book-reviews
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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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In a world where colourful covers can hide complex and explicit themes, how do we know what’s truly suitable for younger readers? As “spicy” BookTok recommendations continue to blur the line between Young Adult and Adult fiction, it raises an important question: should books come with age ratings like films and games?
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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…
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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…
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ke It Back is a gripping and thought-provoking novel that follows Zara Kaleel, a former barrister who leaves behind one of London’s brightest legal careers to work at a rape crisis centre. When she begins supporting Jodie Wolfe, a vulnerable sixteen-year-old who accuses four Muslim boys of rape, the case quickly spirals beyond the courtroom.…
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I went into The Favourites expecting a straightforward romance set on the ice — what I found instead was a dramatic, twist-filled story of ambition, obsession and destructive love. Set against the glittering but ruthless world of competitive skating, this modern reimagining of Wuthering Heights delivers betrayal, sabotage and shock after shock. Just when you…
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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…
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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.
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The Trees confronts America’s history of racial violence through a darkly satirical lens, blending murder, history, and uncomfortable humour. While the novel raises powerful questions about reckoning and revenge, its strange structure and genre-blurring approach may leave readers unsettled — and unsure — by the final page.
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Leviathan Wakes is an expansive, cinematic science fiction novel that balances mystery, political tension, and interplanetary conflict across the solar system.
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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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Cultish challenges the idea that cults are only religious or inherently bad, instead presenting them as something that exists on a spectrum. By exploring sport, fandoms, and marketing alongside religion, Amanda Montell shows how language creates belonging — and how easily that sense of connection can shift from healthy to harmful.
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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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Truth, like light, can blind those unprepared to face it. Yet without it, we stumble endlessly in the dark—mistaking shadows for certainty.
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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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Cher: The Memoir (Part One) by Deborah Harkness details the early life of Cher, focusing on her mother and childhood. Although engaging initially, it ultimately reads like a superficial event list, lacking emotional depth and connection. Mixed reactions from readers suggest its appeal is limited; many felt disappointed by the disjointed narrative.
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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.
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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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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.