Welcome to the latest edition of Mr Favourite Reads, the monthly blog series where I share the books I’ve loved from the past month and get a huge kick out of your shared favourite reads too.
May was a reasonably satisfying reading month for me with six books and one short story read and with only two not making it onto My Favourite Reads (the short story and a horror anthology I found a bit hit and miss). There was also a DNF that I persevered with for over a hundred pages before setting it aside. Don’t you hate that with books you had high hopes for and really wanted to love?
Here are the books I enjoyed and would recommend.
The Thirteenth Child by Erin A Craig
The Thirteenth Child is the fourth book of Craig’s I’ve read and every one of them has made My Favourite Reads. Small Favours was an absolute standout (my thoughts on that here) but House of Salt and Sorrows and House of Roots and Ruin were both excellent. I think I’d buy anything she writes, she’s that good.
The book’s blurb says The Thirteenth Child is a dark fairytale retelling but I’ve no idea which one (not my forte). Whatever it is, it’s a wonderful Gothic read, with manipulative gods, a glamorous kingdom, a handsome prince, a bit of madness, great worldbuilding, and lots of secrets and twists and turns.
This is a lush, beautifully written and moving page-turner. Hazel was a wonderful character, strong and determined yet good-hearted. She makes mistakes, much to the fury of her godfather, the god of death. Some mistakes are huge though, and costly.
Loved it. I have Craig’s latest, A Land So Wide, in my sights.
Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher
Oh, Nettle and Bone was a fun read. It had the perfect balance between quirk and romance and adventure and derring-do.
Shy, meek Marra is bundled off to a convent to be kept in hand in case she’s needed to marry the evil prince who’s already made both her older sisters miserable. When she realises the true circumstances of her eldest sister’s death and the terrible suffering of her middle sister, Marra realises she is the only one who can act. Determined to kill the murderous prince, she seeks help from a gravewitch, who joins Marra on her quest along with possessed chicken, a fairy godmother and a rather attractive knight.
Gorgeous found family stuff. I enjoyed this enormously and plan to seek out more by T. Kingfisher.
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
McConaghy’s previous environmental themed novels Migrations (my thoughts here) and Once There Were Wolves (my comments here) were stunning reads, and cemented her as an auto-buy author for me. Naturally, I was excited to grab Wild Dark Shore in paperback when it released.
Wild Dark Shore proved to be another gorgeously written novel, set in a unique and breathtaking environment and with interesting characters, all with secrets. It is, at its heart, a mystery, but it’s also a story about love, and the lengths we’d go to protect those we love.
Stunning.
The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley
While The Hunting Party (comments here) and The Guest List (comments here) remain my favourites, The Midnight Feast proved to be another expertly plotted and enjoyable thriller by Foley.
Told from multiple points of view, and in a “before” and “after” type timeline, The Midnight Feast powered along, gathering tension with every chapter. We know from the very beginning that someone dies, but don’t know who—and there are multiple suspects for the role. Then there are the circumstances and the why. And it’s those questions that keep those pages flicking past.
I really enjoyed this. Great pacing, characters to hate and to barrack for, twists galore, and a satisfying, hopeful ending. As for the dramas that plagued the upmarket wellness retreat? They were delicious, clever fun.
Bring on the next Lucy Foley.
The Moers Murders by Graham Brack
This medieval mystery series is a hoot. Our star scholar and troubleshooter Mercurius is at his sarcastic best in The Moers Murders. And very amusing it is too.
Summoned yet again by William of Orange, Mercurius finds himself made governor and shunted off to Moers, where he’s to gather supplies, wait for the army and, well, govern. All as part of a secret plot to attack the hated French king, Louis XIV. Failure will earn him execution (nothing personal, just politics). The Stadholder can be like that, bless him.
A religious man, when Mercurius is faced signing off on executions where the accused hasn’t faced trial, he baulks and instead insists on investigation. Which makes The Moers Murders an entertaining story of political skulduggery and mystery against the backdrop of seventeenth century Europe.
I really hope Brack keeps on with this series. Mercurius is terrific company.
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What have you read lately that’s tickled your fancy? Share away!
Cathryn Hein is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I also use affiliate links for Apple Books, Kobo, Booktopia, and occasionally other resellers.
6 Responses
You’ve introduced me to a couple of books I’ll be taking a look at, I hope you have agood reading month in June
Oh, that’s lovely to hear, Claire Louisa. I’m so glad you’ve picked up some new reads. Love it when that happens. Wishing you a fab reading time in June too!
Ooh, how interesting. I’m going to look out for the new Lucy Foley. I love her stories. I’m sure you introduced me to them.
My faves this month have been Cupid Country Chance and Cupid Country Challenge – the first two in your new Cupid Country series – yay!! I’m so enjoying these and am saving the third one for this weekend. I love the way you can write shorter length sometimes and still deliver that emotional satisfaction with such engaging characters that I find in your longer stories.
My other find this month was The Extraordinary Hope of Dawn Brightside by Jessica Ryn. Just the book for when you need a touch of optimism in your world. I thought Ryn’s handling of difficult subjects was deft and engaging.
Aww, Annie, thank you so much for your kind words re Cupid Country. That’s really great. Thank you.
The Lucy Foley is worth picking up for the characterisations alone. They were very well done and most enjoyable. Speaking of which, I’ve just added The Extraordinary Hope of Dawn Brightside to my wish list. It sounds like a lovely read. Ta for the recommendation!
Cathryn, interesting list as always. A few people have mentioned T. Kingfisher to me and my current fave author K.J. Charles loves her work too. I’ll have to grab a few of her books!
I’ve actually had quite a full reading month – partly courtesy of the dreaded covid. Here are some highlights.
I really enjoyed Nicola Cornick’s dual time line book The Winter Garden. She’s such a lovely writer and this one had a really interesting contemporary thread to the story.
I loved, loved, loved The Wolf Tree by Laura McCluskey which is a murder mystery set on a remote Scottish island (I know, doesn’t sound like my catnip at all, does it?). Great characters and very creepy setting. Think you’d really like it. Annie West recommended it here which is why I picked it up.
Another recommendation on the ARRA loop had me picking up two books by Jane Lovering, The Recipe for Happiness and Secrets at the Little Music Shop. Both were really charming and heartwarming and just what I felt like!
My standout read for the month was a nonfiction memoir called The Place of Tides by James Redbanks. I follow JR on Twitter where he talks about his life as a traditional farmer in the Lake District. This book told the story of the summer he goes to work with the last of the eider women on a remote Norwegian island. So lots of scenery. Lots of ducks. Lots of homespun wisdom. It’s one of those magical books where nothing much happens but when you come to the end of it, you close it and think, “I wish it went on for another 500 pages.” It really was like being on holiday. Just gorgeous.
Good news on the full reading month, Anna. Not so good on the COVID front, horrid thing. I hope you’re well recovered now.
I’ve only read the one T. Kingfisher but I’m keen to try more after Nettle and Bone. That was a hoot. Will let you know how I go.
Ta for the Jane Lovering rec too. They look good and she certainly has plenty to choose from. And that’s great to hear about The Wolf Tree. I bought it straight after Annie’s recommendation too, and now I’m thinking I’ll move it up my TBR pile. I do love a creepy setting! And Scotland. No wonder you loved it!
That memoir sounds lovely. Not sure it’s my thing but you’ve certainly made me interested!