Tristan/ Yseult by Harry Bonelle - Book Review - Blog Tour

Published in January 2024

Publisher: ‎ Unicorn Publishing Group

Hardback Price (UK): £15 

ISBN: 9781911397908

Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tristan-Yseult-Harry-Bonelle/dp/1911397907/ 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199687414-tristan-yseult

4 Stars 

Blurb: 

A duel on an empty island sets the course for one of the greatest romances ever told. As the lovers of legend meet, something new is born, and something eternal is revealed. Their names will forever be spoken as one. This modern retelling of Tristan and Yseult sheds a stark light on the beauty of the Celtic tale.

My Thoughts: 

There are countless retellings of Tristan and Yseult (Isolde), though I wasn’t aware of the story until I saw the book. This is a poetic retelling with a different focus. 

Based on my quick search on the net, it seems many retellings deal with the forbidden and doomed love between Tristan and Isolde. While this narrative poem also tackles the same topic, it brings a fresh perspective and presents the tale in a unique manner. 

The book begins with a preface by the author where he provides a brief insight into the story, his version, and the inspiration for his poem. The poem, he says, is highly inspired by Richard Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde (opera) - not the content but the music. While I haven’t heard/ seen the opera, the poem indeed emphasizes sound effects through words. 

The narrative verse is neatly divided into three parts, which are further categorized into chapters. The titles hint at the events in the respective sections. 

As the poet said, there is no mention of the word ‘love’ anywhere in the poem. Yet, we cannot help but feel the longing between the two main characters during the brief period they spend together. Yseult is nursing almost dead Tristan back to life in secret. This binds them in an unexplainable bond.

The narrative used enjambment to achieve the disjointed and fragmented rhythm. The rhythm changes often to align with the events. Sometimes, we get broken sentences, sometimes sharp orders, and mellowed longing at other times. There are alliterations and random rhymes, not deliberate but more to suit the context. The same goes for repetition. 

These are my favorite lines from the book - 

For course of days and short short nights

The healer and her haul are bound.

The poem starts on the sea with Tristan on the waves, his duel, and his injury. It progresses to Yseult finding an unconscious Trsitan, healing him, the role of Brangenn, the maid, the interaction between the lead couple, and finally, their separation. There’s even a two-page chapter in Stream of Consciousness, the fever dream of Tristan, written with no punctuation or capitalization. 

It can take a while to get used to the style, but once you understand, the words flow faster and better. It will help if you have a basic idea about the original story since the style doesn’t have space to offer a lot of detail or backstory. 

To summarize, Tristan/ Yseult is a creative and innovative retelling from a different perspective. It is a sound-based poem rather than a lyrical one, so go with the right expectations. 

My thanks to Anna (Random Things Tours) and the author for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

***

About The Author – Henry Bonelle 

Harry Bonelle is a Classics graduate of Homerton College, Cambridge. He later trained in Acting for Screen at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and now works as an actor. Tristan/Yseult is his first work to be published.

***

This has been a pitstop on the blog tour conducted by Random Things Tours (@RandomTTours on Twitter). Thank you for stopping by! 

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett - Book Review

Series: Shadow of the Leviathan #1

Publication Date: 06th Feb 2024

Genre: Mystery, Fantasy 

3 stars 

One Liner: Good mystery drowns in a vague setting 

Eccentric investigator Ana Dolabra is asked to solve the case of the mysterious death of an Imperial officer in the Empire. The dead man is now a tree or has a tree growing from his dead body. 

Dinios Kol, Ana’s new assistant and an engraver with ever-lasting memory, goes to the scene to collect information for his superior. As they find more details, it’s clear that the death is not an independent incident. With what seems to be a threat to the Empire itself, Ana and Din have to find the culprit before it’s too late. 

The story comes in the first-person POV of Dinios Kol. 

My Thoughts: 

The premise is wonderful, and the combination of mystery and fantasy made me curious. 

The mystery is the best part of the book. I like how complex and layered it is. Ana (despite everything) has turbo-charged grey cells that work 24*7. Din is solid and balances out the equation well. While some readers may find Din bland, I like that it is his personality. He is supposed to be that way. Imagine him being like Ana. That would be super annoying. Din is good the way he is. 

The revelation also comes in stages. Even though we get lengthy dialogues with explanations, these are followed by fast-paced action scenes to balance the narrative. 

Some secondary characters are promising. I quite liked meeting them. It’ll be nice to see them in the future books. The names are typical fantasy stuff- made up by throwing together random alphabets. Not an issue since I do the same, lol. 

When I read fantasy, I tend to go with the flow and see where the story takes me. However, that approach didn’t help here. I still have little to no idea about the setting. On a side note, shouldn’t this be a dystopian fantasy? That way, I can tick off a reading challenge prompt! 

Man, the pacing is slow. There is a lot of detail about the setting, which sadly doesn’t translate to an imaginable output. I’m someone who finds it easy to visualize settings and scenes. Yet I couldn’t see beyond the outlines. (Translation- it needs better editing) 

Ana tries hard to be Sherlock but doesn’t get close. Maybe the character was just herself, we’d have better luck. There’s potential buried under all that swearing and cursing. Saying the F-word a million times doesn’t make anyone cool or whatever. 

Still, I admit I chuckled a few times, even when danger was looming over. The monsters (which are just as vague but super duper huge) tend to come out at random. 

The first chapter is terrific. The subsequent ones, not as much, make it hard to sustain interest after the initial burst of intrigue. Luckily, the last section is solid, which pushed the rating from 2 to 3 stars. 

A special mention about the cover for this edition. At first glance, I thought the red part was a cracked bowl with some bluish fumes around it. Then I realized I was wrong. The bigger red portion is the sky with a red sun (or whatever the Empire has). The crack is a breach in the sea wall. The haze is detailed, with steps, exotic plants, and the main characters. There’s a cup on the side and a couple of lanterns on the opposite corners. The design is brilliant once you start reading the book. 

To summarize, The Tainted Cup is a layered mystery set in a fantasy world. It would make a great read with some strict editing and clearer world-building. If I read book #2, it’ll be for Din. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton (Hodderscape), for the eARC.  

#NetGalley #TheTainedCup 

Nonna Maria and the Case of the Lost Treasure by Lorenzo Carcaterra - Book Review

Series: Nonna Maria #3 (Standalone)

Publication Date: 07th May 2024

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Small Town, Italy 

4 Stars 

One Liner: A heartwarming read! 

Nonna Maria’s long-time friend, Captain Murino of the Ischian caribineri, is in danger due to the cases he solved before coming to this tiny island. Nonna Maria is determined to save him, just as he is determined to keep her safe from the ruthless men. 

Meanwhile, Rita, the granddaughter of Nonna Maria’s friend, comes to her for help. Her late grandfather gave her a map of lost treasure in the caves on the other end of the island. She needs help to find the treasure, and Nonna Maria knows many others want to grab the treasure first. 

How will our dear old lady handle the cases while cooking, feeding dear ones, and making new friends? 

The story comes in the omnipresent third-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

Well, it’s not often that a mystery book gets called heartwarming. However, with Nonna Maria as the star lead, this can’t be anything less sweet despite all the action, mystery, and danger. 

The book should work as a standalone. I’m yet to read the first book, but liked the second and enjoyed this (third). It is not a whodunit but more of a howdunit. We are told who the criminal is in advance. Now, the question is how will we get to the confrontation and what happens next. 

The writing is easy to read and flows at a steady pace. The short chapters are highly convenient. There’s more ‘tell’ than ‘show’, but it works for the plot. A good author knows what to show and what to tell. Moreover, there are subtle bits of humor- not where you laugh out loud but smile or chuckle a little. 

Of course, there are plenty of dishes mentioned throughout. While I don’t eat most of them, I still enjoyed the descriptions and the characters having a hearty meal. 

The island of Ischia is easy to visualize. The alleys, the stone walls, the old castle, the caves, and locals with bittersweet history, everything enriches the plot. In fact, it is a core character in the book. 

There are two tracks (as you see in the premise). That means we have two sets of characters to meet. Yet, it doesn’t get the least bit confusing. Even with someone knowing someone or being another relative, it is easy enough to follow the developments. 

There’s no lead for the next book, but I hope the series continues. I’m sure many people will need Nonna Maria’s help. 

The book ends with a sweet author’s note and leaves the reader with a smile. 

To summarize, Nonna Maria and the Case of the Lost Treasure is a sweet cozy mystery set on a beautiful island and has some memorable characters. Pick it up if you want a relaxing mystery and have a couple of hours of free time. 

Thank you, NetGallet and Random House Publishing Group- Bantam, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #NonnaMariaAndTheCaseOfTheLostTreasure

The Arsenic Eater's Wife by Tonya Mitchell - Book Review

Publication Date: 08th Feb 2024

Genre: Historical Drama, Inspired by True Story 

3.8 Stars 

One Liner: Dark and stark but a worthy read 

1889, Liverpool 

Constance Sullivan is a twenty-six-year-old widow of William Sullivan. She is brought to trial for poisoning her husband. As her lawyer tries to prove her innocence, we see what happened between the closed doors and the changing relationships between the couple and other family members. 

Is Constance innocent or guilty? What will the jury decide? What’s the truth? 

The story comes in Constance Sullivan’s third-person POV in the present tense. 

My Thoughts: 

The book starts with Constance being arrested for her husband’s death and goes back and forth between the trial and the past events that led to this situation. Despite the non-linear narration, there is no confusion anywhere. 

The writing is strong and flows well. I wasn’t expecting this, so it took me a while to get into the mood. Once I did, I liked it better. The pacing is a little uneven, but works. 

The court scenes are my favorite, and I wish we had more of those. Apparently, back then, the accused wasn’t allowed to talk, so we don’t see Constance speaking. Sir Charles, her lawyer, makes a strong impression. 

That said, there is no gothic house. While the place is called oppressive, it has no role in the plot. They could be living in any rich house, and the story would have been the same. At the most, the Gothic elements would be the constant gloom and twisted nature of the characters. 

Constance is, of course, a flawed character. We are told she is too naïve and trusts the wrong people, which destroys her life. While some of it may be true, I wouldn’t call her innocent. Instead, her actions, thoughts, decisions, etc., show she is the center of her world. She is self-absorbed and has a narrow perspective that starts and ends with her. Anything beyond that is an inconvenience that is to be ignored. Even after all the years, the changed version of her is not that different from the original. She still makes the same mistakes in a roundabout way. Let me emphasize that this doesn’t make it okay for the injustice she faced. Also, the author makes us root for her despite these flaws, which is quality writing. 

The ending becomes a bit OTT, which isn’t great. However, I do like the intentions behind this. It does provide a sort of closure and a sense of hope for the MC, which is something I want from the books I read. 

There’s a detailed author’s note at the end, providing insights into the actual case and the areas that have been fictionalized. This is useful in understanding and comparing both versions. A list of references is provided. We also get book club questions for discussions. 

This is a dark book with almost zero light-hearted moments. It’s not something to relax with and has triggers for domestic abuse, infidelity, self-harm (multiple scenes), and animal death. 

To summarize, The Arsenic Eater's Wife is a well-written story inspired by real events. It holds a mirror to the injustices and inequalities women faced (and continue to face) in society. Do check the triggers (listed above) before you read. 

Thank you, Bloodhound Books, for the eARC. 

Check this report for a brief insight into the actual case. 

Secrets of the Snakestone by Piu DasGupta - Book Review

Publication Date: 14th March 2024 

Genre: Middle-Grade Fantasy Adventure 

3.5 stars 

One Liner: Fast-paced and entertaining

1895, Paris 

Zelie Dutta is not a witch, even if she is accused of being one. However, a chance encounter brings her face-to-face with Jules, a sewer cleaner boy who found a gold locket. This locket once held the (in)famous Snakestone, the one Zelie needs to find her father. 

However, the quest is far from easy, with a dangerous brother society wanting the same magical stone. Time is running out, and Zelie has to use all their talents to stay alive and find her father. Can she do it? 

The story comes in Zelie (mostly) and Jules’ third-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

How can I resist a book that has Indian characters? And, of course, the vibrant cover grabbed my attention. This one connects colonial India and France (Paris) with magic, science, mystery, adventure, steampunk, and loads of danger.

The narration is fast-paced, so much so that we don’t get time to breathe before Zelie is off on another adventure. This suits her character, as she is a bundle of energy, ready to jump, leap, and rush (for different reasons). However, there isn’t much time for anything else, be it character development or detailed world-building. 

The book starts with Zelie being called a witch. We see how the fellow maids in the house are wary of her for belonging to another race and most importantly, because her eyes are of a different color. Zelie has heterochromia, where the color of each eye is different. 

Jules is a sewer boy, twelve years or so. He is not eager to help Zelie but agrees eventually. There were instances when I liked Jules more than our MC. He is balanced and not prone to impulses like her. However, I didn’t find any mention of Zelie’s age. She should be around the same or a year younger, based on my calculation. It’s hard to imagine the characters in such instances. 

In a way, I like that Zelie is not perfect. She is judgmental, stubborn, reckless, and not someone who will listen to good advice. Despite that, I feel many young readers will connect to her determination to find her father and the risks she takes in the process. Her love for her family comes across very clearly. She is kind, which works in her favor. 

The overall content is darkish but nothing too scary. There’s no time to feel scared with the girl racing off to a bigger danger. Sigh! 

The book deals with themes like trust, friendships, family, greed (for fame and money), privilege, differences between rich and poor, the lack of pockets in women’s wear, etc. And oh, it puts forward an important question - why do men’s dresses have buttons in the front and when women have to deal with buttons at the back? So unfair, right? 

Each chapter comes with a title, hinting at what’s to come. Some of these are spoilers, too. It won’t be a problem for all, but some readers won’t like it. 

To summarize, Secrets of the Snakestone is an entertaining adventure set in the dark side of Paris. Despite the flaws, the book is a good read and should keep young ones hooked. 

The Kindle version is okay, but the formatting is the best in the PDF. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Nosy Crow, for the eARC.  

#NetGalley #SecretsOfTheSnakestone

**

P.S.: The author’s website has an animated version of the book’s cover. It is so cool! 

A Most Murderous Wedding by Bianca Blythe - Book Review

Series: Murder Most Gilded Age Mystery #1 (Standalone)

Publication Date: 30 Jan 2024

Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery 

2.5 Stars (outliner) 

One Liner: Good premise, not-so-good execution 

1892, Boston 

Ruby Irving is the daughter of a Nevada tycoon, a rich man with new money. Despite her education and money, not many like her or her family. After all, she doesn’t belong to the English aristocracy. Ruby doesn’t seem to mind. 

However, when her groom jilts her on the wedding day and refuses to say his vows, Ruby is in the limelight for the wrong reason. As if that’s not enough, George, the ex-groom, is found dead (murdered). Ruby’s Pa is the prime suspect since he was heard threatening to kill the man. 

With the police making up their minds and not doing the needful, Ruby decides to investigate and save her Pa from being framed for murder. 

The story comes from Ruby’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

I’m always up for a cozy mystery, so when this was available for request, I didn’t think much. Also, it would have been my first mystery series set in the Gilded Age. Unfortunately, the results are not great. 

Given the page count and that this is still the first in the series, there isn’t much character development for anyone, including Ruby. I’m okay with it to an extent since we get an idea of what they are. That’s enough for the plot. 

What I Like: 

This is a small book with 199 pages and has a steady pace. You can finish it in a single sitting (1.30 to 2 hours max). 

The story starts with the wedding and the groom refusing to say ‘I do’. Even the death occurs soon afterward. 

We get the backstory and information in bits and pieces to prevent an info dump. This helps sustain the pace and keep the readers interested. 

Ruby starts out well. Her parents are rather endearing. I like the scenes where she is proud of them, as she should be. 

What Didn’t Work for Me: 

Well, the mystery has potential but has not been explored. Ruby starts sleuthing, which becomes half-baked in the second half. The resolution is not a result of her efforts but a chance plot development. 

We are told Ruby is a smart girl, a math-loving, practical person who doesn’t believe in romance and stuff. However, somewhere along the way, she ends up with tingling(s) for more than one person. The shift from being a no-nonsense heiress to this for the sake of sustaining the mystery messes up her arc. 

Ruby isn’t that different from the snobs she claims to dislike. While this can be a deliberate character flaw, it doesn’t reflect well on a girl who tends to feel ashamed of her parents when they so clearly love her and give her what she wants. 

With the narrative in the first-person, the story could have been real good, especially the climax. However, the readers are left to assume that everything has been sorted when we jump to the epilogue after the killer is revealed (to us). This works in short stories, not in novels. We don’t need detailed explanations, but a paragraph or two is necessary. 

To summarize, A Most Murderous Wedding is a quick cozy mystery with some lighthearted moments and depicts the social situations and flaws well. However, it is pretty much an average read. 

I’m an outliner here, so check out other reviews before you decide. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Somerset Park Press, for the eARC.  

#NetGalley #AMostMurderousWedding

***

P.S.: I think I’m more annoyed due to my high expectations. The author has written many books and has a decent average rating. Maybe this one isn’t her best. I’ll read something from her previous works to get a better idea.