Escape to the Bookshelf

‘The Blackbird Oracle’ by Deborah Harkness

The Bishop-Clairmont family have fallen into a perfect routine of bliss, spreading their time between New Haven, Oxford, and Sept Tours. But then six year old Becca is given a gift by a dying raven that tells her it is time to go home. A long-dreaded letter from the congregation and a surprise invitation from an unknown Proctor relative send Diana unexpectedly into the heart of Salem. There she must confront both her past and her future, as well as the magic and secrets that are bound so tightly around them. For her children Diana will do anything, but how far will she go for herself?

From the very first page I was pulled straight back into the world of witches, daemons, and Vampires and the lives of Diana and Matthew. And this long awaited insight into their lives as parents does not disappoint. There is a perfect balance of cosy intimacy and magical chaos. Becca and Pip are old enough now to have personalities of their own and it’s great seeing how they interact with other members of the family, including some surprising favourites. I particularly enjoyed the ways in which Matthew and Diana’s influence on their children was clear, even in the small details.

As with ‘The Book of Life’, this new book makes a point to separate Matthew and Diana for some of the plot, giving Diana a chance to explore her own identity whilst challenging the bond between them and Matthew’s very nature. Unlike in the previous book, this time Diana is not surrounded by protectors and has even more opportunity to show her own strength. Whilst this allowed for some powerful character development, I was pleased when the couple finally came together again because it is their love that makes these books complete.

Rather than the politics, history, and mysteries that have been at the heart of previous books, this one is all about magic. If you thought Diana had finally embraced and perfected her magic already, then this book will be full of surprises. We learn about different types of magic, as well as gaining a better understanding of the intricacies of the witch community itself. The biggest bonus is the ending of the book, which indicates that there is even more to learn and gives me great hope that Deborah Harkness is already hard at work on her next All Souls masterpiece.

Review by Mikaela Silk

‘Song of the Six Realms’ by Judy I. Lin

Xue tires of her secluded life in the entertainment house. Playing her quin is the one thing that truly brings her joy, but she cannot help but wonder at the world outside, the one her Uncle travelled. Despite this, she is wary when a stranger offers to buy out her contract. Only when he admits to knowing her Uncle, and that he is investigating his death, does Xue agree to risk the safe life she already has. But would she have still agreed if the stranger had revealed his true identity as the celestial Duke of Dreams?

I love the character development in this book as we get to watch Xue grow from a mostly unremarkable orphan, to a strong-willed woman, to one of the most important women in the six realms. She never reaches for this power, aiming only for freedom and family. Yet, when this power is given, she accepts it and wields it with grace. My only complaint is that her character growth seems almost too smooth at times. It seems to me her character growth is reactive, in response to the things that happen to her and around her. It would have been great to see her make purposeful decisions to shape the course of her own future. I would have liked to see her make more mistakes too, ones that don’t stem from secrets someone else is keeping.

However, it is these secrets that create the languishing tension of the book as Xue gradually uncovers more and more of the mystery that surrounds her and her new home. It is clever the way that many things (and people) aren’t quite what they appear. A couple of characters even have multiple reveals of this nature where their entire personality or agenda is flipped on its head. The only character who never seems to change is Duke Meng; he starts out as kind, clever, and slightly mysterious and does not deviate from these key traits.

The wider world-building in this book is somewhat limited, as Judy I. Lin chooses to focus her creative energies into bringing the smaller details to life. The quin, in particular, seems almost real with the amount of details given. A lot of this realism comes from Xue’s emotional attachment to the instrument; how can it not be real when it means so much? This use of emotions to bring things to life is something that occurs with real effect throughout the book.

Review by Mikaela Silk

‘The Hurricane Wars’ by Thea Guanzon

Talasyn has lived her whole life embroiled in the hurricane wars. As an orphaned child she experienced the neglect and abuse that a world at war found it only too easy to turn a blind eye to. As a teenager she trained to fight for her country. As an adult she is now their only hope of victory and survival. But being the only remaining lightweaver against an army of shadowforged soldiers is the least of her problems. And finding answers about her mysterious past will change her future forever.

War might be the central theme of this book, but it is Talasyn’s internal war that most intrigues me. She is constantly torn between doing what is right, doing what others tell her, and doing what she actually wants to do. A lot of this is due to the strong relationships that she builds with others, her lonely childhood encouraging her to attach herself instantly to anyone who shows her love. Yet, as much as it sounds like one, this does not appear to be a weakness. Instead it fuels her passion to do whatever it takes to help others, with the only real downside being the frequent neglect of her own needs.

What is clever is how Thea Guanzon effectively solidifies the strength and history of these relationships without needing too many actual interactions between characters. Talasyn only speaks to Khaede and Vela a handful of times throughout the book, yet there is never any doubt that these two women have made her who she is and that it is their love that motivates her every action.

Perhaps even more prominent than the war itself are the convoluted politics that prevail throughout this book. The main three nations all have very different views which they all feel very strongly about. This obviously makes for an exciting and high tensioned plot. However it is often what isn’t said, rather than what is said, that creates the most suspense. I suspect that book two will work to unravel many more secrets, some of which may completely change the way Talasyn sees the world and those around her.

Review by Mikaela Silk

‘Moonstone’ by Laura Purcell

When Camille makes a social faux-pas, her family send her to live in the country with a godmother she has never met. But her godmother’s house holds secrets and her sick daughter Lucy is an enigma that Camille may never understand.

I enjoyed the foreshadowing that took place throughout this book. Right from the first page you knew what was going to happen, you just didn’t know when or how. It made for a really tense read so that even the lulls in the plot still felt fraught.

The growing friendship between Camille and Lucy added an underlying beauty to the narrative. As they grow closer it is easy to see how they are changing each other and how their lives are gradually becoming entwined.

The gothic darkness at the heart of this book is masterfully crafted with perfect settings and a dark air of secrecy. Lucy plays the princess trapped in the tower whilst monsters prowl in the forest – the perfect setting for a fairytale. However her illness is the darkness that warns the reader there may not be a happily ever after.

Review by Mikaela Silk

‘Faebound’ by Saara El-Arifi

Yeeran has dedicated her life to the Forever War, unwavering in her belief that they can win the war and end the hunger of children all across the elven kingdom. Her sister, Lettle, hates the war and instead chooses to dedicate her life to learning the art of divination. Then, one of her prophecies changes the course of both their lives forever.

‘Dragonfall’ by L.R. Lam

Everen is destined to save his fellow dragons from their exile, but when he tries to scry for the way forward, the future eludes him. Feeling a failure at his own fate, he takes the first reckless opportunity to jump through a rift between worlds. There, he meets Arcady, a human desperate to carve out a new life after their old one went up in flames. Twice. They will need to trust each other and work together to achieve both their goals, but first, they must break down the many secrets and barriers between them.

‘Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White’ by Ame̒lie Wen Zhao

To be published 14 March 2024…

SPOILER ALERT: This book is the second book in the trilogy. To avoid spoilers if you haven’t read the first book, check out my review for Song of Silver, Flame Like Night instead.

Lan found home, love, and truth and then lost it all again in a single fell swoop. Now she is on the run from the Elantian army and hunting demon gods. This includes finding a way to kill the one that lives inside her and the one that lives inside the man she loves, plus finding the two missing demon gods before the Elantian army finds them first. Meanwhile Zen continues his quest for power, desperate to keep his demon god at bay long enough to use it to take down the Elantian occupiers once and for all. But will Lan and Zen help each other on their missions or hinder?

‘And Break the Pretty Kings’ by Lena Jeong

Mirae had always known she would be Queen one day, had always known she would have to undergo the three trials and take over the sacred duty of protecting the kingdom with her ancestral magic. She just hadn’t realised it would be so soon. With her mother’s mind spiralling deeper and deeper into insanity, it has never been more important for Mirae to master her magic. If she succeeds, Mirae begins her own countdown to insanity. If she fails, then the entire kingdom will be in grave danger.

‘Fathom Folk’ by Eliza Chan

To be published 29.02.2024….

Nami has a rebellious spirit, something that is difficult to control when you live in a dying underwater city. When her rebellion goes too far, her mother banishes her to live on land. In Tiankawi humans and fathomfolk live alongside one another, but their shared existence is anything but peaceful. Her brother is the fathomfolk ambassador there, but Kai’s politics don’t move quickly enough for Nami. Nor does she see the value in what his girlfriend, Mira, is achieving by trying to keep the peace and instigate equality in her border guard. Only the underground group, the Drawbacks, seem to understand Nami’s frustration. They sweep her away with strong words and promises, but their true plans remain murkier than the polluted waters around the island.

This is probably one of the best fantasy settings that I have read in a while. Humans and fathomfolk both seem to be teetering on the edge of collapse, yet keep their focus solely on fighting one another for dominance. The result of this is a turbulent society filled with secrets and dangers and duplicity. Racial struggles are a focal point of this society, with even subgroups within the main two races being granted vastly different statuses.

I like how Mira, half human and half siren, attempts to stand as a bridge between the two sides. Yet, despite her human half she is treated fully as one of the fathomfolk. The only thing that differentiates her from many of them is her love of the city as the only home she has ever known. Unfortunately many of the humans seem unable to see the benefit in this. As ambassador, Kai works as a similar bridge. Yet he is treated as a decorative figurehead by the humans and judged by his fellow fathomfolk for his status and integration into the human society. I think what they are missing on their team is a compassionate human and I hope that my guess is correct about who may fulfil this role in book two.

Another thing I hope for book two is some more character growth from Nami. I can see the potential that she has, but there always seems to be something holding her back from achieving it. She has mainly played the role of a naïve child in book one, but I can see how she might develop into a more responsible adult role in book two.

Review by Mikaela Silk

Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner

SPOILER ALERT: This book is the second book in the trilogy. To avoid spoilers if you haven’t read the first book, check out my review for Godkiller instead.

Kissen has taken her revenge on the god who killed her family. But revenge doesn’t come without a price. Now, more alone than ever and with the world thinking she is dead, Kissen must make her way back home through enemy territory. Along the way, she will try to stop the resurrection of a god and accept help from the most unlikely places.

Meanwhile, Elogast, Inara and Skedi must find a way to live with the knowledge they gained in Blenradden.