Brilliant! This was a pretty wild ride! I loved the complex and profound bond between the three main characters. The story is saturated in political aBrilliant! This was a pretty wild ride! I loved the complex and profound bond between the three main characters. The story is saturated in political and religious manoeuvring and the plot is twisty and hard to predict. The end of the arc was quite surprising and I look forward to seeing how it develops over the series. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book....more
An easy five stars! This has less mayhem and magic than the Invisible library series, however I think I prefer the vampire and magic context of this sAn easy five stars! This has less mayhem and magic than the Invisible library series, however I think I prefer the vampire and magic context of this story. I’m hoping there will be more vampire/ Aristocracy (sanguinocracy) to come. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book....more
This book is (obviously!) not for everyone- I bought it before it was relevant to me but now I’m older Ive read it with more interest. It highlights tThis book is (obviously!) not for everyone- I bought it before it was relevant to me but now I’m older Ive read it with more interest. It highlights the uneven provision and availability of some types of HRT. Women should not have to go private to get the care they need and deserve. Most worryingly, class and ethnicity play a large part in this- MC white women are much more likely to receive the care they need....more
This was beyond compare. I absolutely loved it. This would suit historical fiction fans as well as fantasy. The magic systems of this world are ingeniThis was beyond compare. I absolutely loved it. This would suit historical fiction fans as well as fantasy. The magic systems of this world are ingenious and thought provoking. In fact there was so much about this that was thought provoking-colonialism, racism, slavery, misogyny, poverty, the dilemmas and subtleties of translation- it’s all here. I doubt I’ll ready anything to top this in the foreseeable future. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book....more
This was fantastic! You can compare the difference between HB’s YA books and this, to the similar jump made by Leigh Bardugo with her Ninth House adulThis was fantastic! You can compare the difference between HB’s YA books and this, to the similar jump made by Leigh Bardugo with her Ninth House adult debut. The jump is a significant one into a darker, grittier more contemporary adult fiction. In other words, it won’t be for everyone. This is nothing at all like her Folk of the Air work. It might not be for everyone, but it certainly hit the spot for me....more
There was a film of this I saw as a child that I’ve never forgotten. I never could remember the name of it so it was an utter delight to come across tThere was a film of this I saw as a child that I’ve never forgotten. I never could remember the name of it so it was an utter delight to come across this and enjoy its simple magic all over again!...more
Wow! I loved this! And also I’m so happy that there’s going to be a third book when I believed this to be a duology. The cultural context of this bookWow! I loved this! And also I’m so happy that there’s going to be a third book when I believed this to be a duology. The cultural context of this book is absolutely superb and the characters have developed and changed through the two books. This book did have a satisfying conclusion so I’m very intrigued to see where the authors take us next....more
ALL THE STARS!!!! Fantastic follow up to The Bone Shard Daughter! Everyone loves an Underdog story, but you don’t often get one in the position of EmpALL THE STARS!!!! Fantastic follow up to The Bone Shard Daughter! Everyone loves an Underdog story, but you don’t often get one in the position of Emperor! We really benefit in this book from the complex world building laid out previously, leaving the reader perfectly placed to deal with all of Lin’s troubles in this book. We delve deeper into the world of the Alanga (although there’s still plenty we don’t know by the end) and there’s a big battle that the reader has been anticipating for the whole book. Terrific stuff! Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book....more
ALL THE STARS!! Absolutely gobsmackingly good! This book was full of surprises- and girl power! I spent the vast majority of the book on the edge of mALL THE STARS!! Absolutely gobsmackingly good! This book was full of surprises- and girl power! I spent the vast majority of the book on the edge of my seat or scratching my head trying to work out what the hell was going on. The book is filled with a cast of thousands with a special mention for Ixa. I can’t wait for the next book!...more
Loved it! Bespelled jewellery, nightmare horse demons, a world of low gods and high gods, and an Evil Baddie. Vanya is our underdog MC and is joined bLoved it! Bespelled jewellery, nightmare horse demons, a world of low gods and high gods, and an Evil Baddie. Vanya is our underdog MC and is joined by a bunch of misfits to solve a crime and save a kingdom. Special mention to the shapeshifting Goddess’ daughter and the Kobald, the palace goblin. This was a fantastic and romantic tale which was just perfect for the shorter darker days of winter. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book....more
Caruso’s Swords and Fire trilogy was good but I’m definitely enjoying this one more! I love all the members of the Rookery and this author’s take on dCaruso’s Swords and Fire trilogy was good but I’m definitely enjoying this one more! I love all the members of the Rookery and this author’s take on demons is an interesting one. I’m looking forward to the next book, hopefully later this year....more
That was an amazing read! This is a richly imagined , possibly Venetian-inspired world with its own astrological and sacred geometry system, its own tThat was an amazing read! This is a richly imagined , possibly Venetian-inspired world with its own astrological and sacred geometry system, its own tarot (pattern) deck, zlyzen demonsa really interesting cast of thousands and a loving found family. I got some answers to the questions I had, but some will be carried forward to the next in series....more
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