Cameron Johnston: The Maleficent Seven

Hi everyone

The Maleficent Seven is a standalone action-packed Fantasy from Cameron Johnston. After reading his Age of Tyranny duology I definitely wanted to try something else by his hand.
I got my copy from Bol.com.

"When you are all out of heroes, all that's left are the villains.
Black Herran was a dread demonologist, and the most ruthless general in all Essoran. She assembled the six most fearsome warriors to captain her armies: a necromancer, a vampire lord, a demigod, an orcish warleader, a pirate queen, and a twisted alchemist. Together they brought the whole continent to its knees... Until the day she abandoned her army, on the eve of total victory.
40 years later, she must bring her former captains back together for one final stand, in the small town of Tarnbrooke - the last bastion against a fanatical new enemy tearing through the land, intent on finishing the job Black Herran started years before.
Seven bloodthirsty monsters. One town. Their last hope."

This book was so much fun! 
The seven main characters all absolutely hate and despise each other, but they have no choice but to work together, which leads to some hilariously razorsharp dialogue and chaotic, dubble edged interactions. Each character has a fully fleshed-out backstory, so even though they’re villains, you understand their motives and why they do what they do. I found myself rooting for them, despite all of them being some kind of monster. I loved reading from their perspectives; all of them.
The book is dark, gruesome, and brutal, but it’s also hilarious, fast-paced, and packed with action. 
I love how Johnston puts forth the idea that religion and religious fanatics are worse than these seven monstrous captains. 
The worldbuilding is rich, with diverse races, multiple magic systems and powers.

My only regret? That this is a standalone novel. I would love to read more about these characters.

Have you read it? Or do you have another favorite "villain-centric" story? Let me know, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena

Wrap Up: September 2025

Hi everyone

September flew by in the back-to-school and -hobbies chaos, rainy Belgian weather, and weekends filled with fun excursions. The girls seem to have grown at least 10 centimeters since the end of the last school year. They astound me with their growth and their amazing personalities.
Now that fall is officially here, I’m looking forward to even more reading time (preferably under a blanket with a cup of tea and a peace of delicious chocolate).

Here's what I read:

- Lori Gottlieb: Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

- Brian Jacques: Redwall

- Robin Hobb: Dragon Haven

- M. R. Carey: Infinity Gate

- Jim Butcher: Academ's Fury

How was your month? What did you read? Let me know; I’d love to hear your recommendations!

Happy reading!
Helena 

Jim Butcher: Academ's Fury

Hi everyone

Academ's Fury, the second book in Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series is a hefty tome so it took some time to finish.
While you could jump into this book without reading Furies of Calderon first, I really wouldn’t recommend it. The story builds on the first book, and you’ll miss out on a lot of the worldbuilding and character development if you skip it. 
I read this on my e-reader.

"For centuries, the people of Alera have harnessed the furies—elementals of earth, air, fire, water, wood, and metal—to protect their land from aggressors. But no fury can save them from the dangers they face within. A mysterious attack from across the sea has weakened the First Lord. Should he fall, a bloody civil war is inevitable. The responsibility of fending off assassination attempts and treachery within the First Lord’s circle of spies falls on Tavi, the one man with no fury to call..."

Don’t expect this series to blow you away with groundbreaking magic or a completely unique world. If you’re looking for something totally new or different, this isn't it. But what Academ’s Fury lacks in originality, it more than makes up for in entertainment, action and fun. The plot is packed with political schemes, action, and characters you can’t help but root for.

Tavi is a compelling character to follow. I also enjoyed getting to know the other characters better, especially Isana, who is now the first female steadholder. I'm on the fence with the romance between Amara and Bernard. I like their love and happiness but the constant focus on her inability to have children felt repetitive. Once was enough, and the whole “breaking it off because of duty” twist just didn’t work for me.

What really stood out to me is how Butcher blurs the lines between good and evil. Characters you think are villains turn out to have understandable motives, and the moral gray areas make the story feel more realistic. Don't worry, there are still actual true villains as well. Villains you can truly hate.
The action scenes, as always with Butcher, are gripping and well-written. I could barely put the book down!

That said, there were moments where I felt some scenes dragged on a bit too long, certain points were repeated more than necessary (Amara) and some things were too easy or convenient. But that didn’t stop me from enjoying the world, the characters, and the tension Butcher builds so well.

I’m looking forward to seeing how the story unfolds in the next books. 

Happy reading!
Helena

M. R. Carey: Infinity Gate

Hi everyone

Infinity Gate is the first book in the Pandominion duology by M. R. Carey.
I got my book from Bol.com and I have to say, this book really pulled me in.

"The a political and trading alliance of a million worlds. Except that they’re really just one world, Earth, in many different realities. And when an A.I. threat arises that could destroy everything the Pandominion has built, they’ll eradicate it by whatever means necessary.
Scientist Hadiz Tambuwal is looking for a solution to her own Earth’s environmental collapse when she stumbles across the secret of inter-dimensional travel, a secret that could save everyone on her dying planet. It leads her into the middle of a war on a scale she never dreamed of. And she needs to choose a side before every reality pays the price."

I really liked this book. The writing style is quite dense, and I’ll admit, the first few days I picked it up, it took me some time to get into it. But once I was a few pages in, I couldn’t put it down. It’s definitely not a light read, but it’s absolutely worth the effort.

The characters are what really made this story shine. You get to know them so well that you understand their choices, even when you know they’re not the smartest. The book focuses on a handful of characters, each with their own distinct personalities and plotlines. There’s never a dull moment, and I especially loved reading from the perspective of a machine; it was different, exciting, and made me question so much about our own world and what the future might hold.

The worldbuilding is rich and immersive. I loved learning about the different peoples and worlds, especially the races that evolved from completely different ancestors. It’s all so vivid and fascinating.
I’m really hoping we’ll learn more about the Ansurrection in the next book. It’s such an intriguing plotline, and I want to know how it came to be and how it all works. And honestly, I can’t wait to find out how everything ends! This book was so promising and left me with so many questions; especially about the narrator. Who are they/he/she? I have an idea but I can't know for sure. For now.

If you love sci-fi that makes you think and keeps you on the edge of your seat, Infinity Gate is absolutely worth your time. I’m already counting down the days until I can dive into the second book!

Happy reading!
Helena 

Robin Hobb: Dragon Haven

Hi everyone

Dragon Haven is the second book in The Rain Wild Chronicles by Robin Hobb. 
I got my copy from Bol.com.

"Return to the world of the Liveships Traders and journey along the Rain Wild River in the second instalment of high adventure from the author of the internationally acclaimed Farseer trilogy.
The dragon keepers and the fledgling dragons are forging a passage up the treacherous Rain Wild River. They are in search of the mythical Elderling city of Kelsingra, and are accompanied by the liveship Tarman, its captain, Leftrin, and a group of hunters who must search the forests for game with which to keep the dragons fed. With them are Alise, who has escaped her cold marriage to the cruel libertine Hest Finbok in order to continue her study of dragons, and Hest's amanuensis, Bingtown dandy, Sedric.
Rivalries and romances are already threatening to disrupt the band of explorers: but external forces may prove to be even more dangerous. Chalcedean merchants are keen to lay hands on dragon blood and organs to turn them to medicines and profit. Their traitor has infiltrated the expeditionand will stop at nothing to obtain the coveted body parts. And then there are the Rain Wilds themselves: mysterious, unstable and ever perilous, its mighty river running with acid, its jungle impenetrable and its waterways uncharted.
Will the expedition reach their destination unscathed? Does the city of Kelsingra even exist? Only one thing is certain: the journey will leave none of the dragons nor their human companions unchanged by the experience."

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book, especially since the first one didn’t quite capture my interest. 

The character development is outstanding—everyone has grown in ways that make their thoughts and emotions feel authentic and compelling.
While I still don’t love reading from Sintara’s perspective, I really enjoy Mercor, so it’s definitely a Sintara issue, not a dragon one. The constant focus on love and relationships can be a bit much, as if there aren’t more pressing matters to consider, but it’s a minor gripe in the grand scheme.

The story moves at a slow pace, but this time, I didn’t mind as much. The depth of the characters, their interactions, and the excitement of the journey more than made up for it. And, as always, Robin Hobb’s worldbuilding is absolutely immersive and breathtaking. 

Happy reading!
Helena 

 

 

Wrap Up: August 2025

Hi everyone

August flew by in a blur of laughter, cake, and way too many books! We went on a family holiday, celebrated my daughters turning 8 and 4 (how are they growing so fast?!), and my husband and I toasted to 11 years of marriage. Summer was packed with joy, and now we’re easing back into the school routine—though the Belgian weather seems determined to remind us that autumn is just around the corner.

As always, I found rest, relaxation and adventure in the pages of some wonderful books. 

Here's what I read last month:

- T. J. Klune: Under the Whispering Door

- Tommy Orange: Wandering Stars

- Neil Gaiman: Coraline 

- Glen Cook: The Black Company 

- Vernor Vinge: A Fire Upon the Deep 

- Katherine Addison: The Tomb of Dragons

- Brandon Sanderson: Tress of the Emerald Sea

- Terry Pratchett & Stephen Baxter: The Long Utopia 

What about you? Did August bring any gems your way? Or maybe a new favorite? Let me know! I’m always on the lookout for recommendations!

Happy reading!
Helena 

 

Terry Pratchett & Stephen Baxter: The Long Utopia

Hi everyone

This was my second time reading the fourth book in The Long Earth series by Terry Pratchett & Stephen Baxter.
I have to admit, the experience was just as emotional and thought-provoking as the first time.

" 2045-2059. After the cataclysmic upheavals of Step Day and the Yellowstone eruption humanity is spreading further into the Long Earth, and society, on a battered Datum Earth and beyond, continues to evolve.
Now an elderly and cantankerous AI, Lobsang lives in disguise with Agnes in an exotic, far-distant world. He’s convinced they’re leading a normal life in New Springfield – they even adopt a child – but it seems they have been guided there for a reason. As rumours of strange sightings and hauntings proliferate, it becomes clear that something is very awry with this particular world.
Millions of steps away, Joshua is on a personal journey of discovery: learning about the father he never knew and a secret family history. But then he receives a summons from New Springfield. Lobsang now understands the enormity of what’s taking place beneath the surface of his earth – a threat to all the worlds of the Long Earth.
To counter this threat will require the combined efforts of humankind, machine and the super-intelligent Next. And some must make the ultimate sacrifice... "

I still find the ending difficult to read. Even though I don’t particularly like Sally, the way her story concludes left me surprisingly emotional. It’s one of those moments that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page.

The scope of this series is staggering. The idea of alien species from another universe aiming to destroy the Long Earth is terrifying—it’s the kind of concept that makes you pause and wonder, What if? 

The shift in perspective for Joshua’s family history threw me off a bit. I think it would have felt more natural if it had been told from Nelson’s point of view or through the narrator’s voice.

Lobsang’s journey, however, was beautifully done. Despite being an AI, he’s so deeply human in his emotions and reasoning. His decision to escape to another world and start anew with Agnes is both heartbreaking and beautiful. They make such a sweet, unlikely couple.

And I’m so relieved Joshua and Sally never became a couple. It would have been too easy, too forced. Their dynamic works much better as it is, and I appreciate that the authors resisted the urge to push them into a romantic relationship.

Have you read The Long Utopia? What did you think of the series as a whole? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena 

 

Brandon Sanderson: Tress of the Emerald Sea

Hi everyone

Tress of the Emerald Sea is a standalone novel by Brandon Sanderson. It is set in The Cosmere so it is part of his multi-series world but you can read it without having read the others.
It's also more of a YA book. 
I bought this book from Bol.com.

"The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death?"  

I didn't really enjoy this. The story was ok but boring, the plot was a bit rambling and the characters were dull and mediocre. Mostly, it was the POV, the tone of the storyteller that annoyed me. Hoid was not witty or funny he was just stupid all the time. Even when it wasn't intentional, when he was meant to be funny and smart he only ever was dumb and idiotic. The book was trying to be funny but it fell flat for me.
The worldbuilding is, as is usual for Sanderson, amazing, interesting and very different from other books I've read.
The main villain in this book was absurd. In the end she just leaves? I mean, that's just lazy writing. I don't see why she should leave because she really wasn't in danger from Tress and the others.

Happy reading!
Helena  

Bookhaul

Hi everyone

I bought some books and I received one (awesome surprise) too!
*    happydance    *

My parents went on holiday to the UK and my dad got me a very special gift. He bought me

- Ben Aaronovitch: Tales From the Folly

And the book is signed! It's signed! How amazing is that! I was so, so happy with my gift.

 

 

And here are the books I bought myself.

- Ben Aaronovitch:  The Masquerades of Spring

- Amy Bloom: In Love 

- Benedict Jacka: An Instruction in Shadow 

- Grant Snider: The Art of Living

- Emily Tesh: Some Desperate Glory 

Have you read any of these?

Happy reading!
Helena

Katherine Addison: The Tomb of Dragons

Hi everyone

The Tomb of Dragons is the third book in The Cemeteries of Amalo series by Katherine Addison. Like the other books in the series, this one has a gorgeous cover. This is actually the third book in the series but it's also the fourth book in the overarching series, namely The Chronicles of Osreth. 
I got my copy from Bol.

Thara Celehar has lost his ability to speak with the dead. When that title of Witness for the Dead is gone, what defines him?

"While his title may be gone, his duties are not. Celehar contends with a municipal cemetery with fifty years of secrets, the damage of a revethavar he’s terrified to remember, and a group of miners who are more than willing to trade Celehar’s life for a chance at what they feel they’re owed.
Celehar does not have to face these impossible tasks alone. Joining him are his mentee Velhiro Tomasaran, still finding her footing with the investigative nature of their job; Iäna Pel-Thenhior, his beloved opera director friend and avid supporter; and the valiant guard captain Hanu Olgarezh.
Amidst the backdrop of a murder and a brewing political uprising, Celehar must seek justice for those who cannot find it themselves under a tense political system. The repercussions of his quest are never as simple they seem, and Celehar’s own life and happiness hang in the balance." 

It's difficult to pinpoint what makes this series so comforting to read. The maincharacter is rather boring but he is also honest, always striving to be the best person he can be and to do the best he can. He is likeable in the way I can relate to him, him being introverted, his love for reading, tea, walking, his insomnia, his few close friends. His friends are also really lovely people.
The names of places and people are hard to remember and keep apart because they are so different from ours. But Addison's worldbuilding is amazing. The people feel like real people, the 'magic' is interesting and the plot is, while simple also effective and engrossing.
The whole setting is very different and unique.
The story is heartwarming, learning to rely on people, learning the value of friendship, opening the door for love again, questioning yourself, ... It's charming, heartwarming, sad and bittersweet, lovely and moving all at the same time.

The Tomb of Dragons is the last book in The Cemeteries of Amalo series but I truly hope and wish for other books in this world of The Chronicles of Osreth.  

Happy reading!
Helena 

Vernor Vinge: A Fire Upon the Deep

Hi everyone

I saw this being read by someone I follow on Goodreads and it looked good so I wanted to try it for myself. A Fire Upon the Deep is the first book in the Zones of Thought series by Vernor Vinge.
I read this on my e-reader.

"Thousands of years in the future, humanity is no longer alone in a universe where a mind's potential is determined by its location in space, from superintelligent entities in the Transcend, to the limited minds of the Unthinking Depths, where only simple creatures, and technology, can function. Nobody knows what strange force partitioned space into these "regions of thought," but when the warring Straumli realm use an ancient Transcendent artifact as a weapon, they unwittingly unleash an awesome power that destroys thousands of worlds and enslaves all natural and artificial intelligence.
Fleeing this galactic threat, Ravna crash lands on a strange world with a ship-hold full of cryogenically frozen children, the only survivors from a destroyed space-lab. They are taken captive by the Tines, an alien race with a harsh medieval culture, and used as pawns in a ruthless power struggle."

This was strange.
On the one hand I felt like I was reading a children's book and I didn't like that in this story, it didn't fit the story. The writing and the dialogue especially were childish. And on the other hand I didn't truly understand everything going on science-wise because some things got little to no explanation. I loved the concept of the Zones of Thought; that's an interesting idea but it wasn't used in a way that made me feel something more than wondering how life would be it this were true, so completely unrelated to the story. 

The book was way too long for the story it told. Multiple chapters where essentially nothing happened that was different from the previous chapters. There's no character development and no world-building anywhere. Endless talking about nothing or about the same things over and over. It was just boring.

It has also aged badly. The futuristic aspects are now completely dated and almost laughable.  

The moment I closed the book on my e-reader I forgot about it and I had to push myself to keep reading because I found it to be boring. I switched to reading other books while reading this one because my mind kept wandering while reading this one.

Interesting premise but not much more. 

So yes, another Award Winning Novel I didn't love or even truly liked. Sad but true.

Happy reading!
Helena 

Glen Cook: The Black Company

Hi everyone

For years I've been meaning to read something by Glen Cook but I couldn't find him in our local stores and when I started shopping online I kind off forgot about Cook. A few months ago I saw someone on Goodreads reviewing one of his books so I remembered! I decided to try his most popular series first.
The Black Company is the first book in his The Chronicles of the Black Company.
I read this on my e-reader.

"Some feel the Lady, newly risen from centuries in thrall, stands between humankind and evil. Some feel she is evil itself. The hard-bitten men of the Black Company take their pay and do what they must, burying their doubts with their dead.
Until the prophecy: The White Rose has been reborn, somewhere, to embody good once more. There must be a way for the Black Company to find her..." 

This was not for me.
I felt like it lacked a central plot. The story went from point to point like a little list Glen Cook wanted to check off. Endless boring card games and pointless conversations in between a few action scenes.
There's no character development and no worldbuilding. Every character was very cliché and predictable and while some had an interesting trait, most of the characters were forgettable. 

Also; flying carpets. Really? Really? 

Happy reading!
Helena 

Neil Gaiman: Coraline

Hi everyone

Believe it or not but this was my first time reading Neil Gaiman's Coraline. I have seen the movie when it first came out, so back in 2009 and I remember the story so that wasn't a surprise.
I read this on my e-reader.

"When Coraline steps through a door to find another house strangely similar to her own (only better), things seem marvelous.
But there’s another mother there, and another father, and they want her to stay and be their little girl. They want to change her and never let her go.
Coraline will have to fight with all her wits and courage if she is to save herself and return to her ordinary life." 

This was ok. I don't think I would have liked this as a child even though it is a children's book but I was an anxious child so I wouldn't have sought this out. As an adult it was nothing special to be honest. 
It lacked atmosphere, it was too much to the point, too much one thing after another. Also, what's the point of the old neighbor and his mice? And how could the hand come over? And what child gets to choose something else to eat if dinner doesn't suit her? And finally, Coraline sounds much too wise to be a child in her observations and at other times she's childish. That last one especially was difficult for me to read, the inconsistencies in tone, age and character.

So yeah, another mediocre read from Neil Gaiman. 

Happy reading!
Helena 

Tommy Orange: Wandering Stars

Hi everyone

Wandering Stars is Tommy Orange's second book. It's both a prequel and a sequel to his first book There There which I have read before I restarted this blog.
I read this on my e-reader.

"Colorado, 1864. Star, a young survivor of the Sand Creek Massacre, is brought to the Fort Marion prison castle,where he is forced to learn English and practice Christianity by Richard Henry Pratt, an evangelical prison guard who will go on to found the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, an institution dedicated to the eradication of Native history, culture, and identity. A generation later, Star’s son, Charles, is sent to the school, where he is brutalized by the man who was once his father’s jailer. Under Pratt’s harsh treatment, Charles clings to moments he shares with a young fellow student, Opal Viola, as the two envision a future away from the institutional violence that follows their bloodlines."

This one is difficult to review.
The story itself felt real, harrowing, eye-opening. The characters were real people with real struggles, good and bad choices made, people around them and circumstances that influence and change them. 
I loved the generational aspect. Reading about multiple family members and how their life's choices, pain, friendships, trauma, ... influence their children, brothers, ...
But the writing was so bad. Orange jumps from one thing to the next, his prose is almost childish. The characters all blended together because they sounded the same to me, they had the same voice. Orange also switches from first to third person and back; and every time it changed I felt thrown out of the story. 
And the book felt unfinished. It goes too fast from one person to the next. I wanted more time with them, I wanted to find out more about their life. The book was ultimately too shallow and the writing bad enough to make the book forgettable. 

Happy reading!
Helena 

  

T. J. Klune: Under the Whispering Door

Hi everyone

I've been seeing and reading great things about T. J. Klune's Under the Whispering Door for months so I finally gave it a try.
I read this on my e-reader.

"When a reaper comes to collect Wallace from his own funeral, Wallace begins to suspect he might be dead.
And when Hugo, the owner of a peculiar tea shop, promises to help him cross over, Wallace decides he’s definitely dead.
But even in death he’s not ready to abandon the life he barely lived, so when Wallace is given one week to cross over, he sets about living a lifetime in seven days." 

I didn't love it. 
I didn't really like it. 

It's a combination of things. 
I disliked Wallace immensely. Of all the characters in the novel he was the worst cliché. From page one he read like a character and not as a realistic person. Every single character is shallow, there's no real depth to them. Sure, they have a background that gets talked about but they are all so one-sided, so very black-and-white, they didn't feel like real people. The characters are written as if in a book for children where they are supposed to be all bad, and turn all good out of nowhere.
Secondly, the writing and pacing felt off. The characters talk in sighs, stares and Instagram platitudes. It's all Hallmark quotes meant to be put on a fridge or a toiletroomwall. It could be inspirational but it's just trite and boring. The novel goes very slow; tediously so and suddenly wham, we're two weeks further. 
Thirdly; don't get me started on the romance. For the record, I do not care who you love, if you love someone at all or not. But I do care about the portrayal of love and this is not how it should be done. It was fake from start to finish. And it aggravated me no end.
Lastly, the ending. That's a nice fridge-quote. Complain enough to the manager and you get what you want. 

Not recommended. It wasn't big so I finished it but you should not feel like you have to. 

Happy reading!
Helena 

Wrap Up: July 2025

Hi everyone

July was a great reading month! We were on holiday for two weeks (and the first week of August) soI read a lot in the evenings because there are less chores to do when you're not at home. :) With two daughters and lots of fun activities it's hard to find the time and quiet to read during the day but once they're in bed and we're done with the cleaning up, it's time to read! Although I did read quite a lot during the day too, whenever they were nicely playing together. 

Here's what I read in July:

- Brian McClellan: Promise of Blood

- Yuval Noah Harari: Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow

- Ilona Andrews: Magic Burns

- Peter Brown: The Wild Robot Protects

- Christian White: The Nowhere Child

- Terry Pratchett: Carpe Jugulum 

- David Dalglish: A Dance of Mirrors 

- Marie Brennan: The Waking of Angantyr 

- Margaret Atwood: Surfacing 

How was your month?
Do you read more or less when on holiday?

Happy reading!
Helena 

Margaret Atwood: Surfacing

Hi everyone

It's been I while I read something by Margaret Atwood so I wanted to try something I hadn't read before. Her books have been very hit and miss for me. For example; I love The Handmaid's Tale but I'm not sure I will read The Testaments, I had to DNF Oryx and Crake and I found Lady Oracle to be Ok.
I read this book on my e-reader.

"A young woman returns to northern Quebec, to the remote island of her childhood, with her lover and her two friends to investigate the mysterious disappearance of her father. Flooded with memories, she begins to realise that going home means entering not only another place but another time. As the wild island exerts its elemental hold and she is submerged in the language of the wilderness, she sees that what she is really looking for is her own past."

The only reason I finished this is because it was only 200 pages. But it was a struggle.
To me, it felt like Atwood wanted to write Great Literature; she really tried to write a deep, thoughtful and inspirational novel . Instead she ended up with a boring story that didn't go anywhere with characters I could not care about.

Happy reading!
Helena

Marie Brennan: The Waking of Angantyr

Hi everyone

The Waking of Angantyr is a standalone novel written by Marie Brennan.
I read this on my e-reader. 

" The bondmaid Hervor is used to dead men whispering in her sleep. They’ve been doing it for as long as she can remember; it’s the living she has to watch out for. And when a new arrival at her holding triggers her into a berserker fury, she’s forced to flee the contract that enslaves her and into the arms of an uncertain future.
Unchained from the living, Hervor goes in search of a way to silence the dead, but it will take much more than grit and determination to make that happen. She’ll need the help of a ruthless Viking, an ailing jarl, a mad witch, and more―for the treachery that killed her ghosts isn’t nearly as dead as they are, and the path to peace must first traverse a river of blood."

This had its ups and  (mostly) downs.
The pacing was definitely off. The book started out rather slow but it did pick up. The plot itself was all over the place and I didn't really like that. There was just too much she was trying to do. Brennan would skip months at a time and every time it felt jarring and I felt out of place.
The characters were mediocre too. Hervor herself was ok, and I love her strength and determination but she hasn't got a lot more to her, there's not much to like about her character. The other characters were very one-dimensional. By two thirds in I didn't care for anyone because they would all die so what's the point. And that made loose even more enjoyment.

The book didn't grip me. I never felt the urge to start or continue reading it. Once I was reading, it wasn't bad but I would get easily distracted and that's not the sign of a great book. It was boring to be honest. And that's a strange thing to say about a book filled with fighting and gore, but it was.

Happy reading!
Helena 

David Dalglish: A Dance of Mirrors

Hi everyone

A Dance of Mirrors is the third and final book in the Shadowdance series by David Dalglish. 
I read this on my e-reader. 

"Haern is the King's Watcher, protector against thieves and nobles who would fill the night with blood. Yet hundreds of miles away, an assassin known as the Wraith has begun slaughtering those in power, leaving the symbol of the Watcher in mockery. 
When Haern travels south to confront this copycat, he finds a city ruled by the corrupt, the greedy and the dangerous. Rioters fill the streets and the threat of war hangs over everything. To forge peace, Haern must confront the deadly Wraith, a killer who would shape the kingdom's future with the blade of his sword. 
Man or God; what happens when the lines are blurred?"

I did not enjoy this. I find Haern to be so, so stupid in his decisions and actions. He had me rolling my eyes countless times. How can he not see what his actions will bring? 
There's no depth to the characters, and contrary to what I had hoped, this doesn't get better further in the series. 
It's easy to read and a lot happens but then again, there's no real point to it all. It doesn't go anywhere.

I'm not sure I'll try anything else by Dalglish and if I do, what I should read. Do you have a suggestions?

Happy reading!
Helena 

Terry Pratchett: Carpe Jugulum

Hi everyone

Carpe Jugulum is the 23rd book in Terry Pratchett's wonderful, amazing Discworld series.
I've had my copy for years, it's an older edition but I so love their covers.
This was my third time reading Carpe Jugulum.

"Mightily Oats has not picked a good time to be priest. He thought he'd come to Lancre for a simple ceremony. Now he's caught up in a war between vampires and witches.
There's Young Agnes, who is really in two minds about everything. Magrat, who is trying to combine witchcraft and nappies, Nanny Ogg ... and Granny Weatherwax, who is big trouble.
And the vampires are intelligent. They've got style and fancy waistcoats. They're out of the casket and want a bite of the future. Mightily Oats knows he has a prayer, but he wishes he had an axe." 

I adore the Nac Mac Feegle. They are a wondrous, hilarious and genius addition to The Discworld. And their interaction with the witches especially never ceases to make me laugh out loud. 

Carpe Jugulum's plot is not my favourite; I find it to be a bit too slow.
But I love the witches, I adore the Nac Mac Feegle, Perdita is amazing, Magrat as a mother is quite an emotional read, everytime any Ogg is in a scene I can't help but smile, the humor is out of this world, the writing flows easily and I wanted to keep reading. I love the scenes where Nanny becomes 'the other one/witch' those were out of this world fantastic. 
Pratchett's take on religion (through the character of Oats) was once again thought-provoking, respectful, funny and introspective all at the same time.

It's not my favorite Discworld novel, but with so many to choose from (there are 41 Discworld books, not counting the little extra ones in between) I couldn't name one favorite, there have to be 10 number one books in my opinion. And this isn't one of those because of the pace, but it is amazing nonetheless.  

So. 
Go read some Discworld novels!  

Happy reading.
Helena 

 

Christian White: The Nowhere Child

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Bookhaul

Hi everyone

I got some new books! 
After reading Brian McClellan's Promise of Blood I immediately ordered the second and the third book in The Powder Mage series because I'm sure I'll love those too.
Same goes for Jonathan French's The Lot Lands series. 

I'm so happy! Like a kid in a candystore. :) 

Here's what I got:

- Moniquill Blackgoose: To Shape a Dragon's Breath 

- Jonathan French: The Free Bastards

- Claire Keegan: Small Things Like These

- Brian McClellan: The Crimson Campaign 

- Brian McClellan: The Autumn Republic

- Dennis E. Taylor: Not Till We Are Lost 

I can't wait to get to these.

Happy reading!
Helena 

Peter Brown: The Wild Robot Protects

Hi everyone

The Wild Robot Protects is the third and last part (I think) in Peter Brown's The Wild Robot series.
I got my copy from Bol.

"Life for Roz and the animals on their island is perfect: wild, natural, harmonious. Her son Brightbill has even found a mate! But then, one day an injured seal washes ashore and warns of dangerous, cloudy waters that are flowing toward the island—and soon the animals are forced inland to fight over dwindling resources.
Roz calms and organizes the animals, but the poison tide takes a terrible toll on the island. And when the robot discovers that her new body is waterproof, she marches into the waves and sets out across the ocean, determined to stop the poison tide."

The Wild Robot is a series for children, something my almost 8 year old daughter would read if I had bought it in Dutch (our mother tongue). It's certainly entertaining, the illustrations are wonderful and the story is easy to read and fun. But this particular book was boring. The plot is really slow and I felt my mind wander multiple times. It takes ages for the islanders to do something and it takes even longer for Roz to reach her destination. There's not much else going on. The tone was very preachy. Humans = bad. Animals = good. There's no nuance and it's too moralistic.
So yeah, the first and second book in the series were very enjoyable, this one not as much.

Happy reading.
Helena 

Ilona Andrews: Magic Burns

Hi everyone

Magic Burns is the second book in Ilona Andrews Kate Daniels series. 
I read this on my e-reader. 

"Kickass mercenary Kate Daniels is back in another breakneck urban fantasy adventure. She's ready to take care of anyone who gets in her way . . .Down in Atlanta, tempers - and temperatures - are about to flare . . .As a mercenary who cleans up after magic gone wrong, Kate Daniels has seen her share of occupational hazards. Normally, waves of paranormal energy ebb and flow across Atlanta like a tide. But once every seven years, a flare comes, a time when magic runs rampant. Now Kate's going to have to deal with problems on a much bigger a divine one.When Kate sets out to retrieve a set of stolen maps for the Pack, Atlanta's paramilitary clan of shapeshifters, she quickly realises much more is at stake. During a flare, gods and goddesses can manifest - and battle for power. The stolen maps are only the opening gambit in an epic tug-of-war between two gods hoping for rebirth. And if Kate can't stop the cataclysmic showdown, the city may not survive..."

This was so entertaining. I enjoyed every minute of this book. I liked all the characters, I found the story to be really engrossing, it's packed full of action, there's humor, a bit of spice, magic, fighting, ... Everything you need for a fun read.

Happy reading!
Helena 

Yuval Noah Harari: Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow

Hi everyone

I read Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, by Yuval Noah Harari spread over the last few weeks.
This is my husband's copy.

"Sapiens showed us where we came from. Homo Deus shows us where we're going. War is obsolete. You are more likely to commit suicide than be killed in conflict. Famine is disappearing. You are at more risk of obesity than starvation. Death is just a technical problem. Equality is out - but immortality is in.
What does our future hold? Yuval Noah Harari, author of the bestselling phenomenon Sapiens envisions a not-too-distant world in which we face a new set of challenges.
Homo Deus explores the projects, dreams and nightmares that will shape the twenty-first century - from overcoming death to creating artificial life. It asks the fundamental questions: Where do we go from here? And how will we protect this fragile world from our own destructive powers?"

This was a bit dissapointing. I read Sapiens about a year ago and that was very interesting. I really enjoyed it. But Homo Deus is just not as engrossing or interesting. There's not much new here. The information in the book just wasn't groundbreaking, I never paused thinking 'wow that's amazing'. 

The writing is good, there's just not much to the information. 

Happy reading!
Helena 

 

 

Brian McClellan: Promise of Blood

Hi everyone

Promis of Blood is the first book in The Powder Mage series by Brian McClellan. This series is set before the Gods of Blood and Powder series, which I read (and loved) first. So if you have yet to start Brian McClellan's writing, I suggest you start here. And I suggest starting now because his books are amazing.
I bought this book from Bol.com.

"The Age of Kings is dead . . . and I have killed it.
It's a bloody business overthrowing a king...
Field Marshal Tamas' coup against his king sent corrupt aristocrats to the guillotine and brought bread to the starving. But it also provoked war with the Nine Nations, internal attacks by royalist fanatics, and the greedy to scramble for money and power by Tamas's supposed allies: the Church, workers unions, and mercenary forces.
Stretched to his limit, Tamas is relying heavily on his few remaining powder mages, including the embittered Taniel, a brilliant marksman who also happens to be his estranged son, and Adamat, a retired police inspector whose loyalty is being tested by blackmail.
But when gods are involved...
Now, as attacks batter them from within and without, the credulous are whispering about omens of death and destruction. Just old peasant legends about the gods waking to walk the earth. No modern educated man believes that sort of thing. But they should...
In a rich, distinctive world that mixes magic with technology, who could stand against mages that control gunpowder and bullets?"

Promise of Blood is not a little book (it's not really big either) but it read like one. I was never bored, constantly on the edge of my seat, constantly wanting more, there are no infodumps but you do learn enough about the world, the magicsystems and the characters.
I loved every moment. It's great to get to know the old characters anew (because I read the second series first I mean). We learn about more about Ka-Poel, we see through Tamas' eyes and we get to know him better. Honestly, I enjoyed every character and every storyarc. There weren't too many so you can easily keep them all separatly and because we have multiple POV's you care about them all.
The story is great, there's a lot going on but it's never overwhelming and it stays interesting.

I loved it and I have already ordered the second and third part in the series. 

Happy reading!
Helena 

Wrap Up: June 2025

Hi everyone

June has flown by. Summer vacation has started for the children, my husband and I are still working but in a couple of weeks we'll be going on holiday and we're all looking forward to that.

Here's the list with links to the books I read in June.

- Rachel Joyce: Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North

- Yoko Ogawa: Revenge 

- Stephen Aryan: Of Gods and Men

- Jonathan French: The True Bastards

- Trudi Canavan: Thief's Magic

- Martha Wells: Witch King 

Did you read anything you'd like to recommend?

Happy reading!
Helena 

 

Martha Wells: Witch King

Hi everyone

Witch King is the first book in The Rising World series by Martha Wells.
I've read quite a few of her works now and sadly; the only ones I truly enjoyed were The Murderbot Diaries.
I read this on my e-reader.

""I didn't know you were a... demon."
"You idiot. I'm the demon."
Kai's having a long day in Martha Wells' WITCH KING....
After being murdered, his consciousness dormant and unaware of the passing of time while confined in an elaborate water trap, Kai wakes to find a lesser mage attempting to harness Kai’s magic to his own advantage. That was never going to go well.
But why was Kai imprisoned in the first place? What has changed in the world since his assassination? And why does the Rising World Coalition appear to be growing in influence?
Kai will need to pull his allies close and draw on all his pain magic if he is to answer even the least of these questions.
He’s not going to like the answers."

This was mediocre. The characters were very forgettable and rather interchangeable; it was hard to keep them apart or to give them a distinct voice in my head. Not one person stood out, not one captured my attention.
The plot was nothing special, the writing felt very YA, the tone of the conversations felt wrong for the time and the setting of the story. It felt off, like the characters talked too modern for the setting.

So I won't be continuing this series. 

Happy reading!
Helena 

Trudi Canavan: Thief's Magic

Hi everyone

Thief's Magic is the first book in the latest series by Trudi Canavan; Millennium's Rule.
I got my copy from Bol.com.

"Forget what you know about the nature of magic.
In a world where an industrial revolution is powered by magic, Tyen, a student of archaeology, unearths a sentient book called Vella. Once a young sorcerer-bookbinder, Vella was transformed into a useful tool by one of the greatest sorcerers of history. Since then she has been collecting information, including a vital clue to the disaster Tyen's world faces.
Elsewhere, in an land ruled by the priests, Rielle the dyer's daughter has been taught that to use magic is to steal from the Angels. Yet she knows she has a talent for it, and that there is a corrupter in the city willing to teach her how to use it -- should she dare to risk the Angels' wrath.
But not everything is as Tyen and Rielle have been raised to believe. Not the nature of magic, nor the laws of their lands. . . and not even the people they trust."

It's sad. I really enjoyed Trudi Canavan's Black Magician Trilogy and I loved her The Age of the Five trilogy (I want to reread those) so I was expecting to enjoy this series too. But this was not as good as I had hoped. Far from.
I thought this was really boring, very slow and just uninteresting. The characters were dull, naieve and stupidly simple. There's too many info-dumps. The story is very YA and too romantic for my tastes.

I won't be continuing the series. 

Happy reading!
Helena 

Jonathan French: The True Bastards

Hi everyone

The True Bastards is the second book in The Lot Lands series, written by Jonathan French.
I got my book from Bol.com.

"Fetching was once the only female rider in the Lot Lands. Now she is the leader of her own hoof, a band of loyal half orcs sworn to her command. But in the year since she took power, the True Bastards have struggled to survive. Tested to the breaking point by the burdens of leadership, Fetching battles desperately to stave off famine, desertion, and the scorn of the other half-orc chieftains, even as orcs and humans alike threaten the Lots' very existence. Then an old enemy finds a way to strike at her from beyond the grave--and suddenly only one, faint hope for salvation remains." 

This was brutal. I liked it a lot but it was really brutal. Brutal and grim as in good people dying, torture and backstabbing. 

The story is slower than the first book, a lot happens, it's never truly slow, but there were parts the plot dragged. And some events, decisions or plotparts were a bit unnecessary.
I love that Jonathan French chose Fetch as the maincharacter and I love her arc as the hoofchief. She's awesome! Honestly, I love all the characters in The True Bastards hoof. These characters are addictive.

I'm excited to read the third book in the series because it promises to be just as good as this one. 

Happy reading!
Helena   

 

Yoko Ogawa: Revenge

Hi everyone

Revenge is a collection of Yoko Ogawa's shortstories, they are interconnected and centered around revenge (obviously). I read this on my e-reader.

"Sinister forces draw together a cast of desperate characters in this eerie and absorbing novel from Yoko Ogawa.
An aspiring writer moves into a new apartment and discovers that her landlady has murdered her husband. Years later, the writer’s stepson reflects upon his stepmother and the strange stories she used to tell him. Meanwhile, a surgeon’s lover vows to kill him if he does not leave his wife. Before she can follow-through on her crime of passion, though, the surgeon will cross paths with another remarkable woman, a cabaret singer whose heart beats delicately outside of her body. But when the surgeon promises to repair her condition, he sparks the jealousy of another man who would like to preserve the heart in a custom tailored bag. Murderers and mourners, mothers and children, lovers and innocent bystanders—their fates converge in a darkly beautiful web that they are each powerless to escape." 

I thought this to be really mediocre. Nothing stood out, most stories were forgettable and left no impression on me.
The little moments you see a connection between the stories are a little boost in how I felt about the book. 

Happy reading!
Helena  

Rachel Joyce: Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North

Hi everyone

Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North is the third book in the Harold Fry series by Rachel Joyce. It's not a series where you need to read the books in order though I would recommend doing so just to know the backstory.
I got my book from Bol.

"Ten years ago, Harold Fry set off on his epic journey on foot to save a friend. But the story doesn't end there.
Now his wife, Maureen, has her own pilgrimage to make.
Maureen Fry has settled into the quiet life she now shares with her husband Harold after his iconic walk across England. Now, ten years later, an unexpected message from the North disturbs her equilibrium again, and this time it is Maureen's turn to make her own journey.
But Maureen is not like Harold. She struggles to bond with strangers, and the landscape she crosses has changed radically. She has little sense of what she'll find at the end of the road. All she knows is that she must get there." 

I really enjoyed this.  
Maureen is not my favourite character in the series, she's angry, she's spitfull, impolite and disrespectful. 
But because you know what she went through, you excuse this behaviour a bit more, you sympathize with her. I am glad she changes though. She lightens up, she can see other's perspectives better, she's open to people and experiences.
The writing is easy to read, the story flows nicely and is never overly dramatic. 

Happy reading!
Helena  

Wrap Up: May 2025

Hi everyone

May was a great reading month. Because I didn't really enjoy Parker-Chan's He Who Drowned the World; I read four children's book at the same time and I really enjoyed this combination.

Here's what I read: 

- Terry Practhett & Stephen Baxter: The Long Mars

- Jim Butcher: Furies of Calderon 

- The Poetry of Emily Dickinson

- Harriet Muncaster: Isabella Maan gaat naar de kermis

- Harriet Muncaster: Mirabelle heeft een slechte dag

- Paul van Loon: Birthday Surprise

- Paul van Loon: Full Moon

- Shelley Parker-Chan: He Who Drowned the World

- Emma Newman: Before Mars

How was you month?

Happy reading!
Helena