My favourite reads from April are:
Fiona Collins - Five Days in Venice
This is a beautifully written novel, and the scenes set in Venice are atmospheric and colourful, bringing the charm and opulence of the city to life. With this backdrop, we find the heroine, Olivia, arriving to take part in a festival of writers. She's from a modest background, raised alone by her artisan father after her mother died. Olivia is apprehensive about the event, as she knows that one of the other writers taking part is the stratospherically successful and charismatic Leo Greene. She and Leo met originally in their youth, and have shared significant moments as the years have gone by. Despite their intense attraction, they have never actually been together. The last time they met, they both said unforgivable things. Now they must spend five days in each other's comany. To make matters more difficult, Olivia's godmother Gillian, who lives in Venice, is desperately ill in a hospice. This relationship has been strained since Olivia's father died many years earlier, and she has no idea why. As we follow the days when Olivia and Leo have to interact together, the novel dips in and out of their difficult encounters over the years, right up till their final quarrel. The complications of their lives and their missed connections are expertly drawn, showing fully rounded characters as their failings and disappointments play out. I became more enticed by this novel as it unfolded, and by the end I couldn't stop turning the pages.
Jeff Wheeler - The Alchemy of Fate
This is the third in this author's Invisible College series, which I can thoroughly recommend (see my previous blogs for reviews about the others). It's set in an industrial world where magic is available for a select few. Magic has been bequeathed to humans by a race called the Aesir, tall beings who love the cold. In the past they were allied with the humans, but there was a falling out and now they are enemies. The Aesir go into hibernations for long periods of time, but when they awaken the war continues. This has recently started again, and the humans who have trained in magic at the Invisible College are doing all they can to work with the military to defend humanity. Young genius Robinson has invented special lamps that detect hidden Aesir spies infiltrating their society, but they have been stolen by the military. A court case is imminent to determine ownership of the invention. Robinson's new wife, McKenna, is deaf which means she cannot create magic, which requires the ability to sing. But she's being hunted by a mysterious man who can disguise his identity - only McKenna can see through his deception. He kidnaps her, and Robinson is torn as he tries to find her but must prepare for his court case. This is an exciting and imaginitive world, with an amazing history, lore and secrets. No spoilers - but there is an astonishing revelation which I certainly didn't see coming, and which turns everything on its head. I'm looking forward to reading the fourth book (last in the series) in which the result of this revelation brings everything to its conclusion. Imaginitive and compelling.
Evie Woods - The Violin Maker's Secret
This was an amazing novel, right up my street. I love a mystery, a love story, people finding themselves, and all wrapped up in classical music! Add a dash of history and a little paranormal into the bargain. Devlin buys a violin from airport Lost Property in the mistaken belief that his girlfriend would like it. As she was expecting an engagement ring, but he's not ready, the pair realise that they are not suited after all. Devlin knows there's something special about this instrument, but when he sees a news story, he begins to suspect that it's a valuable stolen instrument. He enlists the help of his old history teacher, Walter, now retired, in the hope he can help him discover its origins. Walter's shaken from a dark moment by the task, and gets caught up in the search. They take it to Gabrielle, who is running running her father's stringed instrument dealership now that he's gone. As their paths become irrevocably entwined when they embark on a journey of discovery, the three become strangely attached to the violin as they search for its maker. But there's someone sinister tracking their moves, who is desperate take back by any means what they believe is theirs, and with no qualms about who gets hurt. As the chase crosses countries, the novel dips into the history of the violin, while new dark secrets are revealed, and the lives of Devlin, Gabrielle and Walter will never be the same. Riveting, enthralling, imaginaive, I absolutely devoured this book.
