Allie Therin’s Magic and Manhattan series concluded earlier this year with Wonderstruck, leaving Rory and Arthur in a good place, disposing of the evil Baron Zeppler and nicely tying up the major plotlines. Despite a few quibbles, I enjoyed all three books, so I was pleased to learn the author was writing another novel set…
The Brightest Star in Paris is the follow up to Diana Biller’s 2019 début, The Widow of Rose House. I haven’t got around to reading that one, but I gather that the books are linked by virtue of the fact that the hero of Brightest Star – Doctor Benedict Moore – is the brother of…
Here’s a six-word summary of this book: Gender swapped Jane Eyre with vampires. But before I begin my review of Mimi Matthews’ John Eyre, I have a confession to make. I never finished Jane Eyre, because Helen’s death was so sad I couldn’t read any more. So readers with more knowledge of the source material…
I’ve tried so many of the ‘British history, but with magic’ books over the years: Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke, etc. Zen Cho’s Sorcerer to the Crown is the best one I’ve read – and the competition is not even close. Britain’s Sorcerer…
Wonderstruck is the third book in Allie Therin’s Magic in Manhattan series of paranormal romances set in 1920s New York, and is the best of the bunch, boasting a high-stakes, fast-paced plot, engaging characters, strong worldbuilding and a central relationship that has come on leaps and bounds since the first book. When I reviewed the…
Bec McMaster’s fantastic London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy series reached a breathtakingly exciting close back in February 2019 with Dukes are Forever, wrapping up the overarching plotlines and giving the enigmatic Duke of Malloryn his HEA, leaving the Company of Rogues all happily settled as they continue in their mission to protect their queen…
Shades of Milk and Honey is billed as “the fantasy novel you’ve always wished Jane Austen had written,” and for once, the marketing is right on the money. Jane Ellsworth is the plain sister, but also the talented one. Whereas younger sister Melody has genuine beauty, Jane has the gift of glamour, the ability to…
Best Laid Plaids is the first book in a new series of historical romances set in 1920s Scotland by début author Ella Stainton. The blurb promised a romance between an eccentric former academic who trashed his career when he announced he could talk to ghosts and a war veteran turned PhD student who is writing…
Master Wolf is the eagerly awaited second instalment of Joanna Chambers’ Capital Wolves duet and concludes the story begun in Gentleman Wolf, which introduced readers to the beautiful, elegant, devil-may-care Lindsay Sommerville and Drew Nichol, the rather dour architect with whom he falls head-over-heels in love. This book is a direct sequel to the first…
For some reason I can no longer remember, I picked up Of Silk and Steam, the fifth book in Bec McMaster’s London Steampunk series before reading the previous four (and didn’t get around to posting a review here!), but fortunately enjoyed it sufficiently to want to go back and read those and then to read…