Category: reviews

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: The Phoenix King – Aparna Verma

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From a stunning new voice in science fantasy comes an action-packed debut of fire magic and ancient prophecy, in which the fate of a futuristic desert kingdom rests in the hands of a princess desperate for power and an assassin with a dark secret.

“A CAPTIVATING ADVENTURE.” —Peter V. Brett

The Ravani kingdom was born of a prophecy, carved from unforgiving desert sands and ruled by the Ravence bloodline: those with the power to command the Eternal Fire.

Elena Aadya is the heir to the throne—and the only Ravence who cannot wield her family’s legendary magic. As her coronation approaches, she will do whatever it takes to prove herself a worthy successor to her revered father. But she doesn’t anticipate the arrival of Yassen Knight, the notorious assassin who now claims fealty to the throne. Elena’s father might trust Yassen to be a member of her royal guard, but she is certain he is hiding something. 

As the threat of war looms like a storm on the horizon, the two begin a dangerous dance of intrigue and betrayal. And the choices they make could burn down the world.

My thoughts: the beginning of a new fantasy series always makes me nervous; will I love it? Will I wish it had remained an idea? Thankfully, this one, the first in a trilogy, is definitely a keeper. I fell for Elena and Yassen, as they fell for each other. Which I predicted they would from the moment they met. She’s the heir to the kingdom, he’s the former assassin turned royal guard.

But first they have to survive all the intrigue, death threats, his former employers, the enemies on the borders, her father’s dangerous followers, politics and religion. When the heir turns twenty-five, they take the throne and the previous monarch steps down. Only Leo, Elena’s father, hasn’t told her everything. He hasn’t explained her mother’s death, or the terrible truths about their family’s reign.

But Elena is clever and when her bodyguard and surrogate mother, Ferma leads her to a chest full of her late mother’s scrolls and notebooks, Elena learns the truth. The fire they worship needs a sacrifice, a terrible one.

When Elena is about to be crowned, disaster follows, and now she and Yassen are on the run, as the neighbouring kingdom invades and the deadly Prophet rises. Can they risk everything to save the kingdom, can Elena retake the throne? Well, book two might have some answers.

I loved the world building and the characters, Ferma was my favourite, then it was the burri (horse/camel creatures as far as I can work out) who aren’t very impressed by tunnels.

Elena grew on me, and I came to really like her and root for her as she stood up to her father and all his secrets, demanding to know if he planned to treat her like a puppet when she took the throne or actually let her rule. Her slow burn love story with Yassen and their bond was also lovely.

I cannot wait for the next installment, this ends with so many questions and not nearly enough answers.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.

blog tour, books, reviews

#TeamScilly Blog Tour: Double Review – Burnt Island & Pulpit Rock – Kate Rhodes

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INTRUDERS HERE ARE BOUND TO DIE . . .
 
As the sun sets on a cold November evening, the tiny community of St Agnes prepares for their annual Fifth-of-November festivities. Moments before the fireworks are scheduled to commence, an islander discovers a charred body left on the bonfire, and quickly it becomes clear that a killer is at large.
 
Ben Kitto is the Deputy Chief of Police for the Scilly Isles, and with a killer on the loose, he has no choice but to forbid all residents from leaving the island. With a population of just eighty people, everyone is a suspect and no one is safe.
 
When threats start appearing, written in the old Cornish language, Ben suspects that the killer’s motive is to rid the island of the newcomers who threaten their traditions. With time running out, Ben hurries to discover the secrets of the island’s peculiar residents, but he knows it’s only a matter of time before another fire is started . . .
 
No place to run.
No place to hide.

My thoughts: return to the dark side of the Scilly Isles, where this time the killer is someone who hates newcomers to their island and is determined to get rid of them. But with a population of only 80 residents, this should be an easy solve, right.

Even though Ben is from the Isles, the residents of St Agnes aren’t keen to open up and share their secrets and suspicions so he has to race against time to prevent more deaths by finding the killer. But even with so few suspects, it’s not easy. People are protective of their families and friends but happy to point the finger at those who stand out. Like the Birdman, who doesn’t speak and has taken to hiding in the woods around the island. He’s afraid of the killer but also of Ben. But he might be able to help, if only they can find him.

Another sinister and brilliant case, set in a tiny community and full of secrets and a few red herrings, with everyone under suspicion.

WITH A KILLER ON THE LOOSE
As the scorching summer sun beats down on St Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly, DI Ben Kitto and his team are training for the annual Swimathon, until they discover a body hanging from Pulpit Rock, dressed in a bridal gown.

ON A TINY ISLAND
An obsessive killer is hunting for female victims. Kitto has no choice but to stop anyone leaving St Mary’s, but soon another woman is attacked.

EVERYONE IS A SUSPECT
The killer must be a trusted member of the community. Kitto’s investigation is being watched closely, the killer always one step ahead, as the next victim is chosen . . .

NO ONE IS SAFE

My thoughts: Ben doesn’t exactly make friends easily, having to lockdown islands every time another crazy killer emerges. What is in the water that makes the Scillies so full of serial killers? This time the murderer is dressing their victims up as brides, marrying them to the island or to the sea perhaps? But whoever they are, Ben will find them. The first victim is a friend, a fellow trainee for the Swimathon.

As he tries to find out who is involved and why they’re leaving old charms, possibly stolen from the island’s museum, on the bodies. What are they trying to say? Once again, in the face of police interest, the community goes silent. Someone knows who the killer is, someone is keeping secrets, but Ben and his team will find them.

I like the use of Cornish traditions in these books – the charms are ones sailors’ wives would give them to bring them home safely. But it does turn them into macabre symbols when a killer uses them. The Scillies are beautiful, but this series delves into the darkness within and the wounds people are walking around with, twisting their minds and driving them to murder.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: The Silent Man – David Fennell

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WHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T MAKE A SOUND . . .

The stunning new crime thriller from one of British crime writing’s brightest talents, and one of the twistiest, most gripping and emotional reads of the year.
______________________

A father is murdered in the dead of night in his London home, his head wrapped tightly in tape, a crude sad face penned over his facial features. But the victim’s only child is left alive and unharmed at the scene.

Met Police detectives Grace Archer and Harry Quinn have more immediate concerns. Notorious gangster Frankie White has placed a target on Archer’s back, and there’s no one he won’t harm to get to her.

Then a second family is murdered, leaving young Uma Whitmore as the only survivor.

With a serial killer at large, DI Archer and DS Quinn must stay alive long enough to find the connection between these seemingly random victims. Can they do it before another child is orphaned?

My thoughts: David Fennell’s books always seem to explore the darkest parts of the psyche, and here is no different. When a father is murdered, home alone with his young son, and his head wrapped in tape, a sad face drawn on it, the police are scratching their heads. What is the killer trying to say?

Archer and Quinn are a little distracted by the threat of gangster Frankie White, who has promised to kill Archer and her Grandad, as part of his retaliation for the death of his grandson in police custody.

Archer’s Grandad, Jake, then has a stroke, possibly from all the stress and worry, so now she’s back and forth to the hospital, living under fear of being murdered and trying to solve the riddles of this strange new killer. As more parents are found by their children dead in bed, fear mounts.

Can they get out from under White’s threats and solve the case or will a bullet stop Archer for good?

Another dark, twisted thriller from Fennell with a brilliant unveiling of the murderer, a tragic and grim back story and the resolution of the Archer/White story arc too. Highly enjoyable and just creepy enough.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.

books, reviews

Book Review: The Gauntlet & the Broken Chain – Ian Green

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For 312 years the rotstorm has blighted the ruins of the Ferron Empire.

Born of an unholy war between gods themselves, it scours the land with acid mists and deadly lightning, spawning twisted monstrosities from its nightmarish depths.

On the Stormwall, the men and women of the Stormguard maintain their vigil – eyes sharp, blades sharper – defending the Undal Protectorate from the worst of the rotstorm’s corruption.

But behind the storm front, something is stirring, kindling the embers of an ancient conflict and a plan to kill a god.

Will Stormguard steel be enough to meet the coming tempest?

—
The land is gripped in a claw winter.

The rotstorm has breached the walls of Undal City.

The children of the storm have claimed the Northern Marches.

The deathless mage has been unchained.

The dead god hunts again.

And Floré will raise her gauntlets against them all.

My thoughts: the rot storm finally arrives, bringing the rot folk, the crow men and the creatures it breeds with it. And finally Tullan One Eye has come to fight a god.

Floré is still trying to save the world and find help for her daughter. She will put herself between the people she swore to protect and the storm, she will defy the gods themselves if she has to. Luckily she has her friends at her back and as the war heads to the forest where the Bear god sleeps, do do the last of the Stormguard, Tullen One Eye must be stopped.

There is a lot of action and fighting, there’s also the loss of several characters as we reach the final act, the gods will tear the world apart and it’s quite apparent that they, and Tullen, don’t actually care about anyone else but themselves and their petty squabbles.

Floré is exhausted but somehow battles on, her love for Marta carries her through. Even though there might be no cure, no whitestaff potion or spell, perhaps Marta can learn to control her power and not end up consumed by the skein like her father. There is some hope at the end, and with the gods gone, maybe peace can exist and Floré can finally hang up her gauntlets.

Thank you to Head of Zeus for sending me a copy to read and review. I’m sad the series is over but highly recommend reading it if you haven’t already. It’s out now!

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: The Devil Stone – Caro Ramsey

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In the village of Cronchie, a wealthy family are found brutally murdered. The Devil Stone, an heirloom rumoured to bring death if removed from their home, is the only thing stolen. The key suspects are known satanists. But when the investigating officer disappears, DCI Christine Caplan is pulled in to investigate.

Caplan knows she is being punished for a minor misdemeanour when she is seconded to the Highlands, but she’s confident she can quickly solve the murders and return home to her fractious family. But as she closes in on the truth, it is suddenly her life, not her career, that is in danger.

Caro Ramsay is the Glaswegian author of the critically acclaimed Anderson and Costello series, the first of which, Absolution, was shortlisted for the CWA’s New Blood Dagger for best debut of the year. The ninth book in the series, The Suffering of Strangers, was longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize 2018. 

@CaroRamsayBooks | caroramsay.com

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this macabre thriller about death and devil worship in the Scottish Highland Town of Cronchie. It’s remote enough that despite it being teenagers who claim to be worshipping Satan in the woods, it actually gets believed by some of the locals, instead of the eye roll you might get in a bigger place.

But there’s a lot more going on than the horrific murders of an entire family. Someone is determined to stop DI Christine Caplan from solving the murders or looking too closely at the death of the local DCI, driving home from the crime scene. Who at the local police station can she trust? Are members of her own team involved in the conspiracy she uncovers?

Clever, gripping and with enough twists to make you dizzy, this was highly enjoyable and totally ingenious in many ways. I don’t think I’ve read any of the other titles in this series, something I need to rectify immediately.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.

blog tour, books, reviews

#TeamDaniels Blog Tour: Double Review – The Murder Wall & Settled Blood – Mari Hannah

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Eleven months after discovering a brutal double murder in a sleepy Northumbrian town, Detective Chief Inspector Kate Daniels is still haunted by her failure to solve the case. Then the brutal killing of a man on Newcastle’s Quayside gives Daniels another chance to get it right, and her first case as Senior Investigating Officer. When Daniels recognises the corpse, but fails to disclose the fact, her personal life swerves dangerously into her professional life. But much worse, she is now being watched. As Daniels steps closer to finding a killer, a killer is only a breath away from claiming his next victim.

My thoughts: this was a really gripping crime read that throws you, and DCI Kate Daniels, in at the deep end with a body in the night. Could it be connected to the unsolved double homicide Kate is still working on from almost a year ago? And what is the killer trying to say with his unusual calling card?

Determined to solve the murders, Kate puts everything on the line. Including her personal life. Is the killer someone close to Kate or are they coming for her too?

Absolutely gripped from start to finish, loads of twists and turns. The relationships between Kate and her boss, and between her and her DS are really interesting too, lots of conflict and concern that makes it harder for her to do her job.

When a young girl is found dead at the base of Hadrian’s Wall, it’s not long before Detective Chief Inspector Kate Daniels realizes that her death was no ordinary homicide. She was thrown from a great height – and was probably alive before she hit the ground.

When a local businessman reports his daughter missing, has Daniels found the identity of the victim, or is a killer playing a sickening game?

As the murder investigation team delves deeper into the case, half-truths are told and secrets exposed. And while Daniels makes her way through a mountain of obstacles, time is running out for one terrified girl . . .

My thoughts: this was even more twisted than the previous book, with young women being targeted by someone with a vendetta, that isn’t even really about them. Can Kate and her team find the missing woman in time or will the killer add to their body count?

Kate’s a lot more sure of herself this time around, her private life’s still a mess, but professionally she’s on firmer ground, with the last case under her belt and a changing of roles above her, she’s confident and sure she can catch the suspect this time and stop more young women ending up victims. Another totally gripping read from Mari Hannah.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.

books, reviews

Book Review: The Lie Maker – Linwood Barclay

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In this twisty, fast-paced thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Find You First and Take Your Breath Away, a man desperately tries to track down his father—who was taken into witness protection years ago—before his enemies can get to him.

Your dad’s not a good person. Your dad killed people, son.

These are some of the last words Jack Givins’ father spoke to him before he was whisked away by witness protection, leaving Jack and his mother to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives as best they could.

Years later, Jack is a grown man with problems of his own. He’s a talented but struggling author, barely scraping by on the royalties from his moderately successful first book. So when the U.S. Marshals approach him with a lucrative opportunity, he’s in no position to turn them down. They’re recruiting writers like Jack to create false histories for people in witness protection—people like Jack’s father.

The coincidence is astonishing to Jack at first, but he soon realizes this may be a chance to find his dad. Only there’s one problem—Jack’s father hasn’t made contact with his handlers recently, and they have no idea where he is. He could be in serious danger, and Jack may be the only one who can find him.

But how will he find a man he’s never truly known? A man who has done terrible things in his lifetime and made some deadly enemies in the process—enemies who wouldn’t think twice about using his own son against him.

My thoughts: I’ve really enjoyed all the Linwood Barclay books I’ve read, but this might be my favourite. It’s really clever, and has so many twists and turns.

I do think Jack’s a bit gullible, never once does he ask the mysterious U.S. Marshal for definite proof that he’s working for them, despite the empty office building, and never meeting anyone else. But maybe if someone with a badge and a gun tells me they’re law enforcement, I might go along with it too. I don’t know.

He hopes by doing this he might finally get some answers about his dad, who went into witness protection years ago. He turned state’s evidence in return, but Jack’s mum wouldn’t go with him and so neither did Jack.

But as he gets deeper into his involvement with the mysterious Marshal, he starts to really look for his dad, he’s only seen him a few times over the years, but now he needs to reconnect. Especially as strange things start to happen and not everything adds up.

I was hooked from the get go, the premise is so intriguing and Jack’s somewhat clueless, I could just tell something was going to go wrong. Luckily he has people around him, like his girlfriend, to help him out as he gets wildly out of his depth.

An absolutely cracking read from a master of the genre. Thanks to HQ for my copy. Which is out now in all the usual places.

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: Always by Your Side – Julie Haworth

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WINNER OF THE ROMANTIC NOVELISTS’ ASSOCIATION KATIE FFORDE DEBUT NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2023.

‘A warm, romantic story about community, friendship and following your heart, Always By Your Side is a feel-good delight, I adored it!’ HOLLY MARTIN

‘Always By Your Side engages the reader from the very first page, and immerses you into the lives of Rose and her aunt, in the delightful setting of Blossom Heath. I loved it’ PATRICIA SCANLAN

When school teacher Rose loses her dream job at a London primary school, her self-confidence takes a knock. Worse still, her stockbroker fiancé, Ollie, sees it as the perfect opportunity for her to join his firm, which only adds to the feelings Rose has that their relationship might be coming to an end.

An unexpected phone call, and an elderly aunt who’s taken a fall, means Rose must drop everything – including Ollie – and return to Blossom Heath, the Sussex village she grew up in.

With no job to rush home to, Rose decides to stay in Blossom Heath for the Summer, trading London for the idyllic countryside. Here Rose finds herself reconnecting to the village life of her childhood in more ways than one, including falling head-over-heels for local farmer, Jake.

So when her London life comes calling, Rose is faced with an impossible choice… to return to the high-pressure life of her past, or embrace the joy of a new life in the country.

Bursting with romance and charm, Always By Your Side is the perfect uplifting Summer read for fans of The Switch and Rescue Me, from an exciting new voice in women’s fiction.

My thoughts: I loved this, Rose rediscovers herself and the things that bring her joy while staying in her great-aunt’s cottage in Sussex. With Auntie Jean in hospital, Rose sets about sorting out the cottage, making new friends, meeting hunky farmers (just one really) and adopting a little dog called Scout.

She even gets a job at the local primary school, providing cover for a teacher off sick. It’s a massive change to her last teaching job and prompts her to think about what she wants from her career and her life. There’s always time to start over and she and fiancé Ollie definitely aren’t the same people they used to be.

A really delightful, uplifting and charming read. Just lovely.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: Dating Little Miss Perfect – Cassandra O’Leary plus giveaway!

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On an anonymous online dating app, LittleMissPerfect meets HotAussie007 and it’s love at first click.
In real life, a smart but spiky woman in STEM, research scientist, Dr Eden, meets a laid-back Aussie marketing manager, Finn, at the big pharma company where they both work in California. They’re forced to compete for special projects funding, and both their jobs are on the line.
Eden just wants to win at science and in life. It’s not happening! She can’t stand Finn’s too-cool-for-school, nice guy act, or his delectable forearms that keep invading her space. While Finn is stupidly attracted to Eden, when she’s not telling him off, he isn’t free to pursue her. He’s stuck in the worst position in his professional life, and doesn’t see a clear way out. He can’t tell her the whole truth about what’s going on at work or in his personal life. . . or it could all blow up in his face.
When they realise the truth about their online alter egos, dating is off the table. Can they ignore their inconvenient attraction, and work together to take down their unethical boss? Or will intense
rivalry cause their IRL work lives and online love lives to collide and explode like a science experiment gone wrong?

Note: Dating Little Miss Perfect is an updated take on You’ve Got Mail for lovers of online dating romcoms, with added science, cupcakes and old movie references! This new release from award-
winning author Cassandra O’Leary is a stand-alone contemporary romance novel of approximately 97,000 words.

Universal link Amazon US Amazon UK Kobo Apple Books Barnes & Noble Google Play Books


Cassandra O’Leary is an Aussie romance, romantic comedy and women’s fiction author, corporate communications escapee, avid reader, and film and TV fangirl.
In 2015, Cassandra won the global We Heart New Talent contest run by HarperCollins UK and her debut novel, Girl on a Plane, was released in 2016. Cassandra was also a finalist in contests run by AusRom Today, Romance Writers of America and Romance Writers of Australia. She has indie published several titles including a romcom story collection, Hot In The City and standalone novel,
Dating Little Miss Perfect.
You’ll find Cassandra in Melbourne, Australia, chasing her two high-energy mini ninjas and drinking excellent coffee with her superhero husband.

She is a proud member of Romance Writers of Australia, the Australian Society of Authors and the Melbourne Romance Writers Guild.
Read more at cassandraolearyauthor.com

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Giveaway to Win 3 x ebooks of Dating Little Miss Perfect (Open Internationally)
Please note that the ebook will be distributed by BookFunnel.

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My thoughts: this was a really fun rom com set in San Diego, with glamorous scientist Eden finding herself pitted against annoying marketing man (and Aussie) Finn. Except they don’t have to be rivals, they could team up against their evil boss, who Finn is secretly investigating. Especially as they’re already flirting like mad online on an anonymous dating app.

Both are ridiculously attracted to each other, which is driving them crazy, in different ways. Eden digs down to find every reason why it would be a terrible idea, but Finn reckons he can win her over with his good looks and accent.

The corporate espionage storyline is fun, and gives Finn a reason to be a bit sneaky, and Eden’s sister and friends were entertaining as they try to get her to realise her feelings and do something about it.

This was a cute, enjoyable rom com and the ending was delightful. Definitely one to curl up with, warning; spicy 🌶🌶🌶

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box above. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will
not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random
Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own

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Book Review: Herc – Phoenicia Rogerson

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A queer revisionist retelling of the story of Hercules, for fans of The Song of Achilles, A Thousand Ships and Ariadne.

This should be the story of Hercules: his twelve labours, his endless adventures… everyone’s favorite hero, right?

Well, it’s not.

This is the story of everyone else:

  • Alcmene: Herc’s mother (She has knives everywhere)
  • Hylas: Herc’s first friend (They were more than friends)
  • Megara: Herc’s wife (She’ll tell you about their marriage)
  • Eurystheus: Oversaw Herc’s labours (He never asked for the job)
  • His friends, his enemies, his wives, his children, his lovers, his rivals, his gods, his victims

It’s time to hear their stories.

Told with humour and heart, Herc gives voice to the silenced characters, in this feminist, queer (and sometimes shocking) retelling of classic Hercules myth.

My thoughts: I am a massive myths and legends geek, one of those it’s best not to get started, and I’ve enjoyed most of the retellings of recent years. These stories are designed to be recycled, retold, respun for a new age, for a long time most of them existed only in oral form. (Oops, see what I mean, special interest off!)

Hercules (or more accurately Herakles as the letter ‘c’ doesn’t exist in Ancient Greek but ‘k’ does) is probably the most famous Greek hero and one people frequently get wrong (I blame Disney – their Hercules is nothing like the myth).

This Herc, as read by his friends, family and lovers, is every bit as awful and blood soaked as much Greek tragedy. He murders his wife and children, and his punishment is those infamous twelve labours. Except in completing them, he becomes a hero. A selfish, rather stupid, often very drunk, hero. He joins Jason’s Argonauts, only to bail out before they get anywhere near the Golden Fleece, he may even be the cause of the Trojan Wars (although he dies before he can make that situation any worse).

We never really hear from Herc, only secondhand, but it’s enough. He doesn’t come out of this well. His fits of rage, his drinking, his unfaithfulness, his bad behaviour. If he was a 21st century man, he’d be in prison.

But it is interesting to have all these different views on him – some from people who love him, who think they understand him, but can they really? He believes he’s cursed by Hera, being one of Zeus’ many, many illegitimate children, but can he really blame all the death around him on the gods and not accept that he’s a thug?

Phoenicia Rogerson (who has the best first name) has created a rich and vibrant world, with its many tiny island kingdoms, its heroes and villains, gods, monsters and strange happenings. She brings it all vividly to life, and even though the language is modern, you can tell these are ancient stories.

Thank you HQ for sending me a beautiful hardback copy, you can Pre-order yours now, and it’s available at the end of August.