Release Date: February 22nd 2022
Publisher: Harper 360
Pages: 496
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 3.25/5 stars
Synopsis
Her name is unimportant.
All you must know is that today she will become one of the four saints of Haven. The elders will mark her and place the red hood on her head. With her sisters, she will stand against the evil power that lives beneath the black mountain–an evil which has already killed nine of her village’s men.
She will tell no one of the white-eyed beasts that follow her. Or the faceless gray women tall as houses. Or the girls she saw kissing in the elm grove.
Today she will be a saint of Haven. She will rid her family of her mother’s shame at last and save her people from destruction. She is not afraid. Are you?
This searing and lyrically written novel by the critically acclaimed author of Sawkill Girls beckons readers to follow its fierce heroine into a world filled with secrets and blood–where the truth is buried in lies and a devastating power waits, seething, for someone brave enough to use it.
Review
Extasia is a YA horror novel sent in a dystopian future. The story follows Amity a young woman who is about to become a saint of Haven – the last town on Earth. Amity wants nothing more than to become a saint and help protect her village from the evil that lies beneath the mountain. An evil that has been spreading and killing the men of Haven. As tensions begin to grow in Haven Amity must uncover the truth behind the killings and save the townspeople from destruction.
Extasia is a really interesting standalone novel and it felt completely unlike anything I’d read before. I really enjoyed the first half of the story, which felt a bit similar to The Year of the Witching. It was dark and I was fascinated with Amity uncovering the mysteries of Haven and learning how to control her powers. The story had a fantastic setting and was full of atmosphere but I felt towards the end that the story unraveled a little bit, there was a bit too much going on and the ending felt a bit rushed. Extasia feels like a brilliant novel in concept but missed the mark a little bit in terms of execution.
Despite enjoying the second half of the book less it was still overall an enjoyable read. The story is really fast-paced and I ended up reading it really quickly. I also liked Legrand’s writing style and it was easy to get absorbed in the story. I did also like the characters and while I’m not particularly a romance fan, I did think it was well done in this book. The story is a dark one and there are plenty of gory moments in this story. While this one was a little bit of a disappointment, I am definitely going to try more books from Claire Legrand. I have no doubt that fantasy/horror fans looking for a dark feminist tale will absolutely fall in love with this book.
This Golden Flame is the fun and fast paced adventure of a young orphan woman named Karis who is forced to serve at the Scriptorum for the rest of her life. All Karis wants is to be reunited with her brother, but he was shipped away by the scribes and she has no idea where. In her search for answers she uncovers a hidden automaton with a mind of his own. This discover rockets Karis onto a path of danger and rebellion as she attempts to find her brother and stop the Magistrate gaining unlimited power.
In Plain Sight is the second instalment in the DI Clare Mackay series and this time around Clare and her team are called in after a child is snatched during a fun run. The child has a serious medical condition, and without her medication her life could be at stake. As the team investigates they learn it wasn’t just a random kidnapping, there is more going on beneath the surface. But will Clare and her team discover the truth before it’s too late?
The Trials of Apollo is the first in a new series from Percy Jackson author Rick Riordan. This series follows God Apollo, as he is cast from Olympus and forced to live as a mortal teenager. When he makes it to Camp Half-Blood he discovers his enemies are plotting to bring down Olympus permanently.
I must admit that part of the reason I decided to pick this up is because I was sucked in by that gorgeous cover. After reading the synopsis I thought this would be a perfect quick horror read, something spooky that I could read in one sitting. What I got wasn’t really what I had expected. It’s a unique and engaging story, following our unnamed narrator as he carries out exorcisms across the country. When he comes across the Prosper of Schanz, a man revered throughout the country as a genius and man of science, he discovers the Prosper is possessed, but what will the cost be if he exorcises him?
When I was at University I took a literature class on popular culture and this was one of the required texts. I really enjoyed reading it at the time but haven’t picked it up for a number of years. I thought it would be a fun reread and I’m so glad I decided to give it another read, this classic Batman tale is dark and gritty and a must read for superhero fans.
I read and loved Sara Holland’s Everless a while back (I still need to get round to Evermore!) so I was really intrigued when I heard she was coming out with a new series set in a completely new world. Havenfall is the story of Maddie Marrow a young girl who spends her summers at the Havenfall inn – a sanctuary between worlds. She hopes one day to inherit this inn from her Uncle, but when a dead body is discovered and things start to go wrong, Maddie has to race to uncover the truth behind the goings on in Havenfall.
This was a fantastic, gripping read from author Jane Lythell, full of twists and turns. When a new woman joins the team at work, Liz feels the balance of power has shifted. She has to keep a lid on all her feelings as she maintains her role as a television producer. Coupling this with raising her daughter and dating, Liz’s life is full of surprises and shocks.
The Bibliophile Chronicles 