Ceri Louise Reads

I’ve been really bad at actually getting around to writing reviews for many books that I received review copies for and have read. But my car went in for service today so with a couple of hours to kill at the garage, I’ve been catching up! Here are some brief reviews for books I’ve read over the last couple of years (!)

Winta’s Day by Josie Jaffrey (Seekers book 3)

Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

Publisher: Silver Sun Books

Release date: 1st December 2023

Synopsis:

Disaster bisexual vampire detective Jack Valentine is back: her job is threatened by worrying developments in the vampire world, her ex-girlfriend has disappeared, and someone has left her a love letter attached to a dead guy. As the Seekers look into his death, more of Jack’s previous romantic entanglements come under scrutiny and she has to decide whether to trust her team or go her own way.

CW: murder, body horror, blood, torture

I always enjoy returning to Jack’s Oxford and this instalment did not disappoint! Part of what makes Jack a loveable protagonist is her super questionable life choices, and there were so many in this book! Her closest relationships are put to the test with devasting consequences, but all the dark aspects of the story are superbly undercut by Jaffrey’s humour. Vampires are not usually my mythical creature of choice, but every book in this series has been brilliantly entertaining. I really need to get on and read the fourth book now!

4⭐️

Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree

Received from netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Publisher: Tor

Release date: 9th November 2023

Synopsis:

Mercenary Viv is forced to recuperate after being injured in the hunt for a powerful necromancer. She finds herself stuck in the sleepy town of Murk and finds herself turning to the local bookshop for something to do. She’s startled to find that adventure can happen in the most unlikely places

CW: injury detail, blood, medical content, violence

I loved this prequel to Legends and Lattes so much that I immediately bought the beautiful hardback edition on release day. Explain to me then how somehow it’s taken me over 18 months to actually write a review?!

This book takes us back to the early days of Viv’s mercenary career and I loved getting to know the younger Viv and exploring the background to her character. Also pretty much any book featuring a bookshop is likely to be a winner to me! I loved the new cast of characters and the continued world building. At this point I think I’ll buy anything Travis Baldree writes, his characters and stories are brilliantly charming and inventive.

5⭐️

Theatre of Marvels by Lianne Dillsworth

Received from netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Publisher: Random House

Release date: 28th April 2022

Synopsis:

Every night Zillah entertains the crowds at Crillick’s Variety Theatre as The Great Amazonia, being born and bred in the slums of London’s East End. She doesn’t care, as her rise to fame means the chance of a better life. However, when Crillick’s newest act disappears, Zillah finds herself compelled to investigate and soon she is questioning her past choices. As she is drawn deeper into the mystery she faces choices, between ignorance and awareness, her rich white lover and an African merchant, and her ambition or her community.

CW: racism, misogyny, racial slurs, trafficking, torture, sexual harassment, pregnancy, violence

I picked this up thinking it was urban fantasy rather than straight historical fiction but despite that it didn’t disappoint. Zillah was such an engaging character that I loved seeing how she grew across the course of the book. This was an excellent insight into the underbelly of Victorian society and the challenges faced by black people at the time. It married the elements of mystery, romance and coming of age very well.

4⭐️

Yinka Where Is Your Huzband? by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn

Received from netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Publisher: Penguin

Release date: 31st March 2022

Synopsis:

Yinka would love to find a husband, but not as much as her Nigerian mother and aunties want her to find one. When her cousin gets engaged, she is determined to have a date for the wedding but despite her very specific plans, it is not as easy as she hopes.

CW: racism, body shaming, death of parent, grief, pregnancy

I cannot express how much I loved this book. I read a lot of romance books, especially Christian romances, for my research and I loved the honesty of this one. Yinka was so real and so relatable that I was laughing and crying along with her at her dating struggles. Ironically I actually read this shortly before meeting my Nigerian husband for the first time. He loved it too.

5⭐️

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty

Received from netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Publisher: Harper Collins

Release date: 2nd March 2023

Synopsis:

Infamous pirate Amina al-Sirafi has happily retired, but receives an offer she can’t refuse to take on one last adventure in search of fortune and fame. As the stakes get higher, Amina wonders if she’s taken on more than she bargained for.

CW: violence, death, gore, torture, body horror, alcohol, transphobia

Another book that I hugely loved and immediately bought in hardback only to not write a review for over two years… I’m a huge fan of Shannon Chakraborty’s writing and I loved how she changed up her style for this one. The cast of characters was entertaining and Amina is a great protagonist. I am slightly cross that there’s still almost a year to wait for the sequel, but I know it will be worth it!

5⭐️

I’ve caught up on all my reviews now on the review sites now, so there will be more posts like this to come!