Review: The Oxenbridge King

Title: The Oxenbridge King

Author: Christine Paice 

Publisher: 31st July 2024 by HarperCollins Australia

Pages: 335 pages

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy

Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

Imagine, if you the lost soul of King Richard III; a talking raven; a lost, lonely angel; and Molly Stern - heartbroken, grieving, a bit stroppy and definitely not feeling herself.

When the worlds of the lost soul of a King and the angel sent to collect him collide messily with the 21st century world of Molly Stern, anything can happen. Hilary Mantel meets Sarah Winman, with a dash of Neil The Oxenbridge King is endearing, quirky, tender, lyrical and magical - and entirely original.

The lost soul of Richard III is trapped in the afterlife, below the last Abbey he visited while alive. Though his soul has been between worlds for hundreds of years, up in the real world, it's 2012 and Molly Stern has a broken heart from losing her father and a recent breakup. Leaving London, Molly goes home to seek solace from her Aunt Peggy and Uncle Frank in Oxenbridge, but there are strange noises in the basement of her childhood house, and Peggy and Frank seem to have domestic troubles of their own, and nothing feels right. When the soul of Richard III is startled from the Abbey catacombs and the angel sent to collect him goes missing in action, all their worlds messily and unexpectedly collide, with surprising and definitely unexpected consequences.

Inspired by the discovery of the bones of Richard III found buried underneath a car park in the UK, award-winning poet Christine Paice has fashioned a beautiful, singular, warm and funny novel that weaves in and out of time and space and possibility. The Oxenbridge King is a love story, a meditation on what survives of us when we're gone, and how, in the end, love and family is everything.

My Thoughts

Let me be honest from the outset. I am on a bit of a King Richard III binge. Ever since finishing Annie Garthwaite’s novels I have become obsessed with learning more about this King - the last English king to lose his life in battle. Annie portrayed Richard in such a modest way that would make many historians fire up in opposition - especially Shakespeare and his damning play.Therefore when this intriguing book came up promising an engaging spin - I was in!

‘The king with a crown that didn't belong to him, but all kings had blood on their hands. That's how they stayed king.’

The Oxenbridge King is such a unique and extremely satisfying read and, I promise, no prior knowledge on Richard III is necessary - but it certainly does increase the enjoyment. Inspired by the actual discovery of Richard III’s bones this book is a fantastical journey if you allow yourself to swim with the tide. With Richard’s soul trapped he is reliant upon a talking Raven (his link between heaven and earth) to become free and ascend to the afterlife. Yet, Richard is a very, very minor player in this tale. 

‘Life happens, we're all caught and tugged by desires we claim not to know anything about.’

This is a tale of the contemporary characters and it is warm and funny, full of love and forgiveness in this life. No major events here except how souls can become lost when on earth and learning about the things that give us direction and make us feel love, getting us back on the right path. At first I thought,’this is a bit weird’ but then I just went with it and found it truly delightful. 

‘… maybe one day we'll discover the great villain of history isn't so bad after all.'

If you are looking for something that is left of centre, a retelling from a different direction with a touch of magic then look no further. As the blurb promises, Oxenbridge King is ‘tender, lyrical, surprising, and magical - think Sarah Winman with a dash of Neil Gaiman’. 

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

 

Review: Back on Track

Title: Back on Track

Author: Tricia Stringer

Publisher: 4th October 2023 by Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA

Pages: 464 pages

Genre: fiction, contemporary, romance

Rating: 4 crowns

Synopsis:

Bestselling author and voice of Australian storytelling Tricia Stringer tackles troubled relationships, ageism, and love old and new in this warm, funny, uplifting story of colleagues and unlikely travel companions thrown together on an astonishing (and revealing) train trip across Australia.

Ketty Clift's couture dressmaking business is thriving but the same can't be said for her staff. Lately, cracks have appeared in the team's harmony, testing relationships and causing issues with customers. Worse, the rumour that Ketty has lost her touch is circulating. So when Ketty's old friend Carlos suggests a holiday by train - on the iconic Ghan, no less - Ketty decides to take her surprised staff with her in the hope of fixing what ails them. 

But it's not turning out to be the cure-all Ketty had hoped for. Her protective second-in-command, Judith, doubts Carlos's intentions and sows suspicion in Ketty's mind. Her younger staff members, Birgit and Lacey, are beset by relationship disasters and financial worries, whereas invaluable employee Ning is under pressure from her family to retire, and seamstress Tien is terrified of everything outside her comfort zone - especially the outback. 

Each new stop on the way, and the surprising behaviour of some of the other passengers, affects the group and reveals something more about each of them. As the train pulls deeper into the mesmerising outback, matters seem set to come to a disturbing crescendo. Ketty must sidestep the drama, reunite her troubled workers and save her business and relationships. But will her transformative magic work to bring them all back on track?

My Thoughts

Back on Track is the latest offering from Aussie favourite Tricia Stringer. Tricia's talent extends across a range of genres from rural fiction through to contemporary and her readers are always guaranteed some wonderful escapism. On this occasion Tricia gives us another multi generational drama and all set on the iconic train, ‘The Ghan’ a trip from Darwin at the top of Australia to Adelaide in the south of Australia. 

‘And just as on a cruise ship, every surface gleamed. She closed her eyes, inhaled the lingering trace of eucalyptus scent and anticipated the trip ahead. Her spirits lifted.’

As usual Tricia includes a strong cast of characters that cover all ages - from Ketty in her 70s, Judith in her 50s through to Lacey in her 20s and many others. So, already you can see, there is sure to be something for everybody to relate to. Also, who could surpass Tricia’s wonderful descriptions of outback Australia with stop offs at Katherine, Alice Springs and Coober Pedy. I also appreciated the descriptions of The Ghan itself from the cabins to the dining experience.There are some topical issues in this book - ageism is at the top but Tricia also touches on retirement, work place tensions, discrimination, working visas, disabilities, family breakdowns -  dealing with them in her usual sensitive way. 

“I think sometimes we’re our own worst enemies when it comes to ageism. People make jokes about it and we go along with them.”

This is an easy read with engaging characters, encompassing problems and solutions common in today’s society. Yet, delve a little deeper - this is a story about how we treat those over the age of 50/60 in our society and even the way we talk to ourselves into fitting into a stereotype.  This is a story of understanding and compassion, growth and development. As the title so aptly indicates, when the wheels come off (pardon the pun) how do we go about getting ourselves and those around us, ‘back on track’?

‘The timeline was short, only three nights, and Ketty needed all the help she could to make sure she got her staff back on track.’

This is another great story of family and friends with Tricia, a master at producing authentic, real people and places that take you right to the centre of the community. Not only a story that takes you to some iconic destinations in Australia but also the importance of communication and maintaining positive relationships. 

“Who wrote the rule there’s a cut-off age for enjoying life? You’re never too old for friendship, companionship, even love.”

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

 

Review: Lola in the Mirror

Title: Lola in the Mirror

Author: Trent Dalton

Publisher: 4th October 2023 by HarperCollins Publishers Australia, Fourth Estate

Pages: 448 pages

Genre: fiction, contemporary

Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

Bighearted, gritty, magical and moving, Lola in the Mirror is the irresistible new novel from international bestselling author of Boy Swallows Universe and All Our Shimmering Skies , Trent Dalton.

'Mirror, mirror, on the grass, what's my future? What's my past?' A girl and her mother are on the lam. They've been running for sixteen years, from police and the monster they left in the kitchen with the knife in his throat. They've found themselves a home inside an orange 1987 Toyota HiAce van with four flat tyres parked in a scrapyard by the edge of the Brisbane River – just two of the 100,000 Australians sleeping rough every night. The girl has no name because names are dangerous when you're on the run. But the girl has a dream. Visions in black ink and living colour. A vision of a life as a groundbreaking artist of international acclaim. A life outside the grip of the Brisbane underworld drug queen 'Lady' Flora Box. A life of love with the boy in the brown suit who's waiting for her in the middle of the bridge that stretches across a flooding and deadly river. A life far beyond the bullet that has her name on it. And now that the storm clouds are rising, there's only one person who can help make her dreams come true. That person's name is Lola and she carries all the answers. But to find Lola, the girl with no name must first do one of the hardest things we can sometimes ever do. She must look in the mirror. 

A big, moving, blackly funny, violent, heartbreaking and beautiful novel of love, fate, life and death and all the things we see when we look in the mirror. All of the past, all of the present, and all of our possible futures. 'Mirror, mirror, please don't lie. Tell me who you are. Tell me who am I.'

My Thoughts

‘Do I want to walk through this life of mine? Or do I want to cartwheel through it?’

Trent Dalton take a bow (or do a cartwheel!)

You became Australian writing royalty after one book! I did not read that book (Boy Swallows Universe) but understood there would be immense pressure to maintain a certain level of success second time round. Book two, All Our Shimmering Skies blew my mind. It was immense .... it was a breathtaking odyssey. 

Could it be possible Trent would go ‘three for three’?

Yes indeed! 

There really are not enough adjectives to describe the phenomenon that is Trent Dalton’s writing. It’s raw, it’s dark, it’s harrowing … then it is magical, it is mesmerising, it is unique and full of hope. In one word, it is utterly brilliant. 

‘And I know who I’m talking to now. It’s the thing that brought us here. It’s the thing that give me this life. It’s the things that made us run from the monster. It’s cruelty. It’s life itself. It’s living. It’s turning. It’s art. And it will not stop.’

At face value this is the story of a young girl who is ‘houseless’ (not homeless) living in Brisbane. Who is this girl? What happened in her past? What is her name? What of her future and her dreams? But dig a little deeper and at the heart of Trent’s novels are what it is to be human. Yes, there will be darkness - terrible, horrible things happen - violence, addiction, self-harm. However, Trent holds onto the belief that most human beings have heart, they do care and will rise above to do what is right and just. 

‘In my experience, humans are mostly good and decent. In my experience, strangers will more often that not choose compassion over fear, protections over caution’.

Trent Dalton is an amazing writer. Suspend all you know, all you understand of what writing should look like and immerse yourself in how writing can be. From Aussie humour and slang, to the horrifying, confronting and harrowing details of things such as the criminal underworld. This book is atmospheric in its detail with the Brisbane River a character within itself. The illustrations by @pheppell throughout the book are an integral addition to the story. Those sketches with accompanying descriptions at the beginning of each chapter are amazing. They bring so much to what is already an incredible tale. It is heartfelt, it is rich, it is heartbreaking and it is … simply stunning. 

‘You ever lived through a single moment in your life that gave meaning to every single tiny moment you lived through before it?’

If you are a fan of Trent’s you won’t be disappointed. If you have never had the privilege to read any of Trent’s work, waste no more time. Put aside what you think you know about writing and what you think you know about Trent’s writing. Take this fantastical journey that is Lola in the Mirror and embark on a life changing journey. Full of melodrama and magical realism I promise it will be memorable - you will smile,  you will laugh, you will shed a tear and allow the poetic prose of Trent Dalton sweep you away. 

‘You are magic,’ Lola says. ‘You’ve always been magic. You’ve never needed a mirror to see who you are.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Perilous Times

Title: Perilous Times

Author: Thomas D. Lee

Publisher: 30th May 2023 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 534 pages

Genre: fantasy, fiction, retellings

Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

An immortal Knight of the Round Table faces his greatest challenge yet—saving the politically polarized, rapidly warming world from itself—in this slyly funny contemporary take on Arthurian legend.

Being reborn as an immortal defender of the realm gets awfully damn tiring over the years—or at least that's what Sir Kay's thinking as he claws his way up from beneath the earth, yet again. 

Kay fought at Hastings, and at Waterloo, and in both World Wars. After a thousand years, he thought he was used to dealing with a crisis. But now he finds himself in a strange new world where oceans have risen, armies have been privatized, and half of Britain’s been sold to the Chinese. The dragon that's running amok, that he can handle. The rest? He's not so sure. 

Mariam's devoted her life to fighting what's wrong with her country. But she's just one ordinary person, up against a hopelessly broken system. So when she meets Kay, a figure straight out of legend, she dares to hope that the world's finally found the savior it needs.

As the two quest through this strange land swarming with gangs, mercenaries, and talking squirrels, they realize that other ancient evils are afoot. Lancelot is back too--at the beck and call of immortal beings with a sinister agenda. And if their plans can’t be stopped, a dragon will be the least of the planet’s worries.

In perilous times like these, the realm doesn't just need a knight. It needs a true leader.

Luckily, Excalibur lies within reach - and Kay's starting to suspect that the hero fit to carry it is close at hand.

My Thoughts

Perilous Times is a book that defies genres with its quirky mix of Arthurian lore, futuristic dystopian themes set against an environmental stance on climate change. Yup! You read right, an eclectic mix that really works! Set in future England when global warming has all but ruined the world, it is the Knights of the Round Table that are called upon to save the day - or not?!

‘So the idea was, whenever Britain was in peril, we'd come back from the dead and sort things out. … Whenever people need help. So maybe it was the dragon, or maybe it was you, but … that’s why I’m here. I’m here to help.’

The overall combination is what attracted me in the first place and the witty, clever writing is what kept me to the very end. It is a clever premise with compelling characters, rich world building and a thrilling plot. It’s crazy but somehow it works. I feel that resurrecting Arthur and the Knights is not just for novelty but also to illustrate the complex issue of past solutions not working in the present climate (pardon the pun).

‘I've been working for a very long time to try and save men from their own stupidity. To try and stop them from poisoning their own planet. And it hasn't worked. So my intention is to bring back the one man who might actually listen.’

Apart from the central theme of climate change there are really rich themes under the microscope here - the role of women and refugees, governments and politics and the capacity of individuals to make a difference. Woven throughout (so as not to get bogged down) is much humour. These poor Knights have been called upon throughout the ages and are forced to confront a range of time periods that throw at them everything from guns to helicopters. So why not add a dragon to the story with some serious magic and you just about have it covered. 

‘I can see the earth rendered barren . .. a lifeless husk with burning skies. It looms ahead of us. Almost inevitable, now. So few shoots of green. We've ignored so many of them. So many chances wasted. Now we have so few left.'

This is an entertaining and compelling read that cleverly balances out the serious with the silly. It is a clever mix and I think it’s a winner in turning legends around and highlighting the plight of our planet in an engaging and memorable way. It’s crazy but somehow it works.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.