Our Dark Duet by V.E Schwab – Book Review.

Title: Our Dark Duet (Monsters of Verity Book 2)

Author: V.E. Schwab

Rating: 3/5

Fantasy: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult, Fiction, Adventure, Teen Fiction

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Last year, I got the chance to review the wonderful kick off of the Monsters of Verity series, This Savage Song on my blog, and I loved it!

So when Titan Books sent me the sequel and conclusion to this series (without even requesting it, so a huge thank you to Titan Books for keeping me in mind), I was thrilled. Obviously, I had to do a reread of the first book, and I fell back in love with the world that Schwab created, along with the badass characters that she wrote about.

Without giving too much away, Our Dark Duet is set six months after the big climatic end of This Savage Song, and the world of Verity is thrown into chaos. With the monster issue really becoming a problem, and war between human and creature becoming an inevitable reality, we follow as our protagonists battle to save their cities along with themselves. August has become the leader he never really wanted to be, and Kate has become the hunter she always knew she could become. But when a new monster comes into a fold – a monster that seems unstoppable, uncatchable but reaping devasting power, Kate and August are thrown together again in a battle that will determine the real winners. Lives will be lost, blood will be spilled and sacrifices will be made.

Our Dark Duet shows real character growth, as both August and Kate have to deal with relationship issues from newcomers, along with having to confront demon’s from their past. Schwab has maintained this easy flow of writing that I commented upon in the first book, and she has once again made the story very readable and addictive from the first page.

With a new monster coming into the fold, this gave the novel a much-needed kick that I was hoping it would have. This Savage Song did leave the story
off with a good cliffhanger, but I didn’t think it would be enough for the entire book to be based around, as I felt it would’ve weakened the storytelling. So to have a brand new nemesis mixing with the older ones became very effective.

However, I do have some criticisms about this novel. I felt the solution to the new monster’s death was a bit rushed and didn’t feel as strong as it could’ve been, along with the speed of the final battle. There were also character’s who seemed relatively important at first, and then really disappear without a trace. Having them come back into the narrative would’ve been a cool little reminder for me.

But this was a good conclusion for the Monsters of Verity series. I’m definitely going to be looking out for more from this author.

Our Dark Duet is out on the 13th June – preorder now.

La La Land (2016) – Film Review.

Title: La La Land

Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend, Rosemarie DeWitt

Director: Damien Chazelle 

Genres: Musical, Drama, Modern Classic

Rating: 5/5

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Tipped for a flurry of wins at this years Oscars, and already scooping 7 awards at the Golden Globes, La La Land has been the film that everybody has been talking about this January. Initially, I wasn’t sure of what to make of it, due to the sheer amount of press attention and comments I’ve heard from various people, but thought it was high time to check it out. Safe to say, as soon as the credits went down, I was hooked.

Written as a love letter to Hollywood, this halycon romance showcases everything bright and beautiful about Los Angeles, as well as touching on the Golden Age of cinema, the dizzying heights of early-day love and how dreams can be achieved, but to what sacrifice.

We follow the story of Mia (Emma Stone), an aspiring actress turned on-set barista, and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), a cynical jazz pianist. With adorable meet-cutes, this couple fall in love and each push the other to achieve their dreams. However, when Sebastian is given a rhetorical Golden Ticket for his musical career, we watch as the couple struggle with long-distance romance and broken promises. Set amongst modern-day Los Angeles decor, this film reeks 1950s architecture, culture and clothing. With the atypical ‘burst-into-song-at-any-random-moment’ bits of traditional musicals, La La Land will not only guarantee to make you smile, but also want to jump on the next plane to LAX.

This movie is not only beautifully shot, but saturated with primary colours and heady extended dancing shots. Both Stone and Gosling play off each other well, and there is clear chemistry between the two actors. The audience are fully aware that they’re not Fred and Ginger, nor the best singers, but they make the dancing and singing work with their natural talent. This is writer-director Damien Chazelle’s second musical since Whiplash, and the director has not failed to deliver.

If you’re expecting a heady movie that is very plot driven, La La Land isn’t the one for you. This is more of an experience, and it has been remarked that this movie has done to musicals ‘what The Artist did for silent movies’ by The Guardian. For fans of feel good movies like Moulin Rouge, Casablanca and Singin’ in the Rain, I’d thoroughly recommend this movie.

La La Land is out in cinemas now.

My Roman Rendezvous – Day 1 (Planning, Prices and Travelling)

Apologies for this not going up sooner – I took some much needed Christmas/New Year break out to spend with family. Regular Sunday scheduling will be coming back soon.

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Every year, my mother and I have tried to go abroad and visit somewhere together. We did Paris (the whole saga you can read about on this blog) a few years ago, and earlier in the year, we decided to book a week in Rome – a city that I’ve studied extensively through my Classical Civilisations course.

Now, Rome holds a very special place in my heart. After studying and reading all about it, I knew it was somewhere where I was dying to get to. Unlike Paris, which was something I booked all by myself, we decided to try out a travel agency and went with Thomsons (a UK-based agency).

We flew from London Stansted, which is bit of a way outside the city, especially as we had to travel from a family member’s house. But after arriving after about three hours on the coach, we got into Stansted for the flight. I’ve only flown a few times in my life, and Rome was easily my longest flight yet. But the connection was smooth, and thanks to our travel agency, we had a transfer to the airport into Rome City Centre. The airport (Rome’s Ciampino) is the smaller one, but located closer to the city than the larger Leonard da Vinci – Fiumincino airport. The transfer time was just under half an hour due to traffic issues.

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Image credit – Hotels.com

Whilst arriving in Rome, we were taken straight to our hotel. Situated just Via Cavour, and on Via Principe Amedeo, The Hotel Giglio Dell’Opera was just under 5 minutes from the central railway station (Termini) which has connections all over the city. The hotel is also surrounded by tourist giftshops, restaurants and is just under 18 minutes walk to the Colosseum along a relatively straight route.

The hotel was comfortable, with an incredibly helpful management team. Our room was fairly standard, with a big open window, clean bathroom and fresh linen every day. However, like I’ve stated before, as long as the room is clean and comfortable, I’m not that bothered about the aesthetics.

For a charge, the hotel lets you use the WiFi and there is a comfortable lounge and bar section for coffee and alcoholic beverages. Downstairs there is also a fairly large breakfast room, which my mother and I used to fill up on for the day. The breakfast was fairly simple and continental but had delicious pastries and coffees.

However, please be aware that there are city taxes in Rome for tourists. For us, it was €3.00 per night, per person which wasn’t too bad. You usually pay this for the hotel, or could possibly organise it through your travel company.

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For our entire trip; flights, connections and hotel, it was around £300 each. Now for the location of the hotel (very central, clean and quiet), this was a fantastic deal. I’d happily pay this again for the ease of travel and staying. On top of this, we also must have paid about £100 extra for other expenses (coach and train tickets, tourist attractions in Rome etc).
Rome isn’t a particularly expensive city if you don’t eat in fancy restaurants, fill up on breakfast and perhaps grab pizza from local eateries for lunch, rather than have sit-down meals. As it is quite a small city, we barely used any public transport – only a bus to and from the Vatican – and we happily strolled through the late-April heat.

In my next blogpost, I’ll be describing the first day of our holiday, in which we decided to visit the Colosseum and Roman Forum.

Winter Wardrobe – Adore Me and My Top 3 Outfits.

With the winter months closing in, and the glint of Christmas on the horizon, there is no doubt in my mind that my favourite time of year is officially here.

Now, my life is pretty hectic at the moment. I’m a full-time Masters Student, who has two other side jobs, along with maintaining time to see my friends/boyfriend. So, when the lovely sleepwear team at Adore Me reached out to me and invited me to do a flat-lay piece (something I’ve always wanted to do, but never tried it yet) about some of my favourite lingerie/outfit ideas, I thought it would be a great idea to incorporate three of my typical outfits all in one post.

So here are my three go-to looks for the big areas in my life:

Work/University

When I go to University/Work, I find that I want to look smart but ultimately be comfortable. This navy dress is knee-length, so I usually pair it with some tights and a cardigan, and with the statement lace collar, I find that that’s enough of an accessory to make my outfit complete. For a smarter look you could dress it up with a blazer and heels, but I usually go for flats. These black ballet pumps are always going to be classic, yet the sweet cat face gives the shoes a quirky touch to dress it up. For lingerie, this bra is a go-to for me. I love it so much, I have the same design in a number of colours. With minimal detailing on the cups, it doesn’t show through the fabric of the dress, yet gives me enough boost and support to make it ridiculously comfortable.

Date Night

Like most girls in relationships, I love dressing out and going out with my boyfriend for dinner/dates. For date-night outfits, I try to keep it quite simple, and let my heels/jewellery do the talking. This simple LBD is a really tried-and-tested favourite of mine, and with the simple neckline but statement cutout sides, I feel it gives the dress some edge. My heels are these gorgeous lace-up booties, which are ridiculously cute but always quite comfortable. If I want to make this into quite a fancy night out, I may wear some statement tights, or even fishnets to make it a little sexier.

This bra is the ultimate thing in padding and push-up. The deep red colour makes it feel quite saucy to wear, and I always feel at my fanciest whilst wearing it.

Loungewear.

With Christmas fast approaching, I love digging out some Xmas jammies and getting cosy for a night by the fire. These pyjamas are new, but I can really see myself living in them for the next few months. The Grinch is one of my favourite Christmas movies, and I just couldn’t say no to them in the shop. This polka-dot bra is another really cosy piece of lingerie that I love wearing. With minimal padding, it feels almost like a bralet/sports bra, which is perfect for those lazy evenings. I also find the thicker straps to be really comfortable to wear.

This was a super fun post to do, and I really found it fun to think and pair my outfits together.

Visit Adore Me for a subscription service for lingerie and underwear! For all sizes and all types, Adore Me will blow you away with their amazing prices and deals.

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert – Book Review.

Title: Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear

Author: Elizabeth Gilbert

Rating: 3/5

Genre: Self-Help, Mind, Body and Spirit, Healthy Living

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I must confess I’m not one for traditional self-help books. I’ve also considered these sorts of books to be mantra-chanting-full-of-pity accounts, and never picked one up to read. However, when Bloomsbury sent me Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert to review, I was intrigued by the front cover, and subtitle of ‘Creative Living Beyond Fear’.

As an English Masters student and budding writer, I knew how challenging living creatively could be, and as an author who stayed on the New York Bestsellers List for 3 years, I felt she could be somebody to look up too.

So I picked up this book without any knowledge or expectations of whether it would help, me but I must admit, I was pleasantly surprised.

Big Magic follows Gilbert’s own creative processes, and from that, she imparts her wisdom/tips and tricks in order to get people think and living creatively. She offers insights into the writing process, inspiration, making new ways of work, embarking on dreams or just adding a little bit of mindfulness and passion into our everyday lives, whilst never feeling too lecture-y or self-pitying. 

The book is split into six sections, which lead naturally into each other, and really are enjoyable reads.  Gilbert’s writing style is fluid, natural and remarkably unpretentious for a NYT Best Selling Author, and she seems to take on the world with wonder and majesty. She is aware that her own successes are amazing, yet she comments mainly on the joy of writing. The author also divulges the reader into her own backstory and upbringing, but doesn’t separate that from her message of living in a magical and creative way.

One thing I love about this book is her theory about ideas as sort of visceral beings that chose owners and you have to work with it. This really spoke to me, and I found myself taking real note from this book.

There has been some critics of this book, and it is true, it wouldn’t have been published if it wasn’t for the soaraway success of Eat, Pray, Love, but I personally don’t care about this.

I found this book to be a interesting read that helped me structure and subtly change my views on creativity. Whether or not I change my writing style or how I write, is a separate matter, but all in all I found this book to be a light, whimsical read that will, above all things, make you want to take up a pen, paintbrush or video camera and get creative.

 

Big Magic is available now through Bloomsbury Publishing House

 

 

David Brent: Life on the Road (2016) – Film Review

Title: David Brent: Life on the Road

Cast: Ricky Gervais, Ben Bailey Smith, Tom Basden, Jo Hartley, Mandeep Dhillon

Director: Ricky Gervais

Genres: Comedy, British Sit-Com, Comedy, Mockumentary

Rating: 3/5

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I’m not the biggest television watcher. I usually find things on Netflix, or on iPlayer catchup. But when it comes to actual sitting-down-television watching, it’s not really my thing. However, there is one thing that I love, and would happily sit down to watch, and that is good British comedy. Harking back to The Two Ronnies, Open All Hours, Only Fools and Horses and Steptoe and Son, British situation comedys (sitcoms) will guarantee to put a smile on my face, and provide an easy and funny watching experience.

But there is one series that I have watched time after time again, and that is the 2001-2003 BBC mockumentary series, The Office. Following a fictional paper merchants, and the day-to-day life of its employees, The Office has a host of lovable and hilarious characters. But, to me, there is one standout character. And that is the irritating manager, David Brent.

Ricky Gervais’ character of the hapless, hilarious and dreadfully un-PC office manager garnered legions of fans, who tuned in weekly to see his antics, and after The Office finished its run, fans were left with a hole in their lives.

However, when it was announced that Gervais would bring his character back to life in a feature length film, there were mixed reactions. However, after seeing it last week, I was pleased to say that the film felt fresh, but with all the charm of The Office.

Over ten years have passed since we last left David Brent. And now, the middle-aged and largely friendless rep has decided that he wants one last hurrah into the music world, and re-visit the music world of his youth. Bringing back his old (with none of the original members) band, Foregone Conclusion, Brent finances an ill-fated tour around the South East, and lives out his dream of pop stardom.

Overall, I’d say this film was a light-hearted, laugh out loud journey. It was never meant to be serious, nor did David Brent necessarily have to change as a character. He was always going to have this vein of being un-PC, yet in this film we do see more of a sensitive side to Brent. His dealings with mental health issue, loneliness and romance were always brushed off in a typical funny manner, yet felt very personal if you explore it.

For me, the songs were the funniest parts, as the lyrics were so offensive that they couldn’t work in any other scenario other than with David Brent. The humour was often light, off-handed comments that almost make you double take, and the storyline was quite sweet in the way that Brent never stopped believing or dreaming.

What I was very happy about is the fact that the jokes were all fresh material, and it wasn’t a compilation from the series. Unfortunately, as I stated in my Absolutely Fabulous review, this happened in that film, and felt very disappointing.

The David Brent movie isn’t meant to be hard-hitting movie, and may not appeal to fans of the show who found David Brent irritating, but I found it funny and lighthearted.

The film is out now.

 

 

 

Healthy Snacks + Superb Smoothies.

Feature image credit – Mitch Altman

If you’re like me, you’ll agree that makeup does hide a multitude of sins. It can make our cheeks look chiselled, colour our lips a deep plum or ruby red, or give us cat eyes that even Cleopatra would’ve been proud of.

However, we all know that it doesn’t matter what we do with the powers of Beauty Blenders and foundation, if we don’t eat the right sort of food, it’ll leave its tell-tale marks on our skin.

With bloating, bad skin conditions and an overall just tired look, your body and skin takes a real beating down. I was inspired by Nuts.com to write this post on healthy snacks for healthy skin.

(Now, I’m not a wizzkid or expert in healthy eating. I could easily eat custard creams until the cows came home. But I am passionate about doing little changes to your diet that will help you feel and look healthier)

1: Healthy Snacks

We’ve all been guilty of it. Whether you work from home, in an office, on the go or just in an environment where you can get access to food, snacking can be inevitable. And ‘bad snacking’ on biscuits, cakes, crisps or chocolate, is particularly rife because they are SO moreish. So what I’ve started to do is pack a little snack box of trail mixed and assorted fruits. My personal box contains:

• raisins
• almonds
• peanuts
• sunflower seeds
• goji berries 
• pecan nuts

And I find that only a small handful will get me fuller, give me more flavour and more texture than regular refined sugary snacks. I’ve never managed to eat my entire snack box, and can barely eat a third during the day due to how filling it can be. These snackboxes also last a pretty long time, so can be eaten over a few days, and will be the perfect addition to any pantry/larder.

Also, sometimes I add some berries into the mix. Berries such as blackberries, blueberries and boysenberries are great antioxidants and really promote skin clearing. I suffer from keratosis pilaris, and have found that eating foods rich in Vitamin E and Vitamin A foods can really impact on how clear the skin can look.

2: Super Smoothies

At this present time in my life, I’m constantly on the go. I always find time to sit down and eat main meals (such an important thing to do for digestive reasons), but for snacking and drinking, it’s an entirely different story.

Image credit – Quinn Dombrowski

That’s why I love smoothies so much. Smoothies, when made with the right and healthy ingredients can fill a stomach up and can be sipped everywhere. If I’ve got an really early start, I find myself making a smoothie to be a good replacement for a sit-down breakfast, as I can’t eat really early. Smoothies fill me up until my next meal, and they can made of all sorts of crazy things.

My favourite breakfast smoothie is taken from Deliciously Ella’s book:

• 2 bananas
• 2 handfuls of frozen berries
• ½ a cup of hazelnut milk
• 3 tbsp oats
• 1 tbsp cacao nibs
• 1 tbsp chia seeds

Wizzing them up in a blender until smooth gives you a delicious and filling smoothie. Also, with the added cacao nibs, this gives the smoothie a decadent chocolatey taste for a morning treat. Or, why don’t you add a shot of iced coffee to give you a morning caffeine boost.

 

So, I hope this blogpost has helped at all. Like I said, I’m not an expert/trained in nutrition, but I’ve found this works for me. Careful of allergies if you’re going to try any of these recipes out.

 

 

Top 5 – Non-Fiction Books.

As a avid book lover, I’ve always got a book or some sort of reading material about my person. And despite being a huge fiction fanatic, I’ve found myself branching more and more into non-fiction literature. Whether it be self-help books, scientific theory, conspiracy novels or just autobiographies, I find it to be a welcome read when the world of fiction overwhelms me.

So inspired by Carrie Hope Fletcher’s recent ‘Books that have Changed my Life’ , I’ve decided to jot down my favourite non-fiction books.

1: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank.

A timeless book that deserves a reread throughout the years. Sensitively written, very descriptive and one of those books that just stays with you. Anne Frank is one of my personal heroes, and her story is not only timeless, but translateable across any age, gender and background. A story about survival, love, loss and growing up during Nazi Germany.

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2: Nicholas and Alexandra by Robert K. Massie.

This biography of the last Tsar of Russia and his family is easy to read, full of digestible information and good enough for any budding Russian historians, or modern history fans. Despite having a collection of over 100 books on the Romanovs, I always credit this book as being my favourite, and thoroughly recommend it to anyone.

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3: Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell

As one of my favourite authors, George Orwell’s way of writing will always hit a very personal vibe with me. His writing about experiencing the Spanish Civil War show the brutality of the war, along with the bravery of local people. A must read if you’re interested in war, politics, Stalinism or literature.

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4: In Cold Blood by Truman Capote.

Known as the first ‘faction’/’non-fiction novel’, this story is Capote’s account of murder in a small town community, and the shockwaves it sends through the community. Highly researched and depicted through films like Capote and Infamous, this novel is very addictive, fairly sensitive and features backstories on the murderers unlike you’ve ever read before.

A brilliant, brilliant book.

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5: Hungry by Crystal Renn.

This is a must-have book for anyone who’s interested in the beauty/fashion industry, along with the very social media tag #effyourbeautystandards. Crystal Renn was cited as an up-and-coming supermodel, but told to lose weight. Due to the pressure of the job, Crystal soon developed a series of eating disorders.
This book is fascinating for any one who is struggling with their weight and being accepted into society. Despite Crystal no longer being the size 16 plus-size model she once was famed to be, I find it still very relevant as a memoir.

Disclaimer – all opinions, favourites and views are my own.

So these are my favourite non-fiction books. I’ve been really enjoying doing these Top 5 posts. Let me know if you have any suggestions for the next load!

 

My Parisian Adventure – Day 4 (Palace of Versailles) + Final Day

When planning my trip, I knew I had to go and see The Palace of Versailles. There wasn’t any argument, so I decided I’d plan our holiday to centre around the day out.

I knew that Versailles was going to be an entire day out, and would require an early start and probably have a late finish, so we pre-packed our lunch and started out from the apartment early in the morning.

From Jaures, we used Line 5 to take us to Paris Austerlitz, and from there we went on the Rer C to Versailles Rive-Gauche. From us, it was very easy. The Rer C is a separate system from the Metro, so you will have to buy a return ticket. Our Paris Visite Pass didn’t serve the Versailles or Disney lines. Currently it’s €3.55 for a one-way ticket. However, obviously purchasing a return journey will just be easier for when you leave. Be aware that the Rer C-Austerlitz line is currently partway closed due to maintenance, so alternative lines may be required. There are buses that also run from the city to the Palace.

Plan your trip here. – (There are a few stations that are situated around the Palace. I recommend the Versailles Chateau Rive-Gauche station, as it’s the closest to the palace)

It took around a hour from leaving the apartment to get to the Rive-Gauche station. From there, the Chateau is clearly signposted.

The Palace isn’t free to enter, and I found it better to book online before you arrive. It helps to cut down the queues. If you book online you don’t have to go to the ticket office (necessarily) and go straight to Entrance A.

We bought the €18 ‘Versailles Passeport’ which gives you access to the Palace, Gardens, Trianon and Marie-Antoniette’s Village. It also gives you access to exhibitions and the Fountains show. For the money, it was completely worth it.

For us, the queue wasn’t too long, but be aware there are quite strong security measures put it. Please visit the website to research and read up beforehand, so you aren’t caught out.

As this is the height of tourist season, it is very advisable to arrive early. We got to Palace at around 10am, and it was already very busy then. So, be prepared to experience some crowding, especially in the Hall of Mirrors. It isn’t advisable, or probably possible to stand around the rooms too long, as the amount of people makes it quite difficult.

Photography is allowed, but no flash, and not for commercial use unless authorisation is given. Selfie sticks are also banned, as are drones.

The entire palace is stunning. Gold leaf upon marble upon gold greets you in every room, and the Hall of Mirrors is ridiculously beautiful. When we went, there were so much to see it was quite overwhelming. You would definitely need more than a day to see the entire estate. My personal highlight was seeing Marie-Antoinettes Estate – a small hamlet built in a very typical French pastoral scene within the crowds, where the infamous queen used as a retreat from Palace life. It’s so quaint and beautiful, it’s definitely worth a walk around. 

When we went to the Palace, we were allowed to eat our picnic on the steps leading down to the palace gardens, which was a welcome highlight. There are clearly signposted refreshments around, and they offer a wide selection of food and drink for any palate. But remember, bring water to sustain you throughout the day, along with suncream on hot days. As a lot of the estate is stretched through the gardens, you spend a lot of time outside.

One tip that I have is that after spending the day walking around the estate, go back into the main palace at the end of the day. The crowds have thinned considerably, and you get to properly enjoy The Hall of Mirrors without being elbowed from all sides. The Palace closes at 6.30pm, so you have plenty of time to get back.

Be aware, the train back and into Versailles will always be crowded throughout the day. Be careful with belongings, and try and secure yourself a seat.

Versailles was definitely the highlight of the week. With the beauty and grandeur of the Palace mixing in with the fascinating history, it really is a day out that you won’t forget for a long time.

(Disclaimer – our fifth day of Paris was just seeing family, and despite a few hours spent walking up Champs-Élysées and a visit to Père Lachaise Cemetary, we didn’t take any images. So I’m going to end my Paris series here. Watch this space for my Rome adventure however!)

 

 

 

 

 

The Many by Wyl Menmuir – Book Review

Title: The Many

Author: Wyl Menmuir

Rating: 4/5

Fantasy: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Science Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Paranormal, Ghostly

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As part of my job, I’m very lucky that I can go and interview authors and people of note. So when I was put onto contacting and reading The Many by Wyl Menmuir, I was not only excited to have some new reading material, but intrigued that this small publication (independently pushed and just over 130 pages long) has been long-listed for the prestigious Man Booker Prize.

So I picked up a copy from my local bookshop, and set about reading. It took me just over an hour to devour it, and I’m pleased to say I was hooked. The Many is worthy of the nomination, as the story is brilliantly woven, expertly told and with different voices and with a satisfying ending that will both leave questions unsolved, yet the reader entirely sated.

Set in an unnamed fishing community on the North Cornish coast, the novel focuses around a new arrival to a very close-knit and closeted community. On paper, Timothy Bucchanan’s move from London to the village makes perfect sense. However, the narrative dives into a world that is completely isolated, mysterious and unfriendly to newcomers. With the ghost of a man that still holds sway over the locals, wasted fish being hauled from a contaminated sea, and unsettling dreams, Timothy soon gets swept up in village life, and with thousands of questions going unanswered, Timothy decides secrets must be unveiled, and the past has to be dug up.

The Many is rare in how it spans and encapulates different literary genres. With biological warfare and contaminated seas signalling science fiction, a world that is cut off and completely isolated being something out of dystopian literature, a murder mystery that has yet to be solved, and a touch of fantasy blending alongside magical realism, this novel feels a lot bigger than it physically is. Menmuir has given the readers enough of the characters to be interested by them, but not bog them down with unneccessary backstories. The figure of Perran, a character who died years before the narrative is set, is like a ghostly figure over the village, and his influence and story is hidden within plain sight. He is never properly physically described, nor do we properly hear him speak (apart from within flashback sequences) yet despite being dead, he is so present within the village conscious.

Timothy arrives at this village with his own issues. He has hopes and dreams of settling down and moving his wife away from the London rat-race, and in touching passages he can imagine himself through different social scenerios. However, this doesn’t happen. And Timothy is left constantly on the outside, yet being the most talked about man in the village.

The village dynamic is also very well written about. As I live on the Cornish coast, I know that there can be some animosity towards newcomers, yet this village certainly runs with it, and brings a Wickerman-esque feel to the narrative.

The novel has some interesting dream sequences, and moments of surrealism/magical realism, which reminds me of the writing styles of Alan Garner and Gabriel García Márquez. These sequences do have to be taken a face value, and towards the end of the novel, the world of the village and probably even Timothy’s own mental state does get a bit fractured, which just adds to the dynamic of the novel.

All in all, a great piece of literature. I’d thoroughly recommend it if you want to try a good read that will stick with you, yet isn’t too physically big.

The Many is out now!

Click here to buy the book.

Authors Website

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