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ishouldreadthat
A rare reread for me. I actually liked it better the second time around!
Originally posted to I Should Read That
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting retellings that are a little different from the standard fairy tale retellings we see so often in YA, so I was immediately drawn to The Guinevere Deception. I had never read anything by Kiersten White before, so I didn’t quite know what to expect. I ended up really enjoying this book!
Reading this book made me realise how little I actually know about Arthurian Legend. Clearly the Mists of Avalon didn’t stick in my head as much as I thought it did — I read it over a decade ago. Fortunately, I don’t think you need to know a huge amount about Arthurian Legend to follow and understand this book. I had no issues following the characters and didn’t feel lost at any point. Did I miss out on a few small things or foreshadowing? Probably, but it didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the book at all.
White creates an incredibly vibrant world in The Guinevere Deception. From the wonderful imagery of Camelot carved in to the mountainside and the deep, unfathomable lake that surrounds it to the devouring forests filled with a lingering magic, the world really evoked the feeling of ancient, mythological England and the magic that we so commonly associate with the King Arthur legend. I particularly enjoyed reading about the knot magic that Guinevere utilises to keep Arthur and Camelot safe — I don’t know if this is part of the myth surrounding Guinevere or not, but it felt so natural for her character.
I have a couple of small complaints about the writing in this book. The writing feels a little choppy in places — we jump from setting to setting and there were a couple of moments of confusion as characters just suddenly appeared in a completely new place. I also felt like the book was a little scattered in terms of plot. Guinevere would be so focused on the magical threat, get distracted for awhile, then suddenly remember she’s got a job to do, then would wander off again. The book was fun, but I really wish we had more of Guinevere trying to suss out traitors and threats in Camelot rather than tournaments and marketplaces. I totally get why she included these things, but it did make the book feel a little meandering.
Guinevere is obviously the character that drives the whole story, and I enjoyed her point of view. She’s a really interesting character, particularly given her young age and her choice to give up everything, including her own name, in order to marry a man she does not know. Something White does well is show both Guinevere and Arthur’s age — they are sixteen and eighteen, respectively — and though I sometimes found Guinevere a little scattered and unable necessarily to keep her focus, I found that incredibly realistic for her young age. Speaking of Arthur, I also enjoyed him as a character. I think it would be really difficult to write someone like him who is not only so ingrained in legend and culture, but also as someone who is so Good™. I wont give anything away, but I thought he was an incredibly well-balanced character.
The Guinevere Deception is an incredibly fun read and a great retelling.I am definitely planning to read the rest of the series, and I will absolutely be picking up another of her books based on my enjoyment of this one. If you enjoy YA fantasy and retellings, you should absolutely pick up this book — whether or not you’re a fan of the King Arthur story in its various forms.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting retellings that are a little different from the standard fairy tale retellings we see so often in YA, so I was immediately drawn to The Guinevere Deception. I had never read anything by Kiersten White before, so I didn’t quite know what to expect. I ended up really enjoying this book!
Reading this book made me realise how little I actually know about Arthurian Legend. Clearly the Mists of Avalon didn’t stick in my head as much as I thought it did — I read it over a decade ago. Fortunately, I don’t think you need to know a huge amount about Arthurian Legend to follow and understand this book. I had no issues following the characters and didn’t feel lost at any point. Did I miss out on a few small things or foreshadowing? Probably, but it didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the book at all.
White creates an incredibly vibrant world in The Guinevere Deception. From the wonderful imagery of Camelot carved in to the mountainside and the deep, unfathomable lake that surrounds it to the devouring forests filled with a lingering magic, the world really evoked the feeling of ancient, mythological England and the magic that we so commonly associate with the King Arthur legend. I particularly enjoyed reading about the knot magic that Guinevere utilises to keep Arthur and Camelot safe — I don’t know if this is part of the myth surrounding Guinevere or not, but it felt so natural for her character.
I have a couple of small complaints about the writing in this book. The writing feels a little choppy in places — we jump from setting to setting and there were a couple of moments of confusion as characters just suddenly appeared in a completely new place. I also felt like the book was a little scattered in terms of plot. Guinevere would be so focused on the magical threat, get distracted for awhile, then suddenly remember she’s got a job to do, then would wander off again. The book was fun, but I really wish we had more of Guinevere trying to suss out traitors and threats in Camelot rather than tournaments and marketplaces. I totally get why she included these things, but it did make the book feel a little meandering.
Guinevere is obviously the character that drives the whole story, and I enjoyed her point of view. She’s a really interesting character, particularly given her young age and her choice to give up everything, including her own name, in order to marry a man she does not know. Something White does well is show both Guinevere and Arthur’s age — they are sixteen and eighteen, respectively — and though I sometimes found Guinevere a little scattered and unable necessarily to keep her focus, I found that incredibly realistic for her young age. Speaking of Arthur, I also enjoyed him as a character. I think it would be really difficult to write someone like him who is not only so ingrained in legend and culture, but also as someone who is so Good™. I wont give anything away, but I thought he was an incredibly well-balanced character.
The Guinevere Deception is an incredibly fun read and a great retelling.I am definitely planning to read the rest of the series, and I will absolutely be picking up another of her books based on my enjoyment of this one. If you enjoy YA fantasy and retellings, you should absolutely pick up this book — whether or not you’re a fan of the King Arthur story in its various forms.
Originally posted to I Should Read That
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
I make no secret of the fact that the Iskari series has been pretty hit or miss for me. I enjoyed The Last Namsara, but I actually DNFed The Caged Queen. I was a little nervous going into The Sky Weaver, but I’m so happy I decided to give this series another chance.
The reason that I wanted to read this book is because I’ve really enjoyed Ciccarelli’s worldbuilding and mythology, as well as her writing style. I absolutely love the way she weaves stories and myths into the narrative, and the Sky Weaver’s story is one that has intrigued me ever since I read the first book. I was desperate to learn more and, similar to the previous books, the mythology is woven wonderfully into the main plot. I think of all the mythology in the world of the Iskari, the Sky Weaver is my favourite. In addition to expanding the world and mythology, Ciccarelli builds upon the magic of the world in each book. No spoilers here, but I absolutely loved the way magic is implemented in the story and the tools that are used to help cast magic.
As you’ve seen from other books I’ve read this year, I love stories told at sea! Something I wish we got more of in fantasy, but especially in YA, is pirates. If you’re looking for a pirate story, The Sky Weaver should be at the top of your TBR. Not only do large parts of the book take place at sea and on ships, Eris the pirate/thief girl of your dreams. I really enjoyed the pirate aspect of the book and am hoping that this book starts a trend in YA!
This is an enemies-to-lovers story, which is in my opinion one of the more difficult romances to pull off. Ciccarelli does a great job of building the relationship between Safire and Eris from hatred and annoyance to love. I really enjoyed the dynamic between the two and loved the romance. Safire has been a favourite character of mine from the first book, and I was so pleased to not only see her get a fully realised story and relationship, but also to see her develop even further. She has so many layers due to her past and and I so enjoyed watching her recover and come into her own as a character. Sometimes I find that the dynamic in YA relationships feels unbalanced, however Eris was a great match for Safire and they balanced each other out so wonderfully.
I am so pleased I took another chance on the Iskari series, because I really loved The Sky Weaver! If you’re looking for a YA adventure featuring girls with knives, pirate, an F/F love story, and female friendships, you have to give The Sky Weaver a try.
CW: past abuse, murder
4.5 out of 5 stars
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
I make no secret of the fact that the Iskari series has been pretty hit or miss for me. I enjoyed The Last Namsara, but I actually DNFed The Caged Queen. I was a little nervous going into The Sky Weaver, but I’m so happy I decided to give this series another chance.
The reason that I wanted to read this book is because I’ve really enjoyed Ciccarelli’s worldbuilding and mythology, as well as her writing style. I absolutely love the way she weaves stories and myths into the narrative, and the Sky Weaver’s story is one that has intrigued me ever since I read the first book. I was desperate to learn more and, similar to the previous books, the mythology is woven wonderfully into the main plot. I think of all the mythology in the world of the Iskari, the Sky Weaver is my favourite. In addition to expanding the world and mythology, Ciccarelli builds upon the magic of the world in each book. No spoilers here, but I absolutely loved the way magic is implemented in the story and the tools that are used to help cast magic.
As you’ve seen from other books I’ve read this year, I love stories told at sea! Something I wish we got more of in fantasy, but especially in YA, is pirates. If you’re looking for a pirate story, The Sky Weaver should be at the top of your TBR. Not only do large parts of the book take place at sea and on ships, Eris the pirate/thief girl of your dreams. I really enjoyed the pirate aspect of the book and am hoping that this book starts a trend in YA!
This is an enemies-to-lovers story, which is in my opinion one of the more difficult romances to pull off. Ciccarelli does a great job of building the relationship between Safire and Eris from hatred and annoyance to love. I really enjoyed the dynamic between the two and loved the romance. Safire has been a favourite character of mine from the first book, and I was so pleased to not only see her get a fully realised story and relationship, but also to see her develop even further. She has so many layers due to her past and and I so enjoyed watching her recover and come into her own as a character. Sometimes I find that the dynamic in YA relationships feels unbalanced, however Eris was a great match for Safire and they balanced each other out so wonderfully.
I am so pleased I took another chance on the Iskari series, because I really loved The Sky Weaver! If you’re looking for a YA adventure featuring girls with knives, pirate, an F/F love story, and female friendships, you have to give The Sky Weaver a try.
CW: past abuse, murder
4.5 out of 5 stars
Originally posted to I Should Read That
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free for this book and for Empire of Sand.
Empire of Sand is one of those books that has left a lasting impact on me as a reader — it is a beautiful book with gorgeous magic, a lush world, and one of the best slow burn romances I’ve ever read. So naturally I was absolutely thrilled to hear that the next book, Realm of Ash was coming out this year. I had sky-high expectations for this book and had absolutely no worries that they wouldn’t be met. And I was right — this book is absolutely magnificent.
First things first, Realm of Ash is more of a companion novel than a direct sequel to Empire of Sand and it stands alone well on its own. However, I’d highly recommend reading the first book before diving into this one because you’ll get so much more from the story, particularly the nuances of Arwa’s relationship with her Amrithi blood and her family. Realm of Ash does an incredible job of building on the first book while standing alone as its own story, but honestly Empire of Sand is also incredibly good so you should read it anyway.
The worldbuilding in Realm of Ash is magnificent — the world in the Books of Ambha series is one of my absolute favourites in fantasy. I love the stunning landscapes, the intricate architecture, and the detailed cultures and customs of both the Empire and the Amrithi people. The introduction of the realm of ash in this book adds a new, fantastic layer to the world. It is not only an incredibly magical place, but is also so wonderfully moving and sad. I don’t want to say anything more because of spoilers, but Suri created something really special with the realm of ash and the rituals surrounding it.
Realm of Ash builds on and expands the culture and customs established in the first book, this time focusing on Arwa’s position as a noblewoman widow in society. The restrictions and restraints placed upon her, as well as her worth now that she does not have a ‘use’ in society through her husband, constantly haunt Arwa as she tries to bury her true self and be a good Ambhan woman while also struggling against the expectations against her. Interestingly, the book begins with Arwa fully believing in her position in the Empire and the Empire’s rules and laws, despite the fact that her mother’s people are persecuted and she would receive similar treatment if her Amrithi blood was discovered. The fact that she does accept and support the Empire’s laws and customs as a result of her upbringing makes her an incredibly fascinating character to follow, and I absolutely loved her personal journey of discovery.
To me, this book is all about grief and loss, particularly for Arwa. The most obvious are the loss of her husband and sister, but Arwa also loses her place and ‘usefulness’ in the Empire when her husband dies. She has lost her Amrithi heritage, and she eventually loses her faith in the Empire too. After all she has been through and all she has had to suppress, it is no huge suprise that she grieves for what she once had and what was taught to her. However, it is also a story of discovery and self-realisation. These themes are wonderfully balanced and create such a beautiful and compelling story.
I’ve really struggled to write this review because I simply cannot put into words how much I loved it. It is heartbreaking, hopeful, and stunningly beautiful. If you loved Empire of Sand, you will love Realm of Ash. If you enjoy slow burn romances, refreshing magic and fantasy worlds, backstabbing court politics, hidden princes, and strong women, you absolutely must give these books a try. To me, Suri represents the best of modern British fantasy and I will read anything she writes.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free for this book and for Empire of Sand.
Empire of Sand is one of those books that has left a lasting impact on me as a reader — it is a beautiful book with gorgeous magic, a lush world, and one of the best slow burn romances I’ve ever read. So naturally I was absolutely thrilled to hear that the next book, Realm of Ash was coming out this year. I had sky-high expectations for this book and had absolutely no worries that they wouldn’t be met. And I was right — this book is absolutely magnificent.
First things first, Realm of Ash is more of a companion novel than a direct sequel to Empire of Sand and it stands alone well on its own. However, I’d highly recommend reading the first book before diving into this one because you’ll get so much more from the story, particularly the nuances of Arwa’s relationship with her Amrithi blood and her family. Realm of Ash does an incredible job of building on the first book while standing alone as its own story, but honestly Empire of Sand is also incredibly good so you should read it anyway.
The worldbuilding in Realm of Ash is magnificent — the world in the Books of Ambha series is one of my absolute favourites in fantasy. I love the stunning landscapes, the intricate architecture, and the detailed cultures and customs of both the Empire and the Amrithi people. The introduction of the realm of ash in this book adds a new, fantastic layer to the world. It is not only an incredibly magical place, but is also so wonderfully moving and sad. I don’t want to say anything more because of spoilers, but Suri created something really special with the realm of ash and the rituals surrounding it.
Realm of Ash builds on and expands the culture and customs established in the first book, this time focusing on Arwa’s position as a noblewoman widow in society. The restrictions and restraints placed upon her, as well as her worth now that she does not have a ‘use’ in society through her husband, constantly haunt Arwa as she tries to bury her true self and be a good Ambhan woman while also struggling against the expectations against her. Interestingly, the book begins with Arwa fully believing in her position in the Empire and the Empire’s rules and laws, despite the fact that her mother’s people are persecuted and she would receive similar treatment if her Amrithi blood was discovered. The fact that she does accept and support the Empire’s laws and customs as a result of her upbringing makes her an incredibly fascinating character to follow, and I absolutely loved her personal journey of discovery.
To me, this book is all about grief and loss, particularly for Arwa. The most obvious are the loss of her husband and sister, but Arwa also loses her place and ‘usefulness’ in the Empire when her husband dies. She has lost her Amrithi heritage, and she eventually loses her faith in the Empire too. After all she has been through and all she has had to suppress, it is no huge suprise that she grieves for what she once had and what was taught to her. However, it is also a story of discovery and self-realisation. These themes are wonderfully balanced and create such a beautiful and compelling story.
I’ve really struggled to write this review because I simply cannot put into words how much I loved it. It is heartbreaking, hopeful, and stunningly beautiful. If you loved Empire of Sand, you will love Realm of Ash. If you enjoy slow burn romances, refreshing magic and fantasy worlds, backstabbing court politics, hidden princes, and strong women, you absolutely must give these books a try. To me, Suri represents the best of modern British fantasy and I will read anything she writes.
Suffers a little from middle book syndrome but is an absolute delight anyway. Review to come.
Originally posted to I Should Read That
This is a spoiler-free review for Blood of Assassins, but will contain spoilers for Age of Assassins.
I read Age of Assassins this summer and absolutely loved it — that book also led me to Barker’s latest book in a new series, The Bone Ships. I picked up Blood of Assassins the other month and while I didn’t love it as much as the previous book, I thought it was a fantastic sequel.
Blood of Assassins takes place five years after the events of the first book. Girton has spent much of the intervening years fighting and becoming more and more jaded outside of Maniyadoc -- dramatically shaping his character and shedding his youthful demeanor from the first book. Upon his return, he finds that his friend Rufra is in an unsteady position as a king at war for his crown. This shifting between the first and second book certainly leaves Girton on unsteady ground, however I really loved the way that Barker completely changed the game and kept the story fresh and interesting. There is magic (and the prevention of magic), twists, amazing action sequences, and a great mystery element.
The characterisation in this book continues to be fantastic, however Girton is a little troublesome. I totally understand where his character was coming from, but I couldn’t help but want to smack him upside the head multiple times throughout this book. This is completely intentional on Barker’s part but Girton is very hard to love in Blood of Assassins , especially given how much I loved his character in the first book. Girton is sullen, bitter, angry, and untrusting -- all with very good reason. I suspect that Girton’s character arc will come full circle in the final book, and I can’t wait for that to happen.
My favourite character in Blood of Assassins was, of course, Rufra. The King of Cinnamon Rolls, Rufra is a wonderfully idealistic man who is trying his best to be good for his people despite his own troubles and turmoils. He’s a fantastic contrast to Girton in this book, particularly knowing that five years have gone by and the friends have spent those years in very different ways.
Blood of Assassins is a grim, bleak, and fantastic sequel to one of my favourite fantasy books of 2019. It is certainly a tougher read than the first book, however Barker continues to conjure a fantastic fantasy world and an amazing story. I can’t wait to finish up the series!
This is a spoiler-free review for Blood of Assassins, but will contain spoilers for Age of Assassins.
I read Age of Assassins this summer and absolutely loved it — that book also led me to Barker’s latest book in a new series, The Bone Ships. I picked up Blood of Assassins the other month and while I didn’t love it as much as the previous book, I thought it was a fantastic sequel.
Blood of Assassins takes place five years after the events of the first book. Girton has spent much of the intervening years fighting and becoming more and more jaded outside of Maniyadoc -- dramatically shaping his character and shedding his youthful demeanor from the first book. Upon his return, he finds that his friend Rufra is in an unsteady position as a king at war for his crown. This shifting between the first and second book certainly leaves Girton on unsteady ground, however I really loved the way that Barker completely changed the game and kept the story fresh and interesting. There is magic (and the prevention of magic), twists, amazing action sequences, and a great mystery element.
The characterisation in this book continues to be fantastic, however Girton is a little troublesome. I totally understand where his character was coming from, but I couldn’t help but want to smack him upside the head multiple times throughout this book. This is completely intentional on Barker’s part but Girton is very hard to love in Blood of Assassins , especially given how much I loved his character in the first book. Girton is sullen, bitter, angry, and untrusting -- all with very good reason. I suspect that Girton’s character arc will come full circle in the final book, and I can’t wait for that to happen.
My favourite character in Blood of Assassins was, of course, Rufra. The King of Cinnamon Rolls, Rufra is a wonderfully idealistic man who is trying his best to be good for his people despite his own troubles and turmoils. He’s a fantastic contrast to Girton in this book, particularly knowing that five years have gone by and the friends have spent those years in very different ways.
Blood of Assassins is a grim, bleak, and fantastic sequel to one of my favourite fantasy books of 2019. It is certainly a tougher read than the first book, however Barker continues to conjure a fantastic fantasy world and an amazing story. I can’t wait to finish up the series!
Originally posted to I Should Read That
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is a spoiler-free review.
Julie C. Dao is one of my auto-buy authors -- I totally fell in love with Forest of a Thousand Lanterns and adored The Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix,/i>. I thought that with the completion of the Rise of the Empress duology, we would leave the world of Feng Lu forever. So imagine my surprise and delight to discover that Song of the Crimson Flower, her latest book, was set in the same world! This book completely stands alone from the Rise of the Empress duology, but will still delight fans of the original books with some familiar faces and themes.
Much like the Rise of the Empress series, Song of the Crimson Flower has the feeling and nostalgia of a gorgeous fairy tale in an East Asian setting. It has the same fairy tale structure, tropes, and characters that we so often see in classic tales, giving it a lovely, warm feeling of nostalgia. Reading Song of the Crimson Flower feels like you’re sinking into a favourite childhood tale or storybook, which is one of the most rewarding reading experiences for me.
The fact that this takes place in Feng Lu, the well-established world of The Rise of the Empress duology, doesn’t mean that Dao slacks on worldbuilding at all. She expands the Grasslands with much more detail than previously seen and paints a picture of both the wealth and poverty that our characters experience. Magic and medicine, both good and bad, are woven through the story in an incredibly effective way. This is particularly effective in the way that the Black Spice drug is portrayed -- it causes horrible addiction and tears apart families, but could also be a miracle cure to a horrible illness that haunts the Grasslands. I loved the way that she balanced these themes and coloured this book with shades of gray.
The romance is a major driver for the plot and characters, and I really enjoyed the growing relationship between Lan and Bao. Neither is perfect at the start and both desperately need to grow in order to become more understanding people, which I always love. I particularly enjoyed Lan’s character arc -- her journey to see past her privilege was a pleasure to read. My favourite romance, however, was one between two minor characters. I was completely and totally invested in their story and would have happily have read from their point of view too. I was also thrilled to see many familiar faces in this book and loved that we got to see old favourites eight years after the events of the first series.
Song of the Crimson Flower will delight fans of Dao’s previous books, but also stands alone as a fine YA fantasy tale for newcomers to her writing. This is the perfect book to cosy up with and binge read on a cold winter night!
CW: Drugs and discussion of addiction, abandonment
4.5 out of 5 stars
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is a spoiler-free review.
Julie C. Dao is one of my auto-buy authors -- I totally fell in love with Forest of a Thousand Lanterns and adored The Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix,/i>. I thought that with the completion of the Rise of the Empress duology, we would leave the world of Feng Lu forever. So imagine my surprise and delight to discover that Song of the Crimson Flower, her latest book, was set in the same world! This book completely stands alone from the Rise of the Empress duology, but will still delight fans of the original books with some familiar faces and themes.
Much like the Rise of the Empress series, Song of the Crimson Flower has the feeling and nostalgia of a gorgeous fairy tale in an East Asian setting. It has the same fairy tale structure, tropes, and characters that we so often see in classic tales, giving it a lovely, warm feeling of nostalgia. Reading Song of the Crimson Flower feels like you’re sinking into a favourite childhood tale or storybook, which is one of the most rewarding reading experiences for me.
The fact that this takes place in Feng Lu, the well-established world of The Rise of the Empress duology, doesn’t mean that Dao slacks on worldbuilding at all. She expands the Grasslands with much more detail than previously seen and paints a picture of both the wealth and poverty that our characters experience. Magic and medicine, both good and bad, are woven through the story in an incredibly effective way. This is particularly effective in the way that the Black Spice drug is portrayed -- it causes horrible addiction and tears apart families, but could also be a miracle cure to a horrible illness that haunts the Grasslands. I loved the way that she balanced these themes and coloured this book with shades of gray.
The romance is a major driver for the plot and characters, and I really enjoyed the growing relationship between Lan and Bao. Neither is perfect at the start and both desperately need to grow in order to become more understanding people, which I always love. I particularly enjoyed Lan’s character arc -- her journey to see past her privilege was a pleasure to read. My favourite romance, however, was one between two minor characters. I was completely and totally invested in their story and would have happily have read from their point of view too. I was also thrilled to see many familiar faces in this book and loved that we got to see old favourites eight years after the events of the first series.
Song of the Crimson Flower will delight fans of Dao’s previous books, but also stands alone as a fine YA fantasy tale for newcomers to her writing. This is the perfect book to cosy up with and binge read on a cold winter night!
CW: Drugs and discussion of addiction, abandonment
4.5 out of 5 stars
Originally posted to I Should Read That
I read and enjoyed my first Ruth Ware book a couple of months ago and was desperate to immediately get my hands on more of her work. Fortunately, my sister had a copy of Ware’s latest novel, The Turn of the Key, handy and I grabbed it from her as soon as I could. I expected a fun and spooky thriller, and I got so much more than that. Filled with twists and turns, The Turn of the Key is a great book for all your spooky fall and winter needs.
Here’s a short list of what to expect in this book:
-A smart house with an app that controls it called ‘Happy’. Nope nope nope.
-A shady nanny who is clearly hiding something.
-An overworked mum and a pervy husband.
-A remote Scottish Highlands location.
-Things that go bump in the night
-Three awful children.
-More secrets and lies than you can shake a stick at.
So basically, this book was exactly what I want from a thriller! Ware takes so many spooky elements and throws them together to create a fantastic modern Gothic tale. The result is incredibly effective with loads of tension and mystery that kept me guessing until the very end. There are so many secrets tangled up in this book that it’s hard to figure out exactly what’s going on, and as someone who has seen the main twist coming in a few thrillers lately, I loved that so much. I sometimes find that thrillers just don’t quite hit the mark for me, but The Turn of the Key was such a well-balanced plot with well-paced moments of horrible tension and release.
I feel like I come across as super lazy when it comes to thriller reviews, but I swear that it’s best to go into this book knowing as little as possible! If you're someone who enjoys psychological thrillers, this is definitely the book for you. The Turn of the Key is the perfect binge read for chilly winter nights.
4.5 out of 5 stars
I read and enjoyed my first Ruth Ware book a couple of months ago and was desperate to immediately get my hands on more of her work. Fortunately, my sister had a copy of Ware’s latest novel, The Turn of the Key, handy and I grabbed it from her as soon as I could. I expected a fun and spooky thriller, and I got so much more than that. Filled with twists and turns, The Turn of the Key is a great book for all your spooky fall and winter needs.
Here’s a short list of what to expect in this book:
-A smart house with an app that controls it called ‘Happy’. Nope nope nope.
-A shady nanny who is clearly hiding something.
-An overworked mum and a pervy husband.
-A remote Scottish Highlands location.
-Things that go bump in the night
-Three awful children.
-More secrets and lies than you can shake a stick at.
So basically, this book was exactly what I want from a thriller! Ware takes so many spooky elements and throws them together to create a fantastic modern Gothic tale. The result is incredibly effective with loads of tension and mystery that kept me guessing until the very end. There are so many secrets tangled up in this book that it’s hard to figure out exactly what’s going on, and as someone who has seen the main twist coming in a few thrillers lately, I loved that so much. I sometimes find that thrillers just don’t quite hit the mark for me, but The Turn of the Key was such a well-balanced plot with well-paced moments of horrible tension and release.
I feel like I come across as super lazy when it comes to thriller reviews, but I swear that it’s best to go into this book knowing as little as possible! If you're someone who enjoys psychological thrillers, this is definitely the book for you. The Turn of the Key is the perfect binge read for chilly winter nights.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Originally posted to I Should Read That
I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is a spoiler-free review.
I went on a big crime novel binge in October and The Sharp Edge of a Snowflake was one of the books I picked up. I adore the author as a person, having met her a couple of times at events like YALC, and this was the perfect time to pick up her latest book. I was absolutely delighted by this fantastic, twisty YA Nordic thriller.
Thanks to my recent YA crime binge, I feel like I can confidently say that this is one of my favourites of the genre. I’m not sure what it was about this book that felt more mature than something like Truly Devious or One of Us is Lying, but The Sharp Edge of a Snowflake is a book that I feel really transcends its YA label -- I think fans of adult psychological thrillers would really enjoy this book as well as YA readers. Perhaps it is the tension in Hannah’s family or Imogen’s dark past. Maybe it is the quieter, less action-packed story. It could be the sense of tension that continues to build and build as the story progresses. Whatever it may be, I think The Sharp Edge of a Snowflake is a fantastic addition to the psychological thriller genre!
I really enjoyed both Hannah and Imogen’s points of view. Despite the fact that they’re both very different people, their lives have been thrown off balance by trauma. The displacement in their lives adds an intriguing layer to both their stories and helps make them jump off the page as well fleshed out characters. Of the two, I think Imogen was actually my favourite, something I was quite surprised by. They both have good character arcs, however I was totally intrigued by Imogen’s life as an accidental social media star, how that status has impacted her life, and how much social media can influence one’s self worth.
Of all the YA crime books I've read recently, The Sharp Edge of a Snowflake is easily my favourite one and I'm looking forward to reading whatever Sif writes next. Filled with twists and turns, intriguing characters, and a great mystery, The Sharp Edge of a Snowflake is an incredibly fun read for your winter TBR.
CW: on-page attempted rape, PTSD
4.5 out of 5 stars
I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is a spoiler-free review.
I went on a big crime novel binge in October and The Sharp Edge of a Snowflake was one of the books I picked up. I adore the author as a person, having met her a couple of times at events like YALC, and this was the perfect time to pick up her latest book. I was absolutely delighted by this fantastic, twisty YA Nordic thriller.
Thanks to my recent YA crime binge, I feel like I can confidently say that this is one of my favourites of the genre. I’m not sure what it was about this book that felt more mature than something like Truly Devious or One of Us is Lying, but The Sharp Edge of a Snowflake is a book that I feel really transcends its YA label -- I think fans of adult psychological thrillers would really enjoy this book as well as YA readers. Perhaps it is the tension in Hannah’s family or Imogen’s dark past. Maybe it is the quieter, less action-packed story. It could be the sense of tension that continues to build and build as the story progresses. Whatever it may be, I think The Sharp Edge of a Snowflake is a fantastic addition to the psychological thriller genre!
I really enjoyed both Hannah and Imogen’s points of view. Despite the fact that they’re both very different people, their lives have been thrown off balance by trauma. The displacement in their lives adds an intriguing layer to both their stories and helps make them jump off the page as well fleshed out characters. Of the two, I think Imogen was actually my favourite, something I was quite surprised by. They both have good character arcs, however I was totally intrigued by Imogen’s life as an accidental social media star, how that status has impacted her life, and how much social media can influence one’s self worth.
Of all the YA crime books I've read recently, The Sharp Edge of a Snowflake is easily my favourite one and I'm looking forward to reading whatever Sif writes next. Filled with twists and turns, intriguing characters, and a great mystery, The Sharp Edge of a Snowflake is an incredibly fun read for your winter TBR.
CW: on-page attempted rape, PTSD
4.5 out of 5 stars