Category: Book Reviews

The Potting Shed Murder Review

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Welcome to the sleepy village of Pudding Corner, a quintessentially English haven of golden cornfields, winding cobbled lanes … and murder. Daphne Brewster has left London behind and is settling into her family’s new life in rural Norfolk, planting broad beans in raised beds and vintage hunting for their farmhouse. But when the local headmaster is found dead in his potting shed, amongst his allotment cabbages, the village is ablaze: Who would kill beloved Mr Papplewick, pillar of the community? Daphne soon comes to realise perhaps the countryside isn’t so idyllic after all… When the headmaster’s widow points her finger at Minnerva, Daphne’s new friend, Daphne vows to clear her name. Sneaking into the crime scene and chasing down rumours gets her into hot water with the local inspector – until she comes across a faded photograph that unearths a secret buried for forty years… They say nothing bad ever happens in close-knit Pudding Corner, but Daphne is close to the truth – dangerously close…

February 2024 Wrap Up

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The shortest month of the year is over and I read a lot more books than I thought – considering one of them was 500+ pages!

  • I read 13 books this month
  • I DNFd 2 books this month
  • Genre: 4 fantasy, 3 historical fiction, 1sci-fi, 1 murder mystery, 1 contemporary, 1 romance, 1 non-fiction and 1 multiple genres
  • Gender of authors: 9 women, 2 men and 1 various
  • Race of authors: 5 white authors, 4 asian authors, 1 black authors and 1 book had multiple Latine authors
  • Age range: 8 adult and 5 YA
  • Format: 10 paperback, 2 hardback and 1 audiobook

DNFS

  • Thieve’s Gambit – Kayvion Lewis
  • Hard by A Great Forest – Leo Vardiashivili

Love on the Other Side – Nagabe (2.5 stars)

What a disappointment. The Girl from the Other Side series is one of my favourite manga series so I was super excited to read more of his work outside of what I already know but this was just not good. The themes and content within this were disappointing.

The Divorcees – Rowan Beaird – (3 stars)

I am not a massive fan of books where all it really consists of is characters sitting around and talking. I need more plot in my books. This book was more character focused and I just started to get bored. The last 50 pages was more interesting but at that point I kind of tuned out.

If You Can See the Sun – Ann Liang (4 stars)

So, I audiobooks this and Natalie Naudus is such an incredible narrator. This was a super exciting and interesting book with a great academic rivals to lovers storyline, great conversation about wealth and class and with a sprinkling of invisibility.

The Storm We Made – Vanessa Chan (4.5 stars)

Words cannot express how important this novel is. Detailing real experiences by Malaysians under the occupation of both Britain and Japan this story was heartbreaking but necessary to bring further awareness to the horrendous treatment by occupying forces against Malaysians. This book was beautifully written with so much heart and soul put into it. You can’t help but connect instantly to the characters – you cry when they cry and laugh when they laugh. Chan did an amazing job of firmly placing you in the setting alongside the various characters and you can easily picture the different parts of the country we are witness to – both the beauty and the horror.

The Silence in Between – Josie Ferguson (5 stars)

Another war book for February. This book is truly about relationships and specifically between the mother and daughter in this novel. Both of them at the same age experience harrowing ordeals while living in Berlin. This was a hard read as it tackles humanity and it’s worst but there are glimmers of hope scattered throughout the story.

Intervals – Marianne Brooker (5 stars)

A poignant book that tackles how as a society we view death, how we can and should support disabled people and how we give people agency within their death. This book caught me at the just the right time in my personal life and I read this book in one sitting. I felt Brooker did a great job at using her own personal journey with her sick mother to convey bigger points on body autonomy, agency with death and shining a light on the staff that helped make her mother’s transition easier. It was a beautiful book tackling hard political and philosophical topics alongside one of the hardest things a human can experience, losing your closest loved one.

Song of the Huntress – Lucy Holland (5 stars)

Set in a period of history I don’t know much about I lost myself in the folklore and the realities of that time period simultaneously. I enjoyed this balance of fantasy and politics and I enjoyed seeing them blend. Holland’s writing really truly makes you feel as if you are stepping into a fairytale. Her writing was so beautiful, poetic, and raw. Holland’s characterisation was so well done. I loved and enjoyed every single POV given and you can’t help but root for the characters even as relationships between each other and the world get more complicated you just want them to succeed and find a way to live a harmonious life.

Where Sleeping Girls Lie – Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (5 stars)

I was super nervous going into this because I loved Ace of Spades by her SO MUCH. But I was NOT disappointed. My copy was about 500+ pages but I flew through the book so quickly. Literally one sitting I read 300 pages. The characterisation was great and the plot was super engaging but honestly if Àbíké-Íyímídé had just wrote a book about high school students and there was not much plot I genuinely think I would enjoy it because her characters were just sooo interesting.

Other books I read –

  • The Hope of Elantris – Brandon Sanderson
  • Sailor Moon, Vol.3 – Naoko Takeuchi
  • Relit – Various
  • Sweat and Soap, Vol.2 – Kintetsu Yamada
  • The Emperor’s Soul – Brandon Sanderson

Mini Review: The Storm We Made

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Malaya, 1945. Cecily Alcantara’s family is in terrible danger: her 15-year-old son, Abel, has disappeared, and her youngest daughter, Jasmin, is confined in a basement to prevent being pressed into service at the comfort stations. Her eldest daughter Jujube, who works at a tea house frequented by drunk Japanese soldiers, becomes angrier by the day. Cecily knows two things: that this is all her fault; and that her family must never learn the truth. A decade prior, Cecily had been desperate to be more than a housewife to a low-level bureaucrat in British-colonized Malaya. A chance meeting with the charismatic General Fuijwara lured her into a life of espionage, pursuing dreams of an “Asia for Asians.” Instead, Cecily helped usher in an even more brutal occupation by the Japanese. Ten years later as the war reaches its apex, her actions have caught up with her. Now her family is on the brink of destruction—and she will do anything to save them.

January 2024 Wrap Up

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The first wrap up of the year! And what a month! Last Jan, my focus was to read manga volumes and I ended up reading 18 books. This month where I had not real plan I ended up reading 16! That’s impressive!

  • I read 16 books this month
  • Genre: 8 fantasy, 3 murder mysteries, 3 sci-fi, 1 historical and 1 non-fiction
  • Gender of authors: 7 women, 2 men and 1 various
  • Race of authors: 10 white authors, 2 asian authors, 2 black authors and 1 Middle Eastern author
  • Age range: 10 adult and 6 YA
  • Format: 13 paperback, 2 audiobook and 1 hardback.

A Torch Agains the Night – Sabaa Tahir (4 stars)

I audio booked this story. I was meant to read it last year but never found the time. This was a great follow up to An Ember in the Ashes. Helen was my favourite character, I love how complicated she is. The narrators all did an amazing job. I would highly recommend the audiobook.

Cursed Bread – Sophie Mackintosh (4 stars)

This book was a whirlwind 184 pages. It felt like a fever dream. We follow a woman called Elodie who is reminiscing on a poignant moment in her life (based on a true historical event in 1950s France) when she meets a mysterious and beautiful woman called Violet. We aren’t given the full picture at first and as you turn the pages you sink deeper and deeper into Elodie’s mind both her present and her past. We look at her relationship with her husband, and her curiousness about Violet’s husband The Ambassador and also we talk a lot about bread. This book was alluring, enticing, and vague and Makintosh’s characterisation deserves a round of applause. I devoured this book in one day and most of it in a two-hour reading stint at my local cafe. Flicking between the past and the present with such short chapters had me craving for more. I loved the structuring of this book and the way the story is laid out. I must read more of Mackintosh’s work!

Meet Me at the Surface – Jodie Matthews (4 stars)

A beautiful and literary tale that feels like folklore crafted and forged from the depths of Cornwall itself. This book was a slow mover for me but I loved getting lost in the landscape of the Moor and the vastness of our main character, Merryn’s, childhood. As we flick between the past and present there is this heavy feeling that both Merryn and us as a reader are missing something. Nothing makes this more clear than the beautiful folklore chapters that pop up time and time again through the narrative. Like a puzzle to solve you stumble around trying to piece everything together as you have this feeling that it could be too late. This book is a perfect study of grief, complicated relationships, the intensity of young love, and the idea of not fitting in. I enjoyed watching this story slowly unfold taking in the beautiful writing and the beautiful imagery of the Cornish moors. You do truly feel like you are there standing at that farmhouse with Merryn and her mother and aunt. The writing was so visceral and real and I loved the different ways Matthews writing connected to nature and the area itself. Such a beautiful and magical read!

The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins (4 stars)

I DNFd this book back in 2012 after not really getting into the story. Well I don’t know what 12 year old me was thinking because 23 year old me LOVED it. This was one of my book group books and we have 15 people show up which was my largest group ever! My favourite part of this book was the first half before the actual game because the movie adapted the actual games part pretty accurately but Katniss’ life before the games wasn’t adapted as faithfully so I learnt a lot more.

A Tempest of Tea – Hafsah Faizal (4 stars)

 have yet to be disappointed by Hafsah Faizal. This book was such a great read that had me on the edge of my seat not knowing what to expect. Her characters were exciting and memorable, their dynamics and flirty banter were so entertaining. The plot was so enticing and I loved watching the events unfold – I couldn’t keep up with all the information Faizal was sending our way. The setting was so atmospheric. Faizal did a great job blending fantasy and historical reality. While this isn’t set in our world you cannot miss the connections to British colonialism and how accurately Faizal depicted that time in history. I think she did a great job emulating that but adding a fantasy twist that blended so perfectly within the story. The vampires in this story felt fresh and exciting and I enjoyed how they were incorporated in the world and narrative.

The Last Murder at the End of the World – Stuart Turton (4.5 stars)

Some of the best moments in my life has been spending 48 hours devouring whatever masterpiece Stuart Turton has written in that point in time. Taking the crime genre and elevating it to heights I am surprised he manages to ascend. This book was no exception. As usual the plot is incredibly engaging and exciting taking you down roads you didn’t expect to go down or didn’t even see in the first place. But I wanted to highlight, in this book in particular, was the incredible characterisation and sense of place. I have never read a murder mystery which has cemented me so strongly in a location before. Through Turton’s writing I wasn’t only able to picture the island and its inhabitants but I truly felt that I was there with our characters experiencing life with them side by side. From the multiple POVs to the picturesque detail, I honestly would love to live there if they weren’t on the edge of succumbing to toxic fog. Another addition to this book is the multiple povs we follow throughout the story. While we do have a central ‘detective’, this story is packed with a variety of important characters who help make this story the most in depth and rich of the three novels Turton has published so far. Following them through the trials and tribulations of island life and then the subsequent murder made you feel connected to the island and the characters themselves as you see them in their natural day to day life and then in a crisis. This was my favourite set of characters in a Turton novel ever.

The List of Suspicious Things – Jennie Godfrey (5 stars)

This book has so many different facets and layers to it that trying to write it all down is a mammoth task. But I want to start with Miv. Miv is an amazing narrator in this story. We see the world through her eyes as she tries to make sense of the ever-changing world she lives in. She loves her best friend Sharon and would do anything to keep her and her family safe and together. Exploring Yorkshire through this book alongside Miv was like watching a tapestry unfold but something was missing. Miv for most of the book is 12 years old and she has a smaller view of the world compared to the adults around her so this tapestry while beautiful doesn’t feel finished. 

Alongside Miv’s chapters, dotted through, are chapters from the adults in her life such as her father and Omar, the man who runs the corner shop. They fill in the details we are missing from Miv’s POV and it makes for an incredibly rich reading experience. This tapestry that unfolds from Miv gets filled with rich colour and you get a greater scope of the lives lived in this story.

This book has a pretty big cast from all walks of life but it doesn’t feel overwhelming at all. Godfrey paces this story impeccably and I enjoyed meeting the variety of people that make up Miv’s life. My favourite character had to be Omar; his story as a widowed father struggling with the loss of his wife, doing right by his son, and managing the escalating harassment by members of the community, was a super impactful storyline that will stay with me for years. Godfrey does not hide behind the atrocities happening during the time from racist attacks, abuse, and bullying. And viewing this all through the eyes of a young girl who is coming to terms with the world not being as great as she originally thought it was adds to the level of heartbreak.

But it’s not all down and out because one of the biggest themes for me was community. How Miv and Sharon get taken under the wing of so many adults, their friendship with Ishtiaq, how they look out for each other, and people who don’t even realise they have their support. It’s a novel of duality. Of how humans can do horrible things for each other and also how humans can be supportive and kind.

How to Solve Your Own Murder – Kristen Perrin (5 stars)

I don’t think there are enough words to describe how exciting, tense, and emotional this book was. I went into this expecting a super easy-reading cosy murder mystery but this book ended up taking over my entire life for 2 whole days. That is how long it took me to finish this book. Every spare moment I got I spent reading this book. 

Covering both 1966 and our present day we flick between the two time periods trying to piece together Great Aunt Frances’ past as well as unravel her very recent murder with her grand niece Annie. We explore both time periods meeting a variety of characters whose young and old selves clash with both of the Adams women. Jumping from each different time period made for such exciting reading as it kept the story super fast-paced but added a richer layer to the story as as a reader we are divulged more information earlier on than our amateur sleuth, Annie. I spent ages trying to piece together the past and the present to make sense of this scandalous village history. 

Annie is an amazing character that you can’t help but root for but I spent most of my enjoyment absorbed into the world of 17 year old Frances and the ups and downs of her late teenage life. This book is truly half coming of age story, half murder mystery, and the use of the Frances’ diary (which allows the reader to understand what happened in her past) elevates this book from being lost amongst recent cosy crime stories. It has an extra edge to it that makes it unputdownable.

Books I Read but Don’t Have Enough Words to Review:

  • Demons of the Shadow Realm, Vol. 1 – Hiromu Arakawa
  • Sunbringer – Hannah Kaner
  • Ghost Roast – Shawnelle Gibbs & Shawneé Gibbs
  • Artificial Condition – Martha Wells
  • The Heroic Legend of Arslan, Vol. 2 – Hiromu Arakawa
  • The Eleventh Metal – Brandon Sanderson
  • Binti – Nnedi Okorafor
  • The Norse Myths That Shape the Way We Think – Carolyne Larrington

December 2023 Wrap Up

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Not going to lie… I completely forgot about this wrap up. I was so focused on the new year posts.

  • I read 10 books this month
  • I DNFd 0 books.
  • Genre: 3 murder mysteries, 2 romance, 2 fantasy, 2 contemporary and 1 non-fiction
  • Gender of authors: 7 women, 2 men and 1 various
  • Race of authors: 6 white authors, 3 asian writers and 1 various
  • Age range: 8 adult and 2 YA
  • Format: 7 paperback, 2 hardback and 1 ebook.

Challenges

  • Prompt: Christmas
    • Hercule Poirot’s Silent Night – Sophie Hannah
    • The Christmas Swap – Taila Samuels
    • The Christmas Appeal – Janice Hallett
    • Mystery in White – J. Jefferson Farjeon

Mystery in White – J. Jefferson Fargeon (1 star)

I may not have DNFd any books in December but I don’t know what’s worse…a DNF or a 1 star? This mystery was way too complicated than it needed to be. I am good at suspending disbelief for a fun plot twist but this was too much. Add a complicated plot with way too many boring characters and a super slow pace and you have a 1 star from me.

Rabbit Hole – Kate Brody (3 stars)

This book was marketed as a literary thriller exploring grief and the toxicity of the true crime community. I felt this book did one of those things really well. The character study into how grief can affect a singular person was exceptional. It was so well done. The thriller element not so much. I want more of a deep dive into the true crime community and it felt pretty surface level which was a shame.

The Christmas Appeal – Janice Hallett (3.5 stars)

Now I am a Janice Hallett fan! Going into this companion book I knew it wasn’t going to be a 5 stars. It’s a super short and fun Christmas mystery. I felt that it fulfilled what it came to do. That being said I do feel that she did lose some of the depths and nuance to her characters that I am used too and relied to heavy on negative stereotypes. Which was a disappointment.

Sweat and Soap, Vol. 1 – Kintetsu Yamada (4 stars)

Now I had seen this manga series all over TikTok months ago and I finally got around to reading the first volume. I enjoyed this so much but I didn’t realise it was going to be 18+. I was so shocked by some of the panels initially as it was so unexpected hahah. But I love the relationship and I really enjoyed the art-style.

The Christmas Swap – Talia Samuels (4 stars)

A super cute Christmas rom-com! This was just a beautiful story about love in all forms and varieties with witty dialogue, great chemistry, and a mystery regarding a pregnant dog. One thing I want to shout out about this book is its characterization. Margot and Ellie, our two POVs in this book, were super interesting to spend time with and I loved watching their past unfold alongside their future. Margot was my favourite character and I loved her and Ellie together their chemistry was so well-written that I couldn’t stop smiling and giggling anytime they were together. This book is probably the first book I have read which used the miscommunication trope and I didn’t want to pull my hair out! The miscommunication in this book felt more like a comedy of errors-esque plot which made for fun reading and hilarious moments. I also adored all the other relationships outside of the main couple. Specifically, Ben and Margot’s budding friendship. I love seeing platonic male/female relationships in media so this was just great!

Hercule Poirot’s Silent Night – Sophie Hannah (4 stars)

I was a bit apprehensive going into this book as I have found the last couple of books to be a bit underwhelming but this book is a return to form for Hannah. As per usual her characterization of Poirot and Catchpool is great and I have to say, I love their dynamic – it’s probably my favorite relationship out of ALL the Poirot books across the board. Their friendship is amazing. This time round I also enjoyed the varying side characters that make up the plot. The interpersonal relationships detailed in this book are complex, layered, and made for a tense but exhilirating read! The plot was slow-paced compared to some of her other books but it was so engaging. I literally couldn’t put it down as I just wanted to know what was next. Hannah did a great job of reeling you in slowly and surely.

The City of Stardust – Georgia Summers (4.5 stars)

Fans of The Starless Sea and The Ten Thousand Doors of January will LOVE THIS BOOK! A perfect balance of beautiful and lyrical writing, an over-arching plot that spans centuries, mythology, adventure, and complicated human relationships. I really enjoyed the character Penelope. I love a female villain and Penelope is the queen of female villains! I was intrigued by her ‘relationship’ with Alexsander and how complicated, layered, and toxic it was. Seeing how the fantasy world and the mundane blend into one another was exhilarating and I completely identified with Violet and her desire for adventure!

Realms of Imagination – The British Library (5 stars)

What an honour it was read this amazing collection of fantasy-focused essays. Covering such a vast range of essays from categorising fantasy to discussing the Brontes. I am in awe of people who can put into words such complex topics succinctly and engagingly. The amount of notes I have written down of interesting facts and amazing quotes is about 20+ pages.

Some of my favourite essays include:

Folk Tales, Fairy Lore and the Making of Tradition – Terri Wilding
The Everything Book – Sofia Samatar
Fantasy’s Weird Architecture – Matthew Sangster
Crossing Borders of Otherness – Dimitra Fimi

November 2023 Wrap Up

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Despite this being a successful month compared to my other reading month’s this is by far my weakest reading month. I don’t know what was in the water this month but I’m hoping next month will be better.

  • I read 9 books this month
  • I DNFd 2 book.
  • Genre: 4 fantasy, 5 non-fiction, 1 thriller and 1 sci-fi
  • Gender of authors: 7 women and 3 men
  • Race of authors: 6 white authors, 2 asian writers and 2 black writers
  • Age range: 8 adult, 2 YA and 1 middle grade.
  • Format: 6 paperback, 4 hardback and 1 audiobook.

Challenges

  • Prompt: Non-Fiction
    • Becoming – Michelle Obama
    • Pandora’s Jar – Natalie Haynes
    • Beyond the Story – BTS
    • I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokkbokki – Baek Sehee
    • Always Take Notes – Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd

Bookshops and Bonedust – Travis Baldree (DNF)

Earlier this year I read Legends and Lattes, by the same author, after seeing all the hype on social media. I was quite underwhelmed with it to be honest and I didn’t really want to read the prequel but a couple of my friends who didn’t love L&L actually loved B&B. I, on the other hand, just couldn’t get into it. I found there to be a real disconnect with me and the main character Viv.

I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokkbokki – Baek Sehee (3 stars)

Another book I picked up due to the insane amount of hype I saw. Something like this is always subjective to someone’s personal experience so in some cases I really enjoyed and connected with some of the stuff mentioned. But other chapters I just didn’t connect to as much. I always felt I didn’t learn anything new. This led to a middle of the road rating.

Beyond the Story – BTS (4 stars)

Really interesting discussion about BTS’ journey from pre-debut to now, there was some stuff that I knew especially the more recent years. But the earlier years and their first stint in America I knew nothing about and it was enlightening and sobering to learn about their struggles and how they supported one another. I loved the use of QR codes to link to unseen footage, music videos, performances etc. But I will say I was not expecting as much musical analysis in the content. I felt it was more a musical analysis book than an actual memoir.

Impossible Creatures – Katherine Rundell (4.5 stars)

There is a small selection of middle-grade novels that I have read over the years which make such an impact on me that I need to scream into the atmosphere. This book is one of them. I wish I had had this book growing up as it’s exactly what little old me would have devoured. The characters were fun and meaningful, the world was vibrant and vast, and the plot was exciting and kept me on my toes. This is an epic book that I am so excited for young readers (and older readers as well) to be able to read and lose themselves in. We have a classic in the making here!

Their Vicious Games – Joelle Wellington (4.5 stars)

This was incredibly thrilling and heart-pounding. I enjoyed reading every second of it despite hating the events that were unfolding. I thought the writing was super engaging and I literally flew through this book and couldn’t put it down. The characters were written so well and I enjoyed watching the psychology of the characters, their alliances, and their battles. It was very very interesting. The ending had me cheering and jumping in my seat!

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (5 stars)

I don’t think I will be able to truly put into words how much I enjoyed this book! This book literally put me in a reading slump after I finished it. Literally no book was matching up to this one! I had been waiting for a book with interesting characters, unique plot and a complicated world. I like not fully understanding what is going on. This book confused and amazed me.

Other books I have read:

  • Sisters of Sword and Shadow – Laura Bates
  • Always Take Notes – Simon Akam & Rachel Lloyd
  • Princess Floralinda and the Forty Flight Tower – Tamsyn Muir
  • Becoming – Michelle Obama