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Review – Buried Deep and Other Stories

Buried Deep and Other Stories is a truly enjoyable collection of short fantasy stories. Naomi Novak sets many of her stories in worlds her fans will be familiar with, but the stories themselves are self-contained. In tone they vary from cosy to unsettling, and most centre around female protagonists of various ages. Some are mood pieces but there are also plenty of active stories.

The quality of these stories is very high – even ones that I was initially uninterested in mostly ended up grabbing me by the time I finished them. Novak evokes a great sense of place in her different worlds, and her character sketches are compelling. My favourite story is a poignant retelling of Ariadne and the Minotaur (the titular Buried Deep), but it is closely followed by a brilliant standalone pirate story that confidently opens the collection. It’s also nice that Novak includes a note before each story explaining its genesis or the reason for inclusion.

I have very little negative to say about this book. The only real downer is that the last story is unfinished – it is meant to be a glimpse of a work in progress, but it is polished enough that I was disappointed when the book ended without the story being resolved. I think it would make more sense to put that one earlier in the collection and finish with a strong complete story. Nonetheless, I highly recommend this collection to fantasy fans, particularly people who already enjoy Novak’s work.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review – A Study in Drowning

The main plot of A study in Drowning is actually quite simple – two students are looking for the truth about the authorship of a recently deceased national author. But really, the story is about a young woman and her attempts to build the life she deserves. 

At the start of the novel Effy’s dream is to study her favourite author, Myrddin; but women are not admitted to the Literature School. She has therefore settled for Architecture, where she is the only female student. She is close to failing her classes when she wins a competition to design a house honouring Myrddin – and is invited to the crumbling family manor to work on her blueprints. This is where she meets literature student Preston, who is suspicious of the legacy of the author and asks Effy for her help investigating him. 

There were times where the book was frustrating to read. The answer to the authorship question is telegraphed early, and so seeing the students flailing around with their assumptions feels like more of a waste of time rather than any kind of commentary on those assumptions. There is also a rather Nancy Drew effect that every time they go looking for information they immediately find a clue marked ‘Clue’.  As a mystery novel, it is not really successful. 

As an atmospheric coming-of-age story, however, it excels. Effy’s personal journey is powerful, as she fights for her own agency. At the start of the book she is a very cowed person, who has suffered neglect and abuse and blames herself for her experiences. She feels haunted by the Fairy King of her favourite book, and has been told all her life that he is not real, to the point that her mother pressures her to take medication every time she has a vision. 

Journeying to Hiraeth Manor and working to discover the truth about Myrddin and herself is cathartic for her. Effy makes active decisions and starts to push back when underestimated. At many times she takes the lead in the investigation and makes deductions Preston cannot, and throughout the book her confidence in herself grows. 

It was refreshing to read a book that deals with the unfair treatment of women without resorting to gratuitous sexual violence. Effy’s worst experiences are in the past, and the writing is sensitive as she reflects and comes to terms with what has happened to her. The book examine issues around about consent and trauma without being misery porn. On the contrary, Effy’s emotional journey is gently heartwarming as she learns to accept her own feelings and be kind to herself. 

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Review – A Lady’s Guide to Scandal

Pressured by her parents into a loveless marriage, Eliza finds herself widowed at 29. Her inheritance is unexpectedly large, but with a catch – she must not bring the family name into disrepute.

Multiple people in her life are telling her what to do, but for the first time her fortune allows her the opportunity to begin making decisions for herself. Beginning with a stay in Bath with her cousin, Eliza is able to ask herself what she actually wants from life. A growing friendship with a Byronic poet, and the rekindling of warmth with a former suitor, also prompt her to think about what she wants from love. All the while she must be careful that her exploration of her new self does not draw so much gossip that she loses her inheritance.

I enjoyed reading this book. A combination of ‘Persuasion’ and ‘Bridgerton’, it has a charming sense of place and society. The cast is a manageable size, with some sparkling female characters. While principally a romance, at the heart of the book is Eliza’s personal growth as she shakes off the various people who want to tell her how to live her life. It is a pleasure to see her begin to make decisions independently, even when they don’t seem entirely sensible.

I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review – Bookshops & Bonedust

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Bookshops & Bonedust is sold as cosy fantasy, and it delivers on its promise. A standalone prequel to Legends & Lattes, it focuses on Viv the orc at the beginning of her career as a mercenary. She is keen to fight, but a wound forces her to take a reluctant break to recuperate in the quiet town of Murk. She ends up spending most of her time in a bookshop, and after awkwardly accepting a book recommendation from the owner she finds herself increasingly invested in the shop’s fortunes.

There are two levels of plot tension in the book. The overall grand tension is technically the threat to the town from a necromancer. However, the everyday tension that takes most of Viv’s attention is the struggle to keep the bookshop afloat with her friends. Likewise, we see two distinct sides to Viv’s character – the keen mercenary and the gentler shopkeeper. It is made clear throughout that young Viv will go back to being a mercenary once healed, but it also sows the seeds for her eventual retirement from that life when she opens Legends & Lattes. It is also made clear that both sides bring valuable skills that make a whole person – sometimes needing to be headstrong, and sometimes choosing to be more thoughtful.

This book is charming, with a small cast of predominantly female characters and a very gentle ff romance. The extracts from fictional books do feel a bit self-indulgent at times, but I found that very forgivable. There is a slightly bittersweet tone that comes with the time limit of Viv’s stay in the town, but there is also a warmth in the way she finds meaning and friendship despite the fact she won’t be staying. It’s an enjoyable book full of little details, and it compliments Legends and Lattes extremely well.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review,



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Review – In the Lives of Puppets

In the Lives of Puppets by T.J. Klune

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is a charming quest narrative set in a world where robots have attempted to wipe humans out.

‘In the Lives of Puppets’ is described as a Pinocchio retelling, but this is quite a loose description. Pinocchio motifs are present – ie the Blue Fairy, the fox and the cat, the Terrible Dogfish/whale – and some of the rescue mission structure is used, but the central moralising about a little puppet who won’t be good is decidedly absent.

Instead we have a story about robots and a human deciding what kind of people they want to be, and sometimes reconciling that with who they were before. Mostly it’s a story about friendship, love and family. The cast is small and distinct – in particular the supporting robots, Nurse Ratched and Rambo the Roomba, seem like an attempt at quotable comic relief at first, but as the book progresses they increasingly feel like fully-fleshed characters.

For a book set in a ‘kill all humans’ style world, this is a surprisingly gentle book. There is peril and bloodshed, but it isn’t a gory or violent read. Instead, it’s frequently tender, and the romance is tentative and vulnerable. You could probably call this very soft science fiction, although the fable style and the quest format make it more of a fantasy hybrid. The storyline doesn’t really deliver any surprises but I enjoyed reading about the characters and I’m sure the book will do well.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.



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“Click”

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Swift as the Coursing River

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In 2017 I joined the Merchant Navy. They have not succeeded in making a man out of me, although I can tie a bowline, climb a mast and decipher a radar picture.

This has left me with rather little time for writing. I hope to return in due course.

 

Review – Murder on the Orient Express (2017 Film)

Cakes on a Train

A review of Kenneth Brannagh’s adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express. Published at Ferretbrain.