I’m sharing another instalment of my Mini Review Mondays, the most recent of which was last week. In case you haven’t seen any of my previous posts, I do ‘mini’ reviews of books that I’ve previously read and am now ready to share my full thoughts about.
First up, I’d like to talk about The Voyage Home by Pat Barker. Thank you to Viking Books for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Continuing the story of the captured Trojan women as they set sail for Mycenae with the victorious Greeks, this new novel centres on the fate of Cassandra – daughter of King Priam, priestess of Apollo, and a prophet condemned never to be heeded.
Psychologically complex and dangerously driven, Cassandra’s arrival in Mycenae will set in motion a bloody train of events, drawing in King Agamemnon, his wife Clytemnestra and daughter Electra. Agamemnon’s triumphant return from Troy is far from the celebration he imagined, and the fate of the Trojan women as uncertain as they had feared.
Publication Date: 22nd August
TW: death, murder, grief, child death, war, sexism, harassment, rape, sexual assault, manipulation, violence, injury
My Thoughts:
The Voyage Home is a masterclass in Greek mythology retellings – showcasing Pat Barker’s extraordinary characterisation and prose.
Barker brings us the final instalment in her The Women of Troy trilogy, focusing on the enslaved Ritsa (body woman to Cassandra), Cassandra and Clytemnestra. This has always centred on the stories of women confined to the margins whose stories have gone untold, like Ritsa, as well as new spins on some of the most famous moments of the Trojan War saga. Narratively, I really enjoyed the choice to give Ritsa first person narration and her more privileged fellow protagonists third person narratives, redressing that power balance a little. For me, Clytemnestra’s confrontation of Agamemnon is a part of the story that has always stuck with me. It is a tragic and heartfelt moment that also speaks to revenge and long-held anger. Barker muses on fate and the continual way women are used as pawns within this conflict, even away from the battlefield.
Clytemnestra is returning the violence inflicted upon Iphigenia and it is a cathartic unleash upon a monstrous man, but it also continues this never-ending cycle of death and destruction. It is a damning indictment of patriarchal power and its ripple effects through the generations. I have always also been fascinated with the figure of Cassandra, cursed to foresee the future but never to be believed. When this is combined with the rape culture underpinning her story, it rings uncomfortably true to the modern day. Barker’s characterisation of Cassandra is interesting and a subtle take that showcases a different side to her. I just always love how complex her characterisation is – it is layered and messy and deeply human.
The Voyage Home is exquisite – it is tragic, it is bold and it is unforgettable.
Next up, I’d like to talk about Celestial Monsters by Aiden Thomas. Thank you to First Ink for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Teo never thought he could be a Hero. Now, he doesn’t have a choice.
The sun is gone, the Obsidian gods have been released from their prison, and chaos and destruction are wreaking havoc on Reino del Sol. All because Teo refused to sacrifice a fellow semidiós during the Sunbearer Trials.
With the world plunged into perpetual night, Teo, his crush Aurelio, and his best friend Niya must journey to the dark wilderness of Los Restos, battling vicious monsters while dealing with guilt, trauma, and a (very distracting) burgeoning romance between Teo and Aurelio. Determined to rescue the captured semidioses and retrieve the Sol Stone, the trio races against the clock to return Sol and their protective light so order can be restored.
Now the future of the whole world is in their hands.
Publication Date: 5th September
TW: death, sacrifice, suicide, violence, burning, discrimination, bullying, emotional and physical abuse; ritual sacrifice, child abuse
My Thoughts:
Celestial Monsters is a triumphant conclusion to an excellent YA fantasy duology.
I have been a fan of Thomas’ work for quite a few years now, with their characterisation that always delivers and heart-wrenching exploration of complex themes. I was delighted by the first book in this duology, The Sunbearer Trials.
I loved how much this duology focuses on family, legacy and forging your own community. We explore a variety of different family types and how these powers sit differently on the semidioses’ shoulders, as well as the accompanying expectations. At its core, this duology is about confronting the roles we are expected to play and seeing if what we are may stretch beyond this. It is an empowering and brilliant message that runs through this duology. I loved how Thomas takes on a traditional quest narrative but imbues it with these kinds of subversions of certain tropes and where you may think the narrative will go. The core message is also one of love and friendship of many different variations. Both of these are embodied by the central trio of Teo, Aurelio and Niya, all of who have excellent dialogue and chemistry. It was especially fun seeing the best friend and burgeoning love interest initially butt heads, but grow to a mutual understanding and respect. The romantic relationships builds well with a fun and shifting dynamic that involves plenty of adorable moments amongst the time pressure of the quest.
However, I must focus on the shining light of the duology for me: Teo. He is such a fantastic protagonist, coming into his power more and learning to celebrate his brilliance. As ever, he is endearing and his narration sparkles with heart and humour. The character arc he has been on is splendid and Thomas allows plenty of time for development here as well.
Celestial Monsters is a wonderful, original ending to a YA fantasy duology that deserves all the love in the world.
Finally, I’d like to delve into How to Survive a Horror Movie by Scarlet Dunmore. Thank you to Jade at Little Tiger UK for sending me an early finished copy in exchange for an honest review.
Horror movie enthusiast Charley is determined to keep a low profile when she’s enrolled at a girls’ boarding school on a remote island. That is, until someone starts killing off her senior class! From elaborate scare tactics to severed heads in fridges, Charley has found herself at the centre of a teen horror movie. And that’s not the only alarming thing that’s happening – she’s now seeing the ghosts of her former classmates!
Haunted by her peers, and with everyone beginning to suspect her, Charley decides to do something about it. She and her only best friend Olive are going to solve the murders and find out who’s killing off the class before graduation. Charley just needs those pesky ghosts to shut up and give her a hand…
Publication Date: 5th September
TW: death, murder, violence, gore, bullying, burning, drug use, suicide, hanging, decapitation, stabbing, impalement, blood, vomiting
My Thoughts:
How to Survive a Horror Movie is a wonderfully meta slasher horror comedy story that will keep you up until the early hours racing through the pages.
I loved all the film references to other horror narratives, particularly often with a knowing wink to the audience. By making Charley a horror head, it allows her to see the rules of the story unfolding in front of her. The issue she has is convincing other people to listen. It sits so well with The Blonde Dies First by Joelle Wellington, Let’s Split Up by Bill Wood and I Was a Teenage Slasher & The Indian Lake trilogy by Stephen Graham Jones – aka some of my favourite YA and adult horror stories of recent memory. That additional layer of unpicking the story as it pans out is just delicious and allows the author to play with these expected tropes, subverting them and delivering them in equal measure. For me, this is just delightful and I will continue to read many more books in this style. With Charley it is also a form of escapism for the secrets she is running from, a twisted sense of moving away from reality for just a little while. It adds another layer to her character and reminds us of the comfort and catharsis we can have from confronting our fears on screen and on the page.
Dunmore delivers this with aplomb. We have some extremely creative scare and kill scenes that combine these expected tropes and plot beats with inventive spins and unexpected surprises. The mystery plot Dunmore has created is exceptional, with brilliant pacing and suspense throughout. I especially enjoyed the inclusion of the Ghosts and everything they added to the story, they were a higlight for me. There is a romantic plot as well, which I enjoyed, particularly for the sapphic representation. However, it was the chills and thrills that definitely kept me hooked. Seeing how everything pieced together was fantastic. Dunmore keeps the classic villain explanation scene and it is delectable. There are just so many great nods to the classic structure of slasher stories and great horror films. No spoilers here but the final sting of the book was just fantastic.
How to Survive a Horror Movie is a thrillingly good time and perfect to pick up as the weather turns colder and the nights grow darker.
A Short Book Lover 
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