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The Queen of the Tearling series - Erika Johansen

This has to have been my favourite read(s) of 2018. Three books form part of the series, so beware, if you aren't looking to be miffed about a spoiler, then perhaps skips to another review The first book that caught me hook, line and sinker would be the series namesake, The Queen of the Tearling which introduces us to a headstrong Kelsea Glynn, under the care of an aunt and uncle who were sheltering and training her for the day that she would have to claim her birthright as heir to the Tearling throne. Not your average 19th birthday, especially when greeted by rather dismissive soldiers (Queens Guard thank you) who don't really have much faith in her abilities to rise to the occasion given the flibber gibberty her mum was and of course, the death defying high-speed and super violent physical path to the actual throne. I savoured each page of this book, seriously. I loved that Kelsea was 'thick', stubborn and brave when we are all so accustomed to irresistible waifs. We also meet her infatuation i.e the Fetch - super mysterious and deadly in equal measure- who also rather indelicately states that she is 'too plain' to be his type.  Kelsea put an end to the human shipments to Mortmesne as commanded by the Red Queen, and this causes her seemingly insurmountable issues, however with the help of her mysterious sapphires which have suddenly sprang to life after being dormant on her chest, Kelsea slowly garners the respect of her Guard and her subjects.
Thrilling read, truly
The Invasion of the Tearling, book 2,  is where the Tearling defends itself from the the onslaught of war brought about by an infuriated Red Queen due to the suddenly stopped human shipments. The sequel of the trilogy begins in a way that see's Kelsea and the Tearling in the perceived weaker stance. Weaker, because she has less control over the events that the magic sapphires bring about - trances or 'fugues', that give her glimpses into the past which, in their gem-like wisdom, the sapphires are actaully trying to help her we find, eventually. Past events most significantly focused on the life of Lily in the days before the Crossing. Lily, who later becomes the wife of  of William Tear and who Kelsea creepily begins to physically resemble. We also get more involved with the Arvath which is basically the Church, and meet Row Finn, the mysterious and super scary handsome spirit who promises victory with and extended hand, and doom with the other.
 Darker, deliciously so.
In conclusion, the Fate of the Tearling pretty much will blow your mind - definitely not the end I expected and I couldn't decide whether I was super impressed or just annoyed and disappointed.We learn much more about the Red Queen of Mortmesne after Kelsea had surrendered herself and her sapphires at the end of book 2. Jailed by the Red Queen, who, is haunted by 'the dark thing, we come to learn that the sapphires are loyal to the Tear line and only work for Kelsea - the true queen. We also find out that while the first sapphire belonged to William Tear, the second was the creation of Row, who, in his rather ghostly form, would rather much like his gem back. Commanding an army of zombie kids that he'd stolen, killed and somehow convinced he is their daddy,  he becomes a formidable enemy to Kelsea as well. .Her trances continue all the way through William Tears death, Lily s death and the fall of the better world, the dream of Tear's Blue Horizon.
If I were to rate these books, it would 5 stars each for book 1 & 2 simply for being so addictive & engrossing, and 5 stars for the last book of the trilogy mainly because no one could see that coming...

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Reclaim Your Heart - Yasmin Mogahed 

I missed Yasmin Mogaheds tour in SA, but having seen her YouTube lectures, I was so impressed to realise that her writing is just as passionate and influential as she is as a speaker. This book takes the reader - most likely Muslim female - through the Islamic and philosophical angles of her reflections on life. On attachments, heartache, abandonment, hardships and the every day struggle the soul endures. It speaks to the strength that lies in sensitivity and the freedom that comes with a reliance and deepest love for God. I wouldn't call this work a self-help as its deepest roots denote from Islamic beliefs, however I wouldn't  call it religious either as much of her conversation is psychologically  based. Poetry completes this exceptional work and you have to marvel at how deeply the writer understands her own self.

This is not the type of book you'll read once in your life. No, this is a reminder when the chips are down that all pain is temporary and for the bruised and battered a comfort when times are at their toughest.

*Image copied from www.yasminmogahed.com/reclaim-your-heart/

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The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller

I'd love to be one of those people who can proudly say that they've read the famous poems the Iliad and Odyssey written by Homer centuries ago - but I'm not. I do though, have enough pop culture reference to know that this is a pretty unusual love story - or is it? This book is a take of the famous siege of Troy, however the famous tale is more of a staging of the epic love between Achilles and his Patroclus. While the original works apparently do not make reference of the relationship between the Greek hero and his friend as being romantic, there are some who interpret it as such. And this is what Madeline Miller has so brilliantly depicted in scenes depicted against the rich antiquity of ancient Greece and famous mythological legends. There is something indulgent about being able to fine comb through a such a legendary tale with all its heroes in such great detail. Where emotions, reactions and the more extended nuances of human experience are generally not covered in poems.
Not your average love story, but an epic read.
*image credit to Goodreads

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Lord John and the Hand of Devils - Diana Gabaldon

As it often happens, when an author becomes famous for a particular character(s) in a series, the rest of their works don't necessarily receive the same publicity as what initially made them famous. Such I think is the case with this trio of short stories written about Lord John - remember him Outlander fans? Dashing Lord John who was mistakenly in love with a certain brawny, coppery haired Scot i.e one of the protagonists hence the significance of Lord John
Interestingly, Diana Gabaldon introduces the books (compilations') history as a foreword and it comes with a warning - don't expect to read about any of her more famous characters although due to Lord Johns unrequited affections, we often get to see the writing alluding to a certain said Scot.
A compilation of three short stories i.e Lord John and the Hellfire Club, Lord John and the Succubus and lastly, Lord John and the Haunted Soldier. Highly suspenseful and not what I had been anticipating honestly, but no doubt exquisitely written nonetheless. There are other Lord John novellas about (apparently a highly adaptable character) which I'm sure are just as good.

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A Column of Fire - Ken Follett

The most recent installment of the Kingsbridge series, A Column of  Fire may be the best yet. We see major acts designated to historical heavy weights like Queen Elizabeth 1 and the rival for her throne Mary, Queen of Scots and former Queen of France. Starting at the cusp of the Elizabethan Golden Age, the book has the traditional Kingsbridge novel flair - intelligent male & female protagonists who should be a couple but due to her dutiful (in this case staunch Roman Catholic) nature, they will not be together for many years. Cue ambitious parents who would be nobility though the marriages of their daughters; the necessary and ambitious zealots (cathedral town after all); the intelligent and interesting people surrounding the protagonists and of course a few brutes . But the best parts of this read are the scenes that their set in: the religiously brutal pre-Elizabethan era in England; the slaughter of St. Bartholomew's Day when the streets of Paris were painted red by all the Protestant slaughter; the intrigue and and power struggles in the French palace; the transfer to the Elizabethan crown where the monarch is described artfully in a way that makes her more than just a historical juggernaut giving credence. The same can be said about the Guise's of France and the tragic Mary to name but a few. True historical figures and events are narrated so much and guide much of the of premise that the back of the novel includes a section to help the reader distinguish true from fictional characters
A Column of Fire is a spectacular culmination of the writers pattern of turning real events into vivid fictional narrations, more so  than the other Kingsbridge novels. The tapestry of this read is richly coloured by real historical events and will have you glued in no-time at all.
*Book sponsored by Pan Macmillan 

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World Without End - Ken Follett

Not that I've researched this fact, but I could not imagine that any of Ken Follett's book reviews are ever negative. Exquisitely detailed, but not to the point of being cumbersome and yet just more than enough to let you know that some serious research has gone into it. Scenes are always described in the most vivid way to capture a readers interest, and keep it. The chronological sequel to The Pillars of the Earth, but not necessarily to the story line, World Without End continues in the town of Kingsbridge two centuries later and again centres around the cathedral. We see the generational successors of some of the previous books protagonists as the main characters and to some extent a similar contextualized theme i.e the unconventional but lovable and seemingly irresistible clever builder (Merthin), the duty bound but stubborn and independent female protagonist (Caris) and the avaricious & ambitious yet identifiable gentry(Ralph, Merthin's brother & his parents) who seem not only to only drink too much, but also will stop at nothing to become nobility. Like its precursor, the prologue of the book has a scene that ties the lives of the main characters together which unfolds later on towards the end. Being a cathedral-town, Of course, there must be a crazed zealot  (Godwyn) who indemnifies his power hungriness as a sign God-sent. And then there was the incredible Gwenda - sold, abused and poor, she is the most interesting of all the characters just because of the sheer determination that allowed her to reach above her social burdens.
If I had to pick at this book, it would be that the repetitive nature of some of the characters in comparison to the previous book is a bit too obvious - but then, I have read them in close succession.
An elegant read written by a thoughtful writer.
*Book sponsored by Pan Macmillan 

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Virgins - Diana Gabaldon

Its hard to believe that Diana Gabaldon isn't a thoroughbred Scot whose been rollicking in the Highlands her entire life to enable her to write about such convincing archetypal Scottish characters in the best representation of their particular colloquial of this 1700's. But no, she's not.
Being a full-on Outlander fan, I was drawn to this book because of the younger character of Jamie Fraser and his brother-in-law (not yet in this book though), Ian Murray. True to his trouble magnetic nature, the book starts out with an injured Jamie - pretty much the way Outlander does. Both he an Ian then go on an adventure that see's them travelling with mercenaries and their travels take them to Paris where they both have eyes for the beautiful - but sneaky we are later to find out - Rebekah.
A short piece or novella, this is my first read of Diana Gabaldon and I have to say my favourite part about the book was the three courtesy chapters of the Outlander book included at the end which in her authors note Gabaldon explains Virgins is the technical prequel for. We get this generous helping of Outlander so that the reader gets to meet the older and more experienced Jamie. Cannot wait to get my hands on a copy of Outlander...