horror – Ink And Spine

by T. Kingfisher

I’m beginning to really love the Sworn Soldier Series. I find our intrepid hero Alex Easton brave, highly intelligent, and wonderfully funny. They also have the most fascinating backstory, of which I would love to read more about (T Kingfisher, please write a novel about Alex’s childhood up until they become a soldier!).

Poor Alex seems to find themselves consistently thrown into a situation that includes creepy creatures and/or the supernatural. These situations do NOT help in overcoming the PTSD that comes with fighting a land war.

This time, Alex travels to the United States because their friend Dr Denton (whom we met in the first book of the series) needs their help finding his cousin. Denton’s cousin has unfortunately gone missing in the depths of a mine, of all places. Upon their investigation, they encounter gruesome, inexplicable goings on that ultimately have all those involved questioning their involvement.

I really liked this novel (as I always do with Kingfisher), albeit it’s not my favourite in the series. I found it very brief and would love to have more time with the characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing for the copy

by Francesca May

Francesca May

This Vicious Hunger, a Victorian Gothic novel, weaves a unique narrative that resonates with the themes of Grim’s Fairy Tales and Dracula.
Thora Grieve is the daughter of an academic, a man who happens to also be an undertaker. Although Thora is a brilliant young woman herself, she is obliged to marry soon after her father’s death. Fortunately, her husband dies mere months after the wedding, and her mother-in-law informs her that she had kept a secret: an invitation to go to the city and study under the tutelage of an eccentric, renowned botanist who was experimenting with the power and potency of plants.
As a woman, Thora is not allowed to live on campus, so her mentor finds a room for her at the top of an old building with a window that overlooks a beautiful garden. Soon, Thora observes a beautiful woman visiting the garden, tending to the various flowers and trees. Thora is unable to enter the garden because the gate is locked. So she introduces herself to the mysterious woman whose name is Olea. Olea refuses entry to Thora because she claims the plants she tends are extremely toxic and that she herself has developed a tolerance to their poison.
Thor begins to feel an unsettling attraction to Olea and soon craves her company.
Also, Thora realised that her mentor is importing dangerous plants from exotic countries with nefarious intent.
As the story unfolds, Thora finds herself caught in a web of unfamiliar desires and ambitions. She begins to lose not only control but also seems a victim of her own impulses and desires. The cost of this loss is high-it could mean the sacrifice of scientific discovery, the loss of a one true love, or even the loss of her own self.
Despite the occasional pacing issues, I found This Vicious Hunger to be a compelling read. While some parts felt drawn out, the novel’s narrative kept me engaged throughout.

Thank you to Orbit Books and Netgalley for the copy.