Fortune Favours the Dead by Stephen Spotswood

The tone of the book was unexpected. I went into an advance review copy a little late and without really checking up on the blurb. It was a pleasant surprise.The narrative tone throughout the book can only be referred to as gritty. We have in our lead character of Will, a woman who does not…

A Radical Act of Free Magic (The Shadow Histories #2) by H.G. Parry

I have quite a few pending reviews to round off the year before my end of year lists. But I just put this book down and was shocked at the lack of buzz on Goodreads for it. Especially since the Goodreads Choice awards first round came up, and this was not even on it (Mostly…

Anna, A Child of the Poor House by Pat Mestern

Although this is a reprint, it still qualifies as historical fiction because of the timing of the narrative. I picked it up because it sounded a little like a serious version of Anne of Green Gables, and I am fond of reprints of late.There were parts of this book that worked but overall, I was…

The Moonshiner’s Daughter by Donna Everhart

I wanted to read this book mostly because I liked the author's narrative style in The Forgiving Kind. This was not as good but has the same feel to it. It is historical fiction and focuses on a family of self termed 'hillbillies' who make moonshine.The story begins with the narrator, our troubled Jessie, remembering…

The Vanishing Children by Graham Brack

I want to start off by saying that this book is by no means a bad one. My rating reflects how involved I felt with the series thus far.Master Mercurious is summoned again at the beginning of the book for another task that he is not technically qualified for. His presence is also required in…

A Fiancée’s Guide to First Wives and Murder (Countess of Harleigh Mystery #4) by Dianne Freeman

This is one of those rare occasions where I picked the second book of a series and liked it enough to follow up with the sequels. This is the fourth instalment, and although it is self-sufficient enough to read as a standalone, I wouldn't recommend it. The background continues to play a part in the…

The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart by Nancy Campbell Allen

Normally, when I rate books like this one, a cozy historical mystery, I rely heavily on the lead protagonist's plotline to direct my rating. If I did that in case, I would have to deduct a star. The lead protagonist was extremely annoying, to begin with. Her entourage of cousins was better equipped to be…

Faces in the Crowd by Feng Jicai , Translated by Olivia Milburn

I have had this book on my virtual shelf a while and was happy to finally get to it. I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did! The author has a very simplistic style, and like the drawings that precede each short story, we are given caricatures of different people in…