Srivalli Rekha (Semi Hiatus)'s Blog, page 34

Tristan/ Yseult by Harry Bonelle - Book Review - Blog Tour

Published in January 2024

Publisher: ‎ Unicorn Publishing Group

Hardback Price (UK): £15 

ISBN: 9781911397908

Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tristan-Yseu... 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

4 Stars 

Blurb: 

A duel on an empty island sets the course for one of the greatest romances ever told. As the lovers of legend meet, something new is born, and something eternal is revealed. Their names will forever be spoken as one. This modern retelling of Tristan and Yseult sheds a stark light on the beauty of the Celtic tale.

My Thoughts: 

There are countless retellings of Tristan and Yseult (Isolde), though I wasn’t aware of the story until I saw the book. This is a poetic retelling with a different focus. 

Based on my quick search on the net, it seems many retellings deal with the forbidden and doomed love between Tristan and Isolde. While this narrative poem also tackles the same topic, it brings a fresh perspective and presents the tale in a unique manner. 

The book begins with a preface by the author where he provides a brief insight into the story, his version, and the inspiration for his poem. The poem, he says, is highly inspired by Richard Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde (opera) - not the content but the music. While I haven’t heard/ seen the opera, the poem indeed emphasizes sound effects through words. 

The narrative verse is neatly divided into three parts, which are further categorized into chapters. The titles hint at the events in the respective sections. 

As the poet said, there is no mention of the word ‘love’ anywhere in the poem. Yet, we cannot help but feel the longing between the two main characters during the brief period they spend together. Yseult is nursing almost dead Tristan back to life in secret. This binds them in an unexplainable bond.

The narrative used enjambment to achieve the disjointed and fragmented rhythm. The rhythm changes often to align with the events. Sometimes, we get broken sentences, sometimes sharp orders, and mellowed longing at other times. There are alliterations and random rhymes, not deliberate but more to suit the context. The same goes for repetition. 

These are my favorite lines from the book - 

For course of days and short short nights

The healer and her haul are bound.

The poem starts on the sea with Tristan on the waves, his duel, and his injury. It progresses to Yseult finding an unconscious Trsitan, healing him, the role of Brangenn, the maid, the interaction between the lead couple, and finally, their separation. There’s even a two-page chapter in Stream of Consciousness, the fever dream of Tristan, written with no punctuation or capitalization. 

It can take a while to get used to the style, but once you understand, the words flow faster and better. It will help if you have a basic idea about the original story since the style doesn’t have space to offer a lot of detail or backstory. 

To summarize, Tristan/ Yseult is a creative and innovative retelling from a different perspective. It is a sound-based poem rather than a lyrical one, so go with the right expectations. 

My thanks to Anna (Random Things Tours) and the author for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

***

About The Author – Henry Bonelle 

Harry Bonelle is a Classics graduate of Homerton College, Cambridge. He later trained in Acting for Screen at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and now works as an actor. Tristan/Yseult is his first work to be published.

***

This has been a pitstop on the blog tour conducted by Random Things Tours (@RandomTTours on Twitter). Thank you for stopping by! 

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett - Book Review

Series: Shadow of the Leviathan #1

Publication Date: 06th Feb 2024

Genre: Mystery, Fantasy 

3 stars 

One Liner: Good mystery drowns in a vague setting 

Eccentric investigator Ana Dolabra is asked to solve the case of the mysterious death of an Imperial officer in the Empire. The dead man is now a tree or has a tree growing from his dead body. 

Dinios Kol, Ana’s new assistant and an engraver with ever-lasting memory, goes to the scene to collect information for his superior. As they find more details, it’s clear that the death is not an independent incident. With what seems to be a threat to the Empire itself, Ana and Din have to find the culprit before it’s too late. 

The story comes in the first-person POV of Dinios Kol. 

My Thoughts: 

The premise is wonderful, and the combination of mystery and fantasy made me curious. 

The mystery is the best part of the book. I like how complex and layered it is. Ana (despite everything) has turbo-charged grey cells that work 24*7. Din is solid and balances out the equation well. While some readers may find Din bland, I like that it is his personality. He is supposed to be that way. Imagine him being like Ana. That would be super annoying. Din is good the way he is. 

The revelation also comes in stages. Even though we get lengthy dialogues with explanations, these are followed by fast-paced action scenes to balance the narrative. 

Some secondary characters are promising. I quite liked meeting them. It’ll be nice to see them in the future books. The names are typical fantasy stuff- made up by throwing together random alphabets. Not an issue since I do the same, lol. 

When I read fantasy, I tend to go with the flow and see where the story takes me. However, that approach didn’t help here. I still have little to no idea about the setting. On a side note, shouldn’t this be a dystopian fantasy? That way, I can tick off a reading challenge prompt! 

Man, the pacing is slow. There is a lot of detail about the setting, which sadly doesn’t translate to an imaginable output. I’m someone who finds it easy to visualize settings and scenes. Yet I couldn’t see beyond the outlines. (Translation- it needs better editing) 

Ana tries hard to be Sherlock but doesn’t get close. Maybe the character was just herself, we’d have better luck. There’s potential buried under all that swearing and cursing. Saying the F-word a million times doesn’t make anyone cool or whatever. 

Still, I admit I chuckled a few times, even when danger was looming over. The monsters (which are just as vague but super duper huge) tend to come out at random. 

The first chapter is terrific. The subsequent ones, not as much, make it hard to sustain interest after the initial burst of intrigue. Luckily, the last section is solid, which pushed the rating from 2 to 3 stars. 

A special mention about the cover for this edition. At first glance, I thought the red part was a cracked bowl with some bluish fumes around it. Then I realized I was wrong. The bigger red portion is the sky with a red sun (or whatever the Empire has). The crack is a breach in the sea wall. The haze is detailed, with steps, exotic plants, and the main characters. There’s a cup on the side and a couple of lanterns on the opposite corners. The design is brilliant once you start reading the book. 

To summarize, The Tainted Cup is a layered mystery set in a fantasy world. It would make a great read with some strict editing and clearer world-building. If I read book #2, it’ll be for Din. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton (Hodderscape), for the eARC.  

#NetGalley #TheTainedCup 

Nonna Maria and the Case of the Lost Treasure by Lorenzo Carcaterra - Book Review

Series: Nonna Maria #3 (Standalone)

Publication Date: 07th May 2024

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Small Town, Italy 

4 Stars 

One Liner: A heartwarming read! 

Nonna Maria’s long-time friend, Captain Murino of the Ischian caribineri, is in danger due to the cases he solved before coming to this tiny island. Nonna Maria is determined to save him, just as he is determined to keep her safe from the ruthless men. 

Meanwhile, Rita, the granddaughter of Nonna Maria’s friend, comes to her for help. Her late grandfather gave her a map of lost treasure in the caves on the other end of the island. She needs help to find the treasure, and Nonna Maria knows many others want to grab the treasure first. 

How will our dear old lady handle the cases while cooking, feeding dear ones, and making new friends? 

The story comes in the omnipresent third-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

Well, it’s not often that a mystery book gets called heartwarming. However, with Nonna Maria as the star lead, this can’t be anything less sweet despite all the action, mystery, and danger. 

The book should work as a standalone. I’m yet to read the first book, but liked the second and enjoyed this (third). It is not a whodunit but more of a howdunit. We are told who the criminal is in advance. Now, the question is how will we get to the confrontation and what happens next. 

The writing is easy to read and flows at a steady pace. The short chapters are highly convenient. There’s more ‘tell’ than ‘show’, but it works for the plot. A good author knows what to show and what to tell. Moreover, there are subtle bits of humor- not where you laugh out loud but smile or chuckle a little. 

Of course, there are plenty of dishes mentioned throughout. While I don’t eat most of them, I still enjoyed the descriptions and the characters having a hearty meal. 

The island of Ischia is easy to visualize. The alleys, the stone walls, the old castle, the caves, and locals with bittersweet history, everything enriches the plot. In fact, it is a core character in the book. 

There are two tracks (as you see in the premise). That means we have two sets of characters to meet. Yet, it doesn’t get the least bit confusing. Even with someone knowing someone or being another relative, it is easy enough to follow the developments. 

There’s no lead for the next book, but I hope the series continues. I’m sure many people will need Nonna Maria’s help. 

The book ends with a sweet author’s note and leaves the reader with a smile. 

To summarize, Nonna Maria and the Case of the Lost Treasure is a sweet cozy mystery set on a beautiful island and has some memorable characters. Pick it up if you want a relaxing mystery and have a couple of hours of free time. 

Thank you, NetGallet and Random House Publishing Group- Bantam, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #NonnaMariaAndTheCaseOfTheLostTreasure

The Arsenic Eater's Wife by Tonya Mitchell - Book Review

Publication Date: 08th Feb 2024

Genre: Historical Drama, Inspired by True Story 

3.8 Stars 

One Liner: Dark and stark but a worthy read 

1889, Liverpool 

Constance Sullivan is a twenty-six-year-old widow of William Sullivan. She is brought to trial for poisoning her husband. As her lawyer tries to prove her innocence, we see what happened between the closed doors and the changing relationships between the couple and other family members. 

Is Constance innocent or guilty? What will the jury decide? What’s the truth? 

The story comes in Constance Sullivan’s third-person POV in the present tense. 

My Thoughts: 

The book starts with Constance being arrested for her husband’s death and goes back and forth between the trial and the past events that led to this situation. Despite the non-linear narration, there is no confusion anywhere. 

The writing is strong and flows well. I wasn’t expecting this, so it took me a while to get into the mood. Once I did, I liked it better. The pacing is a little uneven, but works. 

The court scenes are my favorite, and I wish we had more of those. Apparently, back then, the accused wasn’t allowed to talk, so we don’t see Constance speaking. Sir Charles, her lawyer, makes a strong impression. 

That said, there is no gothic house. While the place is called oppressive, it has no role in the plot. They could be living in any rich house, and the story would have been the same. At the most, the Gothic elements would be the constant gloom and twisted nature of the characters. 

Constance is, of course, a flawed character. We are told she is too naïve and trusts the wrong people, which destroys her life. While some of it may be true, I wouldn’t call her innocent. Instead, her actions, thoughts, decisions, etc., show she is the center of her world. She is self-absorbed and has a narrow perspective that starts and ends with her. Anything beyond that is an inconvenience that is to be ignored. Even after all the years, the changed version of her is not that different from the original. She still makes the same mistakes in a roundabout way. Let me emphasize that this doesn’t make it okay for the injustice she faced. Also, the author makes us root for her despite these flaws, which is quality writing. 

The ending becomes a bit OTT, which isn’t great. However, I do like the intentions behind this. It does provide a sort of closure and a sense of hope for the MC, which is something I want from the books I read. 

There’s a detailed author’s note at the end, providing insights into the actual case and the areas that have been fictionalized. This is useful in understanding and comparing both versions. A list of references is provided. We also get book club questions for discussions. 

This is a dark book with almost zero light-hearted moments. It’s not something to relax with and has triggers for domestic abuse, infidelity, self-harm (multiple scenes), and animal death. 

To summarize, The Arsenic Eater's Wife is a well-written story inspired by real events. It holds a mirror to the injustices and inequalities women faced (and continue to face) in society. Do check the triggers (listed above) before you read. 

Thank you, Bloodhound Books, for the eARC. 

Check this report for a brief insight into the actual case. 

Secrets of the Snakestone by Piu DasGupta - Book Review

Publication Date: 14th March 2024 

Genre: Middle-Grade Fantasy Adventure 

3.5 stars 

One Liner: Fast-paced and entertaining

1895, Paris 

Zelie Dutta is not a witch, even if she is accused of being one. However, a chance encounter brings her face-to-face with Jules, a sewer cleaner boy who found a gold locket. This locket once held the (in)famous Snakestone, the one Zelie needs to find her father. 

However, the quest is far from easy, with a dangerous brother society wanting the same magical stone. Time is running out, and Zelie has to use all their talents to stay alive and find her father. Can she do it? 

The story comes in Zelie (mostly) and Jules’ third-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

How can I resist a book that has Indian characters? And, of course, the vibrant cover grabbed my attention. This one connects colonial India and France (Paris) with magic, science, mystery, adventure, steampunk, and loads of danger.

The narration is fast-paced, so much so that we don’t get time to breathe before Zelie is off on another adventure. This suits her character, as she is a bundle of energy, ready to jump, leap, and rush (for different reasons). However, there isn’t much time for anything else, be it character development or detailed world-building. 

The book starts with Zelie being called a witch. We see how the fellow maids in the house are wary of her for belonging to another race and most importantly, because her eyes are of a different color. Zelie has heterochromia, where the color of each eye is different. 

Jules is a sewer boy, twelve years or so. He is not eager to help Zelie but agrees eventually. There were instances when I liked Jules more than our MC. He is balanced and not prone to impulses like her. However, I didn’t find any mention of Zelie’s age. She should be around the same or a year younger, based on my calculation. It’s hard to imagine the characters in such instances. 

In a way, I like that Zelie is not perfect. She is judgmental, stubborn, reckless, and not someone who will listen to good advice. Despite that, I feel many young readers will connect to her determination to find her father and the risks she takes in the process. Her love for her family comes across very clearly. She is kind, which works in her favor. 

The overall content is darkish but nothing too scary. There’s no time to feel scared with the girl racing off to a bigger danger. Sigh! 

The book deals with themes like trust, friendships, family, greed (for fame and money), privilege, differences between rich and poor, the lack of pockets in women’s wear, etc. And oh, it puts forward an important question - why do men’s dresses have buttons in the front and when women have to deal with buttons at the back? So unfair, right? 

Each chapter comes with a title, hinting at what’s to come. Some of these are spoilers, too. It won’t be a problem for all, but some readers won’t like it. 

To summarize, Secrets of the Snakestone is an entertaining adventure set in the dark side of Paris. Despite the flaws, the book is a good read and should keep young ones hooked. 

The Kindle version is okay, but the formatting is the best in the PDF. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Nosy Crow, for the eARC.  

#NetGalley #SecretsOfTheSnakestone

**

P.S.: The author’s website has an animated version of the book’s cover. It is so cool! 

A Most Murderous Wedding by Bianca Blythe - Book Review

Series: Murder Most Gilded Age Mystery #1 (Standalone)

Publication Date: 30 Jan 2024

Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery 

2.5 Stars (outliner) 

One Liner: Good premise, not-so-good execution 

1892, Boston 

Ruby Irving is the daughter of a Nevada tycoon, a rich man with new money. Despite her education and money, not many like her or her family. After all, she doesn’t belong to the English aristocracy. Ruby doesn’t seem to mind. 

However, when her groom jilts her on the wedding day and refuses to say his vows, Ruby is in the limelight for the wrong reason. As if that’s not enough, George, the ex-groom, is found dead (murdered). Ruby’s Pa is the prime suspect since he was heard threatening to kill the man. 

With the police making up their minds and not doing the needful, Ruby decides to investigate and save her Pa from being framed for murder. 

The story comes from Ruby’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

I’m always up for a cozy mystery, so when this was available for request, I didn’t think much. Also, it would have been my first mystery series set in the Gilded Age. Unfortunately, the results are not great. 

Given the page count and that this is still the first in the series, there isn’t much character development for anyone, including Ruby. I’m okay with it to an extent since we get an idea of what they are. That’s enough for the plot. 

What I Like: 

This is a small book with 199 pages and has a steady pace. You can finish it in a single sitting (1.30 to 2 hours max). 

The story starts with the wedding and the groom refusing to say ‘I do’. Even the death occurs soon afterward. 

We get the backstory and information in bits and pieces to prevent an info dump. This helps sustain the pace and keep the readers interested. 

Ruby starts out well. Her parents are rather endearing. I like the scenes where she is proud of them, as she should be. 

What Didn’t Work for Me: 

Well, the mystery has potential but has not been explored. Ruby starts sleuthing, which becomes half-baked in the second half. The resolution is not a result of her efforts but a chance plot development. 

We are told Ruby is a smart girl, a math-loving, practical person who doesn’t believe in romance and stuff. However, somewhere along the way, she ends up with tingling(s) for more than one person. The shift from being a no-nonsense heiress to this for the sake of sustaining the mystery messes up her arc. 

Ruby isn’t that different from the snobs she claims to dislike. While this can be a deliberate character flaw, it doesn’t reflect well on a girl who tends to feel ashamed of her parents when they so clearly love her and give her what she wants. 

With the narrative in the first-person, the story could have been real good, especially the climax. However, the readers are left to assume that everything has been sorted when we jump to the epilogue after the killer is revealed (to us). This works in short stories, not in novels. We don’t need detailed explanations, but a paragraph or two is necessary. 

To summarize, A Most Murderous Wedding is a quick cozy mystery with some lighthearted moments and depicts the social situations and flaws well. However, it is pretty much an average read. 

I’m an outliner here, so check out other reviews before you decide. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Somerset Park Press, for the eARC.  

#NetGalley #AMostMurderousWedding

***

P.S.: I think I’m more annoyed due to my high expectations. The author has written many books and has a decent average rating. Maybe this one isn’t her best. I’ll read something from her previous works to get a better idea. 

Murder at the Leaning Tower by T.A. Williams - Book Review

Series: Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mysteries #6

Publication Date: 06th Feb 2024

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Italy 

4 Stars 

One Liner: Entertaining as always 

Dan Armstrong is asked to provide security for a private villa on the outskirts of Pisa. Villa Gregory is beautiful and large. Still, Dan thinks it should be easy enough to handle the situation. What could go wrong when the ultra-rich meet? 

Everything. 

His girlfriend’s daughter works for one of the guests and isn’t too keen about Dan. Moreover, one of the guests is murdered. With pressure mounting, Dan (and Oscar) need to solve the case and try to prevent more murders while staying alive. 

The story comes in Dan’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

This is one of my comfort-read cozy mystery series. This time, Dan and Oscar go to a villa on the outskirts of Pisa. While the tower makes an appearance only once, the setting is beautiful enough to make me happy. 

Despite being the sixth book in the series, it works as a standalone. There is a necessary backstory without too much info dump. The connections between characters are mentioned in a couple of lines without distracting the reader from the plot. 

Ocsar is his best again. This cute black Lab dons many hats. He has to impress people, explore the surroundings, comfort people when they feel sad, and save lives if necessary. He manages it all and more while doing more than full justice to his love for food. 

The mystery is compact. While I could guess the killer, it was fun to know how the reveal would happen. There are enough clues and a couple of red herrings, along with a list of suspects, to keep guessing. 

The pacing is better, too! This one is slightly faster than the previous books. I won’t call it fast, but it is steady and not slow. 

Virginia, Anna’s daughter, is an interesting character. I hope we get to meet her occasionally in the coming books. I missed Trisha in this one. 

Naturally, we are introduced to new police characters in this one. The one in charge of the case is a specimen, but the other is smart, sweet, and efficient. Of course, justice is served, so all ends well! 

To summarize, Murder at the Leaning Tower is entertaining. It ensures the series continues its momentum. Enjoy the setting, food, and the mystery! 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #MurderAtTheLeaningTower

The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry by Anna Rose Johnson - Book Review

Publication Date: 05th March 2024

Genre: Middle-Grade Historical Adventure 

4 Stars 

One Liner: Heartwarming 

1912, Michigan 

Lucy is an eleven-year-old spirited French-Ojibwe orphan sent to live on the tiny Harmony Island with the large Martins family. She misses her papa (a sailor) and hopes to find the legendary ruby necklace he wanted to find but couldn’t. 

Living on an island is hard when Lucy is afraid of water). Moreover, adjusting to the new life with the Anishinaabe family, the lighthouse keepers, isn’t easy. But no one could say Lucy can’t handle hard. 

If only things were a little easier. Maybe a bit of effort is exactly what’s needed. 

The story comes in Lucy’s third-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

A book with a lighthouse, a title with alliteration, and an intriguing premise- do I need more to grab this one? Of course not. 

The book starts with Lucy eavesdropping on a conversation. We get a glimpse into her character and begin to understand her delicate position. The poor girl lost her parents and guardian and is now thrust into an unknown family, that too, a large one. 

Lucy is an engaging MC. She is far from perfect and often switches to different personalities as a coping mechanism. She’s a Princess one moment, an Actress the next, and a Small Waif immediately afterward. These define her means of coping with the sudden changes in the situation and her inability to handle them without feeling overwhelmed. I love how this enriches her arc throughout the book. 

While the ruby necklace is important, it is not the central plot. The main theme is about Lucy finding her place in the Martins family. It’s not easy for both parties, as we can clearly see. The Martins already have six children ranging from high school to pre-nursery. Inserting an eleven-year-old longing for a family is not a stress-free task. 

The setting and the lighthouse descriptions are clear enough to visualize the place but so elaborate that kids will lose interest. It helps that the island is super tiny (a smart move). There’s a map, which broke into a dozen pieces on my Kindle. Maybe it’ll look better in PDF on a computer screen. I wish we could see the drawing of the ruby necklace, too. 

The Martins family, despite the large number, is easy to track. Everyone has a distinct personality, some rude, some sweet, some bored, but even they change as they get to know Lucy and accept her presence. 

We are introduced to a few more characters who play minor but crucial roles in the plot’s progress. 

There’s some adventure and one risky scene in the climax. It is essential to the plot and handled without feeling OTT. 

The inclusion of Anishinaabemowin's words and Mrs. Martin’s determination to teach their native language to the children is so wonderful. I love it. As a pagan, I cannot stress enough the importance of this statement. Frame it, I say! 

It may be fashionable these days to leave one’s heritage behind, but one day, you’ll regret not knowing the things your ancestors did. 

There’s a glossary of Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe language) and French terms at the end, followed by acknowledgments. This helped understand the meanings of the words better, though most were explained within the story. 

To summarize, The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry is a heartwarming, beautiful, and steady-paced book about a young girl facing her fears and finding a family to call her own. It’s also about grief, mourning, and being optimistic about life. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Holiday House, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheLuminousLifeOfLucyLandry

Unbound by Christy Healy - Book Review

Publication Date: 16th Jan 2024

Genre: Historical Fantasy, Romance 

2.7 Stars 

One Liner: Got potential (not a B&B retelling) 

Rozlyn Ó Conchúir spent the majority of her life waiting to find the right person to break her curse. She feels she has a chance of taming the dark magic in her when she meets Jamie. However, a betrayal unleashes the inner monster. 

Now, she is the ‘queen’ leading a solitary life, and Jamie wants help. Can she give him what he wants? What does it mean for her? 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Rozlyn and Jamie. 

My Thoughts: 

Before I proceed further, can I ask who on earth came up with the idea to market this as a gender-bent B&B retelling? Even the author calls it Midir & Étain retelling in her note. That’s how it should have been promoted. (Not that I know the original Irish story, but this isn’t Beauty and the Beast)

The story is divided into two parts and an epilogue. We get Rozyln and Jamie’s alternate POVs in different timelines within each part. The time jumps are easy enough to follow. Here, I don’t mind being duped right in the middle of the action and getting snippets from the past in installments. It works, even if a major chunk of information is missing. 

What I do mind is the lengthy dialogues (monologues). While the banter between the lead characters is fun at times, the sizzle isn’t fully there. For a long time, I couldn’t decide if I wanted them to be together or not. 

We have a ‘beast’ who is so beautiful that you’ll be reminded of it a million times (TBH, half the time, I imagined her as a vampire). The MMC is, of course, very handsome. Even if Rozlyn’s beast is supposed to be her attitude, it doesn’t work much. At the most, I’d call her a privileged brat and selfish. She’s no monster (the shape-shifting doesn’t count). Jamie is no angel, so I don’t mind some of her decisions. 

The setting is quite good, but I wish there was more. We are introduced to many mythical Irish creatures, which I like. Yet, they are so easily tackled that it makes me feel bad for them. Come on, the creatures are supposed to have killed so many people. Make the fight last a while. 

I don’t mind the anachronisms much (it will annoy some readers, so pick it up based on preferences). Would I have liked the book more without them? Not really. However, I would have liked it better if the story was set in a fictional world. An advantage of this is you get to make your own rules. 

The writing is flowery and descriptive, which means the pacing is uneven, and the book drags in many places. And yet, the details aren’t fully clear. The power/ magic thing is hazy. I thought it would get clear over time, but I can’t say it did. 

The epilogue is what we’d expect from a romance read. That said, I’m not 100% sure about a certain aspect. 

Nevertheless, thank you for the list at the end. It provides the pronunciation for all the Irish terms. I’m more than happy to pretend I pronounced them right when reading the story. 

To summarize, Unbound has its moments and introduces us to some creepy mythical creatures and gods, but it ends up as an average read. It's okay. Not a clean romance, but is not spicy either. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing, for the eARC.  

#NetGalley #Unbound             

Stranger in the Village by Kate Wells - Book Review

Series: A Malvern Farm Mystery #2 

Publication Date: 30th Jan 2024

Genre: Small Town Dark Cozy Mystery 

3.8 stars 

One Liner: Slow but enjoyable mystery 

Jude Gray is busy keeping her farm afloat and diversifying to generate more income. She is still getting over the previous murder and the attack on her life. 

However, things get complex when Des Smith, a sleazy chauvinist newcomer in the village, gets murdered. His wife, Loretta, is a kind and loving person, a good friend of Jude. There are a few other strangers around, one of them being a mysterious person with red trainers. 

Like it or not, Jude once again has to solve the crime with DS Binnie Khatri. 

The story comes in Jude’s third-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

As guessed, the pacing is on the slower side like the previous book. Even the atmosphere is dark and continues a few months after book #1 ends. The narration is better, so looks like we are settling into the series. 

Little Sebbie is three and going to nursery. He is a lively child, adding some funny moments to the story. Of course, like every other kid, Sebbie can throw a tantrum, and we see it multiple times. And… never underestimate a child’s ability to remember and use cusswords. ;) 

This is my second book that talks of glamping sites on farms as a source of additional income. Both books highlight the need for eco-friendly practices, which I like. However, given the dark atmosphere and the almost bleak setting (despite beautiful locations), I’m not sure how camping here would be glamorous. 

That said, Jude is great at managing the farm. Sure, she has help, but she is not afraid of tough jobs and is willing to learn. Lucy is now working at the retirement center and helps with housework whenever possible. 

The mystery is intriguing and has enough twists to keep the reader hooked. Binnie’s role is more of someone who shares the updates with Jude and discusses ideas to investigate the case. I’d love to see her in action someday. She is balanced, controlled, smart, and dedicated. 

Jude is not without flaws, which makes her annoying at times. A character calls her self-righteous, and I agree. However, this implies the character development is deliberate (to make her more realistic, I guess). Maybe give her a task she cannot do on the farm? That should add to the authenticity factor. 

And… it is easy enough to guess the killer and gets way too evident as more information is revealed. If Jude wants to become a sleuth, she needs to step up and stop trusting every darn soul who acts kind. Not considering a theory coz the person is kind-hearted won’t work! 

And oh, I love the two new members on the farm – Alfie and Ned, cute little pups. The farm already has Pip, the dog; Gertie, the goat; and Pancake, the lamb. The author has a new Alfie, too, but has unfortunately lost her Pip recently. Here’s hoping her sweet dog enjoys exploring the doggy heaven. 

To summarize, Stranger in the Village is a dark cozy mystery about family, relationships, friendship, doing the right thing, taking chances, and solving crimes. It’s also about not jumping to conclusions and accepting our mistakes. Looking forward to the next book in the series. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #StrangerInTheVillage