savage_book_review's reviews
265 reviews

Franz Schmidt was the official executioner of Neuremburg at the turn of the 17th Century. Taking great pride in his grizzly work, despite the infamy that came with it, he kept a diary detailing every execution that he undertook, as well as the various 'minor bodily punishments' he inflicted.

I have read books about Schmidt before and was fascinated by his life and work, despite the fact I have to hide my eyes if an execution is included in a TV show I'm watching! So to find that this edition of his diary was available as part of my Audible subscription was brilliant. I really wanted to hear the words of the man himself, just to get a better sense of this person that might have otherwise been lost to history.

Clearly, the author could not have done the narration himself(!), but I wasn't fully prepared for the voice that came over the speakers. John McLain is a name that definitely suits this guy - he sounds like he should be doing the voiceovers for Hollywood blockbuster action movie trailers. As a result, it did take me a while to 'settle in' to the work. I personally think they could have done with a separate narrator for the introductions - when he was reading the diary itself, the voice suited the direct, short phrasing and to the point storytelling. But I found him a little too intense for the more nuanced discussions of the introductions, and likewise his tone did not change when switching from a straight reading of of the diary to indicate an editor's note or some other insert. 

I found the considerations of the scholars who wrote the introductions very insightful, breaking down the various stages of the criminal justice system in Germany at the time, the various torture/execution methods and so on. These were peppered with examples from Schmidt's own life, which made understanding the diary far easier. However, although the introductions cover two 'separate' topics, frustratingly there were many repeated examples and phrases; for example, the fact that Schmidt had a hand in changing the punishment for infanticide from drowning to beheading is mentioned numerous times. I appreciate this happens quite a lot when there are multiple contributions to a book, but I've always wondered why the authors don't read each other's submissions and then come together to edit their work to prevent this sort of thing. 

Another thing to be aware of is that, while the entries for the 'Executions' section of the diary is reproduced in its entirety, the 'Minor Bodily Punishments' section is essentially summarised, with the editors having picked out a selection of entries where more detail than just the name of the criminal and the punishment meted out is given. I was expecting abridgement as they warn you about this within the introduction, but it really is only a few entries, which is slightly disappointing when a lot of the entries in part 1 are just 'a thief, hanged'. In my opinion, either both parts should have been abridged, or the work should have been included in its entirety.

The diary is essentially a bullet pointed list for each year, and so if you're not overly interested in the subject matter it would definitely come across as very, very dry. However, I think it does give some clues to Schmidt's character - if nothing else, as it is a personal document rather than a mandated court record, it surely demonstrates that Schmidt had the ability to 'not take work home with him' in spades! It's a completely dispassionate record, starkly recalling facts of various cases in an objective manner and stating in straightforward terms the method in which they were dispatched. There are only a couple of occasions where his own thoughts sneak in, commenting in one case that he believed someone deserved a far harsher punishment for example. 

When you think of this period of history in Europe, you generally think of Elizabeth I, the Gunpowder Plot, witch trials etc etc etc. And with that comes an expectation of executions, torture and brutality. But this diary serves a stark reminder that these events were not necessarily as prevalent as you'd believe - the maximum number of people Schmidt executes in any one year is only 20! Objectively speaking, the level of punishment for certain crimes is deplorable, but again when you consider the numbers it makes you wonder if the 'deterrent' factor of the public execution perhaps did work better at that time than we might give credit for, or that the crime rate was so much lower than we would anticipate, the crimes that were committed would be viewed as 'worse', thus deserving harsher reprisals? 

Definitely gives you food for thought, and is a book I would recommend if you're studying / have an interest in history, law and or sociology.

Set during and after the events of the 'Contemporary Mythos' series, this collection of six short stories provides a further glimpse into the lives of the newly immortal Goddesses and their desire to honour the mortal part of themselves by celebrating various holidays as they always used to. Dragging their husbands along for the ride, as well as some of their fellow deities, they can all take a moment to step back from their divine duties and reflect on the changes they have experienced.

This is basically just a fluff piece to give the readers a little more of these characters in a more domestic setting, and to see the couples at their tooth-rotting sweetest. It doesn't really add much to the main narrative (and in some places it's actually quite hard to figure out where these stories fit in the timeline), but it doesn't really matter - just sit back and enjoy.

I have to say the image of Hades and Stephanie dressed up as Lucifer and Chloe Decker for Halloween made me laugh - such a perfect little vignette! Reminds me that I really must finish watching that series... and now I can only see Hades being played by Tom Ellis! There were also a few moments that made me feel like the author may be a fan of ACOTAR - Apollo and Laurel's cabin getaway gave me major Feysand vibes (all that was missing was a steam in the birchin!), and do I really need to mention Eros and Elani's NSFW flight? Also love the fact they touch on the fact that other mythologies are real - I think I need ro see this world's Zeus and Thor meet up!

The main thing that really frustrated me was, once again, the 'Poseidon' cliffhanger which, despite being referred to in here, is moved no further forward. Indeed, it feels like the whole thing is just repeated in a different setting. I am really hoping there is another book which is going to cover this! 

There also appear to be far more typos and grammatical errors in this one (the main series isn't perfect for this, but it's within the 'acceptable' margins of error for me), which pulled me out of the story a bit. Needs another going over by a proof-reader IMO. 

Even though this hasn't been my favourite series/book of reworked myths, I'm still a sucker for Greek Gods and Goddesses, and I'm intrigued by the other books this author has written about them, so overall she's done her job well enough.

Zeus has a problem. Hera has left him, and if he doesn't find a new Queen of Olympus soon, he will lose his crown. In his mortal guise, he's a hotshot criminal defense attorney in NYC, and when he comes face to face with Keira, his adversary in an upcoming murder trial, he knows there's no other choice for him. One small problem; she really doesn't like him. Can the King of the Gods charm his way into her heart before time runs out? Or will the Greek Gods soon be bowing to a new ruler?

OK, I'll admit it. This is what I was expecting the entire series to be like. The strong alpha male God who's sexy and he knows it, the mortal(ish) woman who finds her way past the arrogance and swagger to see the 'real man' underneath, and a healthy dose of bedroom antics. So, because this one matched my expectations, I have to say it's my favourite of the series. Yes, like always it's a bit contrived and light on backstory, but I actually found myself immersing in this one, rather than just being pulled along for the ride. 

I also like that this book is written from both Keira and Zeus' perspective, so you get to know the God for himself rather than just through the eyes of the FMC. In this case, it's a great balance, tempering the arrogance and frustration Keira sees with a knowledge of the reasons why he might be like this, and a view of his softer side that you otherwise wouldn't know about. He's still the all powerful King of the Gods, but the vulnerable side of him makes him so much more approachable as a character. 

The setting immediately puts me in mind of an episode of 'Suits' or similar... meaning Zeus is definitely the Harvey Specter character! Although the guy on the cover puts me more in mind of Stephen Amell, which I guess makes sense as he's taking the lead in the spin off. Although I'm not so sure about Keira's assistant - that character doesn't feel like it fits within that world. 

I appreciate that each of the books can stand alone, but ultimately they are part of a series and I do enjoy the Easter eggs and the interactions between the characters from different books. However, given that the last book ended on what felt like a cliffhanger, I was sorely disappointed that no mention was given to it, let alone a resolution. Similarly, there are a lot of threads left hanging, and where there are some resolutions to things, they feel dismissive rather than satisfying.

Also, as a conclusion to the series I feel like a huge hole was left by not making sure there was a scene in which all of the Gods and their ex-mortal wives stood side-by-side for some reason. There was the opportunity to do so in a couple of different ways, but it wasn't taken. In fact, I don't recall Eros and his bride making an appearance at all. I was expecting this to happen as a result of the end of 'Poseidon'; the image on my mind of what would draw them together is so clear, so again I really feel let down by its absence.

Overall, the series is a fun romp through some of the Greek mythology, but I am glad that I read them via Kindle Unlimited rather than having paid for them.

Cordelia has a passion for the ocean; she earns a living as an oceanographer, with a side of e-gaming online. Out doing her usual volunteer work of cleaning up the Pensacola beach, she catches the eye of world-famous surfer Simon. But both she and he have this feeling, like they've met each other before...

You'll be pleased to know that, while this book certainly starts out in the same vein as the others in this series, it quite quickly diverges from the norm. It's a welcome change, giving this tale a different feel whilst retaining the continuity of the overall series. It was therefore an enjoyable read, but I found myself less enthused by the plot overall. 

I liked Simon/Poseidon's character, especially his tenderness towards Cordelia throughout. The person the author has drawn is definitely not what I was expecting, but was absolutely welcome. He might even be my favourite of the Gods from the series (sorry Hades...)! I found it harder to invest in Cordelia in e-gaming mode, probably because that's not something I really 'get', but as you learn more about her she became easier to get along with, even if I remain fairly ambivalent about her.

As with the rest of the books the level of backstory and development is quite lacking, but in this case it is sorely needed to allow the reader to fully understand the characters and their relationship. There is an attempt to fill in some of the gaps, but it comes too late on and is too brief to be of much help. In this case, it does feel like you might need a little bit of knowledge of Poseidon's myths and stories to fully appreciate what's happening. I found this also affected the ending of the book (cliffhanger - I knew we were building towards something!), dampening what should have been a very effective hook into the next book. 

On a related note, there could and should have been far more time devoted to Cordelia's memories. It's a great plot device and prime space for exploration and character development,but as with a lot of the author's sub-plots throughout the series, it briefly appears to serve its purpose in moving the main story along, before being quickly discarded. Similarly, the obstacles being thrown in the way are resolved far too quickly - I'm not saying characters don't deserve to be thrown the odd but of good luck, but when so many solutions are basically served on a silver platter, it gives the impression that the author didn't think too hard about anything other than the main relationship. 

On the upside, I'm not so worried about Chelsea any more (look out for the Easter Egg!), and I'm certainly intrigued about how the finale is going to play out. There are a fair few loose ends to tie up from throughout the series and I do have my suspicions about how everything will be brought together, but we shall see!

Elani believes in compatibility, and runs her dating agency on the premise that her detailed algorithm can find someone their perfect life partner. What's love got to do with anything? But when several clients ditch her services after finding their match on the advice of a local bartender who seemingly has an almost divine power to set people up, she finds herself betting on her own happily ever after. 

This book has a much 'softer' feel to it than the previous books in the series, mainly because we're talking about a God who deals in love rather than war or death. He's an immediately likeable character and, while he does flirt, he doesn't come across as brazen or brash as the other Gods and it feels like a more down to earth, natural progression of a relationship. His actions throughout are genuine and lovely when taken in context (if he wasn't a God, I admit there are a few moments that might raise a few red flags!) and he's definitely the sort of character you sigh over. And, so with all good book boyfriends of late, he has a large wingspan and a lake for you both to swim in...😊

Elani is an interesting character, but she's not been my favourite of the series. However, I do like the small differences in her background compared to the others; it feels like her backstory might be starting to guide the reader towards some sort of 'end game' when the series concludes to explain how all of these Gods are suddenly getting themselves mortal wives! I also have to say I feel really sorry for her sister Chelsea now, as both her sister and her "best friend" (Harm from 'Ares') have snagged themselves an Olympian! Really hoping she gets a look in during the remaining books in the series!

I particularly enjoyed the weaving in of Psyche's character and story, allowing both the 'original' and the 'retelling' to exist side by side. I was less enthused by Aphrodite, but again I suspect this is laying the foundations for an explanation of the mortal women. There are a good few crossover moments in this book too, so you get to revisit some of the Gods you've already met, which really helps the world feel cohesive.

Overall though, I would have liked just a bit more of everything - a slower burn, a more believable obstacle in the form of Graeme (her worries about him remove the suspense fairly quickly), more innuendo-laden cocktails, men in kilts etc etc etc!

An MMA fighter should be able to look after themselves, right? But when Harmony 'Harm' receives a death threat, she reluctantly accepts the protection of a bodyguard, who just so happens to be Mars, the recently retired world heavyweight champion, who might just be more than the brute others see.

By this point in the series, you'll have realised that the stories are all essentially the same, just with different details. But, somehow, the stories remain entertaining enough to keep you reading, whilst allowing you to switch off and just enjoy the ride. I honestly didn't think I'd like this one very much - on the surface, it just doesn't appeal. However, I think it might be my favourite of the series so far.

Normally I'm one for worldbuilding, backstory, character history and so on. In this case, it's almost totally absent, but somehow it just doesn't matter. I like the fact that all you need to know is there, but the writer doesn't dwell on it, which would only serve to bring the mood down. Likewise, she's trusting that you've read the other books so you don't need a recap on the way the world works. It means you are totally focused on these two people, their relationship, and who they are right now. In turn, this lets you enjoy the build up and ultimately the resolution far more because you're invested solely in them. Their characters are well drawn, and Ares' aggression and his struggles with anger management surprisingly only add to his character, especially when compared with the softer side that does make an occasional appearance.

Equally, I enjoyed the more playful touches the author introduced when it comes to Ares' family. Dino and Heph are both brilliantly portrayed, and I kind of wish they had their own books just from these brief introductions alone! And I really like the little twists on 'accepted' Greek mythology that she's managed to include as little in-jokes. It gives the whole thing a lift.

I would say that the underlying premise that brings the two characters together isn't very well handled - it's introduced, very quickly forgotten about and then suddenly resolved in the space of a line or two. I'm also pretty sure there's a typo in my Kindle version which gives the 'villain' the wrong name at the end, meaning the (not so) big reveal loses even more of its power. Similarly, the 'best friend' character in this isn't as strong as in the previous books, perhaps because she's Harm's publicist rather than a friend, and Harm is not the sort or woman to do 'girl talk', so the closeness between them is missing. 

On to the next one!

The heroes of the Trojan War are legend... Achillies and Patroclus, Agamemnon, Odysseyus, Priam, Paris, Hector, Ajax... the list goes on. But aren't the women of the Trojan War just as heroic in their own way? Those that survived, only to be forced into slavery? Those that lost their husbands, brothers and sons and had to keep going regardless? This novel explores their stories and brings to life those overshadowed by 'the face that launched a thousand ships'.

First and foremost, the writing of this piece certainly is 'epic', matching the scale of the piece that was its inspiration. I love the continual shift in focus, from far removed with the Muse Calliope ranting about how the author of this epic poem doesn't want to listen to her, to the 'Greek chorus' moments of the Trojan women, sat on the shore awaiting their fates, to the stories of various women involved in the war, whether before, during or after. The stories don't come in chronological order, and yet the story ebbs and flows beautifully, with the timeline still becoming manifestly clear so you can not only discover what happens to everyone as a result of the war, but follow it back to work out exactly who put the wheels is motion to cause the war in the first place. 

If you've read even a few of the myriad of recent releases based around retelling Greek myths from the female perspective, you will probably be familiar with at least some of the characters and their stories. However, that shouldn't put you off - there are still plenty of other women in here to learn about. The book definitely fits into this bracket though; the various authors of these recent books (i.e. Madeline Miller, Jennifer Saint etc) do all seem to have a similar flair and style which really helps ground you in the stories, no matter who you're reading. Hayne's writing in this case is gentle and yet emotionally charged throughout, with moments of levity, and overall is just a really enjoyable journey to go on. 

I couldn't choose which story I liked the most - the author has told all of them in a wonderfully engaging way. That being said, I loved Penelope's increasingly exasperated letters to Odysseyus, telling him what stories the bards are telling about his ridiculous journey home. Likewise, the stories of the lesser known (to me) women were fascinating, and filled in a lot of gaps for me.

I listened to the audiobook of this, which the author herself narrated. She is obviously very confident behind a microphone and about the subject matter(she also has a radio programme about Greek myth which is available on Audible and a credit has been earmarked for this!), and yet there were moments where I wasn't wholly convinced by her performance. There are a couple of small slips that could perhaps have done with a touch more editing (or another take) to smooth over, and there are a couple of places where she runs on sentences in something of a rush. Overall she does an excellent job and it's a great listen, but a tiny part of me wonders whether another performer may have added a touch more life to the narration. But that's being very nitpicky.

Would highly recommend!

The third in the series of Alison Weir's examinations of the Queens Consort of England from 1066, this volume focuses on the Queens of Edwards I, II and III, and the two Queens of Richard II. 

I need to preface this by saying I think Alison Weir is an amazing historian and author; she is authoritative, knowledgeable and yet her works are easily digestible by a lay person. While this book absolutely does fit with that, unfortunately it fails to actually focus on the subject at hand; the women. I found that, throughout, it read like more of a general history of the period; the women are definitely there, and probably do appear more than in a traditional narrative of the period, but nevertheless it didn't tell their story so much as just slotted them into their place in history. I don't feel I learned very much about the women at all, and on numerous occasions found myself 'zoning out' as the book did not live up to what I was expecting from its pages. It almost feels like the author has had a loss of confidence in her own abilities to bring women's history to life.

When I reviewed the first book in this series, I commented that this issue was there too, but in that case I could sort of understand it given that primary source material from the 11th and 12th centuries is exceptionally rare. But, even in that book with little source material to rely upon, the author quoted such sources and pinpointed where a Queen was, and perhaps why she was there. In this book, it is clear that there is more primary source material to draw from, but it is the more mundane kind; accounts. As such, she is able to tell us what the Queen ate or wore wherever she might have been, but there is a complete lack of depth given to them as people. I appreciate that a historian deals in facts, but usually there are at least inferences made as to what the subject's motivations and thoughts may have been and this felt totally missing in this case. 

The amount of time dedicated to each Queen also felt uneven to me. I vaguely recall the author making a comment at the outset of this series that, because she had already published standalone books on Eleanor of Aquitaine and Isabella of France, she would not be dedicating that much space to them in these pages. However, Isabella's entry is roughly a third to a half of the length of this book. Her daugher-in-law, Philippa of Hainault, is vastly overshadowed, with much of her life being shoehorned into Isabella's entry due to their overlapping lives. Given the vast amount that has been written about Isabella, I would have preferred that the author stuck with her original plan and tell us more about the 'lesser known' Queens. 

There is a small part of me that wonders whether the author has found that she enjoys writing fictionalised history more than the real thing. Although I certainly applaud the effort and the sheer amount of work that she must be putting into this much needed series to bring these women's stories to the masses, at the same time I cannot help but think this is far from her best work. I will definitely still keep buying and keep reading the series as new ones are released, particularly as we are due to enter the era for which the author is better known in the next book, but for now this one will simply sit in my bookshelf as a nice reference guide, but nothing more.

Laurel is excited to star in a new ballet production, even if she did miss out on the principal role. But when it transpires the company is to be joined onstage by arrogant, egotistical musician Ace, sparks begin to fly between them. Quite literally. Because he's not just a rock god... 

First and foremost, I enjoyed the lightness of Apollo's character and his back and forth with Laurel. It really made their relationship 'pop' from the page more than Hades and Stephanie (who do make a brief appearance in this book). Although the book is shorter than 'Hades', I think you get more from both lead characters in terms of characterisation and development, and I could certainly feel their creativity and inspiration through the descriptions of their music and dance.

Weirdly, I've heard a lot about the Muses today (for some reason, Johnny Vaughan was talking about them on his radio show this morning), so I feel like these Goddesses might be trying to kick me a little bit of inspiration... I could certainly do with it at the moment! I did like the fact that there was a bit more of a 'purpose' to Laurel's story in this sense - it's not quite the 'fated mates' trope, but the draw between the characters feels more natural here.

However, as with the last book, the secondary characters appear to be there purely to inhabit the world, rather than to play any significant part in it. Again, opportunities for layered storylines are missed and there is very little else outside the burgeoning relationship of the main couple to cling onto. It does make it a very quick and easy read, but it feels like it could have been so much more.

I suspect that the books in this series are all going to be essentially carbon copies story-wise, just with different places and people. There are a few things already that are too similar - the best friend in 'Hades' and 'Apollo' is effectively the same person, and other aspects make the writing in the latter feel a bit lazy, rather than there being a worldbuilding element. I'm not expecting any surprises in the rest of the series, but it would be nice to have a bit of a twist. But as long as I keep my expectations of that pretty low, I'll definitely enjoy the rest of the series.

It probably doesn't help that Apollo isn't my favourite of the Greek Gods (Hades has that award), so I'm not necessarily as invested in a story based around him... but it was still a good read to pass the time.

Dragged on holiday to Corfu by her best friend, Stephanie struggles to switch off from her job as a digital forensics expert. But drawn to a lonely soul sat at the hotel bar by the strange nature of his aura, she quickly finds herself with a new puzzle to solve. He calls himself Hades, but the Greek gods are just myths. He can't be the actual King of the Underworld, can he?

Ah, yet again we find ourselves with a lead male character that has a dark soul, pointy ears, a ripped body and a ginormous wingspan... Not complaining! I even like the southern drawl thing he's got going on! But seriously, as with many of these modern retellings Hades is more than just the stereotypical torturer of Tartarus - in this case, all he wants is a short holiday from his day job and for someone to see 'the real him'. His character is perhaps not as detailed as in other retellings, but he's definitely still the character the reader will be drawn to. I did enjoy the development of his relationship with Stephanie and his slipping into Godly thoughts while in his human disguise; it gives him a little bit of an adorable but clueless vibe in places. 

However, I found Stephanie didn't really have enough character development early on for me to come to properly like her; she's given traits and abilities with very little explanation or back story, which I thought detracted from the overall effect. For example, her ability to see auras should be quite important to the plot, but it's not really followed through enough to give it the emphasis it deserves, nor is it explained in any great detail. As she is meant to be 'normal' apart from this, it just comes across as a little bit of a convenient plot device.

The plot itself is relatively simple, but it does feel like a bit of a mish-mash of ideas. You go from trying to solve a murder to Dirty Dancing to Greek mythology, and while it does hold up there is very little depth to the story and ai thought the balance was a bit 'off'. I think it would have been more interesting if the author had focused on either the darker elements and had Hades appear as part of the police investigation, or conversely omitted that element altogether and made it more of a lighthearted 'beach read' romance. Similarly, the attempted sub-plots involving the secondary characters Stephanie meets on holiday don't really lead anywhere and are pretty superfluous as they stand. Again, with a little more thought and detail they could have added a good few layers to the story. 

Enjoyable enough read if you like Hades and Persephone retellings, but there are better out there.