Book Review: Amy Snow by Tracey Rees

England 1848 After the death of her benefactor and only real friend, it’s time for Amy Snow to leave the only home that she has ever had. Found, as an infant in the snow on the grounds of Hatville Court by then eight-year old Aurelia, Amy’s lineage is a complete mystery to almost everyone she meets. Armed with a secret legacy and a letter, Amy is going to learn the secret of what Aurelia was up to over the year leading up to her untimely death. The quest is a chance for Amy to leave the mistreatment and coldness from Aurelia’s family, who are happy to finally be relieved of the burden she had become. In that first letter are a set of instructions that Amy must follow if she is to receive the next clue to her journey. Amy discovers on her journey that people are expecting her arrival and some have further letters from Aurelia, written in the months leading up to her death. Throughout the journey, Amy discovers a new side to herself and new confidence, which previously had been unknown to a child who was forced to stay hidden in the shadows. She becomes attracted to two very different men, and must decide which she will marry, knowing that the decision may impact on the remainder of her journey. Her final choice won’t be a surprise to readers, and in some ways, this element of the story is predictable. There is no real fear that Amy will not find love with one of the men, but it is somewhat engaging to see how the truth unfolds. Amy will, by the end of the book, discover Aurelia’s secret, and, even though readers will be vying for her to discover her lineage, the real reason for Aurelia’s disappearance has nothing to do with it. When Amy’s lineage is revealed at the very end, told from the perspective of the one character who no one expects to hear from, it tries to paint a dislikeable character in a more favourable light but fails to provide any real impact on the story.

Book Review: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Described as ‘Twilight for adults’ (but infinitely better), Harkness weaves through time and perspectives in this first tale of three of the magical tale of love between witch and vampire. Diana Bishop, descendent of Bridget Bishop who perished at Salem during the witch hunts, discovers the Ashmole 782, a historical text long thought lost. It details the origins of the witches, the daemons and the vampires. Her discovery brings the attention of Matthew Clairmont, fellow teacher at the university and a centuries old vampire. As their taboo relationship develops, other witches approach Diana asking for the text, which disappeared as quickly as she found it. In order to keep Diana safe, Matthew escorts her to his ancestral home in rural France, where Diana begins to unlock her long repressed magical powers. Under the watch of his vampire family, Diana and Matthew wed, further angering the congregation who want the book and the powers it is rumoured to have and desire to keep all species separate from each other. In order to force Diana to give up the secrets of the Ahsmole 782, witches kidnap her. Diana must reconnect with her magical powers if she is to help Matthew to rescue her. Getting away from the witches, Diana realises the importance of her history and takes Matthew home to Salem to meet her aunts and set up the battle plan to go up against the congregation. In order for them to rise victorious, Diana must relearn how to travel back in time, and take Matthew with her on the journey into the past that will have you reaching for books two and three of the series Rating 4/5