Welcome to this week’s roundup of the books I am reading. I have actually managed to finish two really enjoyable books and here they are:

Anyone who knows my reading habits may know that my favourite author of all time is Guy Gavriel Kay. Thanks to the dear friend who introduced me to his work many years ago (thank you so much, Fiona ❤️). I was so pleased to find his latest book: All the Seas of the World.

This is the blurb:

“On a dark night along a lonely stretch of coast, a small ship, the Silver Wake, sends two people ashore to a stony strand. Their purpose is assassination. They have been hired to do this by two of the most dangerous men alive. The consequences will affect so many lives both great and small, and possibly alter the balance of power in the world.

One of those arriving on that night strand is a woman abducted by corsairs from her home as a child, escaping that fate, that destiny, years after, now trying to chart her own course – and bent upon revenge. Another figure, on the boat, bringing it to meet the secretive landing party at the city where they are going, is a merchant who still remembers being exiled as a child with his family from their home, for their faith.

Returning triumphantly to the brilliantly evoked near-Renaissance world of his most recent novels, international bestseller Guy Gavriel Kay deploys his signature ‘quarter turn to the fantastic’ to offer readers a wide-ranging, vividly memorable set of characters in a story of vengeance, power, and love, built around profoundly contemporary themes of exile, loss, and memory.”

And this is my response on Goodreads:

All the Seas of the World: International bestseller by Guy Gavriel Kay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Yet another fabulous book by my most favourite author of all time! I feel like I need to lie down in a cool, dark room so that I can review my feelings and sort out a response. The carefully realised world, the diverse and finely drawn characters (even the lesser ones), the poignant side plots, the overarching main plot – everything is beautifully done.

The author’s voice is there from time to time as we follow a tiny sub plot to a sad or joyful end. The main story arcs coalesce into an exciting and satisfying finale. Such a great author! His work is usually labelled as fantasy, but it is much more than that.

Just a couple of tiny points: there was a slightly odd change to first person at one point in the book. This echoes the previous book, I think, but it marred a little. The other point is to do with me and not the author. My memory issues meant that I struggled to place this book in the context of the others written in this world. Perhaps I should go back and read them all again! That wouldn’t be a hardship.

View all my reviews

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Kay is one of the very few authors whose work I have read over and over again. My most favourite books are Tigana, The Lions of Al-Rassan and A Song for Arbonne. I think his most recent trilogy may be added to that list!

But then, there are so many new books to enjoy before I can’t read any more! My memory issues are really causing me concern these days as I keep on forgetting the characters and plots as I read 😢.

Right, onwards and upwards to the second book…

I had a complete change of genre for my next book: Paradise by Patricia Wolf (DS Walker #02). Let’s look at the blurb:

“As DS Lucas Walker recovers from his injuries, he heads from Caloodie, Queensland, to the Gold Coast. Surfer’s Paradise: a seaside city where gleaming high rises fringe sparkling surf beaches, sunny days lead to wild nights, and criminals and bikie gangs mingle with tourists and dignitaries at five star hotels, clubs and casinos.

Before long, Walker is part of a team trying to solve a horrific home invasion and murder that has claimed the life of a young mother and left her nine-year-old daughter fighting to survive. Can he help them find the perpetrators, and keep the young girl safe? Meanwhile, Vandals head honcho Stefan Markovich is in town – and Walker once again finds himself on a dangerous collision course with the drug gang.

Weak from his injuries, and grieving, can Walker solve a case that is more shocking than anyone expected, and survive the dark underbelly of Australia’s Surfer’s Paradise?”

I really enjoyed the first book in the series – Outback – and was looking forward to this one. Here is my quick review:

Paradise by Patricia Wolf
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another excellent book in this series. There are various strands to the tale and most come together in an exciting finale, with somethings left open for another book. The characters are interesting and the plot was gripping. The author writes well and held my attention throughout. I didn’t want to put the book down, so I read it quickly.

I also enjoyed the background to this area of Australia, which sounds amazing. Looking forward to the next book!

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I am already enjoying my next book, so I will now return to that!

Happy Reading to you all!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

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