The Good: A pull-no-punches account of the realities of war, complete with a cast of humans (key point: not heroes) whose efforts will likely fail, but if they don’t try, then who else will? The Bad: Not a ‘bad’ for me, personally speaking, but the story does contain scenes that some readers may find upsetting … Continue reading Book Review: We Are The Dead by Mike Shackle
Tag: debut
Book Review: Master of Sorrows by Justin Call
The Good: Destiny and dark magic, a fresh take on time-honoured tropes, a world brimming with history, belief and ideals, action sequences that dare to be different, and a plot filled with secrets and surprises. The Bad: Bit of a slow burner at the start, and some of the early dialogues felt a bit like … Continue reading Book Review: Master of Sorrows by Justin Call
Book Review: A Boy and his Dog at the End of the World by C.A. Fletcher
The Good: A fresh take on what the ‘end of the world’ looks like, a story that is as heart-warming as it is heart-breaking, strikingly simple prose on the surface with plenty of depth beneath, plot-twists that pull the rug right out from underneath you, and most importantly…DOGS! The Bad: As much as I loved … Continue reading Book Review: A Boy and his Dog at the End of the World by C.A. Fletcher
Book Review: Rosewater by Tade Thompson
The Good: I can’t even attempt to summarise the good in a line or two – all I can say is that Rosewater blew my expectations out of the water in every way possible. The Bad: This will NOT be for everyone. Seriously. It doesn’t get off to a bumpy or even a slow start, … Continue reading Book Review: Rosewater by Tade Thompson
Book Review: The Gutter Prayer by Gareth Hanrahan
The Good: A line-up of the usual suspects with a plot as thick as thieves, complete with Warcraftian worldbuilding and Lovecraftian lore, making for a truly unique and at times unusual (and this is a good thing!) debut. The Bad: Not so much a trigger warning, but this will NOT be for everyone. There are … Continue reading Book Review: The Gutter Prayer by Gareth Hanrahan
Review: The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
The Good: One of the most badass and brutal POV characters I have ever had the pleasure of reading, worldbuilding that rises up around the reader without you even realising, and a plot so tightly packed and paced that this veritable tome of a tale turns from page-turner to hair-tearer when you realise it’s all … Continue reading Review: The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Review: Snakewood
Book Review: Snakewood by Adrian Selby The Good: A masterclass in character/narrative voice(s), kickass murderous mercenaries, a unique magic-system based on what is essentially magic-mushrooms and their effects, and a genre-bending/blending/breaking triumph of style. The Bad: Now, whilst this wasn’t a ‘bad read’ for me, the style and voice will be polarising. As a reader … Continue reading Review: Snakewood
