Thought Corridor

 A Trade of Blood An Ana and Din Mystery  by Robert Jackson Bennett I loved The Tainted Cup and Drop of Corruption so knew I'd enjoy this one too, and I did. The characters are developed further and the world building is just as excellent as before. It's really well written and vey engaging and I found myself engrossed from start to finish. The relationship between Ana and Din is really well written and I liked getting to know them both a bit better. The mystery in this story is really good too. As another reviewer has said I really enjoyed getting to know more about the Empire and I'm wondering where it will go next, If you like a fantasy set mystery then I would highly recommend this series. Thank you to the author, the publishers, and to Netghalley for this ARC. 

A Case of Fear and Favour by Sally Smith As a huge fan of crime and detective stories this one fits in well into the cosy historical crime trope. It's a welcome return for  Sir Gabriel Ward KC in this third book in the series and once again Smith details the workings of the Inner Temple really well. This book also sees the return of some characters from the previous books which was also great. Set again in the early 1900's the language and writing style feels period appropriate, and it's a slower paced novel but very enjoyable. Thank you to the author, to the publishers, and to Netgalley for this ARC  

Rakshasa's Wrath The Clawed Chronicles, Book 1  by V. Ajinkya I really have mixed feelings about this book. As another reviewer has stated there were a lot of characters and plotlines that felt unclear and a little unfinished, I struggled at times so see certain characters motivations. However the dialogue was well written on the whole and the interactions between the characters worked well too. The fantasy world was well developed and I liked Lyliana as a central character. I'm a huge fan of pirate stories so was excited to read this but it didn't quite grip me in the right way but that could just be that it was the wrong book for me in that moment. The action sequences were a highlight for me as I liked how snappy they felt. I would read the next book in this series. Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to Netgalley for this ARC. 

 The Shadows of Kensington Gore by Ross Montgomery I really enjoyed the first book The Murder At World's End and was really looking forward to reading the sequel. Once again I really enjoyed it. Stephen is very charming and Decima is a wicked delight. The plot is woven through with suffragettes and a lot of housemaids. It's a very fun read and I had no clue who did it. It's well written and very enjoyable. I look forward to see what's next for this unlikely pair.  Highly recommend if you like witty murder mysteries with a few red herrings. Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to Netgalley for this ARC.  well-written, clever, sharp and funny. The mystery is intriguing and well done. I loved the introduction of the Ivy’s, and Stephen and Miss Decima have grown on me quite a bit since the first book. 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars Second books in a series can be tricky, especially if you have loved the first one as much as I did,   twisty and dark s...

 Little Spark by Jess Kidd The story is focused on the character of Bodkin Bell, who is initially the star of an electrifying travelling act until they end up in gaol until the mysterious benefactor Cornelius offers her a way out.  The characters are really great, the villains too. Lots of mystery with her backstory and it's a really compelling story set in a London that has both Victorian and Steampunk elements. It was a really good gothic and I found the plot flowed really nicely and Kidd's writing style is very engaging. Thank you to the author, to the publishers, and to Netgalley for this ARC. 

 Illusions (Faber Editions) by Ruth Rehmann; Megan Nolan  with Rob Madole (Translator) This book was not an easy read. It is set in post war Germany and follows the lives of four employees. We, as the reader, learn more about them over the course of a day or so and we see how they live their lives and how the events of their pasts have shaped them. As another reviewer has mentioned it is a fundamentally human story. Despite being written decades ago and largely forgotten until fairly recently it still feels very relevant and Rehmann is a very evocative writer. The translation feels very faithful and the book demands your attention. Not my usual read but enjoyed it nevertheless. Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to Netgalley for this ARC. 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars