Squire by Tamora Pierce

"No one, not even Flynn, questioned her ability to fight anymore."

Kelandry has grown tall and strong, much like your reviewer here, and that just makes me love her more. She’s finally been chosen as a Squire to Lord Raoul, just when it seemed she might never see action. Book Three in The Protector of the Small series sees change, challenges and the odd heart flutter. All of which made for a speedy and enjoyable read. In fact, I rushed through this faster than Jump comes to Kel’s rescue. That is to say, rather speedily.

Our trainee knight has to face more than just angry bandits. An ornery baby griffin, the challenges of jousting, court politics and kidnapping round out just a little of the drama and it will have you spellbound. Will Kel survive the horrors of the Ordeal of Knighthood to progress her career? Will she discover the identity of her mysterious benefactor (spoilers – not in this volume)? Will you keep reading until the wee hours? If you’re like me, then you definitely will. Thankfully I had the next novel on stand-by, so no waiting around to see what happens next.

5 out of 5 – baby griffins are hard work.

Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood

"I could not shake the feeling that there was a doom on the house, and that some within were fated to die."

Hello fair reader, may I interest you in some more of the fine work of Ms Atwood? I had to push this up in the to be read pile so that I could finish it before watching the latest Netflix mini-series adaptation. Otherwise it is entirely likely I would have put this off to savour it at my leisure.  

Not that it makes for a particularly joyous read, given the subject matter, and yet the writing is exquisitely rendered and that elicits its own form of joy within. The way the story unfolds is  particularly interesting, as it shifts from first to third person, offering very different perspectives.

Convicted murderer Grace Marks is a historical figure that takes the lead in this tale. While imprisoned, Grace is allowed to work in the home of the prisoner's governor as a servant. It is here where she is questioned by psychiatrist, Dr. Jordan who attempts to ascertain her guilt or innocence. He gets more than he bargains for, becoming somewhat taken with the subject matter. Who could blame him, Grace is such an intriguing creature. Is she a somnambulist or a vicious killer? The story never really lets on and therein lies some of its appeal. Still there's always a willing landlady to take your frustrations out on.

Well I shouldn't give too much away about the story. Far more interesting for you to discover yourself. Go on, grab yourself a copy, you won't be disappointed.


 5 out of 5 history always makes for an interesting tale.

Page by Tamora Pierce

"She had trouble nodding off that night. She couldn't get rid of her anger with Vinson and with a world in which servants  didn't matter. It wasn't right."

In a week when dealing with clients who can't entertain the fact that a woman could hold any other office than event organiser or secretary (not that there's anything wrong with those roles), it seemed the perfect time to get stuck into some Tamora Pierce. Book 2 of the Protector of the Small Quartet, sees Keladry of Mindelan beings her training as a Page as an integral path to becoming a knight. 

She'll fight misogyny,  her fear of heights and the ban on owning pets to find her own path to success.

Whether talking to sparrows, fighting bandits or rescuing servants, Kel's adventures make for an entertaining read. I have to confess to finishing this and immediately starting on the next one. Stay tuned, so far it is brilliant also.

No-one writes a strong, resilient heroine in a fabulous fantasy realm like Pierce does. Thank goodness my friend, Nicki is such a great source of books to borrow and also great at providing new and exciting series to get hooked on.

5 out of 5 - I feel the same about heights as Kel.

The Showrunner by Kim Moritsugu

"Stacey checked the wall clock and tried to estimate how long Ann would stay quiet while Bonnie and Todd trashed her opportunity to live vicariously through Julie, who in the tradition of avatars, was taller, thinner, better-looking, and sexier than Ann had ever been, Ann being more of a Hilary Clinton type, bodywise."

When I read the synopsis of this novel, I knew it was something I'd be keen on. Two of my favourite television shows of late being Episodes  and UnReal, and the idea of more behind the scenes television production drama was a compelling reason to request this from Netgalley. Thankfully, I was rewarded with a pre-release version and got to indulge my love for backstage drama. It's sold as a kind of TV All about Eve, and I believe that might do this a bit of a disservice. It's something rather different entirely and yet, still lots of fun.

Stacey makes an entertaining protagonist. She has worked hard to get where she is; trapped by a royal bitch of a boss and now competition seems to be brewing with the introduction of actress turned would be production assistant, Jenna to the team. It could all become rather lethal, so buckle in for the ride and enjoy the show.

The pacing was a little off at times and I sometimes got confused between Stacey and Jenna - their stories are rather intermingled. That being said, it was an enjoyable glimpse behind the facade and I predict this one will get picked up by the network.

4 out of 5 episodes are rather entertaining.

Black Dogs by Ian McEwan

“On seeing me, each tried to fish, to wheedle information by drawing me out, usually by offering contestable propositions thinly disguised as questions.”

Another quick read from the 1001 novels list, which is always a welcome occurrence. The aspect that impressed me the most was the unreliable narrative of a relationship told through the depictions of the same events by June and Bernard. The idea that you could be so wedded to someone so opposite, whose view of the world is so incomprehensible to you, is an intriguing one.

The black dogs of the title are the key protagonists of a violent occurrence which solidifies June's view of the world, moving her away from her Communist aligned husband and directing her to a more religious viewpoint.

The narrator is the couple's son in law, who has an unusual relationship with both June and Bernard. His attempts at biography acting as a strange conduit between the estranged couple even after June' s demise. It is an interesting tale with moments of brilliant observation and yet there was something just a little unwieldy in its execution. 

4 out of 5 - somebody call the RSPCA.

Artemis by Andy Weir

"We both stripped down to our underwear. (What? I'm supposed to be demure around the gay guy?). Then we put on our coolant garments."

I know it is only February, however, I think I might already have read my favourite book of the year.I do love a good science fiction novel and the moon as a location has been under-utilised of late. When I saw that the author of the marvellous,The Martian, had a new novel out, it was in my book depository basket faster than you could say "Is that a need or a want?".

Jazz is a delightful anti-heroine. A smart, sassy moon dweller with daddy issues, ex-boyfriend issues, a drinking problem and a somewhat dubious occupation as a smuggler. It is a means to an end (the criminal behaviour that is); as she aims to become a well paid EVA Master- and the training, the equipment and the test cost money. Jazz is almost everything I could want from a female lead. Intelligent, nuanced,and just plain kick ass. The other characters are just as rich and interestingly developed. I loved Svobo and his re-usable condom invention particularly.

The moon is just another microcosm of everything on Earth and Weir delightfully explores the human side of colonisation. He also throws in a bucket load of science (lots of things that go boom, lots of things that could kill you), the mechanics of economics, and some fast-paced action. If you've ever queried the power of a trade qualification, this book might just have you considering learning how to weld.

I hope this novel garners lots of positive attention and that someone re-creates the bar in it, so that I can go visit and sample a few concoctions. What's not to love about the idea of a currency called slugs. I'm just a massive fan of the whole book and writing this review only makes me want to re-read it.

5 out of 5 - fly me to the moon.

Cote D'Estoril by Dejan Tiago-Stanković

" 'I think it must be much easier to be a king than to be a doorman' the boy declared"

Once again netgalley has fortunately delivered a rather lovely new book to read. It delivers an intriguing locale and some particularly entertaining characters. During the second world war a luxury hotel on the Portuguese riviera is a hot bed of intrigue. When a young, Jewish boy, Gaby, is separated from his parents on the run from the Nazis, he arrives with the means to stay within the palatial surrounds of the Hotel Palácio Estoril  and await his parents' arrival. He acts as a catalyst for introductions to many of the colourful guests, one of my favourites being the dashing womaniser, Duško, and of course a cast of more famous characters such as Ian Fleming, the former King of Romania, and chess master Alexander Alekhine  to name but a few.

This is a fascinating imaging of a real place and real guests of the hotel during that time.
My only reservation was the pace and , this may be due to the fact that I had a pre-release copy, I felt it needed a bit more of an edit. There were sections that seemed a little disjointed. That being said, it is still an engaging read and one I'd recommend. Rather like a fantastic date that ends in just a kiss that promises something more toe curling.Spend some time in the past in this luxury hotel where anything could happen and everyone has a double life.


4 out of 5 unlikely pals abound.