I've heard a lot about Dungeon Crawler Carl, and it lived up to the hype! It is a ball of mindless fun that is entertaining throughout with some of thI've heard a lot about Dungeon Crawler Carl, and it lived up to the hype! It is a ball of mindless fun that is entertaining throughout with some of the most random ideas and events you will find in speculative fiction. But, also amongst the anarchy, there are moments of heart that keep you hooked and engaged on a layer beyond just wanting to see more crazy creatures and hear more of Princess Donut (the cat) talking...
This is a whirlwind of a ride. I thought it would lose its novelty of the video game, reality show set-up about halfway-through, but it kept its edge, with Matt Dinniman gradually adding breadcrumbs of information throughout to keep you enthralled.
Also, I highly recommend listening to the audiobook. There are so many sound effects and extra details, to the level that transforms this into a real listening experience.
Received an advance copy of The Land of the Living and the Dead from the publisher in return for an honest review
Well, the first two instalments are bReceived an advance copy of The Land of the Living and the Dead from the publisher in return for an honest review
Well, the first two instalments are brilliant, but The Land of the Living and the Dead still stands head-and-shoulders over them. This is a masterful conclusion to a truly unique historical fantasy series that gives us an epic lens into Irish mythology and Irish history whilst expertly giving us an intimate story as well that we can invest and find ourselves to be truly moved in.
Historical fiction focusing on the childhood of Alexander the Great. This zooms in on the animosity between his mother and My first Mary Renault read!
Historical fiction focusing on the childhood of Alexander the Great. This zooms in on the animosity between his mother and father, and how he is dragged into their conflict time and time again. He is shaped by this enmity, and it will make him into the man who defied every expectation and cemented his name in history.
Mary Renault has a wonderful writing style. She really has such a skill, and that is on full display in Fire from Heaven. Her prose is smooth and powerful, but not over-the top. She uses this really well to craft unique characters with their own ambitions and hidden desires, with believable prose that works fantastically on a surface level but also exploring the subtext, which was perfect for the political machinations and interactions.
However, whilst many of the case were complex and well-developed, Alexander the Great as a child is shown as basically being... perfect. Which, for me at least, does not fit with the mass-murderer we know of history. We may want to read about him, but that is not because of his morality. However, in Fire From Heaven, he is just wonderful with everything he does. Sadly, that detracted from the story for me, especially in the latter half, where it became apparent this trend was not going to change.
Aside from that though, it was an engaging and intriguing read with a close analysis of character and political machinations that hooked me. I will definitely be reading more my Mary Renault!...more
Finished my second Natalie Haynes book! I had a few issues with A Thousand Ships, but I really enjoyed Natalie Haynes' writinMy 50th read of 2024!
Finished my second Natalie Haynes book! I had a few issues with A Thousand Ships, but I really enjoyed Natalie Haynes' writing style, so I had high hopes for her other projects. I thought A Thousand Ships was a bit stretched with the sheer amount of PoV's, so I thought a more limited scope will give me a great read, hence why I chose to dive into Stone Blind.
I had no idea what Stone Blind followed, other than that it was a Greek Mythological retelling. If I had thought more about the title, I would soon have guessed what it is about. Stone in greek myth, surely it is Medusa? It is! As soon as I found that out, I was even more fascinated. Medusa is one of the most famous mythological figures, yet I cannot think of any representation that characterises her beyond the fight with Perseus.
Stone Blind does a great job of following immortals such as the Gods, and mortals such as Pursues. We have a great representation of characters, with a brilliant range of tone and emotion as well. The relationships and interactions between the Olympians can be hilarious, but somehow simultaneously horrifying, as their childish behaviour has severe ramifications for humanity, yet seems like nothing to them. In this way, Natalie Haynes expertly contends her deeper messages without forcing them down the throat of the reader.
Haynes is a great writer, with smooth, often lyrical, prose that is easy to binge. I felt immersed in the world of Ancient Greece, and also in the settings from Olympus, to the deep seas of Poseidon and more, and this was largely down to Haynes' style, which just clicks to me.
Stone Blind was a really solid read that hooked me. Everything was well executed. Whilst I still did not feel that extra level of attachment so a specific character, I was still invested in this unique and fresh Greek Retelling.
Just finished this most recent BookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
Just finished this most recent Pat Barker release. I adored The Silence of the Girls and The Women of Troy, and I have told many people that the first of this series is one of the greatest books to have ever been written, in my opinion.
So, it would be fair to say I went into this third instalment of the series with high expectations....
The Voyage Home almost feels like a standalone. We have some characters from the previous instalments, but I would say you can read this without having dived into The Silence of the Girls (although I highly recommend it, as it is one of the BEST BOOKS EVER). For me, I was quite relieved, as The Women of Troy provided such a fitting ending for so many characters, but on the flip side it meant The Voyage Home had a lot of work to invest me in a new set of characters.
Whilst I was invested and enjoyed this read, especially with Pat Barker's wonderful prose once again being present, I feel it was a victim of my extremely high expectations. There weren't any of those moments I remember from the previous two instalments, which are still vivid in my mind despite my reading them years ago now. But, it is unfair to compare to brilliant, exceptional books, so I do know I was unfair to The Voyage Home, but I could not avoid it.
Still a good read, with the final third being crafted and put together magnificently, but I would push the previous two instalments far, far more.
Shauna Lawless once again showsBookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
Shauna Lawless once again shows herself to be an author who can do it all. We are immersed into a truly unique setting that brilliantly blends the gritty history and fascinating mythology of 11th century Ireland, with a generous dose of political intrigue along the way.
Finally dived into this second instalment of the Gael Song trilogy, just before the final book is released next month! Loved book 1 and also the two prequel novellas. Now The Words of Kings and Prophets joins that group.
Once again Shauna Lawless expertly crafts character and tension. As she weaves the different arcs and plot lines together, you feel so tense, as characters cross paths, secrets are revealed and some remain hidden. This is a truly living and breathing world, with mystery lurking around every corner. Many questions are answered, but so many more are asked, so I really cannot wait to turn to book 3, The Land of the Living and the Dead, in September! So glad now that I waited until now to read book 2, as I won't have to wait long to finish this journey!
Gael Song is just a fantastically written series, within which Shauna Lawless consistently shows herself to be a writer of great talent. I will read whatever she puts out into the world.
My brother recently read and loBookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
My brother recently read and loved this after it won the Waterstones Debut Award, so I trusted his judgement and picked it up. I am so glad that I did.
Glorious Exploits is a truly unique read. It has characters that leap from the page, an engaging plot, a wonderful writing style and a story you can connect with. All the hallmarks of an excellent book. But this also has that 'X' factor that is so often indescribable. Ferdia Lennon brings all these elements together to weave a truly masterful read that makes you laugh, makes you sweat with fear, and makes you cry. Very few books can achieve all three, and it is done expertly in Glorious Exploits.
We are thrust into 412 BC Syracuse, after an Athenian force have failed to conquer them. The Athenian prisoners has been thrown into a quarry to slowly starve, and during this time two recently jobless potters decide to go to the quarry and feed the Athenian prisoners who can quote lines from the plays of Euripides, an Athenian playwright. This then evolves into them deciding to direct a play, with the prisoners as the cast....
“If I’m honest, some days I still come here to sniff and stroll and lose myself in other worlds, and like when I was a kid, I wonder if the real places are anything like I’m imagining, and just like then, I wince, for something tells me I’ll never know, but it’s still a buzz.”
Glorious Exploits took this very unique premise and runs away with it, with a humorous undertone to the style that was very amusing, but also provoked a visceral reaction at times when it contrasted with the content, which can be very brutal. This could have come across as jarring, but in my opinion a balance was struck that perfectly exploited (my pun of the day) its potential.
This is a read that I would recommend to everyone, no matter if they mainly read historical fiction, thriller, fantasy, horror or poetry. It is a book that hooks you and refuses to let you go, investing you in the characters and exploring the human condition along the way.
Been a while since I dived intoBookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
Been a while since I dived into some non-fiction centred on the ancient world! Not much of a better way then to come back with some Adrian Goldsworthy.
Philip and Alexander: Kings and Conquerors is absolutely fascinating. Philip of Macedon managed to turn the fate of Macedon around, and set them up as a threatening power, and then his son, Alexander of course, managed to take that newfound stability to forge one of the biggest empires of all-time, in such a short period as well. These extraordinary events are fascinating, but of course require knowledge about a vast amount of historical and political context in order to make anything out of it. On top of that, our sources are so limited that is much expert historians are baffled over, yet alone the common reader.
So, with limited materials, Adrian Goldsworthy does a great job immersing us in the cultures of the time, allowing himself to go on small tangents when he reveals tidbits of information that add so much flavour amongst a lot of the heavy information. This balance was struck really well, and resulted in a highly informative yet engaging lens being shone on these rulers of the ancient world.
Over the last few months I haveBookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
Over the last few months I have been making a conscious effort to pick up books that have been on my TBR for months and years. The latest to join that group is Ariadne....
Ariadne has an ethereal writing style that sucks you in. I really enjoyed the approach Jennifer Saint took of not revealing anymore than needed, so that right away I was on edge, but did not know what directions this would take, despite obviously knowing some events that would take place, as they do in Greek Mythology.
I really enjoyed the beginning phase, as the characters were standout and the crafting of tone and atmosphere was excellent. As we reached the next phase, for me the characters, especially the villainous ones, fell a bit flat as it felt they had one defining characteristic and nothing more to them. However, I also really enjoyed the final act. I know for sure, because I felt moved, and Saint ended Ariadne very poignantly.
This is very different from whaBookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
This is very different from what I usually read, but I thought I would give The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo a go after I loved the adaptation of Daisy Jones & The Six. I'm very glad that I did.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a shocking, smoothly written and above all, tantalising, read that just keeps you turning the page. There is always a drive, always a hook and always a question you NEED answering. Taylor Jenkins Reid is brilliant at manipulating the reader as she gradually unravels the life of Evelyn Hugo through her interviews with Monique.
Monique, Cecelia, Harry and many more were brilliant characters. Reid has a way of showing the humanity of characters within just a few pages of meeting them. They feel real and organic. They feel like they have hidden depths we will never discover, but know is there. It is a feat that few authors can accomplish once, but Reid does it with a whole cast of characters. She has no fear in exploring the sins as well as the virtues of our leading characters, creating a complex story that leaves us conflicted, prompting a greater level of engagement as I attempted to direct how I felt about the actions of the characters as well.
We follow two timelines: - One is in the modern day, through the perspective of Monique, a journalist who has shockingly been requested by the most famous actress in the world, Evelyn Hugo, to come and interview her and write down her life story. - The other is through the voice of Evelyn Hugo herself, as she tells her story from growing up to her old age.
The perspective of Evelyn Hugo accounts for about 75% of the book, and it is just brilliant from beginning to end. I was hooked and could not turn my eyes away. The slight weakness of this book came from Monique in my opinion. Whilst she was a good character, when we returned to the modern day through her perspective, I found myself just wanting to go back to Evelyn Hugo, as that was just so much more engaging and had such a brilliant drive and purpose to it. Luckily most of the occasions we follow Monique are only short staggered segments throughout the book, but it did mean there was a portion of the book that I was wanting to rush through to get to the better parts.
I will definitely be reading more by Taylor Jenkins Reid!...more
I finally dived back into The BBookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
I finally dived back into The Bound and the Broken. In this novella, Ryan Cahill instantly reminded me what a page-turning author he is, as we follow one of my favourite characters of the series, Dayne.
This is a story with a crazy amount of action, but Cahill finds a way to create a compelling relationship between action and character growth, so that we are invested in the big and small events unfolding. From epic battles, assassinations to a TERRIFYING final sequence, Cahill displays his ability to write the whole scope of action. We see some characters reappear from previous instalments, but I also really enjoyed the new characters. But, of course, the highlight of The Exile is Dayne. The more of him the better!
I'm there for any Matthew HarffBookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
I'm there for any Matthew Harffy book, especially when he turns his expertise to crafting a western!
This takes the small ranch vs landowner conflict trope and places it at the centre of Dark Frontier. Chuck in a murder mystery, a man trying to not return to the violence of his past, gun fights, saloon brawls, high stakes and a simple need to deliver justice and you have yourself a fantastic recipe for a Western, especially when that recipe is compiled by Matthew Harffy.
Dark Frontier is a great 2024 publication that takes these classic tropes and makes them feel fresh. We have great twists and turns, vivid characters, with White in particular as a standout, and a huge dose of tension that is crafted and manipulated by Harffy brilliantly.
Lucky to have early access to A Good Deliverance in return for an honest review!
In A Good Deliverance we follow Sir Thomas Malory, often labelled as tLucky to have early access to A Good Deliverance in return for an honest review!
In A Good Deliverance we follow Sir Thomas Malory, often labelled as the father of Arthurian Legend, as he is thrown into prison once again. As he is enveloped with dark memories and isolation, he takes the opportunity to recount the story of his life to a young boy who works in the prison. Malory discusses how his love for Arthur was born, about the Hundred Years War, the Wars of the Roses, forbidden love, the reality of war and more.
This is a totally unique book with a unique approach. It took a little while to adapt to the writing style, but by about the fifty page mark I was starting to really enjoy this read. Clements adopts an element of archaic language, in my opinion crafting a great balance so that the read does not feel jarring, but certainly feels immersive, especially when partnered with his excellent grasp of the historical period.
Whilst I was not attached to many characters, I felt invested in the core few. Malory is great to follow. He proclaims that he is innocent, but sometimes is infuriating in his self-pity, but in a way that makes the read more engaging rather than aggravating. Also, I loved the relationship between Malory and the boy he recites his story to, as their tentative relationship grows over the course of the story, and each comes to depend on each other for different reasons.
If you want a historical read that focuses on the characters in a slower paced, more thoughtful story, this is for you. Especially if you also want a fresh read, which the writing style and structure gives you. Whilst slower pace, the way in which this chronicler's story is framed is captivating, and adds a sense of drive to the story.
The more King the better, so I BookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
The more King the better, so I dived into his latest release, You Like It Darker! It delivers on its title....
This is a fantastic short story collection. Stephen King still has it, and he demonstrates that seemingly with ease. His skill at crafting character and tension is just wonderful, from terrifying people who could be real in Willie the Weirdo, to exploring the supernatural with Danny Coughlin's Bad Dream, there is such an array of intriguing and engaging stories.
There was only one that did not click with me, whilst all the rest were so enjoyable in different ways.
Short story collections are perfect for dipping into when you have time, or when you want a little break from longer stories, and in You Like it Darker, King gives quality aplenty that you can dive into.
I have been provided access to Dreams of Sorrow by Head of Zeus via Netgalley, in return for an honest review.
Absolutely loved the first novella and tI have been provided access to Dreams of Sorrow by Head of Zeus via Netgalley, in return for an honest review.
Absolutely loved the first novella and the first instalment of Gael Song, so of course I was excited to see if Shauna Lawless was going to make this 3/3 for me.
In short, she did!
Senna is a great, compelling younger character who is suddenly thrown into a whole new world, as she discovers she has unique abilities, and must instantly leave behind all that she knows, including the man she loves.
We have a great mix of new and familiar characters, so you can read this to enhance your Gael Song experience, or to dive into after reading just the first novella of the series. In just a short page count, we are provided a compelling, engaging read that had an incredible finale....more
Picked this up once I heard it won SPFBO this year, and felt even more excited to dive in once I heard the unique premise that places it into the rarePicked this up once I heard it won SPFBO this year, and felt even more excited to dive in once I heard the unique premise that places it into the rarely seen 'detective fantasy' subgenre. It took about twenty or so pages to settle into the world and writing style, but after that it flew by. Really brilliant storytelling that expertly adds layers and layers to craft a complex and engaging series of mysteries.
It was absolutely riveting, and I finished this in a day. It has quite a large cast of key characters, about a dozen, so the depth ti them was limited by the page count. But Stang did a great job making each character unique and vivid to the reader within just a few pages of meeting them.
I loved the mysteries, as we search for a monster as well as a murderer, amongst ghosts, Malformed and more. I'll definitely be reading more by Morgan Stang.
I recommend this as a palette cleanser to all fantasy readers!
Very lucky that the publishers have sent me an ARC of Arthur in return for an honest review!
“He watched them die, those horse lords. Those gods of warVery lucky that the publishers have sent me an ARC of Arthur in return for an honest review!
“He watched them die, those horse lords. Those gods of war. The clamour of it ebbed even as the light leached from the land, but he knew he would hear it always. He watched until it was done.”
We follow a grim, disillusioned mercenary named Beran. He kills for money, but then he is ordered to kill a boy. And no ordinary boy at that. It is a boy who could unite Britain, but only if he lives….
I imagine everyone has seen or read or watched many different takes on the Arthurian legend, but please do not let that move you away from this. Arthur, as well as the two companion novels, Lancelot and Camelot, offer such a unique perspective. This is historically based, as we are thrust into a Britain now with little hope of fighting back the seemingly endless waves of Saxons.
Giles Kristian once again proves his writing prowess. His characterisation is simply sensational, with character growth occurring so naturally, in a way that does not feel forced by plot. It is really just amazing how immersive and engaging this story is, and a huge contributor to that is how natural and vivid the characters feel.
“‘The songs say I will come again.’ He lifts his chin. ‘Here I am.’”
I will continue to profess my love for this book as I now turn my attention to the themes. We have the battle between tragedy and heroism, but we also have an exploration of themes that usually aren’t engaged with as much. Such as the double-edged sword of memory is exposed as Beran is forced to confront his past, and finds both solace and pain in it. This engagement with themes that contribute to the plot but also simultaneously enriches the characterisation has such a strong impact on the reading experience. I’ve said it already, but I’ll say it again. Giles Kristian uses his vast writing skills to weave a tapestry that immerses you and shocks you, but also moves you and has a lasting impact.
This is just extraordinary. Arthur like you have never seen it before, yet it resonates in your heart just the same. The character arcs are brilliant, the world vivid, the plot unpredictable, the prose lyrical. It is a joy to pick up.
If you like Arthurian literature, you should love this. If you enjoy historical fiction, you should this. But if you just love an immersive story with standout characters, you should also love this.
From the author of How to Train Your Dragon, here is a tale of lost magic, family, talking toothbrushes, far away galaxies and some very determined chFrom the author of How to Train Your Dragon, here is a tale of lost magic, family, talking toothbrushes, far away galaxies and some very determined children. It is filled with wit, twists and turns, creative ingenuity, and of course some important lessons along the way.
Something exciting in regards to this series will be happening on the YouTube channel I run with my brother later this week. Check out The Brothers Gwynne if you want to find out :)....more
Needed a palette cleanser in audiobook format, so where better to turn to than the prequel to Legends & Lattes, narrated by Travis Baldree himself!
WanNeeded a palette cleanser in audiobook format, so where better to turn to than the prequel to Legends & Lattes, narrated by Travis Baldree himself!
Want some cosy fantasy? The this is for you. We follow the orc, Viv, from Legends & Lattes once again as she discovers coffee for the first time, and also spends a lot of time with books... two things you don't usually see when the main character is an orc mercenary .
The prose is smooth, the dialogue witty, the characters distinct. It is most definitely not epic, but there are still high stakes in the intimate story we are given, and this offers a satisfying ending to an engaging read. It really does freshen the reading experience because of how random and different it is.
If you enjoyed Legends & Lattes, you will really enjoy this. If you need a palette cleanser, then I think this is for you as well!...more
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