The long weekend thanks to the Thanksgiving holiday was a good one. I stayed up late to read and was able to finish quite a few books. When’s the next long weekend?
FINISHED SINCE THE LAST UPDATE:
In the Night Wood was a creepy book with an ancient wood that hides a mysterious evil. Mostly though, it is depressing. Dead children and a grieving couple are the heart of this novel that gives new meaning to the term lost. It is not a bad novel, but it is not what I expected either.
Now, The Witch of Willow Hall is exactly what I wanted to read. Ms. Fox establishes the historical setting with the type of clarity that I love in historical fiction. Plus, there is plenty of mysterious, otherworldly happenings to satisfy my need to escape into fantasy. The story has a surprising dark side that may cause more than one reader to cast it aside for the ick factor, but there is also an unexpected sweetness to the story that more than made up for it. I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish this one and don’t regret it a minute.
I have been savoring The World of All Souls for the past several months, enjoying my forays into Ms. Harkness’ spectacular world a little at a time. I finally sat down to finish it and loved every minute of it. Seeing pictures of the actual areas in which the trilogy occurs as well as castles and buildings Ms. Harkness used as inspiration helped bring the world of the Clairmonts and Bishops to life. The illustrations are fabulous, as is the additional information about each of the characters and their backgrounds. I cannot wait for the TV series to premiere in the US next year!
Sawkill Girls is my third novel by Claire Legrand, my second this year, and she is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Her stories are amazing, and her writing is outstanding. However, it is her characters that have captured my heart. They are not your average YA heroines. More importantly, her characters do not let men dictate their actions or their fate. In her latest novel, female relationships are at the heart of the story, and the girls learn to rewrite the rules to suit them because no one else is willing to do so. Ms. Legrand’s message is so critical and told so well that I want everyone to read it.
DID NOT FINISH:
Nothing
CURRENT READ:
CURRENT LISTEN:
NEXT UP:
I have so many fantasy novels that they will keep me busy for the next month.
So, what are you reading?
I really enjoyed The Witch of Willow Hall, too. The audio was really good. I’ll admit I almost stopped listening after the ick factor came into play, but I’m so glad I didn’t. Like you said, the story turned out to be really sweet and enjoyable.
I think it was very brave of Fox to go down that path even as it made me squirm to read about it.
I haven’t read any Claire Legrand yet and now you’re moving her up my list! I only read the first of the All Souls books and ever since I finished basically I’ve been meaning to reread. Maybe I’ll make that a 2019 goal because I clearly am not going to get them all read this year. I only remember how much wine I wanted to drink while reading 🙂
You most definitely need to read at least one of her books. They are so good.
Oh, yes. The wine in the world of All Souls! Wine and tea because that is all they drink, and she describes drinking both as such a calming ritual. I need that right now!
Yes yes, I have to read Claire Legrand soon! I’ve just finished reading a really fun mystery by a Singaporean author, A Gentleman’s Murder, and that was a very satisfying read. Now I’m onto a backlist Kate Atkinson book — trying to get a better sense of whether Kate Atkinson is a good-for-me author.
I know what you mean about Kate Atkinson. I have her latest and always meant to read her second book. I loved her first one but have hesitated reading anything else by her. I don’t know if it is a gut feel or something else.