Review: Masters Of Death by Olivie Blake

Rating: Genre fans will lose their minds 

What is it? Fiction 

Ideal for fans of: Once There Was by Kiyash Monsef; David Mogo: Godhunter by Suyi Davies Okungbowa.

What makes it special? It puts a whole new spin on mythology, and good vs evil

Get it in South Africa from: Pan Macmillan South Africa 

Viola has a problem. It's not that she is a vampire who takes the form of a cat. It's actually work-related. Viola's trying to make a name for herself in real estate, but no one is interested in her newest property, as it's haunted by the ghost of the former owner. 

Luckily, with a network of demon friends, Vi comes up with a plan: hire a medium to exorcise the ghost. 

Enter Fox D'Mora. A surprisingly successful medium with a dark secret. He communes with the dead via an unexpected middleman - Death himself. You see, through a series of rather strange events, Death was named Fox's godfather, and ever since, he's been begrudgingly helping his mortal charge. 

But when Fox tries to enlist Death's help for Viola's haunted house, he discovers another problem. Death isn't answering. 

So what happens when Death goes missing from his post? All hell breaks loose, somewhat literally, as competitors vie for his throne, and the power that comes with being the master of Death. Unless, that is, Fox can save him.

If you’re a fan of paranormal fiction, this book will be the brightest gem in your collection. We’ve got gods, demigods, angels, demons, creatures, cryptids, shapeshifters, and then some (cough cough, Santa Claus). There’s also romance, intrigue, drama, humour and death - so much death. 

What may initially seem an overemphasis on the mythological and supernatural is in fact a clever device to illustrate the complexities of our own mortality; of love, loss, and longing. Blake essentially reminds us that virtue and vice don’t need wings or horns to exist. And yet, with a good sprinkling of humour, romance, and some well-choses cusses, Blake does not allow the narrative to become too heavy or depressing.  

Masters Of Death is as inventive as it is enjoyable, reminding us to embrace our humanity and we yearn for more. And all that leads us to the ultimate question: what would you give up to master Death?

Masters Of Death by Olivie Blake is published by Tor, an imprint of Pan MacMillan,

Review: All That’s Left To Say by Emery Lord

 

Rating: Stop what you’re doing and buy it ASAP

What is it? A teenage whodunnit  

Ideal for fans of: Nancy Drew, Watch Her Fall by Erin Kelly 

What makes it special? A balance of carefully crafted gut-punching emotion, and a regular ol’ detective story

Get it in South Africa from: Jonathan Ball Publishers

For Hannah, Sophie was more than a cousin. She was a best friend, a sister, a soul mate. The girls grew up together, shared everything, and saw each other as two halves of the same equation. There were no secrets between them.

Or so Hannah thought. Because what started as a regular Saturday ended in a hellish nightmare. Sophie, dead at a party. Sophie, dead by overdose. Sophie, dead.

Hannah cannot accept that her hard-working, chipper cousin, with a love of the environment and a contagious laugh, would ever be involved in drugs.

For months, Hannah drifts though life in a grey daze, trying to come to terms with the tragedy. She is convinced that Sophie was set up, drugged, or even worse. And she is determined to prove it.

But that means she needs to start telling lies of her own, as she changes her look and her school to covertly investigate, and discover what really happened to Sophie.

All That’s Left To Say is nothing short of a masterpiece. While the idea of a mourning teenager running around solving a case may seem far-fetched and warrant an eye roll, Emery Lord has created the perfect teen detective.

Hannah is smart, she’s strong, and she’s hurting so much. Her grief, fury and helplessness, apart from being palpable to the reader, fuel her in her search for the truth. Emery Lord has managed to provide a book shouldering a boat-load of grief, but rather than a depressing ‘woe is me’ tale, it’s refreshing, deeply addictive, and impossible to put down. The characters are easy to love, and some easy to hate, and the plot is as twisted and rewarding as anything I’ve read in ages.

There’s a dash of romance, a horde of wholesome families, and even humour. In short, All That’s Left To Say is just *French chef's kiss*. I dare you not to finish this book in one sitting, as you wade between tears and triumph. What an adventure!

All That’s Left To Say by Emery Lord is published by Bloomsbury, and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers.

 

Review: Indoor Jungle Guide by Saffron de la Rouviere

 

Rating: Do it ASAP – a learning essential!

What is it? An online course all about indoor plants  

Ideal for: Plant parents, botanists, plant lovers

What makes it special? It’s local and incredibly informative

Get it in South Africa from: Udemy

Today, I'm branching out and reviewing something a little different - the Indoor Jungle Guide. If you don't know, in additional to being bibliophile, I am also a qualified botanist and plant freak - which means that this short course was balm to my nerdy, plant-loving soul. 

Saffron de la Rouviere is something of a celeb in the South African plant world - she's the unofficial queen of indoor plants. Not only is she always willing to help out, meet and inspire plant parents, but she's also responsible for one of my favourite subscription services - the Saffron's Garden Plant Club, in which you get monthly plant babies and related goodies at a seriously reasonable price. 

But back to the Indoor Jungle Guide. 

Saffron has combined her own knowledge and experience with some extra help from the pros (read: horticulturalists, botanists and even plant sellers) to bring you the ultimate guide to indoor plants. 

In just one hour, you can become a plant pro. Seriously. This might not sound like enough time, but this guide packs a punch, and will fill your brain faster than your watering can fills those pots with water. 

Here's what you'll learn:

• The history of indoor plants (and how their story has roots in the world's oldest eco system, the jungle).
• How to look after your plants (with emphasis on light, water, soil, fertiliser, and humidity - and let me tell you, there's no shortage of info here. I may have a degree in plant science, but even I gathered a bouquet of new tips and tricks)
• How to identify and deal with those awful pests and diseases that won't leaf your plants alone)
• How to make more plants through the magic of propagation. 

And as they say in the old infomercials, 'BUT WAIT; THERE'S MORE'.

The Indoor Jungle Guide also has a few quick quizzes to test your skills, and is set up in such a way that it is interactive, calming and fun. With subtle humour, gorgeous visuals, and Saffron's wealth of knowledge, this is the best place to start on your plant journey, and also a great refresher for anyone who's already up to their elbows in potting soil and cuttings. 

So do yourself, your plants, and mother nature herself a favour, and sign up to this course. And when you're done, consider signing up for Saffron's subscription, so that you always have access to new plants and new info. 

Happy gardening, all!

Review: Once There Was by Kiyash Monsef

Rating: Buy it ASAP – a bookshelf essential

What is it? Magical fiction  

Ideal for fans of: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Pan's Labyrinth

What makes it special? A strong female protagonist, and a horde of mythical creatures

Get it in South Africa from: Jonathan Ball Publishers 

Marjan’s world has just been turned on her head. Although she’s just a high schooler, she’s suddenly the owner of a veterinary practice, and an orphan. Because just a few weeks ago, Marjan’s father and the original practice owner was murdered. 

And no one has any idea who the killer can be. 

Of course, Marjan is used to being on her own anyway, as her dad frequently had to travel all over to help people with their pets. Just like a normal vet, right?

Right?

Wrong. 

Because Marjan soon finds out that there was more to her dad than she ever realised, and that the fairy tales she grew up listening to were more real than she ever realised. Now that her dad is gone, it’s up to Marjan to continue his work while trying to come to grips with the world of magic, mythical creatures, and betrayal. 

As an adult, I was enthralled by this YA beauty. But can I be honest? If I was a teenager, I would be obsessed, because Once There Was has all the ingredients of a superb story that can live on for generations. 

A hidden world of magic and mystery? Check. 

A strong female lead who doesn’t get distracted by silly boys or her image? Check 

A dash of romance that doesn’t steal the show? Check.

A thrilling plot and loveable characters? Check. 

Magic, myth, and legend? Double check.

To be honest, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Once There Was becomes the Harry Potter of its age, albeit for a slightly older audience, and a more female one at that. Kiyash Monsef has added a fresh take on the trope of orphan navigating a secret world, and made it more relatable, more mature, and infinitely more interesting. She’s also taken elevated the literary teen from love interest and bystander to powerhouse and protagonist, and what’s not to love about that? 

I certainly hope there will be a sequel, because I suspect Marjan has great things ahead of her, and I can’t wait for the next adventure.

Once There Was by Kiyash Monsef is published by Simon & Schuster, and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers.

Review: How To Calm Your Mind By Chris Bailey

Rating: Buy it ASAP – a bookshelf essential

What is it? Self help, backed by science

Ideal for fans of: New Scientist and Ed Yong

What makes it special? It offers solutions to the problems it presents 

Get it in South Africa from: Pan Macmillan South Africa

Have you ever looked at a book and just known that it was written specifically for you? That’s exactly how I felt when I spied Chris Bailey’s How To Calm Your Mind. TED (of TEDTalks) described Bailey as ‘The most productive man you’ll ever hope to meet.’ Literally – it’s on the cover. And yet there was a scoffing voice in my head that said ‘Pah, I bet I could rival him for that title.’

You see, I am addicted to busyness. To productivity. To getting things done. For years, I’ve had people asking me ‘how do you do it all? Where do you get the energy? How are you so disciplined?’. Well, dear reader, it turns out I’m just addicted to getting ish done.

And that may look very cool from an outsider’s perspective, but shall I let you in on a secret that Bailey is also desperately trying to share? It’s not necessarily a good thing. Because if, like me, you can’t switch off, you’re heading for burnout and disaster.

But enough about me. If you felt like you could see yourself in my waffling above, you need to read this book. If you’ve ever wondered why you’re so anxious no matter what you try to counteract it, you need to read this book. If you want to find out why you have that constant niggling feeling of something missing, of guilt, of needing to do something, you need to read this book.

Screw it, let me be more clear. Everyone needs to read this book.

Bailey has presented a thoroughly well-researched, humorous and easy to read book that really will improve your life.

First, he starts by defining stress or anxiety, and defining calm. Then he shows how our constant need to be doing more and getting more (and thus our dopamine addiction) is really not leading to fulfilment – it’s leading to burnout.

However, the true value of How To Calm Your Mind is not just Bailey’s extensive definitions and examples – it’s the fact that he lists several useful tools and tricks that will allow the reader to actively shift from anxiety to calm – although the trip certainly won’t be easy.

Of course, you’ll need to get a copy of the book to see these tips, but I can guarantee you they are worth it. I’ve already started following some of Bailey’s advice, and honestly, I can see a difference in my stress levels already. So why not do the same?

To read Bailey is to learn how to change your life for the better, so go on and do it.

How To Calm Your Mind By Chris Bailey is published by Macmillan, an imprint of Pan Macmillan.

Review: The Shadow in the Glass by JJA Harwood

Despite only being 17, Eleanor has not led an easy life. her mother passed away when she was just 9, but thankfully, she had Mrs Pembroke, who took her in and raised her like a daughter., but the relief was short lived, because after three years, Mrs Pembroke followed Eleanor’s mother to the land of the dead. And then everything changed. Instead of continuing her life as Mr Pembroke’s ward, Ella was made a housemaid, forced into a life of service and poverty, and constantly under the dark and oppressive shadow of the master of the house, who is a little too interested in the young women in his employ.

Despite this, she has one silver lining: the library. In the depths of night, Eleanor sneaks into the forbidden room to let her mind escape through stories.  And it’s during one of these midnight sojourns that Eleanor’s life changes completely.

She’s not alone in the library, this time. There’s a black-eyed woman with her, with a startling proposition: she will grant Eleanor seven wishes, in exchange for the young woman’s soul. Only, there’s a catch – each wish comes at a very steep price.

The premise of selling your soul to the devil is certainly not a new, but JJA Harwood might just make you forget that. Shocked by the carnage each wish creates, and the ultimate price she will have to pay, Eleanor strives to make something of her life without the assistance of any supernatural forces. But she can’t – each time she tries to resist the allure of that simple word, fate, or perhaps the woman with the black eyes, forces her hand, and soon enough Eleanor is down to a final wish, without much to show for her trouble.

Thankfully, she has a plan to ensure she never has to give up her soul, nor the final wish which ties it to her. But will it work?

The Shadow in the Glass is more than a cautionary tale of the dangers of ambition and the downsides of making a deal with the devil. Apart from being the literal embodiment of the warning to be careful what you wish for, it’s a tale of a desperation, with a strong social commentary carefully used as background. Eleanor’s gradual descent into depravity and desperation are starkly contrasted to the romance and bright future our protagonist longs for. The Shadow in The Glass is a page-turner and an exhilarating journey from the first sentence.  

The Shadow in the Glass by JJA Harwood is published by Harper Voyager, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers.

Review: Son of The Storm by Suyi Davies Okungbowa

Danso has found himself in a unique position. Despite not being High Bassai, he is a novitiate, and while his position in the guild is tenuous, he seems totally unconcerned with decorum. Instead, Danso seeks the truth behind stories, including that of his mother’s past. His fixation has landed him in hot water a few times, much to the ire of his intended, Esheme.

Yet when events beyond Danso’s control force the land of Bassa to close its borders, and for Danso to be expelled from his university, his life changes beyond recognition. But that’s nothing compared to his discovery of a strange warrior from a distant land, with the ability to wield magic, and a price-tag on her head.

Ands it’s that discovery, along with his insane desire to help this exile, that REALLY lands him in trouble, and places his life, and the lives of everyone he loves, in danger. Because it turns out Danso has a secret of his own, which could unsettle the very history upon which the kingdom of Bassa was founded.

African fantasy has just found itself a king in the form of Suyi Davies Okungbowa. I’ve yet to discover another writer who can effortlessly weave African mythology and history with a dazzling display of fantasy to create something new and delicious. Son of the Storm is more into just a foray into the birthplace of humanity (and probably magic). It is a cleverly crafted social narrative that exposes injustices and discrimination while the camouflage of epic fiction. Okungbowa has created a page-turner that is as addictive as it is compelling. He has reintroduced to the world to the power for Africa, and an African story, and I am hooked.

But there’s a downside.

Just as the characters start to feel like real people, and the trek across unknown lands really hits its stride, we are left with an (admittedly very good) cliffhanger, and the torture of waiting for the next instalment. Which means that we have what feels like an eternity to wait before the story continues. I hate that – I want more already, so excuse me while I learn to transform a sulk session into patience. In the meantime, join the party and grab a copy of Son of the Storm before Hollywood finds it first!

Son of the Storm by Suyi Davies Okungbowa is published by Orbit, an imprint of Little, Brown Book Group, and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers.

Review: Girl One by Sara Flannery Murphy

Josephine Morrow isn’t your average woman. Not only was she conceived totally without the input of a man, but she was the first of NINE such births. She is Girl One. But before a tenth virgin birth, disaster struck and everything changed. One night, a fire broke out at The Homestead which housed these special mothers and their daughters, killing the man that made it all possible; her namesake, Dr Joseph Bellanger. 

Now that she’s an adult, Josie is following in Bellanger’s footsteps, trying to show herself and the world that his genius was not only brilliant, but repeatable. But she’s interrupted by an unforeseen hitch: her mom, Mother One, is missing.  

In order to retrace her mother’s steps and find her, Josie must do something she’s never been allowed to do: return to the Homestead, and the other Mothers, who might be able to help. 

But her hunt is hindered by a shocking revelation: not only did Dr Bellanger have less of a role than Josephine had always imagined, but he wasn’t anythign like she remembered. And nor were the other girls; because pathogenesis isn’t the only thing that’s special about these girls. They also each have a hidden ability which makes them not just freaks of nature, but a magnet for trouble. 

Girl One is the latest in a long line of speculative feminist writing that’s recently took the literary world by storm, and it deserves its place among its peers. Sara Flannery Murphy has penned something amazing: this book contains well-written prose that has been wrestled into an astonishing story that is as unpredictable and moving as it is dark and delicious. A sprinkling of the supernatural also really elevates Girl One to something beyond dystopia; it brings a glorious color and texture to the story that can only be called art. Murphy's world is a sharp and nuanced creation filled with a satisfying balance between the mundane and the macabre, and boy does it sparkle! Add to that a dash of romance and a sprinkle of scientific horror and you have something that appeals to everyone, and ticks all the boxes.

If the story is familiar at points, it’s only because of the current prevalence of feminist stories – Girl One is an original that deserves to become a beloved classic, and I have NO DOUBT that Hollywood will agree, and snap up the rights to give the story new life on screen. Here’s hoping. 

Girl One by Sara Flannery Murphy is published by Raven Books, a Bloomsbury company, and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers. 

Review: Circus of Wonders by Elizabeth Macneal

Nell has tried to stay out of sight her whole life. With a rare skin condition that has her peppered in spots, she’s learned to avoid the eyes in her local village. Until now. When the village hosts Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders, she catches a glimpse into a strange new world of performers and self-confessed oddities. But it isn’t until her father sells her off to the troupe that she really learns about circus life.

For the first time, Nell is using her appearance. With Jasper’s innovative thinking, a gorgeous outfit, and a little practice, she evolves from a flower-picking recluse into one of England’s top performers, even catching the eye of the Queen herself.

But Nell’s moment in the spotlight is under threat, because Jasper has been relying a little too heavily on loan sharks and promises to make his circus the greatest show in the country.

At the same time, Nell learns to navigate the minefields of love and friendship, as her world becomes more vibrant – and more dangerous – than she ever could have imagined.

Circus of Wonders is a truly thrilling book that hits all the right boxes, by offering the reader a little bit of everything. It has mystery, suspense, drama, romance, a brilliantly-written narrative, and a dash of magic. With an insight into the workings of Old England, Elizabeth Macneal has also managed to reimagine the concept of wonder – presenting a tradition as old as the circus in a fresh and delicious new way. But there’s more to this book than just a good circus story – there is an underlying social commentary about the dangers of judgement, as well as the unbreakable and often intimidating bonds between lovers and family. Circus of Wonders is deep, and it’s beautiful. What more could you want?

Circus of Wonders by Elizabeth Macneal is published by Picador, an imprint of Pan Macmillan.

 

Review: Watch Her Fall by Erin Kelly

Ava Kirilova has spent her life working towards this moment. After years of practice and dedication, she’s not just ready to headline Swan Lake – she IS Swan Lake. But being the best has a downside. Because her father owns the dance company, Ava’s had to work twice as hard to prove that she is the best, and not just the favourite. And the journey to the top has been lonely.

While Ava puts everything into the role, and in ensuring that she’ll make her father proud, she’s sacrificed things like friendship, connection, and occasionally, her peace of mind. And maybe she was right to do that.

Just before her debut in the role she was born for, disaster strikes. Someone wants what Ava has, and they’re willing to do anything to get it. In a cruel representation of life imitating art, the tragedy of the Black Swan has bled into Ava’s life, and there’s no turning back now.

Watch Her Fall is like a dance itself – carefully choreographed, flawless, and unpredictable. In fact, there was a time when I started having flashbacks of Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis’ twisted relationship onscreen, and despaired that Erin Kelly would be following the same path.

I was so gloriously wrong. In just a few pages and several gasps, this book evolved from a well-known trop of jealously and despair into something so much darker and more delicious. While Ava dances as the two Swans, she deftly skips over every red herring you can imagine, until her steps, and the narrative they trace, emerge into new and unpredictable territory. This book will blow your mind, and if you love a good twist, then this will be your guiding star because it has so many, you’ll get whiplash.

Honestly, there is nothing to fault in this book, apart from the fact that it ends. From clever character development to shocking horrors and suspense, and a poetic prose, Watch Her Fall is nothing short or art, and you need it in your life. and then you’ll need more. So Erin Kelly, I hope you’re hard at work on your next literary treat.

Watch Her Fall by Erin Kelly is published by Hodder & Stoughton and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers.

Review: Exit by Belinda Bauer

The last couple of years of Felix Pink’s life have been hell. After his son loses his battle against cancer, it’s just Felix and Margaret, until she passes, too. Now it’s just Felix and his dog, Mabel. At seventy-five, he knows he doesn’t have much time left, but he’s using it well. You see, Felix is an Exiteer. He works for a company that ensures other families don’t suffer the way he did – they accompany terminally ill patients to the afterlife, to ensure the dying are surrounded by a calm, respectful presence. It’s not a job for everyone, which is why Felix understands when his partner, Chris, resigns.

But when Felix sees his new partner, 23-year-old Amanda, he has doubts. And when she accompanies him to her first job, things go terribly wrong, but it’s not just her fault. Shockingly, they helped the wrong person Exit. They killed the wrong man. To make matters worse, it seems they were set up.

As Felix tried to navigate his new existence as a murderer, he also wants to make amends. Determined to make sense of the error, he starts to investigate, and discovers that there is far more to the sordid affair than he could ever have imagined.

Exit is an unexpected treat from the first sentence. Not only do we have an unconventional protagonist in the form of a boring and bumbling pensioner, but it’s so well written and so cleverly woven together that it made me wonder why more books don’t feature aged and unexpected protagonists. The world, or a life, can’t always be saved by an angsty teen with Hollywood hair.

But there’s more to a good book than a good hero. In Exit, Belinda Bauer has carefully woven together a complicated story that is so thoroughly edited it makes it near impossible to predict the ending – and I’ve made a lifelong habit of predicting the end to whodunnits. It’s beyond refreshing to not see how the entire plot will play out by Part Two.

Bauer is ticking all the boxes. Excellent protagonist in an impeccable story, complete with poetic prose and a gratifying dash of the macabre? There’s nothing to fault in this book. So what are you waiting for – go on and read it. Thank me later.  

Exit by Belinda Bauer is published by Bantam Press, an imprint of Transworld Publishers, a Penguin Random House company.

Review: The Rabbit Queen by Dexter Palmer

When young Zachary first became the apprentice to the village’s surgeon, John Howard, he had no idea how his life would change, and it all started when Joshua Toft came to the surgery to request assistance with his pregnant wife. Only, Mary Toft showed no signs of pregnancy and recently suffered a miscarriage.

Nevertheless, John and Zachary agree to pay the woman a visit. What they see changes everything. From the womb of Mary Toft, John Howard delivered a dead rabbit. Days later, she births another one. And another. Soon, John has no choice but to call for reinforcements from London, and once the city finds out about a country woman who births rabbits, the case is elevated to celebrity status. The king himself requests that Mary Toft travel to London, where she’ll be cared for by a team of the best medicine men. And that’s when everything goes wrong.

The Rabbit Queen is more than just a clever story – this is based on fact. For that reason, the events are all the more unbelievable. In retelling Mary’s struggles, Dexter Palmer has recreated history, and altered it to be sheer perfection. With beautiful prose and oodles of intrigue, this book literally takes your hands and guides you through old England, and all the excitement and magic that the country held.

We’re also given a first-hand insight into the evolution of medicine and belief, in an epic battle between science and religion, and the men that champion both. As Mary’s story unwinds, the line between fact and fiction blurs deliciously, until we’re also taken in by the amazing events that are unfolding. The Rabbit Queen takes history and improves it, to give a truly impressive story that will have you on the edge of your seat until the last page.

The Rabbit Queen by Dexter Palmer is published by Little Brown, an Hachette company, and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers.

Review: Troy by Stephen Fry

Long ago, when gods still roamed the earth and the world was a playground for the egos of important men, the unthinkable happened. Prince Paris of Troy was promised the love and adoration of the most beautiful woman in the world, as seen through a vision given to him by the goddess of love. Unfortunately, this unnatural beauty – who went by the name of Helen – was already married to another man. In response, Paris decided to sail to Sparta and kidnap Helen, under false pretenses. His actions so enrage Helen’s husband that he and his brother immediately launch war against Troy, in order to return Helen to her home. However, what started off as a rescue mission soon became a decade-long stalemate and brutal war that is still recounted thousands of years later.

If you thought you knew about the story of Troy – and particularly of those events involving a certain beautiful lady and a ten-year long war, you’re wrong. Not only has Stephen Fry made this popular myth as relatable and interesting as any film starring Brad Pitt, but he’s improved it with the addition of more context and history than any film could ever hope to represent. Whether you like a good adventure, are a history buff or just enjoy Mr. Fry’s particular skill with a pen, this book will not disappoint.

While this book forms the perfect companion for the other similar works in Mr. Fry’s repertoire – Mythos and Heroes – it is also perfectly suited as a stand-alone work that is every bit as brilliant and entertaining as Homer intended, while being far easier to enjoy. Fry has delved into the tangled mess of history for us, so that we don’t need to struggle and trudge through endless names, facts and events just to get to the juicy parts of one of the most infamous wars of all time. Complete with Fry’s signature wit and sassy humor, Troy takes ancient history, and rebrands it as modern adventure suitable for any audience. The effect is dazzling; not only are we given a beautifully curated and modernized tale, but in so doing, Fry has made Greek mythology (dare I say it?) sexy. If that’s not talent, I give up.  

Troy by Stephen Fry is published by Michael Joseph, a Penguin Random House company.

Review: Cursed by Thomas Wheeler and Frank Miller

After being attacked by a dark force as a child, Niume has always been an outcast among her own people, despite her mother being the Arch Druid of their particular Fey clan. However, when Niume is selected to be the clan’s next Summoner – the one who communicates with the magical Hidden – her fellow Fey can’t hide their resentment. In response, and to escape the unwelcome responsibility, Niume decides to leave her village and its magic behind her.  

However, amid her plans for departure, the village is attacked by the fierce Red Paladins – a religious sect intent on eliminating all the Fey clans across the country. As Niume watches her childhood home burn around her, her mother tasks her with a final mission – to take an ancient sword to the wizard Merlin.

As Niume begins her journey, she realizes that the sword hides more than just a bloody history – like her, it is filled with magic, and together, it may just be the saving grace of the Fey, if only Niume can prevent it being taken from her.

The story of Arthur and the sword Excalibur may be well-known, but you’ve never seen it like this. With a fresh feminist twist, and a large helping of magic, this book is a treat from the first page. Cursed isn’t a retelling of Arthur’s adventures as much as it is a re-imagining of the events preceding the story we know so well, and it is glorious. Niume is the badass young female warrior we never realized we needed, while Arthur and Merlin, titans of the tales of old, have been whittled down to people rather than archetypes. Combines this with Frank Miller’s graphic novel-inspired lustrations, and this book is pure adventure from start, and nobody in their right minds should pass it up.

Cursed combines the comfort of the familiar, with a vibrant and expanded universe of the newly discovered. It’s everything you need in a good book, and I’d highly recommend you try it.

Cursed by Thomas Wheeler is published by Penguin Random House.

Review: The Witch Hunter by Max Seeck

What started off as an unusual but straight-forward case for Detective Jessica Niemi soon spirals into a literal witch hunt. When famous fantasy author Roger Koponen’s wife is killed in the couple’s home in what seems to be a parody of a murder from his own books, Jessica’s team are at a loss. But then when more bodies start appearing, each matching a grisly scene from Koponen’s books, Jessica can’t help but notice an eerie connection between the murders, and her own life.

As Jessica hunts a twisted serial killer, she can’t help but wonder if these murders have something to do with her, and her own tragic past. Either way, then the team needs to catch the killer before Jessica herself becomes the next victim, and also while not revealing any of her carefully guarded secrets.

The Witch Hunter is a truly bewitching read, if you’ll pardon the pun. As you flit across the pages, you can’t help but wonder if Max Seeck hasn’t applied some magic of his own. From a carefully crafted plot and loveable characters, to prose that is beautifully crafted and doused with an intriguing macabre undertone, this book offers someone for everyone. The Witch Hunter is the perfect marriage of whodunit and horror, with just enough of the occult to get your heart racing.

The only problem with this book is that is ends too soon, and on a cliffhanger of sorts. While I’m already eagerly anticipating the next installment in what promises to be an amazing series, I can’t help but feel a little cheated that I didn’t get to spend more time with the characters. All that’s left to do now is try ignore my need for closure, and stalk Max’s social media for hints about a sequel, because the world needs to see way more of Jessica Niemi.

The Witch Hunter by Max Seeck is published by Welbeck Fiction Limited, and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers

Review: David Mogo: Godhunter by Suyi Davies Okungbowa

David Mogo is not like the other residents of Lagos. He is a demigod. However, since The Falling, when a divine war led to a number of godlings to fall to earth, he has become something else. Together with his adoptive father, an aged magician, David is an extremely effective Godhunter. His unique connection to the divine beings through his mother’s blood allows David to help the residents of Lagos evict the fallen gods, for a price.

Despite this, David and Pap Udi barely manage to get by. Soon, David finds himself in financial straits, and in desperate need of a few good jobs. So when he’s offered the task of kidnapping a set of twin gods by the powerful wizard, Ajala, David can’t help but be skeptical. Despite his foreboding, he accepts the job, only to be proven right. Ajala has bigger plans than kidnap, and unless David stops the wizard, the whole city will fall to ruin. Faced with an impending war, David finds himself turning to his mother, and ancient powers beyond his understanding, in the hopes of victory.

David Mogo: Godhunter is the definition of adventure. From the first page, the reader is immersed in a colorful world where the divide between the heavens and earth is awry, and it’s glorious. Not only is it refreshing to see an African country represented in a chillingly realistic post-apocalyptic light, but to have the continent as the centre of the action also allows for a glance into a new kind of myth, with an African twist. Okungbowa’s world is rich and vibrant, and so beautifully captured that one can almost smell the port of Lagos. And amid this whirlwind of beauty is a top-notch fantasy with a thoroughly likeable protagonist.

This book is not only entertaining and beautifully written, but it ticks all the boxes. It’s a fresh perspective on an old theme, and presents a much-needed change to the first-world countries we generally see in this genre. All that’s left is to find out if there will be a sequel, because I hope we haven’t seen the last of David Mogo.

David Mogo: Godhunter by Suyi Davies Okungbowa is published by Abaddon Books, a Rebellion Books company, and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers.  

Review: The Sin Eater by Megan Campisi

May Owens always considered herself a goodly girl, and yet she is in prison. Orphaned, starving, and without options, the young woman’s hunger forced her hand. And while her fellow cellmates are sentenced to various grisly punishments, her crime of stealing a loaf of bread receives an entirely unexpected punishment, and the price is a heavy burden indeed.

For her crime, May is sentenced to be a Sin Eater; a woman cast out by the society that branded her to take upon her body the sins of the dying. For each sin named, there is an accompanying food that must be eaten before the dying can return top the Maker. Yet the reward for the Sin Eater’s task is thankless – they may not be touched, spoken tom, or looked out – they are the incarnation of sin, and they are feared and hated throughout the land.

Despite the awful punishment, and the loss, confusion and anguish which follow it, May tries her best to adjust to her new life under the silent and hostile gaze of the town. However, when the new Sin Eater accidentally uncovers a royal scandal that could change the very nature of her life, she must decide the best path to take; break her vow and speak up, or maintain her silence and her duty while people die.

There’s something darkly seductive about The Sin Eater. Between lines of dancing prose dwells a story that’s as shocking as it is intriguing, in which the world as we know it has been tweaked and shaped into a dazzling story about life’s unseen horrors. Campisi presents a belief system that it skewed, and a royal bloodline plagued by dissent, jealousy and murky secrets. Here, history is unreliable, witchcraft is blossoming, and religion is a many-faceted monster that causes as much good as it does pain. And yet the system remains unchallenged, fostering a sense of discomfort which builds throughout the narrative, culminating in well-earned pity for the protagonist, as well as a roaring anger at the multiple injustices of the world – both fictional and not.

The Sin Eater by Megan Campisi is published by Mantle, an imprint of Pan MacMillan.

Review: The Invention of Sound by Chuck Palahniuk

Mitzi has a very unique talent that’s invaluable to the film industry. The secret to taking a film to the next level lies in the details, and this is where Mitzi comes in – she’s responsible for the sound effects in a film – from a head being smashed in, to a stab wound – she knows just how to mimic the right sound to leave the audience traumatized and wanting more. But what the producers who furiously bid millions of dollars for her sound clips don’t know is that Mitzi has a special talent for getting her work to be so realistic. It’s murder.

Each hair-raising soundbite that Mitzi releases into the world started off as a recording of a real murder, and Mitzi has a collection of hundreds of clips, some of which were made by her father, before she got into the profession.

So when Foster Gates hears what he thinks is a clip of his long-missing daughter screaming in a film, he tracks Mitzi down to question her, and doesn’t like what he learns.

Chuck Palahniuk has a vastly underrated talent – he makes the macabre fascinating. As he delves into a possible underbelly of a well-known industry like Hollywood, he sows seeds of doubt and derision, and it’s glorious. Few writers have the skill to make a seemingly implausible storyline so convincing and engaging, and yet Palahniuk does it every time he writes a new book.

That’s not necessarily to say he’s glorifying the seediness of the world, but in making readers uncomfortable, he’s starting important conversations and raising an important point; there’s no escaping the ugliness of the world. Reading a Palahniuk novel often feels like a bad trip – situations and events are turned on their heads, and a quiet unease permeates the storyline, but that’s exactly what makes his work so appealing. Simply put, he’s a pioneer, and the world he’s creating is a dark mirror or truth.

The Invention of Sound by Chuck Palahniuk is published by Corsair Books, an imprint of the Little, Brown Book Group, and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers.

Review: Home Stretch by Graham Norton

One moment changed Connor Hayes’ life forever. In 1987, he’s involved in a car crash that causes the deaths of three people. Plagued by a shame he’ll never be able to shake off in the small Irish town he calls home, Connor needs a new start, and for that, he must leave home.

What starts off as an escape from his past soon becomes a chance to reinvent himself, as Connor realizes that the secrets and shame he’s carried for so long can be repackaged and presented anew, if only nobody finds out about his past. However, in order for his new life to flourish, he must totally discard his past, and with it, his family.

As Connor follows a route to a new life, his family is left reeling at his disappearance, and they have no choice but to try move on with their lives, albeit with the extra weight of Connor’s disappearance after his fall from grace.

But Connor realizes that running away from your problems never resolves them, and despite the years that have passed, his past soon catches up to him, and he must face the family he abandoned and the secrets he hid from them.

Graham Norton is the king of a clever plot. Like his previous books, Home Stretch features an intricate narrative that’s woven across several years and several families, creating more than just a story – Norton has created an entire world, and it’s a great place to be. Under the writer's careful direction, intrigue, shocking discoveries and poetic prose merge to form an epic adventure that’s as interesting as it is tense and exciting. With several years as a talk show host behind him, Graham Norton knows a thing or seven about suspense, and he’s applied that talent beautifully. Do yourself a favour, and allow yourself to get lost in Ireland and the past, and the life-changing magic of family.

Home Stretch by Graham Norton is published by Coronet, an imprint of Hodder and Stoughton, and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers.

Review: All of Us by AF Carter

As a child, Carolyn Grand was abused by a sadistic father. In order to cope with the ordeal, she developed numerous distinct personalities. Now, nearly three decades later, only six personalities remain, and each has a role to play in Carolyn’s day-to-day life. However, when one of those personalities propositions an undercover cop, their carefully constructed life is blown apart, and Carolyn is forced into therapy to determine if she can really function on her own. Then, to add insult to injury, her father is released from prison. When he’s murdered shortly after his release, Carolyn is the main suspect, although the police are having a hard time working out which of her six personalities was actually responsible.

All of Us is a refreshing new take on a classic whodunnit – with all the suspects limited to a single body. With the added complexity and intrigue of Carolyn’s psychological issues, this book morphs into a next-level whodunit that will have you on the edge of your seat and questioning your own sanity throughout, and it’s glorious.

Carter has presented an interesting and clever way to really enter the mind of the protagonist while highlighting the struggles faced by those suffering form mental illness. Part social commentary and part classic thriller, All of Us is a neatly packaged way to get your mind working, and your adrenalin soaring. Of course, this book isn’t just about murder and mayhem; with the added dynamics of romance, drama and social commentary, it has a little something for everyone. Given that the book is fast paced and easy to read, All of Us is the perfect solution to escape the drudgery of the pandemic.  

All of Us by A.F. Carter is published by Head of Zeus and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers.