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 Andromeda by E. S. McLeod. Thank you to Bantam for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Blessed by the gods with unparalleled beauty, Andromeda lives a life of ease within her Aethiopian palace walls. Content with her sanctuary, the young princess has no concerns other than the royal expectations her parents have for her – until a single, fateful proclamation changes everything.
When the queen defies the gods with a blasphemous claim, Poseidon, fearsome God of the Seas, delivers a deadly ultimatum that puts the queen’s life in Andromeda’s hands. Poseidon sends his loyal servant, the shape-shifting Ceto, to seal the princess’s fate.
But Ceto is not just a servant. With a sharp tongue and hardened heart, she has little interest in the princess’s appearance – and even less in the games of gods. Yet an undeniable tension begins to bloom between them, and both quickly realise Andromeda’s beauty is not only a gift, but a weapon to wield. As Poseidon’s judgement draws ever closer, the two women find themselves pulled into something far more passionate – and dangerous – than either could have predicted…
Publication Date: 14th May
CW: murder, death, violence, harassment, sexual assault, gore
My Thoughts:
Andromeda was everything a mythological retelling should be. It is a bold reclamation of a narrative you may think you already know. McLeod’s prose shines in this brilliant story.
Andromeda is a fantastic protagonist with a voice that ensnares your heart. She is often only prized for her beauty which is a dangerous lure to monsters hiding behind smiles. The way McLeod explores the harassment and sexualisation Andromeda encounters from a young age is horrifying and yet reminds you of the very real stories being channelled here. Her story has often been determined by the actions of others, so it was wonderful to see her given more power and agency in this story. She is perceptive and smart, working out the power plays going on around her and manoeuvring herself accordingly. When you are going against gods, it is a deadly game to play. It is a subtle web to weave and mirrors her character’s trajectory as she develops over the course of the story.
Opposite her, you have Ceto. This is a fascinating new portrayal of a familiar figure in mythology and I absolutely adore what McLeod has decided to do here. It adds so much depth to the themes being explored and the difference in perceptions between characters. The dynamic between the two of them is fraught with tension from the start and it grows in such a beautiful, tender way. You get to learn more about the two of them and what formed them, touching on fate, legacy and reclaiming your power. From the start, you may think you know where this ends, but there are a few surprises in store along the way. This has such a memorable ending that has been seared into my heart ever since.
Andromeda was a wonderful retelling full of beautiful characterisation, yearning and a dynamic that slowly grows and steals your heart. At the centre of it all is the endlessly fascinating titular character who pulls you under her spell.
Next up, I’d like to talk about Trad Wife by Sarah Langan. Thank you to Tor Nightfire for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Every day, millions watch Mia Wright, the “trad wife” queen, on her idyllic 300-acre farm. With her handsome husband, seven perfect children, and a life of from-scratch meals, she’s an icon of modern femininity. But behind every perfect image is a lie.
Desperate to save her tarnished career, journalist Jenny Kaplan arrives at Black Swan Farm to profile Mia. Jenny is ready to write a scathing exposé, determined to uncover the deception behind Mia’s curated life.
But there’s something wrong at the farmhouse.
It slithers through Jenny’s dreams when the children sing strange nursery rhymes at night. She’s losing time. She’s losing her hair. She starts to worry that she’s losing her mind.
There is a horror at the heart of Black Swan, and it’s waiting just for Jenny.
Publication Date: 14th May
CW: violence, murder, body horror, gore, pregnancy, abuse
My Thoughts:
Trad Wife is an unnerving horror story that has a lot to say about our current society, the trad wife industry and the family influencer culture.
This recent trend of literature looking at the trad wife industry has been one I really enjoyed and to have another explicitly horror take on this intrigued me. You cannot let this one slip by. Langan uses the form of horror to examine dark and complicated topics in such a unique way. This focus on returning to the ‘glory days’ of these antiquated traditions is put on full display here and I loved the set-up of Jenny wanting to reignite her career with an exposé of Mia. Little does she know what is in store for her at Black Swan Farm. It has some of the classic horror tropes delivered wonderfully and with a slightly different angle that you may expect. In particular, I liked how Langan looks at the family creator industry and how it especially affects the children whose entire lives are on display. There is a lot to explore here in terms of keeping up appearances and the perfect facade.
This is exactly the type of horror I adore. It creeps up on you slowly, unsettling with exquisite use of characterisation, setting and atmosphere, until you are in its clutches. Then it hits you with jaw-dropping reveals that make you squirm. The third act in this book is a wild ride and just got under my skin in a way I was not quite expecting. Langan’s attention to detail and painstaking construction of this jigsaw paid off in a myriad of ways. I immediately wanted to reread the story to see every little hint included in the lead-up. The implications are horrifying and the way it mirrors our society is increasingly uncomfortable as the days go by. There is this palpable anger that you can feel pulsating within the pages that marries well with the sharp social commentary. I definitely want to pick up more of Langan’s work now.
Trad Wife is a brilliant horror story that sends chills down your spine. Just let Langan spin the tale around you but beware getting too caught up in it.
Finally, I’d like to delve into Drop Dead Famous by Jennifer Pearson. Thank you to SimonYA for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When Blair Baker, pop-star and global sensation, rises high above the stage for the opening number of her triumphant hometown gig, the crowd erupts in applause. Then come the screams…The shocking revelation that music’s brightest star has been murdered rocks the world. But for her younger sister, Stevie, the tragedy is more than a headline – it’s personal.
What begins as a search for answers quickly turns into a dangerous journey through the toxic underbelly of fame. And as Stevie peels back the layers of who her sister really was, she begins to uncover dark secrets closer to home.
Publication Date: 4th June
CW: murder, death, violence, disappearance, manipulation, grooming, rape, grief
My Thoughts:
From that brilliant pitch and incredibly strong opening, Pearson had me in the palm of her hand. This is a tight and twisty YA mystery exploring the dark side of fame and the complex bond of sisterhood.
Stevie is a great protagonist who is driven by her desire to uncover the truth surrounding her sister’s death, no matter the cost. She is clever, perceptive and unafraid to keep digging when everyone is trying to stop her. Her investigation faces many barriers and previous experiences colour the perception of her insights too. I liked how Pearson explored grief through Stevie constantly battling it and trying to push it away, only to have to eventually face the death of her sister. There is also the unexplained disappearance of her niece and that grief is palpable throughout, a lingering ghost in the narrative. This is a family that has faced the unimaginable and now must do once again. This depiction feels authentic and nuanced, allowing important conversations to be started.
I appreciated just how dark this book gets. Pearson is not afraid to go there and we explore some horrifying topics along the way. These are always treated with nuance and sensitivity, but do check content warnings as there are some difficult topics explored. Within this, there is a barely contained rage at the way the world treats teenage girls as disposable commodities to exploit. This is primarily seen through the music industry but also through the exploration of the true crime industry too. Blair’s death becomes a media circus and the humanity of her family is removed in favour of being treated as suspects and characters for the public to project their theories, thoughts and feelings onto. Stevie’s journey within this is complicated by the fraught relationship she had with her sister and the way her stratospheric fame affected the entire family. It altered the course of their lives forever and now they’re having to navigate her murder and their grief in such a sharp public lens.
Drop Dead Famous is an excellent YA thriller. Jennifer Pearson is an author to watch.
A Short Book Lover 