Tuesday 26 March 2024

Lets talk Medea by Rosie Hewlett

*I was gifted an advanced reading copy by Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review* 

Hey lovelies, welcome back!

I haven't read a Greek myth retelling since finishing my dissertation 2 years ago, I was too Greek myth-ed out and worried I'd still read them through an analytical lens. Rosie Hewlett is my favourite author of Greek myth retellings and so when Penguin kindly sent me an arc of her second novel, Medea, I knew she'd be the one to bring me back. 

All her life, Medea has been shunned, separated and tormented because of her witchcraft. But, when a dashing young hero by the name of Jason arrives to claim the coveted Golden Fleece, she seizes her chance at freedom and aids him, setting in motion a journey of strength, magic, loyalty and love. 

When faced with the ultimate betrayal, Medea is driven to an act of desperation so brutal it rips apart the lives of everyone involved... 

I didn't love this as much as her debut, I felt it was missing the power, rage and unfiltered essence that made Medusa such a stand out retelling for me. However I liked the depth and attention to detail the longer narrative provided to Medea's character and for that, this was a brilliant retelling. 

Although I loved the perspective the hindsight in Medusa provided, I enjoyed watching the narrative unfold in time with Medea and my emotions build and match hers. I fell in love with Hewlett's Medusa for her sass and bluntness, but admire and respect her Medea for her complexity, loyalty and self-worth. Hewlett's characters really do embody women.

Hewlett takes an alternative approach in this retelling and focuses on Medea's emotional abuse, first in her childhood and then in her relationship with the gaslighting prick, Jason, to portray her vulnerability and humanity - the qualities history has erased from her character. That is something Hewlett does extremely well, rewrites the characters to provide a whole other persona and perspective - exactly what retellings are supposed to do. 

It's been amazing watching Rosie's career grow and to champion her books from the very beginning, I'm so glad that everyone will know her name... and I can't wait to see who she writes about next.


Until next time, lovelies

Friday 15 March 2024

Lets talk The Crimson Moth by Kristen Ciccarelli

*I was gifted an advanced reading copy by Magpie in exchange for an honest review*


Dearest reader,


You all know I love the enemies to lovers trope, and so a witch and a witch-hunter? YES, PLEASE!!!!!!! The fast-paced action mixed with the cat and mouse style romance made The Crimson Moth by Kristen Ciccarelli an instant hit that I sped trough in a couple days (giving this author eye strain in the process).


Witch’s used to be powerful and revered until the rebellion. Now they’re hunted and purged. By day, Rune is a vapid, vain socialite. But by night, she’s the Crimson Moth – a witch vigilante dedicated to rescuing her kind from capture.


When a rescue goes wrong, she decides the only way to deflect suspicion is to court the notoriously ruthless and unforgiving witch-hunter, Gideon Sharpe.


Gideon is plagued by The Crimson Moth and will stop at nothing to see her brought to justice. He knows she must be smart, merciless and loyal, so it surely can’t be Rune Winters, or can it? Determined to unveil the truth, he decides to court the conceited young heiress.


Both are sure they’re just playing a game for survival. However, like moths drawn to the flame, their feelings start to change the more they get to know each other.


With rumours of a witch uprising, it is a matter of life and death. And maybe the only thing more deadly is falling in love…



Set in a fantasy regency inspired world with courting, promenades, horse and carriages and balls, but with a modern approach to a lady’s virtue and sexuality, this book was everything I wanted it to be and more. The setting worked perfectly and enhanced the plot where a medieval or dystopian fantasy setting would not have.


The narrative is told in alternating chapters from Rune and Gideon’s first person pov, giving you a fully immersive reading experience and allowing you to understand the trauma and struggles that motivate them in their goals. This results in them becoming bumbling simps who constantly misunderstand each other due to their own insecurities, fuelling the torturous slow-burn enemies to lovers trope.


Rune and Gideon are joined by a cast of complex yet loveable characters that drive the plot by creating unexpected twists and turns.


Possible my favourite aspect is the intriguing yet simplistic magic system – witch’s use blood to cast spells, of which there are four categories; mirage, minora, majora and arcana, with the latter being the most dangerous. Each category require different types of blood, be it a witch’s own blood or that of another person either given freely or taken by force. After casting, they leave behind a casting signature and have a unique magic scent which act as identifying tools.


As the first installment in a new duology, The Crimson Moth is a must read for romantasy fans, especially those who loved Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder, Truthwitch by Susan Dennard or the Prison Healer by Lynette Noni. I can’t wait for book two!


Yours truly,