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 Wycherleys by Annaliese Avery. Thank you to Simon and Schuster and Nina Douglas for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Seventeen-year-old Aurelia Wycherley is entering her debutante season as a witch. Aurelia should be excited about finding the perfect match to tether her magic to. But her magic is cursed – dark, dangerous, and not the kind that her peers want to match with – and, without a tether, she faces losing her magic completely.
But when Aurelia learns that enigmatic, aloof Jules, a member of arch enemy family the Nightlys, is searching for a way that a witch can keep their magic without tethering, she realises he may be her only hope. A forbidden alliance is formed . . . but as they navigate the Magical Season with its glamoured balls and perilous trials, they uncover dark forces that threaten their families and the magical world they live in.
Publication Date: 6th May
CW: death, murder, violence, bullying, grief
My Thoughts:
The Wycherleys was an incredibly fun read with a gripping story and intriguing world-building. Think Bridgerton with witches and a mystery to solve.
Aurelia is a fantastic protagonist – she is loyal, loving and clever with a determination to live her life on her own terms. Her magic is complicated with this ancient curse and that defines her status in this society, but she is not ashamed. She owns every facet of herself with a self-worth that is inspiring. That isn’t to say she doesn’t encounter a number of hurdles and moment of wounded confidence, but she has a great support network to fall back on and a core made of steel. Avery also strongly explores the theme of grief with the death of Aurelia’s father. Her grief is raw and permeates her deeply, as she wants to live up to what her father would have wanted. It adds another layer to this well-developed character and an impetus for some of the story’s actions. Her foil is the charming and somewhat roguish Jules, seemingly privileged and aloof. Their dynamic as sworn enemies through their family lines into reluctant allies is impeccable and delicious to watch unfold. They make a great investigative team and may bloom into something more.
I absolutely adored the world of this book with its debutante type season mixed with magic and political intrigue. It has a knife edge of mystery to proceedings as the tension builds and the stakes get higher with every chapter. Aurelia has her ticking clock of the season against her, adding more pressure to this terrifying situation. Avery weaves a wonderful mystery that adds to the mythos of this world and touches on the power plays going on in the shadows. The magic system is interesting and conjures up such imaginative visuals. I cannot wait to discover more in the next book.
This YA fantasy mystery sets up a treasure trove of clues that lead into the bigger story being set up by Avery while also delivering a great mystery within this story. It feels layered and rich, like an intricate tapestry. Avery does a great job of placing you within this world and then making you want to explore every corner. It is a satisfying read on its own but one that will feel more developed with the full story.
This kickstarts what promises to be a rich, rewarding and romantic series. It had that perfect balance of action, characterisation and romance.
Next up, I’d like to talk about They Had It Coming by Nikki Smith. Thank you to Viking for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Nate and Layla, Jude and Sophie. They’ve been a four for as long as they can remember: fancy dinners, dancing ’til dawn . . . Even living and working together.
So when Nate and Layla suddenly quit their lives and move to Bali, with its white sands and exotic beach clubs, Jude and Sophie are their first visitors. Anything to escape their life in London.
But as the two couples reunite, cracks begin to show.
Which is hardly surprising; they’ve been lying to each other for years.
And now, it’s time for revenge.
Publication Date: 22nd May
CW: death, murder, violence, drug use, drowning, manipulation, infidelity, sexual assault, rape, drugging
My Thoughts:
They Had It Coming was a compulsively readable and highly entertaining thriller with plenty of twists and turns. Once again, Smith peels back the curtain on the life of luxury to expose the rotting heart beneath.
Nikki Smith delivers yet another fantastic destination thriller, fast becoming a go to in this vein for me. She has such a great knack for capturing these fantastic locations that feel lush and vibrant. They feel the embodiment of luxury and the places of dreams, but then they are twisted into places where nightmares come true. It feels like an oppressive force is moving against our characters and their pasts are catching up to them. The beautiful paradise suddenly becomes somewhere too far from the comfort of home. This is underscored by the exploration of privilege and status threaded throughout the book. It is all about appearances and wanting to upkeep them at any cost. You can feel the characters desperately papering over the cracks even as everything falls apart around them.
It is such a well-paced book – perfect for holiday reading, even if you may feel a chill across your skin. You scratch the surface and start to unpick the layers of this twisted story. There are plenty of twists and turns with unexpected reveals and dynamics that shift with newly discovered knowledge. Smith balances different perspectives well, making the reader feel like they’re piecing things together just to pull the rug out from under their feet. Everyone is hiding something and seeing how their perspectives contrast and crossover is deeply rewarding. It creates mounting tension that feels claustrophobic as the net tightens. All of this builds into a fantastically explosive and memorable ending.
They Had It Coming is a wonderfully executed and sun soaked nightmare come true.
Finally, I’d like to delve into A Sharp Scratch by Heather Darwent. Thank you to Viking for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
We can fix you.
It’s a promise that Betsy has heard far too many times. From the child psychologist, from her husband, and from the wellness trends that scream at her from her screen. So far, it’s been a lie.
But this time, she believes it. Because Betsy has been offered a place at Carn – a luxurious, unorthodox retreat, where healing really is possible. At Carn, she discovers that her imperfections make her unique, not weak. She isn’t broken, just special.
All Betsy has to do is follow the rules . . .
Publication Date: 29th May
CW: death, murder, violence, fire, manipulation, gaslighting, mental illness, injury
My Thoughts:
A Sharp Scratch was a scathing indictment of the wellness industry in a brilliant, bizarre book. You become enmeshed in the mystery of it all and the complex characterisation.
Darwent has such an intoxicating writing style – it pulls you entirely into these warped stories and their fleshed out worlds. She has an edge of allurance that seduces and then scares you. It is lush prose that feels evocative and enticing, but it has teeth and it will sink them in. Her works so far have had a touch of luxury and privilege but then work to peel back the facade to reveal the toxic underbelly residing beneath. This is brilliantly delivered horror with the implications making your skin crawl. There is plenty shown but some of what is left off page is almost worse. I love a book that makes your skin crawl and this definitely delivers on that front.
At the centre of it all we follow Betsy who has been plagued by illness her whole life. She is seen as a burden and almost a curse on those around her, unwilling to accommodate her needs. It is particularly searing given the current political landscape. Darwent is angry and that fury comes across in this book. It delves into plenty of thought-provoking topics and leaves room for nuance and discussion. There are no straightforward answers here but there is monstrosity to uncover. Betsy finds herself in this strange spider’s web with the lure of a cure to all her ailments. What happens next will lead her and readers down the rabbit hole. It reminded me of some of Mona Awad’s work and how it straddles that line between fantasy and reality so well. You have these bizarre flashes, technicolour moments of madness in a cool toned setting. As a reader, you cannot always tell what is real and what is not and that fascinates me.
A Sharp Scratch cements Darwent as a must-read author. It is a toxic cesspool but you cannot help but be beguiled by it. Her books have depth and bite and brilliance.
A Short Book Lover 
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