Series: Edinburgh Nights #4
Release date: November 7 2024
Publisher: Tor Books
Pages: 400
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 4.25/5 stars

Synopsis

Ghoststalker Ropa Moyo learns a shocking truth about her family. But after she confronts her grandmother with the revelation, Gran is murdered and Ropa is now the prime suspect on top of dealing with her loss. Ropa races to uncover the real murderer, and soon finds a connection to an old magical cult. They are trying to take control of Scotland by resurrecting an army of the dead, led by a dark lord. She’ll have to use all her magic and hard-won skills in her biggest challenge yet.

Review

The Legacy of Arniston House is the fourth installment in T. L. Huchu’s Edinburgh Nights series. We pick up after the events of book three, with Ropa now working for English magic. When Ropa discovers that her grandmother has been murdered, she must work to uncover who is responsible whilst also being the prime suspect in her death. Ropa soon uncovers a much more sinister plot to take over Scottish magic and bring back a dark lord. Can she uncover the truth behind Gran’s death as well as the truths about her own family?

I always look forward to the release of the next installment in this series and I completely devoured The Legend of Arniston House. Like the previous books this story is fast paced, gripping and has a brilliant protagonist. Ropa has such a strong narrative voice and I love seeing her continue to grow. In this book Ropa undergoes quite a lot of character growth as she learns who her family were and has to deal with the grief of losing her grandmother. She’s also still a complete badass and I read the last few chapters on the edge of my seat as I just had to know what was going to happen next.

The story is well paced and I love the way that Huchu brings the sights and sounds of Edinburgh to life in this series. There are plenty of twists and turns and some surprises that I was not expecting. The story has finished in a very intriguing place and I am already very much anticipating the next book in the series. If you’re looking for a unique and engaging fantasy series, this one is absolutely not to be missed.

Release date: May 23 2024
Publisher: Magpie
Pages: 288
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: I bought a copy of this online
Rating: 3/5 stars

Synopsis

Following a scandal at Vauxhall pleasure gardens, Camille is sent away to her reclusive godmother, who keeps a strict watch over her and her own sickly daughter, Lucy. Camille must stay away from everything she has known until the scandal is forgotten, keeping strictly to the small farmhouse in the woods. Away from the corsetry and curtsies of polite society, Camille finds herself surprisingly…free. She is also strangely drawn to Lucy, a pale, fragile girl who dreams of stars, but has never left the farm. Yet as Camille and Lucy grow close and cross forbidden boundaries, the fine balance of their woodland home begins to death stalks between the trees, claw-marks rake the doors and the moon rises to the song of a creature Camille has never heard before. Camille begins to realise her godmother was holding more than unladylike behaviour at bay…

Review

Moonstone is a YA fantasy story that follows a young woman called Camille who is sent to stay with her godmother following a scandal with a young man. Her godmother is a recluse and spends her days living in the forest and looking after her daughter Lucy who has a strange illness. As the two spend more time together Camille soon discovers there is much more to Lucy and her illness than meets the eye.

Moonstone is the YA debut of The Silent Companions author Laura Purcell. I have read a number of books from this author previously and given them all five stars so I was very intrigued by this one. Moonstone is very different from the gothic historical horrors I have come to expect from Purcell and while it did not grab me in the same way, this was still an enjoyable read. It was well paced and being just under 300 pages it was a pretty quick and engaging read. I did find the story somewhat predictable but that did not mean I was not intrigued to see how it all played out.

I liked Camille and Lucy as main characters and I thought Purcell did a good job of developing their relationship as they spent more time together. I thought the romance could have done with a little more development but overall I thought the story came to a satisfying conclusion. I absolutely love Purcell’s writing style and that definitely shone through in Moonstone. Whilst I didn’t fall in love with this one I am not necessarily the target audience so if you are someone who loves YA fantasy then Moonstone would definitely be your kind of book and I am of course very much looking forward to whatever Purcell writes next.

Release date: October 8 2024
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 384
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: I received an E-ARC via Netgalley
Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis

Clem gets a call that is every mother’s worst nightmare. Her nineteen-year-old daughter Erin is unconscious in the hospital after a hiking trip with her friends on the remote Orkney Islands that met a horrifying end, leaving her boyfriend dead and her best friend missing. When Erin wakes, she doesn’t recognize her mother. And she doesn’t answer to her name, but insists she is someone named Nyx.

Clem travels the site of her daughter’s accident, determined to find out what happened to her. The answer may lie in a dark secret in the history of the Orkneys: a woman wrongly accused of witchcraft and murder four centuries ago. Clem begins to wonder if Erin’s strange behavior is a symptom of a broken mind, or the effects of an ancient curse?

Review

The Book of Witching is the newest release from The Nesting author C J Cooke. The story follows a woman named Clem who receives a call telling her that her daughter Erin is in hospital. All Clem knew was that Erin was on a hiking trip in the Orkney Islands but she soon discovers Erin’s boyfriend is dead, her best friend is missing and Erin has burns all over her body. When Erin wakes she doesn’t recognize Clem, but says her name is Nyx. Clem must travel to Orkney to uncover what really happened to Erin, encountering an ancient cursed book and the story of a woman wrongly convicted of witchcraft.

This is my fifth book from C J Cooke and it might be my favourite one yet. I’ve given all of Cooke’s books four or five stars so I had pretty high expectations for this one. It was dark, captivating and I could not put it down. I love Cooke’s writing style and the ability she has to completely suck you into the story. The mysteries in this book kept me guessing right until the very end and there were more than a few twists I did not see coming.

The story is set in present day, as well as following Alison in 1594 as she is accused of attempted murder by witchcraft. I really enjoyed the story in both timelines and Cooke does a brilliant job of bringing the two story arcs together.  The story felt incredibly well researched and all the small details that Cooke adds really brings Orkney in the 1500s to life. This book is so compelling and I was completely riveted by the complex and fascinating characters Cooke created in this story. This book has so many intriguing elements including witchcraft, a creepy book, cults, murder and mystery.  Cooke is also masterful at building a strong sense of atmosphere and I ended up reading the last 100 pages in one sitting. The Book of Witching was a brilliant five star read and it will definitely be in my favourite books of 2024. If you’ve been curious about this one I would absolutely recommend checking it out and I am dying to find out what C J Cooke will write about next.

Release date: September 10 2024
Publisher: Usborne Books
Pages: 337
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis

Erin and Max are two trans kids, just trying to get to California. Max is desperate to finally be able to transition, and Erin is longing to understand why she’s on this trip to begin with, after Max suddenly broke up with her two years earlier.

But when they find themselves stranded – and eventually separated – in the creepy woods of rural middle-America, they suddenly have much bigger problems.

First, there’s the creature that, according to legend, feeds on girls, hunting them through the shadows.

And then there are the locals, who are searching for a female sacrifice. If either of them hope to survive to see the sunrise, Erin and Max will have to come together and stop from their attackers, from each other, and, ultimately, from themselves.

Review

Old Wounds follows two trans teens – Erin and Max as they attempt to journey cross country to California to a new life. When they become stranded in a small town in the middle of nowhere they soon find all is not what it seems and must do everything they can to escape.

This is such a well crafted story that really focuses in on these two characters and their lives. I thought the characters were really well developed and there’s lots of character growth as Max and Erin attempt to find themselves during this terrifying situation. I also liked the way Kisner explored the dynamics between the two. Max is so desperate to get to California, to transition and start a new life. Meanwhile Erin is trying to understand who she is to Max since they’ve barely spoken since he broke up with her.

This story is fast paced and captivating, I ended up reading this one in just a few sittings. The story is atmospheric and there are some really scary moments in this book. The story very much focuses on gendered violence and there are quite a few content warnings to check too.

Overall this was a thoroughly gripping and thought provoking book one that I know fans of YA horror/thrillers will be absolutely hooked by.

Release date: September 12 2024
Publisher: Renegade Books
Pages: 292
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 3.75/5 stars

Synopsis

Steeped in ancient magic, dark divinity and wild ways, Goddess with a Thousand Faces takes you on a historical journey like no other…

Blending mythological retellings with historical research, Goddess with a Thousand Faces traverses the world and transports through time to bring ten formidable and inspiring ancient goddesses to life. Meet Artemis, the Greek goddess of the wilderness, never without her bow and arrow; Sedna, Inuit goddess of the ocean, guarding the icy waters and all its creatures; Isis, Egyptian goddess of healing, who dwells by the River Nile, just to name a few…

Jasmine Elmer explores these goddesses of our past, uncovering their truths, their rebellion and their freedom. For too long, they have been written out of history; lost to the sands of time and stamped into silence. Goddess with a Thousand Faces restores these women to their glory.

Pour over this treasure trove of myths, legends and mighty goddesses. Hear the messages echoing through the ages and see yourself in the faces of these icons. For while their stories might ancient, today they are more important – and more powerful – than ever.

Review

Goddess with a Thousand Faces is a fascinating book that explores the myths of ten goddesses from around the world. Split into ten chapters, each section explores the myth and historical context of a goddess.

This was such an interesting read! I loved the way Elmer retold the myth surrounding each goddess but also gave the reader some information surrounding the history and culture of the goddess. It allows the reader a chance to gain a deeper understanding of the world and history surrounding that mythology. I also liked the way Elmer highlighted what we can take from the myth of each goddess and apply it to our lives.

Elmer has a great narrative voice and I really liked that Goddess of a Thousand Faces is written in a really accessible way – even if you know lots about certain mythologies you’re bound to still find some new and interesting details. There were goddesses I was already familiar with featured in this book (like Freya and Isis) and plenty I had never heard of (like Kali and Sedna). Their stories were all fascinating and I ended up reading one a night to give me a chance to really think about and absorb each story.

If you’re looking for a book that weaves history and mythology in a really fascinating and compelling way, you definitely need to add Goddess with a Thousand Faces to your TBR.

Release date: July 16 2024
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 304
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis

Two years ago, Riley visited the abandoned and allegedly haunted religious reform school Dominic House with his boyfriend, Ethan, and his best friends, Colton and Vee.

Ethan never came out. Colton’s leg will never quite heal, Vee is branded as hysterical, and Riley has horrific scars as a reminder of that night.

Now, at eighteen, Riley hasn’t exactly moved on, but he’s kept away from all things paranormal.

Until legendary ghost chaser Jordan Jones shows up with an offer: return to Dominic House with her to film an episode of her Spirit Seekers TV show.

Riley may have vowed never to return, but he has unfinished business at Dominic House. With a reluctant Colton and Vee at his side, Riley is determined to find out what happened to Ethan once and for all.

But as the night wears on, Riley realizes he isn’t just revisiting the most terrifying night of his life— he’s reliving it.

With an eerily elegant voice, dual timelines that slowly unravel a chilling ghost story, themes of religious trauma, and secrets in every corner, Trespass Against Us is the kind of horror story that will keep you up long into the night.

Review

Trespass Against Us is a dark and addictive YA horror that follows a group of friends that visit the abandoned Dominic House in search of ghosts. Four went in, but only three came out. Riley is unable to get past the horrors of that night or the disappearance of his boyfriend Ethan. When Riley and his friends are asked to take part in an episode of ghost hunting show about Dominic House, Riley knows he has unfinished business and has no choice but to return.

I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down. Ghost hunting gone wrong is one of my favourite premises and Kemp did a magnificent job of executing this story. Told in two timelines (one during the first visit to Dominic House and the second during the return) i found the way this story unfolded so compelling. I really enjoyed Kemp’s writing style and there were a few scenes that definitely sent a shiver down my spine. Kemp does a brilliant job creating a tense, unsettling atmosphere and this book is the absolute perfect read for Halloween.

Trespass Against Us has a really interesting friendship group and I really enjoyed seeing how the dynamics changed between the two trips to the abandoned school. Riley and Ethan have such a sweet relationship and I thought their relationship was really well developed.

Trespass Against Us is a gripping, creepy YA horror that will have you turning pages long into the night. If you’re looking for a fast paced read that will have you on the edge of your seat, this is a book you will not want to miss.