Hive (Madders of Time Book 1) - DL Orton

'In a crumbling biodome, surrounded by endless seas and swarms of microdrones, humanity's last survivors cling to hope.

For Isabel, a dying scientist, and Diego, the man she loves, time is running out—literally. The Earth is ravaged, and the biodome that was meant to save humanity is failing. But when Isabel stumbles upon a long-lost time bridge, the possibility of changing the past emerges, offering one final chance to rewrite history.

There's just one problem: only one person can make the jump.

As they grapple with the weight of impossible choices, love, and regret, Isabel and Diego must decide whether altering the course of time is worth the risk. Will their sacrifice save the future, or will tampering with the past ensure humanity's extinction?'

 Hive is a story of the last people on Earth and second chances and asks the question, if you could change the past to heal the future would you? Could you? I liked the ideas behind Hive a lot and, happily, it did not let me down.

From the get-go, in a broken biodome under attack by nature and science to the past, where we get to see our protagonists lives and how they are heading to 'now' the connection between Isabel and Diego is strong and made me really root for them to get everything right. The 'now' is a bleak time and the author makes that seem believable but the 'then' feels like 'hope' so there is a good mix to keep the reading fresh.

I did not know that this series is linked to another by the same author until I had started reading and saw posts from other reviewers so I will be going back to them soon while waiting for Madders of Time 2. 

Beyond The Treeline by Mark A Ellis

 

 

                       From the back cover

'In the late 21st century, in an unstable world wracked by climate change, brilliant scientist Sean Freeman has the answer - longevity. He knows long life breeds responsibility, for each other and the world.

Working with genius physicist Jess, Sean is convinced he’s going to secure the future of humanity – and maybe find his soulmate in the process.
But there is more to this miracle science than he knows and is being allowed to know. Not least, there are others in the shadows who would see him fail, at any cost. When the answers come, and he learns of Earth’s true purpose, it will take him on an epic voyage of discovery where he will be faced with the ultimate ethical dilemma.'

                          My Thoughts 

As someone who enjoys Sci-Fi and thrillers this debut from Mark A Ellis really ticked the boxes for me.

Set just in the future, where climate change has ravaged the planet Sean is working on a project to lengthen the human lifespan in the hopes of making humanity wise up and take more responsibility for our Earth (whichis actually a really good idea and certainly made me think).

To help him on his way he is mysteriously introduced to fellow scientist Jess and together they hit all the right buttons (as it were) and the project takes off . . . But someone (or someone's!) doesn't want their science to work and will do whatever it takes to stop them. 

I'll be honest, a lot of the science I didn't quite get but it is written in a way that kinda makes sense and Mark makes it sound like he knows what he's talking about (my gripe with Sci-Fi is that sometimes authors try to blind you with science and that was certainly NOT the case here).

As for the characters, again, really well done (there were several times when Sean had me, head in hands, thinking (dude, no, don't do that before he gets himself in a kerfuffle). The chemistry between him and Jess worked really well.

And that, my friends, is about as much as I can tell you. There are twists aplenty, some I saw coming, some I didn't and I will not drop spoilers. 

Beyond The Treeline is a twisty little tale that kept pulling the rug out from under me, just when I thought I had it sussed I was proved wrong. 

As a novel this is excellent, as a debut novel . . . Top notch and certainly puts Mark A Ellis on the 'Ones To Watch' list - more please. 

4.5/5*

The Less Unkind by Rosaria Georgi

 

 

Blurb

At the tender age of twenty-one, Pico’s world is one of linguistic puzzles and academic pursuits. A student at the University of Copenhagen, she is thrilled to get a summer job working for enigmatic antique dealer Antonio Bartram. When Antonio suddenly disappears leaving behind nothing but a series of cryptic messages, Pico decides to use her linguistic prowess to decode the clues – with fateful consequences.

As Pico investigates, she uncovers a labyrinthine plot that stretches back decades to the theft of a priceless Caravaggio from a church in Sicily. Caught in the crosshairs of an obsessive art collector, a police murder investigation and a Mafia-sanctioned vendetta, her quest takes her across Europe: from the shadows behind the veneer of Copenhagen’s Nordic serenity, down the sun-kissed streets of the Italian Riviera, and even along the secretive corridors of the Vatican.

As she fights to uncover the truth and witnesses the lengths one will go to protect the secrets of the past, Pico confronts the moral quandaries that emerge when the pursuit of art eclipses the bounds of right and wrong.

My thoughts 

 First things first, I found this book fascinating. I've always loved art, puzzles and travel so a story that covers all three ticks a lot of boxes for me. It's a steady pace to start with but soon picks up to the point that I was wondering what I could put off doing so I could have a few more minutes (oh, ok then,  hours but that's just between you and I 😉).

 The story starts from a kind of truth as the author did actually work for the art dealer formerly known as The Umbrella Assassin (below is a note from the author which came with the assets - in a bottle no less)

but the story belongs to Pico. And what a joy she is to travel along on this journey with. She's clever, sparky, speaks several languages and, really, for a 21 year old should be quite annoying but she comes across as someone you can rely on for the little things as well as the 'brains' stuff. When you have to remind yourself to 'take a breath, she'll be fine' it's clear the author is doing a good job.

The puzzles side of things was well done, it's easy to see there could be more to the great works of art than just a composition on a board or paper and, again, this was really well handled and kept me thinking throughout. 

It is clear Rosaria Georgi knows her stuff and with The Less Unkind she knows how to tell a tale, hook the reader in and left me wanting more.

A job well done . . . 5*

Thanks to Jane at Midas for inviting me onto the blog tour and providing both the review copy and the assets (neither of which influenced this review at all, all views and opinions are my own)

Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory by Yaroslav Barsukov

                                                         

Today is my spot on the Blog Tour for Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory by Yaroslav Barsukov

                      FROM THE BACK PAGE

'Refusing the queen’s order to gas a crowd of protesters, Minister Shea Ashcroft is banished to the border to oversee the construction of the biggest defensive tower in history. However, the use of technology taken from refugees from another reality makes the tower volatile and dangerous, becoming a threat to local political interests. Shea has no choice but to fight the ruling hierarchy to ensure the construction succeeds—and to reclaim his own. 

MY THOUGHTS

I first heard of this when the author was at WorldCon in Glasgow earlier this year and posted that he had early copies. I wasn't there myself but we chatted online and he arranged to send me a copy in exchange for a fair review. Friends, I snapped his hand off (not literally, obviously, that would be a terrible thing to do to an author) at this offer. 

At this point I will state that all views and opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.

Anyway, the book turned up days later, I read the first chapter and was hooked straight away . . .

Below is the printed plastic tower which was part of the publicity push from the book. It is a copy of the tower on the front cover - and what a glorious cover it is too. Something else that drew me in (whoever said never judge a book by its cover was misinformed).

I delayed my read as Publication Day was a way off and I had a holiday abroad coming up. I always take my kindle on holiday (well, to be fare I take it everywhere) but also a paperback or two. Sleeping Worlds was the first thing I packed in my case.

We got where we were going, the weather was glorious, plenty of time to just chill out.

But what about the book? Was it any good? Did it live up to my expectations? . . .

Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory is the story of Shea Ashcroft, a former Minister who is sent into what is basically a form of exile by the Queen after he refused her orders to gas a crowd in the streets. He is posted to the border to oversee the building of a humungous tower. When he gets there everything is not as it should be. Unstable technology from a different reality is being used and the whole thing is just a bomb waiting to blow.

And then things really get interesting.

Shea has to rub a lot of people up the wrong way to make sure the tower can be finished, there is an assassination attempt, there is a portal to 'elsewhere' and all the time he is fighting his inner demons and trying to 'do the right thing'. It truly is a hell of a ride.

Describing Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory is a task in itself - it is Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Political Thriller and oh so much more all wrapped up in one marvellous, enthralling story that pulls you in and doesn't let go (I am currently on my second re-read and still loving it). The writing is such that the world has true depth and when I was reading it I felt I was there - smells, sounds, atmosphere of the place.

The best advice I can give is go grab a copy and see for yourself.

My final rating for Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory is 6/5* (my blog, my rules 😜)

 

Thank you to Black Crow PR for inviting me onto this tour and to the author for sending me the review copy. As I said earlier all views and opinions are my own.

So, while I am on the subject of just how good this book is I may as well let you all know . . .

Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory is my choice for The BlogCave Book Of The Year 2024

The Whispering Night by Susan Dennard

 

FROM THE BACK PAGE

'Winnie Wednesday's future is looking bright. Hemlock Falls is no longer hunting the werewolf, she and Erica Thursday are tentative friends, and Winnie finally knows exactly where she stands with Jay Friday.

With everything finally on track, Winnie is looking forward to the Nightmare Masquerade, a week-long celebration of all things Luminary. But as Luminaries from across the world flock to the small town, uninvited guests also arrive.

Winnie is confronted by a masked Diana and charged with an impossible task--one that threatens everything and everyone Winnie loves.

As Winnie fights to stop new enemies before time runs out, old mysteries won't stop intruding. Her missing father is somehow entangled with her search for hidden witches, and as Winnie digs deeper into the long-standing war between the Luminaries and the Dianas, she discovers rifts within her own family she never could have imagined.

What does loyalty mean when family and enemies look the same?

The forest is more dangerous than ever as secrets are revealed in this highly-anticipated, swoon-worthy conclusion to the bestselling Luminaries trilogy.'

                                                      MY THOUGHTS

Well, that was a hell of a final book. Things are starting to look up for Winnie, all the fun of the Nightmare Masquerade is in sight . . . Yeah, that's not going to last long!!

As you would expect with the final book in a series The Whispering Night (published November 19th from Daphne Press) soon kicks off, then it is more or less foot to the floor right the way through to the end. I lost count of how many "just one more page" moments I had reading this. 

The world building continued to be excellent, the characters generally carried on growing into themselves and lots of questions from previous books were answered (seriously, don't go into this without having read the previous books). There were new enemies to fight - always a good thing. All boxes were well and truly ticked for me.

Was I target audience for this book? Most likely not but that's never stopped me before. The name of Susan Dennard on the cover is a deal breaker for me. I was there at the beginning of the Witchlands series and have not been disappointed yet - and with The Whispering Night that continues to be the case.

Many thanks to Black Crow PR for inviting me onto this tour and to Daphne Press for providing the review copy. All views and opinions are my own.

2 Dumb Dinos by Nathan Hamill and Eric Filipkowski

 

2 Dumb Dinos is a collection of short comic strips, the kind you'd expect to find in the funnies section of the newspapers. The Dinos in question are Scumbag and Dingus and really, with names like that you can guess what's ahead.

The short stories (generally between 4-7 panels) cover various subjects but usually boil down to one or both of the Dinos saying something . . . well, dumb.

The humour here may, at times, sit more with the American audience but I enjoyed it a lot. I chuckled a lot, i laughed out loud a few times.

2 Dumb Dinos is a very nicely presented book and one I will be keeping close by. Sometimes, when the day isn't going your way you need a chuckle to raise your spirits and 2 Dumb Dinos is just the tonic in that situation. 

Thanks to Titan Comics for providing the review copy and inviting me onto the blog tour.

The Other People by C B Everett

 

Well, I guess this is my first 5* read for 2025.

10 people wake up in a big sprawly house, in rooms that seem pretty much like their own and with no idea of how they got there. The doors are locked, the windows are shuttered and they have 12 hours to find a missing girl.

All while they are being picked off, one by one.

Billed as 'And Then There Were None meets Shutter Island' I had a pretty good idea of what was going on and while I was correct to a point I was also way off the mark as well. There is a lot going on here and some truly heartbreaking moments (Cerys - you'll know when you get there).

This book had me hooked from day 1

Thanks to Jamie-Lee and Black Crow PR for allowing me early access to this book