savage_book_review's Reviews (328)

The latest in a very, very long line of books I've read detailing the history of the Kings and Queens of England, I thought I'd give this a go as a more lighthearted and irreverent approach to one of my favourite subjects. I would preface my review with the fact that, while I don't dislike David Mitchell, I'm not the biggest fan of his style of comedy and I'd rather work my brain cells watching his wife present 'Only Connect'. Nevertheless, I thought his wit might suit the historical bent so was willing to give it a try.

It is very, very easy to hear the author speaking to you as you read; his voice in the writing is unmistakable. It's blunt, a little pessimistic and sweary in places, but equally there are a lot of tangents and anecdotes that lead you a bit astray. For that in itself, if you are a fan of his, you will likely love this. It is a refreshing take on the history; as he says, he's not a historian and so sees no need to try and remain objective. As a result, pretty much every ruler gets called out on their bulls**t, their failures are picked over and their triumphs are belittled. 

The issue I had with this style though is, overall, it doesn't feel like there's that much substance to the book. It's not meant to be a history tome, so I wasn't expecting detailed analysis, but there's also not enough comedy to set it squarely in the 'humour' section. I didn't get any 'laugh out loud' moments, and some of the pop culture references are already starting to age, so I'm not entirely sure it'll stand the test of time either. Perhaps I'm just missing the point because of my lack of sense of humour... Maybe if you really are starting out in exploring the topic, this might be a good book for you to begin with - it is clear in setting out the order and the broad brush events of each reign without being bogged down in minutiae, and is certainly an easier introduction to digest than some of the other published works of this type.

The book does focus on England rather than Britain, so don't be shocked when you're 90% of the way through the book and only reading about Henry VIII. On the upside, he does start his book pre-William the Conqueror, even going so far as to briefly discuss those rulers we can't even prove existed (or indeed are flat out myth - Arthur, looking at you). In fact, in the midst of what is generally quite a negative voice, I think he reflects most positively on Harold Godwinson, and his thoughts on the fact that the rulers pre-1066 don't get regnal numbers is a repeated lament throughout. 

It's not bad, it's just not me. So I'll be unhauling this one...

This is an amazing piece of writing, brought to life with a flawless performance by the narrator. I'll examine each in turn, but it just needs to be said right out of the gate that this is probably my favourite 'straight' audiobook (I.e. not graphic audio) of the year so far. Everything about it; character, imagery, vibes, all of it, is incredibly well done!

First, the writing. It follows the trend of taking a character traditionally seen as 'the bad guy'; in this case, Morgan Le Fay / Morgana of the Arthurian legends, and humanising her to shed light on her motives and the reasons why she is the way she is. She certainly isn't the evil sorceress in this version! It deftly weaves in elements of the well known tale - King Uther slaying her father and forcing her mother into marriage, for example - while also introducing new elements that feed into her development and make her the educated, strong willed, independent soul that was the antithesis of what a woman should have been at that time. The writer has produced an incredibly sympathetic, layered and nuanced character that the reader cannot help but side with through her trials, tribulations and triumphs. 

Each secondary character has also been meticulously crafted; there isn't a single person of import in here that doesn't feel real. I have to say, it's great to see Merlin in a different light - as much as I love the wizened old wise guy or the clotpole youngster, his having a bit of bite really works! Likewise the relationship between Morgan and her two ladies, Alice and Tressa, is beautifully done - it's heartfelt, genuine friendship with no bitchiness or power dynamics, just a deep and abiding care for each other. I adore Alice and Tressa's relationship development in the background - it's never a main focus, but the little glimpses you get are wonderful, and when the nature of their relationship is stated outright it somehow doesn't come as a surprise - it's just right.

The romantic element of the story again is wonderfully done. The pace is just right; while it feels like a slow burn, it's not actually that slow, but it still manages to give you everything you want  when watching two people fall in love. If I have one criticism, it's that there is a 'cliff-edge' moment where everything suddenly shifts out if no-where, which just doesn't match the flow of the rest of the narrative. As a result, you then spend the rest of the book preparing for another moment like it rather than living in the moment with the characters.

As for the narration... wow. Every word is perfectly pitched and lends an extra layer of intensity, emotion and general brilliance to the written word. The pace is spot on for the story - it is on the slower side, but it absolutely works. She manages to embody Morgan completely, and with only slight tonal changes (no silly accents or putting on voices) manages to bring to life the rest of the cast as well. It's an absolute pleasure to listen to and I actually think I got more out of the audiobook than I would if I had just read it myself. I would absolutely happily buy this, so the fact that it's currently included in the Audible Plus catalogue (as is the sequel, I think) astounds me!

Seriously, go listen/read. You won't regret it.

In all honesty, I was a little thrown by this second instalment of the War of Lost Hearts series. I enjoyed the story and continue to fall for Maxantarius, the brooding hero who's secretly a hopeless romantic optimist with a heartbreaker's smile, but there was a lot that felt quite disjointed in terms of the writing and character development throughout. It does come across very much as the bridging book between start and end - while it absolutely moves the overall story arc forward and drops some great plot points, it doesn't really have enough going for it to stand on its own merits.

My favourite part of this book is the continuing development of Max and Tisaanah's relationship. IMO, these are the scenes which showcase the writer at her best. There is a small amount of spice, but for the most part their blossoming romance is shown through moments of touching calm amongst the chaos. To see the cranky old man lighten up, smile and surrender to his feelings is beautiful, and makes him all the more lovable. And Tisannah's growing confidence is also well conveyed, complete with setbacks and strife that really add to her complexity as a character. 

A new character POV, that of Aefe, is introduced in this book with basically no warning, which is very disconcerting. Especially when it's not immediately obvious how this is going to tie in with the main narrative. However, overall I found this element if the book more interesting, and loved how it developed. There were a couple of twists and turns I did not see coming; it's certainly something of a rollercoaster! 

Otherwise, the book's pacing seemed a bit all over the place to me. I know a lot of books build up to an epic war that seems to be all over in five minutes flat, but this war really did feel like something of a damp squib. Part of that is explained by the characters' motivations, but equally it just feels like nothing hugely significance happens and it's over before it starts. Likewise, there are a lot of events and plot points that seem to happen without sufficient explanation or backstory, or that are resolved with minimal effort or effect on the plot - I'm hoping some of the threads will be picked up in book three, but for now it just leaves me scratching my head a little. It just leaves a lit of the secondary characters feeling a bit murky in terms of motivations.

The other thing I noticed is that there are a couple of plot devices recycled from the first book. While they remain effective as it's nice to see one character turning something back on another, at the same time it feels like the author may have reached the edges of the imagination.

It does end on a very good moment though, and I am certainly invested enough in the story to want to read book three ASAP!

The voices of Achilles, Patroclus, Agamemnon, Odysseyus, Ajax and all of the other heroes (or villains depending on your allegiances) of the Trojan War have echoed down the millenia into myth and legend. But what about those silent women, orphaned and widowed by a war they had no part in starting and forced into serving the men who took the lives of their loved ones? Briseis' name is well known, but her story? Well, for once, let the tale not be told by the victor, but the victim.

One day I'll find a Greek myth retelling I don't like. But today is not that day. This is beautifully written; lyrical, heartfelt, epic prose that runs over with emotion and buries its way into your consciousness. It's not poetry, but it is definitely poetic and so feels like it has almost perfect tone to complement the source material. There is something about the best authors writing these retellings (Madeline Miller and Jennifer Saint to name but two); they all have their own style, but they all embody this same tone in their work. So as soon as I 'felt' it, I knew I was in for a good read!

The only caveat to this praise is that there are moments where speech sounds almost too modern. I understand that it's meant to be soldiers talking in their own rough and ready way, but there was something about certain turns of phrase that jolted me out of the serene state the rest of the writing put me in. I'm all for a good round of turning the air blue, but even the cursing felt out of place in certain moments. It all still works and doesn't ruin the story or the flow, but I think the rest of the story feels so authentic the modern parlance sticks out like a sore thumb.

Each character is wonderfully rendered; Briseis herself comes across as a strong, capable woman, utterly defeated by circumstances, resigned to her fate and yet still with an independent streak that means while she might bend, she won't break. Her interactions with Achilles manage to find that sweet spot, where he is neither slave master that sees her as nothing but chattel, nor the dashing romantic hero that she can't help but fall in love with. It's a fabulous rendering of their relationship. Patroclus does come across a little more as the sweet, shy boy who befriends the slaves rather than beats them, but it's a great contrast to the rest of the Greek warriors. While the nature of Achilles and Patroclus' relationship is never explicitly stated, the small illustrations of their love for one another, whether platonic or romantic, are just gorgeous. Once again, I found myself hoping that the author might just flip the myth on its head... and this in a book that's not meant to be as sympathetic to them!

The book also conveys the harsh realities of 10 years living in a war camp and the bloodiness of battle, without being overly graphic or sensationalist. It's atmospheric and not pleasant at times, but it's never difficult to read.

There is a dual POV set up, alternating chapters between Briseis in the first person, and Achilles in the third. Switching between first and third person is one of the writing devices I struggle with, and yet it STILL manages to flow and keep me engaged.

This book deserves its accolades and is one I would definitely recommend. Book two is on order at the library, so I'll look forward to continuing this series soon!

Lincoln Porter is just trying to keep his late father's floundering lobster business afloat and keep himself to himself. Which is made all the harder when a body is caught up in his traps. A police investigation ensues, with Lincoln as an obvious suspect. But no matter how much he wants to stay away, something draws him to the lead detective on the case and, once he looks into her eyes, his past, present and future collide.. 

This is the first of Emily McIntire's books I've read outside the 'Never After series, so I wasn't completely sure what to expect going in. I have conflicting views which I can't really explain... I LOVE her storytelling, and I really enjoy reading her books - I get all the vibes and the feels from the characters and the plots are generally great. In fact, I'd say she's one of my favourite authors. But at the same time I'm never completely sold on her actual writing. It's like I totally get what she's trying to do and my brain compensates for the fact that I don't necessarily get everything I need from just the words on the page. Does that make any sense at all? I don't know. But this book falls squarely into that description. 

The imagery it evokes really feels like the set up for one of those Scandinavian crime dramas - small community, abandoned (sort of) lighthouse, outsider cop come to investigate grizzly unalivings, loner main character who might or might not be a bad guy, and a mystery within a mystery. It's so atmospheric! I could really easily picture the setting and the various scenes in my head, and the reader's mood is absolutely shifted accordingly. 

Lincoln and Sloane, our main characters, have sparks flying from the moment they meet. I don't think their chemistry is entirely consistent throughout, but when it's on, it's ON. It's immediately obvious where things are going to lead between them (for the most part), so you're just happy to be along for the ride. The romantic element is the glue that holds the story together, but at the same time there is enough of an intrigue about these characters and the crimes being committed that it's fot the potential for wider appeal. And of course there are a few spicy moments to saitaiate your (and the characters') need to break the tension. Individually, I think Lincoln is a fine broody male, and he's the one I'd like to see more of - his history is interesting and I'd love to read a prequel! Sloane I didn't find as alluring, but as the book progresses you can't help but be drawn into her story. 

I wasn't as enamoured by the supporting cast; there's quite a lot of stock characters. They have been given personalities and do play their roles well enough, but they don't quite add enough to the world we're in to make it fully real. 

Returning to the plot, I did enjoy the layering of the current case over the old mystery that still haunts Lincoln, but it is clear where the authors' hearts and specialties lie. The criminal element does run like a thread throughout everything, but equally there are moments where it feels like the writers forgot about their instigating event and suddenly jerk back to attention by throwing in a new body. The 'old' case is far more interesting than the new in my opinion, and I did enjoy how that slowly unravelled. 

Overall, I did like this book, but it does reinforce that contemporary dark(ish) romance isn't really my genre (I like my fictional men with wings, or shadows, or magic, or all three). For those who do like it though, I'm certain that this would be a great book for you!

The Villain has been captured by the Valiant Guard and awaits his unmasking. But his assistant has other ideas. She's about to score a big promotion... and her own Wanted poster.

I've been looking forward to reading this since the moment I finished 'Assistant to the Villain' earlier in the year, and I was not disappointed. The writing has the same comedic joy pouring from every page, while at the same time managing to be heartfelt, action-packed, faintly ridiculous and with a frustratingly good slow burn. There are moments where it does feel like the author's attention has wandered slightly, or where the flow of the writing is a bit lost, but generally it's a fun, lighthearted read that leaves you desperate for the concluding instalment!

The relationship between Evie and The Villain is brilliant pitched; their relentless banter and flirting makes you giggle like a schoolgirl, and the UST makes you want to bang their heads together (or take a leaf out of Lyssa's book and lock them in a cupboard for a few hours)... Equally, the character development of each individual is fab too. We haven't had the full 'Sandra Dee to smoking, leather trouser wearing Sandy' transformation yet, but there are flashes of attitude from Evie that really make you think it's on its way. And I cannot wait to see The Villain's jaw hit the floor when it does.

I will say that I was a little disappointed by the secondary characters in this one. The majority carry over from 'Assistant' so it's not like they are unfamiliar, but to me they felt like they were just there to populate the world in this one, rather than with any truly meaningful role in mind. It really is all about the Villain and his apprentice. Likewise, some elements of the plot aren't quite as developed as they could be, as they seem to have been designed almost exclusively to get Evie and The Villain in close proximity, rather than dealing with the overarching plot of the series. 

I'd recommend rereading 'Assistant' before you pikc this one up. I only read it a few months ago, but enough of the detail had slipped my mind to leave gaps where some context might be useful. 

And now another year's wait commences... *sighs*

A scarred and angry war veteran forced into an arranged marriage with the son of his father's business partner... a dashing prince and a working class Essex boy whose relationship could destabilise the monarchy, or restore its reputation... and an enby who dreams of the world finally gets to set foot into it, along with his bodyguard who must protect him from the inept assassins out to get him before he can claim his birthright. These contemporary retellings of Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella and Rapunzel tell the stories of handsome princes who don't need a princess to have a happy ending.

I'm in my Romance era... after a weekend at #RARE24Edinburgh, I'm all about the love, in whatever form it comes. So it felt like a good time to pick up this book, which has been on my Kindle Unlimited subscription for a while now. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed these - I went in with relatively low expectations, and found that both the BatB and Cinderella retellings far exceeded them. That's not to say I didn't enjoy the Rapunzel retelling; it was a very cute and fuzzy story, but it felt less 'real' than the others: while I'm very clear that none of the premises are particularly realistic, this one did stretch the bounds of believability just a little bit. For example, the completely useless assassins which just came across as badly written slapstick, playing to the peanut gallery. There was just no need - having "proper" assassins would probably have made the story more dramatic IMO!

That being said, each of the main characters were beautifully built upon, relying on your knowledge of the traditional fairytale for their base but then branching out and making them into something different. There's certainly familiar tropes involved in setting up the relationship and and power dynamic, but even with all of these familiar elements none of the characters were simply stock parts. Plus their chemistry is hot!

The author also manages to explore and enlighten on several facet of the LGBTQIA+ experience without it feeling forced. The relationship development feels totally natural (if expedited for the sake of pacing) - the characters' sexuality is what it is and there is no reason for the reader to question otherwise. Bringing to the foreground issues of gender identity, bisexuality, age differences, homophobia and social/moral expectations, every difficult moment that arises is dealt with with the utmost respect.

I'd probably say that Cinderella is the strongest of the three stories. It's certainly something that should be reflected upon; it's bound to happen one day that a person in the direct line of succession to a throne somewhere in the world identifies as something other than heterosexual and cisgender, and it will be interesting to see what the reaction is.

Very pleased to have read this, and I may go looking for some more of the author's work...

Amelia Collins is an accountant, it's tax season, and she's been stuck with a nightmare client who can't seem to grasp even the basics of what she needs. And then she gets the even more wonderful news that yet another cousin is getting married. Which means constant grilling from her mother about why she hasn't got a plus one. A chance meeting leads her to Reggie, a slightly strange but drop dead gorgeous guy, and a madcap idea that they fake a relationship for the festivities. Except Reggie's got people after him for a crime they think he committed... a hundred and fifty years ago...

As with Levine's debut novel, 'My Roommate is a Vampire', this is a light, fluffy, cute romcom that requires very little brainpower or concentration, but absolutely fits into its own little niche and nails the brief 100%. It makes you smile, makes you giggle and makes you swoon just a little!

Inevitably, with the descriptions offered of Reggie's build and mannerisms, I could not help but picture David Tennant playing this role - the character is like a perfect blend of Crowley and Aziraphale from 'Good Omens' and so there's not really any other choice in my head! And while I'm a lawyer rather than an accountant, I could certainly relate to Amelia's personality and work stressors, so... yeah... again, the inevitable happened 😊 

The relationship between the two characters, after the initial hurdle of setting up the story, is really believable and develops as a great pace - the clueless innocence of Reggie when it comes to relationships with a human just adds the icing on the cake to an already fab build up. The vampirism element does add a little bit of spice at the appropriate times, which really makes their chemistry leap off of the page, but it's not particularly shocking or scandalous. There are tropes galore, all of which are immensely satisfying to read through to their conclusion; it's very easy to tell where the the story is headed, but that in no way detracts from the journey to get there!

I honestly wasn't expecting there to be any direct crossover with the first book - I figured it'd be in the same world only. So to see the return of Frederick and Cassie as supporting characters in this one was hugely satisfying, especially as the small issue I had with the finale of that book gets resolved nicely in here. Nevertheless, it is very much Amelia and Reggie's story - at no point did I wish that Frederick and Cassie would return to the foreground. Likewise, all of the other supporting characters are well drawn and do their jobs, but none of them steal focus or drag the story down.

The only bit I really struggled with was the sub-plot about the people after Reggie. Specifically, the resolution thereof. I can see that it gives Reggie a good backstory and introduced a small amount of jeopardy into the tale, but it didn't seem entirely necessary, nor did the resolution feel like it was firing on all cylinders. But I guess that's the risk you run when you're talking about tax law! Conversely, the ending once again felt just a little too rushed to me. But I hold out hope that we'll get a nice resolution in the next one! 

Very enjoyable.

Captured in her youth, Tisaanah dances for her master and his cronies for the chance to buy her freedom and join the Orders, to learn how to use her magic and return to free her fellow slaves. Foisted upon Maxantarius Farlione, a reclusive Wielder who wants nothing to do with the Orders, can she learn enough from him to fulfil her desires? And can he protect her from the darker side of magic?

I have to say I LOVED the female narrator on this audiobook. Her voice was light, gentle and sweet, well spoken and clear. She manages to bring to life the fact that Tisaanah doesn't speak the language of the realm she ends up in by putting on a hesitant 'foreign' accent, but it's done with care and really added an extra layer to her story, that I'm not entirely sure would have come through in the physical book. Likewise, her voice for Maxantarius is, IMO, better than the male narrator's! He has a very slight accent in places which, after a long while of uninterrupted Esther Wane, falls a bit short of the character she's built. Likewise, he's a bit breathy and rushed,  whereas the character feels like it needs a more steady pace. He puts me in mind of Jodie Whittaker's Doctor in 'Doctor Who' - constantly sounds like they've just sprinted in and haven't had a chance to catch their breath. He's not bad at all, it just didn't vibe with me, which isna shame as the character absolutely did!

As for the story, it has a very cosy, domestic feel once you get the two main characters together. Even the more action-packed sequences are made to feel quite sedate in the audiobook; the focus is very much on Tisaanah and Max, with whatever wider action very much taking a back seat. Watching their relationship grow and change is gorgeous, and I do get the hype about Max being a good book boyfriend. 

This book does have the feel of an extended introduction though. While it can stand alone as a good story, you can clearly see the building blocks for future episodes. And while things do happen, aside from the finale they do feel like they will have more of an impact once you've read the whole series. I would have liked to see more of a focus on the immediate, as I think so much more could have been added to really stretch out the slow burn. But conversely, it also lacks context. I could desperately do with more explanation about certain elements of the plot as I'll admit to being a bit lost. For this element, I think perhaps reading the physical book might be better for me. 

I'm looking forward to seeing how the series progresses!

Another day, another Greek myth retelling... I just can't help loving this particular trend! Medusa does seem to be particularly popular at present, and as I've already read another retelling of her story this year and both claim to be 'feminist' retellings, I was interested to compare the authors' approaches.

The author of this book hasn't wasted words - it's only 208 pages long - and yet the writing is beautiful detailed, emotive and paints a wonderful picture of the events described. The flow of the writing is brilliant; it flies by, but the story doesn't feel rushed, and the change in perspectives is less jolting than others I've read (although at the same time it does come with no warning, so if you are unfamiliar with the tale you might find yourself momentarily confused). If you're looking for a quick read that is more than just a bit of fluff, this would be a great one to pick up! 

One of the best things about retellings is that, although the characters and settings might be familiar, everyone has their own approach. Even better with mythology, ther tends to be multiple versions of the same myth to start with, so there are many different threads a subsequent version can pick up on and run with. In this case, I really enjoyed the human family of Medusa, and the fact you get to see her as a human for more than  just the awful moment which draws Athena's wrath. I found that this meant you could identify more with the characters after they undergo their transformation as you had a tangible thread of humanity to cling onto. It also helps portray the distinct unfairness of Athena when she chooses to punish Medusa for being the victim of assault, and the ultimate weakness of humans against the power of the gods.

It is likely that, when Perseus shows up for the first time as an adult, you will be likely to think "here we go again... they've turned the Greek hero into a moaning, frustratingly self-centred little boy". And to an extent you'd be right; he's definitely not portrayed as a proper Greek hero should be. But, after the initial immaturity, he does become far more likeable as a character. Ny the time of the final 'showdown' between Medusa and Perseus, your opinion of him should have changed a fair bit, it's a great bit of writing which just goes to prove that you can be feminist and still have a man there to support you. 

If I could ask for something to make this book a 5⭐️ read, it'd be an extension. The pace and length of the book does mean that there is very little depth or room for exploration. The book doesn't need it, but it doesn't stop me from wanting to see more of the author's thought processed and individual flair. 

Very good!