After the Battle

The Returning
By Christine Hinwood

The story of what happens after a long war. Cam is young when he embarks off on, what he thinks, an adventure when he joins the rebellion against an invading Lord. When he returns, nothing is the same. No one trusts him, no one seems the same. He cannot be what he was.

A heartbreaking story of the complexities of war. The reader experiences many points of view - villagers, Cam, Cam's sister, his betrothed, and the Lord who started this mess. We experience a world where no one is exactly right, nor are they wrong.

Cam has seen many terrible things. He witnessed deaths, experienced cowardice, been a prisoner of the enemy, and has lost his arm. When he comes back, all he wants is to be part of the family again. His family wants to know what happen. He does not want to talk about it.

The language of this book, the way it is told, I found was difficult to get into. It's beautiful and subtle and takes a while for the mind to wrap around. I'm not sure I became fully invested because of it. The possibility for empathy is strong with this story. We see the toll that war takes, our hearts bleed, but I could not attach myself to any of the characters.

While an important look at what happens after, I'm not sure I liked this book. I can appreciate the writing and the topics is explores. Maybe it was not for me.

3/5 STARS

Regency Magic

Newt's Emerald
By Garth Nix

On her birthday, Lady Truthful "Newt" Newington, is shown the magical emerald that she will inherit. A flash of lightning and it's stolen! Taking off to London, then dressing as a man to solve the mystery, Truthful spends time with delightful characters - her aunt, a policeman, and a power hungry noble.

As soon as I heard Garth Nix had written another book, I jumped on it. It's very different from his fantasies. His Abhorsen Trilogy shaped my teen years. His writing jives with me. "Newt's Emerald" is set in Regency England, taking a fun romp in that era and add in a little magic. Hilarity ensues.

Lady Truthful is a refreshing character. She keeps her decorum and breaks all the rules. She is largely enabled by her aunt that shares much the same thoughts on society. My favourite trope is to dress a character as a man. She isn't exactly the most believeable man, but we enjoy it anyway.

Major Harnett, the policeman, is a great character (and my favourite in this story). He's her partner in investigation, as much as he seems unwilling to be.

All the characters were rounded, distinguishable, and lovable. I love Garth Nix's characters.

The story itself is fairly straightforward. There aren't many twists and turns and it ends in a purely satisfying manner. It's a light book. Quite delightful. You will smile most of the time while reading.

Read with a cup of fruity tea in the shade of a tree.

4/5 STARS

Bout-of-Book 16 ~ Wrap Up

Hi Book-Sniffers and Librocubicularists,

Bout of Books 16 has come to a close.  I managed quite well.

I fulfilled two of my own challenges and one task!


1. Finish a book that, as of today, I'm currently reading.

Incomplete. I did continue reading Illusion, however, not finished as it's 600+ pages.

2. Finish one YA.
TWO! Witch Finder (review here) and Newt's Emerald (review to come).

3. Read at least 3 books.
Two. Almost!

The task for the week that I completed was a post about 5 favourites. Surprisingly, not all fantasies.

~Happy Reading~

Finding the Obvious

Witch Finder
By Ruth Warburton 

Late 19th century London, in the poor East End, Luke Lexton has been able to identify witches ever since his parents were brutally murdered when he was little. After being initiated into a secret society of witch-finders, he is tasked with choosing the name of the witch he is to kill. He chooses Rosa Greenwood, a young woman of the upper class.


Not gonna lie. This was mostly a cover purchase. You can't quite tell from this picture, but the woman on the cover is a much more golden colour. Perfectly striking against the sky blue.

Pleasant surprise. Yes. Totally engrossing, somewhat predictable, and yet, ultimately satisfying.

Luke struggles (as expected) with killing a young woman. Not only that, she's kind and lovely. No wonder he's torn. Also, no big surprise, he totally likes her. Typical, yes.

Rosa is a more complex character. You'd think her to be boring - there are glimmers of a girl with her own agenda. She's unfortunately trapped by society, having to marry for money so her family won't fall into misfortune. Her mother thinks only of money, her brother is terrible, spoiled and useless, and abuses Rosa. The man he decides to marry Rosa to is his best friend - equally cruel and terrible. Though, not useless. Actually intelligent.

Don't skip out on this because of the obvious romance. There's underpinning commentary on social constructs in this time period. We find that even if you have money, life can be a cage. There's a FANTASTIC chunk of the book that explores a match factory and working conditions of the time. Horrible. Fascinating.

I was utterly engrossed in this tale. The ending was laughable and cheezy. At the end of my edition, there was a preview to the next book. I felt that made a much stronger ending than the one that was written.

Will I go on? Sure. Why not.

4/5 STARS

5 Favourites

Hi Book-Sniffers and Librocubicularists,

As one of the challenges for Bout of Books 16, book readers were tasked to list their 5 favourites.

* 1 *

Literally any book from Tamora Pierce's Tortall-set fantasies. The 'Song of the Lioness Quartet' is where it all begins. The daughter of the main character has her own duology in "Trickster's Choice" and "Trickster's Queen". The 'Protector of the Small Quartet' is among my favourites as well.

Of them all, the one I reread the most is "The Woman Who Rides Like a Man". It is the third book of the 'Song of the Lioness Quartet'.

* 2 *

On Fortune's Wheel ~ By Cynthia Voigt
Genre: Fantasy

What I like best about this book is the interpretation of Fortune's Wheel. As one falls, the other climbs. Birle is our thoughtful and resourceful protagonist. She is promised to marry a man whom she does not love until one night she finds herself stranded on a boat in the middle of an ocean with a mysterious thief.

Part of a series. All can be read separately. Again, read this one. I'd recommend this one of all of them. Then, if you like the world, maybe "Jackaroo".

* 3 *

The Blue Sword ~ By Robin McKinley
Genre: Fantasy

Oh, hey look. Another fantasy. Featuring a resourceful young woman who is ambitious and willing to learn. This is a second book, however a companion, and can be read before. I'd recommend this one first. I love this one the most.

* 4 *

I Capture the Castle ~ By Dodie Smith
Genre:Classic

A lovely, lovely classic. Cassandra is a wonderful, naive, and insightful narrator for this tale. Her father is a famous author who has not written for a while and their savings from his last masterpiece have run out. Her family lives in near destitution, but they live in a beautiful castle. As Cassandra practices her story-telling and writing, as their lives are upturned in a most delightful manner.

* 5 *

Alice in Wonderland ~ By Lewis Caroll
Genre: Classic

Hilarious. Witty. A fast read that will have the reader giggling at ridiculous puns and absurdity.