JESS JUST READS

A BOOK REVIEW BLOG

The Witch Who Courted Death by Maria Lewis

Considering her status as the world’s most powerful medium, Casper von Klitzing and her twin brother Baristan have lived a pretty normal life – until now.

After a horrific incident in her home city of Berlin, orchestrated by the mysterious Oct, Casper is consumed with vengeance towards an enemy she doesn’t understand. But the only other person ever to escape Oct was a witch – and so Casper is soon on her trail. But this witch does not want to be found.

Diving headfirst into the supernaturally secretive world of spells, charms and covens, it’s not long before Casper is crossing more than just the line between the living and the dead . . .

The Witch Who Courted Death is the start of a new fantasy duology by Australian author Maria Lewis, reimagining the role of ghosts and witches in present day society.

This was a delightful read. I was completely smitten with pretty much everything inside these pages, from the plot to the characters to the world to the writing. Maria Lewis is so talented. I’ve read quite a few of her books now and The Witch Who Courted Death is my favourite so far.

After a horror attack in Berlin, protagonist Corvossier is planning revenge. In order to track down the people who killed her brother and stole her arm, she must team up with a witch who has escaped them before.

Maria Lewis has taken the concept of ‘mediums’ and ‘ghosts’ and completely reinvented them. Corvossier can interact with ghosts and help them move on. She can encourage them to cross through and find peace outside of our world.

When we meet her at the beginning of the novel, her and her brother Baristan are working to remove a vengeful, angry ghost from a haunted house. They’re strong and they’re prepared and this really sets the tone for the rest of the novel.

“As a general rule it was always best to navigate life as politely as possible, especially when dealing with the dead. The ghost looked up, blinking for a moment before glancing around the room with surprise. She registered their presence for the first time, somewhat snapping out of her daze.”

The Witch Who Courted Death illustrates an incredible amount of research from Maria Lewis; the book finishes with a four-page glossary, describing words for the reader like Alchemist to Selkie to Vankila.

The plot felt original and enriching, the dialogue realistic, and the characters diverse and relatable. I loved the strong bond between Corvossier and her brother, and the budding relationship between Corvossier and witch Opal. There were also a cast of secondary characters like Heath and Sprinkle who added humour and warmth to the novel.

“She remained still, Corvossier touching her fingertips to the woman’s temple. They could physically interact here, on this plane, and she could tell just by the way the ghost’s body stiffened that she had forgotten what it was like to be touched. Images flashed in front of her eyes, like a deck of cards being shuffled.”

I’m now heavily invested in the series and really looking forward to the sequel. I love that a disabled, bisexual character was the protagonist for the book and her relationship with another female was a dominant part of the story, not something glossed over or skipped.

Urban fantasy readers will love this new edition to the genre. The Witch Who Courted Death will also delight all readers, young and old, even if you’re a stranger to this genre.

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Witch Who Courted Death
Maria Lewis
November 2018
Hachette Book Publishers

The Christmas Lights by Karen Swan

December 2018, and free-spirited influencers Bo Loxley and her partner Zac are living a life of wanderlust, travelling the globe and sharing their adventures with their millions of fans. Booked to spend Christmas in the Norwegian fjords, they set up home in a remote farm owned by enigmatic mountain guide Anders and his fierce grandmother Signy. Surrounded by snowy peaks and frozen falls, everything should be perfect. But the camera can lie and with every new post, the ‘perfect’ life Zac and Bo are portraying is diverging from the truth. Something Bo can’t explain is wrong at the very heart of their lives and Anders is the only person who’ll listen.

June 1936, and fourteen-year old Signy is sent with her sister and village friends to the summer pastures to work as milkmaids, protecting the herd that will sustain the farm through the long, winter months. But miles from home and away from the safety of their families, threat begins to lurk in friendly faces…

The mountains keep secrets – Signy knows this better than anyone – and as Bo’s life begins to spiral she is forced, like the old woman before her, to question who is friend and who is foe.

The Christmas Lights by Karen Swan is a festive novel set in the scenic fjords of Norway.

The book alternates between December 2018 and June 1936. In the present, Instagram influencers Amy ‘Bo’ Loxley and Zac Austen have arrived in Norway with their photographer Lenny and their clothing brand representative Anna. They’re planning to spend a couple of weeks in a remote cabin taking beautiful photographs of their surroundings for their followers and promote the clothing line that’s paying them $200K.

In June 1936, we meet a group of young women as they undertake work as milkmaids in the summer pastures. Friendships are tested and intentions are questioned.

It took me some time to warm to the 1936 storyline. At first, I felt like the characters weren’t relatable and I found my attention waning. But over time, I became invested in the tension between the young girls and the chilling events that were unfolding deep within the Norwegian woods.

I adored Zac and Bo’s storyline, and Karen Swan has done a fabulous job of capturing the setting. The beautiful wintry locations in the book are described so clearly, I was enraptured. The characters visit stunning, scenic waterfalls, mountains and icy fjords. The setting itself feels like a character in the book, concealing beautiful and dangerous locations and only revealing itself to those who are truly interested.

Bo is torn between what she wants her life to be like and what her life is expected to be. She’s got millions of adoring fans online, but is she really happy? Is this what she wants? And does Zac have her best interests at heart?

“She felt even angrier now. She had always made a point of never commenting on Lenny’s love life; if sleeping around made him happy, she wasn’t going to stand in judgement of it, but she could already see how this was going to play out.”

Underneath all of this, there is also a dangerous stalker lurking in the background. A man, who is unknown to Bo, has been stalking her online and following her around the world. She’s worried what will happen when he catches up to her, and no one except her new friend Anders seems to be taking her seriously.

Bo learns to trust her instincts and acknowledge the cracks in her relationship. Her and Zac were once leading a healthy relationship, but they’re not anymore. Bo isn’t happy with Zac and Lenny’s lifestyle and this holiday to Norway is opening her eyes to what life could really be like for Bo if she started leading her life the way she actually wanted.

“She didn’t know what to do with herself — what to do or where to go — and was still perched on the edge of the sofa when she heard him go back down the stairs ten minutes later.”

At first, Bo is quite a shallow person only thinking about her followers and her online presence. But over time, we realise there’s more to her as a character and we come to understand her and like her more.

Signy, who is the main character in the 1936 storyling, is still alive in 2018. She’s now a 96 year old woman and she’s living in the remote cabin that Bo and her friends are bunking in for the holidays. Signy recognises herself in Bo and takes a liking to her, offering her advice and encouraging her to open her eyes to what’s really around her. At first, Bo is sceptical. But then she comes to understand what Signy is trying to tell her.

In the end, I did think the similarities between Anders’ backstory and Bo’s stalker were a little absurd and way too coincidental. I almost think Anders’ past could’ve been cut out of the book and everything would’ve been fine.

An enjoyable read with a beautiful setting and an intriguing premise.

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Christmas Lights
Karen Swan
November 2018
Pan Macmillan Publishers

Elevation by Stephen King

Castle Rock is a small town, where word gets around quickly. That’s why Scott Carey wants to confide only in his friend Doctor Bob Ellis about his strange condition: he’s losing weight, without getting thinner, and the scales register the same when he is in his clothes or out of them, however heavy they are.

Scott also has new neighbours, who have opened a ‘fine dining experience’ in town, although it’s an experience being shunned by the locals; Deidre McComb and her wife Missy Donaldson don’t exactly fit in with the community’s expectations. And now Scott seems trapped in a feud with the couple over their dogs dropping their business on his lawn. Missy may be friendly, but Deidre is cold as ice.

As the town prepares for its annual Thanksgiving 12k run, Scott starts to understand the prejudices his neighbours face and he tries to help. Unlikely alliances form and the mystery of Scott’s affliction brings out the best in people who have indulged the worst in themselves and others.

Elevation by Stephen King is a touching, captivating novella about how one man’s mysterious medical condition results in a small town growing closer together and overcoming prejudices.

There are a couple of different strands to the story. Firstly, we have Scott Carey and his strange affliction. When he steps onto the scales every day, it shows him that he’s rapidly losing weight. But, he doesn’t look any different. He looks 240 pounds and he continues to do so, but the scales tell a very different story. Scott’s ailment prompts him to become more aware of the world around him, and he starts to notice just how horrible some his neighbours are.

There is a lesbian couple — Deirdre and Missy — who are new to town and they have opened up a new vegetarian Mexican restaurant, Holy Frijole. But no one is dining there and it’s mostly because Deirdre and Missy are openly married and a lot of the residents in Castle Rock are homophobic.

Scott makes attempts to connect with Deirdre and Missy and change the townsfolk’s attitude towards them and their restaurant. Scott wants to fix the prejudices against them.

“Mike’s smile went away. ‘Nothing to be proud of. She’s a lesbian. That would probably be okay if she kept it to herself — no one cares what goes on behind closed doors — but she has to introduce that one who cooks at Frijole as her wife. Lot of people around here see that as a big old screw you.”

Stephen King is a master storyteller, and in only 132 pages he’s captured so many amazing characters and a heartfelt story. I thought this novella was brilliant. There were a few things unanswered but I still felt that the book was complete. I was left wanting more.

I was intrigued by Scott’s story arc and how he grew over the course of the book. At first, he seemed like the kind of man who kept to himself and didn’t want to cause drama. But then, when he overhears some of his friends talking disrespectfully about Deirdre and Missy, he stands up to them and addresses how inappropriate their behaviour is.

“In the centre of the sheet was a photo of Deirdre McComb. There were other runners, most of them behind her. A big number 19 was pinned to the waistband of her tiny blue shorts. Above them was a tee-shirt with NEW YORK CITY MARATHON 2011 on the front. On her face was an expression Scott would not have associated with her: blissful happiness.”

The story is propelled forward by Scott’s weight decrease. Over time, he’s getting lighter and lighter and he doesn’t know what’s going to happen to him when he gets down to zero. This kind of supernatural, fantastical element to the story is Stephen King’s trademark — the unexplainable.

This novella is quite different to Stephen King’s usual writing, and so I think it has a really broad appeal. It’s also perfect for people who don’t have the time to commit to Stephen’s usual novels that are hundreds and hundreds of pages.

This is a tender and charming tale that I highly recommend to all ages.

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Elevation
Stephen King
November 2018
Hachette Book Publishers

Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks

There are times when destiny and love collide. This story is one of them.

From the number one bestselling author of The Notebook and Two by Two comes an unforgettable tale of enduring love . . . Hope Anderson is at a crossroads. After six years with her boyfriend, she is no longer sure what she wants, and when her father becomes ill she heads to her family’s cottage at Sunset Beach in North Carolina to make some difficult decisions.

Tru Walls has been summoned across an ocean from where he was born and raised in Zimbabwe by a letter from a man claiming to be his father. In journeying to Sunset Beach, Tru hopes to unravel the mystery surrounding his mother’s life, but the letter will lead him in an unexpected direction.

When these two strangers’ paths cross, their chance encounter sets in motion a heart-breaking story – one that will transcend decades, continents and the workings of fate.

Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks is a romantic novel spanning decades and generations of family. It’s about meeting the right person at the wrong time, and the impossibility of love.

Hope Anderson is thirty-six years old and her relationship with her boyfriend is something that I think a lot of readers will be able to recognise. They’ve been together for six years and it seems like they’re still together because it’s been so long; they’re not together because they’re actually still in love. The relationship has grown stale, and neither of them can see it.

It’s only when Hope meets Tru Walls that she comes to realise that things could be better for her.

Tru has spent most of his adult life as a safari guide in Zimbabwe. He’s split from his ex and they share custody of their child. He’s travelled to America to track down the father he’s never known, and find out why he left his mother.

There is a fair bit of info dumping at the beginning of this novel, but setting and tension are a couple of the Nicholas’ strengths. You can feel the beautiful, waterfront setting and the cool breeze and you can picture in your mind the wonderful letterbox where all of these notes are being deposited and then read by strangers.

“But what would happen when his father did show up? The man was a stranger; a single meeting wasn’t going to change that. Nonetheless, Tru hoped he’d be able to answer some questions, which was the only reason Tru had decided to come in the first place.”

Every Breath explores many things. It’s about love and the importance of timing. It’s also about family, bonds, relationships and expectations. It’s about purpose in life, and meeting your own expectations.

It’s also about tragedy and the heartbreak that can be present in so many lives, and the importance of acceptance and forgiveness.

“She interested him. That she was beautiful there was no doubt, but it wasn’t simply that. There was an air of vulnerability and loneliness behind her smile, as if she was wrestling with something troubling. Maybe even a few somethings.”

My biggest gripe with the development of the story was the lack of chemistry between Hope and Tru, mostly because their ‘connection’ and ‘love’ developed at a rapid pace, too fast to be believable. They fall in love rather quickly, and I think it’s a bit too much for the reader to really invest in.

The ending of the book, and Hope’s decision surrounding children, seems a little farfetched. Nicholas initially crafted Hope to seem courageous, brave, independent, career-driven. And then at the end of the novel, she seems to drop all that and deliberately enter into a relationship she knows to be doomed just so she can have babies. To be honest, I hated the ending. And the Author’s Note at the end was equally frustrating.

Fans of Nicholas Sparks will be able to suspend belief long enough to enjoy this book. Readers who don’t spend much time inside the pages of a romance novel will probably dislike this book.

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Every Breath
Nicholas Sparks
October 2018
Hachette Publishers

Man Out Of Time by Stephanie Bishop

When Stella’s father, Leon, disappears in September 2001, the police knock at her door. She baulks at their questions, not sure how to answer. ‘What if I just write it down for you.’

One summer, a long time ago, Stella sat watching her father cry while the sky clouded over. He had tried to make amends: for his failures, for forgetting to buy the doll she once hoped for, for the terrible things he had done.

The first time Stella sensed that something was wrong was on her ninth birthday. There was an accident, and when she opened her eyes there was the tang of blood in her mouth. Leon was beside her. But not quite there. In the winter, when her father finally came home from hospital, he looked different. Looked at her differently.

Now he was missing, and Stella held the key to his discovery. But did he want to be found? And after all that has passed, could Stella bring herself to help him?

Stella’s whole life has been stained by her father’s very struggle to exist. Would this be her inheritance too? Could she choose the steady minutes of an ordinary day? Or would she follow the path of a man out of time?

Man Out of Time is Stephanie Bishop’s third novel, a moving tale of inheritance and self-destruction.

The ‘man out of time’ is Stella’s father. He’s mentally unstable and his health deteriorates as Stella grows older. He is sectioned in a psychiatric hospital, and Stephanie uses flashbacks to show the reader how Leon’s battles with mental illness effect not only him but Stella and his wife Frances. In present-day, Frances and Stella work to locate Leon. He’s been missing for a fortnight.

This novel feels very literary — mature even. The themes of family, love, legacy and relationships are complex, and Stephanie tackles the story with a very topsy-turvy kind of storytelling structure. From reading the blurb, you think this will be a very linear type of book, but it’s rather scattered. And intentionally so.

“When Leon came home, Frances was waiting for him, the dress in a crumpled heap on the table. Where have you been? she asked. He tipped his hat in mockery of the question and replied: Why, I’ve been to London to visit the queen. Then he said, Busking. In the subway.”

Leon and Stella share a complex relationship — she loves him and he loves her, but his mental health threatens his ability to make wise choices and as Stella grows older, she witnesses Leon’s deteriorated mind and she grows very self-aware.

Stephanie Bishop has captured mental illness sympathetically and realistically. She illustrates all the complexities of mental illness, and the ripple effect it has on surrounding loved ones.

The strength of this novel lies within the writing — the poetic sentences and flowing prose and the brilliant use of vocabulary and subsequent sentence structure. Stephanie has a real way with words.

“Once there, she swung a leg over and spread out along the branch, her belly and face pressed to the smooth bark, her legs hanging down on either side, kicking the late summery air that smelled of decaying fruit — the dark and soggy worm-eaten plums lying on the grass below, a haze of fruit flies hovering over the rot.”

I wanted to like this novel more than I did. I wanted to read it and be inspired by Stephanie’s manipulation of time and story-telling, but more often than not, I was left confused and I felt like I’d missed something in the preceding pages. Whilst I admire the grand story within the pages, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed with its execution.

This is an emotional novel about the bond between a father and son, and the plot is in constant motion, flicking back and forth between different periods and time. This novel isn’t my favourite, but readers who love a complex family story will find comfort in Man Out Of Time.

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Man Out of Time
Stephanie Bishop
September 2018
Hachette Book Publishers

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