Kara, a.k.a Carrot, is going through a tough time: she’s penniless, homeless, and getting a divorce. But when she moves in with her Uncle to help him run the ‘Wonder Museum’, she makes a discovery that causes all her other troubles to pale in comparison. The hole to another dimension seems sinister from the outset,Continue reading “‘The Hollow Places’ by T. Kingfisher”
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‘Queens of the Abyss: Lost Tales from Women of the Weird’, ed. by Mike Ashley
This anthology introduces the forgotten women ‘weird tale’ writers from the last two centuries and presents us with some of their previously unexplored short stories. It contains everything from ghosts and vampires, to carnivorous plants and cursed songs; it has mystical fog, magical hands of creation, fortune-telling gypsies and mystery horses. Interwoven with the elementsContinue reading “‘Queens of the Abyss: Lost Tales from Women of the Weird’, ed. by Mike Ashley”
‘Ink and Sigil’ by Kevin Hearne
When Sigil Agent Al MacBharrais loses yet another apprentice in a freak accident, he starts to think there might be more to his curse than he realised. Not being able to speak aloud is one thing, but seven dead apprentices is more than he can handle. When he starts to investigate Gordy’s death, he realisesContinue reading “‘Ink and Sigil’ by Kevin Hearne”
‘The Devil’s Due’ by Bonnie Macbird
Sherlock Holmes is on the case of a serial killer who is working through the alphabet, killing off philanthropists with dark pasts; a killer who Scotland Yard refuses to believe exists. He is hindered by the new head of Scotland Yard, Titus Billings, who would rather have him arrested than let him help on aContinue reading “‘The Devil’s Due’ by Bonnie Macbird”
‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ by Suzanne Collins
(SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers for the original ‘Hunger Games’ trilogy) Coriolanus Snow lost everything during the war: his parents, his family’s money, his innocence. The only things he has left are his grandmother, his cousin, his home, his name, and his reputation. To protect the Snow name and reputation they must keep theirContinue reading “‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ by Suzanne Collins”
‘Wild Time’ by Rose Biggin and Keir Cooper
This book promised an alternative ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ “as never seen before” and it definitely delivered. The human lovers of the original tale become galactic entities, whilst the fairies and mythical elements of Shakespeare’s story become the central focus of the narrative. Furthermore, every inch of the book is hyper-sexualised to an explicit extent.
‘The Midnight Library’ by Matt Haig
After an attempted suicide, Nora Seed hovers between life and death in a library where every book is a possible life she could have lived. Guided by her old school librarian, and a book titled ‘the book of regrets’, Nora explores the many different choices she made in life and the alternative choices that sheContinue reading “‘The Midnight Library’ by Matt Haig”
‘Deeplight’ by Frances Hardinge
‘Deeplight’ is set in a world of gods. A familiar theme, except for one marked difference: all the gods are dead. However, if you are brave enough to risk the dangerous deep and salvage their remains, dead gods can be just as useful as live ones. Possibly more so. Hark is not typically one ofContinue reading “‘Deeplight’ by Frances Hardinge”
‘Bellevue’ by C.S. Alleyne
‘Bellevue’ features two storylines running side by side, exploring the stories that take place at Bellevue across two different time periods. The 19th century Bellevue takes the form of a corrupt mental asylum where Ellen has been incarcerated by her sister Mary’s manipulations. In the 21st century Claire is living in the newly renovated BellevueContinue reading “‘Bellevue’ by C.S. Alleyne”
‘Driftwood’ by Marie Brennan
Marie Brennan’s ‘Driftwood’ is set during an unofficial memorial service for the elusive character ‘Last’, in which a wide assortment of people step forward to tell their stories of him. No one knows if Last is really dead or if it’s all rumour, but the memorial seems to be a good way for people toContinue reading “‘Driftwood’ by Marie Brennan”
Escape to the Bookshelf 