History
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Atmosphere is a breathtaking blend of ambition, love, and resilience set against the backdrop of NASA’s 1980s Space Shuttle programme. Taylor Jenkins Reid creates a story that feels both intimate and epic, with a protagonist I couldn’t help but root for. Richly researched, emotionally powerful, and impossible to put down, this is a novel that…
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*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…
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A beautifully layered novel exploring how one small decision can ripple through an entire lifetime. Thought-provoking, emotional, and quietly devastating, The Names examines identity, family, and the lasting impact of choice through three intertwining timelines.
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A dazzling, scandal-filled journey through the golden age of Hollywood, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is far more than a story about fame and glamour. Beneath the designer gowns, red carpets, and dramatic headlines lies a deeply emotional tale of love, sacrifice, ambition, and identity. Evelyn Hugo is the kind of character who completely…
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In a palace where a single misstep can mean death, Maomao’s sharp mind and sharper tongue set her apart. What begins as survival soon becomes something far more dangerous as secrets unravel, poisons linger, and court intrigue tightens its grip.
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How to Kill a Witch by Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi is a well-researched and thought-provoking look at the persecution of those accused of witchcraft, with a strong focus on the Scottish witch trials. Blending real cases with careful speculation, it highlights the injustice faced by many, particularly women. While the pacing can be slow…
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I’m a big history fan, so I went into Eleanor expecting a history-focused book that would explore the life of a lesser-known Queen of England. Instead, the book is largely a retracing of Eleanor’s funeral procession through England, which, while interesting in places, wasn’t quite what I was expecting.
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Wordslut is a thought-provoking read filled with linguistic facts that really stick with you. While its strong focus on American English made some examples less relatable as a British reader, it still offers an interesting exploration of how language shapes gender and identity, even if not every section brought new clarity for me.
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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…
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Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that shines a light on everyday sexism and gender inequality in South Korea. Through the life of one ordinary woman, Cho Nam-Joo reveals how deeply rooted these issues are in both family and society. I especially liked how the author wove real statistics into the…
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This novel is set close to home for me, in the small Derbyshire village of Eyam, and takes place during the Great Plague of 1665—a time also marked by suspicion and fear of witchcraft. The story follows two central women: Isabel Frith, the village midwife, and Mae, the youngest daughter of Wulfric. Their lives intertwine…
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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.
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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.
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The book by Simon Winchester is a blend of biography, history, science, and geology, focusing on William Smith and his groundbreaking creation of the UK’s first geological map. The author utilizes extensive research to explore Smith’s life, depicting both his scientific contributions and personal struggles, providing readers with insight into geology’s historical context.
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by Ken Follett “The Evening and the Morning” by Ken Follett is a captivating historical novel that delves into the lives of its characters, skilfully weaving a rich tapestry of the past while shedding light on the politics and daily struggles of the Early Middle Ages. Spanning the tumultuous era of the Early Middle Ages,…