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wordsofclover's reviews
2109 reviews
The Children of Gods and Fighting Men by Shauna Lawless
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
It's 900 AD in viking era Ireland, and in this story we follow two gifted, driven women with different agendas. First is Gormflaith, a woman in possession of a special power due to her magical heritage, but one she has to keep secret. Gormflaith is determined to help her son Sitric gain the throne of Dublin and will get rid of anyone who is in her way. We also follow Fódla, part of the remaining descendants of the Tuatha de Danann and has the gift of healing. As Gormflaith helps Sitric, Fódla is charged with travelling to the home of King Brian Boru and spying on him and his troops.
I really enjoyed this brilliant foray into ancient Ireland. It really helped spark a new passion into trying to learn more about these old figures of history and well as ancient folklore and mythology connected to Ireland. I though the juxtaposition of Gormflaith and Fódla as our characters were brilliant as in the ways they are similar, both powerful in their own right but also beholden to the men in their lives, though while Fódla is gentle and kind, Gormflaith is ruthless and happy to kill those in the way even if they are innocent.
The author weaved true history in with fantasy and magic brilliantly - making the story unique and fun, yet still respecting the deep history and beliefs of ancient Ireland. Really looking forward to the next book and seeing how Gormlaith and Fódla's stories intermingle with that of Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf!
I really enjoyed this brilliant foray into ancient Ireland. It really helped spark a new passion into trying to learn more about these old figures of history and well as ancient folklore and mythology connected to Ireland. I though the juxtaposition of Gormflaith and Fódla as our characters were brilliant as in the ways they are similar, both powerful in their own right but also beholden to the men in their lives, though while Fódla is gentle and kind, Gormflaith is ruthless and happy to kill those in the way even if they are innocent.
The author weaved true history in with fantasy and magic brilliantly - making the story unique and fun, yet still respecting the deep history and beliefs of ancient Ireland. Really looking forward to the next book and seeing how Gormlaith and Fódla's stories intermingle with that of Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Minor: Sexual violence
All Her Fault by Andrea Mara
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
When Marissa shows up at a house of another parent to pick up her son from a play date, she's horrified to discover not only has she the wrong house but she has no idea where her son is. As an investigation begins, Marissa's parenting choices are put into question alongside that of another mother Jenny who ends up being linked to the case.
I really enjoyed this domestic suspense which I listened to on audiobook. The story was very fast-paced and gripping, and honestly it took me a while to really put everything together. I loved how we saw how hard it is to be a parent in the modern age when you are judged for pretty much everything - not only by peers but by spouses and family members as well. From judgy members of the PTA to the mother in law from hell, this book has it all in a style that reminded me a bit of Big Little Lies.
There were were perfect amount of red herrings in this book too to really move the story along in a clever way without the reader being made feel silly or pandered to. I enjoyed the conclusion of the story and I'll definitely be reading more Andrea Mara in the future.
I really enjoyed this domestic suspense which I listened to on audiobook. The story was very fast-paced and gripping, and honestly it took me a while to really put everything together. I loved how we saw how hard it is to be a parent in the modern age when you are judged for pretty much everything - not only by peers but by spouses and family members as well. From judgy members of the PTA to the mother in law from hell, this book has it all in a style that reminded me a bit of Big Little Lies.
There were were perfect amount of red herrings in this book too to really move the story along in a clever way without the reader being made feel silly or pandered to. I enjoyed the conclusion of the story and I'll definitely be reading more Andrea Mara in the future.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Death, and Violence
Girls Who Slay Monsters: Daring Tales of Ireland's Forgotten Goddesses by Ellen Ryan
adventurous
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Listen to the Land Speak: A Journey Into the Wisdom of what Lies Beneath Us by Manchán Magan
informative
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
4.0
Nora: A Love Story of Nora and James Joyce by Nuala O'Connor
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism and Mental illness
Minor: Forced institutionalization and War
Ordinary Human Failings by Megan Nolan
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism and Abortion
Minor: Child death, Violence, and Death of parent
A Maid on FifthbAvenue by Sinead Crowley
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Set in dual timelines - 1920s and 2022 - A Maid on Fifth Avenue tells the story of Annie Thornton who sets off for New York from County Kerry to look for a bigger life than the ones lived by her friends and family. As she settles into her new life as a maid for a wealthy family on Fifth Avenue, Annie meets Elena who ends up showing Annie a whole new way of loving someone than she thought possible.
In 2022, Emer is recovering from Covid burnout with a trip back home to her native Ireland and a summer stay at her parents holiday home where she befriends some locals and is brought into some family/local secrets that all end up connected back to Annie.
This was a fine read for me. I liked the emphasis on female friendship at the start of the novel between Annie and May, and then Annie and Noreen, and I thought Annie was a fine young woman, though it has to be said, I found her quite vanilla and boring - the same with Elena and her relationship with Annie. I was happy to see representation of a sapphic relationship in the book but I didn't feel anything for Annie and Elena, there wasn't really any chemistry between them and I thought declarations of love came very quickly. While I sympathised with Elena's situationsahip with her parents and her abusive boss/landlord, I also found her very weak and tiring as she complained to Annie about leaving her and never seeming to try and help her own situation.
I also found Annie's relationship with May at the end of the book very annoying as well - and ultimately I thought Annie's story ended up super depressing in how she put her life on hold, and stopped all of her own dreams to help other people. (view spoiler)
As for the modern part of the story, it was fine but I honestly think it added nothing other than the discovery of bones, and you could have had that bit as just an aside at the start and end of the books without actually having a 2022 storyline at all. I found some of the tensions between Emer and other characters just very odd- especially with Siobhan, and then the way Cian's story ended was very all over the place and didn't make much sense to me either as to character motivations.
In 2022, Emer is recovering from Covid burnout with a trip back home to her native Ireland and a summer stay at her parents holiday home where she befriends some locals and is brought into some family/local secrets that all end up connected back to Annie.
This was a fine read for me. I liked the emphasis on female friendship at the start of the novel between Annie and May, and then Annie and Noreen, and I thought Annie was a fine young woman, though it has to be said, I found her quite vanilla and boring - the same with Elena and her relationship with Annie. I was happy to see representation of a sapphic relationship in the book but I didn't feel anything for Annie and Elena, there wasn't really any chemistry between them and I thought declarations of love came very quickly. While I sympathised with Elena's situationsahip with her parents and her abusive boss/landlord, I also found her very weak and tiring as she complained to Annie about leaving her and never seeming to try and help her own situation.
I also found Annie's relationship with May at the end of the book very annoying as well - and ultimately I thought Annie's story ended up super depressing in how she put her life on hold, and stopped all of her own dreams to help other people. (view spoiler)
As for the modern part of the story, it was fine but I honestly think it added nothing other than the discovery of bones, and you could have had that bit as just an aside at the start and end of the books without actually having a 2022 storyline at all. I found some of the tensions between Emer and other characters just very odd- especially with Siobhan, and then the way Cian's story ended was very all over the place and didn't make much sense to me either as to character motivations.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Violence
The Woman They Could Not Silence: The Timeless Story of an Outspoken Woman and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear by Kate Moore
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Physical abuse
The Grass Ceiling: On Being a Woman in Sport by Eimear Ryan
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying