Only 3 months left of this crazy year, I hope we can all get some good reading in. During September there were 11 books reviewed.

The cover of the book 'Lakesedge' by Lyndall ClipstoneCaitlin from Underground writers reviewed Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone she says “Lakesedge is exactly what I look for in a modern fantasy novel, it takes all the best parts of the genre: magic, otherworldliness, darkness – and leaves the parts which don’t work anymore. The progressiveness is subtly woven throughout, from how same-sex couples are an ordinary, accepted part of this world, to how consent is clear in all the intimate scenes. Also, everyone seems to eat plant-based meals, since the cake has ‘almond cream’ and there is ‘olive butter’ for the bread, and there is no meat mentioned at all. The entire outlook of this world is refreshing and feels informed by modern ideals like the #metoo movement. Romance develops slowly and believably in the story, and you find yourself egging Violeta on in her ill-conceived feelings for a monstrous man. Clipstone’s passion for stories of young women who fall in love with monsters, think Sarah in Labyrinth and Belle in Beauty and the Beast, is clear, and by the end, you’ll be wishing for a Rowan of your own. If you adore rich descriptions, loveable monsters, and relatable, fierce female characters, then Lakesedge is the book for you. Just wait for the ending, it will leave you begging for the sequel…”

 

The Hush by Sara   FosterCarolyn reviewed Hush by Sara Foster, she says “This is a scary dystopian world with shades of 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale, where politicians have gradually gained coercive control post-pandemic over the population in the name of community health and are now seeking to take control of women’s pregnancies and childbirth. The novel is populated with strong female characters who are not prepared to sit back and let this happen. Lainey herself is courageous and resilient and is fortunate to be surrounded by strong women in her mother and their friends as well as her fiercly feminist grandmother, who are all prepared to fight for her and to discover why pregnant teens are being taken and uncover the mystery surrounding the stillbirths. It makes for a gripping plot in a thoughtful and thought-provoking novel.”

 

Lee @ReadWriteWish reviewed Jane in Love by Rachel Givney, I loved this novel and it seems they enjoyed it too, they said “‘Published fanfic’ of Jane Austen can be hit and miss, more often than not a miss. But Jane in Love, Rachel Givney’s time travel take on the Austenverse, was a sweet book which I unashamedly enjoyed. and Jane in Love was funny. It was also incredibly sad in places. Obviously it wasn’t literature to an Austen standard but I enjoyed it a lot. I also have the urge to read (or watch an adaptation of) one of Austen’s books which is not a bad thing at all! 4 out of 5”

 

The cover of It’s Not You, It’s Me by Gabrielle WilliamsEbony from Underground Writers reviewed It’s Not You, It’s Me by Gabrielle Williams, she says “It’s Not You, It’s Me is a fairly quick read, and while there were some areas I wish were developed a bit more, I enjoyed it. Gabrielle Williams takes a well-known trope and explores the question of ‘if you had the opportunity to change your fate and become someone else, would you take it?’ And, honestly, it made me appreciate what I have a little bit more. If you are a lover of body swaps or time travel, I definitely recommend picking this up. There are a lot of great moments that stood out to me, and if you enjoy spending time contemplating the ‘what ifs’ and the boundaries of such tropes, Gabrielle Williams touches on a number of great ideas that I would love to see explored in the future.”

 

I hope you find some great books to read in October. Until next time, happy reading.