupied with the effects this has and continues to have on the protagonist’s life. This was also the aspect I enjoyed the most.

Though, overall, a relatively enjoyable and readable book, I found the ending too abrupt and quite meh, with the “mystery” driving the plot uninteresting and lacking a satisfactory dénouement. ★★★☆☆

HOOKED BY EMILY MCINTIRE

Touted as a modern-day “Peter Pan”-flavoured dark romance. Definitely not a retelling, more an AU take. The writing was fair, but I didn’t enjoy the overly simplistic characterisations. I found the violence tediously cartoonish, the plot paper-thin, the characters bland and the twist not only telegraphed but semaphored, phoned and texted at me.

Unrealistically beautiful people falling in “Twue Wuv” practically instantaneously is just not something I can suspend my disbelief for, and don’t enjoy it. I also have Thoughts about the sex scenes when seen in context of the time frame they’re portrayed as occurring. Maybe Romance just isn’t the genre for me. All in all, meh. ★★★☆☆

THE STEERSWOMAN BY ROSEMARY KIRSTEIN

This was a re-read to get me ready for the sequels. In 2016, I rather enjoyed it, liking the world building, the Steerswoman conceit and the writing, even if I found the plot a little lacking and the “villains” too reasonable.

This time it just didn’t work for me, finding it tedious and meandering. Just goes to show how much my mood influences how I feel about a book. Not sure I like that about me. ★★★☆☆

A LADY OF ROOKSGRAVE MANOR BY KATHRYN MOON

Not the book I expected. Thought I was getting a Victorian historical novel, turns out it’s actually a monster fucker porn-with-very-little-plot book. This will teach me to actually read dedications and blurb.

The writing was fine and it was a quick read. However, I did not like the protagonist, a hypersexual “pick me girl”, who is perfect in every way, and the immediate and total lack of any actual tension in her “arrangement” strained all credulity. Not for me. ★★★☆☆

UNSPEAKABLE SHAKING PLEASURES BY LUCY DEBUSSY

A selection of short stories billed as a collection of erotica. The stories definitely had erotic elements and overtones, but I’m not sure I’d classify them as erotica per se. However, I found the prose lush and the stories odd and interesting. Erotica that isn’t up your alley can often be rather tedious but I enjoyed these stories quite a lot. ★★★☆☆

THE GOVERNESS AFFAIR BY COURTNEY MILAN

A short historical romance novella that moves along at a very snappy pace with a plot less straightforward than the title implies. The romance felt a bit rushed, very “love at first sight”, and the male protagonist was a little too good to be true.

I love historical fiction, but I haven’t read much romance and don’t understand the conventions of the genre. Perhaps this book fits into a specific sub-genre, thus written perfectly to fit a category? Personally, I’d have liked a bit more character development and more historical bits, but it was a fun enough read. Unsure whether I’ll read the rest of the series, however. ★★★☆☆

SLEEPING GIANTS BY SYLVAIN NEUVEL

Beginning with an intriguing mystery, Sleeping Giants uses interviews, journal entries, transcripts, and articles to slowly inform the reader. I quite enjoy this style of epistolary-like storytelling, though I would have liked to see stronger “voices”. It was a fine read, but because the plot ultimately didn’t particularly interest me and I hadn’t come to care for or about any of the characters, I probably won’t read the sequels. I’m just not invested enough. ★★★☆☆

SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE BY CLAIRE KEEGAN

Novella about a man who grew up the son of an unwed mother in 1940s Ireland. Mainly concerning his inner life as he goes about the daily grind of life, and how something in him changes after some chance encounters at the local nunnery (aka Magdalen Laundry). This one was not for me. The writing was fine, and the topic something I feel strongly about, but I didn’t enjoy this nor did it elicit any strong feelings in me. Found it vaguely tedious. ★★★☆☆

THE ANGEL OF THE CROWS BY KATHERINE ADDISON

I enjoyed the characters, the world building, and found it a fresh and interesting take on Holmesian fiction, and I really liked Crow in particular. At times, it felt a little disjointed, and though I really liked some parts, there were other parts that didn’t appeal quite so much. Overall, an enjoyable read. ★★★☆☆

GODKILLER BY HANNAH KANER

The fates of a Godkiller, a baker, and a young girl and her pet God intertwine in this fantasy novel. I really wanted to like this more than I did, but for some reason neither the world, the story nor the characters really captured my interest. However, it really picked up by the end and pushed me into probable sequel-reading territory. ★★★☆☆

ALL THE HIDDEN PATHS BY FOZ MEADOWS

Though I devoured this as fast as I did the first book in The Tithenai Chronicles series, I didn’t enjoy it quite as much. There was a little too much rumination on self-worth (or the lack thereof) for my tastes. Still enjoy the world building and the characters a lot. I did like the addition of the new POV character and could easily have read a chapter or two more of their story. Liked it enough to read a threequel. ★★★☆☆

LAKE OF SOULS

As a huge fan of Ann Leckie, but not someone who generally enjoys short stories very much, “Lake of Souls” was a bit mixed bag for me. I enjoyed the final two stories the most, the penultimate being the absolute delight that is “Saving Bacon”. I loved it, and I love Slale Vachash-Troer and his family so, so much. ★★★☆☆

THE SUNNE IN SPLENDOUR

The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman was both interesting and well-written. I found it particularly interesting as it deals with a time frame I’m not very familiar with as most histories, biographies, and novels I’ve favoured previously have covered the Tudor period.

Obviously, reading it for the first time in 2024 changes how I came to it as a reader. The de-villianisation of Richard III has been going strong for a few years now, but I can imagine this would have been a very different and interesting take when first published.

In conclusion, my short, very reductive review of this book is that I did not expect to finish it having the hots for Richard III, but here I am. ★★★☆☆