Resourceful Living by Lisa Dawson - Blog Tour Review

Today on Life Of A Nerdish Mum I am taking part in the blog tour for Resourceful Living by Lisa Dawson and I a sharing my review. A big thank you to the author and Anne Cater of Random Things Tours. 

Resourceful Living

It's often thought that restyling your space comes with a hefty price tag and unavoidable waste. But in Resourceful Living, award-winning interiors blogger Lisa Dawson shows how with a little creativity, you can revamp your home with existing pieces, vintage finds and key purchases.
The clever ideas in this beautiful book cover the most important ways we use our homes, from eating to sleeping, living and working. Starting with The Basics, Lisa shares tricks for steering clear of interiors 'fast fashion', re-purposing favorite furniture and making the most of what you have. In Styling Your Home, she offers simple solutions for re-imagining each room, from gallery walls to home bars, repainted furniture to retro accessories.
Including her top ten key vintage buys and a guide to thrifting, as well Lisa's inspiring advice about the fun of creative sourcing as a more sustainable way to keep your home feeling fresh.

My Review

Coming out of lockdown a lot of people have completed some amazing home renovations and beautified rooms with simple tricks and honestly I would have loved to join in. Now that things are easing, I have the headspace to start thinking of projects and plans, and reading Resourceful Living has been a wonderful inspiration! 

All the photos are absolutely stunning and even without reading anything, just flipping through is such a relaxing and inspiring experience. I've tabbed so many pages of my favourite pictures ready for going forward with my ideas. 

The whole book is written with a friendly tone and it almost feels as if you are chatting with a friend and they're offering suggestions on the best ways to get things done. There's ideas and suggestions for everything and everywhere you could think of in your home. 

I really enjoyed the case studies and in particular the mood boards which showed more the decision process and colour choices. Not every design or idea will be for everybody, but there's plenty of choice as you go through. I'm a big fan of pre loved and thrifting, so the tips were very helpful and can be used for more than just furnishings. 

Overall a really wonderful, aesthetically pleasing and inspirational read that I will be referencing a lot over the next few months. A definite 5 stars from me. 

About The Author

Lisa Dawson is a multi-award-winning interiors blogger, writer, workshop presenter and social media influencer. She writes a popular weekly blog, is a regular contributor to Frank magazine and creates professional social media content for brands such as John Lewis and Loaf Home. She is co-founder of the popular Instagram hashtag #MyHomeVibe which had over 1.5 million posts and was the first UK-based interiors community hashtag when it launched in 2016. She lives in York with her husband, three children and a badly behaved Lhasa Apso called Buddy. Lisa shares her home inspiration on her Instagram @_lisa_dawson_ and www.lisadawsonstyling.com

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Shadows Of Hell by Duncan Thompson - Blog Tour Review

 

Today on Life Of A Nerdish Mum I'm finishing out the blog tour for Shadows Of Hell by Duncan Thompson with my review of the book. A big thanks to the author and Emma Welton of DampPebbles Blog Tours.

Shadows Of Hell 

When a man of heavenly worth sins in Hell, darkness shall reign upon the earth

A message from the other side - an omen of the impending apocalypse. A message intended for one man, the only man who can prevent Armageddon, saving the soul of every man, woman and child on Earth. That man is Joe Costello.

But, not only is Joe trapped in the underworld, he is also the same man who has the power to unleash the shadows of hell upon the world.

Inspired by Dante Alighieri's The Divine Comedy, Joe must battle his way through the nine circles of Hell - his escape being the key to salvation. Not only will he face all manner of Hell's demons, he'll also face his own.

However, Joe is not alone on his journey, as he is guided through each level of Hell by medium and psychic, Layla Thorne. Shadows of Hell is the epic follow-up to Shadows of the Woods.

My Review

What a book!! I was really grabbed by the blurb so jumped at the opportunity to read Shadows Of Hell. I'm definitely glad that I did. 

I fell in love with the characters. Considering it's quite a short book, the characters are very well developed and you feel a connection sign them. The dark humour was really well done too and made me chuckle when I really shouldn't have! 

I'm a big fan of Dante's Divine Comedy, I was intrigued to see what the author did with the story and I was not disappointed, Duncan Thompson takes the nine levels of hell and ramps up the volume all the way to 11! The level of gore could be too much for some people, but it's done so well and it fit perfectly for me. 

The book is fast paced and sharp witted and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute! I read in one sitting, cringing at some points and laughing at others! I wish I'd read Shadows Of The Woods first, but I don't feel it affected my reading experience too much, plus I now get to go and read that. 

This is a definite recommendation from me and a full 5 stars! 

About The Author

Duncan Thompson has spent most of his life in a small market town in West Yorkshire -- the same town in which most of his stories are set under the guise of Ravenfield. Duncan has been writing works of fiction since the age of seven. In those early days, his stories often involved himself and his friends being transported to fantasy worlds. However, as a teenager, Duncan fell in love with horror movies and his writing took a whole new direction.

Duncan works in financial services and lives with his partner and their two young children. He also has slight obsession with Spider-Man, the actor Bruce Campbell, as well as having an addiction to vinyl records, coffee and Lego.

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Notebook by Tom Cox - Blog Tour Review

 

Today on Life Of A Nerdish Mum, I can barely contain my excitement as I am sharing my review of Tom Cox's newest book, Notebook. I am a big fan of his work and am always honoured to be part of blog tours celebrating his publications. A big thank you to the author and Anne Cater of Random Things Tours. 

Notebook

Sure, sex is great, but have you ever cracked open a new notebook and written

something on the first page with a really nice pen?

The story behind Notebook starts with a minor crime: the theft of Tom Cox's

rucksack from a Bristol pub in 2018. In that rucksack was a journal containing

ten months worth of notes, one of the many Tom has used to record his

thoughts and observations over the past twelve years. It wasn't the best he had

ever kept – his handwriting was messier than in his previous notebook, his

entries more sporadic – but he still grieved for every one of the hundred or so

lost pages.

This incident made Tom appreciate how much notebook-keeping means to

him: the act of putting pen to paper has always led him to write with an

unvarnished, spur-of-the-moment honesty that he wouldn’t achieve on-screen.

Here, Tom has assembled his favourite stories, fragments, moments and ideas

from those notebooks, ranging from memories of his childhood to the

revelation that 'There are two types of people in the world. People who fucking

love maps, and people who don't.'

The result is a book redolent of the real stuff of life, shot through with Cox’s

trademark warmth and wit.

My Review

What a well needed breath of fresh air Notebook is. Tom Cox absolutely astounds me every single time I read one of his books as I can't believe the amount of whimsy he captures in his work. I definitely feel he has been blessed by the fairies with his talent. 

Notebooks theselves are a magical force, which anyone who is a fan of stationery can attest. You can leave your thoughts in them, come back at a completely differet time in your life and add more. This magic is what Tom Cox seems to have channelled with his collected thoughts gathered not neccessarily in order, but in a way that shows what caught his attention at the time. Sometimes it jumps from thought to thought and it made me chuckle at points as my husband says that's what it's like having a conversation with me. 

The art included by Cox's parents add to both the overall beauty of Notebook (Tom Cox's books are always absolutely stunning both inside and out) and I felt priviledged that not only had he shared his musings and thoughts, but he had shared a bit of his parents too. 

Reading Notebook, is a very hard experience to explain, but I felt so light and happy while reading and I felt I was left with an almost afterglow as I processed what I had read and thought on my own notebooks and journals.

I think this is my favourite book to date and as always I will wait patiently and excitedly for whatever Tom Cox brings out next. 

I gave this book 5 stars and would have given it more!

About The Author

Tom Cox lives in Norfolk. He is the author of the Sunday Times bestselling The

Good, The Bad and The Furry and the William Hill Sports Book longlisted Bring Me

the Head of Sergio Garcia. 21st-Century Yokel was longlisted for the Wainwright

Prize, and the titular story of Help the Witch won a Shirley Jackson Award.

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Understanding Kids by Tanith Carey - Blog Tour Review

 

Today on Life Of A Nerdish Mum I'm sharing my review of What's My Child Thinking and What's My Teenager Thinking by Tanith Carey. A big thank you to the author and Anne Cater of Random Things Tours. 

What's My Child Thinking

Find out what your child really means when he says "Look what I did", "But I'm not tired," or "You're embarrassing me," and discover what's really going on when he can't express himself at all.

Using more than 100 everyday scenarios, the book leads you through each one step by step, explaining not only your child's behavior and the psychology behind it but also your own feelings as a parent. It then gives instant recommendations for what you could say and do in response to best resolve the situation.

Covering all your child's developmental milestones from ages 2 to 7 years, What's My Child Thinking? covers important issues, such as temper tantrums, friendships (real and imaginary), sibling rivalry, aggressive behavior, and peer pressure. There's also a bank of practical "survival guides" for critical times, such as traveling in the car, eating out, and going online safely.

Rooted in evidence-based clinical psychology and championing positive parenting, What's My Child Thinking? will help you tune in to your child's innermost thoughts and be the parent you want to be.

My Review

As parent to a two year old, 7 year old and 12 year old, I was extremely interested in both What's My Child Thinking and What's My Teenager Thinking as they cover the whole range of ages. 

The format, style and illustrations are incredibly well organised and very easy to navigate in both books. The illustrations are also beautiful and easy to look at, I really enjoyed them. 

The way the sections are broken down into different age groups was really helpful and easy to pick out just the age you were interested in if you choose not to read through all ages at the same time. 

There is a lot of very valuable and obviously well researched information throughout. Though some suggestions may not work for all parenting types, it's still nice to be given ideas on what may possibly work or help in different situations. I personally also found it helpful that there were possibilities for what a parent could be thinking or feeling in certain situations rather than just the child. I felt it gave a much more informed and wider information. 

I found that the What's My Teenager Thinking was a lot more useful in my life as though I once was a teenager, it was a long time ago! Toddlers and slightly older children have quite simple needs overall, but when hormones hit things become more complicated. I really felt that I learnt some coping skills for both me and my pre teen going forward and hopefully that'll mean that we can get through this next period of her life together and with less stress. 

I really enjoyed both books and will be referencing back to them now that they're on my shelves. I'll also be lending out What's My Child Thinking to some friends who are going to be parents soon as I think it'll be a valuable read for them. 

I gave these books 5 stars 

About The Author

Tanith Carey is a parenting author who writes on the most pressing challenges facing today’s parents. Her 11 books include ‘Taming the Tiger Parent’, 'Girls, Uninterrupted, and ‘The Friendship Maze’. Tanith also writes on parenting, psychology and social trends for publications all over the world, and has appeared on TV and radio programmes, such as NBC Today in the US, Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and You and Yours, ITV’s This Morning, the Lorraine show, and Good Morning Britain. Tanith has two teenage daughters.

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Watery Through The Gaps by Emma Blas - Blog Tour Review by

I'm excited today to be taking part in the blog tour for Watery Through The Gaps by Emma Blas. I'm sharing my review of this lovely collection of poems. A big thank you to the author and Anne Cater of Random Things Tours. 

Watery Through The Gaps

A compelling collection that slips between the crevices of the skin and buries itself into your bones."

 

'Watery Through the Gaps' is a book for those waking to the realisation that there is more outside than just us. It is for those of us who long to bridge the chasm between the human and earth experience. These poems are stepping stones leading us through the water. Following the river will lead us home and we will never be alone again.

 

In Emma Blas' second collection of poems, she invites you into dialogue with the sea, taking you into the depths and leaving you wondering whether you can trust the current. Despite the terrifying tug of the undertow, we are exactly where we are meant to be.

 

If you like poetry that ripples through the depths of the self, against the mirror of the natural world, this book is for you.

My Review

I had such an emotional journey while reading Watery Through The Gaps. Having lost two very close family members not long before reading this, I wasn't sure if it'd be too soon, but it turned out to be just what I needed. 

The theme of water felt very personal and has so many different meanings and interpretations. I'm always drawn to water and so it felt like the poems were speaking to me directly. What added to this was the lack of capital letters, it made it feel to me like it was my voice. I feel this made me more involved and almost like the stories were coming from me. 

The mix of nature with emotions work so beautifully. It's such a natural and powerful way to view grief, loss and other emotions.

Normally I plan to read poem anthologies by dipping in and out, but always end up reading them through all in one go. With the emotions evoked in Watery Through The Gaps though, I did find myself putting my book down for a while just to give myself time to think and digest what I had read. 

An absolutely stunning read and one I will be recommending and passing on. 

I gave this book 5 stars. 

About The Author

Emma Blas lives near gijón in spain. her poetry explores transitions, shifts of phase and form in the natural world. you will find her at the beach, walking through the dramatic landscape of asturias, or with her hands in the soil, trying to learn from the earth. it is these crossing points between the physical, psychological and imagined states of life that are painted in her poetry.

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The Last Witch by Sabina Gabrielli Carrara - Blog Tour Review

 

Today on Life Of A Nerdish Mum, I am happy to be sharing my thoughts about The Last Witch by Sabina Gabrielli Carrara. A big thank you to the author and Emma Welton of Damppebbles Blog Tours. 

The Last Witch

Back in 1974, the dormant Irish village of Seacross is shocked by the gruesome circumstances of young Margaret Morehouse’s death. Forty-five years later history seems to repeat itself and the quiet life of the coastal Irish village is suddenly shaken by a series of ritualistic murders. Someone had broken the pact of secrecy to obtain justice, but if the truth comes out nobody will be spared, from the future Taoiseach to the local men of power.

My Review 

I absolutely and thoroughly enjoyed The Last Witch. After an extremely shocking opening, the story starts on a slow burn before picking up pace towards the end. I found this really worked for me as it caught me with the murder in the first chapter and then I kept thinking "just one more chapter" because I wanted to know what happened. 

The mystery is masterfully done and I was kept guessing, I really should keep records of my theories in future to compare them to the actual outcome. 

Billy McCabe is more of your traditional old fashioned officers, but he's likeable and I like the fact he has a wife (and dog). His character development throughout is believable and I enjoyed seeing how he dealt with things. 

I felt like Seacross was a character in itself, I love tiny rural villages where everyone knows everything and everyone. It always gives the feel that there's something going on. I could also picture it perfectly from the beautiful description. 

Overall a incredible book and I will be finding other books by Sabina Gabrielli Carrara to go back and read. A definite recommendation from me. 

I gave this book 5 stars. 

About The Author 

Italian Ireland-based author of murder mysteries with a psychological twist, after a degree in History and Philosophy and some experience in Human resources, Sabina decided to go back to her old passion: writing.

She is a published author in Denmark and currently living in the little village of Balrothery in North Co. Dublin with her husband, their two daughters and three dogs.

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Wild Whispers (Adult Wellness Sessions) With Wild One Adventures

 

If you went down to the woods on Wednesday, you be sure to find a small group of people having the most amazing time. 

Everyone who knows me even slightly, knows how much I absolutely love Wild One Adventures and how I make sure that Thea attends every session, so when I had the opportunity to attend a demo session for grown up Wild Ones you know I was right in there! 

We met up at 7PM and we were welcomed with a sign and fairy lights and lanterns leading us toward a fire.

When we'd all arrived, we sat down on wooden toadstools (me more carefully than most as the first time I'd sat on one I fell off backwards haha) and Louise welcomed us and explained what her thoughts were about the session and introduced us to Nicky. Nicky talked a bit about wellness and meditation. Though most of us knew each other or at least recognised each other from Wild One Adventures sessions, we went round and chatted about what we do and the kind of outdoor activities we all get up to. It was so nice chatting to other people who are like minded and in such a relaxed and friendly way. 

Once we were all introduced and relaxed we all went and got in a hammock. I've never been in a hammock before and was quite worried I'd end up flinging myself across the woods! Luckily Louise was lovely enough to talk me through sitting in and give me a helping hand and I got in safely. In our hammocks, we could meditate if we chose, nap or just take time to relax. 

The feeling of being in the hammock was lovely, it gently hugged my arms against me and it was so comfortable for my back. I loved looking up through the trees to see the fading daylight and listening to the rain dropping through the leaves and the river running nearby. I could quite happily have dozed off had I stayed in it longer.  

After a length of time, we could either spend longer in the hammock or come back round the fire. We all chose to go back round the fire and we all talked about how much we enjoyed the hammock experience.

We'd been asked to bring mugs and honestly I'd expected either tea or maybe hot chocolate...I was very wrong! Our choices were mulled wine of Baileys! Originally I was going to have a mulled wine, but Louise mentioned toasting a marshmallow and then dunking it in the Baileys, I WAS SOLD. It was quite possibly the most decadent experience I've ever had haha! 

Overall this was the most relaxing, friendly and freeing "adventures" I've ever had. It was something I needed so badly with everything over the past couple of years and I felt so light and positive afterwards. If you get the opportunity to take part and book into one of these sessions, I urge you to do it! 

The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart - Blog Tour Review

Today on Life Of A Nerdish Mum I am excited to be part of the blog  tour for The Bone Shard Daughter. A big thank you to the author and Tracy Fenton of Compulsive Readers for having me along. 

The Bone Shard Daughter 

In an empire controlled by bone shard magic, Lin, the former heir to the emperor will fight to reclaim her magic and her place on the throne. The Bone Shard Daughter marks the debut of a major new voice in epic fantasy.

The emperor's reign has lasted for decades, his mastery of bone shard magic powering the animal-like constructs that maintain law and order. But now his rule is failing, and revolution is sweeping across the Empire's many islands.

Lin is the emperor's daughter and spends her days trapped in a palace of locked doors and dark secrets. When her father refuses to recognise her as heir to the throne, she vows to prove her worth by mastering the forbidden art of bone shard magic.

Yet such power carries a great cost, and when the revolution reaches the gates of the palace, Lin must decide how far she is willing to go to claim her birthright - and save her people.

My Review

Wow!! If I could get away with a one word review for this absolutely amazing book, then Wow pretty much covers it. I don't feel I've the right vocabulary for how much I enjoyed The Bone Shard Daughter, but I'll give it a go. 

I really enjoy a multiple POV (point of view) story, but it has to be really well written to pull it off. Andrea Stewart is like some sort of magician with how the story flows effortlessly between POVs as well as perspectives. Each character has their own feel and voice and I didn't feel any we're interchangeable. I flew through the book because I kept wanting to know what would happen with the next person.

The characters themselves were also really well developed, even the less focal characters. I really felt like I knew each one and I was invested in their stories right from the beginning. The relationships are also done beautifully in my opinion and seem very organic and real. 

The Bone Shard Daughter is a slower paced debut (and first in series) which I really enjoyed. I loved being part of the build up towards the deeper parts of the story instead big just being thrown right in the deep end. I'm chomping at the bit now, ready for the next book. I need more from the world and author! 

I would really recommend The Bone Shard Daughter and the hype really is deserved for this book. I gave it 5 stars. 

About The Author

Andrea Stewart is the Chinese American daughter of immigrants, and was raised in a number of places across the United States. Her parents always emphasized science and education, so she spent her childhood immersed in Star Trek and odd-smelling library books. When her (admittedly ambitious) dreams of becoming a dragon slayer didn't pan out, she instead turned to writing books. She now lives in sunny California, and in addition to writing, can be found herding cats, looking at birds, and falling down research rabbit holes.

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Glamping With Wild One Adventures!

I've been trying to write an Instagram post or a review all week, but nothing felt right. So I've decided a chatty blog post was the best idea. 

Last weekend was the last weekend of the summer holidays after obviously a very weird and difficult year so far. I'd wanted to do something special for Tristan and spend some time just one on one with him, but hadn't a clue what to do. 

I'd seen that Wild One Adventures had started offering glamping experiences in people's gardens, which I thought was amazing, but sadly something my back yard would not accommodate. As lockdown restrictions lifted, I noticed they had started offering the experiences at Brocklehead Farm and Caravan Site, so I asked about it and ended up booking for the 29th of August. 

As the time approached I'd let Tristan know our plans and he was ridiculously excited. He's never been camping before so it was going to be a new experience for him making it even more special. He counted down the days and talked about it constantly. 

On the day I was both excited and nervous as I wanted him to love it as much as I knew I would. 

Nerdish Dad dropped us off at the gates and the entrance was so lovely with a carved welcome sign. 

And we walked down to our pitch. I was pleasantly surprised with how many people were there and how the site was all laid out around a playground for the kids. On our pitch, our canvas teepee was all set up and outdoors there was a firepit and table and chairs all ready for us. 

Honestly I was impressed enough with just the outside, but when I opened up the tent I cried and Tristan whooped. It was so unbelievably stunning. 

It was so welcoming and Louise (Wild One Adventures) had thought of everything. There was lego and other bits for Tristan to play with and there was gin and Eccles cakes for me. We spent time exploring the tent and then we went looking for the loos and shower block. It might sound strange, but I've never seen such beautiful campsite facilities before and they were incredibly clean.

I then sat and just took in all the outstanding views and enjoyed my brew from my flask while Tristan was building all sorts of creations with the Lego. 

We did have a sprinkling of rain, but it didn't stop us from sitting by the fire - which I managed to light effortlessly - and enjoying the outdoors. 

For tea I had brought a picnic and we sat in the tent to eat and talk. Tristan tried an Eccles cake for the first time and he's definitely a fan! 

By this time it was about half 7 and Tristan was itching to go and play on the playground. I was a bit nervous as there were quite a few other children, but I didn't need to be. He made friends and they were all playing socially distanced games, like Touchless Tig, the rules of which changed constantly! 

While supervising, I sat quietly and really took time to focus on the moment. Listening to the kids laughing, feeling the cool breeze that was bringing the smells of someone's barbecue and watching the sun as it set was the most perfect moment I could have asked for. I haven't felt so light in a long time. As the sun was finally setting, Tristan came to join me and we watched it together. Another first time experience for him.

As it went dark we wandered back to our tent and got ourselves ready for bed and piled blankets on top of us as it'd got a bit chilly by this stage. Louise (Wild One Adventures) had left a pack of Uno cards for us to use and though neither of us had any idea what we were doing, we had the most amazing time just laughing and making it up as we went along, playing by fairy lights. This has to be one of my favourite memories from the whole experience and I know it's one of Tristan's too as he's told other people about it. 

We settled down for the best nights sleep I've had in a long time! 

In the morning, Tristan woke at seven as usual and he had us dressed and at the playground in record time! We did go say hi to the cows first though. I let him play for an hour or so while I enjoyed the views and then we sorted out breakfast before being picked up to go home. 

I cannot recommend this whole thing enough. Louise has made glamping even better in my opinion with all the thought and love and care that she puts into the whole thing. And Brocklehead Farm and Caravan Site is a perfect destination whether you're local or not. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect way to spend time with my boy and to treat him for coping with everything so well. He wanted to stay a second night and is already asking what dates I've booked next year. 

It's turned into quite a long post and I really hope I've done the experience justice.

The Naseby Horses by Dominic Brownlow - Blog Tour Review

Today on Life Of A Nerdish Mum I'm happy to be sharing my review of The Naseby Horses by Dominic Brownlow. Thank you to Emma Welton of Damppebbles Blog Tours and the author for having me along. 

The Naseby Horses

Seventeen-year-old Simon’s sister Charlotte is missing. The lonely Fenland village the family recently moved to from London is odd, silent, and mysterious. Simon is epileptic and his seizures are increasing in severity, but when he is told of the local curse of the Naseby Horses, he is convinced it has something to do with Charlotte’s disappearance. Despite resistance from the villagers, the police, and his own family, Simon is determined to uncover the truth, and save his sister. Under the oppressive Fenland skies and in the heat of a relentless June, Simon’s bond with Charlotte is fierce, all-consuming, and unbreakable; but can he find her? And does she even want to be found? Drawing on philosophy, science, and the natural world, The Naseby Horses is a moving exploration of the bond between a brother and his sister; of love; and of the meaning of life itself.

My Review 

Wow, this book was definitely a fully immersive experience. Though a debut novel, The Naseby Horses reads like a seasoned authors work. The prose is beautiful and poetic and honestly swept me into the quietly sinister and mysterious story. 

The Naseby Horses is definitely slower paced than I am used to and at times I wanted to read faster just to see what was really going on. That is an observation on me though rather than the book. 

Simon is an extremely interesting character and I was never fully sure if I liked him or not due to his unreliability. I love a well done unreliable narrator though and Simon is definitely well done. 

The focus on Simon's epilepsy was very well portrayed and has been the most realistic (from what a family member explains) version that I've ever read. It's a lot more in-depth than the usual character having a bit of a fit and that's the end of it. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the journey it took me on. I can only imagine and look forward to new work from Dominic Brownlow in the future. 

I gave this book 5 stars. 

About The Author 

Dominic Brownlow lives near Peterborough with his two children. He lived in London and worked in the music industry as a manager before setting up his own independent label. He now enjoys life in the Fens and has an office that looks out over water. The Naseby Horses is his first novel. It was long listed for the Bath Novel Award 2016. 

Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DominicBrownlow

Louise Walters Books: https://www.louisewaltersbooks.co.uk/dominic-brownlow

Purchase Links:

Louise Walters Books: https://bit.ly/3a9QLqU 

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2DztRgr 

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3imRms1 

Waterstones: https://bit.ly/3fCFqAx 

Book Depository: https://bit.ly/3fFJfVJ 

Blackwells: https://bit.ly/2PDF0PX 

Foyles: https://bit.ly/3acjnQ3 

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Grubane by Karl Drinkwater - Blog Tour Review

 

Today I'm extremely excited to be helping kickoff the blog tour for Grubane by Karl Drinkwater. Karl Drinkwater is one of my favourite authors, so I jumped at the chance to take part! I'm really hoping a hard copy bind up Lost Tales Of Solace will be released in the future so I can complete my Karl Drinkwater shelf!! A big thanks to Karl and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for having me along. 

Grubane

Major Grubane is commander of the Aurikaa, the most feared cruiser in the UFS arsenal.

His crew is handpicked and fiercely loyal. Together, they have never failed a mission, and their reputation precedes them.

But this time he’s been sent to a key planet that is caught up in political tensions at the centre of the freedom debate. What he thought was a simple diplomatic mission turns out to be the hardest choice of his career. His orders: eliminate one million inhabitants of the planet, and ensure their compliance.

Grubane has also rediscovered an ancient game called chess, and plays it against the ship AI as a form of mental training. But maybe it could be more than that as he finds himself asking questions. Can orders be reinterpreted? How many moves ahead is it possible for one man to plan? And how many players are involved in this game?

Lost Tales of Solace are short side-stories set in the Lost Solace universe

My Review

Grubane follows the actions of Major Grubane, and is viewed by the AI Aurikka12. As usual the writing of an AI, I feel is spot on. I always end up having them as a favourite character as though you can tell they aren't human, they learn and develop as the story continues. I get far too invested in how they "feel". 

As this novella is about Grubane, it is more military in tone than the other books in the and could have come across as dry. It does not at all though and kept me thoroughly involved and I read the entire book in one sitting. An 

I loved the use of chess throughout as it was something relateable and helped show how Grubane thought through certain situations and used his logical prowess. It also shows just how much work and thought goes into every story that Karl Drinkwater writes. 

Though not exactly an origin story, it definitely gives a lot more insight into Grubane and it means this novella fits perfectly read either before Lost Solace or after. A good back story is always interesting in my opinion! 

Another absolutely top notch and unmissable part of the Lost Solace series. I already can't wait for more. 

I gave this book 5 stars. 

About The Author 

Website https://karldrinkwater.uk   Twitter http://twitter.com/karldrinkwater   Facebook https://www.facebook.com/karlzdrinkwater  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/authorkdrinkwater/ Newsletter http://bit.ly/newsletterkd

Karl Drinkwater is originally from Manchester but lived in Wales for twenty years, and now calls Scotland his home. He’s a full-time author, edits fiction for other writers, and was a professional librarian for over twenty-five years. He has degrees in English, Classics, and Information Science.

He writes in multiple genres: his aim is always just to tell a good story. Among his books you’ll find elements of literary and contemporary fiction, gritty urban, horror, suspense, paranormal, thriller, sci-fi, romance, social commentary, and more. The end result is interesting and authentic characters, clever and compelling plots, and believable worlds.

When he isn’t writing he loves exercise, guitars, computer and board games, the natural environment, animals, social justice, cake, and zombies. Not necessarily in that order.

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