The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle - Stuart Turton

As soon as I heard the premise for this book, I couldn't wait to read it. It was a thriller, a mystery, and also (strangely) fantasy all wrapped up into one. The idea of being able to solve a mystery by viewing it through the eyes of multiple different witnesses is a very clever one, and it had so much potential for a fantastic plot. 

And I really did enjoy the book. The way the whole network of 'hosts' was established, and the way the intricacies of this impacted upon the plot throughout the whole book, were very intriguing, and that part of the story was consistently very neat. However, I found in many chapters that there was just too much going on. In Turton's eagerness to have a believable web of characters, I feel he confused the plot a little more than I would have liked. This is already a plot that requires a lot of attention in order to be followed fully, and I think certain aspects of the story made this unnecessarily worse. I loved the concept behind the story, and the way we follow Aiden Bishop through his hosts. I just wish (and I almost never say this) that the plot had been simplified just a little bit. This would have allowed the reader to follow the complex story wholeheartedly, without pausing to try and work out which character is which, and whether they've missed anything important.

Rating: ✫✫✫✫

✱

Evelyn Hardcastle is destined to be murdered. She has already died, many times, living the same day over and over until somebody can solve her murder.

Aiden Bishop has another chance at saving her. Trapped in a cycle where he witnesses the murder through the eyes of other people - 'hosts' - Aiden begins the cycle again. Waking up every day as a different witness should give him the clues he needs to solve the murder, and escape his eternal prison. 

But things aren't quite so simple, as Aiden learns that he is not the only person trapped in this world, looking for the culprit. And the competition may not be as keen as him to win the race fair and square.

*spoiler alert*

The Queen of the Tearling Series - Erika Johansen

Quite a lot of time has passed since I actually read this series. I did intend to write up a review immediately after I'd finished it, but I actually think waiting was a good thing. I read the three books back-to-back, and very quickly, as you do when you're really into a series. And I absolutely loved it... except for the very end. If I'd written a review immediately, I would have been so wrapped up in the very end that I would have done it a disservice. Because really, I loved the plot, I loved the characters, and I loved the entire world that Johansen created. Everything came together to make for a fantastic trilogy; one of the best I've ever read. It helps having a strong heroine like Kelsea to drive the story forward, and I couldn't help but respond to her complexity. That she was supported by such a strong cast of other characters only elevated the book in my eyes, and I love how the author took so much care to plan every detail. Every plot point and every scene made sense in the wider story, and it has been a long time since I saw that level of attention to detail in fiction.

Fantasy fiction is right up my street, and this was a really great story to fall into. In hindsight, I still don't really like the ending, but it definitely didn't ruin the series for me as a whole. I can see exactly what the author was trying to do by pushing the plot in that direction; it just wasn't to my taste. However, altogether I loved the series so, so much, and I wish I could read it all over again for the first time.

Rating: ✫✫✫✫✫

✼

Kelsea Raleigh has been raised in exile, since the death of her mother put her life in danger. As she turns nineteen, Kelsea finds herself being escorted back to the Tear kingdom by the Queen's Guard, a group of fiercely loyal soldiers whose sole purpose is to see Kelsea ascend her rightful throne. Cautious and insecure, Kelsea is unconvinced that she can lead the kingdom. But when she arrives at the Keep, what she sees gives her the determination she needs to step up.

But Kelsea soon learns that every action comes with consequences, and that enemies are everywhere; not least the Red Queen, a sorceress and the tyrannical ruler of Mortmesne, a neighbouring kingdom. But Kelsea has a weapon. She carries with her the Tearling sapphire, a powerful jewel that unleashes magic when she most needs it. But while she learns who she can really trust, can Kelsea dodge the dangers of ruling a broken kingdom long enough to learn to control it?

*spoiler alert*