Book Review : Slug by Hollie McNish

I bloody love Hollie McNish! I was going to try and be all grown up and scholarly and serious in this review. I had decided I was going to style it out and not gush and fangirl my way through the whole review.

But then I thought, ‘Sod it, what’s the point?’ So be prepared for unbridled enthusiasm!

I will start by saying that I honestly couldn’t believe my luck when Clara Diaz at Little Brown emailed me and asked if I would be interested in receiving and reviewing a finished copy of Slug and other things I have been told to hate. I don’t think I have every replied so quickly to an email.

And the magic Google Lens Thing that happens when you hover your phone over the book is bloody amazing!!

But what is inside just this book genuinely blew me away.

Firstly let me say that I read this book cover to cover, word to a word in 3 days. A rainy bank holiday weekend was my friend as I lost myself in the wisdom and hilarity that is Hollie McNish’s trademark.

You see Hollie writes about life. About the things we all know but no one likes to talk about. About the things that keep you awake at night and the things that keep you sane. She will write about something that is closer to your heart than you ever knew. It will be her words that will make things suddenly click into place. This collection is a celebration of the things in life that have always been considered taboo, not for polite conversation. But they are actually the things that make the world go around.

This book is bursting, literally bursting at the seams with poetry, prose and stories that are run through with honesty and naked truth. Sometimes it will make you shout out loud in recognition and sometimes it will make you uncomfortable. But you will recognise it as the truth just the same.

This is one of the most human collections of work I have had the joy and pleasure of reading in a very long time. It is this kind of brave humanity and humility that I want to gift to my children every single day.

Thank you Hollie for sharing these words. Roll on the tour. Seat already booked x

Rachel x

#BlogTour Review : Ariadne by Jennifer Saint

It is my absolute pleasure to be part of the blog tour celebrating the publication of Ariadne by Jennifer Saint. I am delighted to be able to add my own small voice to the chorus of those already singing it’s well deserved praises. Many thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for the blog tour invite and to Caitlin Raynor for my beautiful gifted copy.

Following in the footsteps of such great titles as Circe and The Silence of the Girls Jennifer Saint takes on the myth of the Minotaur but places the women firmly at it’s heart. In this stunning retelling Ariadne and her sister Phaedra, daughters of the tyrannical King Minos are thrown into the spotlight, and their story casts a long shadow over the acclaimed hero of Theseus and the men who surround him.

In this retelling the sacrifices that Ariadne makes for the love of Theseus are examined and exposed. By giving her would be lover the means to defeat her half brother the Minotaur Ariadne is effectively betraying her family and kingdom. But is the price she pays worth the risk? Will her happiness be guaranteed and is Theseus the hero he seems to be?

With this one event a chain of events are set in motion, one in which the sisters take centre stage. Each brave, brilliant and intelligent in their own right but each betrayed and marginalised not only by the men in their lives but by the way these stories have been traditionally represented and retold.

This is a story of sisterhood, of complex female relationships and the need to look beyond the familiar and find what shines beneath. By focusing on these independent and headstrong women, who overcome all obstacles just to survive, Jennifer Saint brings a fresh perspective and a new, critical eye to these classic tales.

If you think you know this story, think again. For within these pages there is so much more to discover.

Rachel x

And there is more…

For more reviews and reactions to this epic tale, checkout the rest of the Blog Tour listed below…

Book Review: Circus of Wonders by Elizabeth MacNeal

Ever wanted to join the circus? Well now might be your chance. But just a word of warning there is a darker side to the brightest of lights. But take a step inside the Circus of Wonders by Elizabeth Macneal and have a closer look.

A huge thank you goes to Camilla Elworthy for my gorgeous gifted copy. Having fallen in love with The Doll Factory I was very keen to read this one!

It’s 1866 and Nell lives on the edge of her community. Set apart by her curious speckled skin, she picks violets and is wrapped in the love of her devoted brother. Nell’s dreams are small but when the circus comes to town she is just as fascinated as the rest of the village.

Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders arrival leads to the biggest betrayal of Nell’s young life. Sold to the show by her father, Jasper makes Nell his newest attraction, his amazing ‘leopard girl.’ Life on the road is hard but there is also a glamour and a growing sense of adoration that Nell has never experienced before.

Reborn as the magical ‘Nellie Moon’ London is soon abuzz with her name. Friends are found in the other performers and Toby, Jasper’s younger brother brings a gentleness to her life she has long been missing.

But Jasper’s show and Jasper’s life are both built on tentative and shaky ground. Debts and his past are always one step behind him and when his star threatens to outside her creator the world of the circus suddenly turns very dark.

Set in an age of invention, of trickery and spangled appearance, this is the tale of both how things appear and how they really are. It is a life built on illusion and show, of light and dark and the struggle it takes to stay on the right side of each. For each dream that is made another is crushed and the thread that binds exploitation and empowerment glows brightly throughout. A connection that is impossible to ignore m.

This is a story filled with contrast and partnerships, both within its characters and it’s themes. It is an exploration of how dark can turn to light and how redemption can be found in the most unexpected of places. The story is filled with both the constraints and loyalty found in love, and what happens when we claim too much too fast.

The pictures that Elizabeth Macneal paints are vivid, alive and vibrant. It is a book that reaches out to each sense and brings the reader inside. Whether at the heart of the circus, in a money lenders lair or in the ruins of the Crimea the sense of place is second to none.

Keep your eyes on the Circus! It’s never what you think!

Rachel x

Review: Love Stories for Hectic People by Catherine McNamara

People who follow me on Twitter may or may not had noticed that over the past few months I have fallen increasingly and hopelessly in love with Flash Fiction. So when David Borrowdale from Reflex Press asked me if I would be interested in reading and reviewing Love Stories for Hectic People by Catherine McNamara I jumped at the chance.

Flash fiction is an art, a beautiful elusive skill. The ability to encapsulate, convey and develop a story in under 1,000 words is something to be cherished and admired. And within these pages are found thirty three fantastic examples.

The over arching theme is, as the title suggests, love. And it is love in it’s many and varied forms. Here, drawn with clarity, wit, empathy and razor sharp precision are stories of couples the world over. Couples in love, couples in lust and everything in between.

Here are relationships that are at the beginning, relationships in their death throes and relationships that have developed to stand the test of time.

Brevity might be the key in this collection, but each tale has as an impeccable structure, a view point that pans like a camera, zooming in and out, drawing the readers eye to the heart of each matter every single time.

If you are looking for something new, something biting, raw and fresh, then grab yourself a copy and feast away. I promised myself that this would be book to be taken on board in bitesized chunks. Turns out I gorged on it, one glorious tale after the other.

Rachel x

Love Stories for Hectic People by Catherine McNamara is available to order here.

It has been Shortlisted for The Saboteur Awards 2021 Best Short Story Collection.

Book Review: The Metal Heart – Caroline Lea

When a novel has it’s base in truth, something magical often happens. There emerges that wonderful feeling of connection and empathy that breathes life into a tale. The feeling that you have a unique and tiny window into a world from the past.

But It takes a skilled author to open that window. Some who knows how much to reveal and when, who knows which tone to strike and which colours to use to paint the scene. With Caroline Lea, readers, you couldn’t be in safer hands. Her latest novel The Metal Heart released this week by Michael Joseph Books is a beautiful example of a tale with truth at it’s core.

Set in the Orkney Isles in the years of WW2 it tells of the hundreds of Italian Prisoners of War who were brought to the Island. Whilst working to build controversial sea defences the POW created the most remarkable Catholic Chapel from what they could scavenge from the island. It still stands today. A testament to their time on the Island.

Against this fascinating backdrop Caroline Lea has woven a story of love. Of trust, both misplaced and rewarded. Dorothy and Constance are twins; women who have lead their entire lives within this small island community. Orphaned and trying to come to terms with events in their past, the women, particularly Con are often remote from those around them. They volunteer to nurse the POWs and it is here that Dot meets and falls in love with Cesare, an Italian craftsman, struggling to cope with the ongoing reality of war.

The story is in essence simple, but the emotions, conflicts and tensions around it are not. They are beautifully complex and expertly drawn. The characters that tell this story are well rounded, motivated by genuine and complex emotion. Caroline Lea an author with an eye for detail; be it in the beauty of Cesare’s vision and craftsmanship or in the Orcadian landscape so vividly painted.

This is a story of strength, of survival in the toughest of times and carving out your own place in the world even when the world seems to be turning against you. It is an exploration of where truth is found and the strength it can take to live up to the expectations of truth, when those around you are taking a different path.

In the characters of Dot and Con the author has created two strong women. Flawed, at times desperate but ultimately strong. It is their story, vibrancy and integrity that brings this story to life, will stay in your mind and make you want to explore beyond these pages.

The Metal Heart is not to be forgotten.

Rachel x

Review: On Hampstead Heath by Marika Cobbold

Looking for a novel alive with the sharpest of prose and filled with heart and wit?

Then look no further than this week’s new release On Hampstead Heath by Marika Cobbold, published by Arcadia Books. Thank you to Georgina Moore for my gifted copy.

Thorn Marsh is a journalist, whose career is the most important thing in her life. The pursuit of a story and the integrity within it is a fundamental part of her identity. And since her marriage break up it is close to the only thing in her life.

So when The New London Journal takes a new direction, one which Thorn can neither understand or support, she finds her world crashing down around her. Her questions and confrontational manner see her sidelined from her job as News Editor, and moved to the mid week supplement. Her new role involves seeking out good news stories, and it couldn’t be further from Thorn’s skill set!

In desperation, and almost accidentally Thorn files a story that takes the world by storm. The story of the celestial being doing good works on Hampstead Heath is an overnight sensation. Aided by social media, word of mouth and everything in between Thorn has suddenly broken the biggest story of the year.

The problem is it isn’t true.

And now Thorn finds herself in a race to undo the damage, whilst trying to maintain her reputation. For someone who has always prided herself on embracing the truth, what ever the cost, Thorn finds herself in entirely unknown terrain.

On Hampstead Heath is a brilliant exploration of how we live our lives and the fragile relationship the world around seems to share with truth. It explores the way social media has shaped not only the way events are reported but also the way society reacts to them.

Through razor sharp prose and glorious wit it highlights how we allow ourselves to manipulate truth and in turn to be manipulated by what we believe truth to be. It is a immersive novel, alive with flawed yet believable characters and a pacy prose.

One not to be missed.

Rachel

Blog Birthday Number Two: A reflection

So it’s two years since I started the blog. Two whole years of reading, reviewing and just generally immersing myself in the written word.

But it’s been so much more than that. It’s been two years that have changed the shape of my life. For one, I read a lot more now. And I read differently. I read books I would never have read before. I read a lot more new releases and I will never get over the thrill of being able to read books before they are published.

But there is a flip side to that. At times reading can feel overwhelming. I feel, sometimes, that if I don’t read books immediately I won’t be able to keep pace. I have been known to feel guilty for longing to read something that’s waiting patiently in my TBR pile, feeling that the newer stuff is more important. And that is just plain ridiculous!

I love being a blogger. But in the last few months I have settled into the fact that there are lots of us and we all have our own ways of going about this. I am a Mum, a wife, a daughter, a friend. I have a full time and demanding job. And while blogging is a part of my life, a part I am so very proud of, it isn’t all my life. It can’t be.

I have come to accept that I can’t keep pace with the Tweets, the Instagram pictures, all the new ‘must have’ releases. It is impossible. I love it all, but it can’t all be for me.

But I do love books. I love writing about them, sharing their stories, chatting to authors, publishers, publicists, booksellers and other bloggers! That will never change and I am happy to be where I am, playing my small part in this glorious world.

Blogging has also given me back my writer’s voice. It has made me realise I still have things to say and it doesn’t really matter who listens to them. So alongside blogging I am pushing at the boundaries of my creativity and trying to write more. I am starting to submit small pieces of fiction, tipping my toe into another, slightly scarier, but exhilarating pond. And if, for the time being that means one blog post a week, instead of two then so be it.

I have made some amazing friends on this blogging journey. Proper real life, always there for you friends. Friends who this year have been beyond amazing. They know who they are. So thank you.

My blogging journey isn’t over. Not by the longest shot. But it is always slightly shifting, throwing up new horizons and places to rest. And those, in my humble opinion are the best kind of journeys!

Thank you for all your support and any word you might have read!

Rachel x

Review: SisterSong by Lucy Holland

Over the past few years I have become quite hooked upon retellings of myths, discovering those stories with their roots in history. With one leg in truth , the other in mystic and magic.

The majority of the myths I have read seem to have been from distance shores. Classical Greek retellings have dominated and informed my reading. But since reading ‘Hag’ a collection of reworked and retold folk stories from across the British Isles, I have been on the lookout for other literature of a similar ilk.

It was this rationale that led my to SisterSong: the search for stories of a time when Britain was divided into Kingdoms and ruled by various and great Kings. But in this retelling I stumbled across so much more.

It is a tale set in the West Country, in Dunbriga, where King Cador and his Queen rule. They have inherited a land left by the Romans, and the Anglo – Saxon invaders are now their biggest threat. But they are not the only one. Some threats lie within.

The couple’s three daughters; Riva, Sinne and Keyne, watch with confusion and growing horror as their mother’s new priest Gildas sets about introducing Christianity to their community, encouraging people to turn their back’s on the old ways. To shun the festivals, the power and to stop listening to land that has sustained them all these years.

It is a time of great change and each sister is struggling to find her place within it. Each has different gifts, but all are fading with the passing seasons and the troubles of the world around them.

The story is based on the ‘Two sisters’ folk ballad. And is a tale of revenge, magic and love lost. But it is the third sister, Keyne, the sister lost to time, who brings this retelling to life. Who both embodies the spirit of the past and yet brings it right up to the present.

Keyne is struggling not only to understand the changes around her but to understand the changes within. Keyne has never identified as a women, a daughter of the land. In a story of strength, challenge and slow, hard won acceptance we see Keyne take the place they deserve, as the King’s son.

This is a story alive with connection, with silvery threads of magic that weave their way into a powerful retelling. Told from each sister’s perspective the past is imagined and then alive. Themes of being true to yourself, your inheritance and the land around you are both ancient and wholly current.

SisterSong was a complete and unexpected joy.

Rachel x

#BookReview: Tall Bones by Anna Bailey

I always try to stop myself mentally compiling my ‘Books of the Year List’ long before the year is out. But sometimes you come across a book that is special. A book that you know it is going to be pretty hard to top. And when the book in question is a debut, with all the promise of more great things to come, then you know you are on to a winner.

Let me introduce you to Tall Bones by Anna Bailey. Set in a small Colorado town, this is, on the face of it, the story of a teenage girl gone missing. But it is the story of so much more…

When 17 year old Abi Blake vanishes in the woods after a teenage party, Emma her closest friend is filled with remorse. Blaming herself for the disappearance of her only friend, Emma’s life in Whispering Ridge, shifts from difficult to unbearable.

Being of mixed race and growing up without her father, Emma has always been an outsider, on the edges of this strange and insular community. Now, alone and grieving for her only friend, she seeks refuge in alcohol and the company of Rat, a Romanian immigrant, recently arrived and equally remote.

But as the investigation into Abi’s disappearance progresses, more than just the secrets of that one night rise to the surface. For Whispering Ridge is a very murky pool indeed. Families, like the Blake’s, are held together by bonds of fear and twisted religion and no one is willing to challenge long held stereotypes and distorted views.

In a community where the local pastor reigns supreme, where domestic violence is an open secret and everyone is busy turning the other cheek; will what happened to Abi every be known? Or will it be another dark secret buried under an avalanche of bigotry, hatred and fear?

This novel is an incredible debut. It is raw, dark and beautifully powerful. The plot races ahead, but never feels anything other than considered and authentic. Characters are painted in detail. They are alive, complex, bursting from the page and provoking strong emotions within the reader. These are characters that span generations and are woven together in a web of small deceits and complex connections, each keeping the secrets of the next. Many are accepting and complicit in maintaining and masking the darkness of the community they are a part of.

And yet, despite all of this, there is a pervading and tangible feeling of change, a feeling of hope and of challenge. It is the outsiders who facilitate this feeling, who bring the possibility to the community. But only those within can take the steps that are needed to save themselves.

It was fitting that I read this a buddy read alongside Jules, Rebecca, Emma and Siobhain. Because this feels like a book that encourages connection, that shows us the power of community both for good and for ill. Ultimately, it is the choice of the human spirit how we choose to take that forward.

I’ve said it before, and I will say it again. Tall Bones is going to be huge; everyone is going to be talking about this one. So clear some space in your reading schedule and settle in!

Rachel x

A review : The Drowned City By K.J. Maitland

Published this week by The Drowned City By K.J. Maitland is a historical mystery, full of intrigue. If you are looking for a page turner with a difference this Easter weekend then look no further! Huge thanks to Caitlin Raynor for my gifted copy.

The story begins in the depth of Newgate Jail. It is the strange and dangerous year 1606 the Gunpowder Plot still dominates the political and religious temperature of the time. Suspicion permeates every quarter and the hunt for sorcery, witchcraft and other unholy arts is at it’s peak.

Daniel Pursglove, as we come to know him, is being held, awaiting sentence for suspected sorcery. But when, a year to the day from the Gunpowder plot, a strange tidal surge floods the city of Bristol many miles away, Daniel unexpectedly earns a reprieve. Sent by the shadowy and powerful Charles FitzAlan to investigate, Daniel’s continued freedom relies entirely on what he discovers.

King James, paranoid and in fear of losing his power, requires absolute proof of a Jesuit plot. A plot he believes to have been aided by the power of witchcraft. And there is one particular conspirator that is wanted above all others; Spero Pettingar. If Daniel can deliver news of this man, his freedom is certain. If he can’t, then an uncertain fate awaits him.

But the town of Bristol is in turmoil. At the best of times this port is a shadowy place, full of outcasts and spies, hidey holes and a ruled by a violent gang living with the castle walls. And this isn’t the best of times. The flood and it’s aftermath have reeked havoc on the place and everyone is intend on surviving in anyway they can.

Shortly after his arrival Daniel finds himself caught up in a series of grisly murders, each connected by something only he connects with. But the link between the victims is unclear and at times strays too close to home.

Do these murders hold the key to wider intrigues and plots? Or are they leading Daniel down a false and dangerous path, one that leads even further from his potential freedom?

This is novel to lose yourself in. With a plot that twists and turns, but never disappoints, it is a story that never stands still but rather claims and reclaims your attention again and again.

The foulness of the age, both in sounds, sights and beliefs resonances throughout. This is an underworld of filth, of crime but also of hard won survival. Everyone is trying to stay one step ahead and no one is quite what they seem.

The sense of tension, the feeling of the world being unstable, uncertain and not to be trusted is present and tangible throughout. The text is alive with possibilities and the reader is never quite sure where you are going to end up next.

This is the first in a new series of historical mysteries and the scene is most definitely set for more intrigue and excitement to come.

I can’t wait!

Rachel

The Drowned City by K.J.Maitland is released by Headline on 1st April 2021