Lee-Anne
Contains spoilers
This felt a little rushed, honestly.
I had some serious issues with Mila. On the one hand, didn't love the fact that the only prominent female character in this story was essentially reduced to the "villain". On the other hand, I found how easily and blatantly she disregarded Alexander's pretty reasonable requests and boundaries massively icky. I also, honestly, got the impression that at times she was possibly trying to have her cake and eat it with regards to Christian and Alexander, only to turn around and be a bitter surprised Pikachu when she realized that perhaps she wasn't the main draw to her brilliant idea, as she'd initially hoped.
The chemistry between Alexander and Christian was interesting. Again, would have liked a bit more build but overall felt organic for the most part. I think this story was more about how Alexander had to come to terms with the fact that he'd retreated internally after the stuff that happened to his parents and that in order to have a meaningful relationship he had to be willing to open himself up, but also be able to sit with the uncomfortable parts of relationships/emotions. Which, yeah. I'd say it did an okay job of portraying.
I did get the impression that this story was really more of a set-up for the next book, which is unfortunate. I'm enjoying the shared universe aspects, sure, but I still feel like there should be room for each couple to stand on their own merit. Hopefully we will see more of Alexander and Christian at some point.
Contains spoilers
I'll preface this by saying that these are not books you probably pick up for the nuanced plot. That being said, there were some seeds of potential there, actually. Surprising, I know.
It didn't seem to go anywhere — at least not in this book — but since it is part of a series, broadly speaking, who knows? Maybe it gets developed.
In any case, this was a quick and mostly fun read. I enjoyed the bickering back and forth. The chemistry was pretty solid for the most part. Love me some bisexual rep and conversations about the sexuality spectrum, honestly, worked in organically without seeming preachy.
The pacing was fairly abrupt at points. And while you don't seem to need to have read prior entries in the series, I think it doesn't hurt to have at least read Luke and Roman's book for some extra context. Which I'll definitely be doing because I was pretty intrigued.
Okay, so I did not love how Vlad's internalized homophobia was dealt with. An attempt was certainly made, but it feels like it could have been handled with a bit more care. Ditto the slurs, although that was possibly more understandable in context. I just found Vlad's repeated (and by this I mean it was pretty much identically phrased each time) assertions about his sexuality a bit tedious after a while. Yes, this is a big, significant moment. Yes, no experience is the same, but lord.
On a slightly more persnickety, personal note, I did also find that there were some weird quirks with Vlad's (who is Russian) internal dialogue. Could he feasibly be using the word "slag"? Sure. Do I buy it? Not really.
Imagine being stuck in a Gothic novel and knowing that you're stuck in a Gothic novel? That's basically the vibe for Zeb Wyckham, the protagonist.
This is another book that put me in mind of Jennifer Thorne's Diavola. Mostly because Zeb’s greedy, backstabbing family is the absolute worst. Instead of a sunny Italian villa, they are trapped together inside the heavily locked walls of a creepy Dartmoor estate. While the house serves up its fair share of eerie mists and slow-burning dread, the real horror is definitely in the family reunion from hell.
Fortunately, Zeb’s sharp, practical wits and a forced alliance with his grumpy but clever ex-lover keep this spooky ride thoroughly entertaining, delightfully chaotic, and surprisingly full of heart.
Contains spoilers
This book reminded me a fair bit of Jennifer Thorne’s Diavola. The specific flavor of spookiness isn't identical, but it's close enough that if you liked this one, you’ll probably love that too. (It’s genuinely excellent, by the way—one of those rare horror novels that somehow manages to creep the absolute hell out of you despite spending a surprising amount of time in broad daylight.)
Beyond the comparison, this was just a great read. It’s a really clever spin on Frankenstein, albeit less about the novel itself and more about the strange little constellation of people and events that led to Mary Shelley writing it. Plenty of historical figures wander in and out, but the real stars are the Shelleys and Lord Byron. I only know the broad strokes of their actual history, but it didn't surprise me at all to learn that Percy Shelley and Byron were, to put it mildly, complete pricks.
The atmosphere was easily my favorite part. This is old-school Gothic horror: misty estates, crumbling houses, candlelit corridors, and a constant, creeping dread that something is fundamentally wrong beneath the surface. The book does a beautiful job balancing lush, gorgeous imagery with moments of quiet horror.
The atmosphere was easily my favourite part. This is old-school Gothic horror: misty estates, crumbling houses, candlelit corridors, and a constant, creeping dread that something is fundamentally wrong beneath the surface. The book does a beautiful job balancing lush, gorgeous imagery with moments of quiet horror.
I also really liked the protagonist, Mehr. She's a biracial Indian woman who travels to England under the guise of delivering her younger brother's inheritance. In reality, she's there to exact revenge on her estranged English father, although she hasn't quite admitted that to herself yet. Instead, almost immediately upon arrival, she takes a job as a housemaid in the Shelley household, where things quickly spiral in increasingly alarming directions.
To be fair, she isn't necessarily a "likable", but that's actually one of the things I appreciated most about her. She's messy, angry, and so wonderfully human. Given the sheer amount of bullshit she has to deal with over the course of the novel, both supernatural and otherwise, you can't really blame her for being sharp around the edges. Suffice it to say, things get very real, very fast.
What I appreciated most was that the story never just traded on its premise. A reimagining of Frankenstein's origins could easily devolve into a parade of historical Easter eggs and cheap "look, it's that famous person!" moments. Instead, this stands completely on its own feet. The Gothic horror is always front and centre, but beneath the ghosts and family secrets, it's a rich story about identity, colonialism, grief, and family trauma. None of it feels preachy or heavy-handed; it just gives the horror some real emotional weight.
Overall, I'd absolutely recommend this if you're in the mood for lush, literary Gothic horror with a healthy dose of historical fiction. Come for the Shelleys and Lord Byron behaving exactly as disastrously as history suggests they did. Stay for the haunted houses, family drama, and the growing certainty that absolutely nothing good is waiting behind the next closed door.
This book has completely changed how I'll view the Jack the Ripper story going forward. There's actually a line in the conclusion that puts it best: "In order to gawp at and examine this miracle of malevolance we have figurativbely stepped over the bodies of those he murdered, and in some cases, stopped to kick them as we walked past".
And, man, is that ever true.
This is also something that this book tries to address. By turning its attention away from teh killer and instead opt5 to focus on the lives of his victims, it compeletely reframes the narrative. It charts the journey of each of the five victims' lives, from birth to death, as best as possible, and by doing so gives us some idea of who they were as people independent of their iconic deaths. Their lives were often tragic, but ultimately pretty relatable, particularly given the times. This makes the fact that they are so often reduced to their deaths that much more galling, in my opinion.
In essence, this book asks us to not blindly trust the "official records"—which in many cases were either based off third-hand gossip, or so thoroughly twisted as to be completely useless. Instead, it asks us to look past those sensational myths and to finally grant these women the dignity and understanding they have been denied for well over a century.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Everything I say here is my own opinion.
Far Removed by C.B. Lansdell is a debut novel that sets its ambitions high. The book introduces a captivating world that stands out – and in the best way!
The story follows two main characters: Oklas Sayve, a bold politician and college director challenging his world's norms, and Prismer, a gifted artist grappling with her own struggles. Both undergo significant personal growth throughout the novel, as they're confronted with truths about themselves and their society, leading them to question the impact of their efforts.
I really connected with Prismer at the start, but surprisingly, Oklas really won me over by the end. The supporting characters, particularly Rosh and Ilu, also added real depth to the narrative and rounded out the world, and I really hope to see more of them in the next book.
Beyond the impressive world-building and well-crafted characters, Lansdell subtly addresses crucial social issues. However, one concern I have is that the book's approach to this might be too vague at times, in an attempt to make them relatable to a greater audience. While this approach has its merits, it could potentially dilute the overall focus.
Another challenge I encountered was the abundance of specialized jargon and explanations unique to the world. But, considering that this is a debut novel with a complex setting, I can forgive that as I look forward to the sequel.
Ultimately, Far Removed offers readers a thought-provoking and enjoyable experience. Lansdell is a talented writer, and I look forward to seeing more from her as she continues to develop her unique voice.
A re...listen?
Anyway, for anyone looking to scratch that Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy itch. Daniel Steele is an absolute, obnoxious mess and I adore him. Poor Timothy, I think, needs a vacation somewhere lovely but would probably never dream of leaving his partner without supervision.
The only real quibble I have, which I think is due more to how this story is structured, is how many questions I have. Maybe the sequel will answer at least some of them???
It's difficult to know where to start with this review because there is so much to unpack in what is really such a small amount of pages.
The art and colourwork are beautiful and fits the genre of the comic well. You can feel the heat at your back and taste the grit in your teeth, and for that alone I think I love it a little. While it's very much a Western there's a marvellous twist in the tale that elevates it to something almost mythic.
What confusion you might feel in the beginning is probably just down to set-up. Stick it out, see where it goes. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Volume two of this four part series keeps up the pace set by the first, showing our plucky heroes heading over to Mon Cala hoping to negotiate an alliance.
I admittedly wasn't as invested in Ackbar as some, but this feels like a nice nod to a fan hero as well as offering some great culture and world-building through the exploration of the world and its people. I am especially pleased to see that Rose is getting some focus, given how contentious her character seems to be within the fandom, while also giving us hints of the budding friendship between her and Rey.
Rey's willingness to throw down all day every day is both hilarious and feels true for the fierce ex-scavenger turned Jedi.
I'm pleased for the most part with the art, especially when artists seem to struggle to draw Kylo Ren – who makes a brief appearance – without making him look strange, but poor Poe does suffer a little here.
Overall: a really fun, quick read. I'm looking forward to volume three.
From the pen that brought us Phasma, Black Spire is an excellent addition to the Star Wars expanded universe.
A quick, easy read. I was pleased to rejoin Vi and Archex on their latest adventure to far off Batuu. There they face many challenges, encounter a collection of colourful local personalities, eventually forming a rag-tag Resistance cell that you can't help but root for.
For a more comprehensive review, feel free to check out my blog at: https://leeannelinton.wordpress.com/2019/10/17/book-review-star-wars-galaxys-edge-black-spire-by-delilah-s-dawson-sw-tie-in/
In the lead-up to The Rise of Skywalker, I've been eagerly devouring what supplementary material is being released, and the comics have really been a life-saver.
Volume One of Allegiance starts on a dramatic note and it just keeps going. The First Order has done more than take up the mantel of the Empire, it's well on its way to surpassing it – so it'll be interesting to see how this is dealt with in the film, with the stakes already so high – and the Resistance are forced to seek out old allies.
We are also getting to see how Rey is faring post-Crait, and it's surprising but feels natural. The Force plotline is, admittedly, the one that I have the most interest invested in but I'm enjoying the exploration of the Resistance's storyline and the development of those characters. Finn gets his moment to shine.
Other things I've really enjoyed is the art itself: clean with bold, natural colors. There's a really fun breakdown on several panels in the e-version of the comic that I found really informative. The story itself is short, if satisfying, and leaves you waiting eagerly for the next volume.