Book Review: Bitterthorn
June 18, 2024
‘Bitterthorn’ is a dream-like book that feels like it belongs alongside the classic novels and fairy tales of old.
‘Bitterthorn’ is a dream-like book that feels like it belongs alongside the classic novels and fairy tales of old.
These poems are agonising with a completely relatable feel. I can’t wait to see what Mason Gilbert brings next.
This is a beautiful and heartrending story of love against all odds and the bittersweet impermanence of life
‘My Policeman’ follows the lives of Marion, Patrick and Tom as they navigate the consequences of queer love during an intolerant time.
The setting is enjoyable, the plot is downright wild and I am in love with some of the concepts that Sanderson throws at the wall.
A chilling, twisted Young Adult fairy tale about 3 strange sisters uncovering the mystery of their past which might be best left forgotten.
This is not just a story about solving a mystery: it’s a deeply personal exploration of life’s biggest questions.
Realistic and disgusting details of life are the showstoppers, as is the contrasting glory of the American wilderness.
Sections of the book are punctuated by poems and photographs, one of which confirms that, yes, in 1969 Professor Ricketts was very cool.
This collection is vulnerable and precise, travelling through and between the streets of Christchurch like a supercut of sweet memories.
This is a funny, utterly heartbreaking and incredibly well crafted novel, but it comes with a warning.
With beautiful illustrations, a seal-turned-human and a complicated love, what more do you need in a graphic novel?
More impressionistic than ‘There, There’, this sophomore novel resists the pressure to repeat a winning formula – a pressure to which many breakout novelists succumb.
This sounded great to me! And it was. A must-read if you like historical queer books with lyrical writing.
Read an excerpt from Otherhood on the Spinoff here: Lily Duval’s fabulous essay on flatting with a newborn (someone else’s).
Beautifully vivid, with hilarious twists on tried-and-true tropes, this collab between fantasy giants does not disappoint
Each chapter serves as a piece of a montage which gradually expands into a sweeping tale of human failings, delusion and impermanence.
This is a tale that lingers, leaving readers with a sense of awe and a longing for more from this talented author.
Touching on the importance of each fascinating creature, this book serves as a glorious reminder of how truly unique our ecosystem is.
This is the jazz-infused, speculative crime noir mash-up you didn’t know you were looking for! Sparkling with energy and invention.
A glorious collection of interesting family dynamics interwoven into the wonderful daily life of Ferris.
The London of the Lockwood & Co series has been hit by a plague of ghosts. Only special children can see them…
This is a cracking good read – even for those with no previous interest in maritime history. Also, how did they keep their record books dry?!
Billed as a memoir but reads easily as a collection of essays on lived experiences, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
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