Our Darkest Night by Jennifer Robson

Our Darkest Night by Jennifer Robson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages - 384

Publisher - Headline Review

Source - Vine

Blurb from Amazon

Venice, 1943: Under the Nazi occupation, life is increasingly perilous for Italian Jews. Antonina Mazin has but one hope to survive - to leave her beloved parents and hide in the countryside, posing as the bride of a man she has only just met.

Nico Gerardi was studying for the priesthood until circumstances forced him to return home to run his family's farm. A moral and just man, he refuses to remain a bystander to Nazi and fascist atrocities. The only way to keep Nina safe - and protect secrets of his own - is to convince prying eyes that their sudden marriage is a love match.

But farm life is not easy for a cultured city girl who dreams of becoming a doctor like her father, and Nico's provincial neighbours are wary of this soft, educated stranger. Even worse, their distrust is shared by a local Nazi official with a vendetta against Nico.

As Nina and Nico come to know each other, their relationship deepens, transforming into much more than a charade. Yet both fear that every passing day brings them closer to being torn apart...



My Review

World war two is well underway, it is 1943 - Nina wants nothing more than to stay with her father, helping patients and her mother. To keep her safe her father sends her away to stay with Nico, a friend of their priest. Under the guise of newly weds in love Nico and Nina head to Nico's home, a farm. Nina has to deal with the fear of being discovered, slotting into the hard labour of working on a farm, missing her family and the scrutiny of her new sister in law. As the German soldiers close in and horrors looming Nina realises there is more at risk than just herself.

This is a story of love, family, relationships, bravery, survival, sacrifice, all under the Nazi rule. We follow Nina through an emotive journey, I had a lump in my throat at some parts - some of it is beautiful which makes the harrowing parts pack a greater punch.

I have been to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam and read her diary growing up and whilst this is historical fiction all of that comes back to you when you read the concentration camp parts. The author captures the reader with such an authentic feel/descriptors I can't imagine many not being moved reading this. This is my first time reading this author, it won't be my last, 4.5/5 for me this time. I never used to read or like historical fiction but find myself drawn more to them especially when you have an author that takes you on an emotive rollercoaster!

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Ariadne by Jennifer Saint

Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages - 386

Publisher - Wildfire books

Source - Vine

Blurb from Goodreads

A mesmerising retelling of the ancient Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. Perfect for fans of CIRCE, A SONG OF ACHILLES, and THE SILENCE OF THE GIRLS.

As Princesses of Crete and daughters of the fearsome King Minos, Ariadne and her sister Phaedra grow up hearing the hoofbeats and bellows of the Minotaur echo from the Labyrinth beneath the palace. The Minotaur - Minos's greatest shame and Ariadne's brother - demands blood every year.

When Theseus, Prince of Athens, arrives in Crete as a sacrifice to the beast, Ariadne falls in love with him. But helping Theseus kill the monster means betraying her family and country, and Ariadne knows only too well that in a world ruled by mercurial gods - drawing their attention can cost you everything.

In a world where women are nothing more than the pawns of powerful men, will Ariadne's decision to betray Crete for Theseus ensure her happy ending? Or will she find herself sacrificed for her lover's ambition?

Ariadne gives a voice to the forgotten women of one of the most famous Greek myths, and speaks to their strength in the face of angry, petulant Gods. Beautifully written and completely immersive, this is an exceptional debut novel.


My Review

I don't think I have read any retellings or if I have it has been one and a long time ago. Ariadne and Phaedra are princesses in Crete, their father King Minos and this is the retelling of Theseus and the Minotaur. I remember the Minotaur story and the labyrinth maze as a kid but didn't know its origins. The book looks at so much more than just King Minos and the Minotaur there are other Gods and legends mentioned, their stories and how they link or relate(d) to each other.

A running theme within the stories of females suffering because of the choices of men (Gods) and the after effects and ripples of that. Absolutely relevant (in some aspects) even in our modern day real life the parallels, greed, infidelity, power, lust, fascination, sex, obsession, wrath of Gods, death, blood lust, parenthood - the list goes on and on.

Ariadne is the main character, we follow through her innocence growing up then exposed to sex, abhorrence with things she bears witness to and experiences. Family ties, cause/effect, there is a level of this that some readers may find hits an emotive spot in them, depending on your life experiences identifying with some of the characters, stories and themes.

This doesn't read like a debut and it has renewed my want for reading myths and legends, some of the stories I hadn't heard since I was a kid and even then only snippets. I LOVED have a character we could walk through these with and quite a few I hadn't heard of at all. Retellings seem to be popular at the moment and I can't wait to grab some more, 4/5 for me this time. I will be keeping an active eye out for Saint's future works!

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The Demolition of the Century by Duncan Sarkies

The demolition of the century by Duncan Sarkies
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days

Pages - 408

Publisher - Penguin

Source - Amazon Vine

Blurb from Goodreads

Tom Spotswood (aka William McGinty) is an insurance investigator who has lost his socks, his suitcase, his career, his ex-wife and, most importantly, his son Frank.

He is being followed by Robert Valentine, the mysterious owner of the horse with no sperm; Alastair Shook and his van of teenage guards; and Spud, a demolition man who is using his wrecking ball to bring down the most beautiful movie theatre in town, the Century.

To find his son, Tom will have to come to terms with his past – a past he ran away from. But first will have to find those socks.



My Review

This book was nothing like I was expecting, I was thinking a dodgy investigation scam and maybe the fallout from that following Tom. And it isn't exactly not that, Tom is an alcoholic running from his past and the ever looming Robert Valentine. He lost so much after making one wrong decision, his job, his family, the place he lived. Now he is back and Valentine has people practically on every corner, threatening Tom and Tom isn't having it.

Spud is all about the demolition game and has huge issues from his past. Just now his job is taking down a beautiful old theater, we learn about his home life and past demons hovering. When Spud and Tom's path cross we start to learn more about both and things we thought were very separate actually have links and the story has much deeper layers than the reader initially realised or anticipated.

The book for me was almost like two different stories, part one being focused heavily on Tom and coming back to town after the shady insurance job. Spuds family life, his work and who he is as a person and the struggles he had endured, the past influences the present. Side note, there is a small focus on a badness that happens to a horse but no more animal harm discussed or covered bar that one incident. Part two we see much more depth to Spud and Tom and how many issues they both have, looking at addiction, issues from childhood and how this impacts on mental health. Mental health is integral to the second half, cause and effect and the book has a very human feel to it. Being that the two main characters are male it opens a very emotive theme, raw, sad, moving and I think depending on what your personal experiences are may have an impact on a personal level you receive the book.

This is the first time I have read this author, I would absolutely read him again, 3.5/5 for me this time. I like when a book catches you unawares and the depth this book takes you to, especially as I wasn't expecting it to go to the places it did, thought provoking for sure!

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