Review: ‘Soul of the Deep’ (‘Skin of the Sea’, #2) by Natasha Bowen

I think of all my own memories, reclaimed and mine. To know where you came from holds so much power over how you feel about yourself. Rating: 4/5 paper planes Genre: YA historical fantasy; Mermaids; MythologyPublication: 27 Sep 2022Pages: 304 (hardcover) Synopsis: *CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR BOOK 1 'SKIN OF THE SEA'* To save those closest …

Review: ‘The Golden Enclaves’ (‘The Scholomance’, #3) by Naomi Novik

If the garden above was a fairy tale, there was another story being told in this place, one where the children never came home, and smiling wizards drank a soup of bones. Rating: 4.5/5 paper planes Genre: (Upper) YA Fantasy; Magical Boarding SchoolPublication: 27 Sep 2022Pages: 416 (hardcover) Synopsis: (Mild spoilers for the first two …

Review: ‘Medusa’ by Rosie Hewlett

I was beautiful once. I would not recommend it. Rating: 3.75/5 paper planes Genre: Historical fantasy (Greek myth retelling)Publication: April 2021Pages: 204 (paperback) Synopsis: Within the depths of the Underworld the formidable snake-haired Gorgon has finally had enough. Tired of being eternally and unjustly brandished a villain, Medusa has found the courage to face her …

Review: ‘The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester’ by Maya MacGregor

“‘What is it you want, Sam Sylvester? …More than anything, what do you want?'
…‘I want to live,’ I say.” Rating: 3.8/5 paper planes A purple journal, hardback book and phone playing music leaning on a guitar. Around are mini mason jar lights and dried lavender, and the background fabric is dark with small metallic space-themed …

Review: ‘Under the Whispering Door’ by TJ Klune

"It's life, Wallace. Even when you're dead, it's still life. You exist. You're real. You're strong and brave, and I'm so happy to know you."[All quotes are from the ARC, which may differ to the final version.] Rating: 4.75/5 paper planes Genre: Speculative fiction; contemporary fantasy; paranormal; LGBTQ+Publication: 28 Oct 2021 (United Kingdom)Pages: 373 (hardcover) …

Review: ‘Once Upon a Broken Heart’ (‘Once Upon a Broken Heart’, #1) by Stephanie Garber

"I believe there are far more possibilities than happily ever after or tragedy. Every story has the potential for infinite endings."[All quotes are from the ARC, which may differ to the final version.] Rating: 2.75/5 paper planes Genre: YA FantasyPublication: 30 Sep 2021Pages: 408 (hardcover) Synopsis: For as long as she can remember, Evangeline Fox …

Review: ‘Skin of the Sea’ (‘Skin of the Sea’, #1) by Natasha Bowen

"In the water there are many things that mankind doesn't know about...When you peel back the skin of the sea, you never know what you will find."All quotes are from the ARC (advance reader copy), which may differ to the final version. Rating: 3.8/5 paper planes Genre: YA Historical Fantasy (15th Century C.E.); Mythology (West …

Review: ‘Iron Widow’ (‘Iron Widow’, #1) by Xiran Jay Zhao

He should be the Iron King, and I should be the Iron Queen.Yet Iron Demon and Iron Widow is all they'll let us be.This will not do. I will not let this power go. Rating: 4.75/5 paper planes Genre: YA (I'd say upper range) sci-fi fantasy; mecha; Chinese historical retellingPublication: 7 Oct 2021 (UK)Pages: 394 …

Book Tour Stop! Review: ‘Misrule’ (‘Malice’, #2) by Heather Walter

Green and goldGold and greenA power which we've yet to seeAh, but ne'er will come the dayWhen called a force unknown to Fae. Rating: 4.5/5 paper planes Genre: High fantasy, retelling (Sleeping Beauty); LGBTQ+Publication: 10 May 2022Pages: 480 (hardback) Synopsis: The Dark Grace is dead. Feared and despised for the sinister power in her veins, …

Review: ‘Bless the Daughter Raised by a Voice in Her Head: Poems’ by Warsan Shire

...At each and every checkpoint the refugee is askedare you human?The refugee is sure it's still human but worries that overnight,while it slept, there may have been a change in classification.(Excerpt from the poem 'Assimilation'.) Rating: 4.5/5 paper planes Genre: Poetry anthology; contemporaryPublication: 10th March 2022Pages: 96 (hardcover) Synopsis: With her first full-length poetry collection, …