Review: The Year of Witching by Alexis Henderson

The Handmaid’s Tale meets The Village in this stunning feminist debut . . .

Born on the fringes of Bethel, Immanuelle does her best to obey the Church and follow Holy Protocol. For it was in Bethel that the first Prophet pursued and killed four powerful witches, and so cleansed the land.

And then a chance encounter lures her into the Darkwood that surrounds Bethel.

It is a forbidden place, haunted by the spirits of the witches who bestow an extraordinary gift on Immanuelle. The diary of her dead mother . . .

Fascinated by and fearful of the secrets the diary reveals, Immanuelle begins to understand why her mother once consorted with witches. And as the truth about the Prophets, the Church and their history is revealed, so Immanuelle understands what must be done. For the real threat to Bethel is its own darkness.

Review: I don’t normally read a lot of books about witches but boy am I glad I read this book. This book has amazing intersectional feminism, a great exploration of identity and then some magical realism and issues with curses and plagues all rolled into one novel. I have no idea how Alexis Henderson did it! I am in awe. 

Immanuelle is such an interesting character because she has such conflicting identities going on. She has her family, very much part of her past, the church and community, her present and then she has her own views and values which are basically her future. I loved the way she handled herself throughout the novel and that this book is very much about her and the way she handles the problems that she is faced with. I felt very sorry for her and wanted to champion her throughout the book. 

The magic in this book is just the right level of magic for me as a reader. I could picture the curses and plagues involved in all of the issues that Immanuelle faces. Everything is very believable and it all ties in with the stories of witches I grew up with, the Salem Trials and the dunking in Tudor England. I loved the mix of real and magical here, it ties together nicely with the issues of religion and darkness throughout the book. 

I also really loved the description of the setting in this book. I could picture the dark woods and Immanuelle’s home. I could picture the other woman described and the pastor and their marriage ceremonies! Overall I really enjoyed Immanuelle’s story and would love to read more from this author in the future!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: When the Curtain Falls by Carrie Hope Fletcher

Theatres have a certain kind of magic. When the curtain rises, we are all enraptured by the glare of the lights and the smell of the greasepaint but it's when the curtain falls that the real drama begins . . . 

In 1952 two young lovers meet, in secret, at the beautiful Southern Cross theatre in the very heart of London's West End. Their relationship is made up of clandestine meetings and stolen moments because there is someone who will make them suffer if he discovers she is no longer 'his'. But life in the theatre doesn't always go according to plan and tragedy and heartache are waiting in the wings for all the players . . .

Almost seventy years later, a new production of When the Curtain Falls arrives at the theatre, bringing with it Oscar Bright and Olive Green and their budding romance. Very soon, though, strange things begin to happen and they learn about the ghost that's haunted the theatre since 1952, a ghost who can only be seen on one night of the year. Except the ghost is appearing more often and seems hell bent on sabotaging Oscar and Olive. The young couple realise they need to right that wrong from years gone by, but can they save themselves before history repeats itself and tragedy strikes once more?

Moulin Rouge meets Phantom of the Opera in this story of unrequited love and revenge. 

Review: I really enjoyed the read and it had this author's usual fairytale like feeling most of the way through. You know going into Carrie's books that you need to suspend your disbelief going in, roll with the magic and just get swept up in the stories. This book has two different storylines, one form 2018 and one from 1952 with the earlier having an effect on the latter. I liked the shift in time and really felt captivated in the whole magic of the theatre in the 1952 events. I also learned a lot about what goes into a theatre production and what goes on backstage in a west end show. 

We have two different sets of leading men and ladies. In 1952 we have Fawn and Walter and in 2018 we have Olive and Oscar. I did find the fact that Olive and Oscar have similar names a little confusing at times but I managed to kept them straight most of the time. I loved Fawn and thought she was a really strong characters. I really liked Walter in the beginning whereas I found Oscar a little hard to warm to so I was glad of the parallel storylines. Some of the supporting characters float in and out of both sections so they are sometimes tricky to keep track of, I would have liked to have heard a little more from some of them, especially in the present day parts, but I appreciated what they did add to the plot.

The setting for both parts of the novel is a West End theatre and we don't see very much outside of the theatre, but when we do its wonderful to have real places and landmarks I could recognise in London. I always appreciate when an author uses real places because it is much easier for me to situate the characters and events in my head. Obviously a theatre is a fabulous setting for this novel, it is magical and it lends itself well to the magical aspect of the storyline. We know there are of course ghosts featured in this novel and I found that they slotted right in because of the setting and because of the build up in the 1952 thread of the book. There are also some disturbing scenes whilst almost spill over into the thriller genre because of their violent and almost mystery-like nature. The penultimate chapter of the book gets exceedingly dark, think Romeo and Juliet, Phantom of the Opera-I loved this bit!

I loved the romance of this novel, it was definitely a page tuner and so therefore a quick read for me because I dedicated a whole day to reading it and let the suspense build. You definitely have to like a little bit of magic and some ghosts in your books in order to enjoy all of this but I definitely enjoyed it and it is my second favourite of Carrie's novels. 

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US (US hardback published 4th September)

Blog Tour! Review: The Summer of Serendipity by Ali McNamara

You'll find a warm welcome in the latest novel from Ali McNamara, bestselling author of The Little Flower Shop by the Sea and From Notting Hill with Love, Actually

One summer, property seeker, Serendipity Parker finds herself on the beautiful west coast of Ireland, hunting for a home for a wealthy Irish client. But when she finds the perfect house in the small town of Ballykiltara, there's a problem; nobody seems to know who owns it.

'The Welcome House' is a local legend. Its front door is always open for those in need of shelter, and there's always a plentiful supply of food in the cupboards for the hungry or poor.

While Ren desperately tries to find the owner to see if she can negotiate a sale, she begins to delve deeper into the history and legends that surround the old house and the town. But for a woman who has always been focussed on her work, she's remarkably distracted by Finn, the attractive manager of the local hotel.
But will she ever discover the real truth behind the mysterious 'Welcome House'? Or will the house cast its magical spell over Ren and help her to find true happiness?

Review: I was so excited to read Ali McNamara's latest novel. It has been a little while since I delved into her world and it was so great to be back. The stories that this author writes are feel-good reads with strong female leads with just a little hint of magic about them. This was no exception 

When I mention magic, this might be the fates aligning or might be something more but it really does give you, as a reader, a true sense of escapism. You have to put real life and any sort of cynicism or disbelief you have to one side for the duration of the book and let this author whisk you away into her world. I read this book in just 2 sittings and I'm sure I can say the same thing about her previous novels too because they really do just envelope you and allow you to hide away in whatever world lie within for 300 or so pages!

This is a little bit of a spin off from the last Ali McNamara that I read 'Breakfast at Darcy's' and it was great to be back in Ireland again and to revisit some of the characters from that novel. This is by no means a sequel though and you can definitely read this book despite not having read breakfast at Darcy's. For fans of that book though, it will be lovely to be back in that setting and surrounded by the same kind of Irish legends that we enjoyed in the first book. 

I really enjoyed getting to know Main character Ren over the course of this novel. She is incredibly easy to get along with and easy to relate to because she is her own person and has her own business but we know she has been hurt in some way in the past and therefore has her guard up. I loved reading about someone so really and yet someone I could so easily see myself being friends with. She and her partner Kiki are on this journey together and I loved meeting Kiki too, she is definitely the Ying to Ren's Yang and so the two of them really work well as a team. If anything I would love to read a spin off finding out what happens to Kiki now this novel is over-please?

There are of course a few male characters to get to know in this novel too, always a happy co-incidence. I loved hotel manager Finn and his fabulous dog Fergus. He is very like Ren and so I had high hopes for the tow of them from the start of the novel-not giving anything away though! There are also some real characters in the village and possibly some people to help Ren along her way. 

This is the perfect summer read because of the location and the little touch of magic that lies within the pages and so i highly recommend adding this to your summer TBRs. I am sure you will have just as much fun as I did hanging out with Kiki and Ren and helping them along on their quest to find the perfect house!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: The Summer of Impossible Things by Rowan Coleman

If you could change the past, would you?

Thirty years ago, something terrible happened to Luna’s mother. Something she’s only prepared to reveal after her death.

Now Luna and her sister have a chance to go back to their mother’s birthplace and settle her affairs. But in Brooklyn they find more questions than answers, until something impossible – magical – happens to Luna, and she meets her mother as a young woman back in the summer of 1977.

At first Luna’s thinks she’s going crazy, but if she can truly travel back in time, she can change things. But in doing anything – everything – to save her mother’s life, will she have to sacrifice her own?

Review: This book is a completely different book from the one I was expecting, but it drew me in, filled me with wonder and satisfaction and left me feeling fulfilled and incredibly optimistic. I love love loved the setting of this book and purposely left it to read until I was in the area to read. I actually didn't read this book in Bay Ridge Brooklyn but read half on a flight to New York and the other half in Central Park so at least I was in the general vicinity. I haven't read many books that are set in that specific part of Brooklyn and there was the link with the film Saturday Night Fever too, which I will now have to go away and watch. 

The storyline is just so intricate and interesting. Rowan has done a great job of weaving all the plot lines together and making sure that every questions you might have as a reader is, not necessarily answered, but is addressed in some way. I have no idea how she managed to juggle exactly where and when Luna was and what she meant to people wherever she was but it is amazing to see the story unfold and things we could never possibly think of happening happen before our eyes. 

Luna was an interesting character and although she is travelling back to the place her mother and father met with her sister Pea, her sister isn't really the other main character in this book, her mother is and I just love the way this author manages to write these amazing mother daughter relationships. The relationship between the two of them is tested again and again and yet you get the impression that there is still this amazingly strong bond between the two of them. I loved watching this relationship change and develop over time and I loved Luna revisiting the person her mother once was and discovering that there was a lot to love back then too. 

There is some beautiful romance in this book and a little it of intrigue and the storyline is very well balanced. You definitely have to suspend your disbelief going into this one but I definitely recommend that you do that b y letting yourself be absorbed by the book completely, give yourself time to enjoy this book and time to be able to finish it because you are not going to be able to let yourself get away from this storyline once you get started. This book has stayed with me since I finished it and it is definitely one to read this summer. I loved this read and I loved the way the whole thing was so cleverly tied together with such an intriguing plot, realistic, relatable character and just the right amount of mystery, romance and magic. Fabulous!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US 

Review: I Woke Up Dead At the Mall by Judy Sheehan

When Sarah wakes up dead at the Mall of America, she learns that not only was shemurdered, her killer is still on the loose. A contemporary YA novel with a hauntingly supernatural twist that tackles some of life’s – and the afterlife’s – biggest questions.  
When you’re sixteen, you have your whole life ahead of you. Unless you’re Sarah. Not to give anything away, but . . . she’s dead. Murdered, in fact. Sarah’s murder is shocking because she couldn’t be any more average. No enemies. No risky behavior. She’s just the girl on the sidelines.

It looks like her afterlife, on the other hand, will be pretty exciting. Sarah has woken up dead at the Mall of America—where the universe sends teens who are murdered—and with the help of her death coach, she must learn to move on or she could meet a fate totally worse than death: becoming a mall walker.

As she tries to finish her unfinished business alongside her fellow dead teens, Sarah falls hard for a cute boy named Nick. And she discovers an uncanny ability to haunt the living. While she has no idea who killed her, or why, someone she loves is in grave danger. Sarah can’t lose focus or she’ll be doomed to relive her final moments again and again forever. But can she live with herself if she doesn’t make her death matter?

Review: This book was so much more than what I was expecting it to be. I originally picked this up because of my interest in the mall of American (shopping is my sport of choice, what can I say?) but this turned out to be a magical story about the afterlife and what we expect it to be versus what we actually expect it to be. I really enjoyed this aspect of the storyline, despite being someone who doesn't necessarily enjoy magical or fantastical novels. I found it to be well explained, it was all logical and made sense and therefore I could cope with the idea of viewing ones funeral or having a special floor of the mall just for the dead to roam around!

I liked getting to know the characters in this book too. We have five young people who have all been murdered and all come from New York City. In fact, they find that they all lived in the same neighbourhood as each other. Where some of them died a while ago, some of them died at virtually the same time, did they know each other in their former lives? I liked the fact that there was a bit of conflict between the characters, but also the relationships that they formed with one another. Sarah is our main character and so we see things through her. She has had it tough in life, but not as tough as some of the others and there is definitely more to her than meets the eye!

Of course I loved the setting. There is a particular scene where they go down to the aquarium and another where the ride the roller coaster and I really enjoyed reliving my trip to MOA alongside them. The description is great though, particularly the scenes in New York and so if you haven't been to either of these places, you will definitely feel at home there after reading this book!

As I say, this book isn't quite what I was expecting, but I really enjoyed what I got. Perhaps there could be further clarity on the jacket as to what to expect, but if you are ready to suspend your disbelief and you are ready for a little bit of magic, then I am sure you will enjoy this story of teens and their afterlives.

To order your copy now, click here!

Guest Review: A Night In With Grace Kelly by Lucy Holliday

Fate has got it in for Libby Lomax. She realised, far too late, that her best friend Olly, is the actual Love of Her Life. Now he’s in love with the so-nice-it-hurts, Tash, and it looks like her happy ending is completely out of reach.

Things start looking up when she, quite literally, runs into the completely gorgeous Joel. Libby discovers that there is more to Joel than his six-pack, not least, the incredible fact that he honestly believes he has found his fairy tale princess in her.

And if this wasn’t enough, an unwanted guest shows up on Libby’s enchanted sofa; Grace Kelly, wearing her iconic wedding dress and convinced that Libby is figment of her imagination. But Grace also believes that if you want something, then you’ve got to make it happen; words which give Libby hope that happy endings aren’t just for fairy tale princesses…

Review: This is the final part of a trilogy by Lucy Holliday, following on from A Night In With Audrey Hepburn and A Night In With Marilyn Monroe. The question with trilogies is always whether each part can be read as a standalone. In this case, I would suggest that it would be best to read all three in order, as there is a central story running through them; but then I would suggest that you should read them all just because they are so good. They are without doubt some of the funniest books I have read. It does help if you can suspend belief a bit, as magic forms the basis of the stories. 

The central character in all three stories is Libby Lomax, a lovely girl with a dreadful overpowering mother and an equally awful sister. It's just as well she has long time best friend Olly to look after her and keep her grounded. Having found somewhere to live, he is the one who helped her find some furniture, including a sofa which turns out to have some strange powers and play a big part in the story.  In this book, Libby, as the title suggests, has a  surprise meeting with long dead actress Grace Kelly, dressed in her fabulous and iconic wedding gown. As in previous parts of this series, Libby is given very good advice by her actor friend in an attempt to help her sort out both her love life and her future in general. 

I really loved this story and would highly recommend it to anyone. Libby Lomax is such an endearing character, persevering through all that befalls her. Her friend Olly is also lovely; you can't help feeling that they belong together. As I said at the beginning, the book is really funny; a cleverly written combination of romance and comedy with a little sprinkle of magic. 

To get your fabulous copy now, click here!

Review: On The Other Side by Carrie Hope Fletcher

A love story like no other, this is the debut novel from Carrie Hope Fletcher, author of the Sunday Times No. 1 bestseller All I Know Now.

Evie Snow is eighty-two when she quietly passes away in her sleep, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. It's the way most people wish to leave the world but when Evie reaches the door of her own private heaven, she finds that she's become her twenty-seven-year-old self and the door won't open.

Evie's soul must be light enough to pass through so she needs to get rid of whatever is making her soul heavy. For Evie, this means unburdening herself of the three secrets that have weighed her down for over fifty years, so she must find a way to reveal them before it's too late. As Evie begins the journey of a lifetime, she learns more about life and love than she ever thought possible, and somehow , some way, she may also find her way back to her long lost love . . .

On the Other Side will transport you to a world that is impossible to forget. Powerful, magical and utterly romantic, this is a love story like no other from everyone's favourite 'big sister', Carrie Hope Fletcher. 

Review: this is unlike anything I've read before and for that reason it was pure escapism. I read this book in two sittings, it could have been one if I didn't have other things to do because once you fall into this world, you won't want to get back out again! I had no idea what the book was about when I picked it up, I just knew there was a lot of hype surrounding it and I had been introduced to some of the characters through the power of YouTube and so I knew I wanted to read it. I like going into books with a completely open mind like that sometimes and I recommend to anyone that that is how they approach this book so if you want to go away and read it now before reading anymore of my review then feel free to do so...

Ok so the concept of the book is Evie Snow literally trying to get to the other side and it takes you through her memories and shows you the secrets that she has stopping her from crossing over to the other side, going to her version of heaven. This sounds like a slightly depressing concept and so that is why I said it is best to go into this book with an open mind becaue this book is not in the slightest bit depressing. It is quite the opposit in fact, more like a warm hug of a book with a lot of interest and intrigue along the way. I really liked the shift between times and it is made all the more easy to read because the different time setting have a different font and so you always knw whether you are in the past or the present. 

As the book progresses, we gradually get to learn about Evie's family and Evie's great love. I really liked the way these characters were bult up, seeing them as their elder and younger selves. I really liked Evie and enjoyed joining her as the protagonist of this novel. I also really liked Jim, he was such a kind and understanding person and I totally fell in love with him mere pages into the book. One of the interesting things about the book is that we never learn where the story is actually set. There is a city but it is never names. I like the fact that this author has left us to make up our own minds about where the setting actually is, I have my own thoughts and I'm sure you'll have yours too! 

I have to say that I love the cover of this book, it is beautiful with and without the dust jacket and there are all sorts of clues from the book and things that tie into the story on both covers, you find yourself flicking back and forth as you read-it really is very clever. I loved reading this book, it was truly warm and lovely. It was wonderful to switch off from the outside world and immerse myself in its pages for a good few hours! This book would make an awesome film and everyone should set aside some time and read it for themselves! 

Review: A Night in With Audrey Hepburn by Lucy Holliday

Unlucky in love, failed actress Libby Lomax has retreated into the world of classic movies, where the immortal lives of the screen goddesses offer so much more in the way of romance than her own life.
After a terrible day on the set of a cult TV sci-fi series where she has proved herself to be the antithesis of feminine poise and embarrassed herself in front of heartthrob actor Dillon O’Hara, she plonks herself down in front of her trillionth viewing of Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Relaxing on her battered old couch, salvaged from the props department by her best friend Olly, Libby is gob smacked to find actual Screen Icon, Audrey Hepburn, sitting beside her. Dressed in her little black dress, wearing her trademark sunglasses, Audrey proffers advice to the hapless Libby between ladylike puffs on her vintage cigarette holder.
And so, Audrey becomes Libby’s confidante and friend – but has Libby got what it takes to turn her life from a Turkey to a Blockbuster? With a little bit of Audrey Hepburn magic, she might just pull it off…

A Night in With Audrey Hepburn is the first in a series of three books following the life and loves of Libby Lomax as she blossoms from Z-lister to A-lister and all of the stages in between with a little bit of help from some very special friends.

Read: I loved this book, I found it to be a very quick read because it was such a fun and light-hearted story and I enjoyed every moment of it. This novel reminds me of a cross between something by Lindsey Kelk and something by Alexandra Potter-you have to suspend your disbelief for the duration but there are some truly laugh out loud moments worthy of a Lindsey Kelk novel. There were also some really heart-warming moments as well as those every day life observations that we can all relate to...

I loved the main character of Libby so I can't wait to read about her again as the series progresses. She is literally your girl next door and someone who we can all relate to. She is trying to find herself to some extent and she does a really good job of doing that over the course of the novel. I love the fact that she falls into the trap of moving into a flat which turns out to be a bit of a nightmare flat but, like all of us, she has to put up with it because she's now tied into a contract. Of course there is a love interest or two and all sorts of fun ensues because of that. the other man character is the one and only Audrey Hepburn and I had great fun reading about her-the book must have been so much fun to research and this read inspired me to watch a couple of Audrey films myself!

Libby's family also plays a big part in the novel and she doesn't have the best relationship with them, I liked the fact that Lucy Holliday wrote about this because people sometimes don't have that family support there and have to strike out on their own, but Libby still has a loyaty to them which i thought was really sweet. 

Yes there is an element of magic about this story, someone who starts seeing Audrey Hepburn in their flat, there's going to be but I never really found it difficult to believe or hard to grasp the concept, I just liked the fact that Audrey was there for help and advice and like Libby's Nespresso machine-who wouldn't? So you will have to keep an open mind whilst reading this, its a bit like a Christmas Carol or Its a Wonderful life, just keep that in mind and you'll be fine!

I am currently reading the next in this series and would really recommend reading them back to back, when they're such quick, fun reads though, that's not a problem. This book comes highly recommended from me, it was a pleasure to read!

Review: Real Elves by Helen Smith

~ This is a short story ~

In a department store in London, a little girl called Sophie visits Santa’s magical forest with her grandfather. As they emerge from the forest, Sophie’s grandfather reports her missing… but the little girl’s right there. Is she a ghost, a twin, an alien abductee—or is there some simpler explanation? Twenty-six-year-old amateur sleuth Emily Castles has fifteen minutes to figure out the puzzle before the police are called and Christmas is ruined.

REAL ELVES is a standalone story set in London. It first appeared in the anthology Naughty or Nice in aid of Kids Need to Read. The Emily Castles mysteries can be read in any order.

Review: Helen Smith is such a witty writer. The humour in her books is not deadly obvious, it is subtle and clever and that is what makes her books so enjoyable! This is a lovely festive short story, it will literally take an hour maximum to read ad is perfect for when you've been out in the shops at Christmas time because it sums up what those Santa's grotto sections of department stores are really like. 

These books always feature an elements of magic and mysticism and this little offering is no exception but its not so much that it will put you off if you're not a fan of a little bit of make-believe, perfect for this time of year really,. The storyline is well rounded and the characters are interesting. 

I expect that the characters would mean a little more if you had read the other Emily Castles books because I'm sure there are some inside jokes in there somewhere. I own the other Emily Castles books but shamefully I haven't read them yet. This definitely encourages me to do so because of the way that this authors writes. This was a refreshing break from some of the other Christmas novellas out there because it is something a little bit different and it is such a quick read, how can you not read it?

Review: Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble. That it’s been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply — but that almost seems besides the point now.

Maybe that was always besides the point.

Two days before they’re supposed to visit Neal’s family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she can’t go. She’s a TV writer, and something’s come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her — Neal is always a little upset with Georgie — but she doesn’t expect to him to pack up the kids and go home without her.

When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if she’s finally done it. If she’s ruined everything.

That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It’s not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she’s been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts . . .

Is that what she’s supposed to do?

Or would Georgie and Neal be better off if their marriage never happened?

Review: I was really looking forward to this book having enjoyed Attatchments immensely, and more than I enjoyed Eleanor and Park so another adult novel from Rainbow Rowell seemed perfect. I did find this book fun and enjoyable and pretty easy to get through and easy to read but it didn't have as much of a spark for me as Attatchments did. The plot was interesting, a magic phone connecting you with your husband in the past but I felt a little bit like I wanted some more things to happen with the phone and some more consequences because of speaking to her husband in the past or comparing him to husband in the future. 

I thought the characters this novel were great. I loved Georgie McCool-what an awesome name, and she is the kind of hardworking mom we don't read about enough in novels, she doesn't give up her career for her her children, she lets her husband takeover things at home and yet she still does her best to love and provide for them! Neil is a very interesting character, I don't think I could be married to him but I was really rooting for him and Georgie because I could see that they just fitted together so well!  I really liked the character of Seth, and he was pivotal to the plot which I thought was interesting for a supporting characters. Georgia's family were all mad, I think they were ace and so we have the comedy element of the novel thrown in as well! 

In terms of the development across the storyline, there ws nothing too taxing, nothing too challenging and I really enjoyed the beginning and ending,no just wanted a little bit more to happen in the middle, which, for me, just seemed to consist of flashbacks and Georgie being Kate for work because she was confused by the magic phone, I found it a little frusrating because I could see the potential for so much more to happen. This doesn't out me off the book overall, I still thought it as a good read and I'm glad that I bought the audiobook. I now need to read Fangirl to complete my Rainbow Rowell collection and this book hasn't put me off doing that at all! 

Review: Witchrise by Victoria Lamb

Only one witch can rise above the coming storm ...

When Tudor witch Meg Lytton receives an unexpected legacy - her mother's magical wand, ring and spellbook - she has no idea her future happiness is in danger. For the witchfinder Marcus Dent is back in her dreams, and he will use any weapon to gain her newfound powers for himself.

Now Meg must discover the secret of Invictus, her mother's magical ring. Summoned back to Hatfield, she knows a battle is coming. But Meg is no longer alone in her struggle against Dent. Surrounded by her friends, she faces her greatest challenge head-on: losing Alejandro, her beloved. For it seems the Spanish novice has been keeping secrets from them all.

Powers clash and hearts break in the spellbinding third book of The Tudor Witch Trilogy.

Review: I was so excited for the conclusion in this trilogy and I have to admit that I was a little bit disappointed! I felt a little bit like, in terms of storyline and action, all the good bits had been used up in the first 2 books and so this one suffered accordingly. I was really pleased to hear the ending to Meg's tale and I was really pleased with the way that this author concluded Meg's story but overall I wasn't overwhelmed by the storyline. 

I really like the character of Meg. She is definitely a strong female lead and this book is as much about feminism, or this series for that matter, as it is about witches. I really like that fact that she is independent and finds out for herself what she has to do In order to get the job done! She wants to follow in her mothers footsteps and make her proud and that is something else I really like a outer. She also seems to avoid outing other people out for her own gain, all the while standing up for what she believes in and what is right! 

I love all the other characters in this trilogy although i do find Meg's family to be a little to interfering. I likes Alejandro's storyline in this book though, even though he didn't appear as much in this book as he did in the others... I think the gore in this novel is lower generally than the gore in the first two books in the series, perhaps this was where the storyline was lacking a bit for me-who knows! I did feel a little bit like nothing of importance happened overall although clearly there was enough going on to keep me reading and keep me enjoying the novel. 

The trilogy has magic, mystery, action and historical elements as well as romance and tension and overall I think it's a really strong trilogy. I think that even if you don't enjoy books about witches you could still access this trilogy as all three books don't overpower you with witchcraft and all three books are quick reads as well! I love Meg as a character and I'm going to miss her, I know other readers will also love her for her girl power and her heart and so if you haven't read any of these books, I would definitely recommend the trilogy to you! 

Review: The Arcade Year 2 Episode 7: Ghosts by Kitty Charles

In the dark corners of Angell's Arcade lurks a resident no one knows is there.

Frederick Angell has watched over his investment for more than a century, unseen and unnoticed, doing what little he can to help his adopted family. When one of the Arcade's younger tenants is threatened, Frederick is forced to leave his beloved building and do things he's never dreamed possible. But in saving one tenant, he finds a salvation of his own... 

Review: oooo what a different episode of The Arcade this was-I loved it! The episodes starts with some characters I hadn't heard of and I totally didn't know what was going on, I even checked back onmy kindle to check that I had opened the right thing, assuming that I had clicked on another bok by mistake. But no, these were intruders into the arcade, people who didn't belong there, and who should come along to stop them in their tracks? The Arcades founder, Frederick Angell! 

Yes, this months episode is all about him!  I love this as I've been wanting to know more about this illustrious character since the Arcade began. We heard a little from him at the start and the end of last year but in this episodes we get to see many of the major events of this arcade from his point of view. What does he think about all the bed hoping that goes on in the arcade? What does he think of the problems that his shopkeepers Are facing today? And what was the arcade like when he founded it?

We also get to see a ore personal side of the arcade founder, his own relationship and private life and I'll admit I did actually shed a tear during his account of his relationship with his wife. There may just be a few other ghosts in this months episode, you'll have to read it yourself to find out how they are involved I the whole thing! Although thai month focuses on a ghost, it's not scary, but it does give a major insight into the comings and going of the arcade and of the arcades past and so for that reason I think it is a wonderful summing up of an episode and something all arcade fans MUST read! I just want to know now if this, in fact, was a different Kitty penning this months episode...

Series review: Joss Stirling Benedicts series

So recently, as part of my author marathoning month, I have read the Benedicts Series by Joss Stirling. I've reviewed the first two books in the series already on the blog so I decided to review the third book as part of a series wrap up review along with a review of the short story Challengning Zed. 

Challenging Zed Review: I thought that this short story was really good, it was definitely something that was required in the middle of this series. I didn't even realise it existed until I saw it listed under the authors books on Goodreads. I loved hearing about the beginning of Finding Sky from Zed's perspective. I love a book with a dual narrative and so it only seems right that I would enjoy hearing about how Zed first viewed sky when the met. It gave a really good insight into his personality and let you know a little bit more about his back story. 

This novella also gives you a bit more of an idea of Sky's personality and how she came across to Zed. Handily enough we also learn a little bit more about the other Benedict brothers, something which is really good if you are planning, as I did, on reading the series. This is just as well written as its full length counterparts and was a really useful insight into all of the characters. Because it is simply the same story but introduced from a different perspective, nothing you don't already know about happens but it's still a fun read. 

This book won't work for you unless you've read Finding Sky, or are planning on reading Finding Sky but it's definitely a welcome addition to the series! 

Seeking crystal was another fabulous book in this series. The Benedict's are back with a vengeance and in this book we get more of the whole family, including characters from previous books-I really liked this. We get to meet new characters Crystal & Diamond. These girls are from a family of Sevants themselves and currently rested in Venice-making for some wonderful descriptive scenes!

Crystal isn't the usual strong female lead that Striling writes to begin with, however she really comes into her own at around about the midpoint of the book! Her relationship with Xav is even more firey than the relationship between Phee & Yves, which is saying something! Her power is by far the strongest of all the girls and, as you can imagine, she gets plenty of chance to use it. The way she discovers herself over the course of the novel was fantastic. It was great to hear more about healing Benedict brother Xav and also a bit more about the Benedict parents too, overall I really liked the balance if characters in this installment!

The storyline in this novel wasn't quite as dramatic as those in the previous two novels. Whilst there was more than one thing happen in the others, there was only really one majorly dramatic turn in this novel and it was resolved rather quickly. It was far from a minor event and affected all of the characters so there was still plenty of action, just not as much as I'd expect.

I've grown to really love this series of novels by Joss Stirling, the only bugbear I have with them, however, is that they seem to hinge around the idea that a man and a woman need another man or woman to complete them, make them whole and allow them to reach their full potential. I don't really support this idea in real life, but u can see that it works in the fabulous world that this author creates, I would just be aware if this fact if chosing this book for a younger person-a discussion may need to be had about standing on your own two feet & being independent.

The author does create really strong, powerful female leads however and so this does go a long way to counter my doubts about pushing a traditional male/female relationship in order to be happy. I've really enjoyed reading this series and hope that there are many more novels to come featuring the gorgeous Benedict boys!

Review! Witchfall by Victoria Lamb

London, 1554. At the court of Mary Tudor, life is safe for no one. The jealous, embittered queen sees enemies all around her, and the infamous Spanish Inquisition holds the court in its merciless grip. But Meg Lytton has more reason to be afraid than most - for Meg is a witch, and exposure would mean certain death. Even more perilous, Meg is secretly betrothed to the young priest Alejandro de Castillo; a relationship which they must hide at all costs.

In the service of the queen's sister, Princess Elizabeth, Meg tries to use her powers to foretell her mistress's future. But when a spell goes terribly wrong, and Meg begins to have horrifying dreams, she fears she has released a dark spirit into the world, intent on harming her and those around her.

Review: wow what a fabulous sequel to a magical novel. I was lucky enough to receive book one and book two from Random House for review and I am so pleased because I couldn't wait to start this sequel after having read the first book. I really don't normally like a lot of magic in books and mystical creatures such as witches but in this case, i can definitely make an exception. The first in this series introduces us to determined young witch meg and this book lets us get to know meg even further and she exceeds our expectations in terms of what she is capable of!

Overall this book is a lot darker than the first, there is more magic being brandished in this one, and at one point in the book, I genuinely feared for meg's life. I found that I couldn't read this book before bed because I would have nightmares, but that shows you just how good it was, that it got under my skin so much, just a warning that this one really isn't for the younger end of YA readers...

There was even more of a historical aspect to this novel with Henry VIII making an appearance as well as the spirit of Anne Boleyn, I found this historical aspect truly wonderful and very well researched. For me, it just added another level to this novel. We had the story of meg, the magic being worked, the possible love interest with Spanish priest Alejandro and the the historical aspect in terms of relationships between Elizabeth and each member of here family-truly inspired!

The love story intensifies in this novel too, Alejandro is still very much on the scene and making his presence known at court, and then when Elizabeth and her party move to Hatfield. Meg's family are also around more in this book which I found interesting, her brother and father seem to now be far more supportive of her and I think this only gives her more confidence to be even more of her own person and make her own decisions.

Initially I wasn't sure about the increase of magic in this novel, I didn't think I was going to like it, but when everything ties together at the end of the book, you realise that the magic is a key ingredient into the events of this novel and the development of the characters within. Another great read and definitely something to recommend, the only bad part? We have to wait until next summer for the next book!

You can get your copy of Witchfall now by clicking here...

Review! Witchstruck by Victoria Lamb

Meg Lytton has always known of her dark and powerful gift. Raised a student of the old magick by her Aunt Jane, casting the circle to see visions of the future and concocting spells from herbs and bones has always been as natural to Meg as breathing. But there has never been a more dangerous time to practise the craft, for it is 1554, and the sentence for any woman branded a witch is hanging, or burning at the stake.

Sent to the ruined, isolated palace of Woodstock to serve the disgraced Elizabeth, daughter of Henry VIII and half-sister of Queen Mary, Meg discovers her skills are of interest to the outcast princess, who is desperate to know if she will ever claim the throne. But Meg's existence becomes more dangerous every day, with the constant threat of exposure by the ruthless witchfinder Marcus Dent, and the arrival of a young Spanish priest, Alejandro de Castillo, to whom Meg is irresistibly drawn - despite their very different attitudes to her secret.

Thrilling and fast-paced, this is the first unputdownable story in a bewitching new series.

Review: a fabulous novel about a witch who is friends with Elizabeth 1, as unbelievable as this sounds it really makes for a great story! Meg is a wonderful main character, we discover thought the novel that she is a witch as has been sent to Woodstock to serve Elizabeth as she has been exiled here. We also know that she has an aunt who is a witch and a father and brother who might have the ability to betray her. Meg is actually a very strong woman who knows her own mind, when those around her try to trick her or boss he around, she doesn't allow it, she doesn't use her magic very often, but when she does, she makes sure that she gets the maximum benefit from it.

Like all good witch tales, she comes under the suspicion of a witch hunter and it looks like it could all be over for meg. I have the admit,in found myself holding my breath during some of the scenes where she was being hounded or interrogated and there was seven a really low point where I had a little cry because of events going on in this novel!

Of course there is a love interest too, a saucy Spanish priest nonetheless, and even towards the ending of this novel, we never really find out whether meg succumbs to his Spanish seductions or not, I think this is wonderful twist to the story. 

The thing that I really enjoyed about this tale is the historical accuracy. Tudors is a favourite period in history for me and so reading about Elizabeth and her relationship with her sister, and indeed the country, was excellent and definitely surpassed my expectations. I was lucky enough to receive the sequel to this fab historical YA fiction Witchfall and I can't wait to get on and get reading that-look out for the review soon. They are definitely something that should be added to your reading list!

You can get your copy of Witchstruck now by clicking here...