Review: The Court of Miracles

Title: The Court of Miracles

Author: Kester Grant

Publisher: 16th June 2020 by HarperCollins AU

Pages: 402 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: fantasy, young adult, retellings, historical fiction

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

A diverse fantasy reimagining of Les Misérables and The Jungle Book.

In the dark days following a failed French Revolution, in the violent jungle of an alternate 1828 Paris, young cat-burglar Eponine (Nina) Thenardier goes head to head with merciless royalty, and the lords of the city's criminal underworld to save the life of her adopted sister Cosette (Ettie).

Her vow will take her from the city’s dark underbelly, through a dawning revolution, to the very heart of the glittering court of Louis XVII, where she must make an impossible choice between guild, blood, betrayal and war.

My Thoughts

‘I like to think of this book as vengeance for years of wanting to strangle Marius ... and because Eponine deserved so much more!’

~Kester Grant

I love a good reimagining and what could be more inviting than Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables? This tale is set in Paris early 1800s where the Revolution has failed and the aristocracy is paranoid of future uprisings especially with a shortage of food and the lower classes numbers rising. Kester does well to capture the desperation of this burgeoning and desperate class. Enter the Court of Miracles.

‘There are no friends in the Miracle Court, only allies. You may think you have purchased her freedom tonight, but others will come for her eventually, including those you think are your friends, those you believe you can trust.’

The Court is composed of nine Guilds made up of the various poor and outcasts, ranging from beggars and thieves to smugglers and assassins. Each has its own leader and all must adhere to the strict rules governing the Court. I give credit to the originality and world building Kester has provided here. Yes, it was a little slow to start but it definitely picks up by the end. There are some jumps in time that are somewhat abrupt but overall it is well worth the journey. For the Young Adult fantasy genre, I think it hits the mark. 

‘Sometimes we must pay a terrible price to protect the things we love’.

Knowing Hugo’s original tale is not necessary but definitely enhances the appreciation of the twists provided here. I truly loved the way certain things were flipped from Javert being female, to Eponine (Nina) being as far removed from the heartbroken original as one could get. Nina is the heart and soul of this tale with the love of her sister Azelma and the care she later provides for Ettie (Cosette) being fierce and sincere. Kester provides a strong cast of characters, richly described and magically delivered.  

‘I hear the voice of the city around me: a beast, half mad with pain, clawing at my ears, demanding that I listen. Its pulse beats through the cobblestones, anchoring my steps as I climb up unscalable slippery walls that fall away beneath my fingers. But I’m the Black Cat of the Thieves Guild, and this is my hunting ground.’

The reimagining of an absolute classic is a big ask and I applaud Kester believing many will sign up for her future instalments. If you are into retellings and appreciate a good Young Adult tale then this one's for you. With a strong foundation of the Les Mis themes of poverty and injustice, law and order this is a tale to lose yourself in. 

"I see my whole life laid out before me drawn in threads of crimson, gray, and black. I see

how it started, with a sister weeping in her bed; a child so terrified she gave herself to a thief; a girl who was so lovely, the world would go to war to possess her .... it ends where it begins ... it ends with him.”

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Elsa Goody, Bushranger

Title: Elsa Goody, Bushranger

Author: Darry Fraser

Publisher: 18th May 2020 by Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA

Pages: 352 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: historical fiction

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

Elsa Goody is a woman on a quest for buried treasure - and her own freedom. A thrilling historical romance adventure from a bestselling Australian author.

1896 Robe, South Australia

When Elsa Goody's father and brother George die in quick succession she and her sister Rosie are in trouble. Pursued by an unpleasant suitor with dubious motivation, Elsa leaves for Victoria on the hunt for a fortune in gold coins that her brother has hidden. If Elsa can find it she will be able to save Rosie and herself from married slavery.

Their quest leads them on a cross-country journey to find the last man who saw her brother alive, Ezekiel Jones. But Elsa is not the only one looking for buried treasure. She and Rosie are beset by bushrangers and in the confusion Elsa is accused of being an accomplice. Luckily not everyone believes that Elsa is a criminal. When she finally catches up with Ezekiel, it's clear that for him she can do no wrong.

But with everyone chasing her and bloody violence on the horizon, life is becoming increasingly complicated. Will she and Rosie ever manage to solve the mystery, find the gold and free themselves from a dark future?

My Thoughts

Darry Fraser has written some fabulous Aussie historical fiction and her latest offering is no different - great adventures in the outback. Once more there are colourful characters with an engaging dynamic and storyline. Darry will take you from tough farming life and country communities, to wagons on the road where bushrangers rove. It’s fun and exciting with danger and some unpredicted consequences.

‘You’re a scheming witch, Elsa,’ she said, a light in her eyes. ‘I never knew you to be so ...’ ‘Practical, inventive,’ Elsa finished for her, and stepped around the fallen man. ‘All this talk of bushrangers has made me quite daring.’ ‘Elsa, the bushranger,’ Rosie said in wonder ...’

The leading lady on this occasion, Elsa Goody, is strong and feisty but also caring and honest - the absolute star of this story. I particularly enjoyed Darry shining the spotlight on votes for women and Elsa’s earnest desire to be one of the first women to vote in South Australia. Supporting Elsa is a strong cast of characters from her sister and leading man, to a range of secondary characters who all in their way add to the story. I particularly enjoyed Ezekiel’s character as Darry made him multidimensional with his interactions not only with Elsa and his brothers but his softer side in the care of his children. 

‘But having a vote means we can change the way things are, change the way the world sees us because we now have a voice.’

The storyline of this book has many layers which is what lifts it to another level. From the votes for women (and indeed treatment of women as property) to the harsh day to day life on the land. Covering themes of domestic abuse, grief, female independence, family love - all tied together with a buried treasure - there is much to enjoy here. Love is the underlying motivation whether it be familial or romantic and it was good to see that this also was presented in more than one form. 

If you enjoy good Australian historical drama/romance then you will appreciate a few hours in this story Darry offers. I found it to be her best yet - it’s lots of fun. 

‘Elsa squared her shoulders. ‘None of that. We are strong women, and we will find our way out of this.’ She raised her chin higher. ‘We are the Goody sisters.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: The Sight of You

Title: The Sight of You

Author: Holly Miller

Publisher: 9th June 2020 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 344 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: contemporary fiction, romance

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

Joel is afraid of the future.

Since he was a child he's been haunted by dreams about the people he loves. Visions of what's going to happen - the good and the bad. And the only way to prevent them is to never let anyone close to him again.

Callie can't let go of the past.

Since her best friend died, Callie's been lost. She knows she needs to be more spontaneous and live a bigger life. She just doesn't know how to find a way back to the person who used to have those dreams.

Joel and Callie both need a reason to start living for today.

And though they're not looking for each other, from the moment they meet it feels like the start of something life-changing.

Until Joel has a vision of how it's going to end . . .

My Thoughts

The Sight of You is a fabulous book, a slow burner yet leaving you almost breathless by the conclusion.  This is not your usual romance novel - yes, there is Joel and Callie meeting and falling in love - but the twist is really quite unique. His future visions bring this love story to a whole new level and one must really read it to fully appreciate it. With alternative viewpoints from both Callie and Joel, the story flows well and will keep you engaged right through to the climactic ending. 

‘There’s more than one way to be happy in this life.’

This is not only unique but a really clever premise for a book that is told astoundingly well for a debut author. Haunted by his visions, what does that leave Joel with? Isolation and distancing whilst simultaneously trying to remotely protect those you love or conversely, let them rest easy that all will be well. The connection he has with Callie, however, is something he can’t step away from once their paths cross. She is everything he needs in his life ... until that day comes where he has a vision of her future. 

‘All the reasons I shouldn’t are still there: falling for her, fearing what I might see if I do, and everything that brings with it. But all the reasons I should are slowly beginning to outweigh them.     She knows about my dreams. I bared my soul to the first person I’ve truly cared about ... Something’s drawing us together, powerful as gravity. And now, after all these weeks, perhaps I’m finally ready to let gravity win.’

Over the course of the book, the reader initially sees each intimate phase in detail - from romance, relationship status until confronted with the reality of Joel’s foresight. It’s at this stage the chapters get shorter, as pages devoted to each of them slowly whittle away as the inevitable looms large. Would you tell someone their future? Would they want to even know? This part of the book will see you racing to the end and it’s clever - really clever - as if the shortness of the chapters coincides with the readers increasing anticipation to see how it will unfold. 

For a debut author, Holly has created a near perfect love story. It slowly soothes you until the very end, turning the final page, you are left with all the air gone from your lungs. Speechless. Incredibly moving. It’s this last section that will forcibly draw you in and won’t let you go. A massive fiction debut that deserves high praise indeed. 

‘If I truly loved him, maybe I’d be encouraging him to say what’s in his heart, agreeing to share the load. Because love isn’t only about the easy choices, the simple solutions - it’s about the hard graft and the tough calls, the sacrifices you don’t actually want to make. Nothing worth having ever comes easy, my dad always says.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Something to Talk About

Title: Something to Talk About (Rose Hill, #2)

Author: Rachael Johns

Publisher: 20th April 2020 by Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA

Pages: 368 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: fiction, contemporary, women’s fiction, romance

My Rating: 3.5 cups

Synopsis:

Dairy farmer Tabitha Cooper-Jones has a heart of gold, yet she's the eternal bridesmaid. Everyone's best mate. Despite facing some serious challenges over the years, she's built a successful ice-cream business and cafe, she's adored by her family and is an integral part of her hometown - there's just one thing missing from her life. But the last thing Tab wants is a man - or worse, love - to stop her achieving her dream.

In town for a temporary teaching contract, Fergus McWilliams thinks the small community of Walsh will be the perfect place to stay under the radar but he couldn't be more wrong. Suddenly, the kids' cricket team coached by Ferg is inundated with female supporters - single female supporters - and that's only the beginning.

The only woman who doesn't seem to have her sights set on Ferg is Tabitha. Despite a disastrous first meeting and a visit from a past love, circumstances keep throwing them together. Neither can deny the sparks between them, but can friendship even be possible for these two strong-willed people?

My Thoughts

Something to Talk About is the second book in the Rose Hill Series by Aussie author Rachael Johns. I read and enjoyed Talk of the Town so I was eager to return to familiar places and faces. That being said, while this book is listed as a sequel it can very easily be read as a standalone should you not have read the first book. Whilst my reading was enhanced through previous knowledge, Rachael does a good job of providing just the right amount of background details for new readers to feel comfortable with their knowledge of relationships.

This is the story of Tabitha and it was wonderful to see her claim her own space and time in the spotlight. Her entry is fun, emotional and heartwarming as she is quite the character - literally. She has much going on inclusive of her past, the present and exciting upcoming future events. Her love interest here of Fergus certainly sizzles (literally with lots of physical interactions) with the usual ups and downs, misunderstandings and confrontations. You know where the story is going and how it will end up, so it’s all about the journey and this is an emotionally charged one, much like Tabitha herself. 

A definite plus of these books is how well Rachael captures life in a rural community - events and residents together - providing a snippet of the everyday. With everything from the weekly ‘Stitch and Bitch’ sessions to the committee for the upcoming Show, the reader gets a real feel for life in a small farming community. Rachael also touches upon some heartfelt themes - cancer, living with a disability and care for the elderly. The incident with Mrs Lord particularly resonated with me and I thought Rachael did a good job on all these sensitive issues. 

All up, it was enjoyable to return to the local town and with a solid story about love and overcoming its many obstacles. 

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: The Jane Austen Society

Title: The Jane Austen Society

Author: Natalie Jenner

Publisher: 26th May 2020 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 307 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: historical fiction

My Rating: 4.5 cups

Synopsis:

Just after the Second World War, in the small English village of Chawton, an unusual but like-minded group of people band together to attempt something remarkable.

One hundred and fifty years ago, Chawton was the final home of Jane Austen, one of England's finest novelists. Now it's home to a few distant relatives and their diminishing estate. With the last bit of Austen's legacy threatened, a group of disparate individuals come together to preserve both Jane Austen's home and her legacy. These people—a laborer, a young widow, the local doctor, and a movie star, among others—could not be more different and yet they are united in their love for the works and words of Austen. As each of them endures their own quiet struggle with loss and trauma, some from the recent war, others from more distant tragedies, they rally together to create the Jane Austen Society.

My Thoughts

"But one can always read Austen.’ And that’s exactly what Austen gives us.  A world so a   part of our own, yet so separate, that entering it is like some kind of tonic. Even with so many flawed and even silly characters, it all makes sense in the end. It may be the most sense we ever get to make out of our own messed-up world. That’s why she lasts, like Shakespeare. It’s all in there, all of life, all the stuff that counts, and keeps counting, all the way to here, to you.’ 

This is a sweet story that takes place after WWII involving an unlikely group of people who are bound by their love of the writings of Jane Austen. With this shared passion, they decide to work together to preserve aspects of her life from when the author herself was located in Chawton, England. A definite highlight is this setting ... Chawton ...   lovingly portrayed with quaint village life on display.

Firstly, all Austen lovers will fully appreciate the many references made to the original works - it’s lovely to lose yourself not only in the homage paid but also in the comparative analysis given to preferences of Pride and Prejudice over Emma for example; or, Lizzie versus Emma. It is clear to see both the love and knowledge the author has of Austen’s writing. These book discussions subtly run parallel to the events of characters' own lives in the current storyline. A clever blend and there are some passages that I could lose myself in and demanded a reread and ponder:

‘He had gone to work every day merely to survive, saving for himself a few hours every night to disappear into fictional worlds of others’ making. He was hoping to find some answers inside these books, answers for why he didn’t care about some things and cared too much about others. He had always felt different from everyone else around him, different in a way that was so essential to his being that it practically blocked everything else out, it was so huge. It was as if a whole other world were inside him, so big that he couldn't see it without somehow getting completely out of his own way.’

Bring together an eclectic group of characters - ranging from a Hollywood actress, and Sotheby’s auctioneer to the local doctor and farmer to name but a few - and it makes for entertaining reading. What they have in common is their love of Austen’s works and each, in their own way, wishes to keep her words and memories alive. Thus, they come together to form The Jane Austen Society. Multiple stories are handled well as it meanders along at a gentle country pace. You will come to care about these characters who deal with issues ranging from love to loss. 

If you adore Jane Austen as I do, then this is perfect for you. It is highly character driven but very gentle in its execution - nothing great happens, it’s the exploration of the everyday with a sprinkle of romance. So put the kettle on, curl up and take a slow stroll through the streets of Chawton post WWII.

(Recommended for fans of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society)

‘... inside the pages of each and every book was a whole other world. He could disappear inside that world whenever he needed to - whenever he felt the outside world, and other people, pressing in on him - a pressure from social contact and expectations that was surely routine for everyone else, but affected him much more intensely and inexplicably. But he could also experience things from other people’s point of view and learn their lessons alongside them, and - most important to him - discover the key to living a happy life...’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: The Women Who Ran Away

Title: The Women Who Ran Away

Author: Sheila O’Flanagan

Publisher: 26th May 2020 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 435 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: fiction, contemporary, women’s fiction

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

In Sheila O'Flanagan's stunning new novel, two women face up to shocking truths about the men they've loved - and start to make their own decisions about what to do next...

Deira isn't the kind of woman to steal a car. Or drive to France alone with no plan. But then, Deira didn't expect to be single. Or to suddenly realise that the only way she can get the one thing she wants most is to start breaking every rule she lives by.

Grace has been sent on a journey by her late husband, Ken. She doesn't really want to be on it but she's following his instructions, as always. She can only hope that the trip will help her to forgive him. And then - finally - she'll be able to let him go.

Brought together by unexpected circumstances, Grace and Deira find that it's easier to share secrets with a stranger, especially in the shimmering sunny countryside of Spain and France. But they soon find that there's no escaping the truth, whether you're running away from it or racing towards it . . .

My Thoughts

A Sheila O’Flanagan book always guarantees a good read. On this occasion serendipity plays a role bringing together two women (at different stages of their lives) who find themselves together on a road trip through France and Spain. Current world circumstances dictate that this book provides some much needed armchair travel to two fabulous European countries. These women are at different stages of their lives and are dealing with different issues. What these differences do however, is allow them to work through things together removed from the usual life demands. 

One thing I particularly enjoyed about this book was the rich descriptions of locations that they traveled through from the time they got off the ferry at Roscoff to their final destination of Cartagena. Sheila provides just enough detail of places such as Bordeaux or Pamplona to make them come to life and invite you to feel a part of the journey. Two further interesting inclusions were the use of classic novels and the treasure hunt. Loved the snippets of classic literary references as both lead characters work together to solve clues regarding the destinations en route. 

‘Why not do something even madder than her original plan and travel with a woman she hardly knew, following a treasure hunt set by a dead man! Because it’s crazy, that’s why, she told herself. Bonkers. But then you’re crazy and bonkers too, aren’t you? ‘OK.’ She smiled at Grace. ‘I will.’

The idea behind this book is rather unique. Grace is a widow fulfilling her husband's last wishes of a treasure hunt. Deira is escaping Dublin after the unexpected departure of the man she thought to be her soulmate. Initially they socially cross paths but after a certain incident, make the decision to pair up and share the journey finding it easier to work through clues together. Of course, the journey evolves into more than just the literal excursion, as both women are on a course to learn about themselves and the choices and options life has in store for them. Despite the age gap, the two women worked together and supported one another. 

“Don’t judge her,’ said Grace. ‘Everyone’s very quick to pass judgement these days, and we don’t always know what’s going on in each other’s lives.”

Sheila’s books always provide good escapism, this one particularly so with its unique concept and armchair travel on offer. What person doesn’t love a road trip! This is a really lovely one through the French and Spanish countryside with two women whose lives will forever change as a result. 

‘It was so damn easy for people to tell you that you had plenty of time to start a family after doing the things you wanted to do, but life wasn’t like that. It hurtled past when you weren’t paying attention until suddenly you realised that policemen didn’t only look younger, they were younger, and that you didn’t recognise a single tune on the radio. And that somehow the  exciting, energetic stuff you’d put off doing was now being done by other people while you rubbed Voltarol onto your aching back.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Latitudes of Longing

Title: Latitudes of Longing

Author: Shubhangi Swarup

Publisher: 12th May 2020 by Hachette Australia/Quercus

Pages: 320 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: fiction, contemporary

My Rating: 2.5 cups

Synopsis:

A sweeping, lyrical debut about the love and longing between humanity and the earth itself, by a major new literary talent from India

A spellbinding work of literature, Latitudes of Longing follows the interconnected lives of characters searching for true intimacy. The novel sweeps across India, from an island, to a valley, a city, and a snow desert to tell a love story of epic proportions. We follow a scientist who studies trees and a clairvoyant who speaks to them; a geologist working to end futile wars over a glacier; octogenarian lovers; a mother struggling to free her revolutionary son; a yeti who seeks human companionship; a turtle who transforms first into a boat and then a woman; and the ghost of an evaporated ocean as restless as the continents. Binding them all together is a vision of life as vast as the universe itself.

A young writer awarded one of the most prestigious prizes in India for this novel, Shubhangi Swarup is a storyteller of extraordinary talent and insight. Richly imaginative and wryly perceptive, Latitudes of Longing offers a soaring view of humanity: our beauty and ugliness, our capacity to harm and love each other, and our mysterious and sacred relationship with nature.

My Thoughts

This is an interesting book. A series of four connected stories that take the reader on a journey through Asia,  geographically covering areas from India to Pakistan to name but two. Latitudes of Longing is full of lyrical writing and imagery. The characters are secondary inclusions when compared to the rich descriptions of the locales they live in. 

‘The life of an equal couple in the latitudes of longing and the longitudes of trepidation has hitherto been a rare, undocumented phenomenon—like a whale giving birth in Antarctica or white elephants mating in south Asia.’

The book begins quite strong but as it proceeds it slows down and becomes repetitive. If you relish writing about natural environments you will love this book. The descriptive language used is mind blowing as it sweeps you away across land and sea. However, for myself, it became too much - too many metaphors, similes and alliterations. It would make great poetry but not a story in its current form. This is unfortunate as the author clearly has a lot of talent and a definite way with words. With guidance the magical use of language could be channeled to provide a balance with the story itself. 

‘She moves around in her cotton sari like leaves rustling in the breeze. She breathes as imperceptibly as a tree, sucking in all the room’s air and spilling it back, fragrant. Like a bird, her gaze is intense, unblinking. With a single nod, it shifts from the metallic blue eyes of a fly perched on her wrist to an Andaman padauk trunk toppling somewhere on the archipelago, to a pod of dolphins entering the bay.’

Latitudes of Longing has much to offer as a lyrical dedication to the natural environment. A slow journey with much to ponder that many will love. Sadly, I struggled with it overall. 

‘The evening will come to an end. The only way to recapture it will be to travel along with the sun, experiencing the sunset again and again in the topographies of different longitudes and latitudes...’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.