There’s a quaint little coastal village, way up in the North-eastern corner of the country, that you could so easily overlook on a tour of Scottish points-of-interest because it’s just a little too far from the main road, or the train doesn’t go there. But if you ever do get the chance to meander along the coastline in Moray you’d probably be pleasantly surprised to find the little row of restaurants, cafes and bars overlooking a modern foot bridge which takes you directly onto a five-mile expanse of white sand peppered with crumbling concrete world-war-two pillboxes and dunes inhabited by seals and rare ground-nesting birds. It’s too cold for most…
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The town of Buckie presses itself back against the rocks as it nervously looks out across the mouth of the Moray firth right into the heart of the North Sea, its salt-stained and cracking buildings a stark reminder of the sheer force of nature this close to the edge. It was once a busy fishing port, its safe harbour walls enfolding countless small boats while music overflowed from lively pubs to compete with the laughter of crews returning from the sea. But that time has passed. The life of a fisherman has become harsher, the fish stocks have been diminished, and the town now smells more of rust and diesel…
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Someone decided blame was useful, the way a discovered body suggests a target for a town’s pain. The mayor, some councillors, a man whose son had not woken from a fever, they came with torches of a different sort: camera-phones, CCTV stills, the kind of legal paper that becomes an accusation when enough fingers press ink.
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Author: Hannah Kaner (The Fallen Gods – Book 1) A dazzling debut that grabbed me by the heart and refused to let go! Sometimes you pick up a book with cautious optimism, and sometimes you pick one up and within a few pages you just know. Godkiller was one of those magical moments for me. Hannah Kaner has written a debut that’s bold, imaginative, and unashamedly addictive, with characters I fell for faster than I could turn the pages. At its heart, this is a story about survival, loyalty, and unlikely companionship set against a gorgeously gritty backdrop where gods and humans clash in ways that are equal parts thrilling…
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Author: David Dalglish (Astral Kingdoms Book 1) Sometimes you open a book and within a few chapters you know you’ve found a story that isn’t just big, but mythic. That’s how The Radiant King felt to me: not simply another fantasy novel with immortals and magic, but an ambitious, brutal, and strangely tender exploration of what happens when gods are forced to live with the consequences of their own power. The premise hooked me immediately. Six immortal siblings once wielded Radiance, a godlike force capable of shaping the world. After wreaking more damage than any kingdom could endure, they swore to stay apart from mortal politics and never rule. Of…
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Author: Devney Perry This is a wondrously woven, wildly wickedly romantic romp through monster-ridden landscapes, political pitfalls, and heart-palpitating revelations. If your soul secretly yearns for sorely underestimated princesses-turned-powerhouses, enemies edged by tension-laden attraction, and blood-bound bargains that spawn unexpected bravery, well, this book is your fantastical feast. Plot & Pace Perfection Odessa Cross, the overlooked oldest daughter in her kingdom, is overshadowed by the favoured Mae, until a legendary monster hunter, the imposing Guardian, demands a bride that same night. Cue chaos, a blood-sealed Shield of Sparrows treaty, and a bridal bound adventure that catapults Odessa into a fierce fight for agency, survival, and self. As reviewers note, the…
