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158 reviews
Mrs England by Stacey Halls
challenging
dark
sad
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? Yes
4.5
(copy via netgalley)
TL;DR Recommendation:
BIG, big fan. Uneasy vibes throughout with fun humans peppered in it. Just wish it wasn’t a wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am kinda story. Give me moooore.
Ms Halls has a special place in my heart. My historical fiction pal. My story-telling bestie. One of the very few authors I’d read books from even if she went wild and wrote an in-depth dissertation on the inner workings of the Victorian millinery industry. I’d be there. I loved The Foundling, The Familiars and I’m gonna go out and throw Mrs England up on my pit of praise, too. If you grab it, this is what you’re in for.
✨ Set in the proper sticks of West Yorkshire
✨ One nurse defying the dumb rules created by men
✨ Four kids who are actually dead adorable
✨ A wealthy couple where something ain’t quite right about the mysterious Mrs England
Nurse Ruby May is an absolute champ. She storms in, fixes all the broken shite the last nurse left behind and provides a mother figure for the kids in her care. The family she works for LOVES her, but she can’t go with them overseas as much as they’d have her in an instant.
Instead, Rubsters finds herself out in the sticks with four little humans to look after instead of the one she’s used to. Not content with the massive culture change from city to countryside, but she’s also slapped in the face with some societal changes when the main man (Mr England) seems to take on the lowly duties usually expected of the mistress.
But this is Ruby – she ain’t afraid of no challenge and before long, she has the place whipped up and running smoothly with the weird-in-the-1900s gender role switch shoved to the back of her mind. HOWEVER, there is only so long that shit can stay tucked away and, before long, the truth starts to wiggle out and along with it comes a big ol’ shit storm of chaos. It turns out there’s also more than one way to gaslight someone.
If it wasn’t apparent from my earlier gushing, I have A LOT of time for Stacey’s writing.
The world-building? Perfect.
The characters? Loved and hated them which is also perfect.
The pace? Ideal for my poor attention span.
The one bit I wish I had more of? The end. Tbh, I’m greedy – I just wanted that bit drawn out a little more and build up the tension to exploding point, but it’s absolutely not a negative on this book.
If you like historical fiction or either of her past two books, this will be right up your street.
TL;DR Recommendation:
BIG, big fan. Uneasy vibes throughout with fun humans peppered in it. Just wish it wasn’t a wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am kinda story. Give me moooore.
Ms Halls has a special place in my heart. My historical fiction pal. My story-telling bestie. One of the very few authors I’d read books from even if she went wild and wrote an in-depth dissertation on the inner workings of the Victorian millinery industry. I’d be there. I loved The Foundling, The Familiars and I’m gonna go out and throw Mrs England up on my pit of praise, too. If you grab it, this is what you’re in for.
✨ Set in the proper sticks of West Yorkshire
✨ One nurse defying the dumb rules created by men
✨ Four kids who are actually dead adorable
✨ A wealthy couple where something ain’t quite right about the mysterious Mrs England
Nurse Ruby May is an absolute champ. She storms in, fixes all the broken shite the last nurse left behind and provides a mother figure for the kids in her care. The family she works for LOVES her, but she can’t go with them overseas as much as they’d have her in an instant.
Instead, Rubsters finds herself out in the sticks with four little humans to look after instead of the one she’s used to. Not content with the massive culture change from city to countryside, but she’s also slapped in the face with some societal changes when the main man (Mr England) seems to take on the lowly duties usually expected of the mistress.
But this is Ruby – she ain’t afraid of no challenge and before long, she has the place whipped up and running smoothly with the weird-in-the-1900s gender role switch shoved to the back of her mind. HOWEVER, there is only so long that shit can stay tucked away and, before long, the truth starts to wiggle out and along with it comes a big ol’ shit storm of chaos. It turns out there’s also more than one way to gaslight someone.
If it wasn’t apparent from my earlier gushing, I have A LOT of time for Stacey’s writing.
The world-building? Perfect.
The characters? Loved and hated them which is also perfect.
The pace? Ideal for my poor attention span.
The one bit I wish I had more of? The end. Tbh, I’m greedy – I just wanted that bit drawn out a little more and build up the tension to exploding point, but it’s absolutely not a negative on this book.
If you like historical fiction or either of her past two books, this will be right up your street.
The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
TL;DR Recommendation:
Amazing plot but just a little meh and a very slow read.
Amazing plot but just a little meh and a very slow read.
So, you know, I’m probably going to be massively outnumbered on my thoughts of this, but this book just wasn’t my friend. Here’s what you’re in for:
✨ One 26-year-old Nella who’s the only Black person in the office
✨ A LOT of microaggressions
✨ The Other Black Girl comes in and rocks the boat massively
✨ A weird mystery that you most definitely will not see coming
✨ A LOT of microaggressions
✨ The Other Black Girl comes in and rocks the boat massively
✨ A weird mystery that you most definitely will not see coming
Nella is fed up and tired. After shouldering the weight of white guilt on her shoulders during her publishing career, she just wants people to listen to her and take her god damn feedback – especially when they outright ask for it. Diversity town halls have slowly diminished into cancellation and that promotion constantly just seems out of reach.
And then one day she smells it – cocoa butter. There’s another Black girl (Hazel) on the floor and she’s here for a job interview. After bonding over hair routines, Hazel quickly shoots past her to become the popular one in the office leaving Nella in the dust.
Before long, notes start to appear on her desk telling her to leave Wagners. A freaked-the-fuck-out Nella is now on a mission to find out WTF is going on.
I LOVED the premises of this book and it’s massively important to get these stories (even if the end takes a wild twist) out there. However, it’s a very, very, VERY sloooooooOooOoooOOw read and really doesn’t get going until the final 20%. With my attention span being in the gutter, it was a bit of a struggle bus to read and took me far too long to get through.
It also felt like a toe-dip into the thriller world. Literally mega confused when what I thought was an office story went a little whack at the end. I’m so on board with things going a little tits up, yet the tension wasn’t quite there for me. I’m not saying I expect fisty-cuffs at dawn type shit but just needed a bit more to fall in love with it.
The concept of this book is amazing, original and will 100% be EVERYWHERE this summer. It just missed the mark a bit for me. I really hope Zakiya goes full thriller next time.
The Players by Darren O'Sullivan
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
(copy via netgalley)
TL;DR Recommendation:
Good wee thriller that’ll make you want to consider how much you’re giving away online 👀
I’ve been on social media since the dawn of time (yes I’m old) and I reckon that’s what makes this book so utterly creepy because I’m honestly surprised it’s hasn’t happened yet. Here’s what you can expect:
✨ One nice lady (otherwise known as Detective Inspector Karen Holt) who’s been plonked off duty after an arrest went very badly
✨ ‘The Host’ and his wee game of kill or be killed with Saw vibes
✨ A town terrorised by blackmail
✨ Facebook Boomers trying to solve everything
Karen shouldn’t be working. Her career actually depends on her butting out of this case, but she just cannot stay away from it because the rest of her team are eejits. You see, Karen has big brain energy and is picking up the clues that ‘The Host’ is leaving for them in plain sight.
So what’s our illusive pal ‘The Host’ doing? Well, the prick is stalking his victims, mapping out their every move and making sure he knows their entire life history before pushing them to play what he calls The Game. Frankly, he needs to be more creative with his branding but I get what he’s going for. After setting a time for his games (I legit have no idea why people wouldn’t avoid being alone at this time tbh), Mr Host corners two ‘players’ in a quiet place. There they must choose what to do – kill the other person or be killed and then have it broadcast all over the Internet. There is no third option. Go against his plan and your family/friends/pets/secret lover will get your punishment instead. Basically, the prizes really suck.
After a few traumatic murders, wee Karen just can’t sit on her hands and watch innocent people die at the hands of their friends.
Fantasy books are 100% my jam but the thriller category is definitely winning my heart over right now. This is an insanely fast-paced book that’ll have you yelling SHUT THE FUCK UP at Facebook and glaring at Karen for being a shitty wife at times all whilst on a rollercoaster of mental twists and turns.
The only bit that bugged me? I could see how this was going and I just expected a little more. Vague, I know, but spoilers etc. etc.
Solid book that’ll make you terrified of social media. Perhaps that’s a good thing…
TL;DR Recommendation:
Good wee thriller that’ll make you want to consider how much you’re giving away online 👀
I’ve been on social media since the dawn of time (yes I’m old) and I reckon that’s what makes this book so utterly creepy because I’m honestly surprised it’s hasn’t happened yet. Here’s what you can expect:
✨ One nice lady (otherwise known as Detective Inspector Karen Holt) who’s been plonked off duty after an arrest went very badly
✨ ‘The Host’ and his wee game of kill or be killed with Saw vibes
✨ A town terrorised by blackmail
✨ Facebook Boomers trying to solve everything
Karen shouldn’t be working. Her career actually depends on her butting out of this case, but she just cannot stay away from it because the rest of her team are eejits. You see, Karen has big brain energy and is picking up the clues that ‘The Host’ is leaving for them in plain sight.
So what’s our illusive pal ‘The Host’ doing? Well, the prick is stalking his victims, mapping out their every move and making sure he knows their entire life history before pushing them to play what he calls The Game. Frankly, he needs to be more creative with his branding but I get what he’s going for. After setting a time for his games (I legit have no idea why people wouldn’t avoid being alone at this time tbh), Mr Host corners two ‘players’ in a quiet place. There they must choose what to do – kill the other person or be killed and then have it broadcast all over the Internet. There is no third option. Go against his plan and your family/friends/pets/secret lover will get your punishment instead. Basically, the prizes really suck.
After a few traumatic murders, wee Karen just can’t sit on her hands and watch innocent people die at the hands of their friends.
Fantasy books are 100% my jam but the thriller category is definitely winning my heart over right now. This is an insanely fast-paced book that’ll have you yelling SHUT THE FUCK UP at Facebook and glaring at Karen for being a shitty wife at times all whilst on a rollercoaster of mental twists and turns.
The only bit that bugged me? I could see how this was going and I just expected a little more. Vague, I know, but spoilers etc. etc.
Solid book that’ll make you terrified of social media. Perhaps that’s a good thing…
All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O'Donoghue
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
TL;DR Recommendation:
Liked. Nice story with witchy vibes but didn’t steal my heart.
Liked. Nice story with witchy vibes but didn’t steal my heart.
As a kid, I was oddly obsessed with anything witchy. Chanting? Done it. Bought spells for beginners? Uh huh. Stank my house out with incense? You bet’cha. So when I see this book kicking around, I was like hell yes I am here for this. This is what you’ll be in for if you grab this book:
✨ Catholic all-girls school in Ireland where it’s clique central
✨ A spoo000ooOo0Ooky mystery involving tarot cards
✨ 00s teenage angst horror movie vibes
✨A diverse AF bunch of characters
✨ A spoo000ooOo0Ooky mystery involving tarot cards
✨ 00s teenage angst horror movie vibes
✨A diverse AF bunch of characters
Your main gal for this story is Maeve. A 15-year-old girl trying to fit in with the cool kids at school at any expense. Like many teenagers who don’t quite fit in with the status quo, they get into shit often and, before long, she’s thrust into the cupboard full of crap that’s been confiscated over the years. Drawn to one box, she finds an old Walkman (yes with a banging mixtape in it) and a pack of very pretty tarot cards. The cards come naturally to her and soon she’s giving readings to any git that asks.
Her booming popularity quickly goes down shit creek when her ex-bestie, Lily, goes missing. Tapping into that newly found power, Maeve creates a new gang with her tarot business pal (Fiona) and Lily’s gender-fluid sibling (Roe) to find her.
This, for me, is definitely on the younger end of the Young Adult category. I can’t really explain why, but there was just something that didn’t hook me in. I loved the premies and the diversity in the characters was amazing/didn’t feel wedged in, but I just wasn’t lying on the sofa after reading it going OH MY GOD GIVE ME MORE OF THAT PLS. Perhaps it’s a set-up book whilst I just craved more magical stuff and that’s ok!
It did, however, lead me down a Google hellhole where I’ve found an amazing set of cat tarot cards that I’m 100% buying.
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-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? Yes
3.75
(copy via netgalley)
TL;DR Recommendation:
Heavily liked. Slow but easy, wonderful read. Gets a bit chaotic towards the end and my poor noggin can’t keep up.
I feel like everyone on this wonky planet of ours has heard of Daisy Jones & the Six. I mean, it’s even stuck on the front of this book BUT I have not read it. It taunts me in bookshelves, side-eyes me in those creepy Google ads that stalk your existence, however, I was happy to continue on through life without reading it.
That was until I saw Malibu Rising and I was alright F I N E show me what you’ve got and maaayyybbeee I should have given in to temptation a little bit sooner. If you grab this book, this is what you’re in for:
✨ 1983 Malibu. Never been to Malibu but presume it’s nice and full of pretty people
✨ A dad (otherwise known as wankerface) that was more interested in his legacy than his gaggle of children
✨ Going from humble beginnings to full-blown, ass out fame
✨ One mental party that will be known for all eternity (probably)
You get to know June and Mick Riva; their dirty secrets, the alcoholism, the spiral into a nightmare but, ultimately, it’s the kids that suffer. Nina grew up too fast. Left to save her dysfunctional family from literal poverty, she spent her days looking after Hud, Jay and Kit instead of herself until she was spotted surfing. Pulling themselves above what can only be described as the precipice of hell, they start living life and to mark it, they threw one hell of a party every year.
I’m not going to bullshit you – this type of book isn’t usually for me. General fiction tends to bore me and romance (unless in a fantasy world) just doesn’t do it for me. This book, THIS BOOK was different.
This story is told by the year and the hours leading up to that party. You get to know everything that’s lead up to this event and everything is woven together real nice. Main characters are easy to follow and you genuinely feel sorry for the hell they’re living through. Everyone except wankerface Mick that is.
So, the downside? Whilst it’s a very easy read, it’s sloooow. There’s a lot of world-building and that’s never a bad thing – it’s just my attention span wanders. And talking of attention spans, there are a lot of characters once it kicks into gear. I struggled with who was who and ended up rereading chunks to catch up.
That being said, it’s a good wee book for anyone who likes 80s fiction, wildly flawed families and sobbing despair.
I was definitely born a decade too early.
TL;DR Recommendation:
Heavily liked. Slow but easy, wonderful read. Gets a bit chaotic towards the end and my poor noggin can’t keep up.
I feel like everyone on this wonky planet of ours has heard of Daisy Jones & the Six. I mean, it’s even stuck on the front of this book BUT I have not read it. It taunts me in bookshelves, side-eyes me in those creepy Google ads that stalk your existence, however, I was happy to continue on through life without reading it.
That was until I saw Malibu Rising and I was alright F I N E show me what you’ve got and maaayyybbeee I should have given in to temptation a little bit sooner. If you grab this book, this is what you’re in for:
✨ 1983 Malibu. Never been to Malibu but presume it’s nice and full of pretty people
✨ A dad (otherwise known as wankerface) that was more interested in his legacy than his gaggle of children
✨ Going from humble beginnings to full-blown, ass out fame
✨ One mental party that will be known for all eternity (probably)
You get to know June and Mick Riva; their dirty secrets, the alcoholism, the spiral into a nightmare but, ultimately, it’s the kids that suffer. Nina grew up too fast. Left to save her dysfunctional family from literal poverty, she spent her days looking after Hud, Jay and Kit instead of herself until she was spotted surfing. Pulling themselves above what can only be described as the precipice of hell, they start living life and to mark it, they threw one hell of a party every year.
I’m not going to bullshit you – this type of book isn’t usually for me. General fiction tends to bore me and romance (unless in a fantasy world) just doesn’t do it for me. This book, THIS BOOK was different.
This story is told by the year and the hours leading up to that party. You get to know everything that’s lead up to this event and everything is woven together real nice. Main characters are easy to follow and you genuinely feel sorry for the hell they’re living through. Everyone except wankerface Mick that is.
So, the downside? Whilst it’s a very easy read, it’s sloooow. There’s a lot of world-building and that’s never a bad thing – it’s just my attention span wanders. And talking of attention spans, there are a lot of characters once it kicks into gear. I struggled with who was who and ended up rereading chunks to catch up.
That being said, it’s a good wee book for anyone who likes 80s fiction, wildly flawed families and sobbing despair.
I was definitely born a decade too early.
Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by T.A. Willberg
Did not finish book. Stopped at 26%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 26%.
This is the story of Marion Lane; an intern at a top-ranking, underground investigation agency masquerading as a dilapidated bookshop in London. Someone decides to murder one of their underground pals which leads to a wrongful conviction and a band of apprentices armed with fantastical gadgets are quickly mobilised to figure out what the hell happened.
Whilst normally this kind of style would be right up my street, this book just wasn't for me but I can absolutely see why others will love it.
At the start, I was hooked. A secret underground task force in an alternate London sounds AMAZING, but that's where my love for this fell to the wayside. Marion is adorable but there are a lot of characters that I couldn't keep up with or, in some cases, tell apart.
As much as I tried, this was a tough read (and a bit of a slog) and one I just couldn't gel with.
Whilst normally this kind of style would be right up my street, this book just wasn't for me but I can absolutely see why others will love it.
At the start, I was hooked. A secret underground task force in an alternate London sounds AMAZING, but that's where my love for this fell to the wayside. Marion is adorable but there are a lot of characters that I couldn't keep up with or, in some cases, tell apart.
As much as I tried, this was a tough read (and a bit of a slog) and one I just couldn't gel with.
In the Ravenous Dark by A.M. Strickland
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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? No
4.25
(copy via netgalley)
TL;DR recommendation:
Heavily liked/verging on love. The story was wonderful but my attention wandered from time to time. Definitely edging on the old side of YA.
----
TL;DR recommendation:
Heavily liked/verging on love. The story was wonderful but my attention wandered from time to time. Definitely edging on the old side of YA.
----
Oh. My. Gosh. This is queer AF and I am HERE for it.
✨ Blood magic literally taking over bodies in a weirdly beautiful way
✨ A very shit system where people get thrown to the underworld as a tribute
✨ A royal family where women can never, ever, ever succeed
✨ A pansexual main with a lesbian princess and a non-binary bestie ready to take down the damn system
✨ A very shit system where people get thrown to the underworld as a tribute
✨ A royal family where women can never, ever, ever succeed
✨ A pansexual main with a lesbian princess and a non-binary bestie ready to take down the damn system
If that ain’t got you excited, then stop reading because this ain’t the book for you. If it’s got you intrigued, then we shall get along splendidly.
Let me introduce you to our new friend, Rovan. Rovan has had a bit of a shite life; her dad was killed in front of her for the same thing that she had charging through her veins. Blood magic. She did well to hid it until she used it in a very, very public place thus resulting in the world as she knew, crumbling around her.
Normally you’d be tossed into a dungeon etc. to rot your life away but she was whisked into the world of royalty, tethered to a dead shade and actively encouraged to use the magic she spent years concealing. Rovan’s shade lad of a guardian (otherwise known as Ivrilos) has one command he must follow – keep his ward in line. Instead of following the rules, the two form a bond between the living and the dead and go charging in with their new royal friends/lovers to take down the monarchy.
And I can’t not talk about the relationships throughout this. In the Ravenous Dark is set in a world where love is a free thing. Not bound by the dumb laws of the past, homosexual relationships are the norm and polyamorous lovers can freely live their lives. None of this feels forced in any way and I didn’t notice any incorrect misgendering throughout.
This is a wild ride. A standalone novel where a shit tone happens and it can feel a tad overwhelming at times. That being said, it’s written in a style that makes you laugh at situations where you probs shouldn’t be and when the action gets going, it a very easy read.
P.s They mention Polis a lot in this. Whilst it’s a city in their world, it means the police in mine and the confusion was real.
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Circus of Wonders by Elizabeth Macneal
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.75
(copy via netgalley)
TL;DR recommendation:
L O V E. A book that sucked me right in from the get-go and one that’ll stick in my noggin for a long time.
Shock, horror. Jen falls in love with another historical fiction. I know I’m becoming a bit predictable but, dear reader, it probably ain’t ever going to stop. When there are such delicious stories to be told about a bloody circus, you know I’m going to gobble it up and be back for seconds.
After a mere 6%, I knew this was going to be a book I adored. Here’s what you’re in for:
✨ 1866 London Victorian time where anyone who looked slightly different was shunned and labelled as a freak
✨ The main gal covered in birthmarks (not vitiligo) takes the circus world by storm
✨ One ringmaster with a massive ego who HATES to be outshone
Nell has spent her entire life being defined by her birthmarks, hiding in the shadows doing as much as she can to avoid being seen by others. Whilst she ain’t exactly chuffed with how her life is going, she’s doing alright and was quite content with just carrying on as normal. Except the circus trundles into town and her dad pulls off one of the biggest dick moves he could – he sells Nell to the fucking Ringmaster for 20 quid. £2,442 in today’s money. Absolute prick.
HOWEVER, Nell (otherwise known as the 8th wonder of the world or the Queen of Moon and Stars) does the old flipperoonie and owns the shit out of the life. Adored by pretty much everyone who sets their eyes on her, Nell stuffs her £20 pay into pillowcases and sores through the sky in giant mechanical wings. The one thing that set her back in a past life is now holding her up and oh boy does this life suit her.
You’d think Ringmaster Jasper would be well chuffed with her success, but he was quickly noticing how she was out-shining him. No one wants his face on a matchbox – it was Nell or nothing and that drove him utterly bonkers.
So why did it resonate with me? A few things – I was obsessed with the circus as a kid (I am now massively aware of how wrong it is now but I was 4), have my own boob birthmark (not anything like Nell’s but it’s there to keep ol’ righty company) and whilst I am by societies standards ‘normal’, I never quite fit in with the status quo.
This is a beautiful story that springs from a life of solitude and rejection to fame and success. From back-turning family to acceptance. I’m going to shout about it to anyone who’ll listen. And on that note…
Fly your flag and find your own damn family. Blood don’t mean shit.
TL;DR recommendation:
L O V E. A book that sucked me right in from the get-go and one that’ll stick in my noggin for a long time.
Shock, horror. Jen falls in love with another historical fiction. I know I’m becoming a bit predictable but, dear reader, it probably ain’t ever going to stop. When there are such delicious stories to be told about a bloody circus, you know I’m going to gobble it up and be back for seconds.
After a mere 6%, I knew this was going to be a book I adored. Here’s what you’re in for:
✨ 1866 London Victorian time where anyone who looked slightly different was shunned and labelled as a freak
✨ The main gal covered in birthmarks (not vitiligo) takes the circus world by storm
✨ One ringmaster with a massive ego who HATES to be outshone
Nell has spent her entire life being defined by her birthmarks, hiding in the shadows doing as much as she can to avoid being seen by others. Whilst she ain’t exactly chuffed with how her life is going, she’s doing alright and was quite content with just carrying on as normal. Except the circus trundles into town and her dad pulls off one of the biggest dick moves he could – he sells Nell to the fucking Ringmaster for 20 quid. £2,442 in today’s money. Absolute prick.
HOWEVER, Nell (otherwise known as the 8th wonder of the world or the Queen of Moon and Stars) does the old flipperoonie and owns the shit out of the life. Adored by pretty much everyone who sets their eyes on her, Nell stuffs her £20 pay into pillowcases and sores through the sky in giant mechanical wings. The one thing that set her back in a past life is now holding her up and oh boy does this life suit her.
You’d think Ringmaster Jasper would be well chuffed with her success, but he was quickly noticing how she was out-shining him. No one wants his face on a matchbox – it was Nell or nothing and that drove him utterly bonkers.
So why did it resonate with me? A few things – I was obsessed with the circus as a kid (I am now massively aware of how wrong it is now but I was 4), have my own boob birthmark (not anything like Nell’s but it’s there to keep ol’ righty company) and whilst I am by societies standards ‘normal’, I never quite fit in with the status quo.
This is a beautiful story that springs from a life of solitude and rejection to fame and success. From back-turning family to acceptance. I’m going to shout about it to anyone who’ll listen. And on that note…
Fly your flag and find your own damn family. Blood don’t mean shit.
Body of Stars by Laura Maylene Walter
challenging
dark
hopeful
sad
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? No
4.0
(copy via netgalley)
TL;DR recommendation:
Loved it. Grab this if you’re looking for a dystopian female adventure that cuts close to the bone and has The Handmaid’s Tale vibes about it. Shines a light on our world and its stance on gender violence.
Not graphic but mentioned trigger warnings:
Sexual violence, rape, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny & confinement.
I don’t think my heart was quite ready for this book. Other than reading a smidge of the blurb thing, I pretty much went in charging in blind ready to be mad at another dystopian world. The plot in a nutshell? Girls are born with markings all over their bodies that layout their fate (and their family’s) and some men think it’s their god-given right to own them. Here are a few other nuggetos:
✨ One girl (our pal Celeste) forced to deal with her changed life because men decided their pleasure was worth more.
✨ One boy (Miles) determined to help women / change a very, very shitty living experience.
✨ One world which should technically be very, very different to our own little planet but creepily similar.
Women are literally the future. They don’t believe in luck; they believe in fate. Mainly ’cause any marking that dances over their bodies will predict their future. If you’re destined to become a doctor, it’ll happen. If your markings depict a life helping whales fight off the dolphins, then that will happen, too. Maybe.
The other issue is that when girls hit puberty, they turn into Changelings – a time in their life where all senses are heightened, they literally have a weird aura around them and, you guessed it, they become irresistible to men. So irresistible that men can’t ‘control themselves’ *insert intense eye twitching emoji here* and the underground women trafficking market is rife. It’s deemed the most dangerous time in a women’s life and whilst their parents want to protect them, their new bodies urge to be outside.
If the above wasn’t enough of a fucking issue, the women who get returned to society after their two weeks of confinement, drugging and assaults are seen as outcasts to society. They were asking for it, they put themselves in that situation and their kidnappers/rapist were never, ever punished. Their lives and social standing were ruined.
It’s hard to get into the deets as they’re like major spoilers but this is the story of how Celeste takes control.
It’s a hard read and I’m absolutely going to make my next read a little more lighthearted because my feelings are smashed all over the floor. If you grab this book, be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster. The ride will fill your mind with anger, rage and frustration with a hint of hope that perhaps, just perhaps, things might change in our little world as well.
TL;DR recommendation:
Loved it. Grab this if you’re looking for a dystopian female adventure that cuts close to the bone and has The Handmaid’s Tale vibes about it. Shines a light on our world and its stance on gender violence.
Not graphic but mentioned trigger warnings:
Sexual violence, rape, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny & confinement.
I don’t think my heart was quite ready for this book. Other than reading a smidge of the blurb thing, I pretty much went in charging in blind ready to be mad at another dystopian world. The plot in a nutshell? Girls are born with markings all over their bodies that layout their fate (and their family’s) and some men think it’s their god-given right to own them. Here are a few other nuggetos:
✨ One girl (our pal Celeste) forced to deal with her changed life because men decided their pleasure was worth more.
✨ One boy (Miles) determined to help women / change a very, very shitty living experience.
✨ One world which should technically be very, very different to our own little planet but creepily similar.
Women are literally the future. They don’t believe in luck; they believe in fate. Mainly ’cause any marking that dances over their bodies will predict their future. If you’re destined to become a doctor, it’ll happen. If your markings depict a life helping whales fight off the dolphins, then that will happen, too. Maybe.
The other issue is that when girls hit puberty, they turn into Changelings – a time in their life where all senses are heightened, they literally have a weird aura around them and, you guessed it, they become irresistible to men. So irresistible that men can’t ‘control themselves’ *insert intense eye twitching emoji here* and the underground women trafficking market is rife. It’s deemed the most dangerous time in a women’s life and whilst their parents want to protect them, their new bodies urge to be outside.
If the above wasn’t enough of a fucking issue, the women who get returned to society after their two weeks of confinement, drugging and assaults are seen as outcasts to society. They were asking for it, they put themselves in that situation and their kidnappers/rapist were never, ever punished. Their lives and social standing were ruined.
It’s hard to get into the deets as they’re like major spoilers but this is the story of how Celeste takes control.
It’s a hard read and I’m absolutely going to make my next read a little more lighthearted because my feelings are smashed all over the floor. If you grab this book, be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster. The ride will fill your mind with anger, rage and frustration with a hint of hope that perhaps, just perhaps, things might change in our little world as well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Kidnapping
Minor: Confinement, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Transphobia