Medea – Rosie Hewlett

Abused by her father and brother, and shunned by her people, Medea is desperate for a different life. When the hero Jason and his crew of Argonauts arrive on Colchis seeking the legendary golden fleece, Medea sees her opportunity to escape. Using her magic to aid Jason in his quest, she sets in motion a series of events that will change her life, in some ways for the better, but in many ways for the worse.

I really enjoyed this re-telling of Medea and Jason’s story, which I was not previously very familiar with. It was great to learn more about Jason’s quest with the Argonauts and I particularly liked hearing more from the women who appear in these stories; in this case, Medea, Atalanta and Circe.

I’ve read quite a few modern re-tellings of Greek myths, and one of my favourite things in each of these is seeing the parts where the details cross over, so you can see where authors have interpreted parts of the stories in the same way (case in point, Herc by Phoenicia Rogerson includes a gay romance between Heracles and Hylas; in Medea, Hylas is referred to as Heracles’ “special friend”).

This book is very well written and tells the story brilliantly. The only problem is that Medea is incredibly naïve and I spent the entire time wanting to reach out and shake her. The amount she sacrifices for a man is embarrassing. Still, irritation aside, I really enjoyed it.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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The Warm Hands of Ghosts – Katherine Arden

In November 1917, Freddie Iven awakens in darkness. He is trapped under an overturned pillbox, and he is not alone. Trapped with him is a German soldier by the name of Winter, who quickly becomes his sole means of survival. But where can the two of them go once they finally claw their way out, where they won’t be killed as enemy soldiers or deserters? Meanwhile in January 1918, Freddie’s sister, Laura, receives word of Freddie’s death along with his uniform and tags. But if Freddie is missing, presumed dead, how has she been sent his things? Determined to find out what happened to her brother, Laura returns to Belgium as a volunteer nurse for a private hospital. Soon after arriving, she hears whispers and stories of a mysterious fiddler who can give soldiers the gift of oblivion. Could this be what has happened to Freddie?

I’m not usually a big fan of WW1 or WW2 stories, but I am a huge fan of Katherine Arden so I decided immediately that I wanted to give this book a go, and I’m very glad I did. It is a moving and intriguing novel, with a fantasy/supernatural touch which actually fits incredibly well with a war theme. The historical elements seem very well researched and Arden manages not to get bogged down in the horrors of war whilst also not glossing over them.

I enjoyed the characters, particularly Laura, Winter and Jones (I didn’t particularly like Freddie but, in his traumatised state, I think we can forgive him), and I loved the tense, supernatural atmosphere throughout the story. It was very easy to understand why the soldiers had so many stories of ghosts and why so many of them would believe the rumours of the fiddler so, despite being a fantasy novel, it was very real and believable.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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Northern Wrath – Thilde Kold Holdt

The bonds between the gods and Midgard are weakening. It’s up to the people of Ash-Hill to fight to save the old ways, and save their gods in the process, while seeking revenge and honourable deaths following the slaughter of their village by Southerners.

I have a very mixed opinion of this book. Some elements, like the character development and portrayal of Norse beliefs and life in Jutland, were excellent. It felt very authentic and believable, including the fantasy elements which were woven into the story seamlessly. However, the plot is bit too long and complicated. There are too many threads following different characters on individual journeys in different locations, so it was quite difficult to follow, and the relevance of some parts is completely lost in the plot. Presumably, these storylines will be expanded on in the rest of the trilogy, but I’ll never find out because it simply didn’t grip me enough to carry on with the series.

There’s a lot of action and the plot moves pretty quickly, but somehow it still felt like I was reading this book for months. I think this again comes back to there just being too much going in – it made the story feel disjointed and didn’t flow well, which slowed my reading pace down massively.

Northern Wrath is a decent novel, but I’d recommend it more for people who like to take their time over a book and those with a particular interest in Norse history/mythology.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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Herc – Phoenicia Rogerson

This is the story of Hercules… sort of. Actually, it’s the story of the people around him. The people he loved, the people he killed, and everyone in between.

I’m a massive fan of Greek mythology and re-tellings, and I thoroughly enjoyed Herc. The story follows Hercules over his entire life, from birth to his labours and afterwards, to his death, but is told in alternating chapters from the point of view of other significant characters he came into contact with: his family, his lovers, and others whose lives were affected by their association with him. This is a fantastic way to tell the story and keep a somewhat impartial viewpoint, because Hercules is a troubling character – a hero of course, but followed by death and pain wherever he goes.

Rogerson did a brilliant job with giving each narrator their own unique voice. My favourite had to be Eurystheus, who was in charge of overseeing Herc’s labours and suffered much more from it than Hercules did. I enjoyed the modern tone and humour throughout.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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House of Odysseus – Claire North

During Odysseus’ twenty year absence from the isle of Ithaca, his wife, Penelope, has been maintaining control of the isle, putting off the suitors who would take his place, and generally keeping things running as best she can. But her efforts are put to the test when Orestes, King of Mycenae, and his sister Elektra return to Ithaca seeking her help. They are closely followed by their uncle Menelaus, King of Sparta, who is determined to prove that Orestes has lost his mind since killing his own mother and is not fit to rule, hoping to seize the Mycenean throne for himself.

House of Odysseus is slightly faster paced than Ithaca was, and centres around Penelope’s cunning in thwarting Menelaus’ plans, giving it a more detailed plot than Ithaca which mainly told the story of the suitors bothering Penelope while Odysseus was away. This made House of Odysseus more original and substantial, and I absolutely loved it.

All the characters, male and female, are excellently written and perfectly interpreted, in my opinion, from the traditional mythology and given a more modern spin. I loved Aphrodite as the narrator and her comments on the goddesses, humans and situations throughout the story were absolutely spot on. I also think the feminist take on the various female characters was excellently done, as they are cunning and powerful, but are forced to play the role of feeble women as expected by the men. It doesn’t come across as at all unrealistic that these women would have been able to manipulate events and twist things around according to their own plans, without being caught out by the men who simply cannot fathom that a woman would be able to pull off the things that Penelope does. Helen was also a perfect interpretation of the woman from myth; how would the woman who caused the Trojan war really be getting on after being reclaimed by her husband having humiliated him beyond repair? Claire North’s representation of her is fantastic.

I cannot wait for book #3 (although I do have some trepidation about the fate of certain characters when Odysseus does finally return…)

I would recommend coming into the Songs of Penelope series with some background knowledge of the Battle of Troy and the Odyssey, and Greek mythology in general, as it will make the characters and the politics in this book much easier to understand.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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The Other Side of Mrs Wood – Lucy Barker

Mrs Wood is London’s most famous medium. She has avoided the mistakes that have revealed others as frauds and remains in high demand. However, younger, fresher mediums have been attracting the attention of some of her patrons and Mrs Wood worries that her days are numbered. In order to spice things up and draw attention back to herself, Mrs Wood decides to take on a young protégé, Emmie Finch, to join her act. But is Emmie as naïve as she seems to be, or does she herself pose a much more serious threat to Mrs Wood’s position?

The Other side of Mrs Wood is an enjoyable historical fiction novel with paranormal vibes. The story is quite slow and a little longer than necessary, but has a very well established setting and characters, and the slow-burn plot builds up a strong level of intrigue around Emmie and her true motivations.

It was fun to read about the 19th century obsession with spiritualism, and to get an insight into how mediums worked and the techniques they would use to entertain their audiences. It was little bit weird that virtually every character claimed to be a budding medium and made contact with spirits, and yet were still shocked and appalled whenever a fraud was revealed.

I would dispute the description of this book as a comedy, because it’s just not, but it is pretty good.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder – T.A. Willberg

London, 1958: Hidden deep beneath the city lies a secret detective agency known by few as Miss Brickett’s. Apprentice detectives at Miss Brickett’s undergo rigorous training to equip them with the skills required to solve the cases that London’s police force cannot, but what they are not prepared for is a murder from within. When her mentor, Frank, is arrested on suspicion of the murder of a colleague, 23-year-old apprentice Marion Lane is tasked with clearing his name.

Overall, I found Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder to be decidedly average. There were some strong elements – the plot, the characters, the fun spy gadgets and devices – but also some very, very weak areas. Despite being near her mid-twenties, Marion felt very young and the writing style gave the book a young-adult vibe which I’m not sure was entirely intentional. Also, it felt like the author had tried to incorporate elements from James Bond, Harry Potter and Bridgerton, and failed in all three.

One of the biggest flaws throughout the entire book was that these so-called detectives all seemed to be horrible at detecting anything. They discussed highly confidential topics in the open for anyone to hear, allowed a murder to happen inside an establishment filled with supposedly well-trained detectives, and then jumped to the first and most obvious conclusion for who did it. I certainly wouldn’t hire them to solve anything.

I didn’t hate it, but I don’t feel the need to read any more from this series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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Winchelsea – Alex Preston

When Goody Brown is sixteen, her adoptive father is murdered by a group of men he thought were his friends. Seeking justice, Goody and her brother Francis join the cut-throat world of gangs and smuggling. Goody was never meant to become the gentlewoman her father wanted her to be, but what will she become instead?

Winchelsea is an enjoyable story about a young woman earning her place in a man’s world. I liked Goody, and her induction into smuggling felt quite plausible despite her being a woman. The setting and situation felt historically authentic, and the LGBTQ representation was well considered in terms of the time period (1700s). Goody faces a lot of difficulty throughout her life, but it’s never too over the top and I really enjoyed her narrative perspective.

The second part of the book switches to an entirely new narrator, which was a little jarring and not perfectly executed, but it does reveal a rather significant twist to the plot in an original and unexpected way. I’ve seen a lot of reviews complain about this shift in perspective, but I actually think it worked well here.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher as part of an organised read-along.

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The Wolf Den – Elodie Harper

Amara was once the beloved daughter of a doctor, until her father’s death and her sale into the slave trade. Now she lives as a whore in a brothel in Pompeii, owned by a cruel man and forced to service customers every day. But Amara is resilient and resourceful, and she’s determined to escape.

The Wolf Den is a really well written piece of historical fiction. As the story centers around a group of prostitutes, there is a lot of adult content and I wouldn’t recommend for younger readers. The author doesn’t shy away from or try to soften the abuse these women are forced to endure. It’s candid and honest, but it also isn’t explicitly described which makes it a bit easier to read.

That being said, it’s quite a depressing story. Although I did enjoy it and found the portrayal of life in Pompeii at that time quite fascinating, Amara’s persistent desire to gain her freedom is a little bit soul crushing at times. Every new client is a potential way out, and she gives it her all every time, so it’s quite traumatic every time she is let down and forced to return to the brothel.

Without giving anything away, and keeping in mind that this is the first part of a trilogy, I found the ending pretty dissatisfying. There is a positive ending of sorts, but surrounded by so much misery that it cannot possibly be called happy.

It’s a really powerful commentary on the role of women and a riveting story of courage and survival. I did find this book captivating, and will therefore read the rest of the trilogy, but it would have worked just as well as a single standalone novel.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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The Madman’s Library: The Strangest Books, Manuscripts and Other Literary Curiosities from History – Edward Brooke-Hitching

A fascinating collection of bizarre, obscure books from across the globe and throughout human history, with chapters focusing on books written in blood, books of unusual size, books on religion and the supernatural, literary hoaxes, and more.

I found The Madman’s Library incredibly interesting really well written. The information included covers such a vast range of topics and some of it is genuinely quite mind blowing. Some of my stand-out favourites include the Portuguese-English dictionary written by a man who couldn’t speak a word of English; a series of pamphlets in which one author spread the false news of his very-much-alive rival’s death; a book of cheese slices; anthropodermic bibliopegy (books bound with human skin); and a selection of books with amusing and unusual titles.

A very entertaining read, with stunning and fascinating illustrations, and the author’s own opinions and sense of humour lending a sense of personality to the book.

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