JESS JUST READS

A BOOK REVIEW BLOG

Lady Smoke by Laura Sebastian

The Kaiser murdered Theodosia’s mother, the Fire Queen, when Theo was only six. He took her country and kept her prisoner, crowning her Ash Princess – a pet to toy with and humiliate for ten long years. That era has ended. The Kaiser thought his prisoner weak and defenceless. He didn’t realise that a sharp mind is the deadliest weapon.

Theo no longer wears a crown of ashes. She has taken back her rightful title, and a hostage – Prinz Soren. But her people remain enslaved under the Kaiser’s rule, and now she is thousands of miles away from them and her throne.

To get them back, she will need an army. Only, securing an army means she must trust her aunt, the dreaded pirate Dragonsbane. And according to Dragonsbane, an army can only be produced if Theo takes a husband. Something an Astrean Queen has never done.

Theo knows that freedom comes at a price, but she is determined to find a way to save her country without losing herself.

Lady Smoke is the sequel to Ash Princess and the second book in this new fantasy series from US author Laura Sebastian. You can read my review of Ash Princess on the blog HERE.

Lady Smoke picks up immediately after the conclusion of Ash Princess — Queen Theodosia has escaped the Kaiser’s imprisonment in Astrea, seeking refuge and alliance with her aunt, the famed pirate Dragonsbane. Theo is accompanied by her Shadows — Blaise, Artemisia and Heron —aboard a ship captained by Dragonsbane. Soren, the Kalovaxian prince, is in their custody.

Theo knows she’ll need allies to retake her kingdom from the conquering Kalovaxians and free her people, who are still enslaved by the Kaiser and his new wife Cress. So Theo aligns with the manipulative Dragonsbane and along with her fleet, they seek refuge in Sta’Crivero with King Etristo. Eligible suitors from all other countries arrive at a grand invitational to meet Theo and offer her their hand in marriage. With a husband, Theo can acquire an army and take back her throne in Astrea.

“Sta’Crivero is a country of sand. As we approach the shore, I scan the horizon but there is little to see. Rolling dunes crest like waves all the way to the horizon, unbroken by trees or any kind of foliage. It doesn’t look like the sort of place where anything could survive.”

The series maintains the POV from Theo’s perspective, allowing readers a deeper dive into her mindset and her emotions. She immerses herself in political issues and takes it upon herself to learn more and more about the world she lives in, so she’ll know how best to rule her people when she reclaims her throne. This first person narration also helps give the story a stronger sense of urgency, propelling the story forward and keeping the reader engaged.

I would’ve loved a little more involvement with Cress. She was a major character in Ash Princess, and we don’t see her again until the end of Lady Smoke. And she’s really changed. She’s powerful, ballsy, confident and a really scary antagonist. I can’t wait to see more of her in the next book.

“I suppose Archduke Etmond is the most pleasant of the lot, though that title largely falls to him by default. Most of our time is spent in an uncomfortable silence that I’m actually grateful for — it gives me a moment of peace in what has been a very chaotic day — but there are moments when he surprises me, like when he very shyly asks how I escaped the Astrean palace and seems to actually care about the answer.”

The ending of the book is very satisfying. Alliances are broken and some are strengthened. Major characters are defeated or saved by unlikely circumstances, and the pacing is quickened to keep the reader engaged.

Lady Smoke delivers an amazing sequel, with heightened stakes and three-dimensional characters that help drive the story forward. This book exceeded all of my expectations and Laura Sebastian has delivered something really fantastic.

“Even as I say the words, though, I know they aren’t true. I might know Blaise better than anyone, but in this moment I am afraid of him. Not Blaise — not necessarily — but what he’s capable of. What he can do without even meaning to.”

I remember feeling that Ash Princess was generic and not too dissimilar to other fantasy books, but Lady Smoke took the series in a completely different direction and I really enjoyed the journey. I’m looking forward to the third and final instalment in 2020.

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

Lady Smoke: Ash Princess 2
Laura Sebastian
February 2019
Pan Macmillan Publishers

REVIEW AND AUTHOR INTERVIEW: The House of Second Chances by Esther Campion

Can a house heal heartache? From coastal Australia to the rugged beauty of Ireland, an enchanting novel of starting over, in the tradition of Maeve Binchy and Monica McInerney.

Their grandmother’s stone cottage was always a welcome retreat in the childhood summers of Ellen and Aidan O’Shea. After a trip home from Australia, Ellen is keen to bring the neglected home back to its former glory and enlists the help of her dear friend and one of Ireland’s top interior designers, Colette Barry.

Aidan is already begrudging the work on the house he has avoided for nearly twenty years. The last thing the builder needs is an interior designer who seems to do nothing but complicate his life. With their own personal heartaches to overcome, will Aidan and Colette find the courage to give the house and themselves a second chance?

The House of Second Chances by Esther Campion is a novel about letting go of past mistakes, failed relationships and learning to let others in. This is Esther’s second novel and explores love, loss, grief and family.

Aidan and Colette have both been in relationships they’d rather not remember. Colette’s ex-husband treated her terribly and cheated on her many times, and Aidan’s ex-girlfriend left and married someone else. Aidan also acts as a babysitter for another ex-girlfriend who likes to offload her daughter onto Aidan on a regular basis.

Both Aidan and Colette like to shut people out, and they keep pretending that they’re happy being single. When they meet, they initially don’t like each other. They fight over what’s best for the house and the renovation of the property. But soon, they start to understand each other and friendship develops.

“The whole group were looking at him. Oh man! He’d half hoped he might find the seat beside Colette empty for once and enjoy his pint while actually having a civil conversation with the girl. This was not how he’d planned it.”

At first I was a little taken aback with how people spoke to Aidan about his weight. Aidan acknowledges that he weighs more than he used to, and he’s let his fitness slip. His internal dialogue reflects what a lot of people who feel unfit think about themselves. They know they need to eat healthier, exercise more.

But Aidan’s friends and family outwardly comment about his weight and Aidan just takes it. He seems like the kind of character who isn’t afraid to speak his mind, so it seemed a little surprising that he just accepted everyone’s jokes and remarks without sniping back. Even though he thought their comments were justified, I would’ve expected a character like Aidan to respond differently to how he did.

“Ben Dineen cut a fit-looking figure in a designer polo shirt that showed off his biceps. Aidan imagined the six-pack concealed under the shirt tucked into the belted chinos. Lucky bastard, he thought, drawing the sides of his open jacket together to cover the gut that had brought him to this.”

The grandmother’s cottage in the book read like a character, it held such a strong significance to the plot and to the characters’ journeys. It holds memories and is therefore an important place for the characters, but renovating the house is also about moving forward and reflecting on what’s transpired.

Esther brings a range of characters to this story, all of whom are struggling with something. Grace and Ben are having silent fights and communication is needed to overcome their issues. Aidan’s ex-girlfriend Jane keeps running back to her problematic boyfriend despite him being a bad influence on her and her daughter. Colette’s new work experience kid Shane is rebellious and troubled, but is really skilled at drawing. These are just a few of the side characters who enrich the story.

“She’d wanted a daughter too. But this was no time to be maudlin. She had bills to pay, a mother to look after as she got older and, down the track, her own senior years to secure. She’d worked her socks off and would continue to do so. A partnership would just make it more her own.”

Initially, it was really hard to wrap your head around the characters. In the opening chapters of the book, Esther seems to introduce just about every character in the book and it was easy to get lost in all the information because it felt like an information dump. I would’ve preferred if the characters were drip fed a bit more, without so much background information all at once.

Perfect for readers who love family sagas, romance novels, and heartwarming and heartfelt stories.

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AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH ESTHER CAMPION

Firstly, tell us a little bit about your latest novel, The House of Second Chances
This book is set around the renovation of an old farmhouse in West Cork, a beautiful part of Ireland. Builder, Aidan O’ Shea, has been avoiding his grandmother’s house for almost twenty years, but when his sister in Australia decides to turn the house into a business, he is thrust on to the project along with Ellen’s interior designer friend, Colette Barry. Colette is keen to get on with the job but when her ideas come up against resistance from Aidan, she is in for some challenging times. Both Aidan and Colette are struggling with the hurts of past lives, but the house presents an opportunity for healing, if only they can get out of their own way.

You live in Tasmania but you’re from Ireland. Do you find inspiration from your surroundings, both past and present?
Very much so. Ireland runs through my veins, so I think I will always enjoy writing stories set there. In terms of places I’ve moved to, it takes a while for the landscape and the people to get under my skin. For example, I have lived in Tasmania for six years and it is only now that I have come to write about it in what will hopefully be my next novel.

In The House of Second Chances, grandma’s stone cottage feels like a character. How do you go about capturing the atmosphere and feel of a location, especially when it plays such a big role in a book?
I am delighted to hear you say the house was like another character as I didn’t consciously write it as such. The house has a very distinct past, a vibrant present and, by the end of the book, also hope for the future, so I definitely like your idea of seeing it as a character. I also feel its former owner, grandmother Lizzie O’ Shea, is kept alive through the house and she is a character I kept coming back to as memories of her as she lived in the house set the tone for the place. Crookhaven, where the fictional house is located, is a place I love to visit. I imagine my characters walking the hills and beaches, drinking in the pub, chatting to the locals and setting the world to rights.

Do you have to undertake any research when writing your books?
I dabble in the research side of things as I go. For settings, I draw on photographs and memories from times I lived in or visited places. If I haven’t been to a place or can’t remember details, I will interview someone who has. My husband is also a great sounding board and source of knowledge. Thankfully, he’s always interested enough to listen. He doesn’t write but loves reading, especially the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith.

What element of novel writing do you most struggle with?
Honestly, it’s the physical aches and pains. When I’m in the zone, I sit for far too long without leaving the desk and pay for it later. Thanks to your question, I will try to remember to use my timer!

What element of novel writing do you think is your biggest strength?
I like writing dialogue, but you’d have to ask my readers what they like best. Maybe some readers of your blog will leave a comment and let me know.

What do you like to read? What do you look for when deciding your next purchase?
I think we’re all influenced by the steady stream of emails and Facebook posts announcing the top reads for each month and what we should be reading. I’m quite a slow reader, so although I would love to read all of these popular works, I’m usually about a year behind by the time a book reaches the top of my ‘To Be Read’ pile. I am currently reading Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks which has leap-frogged on to the top of the pile because I love Nicholas Sparks and reading about Africa. One of the perks of being an author is receiving free bound proofs of soon-to-be-released novels. That makes me get a move on and I am looking forward to reading Natasha Lester’s last and next novels once I’m finished with Nicholas.

Finally, what are the you working on next?
I am writing a novel set in Ireland and Tasmania and for now, that’s about all I can say on the matter.

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

The House of Second Chances
Esther Campion
February 2019
Hachette Book Publishers

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

In his much-anticipated debut novel, Hank Green – co-creator of Crash Course, Vlogbrothers and SciShow – spins a sweeping, cinematic tale about a young woman who becomes an overnight celebrity before realizing she’s part of something bigger, and stranger, than anyone could have possibly imagined.

If you came across AN ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE THING at 3 a.m. in New York City . . . Would you keep walking? Or do the one thing that would change your life forever? 

The Carls just appeared. Coming home from work at three a.m., twenty-three-year-old April May stumbles across a giant sculpture. Delighted by its appearance and craftsmanship – like a ten-foot-tall Transformer wearing a suit of samurai armour – April and her friend Andy make a video with it, which Andy uploads to YouTube. The next day April wakes up to a viral video and a new life. News quickly spreads that there are Carls in dozens of cities around the world – everywhere from Beijing to Buenos Aires – and April, as their first documentarian, finds herself at the centre of an intense international media spotlight.

Now April has to deal with the pressure on her relationships, her identity and her safety that this new position brings, all while being on the front lines of the quest to find out not just what the Carls are, but what they want from us.

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing is a debut novel by American author Hank Green, a quirky and strange tale about fame, social media, obsession and radicalisation.

After April discovers a giant metal statue in New York City, she films it and uploads the video online. What she doesn’t know is that these strange statues have appeared all over the world at exactly the same time, with no footage available showing how they got there and who erected them.

April becomes famous; everyone is fascinated by these statues and what they mean, and they feel like April has the answers to all their questions.

April is a very self-centred person, and at times she’s actually awful. And she knows it. She says horrible things to her girlfriend and treats her terribly, but then uses her girlfriend and her intelligence when she needs help solving some of the alien puzzles throughout the book. I kept reading this book because of the plot, not because of the characters.

“There was a bit of silence then. Her emotions — oh, they were everywhere. Anger, pain, disappointment. Disappointment in me, specifically, no in the situation. I got the impression that she was unsurprised that I had turned out to be exactly what she expected me to be.”

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing grapples with the unpredictability of social media and viral fame, and how that can change a person or simply highlight their true personality.

The book also — in a light-hearted, bizarre way — highlights many of society’s flaws. People react badly when they fear something, or when they don’t understand something, and that can harm others or have a domino effect on the rest of civilisation.

“After that, I lowered myself into the news storm. The president hadn’t mentioned me by name in her speech, but there was reference to my work. I was now inextricably linked to this story. Not because I discovered Carl, and not because I was the first person with a following to come out and say he was an alien, and not because I seemed to be the reason his hand fell off and ran across Hollywood, but because I was all three of those things.”

This is a very weird book, but in a way, I enjoyed it. I kept reading. I found myself interested in the Carls and the puzzles and quizzes that filled the book, and I wanted to know what the Dreams meant.

I don’t think this book is for everyone. At the end, there isn’t much of a resolution and so I think a lot of people will find themselves disappointed. But I think seasoned readers, particularly readers who like the quirkiness of some fiction, will find this book quite fun.

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

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing
Hank Green
September 2018
Hachette Book Publishers

The Au Pair by Emma Rous

A tautly plotted mystery of dark family secrets, perfect for fans of Kate Morton.

Seraphine Mayes and her brother Danny are known as the summer-born Summerbournes: the first set of summer twins to be born at Summerbourne House. But on the day they were born their mother threw herself to her death, their au pair fled, and the village thrilled with whispers of dark-cloaked figures and a stolen baby.

Now twenty-five, and mourning the recent death of her father, Seraphine uncovers a family photograph taken on the day the twins were born featuring both parents posing with just one baby. Seraphine soon becomes fixated with the notion that she and Danny might not be twins after all, that she wasn’t the baby born that day and that there was more to her mother’s death than she has ever been told…

Why did their beloved au pair flee that day?
Where is she now?
Does she hold the key to what really happened?

The Au Pair by Emma Rous is a mystery thriller spanning decades. The book explores love, relationships, truth, family secrets, selfishness and honesty.

The protagonist, 25-year-old Seraphine Mayes, has never looked like her brothers and her father, and wants to know why their mother committed suicide at their family home in Summerbourne. An unfamiliar photo sparks an investigation into their family history, uncovering many dangerous, long-hidden secrets.

Seraphine’s father has recently died in a sudden accident, and she’s going through his belongings. She finds this photo from July 1992, of her mother, father, brother, standing and smiling with a newborn baby. But Seraphine and Danny are twins. Why is there only one baby in the photo? And why, mere hours later, did their mother commit suicide at their family’s remote estate on the Norfolk coast? Questions arise, and Seraphine is determined to uncover answers.

‘Danny and I were always told this was the first picture taken of us after all those months lost to grief when we were born…I have a sudden memory of Dad telling me this was the brief stage when Danny and I were the same size; when he’d just caught up with me, before he surged ahead and left me forever the smaller one.’

The writing is really accessible for all readers; the prose flows rather well and the characters are interesting enough to entice the reader. The premise of the novel is an intriguing one, and will draw readers in and keep them guessing until the final chapters.

This debut novel is a little convoluted at times, and as the secrets start to reveal themselves, the reader will find themselves a little confused with how everything connects. At times, the book is a mind boggle.

Sometimes, the dialogue feels a little forced, particularly in conversation between the siblings where there’s tension or revelation or betrayal. The ‘outrage’ felt by some of the family members is not quite captured realistically.

“Why did he say I was impossible? Who Am I?”

This book has a gorgeous cover, which initially drove me into this book and got me interested in reading it. And despite its flaws, I enjoyed reading the novel and struggled to predict the ending of the book. There were many twists and turns, all adding suspense and tension to the plot. This book will have readers desperate for answers.

The Au Pair utilises dual narrative timelines, switching back and forth between Seraphine in 2017 and Laura, the au pair working at Summerbourne from 1991-1992. Slowly, Laura’s timeline fills in the gaps of the story and we learn what really happened the day of Seraphine’s birth.

There is a strong sense of place in this book; the Summerbourne estate almost felt like another character. I could really sense the atmosphere and the isolation and the mystery and intrigue that followed all who had lived there before. The cliffs that surround Summerbourne are dangerous and have been the cause of a few accidents and deaths in the past. It’s a very ominous setting for the book.

There was one twist in the book — surrounding Laura — that I found very unbelievable and unrealistic. And I felt like it made the ending a little too easy? It’s hard to explain without spoiling the book, but if you do decide to read The Au Pair, you’ll know what I’m referring to once you reach the end of the book.

Recommended reading for people who love mysteries and family sagas. This is a modern gothic thriller.

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

The Au Pair
Emma Rous
December 2018
Hachette Book Publishers

Queer Eye: Love Yourself Love Your Life

The official tie-in to the hit Netflix show QUEER EYE.

From the Fab Five – the beloved hosts of Netflix’s viral hit QUEER EYE- comes a book, and an official guide, that is at once a behind-the-scenes exclusive, a practical guide to living and celebrating your best life, and a symbol of hope.

Feeling your best is about far more than deciding what colour to paint your accent wall or how to apply nightly moisturiser. It’s also about creating a life that’s well-rounded, filled with humour and understanding and most importantly, that suits you. At a cultural moment when we are all craving people to admire, QUEER EYE offers hope and acceptance. After you get to know the Fab Five, together they will guide you through five practical chapters that go beyond their designated areas of expertise (food & wine, fashion, grooming, home decor, and culture), touching on topics like wellness, entertaining, and defining your personal brand, and complete with bite-sized Hip Tips for your everyday quandaries. Above all else, QUEER EYE aims to help you create a happy and healthy life, rooted in self-love and authenticity.

Queer Eye is a comprehensive, informative guide to improving your life and your mindset. Each of the fab five have written a chapter that focuses on their speciality – grooming, clothing, attitude, food and decorating.

The book is filled with plenty of advice for everyone, whether you’re fashionably challenged or a terrible cook or worried about your hair or your complexion. This book also details a lot of personal information from each of the guys. Bobby’s parents didn’t accept him as a teenager, Jonathan went through a tough time when his father passed away, and Karamo realised in his 30s that he wasn’t following his dream job.

“A first date and a job interview are a lot alike. Basically, you’re meeting someone to see if you connect in a way that could lead to a long-term emotionally lucrative relationship…Talk about your strengths in terms of how they apply to a relationship or job position.”

This book is useful for all readers, and inclusive of all genders and ethnicities. In the grooming section of the book, I loved that there was a little column of advice for any transgender readers who are having trouble hiding stubble or beard.

“There’s an art to looking stylishly undone but still like you made an effort. The French tuck is my answer to achieving that style. All you need to do is tuck in your shirt ever so slightly only in the front and leave the back shirttails loose. This move lengthens your legs, reveals just enough of your waist, and makes any outfit look smarter.”

This is a beautiful coffee table book, filled with wonderful photographs and inside information into the fab five. If you’re a fan of the TV show, then you’ll love this book. Queer Eye is also visually pleasing, with bright colours and graphics, and wonderful black-and-white photographs.

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

Queer Eye: Love Yourself, Love Your Life
Antoni Porowski, Tan France, Jonathan Van Ness, Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown
November 2018
Hachette Book Publishers

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