Review: The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

A huge thank you to Harriet at Random House Children's Books for sending me a copy to review.
The review is my own honest opinion on the book.


Freak. That's what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna's own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma.
When the darkest outcasts of Faerie—the vicious wood elves—abduct Navin, Donna finally has to accept her role in the centuries old war between the humans and the fey. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous half-fey dropout with secrets of his own, Donna races to save her friend—even if it means betraying everything her parents and the alchemist community fought to the death to protect.

I had mixed feelings about this book – it was an odd jumble of marmite that had me loving some moments, and then bored the next.

I think the driving thing that I really liked about this book was Donna. She was strong (in every sense) intriguing, a no-nonsense kind of girl pushed into an extraordinary world that she doesn’t necessarily want to be in. The premise behind the Order and her arms was fantastic, and I wanted more of that side of things – hopefully there will be some more explanation in the next book, because it was awesome the few glimpses we got to see of both sides of the Order.

I think my biggest dislike of the book was Navin. Which I feel awful just saying, but it’s true – he really didn’t do it for me. He didn’t feel or read like a boy to me, more like a girl, which is always a disadvantage when he’s supposed to be a teenage boy. He grated on me every scene he was in (which were quite a few to say the least) and despite Donna repeatedly saying she couldn’t live without him, I was all for leaving him in the woods. I don’t know if it was that there wasn’t enough character development to flesh him out, or if it was just me having a wobble over fictional boys, but he really wasn’t my cup of tea.

Unlike Xan, who kind of was. Although he still peeved me a bit for fitting the ever present stereotype of boy who you’ve only known a couple of days and yet will do anything )including potentially have a nervous breakdown because of where you’re asking him to go, all because he likes you. I was rooting for him to turn round and tell Donna no. He caved far too easily, so all the build-up of his character and the strength that exuded from him kind of went kaput at that stage.

I felt like the whole thing was a bit rushed. We’re plunged straight into this world, bad things start happening, mysterious guy appears and you know, is terribly handsome and distracting, and more bad things happen. Then we have the kidnap, the insane demands, the slightly insane lengths they go to meet said demands, showdown and everybody goes home. I wanted more backstory, I wanted the book to take its time over some things – like Xan. Yes we had backstory for him, and I get that he doesn’t remember some of it, but it felt like we barely scratched the surface. The same with Donna. And I really hope that more is done for that in the next book.

So all in all, I wanted to love this book but found myself struggling not to put it down at times. As I said Donna was the thing that kept me interested, she’s a brilliant character and I do really want to see more and explore more of her in the next book. I’m hoping that as the series continues we get more development which helps the niggles I experienced with this book disappear. But it’s still an intriguing idea that takes the fey myths and ideas in a new direction.

Review: The Dead Travel Fast by Deanna Raybourn

A husband, a family, a comfortable life: Theodora Lestrange lives in terror of it all.
With a modest inheritance and the three gowns that comprise her entire wardrobe, Theodora leaves Edinburgh—and a disappointed suitor—far behind. She is bound for Rumania, where tales of vampires are still whispered, to visit an old friend and write the book that will bring her true independence.
She arrives at a magnificent, decaying castle in the Carpathians, replete with eccentric inhabitants: the ailing dowager; the troubled steward; her own fearful friend, Cosmina. But all are outstripped in dark glamour by the castle's master, Count Andrei Dragulescu.
Bewildering and bewitching in equal measure, the brooding nobleman ignites Theodora's imagination and awakens passions in her that she can neither deny nor conceal. His allure is superlative, his dominion over the superstitious town, absolute—Theodora may simply be one more person under his sway.
Before her sojourn is ended—or her novel completed—Theodora will have encountered things as strange and terrible as they are seductive. For obsession can prove fatal…and she is in danger of falling prey to more than desire.

Oh my, do not read this book at night. Unless you have a baseball bat by your bed in case of emergencies, and possibly a fluffy animal to guard against the big scary things.

I’ve been saving this book for so long now, waiting for when I needed it most as some (albeit terrifying) chicken soup. And I always worry when I save a book specifically, that maybe I’ll it won’t live up to my expectations, but this one most certainly did.

Deanna Raybourn’s classically beautiful prose is in fine form, a beautiful interweaving of a voice so completely pitch perfect for the time period and setting, and an engrossingly brilliant plot that sweeps you up and away with it.

I loved Theodora as a character – such an independent and strong women, completely against the stereotype of the period, with a vivid imagination and a strong sense of self and the world around her. It makes her travels into the terrifying aspects of the castle and its secrets all the more frightening – for a women of high intellect and sound mind to be capable of believing these things, it really shows how hysteria can sweep a person away with it, although she fights with logic every step of the way.

I also loved the Count. Raybourn creates such brilliant heroes, they’re practically anti heroes despite the strong morale code that means they end up protecting our heroines. He’s no tame man waiting for Theodora to command him, he’s dangerous and savage, whilst retaining a cool detached elegance that makes him the most intriguing character to pick apart in the book.
The romances that Raybourn constructs in her work are spot on. They combine the heat of seduction – a glance, a touch – and pair it with some of the most headstrong and feisty men that at first glance don’t seem immediate hero material. Instead of reducing the passion and heat of the romance though, it heightens it, bringing it into a whole new level.

Raybourn has a very brilliant way of making the absolute fantasy seem completely real and terrifying, and then turning it on its head and showing how humans can in some cases be just as terrifying, if not more so, than the myths and legends of wolves and vampires and terrors that walk abroad in the night. It was something that I loved about ‘Silent in the Sanctuary’ – no matter how many times I read that book, knowing full well how it turns out, I still get shivers when I read it. It’s an incredible talent and one that marks Deanna Raybourn up as one of my all-time favourite authors.

Not only that, but you can never truly tell who the villain is until she wants you to know. I love a book that I can’t guess the end after a couple of chapters, and I genuinely had no idea what was going to happen. It makes for a much more satisfying story when you’re left dangling at the author’s whim.

This book didn’t capture me in quite the same way as Deanna Raybourn’s ‘Lady Julia’ series, but it was still an absolutely stunning work, and one that I will come back to again and again. Very, very highly recommended.

Midnight in Austenland Excerpt

I've just discovered that there is now an excerpt of the first 16 or so pages of 'Midnight in Austenland' by Shannon Hale available from Bloomsbury US online now!


For anyone who wants to go and get a sneak peek at her upcoming novel, released at the end of January 2012, go and check it out!


Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale


When Charlotte Kinder treats herself to a two-week vacation at Austenland, she happily leaves behind her ex-husband and his delightful new wife, her ever-grateful children, and all the rest of her real life in America. She dons a bonnet and stays at a country manor house that provides an immersive Austen experience, complete with gentleman actors who cater to the guests' Austen fantasies.
Everyone at Pembrook Park is playing a role, but increasingly, Charlotte isn't sure where roles end and reality begins. And as the parlour games turn a little bit menacing, she finds she needs more than a good corset to keep herself safe. Is the brooding Mr. Mallery as sinister as he seems? What is Miss Gardenside's mysterious ailment? Was that an actual dead body in the secret attic room? And-perhaps of the most lasting importance-could the stirrings in Charlotte's heart be a sign of real-life love?
The follow-up to reader favourite Austenland provides the same perfectly plotted pleasures, with a feisty new heroine, plenty of fresh and frightening twists, and the possibility of a romance that might just go beyond the proper bounds of Austen's world. How could it not turn out right in the end?


And if that's got you all excited, you can read my spoiler free review of the book here!

My Favourite Christmas Re-Reads

So it’s coming up to Christmas, and as well as new and exciting books that are hitting my door mat/accidentally dropping into my hands when I go book shopping, I love to go back and revisit some old favourites around Christmas time.  Some are just random re-reads of well-loved books, but I’ve picked a few that are particularly Christmassy for me.

Silent in the Sanctuary by Deanna Raybourn

Can you get any more Christmassy than a murder at a country home at Christmas time? No I didn’t think so. I love the Lady Julia Grey series anyway, but the second book in the series holds a special place in my heart at this time of year. There’s something about the dinners and intrigues, and presents and snow and hunts and Christmas pudding making that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I particularly recommend reading this book by an open fire.

The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown by Julia Quinn et al.

Julia Quinn is one of my favourite regency romance authors. I love her characters, I love her world, and I love the way she’s created such a host of characters that everything interweaves and overlaps between the books. I also love Lady Whistledown, a gossip columnist that documents the scandals and parties of the ton. So a book of short stories by a collection of my favourite authors, at Christmas time, interwoven by Lady Whistledown’s own gossip and musings – la! What more could one want? Apart from a handsome hero to sweep me off my feet…

From Notting Hill with Love… Actually by Ali McNamara

I read this one for the first time just before Christmas last year, and that combined with the title and fabulous rom-com references throughout make this one of my ultimate Christmas re-reads. After all, Christmas is the season for watching rom-coms. A lot.
So go grab a copy, curl up and make sure you’ve got those rom-coms ready for re-watching straight after.

Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling

Ok, the Christmas moments in every single Harry Potter book are fabulous. Even when Ron and Harry end up hating Hermione in book 3 – it’s still awesome! The Christmas trees! The decorating! The magical bubbles out of Professor Flitwick’s wand! Everything. Whether it’s just a handful of students, or pretty much the whole school in preparation for the ball – I love the atmosphere, the Weasley jumpers, and the insane crackers. Go re-read all the books – or just pick out the Christmas bits to get you in the festive mood!

Review: A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James

Miss Kate Daltry doesn't believe in fairy tales . . . or happily ever after.
Forced by her stepmother to attend a ball, Kate meets a prince . . . and decides he's anything but charming. A clash of wits and wills ensues, but they both know their irresistible attraction will lead nowhere. For Gabriel is promised to another woman—a princess whose hand in marriage will fulfil his ruthless ambitions.
Gabriel likes his fiancée, which is a welcome turn of events, but he doesn't love her. Obviously, he should be wooing his bride-to-be, not the witty, impoverished beauty who refuses to fawn over him.
Godmothers and glass slippers notwithstanding, this is one fairy tale in which destiny conspires to destroy any chance that Kate and Gabriel might have a happily ever after.
Unless a prince throws away everything that makes him noble . . .
Unless a dowry of an unruly heart trumps a fortune . . .
Unless one kiss at the stroke of midnight changes everything.

Oh my word. Eloisa James knows romance – there is no doubt about that. And when I’m not feeling well and it’s snowing outside, the only thing I want to read is some romance that makes my insides go all warm and mushy and has me laughing out loud and gasping and sighing in all the right places, and this – the first in Eloisa’s ‘happily ever after’ series – ticks all the right boxes.

The thing about romance is that you know that everything is going to work out ok in the end. There will be obstacles (otherwise it’s just boring) there will be misunderstandings (naturally) but after all that, there will always be a happily ever after. That’s what has me coming back to romance time and time again. Partly to reassure me that there are men like Gabriel out there in the world. I’m happy with just the man, never mind the fact that he’s a Prince. But also because I know that the right people are always going to end up together – no matter how bleak it may seem at times.

And there’s something so delicious about having a fairy tale re-told just right. Take the film ‘Everafter’ for example. If you haven’t seen it yet, go forth and watch, it’s beautiful. And ‘A Kiss at Midnight’ gave me a similar feeling inside. It was funny – there is no other romance writer I know who can write smart witty dialogue between a sparring hero and heroine like Eloisa James. It had just the right amount of fairy tale without being over the top. And it had enough emotional flips and turns that had me desperately tearing through the pages to see how it all turned out. See, even though I knew it would be a happy ending, Eloisa James has created a tale that is so engaging and immersing that you have to keep reading just to make sure. That you want to keep reading.

There are balls and flirting, and brilliant dialogue, and fairy godmothers and rats galore. And Prince’s rescuing girls from lakes, and doing unspeakable things in mazes, and fabulous brothers who know just when to help and just when to thump you. It’s brilliant.

My only complaint was that the language was not up to Eloisa’s usually impeccably flawless standard. It peeves me when characters don’t talk how they would have done in that particular time period. However Eloisa does acknowledge that she’s taken liberties with the language and points out that this isn’t just a tale set in Regency England – it’s a fairy tale, and as such is allowed some leeway. At which point I forgave her any of my grumbles.

However, despite the fact that this is a retelling of Cinderella, it is still an entirely fresh tale in its own right. Victoria is such a lovely step sister that I was almost sad that I didn’t get to see more of her throughout the book. In fact it was the family relationships that almost stole the show. I loved seeing Kate and Henry interact, Kate and Victoria – but also Gabriel and Wick. Oh I want a story about Wick now please! And Gabriel’s responsibility to his family – extended and close. I loved that every character is both the perfect fairy tale creation, but at the same time completely human and flawed – and torn between what they want and what they need. It has just enough reality to keep it grounded, and the rest is pure fairy tale brilliance.

And of course no romance book would be complete without a bit of seduction. I warn you it is not for those easily offended, because Kate’s seduction is both thrilling and complete, and lengthy. Many, many gorgeous moments between her and Gabriel litter the book, and I looked forward to each of their encounters, partly to see Gabriel start to accept his feelings, and to see Kate come into her own. I loved her, every unladylike moment, and every glorious kiss. It was perfection.

For fans of Eloisa James check back later in the month when I will not only be asking the lady herself a couple of questions about her upcoming novels and her writing, but will be hosting a giveaway for a signed Eloisa James novel!

Review: Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber

SOME SPOILERS BELOW – TREAD CAREFULLY IF YOU HAVEN’T YET READ THE BOOK

The Picture of Dorian Gray meets Pride and Prejudice, with a dash of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
New York City, 1882. Seventeen-year-old Natalie Stewart's latest obsession is a painting of the handsome British Lord Denbury. Something in his striking blue eyes calls to her. As his incredibly life-like gaze seems to follow her, Natalie gets the uneasy feeling that details of the painting keep changing...
Jonathan Denbury's soul is trapped in the gilded painting by dark magic while his possessed body commits unspeakable crimes in the city slums. He must lure Natalie into the painting, for only together can they reverse the curse and free his damaged soul.

I really loved this novel – I was intrigued by the gothic New York combined with a take on Dorian Grey, and it more than lived up to my expectations.
There were a few things I wasn’t entirely sold on, but for the most part I really loved the book and was utterly entranced by Jonathon – and am hoping that there might be a sequel in the works.

One of the reasons I picked up this book was due to Natalie – the idea of a heroine who couldn’t speak was a pretty interesting concept, and I wanted to see how it played out. The book is told in the form of diary entries, from the point that Natalie is released back into her father’s care, until the conclusion of the book. It’s a concept that works really well, the diary entries colour everything with Natalie’s perceptions, but she aims to be a very honest and detailed narrator which makes the whole tale infinitely more pleasurable to read.

I liked that she was a strong character, despite her impediments, and worked hard to overcome them and do what she had to to help Jonathon.
I did find some of the casting the devil out moments to be a little too close to The Crucible to be entirely comfortable, but for the most part that was really well judged as well. The plot was intricate enough to be engaging whilst not being overly complex – there was a distinct lack of twists and turns.

I liked Jonathon for the most part. Of course, handsome doctor, what’s not to like? But I would have liked a bit more development of his ‘evil’ side. He popped in from time to time and spoke quite randomly, and then ran off again. I would have liked more of him, more motives and explanations, because whilst for the most part everything is wrapped up neatly in the book, there were a few loose ends. Whether that is due to another book to continue on those unfinished threads will remain to be seen – I kind of hope so, because I really enjoyed the story and would like to see how Natalie and Jonathon cope beyond the painting.

I have to admit I was never fully comfortable with Mrs Northe – I kept expecting her to suddenly turn out to be evil. This probably speaks more for me having read too many books with double crossing and twists, which this book was remarkably clear of, than to her character.

A lot of the secondary characters felt a little flat, and I would have liked to have a little more development of them. Natalie’s father for one, but particularly Maggie. Now again, this may be a development for another book, in which case that’s great, but if it was a standalone novel then I felt a little underwhelmed by her. There was such a wealth of things that could have been done with her, and I wanted to see more. As it was she just kind of flitted around without any real true purpose.

The only thing that I wasn’t really sold on was the language at some points. It didn’t quite ring true at some points although for the most part it was pretty good. The setting remained a little ambiguous – I know it was New York, but a good deal of the book is set in the painting, so I didn’t really feel as though I got a true sense of the city, of the life out there that Natalie had lived long before Jonathon came into her life.

All in all I really enjoyed this read – it was a quick romp with plenty of spine chilling moments, as well as some swoon worthy points. And with a fresh and imaginative plot to boot. I’m looking forward to see if this book will be broadened out into a series.

Review: Everything Beautiful Began After by Simon Van Booy

Simon Van Booy brings to the page his unique talent for poetic dialogue and sumptuous imagery in this his remarkable debut novel of love and loss, dependence and independence. Rebecca has come to Athens to paint. Born and raised in the south of France, Rebecca's mother abandoned her and her sister when they were very young, left to be raised by her loving yet distant grandfather. Young and lost, she seeks solace in the heat of Athens. George has come to Athens to translate language. Dropped off at a New England boarding school when he was a child, he has close to no relationships with anyone, except the study of ancient language and alcohol. Henry has come to Athens to dig. An archaeologist, Henry is on-site at Athens during the day, and roams the Agora on the weekend. Three lost and lonely souls whose worlds become inexorable enmeshed with consequences that ripple far among the ruins of ancient Athens.

Simon Van Booy has a beautiful way with prose that left me in tears at some points when reading his two short story collections ‘Love Begins in Winter’ and ‘The Secret Lives of People in Love’. So I was eagerly anticipating his first full novel ‘Everything Beautiful Began After.’

And it does contain a lot of the things that I loved in Booy’s shorter prose. His trademark lyrical beauty and skill with words is present throughout, but unfortunately some of the skill that weaves his stories together isn’t quite as tight when lengthened to encompass an entire novel.

The story is divided into four ‘books’, each dealing with a new phase in the story. Book one covers half of the span of the novel and is exquisite. Told in third person the story details Rebecca, Henry and George in both the present and the events in their past that have shaped them into the people they’ve become. It twines their lives together beautifully and I loved reading this section. I was swept away in the descriptions, the scenes and the use of all the senses to create the world of Athens. It’s melancholy, stunning, a little depressing but utterly gorgeous.

However, books two and three really didn’t do it for me. They’re told in second person perspective although still from Henry’s side. The lyrical beauty of the first book is turned here into an overly obsessive list of things that ‘Henry’ can see, feel and hear. It became overly depressive and as a result I just wanted it to be over. I don’t mind depressive books – book one is depressing, but it couples that with beauty. This was just pressing and heavy and I wanted to finish it as quickly as I could.
That’s not to say it wasn’t still good and well written – it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

Book four made me feel a little less like sitting in a corner and crying – it offers hope at the end of grief and darkness, and leaves the reader with a lot to think about long after the last page has been turned.

Van Booy’s first book is a gorgeously melancholy look at love, grief, death and the way that grief can distort our memories and thoughts, and take on a life of its own.

Review: Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George

Hoping to escape the troubles in her kingdom, Princess Poppy reluctantly agrees to take part in a royal exchange program, whereby young princes and princesses travel to each other's countries in the name of better political alliances--and potential marriages. It's got the makings of a fairy tale--until a hapless servant named Eleanor is tricked by a vengeful fairy godmother into competing with Poppy for the eligible prince. Ball gowns, cinders, and enchanted glass slippers fly in this romantic and action-packed happily-ever-after quest from an author with a flair for embroidering tales in her own delightful way.

I was so excited when I saw that there was a companion novel to ‘Princess of the Midnight Ball’ – I really loved the retelling of the twelve dancing princesses and was looking forward to seeing what happened to them after the ‘happily ever after’.

Poppy was a brilliant princess to give a new adventure to – she’s sassy and intelligent and so competent that it had me smiling whenever she bested the boys or made her point. She was a brilliant guide through the maze of enchantments, with her tenacity and determination and complete and utter faith that they can beat this thing. And she actually has the brains to gape at the hero when he suggests marriage, and points out that she’s only 16 and maybe in a few years… I wanted to cheer at this point – finally a heroine with her head screwed on straight that doesn’t fall over and swoon at the first boy that makes her flutter. I know I know, there are a lot of them out there really, Poppy really just makes a point of it, and it made me smile.

I could have done with a bit more development on the boys characters, they all remained a little bit flat, which was a shame given how much I loved Galen in the first book. Perhaps it was due to the multiple romances being handled at once, but Dickon and Roger never really lifted off the page for me which was a shame.

I really loved the fresh take on Cinderella – it made the tale fresh whilst harking back to fairy tales we know and love. And the magic and suspense were both brilliantly handled. But there felt like there was a lot left unexplained. Poppy had persistent nightmares, which are never fully explained by the end. Are they simply residual terrors from her dancing days, which was slightly indicated in that she grew more and more bored with them throughout the book – or were they actually a hint of something more. It felt like they were something more, so I hope that we do get that resolved in another book, because it was left hanging in this book.

My only real problem with the book was the big showdown with the big bad towards the end. There was so much build up, handled brilliantly, throughout the rest of the book – and some really spine tingling terrifying moments, that I was expecting a big proper show down with peril and everything.
And there really wasn’t. It was more, hey I don’t fancy this, let’s run away! And they all lived happily ever after. It just felt like such a cop out after everything they’d been through throughout the rest of the story that it ruined the book a bit for me – hence the low rating.