The Story of Silence by Alex Myers

The Story of Silence by Alex Myers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - as able over 10 days

Pages - 400

Publisher - Harper

Source - Netgalley

Blurb from Goodreads

A knightly fairy tale of royalty and dragons, of midwives with secrets and dashing strangers in dark inns. Taking the original French legend as his starting point, The Story of Silence is a rich, multilayered new story for today’s world – sure to delight fans of Uprooted and The Bear and the Nightingale.

There was once, long ago, a foolish king who decreed that women should not, and would not, inherit. Thus when a girl-child was born to Lord Cador – Merlin-enchanted fighter of dragons and Earl of Cornwall – he secreted her away: to be raised a boy so that the family land and honour would remain intact.

That child’s name was Silence.

Silence must find their own place in a medieval world that is determined to place the many restrictions of gender and class upon them. With dreams of knighthood and a lonely heart to answer, Silence sets out to define themselves.

Soon their silence will be ended.



My Review

Silence, born a girl, raised a boy. The laws of the land that only males could inherit therefore Silence MUST be a boy. I had never heard of this medieval poem so this retelling was shiny brand new to me from all angles. We open in an old tavern with a bard telling the story of Silence and we go back to Silence's birth, why the law came into play that only males can inherit and Silence's life.

This is brilliant, different, unique (I felt) going back to a time when there is war, inheriting through marriage, birth, titles, land. Being raised as a boy, knowing you are different but not exactly why and living your life a lie, trying to constantly prove your worth. It is emotive in places, I really felt for Silence. Nothing was good enough, just wanting approval, only wanting to be a knight. Silence is such a good person, kind, honest and it is almost constantly used against them.

I don't generally read books like this and I am glad I got a chance to, historical fiction (I am coming more around and enjoying this genre), fantasy, gender vs sex, adventure, friendship, relationships, deceit, betrayal and even a wizard! There is just so much and for me it was fresh, different, new. I read a lot of books across genres but this was really different. I plan to hunt down the poem and have a read at it. When reading this I did find myself pondering life/situations for Silence then and for those in the LGBTQIA community now. I don't know if that was one of the authors goals in writing this but it certainly left me deep in thought. Sometimes you don't realise how much you take for granted purely because of how you were born/raised. 4.5/5 for me this time, this was my first time reading this author, I will be looking at their other work and other books in this kind of vein. It is thought provoking read and I think I will be thinking about this long after I put it down.

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The New Woman by Charity Norman

The New Woman by Charity Norman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2.5 days

Pages - 374

Publisher - Allen & Unwin

Blurb from Goodreads

Luke Livingstone is a lucky man. He's a respected solicitor, a father and grandfather, a pillar of the community. He has a loving wife and an idyllic home in the Oxfordshire countryside. Yet Luke is struggling with an unbearable secret, and it's threatening to destroy him.

All his life, Luke has hidden the truth about himself and his identity. It's a truth so fundamental that it will shatter his family, rock his community and leave him outcast. But Luke has nowhere left to run, and to continue living, he must become the person - the woman - he knows himself to be, whatever the cost.


My Review

Luke Livingstone is about to end his life, he has it all planned. He must save his family from his shame, he cannot live with his secret any longer. However, a chance encounter on a train makes Luke confront his demons and embrace his life long dream. In doing so and living the life he has always wanted, he may hurt everyone he loves and ruin everything he has ever known.

This is honestly not a book I would normally have picked up, just the title wouldn't grab me and I haven't heard of it before. This is the story of Luke Livingstone, coming to terms with what he has always known and embracing it. It is told through his voice and excerpts from Eilish, Luke, Kate, Lucia & a small part from Simon. How one mans actions and journeys can impact on a whole family and how they each deal with it.

It is a very emotive story, dealing with a subject that touches so many lives yet is still something we hear not very much of. Funnily enough, it isn't too long ago Caitlyn Jenner embraced the world, maybe this book and positive media may make it a more acceptable world so people aren't having to hide for years from who they really are.

The book examines relationships, friendships, love, fear, violence, marriage and trans gender related issues to name only some of the themes touched upon on this book. I found it hard to put down and I felt for most of the characters having to deal with such a huge issue it evoked empathy and really makes the reader think. 4/5 for me this time, this is my first time reading this author and I would read her again. Thanks so much to RealReaders for sending me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review and introducing me to a new author.

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