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Between the Pages

A Literary Journey Through Book Reviews

Action / Adventure

  • The Deep and the Drowned (Cutlass and Crow #1)

    *Advanced Reader Copy* An ambitious seafaring fantasy filled with powerful mages, ancient gods, and expansive world-building. While Ian Green creates a vivid and immersive setting, I personally struggled to connect with the story’s pacing and repetitive structure. Although it wasn’t the right fantasy for me, readers who enjoy action-packed adventures across richly imagined worlds may… Read more

  • The Knife Maker of Venice

    *Advanced Reader Copy* The Knife Maker of Venice is a well-researched historical fiction set in seventeenth-century Europe, following a young English boy who is captured and sold into slavery in Venice. The story begins slowly, focusing on world-building and character introduction, before building into a more fast-paced and action-driven second half. The sibling relationship between… Read more

  • The Wretched Divine (#1)

    *Advanced Reader Copy* A world divided by angels and demons, soul bonds that change lives forever, and a knight forced to question everything she has ever believed. The Wretched Divine delivers a rich high fantasy romance filled with forbidden tension, betrayal, political conflict, and emotional bonds that blur the line between good and evil. Slow… Read more

  • A Long Way To A Small Angry Planer (Wayferers #1)

    There’s something incredibly special about A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet. It isn’t driven by high-stakes action or constant tension, but by the quiet, meaningful connections between its characters. Each member of the Wayfarer crew feels real, flawed, and deeply human, despite coming from entirely different worlds. It’s a story that reminds you… Read more

  • Chain Gang All Stars

    Chain Gang All Stars is set in a near-future America where prisoners can earn freedom by surviving a televised death-match programme. The story follows teammates and lovers Loretta Thurwar and Hamara “Hurricane Staxxx” Stacker as rules shift and protests rise. While the large cast and frequent perspective changes can feel confusing, the central relationship is… Read more

  • Project Hail Mary Film Review

    After giving the book a full five stars last year, I was both excited and a little worried to see the film adaptation of Project Hail Mary. Would it capture the humour, tension and science that made the story so compelling? Thankfully, the film manages to stay true to the spirit of the book while… Read more

  • Dungeon Crawler Carl

    When aliens turn Earth into a live-streamed dungeon survival game, Carl and his gloriously dramatic cat, Princess Donut, are thrown into chaos, carnage, and completely unhinged quests. Brutal, absurd, and laugh-out-loud funny, Dungeon Crawler Carl is a love letter to gamers everywhere — packed with RPG mechanics, savage humour, and a cat who absolutely refuses… Read more

  • Parable of the Sower

    Written in 1993 but set in 2024, Parable of the Sower feels less like dystopian fiction and more like a chilling forecast. As society fractures under climate change, inequality, and violence, Lauren Olamina begins to build a new belief system from the ashes — proving that even in collapse, something new can grow. Read more

  • Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse, #1)

    Leviathan Wakes is an expansive, cinematic science fiction novel that balances mystery, political tension, and interplanetary conflict across the solar system. Read more

  • Clytemnestra

    Clytemnestra is a sharp, accessible feminist retelling that gives one of Greek mythology’s most notorious women her own voice. I enjoyed how easy it was to read, though the short, punchy sentences sometimes made the story feel a bit rushed. The themes of female rage, power, and trauma come through clearly, especially in the chapter… Read more

  • The Secret of Secrets (Robert Langdon #6)

    Truth, like light, can blind those unprepared to face it. Yet without it, we stumble endlessly in the dark—mistaking shadows for certainty. Read more

  • Project Hail Mary

    In the silence of deep space, one man wakes up with no memory — alone, uncertain, and thousands of miles from home. As fragments of his past return, he realises he’s humanity’s last hope against an impossible threat. With only his mind, his courage, and an unexpected ally, Ryland Grace must unravel the mystery of… Read more

  • A Marvellous Light (The Last Binding #1)

    A Marvellous Light is a queer, magical realist novel set in an alternative Edwardian England. It follows Robin Blyth, who unexpectedly finds himself in a new government position that plunges him into a hidden world of magic. After being attacked and cursed, Robin must rely on the help of Edwin Courcey, a prickly and intelligent… Read more

  • Samantha Shannon – Fantasy and Dystopia within Fiction

    Last weekend I was lucky enough to go to The Queen’s Reading Room, a literary festival at Chatsworth House. I was so proud to meet seven wonderful authors, including Samantha Shannon. I also attended her talk Fantasy and Dystopia within Fiction, where she was interviewed by the equally incredible Saara El-Arifi. The setting made it… Read more

  • The Unmaking of June Farrow

    The Unmaking of June Farrow is a fantasy/sci-fi novel by Adrienne Young, featuring June, a woman who travels from 2023 to 1951, entangled in a complex timeline involving murder, romance, and a family curse affecting only women. The engaging story highlights gender roles, despite leaving some questions unanswered, and showcases intriguing character relationships. Read more

  • A Discovery of Witches

    A Discovery of Witches follows Diana Bishop, a historian and reluctant witch who discovers a powerful manuscript, plunging her into a magical world. As her powers awaken, she forms a bond with Matthew Clairmont, a vampire. Their relationship, fraught with tension and conflict, drives the narrative, offering a modern twist on supernatural lore. Read more

  • Medea

    Rosie Hewlett’s fantasy novel centres on Medea, a young princess navigating her magical abilities while seeking freedom from her family’s rejection. The engaging story, rich with Greek mythology and strong female characters, offers twists and a deep exploration of love and manipulation, though the rushed ending leaves questions unanswered. Read more

  • Tusk Love

    Tusk Love, inspired by Critical Role, is a romantic fantasy about Guinevere and Oskar, whose chemistry ignites during a perilous journey. The novel combines D&D adventure, humor, and steamy romance, appealing to both fans and newcomers. Its compelling pacing and charming nods to the series make it a must-read for fantasy romance lovers. Read more

  • The Alchemist

    by Paulo Coelho The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is a self-help book presented as a story. It follows a young shepherd named Santiago, who dreams of finding treasure at the Pyramids in Egypt. As he embarks on his journey, he encounters various people who teach him life lessons along the way. The book is accessible… Read more