Three fantasy novels you don’t want to miss: Albert, Cogman, and Mostyn

 

The Hazel Wood By Melissa Albert 

Was the original Alice in Wonderland a little too tame for your taste? Are the Grimm Brothers not dark enough for you? Are you hungering for something a little creepier in your childhood fantasy heroines? Then by all means pick up a copy of The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert. Ever since she can remember, 17 year old Alice has been on the move, living a nomadic lifestyle with her mother.  All that time she has longed for a true connection with her grandmother, the mysterious author of fairytale stories, Tales of the Hinterland. Alice’s life is confined to glimpses of this world until she comes home one day to find her mother gone and all hints point to characters from the Hinterland come to life. The story is dark, complex and will draw you in and set your imagination on fire.

The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman

Libraries, spies, Victorians – what more could you ask for? Genevieve Cogman’s The Invisible Library has all of that and more. Irene is a professional spy for the mysterious Library, which harvests fiction from different realities. Along with her enigmatic assistant Kai, she’s posted to an alternative London. Their mission is to retrieve a dangerous book. And any more information will spoil your experience! There are few things that attract avid book lovers more than libraries – but book thieves and spies are among those topics. The characters blaze through the novel and the joy of The Invisible Library is that it’s just the first in a series of four. So you can indulge in your book thief librarian spies for three more volumes!

The Gods of Love by Nicola Mostyn

Are you a fan of the Greek gods? Well, even if you aren’t, we think you’ll be a fan of Frida, divorce lawyer and all around expert on love. Mostly because she’s a secret descendant of Eros, the greek god of love. So when a handsome but clearly delusional man named Dan bursts into Frida’s office and insists that she is fated to save the world, she has him ejected. But a creepy meeting, a demon or three and one attempted kidnapping later, Frida is beginning to face the inconvenient truth: Dan is actuallyThe Oracle, the gods of Greek mythology are real and Frida herself appears to be everyone’s only hope.The world is doomed. A little. This novel is so, so much fun! It is non-stop enjoyment from start to finish and we guarantee you won’t be able to put it down!

Unusual Beauties and their Beasts continued

First published in Cinders issue three

What with the new adaptation of Beauty and the Beast hitting our screens earlier in the year it got us here in Cinders thinking about some of our favourite unconventional interpretations of the classic fairytale. Méabh McDonnell looks at the ways the tale as old as time can be interpreted.

Continue reading Unusual Beauties and their Beasts continued

Beauties and their Beasts

First published in Cinders issue three

What with the new adaptation of Beauty and the Beast hitting our screens earlier in the year it got us here in Cinders thinking about some of our favourite unconventional interpretations of the classic fairytale. Méabh McDonnell looks at the ways the tale as old as time can be interpreted.

A tiny ladybird edition of Beauty and the Beast was my favourite book as a child. The Disney animated movie also held a special place in my heart – still does in fact. Beauty and the Beast is a complex story. On the one hand it’s the magical tale about how love is all you need . It’s the concept that rings true with most people in love – it doesn’t matter what the person looks like – if you love them, you love them. That being said… on the other hand it’s a story where a young woman’s freedom is claimed by a vicious domineering beast who then proceeds to win her over by granting her ‘freedoms’ within what is a very well furnished prison. It’s hard to reconcile that with the happy story of love conquering all. Some people find that too much of a turn off – others might point out that fairytales were written in a time where they were meant to be more gothic than sweet. Regardless of which side of the fence you fall upon Beauty and the Beast’s enduring nature as a story is undeniable.

This is why I decided to compile some of my favourite interpretations of this classic story that I feel really capture the best Beauties and even better Beasts. Some are closer to the original tale than others but all have a special allure.

Continue reading Beauties and their Beasts