A collection of three novellas and three short stories. All variations of folk lore. Beautifully told with rich emotions and a strong sense of magic. A collection of three novellas and three short stories. All variations of folk lore. Beautifully told with rich emotions and a strong sense of magic. This is a fantastic collection. Beautifully produced. It reminded me a little of Neil Gaiman but better. Highly recommended....more
This was a beautiful and sad tale. A Selkie trapped in human form, forced into whaling. The mixture of fantasy, folk tale, relationships and harsh reaThis was a beautiful and sad tale. A Selkie trapped in human form, forced into whaling. The mixture of fantasy, folk tale, relationships and harsh reality was interwoven so beautifully. Definitely recommended....more
This was my favourite of the 3 long stories in Mother, Maiden, Crone. It was the type of story I think Neil Gaiman should be, but somehow isn't. A modThis was my favourite of the 3 long stories in Mother, Maiden, Crone. It was the type of story I think Neil Gaiman should be, but somehow isn't. A modern fairy story about the very real grief and loss. Told beautifully. Highly recommended....more
This was the other folklore book we bought in Wales and it was a million times better. It won me over in the first couple of pages talking about the hThis was the other folklore book we bought in Wales and it was a million times better. It won me over in the first couple of pages talking about the historical inaccuracies of the Victorians and their approach to folklore. It looked at the regional differences in accounts, and how the same stories changed over time. Had a ton of Welsh language sources, that were then translated into English. And just a lot of really good accounts of ghosts. Highly recommended. ...more
Post-colonial, queer fantasy set in a world inspired by South American folklore. The characters were complex and multi-layered. The world building wasPost-colonial, queer fantasy set in a world inspired by South American folklore. The characters were complex and multi-layered. The world building was great. The story really engaging. I utterly loved this. Very highly recommended....more
While I didn't enjoy this as much as the first one it as still fun. Having the middle aged woman replaced by the teenage son definitely not as good a While I didn't enjoy this as much as the first one it as still fun. Having the middle aged woman replaced by the teenage son definitely not as good a match for me. Also having a reformed rapist as one of the protagonists didn't sit well with me. Though I did like the way it ended up being addressed. The hero's arc seemed a bit more forced than his mother's. But will keep reading the series. Decided to read his Mum's second book next and then go from there in the rest of the chronological order. ...more
This was the first of the Maiden, mother crone stories and it was delightful, a proper fairy story, and sad. But also I found the main character just This was the first of the Maiden, mother crone stories and it was delightful, a proper fairy story, and sad. But also I found the main character just a little dumb or naive at the start. But she did get better. All the individual stories are great, and the collection as a whole is wonderful. Definitely recommended....more
I love Si Spurrier's hellblazer run and found he'd not quite continued it, but instead written very similar vein occult stories but with a woman protaI love Si Spurrier's hellblazer run and found he'd not quite continued it, but instead written very similar vein occult stories but with a woman protagonist I had to snap it up! This was really enjoyable. It got perhaps a little repetitive towards the end. But still really good, and I definitely will be getting the second one when it's released. ...more
I adored Legends and Lattes and was very happy to have Viv back for another adventure. This was definitely a worthy prequel. While not quite as cozy aI adored Legends and Lattes and was very happy to have Viv back for another adventure. This was definitely a worthy prequel. While not quite as cozy as the first one, it was still brilliant. Bookshops and necromancers, and fantasy seaside towns. And an ending to make you cry. Highly recommended. ...more
I found this at the local oxfam. I spend most of my time reading novels by queer authors of colour these days. So reading this it was amazing how muchI found this at the local oxfam. I spend most of my time reading novels by queer authors of colour these days. So reading this it was amazing how much things had changed in the past decade or so. It was a good collection. Some I enjoyed more than others. But it was a really excellent mix of authors. Definitely a good find....more
I was recommended this by Una McCormack at MCM. I'd somehow totally missed this series. I sat and read it all in one day. It was thoroughly enjoyable.I was recommended this by Una McCormack at MCM. I'd somehow totally missed this series. I sat and read it all in one day. It was thoroughly enjoyable. It felt like nostalgia sci-fi even though it wasn't something I'd read before. I loved the main character, and that there was a woman captain as our hero. The world building was great, and the characterization even better. Definitely going to read the whole series. ...more
I read this on the train back from Swansea. It was quite disappointing. The book focused almost entirely on The Four Branches of the Mabinogi. Rather I read this on the train back from Swansea. It was quite disappointing. The book focused almost entirely on The Four Branches of the Mabinogi. Rather than any Welsh folklore. All the examples were taken from within those stories. There seemed to be some confusion between legends and mythology. There was no examination of the time or place or how those legends came to be. There was a really strange diversion where she seemed to think that because people were cursed and transformed into animals, this meant there was a shamanistic religion at play. Which is not what shamanism is about at all. It is ok if you are looking for central themes in the Mabinogion, but if you are wanting anything deeper then not so much....more
I adored Persephone Station and this one I liked even better. A whole sci-fi universe full of women and non-binary people. It was queer as fuck! With I adored Persephone Station and this one I liked even better. A whole sci-fi universe full of women and non-binary people. It was queer as fuck! With an absolutely wonderful setting, a gripping story and a wonderful set of characters, of all ages. Particularly middle aged women, when so much of sff is about teens nowadays. Highly recommended....more
This was a lot of fun. Bought at MCM after a talk by the author. Modern, urban fantasy (except in a small town not a city). Queer witches, disabled wiThis was a lot of fun. Bought at MCM after a talk by the author. Modern, urban fantasy (except in a small town not a city). Queer witches, disabled witches, gay ghosts, and a nice murder mystery. Highly recommended. So glad there will be more books with these characters. Definitely the best, most realistic portrayal of a character with disabilities that I've read. Highly recommended....more
I did not quite enjoy this as much as Aliette's other novels. But it was still really great and I do highly recommend it. She has such amazing world bI did not quite enjoy this as much as Aliette's other novels. But it was still really great and I do highly recommend it. She has such amazing world building and characters. Every book and story in this universe is a treat. ...more
I thoroughly enjoyed this! A little idyllic in places but it was a really great firsthand account of British theatre, particularly Shakespearean theatI thoroughly enjoyed this! A little idyllic in places but it was a really great firsthand account of British theatre, particularly Shakespearean theatre for the 60s and 70s. Patrick was very nice about everyone and the only time he mentioned when there was a problem, he explained what the misunderstanding had been. It really was trying to understand others a lot more than a lot of autobiographies I've read. Also I don't think I've heard Patrick swear before. Highly recommended. ...more
I thought this book was ok. There were some interesting well written passages and it was a nice insight into the mindset of post WWI Britain. The writI thought this book was ok. There were some interesting well written passages and it was a nice insight into the mindset of post WWI Britain. The writing style was easy to read with some nice turns of phrase. But I felt so many things let this book down. My biggest problem was the lack of characterisation. None of the main characters were likeable and I think the problem came from them trying to fill certain societal stereotypes rather than being real people. There was no interests in Lady Chatterley's life besides sex and babies. Lawerence took great pains to describe her as a "New woman" but she lacked any of the interests or intellectual capabilities of a new woman. Indeed it seemed all she wanted was sex and babies. The lack of interests could be justified to represent the boredom and emptiness of her life, but even with that consideration it seemed too much a literary invention and not enough like real life. The Lover was just annoying, his switching between Derbyshire and "proper" English was just a bit mystifying. Supposedly representing the "common man" he was just oafish and annoying. While the book tried to bring up the ideas of socialism and bolshevisim it kinda did so in a very classist way. The working class people were portrayed as kinda stupid and annoying, and while the prejudice against them was clear, it almost seemed like Lawerence was trying to justify it. Likewise there seemed to be a blasting of women who wanted more out of life than simply to be mothers and that this was in some way making men "unmanly". In many ways I felt like this was chick lit or a romance novel, but written by someone who didn't seem to like people much. I must admit that I don't think I'll be reading anything else by Lawerence anytime soon.
Merged review:
I thought this book was ok. There were some interesting well written passages and it was a nice insight into the mindset of post WWI Britain. The writing style was easy to read with some nice turns of phrase. But I felt so many things let this book down. My biggest problem was the lack of characterisation. None of the main characters were likeable and I think the problem came from them trying to fill certain societal stereotypes rather than being real people. There was no interests in Lady Chatterley's life besides sex and babies. Lawerence took great pains to describe her as a "New woman" but she lacked any of the interests or intellectual capabilities of a new woman. Indeed it seemed all she wanted was sex and babies. The lack of interests could be justified to represent the boredom and emptiness of her life, but even with that consideration it seemed too much a literary invention and not enough like real life. The Lover was just annoying, his switching between Derbyshire and "proper" English was just a bit mystifying. Supposedly representing the "common man" he was just oafish and annoying. While the book tried to bring up the ideas of socialism and bolshevisim it kinda did so in a very classist way. The working class people were portrayed as kinda stupid and annoying, and while the prejudice against them was clear, it almost seemed like Lawerence was trying to justify it. Likewise there seemed to be a blasting of women who wanted more out of life than simply to be mothers and that this was in some way making men "unmanly". In many ways I felt like this was chick lit or a romance novel, but written by someone who didn't seem to like people much. I must admit that I don't think I'll be reading anything else by Lawerence anytime soon....more
I found a great pulp 50s copy of this in a 2nd handbook shop. But unfortunately the story was quite trite and the characters just didn't feel like reaI found a great pulp 50s copy of this in a 2nd handbook shop. But unfortunately the story was quite trite and the characters just didn't feel like real people. ...more
I saw this recommended on bsky and thought I'd try it. It was utterly brilliant. I read it all in one sitting and will definitely read it again. The aI saw this recommended on bsky and thought I'd try it. It was utterly brilliant. I read it all in one sitting and will definitely read it again. The art work was amazing. The characters so real. The story grew more spooky and compelling as it went. The ending utterly surprised me. Definitely recommended....more
I loved Ai Jiang's other book so bought this on a pre-order. An utterly compelling novella. Doing what scifi does best. Social commentary and compelliI loved Ai Jiang's other book so bought this on a pre-order. An utterly compelling novella. Doing what scifi does best. Social commentary and compelling characters. Highly recommended....more
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