The Water Witch by Jessica Thorne - Book Review

The Water Witch by Jessica Thorne

Publication Date: 05th August 2022

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy 

4 Stars 

One Liner: Engaging read with some great description 

*****

Ari Walker’s fiancé drowned in the stormy Atlantic Ocean two years ago. His words about the water witch, the lost city of Ys, and the curse continue to hound her. Ari wants nothing more than to bury herself in her university work. But when Jason asks her to visit him in Simon’s town, she has no choice but to go.

As a non-believer in fantasy tales, Ari is confused and unsure when she finds a mask during her archeological dive into the sea. Her interaction with Rafael gets complicated as she is torn between accepting the strange happenings in the town and dismissing them. 

But Rafael has everything at stake. After all, every man in his family got killed before their thirty-fifth birthday. With less than a month away from his own thirty-fifth birthday, Rafael is desperate and determined to get Ari’s help. 

Can they break the curse by finding the lost city of Ys before it is too late? Will Ari and Rafael acknowledge their feelings for each other? 

The story comes from the limited third-person POV of Ari and Rafael. 

What I Like: 

The book starts slow but picks up pace once the basics are established. I love the seamless blending of reality and fantasy. 

The descriptions are beautiful and vivid. I could visualize the settings with ease. It adds to the atmosphere and elevates the storyline. 

I remember how the FMC in The Book Binder’s Daughter didn’t feel capable of carrying the story. Here, Ari does a great job of taking the story forward. 

Ari and Rafael are well-etched. They are confident yet vulnerable. Capable but doubtful. They work well together in the book, even if the love track didn’t get enough depth to double the impact. 

While it is a mystery at its core, I could guess most of it. Luckily, I didn’t read it as a mystery book but more as a fantasy read. 

The storyline is based on local folklore in the region (in Brittany, France). I love the way the author wove her plotline around it. 

What Didn’t Work for Me: 

My only grouse with the book is that some aspects were left without explanation. A certain character seemed to be created for the sake of it. There just isn’t enough backstory. I wanted more about Ari and Rafael’s past. 

It’s not common for me to wish a book to have more pages (I prefer smaller books), but this one needed another 15-20 pages to provide more depth to the main characters and use the side characters to their full potential. 

To sum up, The Water Witch is an engaging and entertaining read if you like contemporary fantasy with some mystery and romance thrown in. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheWaterWitch

Moonsleep and Other Stories by Liz Tuckwell - Book Review

Moonsleep and Other Stories by Liz Tuckwell

Genre: Short Story Anthology, Dark Fantasy, Bizarro Fiction 

3.5 Stars 

One Liner: A decent collection of retellings and spooky tales 

Moonsleep and Other Stories is a collection of seventeen short stories (some retellings, some originals) with a blend of genres. Horror, medieval dark fantasy, paranormal, social drama, etc., are a few recurring genres. 

Similar to many anthologies, some stories hit the mark, a few remain average, and the rest end up underwhelming. The writing style is crisp and kept me interested.

I read the stories on and off whenever I had time and took notes. This review is a compilation of my notes. 

Mirror in Her Hand: Snow White retelling in fantasy noir with some cool twists. Reminded me of those B&W gangster movies, lol. 

Tully & the Ghost: A story of greedy queens, ghosts, and slaves. Interesting but not spooky enough. 

The Mysterious Mr. Fox: A retelling of Little Red Riding Hood with a twist. Is Mr. Fox a fox or something else? One of the best in the book. 

A Dead Mermaid on Eel Pie Island: A take on the political scenario (I guess). Falls into bizarro fiction and seems like a part of a supernatural investigative series. 

Some People Smell Roses: Well-written story about a woman who can smell death. 

Mason’s Revenge: A fractional retelling of Jane Eyre with zombies and stuff. Okayish. 

Cinderfeller: A gender-bent Cinderella. Another super cool story in the collection. 

Scared of Girls: This got weirder as it ended. Seems like I missed a crucial link. 

The Perfect Ham Sandwich: Meh! 

A Monster Met: Predictable storyline but engaging. Well written. 

The Boom Show: A weird death game. Reads more like a fragment of a larger story. 

A Tall Tree Tale: Hmm… oh well! Reminded me of a folktale from my school syllabus. 

The Young Woman in the Yellow Bikini: Who is the woman in the yellow bikini? Well-written. 

Moonsleep: A combo of witches, apothecaries, potions, nuns, witches, shape-shifters, etc. It needed a larger canvas. 

The Temptation of Charlotte Bronte: Will Charlotte Bronte make a deal with the Devil to become a famous author? Did she? 

I can’t help but add that the author seems to share the ‘I-can’t-name-a-story’ trait with me. Some titles are bland and don’t do justice to the story. 

To sum up, Moonsleep and Other Stories is a decent collection of short stories that aren’t either too scary or gory. 

I received an eCopy from the author and BookSirens. 

The Locked-Away Life by Drew Davies - Book Review

The Locked-Away Life by Drew Davies

Pub: 04th Aug 2022

Genre: Contemporary Drama 

3.7 Stars

One Liner: Great premise but needed a better execution 

*****

The Locked-Away Life is the story of two people, Esther and Bruno. Esther is an old woman, a recluse who shut herself away from the public eye after a mega scandal in the 70s. She needs to come to terms with and accept the latest technology to continue being independent and uncover the mystery from her past. 

Bruno is an eighteen-year-old boy with too much burden on his shoulders and a secret hidden deep inside his heart. He needs money to get away from the small town and build a life. 

When Bruno sees Esther’s ad about a paid position, he knows he needs to grab it. What starts as a tutoring session grows into something more as two unlikely people try to sort out the past, present, and future. Can Esther find peace from her past? Can Bruno figure out his future? 

The story comes in limited third-person POVs from Esther and Bruno. 

What I Like: 

The book deals with concepts like mental health, guilt, sexuality, regret, remorse, self-doubt, family & relationships, friendships, etc. It is heavier than my expectations but has enough light-hearted moments. 

Bruno’s desire to be ‘normal’ and his determination to attend Camp Change to change his sexuality is a heartbreaking premise. The camp scenes are well done without over-dramatization. 

Bruno’s vulnerability and compassion come out really well. He is a typical teen in some ways, but he is a sweet boy. 

 The interactions between Esther and others are interesting. Her conversations with Bruno, Dominic, Filip, Jane, etc., show different sides of her (all coming together to present the picture of an old lady with strong opinions and an iron will). 

It’s lovely to see characters like Esther become at ease with technology. As someone who taught my grandpa to understand the new features on his smartphone, I relate to the scenes. 

There are two epilogues, one for Esther and one for Bruno. I like them both, though everything is tied up a little too neatly. Still, I get a happy/hopeful ending, so no complaints. 

What didn’t Work for Me: 

The pacing is slow. It doesn’t help that the first chapter is almost 20% long (when the story ends at 91% in my eARC). Imagine that! A couple of chapters are just a page and a half long, but to read a super big first chapter feels tedious. 

The scandal from Esther’s past drags too much. I stopped caring by the time it is revealed. Even then, the details are hazy and underwhelming. Her character arc and the reason to isolate herself from the world don’t mesh. 

Too many words are wasted on Esther’s past while Bruno’s school life is ‘told’. Given the importance of his character arc in the story, we need to know more about what made him so vulnerable and doubtful. Seems like a lost opportunity to talk about things that matter. 

The idea behind the characters is more appealing than the characters. Not to say that they aren’t good. They just aren’t as effective as they should have been. I can’t pinpoint my issue, but it feels like the emotional connection between the characters and the readers is not complete (at least for me). 

To sum up, The Locked-Away Life is a heartwarming story with a wonderful premise but somehow doesn’t reach its full potential. This could have been so much better! 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheLockedAwayLife

*****

P.S: I debated a lot between 3 and 4 stars. A part of me wants to rate it three for the missed opportunities. But this is a good book despite the few misses. Three stars seem too less, so I'm rounding it off to four. 

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen - Book Review

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen

Publication Date: 23rd Aug 2022

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Contemporary 

3.8 Stars 

One Liner: Entertaining but go with the right expectations  

Hart is a marshal with the dangerous job of patrolling the wilds of Tanria and preventing dredges from attacking the citizens. Mercy is an undertaker, solely managing Birdsall & Son Undertakers despite the obstacles. 

Hart and Mercy can’t stand each other. They seem to bring out the worst in the other (do we see sparks flying?). However, they have more in common than they like to think. Both are lonely and pretty much have no life beyond their jobs. 

When Hart’s letter to an unknown friend reaches Mercy, she responds to it without knowing the sender's identity. Though a tentative friendship is born between them, things could go either way once the truth is revealed. 

What’s more, Tanria seems to be under attack by dredges coming out of nowhere. Why is there a sudden increase in cases? Who is responsible for this? How does it affect Hart and Mercy? What about their feelings for each other? 

The story comes from a limited third-person perspective of Mercy and Hart. 

What I Like: 

The narration is lighthearted and sprinkled with some bittersweet moments. There isn’t any descriptive prose or lyrical imagery. Though I’m a fan of both, I like that the narrative style suited the storyline and the cover. 

The side characters are an absolute treat. No kidding. I love them (except for Nathan and another guy). The main characters are decent, though they sometimes act less mature for their age. 

There’s food in the book, sweet treats and desserts (which is always a plus). It’s the men who cook while the ladies enjoy the delicious servings. 

The letters could have been better, but I preferred the toned-down version. It also helps that I didn’t even think of You’ve Got Mail. The letters suit the characters (who aren’t philosophical), so no complaints. 

There are quite a few weird, funny, and eye-roll-inducing moments. The overall effect is satisfactory, which is important to me. 

What Didn’t Work for Me: 

The pacing is super slow. A 336-page shouldn’t feel like a 450-page book. It took me four days to read this book (even when the prose is easy). I deleted 0.2 stars for this. 

The world-building goes a little on and off, and the same happens to the terminology as well. The contemporary slang doesn’t always suit the unidentifiable fantasy period. After all, they are writing letters to each other, and there’s no mention of phones (wired/ wireless). 

The shift from enemies to lovers is a little too abrupt. Sure sparks are flying, but the transition needs to be smooth.

A few threads didn’t seem to conclude properly, especially the Bill part. I won’t elaborate, but it could have been handled better. 

To sum up, The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy is an entertaining read if you plod through the slow pace and ignore a few bumps. Don’t compare it to You’ve Got Mail or expect heavy stuff. 

Thank you, NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK, and Orbit Books, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheUndertakingofHartandMercy 

*****

PS: The book has steam of 2ish level and cuss words (including F-bombs). 

The Lies I Told by Mary Burton - Book Review

The Lies I Told by Mary Burton

Publication Date: 02nd Aug 2022

Genre: Mystery/ Thriller, Drama 

3 Stars 

One Liner: Mixed bag 

*****

Marisa and Clare Stockton are twins with Brit as their elder sister. Clare’s body is found in Virginia’s James River when she was sixteen. The case went nowhere as none of the leads helped. 

Fourteen years later, Marisa survives a car accident with some memory loss about the incident. She swears she hasn’t consumed alcohol or drugs, but no one seems to believe her (not with her track record of spending most of her time zoned out due to substance abuse). 

But Marisa has been clean for a year. Her wedding photography business is flourishing. Brit is taking good care of her (even if it’s a little too much). She should be happy, but Marisa cannot rest until Clare’s case is solved. She has too many questions and no answers. Her smudgy memory doesn’t help either. 

Can Marisa get to the truth of the matter and get the closure she needs? Will she end up being an alcoholic because the pressure is too much to handle? Who is following Marisa, and what will they do to stop her progress? 

My Observations: 

The first half is clunky and slow. We seem to be going round in circles under 55%. Things start to happen afterward, and everything goes a fast track around 80-85%. I was almost bored on the first two days (as I barely touched 30%). 

The story comes in the first person POV of-

• Marisa
• The unknown Him
• Brit 
• Jo-Jo
• Jack 
• Richards 

Yeah! Marisa has a bigger share, but with so many POVs (not all of them are distinct), it feels more of a chore to track everything. The chapter titles mention the POVs (wondering how it would work for a single-narrator audiobook). 

None of the characters are likable. Marisa is the only one who comes close. She is highly flawed yet has the grit to see things through. 

The climax is rushed, and the ending takes its own sweet time. I appreciate the process of tying up the loose ends one at a time, but it got boring. Not to mention, a character’s actions seem strange and contradictory.

This book feels like it has potential but needs tightening and may be cut down a couple of first-person POVs and use third-person omnipresent instead. 

To sum up, The Lies I Told is a mixed bag with a couple of hits and misses. Not something I will want to read in a single sitting. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Montlake, for the eARC.  

#NetGalley #TheLiesITold 

The Condemned Oak Tree by Ada Rossi - Book Review

The Condemned Oak Tree by Ada Rossi

Genre: Literary Fiction 

4.5 Stars 

One Liner: Slow but fantastic 

*****

Maureen buries her husband on her allotment in April 1972. She pretends that he ran away and left her to care for their 10yo twins, Lucy and Carol. However, life puts many obstacles in her path. She has decisions to make that alter her and the children’s futures. 

Twenty-Seven years later, Maureen begins to tell her story- the story of her life, her growth, her mistakes, choices, love, family, acceptance, and resilience. But what is the truth? Who is listening to her story and why? What does Maureen want by revealing the secrets after so many years have passed? 

The story comes in the first-person narration by Maureen and is addressed to an unknown ‘you’ (revealed later). 

My Observations: 

I knew the book would be slow and was prepared for it, but this one takes its own sweet time to progress. But the writing is beautiful, and I couldn’t make myself speed-read. 

The book has nature interwoven into the narration with such love and reverence that I took my time to savor the descriptions and the emotions aligned with each month. 

The writing is undoubtedly clever. The twists come at the least expected time and are not highlighted. On the contrary, the revelations are toned down, which amplifies the impact on the reader. Very smart and artful. 

The title suits the book so well. It wasn't there for the sake of it but means a lot more to the story.

The narration is non-linear, which makes it even more interesting. It helps fill up the blanks and sketch Maureen’s character arc. And she is such a well-crafted character too. Her dark humor is a treat to read. 

I like how the book starts in April. It is our month of New Year (the Hindu calendar) and the arrival of Spring. It suits the story perfectly. 

The ending is yet another highlight of the book. It ties up the loose ends but leaves enough room for the reader to imagine another scenario. The revelation aligns with the character arcs developed throughout. 

To sum up, The Condemned Oak Tree is a slow but fantastic read for those who love to read about nature and human emotions without drama. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Butterdragons Publishing, for the eARC. 

#TheCondemnedOakTree #NetGalley

*****

PS: It saddens me that such a beautiful book has single-digit reviews. There are many below-average indie books with more traction. This one deserves to be read.