Review: The City & The City by China Miéville

Inspector Tyador Borlú of the Extreme Crime Squad finds deadly conspiracies beneath a seemingly routine murder. From the decaying Beszel, he joins detective Qussim Dhatt in rich vibrant Ul Qoma, and both are enmeshed in a sordid underworld. Rabid nationalists are intent on destroying their neighboring city, and unificationists dream of dissolving the two into one.

Reading Format: Kindle eBook
Year Read: 2014
Star Rating: 5 stars

I have thoroughly enjoyed all the Miéville books I have read so far and I had started to feel a withdrawal from his writing but wanted to read one of his shorter books so thought I’d give The City and The City a go. It seems that every Miéville book has a different writing style while at the same time still being recognisable as being by him. This book is a crime mystery, more speculative fiction than science fiction I would say but still elements of the unusual. This book is more political which I really got in to.

At the beginning, I wasn't sure exactly what was going on with the two cities: Ul Qoma and Beszel. I was very intrigued and I had to keep reading and things then started to fall in to place. It’s hard for me to give a rundown on this book without giving too much away but basically a woman is found dead in the back of a van and a Detective from Beszel's Extreme Crime Squad is sent to investigate it but he quickly finds himself wrapped up in red tape and politics as it’s not a straightforward murder.

This story is complex! It needs your undivided attention at all times but it’s worth it! Such a creative idea for a setting and the way it was written, the two cities almost became characters all of their own. The last quarter of the book was tense and I couldn't put the book down.

I think I would have enjoyed it more if I could have read it consistently but part way through the book I had to take part in a reading challenge so I put it aside to read another two books then came back to this one. Still a 5 star read though!

The City & The City: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads

Related Posts:
Review: Perdido Street Station
Review: The Scar

WWW Wednesday (3)

The book meme WWW Wednesdays is hosted by Should Be Reading.

The aim of WWW Wednesday is to answer the following three questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

In my last WWW Wednesday post, I listed a couple of books that I was thinking of reading next. Everyone who commented suggested I choose Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. And so I did! I have read all of her other books and I really like her writing style. I like books which have interesting characters and that cover the darker side of life. I've been holding off reading this book because once I'm done, I won't have anything else by her to read and will have to join the group of many other people waiting for her next masterpiece! I'm about 70% in and I'm finding it very difficult to put down.

In September, a book group I'm a member of will be reading Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov which I have wanted to read for quite some time. I don't have a good track record with books deemed to be classics and so I wasn't sure whether to participate or not even though I really want to read it. So, I decided to download the kindle sample so I could see what the writing style was like. Well, I read it and it hooked me in so I bought the full version. I've only read about 10% of it so far and I think I will hold off reading any more until the beginning of the month so I can join in the discussion.

Wow! Not one fantasy book on the go at the moment! That has to be a first!

What did you recently finish reading?

I finished reading Storm Front by Jim Butcher which was the first in the Dresden Files series. I thought it was a great start to the series and I can't wait to read more about Harry Dresden, the hopeless Wizard Detective. Check out Storm Front's First Lines & Teasers as well as my Review.

I also finished listening to Miss Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. If you haven't read this, I would recommend you read the print version as opposed to the audiobook version - I don't think it suits the format. Check out Miss Peregrine's First Lines & Teasers as well as my Review.

Another abandoned book this week - The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, 2014 Edition which is an anthology of short stories. I hadn't heard of any of the authors except Brandon Sanderson and Neil Gaiman, two of my favourite authors. I read a couple stories in the book but short stories just aren't for me so I skipped straight to the Sanderson and Gaiman stories and then abandoned the book after that. I may come back to it at some point in the future. It was worth it for the stories I read though.

What do you think you’ll read next?

I am going to be reading Rose of Sarajevo by Ayşe Kulin from the 29th August for a buddy read. My buddy and I both visited the Balkan region over the Summer and were struck by how little we knew of the war that occurred there back in the 90s. We wanted to know more but to learn from fiction because it's much more enjoyable. And then I say that this book was due to be released this month and we were able to get a copy through NetGalley.

I need another fantasy book to start too but not sure which one. I featured I, Morgana in my Tuesday Intro & Teasers post so I could read that one especially as I need to review it for NetGalley but it really isn't screaming "Read Me!" So, other books I'm planning to read during September include The Daylight War by Peter V Brett, Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde, Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence.


Which do you think I should tackle first?

Tuesday Intro & Teasers: I, Morgana

First Paragraph - First Chapter - Tuesday Intro is hosted by Bibliophile By the Sea. So for this book meme, I just have to post the first paragraph of the first chapter of either a book I am currently reading or about to start.

I'm going to be focusing on a book which I am planning to start soon - I, Morgana by Felicity Pulman. I received the book through NetGalley in return for an honest review. A couple of my Goodreads friends read it and didn't think much of it so I'm not sure what my experience will be with it. Only time will tell! At least it's a pretty short book.

"I am an old woman now. My bones creak and scrape together like bare branches in a winter wind. I ache with longing for my youth. When I notice my reflection, I am aghast at the vision of the hag who looks back at me. I mourn the passing of who I was, and everything I could have been. More than anything, I long to reverse time. Throughout the years I have tried and tried to do this, without success. Now, even my most potent spells and incantations cannot transform me into the young woman I once was, with all my life still to live. With age, my magical powers have all but deserted me. Once I was desired by men; now I am disregarded by all and loved by none."

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading. So for this book meme, I have to randomly turn to a page (or two) and choose a sentence to post here to tease you all with. I'm combining the two book memes and using the same book for both.

My teasers:

"It is a surprise to be summoned by the Prioress and told that an envoy has arrived with a message from the king demanding to see me." ~ 19% (chapter 3)

"The castle is quite small by Camelot's standards, but with extensive grounds that, in a high tide, are severed from the mainland so that we live almost on an enchanted isle of your own." ~ 28% (chapter 5)

I, Morgana: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads

What do you think? Would you keep reading?

Mailbox Monday (7)

Mailbox Monday is a book meme which is hosted by Marcia at Mailbox Monday blog.

Basically, we have to make a post featuring the books which we bought, received for review, or loaned this past week. Here is what made it in to my house:

Personal Purchases:


I bought these two dead tree books from the local charity shop because they were a real bargain - only £1.40 for the two. Shattered is book 7 in a series and I've only read the first one but I couldn't pass it by at this price. Now I need to get books 2-6!

Shattered: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads
Bag of Bones: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads

Books for Review on NetGalley:


I was invited to read and review Cosmocopia which is the first time this has happened on NetGalley - normally it is me requesting.

Cosmocopia: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads
Red Rising: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads

Library Books:


Spell Bound: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads

Have you read any of these? Is so, what did you think? If not, do any of them take your fancy?

Review: Miss Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

Reading Format: Audiobook
Year Read: 2014
Star Rating: 3.5 stars

I really liked the front cover of the book. It was one of the driving factors which made me read the book. That and the fact that my library's audio app had it available for free.

I listened to this on audio but when I got to the parts where it mentions the photographs and I discovered that the print version actually had those pictures in it, I decided to download the ebook to go with it so that I could refer to the pictures as and when I needed to. I am so pleased that I did as the pictures were a real highlight of this book. Unfortunately, I only had access to this through for the first part of the book as I had to return it due to their being holds on it.

I was blown away by the first two chapters of the book and I was thinking it was going to be a 5 star read for me then it just dumped me at chapter 3 and I spent the rest of the book trying to like it again. It is simplistic in language and is definitely marketed for the YA audience.

The audio was done well on the whole although the narrator's “Welsh” accent left a lot to be desired. It had American pronounced words in an accent of Cockney meets Scottish – there was not even a vague hint of Welsh in there! When I've heard bad accents before it generally makes me laugh but these were so bad it just made me cringe and almost shake my head at it.

The book did pick up again and I thought the ending was fantastic but I kind of lost my enthusiasm for it and I spent the last half of the book just waiting for it to finish. I really don't think the book lends well to the audio format. Because I enjoyed the ending, it did make me start thinking that I might read the sequel at some point.

Miss Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads

Related Posts:
Miss Peregrine's First Lines

Review: The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson

A heretic thief is the empire’s only hope in this fascinating tale that inhabits the same world as the popular novel, Elantris.

Shai is a Forger, a foreigner who can flawlessly copy and re-create any item by rewriting its history with skillful magic. Condemned to death after trying to steal the emperor’s scepter, she is given one opportunity to save herself. Though her skill as a Forger is considered an abomination by her captors, Shai will attempt to create a new soul for the emperor, who is almost dead.

Probing deeply into his life, she discovers Emperor Ashravan’s truest nature—and the opportunity to exploit it. Her only possible ally is one who is truly loyal to the emperor, but councilor Gaotona must overcome his prejudices to understand that Shai’s forgery is as much artistry as it is deception.

Brimming with magic and political intrigue, this deftly woven fantasy delves into the essence of a living spirit.

Reading Format: Paperback
Year Read: 2014
Star Rating: 5 stars

As the synopsis mentions above, this novella is set in the same world that Elantris was set. That said, there were no characters or cities or story lines carried over so it can be read as a stand alone. While short, it packed a punch and I absolutely loved it. I can see why it was a winner of the Hugo Award, despite it's length.

This tells the story of Shai, a Forger who has been captured after breaking in to the Emperor's Palace to steal two very prized possessions. Meanwhile, someone else attempts to assassinate the Emperor, fails but leaves him in a comatose state without his soul. So those left in charge while the Emperor is “out of action”, make Shai forge a set of Soulstones to create a replica of the Emperor's soul so that he can return to ruling the empire.

I loved the magic system in this and how Forgers can change the history of an object which in turn changes the object itself. It is different to the main magic system in Elantris but I think that's because this book is set in a different region to that which was focused upon in Elantris. This gave off a more oriental and exotic feel. I loved it!

I've heard that Sanderson will be writing another book set in Elantris which I will look forward to as it was a very interesting world with great characters.

The Emperor's Soul: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads

Review: The Painted Man by Peter V Brett

As darkness falls, demon corelings rise — multitudes and giants, from fire, wood, and rock, hungry for human flesh. After centuries, humans dwindle, protective wards forgotten. Three young survivors of demon attacks, Arlen, Leesha, and Rojer, dare to fight back.

Reading Format: Kindle eBook
Year Read: 2013
Star Rating: 5 stars

This is another book with a different title for different countries; The Painted Man is also known as The Warded Man. Not a huge difference and both factually correct but I think I prefer The Warded Man.

When I read this book in 2013, it was my favourite book of the year. It is the first book in Brett's Demon Cycle series. As I am writing this post now, I would have to say that The Demon Cycle series is my all time favourite Fantasy series. I just love all the demons!

There was loads of action in this book making it a very entertaining read which gripped me from the get go.

At night fall, demons rise from the earth burning crops and houses, killing people and animals, but most of all putting fear in to people which keeps them prisoners in the own homes and villages. The only thing that keeps them safe is magic - they ward their houses to stop the demons entering. There are different types of demons; fire, wind, wood, sand, water and stone.

This book tells the story of three people living in these scary times; Arlen, Leesha and Rojer. All three have found themselves in difficult circumstances and all have survived a coreling (demon) attack as a child. They are all three children at the start of the book, coming of age and are middling their twenties as the book closes. I really liked Arlen and Leesha as characters but my favourite of all was Hag Bruna, Leesha's mentor, who had me laugh out loud on several occasions.

The third person narrative moves from one character to the next telling their story until the three characters cross paths.

I honestly can't believe this is Peter V. Brett's first book! I devoured this book and loved everything about it. I have since read the second book, The Desert Spear, which was fantastic and I have the third book, The Daylight War, to read in the next month or so.

The Painted Man: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads