One Grand Summer by Ewald Arenz (translated by Rachel Ward)

Today I'm visiting  early 80s Germany with my blog tour book review! Welcome to my stop on the tour for One Grand Summer by Ewald Arenz, translated into English by Rachel Ward. My thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me and to the publisher for my review copy. 

The Blurb

Sixteen-year-old Frieder’s plans for the summer are shattered when he fails two subjects. To be able to move up to the next year in the autumn, he needs to resit his exams.

So, instead of going on holiday with his family, he now faces the daunting and boring prospect of staying at his grandparents’ house, studying with his strict and formal step-grandfather.

On the bright side, he’ll spend time with his grandmother Nana, his sister Alma and his best friend Johann. And he meets Beate, the girl in the beautiful green swimsuit…

The next few weeks will bring friendship, fear and first love - one grand summer that will change and shape his entire life.

My Review

We all know I read mainly crime fiction but things would become very boring if I didn't switch them up occasionally. Two years ago I read Ewald Arenz's debut novel, Tasting Sunlight, the gorgeous story of the friendship between two very different women. I loved it, and it made my top three reads of 2022 so I was delighted to have the opportunity to read this new novel from Arenz.

This novel takes us back to a time before mobile phones, texting and social media and to that magical, scary age of 16. Maths and Latin are not strong subjects for Friedrich (Frieder) Büchner and as a result he is facing resits at the end of the summer - resits that he must pass. Whilst this means he will have to spend the summer with his beloved grandmother it also means his super strict step-grandfather will be supervising his revision. Frieder is dreading it but at least he will see one of his sisters sometimes, as she is also missing the family holiday, and hopefully his best friend Johann and Beate, the young woman he meets at the swimming pool just before term ends. Things are looking up.  

This novel is populated with characters you will take to your heart. Frieder is a lovely young man, close to his parents and siblings, has a wonderful relationship with his grandmother and a strong bond with his best friend. The few weeks described in the book see Frieder develop, grow up and gain a deeper understanding of those close to him. It was moving to see him learn about, and sometimes grapple to understand, some of his recent family history. But also we see him just being a 16 year old lad, mucking about with his friends, making mistakes, and learning the consequences. His relationship with Johann is great - The two boys have very different family backgrounds but have bonded none the less. And when Johann faces some difficult moments, Frieder is there for him - in fact, he has to make a very tough decision for such a young man. 

I loved the women in the story. Nana is warm, welcoming, loving and understanding, for the most part, and it was interesting to learn about her past, and see the obvious affection she has for Frieder, and the wider family. Alma is full of fun, Beate more shy as she joins this established group of friends, but it was beautiful to read her growing friendship with them all but particularly the developing feelings between her and Frieder. 

But I think my favourite thing in this book was Frieder's changing relationship with, and opinion of, his step-grandfather. It's subtle, but we see a  greater understanding and a grudging respect develop, so much so that Frieder knows who he must turn to in a time of crisis - it was beautiful to read. 

The prose in this is lush and full of descriptions, making it easy to conjure up a picture - it almost felt like I was there, hanging out with these kids - very vivid. My thanks to Rachel Ward for her seamless translation, enabling me to enjoy this lovely book, and to the author himself, of course.. One Grand Summer is a coming of age story, and the author beautifully handles some of the larger subjects delicately - family, friendship, love, grief and mental health. It shows the importance of having good people in our lives from an early age, and how those people can sometimes be transformative for us. And it reminded me of special summers when I was young - I'm sure many of us will have similar memories. Not my usual kind of read but a very welcome change - really enjoyed it. 

The Author

Ewald Arenz was born in Nuremberg in 1965, studied English, American literature and history, and now works as a teacher at a grammar school. His novels and plays have received numerous awards. Tasting Sunlight was longlisted for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize, shortlisted for the German Booksellers Best Novel Award, and featured on the Spiegel bestseller lists in both hardback and paperback for months. One Grand Summer won the German Booksellers Prize in 2021, and was a number-one bestseller in Germany. Ewald lives with his family near Fürth.

The Betrayal of Thomas True by AJ West

I know I've been very quiet on here - just life stuff, I'm afraid, but aiming to do better! And, oh my heart, it's an emotional one in the blog today! Welcome to my stop on the tour for The Betrayal of Thomas True by AJ West. I hadn't read The Spirit Engineer, the author's debut novel, so didn't know what to expect, but the blurb looked fascinating. I wasn't disappointed. Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me on the tour and to the publisher for sending my review copy.

The Blurb

It is the year 1710, and Thomas True has arrived on old London Bridge with a dangerous secret. One night, lost amongst the squalor of London's hidden back streets, he finds himself drawn into the outrageous underworld of the molly houses.

Meanwhile, carpenter Gabriel Griffin struggles to hide his double life as Lotty, the molly's stoic guard. When a young man is found murdered, he realises there is a rat amongst them, betraying their secrets to a pair of murderous Justices.

Can Gabriel unmask the traitor before they hang? Can he save hapless Thomas from peril, and their own forbidden love?

Set amidst the buried streets of Georgian London, The Betrayal of Thomas True is a brutal and devastating thriller, where love must overcome evil, and the only true sin is betrayal.

 

My Review

Thomas True arrives in London, just 18 and fresh faced. Very handsome too. He has left home to escape his strict parents and to find his true self. But it was such a rush he left in he's forgotten his luggage and when he is accidentally thrown from the carriage he has no idea where he is, what to do, or how to get to his cousin's house. Fortunately, someone is on hand to help and Thomas is introduced to the world of molly houses, specifically Mother Clap's Molly House, the biggest, the busiest, the best and the most colourful. And here Thomas meets Gabriel and both their lives change forever... 

Well, this is a real rollercoaster of emotions! From the moment Thomas arrived in London we're taken on a journey with him full of ups and downs. Naive, innocent and a little frightened when he arrives, he knows there is something different about him, and London is the place where he comes into his own. Seeing him find himself, and the freedom that comes with that is an utter joy. But the freedom isn't a real one, as his love is forbidden and illegal. And there are viscous gangs and a couple of nasty law men determined to put an end to such filth (in they die opinion). Reading about some of the men seeking out medical treatments to try to suppress their urges was heart breaking. 

But behind the doors of Mother Clap's Molly House the men could truly be themselves. The descriptions of the place are so vivid and colourful - the set up, the dancers, the costumes, the alter egos - it's some place! And Mother Clap herself - a woman providing a safe haven for all these men - brilliant. And so many fabulous characters - Jack, Fump, Vivian, the Duchess and, of course, Gabriel. Oh, he especially, tugged at my heart strings. So tortured, so sad, but so beautifully written. And trying to do the right thing, even when it might be the worst thing for him... Gabriel was my standout character in this book. An honourable mention for Harry, Gabriel's long time friend and a decent, stand up kind of guy.

I loved all the descriptions of London, the filth, the smells, the colours, the places and the people. So well illustrated and easy to picture. The story itself made me angry, happy,  grief stricken, filled my heart with joy, broke it, made me cry. I was telling someone today that I had cried at this book and she commented that I must have a good imagination to feel that way. Maybe, but for me, it's because of was so beautifully written that I really didn't have to try too hard to picture it all. 

The Betrayal of Thomas True is a truly emotional read - it's violent and brutal in places, gentle and loving in others. It will make you angry, so angry, in places, then make your heart soar in others, right up to its bittersweet ending. I was left in tatters. It's definitely one to beg, borrow or buy - I promise you, you will be moved. Highly recommended. I'm off to find a copy of The Spirit Engineer...

The Author

A.J. West's bestselling debut novel The Spirit Engineer won the Historical Writers'
Association Debut Crown Award, gaining international praise for its telling of a long forgotten true story.

An award winning BBC newsreader and reporter, he has written for national newspapers and regularly appears on network television discussing his writing and the historical
context of contemporary events.

A passionate historical researcher, he writes at The London Library and museum archives around the world.

To connect with AJ and discover more about his research, visit www.ajwestauthor.com


Bookshop Tour

The Blade in the Angel's Shadow by Andy Darby

Something a wee bit different from me today. Well, a big bit different, really! Regular visitors to my blog will know that fantasy is not a genre I usually read, with the exception of work by the late great Terry Pratchett, of course. However, is a new book from Andy Darby, the author of the bonkers Me and The Monkey: Chronicles of the Monkey God, Vol 1, which I read and reviewed back in 2021, and absolutely loved (I've since enjoyed more madness in Vol 2, but am still to write my review). I was delighted when he asked me to be a beta reader for this novel, a very different book from the Monkey God Chronicles, and am pleased to share my thoughts on it as part of the blog tour. Many thanks to Maia Gomez at Silver Dagger Book Tours for including me and to Andy for sending me a signed copy of the book. And look out at the end of the post for details of a giveaway! 

The Blurb

An Empire born through Angelic magic, or a hell on Earth? One woman’s sword may decide it all.

The Angels want to usher in Revelation, and what better way than through the creation of the British Empire?

Infamous swordswoman Captain Lament Evyngar awaits execution in the Tower of London, charged with heresy and attempted regicide, but all is not as it seems. Unwittingly entangled in the schemes of the Angels, she recounts her tale to the Queen's sorcerer, Dr Dee, who is more than a little responsible for her predicament.

Dr Dee has designs for a British Empire that will dominate the world for ages to come, and with the aegis of the Angels, he has the power to make it a reality. But, two elements are missing, and through blackmail and occult ritual, Lament and her giant Dutch comrade are forced to journey to the war-ravaged Spanish Netherlands on a quest that will reveal the truth about strange entities that use humans to fight out their eternal conflicts and in doing so alter the course of history forever.

So, a bargain is made, a child is created, and death is no longer an option for Lament as she is swept back and forth through time and space, her identity suddenly made fluid until she can at last return to the London of Queen Elizabeth I and face the cosmic horror that is unveiled in the royal court.


Book Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US 
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Waterstones
Blackwell’s

Bookbub

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My Review 

We first meet Captain Lament Evyngar as she awaits her death, and then hear her story as she gives her final confession to Dr Dee, the astronomer to Queen Elizabeth I, who played a large part in bringing her to this end. When she is wrongly accused of a crime, Dee essentially blackmails her into working for him by threatening not only her life and reputation, but also those of her family and her loyal companion and friend, giant Dutchman, Sergeant Pieter Hertgers. He also insists on performong a ritual on her, which he claims will aid her in her quest. So Lament and Pieter set off for the Netherlands to steal magical items for Dr Dee but it proves to be a much more epic and terrifying journey than either of them could have possibly imagined. 

Lament and Pieter are engaging leads. Lament is charismatic and interesting, a skilled soldier and swordswoman, at a time when such a thing was almost unheard of. It was particularly interesting seeing her learn to control her more otherworldly abilities even if she perhaps doesn't understand them. And her interactions with Beatris were fascinating. Lament's relationship with Pieter is purely platonic, which I loved, but they are pretty devoted to each other, each always looking out for the other, fighting side by side. He is a much more straightforward character than Lament but no less interesting because of it. 

The story is both a bloodthirsty swashbuckling tale of hand to hand combat, eating, drinking and whoring and a completely otherworldly fantasy of angels, demons and inhuman monsters. And the two combine seamlessly to form a novel that grabs you from the get go and keeps you hanging on, tension always high As I mentioned, I don't have much experience with fantasy, but this worked for me. It is written in the present tense which helps keep it t air and exciting but maybe not so much in that we know Lament is relaying these events after they happened. There are a some moments when Lament slips between time and place which I felt could have been better highlighted and a couple of points that could've done with tighter editing, but these things were just niggles for me and didn't ruin my enjoyment of the book at all.

The Blade in the Angel's Shadow is a hugely entertaining novel with two hugely engaging leads. Action packed, tense throughout, full of a variety of antagonists - human and (very vivid) ethereal ones. There is an exciting denouement and a thrilling, explosive conclusion, each of which includes a heart breaking moment. I very much enjoyed it - more than I thought I might to be honest, which I'm delighted about - and I sincerely hope this isn't the last we've  seen of Captain Lament Evyngar!

The Author

Andy is a lifelong fan of fantasy, swords and sorcery, and weird tales. He also has a bit of an obsession with historical fiction/fantasy and alternate histories.

Andy lives on the north coast of Cornwall in the UK with his artist wife, teenage daughter, three cats, and two ponies. He is contantly running out of shelf space for the ever-increasing book collection.

Other books by Andy:
Me and the Monkey: Chronicles of the Monkey God Vol 1 & 2
The Paddington Incident


Author Social Media Links

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Giveaway

$20 Amazon 

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!