Review: Forging Silver into Stars by Brigid Kemmerer

I loved Brigid Kemmerer's earlier series, The Cursebreakers, which was about an American teenager (Harper) finding her way into an alternative world called Emberfall, where she meets Prince Rhen and his bodyguard Grey, and where magic is real and deadly. (There are three books in that series: A Curse So Dark and Lonely #1, A Heart So Fierce and Broken #2, and A Vow so Bold and Deadly #3.)

This story, Forging Silver into Stars, takes place four years after that series and follows one of the supporting characters, Tycho, along with two new characters, Jax and Callyn, who live in an almost forgotten village on the border between Emberfell and Syhl Shallow. There are new heroes and villains, along with several old friends. You don't need to have read the earlier series first, but you would get more from the story if you do.

Jax is the main protagonist; a young blacksmith who has coped well with losing his foot in an accident. He works hard to keep his father's forge open, despite his father's regular trips to the local pub. Likewise, Callyn is running her family's bakery and looking after her younger sister. Both have reasons to distrust magic, which was outlawed in their country until very recently, and both are struggling financially. They don't care about politics, just keeping food on their tables and paying their taxes. When a strange woman arrives at the forge, asking for Jax's absent father to keep a message for her, Jax volunteers to keep it safe. He'll earn valuable silver and, after all, what harm can passing on a message do?

Forging Silver into Stars is a thrilling adventure story featuring first love, friendships, and shifting allegiances. Brigid Kemmerer is brilliant at world building and I was soon sucked into the rising tensions between Emberfall and Syhl Shallow. There's lots of grey area between the good guys and the bad! There are wrong choices made for right reasons, and soon Jax and Callyn's life-long friendship is severely put to the test!

Forging Silver into Stars doesn't end on a cliff hanger but there are several threads that can be explored further, hopefully with lots more books! (I suspect the next one might feature Alek!) I would also love to find out more about Nakiis and the Scravers. Forging Silver into Stars was one of my favourite reads this year. Would suit fans of Naomi Novik (Uprooted) and Katharine Arden (Winternight trilogy).

Thank you to Brigid Kemmerer and Bloomsbury for my copy of this book, which I requested via NetGalley and reviewed voluntarily.

Review: The Last Summer (#1 The Wild Isle) by Karen Swan

I love Karen Swan and was really excited to read her new historical novel. It's a departure from her usual women's fiction/Christmas novels but just as fabulous!

Set in 1930, teenager Effie Gillies lives on the remote island of St Kilda, one of a dwindling population of only 36 people. It is a harsh life, with no amenities and a constant battle against the elements. Due to her elder brother's death and her father's growing frailty, Effie has become the family's main wage earner. She dresses like one of the men, hunts for their food and is one of the best climbers on the island. However, a daring stunt to win a race down the cliff-face against one of the island boys inadvertently impresses two important visitors to the island: the Earl of Dumfries and his twenty-three-year-old son Sholto. The Earl is obsessed with collecting rare bird's eggs and hires Effie to show him and Sholto the island, much to the annoyance of the other villagers. Having much in common (apart from from their class) Effie and Sholto soon become friends but will their friendship survive the islanders' evacuation to the mainland, where it soon becomes clear Sholto lives in a whole other world?

The Last Summer is a poignant story of first love. Effie and Sholto come from very different backgrounds but share a love of outdoor life and nature, particularly birds. When the islanders vote to be evacuated to mainland Scotland, it is a huge culture shock for Effie, who is used to the freedoms of island life and being treated like a man. She wears a too-big skirt held up by a bent nail, walks around barefoot and has never seen her reflection in a mirror. Now she is forced to conform and hide who she really is.

Running alongside Effie and Sholto's fledgling romance is a tale of murder and intrigue. While Effie manages to win over new friends and colleagues with her artless charm, she also makes dangerous enemies. What really happened on that last day on the island and will it come back to haunt her?

Meticulously researched, The Last Summer is one of those books that makes you believe you are actually there, from the wilds of St Kilda to a stately home in Scotland - Downton Abbey fans will love that part! The characters are brilliant and I particularly loved Effie. The only snag for me was that the book ended very abruptly, on a major cliff-hanger! Aargh! 

However, The Last Summer is a five-star read and I have no hesitation in recommending it to Karen Swan's fans and anyone who loves historical fiction with a strong sense of place.

Thank you to Karen Swan and Pan for my copy of this book, which I requested from NetGalley and reviewed voluntarily.

Related Posts:

The Christmas Party by Karen Swan
The Hidden Beach by Karen Swan

Together by Christmas by Karen Swan

The Secret Path by Karen Swan

Midnight in the Snow by Karen Swan

Review: When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

I chose this book  because I was intrigued by the cover and the blurb - who wouldn't want to read a book about women turning into dragons?!!

Alex's mother (Bertha) has been ill so her Aunt Marla has been looking after both her and the home - Alex's father considers housework and childcare a woman's responsibility. Marla is a strong independent woman who flew planes and now works as a mechanic, Bertha had the potential to be a world class mathematician but gave it all up to be a wife and mother. When Bertha returns from hospital and gradually regains her strength, she clashes with Marla over the way Alex is being brought up and suggests Marla marries and has a child of her own - which she does. But strong women can only be kept down for so long. A short time later, hundreds of thousands of ordinary wives and mothers sprout wings, scales and talons, leaving a trail of fiery destruction in their path - and several charred husbands. You'd think this would be headline news but instead the world prefers to pretend that it never happened...

When Women Were Dragons is a coming-of-age story set in the 1950s/60s in an alternative reality. We follow Alex as she grows to adulthood, being put down at school so that the male pupils can shine, told to forget about studying for a degree - such a waste for someone destined to become a wife and mother - and forbidden to see her dearest friend Sonja again because their relationship is 'inappropriate'.

When Women Were Dragons is brilliantly written and an extremely clever idea - I'd love to see it filmed! I loved the characters of Marla and Beatrice, both chaffing at being told what they love is wrong (but going ahead and doing it anyway!) and I felt the frustrations of Alex as she is denied every opportunity just because she's a woman. I particularly enjoyed the author's notes on her inspiration for the story. The only problem I had was with the pace. The story took a while to get past all the references to the 'Mass Dragoning' (which we didn't actually see) and into new territory, but I adored the ending.

Recommended for anyone looking to read something a little bit different!

Thank you to Kelly Barnhill and Hot Key Books (Bonnier Books) for my copy of this book, which I requested via NetGalley and reviewed voluntarily.