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The Tower of Living and Dying by Anna Smith Spark
The Tower of Living and Dying is absolutely EVERYTHING you could want in a fantasy novel. Epic scope and an imagination that never quits for anything. When I read The Court of Broken Knives a couple of weeks ago, I was blown away by the sheer force of Smith Spark’s writing. The characterisation, the passion, and the endless possibilities of the worldbuilding. It’s been a breath of fresh air from the usual fantasy novels I’ve been known to read. I love Grimdark in all its devious nuances and deplorable characters but this feels different somehow, addictive and binge worthy. The Tower of Living and Dying continues straight on from The…
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The Court of Broken Knives by Anna Smith Spark
A Court of Broken Knives is the crowning of the Queen of Grimdark, Anna Smith Spark. A fantastical story that resonates with power and struggle. I can’t wait to delve into the Empire of Dust series once more. Am I glad that I picked up The Court of Broken Knives? Oh boy, am I ever. I put out a call on Twitter to get my fellow bookworms to suggest fantasy books that might get me out of my fantasy reading funk. In 2022, I read the First Law Trilogy in its entirety and had the biggest book hangover. Nothing in the Fantasy genre was scratching that grimdark itch, it was…
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Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
I’m going to preface this review of Fahrenheit 451 by saying that I’m not one of these readers who feels obligated to read and review “the classics.” It’s perfectly okay to not feel the inclination to read them and it’s really ok to not enjoy them. It doesn’t make you any less of a reader to not read and enjoy them. I, myself find it hard to read any of the classics – I don’t have a great track record with the likes of Jane Austen and Thomas Hardy. The only success I truly experienced with them was with Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle…until now. I really don’t…
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Prince of Thorns (The Broken Empire #1) by Mark Lawrence – REVIEW
TRIGGER WARNING – RAPE/MURDER Prince of Thorns is the first book in the Broken Empire series by Mark Lawrence. After reading his Book of Ice series I quickly realised his brand of storytelling is one that I love immensely. There is action aplenty but at the core of the story is a pulsing heart that bleeds with every injustice. He made me remember why I fell in love with Fantasy, in particular Grimdark. Prince of Thorns follows fourteen-year-old Jorg Ancrath. I’m kind of torn between loving and loathing Jorg. In his defence (if there is any) he was a boy that lost his mother and brother in the worst circumstances.…
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The Girl and the Mountain by Mark Lawrence | Book Review
The Girl and the Mountain yet another stonking story from Mark Lawrence. Once again, the author had that perfect formula for breaking me. It’s a straight run on from The Girl and the Stars, it didn’t skip a beat, not for one second and I settled into meeting old friends again. An ending that had me needing more, an ending that proved just how addictive Lawrence’s writing is. His writing skills are so dastardly and intoxicating that its impossible not to race to the end. I’ve had to wait a few days to write this review because I have been living in a hungover, adrenaline intoxicated state. Let’s take a…
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The Court Of Miracles by Kester Grant | Review
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for an ARC of The Court Of Miracles. A retelling you say? A mash-up between The Jungle Book and Les Misérables? That was an instant moment of hell yes, I am reading that! The Court Of Miracles is the first book in what is anticipated to be a three-book series and boy if the other two can deliver on what Book 1 has done then Kester Grant is on to a winner. This Young Adult Fantasy brought everything to the table and more. Espionage. Political intrigue. Double crossing. The story flew through me much like an elegant swan preparing for flight. It was smooth…
