Well, I Got Off To A Good Start…
As September came in, I got off to a good start. I read 3 books in a week and a half. I think the mini-heatwave we had helped. As well as spending evenings lounging in my hammock. Then, as life happens, I didn’t have the time to always reach for my book.
But for now, let’s delve into another monthly reading wrap up…
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
This is another book I saw hyped on TikTok but the synopsis drew me in.
In a world where the gods are at war, 18-year-old Iris Winnow is distraught when her brother replies to the call to arms. However, having to get on with life and care for her mother, Iris takes a journalist position at the local paper. This is where she meets her rival, Roman Kitt.
Being from an entirely different background to Iris, the two battle for a columnist’s position. When, suddenly, tragedy strikes and Iris finds herself questioning everything she thinks she knows.
Deciding to take a position with a rival paper, Iris ends up reporting on the front line of this war between the gods.
But that’s not all that’s going on. Iris writes on an old typewriter her grandmother left her. When she feels worried, she writes a letter to her brother. Slips it into her wardrobe and the letter magically disappears. She does this hoping it has reached her brother. One day a letter slips back through the wardrobe, a reply from a stranger, or is it? All this time, the letters had been delivered to none other than Roman Kitt. He knows it’s Iris, but Iris doesn’t know she’s now writing back and forth to Roman. How is this happening? Well, you’ll have to read to find out…
TikTok has done it again. I never actually think about picking up a YA book when shopping. I’ve found myself doing that more often this year and love finding stories like this. Ones that you can lose yourself in. I couldn’t put this down and ended up finishing it in two days!
This book has two well thought out, complex and yet completely relatable characters. Rebecca Ross has managed to create a jam-packed storyline that will leave you wanting more. It’s difficult to find the words without spoiling this book. I will say, it wasn’t until the end I found out it was part of a duology. The second one has already been preordered! 4.5 Stars.
The Woman Who Lied by Claire Douglas
After reading The Girls Who Disappeared, I had to pick up another Claire Douglas book.
In this mystery thriller we meet Emilia Ward, a mum of 2 who happens to be a bestselling author. Known for her Miranda Moody Detective series, we begin the story with Emilia getting ready to publish her tenth novel of the series.
But then, strange things started to happen. Beginning with an incident she wrote about in her first book. Just a coincidence, right? But then unsettling things happen, including a murder. Written exactly as she had written in her unpublished book.
Why is someone doing this? Are they targeting Emilia? How did they get their hands on her unpublished novel?
In a similar fashion to The Girls Who Disappeared, Claire Douglas has written a story with two different timelines. I’ve come to really like this concept as it is almost like reading an ITV drama series. There are a few instances I, again, saw coming. I think with mystery thrillers being a favourite genre of mine, that is something I can expect. What threw me is the twist that was again revealed within the last few lines. I expect this to be a signature story telling style for Claire Douglas, but it does always leave me needing a sequel. 4 stars.
A Good Girls Guide To Murder by Holly Jackson
Holly Jackson has created such a buzz on Book Twitter. With this being her debut novel, I was intrigued. I actually ended up buying all 3 books in this series.
Having sat on my physical TBR for a while, I had seen online it was being made into a series on BBC Three. I am one of those people who would much prefer to read the book before seeing the TV series or film. So I decided to read the first one whilst I could.
5 years ago, Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh. At least, that is what the police concluded. Being in a small town, Pippa Fitz-Amobi had watched the events unfold, but was sure that Sal had not murdered Andie.
With many questions, Pippa decides to investigate the case for her final year project.
Along the way, she and others start to uncover secrets that someone wants to stay hidden. Is it the killer? And what ever happened to Andie Bell’s body?
This book left me in two minds. I thoroughly enjoyed the scene. There is just something about a mystery in a small town that never fails. The character developments were well fleshed out. The humour was quintessentially British and some of the twists were so well placed.
But, I felt disappointed when I got around 6 or 7 chapters in and I figured out what had happened. I think that’s always a gamble with mystery books because there are only so many tropes you can go with. It didn’t make it any less enjoyable and I am excited to see how the story develops over books 2 and 3. 4 Stars.
The Last Witch Of Scotland by Philip Paris
When I was scrolling through Amazon, I saw this on offer and nabbed it whilst I could.
Set in the Scottish highlands in 1727, we meet Aila and her mother Janet. Tragedy struck their family a few years earlier when Aila’s father was killed in a fire. A fire that left Aila with visible injuries.
Whilst Aila and her mother get on with life, trying to keep a roof over their heads and work through the grief, a new minister is appointed to their congregation. But rather than being welcoming, the minister has a unhealthy curiosity about the two women.
Meanwhile, in Edinburgh, we meet Jack and his travelling band of misfits. A makeshift family drawn together through hard times who put on plays and shows. Upon meeting Jack, Aila opens herself up to a possibility she never thought of before; having someone in her life who loves her romantically. But, it seems that fate or rather a minister is looking to destroy that. And create the narrative that witches are amongst them…
Philip Paris wrote this historical fiction inspired by the true story of the last woman to be executed for Witchcraft in Britain. At the end of the book, the author notes this and was lovely in explaining how they hoped to have done them justice with their fictional contributions. It was one of those books I couldn’t put down. When I think about the witchcraft trials, I always think of Salem. I sometimes forget that they happened in the UK too.
This was my favourite read of September. I felt the author was able to show a different side to the horror of witchcraft trials. Namely, how it feels to watch one happen to someone you deeply care for. The ending was just the perfect way to close that chapter on the fictional writings of Philip Paris. And yet, open up the historical truth. 5 stars.
Going into October I have so much I want to read. Here’s to hoping I can keep a better momentum.
As always, thanks for reading…