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‘Truthwitch’ – Susan Dennard

‘Truthwitch’ seems to be a book that is dividing people. I’ve heard lots about it – mostly gushing praise it has to be said – but those who don’t like it seem to really dislike it. I’m not entirely sure why there is such antipathy to it; nor do I really fall into the category of regarding this as an ‘instant classic’.

There is no doubt that there is much about this novel to appeal to readers of all ages. It’s a richly imagined world, with lots of action scenes and there is the obligatory romance, though this at least is bubbling under the surface for most of the novel.

Initially I was a little put off by the relationship between the central characters of Iseult and Safiya, who seemed to be looking for trouble for no obvious reason. One seems to lead the other into trouble and yet nothing is said. However, they are strong characters and I grew to admire them as the novel progresses.

The world in which these two girls live is a little hazy. We’re told that there are three empires in power, and that the end of a truce period is drawing near. Some are doing well under this regime; others are not.

What we’re told from the outset is that there are many types of magic in this world. Each witch has power of a different type. Safiya is a Truthwitch, meaning she could be a valuable commodity in the wrong hands. Iseult is a Threadwitch, meaning she can see the ties that bind people together. From the outset we are given clues that, together, these two girls might be very important. Certainly, their skills put them at risk.

The plot is fairly straightforward. The two girls are being pursued by a number of people, and it’s a desperate battle to get the right people to the right place at the right time. Along the way, we get hints of past intrigues, political events and some interest to come. While it might have been helpful to have this fleshed out little more, it doesn’t detract from the enjoyment of the story.

For me the most interesting characters were Iseult and Aneudin, the Bloodwitch. The scenes where Iseult returns to her family were captivating, and I loved the fact that the bad guy wasn’t quite as bad as we’d been led to believe. I found that the parts of the story featuring these two characters were far more entertaining to read than those involving Safiya and Prince Merik.

At times during reading I have to confess to being both confused and even a little bored. However, on the whole I felt I couldn’t wait to find out more about how these events would be resolved and think this is definitely a series to stick with.

‘The Trouble With Goats and Sheep’ – Joanna Cannon

Throughout this novel there are references to religion and how beliefs can shape our behaviour. The central idea of people being divided into goats and sheep, and the idea that anyone is in a position to decide who is who, was fascinating. Hearing some of the characters espouse their theories reveals much about them, and encourages us to consider our own response to the events and characters described.

‘The Trouble With Goats and Sheep’ is a debut novel that is set in the summer of 1976. Ten year olds Grace and Tilly are curious about the world around them, and their curiosity is piqued when one of the neighbours goes missing. They are determined to be the ones to solve the mystery of what happened to Mrs Creasy, and so begins one of the best books I’ve read in a while.

This is not a book where much actually happens. We follow Grace on her investigation, and I loved her innocence as she observes the events happening around her. Seen through this child’s eyes, some of the absurdities of adult life are all too clearly highlighted.

Focusing on a fairly small cast of characters who live on The Avenue, Cannon slowly reveals all manner of hidden secrets. Cleverly interspersing past information with Grace’s investigations we slowly piece together some of the events that are alluded to throughout the novel, which all appear to play their part in the disappearance of Mrs Creasy.

Learning the hidden details of these characters’ lives was unsettling on more than one occasion. The Boo Radley of the novel – Walter Bishop – is a character that I felt deeply about. Though the setting is unashamedly of its time, the questions we are forced to ask about ourselves and our behaviour remain relevant for all time.

‘Acne, Asthma and Other Signs You Might be Half-Dragon’ – Rena Rocford

I admit that the title of this book was what attracted me when I saw it on my book group Buddy Read list. Reading the blurb/reviews, I’m afraid to say that I felt this would be a fairly lightweight read that might be good fun but nothing more. It’s fair to say that I had fairly low expectations for this novel before I began reading.

The cover evokes a real sense of mystery. It suggests foreign lands, mysterious creatures and is – if I’m being honest – totally at odds with the somewhat crass title. The image of the main character is also nothing like the image we are given in the novel – unless she is suffering from the lowest case of self-esteem I’ve ever read about!

The idea behind the novel is fairly straightforward. Allyson, our central character, has moved around a lot and is quite used to not fitting in. At her current school we are given clear reasons for her sense of alienation – she is actually part Kin, meaning she is part-mythical creature. Upon learning this fairly major detail (which nobody in her family has thought fit to mention) Allyson is caught up in events that are crazier than anything you could make up in your wildest dreams.

From the outset mysterious creatures and odd situations are thrown our way, and none of the characters in the novel bat an eyelid, which I found incredible. This was like some bizarre cartoon – nothing really made sense, events followed on from each other unbelievably quickly and you can’t help but feel that this is something people should grow out of. I’m sure this book will have its fans, but I wasn’t really one of them.

‘Hold Still’ – Tim Adler

I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The first thing I have to make clear is that this novel is very different in subject matter from the kind of stuff I’d normally read. This might explain some of my issues with the novel.

An excellent beginning. We see Kate and her husband in their hotel room in Albania, where they have travelled for a relative’s funeral, and within minutes he is dead – having fallen off the balcony. The easiest explanation for this is that Paul was depressed because of his failing business, and this is nothing more than a suicide. Unfortunately, Kate is convinced she saw someone else on the balcony at the time and that someone was watching them. She also is curious about the message Paul received just beforehand where he is pictured in a hotel with a younger woman. So begins her quest to find out what really happened.

Before we know it, Kate is drawn into the seedy underbelly of life. She learns things about her husband’s involvement in things that she would probably rather not have known about: drugs, bribery, corruption, human trafficking and Albanian gangs.

Though the story was well-plotted and kept you interested, I spent most of the book feeling quite detached from events. Kate simply wasn’t a character that I cared that much about, so I didn’t quite feel the emotional investment in her situation that I think was needed for this book to be totally successful.

‘Birdy’ – Jess Valance

When Frances Bird is asked to show the new girl, Alberta, around school it marks the end of her isolation. The two girls strike up a somewhat obsessive relationship; with each of them recognising in the other something that they, personally, are lacking.

As time goes on, Frances learns things about her new friend that start to paint a very different picture.

Narrated from Frances’s viewpoint, this novel really captures the awkwardness that can be felt by people who are seen as a little bit different from their peers – for whatever reason. We are never quite sure of exactly what is happening in certain situations as Frances herself is not the most reliable of narrators.

Without giving away any details, the end of the novel blew me away. You sensed something big was about to happen, but the extent of the betrayal only becomes clear as you finish the book. A quick read, but highly recommended.

‘In the Dark, In the Woods’ – Eliza Wass

This novel explores one girl’s attempts to escape the confines of her upbringing. Castella Cresswell and her five siblings are used to being seen as the outcasts of their school environment. They are used to being left alone, and it is such a shame that they are.

Castella makes for an interesting narrator. Even though she is seventeen, she seems much younger and I assume this is because of her upbringing. As she starts to question the extreme religious views of her father, and to recognise that the abuse he metes out is not normal, you could see her growing in confidence.

The children’ acceptance of their home-life is horrible to read. The weakness of the adult characters and their influence over these children was truly horrifying. By the end of the novel I was desperate for something to happen to provide the opportunity to escape.

A curious read. Dark, but compelling. Thank-you to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

‘The Way I Used to Be’ – Amber Smith

The image on the cover of this novel perfectly sums up the experience of the main character, Eden. It also captures perfectly one of the only moments in the novel – though she doesn’t see this until much later – when she is happy.

I think the first thing to say is that this is a book that will divide opinion. The subject matter is not going to appeal to everyone, but for me this is one of those books that you really have to make yourself read.

While some reviewers have commented on the fact that this doesn’t add anything new to books about rape, I’d argue that it shouldn’t have to. Every survivor of rape will have a different story to tell; every survivor of rape will react differently and the outcome for each will be very different. Why should a writer feel compelled to add something new to the mix?

Putting that view aside, I think the structuring of this novel is what most intrigued me about the book. We start with the night of the rape, and there is no easing us in gently to the horror. Like Eden, we are abruptly forced into a position from which we cannot escape. I was appalled, yet horribly resigned, to the way in which she reacted in the immediate aftermath of her attack. It revealed a lot about her as a character, and the relationships that she had with her family and her attacker.

As I read the opening section which focuses on Eden at 14, I felt so angry on her behalf. I reacted very emotionally to this character, wanting her to have that all-important person to reach out to who would believe her when she told them what had happened. Unfortunately, Eden keeps quiet…and nobody seems to notice quite enough to go beyond the surface attempt to convince everyone she’s okay.

The novel is split into four distinct parts, each focusing on a different year in school. As time progresses, we see Eden more and more damaged by her experience. She finds her coping mechanism. Unfortunately, this also brings with it further problems, as she gains a reputation for being a slut amongst her peers. For this portrayal of high school alone I think the novel is worth reading.

The novel’s strength – taking us through Eden’s reaction over a prolonged period of time – is also its weakness. There are many events glossed over or ignored, but I found this a fairly minor issue.

All in all, I had a very emotional reaction to this novel. It didn’t have quite the ‘killer touch’ of Louise O’Neill’s ‘Asking For It’ but it packs a pretty hefty punch that will certainly get people talking.

‘Carrie’ – Stephen King

This is a book that I feel I should have already read. I’ve seen the movie a number of times, so my reading of the book was marred at times by reconciling what King wrote with the images that were put on screen.

The story seems well-known: Carrie White is the victim of bullying throughout her life, and her mother’s extreme religious views do not make it any easier for her to fit in. Carrie’s emerging telekinetic ability wreaks havoc as she gets her revenge on those who’ve made her life hell.

As I read the novel I confess to finding myself waiting for key scenes. What struck me most about the novel was the fascination with the supernatural and the portrayal of small-town America. Cleverly structured and a rattling good story. I’m so pleased that I finally cleared this off my to-read pile!

‘Knightley & Son: K-9’ – Ronan Gavin

As with the first book in the series, this is the kind of book that I think you’ll appreciate if you’re at least familiar with the original Holmes stories.

I enjoyed this, but not as much as the first book. For me, it was difficult to ignore the fact that Darkus and his father are not really working together in this novel. It felt like there were a number of characters running around doing their own thing who would, occasionally, meet up and share what they’d been doing.

I didn’t particularly like the subject, which I think was my key issue with the novel, and there were one or two coincidences too many for my taste.

On the positive side, you got to see a little more of Tilley and there is definitely a sense of Darkus’s growing confidence.

‘The Sign of One’ – Eugene Lambert

With a tagline that makes it clear this is no easy world to live in, I was not sure what to expect of ‘The Sign of One’ when I received a pre-publication copy from NetGalley.

Due for release in April 2016, this novel tells the story of Kyle and the desperate world he lives in. The opening chapter was a little confusing, and I wasn’t sure I’d like it, but I quickly changed my mind. By the end, I didn’t want to stop reading and I think that’s a good sign in a book.

In the Barrenlands it is common practice to separate identical twins and, through a very public ‘Unwrapping’ procedure, identify which twin needs to be killed. That’s right, killed. Publicly. With people going to watch, for entertainment!

Once I’d got to grips with the brutality of this world – and do not under-estimate the brutality – I was intrigued by this story. The writer’s interest in engineering and science are evident throughout, but there’s a very human touch to the story that I found really exciting.

There is definitely something for everyone in this novel. A thoroughly recommended read.