As you can see, I’m reviewing both of the books, Hannah and the Hollow Tree, and Gaia’s Revenge. I really do have a masochistic streak at times.
Blog Tour Calendar: Earth Chronicles by J.A. Browne
Tag Archives: @RandomTTours
Review: Lovebroken, by Finley de Witt
Thema subject category: DNC – Memoirs
paperback 216 x 138 mm 320 pp Portrait Author location: Hastings
Have you ever struggled with your mental health, your terrible relatives or a dysfunctional relationship? Or simply wondered what the hell is wrong with you? This story is for you.
Finley recounts their chaotic life with deadpan humour and honesty, wryly embracing their colourful lovers and a series of futile attempts to fix them. When a catastrophic encounter in France sends them into meltdown, they
wind up receiving daily psychoanalysis on the NHS with a cast of unsettling characters – mainly the therapists.
On leaving hospital, Finley stitches their life back together, living for a short time with a Bristol theologian before finding domestic bliss with a transgender civil servant. A cutting-edge approach to mental illness eventually leads them to a key revelation about their past, and they finally understands themself through the lens of their history. Aware at last of what they had survived, they face an agonising decision about their future.
Trauma has never been so funny or so shocking.
Review: Queer Villains of Myth and Legend, by Dan Jones
18, 2024
Price £16.99
EAN\ISBN-13 9781804191354
Description
Every good hero needs a villain! Explore the hidden world of magnetic and mysterious villains, often cast aside and misunderstood in tales of mythology and folklore. Through the pages of Queer Villains of Myth and Legend, discover a diverse community of fascinating characters, ranging from seductive and cunning to powerful and awe-inspiring.
Experience the dark allure of Circe and Medusa through to David Bowie’s Jareth in Labyrinth and delve into their complex and multifaceted personalities and motivations. Take a deep dive into the intersection of queerness and villainy, re-examine some of our favourite characters, and discover why so many ‘bad’ characters are queer-coded.
From ancient mythology to contemporary pop culture, Queer Villains of Myth and Legend celebrates the fascinating stories of these often-overlooked characters. Join Dan Jones on a journey of discovery, as he explores the hidden depths of queer villainy and sheds light on the queer identities of these compelling figures. It’s a powerful celebration of
queerness through the ages in all its legendary complexity.
Blog tour calendar: Error of Judgement, by Chris Mullin
Blog tour calendar: Lovebroken, by Finley de Witt
Blog Tour Calendar: Queer Villains of Myth and Legend, by Dan Jones
Book Review: Jubilee, by Stephan K. Stanford
Opera
ISBN: 978-1-78758-886-8
Pages: 288 pp
Imprint: FLAME TREE PRESS
It was meant to be an in and out mission…
Jubilee is a lawless, artificial world existing within its own parallel universe; a seething cesspool of vice ruled by an eccentric AI.
So they say.
Detectives Col and Danee are sent to Jubilee on a hastily organised mission
to recover the body of a leading conservative politician (someone it seems,
has been a naughty boy). But the corpse has been switched and the
imperilled partners are drawn together. They might be falling in love, or they might be saving the galaxy– either way the authorities will not be pleased.
FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing Independent Flame Tree
Publishing, dedicated to full-length original fiction in the horror and
suspense, science fiction and fantasy. The list brings together fantastic new
authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original
voices. Learn more about Flame Tree Press at http://www.flametreepress.com and
connect on social media @FlameTreePress
Review: Sunny, by Colin O’Sullivan
7 Dec 2023
£ 10.99
Blurb
SOON TO BE A MAJOR STREAMING SERIES
A riveting technological thriller following a woman whose life is upended when her husband and son disappear in a mysterious plane crash and she is left alone with an unnerving home robot, only to get caught up in an AI-related conspiracy.
In near-future Japan, Susie Sakamoto is mourning the loss of her husband and son to a plane crash. Alone in her big modern house, which feels like more of a prison, Susie spends her days drinking heavily and taking her anger out at the only “sentient” thing left in her life: Sunny, the annoying home robot her husband designed. Susie despises Sunny, and sometimes even gets a sinking feeling that Sunny is out to hurt her.
To escape her paranoia and depression, Susie frequents the seedy, drug-fuelled bars of the city, where she hears rumours of The Dark Manual, a set of guidelines that allow you to reprogram your robot for nefarious purposes. In the hopes of finding a way to turn off Sunny for good, Susie begins to search for the manual, only to learn it’s too late: the machines are becoming more sentient and dangerous. Thrust into the centre of a dark, corporate war, Susie realizes there’s someone behind the code, pulling the strings. And they want her dead.
With a darkly humorous yet propulsive voice, O’Sullivan presents us with an unsettling look at a future that feels all too real. Gripping and thought-provoking, Sunny is a haunting character study of an anxious woman teetering in an anxious time.
Continue reading “Review: Sunny, by Colin O’Sullivan”Review: Mr Gearheart, by Emily Owen
Genre: steampunk historical fiction
Publication Date 27 November 2023
ISBN 978-1-3999-5773-1
Dimensions 229 x 152mm
Extent 306 pages
RRP £9.99
BIC FL, FV
Rights Worldwide
Published by Open Door Books. Page design and typesetting by SilverWood Books.
Key Selling Points
- From the author of The Mechanical Maestro and The Copper Chevalier, a new story following the Abernathy siblings as they face an enigmatic adversary.
- Character-driven story centred around three genius siblings.
- A steampunk-tinged tale with Gothic overtones sure to enthral fans of clockwork, androids and the Victorian era alike.
- Immersive world filled with colourful characters.
Blurb
1863
Six years have passed at Ravenfeld Hall. The Abernathy siblings’ fortunes continue to improve as George and Douglas’s android-building business thrives. But change looms on the horizon. Douglas’s engagement to the sweet, charming Clara Marsden threatens to take him from his family, while sister Molly contemplates whether a future with the man she loves means sacrificing her independence and academic pursuits.
Then the family face more pressing concerns…
One night, George’s latest invention escapes the Hall. Four months later, a charismatic inventor by the name of Gearhart appears in London, with an intellect to rival that of the Abernathys’. George senses there’s something sinister about the mysterious Mr Gearhart, who’s planning to unveil an invention that could change the world. But does he have far grander ambitions? And can George uncover the truth about him in time?
Continue reading “Review: Mr Gearheart, by Emily Owen”Review: The Wit & Wisdom of David Attenborough, by Chas Newkey-Burden
Price £14.99
EAN\ISBN-13 9781856755269
Blurb
Description
A fascinating and entertaining collection of facts, quotes and stories,
celebrating Sir David Attenborough’s wicked sense of humour and astute
wisdom.
David Attenborough is a national treasure, known for his soothing voice, calming presence, passion for the natural world, and his humble, easy-going nature. Despite his incredible talent and influence, he tends to play it all down, one time stating that, ‘I can’t believe I’m still employed’.
So if he won’t celebrate himself, we’ll have to do it for him. Filled with facts, tributes and anecdotes, as well as beautiful illustrations, this enormously
positive book celebrates Sir David, providing a fascinating insight into his life as well as showcasing his brilliant sense of humour. Running chronologically, this book begins with his early days, to his first job at the BBC, to eventually becoming the most esteemed naturalist on the planet, as he is today.
Such revelations include:
- There are 18 plants and animals named after him
- When asked by a reporter how many degrees he had, he said it would be ‘rude to
count’* - The single thing that would improve his quality of life is ‘good, workable knees’.
Blending his quips galore with his powerful messages on the environment and future of
the planet, this timely book showcases everything we love about Sir David, making it the
perfect gift for any fan. - *He has over thirty!
