Being Bookish

This week I’m taking a deep look at the brand new romantasy Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry. This is a rich, emotionally layered fantasy looking at a blend of light-hearted and deep topics, including duty and survival as well as the quiet rebellion of a heroine who’s been overlooked all her life.

With a backdrop of dangerous creatures, political tension, and a marriage forged through ancient magic, this one offers slow-burn dynamics, fierce training scenes, and a world where power is rarely what it seems.

As with every single episode, while I take a look at the views of others (to keep things just a little bit more balanced), ultimately, the views are mine. I'm going to be talking through the world-building, the pacing, character dynamics, and whether the romantic tension kept me turning pages, or just turning up my eyebrows.

As always, everything remains completely spoiler-free and is 100% honest, because what's the point if it's not?

If you’re into brooding protectors, blood-bound rituals, and heroines who earn their power step by step, this might be one for your TBR.

And don't forget to stay tuned for the second, shorter review. I’ll be sharing my thoughts on For Whom the Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn. Let’s just say... I had feelings.

So, pop the kettle on, get comfy, and let’s talk books.

Now, for those of you who don't know, I'm an 80s kid. By that, I mean I turned 16 at the end of that decade. I grew up with posters of Ralph Macchio and Michael J Fox on my wall, I went to see New Kids on the Block in concert, and when I read about The Brat Pack in newspapers and magazines (social media was not a thing), I wanted to be a member of that group.

From media released long after that time, it appears that while fans wanted to be part of the gang, the gang itself was not overly happy with the label they were given by David Blum in his 1985 New Yorker article. In 2021, Andrew McCarthy released his autobiography, which talked a little about his experiences as an '80s heartthrob, and in 2024, he produced a documentary exploring the impact this label had on him and his fellow Brat Packers!

This week, I met up with my friend Lorraine, and as we're both very proud '80s kids, we talked about the autobiography, the documentary and our perceptions of what it meant to us.

Yep, this week is different. Welcome again to Lorraine, and join us both on a trip back in time, when things were easier, when the Goonies were doing the truffle shuffle, Jake Ryan was waiting outside our house, standing in front of a Porsche and wearing a gross pink satin prom dress got you the boy of your dreams!

This week, I’m diving into The Games Gods Play by Abigail Owen, a mythology-inspired fantasy romance filled with deadly challenges, divine politics, and a reluctant heroine caught in the middle of it all. With a premise rooted in ancient rivalries and a high-stakes tournament hosted by the gods themselves, it’s a story that promises danger, drama, and a healthy dose of romantic tension.

As always, these are just my personal thoughts. I’ll be talking about the world-building, the main characters, and also going into a little bit of the mythological archetypes included in the story. As ever, everything is completely spoiler-free. If you enjoy mythological twists and enemies-to-lovers dynamics, this might be one to add to your TBR.

And stay tuned to the end of the episode for a quick review of The Names by Florence Knapp, a beautifully written, thought-provoking read that I just couldn’t leave unmentioned. So pop the kettle on, get comfy, and let’s talk books.

This week, I’m diving into Silver Elite, a dystopian romance that’s been making waves in the book community.

A debut novel by author Dani Francis, it is set in a high-stakes world, with slow-burning tension, and a heroine hiding more than just her powers.

Silver Elite is a release that has caught the attention of a lot of readers across socials, and I was so curious that I just had to pick it up..

As usual, all opinions are completely mine, and I’ll be sharing my honest thoughts on everything from the pacing and character development to the emotional pull of the romance. I’ll also touch on some of the conversation happening around the book, praise and criticism, everything is fair game. As ever, it's 100% spoiler-free, so whether you've read the book or are thinking about it, I'm not going to be revealing massive plot points, character motivations or the ending!

Grab a cuppa, settle in, and let’s have a chat about whether Silver Elite lives up to the hype, or if it left me wanting something more.

When you reach a certain age, you can feel as though you're forgotten, whether that's because you've suddenly reached the age of grandmothers in books who sit and knit while adoring their grandchildren, or because you are no longer seen as anything but the extension of the family unit. Aged to Perfection, the debut novel by author Niloufar Lamakan, is one of a recent batch of romantic comedy novels that turns this preconception on its head. With a leading lady in her early 60s who wants to go out and enjoy life - and by that I don't mean sitting on her deck with a sherry as people bring her a birthday cake that could set a house on fire...Sophia has a goal: 52 dates in 52 weeks. She's in her new romantic era.

Join me today as I talk with Niloufar about Aged to Perfection, the preconceived belief that women in their 60s are old and past it, and why she wrote this novel.

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No, this is not bad news. A change is afoot, and I am really hoping you'll join me.

The podcast isn't going anywhere, honest.

This week, I’m joined by bestselling author Mandy Robotham to talk about her latest novel, Mrs Spy, a gripping and atmospheric story of secrets, betrayal, and the high personal cost of espionage. The book is released on Thursday, the 15th of May and published by Head of Zeus.

Set against the tense backdrop of 1960s Britain at the height of the Cold War,we follow widowed single mother, Maggie Flynn, who, following the unfortunate and sudden passing of her husband, works for MI5. Maggie’s world is one of order and duty, balancing the demands of intelligence work with raising her Beatles-fanatic daughter and spending time with her colourful and exuberant mother.

Things begin to unravel when she meets Yuri. He knew her husband, and knows things about his career that he had kept a secret from her.

As Maggie delves deeper, she finds herself questioning everything: her colleagues, her past, and even her memories of her husband. In a world where deception is currency and silence can be deadly, Maggie must rely on her instincts and inner strength to uncover the truth. But with powerful forces determined to keep her quiet, will she be silenced before she can expose what really happened?

Mrs Spy is an evocative and emotionally charged novel that captures the danger of the Cold War era and the quiet bravery of women who refuse to be overlooked—or silenced.

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Where You Go, I Will Go by Christina Fonthes is a gripping and poetic exploration of identity, migration, and finding where you feel you belong. Told across two timelines, blending events in the Congo and the UK, this powerful novel captures the ache of displacement and the quiet resilience of queer Black womanhood.

This week I talk with Christina about her book, the books and experiences that inspired its creation and touch on the sensitive subjects contained within the pages.

There's also talk of favourite books, unredeemable characters and what makes a character human in the eyes of the author and the reader.

It's a deep one this week, people, so buckle up and enjoy the ride. I loved this opportunity to talk with Christina about this novel, and I think it's a wonderful read.

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This week, I’m heading back to San Francisco’s Chinatown for another delightfully chaotic mystery with our favourite sixty-something sleuth, Vera Wong. In Jesse Sutanto’s latest novel, Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man, the tea shop is still bustling, but what Vera's craving is just a little more excitement in her now much fuller life. When she encounters a young girl outside the police precinct, Vera senses a mystery in need of an answer, and she's back on the case! A locked briefcase, a viral social media moment, and a trail of secrets are far too much for the calming effects of a cup of her chrysanthemum tea.

In this episode, I share my spoiler-free thoughts on this cosy, yet surprisingly dark sequel. I talk about why Vera continues to be such a compelling character and how this book explores found family and identity in the digital age.

Whether you loved the first Vera Wong book or you're just dipping your toes into the world of cosy crime and cosy mysteries, this one has humour, heart, high-stakes sleuthing, and a grandmother who’s got more guts than your average gumshoe. So, pop the kettle on, settle in, and let’s chat all things books.

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Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

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And don't forget, I'm back on Livestream for the Cure this year, on the 17th May. Tune in, take part, and please donate to this incredibly important cause. It's all in the name of Cancer Research.

This week I am taking a look at a book so different than most that I tend to review I honestly am not sure how to define it. Part science fiction, part literary fiction, the story is certainly genre-bending.

Death of the Author, by Nnedi Okorafor is the story of Nigerian American writer Zelu, whose first novel is a breakout success that catapults her, unprepared, into the spotlight. As she navigates fame, family tension, and the boundaries between identity and creativity, the novel explores what it means to tell your own story, and how to maintain ownership of it and your own identity. As things change in her life, love, family, success, she has to learn to handle the criticism that comes with being suddenly successful and under the microscope that fame brings with it.

A sharp, layered narrative blending realism with speculative elements, Death of the Author raises powerful questions around authorship, autonomy, and the cost of visibility.

As ever, I won't spoil the ending!

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