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 The Brides by Charlotte Cross. Thank you to Tor Nightfire for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
1884. When Mafalda journeys to Budapest to care for her grieving aunt, her secret love, Lucy, hurries from London to comfort her, with chaperone and lady’s maid in tow.
But lady’s maid Alice, blessed and cursed with the Sight, is tormented by terrifying visions. When chaperone Eliza falls prey to a disturbing wasting illness, the women hope to seek the healing waters of Transylvania. At a nobleman’s invitation, they set out for Castle Dracula.
In the depths of the forest, miles from civilization, their host reveals his true intentions; a monstrous ambition which will tear the women apart.
And not all of them will survive.
Publication Date: 19th March
CW: murder, death, violence, blood, gore, homophobia, xenophobia, forced institutionalisation
My Thoughts:
The Brides was such an atmospheric story that offered a new angle on Dracula. Let it draw you into its embrace, though you may struggle to escape.
I thoroughly loved this dark Gothic tale and liked the way Cross woven in the epistolary style with such flair. This is a story with a bleeding heart at its core and Cross has a knack for blending the supernatural and the deeply human. You are drawn into these characters and empathise with their hopes and dreams, even knowing the darkness to come. They have such layered characterisation and they are so young to be caught up in this deadly web. I also really enjoyed the way Cross weaves in Alice and her powers of foresight. They add another layer to this rich story and allow us to explore issues around class and the inherent power dynamics there. The fear of the unknown, characterised by those we do not trust, permeates every page and I enjoyed Cross’ exploration of these themes. Heritage, nationality, sexuality, class and power all intertwine into a fascinating and compelling story.
This retelling has such a tragic note undercutting its wonderful prose on every page. Cross makes meta use of the fact that the reader is aware of how this story will end and wields foreshadowing like a weapon. This is indicated in interesting narrative framings but do not fret, there are still plenty of surprises in store. Speaking of narrative choices, I adored Cross’ homage to the epistolary format of Dracula. It adds such texture to this world-building and allows you to fill in the wider picture with these small, beautifully crafted details. There is some fascinating play with time and space that this format allows and that is a wonderful area for an author to explore.
The Brides casts a deadly spell in this intriguing re-examination of a classic text from a new angle.
Next up, I’d like to talk about It’s Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh. Thank you to HarperFiction for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
You think you know the people you love.
Nadeeka is certain Jamie is having an affair. She knows the tell-tale signs. She’s been here before.
You think you know who you can trust.
When Jamie claims to be at work late, she knows he’s lying. He’s with another woman, and she’s determined to catch him in the act.
You think you know how the story ends.
But when Nadeeka arrives home to confront him, Jamie can’t explain himself. The house has become a crime scene…
Jamie is dead.
It’s not what you think.
Publication Date: 26th March
CW: murder, death, violence, racism, stalking
My Thoughts:
It’s Not What You Think is a brilliantly executed thriller with great surprises in store, but also wonderfully complex characterisation.
This had an exceptionally hard task. The marketing has been built around the shocking twist at the heart of this story and that strategy is high risk (though the campaign has been so clever). I am happy to say that it pays off and was a high reward choice. It heightens the story because you are sat on the edge of your seat throughout, just waiting for that bombshell to drop. Luckily Mackintosh is a very skilled writer that leads you down rabbit holes and chasing after shadows. It is a meticulously plotted story with great attention to detail and a tight, unrelenting structure. Without giving anything away, this is certain to be a widely talked about thriller this year and you want to be part of that conversation.
The beating heart of this book is the characterisation, which just soars off the page and into your heart. It is complex and knotty and so authentically human. Mackintosh’s previous work has shown that she excels in characterisation and this is further proof. These people are messy and drawn into tangled webs of secrets and deceptions. The primary driver is typically love and family, though some motivations are far murkier. What I particularly loved is what Mackintosh is really examining in this book. It is a thought-provoking topic that sadly seems to become more relevant with each passing day. The stark reminder is that monstrosity is hidden behind facades and smiles. Evil can be anywhere but so can love. That duality is what sticks with you long after the final page.
It’s Not What You Think is another home run from an excellent author in the thriller space. The marketing doesn’t lie, this is not a book you can miss and one that will deceive you.
Finally, I’d like to delve into Maneater by Ellie Graves. Thank you to Bantam for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Things for Renee Landis are finally looking up. She just quit her dead-end job at a chicken shop after landing the coveted role of junior chef at London’s pristine NOVA restaurant.
But it’s not the restaurant that draws Renee in – it’s the executive chef. Gracie Fitzgerald is as legendary as she is secretive, known for her succulent, signature dishes and the notorious methods in which she runs her kitchen. No one can touch her workspace with bare hands. No other chef can taste her signature dishes. And no one, under any circumstances, is allowed to enter her personal freezer…
Publication Date: 26th March
CW: murder, death, violence, blood, sexism, misogyny, sexual harassment, drugging
My Thoughts:
Maneater is the type of book that stays with you for days after you’ve devoured the final page. It is that literary type of horror I love that stays rooted within our reality and has a satirical bite to it.
Graves dissects the fascinating world of haute cuisine and the culinary world. It is a competitive environment where perfection is expected and tempers flare. You get swept up alongside Renee in this world of precision and flavour. It is the background she clings to, the skill that brings her joy and finally someone is appreciating it. Graves has a wonderfully tangible quality to her writing, bringing the sights and smells of this world to life. There is a delicacy to the kitchen scenes, demonstrating the art form of crafting these delicious dishes. However, this book has a wonderfully ominous atmosphere that slowly presses down on you as you wander further into its clutches. It beguiles you but you feel as though you might just be being fattened for the slaughter.
Renee is a skilled woman who would love to break back into the industry that she loved. That drive and determination is what leads her to NOVA and its enigmatic head chef. I loved the dynamic between Renee and Gracie and how electric it felt. It had this simmering tension that threatened to explode at any point. The surrounding characters are also well-sketched, like them or loathe them. I liked how the kitchen mostly felt like a found family, appreciating one another’s skills and supporting each other through difficulty. This is a precarious situation where one mistake might ruin you for ever. I also really liked the throughline about fighting to survive in a world determined to break you by any means and the intersection of gender and class that comes into play. There are plenty of fraught power dynamics and some scenes that have a chilling undercurrent which comes to the forefront.
Maneater is best served cold. It is a book that skewers and slices in a sensational manner.
A Short Book Lover 