Book Review: All the Wandering Light – Heather Fawcett

March 7, 2020 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Series: Even the Darkest Stars #2 (Review of book one can be found here!)
Release Date: December 4th 2018
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 448
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: I bought a copy of this online
Rating: 3.75/5 stars

Synopsis

After the terrifying events on Mount Raksha, the witches have returned, and River has betrayed Kamzin to regain his dark powers. The witches’ next step: march on the Three Cities and take over the Empire—led by River’s brother, Esha.

If Kamzin is to save Azmiri and prevent the fall of the Empire, she must find a star that fell in the Ash Mountains to the north. Fallen stars have immense power, and if Kamzin and Lusha can find the star, they can use its magic to protect the Empire. To get there, Kamzin has allied with Azar-at, the dangerous and deceptive fire demon, who can grant her great power—in exchange for pieces of her soul. But River wants the star too, and as their paths collide in dangerous and unexpected ways, Kamzin must wrestle with both her guilt and her conflicted feelings for the person who betrayed her.

Facing dark magic, a perilous journey, and a standoff against the witches, can Kamzin, Lusha, and Tem find the star and save their Empire?

Review

Even the Darkest Stars was one of my favourite reads of 2017. I loved the beautiful world Fawcett created as well as the action packed plot and slow burn romance. I’ve been meaning to get around to the second book in the duology for a while and I finally picked it up this month.

The story picks up right after the events of book one, following Kamzin as she attempts to stop the witches from attacking the Emperor and destroying the world. Like book one the story is pretty faced paced, following both Kamzin and River in alternating POVs as we see them fighting for what they believe is right.

River is my favourite character in the series and I really enjoyed seeing him with the other witches, getting a chance to know more of his back story as well as getting to meet his brothers. The witches are really fascinating and I loved the dynamics between the characters in this book. Kamzin is also a brilliant character. She’s strong willed, fearless and determined to do what’s right. I was particularly fascinating with seeing Kamzin use Azar-at’s power, and the slippery slope of the demon’s power.

While I really enjoyed All the Wandering Light, I do think book one is a stronger story. All the Wandering Light has a bit more of a romance focus and I was more interested in how they were going to stop the witches than everyone pairing off. The story has a pretty satisfying ending however it did leave the reader with quite a few questions and I would really love for there to be a third book, giving us a chance to see the characters after the events in this duology.

All the Wandering Light is a wonderful story of magic, revenge and saving the world. If you’ve read Even the Darkest Stars you won’t be disappointed. If you’re looking for a new fantasy to binge read, this one is exactly what you need.

Blog Tour: Havenfall – Sara Holland

February 27, 2020 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Series: Havenfall #1
Release Date: March 3rd 2020
Publisher: Bloomsbury Books
Pages: 320
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me an E-ARC to review through the Fantastic Flying Book Club.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Synopsis

A safe haven between four realms. The girl sworn to protect it–at any cost.

Hidden deep in the mountains of Colorado lies the Inn at Havenfall, a sanctuary that connects ancient worlds–each with their own magic–together. For generations, the inn has protected all who seek refuge within its walls, and any who disrupt the peace can never return.

For Maddie Morrow, summers at the inn are more than a chance to experience this magic first-hand. Havenfall is an escape from reality, where her mother sits on death row accused of murdering Maddie’s brother. It’s where Maddie fell in love with handsome Fiorden soldier Brekken. And it’s where one day she hopes to inherit the role of Innkeeper from her beloved uncle.

But this summer, the impossible happens–a dead body is found, shattering everything the inn stands for. With Brekken missing, her uncle gravely injured, and a dangerous creature on the loose, Maddie suddenly finds herself responsible for the safety of everyone in Havenfall. She’ll do anything to uncover the truth, even if it means working together with an alluring new staffer Taya, who seems to know more than she’s letting on. As dark secrets are revealed about the inn itself, one thing becomes clear to Maddie–no one can be trusted, and no one is safe . . .

Review

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.

I always thought the concept for Everless was really unique and I felt the same way about Havenfall. The idea of a sanctuary between worlds was so fascinating and Sara Holland does an excellent job building this world for the reader to sink into. Holland has a really gorgeous writing style and it’s so easy to get wrapped up in her writing. I did feel the story was a bit slower paced, lots of the book is taken up my introducing the world and the characters so it is much more slow burn.

Maddie is a really interesting protagonist and I liked her as a character. There’s a bit of romance in the story and I enjoyed this because it didn’t take away from the main plot too much. The story touches on a variety of themes and has a diverse cast of characters. It also had a few surprising twists towards the end that I didn’t see coming. Overall it was a really enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to reading the next instalment in the series. It also has a completely stunning cover and I can’t wait to pick up a physical copy.

If you’re a fan of Sara Holland’s Everless duology or you’re looking for an exciting new fantasy series to start, this is definitely one to pick up!

Blog Tour: The Golden Key – Marian Womack

February 19, 2020March 1, 2020 by Nicole Sweeney

Release Date: 18th February 2020
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 320
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review.
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis

London, 1901. After the death of Queen Victoria the city heaves with the uncanny and the eerie. Séances are held and the dead are called upon from darker realms.

Samuel Moncrieff, recovering from a recent tragedy of his own, meets Helena Walton-Cisneros, one of London’s most reputed mediums. But Helena is not what she seems and she’s enlisted by the elusive Lady Matthews to solve a twenty-year-old mystery: the disappearance of her three stepdaughters who vanished without a trace on the Norfolk Fens.

But the Fens are a liminal land, where folk tales and dark magic still linger. With locals that speak of devilmen and catatonic children found on the Broads, Helena finds the answer to the mystery leads back to where it started: Samuel Moncrieff.

Review

When I first read the synopsis of The Golden Key (and saw that stunning cover) I was completely intrigued. The story follows Samuel-Montcrieff, a young man recovering from a recent tragedy and residing in Victorian London. He encounters a lady named Helena Walton-Cisneros, who finds herself caught up in solving the mystery of three young women who disappeared in the Norfolk Fens twenty years ago – but all is not as it seems, and the Fens are a remote and wild place.

I really enjoyed this blend of Gothic horror and mystery story. It was such a fascinating tale and I was completely captivated by Womack’s beautiful writing style. Her writing was so vivid and evoked a really strong sense of setting in the Norfolk Fens. This strange wild place really came alive within the story. Womack’s writing is almost lyrical and it was so easy to just become completely absorbed in the story.

The Golden Key is multi-layered tale and I enjoyed the pacing of the story. I did feel the story jumped around a little between people and what was going on, which did make some aspects a little difficult to follow but overall I found this to be an incredibly engaging story. I thought the characters were well fleshed out and the slightly eerie/ sense of other world-ness of the Fens really created a sense of atmosphere within the story.

If you’re a fan of gripping mystery stories with a touch of the Gothic supernatural, this will be a book you absolutely adore. The Golden Key is an impressive debut, and I can’t wait to see what Marian Womack writes next.

Book Review: The Unspoken Name – A. K. Larkwood

February 12, 2020 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 1 Comment

Series: The Serpent Gates #1
Release Date: February 11th 2020
Publisher: Tor Books
Pages: 464
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis

What if you knew how and when you will die?

Csorwe does — she will climb the mountain, enter the Shrine of the Unspoken, and gain the most honored title: sacrifice.

But on the day of her foretold death, a powerful mage offers her a new fate. Leave with him, and live. Turn away from her destiny and her god to become a thief, a spy, an assassin—the wizard’s loyal sword. Topple an empire, and help him reclaim his seat of power.

But Csorwe will soon learn – gods remember, and if you live long enough, all debts come due.

Review

Epic fantasy on the grandest scale, The Unspoken Name is a bloody brilliant read and I didn’t want it to end.

The story follows Csorwe, Chosen Bride of the Unspoken. She knows how her life will end. On the allotted day, she will enter the mountain and sacrifice herself to the god known only as the Unspoken One. When that day comes and Csorwe is given the opportunity to live she takes it. Her new destiny? To help mysterious wizard Sethennai overthrow an empire and reclaim his title.

One of the things I loved most about this book is how richly detailed it is. There’s so much research about the many worlds Csorwe visits, the people, places and religions. Every aspect of this story was so well fleshed out and it was so easy to dive into this vivid and richly imaginative world. The world building is excellent and the story is well plotted and cleverly executed. Despite the many worlds and many gods the story never got confusing and it was so easy to understand the systems Larkwood has built within the story.

The characters were really fascinating and I loved Csorwe so much. She’s a really interesting protagonist and I enjoyed seeing her grow from appointed sacrifice to something so much more. There is so much character depth in each of the characters in this story. There’s also some diverse representation within the novel too. The romance was so sweet and I really enjoyed watching the relationship evolve (I won’t say which characters because I don’t want to spoil this wonderful book for anyone).

The Unspoken Name is a brilliantly addictive tale of vengeance, magic, relationships and so much more. If you’re looking for a new binge worthy fantasy read, this is definitely a must buy. Your only trouble will be counting down the days until the next book is released.

Blog Tour: The Foundling – Stacey Halls

February 10, 2020February 10, 2020 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 3 Comments

Release Date: February 20th 2020
Publisher: Manilla Press
Pages: 400
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis

London, 1754.

Six years after leaving her illegitimate daughter Clara at London’s Foundling Hospital, Bess Bright returns to reclaim the child she has never known. Dreading the worst – that Clara has died in care – the last thing she expects to hear is that her daughter has already been reclaimed – by her. Her life is turned upside down as she tries to find out who has taken her little girl – and why. Less than a mile from Bess’ lodgings in the city, in a quiet, gloomy townhouse on the edge of London, a young widow has not left the house in a decade. When her close friend – an ambitious young doctor at the Foundling Hospital – persuades her to hire a nursemaid for her daughter, she is hesitant to welcome someone new into her home and her life. But her past is threatening to catch up with her and tear her carefully constructed world apart.

From the bestselling author of The Familiars, and set against the vibrant backdrop of Georgian London, The Foundling explores families, secrets, class, equality, power and the meaning of motherhood.

Review

The Familiars by Stacey Halls was one of my favourite books of 2019 so when I heard she was releasing a new book I was incredibly excited. The story follows a young woman named Bess, who is forced to leave her newborn baby at the foundling hospital to be looked after. After six years of scrimping and saving, she returns to reclaim the illegitimate child, only to be told that the child was reclaimed the day after she was given to the hospital by Bess herself. Bess goes on a search to discover who has taken her daughter, and for what purpose. Meanwhile not far from the hospital lives the widow of a merchant who has become a recluse since the death of her husband. When a family friend persuades her to hire a nursemaid for her young daughter, it turns her world upside down and forces her to confront the truths from her past.

This beautifully told story captured me from the very begin and I very quickly became engrossed in the tale of Bess and Alexandra. Halls has a really gorgeous and vivid writing style and it was so easy just to sink into the story and be completely absorbed for hours on end. I loved the setting, it was so vibrant and really came alive in Halls writing. The sights and sounds of Georgian London were definitely brought to life in this story and it made for a very realistic and well researched read.

The two main characters in this book are both incredibly fascinating and I really enjoyed the way the book was split into parts, allowing you to see things from both women’s perspectives. They’re both very different people, but both have dealt with some really difficult things. The plot was cleverly weaved and well executed and towards the end I definitely found myself turning pages faster and faster to find out how it was going to end.

I loved that there were aspects of the story that were true to life – such as the foundling hospital (something I had never heard of before – and that the story explored issues that weren’t talked about at the time, like mental health and grief. The story is definitely a dark and atmospheric read and if you’ve read The Familiars I would absolutely recommend picking this one up. The Foundling is an intricately told story of motherhood, secrets and class and honestly I couldn’t put it down. I can’t recommend this highly enough and I can’t wait to see what Stacey Halls writes next.

Book Review: Belle Révolte – Linsey Miller

February 7, 2020February 6, 2020 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Release Date: February 4th 2020
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 384
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 4.25/5 stars

Synopsis

Emilie des Marais is more at home holding scalpels than embroidery needles and is desperate to escape her noble roots to serve her country as a physician. But society dictates a noble lady cannot perform such gruesome work.

Annette Boucher, overlooked and overworked by her family, wants more from life than her humble beginnings and is desperate to be trained in magic. So when a strange noble girl offers Annette the chance of a lifetime, she accepts.

Emilie and Annette swap lives—Annette attends finishing school as a noble lady to be trained in the ways of divination, while Emilie enrolls to be a physician’s assistant, using her natural magical talent to save lives.

But when their nation instigates a frivolous war, Emilie and Annette must work together to help the rebellion end a war that is based on lies.

Review

This is my first time picking up a book by Linsey Miller. I’ve always wanted to pick up a copy of Mask of Shadows but never got around to it so when I heard she was releasing a new French inspired fantasy standalone, I was absolutely intrigued.

Belle Révolte is the story of two girls – Emilie des Marais, a young upper class girl who dreams of being a physician. But due to her status as a woman and a member of the elite, she is forced to study the midnight arts which are much more sensible for a young woman. Annette Boucher dreams of studying the midnight arts, but with no money she can’t afford the school fees and does not wish to a physicians hack. When Emilie and Annette meet, they swap lives allowing each one to live the life they’ve always dreamed. However things aren’t as clear cut as they seem, with the nation heading to war a secret underground group calling for a revolution, – will Annette and Emilie survive?

This story was just such a fun read. I loved the beautiful French inspired setting and I completely fell in love with this world of magic and war. I found the magic system really unique and fascinating – the idea of there being two types of magic – noonday arts which focused on healing and fighting and midnight arts which focused on scrying and divining the future.

Belle Révolte was a really fast paced read with lots of action and adventure going on. It was so easy to get caught up in the story. The alternating chapters between the two main characters gives you a chance to get to know both protagonists as they learn new skills and fight to save Demiene.

I really love the swap identities trope and I thought it was done so well in this story. Annette and Emilie were both really interesting characters and I enjoyed seeing how they adapted to the new world they had ended up in. They’re both quite strong-willed characters but Annette is the softer kinder of the two, with Emilie being the more stubborn and outspoken of the pair. The story features a number of diverse characters and also some really sweet romances which I really liked. They were a nice addition to the story without taking over the main plot.

Linsey Miller makes a lot of interesting comments about class and gender and weaves it into a beautiful story filled to the brim with magic, politics and adventure. If you’re looking for a fast paced and fun read this February, Belle Révolte should definitely be on your wishlist.

Blog Tour: Witness X – SE Moorhead

February 5, 2020 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Release Date: February 6th 2020
Publisher: Orion Books
Pages: 368
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: I received an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis

“Silence of the Lambs meets Blade Runner. A dark and gripping crime novel set in a convincing near future – SE Moorhead is the future of crime writing.” STEPHEN BAXTER

“Set in the near-future, Witness X is an intelligent and highly inventive take on the traditional serial killer thriller.” ASHLEY DYER, author of Splinter in the Blood

From one of the most original new voices in fiction comes a startling vision of a world where hero Kyra must fight the past to save our future. A genre-bending thriller for the Netflix generation, for fans of Altered Carbon, Dark and Mindhunter.

She’s the only one who can access the truth…

Fourteen years ago, the police caged a notorious serial killer who abducted and butchered two victims every February. He was safe behind bars. Wasn’t he?

But then another body is discovered, and soon enough, the race is on to catch the real killer. Neuropsychologist Kyra Sullivan fights to use a new technology that accesses the minds of the witnesses, working with the police to uncover the truth. Will Kyra discover the person behind the murders, and if so, at what cost? And how far will she go to ensure justice is served?

An addictive futuristic thriller, perfect for fans of Stranger Things.

Review

Copy of book cover - 2020-02-02T170502.146 Witness X is a fast paced thriller set in the future, the story follows a neuropsychologist named Kyra Sullivan as she races to uncover who is behind a recent murder. Using technology that allows Kyra to access the memory of those who were witnesses, she must work to uncover the truth – but at what cost?

This was such an addictive read! It’s tagged ‘Silence of the Lambs meets Blade Runner’ and I think that’s a really apt description. It’s the perfect blend of technology filled future and fast paced crime mystery. It will appeal to fans of both genres, and it certainly had me turning pages faster and faster to know what was going to happen next.

The world is built incredibly well and I really enjoyed Moorhead’s writing style – it was so easy to sink into this world and I really liked the unique and engaging premise. Moorhead does a great job ramping up the tension in this atmospheric read and it will definitely have you on the edge of your seat for the ending.

Kyra is a really interesting protagonist and the characters are well fleshed out and realistic. She’s a really intelligent, determined character and it was fascinating to see her become more and more obsessed as she sought the truth behind the murders fourteen years ago.

If you’re looking for something that is fast paced, compulsively readable and will leave your heart pounding, Witness X is exactly the book you’re looking for.
4 stars
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Book Review: A Queen in Hiding – Sarah Kozloff

February 3, 2020February 2, 2020 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 3 Comments

Series: The Nine Realms #1
Publisher: Tor Books
Pages: 496
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Amazon.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis

Orphaned, exiled and hunted, Cérulia, Princess of Weirandale, must master the magic that is her birthright, become a ruthless guerilla fighter, and transform into the queen she is destined to be.

But to do it she must win the favor of the spirits who play in mortal affairs, assemble an unlikely group of rebels, and wrest the throne from a corrupt aristocracy whose rot has spread throughout her kingdom.

Review

I know I’ve only read nine books so far this year, but I’m calling this as one of my favourite books of 2020.

A Queen in Hiding is the first in a four part fantasy series from Sarah Kozloff. The story follows Cerulia, princella and heir to the throne of Weirandale. When a scheme is uncovered to overthrow her mother the Queen, Cerulia is sent to live in hiding to protect her from those that wish her harm. As she lives in hiding she must master her magical talent, and learn the skills she will need to reclaim her throne.

I honestly loved every second of this epic fantasy tale. It had everything you could possibly want in a book. Full to the brim with magic, political intrigue and adventure I struggled putting this one down and definitely had a few nights where I stayed up way too late reading it. It’s not a short book by any means but I raced through it eager to find out Cerulia’s fate. She’s a fascinating character and I’m so excited to see how she grows through the next three books. The story is told in alternating POVs between quite a wide range of characters and I loved getting to see what was going on in other parts of the world at the same time as Cerulia is living in hiding. The story is expertly crafted with well fleshed out characters. I loved the political intrigue in this story, characters scheming and working against each other to meet their own ends.

As well as the wonderfully written characters I felt the world building in this story was truly superb. There was so much detail in the history surrounding the spirits and the religion, it felt effortless just to dive into this world. The magic system based on elements was also well explained and fit into the world really well. I really liked that magic was present in this world but not in a really overbearing way, it was a very subtle approach that worked so well with the story. Kozloff writes big battle scenes incredibly well too and I loved those epic moments of life and death. She brought them to life so vividly that I couldn’t look away from the book even if I wanted to.

One of the worst things about being a fantasy reader is waiting a long time for the next instalment in the series but amazingly Kozloff is publishing the entire series in four months. With the next instalment due in only a few weeks, so now is absolutely the time to get reading A Queen in Hiding – you won’t be disappointed.

January Wrap Up!

February 2, 2020 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 7 Comments

January was a really good reading month. I only managed to read eight books, but I gave everything 3.5 stars or above, which I’m really pleased about. I think I’m getting better at knowing if something is going to be to my taste before I pick it up. I also managed to read five of the eight books I put on my monthly TBR so I’m pretty pleased with that. So let’s dive into the books I read in January!

1. The God Game – Danny Tobey
This fast paced and clever thriller follows a group of kids who start playing a mysterious game known only as the G.O.D. Game. Do what it wants and you win prizes, but refuse and you could wind up dead. It was action packed and I loved the group dynamic the super intelligent kids working together to defeat the game – definitely a great way to start off my 2020 reading. (5/5 stars)

2. The Last Wish – Andrzej Sapakowski
I finally picked up the first book in The Witcher series after having meant to read it for absolutely ages. I really enjoyed this introduction into the world of monsters and magic, and I’m so looking forward to continuing on the series. This book is a short story collection so it was really easy to dip in and out of the book. (4.5/5 stars)

3. Loki: Where Mischef Lies – Mackenzi Lee
This is the first in a three part series featuring characters from the Marvel Universe. The story follows Loki as he is sent on an assignment to Earth. It’s a fun read and I enjoyed getting to see more of Loki and really getting to know his character. I did feel the story was a bit on the predictable side and preferred the first half of the book where Loki is in Asgard. (3.5/5 stars)

4. All the Rage – Cara Hunter
This was my first time reading a book by Cara Hunter and I completely loved this addictive, fast paced thriller. The story follows the abduction of a young girl who escapes her captor. She’s reluctant to talk to police, but another girl also goes missing so she has no choice but to tell the police her secrets. This book had so many twists I didn’t see coming and I can’t wait to read more from this author. (4.5/5 stars)

5. The Unadjusteds – Marisa Noelle
This is a fascinating story about a world in which genetic modifications have taken over the planet – but how far is too far? It’s a great action/adventure story featuring a kick-ass main character and plenty of high stakes moments. It gave me serious hunger games vibes and I’m really hoping for a sequel. (3.75/5 stars)

6. Spellhacker – M. K. England
I’ve always wanted to read The Disasters so I was so excited when I got an ARC of Spellhacker. This unique and engaging story features a heist gone wrong, a brilliant squad of characters and a community helping corporation who might not be as goody goody as they appear. I raced through this because it was just such an addictive read and I’m definitely going to pick up a copy of The Disasters. (4/5 stars)

7. All the Wandering Light – Heather Fawcett
This is the sequel to Even the Darkest Stars a book I absolutely loved when I read it in 2018. The story follows the same characters the really fascinating world that Fawcett has created, but somehow it didn’t grab me quite as much as the first book did. I still really enjoyed it and think it made for a really terrific ending to the story. (4/5 stars)

8. A Queen in Hiding – Sarah Kozloff
A Queen in Hiding was definitely my favourite book of January. I completely fell in love with this epic fantasy tale of Queen Cressa and her daughter, fighting to keep the throne from those who wish to overthrow her. It was full of heart stopping moments, brilliant characters and plenty of epic battles. I’m desperate to get my hands on book two, but fortunately Sarah Kozloff is releasing the four part series over the course of four months, so I won’t have to wait too long for book two! (5/5 stars)

So those are the books I read in January! I’d love to know what your favourite read of the month was, and if you’ve read any of these what you thought!

Book Review: Loki: Where Mischief Lies – Mackenzi Lee

January 23, 2020 by Nicole Sweeney ♥ 4 Comments

Release Date: December 21st 2019
Publisher: Igloo Books
Pages: 416
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: I picked up a copy of this in my local supermarket
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Synopsis

An epic tale across the realms. A deadly power that spans millennia. A story of struggle and betrayal, this adventure is told through the patchwork past of Marvel’s most misunderstood mischief-maker of all time: Loki: Trickster. God of Asgard. Brother.

This is the first of three young adult novels from New York Times best-selling author Mackenzi Lee that explores the untapped potential of popular characters in the Marvel Universe. The novels focus on exploring the duality of heroism in specific character stories from the Marvel Universe.

Review

Loki is definitely one of my favourite characters in the Marvel universe so when I heard there was going to be a series of books featuring characters from the Marvel universe I was really interested in reading it. Loki: Where Mischief Lies is a really interesting take on the character, focusing in on the duality of his nature and giving readers a chance to glimpse him in more depth.

The story follows Loki as a young teenager in Asgard as he fights for his father’s approval and a shot at sitting on the throne. It patricularly enjoyed this part of the book, his antics in the palace, bickering with Thor and being sent on diplomatic missions. Odin then sends him to Earth in order to assist a secret society who believe a string of murders in London are a result of magic. Here Loki must navigate Victorian London as well as solve the crime and get back in his father’s good graces.

This novel is really fun and fast paced. If you’re a fan of Loki or the marvel universe you’re really going to love the chance to get to see new sides of the character and have his back story fleshed out more. While it’s an enjoyable read I did find the story a bit on the predictable side and I guessed some of the major plot points pretty early on. Loki is a brilliant character but I felt some of the others could have been fleshed out a bit more. I really liked Theo and the relationship between Loki and Theo was definitely one of my favourite parts of the story.

This is the first in a three part series exploring the Marvel Universe so I’m really intrigued to see which characters Mackenzi Lee chooses to folk on next. If you’re looking for a quick fun read with plenty of action and banter to keep you entertained, this could be just what you’re looking for.

The Bibliophile Chronicles

Tag: book review

Book Review: All the Wandering Light – Heather Fawcett

Synopsis

Review

Blog Tour: Havenfall – Sara Holland

Synopsis

Review

Blog Tour: The Golden Key – Marian Womack

Synopsis

Review

Book Review: The Unspoken Name – A. K. Larkwood

Synopsis

Review

Blog Tour: The Foundling – Stacey Halls

Synopsis

Review

Book Review: Belle Révolte – Linsey Miller

Synopsis

Review

Blog Tour: Witness X – SE Moorhead

Synopsis

Review

Book Review: A Queen in Hiding – Sarah Kozloff

Synopsis

Review

January Wrap Up!

Book Review: Loki: Where Mischief Lies – Mackenzi Lee

Synopsis

Review