Review: Warlock Holmes - A Study in Brimstone

Warlock Holmes - A Study in Brimstone by G.S. Denning
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I laughed so hard the whole way through this book.

As someone who is obsessed with all things Sherlock Holmes, from the original Conan Doyle stories to Basil The Great Mouse Detective, when I saw Warlock Holmes: A Study In Brimstone I knew I had to read it.

The cover itself is striking and gives you a hint about the madness that may lay inside and it is all things good! There are four of the stories re-imagined inside here now entitled: A Study In Brimstone, The Adventures of the Resident Sacrifice, The Case of the Cardboard... Case, The Adventure of the Yellow Bastard, The Adventure of the _eckled _and, and finally Charles Augustus Milverton: Soulbinder.

Each of these tales were charmingly familiar to the original stories, but with an added hint of wackiness that I could only compare to Douglas Adams. John Watson still serves as the voice of the adventures and the insight into what is happening. It's just that this time he happens to be the only humans with whom we interact, so it makes seeing all of the supernatural things through his eyes all the more believable because he is just like the reader. Well to be fair he handles things a lot more calmly than I would and is much better at solving crimes.

Warlock Holmes as a character is ridiculous and lovely and manages to parody everything about Sherlock Holmes that is quite frankly ridiculous when you examine it, but in Warlock he gets away with it because he has such a charming air about him. Even while he was dragging you along into misadventure I feel you couldn't help but like him. It makes sense that John goes along with it.

My stand out character though (and I hope to see more of him) is Vladislav Lestrade. Vampire. Nihilist Vampire. I adored him. I've had a soft spot for the detective since he was re-imagined in the BBC's adaptation of Sherlock, but in this book he also really jumps off the pages for me. None of the bumbling detective from the start this Lestrade prowls, is unnerving and also the perfect gentleman despite his blood drinking habits. LOVE HIM.

I don't want to give too much away with this review, because I am going to be waving this book at every single person that I can and making them read it, but all I am going to say is that ending has me mourning that it isn't May 2017 yet. Bring on The Battle of Baskerville Hall.

As a final note I would say that I'm often disappointed by Sherlock Holmes parodies. They show no love or affection for the original stories and just purely make a mockery, which is all good and fine in its place. However, I call this book a triumph and far superior to that. The neatness of the writing, the references and the obvious good time that the author had with this book? It's all led to an utter success of a novel in my eyes.

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Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One and Two

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One and Two by Jack Thorne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a really interesting read for me, and one that I think I will have to read many times over because I grasp the full complexities of the storyline and see beyond some of the things that are still sticking with me - good and bad. I also feel like much of it will make more sense to me once I see the play itself, though so much of it I could already picture in my mind!

I've generally come away with mixed emotions about this title and I think there are a lot of reasons for this. Harry Potter was so dear to me and so instrumental in my reading when I was growing up that coming back to it this many years later as an adult was always going to give me a whole new perspective. When I read the books I was the age of those characters and so I could understand the teenage angst and I could relate it to my own life, despite the magical setting. That was the charm of those books and the way that it allowed you to read them and escape in whole new ways. Although the characters we know and love are adults now (sort of anyway, there were moments that made me raise my eyebrows) a large portion of the play is spent with Albus and Scorpius who are teenagers. Once I realised that they were the central focus it did give me pause.

So lets start with the good. My worries about reading these teenagers (and the tendency for angst in the Harry Potter teenage world) was actually unfounded. Yes Albus had a lot of issues going on, which led to a lot of poor decisions BUT I felt in his case it was totally understandable. This was not the boy/girl love drama of the books, but actual insight into how it must be trying to handle growing up with a father who is as notorious as Harry Potter. Of course you're going to feel like you can't live up to that. Who could? And Scorpius quickly became a favourite character of mine in the whole series, which isn't something I would say lightly considering how little time he's had in the canon, but he was just a delight to read. He reminded me of myself at that age a startling amount and so when he stood up for himself (in a way that I was never able to) I found myself cheering... on my packed train.

I loved that Hermione has become The Minister of Magic - perfect job for her. I think it's only right that a Muggle born takes that job, because they can see both sides of the coin and negotiate with the Prime Minister effectively. Also Hermione kicks ass. End of. Her and Ron's relationship was beautiful. It took everything I like about them in the books and made me see it as something actually sustainable and highlighted how much the pair of them needed each other. In my personal opinion this play shuts down the Harry/Hermione argument because of how brilliantly the Ron/Hermione marriage is portrayed. Bravo to that.

In contrast I felt that the Harry/Ginny relationship was weak - and I acknowledge this could be a very unpopular opinion, but I have been careful to stay away from other reviews on the script so I don't know. It was just that I never felt like they gelled. I can't imagine it would be easy being married to Harry Potter, and lord knows he was a bit of a mess in this story, and yet I found myself wanting to push Ginny into supporting him more. The man clearly needs some sort of PTSD therapy. He went through a lot of things that really nobody could understand.

I also felt that many of the cameos from characters (Snape... Dumbledore's portrait) were more nods to fanfiction than true to the characters. As a Snape fan from book one I feel like I have a very realistic view of him. I never romanticized him and some of the terrible things he did. This play does and I don't know how I feel about that. He isn't hugely noble, he was trying to survive and live with himself after having made terrible decisions in his life that left him twisted and hurt in a way that nobody could heal.

There are other moments that made me frown a little that I don't want to dissect too much, because I do think that upon further readings they will bother me less and in truth I cannot deny that I loved travelling back to Hogwarts for a fresh story. It felt like a piece of me that had been shut away many years ago had the ability to come out and shine again. I shut myself up in my room and devoured it the way that I have always done. And that, for me, is what reading is all about. Losing yourself in the words, the characters, the world and most importantly the emotions that run through you every time you open the cover.

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Review: The Flame Never Dies

The Flame Never Dies by Rachel Vincent
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Flame Never Dies is the second in a series that doesn't hold back. I have to admit that I haven't read the first one before reading this, as I was give a copy of this book for free for an honest review from NetGalley. That being said Rachel Vincent's world building was good enough that I didn't feel lost for long and the customers were fleshed out so well that I immediately understood the group dynamics.

I have read Vincent's Unbound series before and so I wasn't surprised by the quality of relationships portrayed, but the dystopian setting of this book gave the relationships a deeper bonding this time round AND there was noticeable attention to relationships outside of the romantic ones. I loved the grouchy Devi and the sweet Maddock.

I don't want to ruin anything, but I was also impressed by the layers and tricks that were woven into the plotline. Some of them I figured out and I looked forward to their reveal, but these more obvious ones hid the sly twists that hit you in the gut. Leading to some scenes that were incredibly hard to read and I had to take a pause occasionally.

The ending sets up easily for the next in the series (I assume?!) and I am intrigued to find out how this rag tag band of misfits manages to survive... or not? You just never know!

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Review: London Belongs to Us

London Belongs to Us by Sarra Manning
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Be still my beating heart. Jean Luc, you scowling Frenchman. I think I am in love. Can't beat a surly bloke in my eyes.

Ahem. Now onto the rest of this review.

This really is a love story to London. Our capital city that is always bustling in one of its boroughs, with the people and the sheer life and joy it holds. I have to say that in this time, when there is so much worry about just wandering around the city streets, it was a real pleasure to just wander round the city and see it through the eyes of Sunny. She is bright and innocent and while trying to find her douche of a boyfriend, and she ends up finding herself through London.

It's a riot of a ride and you never know what is going to happen next or where Sunny will go next and that is the thrill of this book. The wild characters and just everything about the writing of this story talks about the joy of London, even when awful things happen there is a community that cannot be denied.

I loved it. Every single second.

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Review: Tall Oaks

Tall Oaks by Chris Whitaker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tall Oaks is a fascinating novel from debut author Chris Whitaker. The blurb on the back totally sucks you in and the book itself doesn't disappoint.

There's action right from the start as you're dropped right into the middle of it. Harry Monroe has been taken and this small community is reeling from it and trying to carry on as usual. There are moments of comedy (mostly surrounding the hysterical Manny and his friends) amidst the utter grief that seeps through the rest of the characters. You become attached to characters at one moment and then with a turn of the page no longer know if you can trust them. I've never read anything that made me doubt my instincts quite as much as this title.

I don't want to risk giving too much away, but the characters are engaging and you can identify with them for a multitude of different reasons and I couldn't say that I had a particular favorite. It is the whole cast of them that make this title, not one of them could have carried the story alone. Jim, the cop, who would have usually been the one to carry such a story on his shoulders has too many cracks to be able to survive the attention on him for the whole novel and the author handles this beautifully.

The ending of this book with stay with you a long time. I couldn't stop thinking about it last night because of the haunting way the series of events is explained.

I really feel that this was an excellent first novel and makes me hungry to see what comes next!

Buy Tall Oaks: Tall Oaks


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Review: Order in the Court

Order in the Court by Casey Lawrence
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this book from NetGalley for a honest review.

I have to admit I didn't realise this was the second book in the series when I started it, but I actually think this works quite well as a stand alone novel even though I am going to pick the first one up to see even more of the backstory.

This book has some really important issues in it that I've never seen put together before, but it was written in such a way that it didn't feel like the author was throwing in issues just for the sake of it. Everything had a purpose and furthered the story line. One especially telling moment was when Corey was told that if she played up to the Asian stereotype then she jury was more likely to listen to her side of the story. Unfair? Absolutely. True? Sadly, it probably is. Appearances being deceiving are a huge part of this book and I felt like that moment really encompassed it.

The only downside that I found with this book was the was that the story jumped about, it made it quite hard to follow, and everything seemed to happen so quickly. There were so many fascinating characters and the potential was enormous that I would have enjoyed seeing it just a little more. The ending especially felt a little rushed to me, though I would hasten to add that it wasn't a bad ending!

Over all I went into this title totally blind and enjoyed it. I read it in one sitting and was certainly fast paced enough to keep pulling you along! It deals with issues within the LGBT community where Corey is bi-sexual and finds it difficult from a multiple of people to be able to accept that about her, she's suffering from PTSD and at the same time trying to live her life in the aftermath of something truly horrific. With the wrong protagonist it really wouldn't have worked but she is very relateable, likeable and flawed just like the rest of us!
Order In The Court

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Review: Truly Madly Guilty

Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was my very first Liane Moriarty book, which astonishes me now I think about it and it won't be my last.

I have to admit that at first I found the start of the book a little slow for my personal taste, I was almost fed up with the mystery surrounding the day of the barbecue. I wanted to know and see why the fall out was so great! However, the deeper into the book I started to better understand Moriarty's technique and it made the plot richer.

There are seven central characters that you follow through the plotline and you see how the effects of a tragic incident effects them, while having to guess what it is that made them feel so guilty. I actually figured out what the incident was, I feel like the hints about it are a little unsubtle, but what it was totally explained why the characters were finding it so difficult to move on.

Erika and Oliver were the couple that I felt grew the most in the book. They have both had terrible childhoods, though you see more intensely Erika's back story. I think that Moriarty wrote her especially well, a woman who already had a mental illness with added stress? It was always going to be a tough call. Her husband, Oliver, I think was my favourite character. He's often underestimated by every character apart from Erika. He's insightful and smart and often in the book the only one who speaks any sense!

Clementine and Sam were infuriating for most of the book. I kept getting frustrated with them and the fact that they wouldn't just talk to each other. This does get explained later on in the book in a way that I was satisfied by, but I still don't exactly thing Clementine is a nice person. Of all the characters we meet she is the most self-centered!

Tiffany, Vid and Dakota are a charming family. They started of as quite unappealing, but they actually really grew on me. Tiffany is such a deep character and the caring and thought she shows for her daughter is lovely. I feel with her Moriarty is really pushing home that a woman can be beautiful, not just beautiful SEXY, and be smart.

There are a few plot holes and confusing transitions that I assume will be ironed out by the time of publication, so overall I really enjoyed this book and am pleased I gave it a shot.

~I recieved a free copy of this book for a honest review~

This review and others is also posted on: http://belleblogsbooks.blogspot.co.uk/


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Book Review: The Duff by Kody Keplinger (3 Stars)

I picked up this book after hearing generally positive things about it, and wanting a bit of light relief after reading several heavy fantasy books and classic literature. It’s a very fast read and I read it in one sitting of about two hours. You do have to suspend a certain amount of disbelief and just accept that this is not a book where reality is going to play a big part.

For example, having been a teenager and having experienced many boys like Wesley I could not quite get over the fact that there was no way he could turn out to be the good guy that he did, despite his redeeming storyline. Anyone who comes up with the tern DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) is not a nice person at heart, I’m sorry but that is just the way that I feel. It takes a certain mind to come up with such a cruel phrase. I am all for Bianca claiming the term and using Wesley, as it starts off, I would also have been happy for them to become friends out of it and have grown through it. I actually would have preferred that they hadn’t fallen in love, it just didn’t quite ring true – and for someone who loves a good happy ending this is pretty hard for me to say.

That being said, once I got over my disbelief, I really did enjoy this book. There were some strong messages that came out, towards the end of the book in particular, about how all teenage girls seem insecure no matter how beautiful they are perceived to be. I think this is something that is really important in today’s world where it is so easy to be negative and the media pushes us towards these feelings. The way that the girls come together at the end to talk through their issues and support each other was something I really enjoyed of and we need to see more of. It was also really nice to have two so-called beautiful friends who were genuinely good people and cared about the heroine. There were no darker intentions behind their friendship, all they wanted to do was help and support Bianca – even when she’s being a truly terrible friend.

I debated long and hard between giving this book two stars and three stars, but in the end my enjoyment of the friendship aspect overcame my issue with the relationship and the one-dimensional side characters. There is a solid message in The Duff in my opinion, even if it isn’t the one that I expected when I first picked up the book.

Book Review: The Rest Of Us Just Live Here - by Patrick Ness (Four Stars)

I went into this book with high hopes and huge expectations. For me a Patrick Ness novel is always a pleasure to read. Meeting the man in person is considerably more intimidating, so be aware before you go to see him for the first time!

I think that most people reading this book will be a fan of Ness’s writing style and this doesn’t disappoint at all. He knows exactly how to capture the teenage voice and make it applicable to any situation. This is a fantasy novel that is working it’s hardest not to be. And I admire that as a concept. Much as I enjoy a good fantasy novel full of daring deeds and brave people – how many times have I also secretly thought that the hero was an idiot? Many other people have mentioned in their reviews that this novel seems to have been heavily influenced by Buffy and I totally see where that comes from. I always had a soft spot for Xander and I feel like we have his story played out here. In a world that regularly falls apart, where fights can break out at any moment how do you also manage to live a daily teenage life. Being a teenager is already about heightened emotions and everything is intense, seeing the wider picture is hard. I liked the juxtaposition in the novel of the snippets of the ‘Indie Kids’ story line, which were short and punchy and to the point, unlike the general fantasy novel exposition, and the day-to-day lives and actions were drawn out and described in detail.

Instead of pure action this book heavily relies on its cast of characters. Mikey is the main character and watching him interpret and misunderstand the world around him was a pleasure and all too familiar. Even as you are certain that he is missing something you are still just as much in the dark as him.

What I really about Patrick Ness is that you can never have a preconceived notion of what to expect from his writing because he always goes out of his way to surprise you and that is such a joy when so many books just do the same thing. I think everyone who has ever felt on the outside can learn something from this book – just being you is your story, and that’s pretty wonderful.

Book Review - The Bone Season + The Mime Order

A little late to the party I find myself a relatively happy new convert to Samantha Shannon’s writing. Amid the declarations that her series would be the new Harry Potter I must admit that I was sceptical and decided to let the furore die down before I tried reading The Bone Season. With the publication of The Mime Order earlier this year I decided that this was the perfect time to give it a go. With two (rather large!) books out I felt it would give me a better flavour for this new world that I was about to be introduced to.

I have to say that I am really glad that I took the time! I don’t think I would have been anywhere near as convinced to read The Mime Order if I didn’t already have it in my hand, and now I am among many impatient people waiting for the third instalment.

That isn’t to say that The Bone Season wasn’t good, because I really did enjoy it – especially once I got past the first 150 pages – but I feel that my reservations are best described by something a colleague said to me. It is a fantasy book that isn’t really aimed at fantasy readers. I went into The Bone Season, with all its HP hype, expecting magic, wonder, excitement… a whole host of things. What I got was a blend of the above with many dystopian tropes thrown in. The corrupt puppet government – or I should say governments – the slang for the technology, the very strict regulations. The first part of the book feels like an info dump about all of these new things. Acronyms are thrown at you with barely an explanation and I found myself flicking back several pages to double check what some of them meant. A very complicated social structure is introduced, and I didn’t find the flow chart at the start especially helpful, and it took me an embarrassing amount of time to figure out that most of the characters had duel names. Even if you asked me now 1000ish pages or story later I wouldn’t be able to give you a clear description of it all. What I did appreciate is how much Shannon has put into this world, once you get over the massive rush of information the world is beautifully thought out and it is seamlessly put together. Once you start to understand how it works you never question the legitimacy of people’s actions or events. To continue the comparison to Harry Potter, the first part of this book is hard going because you are thrown into the world with a fully mature protagonist whereas in Harry Potter the reader learns along with Harry.

Paige is a delight as a heroine. Strong, determined and as scared as anyone should be in her situation. Once the action of The Bone Season changes scenery to Shoel she grows more and more as you see her totally out of her comfort zone and attempting to find her way in this strange new environment. You believe at the end of the book that she really is the one to lead the rebellion. Her character development and growth in The Mime Order is well paced and the climactic chapters really do keep you on edge. You know how far she has come, you have lived each moment with her, but you still can’t be quite certain she has the guts to go through with what she’s planned. Her relationship with Jaxon is so well developed by this point and you see all the shades of grey that he can be, you yourself aren’t certain if you want her to have the guts either. This is why the end of the book is such a kicker. Sitting on the train I drew breath in loudly enough that the people around me turned round to look. Whatever else happened, I wasn’t expecting that.

By the way, can you tell that I’m trying really hard not to put any spoilers in here?

One of the things that did disappoint me a little about The Mime Order was the character that had been the highlight for me in the prequel. Warden. He really shone for me in The Bone Season, the tension of where we thought he was the good guy but you could never be certain. All of his actions seemed to be to help Paige, but it was always possible that it was a clever double bluff – right up until the ending where all doubts are cast aside. Classic antihero stuff. Compared to this he felt very one dimensional in the second book. Apart from the very thrilling rescue scene I found the moments with him were rather dull. With his mystery stripped it was all a little cold.

To be fair The Bone Season had a much larger cast than the first book. There is so much going on and so much that I wanted to find out, I have always been a sucker for a good murder mystery, that the action is what kept me turning the page.

All in all, I am really pleased that I decided to give this series a go, but I stand by my decision to wait until some of the hype died down. I still think it should be counted as a massive marketing and publicity success on behalf of the Bloomsbury team. I can think of at least half a dozen books that do just as good a job and aren’t anywhere near as successful. If you are looking for a thoroughly original world with a fun cast of characters then give this a try.

 

The Bone Season - ***

The Mime Order - ****