Quick Reviews – Cold People, Code Red and Ordinary Gods and Monsters

On May 12, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Drama, Quick Review, Science Fiction, Thriller1 Comment

In recent weeks, I have been trying to get out reviews of several books I read last year but never got the chance to write anything about. I am hoping to partially rectify that now by publishing quick reviews of three great novels from 2023 I had a fun time reading.

Cold People by Tom Rob Smith

Cold People Cover

Publisher: Simon & Schuster (Trade Paperback – 1 February 2023)

Series: Standalone

Length: 452 pages

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

The first book I want to quickly review in this post is Cold People by established author Tom Rob Smith. Cold People was an intriguing science fiction read that presented a very unique scenario to the reader.

Plot Synopsis:

The world has fallen. Without warning, a mysterious and omnipotent force has claimed the planet for their own. There are no negotiations, no demands, no reasons given for their actions. All they have is a message: humanity has thirty days to reach the one place on Earth where they will be allowed to exist… Antarctica.

Cold People follows the journeys of a handful of those who endure the frantic exodus to the most extreme environment on the planet. But their goal is not merely to survive the present. Because as they cling to life on the ice, the remnants of their past swept away, they must also confront the urgent challenge: can they change and evolve rapidly enough to ensure humanity’s future? Can they build a new society in the sub-zero cold?

This was a pretty cool (ha ha) story, although I must admit it went in some directions that I really wasn’t expecting. Based on the synopsis, I was expecting Cold People to primarily show the harrowing journey that many different people would take to get to the safety of Antarctica, which would have made for a great story on its own. Instead, only the first section of the book really showcased this journey, which was honestly a rushed introduction to the whole plot. The rest of the book skips ahead many years and dives into showcasing the ongoing struggles that humanity faces whilst trapped in Antarctica. This part of the book then becomes a cautionary tale about genetic modification as various geneticists work to make humans more adaptable to living in the ice, only to unleash something far more dangerous than the alien threat above.

I honestly had some issues with how Cold People is structured. I felt that this book might have been better if the author had either focused fully on the journey to Antarctica or set it completely in the isolated future and explored the journey in flashbacks for several characters. The focus on genetically enhanced humans was also an interesting choice, and while it was primarily to explore how humans are capable of surviving anything, it felt very unrealistic in places and got way out of hand. It was also odd that you really don’t get to find out anything about the mysterious aliens who caused the human exodus, and you are instead left wondering about who or what they were.

Still, there were some great elements to this book. The genetic antagonists are pretty scary, and Smith does a good job diving into the psychology behind them. I also really loved the author’s intriguing insights into the hostility of Antarctica as a continent and how hard it would be to live on it. The clever way Smith built up the background setting to showcase several ingenious ways that humans could potentially adapt and survive in such a scenario was quite fascinating, and it proved to be a great part of the book. As such, Cold People is an interesting novel to check out, and many readers will appreciate Smith’s ideas about humanity and its strong desire to survive.

Code Red by Kyle Mills (Based on the series by Vince Flynn)

Code Red Cover

Publisher: Simon & Schuster (ebook – 4 October 2023)

Series: Mitch Rapp – Book 22

Length: 352 pages

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The next book I want to highlight here is Code Red by Kyle Mills, which served as the 22^nd entry in the long-running Mitch Rapp series that was originally written by the late Vince Flynn. Following a hyperviolent veteran American spy as he goes up against a range of deadly threats in unusual thriller situations, the Mitch Rapp books are a key part of my yearly reading schedule, and I have really enjoyed several of the latest entries, including Red War, Lethal Agent, Total Power, Enemy at the Gates and Oath of Loyalty.

Plot Synopsis:

Mitch Rapp returns to make a mortal enemy of Russia in this high-octane and up-to-the-minute installment in the #1 New York Times bestselling series from “one of the best thriller writers on the planet” (The Real Book Spy).

Mitch Rapp hates owing anyone a favor—especially when it’s the world’s most powerful crime lord. But when Damian Losa calls, Mitch is honor-bound to answer.

The Syrian government appears to have created a highly addictive new narcotic that it plans to distribute throughout Europe. It’s a major threat to Losa’s business and he’s determined to send someone to keep him on top by any means necessary. Rapp is the perfect choice for the mission. Not only does he have extensive experience operating in the Middle East, but he’s also entirely expendable. As he crosses into war-torn Syria, Rapp quickly discovers a shocking truth. The new drug isn’t being produced by Damascus to prop up the government’s collapsing finances. Instead, it was created by Russia’s asymmetrical warfare unit, not for profit but as a weapon against the West.

With far more than Damian Losa’s interests at stake, Rapp devises a desperate plan that forces him and his team onto a battlefield where the United States is virtually powerless and allegiances shift almost hourly. Further, if Russia uncovers their plot, it will set off a confrontation between the two countries that could change the course of human history.

This was another exciting entry in the Mitch Rapp books, although I must admit this book wasn’t my absolute favourite novel in the series. Don’t get me wrong, Mills came up with a very compelling story that thrust the protagonist into some dangerous situations as he attempts to repay his debt to the entertaining crime lord Damian Losa. However, in some ways Code Red is a little by the numbers, especially as we have just come off several impressive reads where Rapp was in some very ridiculous or deadly situations, such as a massive power-outage impacting all of America, or the last two books where Rapp found himself at war with a corrupt US President. An infiltration mission into Syria seems a little tame in comparison, so this might have coloured my appreciation for Code Red a little.

Despite this minor complaint, Code Red was a great action-packed read that showcased Mitch Rapp doing what he does best, infiltrating the Middle East and frustrating Russian plans. There are loads of firefights and intense action scenes scattered throughout this book, and I thought the underlying Russian plot to destroy economies and weaken Western society through an addictive drug was very intriguing, especially as it also featured some dark scenes of exploitation and utilisation. Easily read as a standalone novel or as an entry into the wider Mitch Rapp series, Code Red was a fantastic novel that I managed to get through quickly, and it is well worth checking out.

Ordinary Gods and Monsters by Chris Womersley

Ordinary Gods and Monsters Cover

Publisher: Picador (Trade Paperback – 29 August 2023)

Series: Standalone

Length: 300 pages

My Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars

The final book I want to feature in this post was the excellent Australian novel, Ordinary Gods and Monsters by Chris Womersley.

Plot Synopsis:

It could have been any summer’s evening, but of course it wasn’t.
It was the end of some things, the beginning of so many others.

Nick Wheatley has finished high school, but he isn’t ready for the rest of his life. His parents are getting divorced, his sister is downright weird and his best friend and neighbour, Marion, seems to have acquired a boyfriend.

One hot night, Marion’s father is killed in a hit-and-run. There are no suspects and no leads. But a sly tip from the local psychic sends Nick and Marion into the undertow of a strange and sinister world they hadn’t known existed in the suburbs – one of inscrutable gangsters, speed-dealing bikies and unpredictable, one-eyed conspiracy theorists.

It’s a world they’ll be lucky to survive.

Ordinary Gods and Monsters was a pretty awesome book from Womersley that proved to be one part crime fiction novel, one part Australian coming-of-age story. Following Nick Wheatley, a young teenager in 1980s suburban Melbourne, as he simultaneously deals with life, complex family issues, and his uncertain relationship with his best friend and neighbour Marion. Life becomes even more complicated when he is forced come to terms with the death of Marion’s father. Thanks to a tip from a drug-dealing psychic, Nick finds himself identifying a series of clues that suggest that Marion’s father was murdered, and he takes it upon himself to investigate.

The resulting story is an interesting mixture of elements that will appeal to a range of different readers. Womersley does an excellent job of portraying the life and difficulties of a teenage protagonist, and I loved the protagonist’s very relatable take on the various events, both mundane and unusual, going on around him. This dramatic, 80’s focused, character-driven storyline blends extremely well with the more crime fiction elements of the book, as the protagonist finds himself becoming more and more involved with searching for the person responsible for Marion’s father’s death. His unlikely investigation adds some exciting spice to an already engrossing coming of age tale, and you get drawn into his attempt to find answers.

The result of this plot is very interesting, especially as the reveal about who is behind everything is well handled and compelling. Womersley also adds in a very compelling final sequence, where Nick and Marion find themselves confronting the perpetrators in a dangerous scenario. The conclusion of this confrontation will leave readers wondering about what truly happened, and which I felt was a great end to this book. An overall excellent piece of Australian fiction that I had a great time reading.

Quick Review – I Will Find You by Harlan Coben

On April 27, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn Quick Review, Thriller1 Comment

I Will Find You Cover

Publisher: Century (Trade Paperback – 16 March 2023)

Series: Standalone

Length: 407 pages

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Last year I was lucky enough to read and review the new Harlan Coben novel, I Will Find You. This was the first book I had read from Coben, a man renowned for his twisty and tricky thriller books, and it proved to be a pretty cool read. While I really enjoyed I Will Find You, I never actually got around to reviewing it, which was a pretty major regret I had about my writing last year. However, as I just received a copy of Coben’s new book, Think Twice, I figured this would be a good time to finally review this amazing book.

Plot Synopsis:

David and Cheryl Burroughs are living the dream – married, a beautiful house in the suburbs, a three year old son named Matthew – when tragedy strikes one night in the worst possible way.

David awakes to find himself covered in blood, but not his own – his son’s. And while he knows he did not murder his son, the overwhelming evidence against him puts him behind bars indefinitely.

Five years into his imprisonment, Cheryl’s sister arrives – and drops a bombshell.

She’s come with a photograph that a friend took on vacation at a theme park. The boy in the background seems familiar – and even though David realizes it can’t be, he knows it is. It’s Matthew, and he’s still alive.

David plans a harrowing escape from prison, determined to do what seems impossible – save his son, clear his own name, and discover the real story of what happened that devastating night.

The first thing I need to point out about I Will Find You is that Coben came up with a pretty awesome standalone concept that really draws your attention from the get-go. An innocent man trapped in prison for a crime he didn’t commit is always a great start to the story, but combine that with proof that his murdered child is still alive and with someone else, and you have yourself a real winning plot that I really fell in love with. Coben easily has the writing chops to back this story idea up, and the resulting book turns into an impressive read.

I really enjoyed so many great elements of I Will Find You, especially as Coben throws in his trademark twists, elaborate action-set pieces, and fantastically complex character motivations. The book starts with an awesome, if slightly coincidental, prison break (thank God for family connections) and develops into a good fugitive storyline with an investigative bent to it. The resulting chase between the protagonist and his pursuers, both official and unofficial keeps the pulse racing, and I loved the combination of two fast-talking cops leading the main pursuit, and a shadowy, influential family invested in his capture/death. The investigation angle works out very well, and the combination of Matthew’s straightforward methods, and the subtler results from Rachel, the sister-in-law, allow for some intriguing progress towards the plots conclusion.

The various resulting twists that lead up to the end of the book are well handled, and I loved how compelling Coben was able to make the plot of I Will Find You. I particularly loved the elaborate, sinister, and slightly oddball motivations behind the actual crime, as well the lengths the antagonist was willing to go to secure what they wanted. The unique relationships that also emerge make for some fun reading, and the compelling and over-the-top main story is well balanced with the inherent tragedy of the protagonists and the sorrow they feel for their loss. The entire book comes to quite a fantastic conclusion which, while it could have used a little more explaining, proved to be very satisfying.

While I did enjoy the story that Coben came up with for I Will Find You, and he presented it extremely well, I did myself disliking certain elements of the plot, namely that the author relied way too much on coincidence and story elements that come out of nowhere. A good example of this is the machinations of a certain mob-boss, which helped lead to the protagonist’s situation. While the eventual confrontation between David and this mobster is really well written, I honestly think their involvement in the whole affair could have been set up better, as their actions, while interesting to the plot, was a bit of a sudden inclusion. This, and other confidences and unanswered questions, conspired to throw me off the groove of the story at key points of the book, so I didn’t have as much fun as I possibly could of. Still, this is a mostly minor issue for me, and I had an overall exceptional time with this book.

I Will Find You was a pretty novel book, and it proved to be a fantastic introduction to Harlan Coben for me. The elaborate and intense story writing really grabbed me, and I loved the author’s ability to pull together a great character-driven twist. As such, I Will Find You is well worth checking out, especially to those who are already fans of the author.

I Will Find You Cover 2

Quick Review – Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead by Jenny Hollander

On March 11, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn Drama, Quick Review, Thriller1 Comment

Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead Cover

Publisher: Constable (Trade Paperback – 13 February 2024)

Series: Standalone

Length: 326 pages

My Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars

Debuting author Jenny Hollander presents a memorable first book with Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead, an excellent read that provides a powerful insight into grief and trauma.

Plot Synopsis:

THEY CALL ME THE LUCKY ONE. THEY DON’T KNOW I LIED.

Nine years ago, Charlie Colbert’s life changed for ever.

On Christmas Eve, as the snow fell, her elite graduate school was the site of a chilling attack. Several of her classmates died. Charlie survived.

Years later, Charlie has the life she always wanted at her fingertips: she’s editor-in-chief of a major magazine and engaged to the golden child of the publishing industry.

But when a film adaptation of that fateful night goes into production, Charlie’s dark past threatens to crash into her shiny present.

Charlie was named a ‘witness’ in the police reports. Yet she knows she was much more than that.

The truth about that night will shatter everything she’s worked for. Just how far will she go to protect it?

Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead is an outstanding first book from Hollander, who provides a gripping and intense narrative for readers to get stuck into. Told through the eyes of main character Charlie Colbert, the story quickly engrosses you. Charlie has rebuilt her life after a brutal attack years ago, but when secrets from the past threaten to come forth, Charlie is forced to interact with her fellow survivors once again. At the same time, Charlie also begins reliving the events leading up to that fateful night in her head, desperately trying to remember everything that happened to truly understand everything that she’s been running from.

The resulting story is very good, and Hollander has come up with a gripping, character-driven book that you can really sink your teeth into. The combination of past and present storylines is quite effective, and I liked how you got to see the protagonist’s dark reactions in the present while slowly learning about the events that traumatised her and the people involved. The way in which Hollander reveals all the secrets of the past is handled exceptionally well, and I loved the combination of flashbacks, discussions in the present, and quotes from fictional news articles that hint at what happened. The full events of the past storyline turn out to be far more complicated than you initially think, and the author throws in some incredibly clever twists. I honestly was surprised at some of the more brilliant reveals that come to light, and you really appreciate Hollander’s ability to misdirect the audience into assuming certain things happened. The full reveal and the fallout in the present for the protagonist are pretty amazing, and I loved how everything came together. The reader really comes away feeling satisfied, especially as everyone gets what they truly deserve at the end.

While I loved the intricate story that Hollander pulled together for Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead, I think the most distinctive aspect of the book is the author’s focus on trauma and how different people deal with it. This is mainly done through the eyes of the main character, Charlie, who is forced to continuously live with the trauma, guilt and emotional damage that followed the college massacre. While a lot of this trauma results in a memory black hole for the protagonist, you get to see other aspects of it as the book continues, as she is dragged back into the past and begins to relive all the dark feelings that emerge. The author’s portrayal of how a person would deal with such events, as well as how it would impact their memory, feels extremely realistic, and you can really feel the emotional damage done to Charlie and those closest to her as they try to help. Other characters are also forced to deal with the trauma in other ways, and the different levels of regret, involvement and despair prove to be a captivating part of the book. Throw in a cynical, if realistic, look at how the public idolises dark events, and Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead proves to be quite an emotional rollercoaster. This emotional charge really enhances the impact of the book, and I deeply appreciated how Hollander worked the protagonist’s attempts to remember and overcome her past into the overarching story.

Overall, I found Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead to be an excellent and compelling first novel from Jenny Hollander that is really worth checking out. Thanks to the great blend of personal storytelling, moving emotion, and dark secrets, readers come away from Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead deeply moved, and I look forward to seeing what intriguing reads Hollander writes in the future.

Quick Review – The Holy Terrors by Simon R. Green

On February 9, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn Horror, Quick Review, ThrillerLeave a comment

The Holy Terrors Cover

Publisher: Severn House (ebook – 6 February 2024)

Series: Standalone

Length: 214 pages

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Established thriller author Simon R. Green produces a fun and compelling read with The Holy Terrors, a cool book with an interesting plot idea behind it.

Plot Synopsis:

Six people locked in a haunted hall . . . Cameras watching their every move . . . And then someone dies . . . This first in a spine-tingling new paranormal mystery series from New York Times bestselling British fantasy author Simon R. Green will make you doubt your judgement – and believe in ghosts!

Welcome to Spooky Time, the hit TV ghost-hunting show where the horror is scripted . . . and the ratings are declining rapidly. What better way to up the stakes – and boost the viewership – than by locking a select group of Z-list celebrities up for the night in The Most Haunted Hall in England (TM) and live-streaming the ‘terrifying’ results?

Soon Alistair, a newly appointed Bishop, actress Diana, medium Leslie, comedian Toby and celebrity chef Indira are trapped inside Stonehaven town hall, along with June, the host and producer of the show. The group tries to settle in and put on a good show, but then strange things start happening in their hall of horrors.

What is it about this place – and why is the TV crew outside not responding? Are they even on air?

Logical Alistair attempts to keep the group’s fears at bay and rationalise the odd events, but there are things that just can’t be explained within reason . . . Can he stop a cold-blooded would-be killer – even if it’s come from beyond the grave?

This locked-room mystery with a paranormal twist is classic Simon R. Green, featuring his trademark humour and imagination, irresistible characters, and thoroughly entertaining plotting.

The Holy Terrors was an intriguing book from Simon R. Green that I had a fun time getting through. Short and very sweet, The Holy Terrors made good use of its compelling plot idea, which saw a bishop, a diva, a comedian, a celebrity chef, a psychic and a TV producer become trapped in a haunted town hall. While that sounds like the set up to an elaborate joke, it produces a great plot background for an entertaining novel that you can quickly power through.

I loved the author’s idea of simultaneously parodying ghost shows and the reality television crowd, while also presenting the reader with a unique locked-room mystery scenario that might or might not be caused by supernatural forces. Thanks to these ideas, I think the overall story was pretty good and proved to be quite exciting. Green sets everything up nicely, and you are quickly drawn into the plot, especially as you know that there is something bad on the horizon. After a few early scare elements, you are led nicely to the centre of the story, where one of the characters dies and the rest are left scrambling to figure out who or what is trying to kill them. This proves to be a great backbone for much of the story, and the initial range of characters are fun.

While I enjoyed how the book was set up, I think that it slightly fell apart in the second half. The story gets a bit silly in places, and it is easy to predict what the subsequent order of death was going to be. I did enjoy how Green tried to keep the reader guessing about whether this was a horror novel or a murder mystery, especially as there are some great psychic inclusions, apparitions, and other mysterious occurrences. However, despite the included misdirection, the answer to this question proved to be a bit obvious. The eventual culprit reveal was predictable, as it was literally the most obvious suspect there, and Green’s method reveal was pretty unsubtle. Still, the final confrontation was nicely written, and I liked the cool conclusion to the plot. in the end, The Holy Terrors proves to be quite an easy book to get through quickly, and I manage to finish it off in two sessions.

While Green proved adept at creating a chilling atmosphere and utilising it well in his story, I did have certain issues when it came to the characters. The author does come up with six interesting main figures for the story, each of which is a celebrity reality star archetype, and there are some fascinating dives into their backstories, especially during an emotional sequence near the climax. However, for the most part I felt these characters were underdeveloped, and Green could have showcased them a little better. Certain relationships between some of the characters were a bit forced, and quite a few interactions felt unusual. I also found some of the dialogue to be a bit stilted and weak in places, and it could have come across as a bit more natural. These elements let down The Holy Terrors’ promising plot to a degree, although I still managed to have fun getting through it.

Overall, The Holy Terrors was an interesting read from Simon Green that you can have an entertaining time with. The author’s intriguing scenario does prove quite compelling, and while certain elements of the book were not as strong as I would have hoped, you can easily power through this book in no time at all. As such, The Holy Terrors is a great book for anyone looking for a quick and efficient novel that tries to blur the line between horror and murder mystery.

Quick Review – Hollywood Hustle by Jon Lindstrom

On February 1, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn Quick Review, ThrillerLeave a comment

Hollywood Hustle Cover

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (ebook – 6 February 2024)

Series: Standalone/Book One

Length: 261 pages

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I was recently lucky enough to receive an early copy of the intriguing thriller debut, Hollywood Hustle. Written by actor Jon Lindstrom, who has appeared in quite a few crime fiction shows and films himself, Hollywood Hustle had a cool story about the price of fame and the dark side of Hollywood which I really liked the sound of.

Plot Synopsis:

Winston Greene, a has-been film star, wakes one morning to find his six-year-old granddaughter at his bedside—traumatized, unattended, and gripping onto a thumb drive. She comes bearing video proof that her mother, Win’s troubled adult daughter, has been kidnapped by a murderous gang demanding all his “movie money” for her safe return. But what they don’t know is…his movie money is long gone.

Unable to go to the police for fear the kidnappers will make good on their promise to kill his daughter, Winston turns to two close friends—a legendary Hollywood stuntman and a disgraced former LAPD detective.

There’s no easy way out for Winston or his daughter—the gang is violent and willing to do anything to get the money they’re after, and Winston begins to realize that to get his daughter back, he’ll have to beat the kidnappers at their own game.

This propulsive and tense thriller will transport readers to the seedier side of LA, depicted in bold prose by a Hollywood insider.

Hollywood Hustle ended up being a fun first book from Lindstrom, which takes the reader on an exiting and fast-paced adventure through a dark Hollywood kidnapping. Lindstrom starts things off quickly, with the readers given an effective introduction to the main character, fading actor Winston Greene, and the unthinkable scenario he finds himself in. After an initial focus on Greene, the author branches out the focus of the story, splitting the perspective between various characters, including Greene, his two loyal friends, the kidnappers, and more, to create a wonderful and highly entertaining narrative.

Much of the story follows Greene, as he is forced to try and raise cash he doesn’t have to secure his daughter’s release. While he goes about that, you get to see what the kidnappers are up to, as their botched operation quickly comes undone in several different ways. At the same time, one of Greene’s friends begins an investigation into the case, while a nosey tabloid journalist tries to scoop up dirt on the troubled actor. These various storylines all come crashing together, and I liked how well Lindstrom was able to tell a cohesive tale while also focusing on his characters. I did find that some of the dialogue was a little weak in places, and the story did get a little derivative at times, but this was mostly a great read. I especially enjoyed how Lindstrom took the plot in some surprising and unpredictable directions, and several over-the-top deaths really spiced things up. While I didn’t love one plot twist at the end that relied on an overused writing cliché, I ended up having a lot of fun with this cool story, and I managed to finish it off in only a couple of days.

I really enjoyed Hollywood Hustles’ great story, and there were some excellent writing elements that helped it stand out. Lindstrom set a great pace for the entire book, and I appreciated how he got right down to business. I felt the entire story flowed efficiently and effectively, and he didn’t make the story overstay its welcome, finishing it off at just the right time. Splitting the perspective chapters between the various characters involved in the plot also worked well, as you quickly get multiple eyes on the dangerous unfolding situation. I liked the great mixture of distinctive character perspectives that emerged, and the slow-burn introduction of the three kidnappers was pretty awesome, especially as they all have compelling individual backstories, and it quickly becomes apparent that none of them are natural team players. Honestly these three antagonists proved to be a major highlight of the entire story, and their dysfunctional relationship, over-the-top actions, and well-crafted pasts that examine interesting, failed takes on the American dream increased my enjoyment of the entire book.

However, most of Lindstrom’s character work revolves around protagonist Winston Greene, who serves as the heart and soul of the book. A formerly famous actor who has reached has-been status and now only works bit gigs, Greene is a character with many parallels in real life, which makes his story even more relatable. Initially shown to be a flawed but caring man, Lindstrom slowly reveals several of his darker demons, including the price he paid for fame, his battle with alcoholism, his struggles being a father and husband, and the guilt he harbours for his past mistakes. Lindstrom builds in a very good narrative about Greene trying to redeem himself throughout the course of Hollywood Hustle, especially when it comes to his daughter and granddaughter, and you really find yourself pulling for him as a result. The author also uses Greene’s character to help highlight the many negatives involved with a Hollywood career, which adds an interesting and personal edge to much of the plot. The protagonist’s cynical views of the acting scene, especially after a complicated and currently expired movie career, make for a great inclusion, and I personally loved the fun fictional movie quotes attributed to Greene that are scattered throughout the novel. Greene really felt like a character that Lindstrom was pouring himself into, and I deeply appreciated how compelling and powerful his story got at times.

Overall, I quite liked Hollywood Hustle, and I felt that it was a good, solid debut from this interesting author. While Jon Lindstrom has some growing to do as a writer, this was an excellent first effort, especially when it comes to creating great characters, and I hope we see some more entertaining books from Lindstrom in the future.

Quick Review – Never a Hero by Vanessa Len

On January 23, 2024 By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Fantasy, Quick Review, Young Adult2 Comments

Never A Hero Cover

Publisher: Allen & Unwin (Trade Paperback – 29 August 2023)

Series: Only a Monster – Book Two

Length: 475 pages

My Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars

New Australian fantasy author Vanessa Len follows up her outstanding debut with her second book, Never a Hero.

Back in 2022 I was lucky enough to receive a copy of Vanessa Len’s awesome debut novel, the young adult fantasy Only a Monster. This amazing and clever read saw a young woman find out that she was a monster, part of a community of people who can travel through time by absorbing the life force of ordinary humans. When her crush is revealed to be a deadly monster hunter determined to destroy her and everyone she loves, she is forced to flee through time to try and save her family. I loved the unique concept that Len came up with in her debut, and the resulting story was powerful, compelling, and very moving, especially as the author finished it off with a major twist and some heartbreaking decisions. Only a Monster proved to be so damn good, and it ended up being one of my favourite debuts and Australian novels of 2022. As such, I was quite excited when I saw that Len had a sequel to Only a Monster coming out last year, and I really enjoyed the unique way that she chose to continue her brilliant narrative.

Plot Synopsis:

This sequel to the contemporary fantasy Only a Monster will take Joan deeper into the monster world, where treacherous secrets and even more danger await.

Despite all of the odds, Joan achieved the impossible. She reset the timeline, saved her family – and destroyed the hero, Nick.

But her success has come at a terrible cost.

She alone remembers what happened. Now, Aaron, her hard-won friend – and maybe more – is an enemy, trying to kill her. And Nick, the boy she loved, is a stranger who doesn’t even know her name. Only Joan remembers that there is a ruthless and dangerous enemy still out there.

When a deadly attack forces Joan back into the monster world as a fugitive, she finds herself on the run with Nick – as Aaron closes in.

As the danger rises – and Nick gets perilously closer to discovering the truth of what Joan did to him – Joan discovers a secret of her own. One that threatens everyone she loves.

Torn between love and family and monstrous choices, Joan must find a way to re-gather her old allies to face down the deadliest of enemies, and to save the timeline itself.

Vanessa Len’s stunning Only a Monster trilogy continues with this second instalment, a thrilling journey where a secret past threatens to unravel everyone’s future.

Len comes up with quite an outstanding story for Never a Hero that hits the ground running fast and never lets up with the feels, action and deadly reveals. The story starts with Joan living in a slightly different world thanks to her manipulations of the timestream, where her former love interest, Nick, has no memory of who she is or that he used to be a monster hunter. However, an attack by the agents of the Monster Court forces her to once again jump back into that world to try and unravel a deadly conspiracy hinted at in the first novel. However, this time she is the expert, dragging along the very human Nick, who quickly learns about the monster world as Joan desperately tries to keep him from remembering his deleted past as a monster hunter. At the same time, her former ally from the first book, Aaron Oliver, has no idea who she is and is instead leading the hunt for her.

The resulting story proves to be quite exciting and intense, as the protagonists stay on the run, connecting with old allies and trying to discover why they are being chased and what deadly new plot has impacted their lives. While there are some deliberate similarities with the first book, Never a Hero goes in some different directions, especially as Joan is aware of what it means to be a monster. The book really goes in some interesting directions, and I loved how Len chose to wrap everything up. The conclusion has so many heartbreaking revelations about the characters’ pasts, and the resulting secrets will shake readers to the core. I love how well Len set up many of these reveals, and it was great to get a satisfying pay-off to some of the secrets and questions left unanswered in Only a Monster. Never a Hero ends on a big and ground-shaking note, hinting at a big final novel that will push the characters to their limits.

Len did an outstanding job following up her amazing debut here in Never a Hero, and this was another intense and moving character-driven read that expertly built on the elaborate story of her first book. This was a great piece of young adult fantasy fiction that will attract both a mature teenage audience as well as older fans of inventive fantasy fiction. While written in the same style as Only a Monster, Never a Hero definitely has a different feel to it, mainly because Len is weaving in some complex and inventive additional time travel elements. In particular, the protagonist is forced to manoeuvre through a different world brought on by the changes to timeline she made at the end of the last book. There is a constant reintroduction of supporting characters, locations and events, often in a much different context as the protagonist tries to work out the consequences of her actions. At the same time, the reader is also treated to some additional lore surrounding the various monster families and there is some substantial and imaginative world building as a result. I love how effectively and effortlessly Len utilised these complex fantasy concepts throughout her second novel and it really enhances an already exciting and memorable story. While Len does work to make Never a Hero more accessible to new readers, the focus on differing timelines and alternate characters does slightly restrict who is going to enjoy this book. I personally would strongly recommend reading the first novel before diving into Never a Hero, and that is honestly the best way to enjoy this story.

One of the best aspects of Never a Hero was the amazing character work of Len, who did an amazing job bringing together several intense and compelling story arcs around her excellent protagonists. The main three characters of the book, Joan, Nick and Aaron, each have impressive appearances and scenes in Never a Hero, and what was particularly great about them is that they were so different from their prior appearance in Only a Monster. Thanks to the time manipulations, each of them experiences an interesting new narrative in this book, and Len works this into the overall narrative of the book extremely well. Joan, the only one who effectively remembers the prior events, is burdened by all manner of guilt, not only because of her monster heritage but because she killed off a version of Nick in the previous novel. This guilt and despair only grows as the novel continues, especially when she realises the true consequences of her actions. At the same time, Joan is constantly trying to hide the evil of her species from Nick, while also trying to come to terms with the other dramatic changes and revelations in her life.

The other two major characters, Nick and Aaron, also have some amazing sequences in this book. Nick, who spent the previous novel hunting Joan as a monster hunter, is reborn for this book as a normal teen with a happy home life. However, he is soon forced back into the world of monsters when he and Joan are attacked, and it was fascinating to see him experience everything from the other side, especially as a single wrong move from the other characters could turn Nick back into a ruthless killer. Len also dives into the complex past around Nick’s various incarnations, and I deeply appreciated the tragic story about how he became a killer. Aaron, on the other hand, is a monster from a noble family who was a reluctant ally to Joan in the previous book, before something else formed between them. However, in Never a Hero, Aaron remembers nothing about this adventure or Joan, and instead he finds himself hunting her. This was an outstanding move from Len, as readers of the first book had grown to care for Aaron, so it was jarring to see him evil again in this sequel. The author wove quite an interesting storyline around Aaron, especially when it came to his connection with Joan, and there were some amazing scenes where the protagonist tried to bring him back onside by using secrets she previously learned from him. These three characters and their unique personal stories formed a powerful emotional heart to Never a Hero, especially when combined with the excellent supporting cast and a wonderfully wicked villain.

Never a Hero proved to be quite an impressive and outstanding follow-up to Vanessa Len’s epic debut. This amazing young adult fantasy novel had me quite enthralled and I loved the clever and powerful ways Len continued her unique narrative. Len is truly proving to be one of Australia’s best new fantasy authors and I cannot wait to see how she wraps this series up with her next amazing novel.

Quick Review – The Night House by Jo Nesbo

On December 21, 2023 By The Unseen LibraryIn Horror, Quick Review1 Comment

The Night House Cover

Publisher: Harvill Seeker (Trade Paperback – 26 September 2023)

Series: Standalone

Length: 263 pages

My Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars

Earlier this year I was lucky enough to receive a copy of the intriguing new novel from international bestselling author Jo Nesbo, The Night House. Nesbo is an author whose work I have been interested in checking out for a while as I have heard a lot of about his intriguing crime fiction stories and thrillers. I was really excited to check out something from Nesbo this year, and whilst The Night House is somewhat different from the author’s more typical work, it proved to be a very fascinating and compelling read with a deep story behind it.

Plot Synopsis:

WHEN THE VOICES CALL, DON’T ANSWER…

In the wake of his parents’ tragic deaths fourteen-year-old Richard Elauved has been sent to live with his aunt and uncle in the remote town of Ballantyne.

Richard quickly earns a reputation as an outcast, and when a classmate named Tom goes missing, everyone suspects the new, angry boy is responsible. No one believes him when he says the telephone booth out by the edge of the woods sucked Tom into the receiver like something out of a horror movie.

No one, that is, except Karen, a beguiling fellow outsider who encourages Richard to pursue clues the police refuse to investigate. He traces the number that Tom prank called from the phone booth to an abandoned house in the woods. There he catches a glimpse of a terrifying face in the window. And then the voices start . . .

When another classmate disappears, Richard must find a way to prove his innocence as he grapples with the dark magic that is possessing Ballantyne.

Then again, Richard may not be the most reliable narrator of his own story.

The Night House was a very unique read that combines several disparate genre elements and turns them into a personal and moving novel set around a damaged protagonist. The book is broken into three parts with three different, if closely related, stories being told in each section of the book. The first story is a great coming-of-age tale that sees an extremely angry teenager, Richard Elauved, witness a series of extremely graphic and strange deaths around town, seemingly linked to a phone number he called as a prank. Blamed for these apparent murders, Richard tries to prove his innocence and face off against a mysterious and dangerous evil threatening his town. There is something very reminiscent of classic Stephen King in this early part of the book, and Nesbo moves this horror infused storyline at a very quick pace, setting Richard up against terrors and mysterious manipulations, with many of his friends dying all around him. There is an interesting conclusion to this part, which really explores the protagonist’s deeper feelings and desire to be the hero, and it proved to be a great self-contained story.

Things start to take an interesting turn as Nesbo suddenly jumps into a whole new story. The second part of The Night House puts a different tint on the prior events as an older Richard appears and shows that not everything is as it seems. There is a great central story that takes some dark twists and turns, while you also get some intriguing continuation of character elements from the first part of the book, especially towards Richard’s past and the events that formed him. Nesbo introduces some key revelations, hints and intriguing differences between the protagonist’s memories of events and what other characters remember, all of which lead up to the big twist revealed in the third part of the book.

I’m not going to dive too deeply into the third and final section of The Night House, as to do so would reveal too many spoilers, but it really ties everything together in an extremely clever way. The overarching secrets, conflicting stories and differing backgrounds are all worked into this short final part of the book, and you get a complete story as the gaps in Richard’s unreliable narration are filled in. This part of the book really brings the story full circle, and you can fully appreciate how clever Nesbo has been in the prior sections of the book, especially with how he was simultaneously telling unique stories while also setting up this finale. There was some brilliant character work involved in building up this finale, especially when it comes to trauma and how it impacts behaviour, and I really enjoyed how the horror elements for the prior parts of The Night House had some great symbolism for the book’s conclusion.

I ended up having a great time with The Night House, and it proves to be a quick and interesting read to get through. Thanks to its excellent character work and the clever way Nesbo sets up the story, The Night House is one of the more unique reads of 2023, and I really appreciated the compelling and heartfelt story that Nesbo told, especially as he managed to work some memorable horror moments into it. A moving and compelling read that proves to be an excellent introduction to Nesbo’s writing.

Quick Review – He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan

On December 21, 2023 By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, LGBT+, Quick Review2 Comments

He Who Drowned The World Cover

Publisher: Mantle (Trade Paperback – 29 August 2023)

Series: The Radiant Emperor – Book Two

Length: 487 pages

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Rising Australian author Shelley Parker-Chan returns with the second part of her Radiant Emperor duology, He Who Drowned the World, an impressive and complex historical fantasy set in 14^th century China. He Who Drowned the World is the exciting sequel to the author’s first novel, She Who Became the Sun, which provided a compelling spin on a legendary Chinese Emperor by imagining them as a female who takes on her dead brother’s identity to achieve greatness. She Who Became the Sun was a pretty awesome read, loaded with intriguing imagery, excellent characters, and a unique story. I deeply enjoyed reading it when it first came out and it ended up being one of my favourite debuts and pieces of Australian fiction in 2021. I was very excited to get a copy of He Who Drowned the World, especially as Parker-Chan does an excellent job of fishing off her epic story in a big and compelling way.

Plot Synopsis:

How much would you give to win the world?

Zhu Yuanzhang, the Radiant King, is riding high after her victory that tore southern China from its Mongol masters. Now she burns with a new desire: to seize the throne and crown herself emperor.

But Zhu isn’t the only one with imperial ambitions. Her neighbour in the south, the courtesan Madam Zhang, wants the throne for her husband – and she’s strong enough to wipe Zhu off the map. To stay in the game, Zhu will have to gamble everything on a risky alliance with an old enemy: the talented but unstable eunuch general Ouyang, who has already sacrificed everything for a chance at revenge on his father’s killer, the Great Khan.

Unbeknownst to the southerners, a new contender is even closer to the throne. The scorned scholar Wang Baoxiang has maneuvered his way into the capital, and his lethal court games threaten to bring the empire to its knees. For Baoxiang also desires revenge: to become the most degenerate Great Khan in history – and in so doing, make a mockery of every value his Mongol warrior family loved more than him.

All the contenders are determined to do whatever it takes to win. But when desire is the size of the world, the price could be too much for even the most ruthless heart to bear . . .

He Who Drowned the World proved to be a unique and captivating novel that continued to follow former monk turned general Zhu Yuanzhang as she attempts to free China from the Great Khan, outwit her rivals, and take the throne as Emperor. Parker-Chan dives right into this scenario as the book starts, and you are soon enthralled by the complex, multilayered story that emerges. Thanks to the power shift from the first book, the battle for control of China turns into a fight for dominance with four armies in the field, while the shadowy Wang Baoxiang manipulates events in his favour from the shadows at the capital. The events are shown from the various unique perspectives of the four main characters, each of whom is trying to survive and win the throne by their own methods. I love the blend of storylines that evolved here, whether it is the main protagonist’s plan to seize her destiny no matter what, Ouyang’s destructive quest for revenge, Madam Zhang’s attempt to manipulate all the men in her life to gain power, or Wang Baoxiang’s careful and lustful politicking. All these character arcs are deeply fun in their own right, although I must admit I found Wang Baoxiang’s storylines to be the most fascinating, mainly because he was so deliciously devious and swiftly rose up as a brilliant villain.

As the book continues, the reader is treated to some amazing story points, including Ouyang being forced to work with Zhu, who keeps winning with inventive tactics; Madam Zhang’s plots failing her left and right; and Wang Baoxiang’s malevolent rise to power, taking down everyone he gets close to. Each of these characters gets their moment to shine, and I loved some of the interactions that emerged, especially when the characters begin to meet each other. Zhu and Ouyang in particular play off each other perfectly, with Ouyang’s sheer anger finding no purchase with Zhu’s more Zen outlook on life, which only infuriates Ouyang more. I really loved the part of the book that focused on the complex alliance between these two characters, and its dramatic end also works extremely well, especially as it leads to that haunting scene where Ouyang encounters his destiny only for it to destroy him.

The entire book moves at an outstanding pace, and the compelling detail, unique world-building, and fascinating characters continue to build as the novel reaches its zenith. The final fate of Ouyang really was a major highlight of He Who Drowned the World, and the rest of the plot that follows had me hooked to the end. The last part of the book was a little more subtle than I was expecting, but it still featured some great moments as Zhu, who is not as benevolent as you would think, sacrifices much to try and achieve victory. The taut emotions, devastating betrayals, and determined attempts for revenge really help this conclusion stand out, and I was enthralled the entire way through. Parker-Chan ends everything on a somewhat hopeful note, which was nice after how dark the rest of the book was, and the reader will come away from He Who Drowned the World satisfied, if a little emotionally raw and shaken.

I really must comment on the fantastic and unique setting that Parker-Chan utilised for this duology. The overarching setting of 14^th century China is pretty awesome in itself as the author worked hard to capture the unique cultural aspects of the period, such as the control by the Mongolian dynasty, while also presenting all the chaos and war that emerged when Zhu attempted to claim the throne. However, things get even more interesting as the author works in some subtle but significant fantasy elements that really make these books standout. These elements are all tied into a person’s right to rule as those with the will, ability and destiny are gifted with a literal Mandate of Heaven, which allows them to call forth an aurora of light and fire to show their divine right to rule. Several key characters in the series are gifted by the mandate, and the way they use it, whether to install fear, show their divinity, or utilise it for even darker purposes, is pretty damn fascinating. The other major fantasy element revolves around ghosts that only a few characters can see, which end up being an interesting part of the plot. The protagonist’s ability to see and occasionally manipulate these ghosts adds a certain edge to their story, especially as it serves as a representation of their deeper guilt, regret or determination, and I felt it was a fitting character element. The manipulation of ghosts also results in some dark scenes, especially when one of the antagonists does some horrible things to get a supernatural advantage. This interesting blend of historical and fantasy elements really helped to give the world of these duology a fantastic and unique tinge, and I really enjoyed seeing the elaborate war story Parker-Chan set out in it.

I also enjoyed how nearly all the major characters in this book had some compelling gender and orientation feature to them, which helped to define their character and take them to some interesting places. This includes the main protagonist taking over a male identity and entering a unique relationship with their wife, while General Ouyang deals with the shame of being a eunuch, although that doesn’t stop him from being the biggest badass in the book. These elements were really well handled by the author, who featured them in a thoughtful and tasteful manner, and it was interesting to see how this defined them. Parker-Chan really dove into the emotional, cultural and spiritual nature of these factors, especially in their historical context. I particularly enjoyed how all these characters tended to rise up above the shame or taboo nature surrounding this character element, and indeed many of them used it to their advantage. I really enjoyed seeing how well Parker-Chan utilised these elements in the plot and it made for some great representation.

I really enjoyed this distinctive and fascinating novel from Shelley Parker-Chan who produced a remarkable conclusion to her impressive debut duology. He Who Drowned the World was a powerful, intense and complex read that really showcased the horrors of war, ambition and self-delusion. Featuring a moving and devastating narrative, loaded with great characters and a unique take on Chinese history, He Who Drowned the World is an exceptional read and a worthy sequel to Parker-Chan’s first book.

He Who Drowned the World Cover 2

Throwback Thursday – Warhammer: Grudge Bearer by Gav Thorpe

On December 9, 2023 By The Unseen LibraryIn Extended Universe, Fantasy, Quick Review, Throwback Thursday, Tie-in Novel, Warhammer2 Comments

Grudge Bearer Cover

Publisher: Black Library (Paperback – 12 June 2005)

Series: Warhammer Fantasy

Length: 250 pages

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

For this week’s Throwback Thursday I am doing a double feature. In addition to my review of the awesome Warhammer 40,000 novel Lords of the Night by Simon Spurrier, I am also doing a quick review of the classic Warhammer Fantasy novel, Grudge Bearer by Gav Thorpe.

I have a lot of love for all forms of Warhammer fiction across the various genres, but I will always have a soft spot in my heart for the intense and elaborate adventures that took place in the Warhammer Fantasy realm. Before its destruction, the Warhammer Fantasy universe featured a raft of epic novels and stories, most of which tied into the gaming events surrounding the various campaigns or model releases. While I haven’t read nearly as much Warhammer Fantasy books in recent years as Warhammer 40,000 fiction, there are still some amazing books there, including the Gotrek and Felix books by William King (Trollslayer, Skavenslayer, Daemonslayer, Dragonslayer, Beastslayer, Vampireslayer and Giantslayer), Van Horstmann by Ben Counter, Runefang by C. L. Werner and Broken Honour by Rober Earl.

All of these fantasy books have been very impressive, and I am always keen to check out more from this awesome setting. As such, I eagerly read the second-hand copy of Grudge Bearer by Gav Thorpe earlier this year. Thorpe has been one of the main authors of Warhammer fiction over the years, with books across the various sub-series. I know him from his outstanding Warhammer 40,000 Last Chancers novels, which followed a doomed group of convicts sent to complete a suicide mission. The first two books in this series, 13^th Legion and Kill Team, were so much fun, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the rest of the Last Chancers books. Grudge Bearer was the first Warhammer Fantasy novel of his I have read and it proved to be an excellent book that focussed on some of the most entertaining and determined figures in the Warhammer Fantasy canon, the dwarfs.

Plot Synopsis:

When his father dies, Barundin, prince of Zhufbar, becomes king of that realm and lord of one of the mightiest outposts of the ancient and powerful dwarf empire. Over the centuries that follow, he sets out to right many of the wrongs done to his people, fulfilling ancient grudges and bringing death to his foes as he wages war against his father’s killers, and strives to protect Zhufbar from the dark forces of Chaos.

Grudge Bearer ended up being quite a fun and quick paced read that I had a wonderful time getting through. As the somewhat sparse plot synopsis above indicates, Grudge Bearer follows Barundin, a prince who becomes king of Zhufbar, a dwarf stronghold after his father’s death in battle. Due to the betrayal of a local human lord whose cowardice resulted in his father’s death, Barundin swears a grudge against the man who betrayed him and becomes determined to get appropriate vengeance. However, before he can marshal enough of his forces and resources to lead an army into an assault on the lord’s castle, he needs to get his realm in order.

As such the book turns into a series of short stories, which cover different periods of Barundin’s reign and the events that lead up to him attempting to settle his grudge. While the first two chapters deal with the events that result in Barundin becoming king, each of the following chapters is essentially a connected short story, that see the protagonist and his forces go up against a series of different traditional Dwarf enemies, including the forces of Chaos, the skaven and goblins, as well as deal with other issues, such as an overly-inventive dwarf engineer and Barundin’s attempts to get married. Each of these stories are pretty intriguing in their own right, giving some fantastic insights into the dwarfs as a race, and they come together to tell an intriguing and action-packed overarching story. Most of these stories result in a pretty typical hack-and-slash battle, and Thorpe has a good eye for action, producing intense and bloody scenes throughout Grudge Bearer. Some of the stories within this book are really cool, and I especially loved the eventual resolution of the grudge against the treacherous human lord and his family, especially as it proves just how ridiculously determined the dwarfs can be. I did think the overall end of Grudge Bearer was a little sudden, especially as it could resulted in one more fantastic battle, but this ended up being a pretty strong and easy to read piece of Warhammer Fantasy fiction.

Now I do have to get a little cynical in that while Grudge Bearer is good, it was a marketing tool to help boost sales for the 6^th edition of the Dwarfs Warhammer Army book that also came out in 2005. I actually recall reading a few extracts from Grudge Bearer that appeared in White Dwarf, so I had a couple of early moments ruined for me. Still, Grudge Bearer was a pretty fun book to read, and Thorpe clearly had fun exploring the lore and diving into what makes the dwarfs tick, both in combat and in real life. The compelling focus on the dwarven grudge was particularly fun, and it was interesting to see how much their desire for vengeance ruled their lives. It also covers several quite a substantial period of Warhammer Fantasy history due to the long lives of the dwarf protagonists, and it was very entertaining to see them watch their human neighbours go through major historical events while the dwarfs constantly remain the same. There was even a tie-in to the Storms of Chaos campaign that happened in the game the year before, so there is a lot going on for established fans. At the same time, Grudge Bearer serves as a pretty good starting point for those readers unfamiliar with either the dwarfs or the Warhammer Fantasy setting and it makes for a great introductory novel.

One thing that I was a little disappointed by in Grudge Bearer is that we didn’t get to see more of the legendary White Dwarf character. The White Dwarf had a pretty major role at the start of the book, and there are even some hints to his origin at the start, but after this initial appearance we never see him again, which I think was a bit of a waste. It would have been cool to see him come back a few times to offer advice or help in battle, possibly while providing more clues to who he really is. I know this is a pretty minor complaint which doesn’t dramatically impact my enjoyment of Grudge Bearer, but it was something that bothered me as I was reading as a wasted opportunity.

Overall, Grudge Bearer was a fun action and lore packed novel that managed to fit in several fantastic and exciting shorter stories. Containing one of the best and compact examinations of the always entertaining dwarf faction you will likely see in a Warhammer Fantasy novel, Grudge Bearer is well worth checking out, especially if you were a fan of the tabletop game and its lore back in the day.

Quick Review – The Girl From London by Olivia Spooner

On November 20, 2023 By The Unseen LibraryIn Drama, Historical Fiction, Quick Review1 Comment

The Girl From London Cover

Publisher: Moa Press (Trade Paperback – 14 November 2023)

Series: Standalone

Length: 314 pages

My Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars

Fantastic New Zealand author Olivia Spooner presents her first dive into historical fiction, with the intriguing and clever historical drama, The Girl Form London, an outstanding read that proved quite fascinating.

Plot Synopsis:

London, 1940. Ruth, a young schoolteacher, volunteers as an escort helping to evacuate children from war-torn England to Australia and New Zealand. Her three-month voyage is fraught – their passage is perilous, and the children anxious and homesick. Nine-year-old Fergus is more troubled than most and Ruth forms an unexpected bond with the boy.

It’s not just Fergus who captures Ruth’s attention. Bobby, a fellow volunteer who initially infuriates Ruth with his laidback charm, somehow gets under her skin and throws her ordered life into chaos.

Tragedy strikes on their return voyage, when the Rangitane is attacked by German raiders. As the ship goes down, the surviving passengers are taken as prisoners of war aboard the German vessel. To the rest of the world, they are missing, presumed dead.

New Zealand 2005. Hazel boards a plane to London, eager to explore Europe. Sitting next to her is a man named Joe. On her lap is a treasured book from her grandfather, Fergus. A book that will finally reveal Ruth’s story.

A captivating, heart-wrenching story of love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

This was an outstanding novel from Spooner that took the reader on an enchanting and tragic adventure during some very distinctive moments from World War II. Spooner chose to tell The Girl From London’s narrative through the somewhat overused medium of a young person in modern times learning about the struggles their older relatives went through during the war. However, I rather enjoyed Spooner’s take on this writing trope by having her modern characters getting invested in a novel that covers the adventure of Hazel’s grandfather and the people that were important to him as a child. This not only allowed the author to dive back into the unique story generated in the past but also allowed for a quite good and heartfelt romance story to occur in the present as Hazel and Joe have a meet-cute which develops naturally into a compelling, complex relationship.

While this modern storyline was interesting, I much preferred the storyline set in the past surrounding Ruth’s journey from England to Australian and New Zealand and then the tragic events aboard the Rangitane. That entire journey away from England was pretty darn fascinating, and I loved the captivating details of how the children were being transported to safety, the inherent tragedy of their journey, and the complicated figures who volunteered to help escort them to a new life. Spooner covers the historical aspects of their journey extremely well and the first half of their story is quite powerful and lovely, especially as she takes the time to explore the various characters, their developing relationships, and their complex motivations for being on the ship.

The Girl From London takes a fascinating turn once the main characters start the second part of their journey aboard the Rangitane. The historical events covering the sinking of this ship off the coast of New Zealand during the war is absolutely amazing, and despite a love for history and a good knowledge of World War II history, I had personally never heard of the Rangitane before. As such I was really enthralled by this real-life tale, and Spooner told it magnificently, examining the taking of the ship in detail and showcasing all the remarkable events that followed. While these events in themselves are fascinating, Spooner makes them even more compelling by tying her great characters into this historical event. By this point of the book, you’ve come to care for the characters, so having them involved in this tragedy really raises the stakes for the reader, especially as you know something bad has to happen to Ruth at some point. This entire part of the book was pretty remarkable, and I really got caught up in how everything unfolded.

I think that Spooner did a pretty good job of bringing the two separate storylines together in an effective and enjoyable way. As I mentioned above, I liked Spooner’s version of the relative finding out their grandparent’s story here, and the constant breaks in the World War II storyline to explore Hazel and Joe’s burgeoning relationship gave the story a distinctive flavour. Honestly having her grandfather’s story not become Hazel’s entire identity was quite refreshing compared to other historical dramas I’ve read and I liked the mixture of storylines that emerged. Still, it was good to get some closure on the main storyline surrounding Ruth, and I liked the emotionally powerful way that Spooner chose to have her story be told. The ending is both tragic and heartwarming in all the right ways and this ended up being quite an excellent read.

Overall, The Girl From London is a wonderful and compelling historical drama that I had a fantastic time reading. Olivia Spooner produced a compelling and emotionally charged narrative, that examines romance, sacrifice and the power of choices across the generations, while also diving into a fascinating historical event. This ended up being an amazing book and Spooner definitely showcased her ability as an author in her first foray into historical fiction.