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booksonawednesday's Reviews (487)
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to Bloomsbury for sending me a finished copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This book was an emotional rollercoaster about self-discovery, longing and patience in love.
I can see why it’s been compared to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, but there were notable differences.
The concept of the book felt quite meta; it was a fictionalised memoir written by an author, Cate Kay, who had published a bestselling trilogy under a pseudonym. The chapters were short and told from different POVs of Cate herself and those who have had an impact on her life. There were snippets of the bestselling book interwoven throughout the chapters as well.
Cate Kay has been known by many different names, and has lived many different lives. I was kept guessing on what was going to happen.
Now, the main similarity with Evelyn Hugo (aside from the queer love story) was my bewilderment as to how Cate could make so many people immediately fall in love with her. I just couldn’t understand it, and it was difficult for it to be conveyed because of its format.
I also felt like parts of the book were written in the style of an unreliable narrator. I normally love that, but I wasn’t sure if it was deliberate or not in this context, since it wasn’t obviously unreliable.
The queer love story was really compelling, although the chapters I enjoyed the most where from the perspectives of ‘minor characters’. The format and concept were also unique and I appreciated that.
Overall, it’s a great debut and I look forward to reading more Kate Fagan in the future!
This book was an emotional rollercoaster about self-discovery, longing and patience in love.
I can see why it’s been compared to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, but there were notable differences.
The concept of the book felt quite meta; it was a fictionalised memoir written by an author, Cate Kay, who had published a bestselling trilogy under a pseudonym. The chapters were short and told from different POVs of Cate herself and those who have had an impact on her life. There were snippets of the bestselling book interwoven throughout the chapters as well.
Cate Kay has been known by many different names, and has lived many different lives. I was kept guessing on what was going to happen.
Now, the main similarity with Evelyn Hugo (aside from the queer love story) was my bewilderment as to how Cate could make so many people immediately fall in love with her. I just couldn’t understand it, and it was difficult for it to be conveyed because of its format.
I also felt like parts of the book were written in the style of an unreliable narrator. I normally love that, but I wasn’t sure if it was deliberate or not in this context, since it wasn’t obviously unreliable.
The queer love story was really compelling, although the chapters I enjoyed the most where from the perspectives of ‘minor characters’. The format and concept were also unique and I appreciated that.
Overall, it’s a great debut and I look forward to reading more Kate Fagan in the future!
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
S.T. Gibson is quickly becoming one of my auto-buy authors!
David Aristarkhov is a lawyer by day and a medium by night. He’s part of a secret, occultist society, rivalling his ex-boyfriend, Rhys, to become the next High Priest.
Yet when David’s spiritual sickness gets progressively worst, Rhys - and his psychic wife, Moira - are the only people he can turn to. As their relationships become charged and complicated, they battle to understand what’s happening to David.
Thank you to Angry Robot Books for sending me a copy of the new Evocation paperback coming out in 2025!
I really liked the occultist theme: the tarot cards, astrology and psychic abilities added another layer of magic, mystery and intrigue.
I also enjoyed getting to know the three main characters and seeing them all grow. Like in the other S.T. Gibson book I’ve read (A Dowry of Blood), there is a polyamorous relationship, but this one was much more slowburn. Perhaps because it was so slow, I didn’t feel as invested in it as I was in the individual characters.
While the book could technically be read as a standalone, I could tell that another book is intended to follow. The plot wasn’t as developed as the characters were, and the relationships weren’t fully blossomed.
I’m excited to see how the series will develop in the next book!
David Aristarkhov is a lawyer by day and a medium by night. He’s part of a secret, occultist society, rivalling his ex-boyfriend, Rhys, to become the next High Priest.
Yet when David’s spiritual sickness gets progressively worst, Rhys - and his psychic wife, Moira - are the only people he can turn to. As their relationships become charged and complicated, they battle to understand what’s happening to David.
Thank you to Angry Robot Books for sending me a copy of the new Evocation paperback coming out in 2025!
I really liked the occultist theme: the tarot cards, astrology and psychic abilities added another layer of magic, mystery and intrigue.
I also enjoyed getting to know the three main characters and seeing them all grow. Like in the other S.T. Gibson book I’ve read (A Dowry of Blood), there is a polyamorous relationship, but this one was much more slowburn. Perhaps because it was so slow, I didn’t feel as invested in it as I was in the individual characters.
While the book could technically be read as a standalone, I could tell that another book is intended to follow. The plot wasn’t as developed as the characters were, and the relationships weren’t fully blossomed.
I’m excited to see how the series will develop in the next book!
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It blows my mind that this book was written in the 1990s, and for many years from its publication, it had been under-appreciated and under-loved. As a lover of dystopian fiction, this is such an original and unique book with a concept that will forever stay with you.
The narrator (unnamed) has grown up in a cage with 39 other women. They have only vague memories of their time before imprisonment, and no explanation of why they’re here, or why the guards won’t speak to them.
The titular book should be more aptly named, I who have never known society - even though the narrator has never spoken to a man, she barely knows and understands the women in the cage either.
If you are someone who desperately needs answers and explanations, I wouldn’t recommend this book. You don’t get any. But what you do get is an insight in what it means to a human, specifically a woman, with all of the mechanisms of society stripped away. It’s about hope, loneliness and the journey of seeking answers.
I was expecting more of a feminist undertone to the short novel (because of the man), but there wasn’t an explicit one, more of an implied one.
I would absolutely recommend this book - and I’m so grateful that it found its audience so long after publication!
The narrator (unnamed) has grown up in a cage with 39 other women. They have only vague memories of their time before imprisonment, and no explanation of why they’re here, or why the guards won’t speak to them.
The titular book should be more aptly named, I who have never known society - even though the narrator has never spoken to a man, she barely knows and understands the women in the cage either.
If you are someone who desperately needs answers and explanations, I wouldn’t recommend this book. You don’t get any. But what you do get is an insight in what it means to a human, specifically a woman, with all of the mechanisms of society stripped away. It’s about hope, loneliness and the journey of seeking answers.
I was expecting more of a feminist undertone to the short novel (because of the man), but there wasn’t an explicit one, more of an implied one.
I would absolutely recommend this book - and I’m so grateful that it found its audience so long after publication!
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Lord of the Flies meets Circe in a sapphic, speculative fiction novel that descends from a young adult, coming of age start into a horror/mythic fantasy.
Liv has grown up in different foster homes and been labelled as violent and volatile. She takes the chance to steal her sister’s identity and win an internship on a film set in Alaska. Liv meets some of the film’s stars, but their luxury yacht meets a violet storm and they are shipwrecked on an island in the Pacific.
As they struggle to survive while being stranded, strange things happen on the island, and they learn that there is a predator lurking on the island.
I enjoyed the first two-thirds of this book a lot, but the last third or so felt really rushed and not as thought through. It would have benefitted from being another 100 pages long, with the ending being stretched out.
I really liked the women and the relationships that they had. I also thought the atmosphere and the messages that the book conveyed were really good.
I felt like some of the events that unfolded were a bit unrealistic - not in the sense of the fantastical, but the practical.
Liv has grown up in different foster homes and been labelled as violent and volatile. She takes the chance to steal her sister’s identity and win an internship on a film set in Alaska. Liv meets some of the film’s stars, but their luxury yacht meets a violet storm and they are shipwrecked on an island in the Pacific.
As they struggle to survive while being stranded, strange things happen on the island, and they learn that there is a predator lurking on the island.
I enjoyed the first two-thirds of this book a lot, but the last third or so felt really rushed and not as thought through. It would have benefitted from being another 100 pages long, with the ending being stretched out.
I really liked the women and the relationships that they had. I also thought the atmosphere and the messages that the book conveyed were really good.
I felt like some of the events that unfolded were a bit unrealistic - not in the sense of the fantastical, but the practical.
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A light hearted, feel-good book about activism and finding your place in the world.
June has been a library assistant since her mum died eight years ago. In fact, nothing has really changed in June’s life since her mum died. The council announce that they are considering closing the library where June works, and she bands together with the regular visitors to fight against the closure.
I personally found June’s character a bit annoying and whiny. I felt that the writing and the plot that surrounded her character was wooden and forced, which ended up being most of the book since she was the main character. As her character progressed, I warmed to her slightly though.
Contrastingly, I liked most of the other eccentric (and slightly cliche) characters, like Stanley, Mrs B and Vera, so I wish the focus had been more on them.
There were also a few laugh-out-loud and heartwarming moments, but I was too busy being disappointed with high expectations to appreciate them. That’s my own fault!
June has been a library assistant since her mum died eight years ago. In fact, nothing has really changed in June’s life since her mum died. The council announce that they are considering closing the library where June works, and she bands together with the regular visitors to fight against the closure.
I personally found June’s character a bit annoying and whiny. I felt that the writing and the plot that surrounded her character was wooden and forced, which ended up being most of the book since she was the main character. As her character progressed, I warmed to her slightly though.
Contrastingly, I liked most of the other eccentric (and slightly cliche) characters, like Stanley, Mrs B and Vera, so I wish the focus had been more on them.
There were also a few laugh-out-loud and heartwarming moments, but I was too busy being disappointed with high expectations to appreciate them. That’s my own fault!
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
If you like poetic, philosophical and beautiful descriptive prose, with almost no plot and no characters, then this book is definitely for you.
Unfortunately, I have realised that I do not like it.
I don’t need a plot to keep me interested in a book, but I do need *something*. This book had literally nothing: only description after description, floating from one place in space to another place on Earth. I couldn’t tell you what happened in this book, or anything notable about the characters.
I could see how people enjoy this if they like reading wishy-washy writing… but, this is definitely not for me.
Unfortunately, I have realised that I do not like it.
I don’t need a plot to keep me interested in a book, but I do need *something*. This book had literally nothing: only description after description, floating from one place in space to another place on Earth. I couldn’t tell you what happened in this book, or anything notable about the characters.
I could see how people enjoy this if they like reading wishy-washy writing… but, this is definitely not for me.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is a fantasy book with politics, witty and cunning characters and yearning. I loved it so, so much!
Kazi grew up as a child thief living on the streets, but was taken in by a compassionate Queen to earn her place as one of her trusted guards. Devoted to the Queen, she is tasked with travelling to Ballenger territory to find a war criminal.
Unbeknownst to her, the lawless Ballenger family are in the midst of a succession crisis after the death of their Patrei, and his chosen son, Jase Ballenger, is now leading them.
Unexpected events bring Kazi and Jase reluctantly and intimately together, and a game of lies and thievery begins.
The characters were the best part of this book: not only Kazi and Jase, but every single character has a place in the story, for good or for bad.
There is an enemies to lovers storyline which I was so invested in, and I’m intrigued on how it will play out in the next book.
The plot kept me hooked and I felt immersed in the world. I have found my mind wandering to the story and the characters when I’m not reading.
I haven’t actually read the Remnant Chronicles (which, looking at the other reviews, I probably should have) but I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything. I read The Courting of Bristol Keats last year, but this was SO much better. It feels like a different writer!
It was so close to being five stars, and I can’t even give a reason why it’s not. Maybe Vow of Thieves?
Kazi grew up as a child thief living on the streets, but was taken in by a compassionate Queen to earn her place as one of her trusted guards. Devoted to the Queen, she is tasked with travelling to Ballenger territory to find a war criminal.
Unbeknownst to her, the lawless Ballenger family are in the midst of a succession crisis after the death of their Patrei, and his chosen son, Jase Ballenger, is now leading them.
Unexpected events bring Kazi and Jase reluctantly and intimately together, and a game of lies and thievery begins.
The characters were the best part of this book: not only Kazi and Jase, but every single character has a place in the story, for good or for bad.
There is an enemies to lovers storyline which I was so invested in, and I’m intrigued on how it will play out in the next book.
The plot kept me hooked and I felt immersed in the world. I have found my mind wandering to the story and the characters when I’m not reading.
I haven’t actually read the Remnant Chronicles (which, looking at the other reviews, I probably should have) but I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything. I read The Courting of Bristol Keats last year, but this was SO much better. It feels like a different writer!
It was so close to being five stars, and I can’t even give a reason why it’s not. Maybe Vow of Thieves?
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
An absolute classic and the first book in the Lord of the Rings universe.
Bilbo Baggins lives a simple yet enjoyable life in his Hobbit-hole, until Gandalf and a host of dwarves drag him (not unwillingly) into a series of adventures.
There’s something so classic and comforting in the world that J R R Tolkien has created, and that many high fantasy authors have since tried to replicate.
It is a children’s book, so the language and themes were relatively basic, but I’m excited to start reading the rest of the Lord of the Rings and delve back into the world.
I have already solidly decided that hobbits are the best creatures.
Bilbo Baggins lives a simple yet enjoyable life in his Hobbit-hole, until Gandalf and a host of dwarves drag him (not unwillingly) into a series of adventures.
There’s something so classic and comforting in the world that J R R Tolkien has created, and that many high fantasy authors have since tried to replicate.
It is a children’s book, so the language and themes were relatively basic, but I’m excited to start reading the rest of the Lord of the Rings and delve back into the world.
I have already solidly decided that hobbits are the best creatures.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Piglet is about agency, ambition and above all: food.
Piglet (a nickname) wants to live a life that all others will envy: she has the new house in Oxfordshire, a wealthy and loving fiancé and a fancy job at a London publishing house. She also has a refined taste for food and cooking.
When Piglet’s fiancé, Kit, reveals a shocking betrayal less than two weeks before their wedding, the facade that Piglet has spent years building up slowly starts to crumble.
The food descriptions throughout the novel were perfect analogies for class divides and struggles with ambition. They really added something special to the book.
I wish that there could have been a different ending for Piglet, or at least a more hopeful one. I also felt really annoyed that we never found out what Kit had actually done!
Piglet (a nickname) wants to live a life that all others will envy: she has the new house in Oxfordshire, a wealthy and loving fiancé and a fancy job at a London publishing house. She also has a refined taste for food and cooking.
When Piglet’s fiancé, Kit, reveals a shocking betrayal less than two weeks before their wedding, the facade that Piglet has spent years building up slowly starts to crumble.
The food descriptions throughout the novel were perfect analogies for class divides and struggles with ambition. They really added something special to the book.
I wish that there could have been a different ending for Piglet, or at least a more hopeful one. I also felt really annoyed that we never found out what Kit had actually done!
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A fast-paced, easy-to-read thriller with slightly stilted dialogue and a few plot holes.
Thank you to Bookouture for sending me a copy of Daniel Hurst’s new book. The premise really interested me: when Jenny realises that her husband has been living close by to two unsolved murders, she starts to imagine the unimaginable. Her husband starts acting suspiciously, and his lies unravel one thread at a time.
Upon starting the book, I was surprised that the husband was one of the POVs, and we learn almost immediately that he is a murderer. I was hoping for a bit more suspense and intrigue, but it worked well enough.
The book was quite short and easy to get through, but I think it had a lot more potential.
Thank you to Bookouture for sending me a copy of Daniel Hurst’s new book. The premise really interested me: when Jenny realises that her husband has been living close by to two unsolved murders, she starts to imagine the unimaginable. Her husband starts acting suspiciously, and his lies unravel one thread at a time.
Upon starting the book, I was surprised that the husband was one of the POVs, and we learn almost immediately that he is a murderer. I was hoping for a bit more suspense and intrigue, but it worked well enough.
The book was quite short and easy to get through, but I think it had a lot more potential.