Review: The Cloisters: The Secret History for a new generation

The Cloisters: The Secret History for a new generation by Katy Hays
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I will admit that this book caught me straight away, which is strange as I am not always fond of a first person narrative. But the voice of Ann slipped into my head, and I found myself compelled to read the book to find out exactly what was going to happen to her. And I was so pulled in by this book that I finished it in one sitting, and found myself more than a little shocked once it was over.

The book is set in the Cloisters, a part of the Met Museum, though built to look like a fifteen century Cloister. The way the author describes the building, with such love and care, it really does put you there, in the galleries and libraries. It was beautifully written, atmospheric in all the right ways. And while there are hints of the supernatural in the tarot card readings, and the feelings that Ann has can be seen as either divine providence or the character simply seeing what she wants to see.

I highly recommend this book, it is a beautifully dark, twisty-turny tale who takes you through the past and present, and showing the depths that people will sink to, to succeed.

View all my reviews

Review: Marking Time

Marking Time by April White
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



View all my reviews

Review: Priest of Bones

Priest of Bones by Peter McLean
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



View all my reviews

Review: Essex Dogs

Essex Dogs by Dan Jones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



View all my reviews

Review: The Lost Metal

The Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



View all my reviews

Review: The Vanishing

The Vanishing by David Michael Slater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh wow, I seriously do not know where to start with this book. Except wow.

This book captivated me from the word go with our main character Sophie, from who's point of view the book is told. She is an eleven year old German Jew, who at the start of the book is more concerned about being named top student than she is being pulled from class. This is where her troubles, due to her religious beliefs start. She see's the decline in her family, before a tragedy hits and she suddenly turns invisible. From that moment on she spends her time trying to keep her best friend Giddy safe, and help the Jewish community that is being persecuted. Her journey takes her from the Slums, to a Concentration Camp and beyond, all trying to keep her friend safe with her amazing invisible powers.

The writing of this book captured me straight away, and even though it is coming from a child's perspective (which was quite believable) it was not dumbed down or made ridiculous in any way. The detail of the period was captured flawlessly, as well as the details of the Jewish faith was are transferred over, which gives a nice segway for those who do not know much about the religion. I can see the author has worked hard to try and not be insensitive on such a delicate subject, or be insulting to any who had family who lived through that terrible period of history. I think he has done a very good job in this, and I hope people do not dismiss the book simply on its subject matter without reading it.

This book takes you on a terrible and wonderful journey, where the best and worst in humanity are shown, where consequences to actions are seen, and a little girl grows up alone and yet surrounded by those she wants to help. A beautiful book that made me weep tears of both joy and sorrow, as I could do nothing but cheer Sophie, an Angel, on in her journey.

View all my reviews

Review: Wolfsong

Wolfsong by T.J. Klune
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I did not know what to expect from this book, but I did soon find that I could not put it down. It is a beautiful tale of growing into ones self, discovering a different form of love and family, and large elements of lgbt+ love, though that is not made such a big deal of, but is simply just part of the characters make up. And all this is wrapped up in a beautiful tale pf magic and werewolves.

The tale is told from Ox's point of view, he starts as a boy as his Father leaves, which scars him for a long time, especially with the things he says to Ox on the way out the door. It leaves him and his Mum in a destitute way, but they get help from the owner of a mechanic shop, and from there Ox's life and who he is and will become starts to form. It is a beautiful tale, one that takes you on a journey through self discovery, destiny and love, where you can have a family that is not blood, and letting peoples belief in you start to shape who you are.

The writers style was easy to follow, though I would not say it was exactly smooth, at no point did I feel lost or unable to continue. The world that they have created is wide and open to many more books to come in the Story or Ox and his companions, and truly I can not wait for the sequal.

View all my reviews