Welcome to Litsy!

#MountARC #NetGalley #ARC - from years ago 🫣

It's 1929 in Britain. Skelton is a nerdy barrister, who's originally from Yorkshire. He takes on the case of MaryDutton, who is accused of poisoning her abusive husband.

It's a slow and meandering story, funny at times. Perfect for fans of the Golden Era murder mystery books.

First in a series.
#SeriesLove2025 @Andrew65 @TheSpineView

Working on #MountARC

Pub Day was 31 December

Didn't like the writing style, too much telling, too little showing. Didn't like the characters either and their insta-lust/love romance didn't work for me.
Not sure why this book is labeled 'erotica', it's pretty tame compared to some other open door contemporary romances I've read.

#NetGalley #ARC

#NetGalley #ARC #MountARC Pub Day: 14 January

A mysterious tower appears in the sky above England. Since neither the military nor any other form of investigation with drones, helicopters, cameras etc reveals anything about the tower, the British do what they do best: Carry on. Then a "countdown" appears on the outside of the tower, as well as the word 'Ascend' and thirteen people from all works of life are beamed onto the base of the tower. ⬇️

Cosy fantasy romance between a ghost whisperer and a ghost hunter.

I really liked the idea of a sentient inn that helps spirits to move on to the afterlife and its new innkeeper, who can see ghosts, and needs to learn the ropes. The atmosphere of the inn was incredible, I wish I could have joined the spirits for one of their tea parties.

#NetGalley #ARC #MountARC
⬇️

YA Coming of Age/Dark Academia Historical Fiction set in mid-19th century Edinburgh with a M/M romance sideplot

James Willoughby has recently decided to become a surgeon and to study at the University of Edinburgh. An excellent decision for the son of a noble family if it wasn't for the family lacking in funds. In order to afford his position in an anatomist's course, the resident resurrectionist Aneurin offers the naïve James a job... ⬇️

I tried to gel with this book, but it didn't work. Due to each chapter being from a different character's POV, it was hard to follow the underlying plot of the story. The many POV were supposed to give the story a found family vibe, but I was never convinced of it. All in all, it seemed more like a collection of short stories that are interconnected than a novel with a thriller-ish plot and fully fleshed-out characters.

#NetGalley #ARC #MountARC

If you are looking for a cosy read that gives you Studio Gibli vibes, this is the book for you.

A hidden world behind the mundane reality, full of magic and wonder, and poetically described. A young pawnbroker brought up in this magical world and a young physicist from the 'real' embark on an adventure to find the pawnbroker's father.

I liked the whimsical nature of the book, it reminded me of The Starless Sea. ⬇️

#NetGalley #ARC #MountARC

I received an extract of this novel for reviewing purposes and can honestly say, those three chapters were not enough to fully form an opinion about the book. The extract packed a lot: village history, description of the game, a reading list, a true crime podcast, and some character introductions.

Six crime writers are invited to a snowy village in north Yorkshire where they are supposed to solve the ⬇️

#NetGalley #ARC #MountARC

#MountARC #NetGalley #ARC

Emily and Wendell embark on their journey into Wendell's realm. Having previously defeated his step-mother, taking the throne should be a formality, yet it is not so easy. A dark curse is threatening the kingdom and Emily soon realises they are living in a "fairy tale" whose many versions don't seem to have a happy ending. Emily is determined to use all her scholarly powers to find ⬇️

#NetGalley #ARC #MountARC

Expected publication: 27 March 2025

I'm shamelessly quoting from the Afterword and Acknowledgements of the review copy I was generously granted: this is "a book about the moon turning to cheese, [...] each chapter represent[s] a day in the lunar cycle, each chapter with mostly different characters in mostly different places in the United States, reacting to it in ways specific [to] them alone"

⬇️