From deadly thrillers to enchanting fantasies and bookish rom-coms,
Bookstagram is buzzing with new reads readers can’t stop talking
about. Dan Brown returns with The Secret of Secrets, while Hannah
Nicole Maehrer delivers chaotic romantic fun in Accomplice to the
Villain. Gareth Brown’s The Society of Unknowable Objects bends
reality with literary flair, and Shari Lapena’s She Didn’t See It Coming
grips domestic suspense fans. Add to that the gothic fantasy Dire
Bound, historical drama The Eights, and heartwarming Annabel
and Her Sisters, and you’ve got a shelf of stories lighting up feeds
and TBR lists across Bookstagram right now.
The Secret of Secrets
Dan Brown
Dan Brown is back with his newest addition to the Robert Langdon series and I was beyond excited to receive this stunning signed copy of his newest book The Secret of Secrets. Did I mention it was signed? Because I've been freaking out about that for a while.
My mum was a massive fan of Dan Brown's books and she had his entire Robert Langdon series while I finally get to add my own copy of his book.
Fair warning to anyone about to start this book if you think his other stories are interesting you are in for a rollercoaster with this one! I've been reading it through the week in-between classes and assignments and OMG it has been so hard to focus on anything but wanting to get back to this story.
Book Synopsis:
Accompanying celebrated academic, Katherine Solomon, to a lecture she’s been invited to give in Prague, Robert Langdon’s world spirals out of control when she disappears without trace from their hotel room. Far from home and well out of his comfort zone, Langdon must pit his wits against forces unknown to recover the woman he loves.
But Prague is an old and dangerous city, steeped in folklore and mystery. For over two thousand years, the tides of history have washed back and forth over it, leaving behind echoes of everything that has gone before. Little does Langdon know that he is being stalked by a spectre from that dark past. He must use all his arcane knowledge to decipher the world around him before he, too, is consumed by the rings of treachery and deception that have swallowed Katherine.
Against a backdrop of vast castles, towering churches, graveyards buried twelve deep and labyrinthine underground passages, Langdon must navigate a shadow city hiding in plain sight, a city which has successfully kept its secrets for centuries and will not readily deliver them. This is a battlefield unlike any he has previously experienced, one on which he must fight not for his only life, but for the future of humanity itself.
Hannah Nicole Maehrer
"You’d be surprised how easy it is for some to ignore the problems of the world if they aren’t impacted by them."
In the third instalment of the Assistant to the Villain series, Evie and Trystan must navigate an unravelling prophecy, assassination attempts in the break room, and a suspicious number of frogs wearing crowns. We return to Massacre Manor to unearth the final pieces of Rennedawn’s destiny, only to discover shocking truths – among them, a revelation that Evie might not be what she always believed. Torn between duty, prophecy, and their feelings, Evie and Trystan must decide whether their bond – and their world – can survive the secrets that threaten to destroy them.
I just adore this charmingly chaotic series. The blend of genres – cosy romantic fantasy and workplace comedy – just somehow works and I'm here for it.
The book picks up where the second one ended and we dive deeper into the Rennedawn world by investigating its fractured magic and the looming prophecy.
Evie has come a long way from the bright-eyed assistant in book one (Apprentice to the Villain). She's stronger and braver. Trystan is the ultimate brooding anti-hero. He's desperate to protect Evie at all costs. Their chemistry is full of tension and longing, and of course some sparkling banter.
The laugh out loud humour (caused by absurd chaos and magical mishaps) is balanced by some real danger, some heavy choices, and the urgent prophecy. These emotional stakes kept me invested throughout.
Funny and heartfelt, it kept me laughing and swooning and rooting for our morally grey crew. I truly love this series and can't wait for the next instalment.
Read if you enjoy:
Grumpy x sunshine
Slow burn romance
Forbidden love
Found family
Humour and banter
Gareth Brown
“Oh, and finally, finally, lastly, but most importantly, thanks to Dougal and Flora. They still aren’t reading at adult level, which is disappointing. I suppose they do have rather busy lives barking at everything that moves, and the lack of opposable thumbs also makes it tricky for them to hold books. But they will still appreciate my thanks ... and they will know without having to read this. Because they are dogs, and dogs always understand.”
“All unknowable objects did something; these ordinary, everyday items could enable those who possessed them to do unusual and extraordinary things. Several such items had been discovered throughout the history of the Society, some identified through concerted effort, others stumbled upon in the most unusual of places or unexpected of circumstances. And now that collection, the Society archive, was hidden away in the basement beneath Bell Street Books, kept safe from the world.”
To be honest, the dedication to Dougal and Flora was probably what I was looking forward to the most in this story. Not that I wasn’t eagerly looking forward to the next book by @garethjbrown13, after loving everything about his excellent debut, The Book of Doors, so I was thrilled when @penguinbookssouthafrica spoiled me with this beautiful copy.
And The Society of Unknowable Objects did not disappoint. It was a flight of fantasy, of responsibility vs. the very human desire of wanting and searching for happiness, of not wanting to be alone. And, of course, greed vs. the greater good.
It was an easy read that I flew through on a short flight. It’s intriguing and will keep you turning the pages, fending off sleep as you are drawn into the lives of the characters and the battles that ensue. The curiosity of the antagonist will have you puzzled until you are well into the story, when the stakes have grown significantly. I find an aspect of excellent writing is when you find yourself undecided about how much of a villain the antagonist is, when you feel a degree of empathy for his situation and are forced to consider that you would probably do the same if you were in the same position. Gareth has executed this perfectly.
The writing was excellent and while I still love The Book of Doors ever so slightly more, I love that I could easily understand the origins of the objects where I did not fully understand them in The Book of Doors.
Kate Francis
This book revolves around seven teenagers who have gone through a traumatic event that left a brother, a friend and a partner dead.
They’ve carried survivor’s guilt for most of the year, and when they go on a school trip, all seven end up at a motel.
Unbeknownst to them, they are forced to play a game that pushes them to reveal the truth about what happened that day. To make matters worse, every hour, they must choose who among them will die.
The unexpected cliffhangers and the intense guilt each character carries about their possible roles in the fire make you want to send them all to therapy.
This book is fast-paced and so intense that you cannot put it down because you need to know every detail! The author has crafted an amazing story that left me breathless by the end. This has been an incredible read-along, and thank you @penguinbooksyasa for letting me be a part of it.
Holly Jackson
I am ashamed to admit it, but this was the first time I read anything written by Holly Jackson. I have seen her books all over bookstagram for years, but just haven’t reached a point of picking one up yet, despite having a full series by her on my shelves. I think I have just always been a little intimidated to start AGGGTM (A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder).
When I received this gifted copy from @penguinbookssouthafrica, I decided to finally dive in as we are heading into spooky season and this book is set during Halloween, so it seemed like it would be the perfect read to kick off my spooky season reading.
I absolutely LOVED this book. I switched between the physical copy and the audiobook and it was one of the easiest audiobooks to follow along with, even while listening to it in the background while working – the narrator did an incredible job.
The story itself was so gripping and immersive – I could not wait to get back to reading this book and find out what was going to happen next. The mystery had me on the edge of my seat and I was constantly trying to figure out who the suspect behind Jet’s attack was.
Every time I thought the storyline was heading in one direction, a new twist would send the storyline into a completely new direction I had not anticipated at all. The fact that Jet only had a week to live and solve her own murder, added to the suspense.
I was completely taken by surprise by just how emotional this book was as well. I truly grew so attached to the characters and adored them. Jet was so hilarious with her sarcastic, witty and dark humour. I couldn’t help but laugh at all the things she said.
I did not see the plot twists towards the end coming at all and I was completely blindsided by the eventual reveal of the suspect. This was truly one of the best thrillers I have read recently and it’s a book I would love to see adapted for television.
Sable Sorensen
Everyone has been raving about this book so of course I had to do read it! Fourth Wing but make it wolves, you say? Gimme, gimme, gimme! And yes, I loved it, I truly did. I love the slum/urban setting of Sturmfrost that we enter into, especially with the fact that Meryn is an underground street fighter. I loved the world building too; it's not complicated but it sets a nice scene and history to carry the story.
Meryn aims to join the front line in a war against the vampires for her sister's sake and ends up on the path to becoming bonded with a dire wolf. From the moment she reaches the castle, the training, the classes, the trials and the losses she has to endure to prove herself fully bonded is exhilarating. There is so much action and excitement in the middle of this book that it never seems to drag.
Throughout the story there is this constant feel of dread that lingers, as if you don't really know who to trust. I really enjoyed all the mystery, all the little things that made me feel like certain things were suspicious or didn't make sense and I think that there were some bloody good plot twists in the story. I was hooked! I can't say anything about the romance though, because that would be a huge spoiler. The ending was absolutely insane and I cannot wait for Fury Bound.
Joanna Miller
In 1920 the first women are accepted to study at the prestigious Oxford University in Oxford, England. It's after WWII and everyone has been touched by the war in some way. Four women from very different backgrounds have been placed in Corridor Eight of St. Hughs, and without knowing much about one another they immediately become bonded, and begin to refer to themselves as 'The Eights'.
Theodora 'Dora' Greenwood lost both her brother and her fiancé in the war. She is at Oxford in their place, and there isn't a day that goes by that she isn't haunted by their ghosts. She walks the hallowed halls with guilt and grief.
Marianne Grey is the daughter of a village rector. She lived alone with her widowed father, and hides a huge secret from the other Eights. A secret so big that if she reveals it, she could lose her place at Oxford.
Beatrice Sparks is the daughter of a Suffragette. Her mother has barely any time for Beatrice who grew up around activists. She wants to write her own destiny – literally.
Ottoline 'Otto' Wallace-Kerr is the socialite of the group. With absent parents and inherited wealth, she leads the group with rebellion. She has a penchant for smoking, drinking and late nights. Otto is also desperate to forget the time she spent as a nurse during the war.
"We live in a time of great change, in the shadow of a war many of us are still fighting. It is imperative that, at this key moment for women at Oxford, we maintain standards. We must not let our doubters find us wanting in matters of decorum or intellect."
The Eights face a lot of backlash and prejudice on top of having to work hard AND follow all the strict social rules that dictate their every move. Their days are made up of tutorials, exams, bike riding through Oxford, letter writing, picnics and dabbling in the occult. As they get to know one another even more they share stories of marriage prospects, women's liberation, and maintain unwavering support for every member of this elite sisterhood.
"The thing about Oxford is, you spend all this time fretting that you don't belong, but when you are apart from it you feel as if you've left something precious behind."
Blending fact and fiction, Miller takes the reader through four university terms, and depicts the historical Women's March, and the new prospect of finally having the Vote. Intermingled within academia is the entrenched misogyny that still exists today – though no longer on the same level thankfully. Entertaining, informative, well-researched and well-written, the reader will fall head-over-heels for these endearing characters. This is a brilliantly brave and atmospheric debut.
Shari Lapena
This was my first @sharilapena novel, and I flew through it in a matter of hours, needing to understand what had happened.
Bryden and Sam have it all: thriving careers, a smart apartment in a luxury condominium, supportive friends, and a cherished daughter. The perfect life for the perfect couple.
Then Sam receives a call at his office. Bryden – working from home that day – has failed to collect their daughter from daycare. Arriving home with their little girl, he finds his wife’s car in the underground garage. Upstairs in their apartment, her laptop is open on the table, her cell phone nearby, her keys in their usual place in the hall.
Except Bryden is nowhere to be seen. It’s as if she just walked out.
This was a fascinating read that keeps you guessing throughout, and Shari carves each character with shades of grey that almost no one is free from suspicion. She weaves in sub-plots, which are intriguing, giving us insights into the darker side of the human psyche, leaving one shocked at the levels people are willing to cross to get what they want. Detective Jayne and her partner Michael balance each other wonderfully, contrasting against other relationships in the story.
I loved the short punchy chapters that kept me unable to put this down until I knew who had done it and why, and I appreciated Shari’s ability to mislead with multiple misdirections which kept the story engaging, and your mind deliberating.
The story truly drives home the impact that greed and selfishness can have within a community but also weaves in a thread of hope when a character chooses themselves instead. My only issue with this is that we are left with a sub-plot incomplete and angered me a little due to the nature of the event.
Overall, this was an excellent domestic thriller that is an easy read.
Catherine Alliot
Annabel's mother has decided to sell her house and live with her three daughters in rotation for three months at a time. However, Annabel is concerned that her mother won't have a stable base, and is also concerned that her mother will be bringing her seven dogs with her everywhere she goes. Annabel also discovers that her mother has been housing a big family secret.
Annabel has been widowed for 10 years and has started to think that she should try dating again. She soon learns that, even when we get a little older, it can be complicated, and it can be difficult to sort through your feelings when you are getting to used to the different phases of your life.
This book is an easy read, something very calming. Don't expect big emotions, it's all about the stiff upper lip, with maybe a bit of a bottom lip wobble every now and again. It is thoughtful and quiet, but not as scandalous and riveting as I was hoping for.
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From chilling thrillers and heartwarming romances to magical realism and literary fiction, this round-up of book blogger reviews has something for every kind of reader.