I’m sharing another instalment of my Mini Review Mondays, the most recent of which was the other 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 Firstborn of the Sun by Marvellous Michael Anson. Thank you to Penguin Michael Joseph for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Publication Date: 23rd October

CW: murder, death, violence, gore, injury, blood, imprisonment

Goodreads | Waterstones

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My Thoughts:

Firstborn of the Sun was such a bold and brilliant book. This is the perfect treat for fantasy fans with a vividly imagined world, fantastic characters and twists that will have you reeling. 

Lóre is a phenomenal protagonist, who draws you in with her deadly secret and her hidden depths of love and loyalty. There is a fierceness to protect those she loves that she hides behind a guarded facade, formed from years of powerlessness. Of course, the journey that she goes on is transformational and Anson has plenty of sharp twists and turns in store. Her trajectory is brilliant and layered, with a voice that entirely captivates you. That three-dimensionality carries over into the multiple POVs, all of which offer a fascinating new take into this world, its politics and the magic system that underpins it all. You feel like you have an eagle’s eye of a chess game as you see certain moves and their consequences reveberate through the different characters’ viewpoints. It adds so much depth and scope to the novel, making it truly feel epic. Anson clearly has some brilliant plans for these characters and I cannot wait to see where they may go next. The crackle of romance that runs through their dynamics is delectable, with chemistry that threatens to set the world on fire. Because of those high stakes, every decision feels weighted and that applies to kisses as much as it does kills. 

That eye for detail and intricacy extends to every aspect of the book. It is wonderful to see Anson at work in creating this true love letter to Yoruba culture. With the aspects that draw on this inspiration, you can feel the reverence and respect through the page. It adds another dimension to the work and speaks to the beauty of this culture from which Anson has taken elements and woven them into a fantastic new space to inhabit. The world of Oru really sprung to life around me – Anson has such a skill for adding these details that pull you into the story. It is so richly imagined with the setting, magic system, history, culture and characters. The pacing is tight and unrelenting, keeping the pages of this tome flowing past. Anson’s writing is beautiful but deadly, with a bite that is devastating.

Firstborn of the Sun kickstarts an epic series that you cannot let pass you by.

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Next up, I’d like to talk about Seven Deadly Thorns by Amber Hamilton. Thank you to Nina Douglas and Bloomsbury for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Publication Date: 28th October

CW:  death, murder, racism, misogyny, sexism, classism

Goodreads | Waterstones

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My Thoughts:

Seven Deadly Thorns was beautifully written with a wonderful eye for detail and characterisation. The shifting dynamic was believable, the plot intensely gripping and the world-building gave you just enough to immerse yourself fully in the story.

This is an assured and excellent debut with writing that was sumptuously dark. I loved the court intrigue and politics that fed into this central mystery. You have your classic ball scenes, full of tension of all kinds, mixed in with secrets that have deadly consequences. There is a Snow White-esque quality that runs throughout the story, but with a definite shift in tone towards the original Grimm tales. It is a story that isn’t afraid to delve into the darkness people can hold within themselves and there is plenty to explore in the corruption that chasing power can create within those who push too far in their pursuit. At the same time, it is a reclamation of one’s own power and redressing the balance. It fights for a better world but isn’t afraid to get dirt under its nails along the way. 

At the centre of it all, we follow Viola and Roze – two people who bitterly hate one another, forced to work together to survive. It is a familiar dynamic and yet I will eat it up everytime. I did enjoy the way Hamilton explores ideas around institutional hatred that then feeds into divisions within society, particuarly with this isolated setting and the bubble created around it. It heightens these existing tensions and creates depth for our characters to explore. Viola is smart and determined to survive at all costs having already spent years trying to keep her deadly secret. She has a fierce loyalty but is terrified of the harm she may cause. Roze is a weapon, forged and used by the crown against those who would do it harm. The two of them together are dynamite and I adored the way their dynamic shifted and evolved over the course of the book. Seeing both of their perspectives adds crucial context and delicious breadcrumbs to follow between chapters. 

Seven Deadly Thorns is a wonderful romantasy tale that delivers a classic enemies-to-lovers dynamic you will relish.

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Finally, I’d like to delve into The Woman From Book Club by Carrie Hughes. Thank you to Canelo for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Publication Date: 6th November

CW: murder, death, blackmail, cheating, abusive relationship, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, manipulation, gaslighting

Goodreads | Waterstones

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My Thoughts:

The Woman From Bookclub was twisty, pacy and unputdownable. 

This was a fantastic thriller read with a cat and mouse game of trust at its heart, which is one of my favourite dynamics within this genre. When it’s executed right, you’ll have your heart in your mouth as you read and Hughes delivers it expertly. It is a shifting book where you can never fully be sure of where you stand. Not everything is as it seems but do let yourself enjoy the ride. Hughes has some exceptional twists and turns in store for you, with an incredible handle on the pacing. It speeds past but not at a pace that feels overwhelming. Instead, the pieces are slowly coming together to form the full picture that contextualises that wickedly brilliant opening. The tension is all-consuming as you follow two very different perspectives through events that continually escalate and eventually devolve into a spiralling chaos. 

Emma and Lydia are polar opposites, antagonistic forces brought together by that innocuous activity of reading. On the surface, they are polished, perfect images of femininity. Beneath that facade lies a whirlpool of secrets and darkness threatening to destroy everything they hold dear. Their voices are so captivating with a humour laced through that I adored. You can recognise the various types Hughes is pulling on, but it always feels tongue in cheek rather than maliciously poking fun. They have plenty of faults and flaws, a messiness that helps them feel even more human. What they may decide to do though is the catalyst for events that they will never be able to undo. Their dynamic is endlessly fascinating and Hughes brings you into the oncoming storm, keeping that ominous sense present at all times. 

The Woman From Bookclub won’t be forgotten anytime soon – providing a wonderful and meta twist on what you may expect to read.