Review: The Rewilding

The Rewilding by Donna M Cameron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A gorgeous, poetic novel that considers the state of the world through the eyes of a wild girl and a city boy on the run.

I enjoyed the language of this novel more than anything - some of the phrases were so elegant I really lingered over them, and as someone who often skips over paragraphs in favour of getting to the action, this was no small deal for me. I just really loved the feeling these words invoked.

The story is mostly ecological - Nia's the climate action warrior putting her life on the line for Mother Earth, while Jagger is the city boy on the run from the company he's just dobbed in. If you're the kind of person who believes climate change isn't real, this book is not for you. If, on the other hand, you're intrigued by the changes, this novel will provide fascinating insight while presenting an exciting story that travels the eastern coast of Australia.

At first, I wasn't particularly sympathetic towards either character. Nia is a wild radical, and Jagger seemed the snivelling kind of rat. But as the story progressed and we saw more, I did warm up to them. I'm glad for the way their stories progressed, although towards the end it didn't feel quite as organic as I'd hoped for.

This novel definitely focuses more on nature than the protagonists, I felt, but it didn't upset me too much. Rather, it felt like a reminder to appreciate the earth a little more myself; gave me the urge to go outside, feel the breeze on my skin and the sunshine on my face. I think that's a great reminder to get - especially for us book nerds!

All in all, the story was absorbing and had me thinking about things I don't often take the time to consider. The characters worked well together, and the adventure was a lot of fun. Highly recommend.

With thanks to the author for a copy

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Review: The Nice House on the Lake, Vol. 2

The Nice House on the Lake, Vol. 2 by James Tynion IV
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Holy damn this was HECTIC.

I am blown away and feeling many emotions.

This whole story has been such a wild ride, and this conclusion teasing a follow-up that has yet to be announced is absolutely BRUTAL.

It's an apocalyptic tale focused on the complexities of human relationships and it is absolutely phenomenal. Probably one of the best graphic novels I've read this year.

I loved how much this sucked me in, and I'm desperate to know more about these people and this world and just WALTER and why he is WALTER.

Artwork is fantastic, too, and suits the story so well. At times people were a little hard to make out but I think that's because I was skimming the art a little because the story was so addictive.

Incredible on all fronts, and an easy recommendation for anyone keen for a unique horror story.

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Review: The Skull Throne

The Skull Throne by Peter V. Brett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sweet cheeses, this got seriously HECTIC.

I am reeling.

This series really blew me out of the water. I've been smashing through them this year and still not stopping. The characters are fantastic and there are so many twists and turns to the story that it's hard to stop reading at any point.

I felt many, many emotions reading this. What a wild ride.

Also enjoying the slow introduction and get-to-know-you moments for new characters. Ashia is a fkn badass so I'm very happy to have heard more about her in this volume.

I thought there would be more Jardir and Arlen so on that account it was a little disappointing, but there was so much going on with everyone else that I forgot about that complaint easily enough.

Even Leesha had her moments, here, although she has become more unbearable as the series has progressed.

This latest book got me good, so I'm very keen to finish off the series!

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Review: Exiles

Exiles by Jane Harper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a much more satisfying read than my last from this author.

I liked the mystery and all the questions, though I could have done without the extra filler details of Falk's life. It did round out the character, but it slowed things down a little too much for me.

The story is intriguing enough to keep you hooked, and it's the complete lack of clues that makes it all the more mysterious. I wanted so badly to solve something! But of course it all came in a rush at the end.

I got pretty invested in the Raco family, so I did quite enjoy spending this book with them, despite the circumstances.

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Review: Faebound

Faebound by Saara El-Arifi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Ridiculously predictable, but I really loved the setting and the lore.

The story focuses mostly on Yeeran, an elf who finds herself exiled. Along for the ride are her sister, Lettle, and friend Rayan. They soon find themselves captive amongst fae - a species that was supposed to have died out long ago.

Now that's pretty much the blurb, but it takes a good 100 or so pages for that to happen, which is a decent chunk of a story that's only 370-odd pages long. It sets up a lot of lore and mythology and secrets and that's part of what contributes to it being so predictable. The story goes out of it's way to tell us about these mysterious things and emphasise behaviours that will clearly affect the story later.

There's also instant love and attraction and you can see where things are going miles in advance. I wasn't here for the romance so could easily have done without it.

Still, when they find themselves in the fae land, I was equally captive. I loved the way the place was described, and how big a role nature had to play. The setting is beautiful, wonderous and exotic and even though it was easy to see where the story planned to go, I was happy reading along and letting it play out.

The ending felt a little heavy, with reveal after reveal and not a lot of sense to some of it. There were some secrets I hadn't caught, but those were a little ridiculous, too. I liked that there were still things that surprised me but it seems to have set things up a little strangely for the sequel.

That being said, I do feel rather invested, now. I would have preferred less of the hot and heavy sex scenes, but aside from that it was an intriguing story and I'm curious about the history of this world. I'll keep an eye out for the sequel.

With thanks to Harper Collins for an ARC

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Review: Beautiful Darkness

Beautiful Darkness by Fabien Vehlmann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sweet cheeses, this was so messed up and I LOVED IT.

A psychotic, water colour fairy tale whose comparison to Lord of the Flies is rather apt. Watch these tiny people tear each other apart in the most disturbing ways.

One of my graphic novel highlights for the year.

I love the fairytale illustrations and the cuteness of the art, and how it contrasts so starkly with the darkness of what's happening. The characters are oozing cuteness so that when the behaviours get a little twisted you almost have to re-read to confirm you did indeed read what you just read.

The main character is just as awful as the rest but somehow still garners our sympathy. As the story progresses and darkens, so too does her character and it is this that contributes to the addictive nature of the story.

Honestly loved it from start to finish, and I don't see it leaving my mind cleanly any time soon.

Highly recommend for those looking for a darker graphic novel that's a little different to most.

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Review: Compass and Blade

Compass and Blade by Rachel Greenlaw
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

An interesting idea weighed down by every YA trope ever.

This one actually started out okay - Mira and her island fellows wreck ships so they can survive on the spoils, but Mira is determined to save as many lives as possible when they do. She feels at home in the sea, and it's clear she's a little bit different to those she calls friends.

Nothing new in a YA protagonist being 'a little bit different' and feeling a 'calling' that pulls them away from tradition. There's also a strange boy who is ridiculously attractive that is the obvious love interest, and a bunch of teenagers running around doing things that are not usually done by teens.

From the get-go, this was far too predictable while trying far too hard to pretend it wasn't. I wish we didn't have to pretend we didn't know what was going on, because it just became awkward. I wanted Mira to see the obvious clues and work it out but she was super thick, refusing to see what was right in front of her face.

Even the romance was full of stars and heat and all the other common YA tropes that make scenes more cringe-y than heartwarming. The love is instant and all about appearances and kisses of fire and it just made me sad that it couldn't come up with something fresh and new. Definitely reminded me of the Court series by Sarah J. Maas but in a 'pale copy' sense rather than 'respectful nod of similarity'.

Ultimately, it was a frustrating read that I really wanted to like more than I did. If it wasn't trying so hard to be like every other YA book out there, this could have been so much more satisfying.

With thanks to Harper Collins for an ARC

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