Category Archives: Book Reviews
Scarlet by Genevieve Cogman – Blog Tour Book Review
About the Book
Revolution’s a bloodthirsty business . . . Scarlet is a thrilling reinvention of the tale of The Scarlet Pimpernel with the addition of magic and even more mayhem.
Revolutionary France is no place to be, especially for aristocrat vampires facing the guillotine. But the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel are determined to rescue them. And they have an ace up their sleeve: Eleanor, a lowly maid from an English estate with a striking resemblance to French royalty.
For Eleanor, the League and their legendary deeds are little more than rumour – until she’s drawn into their most dangerous plot yet. The mission? Travel to France in disguise, impersonate Queen Marie Antoinette and rescue the royal family. If they succeed, it’ll be the heist of the century.
But there’s more to fear than ardent Revolutionaries. For Eleanor stumbles across a centuries-old war between vampires and their fiercest enemy. And they’re out for blood . . .
Scarlet is the first book in the Scarlet Revolution trilogy, set during the turbulent French Revolution, and featuring all of Genevieve Cogman’s trademark wit and fast-paced plotting. It’s perfect for fans of The Invisible Library series, Kim Newman and Gail Carriger.
(From https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/genevieve-cogman/scarlet/9781529083729)
About the Author
Genevieve Cogman started on Tolkien and Sherlock Holmes at an early age, and has never looked back. But on a perhaps more prosaic note, she has an MSc in Statistics with Medical Applications and has wielded this in an assortment of jobs: clinical coder, data analyst and classifications specialist. Although The Invisible Library is her debut novel, she has also previously worked as a freelance roleplaying game writer. She is also the author of The Masked City and The Burning Page, both in The Invisible Library series. Genevieve Cogman’s hobbies include patchwork, beading, knitting and gaming, and she lives in the north of England.
(From https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/genevieve-cogman/6979)
What I Thought
I’m sure I’ve seen a Scarlet Pimpernel film at some point but can’t really remember much about the plot so I did go in to this book with a pretty open mind having been hard sold by the addition of vampires. I am now affectionately thinking of this as The Marie Antoinette Switch meets Interview with a Vampire meets Six of Crows.
In essence this first book of the trilogy is a heist story where a lowly English maid gets dragged into a plot to save Marie and her children from the revolutionaries.
Eleanor as a character is immediately relatable and despite the uncertainty we may feel as the reader in knowing whose side we are meant to be on we definitely know that we want to see Eleanor safely through this.
The English Aristocrats in the League are a mix of foppish personalities and a rag tag bunch but there are a number of points that as the reader we are left questioning if what they are doing is truly right. But equally the revolutionaries are chopping people’s heads off left right and centre. Including those of vampires.
Eleanor has been living in the home of an English Vampire and her view of what vampires are has been understandably swayed by her own experience. But are they as honourable as Lady Sophie has seemed to be. Her journey into France has her questioning everything she has ever known.
Vampires are just an accepted part of this world which otherwise reflects what things were like at the time of Revolutionary France so I was a bit surprised by the addition of some extra supernatural magic which definitely plays a part in this book but will definitely have more prominence as the story develops across the trilogy.
I do think lots of seeds have been sewn in this book that means the role of Vampires and 🤐 will take centre stage as we enter book two. I’m intrigued about how the League will fit into this wider world view and excited to see more badass women spies.
Thanks to Black Crow PR and the publisher TOR UK for the gifted ARC. All opinions are my own. Check out the rest of the tour stops to see other people’s views.
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Straight Expectations by Calum McSwiggan – The Write Reads Ultimate Blog Tour Book Review
About the Book
The brilliant debut novel from author, presenter and LGBTQ+ advocate Calum McSwiggan!
Seventeen-year-old Max has always been out, proud and just a little spoiled. Frustrated by the lack of romantic options in his small-town high school, during an argument with his lifelong best friend Dean, Max lashes out and says he wishes he had never been born gay.
Max gets more than he bargained for when he wakes up to find his wish has come true – not only have his feelings for boys vanished, but so has Dean.
With his school life turned upside down and his relationship with his family in tatters, Max sets out on a journey of rediscovery to find a way back to the life he took for granted, and the romance he thought he’d never have.
A deliciously romantic YA debut that’s What If It’s Us and One Last Stop!
Add it to Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61335651-straight-expectations
About the Author
Calum McSwiggan (born 21 May 1990) is a British YouTuber, blogger, and online radio presenter. McSwiggan creates video content on LGBT+ issues, mental health, and sex and relationships.[2][3][4] He began creating YouTube videos in 2013 and began hosting The Calum McSwiggan Show on Fubar Radio in 2017.
What I Thought
This is a modern and gay version of Big with our protagonist Max wishing away his gayness in a fit of frustration and being transported into what his life would have been like if he was straight. The absolute horror! (There is a Freaky Friday reference made in the book but I chose Big because the switch here only directly affects the one person).
The switch does take a little time to happen but I think it’s important for the plot that we spend time with the characters in their present reality first. We also get a slightly extended resolution which, for me, allowed more time for everything to be wrapped up leaving this as a very satisfying stand alone read – not that I’d be against reading more books featuring these characters.
I think fans of Simon James Green and Heartstopper will eat this up both because of the humour, and in that it features a whole diverse cast and I loved how intersectionality was addressed too with Max being forced to face up to his white gay privilege.
I really appreciated how all the side characters were explored as individuals in their own right and not just in terms of how they fit into Max’s life. And gosh this is the second YA book I’ve read in a row that features the parents!
Fans of musicals will also be in luck reading this and I don’t think I’ll be alone in desperately wanting to see the drag versions of Mean Girls and Little Shop of Horrors become a real thing.
Thanks to The Write Reads and the publisher for access to the gifted eARC. Opinions are my own. Do check out the tour to see other people’s views.
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If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come by Jen St. Jude – The Write Reads Ultimate Blog Tour: Book Review
About the Book
We Are Okay meets They Both Die at the End in this YA debut about queer first love and mental health at the end of the world-and the importance of saving yourself, no matter what tomorrow may hold.
Avery Byrne has secrets. She’s queer; she’s in love with her best friend, Cass; and she’s suffering from undiagnosed clinical depression. But on the morning Avery plans to jump into the river near her college campus, the world discovers there are only nine days left to an asteroid is headed for Earth, and no one can stop it.
Trying to spare her family and Cass additional pain, Avery does her best to make it through just nine more days. As time runs out and secrets slowly come to light, Avery would do anything to save the ones she loves. But most importantly, she learns to save herself. Speak her truth. Seek the support she needs. Find hope again in the tomorrows she has left.
If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come is a celebration of queer love, a gripping speculative narrative, and an urgent, conversation-starting book about depression, mental health, and shame.
Content warnings: discussions of depression, suicidality, apocalypse, homophobia and religious trauma.
Add it on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62039307-if-tomorrow-doesn-t-come
Genre: Young Adult, Queer, LGBT, Romance, Science Fiction
About the Author
Lambda Literary Fellow Jen St. Jude (she/they) grew up in New Hampshire apple orchards and now lives in Chicago with her wife and dog. She has served as an editor for Chicago Review of Books, Just Femme & Dandy, and Arcturus Magazine. When she’s not reading or writing, you can find her cheering on the Chicago Sky and Red Stars. If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come is her first novel.
What I Thought
Well, I’m writing this review as I wipe away tears from my eyes but surprisingly ones that feel hopeful and not just sad.
A book featuring discussion of suicide and an impending apocalypse would not be the top of people’s feel good reads but oddly enough this story has all sorts of beauty in it.
Our narrator Avery is ready to die, until it turns out all her loved ones are too. What follows is both countdown (to an asteroid collision) and count back (to when her depression materialised) and when things went wrong between her and the love of her life Cass.
This is the ultimate high stakes book, but its inevitable outcome is challenged time and again, creating a tense read at times, but with plenty of time for reflection too.
I loved the exploration of a multitude of different ways that humans decide to face the end and the powerful hope there is in clinging to the idea of survival.
Our main band of characters were all drawn so well (and we even get a YA book with two living parents) but it is Avery that shines. Avery who doesn’t believe her life is worth living who gives so much to those around her. But will she see it for herself in time? Can she hold on until the end? Would she hold on if the end never came?
All in all this was a wonderful read.
If you knew an asteroid was hurtling to earth what would you do? And once you’ve determined that why wait because what if tomorrow doesn’t come?
Thanks to The Write Reads and the publisher for the gifted ARC. As ever opinions are my own. Do check out the rest of the tour. Everyone is loving this one.
kirstyes 