Thought Corridor

 Tea & Treachery at the Infinite Pantry by Jo Miles I really enjoyed this book, such an interesting and fun premise. It is very engaging and warm, with a diverse cast of characters who I really enjoyed getting to know. The food descriptions are mouth watering at times and feel very vivid. It's a place you wish would actually exist! The romance in this is a slow burn and it's very charming. The book switches between the two POV's of Glendevyn and Irdruan and I really liked both characters. The rest of the characters are wonderfully diverse and I loved the found family aspect.  As others have said the villain of the piece was a little too easy to spot but I loved the book so much that I'm willing to forgive that. Highly recommend this book if you're looking for a cosy fantasy escapist read that has a little more plot than some others out there. Thank you to the publisher, the author, and to Netgalley for this ARC. 

 Silks and Stones by Quinn Lawrence This was an interesting fast paced mystery and though it is book 2 in the series the publisher tells us that it is designed as a standalone and this is true. I love books that have found family elements and I really liked the family dynamic between Hokuren and Cinna. The magical elements in this book were really well written and the characters themselves are well developed. It has humour and darker moments and the author balances those really well. While it is a standalone it did make me want to read the first book to get to know more about these characters and return to their world for a little bit longer. Really recommend this one, it's a very good read. Thank you to the author, the publisher and to Netgalley for this ARC.  

Flickerstate by F. A. Davidson This is a really well written YA book and I really enjoyed the magic system in this. Our protagonist Norah Sullivan is a navigator and can manipulate probability and is a student of the Academy of Navigation, I liked her character even though she can be a bit challenging at times but she's going through a lot so perhaps we have to forgive her. I liked the way the characters were written and the academic setting was good with the challenges but sometimes the references to iphones, and memes etc did take me out of the world a little bit but that's probably my fault because I tend to stick to more historical books. Overall I enjoyed it.   Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Moon Over Brendle by Jeff Noon This book combines elements of a coming of age story and a fantasy adventure story while also being a book about stories themselves and the power they have. Noon is not an author I was familiar with at all but I really enjoyed his writing style. If you like books that combine magic and memoir then you might like this.  Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

 First Mage on the Moon by Cameron Johnston I love books that have the found family trope and this ticks that box. This is a book that starts at the end with a trial and then goes backwards in time to show the events that caused this. It is a fast paced book that has humorous elements woven amongst darker times. This book combines engineering with magic and it's a delight. The world building is excellent and it's a great sci fi fantasy adventure. Very much recommended. Thank you to the publishers, the author and to Netgalley as always for this ARC. 

Twig's Traveling Tomes by Gryffin Murphy This is a very charming low stakes cosy fantasy read. If you like the slow burn, found family fantasy trope then this could be the book for you. It is really well written and the characters are likeable and I loved getting to take a break and spend time with them. It feels like a love letter to books and to reading and I loved it. The plot does move slowly but in the case of this book that is part of the charm as it feels nice to not have a book barreling through the plot. The main character of Everett really grew on me as at first I didn't warm to him but I did end up liking him. Not a book for everyone, if you're looking for heavily plot driven, high stakes fantasy then give this one a skip but it's perfect if you want to unwind and get lost in a cosy fantasy setting.  Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for this ARC 3 stars 3 stars 3 stars 3 stars 3 stars

  A Complement of Scoundrels by S.V. Lockwood I really enjoyed this book. I am a huge fan of any story involving revenge and fantasy and this one ticked a lot of boxes for me. This is a fun read and I'll keep this review spoiler free. The action moves along at a fast pace and it's a fun heist story with an added magic system that is very well integrated. The cast of characters are great and we get to know them over the course of the book without it feeling like its too heavily character driven. The dual pov works really well and there is great interplay between the characters.  Thank you to the author, NetGalley and to Bindery Books for the ARC.

 These Are Not My Final Words by Samantha Ryan First of all this book deals with sensitive topics like grief and loss so that is not to everyone's taste hut there is a lot of humour in this book and it is well written. We follow Johnny through the loss of his best friend and I found the character to be likeable and it's interesting to follow him through as he process his grief and has to move on. The book is on the shorter side and my main issue would be that the ending felt a little abrupt but that's fairly minor a complaint as I really enjoyed the book.  I also liked that the chapters were named after a tv show writing trope.   Thank you to the author, the publishers, and to NetGalley for the ARC.

  Hell’s Heart by Alexis Hall     Hell's Heart appealed to me as its selling point is a  ‘sapphic Moby Dick retelling set in space' now I read Moby Dick years ago and it was not quite like this!  It is written as a memoir and our unnamed narrator is escaping her religious upbringing. Its a hodgepodge of genres and is a fun read but not quite what I expected but that's not a bad thing. It is funny at times but maybe a bit challenging to read. The narrator had moments that were irritating and maybe one too many unrelated tangents so it's not going to appeal to everyone but that said there is an interesting and eclectic cast of characters and like another review has stated I too particularly liked Locke.  Thank  you the author, the publishers and to NetGalley for the ARC    2 stars 2 stars 2 stars 2 stars 2 stars

 The Darkness Bites Back by Laura R. Samotin; Ben Alderson I have to start this review by saying that I adored The Darkness Bites Back by Laura R. Samotin and Ben Alderson. The Romeo and Juliet retelling set in modern-day Oxford,  Alexander and Tobias are great characters and they have brilliant chemistry. The dialogue is really well written and the interplay between them is great. There is angst and romance and angstyromance .If you liked Interview with a Vampire then I highly recommend trying this book.  Thanks to the publisher, the author, and to Netgalley for this ARC

 Shake Out the Ghosts by Al Hess The premise of S hake Out the Ghosts was very interesting and I'll keep this review spoiler free. It's a hodgepodge of a few different genres and overall that works very well. There are darker themes in this book so I would advise caution but they are well handled. The two central characters are likeable and the story progresses well but at times it can get a little overwhelming but it is well worth a read. Thanks to the publisher, the author, and to Netgalley for this ARC.

Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee An Epically Short History of Our Kings and Queens. This was a fun audiobook.  Charlie Higson is an engaging and funny narrator. The book is interesting although short but we knew that from the title. The chronological order to the recounting makes sense and it helps to keep track of who we are encountering. It appeals to those of us who grew up watching Horrible Histories. Thanks to the author, the publisher, and to Netgalley for this ALC. 

  The Library at the Edge of the Wood Part of the Cozy Cottage Series  by Liz Delton Hello you, I'm back with more reviews and I start today with an audiobook called  The Library at the Edge of the Wood and its part of the Cozy Cottage Series  by Liz Delton . I really enjoyed this. It's such a cosy fantasy tale.  Everson's such a lovely character. If you like found family stories as I do then you should give this a listen. The author has created such a warm and welcoming world that feels vivid and inviting. The narrator is so good too, really plays the characters well and captures their voices.  Thank you to the publisher, the author, and  NetGalley as always  fo r this ALC. 

Canon by Paige Lewis This was on of those books where I did not know what to expect. Its a wild ride, our focus is on Yara and Adreana as they go after the bad guys. The formatting of the books is interesting as it takes the story and separates it giving us different perspectives. It was a fairly quick read and overall very enjoyable. It has moments of absolute absurdity and moments that leave us questioning things. The overall message of the book can feel a little too hammered home at times but its an interesting one.  Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to Netgalley as always for this ARC.  

How to Fake It in Society by KJ Charles   How to Fake It in Society by KJ Charles  I really enjoyed this book. In particular I loved the dialogue in this book. I have read a few KJ Charles's books and I really enjoyed this one I really liked the interplay between Nico and Titus and there is a great plot amongst all that romance. Charles writes settings incredibly well and this book is humorous with some angst and great characters. The book is lovely and cosy while still being nicely paced. I think it would be a great introduction to KJ Charles's works and I highly recommend this queer story.  Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to Netgalley as always for this ARC. 

 Hello you! More books to review today and I am beginning with an audiobook.  The Trial of Leopold & Loeb: Dickie & Babe   by Ben Devlin   This was not a story I was remotely familiar with and this audiobook piqued my interest as I am a fan of true crime podcasts. This was really good, such a dramatic story told really well. This is a multi voice cast acted audiobook and everyone feels engaging but occasionally it can feel a little too over the top but overall its an interesting true crime told really well and we feel like we are in the jury box listening to the evidence. .  Thank you to the cast, the writers, publisher and as always to NetGalley for the ARC. 

The last book I have to review at the moment is Princeweaver by Elian J Morgan.  Being proudly Welsh this book felt like a must read for me, I enjoyed the way the author wove Welsh folktales through their novel and added historical elements too. I loved the chemistry between Meilyr and Osian and as this is the first in a trilogy I look forward to seeing where this world will go. The magic elements are really good and interwoven really well. The writing style is beautiful and the world building is wonderfully rich and descriptive. After that ending I know I have to read the next one. Thanks to the author, the publishers and to Netgalley as always for this ARC. 

 I really liked the world building in this story and the characters too. The dialogue did feel a bit awkward at times and I found myself being dragged out of the fantastical setting when 'modern' stuff was mentioned maybe a bit too much. Maybe I'll have to try earlier books in this universe as there was something about this that didn't quite work for me but that's entirely a personal preference. That said, the book is charming and cosy with an interesting collection of characters. The slow burn of the romance was good and I liked the fae and magical elements. If you like the found family trope then I think you'll enjoy this one. It's always good too to see some Non-binary representation. Thank you to the author, to the publishers, and to Netgalley as always for this ARC.  

I must start this review by saying that I was not aware this was a sequel to The Last Blade Priest until after I had requested it, That said I really enjoyed this book and I did  read The Last Blade Priest before reading this (and highly recommend others do the same). This book takes us back to the world that Wiles created in their previous book and reintroduces us to characters we met there while introducing us to some new ones too. The crisis that is engulfing this world is getting worse and the rivalries between the League and Mirolene empire grow more fierce. Enter our protagonist. Princess  Syzenne who is hiding a secret power that could change things, but of course, she's not the only one. I really enjoyed the vivid world building in this novel, its descriptive and evocative. Thank you to the publishers, the author, and to Netgalley as always for this ARC. 

I took one look at the description of E.M.Caro's Rears and Vices and knew I had to read it. The description begins thus ' Black Sails and Hamilton meet in this queer, poly, spicy Historical Romance set during the 19th century Age of Revolution, when pirates briefly reclaimed the Gulf and Caribbean seas and provided crucial support toward anti-colonial nation-states'. This ticked so many boxes for me.  Huge fan of pirate stories and loved the series Black Sails. (I'd also add that if you liked Our Flag Means Death then there's a great chance you'll like this book too) I really enjoyed this book but sometimes the multiple POV's did throw me off at times but I liked the characters and the romance. It is a very detailed and descriptive book with a great plot. A solid 4 stars.   Thank you to the publishers, E.M. Caro, and NetGalley for providing the ARC. .

The next book to review is Homebound by Portia Elan This has such an interesting premise, I really like books that contain different timelines and that move between them and this book does just that. Starting off in the 1980's the story follows three storylines that all weave together. The downside of some books that follow this structure is that at times it can feel tricky to follow the threads through the book The characters are interesting and the settings are well described. It is emotional at times dealing with complex themes but there is such heart to the writing. It is a very promising debut and an interesting novel to add to the scifi genre. Huge thanks to the author, the publishers, and to Netgalley as always for the opportunity to read this ARC. 

Fake Night  by Eyal Rosen. This describes itself as an addictive dark comedy so I knew I had to choose it. This book is a lot of fun. It is quirky and fast paced and we get caught up with the characters and their switching identities. Because of its manic energy it is hard to really review this book. Feels like one of those ones where you just have to give it a go and give into the madness for a bit. Overall its a fun, fast paced book that can be read quickly and will leave you feeling like you've spent the evening with these people and had a front row seat to their hijinks. Thank you to the author, the publishers and as always to Netgalley for his ARC. 

The next book review for today is The Lighthouse at the End of the World Cities of the Drift  by Philip A. Suggars I chose this book as I enjoy books that look at an alternate world to our own. Oyster our central character is very likeable and it's enjoyable to get to see him figure out his place in the gang. The world building is great as we alternate between a different London to the one we first meet Oyster in and it is all descriptive and vivid. The action is well paced and the book moves along nicely. It is beautifully descriptive and very expansive feeling as a universe. There does feel like there could be more to come in this universe and I look forward to it. It's great for fans (like myself) of V.A. Schwab. Thanks to the author, the publishers, and as always to Netgalley for this ARC. 

 The next book to review is Murder Like Clockwork by Nicola Whyte.  In this novel a cleaner finds a dead body, fairly standard murder mystery trope one might say however this body disappears by the time the police arrive. This novel reintroduces characters from Whyte's earlier mystery novel but I don't think it's essential to be familiar with that novels before reading this one. This is a cosy crime novel that is entertaining to read and the central characters are likeable and a little eccentric (as most of the best ones are). It's ideal for those who like cosy murder mysteries and I enjoyed it. Many thanks to the author, the publishers, and to Netgalley as always for this ARC. 

I have just finished Fortune Favours the Grave. I love the grumpy/sunshine trope and this fits that very well. Along with a building friends to lovers plot too. I really enjoyed the first book in this series and was excited to read the next one. It’s just as good fun as the first. Highly recommend this. As a fan of Terry Pratchett this feels somewhat similar in style. The world building is excellent and it’s a very fun and enjoyable read. Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley as always for this ARC. 

 Lastly for now is Founding Fathers by Meg Ellison  Must admit I didn't know much about this book before going in to if. It is a satire that plays around, it asks what if tech billionaires had access to cloning the founding fathers and just what would Franklin think of a smartphone. Much of the history of the founding fathers is lost on me as Brit but even though I liked it well enough. It is a fun but brief book, a novella that has an interesting premise but perhaps feels like it needs to be fleshed out more. The idea behind it is sound enough and it humorously looks at politics and updated time settings (with cloning of course). Its an enjoyable read but not quite a 5 star one for me. Thanks tot eh author, the publisher, and to Netgalley as always for this ARC.   

Next up is Nemesis Mine by Amy Archer  I really enjoyed this book, the writing is witty and the book is well paced. There is the classic villain with a heart of gold (somewhere deep in that lair of his) and Maximillian as his love interest. I felt like they had great chemistry and I really wanted them to get together.  The world building was good but maybe was a bit too superficial but still I enjoyed the characters so much that I'm willing to overlook it. This book fits well into the conventions of Romantasy, nothing groundbreaking as the romance hits the tropes and is unsurprising but that is not the point. It is an enjoyable read and I loved the characters.  Thanks to the author, the publisher, and as always to Netgalley for this ARC. 

 The next book is Common Decency by the brilliant Tom Allen, his debut novel. A cosy read with lots of Tom Allen's signature charm and wit. This is a peak behind the lace curtains and closed doors of suburbia and a look at what we find there. The characters who populate  Oak Drive feel very real, we've all heard of neighbors like these. There is more going on beneath the surface and this book explores those dramas. It is humorously written and nicely paced. Thanks to the author, the publishers and Netgalley as always for this ARC. 

 Next up is Upward Bound by Woody Brown.  Woody was the first non speaking autistic graduate of the UCLA and this book feels like a peak inside that world. Like many other reviewers here I loved this book. It is an engaging read from the start and the characters feels so real. As someone who is neurodivergent I could see myself in this book. It is uplifting, there is humour and there is heart and frustration too.   Charming and heartfelt, Upward Bound is a book that it will stay with you for a long time. Thanks to the author, the publishers, and Netgalley as always for this ARC,  

The next book is  The Library of Traumatic Memory  by   Neil Jordan. This was a difficult one for me as although it's helped by its short chapters it did feel a little complicated at times and it was tricky to keep track of the events unfolding. The language used is lovely but with the lack of punctuation and the lack of clear delineation of characters and the narrative voice with its two narrators with no clear way of saying which narrator is speaking it is hard to follow the threads through though the book. I almost did not finish this but persevered, unfortunately for me personally while the imagery and the language is at times beautifully and poetically written it was too complex for me to follow fully. If you're looking for an easy read then this is not it but if you take the time with it then I'm sure there are those who would love this book.  Thank you to the author, the publishers, and as always to Netgalley for this ARC. 

  Hello you! I'm back again with the first of several reviews, reading through my sprawling handwritten notes to make sense of them in order to write them up for this little blog of mine. Starting with T rip to the Moon:  Understanding the True Power Of Story by John Yorke. While this book does feel academical at times it is an enjoyable read and accessible. It  contains many useful passages and tips for aspiring writers of screenplays (and writers in general). It is an easy to understand look at how we are shaped by stories and how we ourselves can shape them. The author looks at various films and screenplays and examines the way they tell a narrative story. I was not familiar with Yorke's previous work and pick this up on a bit of a whim. It is very useful to anyone interested in the genre and is a book that I can see myself returning to. Thank you to the publishers, the author, and Netgalley as always for this ARC. 

The last book to review for the moment is A Great Act of Love  by   Heather Rose  and this one was a difficult one for me to review.  This book is a difficult one to review. Let's start with the summary from the publisher " Caroline examines a stolen map. And there she finds it, at the edge of the Western Hemisphere, a black mark at the 30th latitude smaller than a flea: Norfolk Island. Her Aunt thinks she's a fool for wanting to follow her father to the other side of the world. He is no longer the man who taught Caroline about philosophy, apothecary and dreamt of returning to the France of his childhood. He is a convicted murderer, mad, deported, condemned. But, when she understands that Caroline is determined, her Aunt has one piece of advice: she must leave her past behind and invent a new story. In 1839, Caroline lands in Van Dieman's Land, a young widow of means with a boy in her care. In this insular colony of exiles and opportunists, no-one talks too much abou...

This next review is for The Pie & Mash Detective Agency  by  J.D. Brinkworth Jane and Simon are a millennial couple and on a whim, Jane enrolls herself and Simon in a local private detective night class. Their instructor assigns them a "cold case" he assumes they'll never solve: the disappearance of Nellie Thorne . Now Nellie is not the first person with that name to go missing and its up to Jane and Simon to solve the case and pass their course.  This book has a bit of a slow start for me  but that's largely due to the scene setting. Its very cosy so don't expect any high stakes here. It's entertaining but it does feel a bit too slow for me personally.  Thanks to the publishers and to Netgalley as always for this ARC. 

 The next book for me to write my review of is The Book of Blood and Roses by Annie Summerlee. This is a classic  enemies to lovers plot with the added bonus of vampires. This was a surprising read for me as its not usually my go to genre but the world building really pulled me in and the main character is well written and she has flaws that we can relate to. Its the first sapphic book I have read but it will not be the last  Its a slowburn that sets up the plot to be continued in the next book.    Thanks to the publishers and to Netgalley as always for this ARC. 

 Back to my list of books read and this time it's The Night Hag by Hester Musson, This was the first time I'd read anything by this author and it take me a little while to get into the book but once I did then I enjoyed it. It has its roots in folklore in Scotland in the age of Victorian spiritualism. The writing is very descriptive and beautiful but at times it feels as if this drags the plot down with it. It is a dark, gothic historical mystery with a logical archeologist as our protagonist. Lili is the daughter of a famous (and probably fraudulent) medium, she has rejected the supernatural in favor of the dirt and hard facts of archaeology and we follow her as she uncovers her past.  Thanks to the publishers and to Netgalley as always for this ARC. 

The next book read was  Tea You at the Altar  by   Rebecca Thorne This book series is so much fun It's described as  The Princess Bride  meets Travis Baldree,  Tea You at the Altar is  the third  cosy fantasy in Rebecca Thorne's bestselling Tomes & Tea series. This time our sapphic adventurers must navigate the ultimate maelstrom – their own wedding! Kianthe and Reyna are finally ready to walk down the aisle, but like most best laid plans their plans are going all wrong. Pirates, baby dragons and more are causing mayhem, This book continues in the footsteps of the earlier works, it blends cozy vibes with a political edge as t he wedding ceremony is being used as a trap to lure out the tyrannical Queen and overthrow her. This book deepens the characters and adds more weight to them as we learn more about their inner conflicts. This book is perfect for those who love the found family trope, it is a cosy read with an edge. This is a book that you...

 Onto the next book review. Checking my notes I can see that it is  A Case of Life and Limb  by  Sally Smith.  This is a great follow up to A Case of Mice and Murder, it is another  murder mystery set in Gabriel Ward's world of the Inner Temple .   The Victorian era has just ended, and the Edwardian age is beginning and Gabriel Ward our  protagonist, an  idealistic barrister, is struggling to make a name for himself in the stuffy, tradition-bound world of the London Inner Temple its a typical Old Boys Club.  This book, like Smith's other has an  authenticity to the dialogue used in the courtroom. Despite what people might expect with stuffy courtroom dramas of the past here the pacing is remarkably fast. If you have read the first book then you';ll enjoy seeing more of Gabriel but it can equally work without prior knowledge of the first book.  Thanks to the publishers and to Netgalley as always for this ARC. 

   Hello You! I hope you had a great Christmas and I wish you a Happy New Year.  Today will see me catching up this blog of mine with all the books I read over the festive period.  To begin lets start with  Traitors Legacy, Traitors Legacy is the first in a new series by S. J. Parish. It is a highly engaging, gripping tale of political espionage. Here t he stakes are deeply personal and politically explosive. The book mixes real historical characters and events with the fictional world and its highly engaging. Parish excels at making 16th-century England feel vivid and alive from the London stage to the halls of power. The chapters feel fast paced and for a big book it is easy to get lost in its pages. I highly recommend this book even though its outside of the genre I usually read I really enjoyed it and will seek out more works from S. J . Parish.  Thanks to the publishers and to Netgalley as always for this ARC.