Author: M.T.Wilson @ The Last Book on the Left

Top 10 Tuesday: Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the First Half of 2024

M.T.Wilson @ The Last Book on the Left15 Comments

2024 is looking to be a great year for new books! There are so many I’m excited for, here are 10 of them.

Top 10 Tuesday was originally created by The Broke and the Bookish, but has now moved to That Artsy Reader Girl. If you’re interested in taking part click here.

Release dates are subject to change and these are based on the ones I could find for UK retailers so may differ for other countries.

A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft – 4 January 2024

So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole – 16 January 2024

Faebound by Saara El-Arifi – 18 January 2024

Voyage of the Damned by Frances White – 18 January 2024

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown – 15 February 2024

A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal – 22 February 2024

The Crimson Moth by Kristen Cicarelli – 29 February 2024

The Temptation of Magic by Megan Scott – 23 May 2024

The Fireborne Blade by Charlotte Bond – 28 May 2024

Foul Days by Genoveva Dimova – 25 June 2024

Did any of these make your list? Are there any I should add to mine? Chat with me in the comments!

Audiobook Review: The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon

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The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon

Genre: Dystopia, Fantasy

Publishing Info: Audiobook by Bloomsbury Publishing, narrated by Alana Kerr Collins

Star Rating: 4/5

Back Cover Summary:

It is a dark time for clairvoyants. Scion is in league with the Rephaim, an extraordinarily powerful, otherworldly race that intends to make humans its slaves.

In an unprecedented feat of bravery, Paige Mahoney has succeeded in leading a mass break-out from the brutal camp, Sheol I, where she and other clairvoyants were systematically imprisoned.

Paige is desperate to reach the safety of the London underworld, but the ruthless leader of the Rephaim, Nashira Sargas, is not likely to let her escape so easily….

The Mime Order is the sequel to Samantha Shannon’s imaginative dystopian novel The Bone Season, a novel which took me by surprise with its detailed and unique worldbuilding and magic system. The sequel picks up right where The Bone Season ended, throwing the reader right into the midst of the action. This was a little jarring and felt more like I was reading the end of The Bone Season, than the beginning of its sequel.

I found a large part of The Mime Order to be a little slow paced, with too many similar scenes that made it feel stretched out. However, the pace picks up in the last third of the book. All the pieces begin to fall into place and I found myself eager to continue reading. This novel builds slowly to an action-packed ending that left me on the edge of my seat.  

Once again, the detailed worldbuilding stands out. Although I found the pacing slow at times, the intriguing world of this series always manages to hold my attention. Having said that, the amount of unfamiliar words and phrases and terms for different kinds of clairvoyants was a little overwhelming to keep track of.

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November & December 2023 Wrap Up

M.T.Wilson @ The Last Book on the Left2 Comments

Happy New Year! I can’t believe another year has finished and gone. 2023 had a lot of ups and downs. I’ve not been as active here as I would have liked. Things have been pretty bumpy with my health, but hopefully things will improve as I now have a new diagnosis which will help me manage it better. I read quite a few books in November and December and ended the year by exceeding my 2023 goal of 18 books by reading 22!

Every Duke Has His Day by Susanne Enoch ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – This book was absolutely charming and completely fun to read. I was thoroughly entertained the whole way through and laughed on more than one occasion. I adored the romance and was so happy with the ending I didn’t care whether it was predictable or not. Having been feeling a bit down, this was just the book I needed. If you’re looking for something light-hearted and fun, I would highly recommend this book.

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – This is a great YA fantasy with a touching romance and an interesting setting. It kept me reading from start to finish and had a heartbreaking ending. It’s not one of my favourite reads of the year, but I think that’s more down to personal taste than the quality of the book. This is an excellently crafted book and I would definitely recommend it.

Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – The final book in the Grishaverse series! I can’t believe I’ve finally reached the end and won’t be returning to this world again. Unless Leigh Bardugo decides to go back to this world at some point, and I would be perfectly happy if she did. Rule of Wolves is a great conclusion to the series. Some old, favourite characters return which made it feel like a homage to the series as a whole and a bit of a farewell tour.

The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – As I enjoyed The Bone Houses, I was looking forward to returning to the same world, with new characters and a new story. This was a fun heist story and there were some great twists towards the end.

Whisked Away at Christmas by Mahi Chesire ⭐⭐⭐ – I was looking for a fun, Christmassy read and came across this on Audible. The story centres around a prestigious baking competition and a second chance romance. While I enjoyed the story, I think I would have enjoyed it more with different narrators, as the ones chosen for this audiobook were a little flat and didn’t bring the story to life.

Sisters of Sword and Shadow by Laura Bates ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – I love Arthurian stories and tales of knights, so I just had to pick this one up when I saw it. The audiobook narration is great and works really well for this one as the writing has the feel of being told a classic tale of brave knights. The ending leaves things open for a sequel and I’d be interested in returning to this world and characters if the author does write another.

I ended the year pretty well, reaching the midpoint of my novel which is really exciting. I’ve been working on it a long time now, so to reach this milestone feels like a great achievement.

What books have you enjoyed this month? Chat with me in the comments!

Top 10 Tuesday: Favourite Books of 2023

M.T.Wilson @ The Last Book on the Left20 Comments

It’s time to pick my favourite books of 2023! I read so many good ones last year, but there are definitely some that stood out as my favourites.

Top 10 Tuesday was originally created by The Broke and the Bookish, but has now moved to That Artsy Reader Girl. If you’re interested in taking part click here.

Every Duke Has His Day by Suzanne Enoch

Legendborn by Tracey Deonn

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

A Gathering of Shadows by V. E. Schwab

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Sisters of Sword and Shadow by Laura Bates

A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin

City of Shattered Light by Claire Winn

Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo

Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor

Have you read any of these? What were your favourite books of 2023? Chat with me in the comments!

Audiobook Review: Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

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Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Publishing Info: Audiobook by Magpie, narrated by Alex Wingfield and Rebecca Norfolk

Star Rating: 4/5

Back Cover Summary:

Eighteen-year-old Iris dreams that one day her writing will make a difference. A war between gods is raging, and she’s landed a prestigious job at the Oath Gazette.

But at home, she’s barely holding it together. Her brother is missing on the frontline. Her mother is lost in a haze of addiction. And each night Iris pours her heart out in letters to her brother.

Letters that will never be answered. Or so she thinks…

They’ve made their way into the hands of the last person Iris trusts: Roman Kitt. Her cold, unforgiving rival at the paper.

Drawn together by fate and magic, they form an unlikely connection. They say love conquers all… but can it triumph in a war between gods?

Divine Rivals is a touching and emotional YA fantasy. With a setting inspired by the Second World War, this novel stands out from other works in the genre. As you would expect from a novel set during a war, Rebecca Ross deals with some heavy topics such as grief and trauma. The focus of the novel is the romance between rivals at a newspaper, which was beautifully written and lovely to see how they transitioned from rivals to lovers.  

The magic at the start of Divine Rivals is intriguing, with magic having seeped into the city of Oath, resulting in interesting quirks such as a supermarket that only shows you products you can afford or a house which provides late night milk and biscuits. Once the story moves away from Oath, however, there isn’t as much magic, and the novel felt more historical with touches of magic despite being set in a secondary world rather than being historical. I would have personally enjoyed more magic akin to that at the beginning of the novel, though this is down to personal taste rather than any issue with the book itself.

I enjoyed reading a fantasy novel set in a different era from most and the romance was woven brilliantly between letters and in person interactions. Although I can see why this novel has struck a chord with so many readers, it’s not a favourite read for me though I can’t quite put my finger on why. The ending was heartbreaking and certainly provides a strong draw to read the sequel. Even though this isn’t one of my favourite reads of the year, I would highly recommend it as an excellently crafted YA novel with an interesting setting and beautiful romance.  

September & October 2023 Wrap Up

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I’m a bit late with my wrap up – what happened to the first half of November?! We’re drawing towards the end of the year, it will be 2024 before we know it!

Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – It’s taken me ages but I finally finished this series! This was a good conclusion to the trilogy and I always love reading Laini Taylor’s writing. I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first two but it was still a great book.

Bride of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – This romantasy novel had great chemistry between the leads plus plenty of magic and intrigue. The writing flows really well and drew me in right from the start. It was also great to see chronic illness representation which was well-written and relatable. 

Daughter of Winter and Twilight by Helen Corcoran ⭐⭐⭐ – This is a standalone sequel to Queen of Coin and Whispers which starts well and has some fantastic moments, but the slow pacing drew this novel out too much for me. The trials are described as a ‘race against time’ but there is little urgency and the characters spend a lot of time wandering inside the mountain not really knowing what they are meant to do. There are many elements I enjoyed and there’s great diversity in the characters, but this one wasn’t for me. 

I made really good progress on my WIP on October, writing more than I have in a long time and managed to hit 40,000 words which I am incredibly pleased with.

What books have you enjoyed this month? Chat with me in the comments!

Audiobook ARC Review: Daughter of Winter and Twilight by Helen Corcoran

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Daughter of Winter and Twilight by Helen Corcoran

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Publishing Info: Audiobook by Bolinda Audio, narrated by Katy Sobey

Star Rating: 3/5

Back Cover Summary:

To some, Emri – the adopted heir and daughter of two queens – is just a living reminder that her birth father tried to usurp the Edaran throne. About to come of age, and faced with changes beyond her control, she must also grapple with a Court visit from her estranged cousin, Melisande. But when they’re attacked by a magical force and spirited away, they must put their differences aside when Emri comes face to face with a goddess she’s always considered a myth: Lady Winter.

Trapped deep within a mountain temple alongside other captured young royals, they face a race against time to complete Lady Winter’s trials…or die.

Thank you so much to Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for providing an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Daughter of Winter and Twilight is a standalone sequel to Queen of Coin and Whispers, and follows a princess who must face the gods and magic she believed no longer existed. The book is set fourteen years after Queen of Coin and Whispers and includes several characters from that book, including the two protagonists. Our main character for the sequel is their adopted daughter. It’s been a couple of years since I read the last book, and though this is meant to be a standalone, I found myself straining to try and remember what had happened before and struggling to understand everything. I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the first book more recently.

The novel opens well with plenty of court intrigue, introducing us to this world and our protagonist, Emri. The first third of the book was good, and Lady Winter’s introduction was dramatic and tense. This was definitely the most impactful scene. I loved the descriptions of all the gods, their different personalities, and how even the nicer ones felt remote and magical. They were beautiful and powerful, and the author excellently portrayed how different they are from mortals.

Unfortunately, the bulk of the book was slow and not as engaging as the first third. It also wasn’t what I was expecting. Lady Winter’s trials are more psychological and emotional, and for a ‘race against time’ there is little urgency. The characters spend a lot of time wandering inside the mountain, eating and sleeping, and not really knowing what it is they are meant to do. A lot of scenes, descriptions and internal thoughts felt repetitive. If the novel had been edited down a bit, and unnecessary or repeated details trimmed a little, the pace would have been improved.

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Audiobook Review: Bride of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes

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Bride of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes

Genre: Fantasy, Romance  

Publishing Info: Audiobook by Podium Audio, narrated by Emily Lawrence and Tim Campbell

Star Rating: 4/5

Back Cover Summary:

Though she is the oldest daughter, Princess Faraine lives in the background, shunned from court and kept out of sight. Her chronic illness makes her a liability to the crown, and she has learned to give place to her beautiful, favored younger sister in all things.

When the handsome and enigmatic Shadow King comes seeking a bride, Faraine is not surprised that her sister is his choice.

Though not eager to take a human bride, King Vor is willing to do what is necessary for the sake of his people. When he meets the lively Princess Ilsevel, he quickly agrees to a marriage arrangement.

So why can’t he get the haunting eyes of her older sister out of his head?

Passionate and alluring, Bride of the Shadow King is an arranged marriage tale with dual points-of-view (his and hers). The first book in a new fantasy romance series, this sweeping tale of love and betrayal is perfect for listeners looking for a touch of spice to go with the sweet in their next swoony, slow-burn romance.

The first book in a trilogy, Bride of the Shadow King is an alluring, beautifully described and well-plotted romantasy novel. With fantastic chemistry between the two protagonists, high stakes and plenty of mystery and intrigue, this was a thoroughly enjoyable fantasy romance. Sylvia Mercedes’ writing flows very well and drew me in right from the start. The audiobook narration is also performed brilliantly, bringing all the characters to life.

From their first meeting, I knew I would be rooting for Faraine and Vor. The time they spend together at the start of the book, as they get to know each other and learn the customs and cultures of their people, was my favourite part. When they were apart, I was longing for them to be back on the page together again. There was one spicy scene in this first novel, though I imagine there may be more to come in the rest of the series.

I liked that though Faraine is not a warrior, assassin, spy or other similar type, she is still a strong character. While I love seeing women being badass fighters in books, it’s also good to see other kinds of women and other kinds of strength represented. There is also chronic illness representation, with Faraine’s magical gift to sense others’ emotions having a cost. The emotions of others can overwhelm her, especially when she is around lots of people or when they make physical contact, leaving her in pain.

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Book Discussion: Melding Genres in Tamsyn Muir’s Gideon the Ninth

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Since we’re entering spooky season, it’s a great time to discuss Tamsyn Muir’s Gideon the Ninth. One of my favourite novels, this book blew me away with its originality and creativity. Today I’m going to be looking at how Tamsyn Muir fuses genres to create a story which is both harrowing and humorous.   

This post may include mild spoilers for Gideon the Ninth.

When Gideon the Ninth opens, the titular Gideon is waiting for a shuttle to take her away from the Ninth House. At this moment, we are seemingly entering a familiar subgenre of science fiction – a space opera. Any illusions that this is a typical space opera, however, disappear when we are introduced to Gideon’s beloved longsword which, as it happens, she is rather skilled at using. A sword may appear to be a small detail to comment on, but this element, although small, sees the beginning of the fantastical creep into the story.

Said fantastical aspect of the novel comes marching in like a whirling storm when Harrow sweeps into the scene – a necromancer with the ability to create skeletal constructs with scraps of bone – and we know that this is absolutely, definitely not a typical space opera. There is something apt about necromancers in space. Outer space is vast, cold, empty, deadly.

Gideon and Harrow travel to the First House for a contest that will see the victorious party become a Lyctor. The sprawling and dilapidated manor they find themselves staying in brings a feeling of the Gothic into the novel. There is something incredibly eerie about the house. The necromancers and cavaliers of the nine necromantic houses are collected together in a building served by skeleton servants and devoid of any other life.

The necromancers’ abilities are tested through tasks in a basement laboratory, and they seek to understand the principles behind the necromantic tasks they accomplish. This layers an element of science to the magic that makes the necromancers’ skills seem more real. There is something unsettling in the way Harrow scientifically examines the tasks. It makes what appeared at the start to be a mysterious magic, to seem completely, plausibly scientific and real. There is no warmth in this magic. It is hard, cold and scientific.  

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Audiobook Review: Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor

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Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor

Genre: Fantasy  

Publishing Info: Audiobook by Hodder & Stoughton, narrated by Kristin Hvam

Star Rating: 4/5

Back Cover Summary:

It began with Daughter of Smoke and Bone. It continued with Days of Blood and Starlight. It ends with Dreams of Gods and Monsters.

Common enemy, common cause. When Jael’s brutal seraph army trespasses into the human world, the unthinkable becomes essential, and Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people. And, perhaps, for themselves.

But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing. A vicious queen is hunting Akiva, and, in the skies of Eretz…something is happening. Massive stains are spreading like bruises from horizon to horizon; the great winged stormhunters are gathering as if summoned, ceaselessly circling, and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world. What power can bruise the sky?

From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera, and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theatre that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy. At the very barriers of space and time, what do gods and monsters dream of? And does anything else matter?

Dreams of Gods and Monsters is a good conclusion to the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series, but it didn’t have the same impact as the first two. I adore Laini Taylor’s writing. It’s beautiful and flowing and she paints her stories so beautifully. However, this style slowed the pacing too much at times in this instalment. Some scenes, while written very well, dragged and it sucked the tension out of them.

The first half of the book was also too slow, and if I hadn’t already been invested from the first two, I may have put the book down. Which is shocking, considering how much I loved the previous books. If it had been trimmed a little and made a tad shorter, the pacing would have been improved. There were also a lot of scenes from a new character which I struggled to be invested in. While I understood their importance and, by the end, it made sense why she was included, I wanted to spend time with the characters I’d come to know and love across the series and was more invested in following the main plotline.

Despite being slow in places, there were also plenty shocking, heart-racing twisty scenes and set pieces. Moments that wrenched at my heartstrings and left me devastated, yet clinging to threads of hope. Laini Taylor does this so well across the series.

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