Song of Silver, Flame Like Night by Amelie Wen Zhao

⭐️💙

TW: genocide, massacre, war, blood, violence, gore, knife violence, death of loved ones, child abuse, attempted rape, mind control, colonialism, racism

This was a lushly imagined, detailed and fully immersive fantasy tale. I loved the magic system and the interplay between gods and humans.

Full review here.

A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

TW: massacre, violence, war, death of a loved one, child death, forced pregnancy, traumatic childbirth, child marriage, reproductive coercion, religious manipulation and bigotry, grief, pandemic, postnatal depression, animal violence, animal death, mind control, vomiting, child loss, parental death, eye gore, burning

The Priory of the Orange Tree was the feminist, high fantasy escapism I needed and Shannon makes a triumphant return to this wonderfully rich world here. Shannon took every expectation I had and smashed them to smithereens. This is the fantasy epic of 2023. 

Full review here.

The Pledge by Cale Dietrich

🏳️‍🌈🧠

TW: death, murder, stabbing, gore, blood, violence, PTSD, flashbacks, anxiety

This is a mesh between horror and mystery that works perfectly. The vignettes of the murders felt incredibly sinister and horrifying, with that build up of suspense and the feeling that you needed to hide behind a pillow. Dietrich plays on the fear brilliantly, particularly in the horrifying opening chapter. This is a bloody fight for survival, taking horror film cliche and adapting it for the current moment. Throughout the book, these tropes are set up, only to be unpicked and subverted. 

Full review here.

Lady MacBethad by Isabelle Schuler

🏳️‍🌈(side characters)🧠

TW: war, sexual violence, sexual harassment, violence, murder, death, blood, gore, homophobia, parental death

This was the darkly enticing, fully ensnaring retelling I needed. Delving into Lady Macbeth’s historical origins and coming to the place we all know her from, this was a book mired in political intrigue, power plays and the murky reality of survival.

Full review here.

You Think You Know Me by Ayaan Mohamud

⭐️🧠

TW: racism, Islamophobia, hate crime, violence, stabbing, death, mugging, racial slurs

You Think You Know Me sets the world on fire through its passionate reclamation of the power of one’s voice and speaking out against prejudice and hatred. It is sadly rare to see a practising Muslim main character, but the representation here is much appreciated. I loved how her religion guides her through moments of crisis and provides a resource for her to draw on. It is a natural and central aspect of her life. However, Mohamud does not shy away from depicting the sickening reality of Islamophobia and anti-refugee rhetoric Hanan faces. 

Full review here.

The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Heywood

⭐️🧠

TW: sexual assault, rape, violence, blood, murder, death, beheading, gore, misogyny

The Shadow of Perseus utterly reframes a familiar narrative. As Heywood notes in her author’s note, the line between hero and villain is so easily manipulated and the power lies entirely with the author. Here, she returns the power to the women deeply wronged by Perseus and the fragile masculinity he embodies, warning us of the continued danger of this in our society.

Full review here.

Clara & Olivia by Lucy Ashe

TW: kidnapping, violence, obsession, stalking, emotional abuse, physical abuse, blood, death, murder

Clara & Olivia spins its tale as effortlessly as its titular characters en pointe. It is a book that builds tension slowly, surely, allowing it to sink under your skin. Dance is transformative and evocative, bringing you in perfect harmony with the music. It can be an escape, a release from the world around you. It can also be a prison, a regimented and strict discipline that leaves no room for error. 

Full review here.

Atalanta by Jennifer Saint

TW: violence, death, sexual violence, harassment, sexism, murder, blood, injury

Once again, Jennifer Saint knocked it out of the park. Shining her skills on the most notable Greek heroine, Atalanta, she provides another wonderfully nuanced and magical retelling.

Full review here.

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

🧠

TW: sexual abuse, emotional abuse, child abuse, physical abuse, anorexia, bulimia, cancer, eating disorders, drugs and alcohol abuse, death, grief, mental illness, manipulation, grooming, abusive parent

I had heard a lot about this memoir and I knew I needed to pick it up. There is no tip-toeing here, with some horrific passages and the slow erosion of confidence through relentless abuse. However, you come out of it with a sliver of hope in the possibility of recovery and life beyond.

Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati

⭐️🏳️‍🌈 (side character) 🧠

TW: graphic violence, death, murder, child death, loss of loved one, rape, sexual violence, harassment

I love a retelling steeped in feminine rage and this epitomises that. Casati does not hold back in a bloody, brutal depiction of the position of women in this landscape – political pawns, easily destroyed and discarded.

Full review here.

Nocturne by Alyssa Wees

TW: death, mob killing, gun violence, decay of bodies, assault, grief

🧠

This was such a lyrical book, immersed in the beauty of ballet and the transformative power of dance. There is also an intriguing thread in the romance about finding your own strength and embracing your full self.

Full review here.

A Game of Life or Death by Triona Campbell

TW: death, murder, violence, gaslighting, manipulation, stalking, mind control, blood

🧠

I absolutely loved reading this twisty, savvy YA thriller debut. It embraces and revels in the hyper reality evoked by video games, while also sensitively exploring grief.

Full review here.

At Midnight: 15 Beloved Fairy Tales Reimagined

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

TW: racism, classism, violence, sexual assault, transphobia, parental abuse, infidelity & themes of attempted incest/sexual assault, murder of own parents, cannibalism & child abandonment

This was a creative and highly original anthology, taking fairytale retellings to new heights. It very much felt refreshingly modern and tailored to our contemporary moment.

Full review here.

One for All by Lillie Lainoff

🏳️‍🌈🧠💙

TW: ableism, blood, murder, loss of a loved one, past mention of sexual assault, misogyny, sexism, chronic illness, death of a parent, grief, blood, injury, murder, sexual harassment

This was absolutely fantastic. Simply just the chronic illness representation made my heart glow because it was so true to life and then to watch Tania succeed, but also experience flare ups (because illness are not magically curable) – this will mean so, so much to people.

Full review here.