savage_book_review's Reviews (328)

I picked this book up at RARE last year after being intrigued by the author's table, and it hasn't disappointed! The only thing I'm miffed about now is I think I've missed the preorder window for this year to get the rest of the series! With a magic academy, hot men on motorbikes and a pig as a pet, this really does seem to have a little bit of something for everyone!

It does have a very similar premise and vibes to the 'Villain Academy' series by Eva Chase right from the get-go, and I was worried at the outset that I might get bored. However, as I continued I found myself sinking more and more into the world, and overall found the pacing and story development far smoother in here! It must be acknowledged that, as a series starter, it is basically setting up the story arc and introducing you to all of the characters, so while there is a plot, it's not particularly complex, and by the end you are probably left with more questions than answers. But, at the same time, there is enough substance to not make it feel like one long introduction - it definitely stands up on its own merits.

Similarly, all of the characters you meet are recognisable and easy to place, while leaving plenty of room for character development. I like the mysteries surrounding each of the characters too; it adds another hook into the reader to make them want to continue, but they're not so overplayed that it gets dull. Our main character, Rhi, is a great foil for the world as she's coming to it with as fresh eyes as the reader, so it's a nice way in.

It is very lighthearted, even when considering it's billed as a 'bully romance', but there are enough morally grey elements to give it that little bit of pep. Yes, it might end up being a little predictable, but that's half the joy of a story like this - you just get to sit back, relax and watch it unfold. 

I'm definitely going back to Hannah's table at RARE this year, and just keeping my fingers crossed she has copies of the rest of the series I can pick up!

I'd read the tropes list a good number of times, was well aware of the series arc up to this point and knew who the book was centred around, but man, this was so totally different from what I was expecting, in such a good way! I had no idea this was the author's first exclusively MM pairing, but after reading I'm pleased to say this is my favourite book of the series (so far)! 

It was great to finally meet Posiedon properly, as he's been something of a background character in the series to this point. Knowing the lore surrounding him in the traditional Greek myths, and taking what little we did know of the author's version of the character, I had built up something of an expectation in my mind. But I am unbelievably glad this was completely subverted! He's a complete breath of fresh air for the series, and feels so much more nuanced than some of the other MMCs. And the dynamic with Icarus, who we have come to know a little over the course of the series, is everything! 

It feels like the series arc has now properly settled into its stride, with the character story finally feeling balanced and integrated with the wider drama. While there are still some elements I'm not wholly convinced by, this is probably the first time in the series I've felt invested in the wider story and engaged with the potential fallout. There were moments that I was genuinely concerned we were about to get a massive plot twist, which really kept me reading while at the same time terrified to turn the page; and also that we wouldn't get a 'satisfying' end to this one. But IMO this has the most glorious final chapter! 

I am a huge fan of the wide representation of different ages, races, body types, sexual orientations, genders and relationships within this series, and it's always great to read about love in all its forms. But there is just something about this story that elevates it to a whole other level. Whether it's because it's an MM relationship  or not, something about this one just hits a deeper level than the the others - there's always a connection between the characters in Katee's books and their relationship is always believable, but this one I just felt in my bones and soul. The spice be spicing, but it's more tender, heartfelt and has a deeper meaning to it (even if the characters don't intend for that to happen!), and feels like a genuine power exchange. 

As is a common thread through most of the series, the romance s a fairly fast burn. And as always, it's the thing that lets me down a little. Particularly in this case where the rest of it is so, so good, I feel like a slower burn would have given us the opportunity for the captor/captive dynamic to have played out for a while longer and Icarus' plans to change and develop and change more organically. But the story works so well anyway, that it's probably a moot point.

I got a very nice little surprise a few pages into this when I realised it's a sequel to one of the first 'My Story' books I ever read: 'Bloody Tower'. So after a very quick refresher on the last few pages of that one, I was very quickly absorbed into the story. This diary belongs to Kitty Lumsden, the daughter of the protagonist of 'Bloody Tower', and it was really enjoyable to see how the author had matured the original characters and their relationships. Plus, it's a great hook into the premise of this story!

Unlike the previous two of these I've read, this one is part of the 'original' series, where the author of the diary is a normal girl. As a result, it did take me a second to remind myself that our main character was not going to be in the thick of political intrigue. However, the author does a great job at balancing the representation of a normal girl of the Elizabethan era with bringing her into close enough proximity to a real historical event. Kitty's utilising of codes and ciphers to communicate with her cousin after hearing about Mary Queen of Scots' methods of sending messages is really sweet, and how's this for being a total nerd, it reminded me of myself as I did the same thing at school when I first learned about it! 🤣 

Her relationship with her brother Joseph and her cousin/best friend, Edmund, is really cute throughout. I particularly liked that Joseph is almost idolised by her, even while she admits he is too trusting, and reading between the lines ot seemed that he might be representing some kind of cognative difference? In any event, it was beautifully handled. I wasn't as convinced by the character of Kitty's female cousin, Kathryn, though. Again, she reminds me of me, a stickler for the rules and generally a bit of a party-pooper, but there seemed to be no real explanation for the extremity of her character flaws. Even her own parents seem to despair of her, and ultimately she came across as something of a Puritan. Part of me wondered if she was perhaps being set up as another link in the chain, with her descendants' story perhaps being told in another instalment set during the Interregnum. Otherwise, it just seemed a bit of an odd choice and it didn't gel well with the rest of the story.

I enjoyed the premise generally, with Joseph being the linking point to the true historical event of the Babington plot. It was very cleverly tied in and interesting to look at the event from an alternative point of view. I also felt that Kitty and her family's reactions to the drama were well portrayed, particularly when it came to the grizzly business of executions. I found it refreshing that there was no sense of a 21st century morality being forced onto the characters, even given they are children; they want to go to see the events, and see it as entertainment as people did during that era. But likewise it's acknowledged that even they have lines in the sand and know when things go too far.

I think that the main issue with this was the pacing towards the end. Things were trundling along quite nicely, but then it all gets wound up seemingly in the abstract, with very little information or detail. It felt to me like a better ending would have been for Kitty's father to have been present at the execution of Mary Queen of Scots, and then for Kitty to relay his telling of the tale in her diary. As it is, it feels like we don't proper closure for her as a character, or for the story itself.

Overall, very enjoyable!

And it's back to the usual high standard with this instalment of the 'My Story' series. It's a great blend of fact and fiction, all perfectly pitched for its target audience, allowing you to 'know' Lady Jane Grey and follow her as she tries to discover herself, all while being pushed towards a tragic end.

This book actually put me in mind of Alison Weir's novel about Jane, 'Innocent Traitor'. They both have a similar emotional impact, highlighting the (rumoured) cruelty of her parents, her love of learning and her fiercely independent nature. Of course, one is aimed at children and the other at adults, so there are some obvious differences is tone and depth of content, but I was really impressed with how well such a short book still managed to invoke the same sort of reactions from me.

In and of itself, the writing was well paced and conveyed Jane's tone really well, giving a great insight into her life and surroundings, and the language used felt appropriate. The only thing I found a little disappointing was the length of time the story spanned; although the book is longer than a lot of others in the series, there was a lot of unnecessary build up and not quite enough time spent focused on those key 13 days. I understand why the story starts as Edward VI ascends the throne; the events of his reign are certainly important to Jane's story, but it left the entries concerning her brief time on the throne and its aftermath feeling all too brief, when there is so much scope for more. 

I also enjoyed the development of her relationship with Guilford Dudley, although again it feels like it was left too late to start. It's so common for him to be written off as a mummy's boy and a pawn in his father's games, and while there are clear elements of this within the book it is balanced really well with an underlying feeling of tenderness - for example, it's stressed that while her parents and Northumberland shout and demand that she accept the throne, in contrast Guilford tries to persuade her gently. And then their brief interactions after their arrest are beautifully done, and very touching. I do appreciate that it may well be romanticising a relationship that could barely be called as such in real life, but I adore that little bit of hope and positivity it injects into the sadness of their ultimate fate. It makes me believe that Jane and Guilford went to their deaths safe in the knowledge that there was someone who cared.

This one is joining the collection on my shelf.

A very quick read to fill the few minutes before I head to bed. In the Ladybird Expert series, the renowned publisher of books for young children have maintained their signature format, but commissioned experts in their field to produce works for an adult audience. In this case, my favourite popular historian, Suzannah Lipscomb, has produced a whistle-stop tour of the European 'witch panic', examining in a concise yet informative way the causes, effects, attitudes and statistics of both accused and accusers.

Clearly, in a book that is only 56 pages long there is no room for detailed analysis, and yet there is sufficient information included for the reader to be able to infer a lot more than just the information set out in black and white. There is plenty of guidance on where further detail can be sought if you want in-depth consideration, but as a jumping on point this is incredibly insightful.

It's set out in a clear and logical progression of thought so, while not completely in chronological order, it remains easy to follow the author's thoughts processes and the development of witch trials. It also strikes a really good balance between providing an overview of events with highlighting specific trials, so it's very easy to personalise the stories and empathise with both the victims and the accusers, who clearly didn't have the same knowledge we do.

The illustrations are really striking and add a whole other layer to the work. They're both beautiful and grotesque all at once, and do a great job at highlighting elements of the text and giving the reader just a taste of the terrifying ordeals and executions faced by those on their way to the scaffold.

A dinky book with a great impact!

When I have a screaming head and just need something easy to fight through the fog, very often I will turn to the 'My Story' series. It was one of my favourites when I was younger, and I'm still always happy to pick up new (to me) ones when I find them in charity shops. I do particularly like the subset of books that imagine the diaries of real historical figures as they are so often an imaginative way into what can be quite complex periods. I know very little about Hatshepsut, and so was intrigued to see what I might learn. The answer? Sadly, not very much.

Almost from the get-go, this felt very different in tone and style from the others in the series I've read, and it was quite jarring. While none of the books are written in the vernacular of the period in which they are set, all of them seem to carry an 'air' of the era about them. Not this one though. Contractions and modern language abound, with everything from Asha referring to her parents by the informal 'Mum and Dad' to her character being a parkour loving free spirit, and it just feels 'off'. 

Similarly, the majority of the other 'royal' books follow a series of real events in a fictionalised way. But in this case, other than her raising from Princess to Queen all of the events seem to be entirely fictionalised. I can appreciate that there is very little solid evidence to pin down specific occasions about which to write, but again it just makes the whole thing feel like an outlier in the series. And coupled with the characterisation of Asha and the rest of the Court, it just made the whole thing so much more difficult to buy into. 

One element where the pattern of these books has held up is the introducing a (usuallh but not always fictional) boy as a first crush, sibling or a close friend to act as a touchstone to the 'ordinary' world. I actually really liked the boy in this book, Rami, but he was criminally under-utilised. There was a great foundation for a sweet little relationship laid, but the structure of the book didn't give it the opportunity to really take off. And the name of the character was a bit misleading for someone who knows a smidge of Egyptian history (but clearly not enough) - his full first name is Ramses. So I was imagining this story would progress to his  going from a simple artist's son to marrying Asha and becoming Ramses the Great. Ah well; upside, at least this boy was still alive at the end!

OK, so I'm far from the target audience for this book and, if I were 10 years old again and had picked this up... oh, who am I kidding, I would have still looked at it sideways because history was my 'thing' even back then. But if I were a different 10 year old I probably would have taken it at face value and really enjoyed it. But as an adult I wouldn't be using this one to introduce a child to the history, and so as not to dampen the effect of the others I probably wouldn't add it to a child's bookshelf at all.

So it seems that, once again, the second half of the second book in a romantasy series is where things really start to get interesting. More action, more feelings, more characterisation and, of course, more spice. I finally felt like the series was starting to give me what I've been hoping for, but at the same time it's still missing something to really launch it into the stratosphere.

Once again, I feel like Casteel really carries this book. I can see the logic in every action he takes, the feeling behind every decision and the meaning behind every word he speaks. Which I find a little odd considering the story is being told from Poppy's POV and clearly, for quite a chunk of this she still doesn't! It has taken me until this book to recognise that, due to her sheltered upbringing, certain cues that would be evident to a worldly person do pass her by and so I can, to some extent, finally accept her confusion, reticence to accept Casteel as telling the truth and general stubbornness as being down to this lack of awareness. But it's still frustrating! Especially when you have a promise of being 'real' and she's still being obtuse about what that might actually mean for him. 

However, the moments of proper talking and intimacy between Cas and Poppy are beautifully done, and give me all the feels I could hope for. While I do love my worldbuilding and for a story to be set on a solid foundation of plot, action and character, it's these moments that make or break it for me. As I said in my review of part one, it's often the quieter moments like these heartfelt conversations and relationship building that make a book my favourite in a series once I've had a chance to digest. So I guess we'll see when I finish the series. But everything from the horseriding lessons to the the cavern to the carriage just has me rooting for them as a pair, even if I'm not so keen on Poppy as an individual.

I'm certainly intrigued by the development in Poppy's abilities and what they could signify. The slow build of these changes has been very well woven into the story, and the more dramatic shifts leave a tantalising hint of what might be to come. But I'm equally at a bit of a loss due to the sheer number of seemingly conflicting theories contained within the narrative. I get that the author is laying the foundations of a mystery that I'm sure will be resolved as the series progresses, but there's almost too many ideas being thrown at the reader for me to keep track!

I also get the feeling my gut reaction about some of the secondary characters is going to prove right, especially given the events of the last few chapters. While that would mean that the writing has done it's job really well in giving the reader an uncomfortable feeling despite the seemingly positive roles played by the characters in question, it would almost be a disappointment that any such change doesn't come as a complete surprise. Again, I will just have to keep reading and find out!

I've heard good things about book 3, and I'm definitely invested enough to continue with the series. Just like Poppy, I have a lot of questions! But I am going to wait until both halves of the GA are out to pick it up, so for now, it's to be continued...

In this 'untelling' of the most famous tragic love story, we see what happens when the veneer of romance is stripped from the star cross'd lovers and remember the woman who was the moon to Juliet's sun. With a narrative that evokes the best of the Bard, this book nevertheless focuses a 21st century gaze on a 16th century play, raising questions that I'm not entirely sure needed asking. 

I have to give kudos to the author for maintaining a Shakespearean writing style consistently throughout the book. It's all in modern English (except where direct quotes have been taken from the play), but every line has been crafted to sound like it could have been penned with ink, parchment and quill. This alone helps the reader settle into the story very quickly; it's easier to read than the original text, but no less powerful for it. 

It seems fairly evident to me that the author has taken the basic story progression of Romeo and Juliet, and translated that to form the basis of her story of Romeo and Rosaline. So even before the question 'wherefore art thou, Romeo' is uttered, there is a strong sense of familiarity in the actions taking place. While this in itself adds to the point that the author is trying to illustrate (which I'll comment on in a moment), at the same time it does feel that, for something that is meant to be Rosaline's story, it's kind of short changing her as a character. I would have liked to see something perhaps a little more original to add to the legendary tale.

For the most part, there's no need for the author to develop the characters as they are already familiar to the majority of readers. However, as she herself points out in her author's note, Rosaline doesn't have any lines in Romeo and Juliet, nor is she ever actually seen. She's just talked about by Romeo and his friends. So what we needed was the building of this  character from the ground up. Sadly, this didn't quite feel accomplished to me - I found her very difficult to empathise with or 'get' as a character. The basis of her character is absolutely there, but I just felt that there were a lot of layers missing, perhaps because the focus was more on how Romeo was treating her rather than building her as an independently character in her own right. If anything, in the first half she was essentially a carbon copy of Juliet from the play. While there is an element of 'woman scorned' to her during the later chapters, it feels tempered somehow, and doesn't quite have the effect I was expecting.

So, Romeo. In this version, he's far from the romantic lead. The whole story is an illustration of coercive control, with him love-bombing Rosaline until she has stars in her eyes and manipulatibg her emotions every time she doesn't fall in line. As mentioned, the progression of their relationship mirrors that of Romeo and Juliet's, and so you are presented with Romeo as a serial abuser. This feeds into a larger sub-plot, which only serves to make 'Fair Verona' seem like a cess pit of creepy men. In this version, although Juliet is the same age as she is in the play, the author has chosen to make her immature for her age to further highlight the problematic nature of the relationship (we don't actually know how old Romeo is, but it's heavily implied he is at least in his mid-20s, or indeed older). In short, Romeo is an ass. And I get it, I do. There are many, many problems with the source material when looked at with 21st Century sensibilities and Romeo would be a walking red flag in today's world. The book does do a great job at making you feel uncomfortable about Romeo's antics and definitely makes you look at the play in a different, more critical way.

But. The source material reflects the time it was written. I absolutely appreciate that it was not 'normal' for a 13 year old to marry, and certainly not in those circumstances. But equally, it was not unheard of. Margaret Beaufort (mother of Henry VII) was wedded and bedded at 12, for example. And if we're picking on elements that wouldn't fly today, what about the fact that those with a duty of care to both Rosaline and Juliet (their 'nurses') go along with the hair-brained schemes? Or that it might not be OK for Juliet to choose her own older man, but it's perfectly fine for her parents to choose one for her? I just found it a little disconcerting that the book paints Romeo as the bad guy without doing anything to change other aspects that are equally 'problematic'.

In addition, I couldn't help but compare the author's thoughts on R&J with some of the books I read today. Dark Romance is a huge subgenre now, containing all sorts of triggers and content that, in the real world, would be utterly horrifying. And even 'lighter' romance books often contain questionable scenes or implications. But ultimately, they're all fiction, meant to be consumed for enjoyment and not as a guidebook to real life. So I struggle a bit with the feeling that books like this treat Shakespeare (or any other author) like he was reporting real events and romanticising them. But why can't Romeo and Juliet just be about love at first sight, young love and love against all odds? Ultimately, like dark romance today, this is just a story with content warnings. 

It's not a bad read, but there was so much scope for more retelling that was sadly missed.

So normally the books that are more about character and relationship development rather than action and plot tend to end up being my favourite of a series when I look back, even if they aren't in the moment when I'm actually reading them. So I'm really hoping this proves to be the case with A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire. It's not bad, but the audio version feels REALLY slow going. And this is only part one!

Thank goodness for the voice actor for Castiel. He effectively carried this for me. His narration really paints a picture of the character that I can see in my mind's eye; something I can't say for any other character (except maybe Kieran). His quips, cheeky grins and general disposition bring a lightness to the tale that I wasn't expecting to carry through from book one, and I do find myself wanting to know more about him and his history. 

Conversely, I found myself liking Poppy less and less as the story progressed. I completely understand her reticence to trust Cas after all that's occurred to date, but throughout I felt that there was very little logic to her actions, and her complete hard-headedness drove me to despair. In particular, her mental gymnastics about her feelings for Cas drove me up the wall. And while I get that it's an ongoing joke about her wanting to continually stab Cas, it stops being funny when it feels like she'd actually do it to hurt him despite her admitting she cares about him. 

There are a few places throughout the narrative where descriptions and phrases are repeated almost verbatim in a very short period, which gave elements of the book a bit of an 'amaterish' feel. Now, I'm by no means an expert, but it just left me with that 'slightly rushed fanfic' vibe. Likewise, some of the characterisation, particularly of new characters like Alistair, left me feeling confused about their positions. I usually really enjoy it when a new ambiguous character is introduced, trying to work out whether they're going toncome through for the heroes or be their downfall, but in this case it felt to me like the author had maybe changed her mind about his character part way through writing? So as a result I'm sat there feeling like I can't truly trust Alistair, but lacking the good type of anxiety and worry about his motivations. 

Overall I just felt that this was a lot of going round in circles until the last hour or two, and I suspect I may get more enjoyment out of eyeball reading this one. The quality of the Graphic Audio is great, as always, but I'm not sure that it's the best way to be introduced into this world. Perhaps if/when I have read the books physically, I'll come back and enjoy it far more.

I approached this author at RARE last year having spotted a pretty cover, and when she started talking about her dark mafia romance Beauty and the Beast retelling, I was sold immediately! It's taken me a while to actually get to read it, but I'm very glad I stopped to talk to her!

I haven't read many mafia romances, and they're not the top of my 'go-to' list, but I really enjoyed this one as a 'proper' introduction to the genre. There's a good number of twists and turns to keep you engaged and it really draws you into the world of The Society, but it's not overwhelming or overly complex. Likewise, all of the mafia characters are well drawn, with their moral ambiguities being a real hook - I couldn't help but like them, while at the same time feeling really conflicted about it!

Rex, our Don Dom, is my favourite character. Everything about him just works incredibly well and the balance between his all-business, dangerous mafia boss side and his soft centre when he lets his guard down is gorgeous. I found his motivations and thought processes easy to follow for the majority of the book, and I also really enjoyed the fact that, while he's into rope play, he sees it as a separate 'thing' to his sexual gratification (for the most part 😉). It's the first time I've read a book where this is the case, and it's really effective! I will admit that I'm still not entirely sure I've got my head around it, but I think I just need to let those images marinate some more... 😁

On the other hand, as much as I could understand Catarina's reluctance to become involved and her protective instincts, her continual back and forth between being attracted to Rex and hating his guts did give me emotional whiplash throughout. I could never quite get a fix on what she actually wanted, who she trusted or didn't trust, or predict what her next move would be. I mean, obviously I know the genre and was easily able to guess the ultimate outcome (otherwise it wouldn't be a romance book!), but she just... didn't quite make sense to me. 

Despite that though, I was still invested enough have my usual strong reaction to the moments of perceived betrayal. You know, those parts of a story where the enemies have become lovers, but still haven't fully accepted they can trust each other? One sees the other do something that looks like a betrayal and reacts accordingly, causing pining and emotional pain on both sides until they actually get round to talking it out? I have a total love/hate relationship with that trope - it gets me every. Single. Time and I have to stop reading before I mentally throttle the characters. But it works so well in this book precisely because I couldn't get a read on Catarina; it felt like my anxiety might actually be justified for once! 

It wasn't the smoothest read; the pacing is a little bit all over the place and there were a couple of occasions where I felt like perhaps something had been cut in an edit, but a reference to it remained later on, so there were times where I just had to 'go with it'. But it was definitely an easy read, and the story itself was a great take on the source material. It was easy to visualise and, if you just let it wash over you, you'll have a great time!