The Cloisters
Hays’ writing style flows and successfully builds suspense in this dark academia-adjacent unsettling mystery.
The Weather Woman
The Weather Woman by Sally Gardner falls into one of my favorite sub-genres: early modern creepy fantasy, alongside The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock, The Familiars, and The Miniaturist.
All That’s Left Unsaid
I have been slowly starting to read more books set in Australia, as it seems Australian authors are not well-represented in the bookshelves of British booksellers. All That's Left Unsaid has joined Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter, Feeling Sorry for Celia, and Three Wishes, as one of my favorite stories set in Australia.
Rule, Nostalgia
I would recommend this book to anyone still struggling to make sense of Brexit or anyone feeling warmth for the Empire.
The Family Remains
The mystery in The Family Remains is a continuation of the events in The Family Upstairs. A murdered woman’s skeleton is found in the Thames; dumped there recently, even though she has been deceased for over two decades.
The Halfways
I love a story about family drama, sisters, and intergenerational houses, so The Halfways was a must.
The House with the Golden Door
Amara won her freedom from the violent Felix at the end of The Wolf Den, and now she has to come to terms with her new life and leave her former colleagues behind.
The Awakenings
Olwen Malkon is a young woman taken in by her uncle’s family, but had vivid visions and dreams of an early medieval king of Northumbria. Her family are convinced she is possessed by demons, but she finds a progressive young doctor who offers her real help.
The Gifts that Bind Us
More cults and high stakes.
*The Gifts That Bind Us* by Caroline O’Donoghue was my most anticipated 2022 release and my high expectations were met!
Meet Me at the Wedding
Meet Me at the Wedding is the final book in Georgia Toffolo’s Meet Me romance series. The word that comes to mind most in this book (and greater series) is “cute.”
Meet Me in Tahiti
Even though my expectations were abysmally low, I was curious and I bought the book.
The Dark Queens
Easy to read and informative, The Dark Queens is my favorite non-fiction book of 2022 so far.
Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter
I was hoping for a vibe similar to The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock and it delivered. The story revolves around Eliza Brightwell, the daughter of a prominent pearler in Western Australia in the 1890s searching for her missing father after he has been presumed dead.
An Unkindness of Ghosts
I am already a fan of Rivers Solomon’s writing, having read Blood is Another Word for Hunger and Sorrowland, and loving them both. I was so excited to read An Unkindness of Ghosts and ended up loving it even more.
Pandora
I was so excited to receive this excerpt of Pandora and was only disappointed that it was only an excerpt. The excerpt ended on a cliffhanger and I had to wait for the book to come out to continue! The writing and characterization are great so far and I have every faith that it will continue to be a great read.
Plain Bad Heroines
Plain Bad Heroines had me hooked from the first page. The writing style grabbed me immediately, as I love an omniscient narrator who hints at future disaster. I especially loved the recurring motif of yellow jackets and the disaster and menace they bring. It reminded me of the theme of bees in The Starless Sea but perilous instead of wholesome.
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea
I really enjoyed this book and so rated it 4 stars. The setting is magical and the characters have great depth. The plot follows a classic hero’s journey arc with plenty of surprises and action. The first chapter throws the reader right into the story and there is never a dull moment.
Pandora’s Jar
Natalie Haynes' nonfiction writing style is informative, but not long-winded. Haynes gives the women in the famous Greek myths the attention and nuance they have always deserved while keeping a sense of humor. There were several passages that were funny and I appreciated the humor in the often bleak subject matter. This is a nonfiction companion to the fiction trend in recent years to give the women of the Greek myths retellings featuring them and giving them their due.
The Dust Never Settles
The Dust Never Settles follows a newly pregnant Anaïs who travels to her ancestral house in Peru which sits above the capital city of Lima. This premise sounded fascinating so I immediately requested the ARC from Netgalley and they were kind enough to oblige me.