**spoiler alert** Emri is the adopted daughter of the rulers of Edar; she is also the biological daughter of Rassa, the prince who tried to usurp her **spoiler alert** Emri is the adopted daughter of the rulers of Edar; she is also the biological daughter of Rassa, the prince who tried to usurp her mothers throne.
So coming into her inheritance at eighteen provokes complicated feelings - more so when her Farezi cousin Melisande, newly arrived at court, lets slip a dark secret from the past with difficult implications for the future.
Not the best time, then, for the cousins to be kidnapped by legendary beings, gods long relegated to the shadows of myth. Lady Winter, Twilight and Night, celebrated at the Midwinter Ball in Edar as pageantry, turn out to very real deities - and they are angry at being ignored for so long.
Emri must find a way out for herself, Melisande & two other young royals from neighbouring realms, or face becoming a puppet-ruler, controlled by the gods. But if she succeeds, she may unleash magic upon an unready world...
This is a brilliant adventure quest, with witty, crackling dialogue, complex protagonists, horrifyingly real godmonsters, and a real moral dilemma at its heart.
The writing in this book is so assured, the action feels so effortless, that I galloped through these pages and couldn't wait to pick it up again when I was forced to put it down.
The sequel to Queen of Coin and Whispers, DOWAT can be read as a stand alone; the main characters of the first book are in the background of this one, and the action takes place fourteen years later.
Daisy and Hazel (and George and Alexander) are on a cruise on the Nile this time, marvelling at the wonders of Ancient Egypt. Also on board is the unpDaisy and Hazel (and George and Alexander) are on a cruise on the Nile this time, marvelling at the wonders of Ancient Egypt. Also on board is the unpleasant Breath of Life group, who are convinced they are reincarnations of powerful Egyptian rulers...
Naturally, murder strikes - the Detective Society in on the case! To complicate matters, Hazel's family is also on board - and her little sister May keeps getting under their feet.
Figuring out whodunnit is as delicious and enjoyable as ever, so while it is sad to say goodbye to Hazel and Daisy, it is such an enjoyable ending to the Murder Most Unladylike series. ...more
Set in a Dublin hospital in 1918 during the Flu Pandemic, the narrative is voiced through Nurse Julia Power who is looking after a tiny makeshift wardSet in a Dublin hospital in 1918 during the Flu Pandemic, the narrative is voiced through Nurse Julia Power who is looking after a tiny makeshift ward in the hospital. There she labours for the women who not only have the 'grip' as the flu is known, but are also pregnant.
This book is a stunning piece of work - I love historical fiction, but was unprepared for how completely swept up I would become by this book...it possesses an incredible sense of driving urgency as Julia fights 'the bone man' for the lives of her charges, worries about her war-damaged brother Tim who survived the Western Front at a terrible cost, and becomes aware of the everyday darkness that shadows all women's lives in Ireland.
Dr Kathleen Lynn, a heroine of mine, plays an important role - as does Bridie Sweeney, a scrap of a girl volunteered to help out Julia.
Breathtaking, bold and brilliant - a beautiful and bloody story that really hits home....more
Sharp and funny, scatological and sweary, these slices of life from Samantha Irby made me alternately laugh out loud and wince...
This quote, about "seSharp and funny, scatological and sweary, these slices of life from Samantha Irby made me alternately laugh out loud and wince...
This quote, about "self care" absolutely cracked me up - to the extent I've forced other people to read it, so why should you escape...
"I got a manicure a few days ago, which is a thing I rarely do because - we're all friends here - I don't give a fuck. But I was going to a party that night and you know how parties are, just a bunch of people standing around in sequined clothes scouring the room to make sure one another's cuticles are pushed the fuck back."
Witty as hell and also the Queen of TMI, it feels like she hold nothing - and I mean nothing - back.
Whip smart and hilarious and real - a tremendously entertaining and all-too-human book.
Utterly gorgeous - think an Irish lesbian version of Simon vs the Homo Sapiens but with a great deal more confidence. I love the way Saoirse's issues Utterly gorgeous - think an Irish lesbian version of Simon vs the Homo Sapiens but with a great deal more confidence. I love the way Saoirse's issues have nothing to do with her fancying girls; her family, schoolmates, friends and strangers are all accepting of her being a lesbian...the worst she mentions is the odd frown from a stranger when she holds her ex-girlfriend's hand. She does have real problems though - her reasons for not wanting to get close to anyone are heartbreakingly real. Her relationship with her dad, her friendship with Oliver and her burgeoning romance with his cousin Ruby are deftly handled; this is a witty, smart and sexy YA novel.
In short, I absolutely adore this book and you will too. Go, pre-order it now! (Due out June 1st)....more
Loved all these stories, especially Moira Fowley-Doyle's one about the Marriage Equality campaign in Dublin. Also loved Juno Dawson's introduction!Loved all these stories, especially Moira Fowley-Doyle's one about the Marriage Equality campaign in Dublin. Also loved Juno Dawson's introduction!...more
Cultures clashing, countries on the brink of war, troubled queendoms, magic, intrigue, spying and DRAGONS. Complex, multi-stranded and epic in scale, tCultures clashing, countries on the brink of war, troubled queendoms, magic, intrigue, spying and DRAGONS. Complex, multi-stranded and epic in scale, this is fantasy that doesn't feel the need to treat women as add-ons, decorative damsels or pawns in male-only power games; they are fully-formed creations with their own flaws, drives and purpose. It is telling as well that I felt such a sense of relief that girls and women aren't in constant danger of sexual assault at every page turn; death by assassination yes, rape not so much......more
When twins Ellery and Ezra visit their grandmother in Echo Ridge, they stumble into a world of intrigue, danger - and murder. Home-coming queens keep dWhen twins Ellery and Ezra visit their grandmother in Echo Ridge, they stumble into a world of intrigue, danger - and murder. Home-coming queens keep dying or disappearing - and someone nominated Ellery this year...who will be next? Gripping drama from the author of One of Us is Lying - a book to keep you up all night!...more
Gorgeously written YA fantasy, with lushly tactile world building, it features a spy master driven by revenge and her queen, newly ascended to the thrGorgeously written YA fantasy, with lushly tactile world building, it features a spy master driven by revenge and her queen, newly ascended to the throne, whose grasp on power is somewhat shaky.
As feelings tentatively unfurl, the tension mounts as the battle for the throne - and for survival - intensifies.
A stunning debut from a fabulous young Irish writer.
Starts as a charming meet-cute, but evolves into the difficulty of opening up and taking a chance, despite the high possibility of getting hurt. Smart Starts as a charming meet-cute, but evolves into the difficulty of opening up and taking a chance, despite the high possibility of getting hurt. Smart and funny and poignant, this is a novel about friendship and family as much as romance. Looking forward to meeting the authors later on today!...more
If you liked Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda aka Love, Simon, you'll adore this!
I love Leah - snarky, quippy and quick-witted but with a vulnerabilitIf you liked Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda aka Love, Simon, you'll adore this!
I love Leah - snarky, quippy and quick-witted but with a vulnerability to her as well...I just want to hang out with her.
Also refreshing to read a book that has such body-positivity; Leah being heavier than the 'norm' doesn't stop people finding her desirable, and though others comments bother her, she is more or less comfortable in her skin....more
Fierce warrior poet whose words make your blood tingle eyes shine heart beat a faster rhythm to rhyme with the bars flowing from the page into your eager Fierce warrior poet whose words make your blood tingle eyes shine heart beat a faster rhythm to rhyme with the bars flowing from the page into your eager brain-stem
you see her you know her you've been her - a little, not entire -
how someone else words can choke you can box you in they talk you over so you have to plant your feet raise your fists throw back your head and shout like the river
A slower and more contemplative book than the two previous in the Wayfarers series, this nevertheless starts with a massive explosion in space. The diA slower and more contemplative book than the two previous in the Wayfarers series, this nevertheless starts with a massive explosion in space. The disaster, which kills tens of thousands of people on board, causes a rethink for many who are part of the Exodan Fleet; is it time to leave the ageing ships their ancestors used to flee a dying Earth, or does their unique way of life hold value still?
A fascinating depiction of a society based on barter and recycling, where the stories that matter are about how badly we destroyed Earth, and how imperative it is to learn from that terrible mistake. Therefore, the role of archivist is very important - cataloging people's stories and experience so that those on board can benefit from past experiences of others.
So we see life through the eyes of several characters on board; a restless young apprentice, a visiting alien, a technician worried about her job and family, a immigrant trying to find his place on board, a caretaker for the dead, and an archivist. Everyday lives are used to explore the big questions - who are we? are we really communicating when our circumstances are so alien to each other? what gives us purpose?
I read this series out of sequence; A Closed and Common Orbit about a year ago, and this first one just now.
However, I reckon they can be read as stanI read this series out of sequence; A Closed and Common Orbit about a year ago, and this first one just now.
However, I reckon they can be read as stand-alone books, and The Long Way... was a highly enjoyable read that has a lot of serious questions about humans and our ability to cope with difference. Especially different species...
If Georgette Heyer had queer characters, then they would love to do the Grand Tour with Monty, Percy and Felicity! This book is every bit as witty, chIf Georgette Heyer had queer characters, then they would love to do the Grand Tour with Monty, Percy and Felicity! This book is every bit as witty, charming and rakish as Heyer, but with a boy in love with his best (male) friend, pirates and highwaymen and alchemists added to the mix.
It really is the most fun you can have with your clothes on......more
A richly textured, atmospheric novel set in England in the early 1800's, this has the plotting and tone of Dickens meets Jane Eyre with a dash of SaraA richly textured, atmospheric novel set in England in the early 1800's, this has the plotting and tone of Dickens meets Jane Eyre with a dash of Sarah Waters thrown in.
Tremendously entertaining and properly melodramatic in a Victorian sort of way, this book had me gripped to the end.
The cover is also one of the most gorgeous things I've seen - worth framing....more
A fun and enjoyable read on the age old theme - what would you do if you won the lottery? We track the highs and the lows that follow a huge win afterA fun and enjoyable read on the age old theme - what would you do if you won the lottery? We track the highs and the lows that follow a huge win after Alice gives her best friend - and secret crush - a lottery ticket as a joke 18th birthday present....more
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