Girls Made of Glass and Snow is the second book by Melissa Barshadoust that I have read. I loved reading Girl, Serpent, Thorn earlier in the year (review coming!) and so I eagerly bought myself a copy of Girls Made of Glass and Snow as soon as I saw it on the shelf. And it did not disappoint. Telling the tales of two women whose lives have been shaped by their fathers and the magical curse binding half the country to winter, this book was a fascinating exploration of love and the families we choose to create. Mina, whose glass heart has stood her apart from those around her, and Lynett, who constantly lives in the shadow and expectation of her dead mother, show that even the most accepted 'truths' can be overturned. I found Mina's characterisation fascinating, and loved each of her chapters. I adore fairy tales and their retellings, and this impressive debut by Bashadoust covers the tale of Snow White in an utterly refreshing way. It was a delight as I was reading through t...
Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo This much-anticipated sequel to Ninth House was a great book on which to round off my reading journey for 2023. Readers follow Alex Stern's journey into hell (quite literally), through the history and mystery of Yale. And similarly to Ninth House we also follow Alex's step to solve another murder steeped in the shadowy practices of the Ancient Houses of the Veil. Throughout this, Bardugo introduces readers to a whole host of characters both old and new. The development of Alex and Dawes's friendship was a delight to read, as was a further insight into Mercy's character. We were also reintroduced to Tripp, an ex-Bonesman with a surprising amount of skeletons in his closet. I really liked the glimpses of Tripp's character that we got in Ninth House, and it was great fun to read more about him (and Alex's interactions with him) in Hell Bent. And readers also get to learn more about the dedicated detective Turner, who even steps out of his...