Tag: book review

Book Review: The Vengeance – Emma Newman

Book Review: The Vengeance – Emma Newman

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment


Series: The Vampires of Dumas #1
Release date: May 6th 2025
Publisher: Solaris Books
Pages: 384
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy to review
Rating: 3.75/5 stars

Synopsis

Morgane grew up at sea, daughter of the fierce pirate captain of the Vengeance, raised to follow in her footsteps as scourge of the Four Chains Trading Company. But when Anna-Marie is mortally wounded in battle, she confesses to Morgane that she is not her mother.

The captain of the enemy ship reveals he was paid to kill Anna-Marie and bring Morgane home to France and her real family. Desperate to learn the truth about her lineage, Morgane spares him, leaving the Vengeance and everything she knows behind.

Her quest reveals a world of decadence and darkness, in which monsters vie for control of royal courts and destinies of nations. She discovers the bloody secrets of the Four Chains Trading Company, and the truth about her real mother’s death, nearly twenty years before…

Review

The Vengeance is a swashbuckling fantasy adventure that follows Morgane, daughter of the pirate captain Anna-Marie. Her ship is the Vengeance and they are known to attack and destroy ships from the Four Chains Trading Company at any opportunity. When Morgane’s mother is fatally wounded during one such attack, she reveals the truth to Morgane – she is not her mother but her aunt. This sets Morgane on a quest to France, to find her real family and what happened to them. What Morgane finds will be darker and more dangerous than she ever thought possible.

This was such a fun read. This is my first book from Emma Newman and I thought it was a really entertaining story. The plot is intriguing, though I do think the pacing was a little uneven at times. The story felt well written and Newman did an excellent job of bringing the sights and sounds of historical France to life. I really enjoyed the parts of the book that were set on the ship as they were detailed and well researched.

Our main character Morgane is a strong female pirate and she’s not afraid to stand up for what she believes in (or punch someone in the face). I thought she was a terrific protagonist and I loved the way she ruffled feathers, questioned the ruling classes and completely disregarded etiquette. The romance in the story is also well developed and I liked the way the relationship progressed without taking over the main story arc. I am very much looking forward to seeing where Newman takes Morgane and her pirate gang in book two. Overall I thought The Vengeance was a compelling fantasy tale so if you’re looking for a story that features a strong female character, that’s full of mystery and has a hint of vampires and werewolves, this is one you don’t want to miss.

Book Review: The Pawns of Havoc – Dave Lawson

Book Review: The Pawns of Havoc – Dave Lawson

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment


Series: The Envoys of Chaos #0.5
Release date: May 29th 2025
Publisher: Indie
Pages: 128
Find it: Goodreads Amazon
Source: The author kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis

No Mercy, No Questions Asked.

Cork has quickly made a name for himself among the Kosellan mercenaries, but now his boss has come to him with an unusual job. Cork’s erstwhile countrymen, the Winn, have hired him to travel into the barren Frozen Lands and destroy a convoy, leaving only one survivor.

Cork isn’t sure he can trust the Winn. He feels like a pawn in their political game. However, his mother is sick and the Winn have promised to heal her if Cork does the job. And killing is what Cork does best.To make matters worse. Cork’s crew has been decided for him: Arabella, an inexperienced and infuriating archer, and Nessa, a gloomy criminal with murder on her mind.

Cork will have to figure out how to complete the job, avoid Winn treachery, and manage conflicts with Arabella and Nessa along the way.

It’s going to be chaos.

Review

The Pawns of Havoc is a gripping fantasy novella that follows mercenary Cork as he’s sent on another job – but this one isn’t his typical kind of job. He’s been tasked by the Winn to find a convoy in the Frozen Lands, destroy it, and leave only one survivor. Cork might be Winn himself, but he knows he can’t trust them. Forced to team up with an archer named Arabella and a criminal named Nessa, Cork must find a way to complete the job, stay out of the Winn’s political games, and keep Arabella and Nessa in line – what could possibly go wrong?

This is my first book from Dave Lawson and I absolutely loved it. The Pawns of Havoc is a prequel story to The Envoys of War and I thought it was the perfect place to jump in. The plot was so engaging that it made me immediately want to pick up the next book in the series. The action scenes are very vivid and well crafted and I was very intrigued by the mysterious Winn and what they were up to. While The Pawns of Havoc is just a little over a hundred pages, it certainly packs a punch – there’s plenty of adventure, love and heartbreak along the way.

The characters in The Pawns of Havoc are terrific and I really liked our main character Cork. He has a strong narrative voice and I can’t wait to see more of him in The Envoys of War. I loved the group dynamics in this tale – there’s plenty of bickering, banter, and heart as they attempt to come up with a plan and carry out their mission. I also thought Arabella and Nessa were really interesting characters and I loved seeing how the dynamics changed as they have to work and travel together.

Overall I thought this was a brilliant, entertaining tale so if you’re looking for a compelling fantasy novella that you can read in one sitting, this one should definitely be next on your TBR.

Book Review: The Order of Masks – Alina Bellchambers

Book Review: The Order of Masks – Alina Bellchambers

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment


Release date: September 10 2024
Publisher: Hodderscape
Pages: 498
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy to review
Rating: 4.75/5 stars

Synopsis

𝑻𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒚. 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆. 𝑴𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄. 𝑽𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆.

𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐭-𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐭 𝐑𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭, 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫. 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧: 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐞.

Circus performer Mira has spent her life on the run. She is determined to secure her future by competing in the deadly Trials and winning a place in one of the three magical royal Orders.

Princess Scarlett is fighting to withstand her half-brothers’ sinister ambitions and seize power. Mira is the opportunity she’s been waiting for – a dangerous outsider poised to cleave apart the very foundations of the Court.

As Mira and Scarlett navigate a glittering world of magic, court intrigue and forbidden romances, they must decide if they are co-conspirators or rivals in a bloody bid for the throne. Will they sacrifice everything – even their own lovers – for power and revenge?

Review

The Order of Masks is an utterly compelling YA fantasy tale that follows two women in their quest for power in the deadly Ravalian court. Mira has spent most of her life on the run, though she has no idea why, she hopes to compete in the Trials and win herself a life at court, but it be everything she hopes? Meanwhile, Scarlett is the daughter of the Emperor, but she is cast aside by her half brother’s and their quest for power. When Scarlett sees an opportunity to seize some power of her own, she’s determined to take it, but at what cost?

I absolutely fell in love with this book. It was such an engaging, fast paced read that I found myself completely hooked on this tale. I really enjoyed the writing style and I thought the world building was detailed and well fleshed out. I thought the magic system was really interesting with the different orders and I’m intrigued to see more of that in book two. I also loved that the story featured a trial aspect, as this is one of my favourite tropes. Bellchambers really brought the tension during the trials and there were a couple of scenes that really had me on the edge of my seat.

The thing I loved most about The Order of the Masks is the characters. Most of our characters are on a quest for power and they will do pretty much anything to get it. I loved that there were so many morally grey characters and that they did plenty of questionable things to get what they wanted. The story is told from both Mira and Scarlett’s POVs and I adored them both. I thought this was an incredibly entertaining tale and I cannot wait to see where things go in book two. If you’re looking for a fantasy tale that features trials, court politics, betrayals and twists you won’t see coming, The Order of Masks should absolutely be your next read.

Book Review: The Rise of the West – Gregory Kontaxis

Book Review: The Rise of the West – Gregory Kontaxis

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment


Series: The Dance of Light #3
Release date: May 23rd 2025
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 524
Find it: Goodreads Amazon
Source: The author kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Synopsis

The soil beyond Wirskworth’s walls is blood-stained after Elliot’s last battle against Walter’s forces. Though the enemy was defeated once again, the war is far from over. Elliot’s army lies in ruins, and no allies remain in the kingdom.

As Elliot searches for a way out with Aleron and Sophie in Elmor, devastating news arrives—a loved one has been murdered, and Walter’s power has reached unprecedented heights. The truth behind these events remains elusive, but one thing is clear—the end is fast approaching.

The darkest chapter in The Dance of Light series is set to alter the fate of Knightdorn forever.

Review

The third installment in the Dance of Light is here, and it’s the darkest one yet.

Following on from the events in book two, Elliot has defeated Walter Thorn’s forces once more, but this definitely isn’t the end – Elliot’s army is decimated and he has very few places to turn. Will our hero be able to stop Walter before it’s too late and what will the cost be?

The Dance of Light series is one that I’ve had on my TBR for a little while now so with the release of book three I decided to binge all three books (plus the prequel novella). I ended up binging the whole series in a week because this was such a gripping, action-packed fantasy tale.

Book three is definitely the darkest installment yet, and I found it particularly gripping. It’s full to the brim with political maneuvering, vivid battle scenes and some twists I absolutely did not see coming. If you love classic fantasy mixed with some Greek mythology woven in, you definitely don’t want to miss this series.

Kontaxis does a brilliant job creating this really intriguing world that feels real. Knightdorn feels like it has a rich history and I love all the different mythical creatures we meet. In terms of characters, I have really grown attached to them over the course of the three books, and I’ve loved seeing Elliot grow as a character as the story has progressed. I really enjoyed Kontaxis’s writing style and I am already counting down the days till the release of book four. If you’re looking for a series that will take you on an epic journey, with characters you can’t help but root for, now is the perfect time to pick up all three books in The Dance of Light series.

Book Review: Blood on Her Tongue – Johanna Van Veen

Book Review: Blood on Her Tongue – Johanna Van Veen

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment


Release date: March 25 2025
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Pages: 368
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: I received an E-ARC via Netgalley
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis

“I’m in your blood, and you are in mine…”

The Netherlands, 1887. Lucy’s twin sister Sarah is unwell. She refuses to eat, mumbles nonsensically, and is increasingly obsessed with a centuries-old corpse recently discovered on her husband’s grand estate. The doctor has diagnosed her with temporary insanity caused by a fever of the brain. To protect her twin from a terrible fate in a lunatic asylum, Lucy must unravel the mystery surrounding her sister’s condition, but it’s clear her twin is hiding something. Then again, Lucy is harboring secrets of her own, too.

Then, the worst happens. Sarah’s behavior takes a turn for the strange. She becomes angry… and hungry.

Lucy soon comes to suspect that something is trying to possess her beloved sister. Or is it madness? As Sarah changes before her very eyes, Lucy must reckon with the dark, monstrous truth, or risk losing her forever.

Review

Blood on Her Tongue is a dark and intriguing gothic horror tale that follows a woman named Lucy who is travelling to stay with her twin sister Sarah who has become unwell. When Lucy arrives she finds Sarah is deathly ill and has been diagnosed with temporary insanity caused by a brain fever. Lucy’s terrified Sarah will be committed to a lunatic asylum, but when Sarah starts acting even more strange Lucy discovers just what lengths she will go to in order to protect her sister.

This was a really fascinating story and it felt like such a unique take on a gothic vampire tale. Veen does a brilliant job creating a really tense, creepy atmosphere and I really enjoyed that this was set in The Netherlands in the 1800s. I really enjoyed Veen’s beautiful writing style and the story was well paced. I did think the latter half of the book was a bit chaotic and far fetched in places, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed this sinister story.

Blood on Her Tongue very much explores the sibling dynamic and I loved seeing how their relationship evolved as the story progressed. Their relationship was often messy and chaotic and I really liked the way Veen portrayed that. This is a dark and bloody tale and I was completely fascinated by the bog bodies – something I’d never heard about until I read this book. If you’re looking for a Victorian horror tale with vivid writing, an atmospheric setting and well developed characters, you won’t want to miss Blood on Her Tongue.

Book Review: (Don’t) Call Mum – Matt Wesolowski

Book Review: (Don’t) Call Mum – Matt Wesolowski

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment


Release date: May 8th 2025
Publisher: Wild Hunt Books
Pages: 93
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: The publisher kindly sent me an E-ARC to review
Rating: 4.25/5 stars

Synopsis

HE ALWAYS COMES FOR YOU…

Leo is just trying to catch his train back home to the village of Malacstone in North East England. But there’s disorder at the station, and when a loud young man heading for London boards the train accidentally, a usually easy journey descends into darkness and chaos. The train soon breaks down in the middle of nowhere, and as night falls, something…or someone steps out of the distance. Is it a man or something far more sinister?
When one of the passengers goes missing, Leo fears that a folkloric tale whispered to him in childhood might be the culprit.

Review

(Don’t) Call Mum is a tense and gripping novella that follows Leo as he catches a train back to his home in Malacstone in the North East of England. There’s a disgruntled passenger who got on the train by mistake and things are tense onboard the carriage. When the train breaks down in the middle of nowhere as night falls, Leo and the passenger begin to sense something sinister. Is it just being stuck in the middle of nowhere? Or is there something far more sinister trying to board the train?

I absolutely loved Matt Wesolowski’s Six Stories series so I was very intrigued to pick up something else by this author. This little novella is dark, compelling, and best devoured in a single, heart pounding sitting. I was completely glued to the story and I could not look away from the page. Wesolowski does an incredible job of building this tense, eerie atmosphere that just builds and builds throughout the story. I loved the slightly claustrophobic train setting and the way Wesolowski was able to create captivating, well developed characters in such a short amount of pages. There’s Leo – who’s travelling home, thinking about his past and how life didn’t turn out quite how he thought. There’s Angus – the loud, angry young man who got on the wrong train. He’s exceptionally rude and it was so easy to instantly dislike him. I thought Jodie was also an interesting character, someone Leo befriends as they are struck on this strange train journey.

One of the things I really enjoyed about Six Stories was the way Wesolowski was able to craft these scenes that genuinely frightened me and the same was true about (Don’t) Call Mum. There are definitely a few moments that sent a shiver up my spine and had me on the edge of my seat. This is a captivated, excellently crafted tale so if you’re looking for a horror novella that’s dark, tense and chilling, this one should without a doubt be your next read.

Book Review: The Devils – Joe Abercrombie

Book Review: The Devils – Joe Abercrombie

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment


Series: The Devils #1
Release date: May 6th 2025
Publisher: Gollancz
Pages: 512
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis

Europe stares into the abyss.

Plague and famine stalk the land, monsters lurk in every shadow and greedy princes care for nothing but their own ambitions. Only one thing is certain: the elves will come again, and they will eat everyone.

Sometimes, only the darkest paths lead towards the light. Paths on which the righteous will not dare to tread…

And so, buried beneath the sacred splendour of the Celestial Palace, is the secret Chapel of the Holy Expediency. For its congregation of convicted monsters there are no sins that have not been committed, no lines that will not be crossed, and no mission that cannot be turned into a disastrous bloodbath.

Now the hapless Brother Diaz must somehow bind the worst of the worst to a higher cause: to put a thief on the throne of Troy, and unite the sundered church against the coming apocalypse.

When you’re headed through hell, you need the devils on your side.

Review

Lord Grimdark is back with a new book, and it’s a wild ride.

The story follows the Chapel of the Holy Expediency – a secret order of monsters who are sent on a mission to escort a long lost princess back to Troy in order to reclaim the throne and stop the coming apocalypse. There is no line these monsters won’t cross, no sin they won’t commit – what could possibly go wrong?

I completely devoured this book and it is without a doubt going to be my favourite book of 2025. Full of Abercrombie’s trademark humour, I could not put this book down. The story is compelling and cleverly executed – the premise hooked me in straight away and the story was full of action and adventure. There is of course plenty of intense battle scenes and bucketfuls of gruesome, gritty moments.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the story of this book, where The Devils truly shines is the incredible cast of characters. I’ve come to expect exceptional character work from Joe Abercrombie but I think Abercrombie outdid himself in this novel. I completely fell in love with this group of misfits – there’s a magician, a werewolf, a vampire and an elf. I loved the utter chaos the group created as they band together in an attempt to survive this epic journey. This is such a compelling cast of characters and I cannot wait to see where Abercrombie takes them in book two.

The Devils is a wildly addictive, entertaining read. It’s a book that will have you on the edge of your seat, with characters you can’t help but root for. The Devils is a book you absolutely do not want to miss and I am counting down the days until the release of the next instalment.

Book Review: Eerie Exhibits – Victoria Williamson

Book Review: Eerie Exhibits – Victoria Williamson

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment


Release date: March 6 2025
Publisher: Silver Thistle Press
Pages: 225
Find it: Goodreads Amazon
Source: I received a copy of this book as part of The Write Reads review tour
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis

Five unnerving tales of the weird and uncanny from award-winning author Victoria Williamson.

A room full of screaming butterflies.
An unsettling smile on the face of a carved sarcophagus.
A painting that draws its viewer into the disturbing past.
A stuffed bear that growls in the dead of night.
And a shell that whispers more sinister sounds than the sigh of the sea…

Dare you cross the threshold of the old Museum and view its eerie exhibits?

Review

Eerie Exhibits is a collection of strange and unnerving short stories that all centre around the exhibits in an old museum. This is a dark and gripping collection of tales that were incredibly well crafted and entertaining.

All five of the stories are set in the same museum and some of the same characters are mentioned in multiple stories. I enjoyed all five stories immensely and I thought Williamson did a terrific job of creating a tense, uneasy atmosphere throughout the stories. These horror tales explore both supernatural horror and the horror of real life, with the stories focusing on a range of subjects including grief and parental abuse. Williamson does a magnificent job creating complex characters that feel well fleshed out in only a small number of pages.

The stories are well written and while short, each one manages to pack a punch. My favourite of the five stories had to be Et In Arcadia Ego, which was an incredibly compelling story with a few moments that sent a shiver up my spine. I also found it fascinating that Williamson took some of her inspiration from trips to Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow. Being local to the museum, it is somewhere I have visited many times and after reading these I am definitely planning to visit again soon. A gripping short story collection, Eerie Exhibits is a terrific read if you’re looking for something short and creepy, and I am definitely looking forward to reading more from Victoria Williamson.

Book Review: The Price of Power – Michael Michel

Book Review: The Price of Power – Michael Michel

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment


Series: Dreams of Dust and Steel #1
Release date: April 2nd 2025
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 700
Find it: Goodreads Amazon
Source: The author kindly sent me an E-ARC to review
Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis

Prince Barodane could not hold back the darkness. Not even in himself. He laid an innocent city in its grave and then died a hero.

In his absence, war whispers across the land.

Power-hungry highborn dispatch spies and assassins to the shadows as they maneuver for the throne, while an even greater threat rises in the South. Monsters and cultists flock to the banners of a mad prophet determined to control reality…and then shatter it.

Destiny stalks three to the brink of oblivion.

A dead prince who isn’t dead. Barodane buried his shameful past in a stupor of drugs, drink, and crime. Now, he’d rather watch the world fall apart than wear the crown again.

An orphan with hero’s blood who’s forced to make a harrowing betray her country or sacrifice her first love.

And a powerful seer who has no choice at all–her grandson must die.

If any of them fails to pay the price…

The cost will be the world’s complete annihilation.

Review

The Price of Power is the first in a new epic fantasy series that follows three main characters – a mad Prince who everyone thinks is dead, living a life full of drugs and crime, a princess destined to inherit the throne but afraid she won’t live up to her family name and a powerful seer with no choice but to kill her grandson.  If they fail in their quests the world will end, but what will it cost them to succeed?

This book absolutely sucked me in right from the very first chapter and I did not want to put this one down. The Price of Power is the sort of book that has you so addicted that you dive back into the book at any opportunity, even if only for a few minutes. I adored this book and it will without a doubt be one of my favourite reads of 2025. This is a dark tale that I thought was well paced and executed really well, the plot was gripping and the last hundred pages or so of the book had me on the edge of my seat. I also thought the world building was excellent, it felt incredibly detailed and well fleshed out and very much gave me A Song of Ice and Fire vibes.

The Price of Power is very much a character driven story and I grew really attached to the complex characters that Michel has created in this story. I really liked all of our main characters but the one that stuck out most for me is Prince Barodane. He is a character struggling with grief and the mistakes he has made and he was overall just a fascinating character. I also really liked Ishoa and her ice tiger Rakeema. Each character felt very distinct and I am so excited (and a little scared) to see what will happen to them all in the next installment in the series.

If you love fantasy stories that are full of political intrigue, bloody action and captivating, compelling characters this is definitely a book you do not want to miss. I cannot recommend this book highly enough and I am counting down the days till the release of book two.

Book Review: Rose/House – Arkady Martine

Book Review: Rose/House – Arkady Martine

by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment


Release date: March 11 2025
Publisher: Tor Books
Pages: 128
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 3.75/5 stars

Synopsis

Basit Deniau’s houses were haunted to begin with.

A house embedded with an artificial intelligence is common. A house that is an artificial intelligence, infused in every load-bearing beam and fine marble tile with a thinking creature that is not human? That is something else altogether. But now Deniau’s been dead a year, and Rose House is locked up tight, as commanded by the architect’s all his possessions and files and sketches are confined in its archives, and their only keeper is Rose House itself. Rose House, and one other.

Dr. Selene Gisil, one of Deniau’s former protégé, is permitted to come into Rose House once a year. She alone may open Rose House’s vaults, look at drawings and art, talk with Rose House’s animating intelligence all she likes. Until this week, Dr. Gisil was the only person whom Rose House spoke to.

But even an animate intelligence that haunts a house has some failsafes common to all AIs. For all AIs must report the presence of a dead body to the nearest law enforcement agency.

There is a dead person in Rose House. The house says so. It is not Basit Deniau, and it is not Dr. Gisil. It is someone else. Rose House, having completed its duty of care and informed Detective Maritza Smith of the China Lake police precinct that there is in fact a dead person inside it, dead of unnatural causes—has shut up.

No one can get inside Rose House, except Dr. Gisil. Dr. Gisil was not in North America when Rose House called the China Lake precinct. But someone did. And someone died there. And someone may be there still.

Review

Rose/House is an engaging sci-fi thriller that centres on Rose House, the work of famous architect Basit Deniau. This AI house has been shut up since Deniau’s death a year ago, allowing only one person to visit – Dr. Selene Gisil, his former protégé. When the police receive a call from Rose House stating there is a dead body on the premises, Detective Maritza Smith has no choice but to investigate – but how did the person get in and more importantly, who killed him?

This little novella was such a fascinating read that I raced through it in a single sitting. I thought it had such an interesting premise and the story was so well executed. Martine keeps you guessing right till the end and I absolutely loved the way Martine built the tension and unease of Rose House.

This story is full to the brim with atmosphere and I really enjoyed Martine’s beautiful, dream like writing style. Rose/House is a really unique and compelling story and if you’re looking for a sci-fi thriller that will stick with you long after reading, you definitely don’t want to miss this one. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and can’t wait to read more from Arkady Martine.