Lets talk about Mythica by Emily Hauser

   *I was gifted an advanced reading copy from Doubleday in exchange for an honest review*

Hi readers welcome back!

A slightly different review today as this is my first non-fiction book review! I set myself a goal this year to read one non-fiction book each month, and kicking us off first is Mythica by Emily Hauser. This is possibly my favourite book this year (a strong claim considering we're five months in, but I loved it that much). 

Award-winning classicist and historian Emily Hauser takes readers on an epic journey to uncover the astonishing true story of the real women behind ancient Greece’s greatest legends, and the real heroes of those ancient epics, Homer's Iliad and Odyssey . . .

Contrary to perceptions built up over three millennia, ancient history is not all about men – and it's not only men's stories that deserve to be told.

In Mythica Emily Hauser tells, for the first time, the extraordinary stories of the real women behind some of the western world’s greatest legends. Following in their footsteps, digging into the history behind Homer’s epic poems, piecing together evidence from the original texts, recent astonishing archaeological finds and the latest DNA studies, she reveals who these women – queens, mothers, warriors, slaves – were, how they lived, and how history has (or has not – until now) remembered them.

A riveting new history of the Bronze Age Aegean and a journey through Homer’s epics charted entirely by women – from Helen of Troy, Briseis, Cassandra and Aphrodite to Circe, Athena, Hera, Calypso and Penelope – Mythica is a ground-breaking reassessment of the reality behind the often-mythologized women of Greece’s greatest epics, and of the ancient world itself as we learn ever more about it.

The subject of this book is similar to my dissertation topic, I could have done with this book 3 years ago, and is a captivating exploration of Homer's women through archaeological discoveries and the Bronze Age women that history has forgotten.

The book is divided into two parts, focusing on each of Homer's epics; The Iliad and The Odyssey, with each chapter dedicated to the overlooked women, from Helen, Penelope, and Circe to Eurycleia, Thetis, and Arete giving it full scope. My favourite chapter has to be Calypso's and I found the research into classical dyes and weaving technique fascinating! Hauser uses this to provide a different perception of these women we think we know so well. In Calypso's case, Hauser explains how it would have taken one women, working seven-hour days, around four years to spin and weave enough fabric for a single ancient Greek sail and so, perhaps the reason it took Calypso seven years to weave Odysseus a new sail isn't because she was holding him captive, but because the demands of her labour were impossibly large and lonely... Utterly fascinating!

Hauser's language is erudite yet concise, making it accessible whether you're a novice to Greek mythology discourse, or well-versed.

The perfect companion guide to the feminist retellings that dominate the market, Mythica by Emily Hauser is detailed, insightful, thought-provoking, and a treasure in classical history.

Until next time, readers!

Lets talks The Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli

  *I was gifted an advanced reading copy from Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review*

 Hello readers, welcome back!

No other trope gets me as fired up as enemies-to-lovers, and as such I absolutely adored The Crimson Moth when I read it last year, and was chomping at the bit waiting for the sequel. Before I even knew proofs were available, the fabulous El at HarperInsider read my mind and sent me an arc of The Rebel Witch! To say I enjoyed this book would be an understatement. I DEVOURED it within 12 hours...

 

WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!

Picking up after the ending of The Crimson Moth, we're thrown straight back into the steaming cat and mouse game of Rune and Gideon, and action of Witch V Witch Hunter. Personally, I'd have preferred a bit of lead up to this moment, with some longing, anguish and betrayal mixed in. However, the story flows seamlessly from here and fits the characters motives and the plot points perfectly. 

The dual narrative continues, with alternating chapters from Rune and Gideon's pov. I love this as you get to experience the story through both their eyes and witness their feelings first-hand (bumbling simps!!). I love watching how they navigate each other, constantly second guessing feelings and motives while being in complete denial of their own.

New characters were introduced, which was risky considering this is the conclusion, but Ciccarelli pulled it off and made you feel as if these characters had been with you since the beginning. The found-family trope was perfection! I'd love a spin-off series about Harrow and Juniper, with some background Rune and Gideon of course!

The only real criticism I have is that the final battle felt rushed and anticlimactic. I'd have preferred this to be a trilogy, allowing for more tension and surprises. The concept of the ending was brilliant, but the execution was lacking for me. 

I'm obsessed with the characters and the world Kristen has created in this duology, and it is now one of my all-time favourites! 

Until next time, readers!

Lets talks The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni

 Hello readers, welcome back! 

I actually read this series 2 years ago, and have only just gotten round to writing a review. I stumbled upon The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni while shelving in the bookshop. There was a quote from Maria V. Snyder on the cover, and immediately knew I was going to love this book. And, I wasn't wrong... 

At Zalindov, the only person you can trust is yourself.

Seventeen-year-old Kiva Meridan is a survivor. For ten years, she has worked as the healer in the notorious death prison, Zalindov, making herself indispensable. Kept afloat by messages of hope from her family, Kiva has one goal and one goal only: stay alive.

Then one day the infamous Rebel Queen arrives at the prison on death's door and Kiva receives a new message: Don't let her die. We are coming.

The queen is sentenced to the Trial by Ordeal: a series of elemental challenges against the torments of air, fire, water, and earth, assigned to only the most dangerous of criminals. Aware the sickly queen has little chance of making it through the Trials alive, Kiva volunteers to take her place. If she succeeds, both she and the queen will be granted their freedom.

But no one has ever survived.

And with an incurable plague sweeping Zalindov, a mysterious new inmate fighting for Kiva's heart, and a prison rebellion brewing, Kiva can't escape the terrible feeling that her trials have only just begun. 

From the very first sentence, "Death arrived at twilight", I knew this was going to be good. 

Set within Zalindov Prison in Evalon, one of the kingdoms of Wenderall, Kiva has been an inmate and the prison healer for 10 years, after arriving as a prisoner with her father aged 7. Although the book takes place within the prison walls, the plot takes us to so many quarters, such as the infirmary, quarry, stables, aquifer and gallows. I loved this because you feel like you're exploring with the characters and it was very reminiscent of Poison Study, which is predominantly set within the Commander's castle, so an instant win. 

I loved the three main characters; Kiva, Jaren and Tipp. It was refreshing to have the mmc introduced as a friend rather than an enemy, and watching Kiva let her guard down and trust was beautiful.

The book is written in the 3rd person narrative, which works well as you aren't influenced by Kiva's bias and really get to know each character objectively.

This is a YA fantasy, and so there isn't any "spice" or heavy romance but don't let that put you off, the friendship, action and twists more than make up for it! Plus, I'm a firm believer that if an author is good at writing, they don't need to state the obvious, I can infer...

The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni is full of magic, action, adventure, and high-stakes. It is now a firm favourite. 

Until next time, readers! 

Lets talk The Sirens by Emilia Hart

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

Hello readers, welcome back!

Back in my mermaid era. Anyone who knows me knows, I'm obsessed with mermaids! Always have been. I think there's something so seductive and mysterious about a half-human half-fish creature dwelling in the depths of the ocean. So, when I heard about The Sirens by Emilia Hart, it called to me, just like the sea. 

Sisters separated by hundreds of years.

Voices that can't be drowned out.

Lucy is running from what she’s done: the terror of waking with her hands around her ex-lover’s throat, his face turning purple and eyes bulging. Pursued by nightmares – and with nowhere else to go – she makes for her big sister's clifftop home. But when she arrives, Jess is nowhere to be found.

The town is strange and full of rumours: a dozen men disappeared, without a trace. Women’s voices murmuring on the waves. A foundling discovered in a sea-swept cave.

As Lucy searches for Jess, her dreams seem to draw closer. She can see two sisters in a murky past. She can see a world where men always seem to get their way. And something in her body wants to fight back.

Could the answer to who she is – and what’s happening to her – lie in this quiet, sea-soaked town? Could it lie two hundred years deep in the past?

The Sirens is an alluring novel about familial connection told through a dual-narrative mystery that is drenched in folklore and history. This is the first of Hart's books I've read and I'm blown away! I've had Weyward, her debut, on my bookshelf for two years but never got round to it, which I regret massively now. 

The story is told from two perspectives; Lucy in 2019 Australia and Mary on a convict ship bound for Australia in 1800. I love reading dual-timeline narratives as they add an element of mystery to the novel and you're figuring out how the two are connected. In The Sirens, these narratives flow alongside each other like currents, swirling and churning till they mix. 

The subject of convict ships and transportation to Australia was a sensitive subject but Hart handled it respectfully and accurately. Her vivid descriptions encapsulate the horrors and cruelty of these ships and the inhumane treatment the victims suffered, from the claustrophobic atmosphere of the holding cells, the deprivation of sufficient food and water, to physical abuse.   

The added folkloric element of Sirens added a welcome dose of magic realism to the novel and enhanced the mystery of how the two timelines are connected and what has happened to Jess. 

Just like a sirens song, The Sirens by Emilia Hart is captivating and irresistible, luring you in from the first to the last page.  

Until next time, readers!

Lets talk Lucy Undying by Kiersten White

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

Hey lovelies, welcome back!

Another review of a retelling for you, this time in the vein gothic literature which was one of my favourite modules to study at university. Bram Stoker's Dracula was one of my favourite texts on that module and so, when I saw a reimagining putting a spin on one of Dracula's first victims, Lucy Westenra, I  just HAD to read it. Lucy Undying by Kiersten White gives voice to the that tragic character. 

Her death was only the beginning. Lucy rose from the grave a vampire, and has spent her immortal life trying to escape from Dracula's clutches - and trying to discover who she really is and what she truly wants.

Her undead life takes an unexpected turn when, in twenty-first-century London, she meets another woman who is also yearning to break free from her past. Iris’s family has built a health empire based on a sinister secret, and they’ll do anything to stay in power.

Lucy has long believed she would never love again. But she finds herself compelled by the charming Iris, while Iris is mesmerised by the confident and glamorous Lucy. But their intense connection and blossoming love is threatened by forces from without. Iris's mother won't let go of her without a fight, and Lucy's past still has fangs: Dracula is on the prowl again.

Lucy Westenra has been a tragically murdered teen, a lonesome adventurer, and a fearsome hunter, but happiness always eluded her. Can she find the strength to destroy Dracula once and for all, or will her heart once again be her undoing?

Dracula changed her. Love will transform her.

Crackhead fan-fiction is the only way I can describe this book. Something you'd unearth in a deep, dark corner of the internet. It's like White constructed a conspiracy theory about Stoker's Dracula and had to get her thoughts down onto paper to make sense of it. Not necessarily a bad thing and certainly a decent and interesting read...

I thoroughly enjoyed the triple narrative and how it alternated between present day with Iris, flashbacks to a couple week prior via transcripts of Lucy's sessions with a therapist detailing her vampire years and then also the setting of Dracula via Lucy's journal entries. I enjoyed connecting the dots between the three narratives and watching it all link up. I loved reading Lucy's journal chapters and experiencing the narrative of Dracula through her eyes. 

I feel White captured the characteristics of gothic literature perfectly. The present day narrative was set in the Westenra manor that has gone to ruin - setting ✔️. Iris feels threatened by her family legacy and the people involved - atmosphere ✔️. Iris is a descendant of Arthur Holmwood (aka Lord Goldaming), is hounded by creepy family lawyers and is also saved from stepping into traffic when she meets Lucy - creepy, aristocratic characters and a damsel in distress ✔️✔️✔️. And most significantly of all, vampires - supernatural events ✔️. Furthermore, it wasn't fast-paced or highly suspenseful with nail-biting cliff-hangers, but kept you invested and wanting to see if good prevails - exactly how classic Gothic literature reads. 

I wouldn't class Lucy Undying as a retelling and as I said, the best way I can describe it is crackhead fan-fiction that is inspired by a conspiracy theory of Dracula. If you love the original text, don't read this. However, if, like me, you enjoy reading well-known stories from a new perspective, then do read this. 

Until next time, lovelies!

Lets talk Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid

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

Hey Lovelies, welcome back!

I'm loving the surge in retellings of classic literature that's sweeping the book market this year and am so thankful that I get the privilege of reading them early as a perk of being a bookseller. As an English graduate and a student actor, I'm a huge Shakespeare nut. So, when I heard that the infamous villainess, Lady Macbeth, was getting to tell her story and that Ava Reid was the one to do it, I was sold.  

Fair is foul and foul is fair.

The Lady knows the stories: that her eyes induce madness in men.

The Lady knows she will be wed to the Scottish brute, who does not leave his warrior ways behind when he comes to the marriage bed.

The Lady knows his hostile, suspicious court will be a game of survival, requiring all of her wiles and hidden witchcraft to survive.

But the Lady does not know her husband has occult secrets of his own. She does not know that prophecy girds him like armour. She does not know that her magic is greater, and more dangerous, and that it will threaten the order of the world.

She does not know this yet. But she will.

This book does exactly what is promises - it gives Lady Macbeth a voice, a side of the story, humanity and an escape from the narrative men have shackled her with. 

Reid presents Lady Macbeth as seventeen-year-old, Roscille - a girl of supernatural beauty that some call Witch-kissed and who's stare is rumoured to ensorcell men and drive them to madness. When Roscille is married off to the scottish brute, Macbeth, she must do whatever it takes to survive, even if that means using her wicked powers. There is something in the character that speaks to every women and Reid does a great job of rooting all her despicable actions to survival instinct rather than ambition and greed. 

I did find the pacing very slow and the plot lacking action or suspense, and it was definitely Roscille's character that propelled me through the book rather than the plot. However, I enjoyed the re-framing of the character and her narrative and felt invested in seeing her arc play out. 

The ending was the highlight for me, as it is left open and ambiguous. The omniscient epilogue doesn't reveal Roscille's fate, allowing readers to interpret their own ending. This felt far more fitting than adhering to Shakespeare's ending or creating a happy ever after for her. 

Lady Macbeth has all the makings of a great retelling and deserves a spot on any retelling module's reading list. I can already imagine writing an essay on the misrepresentation of Lady Macbeth and using Reid's novel as the base text. 

Until next time, lovelies. 

Lets talk Death of a Bookseller by Alice Slater

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

Hey lovelies, welcome back! 

No, this isn't my obituary! Death of a Bookseller is the tantalising, eerily creepy debut thriller from Alice Slater about obsession set amongst the shelves of a bookshop at Christmas.

A bookshop. A true crime case. A deadly friendship.

Roach - bookseller, loner and true crime obsessive - is not interested in making friends. She has all the company she needs in her serial killer books, murder podcasts and her pet snail, Bleep.
That is, until Laura joins the bookshop. Smelling of roses, with her cute literary tote bags and beautiful poetry, she's everyone's new favourite bookseller. But beneath the shiny veneer, Roach senses a darkness within Laura, the same darkness Roach possesses. As Roach's curiosity blooms into morbid obsession, it becomes clear that she is prepared to infiltrate Laura's life at any cost.

I devoured this book! There were so many things I loved that if I listed them all this review would go on forever, so I'll stick to the main ones -

The pacing of this book was perfect. As the characters pace picks up with peak trading, so too does the suspense making it an exhilarating read.

When I describe this book as gross and disgusting, it's a compliment! Slater's descriptions are vivid and sensory, evoking the feelings of the characters in the reader making this a truly immersive read.

The ending is brilliantly. Just when you think its flopped, Slater manipulates it and reveals her mastermind ending at the very last minute. An ending that stays with you long after you've closed the cover.

Perfect for fans of You and Gone Girl, this book is a must-read for any thriller fans. I can't wait to see what Slater writes next.

Until next time, lovelies!

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

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,

Lets talk The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland

*I was gifted an advanced reading copy by Hot Key Books in exchange for an honest review*

Hey lovelies, welcome back!

You guys know how much I love Krystal Sutherland's books, she's one of my favourite YA authors. So, when Hot Key Books kindly gifted me an arc of her new book, The Invocations, I was beyond excited and grateful. 

Five women are dead. The killer leaves no fingerprints, no DNA and the Police are utterly stumped. In a world where only women can use magic and the men who know about it seek to eradicate them, three damaged young women - one cursed, one hunted, one out for revenge - will team up to track down and take out a brutal supernatural killer.

OMG, Krystal has outdone herself this time! This book possessed me!

Sutherland's writing is descriptive as always; making you gag at the gruesome gangrenous leg wound and decomposing corpses, but also salivate at the champagne and strawberries.

The plot is fast-paced, action-packed and full of surprises, making it an enthralling read. Sutherland has a knack for keeping the reader guessing and building suspense so that the reveal at the end shocks you to your core.

Similarly to House of Hollow, I wouldn't recommend this to readers under 14 as Sutherland acknowledges some quite mature topics such as grooming, sexual assault and domestic abuse, all of which are relevant to the topic she is highlighting in this book – patriarchal power.

Dark, twisted, gruesome and addictive, this is YA horror at it's finest!

Until next time, lovelies!

Lets talk Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan

 *I was gifted an advanced reading copy courtesy of HarperInsider*

Hey lovelies, welcome back! 

Very late with writing this review, since the lovely El at Harper Collins gifted me an ARC of Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan back in October! However, the paperback publishes on 31st August and so what better time to finally share my review of one of my favourite books from last year. 

In the sequel to Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Xingyin has won her mother's freedom and has finally found peace. However, the discovery of strange magic on the moon and unsettling changes to power force her to flee her home once more and venture to unexplored lands of the Celestial Kingdom with friend and foe alike. With alliances shifting, she must seek aid in the most unlikely of places to uncover the truth before everything she holds dear is destroyed...  

Heart-warming and heart-breaking in equal measure, this was a beautiful conclusion to a gorgeous duology that had just as many twists and turns as the first! 

The descriptions felt a little lacklustre compared to its predecessor, but still vivid and enchanting nonetheless. 

In contradiction, the characters had more depth to them this time round. Characters that were previously one-dimensional became multifaceted, with context to their exterior persona provided. I found myself warming to characters I'd previously written off.  

What struck me most was how much Tan's writing had improved. She conveyed how raw and realistic the characters emotions were exactly, and I felt my mood alter with them. It takes an incredibly talented writer to make the reader feel the characters pain and joy as if it were their own. 

An exquisite, well-crafted fantasy duology that showcases the power of traditional storytelling.

Have you read the Celestial Kingdom duology? If so, who was your favourite character? Let me know in the comment below. 

Until next time, lovelies! 

Lets talk Medusa by Rosie Hewlett

 Hey lovelies, welcome back! 

As you all know I am a bit of a Greek mythology geek, especially a retelling. So much so, that I wrote 10,000 words on it for my dissertation! I love reading these classic myths from a new perspective and Medusa by Rosie Hewlett does just that! 

From her eternal resting place in the Asphodel Meadows, Medusa, the snake-haired gorgon, decides to reclaim her story. Determined to expose the centuries of lies that have created one of antiquity's most famous monster and myth, Medusa recounts her tale in her own for the first time. And she's not missing a single thing out... 

There are so many things I love about Hewlett's retelling! From the tone to the in-depth knowledge to the humour. This is by far THE best retelling of Medusa on the market! 

Hailed a feminist retelling and rightly so, Hewlett embeds the politics into the narrative from the start by championing Medusa as a victim, survivor, protector. Hewlett doesn't sugar-coat the narrative to make it more palatable, she strikes right from page one by acknowledging Medusa as a rape victim and blaming the patriarchy for her misconstrued reputation. Hewlett creates this sassy, no-nonsense character whose sarcasm and wit slither off the page. 

Despite writing about such a well-known tale, Hewlett manages to rewrite it in a completely new light. The friendship she creates between Perseus and Medusa is heartbreakingly beautiful, real, and natural. You feel his pain and anguish at having to fulfil his destiny at the end and your heart sinks with his as he accepts the inevitable. Although you know the outcome, you can't help but root for their friendship. 

What sets this retelling apart from others, is that the narrative is written in retrospective of the tale. Rather than writing the instant anger and hatred akin to the immediate aftermath, Hewlett writes wisdom and admittance into Medusa's narrative that are only made possible by placing the narrative thousands of years after the events have transpired. The tale becomes her way of finding closure and healing.  

If you think you know the Medusa myth, think again and read Medusa by Rosie Hewlett! 

Reading Hewlett's retelling has completely altered my perception of Medusa and as such I think she is now my favourite female from Greek mythology! What's your favourite Greek myth? And who's you're favourite character? Let me know in the comments below! 

Until next time, lovelies! 

Lets talk Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

 Hey lovelies, welcome back! 

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan was definitely noticed for the cover alone. Then I read the blurb, a tale inspired by the legend of Chang'e, the Chinese moon goddess, and when a colleague told me how incredible it was, I knew I HAD to read it. So, in the thick of third year university deadlines, I treated myself to a pleasure read, and OH, HOW IT WAS WORTH IT!

With her existence hidden, Xingyin has grown up in solitude with only her mother, the exiled moon goddess Chang'e for company. But when her magic flares and her existence is discovered, she must flee leaving her mother behind. Lost, alone, and powerless, Xingyin hides in the one place they won't think to look for her - right under their noses in the Celestial Kingdom. When an opportunity to train alongside the crown prince presents itself, Xingyin disguises her identity in order to master her magic. Determined to free her mother, she embarks on a perilous quest to win the ultimate symbol of bravery - the jaded dragon talisman. However, with treachery looming and war brewing, Xingyin strikes a dangerous bargain and risks losing her mother for good or plunging the kingdom into chaos... 

I loved everything about this book!!!!!!! 

The plot is vibrant and brimming with mythology, action from the onset and romance so palpable I almost flung the book across the room a couple times - everything you want in a book. 

Tan's writing is exquisite and her description envelopes you into the novel so you can smell the jasmine, feel the brocade against your skin and the blossoms cascading down over your head. This is more than a mere reading experience; this is storytelling at its finest!

The characters are so three-dimensional that you either love or despise them. 

I adored everything about Daughter of the Moon Goddess, its pure, wholesome, epic fantasy!

Have you read Daughter of the Moon Goddess? If so, what were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below.

Until next time, lovelies!

    

SUSTAINABLE KELLECTION - WILD natural deoderant

 Hey lovelies, welcome back! 

Lets talk WILD - a sustainable, natural, aluminium free deodorant with compostable refills delivered straight to your door.

I've suffered from folliculitis, a common skin condition in which hair follicles become inflamed, since I started shaving at aged twelve. To combat this, I reduce how often I shave, which helps slightly but not completely. After trawling the internet for answers one night, I stumbled across a recommendation to try natural deodorant, as aluminium in regular antiperspirants clogs your pores causing the folliculitis to flare. 

For those who might be thinking, they're the same thing - deodorants masks body odour, while antiperspirants block the pores to stop you sweating.

Since I'm always looking to make small, sustainable changes in my everyday life, I decided to give WILD a go, and the results were interesting... 

~ WEEK 1 ~ 

I didn't notice any changes to begin with, but I was enjoying trying a new product and feeling boujee with the case and refills. Unbeknownst to me my pores were still blocked after years of antiperspirant use, and it was working its way out of my system.

~ WEEK 2 ~ 

With open pores, sweat started to become more noticeable and I STUNK! I wash daily anyway, but I was having to wash 2-3 a day...

~ WEEK 3 ~ 

After feeling incredibly self-conscious and almost giving up thinking natural deodorant wasn't right for my body, I decided to research into the transition from antiperspirant to deodorant - something I definitely should have done beforehand! Turns out, after years of suppression, your sweat glands go into overdrive to remove the toxins from your body - enter BO. This is perfectly normal, and usually starts around week 2-3 and subsides by week 4-5 as your body regulates itself. Twice daily cleansing and topping up deodorant during the day helps make this period more manageable. 

~ WEEK 4 ~ 

Much the same as week 3, although now I knew this was part of the process, I was determined to see it through. 

~ WEEK 5 ~ 

Finally, we came out the other side. Severe body odour abated, and I started to feel confident and comfortable using natural deodorant. 

~ WEEK 6 ~ 

I had noticed a few bumps after shaving, but they were less painful and went down after a day or two. They resembled irritation bumps more than folliculitis. 

~ 6 MONTHS ~ 

Switching to natural deodorant was the best decision I ever made. I still only shave when I need to, but my folliculitis has pretty much cleared up! The refills themselves surprisingly last really long! They recommend using 3 swipes per side, and despite doubling up some days, I'm still exceeding the renewal date and having to postpone my delivery. Definitely better value for money than regular antiperspirant! 

Switching to natural deodorant has been a wild journey 😉 but was definitely worth it! If you're thinking of making the switch, do it! I can guarantee it'll be the best decision you make! 

Have you tried natural deodorant? Let me know in the comments below. 

Until next time, lovelies!