"If she had known that it was the last hour of her mother's life, Morgane would have done things differently." Morgane has spent her life on board the pirate ship her mother, Anna-Marie, captains with a fierce hand. One of the few ways women can be as respected as men, she's worked her whole life … Continue reading The Vengeance – Emma Newman
"Princess Solenn of Braiz was but sixteen years of age, but as a student of diplomacy, she understood the delicacy of corresponding with foreign leaders." A Thousand Recipes for Revenge introduced us to a world where Chefs are 'God-Touched', able to sense the properties of food including magical 'epicurea'. As well as political assassinations, burgeoning … Continue reading A Feast for Starving Stone – Beth Cato
"We all have our small daily rituals." Shay Myers is settling in well to her new life running a tea shop that leans heavily into the 'skills' she's exploring from her Irish Witch ancestors, even as she remains sceptical and keen to find scientific explanations. But she can't ignore the feelings of dread, nor the … Continue reading Murder in a Cup – Lauren Elliott
Beloved cultural icon Indiana Jones is back for one last adventure. But, is it any good, or are you going to have another part of your childhood trampled all over? Short answer from me: far more the latter, alas. We start well with a long flashback scene set towards the end of the Second World … Continue reading Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)
"In the 1950's (sic) Earl Nightingale gave a speech called The Strangest Secret ... The secret is 'We Become What We Think About.'" I am a glutton for punishment with self-help tomes, always hoping that *this one* will be halfway decent and actually help in the quest for a better life. This, sadly, is not … Continue reading The Mindset Game – Matthew Scigousky
"Shayleigh Myers or Shay, as her friends and family called her, hopped out of the black Explorer into what was a typical cloudless California late August morning." Shay's been having a rough time of it, thanks to a nasty ex-husband and losing her business and income. But, this is a cosy mystery, so we start off … Continue reading Steeped in Secrets – Lauren Elliott
"On a March afternoon a knight and a man-at-arms reached the gate of the Marenite city of Berat." My childhood love of the first book in the Song of the Lioness quartet, Alanna, failed to continue with either adulthood or the series, and alas we don't finish any better. Or any worse, so there is that. Alanna, always getting … Continue reading Lioness Rampant – Tamora Pierce
"When a coach or physical therapist urges you to work hard, that's because physical stress can become strength." I'm finding it really tough to review this book - or indeed, finish reading it, which took almost a year (!). It's not bad at all, it's just... hmm. For a start, going through a heck of … Continue reading Stress into Strength – Nick Arnett
Dark Wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelson) is plotting and scheming, aiming to recruit followers and legitimise himself, with the intent of using political power to start a war with the Muggle world. Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) is touted as best-placed to stop him for some reason, and castigated when he doesn't. However, we're shown that … Continue reading Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)
Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) is a grifter who'll pull any con if it puts him on the path to riches. Given the Depression of the 1930s, work is hard to come by and so he ends up working with a travelling carnival. All the fun of the fair this is not, by modern standards, with … Continue reading Nightmare Alley (2021)
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