September Wrap up 2021

This was the quickest month of the year so far, I blinked and I missed it.

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September Reads

★★★★☆.5

I didn’t finish anything in the first 3 weeks of September, and then suddenly I finished four. I can thank the return of audiobooks for that. I am loving that the blooms are out and the weather is slowly warming. This is one of my favourite times of year.

The first book I finished this month was the audiobook of A Touch of Malice by Scarlett St. Clair. I have listened to this whole series plus the first book in Hades POV, and I could not recommend the audiobook enough! This instalment is definitely my favourite from the series so far. It was heavy on the character development (love!), and the three main storylines hooked me in. This book really shows how much Persephone and Hades (among other characters) have grown, and I absolutely loved it. So much happened in this book, lots of little things either falling in to place, or hinting towards bigger things to come in the final book of the series, and I am so excited for the conclusion of this series.

The second book for September was Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb. This is the first book of the Farseer Trilogy, and I wish I’d picked this up a long time ago! Full of political tension, this book is essentially a coming of age story for our main character, Fitz, who lives on the cusp of both the top and bottom of the social hierarchy. His liminality added a whole other dimension to the story that was unfolding; a story full of politics, magic and secret assassinations. Honestly, I adored this book and I am thrilled that I can just get straight in to book number two. ★★★★☆.5

Book number three was Egyptian Mythology: A Travelers Guide from Aswan to Alexandria by Garry Shaw, which I was generously given by Thames and Hudson for a review. This non-fiction combining travel and Ancient Egypt was a wonderfully unique read, which takes you on a journey up the Nile, stopping at the fourteen main sites and delving into their mythologies and historical past. Not only do you get the local variations of well known stories, but you are given both a glimpse into the site at its prime and evocative descriptions that makes it feel like you could be standing at the site. Brilliant for travel lovers and Egyptian mythology enthusiasts alike, I absolutely loved this read! ★★★★☆

★★★★☆

The final book I finished this month was Akarnae by Lynette Noni, a Young Adult audiobook by an Australian author (yay!) This was such a fun listen, and I would definitely recommend the audiobook (although I have a feeling I’ll be buying the paperbacks to add to my collection at some point). As a combination of Narnia and Harry Potter (kind of), Alex finds herself in another world with incredible technological advancements, strange and wonderful creatures, a magic library and kids who all have special gifts. This book follows Alex at Akarnae, a boarding school in Medora as she makes new friends, learns about this new world and uncovers a sinister plot that has something to do with a mysterious man that keeps appearing. I thought this book was so much fun, and I really enjoyed it!

What was your favourite read in September? Let me know in the comments or over on my Instagram @kell_read ✨

Review: Venus & Aphrodite: History of a Goddess by Bettany Hughes

★★★★☆.5 I am only now getting into reading non-fiction books for fun, and not for uni or work so I’m still working on how I feel about rating them. With that being said, overall I really enjoyed reading this book.

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What's the book about?

Venus & Aphrodite: History of a Goddess by Bettany Hughes is a light, easy read which follows the history of the goddess best known as Venus or Aphrodite, from her beginnings to the modern reception of the goddess. Using archaeological evidence with textual sources and more recent artworks and literature, Bettany traces the origins of the goddess of love, and both her movements and developments through history.

As some will know, Aphrodite is the Ancient Greek goddess of love, desire, beauty and sexuality, and Venus is the Roman counterpart to Aphrodite, and held dominion over fertility, prostitution and victory. However, as Bettany delves into in the first few chapters of her book, Aphrodite didn’t just appear in the artwork and literature of Ancient Greece suddenly, but evolved from both the Cypriot spirit of procreation and fertility, as well as the Near Eastern goddesses of war Inanna, Astarte and Ishtar. Beginning from both the mythological beginnings of Aphrodite (with the castration of Ouranos, and the goddess emerging from the sea foam caused by the god’s genitals falling into the ocean), as well as the archaeological beginnings, and moving all the way through the renaissance depictions and the morphing of her dominions and depictions through to the modern-day, Bettany has provided an accessible and easy to read guide to the goddess and her history.

“A potent idea, given a name and a face across five millennia, this deity is the incarnation of fear as well as love, of pain as well as pleasure, of the agony and ecstasy of desire”

thoughts and feelings

From the very first page, I knew this was going to be a far easier read than I was initially anticipating. Bettany has written this book as if she was just chatting to a mate, and honestly, I loved that. Although it initially caught me off guard, it made it so much more appealing, and tempted me to pick it up more often knowing that the language used was easygoing. The colloquial language, however, doesn’t take away from the importance of this goddess, and her significance throughout history, especially in ancient civilisations. What Bettany has done, is a thorough investigation on the goddess, and then turned that hard evidence into a book that is easily understood and accessible to anyone. Bettany has achieved the goal of bringing archaeological and historical facts into the world in an easy to read and enjoyable book, and I love it! Her addition of images throughout the book, both in black and white dispersed through the book, and in the middle which is full of coloured images, makes it all the more interesting, especially in the discussions around the changes in the physical depictions of the goddess.

“It [desire] is the life force that spurs us on to do, to be, to think.”

I love that it was a short, easy read. It means that there’s a far better chance that more people will pick it up (and I love the idea that the ancient world is becoming something more open and available). But, some points Bettany made, I felt like I wanted more evidence that backed up her conclusion. I am sure that she has done her research, and I don’t doubt any of the statements or conclusions she has come to in this fascinating history, but I would have loved just a bit more depth into some of the evidence (whether it be archaeological or textual), that she has used to form her conclusions. In saying that, I always want more out of my books, and I commend her for making this book so full of information, and yet so easy to read.

I definitely feel like the goddess Aphrodite/Venus has been simplified into the goddess of sex and desire with little substance, and this book is out here to remind the world that she is so much more. Bettany explores the goddesses roots in the war-goddesses of the Near East (Inanna, Ishtar and Astarte), and brings to the forefront the seemingly contradictory beginnings of this goddess through love, desire and war. This book details just how much the attitudes towards the goddess has developed throughout the millennia, and what her body and her symbols have meant throughout the years. The complexities of Aphrodite/Venus have been written and painted out of history in the last thousand years, and this book is bringing back the intricacy of this goddess, which will hopefully culminate in the respect and adoration she deserves.

Have you read Venus & Aphrodite: History of a Goddess by Bettany Hughes? What did you think of it? I would love to chat about this book, either in the comments below, or find me over on Instagram @kell_read.

Review: A Game of Fate by Scarlett St. Clair

★★★★☆.5 I enjoyed Hades point of view more than Persephone’s. Although, the narrator took a bit to get used to.

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Scarlett St. Clair’s series on Hades and Persephone is like a jigsaw puzzle, and each book you read, you get a bit more clarity on who these characters are. In case you aren’t familiar with Scarlett’s series, she has published three books from Persephone’s point of view (A Touch of Darkness, A Touch of Ruin and a Touch of Malice - the third one I have yet to read), and she is also writing the same stories from Hades point of view (A Game of Fate, A Game of Retribution and A Game of Gods - only the first of these three are out in the world). Then, the final book, A Touch of Chaos, will be the final book with both of their perspectives. Now, I know you may be thinking, wouldn’t that be a bit repetitive reading the exact same book from the other main characters point of view? And may I say that it never felt repetitive. Reading this book felt like a fresh look at a story I was familiar with, but in such a different way it felt like an entirely different story entirely. It's hard to explain, but if you’re worried that it’ll get repetitive, it doesn’t.

“What is evil to one is a fight for freedom to another.”

I really enjoyed reading this book from Hades point of view. A lot of this story from Persephone’s point of view made me frustrated because of how bad they were at communicating with each other, but having Hades’ thoughts on each interaction sort of cleared any annoyance I was feeling towards them, because now I have both sides. Being privy to each of their thoughts is such a special thing as a reader, and it’s something I would love to see more authors do.

One of the best things about having a whole book from Hades point of view, is for his inner thoughts on his progressing relationship with Persephone, and a new insight into the world of the gods that we don’t get with Persephone. Persephone is the daughter of Demeter, but none of the other gods know who she is or that she is a goddess. So, in Persephone’s books, we get her life in the mortal world, detached from the issues and antics of the gods (and there are a lot). With Hades, however, we get to see most of the olympians in this book, and we get an early glimpse into their relationships and issues that will surely be a larger part of later books. This book shows us that Hades is so much more than the god of the underworld who owns a nightclub. He deals with so much behind the scenes that Persephone doesn’t get to see, and you start to understand the layers to the god in this book.

I loved the dynamic between Hades, Hecate and Hermes. There is both a mutual respect and a deep friendship between the three of them, even though Hermes is like an annoying little brother (well… nephew) to Hades. They have all been living for thousands of years, and you could really feel the depth of their relationships, and the history between them all which I loved. Hades and Hecate are such a fun duo, and any scene that had them in it were always super enjoyable to read. And of course, every appearance Hermes makes reminds me of why he is my absolute favourite character in this series.

“Don’t ruin this for me. I might be dreaming, but I’m about to live out one of my top five fantasies—” Hades slapped the god, who looked shocked. “This isn’t a dream, Hermes.” They stared at one another, and in the silence, Hades raised a brow. “Top five, huh?”

This series created by Scarlett St. Clair is so much fun. She has obviously done A LOT of research on Greek mythology, and then used it to inform her urban setting, and her interpretation of the characters. I absolutely loved listening to this, and I am super keen to sink my teeth into A Touch of Malice!

Review: The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper

This book was one of the easiest ★★★★★ I have ever given. I am lucky enough to have been given the opportunity to interview Elodie Harper about her book with World History Encyclopedia. You can find the video here and the condensed transcript on World History Encyclopedia. After you’ve finished watching my interview with Elodie, I would recommend you then head over to Erica’s YouTube channel MoanInc, where she has built off the questions I asked, and delved even deeper into the story with Elodie which you can find here!

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What’s The Book About?

The Wolf Den is a novel by Elodie Harper which is set in Pompeii in the first century CE in Pompeii’s lupanar which is the brothel of the ancient city. The term ‘lupanar’ could mean both brothel or wolf den and the term ‘lupa’ could be used for both a she-wolf, or a prostitute. The novel follows the point of view of Amara, a greek woman born into a middle-class family, who had to be sold after her father died. She ended up as a prostitute in Pompeii, and works at the Wolf Den with four other women. However, Amara hasn't just accepted the misfortune which life has thrown her, and wants more than anything to be free. This novel, which is the first of a trilogy (yay!), follows Amara as she does whatever it takes to change her fate.

The skill of the fighters, the grace of the tigers, all of it is punctuated by acts of savagery. (217)

Historical and Archaeological Roots:

Before we get into my ~many~ thoughts and feelings concerning this book, let’s have a look at Pompeii, Pompeiian graffiti and Venus Pompeiana first. Pompeii is probably one of the most well known ancient cities along with places such as Rome and Athens, but it differs from many ancient cities because in 79 CE, the local volcano known as Vesuvius, erupted, and covered the city and its occupants in lava and ash. It would have been a catastrophic event for those in the ancient world, but it has proven to be invaluable to modern historians and archaeologists as an untouched insight into the daily lives of the Romans who lived in the city, and the neighbouring city of Herculaneum. Excavations at Pompeii have informed our understanding of life in the city in a way that no other site could. The volcanic eruption has preserved architecture, mosaics and wall paintings, bronze statues (which in any other circumstance probably would have been melted down and repurposed), houses, baked goods (look up Pompeii bread!), and writing which has been found in wax tablets, pottery, seals, tomb inscriptions, and probably most interestingly; graffiti. The survival of graffiti from Pompeii is, in my opinion, equally as fascinating as the wall paintings, as it truly shows us that humans really have not changed in 2,000 years. It makes the ancient world feel a lot more familiar, and close. If you don’t believe me, I’m going to add some graffiti found at Pompeii (all in translation from usually Latin or Greek). Let me know if any of them sound familiar! (All graffiti quotes have been cited from ‘POMPEII: A sourcebook by Alison E. Cooley and M. G. L. Cooley (2004).’

1. Commemoration of an architect: ‘Marcus Artorius Primus, freedman of Marcus, architect.’ (67)

2. Latin poetry composed on the walls:

   ‘What is happening? Alas, eyes, first you led me into the fire,

   Now of your own accord you give generously to your cheeks.

   But tears cannot put out the flame;
   They inflame the face and melt the spirit.

   Composed by Tiburtinus.’ (72)

3. The Pompeii equivalent of ‘Kelly Was Here:’ ‘Gaius Pumidius Dipilus was here, five days before the nones of October when

   Marcus Lepidus and Quintus Catulus were consuls.’ (77)

4. And last but not least, graffiti about graffiti: ‘I admire you, wall, for not having collapsed at having to carry the tedious

   scribblings of so many writers.’ (79)

Why is graffiti so important, you ask? Well, for The Wolf Den, in particular, Elodie has drawn names and situations from graffiti found at Pompeii, and woven them into her story. She has used names of prostitutes and even a name of a gladiator in her story, which is not only incredibly unique, but executed flawlessly.

She wants to scream her rage into the night… Her anger is rising like the sea, drowning her. She has to get out. (284)

The goddess Venus held a special place in Pompeii as the guardian deity of the city, and is sometimes referred to as Pompeian Venus. In The Wolf Den, Venus is an important deity, since she is the Roman goddess of love, beauty, sex, fertility, and prostitution. In April, the festival known as the Vinalia was celebrated which was held in honour of Jupiter and Venus. Common girls and prostitutes would gather to the temple of Venus to offer her myrtle and mint and ask for things such as beauty, popular favour, to be charming or witty.

Thoughts and Feelings

Holy moly. This book is an absolute masterpiece, and from the moment I started reading it, I found it incredibly challenging to put it down. Not only did Elodie create a phenomenal story rooted in archaeological evidence, but she also explores so many themes and issues that would have been prevalent in the ancient world at the time this novel was set. Overall, Elodie makes the reader realise just how dangerous and difficult it would have been to be a woman in the ancient world.

There’s nothing more truthful than a play, is there… I think comedies are braver somehow. All of life up there on the stage, and actors have the courage to say what one cannot say elsewhere. (257)

The complexity of the story that Elodie has created is completely awe-inspiring and incomparable. It didn’t remind me of anything else I have ever read. Using names left scratched on the walls of Pompeii, Elodie took them and created a new story for them, one which was as equally uplifting as it was savage. Our main five girls are all bonded in a way that no one else could possibly understand, and yet they are all constantly working against each other (in a way) to make money and live. Elodie definitely puts an emphasis on the unbreakable friendship these women have forged through their shared experiences as prostitutes at the Wolf Den, they know each other’s weaknesses and traumas, and do what they can to shield each other, and keep each other safe in a world which is working so hard to break them. Elodie has an ability with words to cut deep, and do it succinctly. She does not use unnecessary words to make a point, her language is blunt, brutal and wholly truthful. She has truly enlightened her readers on how the world would have been perceived by a woman sold as a prostitute in the ancient world. These experiences Amara and her friends experience strike me as completely real and it honestly gave me chills. It reminds you how much more brutal the world was, especially for women, and she does not try and soften that. She presents it raw and uncut. You feel completely immersed in the city of Pompeii. You can feel the suffocating bustle of the women at the Vinalia, you can feel the comradeship of the women as they move through the streets, and you can feel their terror, their hatred, their relief and their love. It is wholly encapsulating.

Warmth spreads through her. She has never had a friend like Dido. She is the light in the darkness of her life. (199)

Other than the focus of women supporting women, even beyond our main characters, is the idea of a human being viewed as an object, and men’s incomprehensible inability to view women as anything more than objects. When I read Classics For Plebs review of this book, she made the observation that this book forces you to come to terms with the fact that women were sold into slavery daily. These women weren’t necessarily always prostitutes, and it shifts the focus of the reader to the fact that these women have absolutely no control over their bodies and their lives, and it was something happening to women all over the ancient world. Our main characters, our point of view for this entire story, the basis of this entire novel is the fact that these women do not have ownership over their own bodies or their lives. They are literally owned by men, and they are treated by the man that owns them, and 99% of men in this story, as if they are nothing more than a mindless object to be used, abused and then discarded.

You wouldn't understand. You’re just a woman (417)

But although they’re talking about her, they’re only talking to Felix, as if she isn’t really there (316)

You invested in quality stock then. Not got any virgins, I suppose? (305)

This story is less focussed on plot, and more on characters and their relationships with others. As the plot continues, the characters develop and new people are introduced, and new relationships are formed, It isn’t an ‘event heavy book, and is focussed on the lives and experiences of Amara and her fellow she-wolves. It is beautifully written, and truly gives a raw insight into what it would have been like to be a woman in the ancient world. These women were once real, and Elodie has composed such complex lives for them, that it is completely and utterly believable. If you’re thinking you might want to pick up this book, this is your sign to do so! If you have read it, leave a comment with your thoughts on the book, or find me over on Instagram @kell_read and we can have a chat about it!!!

Review: Lore by Alexandra Bracken

★★★★☆

Lore by Alexandra Bracken was described to me as a Greek Mythology x Hunger Games vibe, and honestly, after reading it, I agree wholeheartedly. Every seven years, nine of the 12 Olympians are turned mortal and sent to earth for one week, in an event called the Agon. During the Agon, the mortal bloodlines of infamous Greek heroes such as Perseus, Odysseus, and Achilles hunt the gods, and if they kill one, they assume the gods’ immortality and power. Lore Perseous left that life many years ago, but when her friend Castor (whom she assumed was dead) and a gravely injured Athena both turn up in her life at the beginning of the Agon, she is thrust back into the world she truly hoped she had left for good.

I always find it easier to talk about things that I didn’t like (I don’t know why that is), but for this book, there was only a couple of things, so let’s start with them! The first was the writing itself, every now and then Bracken would write something like ‘half-past eleven o’clock,’ and I feel like the ‘o’clock’ just feels off-kilter. Also, there were a number of instances where I had to re-read a sentence because the phrasing just didn’t make any sense to me. I would also say that it’s quite a long book (my edition is 547 pages), but it only covers 7 days in total (although there are flashbacks throughout the story). I had a recommendation from Erica that it isn’t a book you can draw out, it’s best read in as little sittings as possible, and honestly, I agree! I read the first 270 pages in around three weeks, and the last 270 pages in about 5 hours, and I enjoyed the second half of the book more than I enjoyed the first half! I would have LOVED more to do with the new gods, I feel like they could have taken more space in this story than they did. I also feel like this book could have been improved with multiple points of view (although to be fair, I think this about most books I read that are only a single POV). Reading parts of this from the eyes of someone like Miles who is ‘unblooded’ and just thrust into this world, or Castor who goes through such an incredible arc could have added a bit more substance into the world building and the Agon.

‘It was a morbid sort of marathon relay, with immortal power as the baton being passed between bloodlines.’ 

Alexandra Bracken

Okay, on to all of the good stuff!! This book was so action-packed, but it never felt overwhelming. This was such a fresh and unique way of bringing Greek gods and Greek mythology into an urban setting, which actually took me a bit to get used to. The idea that the gods could be killed, and then when a human took their powers they also chose a new name for themselves and would be referred to as ‘the new Dionysus’ for example is so different from any other book I’ve read. I loved the fact that Bracken kept this story in the world we know, and if you were from New York, I can only assume that the places and street names mentioned would have been very familiar!

I think one of the things that really struck me was the bloodlines, and their beliefs. These groups of people are all descendants of these ancient heroes, heroes that we would be familiar with, but they’re living in the world we know today. They descend from these great heroes and they believe in the Greek gods, yet their religious practices and social order barely altered in over 2,000 years. I found the contrast between these families believing in archaic systems of men basically owning women, and prohibiting women to be heads of the family or in any position of power, with the modern world which is working SO HARD to disestablish these ideas to be pretty shocking. There is this one scene in one of the flashbacks that literally made my skin crawl. the inequality between men and women that we are still fighting today has been an integrated part of societies for as long as history traces back. We are aware of the lack of choice, of voice, and of freedom that women were given in most (not all) ancient societies and no one today pretends that the way ancient societies functioned wasn’t inherently misogynistic. But reading these antiquated beliefs functioning in the modern world, with most of the characters accepting it because ‘that’s the way their world is’ was much harder than I thought it would be.

‘she was merely reborn as a being who could gaze back at the world, unafraid’

Alexandra Bracken

The occasional banter in this book was such a highlight, plus the way the main characters Lore, Castor, Miles, and Van all converged in a very cute, found family sort of way. The way the four of them all worked together, and worked to each other’s strengths was a dynamic in this story which I really, really enjoyed. Although, I was never really sold on Lore’s friendship with Iro. I just didn’t feel the depth of their relationship like I did with her and Miles, Castor, and even Van. Having Athena as the main god that Lore interacts with was such an interesting choice, one that I really liked. Athena is the goddess of strategic warfare, wisdom, crafts, and defender of cities and towns. Many of her responsibilities lend themselves to the story which played out in Lore, and I thought she was the perfect choice. I thought the character of Lore was so multi-faceted and three-dimensional. Her constant battle between avenging her family, her guilt, her need for survival, her desire for a normal life, and her inability to forget who she is and who she was brought up to be makes this book even more interesting. Reading from the point of view of a character so conflicted was so compelling, and one of the best parts of this book.

“Sometimes the braver thing is to accept help when you've been made to believe you shouldn't need it.”

Alexandra Bracken

At one point, Lore brings up Athena’s history and her tendency to give her favour to male heroes, and, using the example of Medusa, her history of turning her back on women. This was another moment for me where the issues of Greek Mythology came rushing back in stark contrast to the modern world. The story of Medusa isn’t often depicted as a happy one. The beautiful Medusa (one of the three gorgons) was seduced by the god of the oceans, earthquakes, and horses, Poseidon, in a temple to Athena. In retaliation for desecrating her temple, instead of punishing Poseidon, she turned Medusa into a monster with snakes for hair and the ability to turn people to stone with one look. The face of Medusa was depicted on Athena’s shield, known as an Aegis, and is the symbol of the House of Perseus (Lore’s bloodline). The plotlines, character motivations and underlying mythological background interwoven throughout this book keeps you constantly on your toes as more information is revealed. It is an intricate balance of modern life, ancient beliefs, and an epic hunt, and Bracken executed it brilliantly. If you want a book that brings ancient myths, gods, and beliefs into an urban setting like you’ve never seen it before, this is the book for you. If you’ve read it, let me know your thoughts in the comments, or you can find me on Instagram at @kell_read!

Review: A Touch of Ruin by Scarlett St. Clair

★★★★☆

A Touch of Ruin is book 2 in the Hades and Persephone series by Scarlett St. Clair, and, once again, I listened to the audiobook. This time though, I listened to it at 1.2x speed and it was SO MUCH better! The narrator drawled less, and it seemed like there was more enthusiasm in her narration. Whether it’s due to the fact that I sped it up, or if she was just better this time I’m not sure, but if you decide to listen to the audiobook, definitely speed it up! I have been really enjoying listening to books, it’s easy to make notes and the emotion and extra layer of performance you get is so wonderful. Another point here is that this book is written SO WELL! I love the writing style and I would recommend this series to everyone!

Much like book 1, I still have VERY conflicting emotions with this book (and series). In saying that, this book and whole series so far is incredibly binge-worthy and addictive and I am mildly obsessed with this series 😍 I was hoping that after the events of book one, Persephone would begin to grow as a person, to trust Hades, and continue to improve her communication skills with the man she claims to love. I hoped to see her healing from her mothers’ treatment of her, and growing into her newfound power and position next to Hades. What I got instead was an increasingly annoying, stupid, bratty, and insecure Persephone, who seemed to learn absolutely nothing from the events of Book 1. I can understand the insecurity she continues to feel, she was locked up by her mother for so long, and was taught to believe that she had to work hard for love and affection, and if she did something wrong it would be taken away. I understand how this can mess with a person, but this doesn’t have to make a person PLAIN STUPID?

“The first rule of men, Persephone, is that they’re all idiots.”

Scarlett St. Clair

In the last, maybe 2 chapters did I begin to actually warm to Persephone, but I don’t think she actually learned from any of her mistakes?? (And there were A LOT she could have learned from). I think she feels guilty and feels remorse, but I also think she still feels bad for herself more than actually learning from the mistakes she has made. This brings me to the question of why Hades deals with her? I know that they’re fated to be together blah blah, but they’re both immortal? Why not let her grow up a bit rather than dealing with her absolute crap. Persephone uses 98% of this book to lie to Hades, break the multiple promises she has made to him, and then wonder why he leaves her to her own space? She never gives him the chance to explain himself, and although he makes mistakes, at least he is trying? He has MILLENIA of habits he needs to unlearn, and the fact that Persephone expects him to be perfect within months of meeting is so selfish and self-absorbed. I was really hoping their communication would improve in this one, and that’s one more thing that I didn’t get. I got more weird, passive-aggressive sex scenes and arguments that were never resolved. However, every time Hades asks Persephone if she is well makes my heart melt.

I definitely don’t agree with Jaison’s treatment of Persephone though. Yes, he is Lexa’s boyfriend, but Persephone has been best friends with her for YEARS, and the fact that Jaison is Lexa’s significant other does NOT undermine the relationship between the friends. Like, I’m sorry but his attitude was atrocious and I’m pretty sure he never apologised. I also found this subplot (or actual plot?) quite out of place. This leads me to the issue of the plot? Where was it? Someone tell me where it was, because I have no idea. There was a lot of sex, and there was a lot of brooding and whining but not a lot of actual events or communication. There were a bunch of subplots that I felt were left open, but probably not important enough to be resolved in the next book, and the fact that at one point, Helen was left in the lobby waiting for Persophne and then never mentioned again? I don’t vibe.

“Create the life you want, Persephone, and stop listening to everyone else.”

Scarlett St. Clair

What I DO vibe with, is pretty much all of the secondary characters; Hermes, Hecate, Sybil, Thanatos, and even Apollo. In the beginning, as I’m sure that St. Clair wanted, I felt for Sybil and hated Apollo. Throughout the course of Persephone writing slanderous articles about a god after being specifically asked not to (???), Apollo started to grow on me. I’m not completely sold on the fact that after millennia of being a god and acting how he has, Persephone does like, three things, and Apollo decides he wants to change? But, apart from this, he started to grow on me. Hermes is still 100% my favourite character in this book, he is the sassy comedic relief we really need in this book after pages and pages of constant whining and literally NOTHING HAPPENING. We definitely didn’t get enough of Hecate in this one (thanks to Persephone being so stubborn and ignoring the underworld altogether).

So, with another chaotic review completed, it is safe to say that I will keep reading this series and I TRULY hope that Persephone is redeemed in the next one. Keeping this review non-spoiler was so difficult, especially due to the number of random small subplots sprinkled through the chaotic book (that’s right, I reckon my review and this whole book are both chaotic). I got 2 chapters of bonus content at the end of the audiobook from Hades’ point of view, and I want to read the series from his POV SO BAD! I’ve enjoyed the three chapters I’ve been blessed in his point of view more than I’ve enjoyed most of this book in Persephone’s. If you’ve read this book, what are your thoughts? Did you like it more than book one? Let me know here, or find me over at @kell_read on Instagram!

Review: A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair

★★★☆☆.75

A Touch of Darkness is the first book in the Hades and Persephone series by Scarlett St. Clair. It’s a loose retelling of the abduction of Persephone by the Lord of the Underworld in Greek Mythology, re-written in an urban, contemporary setting. I listened to the audiobook, which I wouldn’t necessarily recommend because I didn’t really vibe with the narrator, but the story definitely has its merits!

This book is definitely an easy read. It’s addictive and binge-worthy, and I raced through it in 4 days. The story follows Persephone, the Goddess of Spring who has been hidden from the rest of the gods by her mother Demeter, the Goddess of Vegetation. She has been allowed to leave the confines of Demeter’s greenhouse to attend university and live a normal life glamoured as a mortal, and has been brought up being told to stay away from the gods, especially Hades. This book covers just over 6 months, and Persephone doesn't just ~not~ stay away from gods, she ends up becoming very acquainted with many! St. Clair has made many changes to the initial myth to make it work for her story and her setting, and honestly, I was SO here for it!

Even knowing the myth of Persephone and Hades, this book is filled with imagination and I really enjoyed the urban setting (although it took me a bit to get used to). The biggest issue I had with this book was Persephone. Honestly, most of the notes I made whilst reading this book was just my frustration over the Goddess of Spring. One of the biggest issues I had with her was her inconsistent and wishy-washy personality. I understand that this is a character who has only been allowed into the real world for the last four years, but she was constantly contradicting herself, and just not making a lot of sense. Persephone’s character seems to have been written purposefully to aid in the whole ‘miscommunication’ trope, but instead of actually having issues of miscommunication, she just doesn’t tell Hades anything? Some of the things she thinks were just so DUMB, she was sometimes so self-absorbed, and she seemed to actively listen and believe everyone else (including gods she’s just met), over Hades, and it makes absolutely no sense.

“Oh, darling”

Scarlett St. Clair

Anyway, she was honestly my biggest problem with this book. Her, and the ‘insta love’ vibe I got. However, with the insta love, that is definitely stemming from the roots of Greek Mythology so that, I accept begrudgingly. What I LOVED about this book was Hades, Hecate, literally everyone that works for Hades and the Underworld. Getting to slowly see how Hades lives his life, find out what makes him happy, and who he is as a person behind all of the garbage nonsense that is spread around was my favourite part of this book. He withdrew from the public eye for thousands of years, and so, in his wake, rumours and gossip grew and mutated into nothing but lies about his character, and his motives. And the thing is, the reader can see this from the first encounter between Persephone and Hades, but it still takes Persephone, like, the WHOLE DAMN BOOK to get with the program. *sigh*

“If they feel you’re worthy of celebration, don’t you think that’s enough?”

Scarlett St. Clair

Hecate, the souls in the underworld, and all the gods that are portrayed in this book were so wonderful! I thought Hermes was so brilliant, and Thanatos made such an impact, even though he was only in it for a short time. The friendship that grows between Hecate and Persephone was brilliant, almost as heartwarming and Lexa and how unconditionally she loves her friend! Definitely an underrated character. This book was also VERY steamy. Like, surprisingly so. This is your warning 😂 If you want to know more about Scarlett’s research, inspirations and development of the book, then I would definitely recommend you watch Erica’s interview(s) with her over on Youtube!

So, if you’re looking for an easy read, steamy, greek mythology retelling, then this is definitely the book for you! I got so much more invested in the relationship than I was anticipating (obviously because of Hades), and I am so excited to continue on with the series. You’ll also find many, many tidbits from Greek mythology all throughout the book including common names and other myths! I love it when authors incorporate as many references and nuances as possible! In saying that, I’m definitely more excited to read the Hades perspective than the Persephone. Have you read this book? Which perspective do you prefer?

Review: A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout

★★★☆☆.5

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire is the second book in the Blood and Ash series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. This is going to be a spoiler-free review for this book, but will definitely spoil the first book in the series so if you haven’t read the first one, then pls don’t read this if you don’t want to be spoiled!

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Okay! On to the review! So at the ending of the previous book, we found out that Hawke isn’t just Hawke, but is actually Casteel Da’Neer, the Prince of Atlantia, also known as the Dark One. If you haven’t already read my review for From Blood and Ash which explains my chaotic thoughts about that book, you can find it here. Honestly, this one started off just as problematic. There were a few things I liked about this book, and a few things that really, really bugged me. The way Casteel acted, his manipulative behaviour was toxic and made me feel so uncomfortable, and a lot of those feelings followed me throughout the first third of this book too. The way he acts is possessive in a way that isn’t hot and broody but uncomfortable and NOT my vibe. He definitely grew on me as the book continued past the first third and we actually learnt more about him, but I can’t forget the way he acted in the way that apparently Poppy can.

“You can’t spell dysfunctional without fun, now can you?”

— Jennifer L. Armentrout

This takes me to the utter lack of communication between Cas and Poppy for LITERALLY 90% of this book. It took them SO LONG to deal with their OBVIOUS attraction and it really bugged me. I definitely understand why it would be a serious conflict for Poppy, this man literally lied about who he was for months, but really. Poppy’s internal monologues were too frequent and so incredibly pointless. They were all so repetitive, and at the end of it all, nothing is ever resolved for her. It bugged me, and she bugged me. Plus, their constant referencing to ‘pretending’ was so frustrating.

A common theme in this review is that, after the first 60%, everything about this book got better. Since in the first 60% literally, nothing happened and the dialogue was so repetitive. There were significantly fewer internal monologues, things actually happened, and the introduction of more characters which really improved this book. I loved learning more about Atlantia, the history of the world in this book and the Atlantians in general. But, I would have LOVED to have learnt this information another way, rather than a massive info dump question and answer. It wasn’t at all engaging, and I feel like there was SO much potential and it just fell flat.

Make me feel incompetent and kill more than me, Princess.

Jennifer L. Armentrout

One of the saving graces in the book was Kieran and the dynamic between him, Casteel, and Poppy. I honestly wanted more Kieran! I better get more Kieran in the next book. Their relationship really developed as the book went on, and I was SO here for it. Poppy became so comfortable with the two boys, and the banter between them was honestly a lifesaver in some of the more dull sections of this book, since, and I STRESS, barely ANYTHING happens in this book. The major events that did happen were brilliant, the fight scenes were well written and the dialogue that wasn’t about Poppy and how special or violent she is was so entertaining. We get to see more of the world, learn more of the history of both the world and the characters, but Poppy’s inability to work through anything, the lack of action, events, and literally anything of importance happening in the first 60% is the reason I had to dock off 1 1/2 stars.

Not as good as the first book, but still enjoyable. The last 20% of the book and the cliffhanger have made it impossible for me to not read the next book! I’d love to know what you thought of this! Let me know in the comments, or you can always find me on insta at @kell_read!

Review: The Porpoise by Mark Haddon

★★★★★

The Porpoise is a novel that seamlessly intertwines a modern tale with an ancient story. After Philipe’s wife is killed in a plane crash and their daughter Angelica survives, the wealthy father raises his daughter in near isolation. Although she wants for nothing, the father-daughter duo is not as it appears from outside eyes. When Darius stumbles into a far darker and troubled home than he was anticipating, he flees the house and the girl in desperate need of help. It is at this point that the ancient story of Pericles, Prince of Tyre, a story which dates back to Ancient Greece, is woven into the novel as easily as taking a breath. From this moment you are transported from present-day to ancient history, from consciousness to consciousness in a truly unforgettable way.

She recounts these tales to herself in idle moments, inevitably changing them a little every time and comes to believe, in some occult way, that these are stories of her own invention, that she is bringing these lives into being, as if she is one of the Fates, those supernatural women who make and cut the thread of life.

Mark Haddon

It is incredibly hard to put into words how I feel about this book. For most of the time, I was like ‘?????’ But also actively enjoying it. Haddon’s prose is stunning. It ebbs and flows in a way that makes you feel steady amidst a novel so busy. His language is whimsical in a sense that the perfect words have been chosen to convey the dreamlike, or almost, an intangible sense that nothing is as it seems. To say that this book doesn't give you a break is an understatement. From page 1 you know that this is going to be unlike anything you’ve ever read before.

She can see it clearly now. Everyone inhabits a different world.

Mark Haddon

The Porpoise effortlessly blends the modern with ancient. It’s split into five sections and has no chapters, but often changes in time are marked by a paragraph marker. I think this was such a brilliant way to keep the novel flowing as one continuous story. To have chapters splitting up time and space would have made it feel clunky and wrong, but this way, you simply glide from one time to the next, letting the story take you with it. The novel is a retelling of a Greek myth that no longer survives and incorporates the play written by Willian Shakespeare and George Wilkins; Pericles, Prince of Tyre. I’m not sure whether being familiar with the myth and the play will work to your advantage when reading this book, but I loved going into it completely without bias. Haddon had full rein over this myth, since there is no ancient source to work with, and what he has done with it is truly incomparable. The writing is mesmerising and the characters are all so unique and utterly human. They’re flawed, often they’re morally grey, and together, they convey the spectrum of the human condition.

She likes the idea that death did not come to take him away but that he decided to go and meet it.

Mark Haddon

Once again I have written the most chaotic book review to ever exist, but It’s impossible to get into any plot point or even character in this novel without giving something away. It is unlike anything I have ever read before, but I implore you to read this book.

Review: A Court of Frost and Starlight (Re-read) by Sarah J Maas

★★★★☆

As always, this review is spoiler free (although, nothing much really happens so there isn’t much to spoil), but this review WILL discuss happenings from the previous books. So, if you haven’t read them all yet and you don’t want to be spoiled for any part, please don’t read this review until you’re all caught up!

I think this novella was the perfect way to end the Feyre/Rhysand main plot in this series. I understand why people would not vibe with this, they’re right, nothing really happens. It’s more of a bridge. The ending of one focus, and the beginning of a new one and I thought they ended Feyre and Rhysand’s story really beautifully (although I am sure they will make plenty of appearances in the next one!) I am eager for the next book (hopefully) to delve into the internal processes of characters like Elain, Mor and Az are going through, of course in addition to Cas and Nesta which I can only assume are the two POVs in the book? Not sure, but these characters went through war. They went through such horrific events, Elain and Nesta were ripped from their lives and turned into something completely new, and Mor has been struggling with herself, her identity for 500 years. I want to see development! I want to see these characters learning and growing and healing dammit.   

Reading about how Veralis and it’s people were recuperating and rebuilding after war is something that goes beyond this fantasy world, to the world we’re living in. Each of these characters is dealing with their demons in their own way, so I have a feeling that this novella was a way to prepare readers for the next one which may (by the sounds of it) be less major event-based, and more character-driven?? (I would definitely vibe with that). 

“To the blessed darkness from which we are born, and to which we return.” 

Sarah J Maas

What I want out of the next book that this novella made me realise: I want to know what the vulgar expression is thanks!!! I also want Azriel to speak more and just be given more page time!! I love his unique type of humour, and I am SO curious about him and his shadows. I think that if we get to see from his POV, it’s really going to make his character shine in a way it wasn’t given a chance in the previous books. This book also showed how tender and gentle the budding friendship between Elain and Azriel is, and I want MORE thank you very much xo  

Obviously, I am excited to continue to follow Rhys and Feyre and their journey together, but the rest of the characters are all so unique and interesting, I am keen to see what happens next. Okay, so this review was sort of both my thoughts for this novella (I thought it was a lovely way to conclude the arc of Feyre and Rhysand), and introduce the focus for the next books, and also a review for how I think this might work with the next book and my hopes for it. SO basically, this has been just as chaotic as my other reviews, but you should all be used to that by now, right? 

“Stars flickered around us, sweet darkness sweeping in. As if we were the only souls in a galaxy.” 

Sarah J Maas

Review: A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas (Re-read)

★★★★☆.5

This was another re-read in lead up to A Court of Silver Flames, which has very recently come out! The difference between this one and the previous two books is that I have only ever read this one once, and honestly, I could barely remember anything that happened… I realised as I was reading it that it was probably because not a lot actually happened. (There will be spoilers for the previous two books in this review, but will be spoiler-free for A Court of Wings and Ruin!) 

This book felt much more character and politically driven than the previous two books. There were less major events, and more small choices and character interactions which fuelled the majority of it. For me, I really didn’t mind it. I love a book that is heavily character-driven, but I understand other people’s issues that not enough happened until like, the last 100 pages. With that being said, I really enjoyed the beginning of this novel, with Feyre working as a double agent in the Spring Court. It was such a thrill, and the changing relationships and dynamics between the characters was so interesting, compared to the beginning of ACOMAF. 

I loved seeing more of the world, and finally being introduced properly to all of the High Lords. All of their different and unique characteristics, and how they work within their courts was one of my favourite aspects, and the politics between them was tense but also humorous. The most character development and focus though, was definitely on Elain and Nesta. After being forced to turn into Fae at the ending of ACOMAF, seeing how the two dealt with this massive change in their lives in such different ways was really well done. 

Kindness can thrive even amongst cruelty.

Sarah J Maas

One of my biggest peeves in this book is the use of the word ‘Hybern’. We have heard the King of Hybern in previous books, and it has been shortened to ‘Hybern’ when characters are talking about the king, but in THIS book!!! It meant SO MANY things. It was the king, a place, his armies?? and his people in general?? It made absolutely no sense?? I feel like Maas just lost the plot with that particular aspect of the book, it was so confusing!! Is it a place??? Is it the name of this man?? The name of his army?? Please, someone, let me know what is going on 😂

I find it wild, that Lucien left on his mission (keeping the specifics quiet cause spoilers), and then everyone just forgot about him and didn’t communicate with him at all until he showed up later. Not to mention, the ending! Honestly, many aspects of the ending were out of character and hard to believe (yes, it’s a high fantasy novel, but you know what I mean!) It was anticlimactic in a way I forgot about during my first reading of it, and that definitely impacted my final rating which I downgraded to a 4.5 out of 5 stars. 

Night Triumphant- and the Stars Eternal.

Sarah J Maas

I still really enjoyed this book, and this entire series, but ACOMAF is 100% my favourite book of this series. I will be reading A Court of Frost and Starlight before finally moving on to A Court of Silver Flames. I love books with multiple POV’s which is what I would have LOVED from this series, even just this last book! Each character had their place in this finale to the initial trilogy, and it would have been so wonderful to see some of it from a different point of view (although to be fair, Feyre steadily got more interesting and less annoying as the books went on). This is probably the aspect I am most excited about A Court of Frost and Starlight (which will be a re-read) and A Court of Silver Flames. Let me know what you think of this book!! Of course, if you have spoilers you want to rant about, find me on Insta @kell_read!

Review: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas (Re-read)

★★★★★

This is a non-spoiler review, but it will have spoilers for ACOTAR (fair warning). Just like ACOTAR, this was my 3rd reading of A Court of Mist and Fury, with the last one being about 3 years ago. This one is without a doubt, my favourite book in the series. It turns out that my taste in books hasn’t changed at all and this was still very much a 5 star read for me. This book had so much more going for it than ACOTAR, it had more depth in every aspect from character development, relationships, world-building, and just general tension, angst, and events. It absolutely hooks you in from the very first chapter, and doesn’t even release its grip after you finish it. 

Let’s start with the addition of the new characters; Cassian, Azriel, Mor, and Amren. I absolutely adore them all. They are all so unique, but all work so well together. Learning about each of their backstories, as well as Rhysands, and how they became the family that they are is truly one of my absolute favourite aspects of this book. The banter between the inner circle, and how they’re so comfortable with each other gives much of this book such a homely feel to it. 

“He thinks he’ll be remembered as the villain in the story. But I forgot to tell him that the villain is usually the person who locks up the maiden and throws away the key. He was the one who let me out.” 

Sarah J Maas

The main focus of this book is Feyre, how she is dealing with the events from Under the Mountain, and her personal development as a Fae. The treatment of PTSD, and highlighting the importance of having people around you who understand and are there for your well-being is so prevalent in most of this book. Feyre learns so much about how she has changed, physically and mentally from before the events under the mountain, and she realises what she deserves and DAMN I’m here for it. Because Tamlin, Ianthe and even Lucien (poor Lucien), acted like such trash. Their treatment of Feyre, their continuous exclusion of her and their inability to see that she was obviously struggling really bothers me. Every time I read this book, their actions make me queasy. And don’t for ONE second tell me that Tamlin never, not once, woke up to Feyre vomiting, like excuse me. No. 

I have always loved Rhysand as a character, but never more than in this book. Not only do we get to understand who he is, but we learn about his history and the lasting effects of what he had to do Under the Mountain. He is exactly what Feyre needed, and it frustrated me how long it took her to realise that he was a good guy, and was doing what he could to help her because he FULLY understands how she feels. He didn’t need to be connected with her to understand the darkness inside her from what she had done. It’s just, so much more complex than ACOTAR in every way and I really loved it. 

“To the people who look at the stars and wish, Rhys.” Rhys clinked his glass against mine. “To the stars who listen— and the dreams that are answered.”

Sarah J Maas

Getting to see more of Prythian and this world is another wonderful part of this book. Here we get to learn about the Night Court, we get to understand how courts differ more than just whether they’re Spring, Summer, Dawn, etc and the choices that the High Lords can make. We get Velaris, we get the Court of Nightmares and we get an introduction into the Illyrians. Just, so good. Plus, the writing definitely felt improved from the first one. 

This book had a lot of brilliant development in it, for the characters, relationships, the main plotline (which I won’t get into because spoilers), political tensions, and the world as a whole. If you loved this book, if you hated this book, I’d love to hear your thoughts/rants and opinions! Got spoilery stuff ya want to rant about? Feel free to send me a message on Insta, you can find me at @kell_read!!