Escape to the Bookshelf

‘The Atlas Paradox’ by Olivie Blake

SPOILER ALERT: THIS REVIEW REFERS TO THE OUTCOMES OF BOOK ONE. IF YOU HAVE NOT READ IT, I SUGGEST YOU TRY THIS REVIEW INSTEAD: ‘The Atlas Six’ by Olivie Blake

They were given a choice: kill one of their number and the remaining five would gain access to the unlimited knowledge of the Alexandrian library. For most of them, it was an easy choice. Callum was marked for death. Except that Callum didn’t die. Instead they found Libby’s body, although whether she was actually dead is still up for debate.

‘Atalanta’ by Jennifer Saint

As a baby Atalanta is left on a mountain to die and rescued by bears. Later Artemis takes her in and places her in the care of nymphs, secluded deep in the forest. Atalanta grows strong and tall until her speed and prowess with the bow is surpassed only by that of Artemis herself. When the Argonauts sail to take the Golden Fleece Artemis decides that it is time for her protégé to prove herself in the world beyond the forest. But the world of men is not made for strong women and Atalanta will have to fight to find her place in it.

‘The Atlas Six’ by Olivie Blake

Six of the world’s most magical are invited to join the Alexandrian Society, an elite and secretive group with access to the not-so-lost great library of Alexandria. The catch? There are only five places actually available. For one year the six candidates must train together under one roof, testing the limits of their magic and their friendships. At the end of the year they must choose one of their number to be eliminated. But the stakes could be higher than any of them realise.

‘In The Lives of Puppets’ by TJ Klune

To be published 25/04/2023…

Victor lives secluded in the forest with his father and the two robots they have salvaged from the scrap heap and lovingly restored: a vacuum cleaner and a robot nurse. The robots are full of bugs and quirks (such as a slight murderous psychosis) that would horrify their original creators, but to Victor they are family. Dysfunctional, but happy. Even the outside world holds only a mild curiosity.

A new discovery in the scrapheap seems like a great opportunity to add to this family, but this new robot might be more than he seems. In fact the world itself may be more than Victor has ever realised.

‘Clytemnestra’ by Costanza Casati

To be published 30/03/2032…

Two sisters, princesses of Sparta, as close as sisters can be yet each feeling dwarfed by the shadow the other casts. Helen is the most beautiful woman that Greece has ever seen, so beautiful that some believe her father to be a god. Clytemnestra is the strongest and most cunning of women, a true Spartan and their father’s favourite. These differences will take them down very different paths, but there are two things they will always have in common. Love and pain: the two things that no woman can avoid.

‘The Book That Wouldn’t Burn’ by Mark Lawrence

To be published 11/05/2023…

Living in a barely thriving village in the middle of nowhere, Livira craves change. Somehow it almost feels like her fault when that change comes in the form of murderous Sabbers. After a series of events that will be scarred into her memory forever, Livira finally finds her refuge in the Library. And that’s where the really crazy stuff starts.

Evar has lived his whole life in the Library with his siblings. Except for the decades he spent trapped, ageless, inside the mechanism. But he doesn’t remember those. Each of his siblings came out of the mechanism with new skills and new knowledge: psychology, history, war. Evar came out with only the fuzzy memory of a woman and an unsettling urge to rescue her from some unknown evil. If only someone would rescue him from the Library first…

‘Unraveller’ by Frances Hardinge

Kellen has the power to unravel. His power has two sides to it: one he can control and one he can’t. Unravelling curses is something he needs real focus for, whereas unravelling cloth happens when he isn’t focussed enough. Usually this is when he is angry and unfortunately Kellen is angry quite a lot. The danger of curses is that they grow from hate. Sometimes the hate is well-deserved and Kellen is angry at the cured. Sometimes the hate stems from cruelty and Kellen is angry at the cursers. The result is always the same; Kellen unravels the curse, the victim is cured, the curser is sent to the red hospital, and Kellen moves on.

‘The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender’ by Leslye Walton

Ava Lavender was born with wings. Some believe she is an angel, others an aberration. The truth is that she is just a girl. When Ava was born nobody at the hospital asked if there was a family history of unusual births. If they had then Ava’s grandmother, Emelienne, would have likely said that no, all her family were born normal. Of course, it was usually later in life that the unusual qualities of Emelienne’s family appeared…

‘The Saint of Bright Doors’ by Vajra Chandrasekera

To be published11/07/2023…

Soon after he was born, Fetter’s mother cut off his shadow. Ever since then he’s had to focus really hard on gravity to stop himself from floating away. This lightness makes it easy for him to pass unnoticed: perfect for the task his mother has planned for him. She wants him to kill the Perfect and Kind, one of the ten most influential saints in the world and also Fetter’s father. As soon as he is able, Fetter escapes her influence and hides from his destiny in the city of Luriat. There he helps immigrants with their paperwork, attends group therapy, builds relationships, and studies the mysterious bright doors. Until news starts to spread that the Perfect and Kind is coming to town…

‘The House of Sorrowing Stars’ by Beth Cartwright

Liddy loves working for her family’s marchpane business, adding secret ingredients when her father isn’t looking. Her recipes are beloved by the town and Liddy knows she is meant to be more than just a housewife. Unfortunately, her mother disagrees; especially when such an eligible match as Jack Heathcote might be possible. Even more unfortunately, Jack is absolutely horrid.