Review: Glass Town Wars - Celia Rees

Glass Town Wars by Celia Rees, published by Pushkin Press on 1st November 2018

Goodreads synopsis:
Tom and Augusta are from different places and different times, but they meet in the virtual world to combine forces in battle, to save a kingdom, escape a web of deceit and to find love. In a place where fictions can be truths and truths fictions, learning who to trust is more than friendship, it is about about survival.

Review:
'Glass Town Wars' is Celia Rees first YA novel for over 6 years. She returns with an imaginative and inventive tale which is inspired by the early writings of the Bronte siblings.

The plot focuses on a boy called Tom who is in hospital in a coma. Cut off from the real world, Tom's friend Milo makes him a test guinea pig for a new virtual reality gaming device that draws him into a dizzying world, far from the one he lives in. Tom meets Augusta who is fighting to save her kingdom and becomes part of the on-going battle. The story switches between this world and that of London in the present time, where his family and friends are desperately trying to bring him back, meshing together imagination and reality.

I enjoyed parts of this book but I found other bits confusing and I wasn't entirely sure I understood everything that happened or the meaning behind certain events in the story. It was incredibly unique and had such an interesting concept but some of it didn't make any sense to me. It's definitely an ingenious idea to take the fictitious world written about by Emily Bronte and co and bring it alive on the page. Rees embellishes it with her own flourishes and gives it a beating heart which draws the reader in. However, although I find the Bronte juvenilia fascinating, I'm not entirely sure the novel as a whole worked.

At times it was very slow and it also took me quite a while to get into the story. I kept having to go back to read sections again and even then I felt like I was missing something that would have helped everything click into place. I actually enjoyed more, the parts of the book that were set in the hospital, rather than in the virtual world, where Tom is being read 'Wuthering Heights' by another character called Lucy, who is trying to bring him out of his coma.

The book itself felt very experimental and although I wanted to love it because it combines Celia Rees and the Brontes, it ended up falling short of my expectations.         

Review: This is Not Forgiveness - Celia Rees

This is Not Forgiveness by Celia Rees, published by Bloomsbury on 2nd February 2012
Goodreads synopsis:
Everyone says that Caro is bad ...but Jamie can't help himself. He thinks of her night and day and can't believe that she wants to be his girlfriend. Gorgeous, impulsive and unconventional, she is totally different to all the other girls he knows. His sister, Martha, hates her. Jamie doesn't know why, but there's no way he's going to take any notice of her warnings to stay away from Caro.

But as Jamie falls deeper and deeper under her spell, he realises there is more to Caro - much more. There are the times when she disappears and doesn't get in touch, the small scars on her wrists, her talk about revolutions and taking action, not to mention the rumours he hears about the other men in her life. And then always in the background there is Rob, Jamie's older brother, back from Afghanistan and traumatised after having his leg smashed to bits there.

Jamie wants to help him, but Rob seems to be living in a world of his own and is increasingly difficult to reach. With Caro, the summer should have been perfect ...but that isn't how things work out in real life, and Jamie is going to find out the hard way.

Review:This is Celia Rees as you’ve never seen her before. Throw out any pre-conceived notions you may have about this book based on her previous writing because this is a very different change of direction. More commonly known for her historical fiction, this is a contemporary story of an altogether different nature.

‘This is Not Forgiveness’ deals with a subject matter Rees has never touched upon before but one which is very topical at the moment. She addresses the theme of war and how people returning from combat have to learn to adapt to civilian life, while dealing with the long lasting effects of having experienced death firsthand.  I like the way Rees also shows the effect that their return can have on their friends and family. 

The powerful opening had me curious and intrigued about the story from the very first few pages.  We know that Rob is dead and his younger brother Jamie has his ashes in an urn.  The actual story unfolds a year prior to this, showing how Rob's death occurred, while keeping the reader on their toes and guessing about what may have occurred.  Things are never quite as they first seem. 

The three narrative strands ensure that the feelings of all three of the main characters are laid bare.  There's Jamie who I immediately liked, his older brother Rob who has been injured and traumatised by the war in Afghanistan and the beautiful and elusive Caro who it took me a little while to warm to.  They each have very distinctive voices and personalities and I enjoyed getting to see events from each of their perspectives. 

The story is hard hitting and the subject matter is often difficult to read about but I found it a thought provoking and interesting book.  There's no neat happy ending and things are often messy and complicated for the characters, but I think this honestly and accurately reflects real life, showing that not everything can be easily fixed. 

Trailer: This is Not Forgiveness - Celia Rees

'This is Not Forgiveness' is unlike anything else you might have previously read by Celia Rees. The subject matter is a complete change of direction for Rees who is usually known for her wonderful historical fiction. It's published by Bloomsbury on 2nd February 2012 and is definitely one to check out. 



Everyone says that Caro is bad ...but Jamie can't help himself. He thinks of her night and day and can't believe that she wants to be his girlfriend. Gorgeous, impulsive and unconventional, she is totally different to all the other girls he knows. His sister, Martha, hates her. Jamie doesn't know why, but there's no way he's going to take any notice of her warnings to stay away from Caro. But as Jamie falls deeper and deeper under her spell, he realises there is more to Caro - much more. There are the times when she disappears and doesn't get in touch, the small scars on her wrists, her talk about revolutions and taking action, not to mention the rumours he hears about the other men in her life.

And then always in the background there is Rob, Jamie's older brother, back from Afghanistan and traumatised after having his leg smashed to bits there. Jamie wants to help him, but Rob seems to be living in a world of his own and is increasingly difficult to reach. With Caro, the summer should have been perfect ...but that isn't how things work out in real life, and Jamie is going to find out the hard way.

The Fool's Girl Giveaway Winners

I had a fantastic response to my UK giveaway of two copies of 'The Fool's Girl' by Celia Rees. 

I'm pleased to announce that the two winners are:

#2 Hayley Rutland

#4 Jadey!

I will be contacting both winners soon by email to confirm your details.  Congratulations!  I hope you enjoy the book and thank you to everyone else that entered.  I hope to have another giveaway soon so keep checking back.

The Fool's Girl - Celia Rees - UK giveaway

To celebrate the paperback release of 'The Fool's Girl' by Celia Rees, I have two copies of the book to giveaway courtesy of Bloomsbury.  This giveaway is only open to entrants within the UK by request of the publisher.  To enter just fill out the form below.

Young and beautiful Violetta may be of royal blood, but her kingdom is in shambles when she arrives in London on a mysterious mission. Her journey has been long and her adventures many, but it is not until she meets the playwright William Shakespeare that she gets to tell the entire story from beginning to end. Violetta and her comic companion, Feste, have come in search of an ancient holy relic that the evil Malvolio has stolen from their kingdom. But where will their remarkable quest—and their most unusual story—lead?

You can find out more about Celia and her fantastic books by visiting her website at www.celiarees.com or by stopping by her facebook page www.facebook.com/theofficialceliareesfanpage

Giveaway rules.

• There will be two winners.
• Open to entrants with UK addresses only. International entrants may enter, provided they have a UK address to send the books to.
• Please fill out the form completely - especially the required details.
• You do not have to be a follower to enter.
• Deadline for entries will be on 30th April.
• Winner(s) will be drawn by random.org
• Winner(s) will be contacted via e-mail, and will be given 48 hours to response. Otherwise, a new winner will be drawn.
• Any details will be deleted after use and will not be passed on to any third party.

Review: The Fool's Girl - Celia Rees

The Fool's Girl by Celia Rees, published by Bloomsbury on 5th April 2010

Goodreads synopsis:
Young and beautiful Violetta may be of royal blood, but her kingdom is in shambles when she arrives in London on a mysterious mission. Her journey has been long and her adventures many, but it is not until she meets the playwright William Shakespeare that she gets to tell the entire story from beginning to end. Violetta and her comic companion, Feste, have come in search of an ancient holy relic that the evil Malvolio has stolen from their kingdom. But where will their remarkable quest—and their most unusual story—lead? In classic Celia Rees style, it is an engrossing journey, full of political intrigue, danger, and romance.

Review:
I've only read one Celia Rees book prior to this, Sovay, which I liked but didn't completely fall in love with.  However, as soon as I read the blurb of 'The Fool's Girl' I just had to pick it up.  I'm a massive Shakespeare fan and this book follows on from the ending of 'Twelfth Night'.  The whole cast of characters are featured, from Viola and Sebastian to Orsino, Olivia and of course Feste.  I don't think it would really matter if you hadn't read the original play or seen it performed, although knowing the background adds an enormous amount of richness and depth to the story.  Celia Rees has spun a captivating tale in which she has imagined the fates of many of the central players - some good, some bad, and pictures what their lives are like away from the island of Illyria.  

The story's told through the eyes of Violetta, the daughter of Viola and Orsino, who arrives in seventeenth century London with a secret agenda.  I loved Violetta - her bravery and courage shines throughout and she makes a perfect heroine.  She soon becomes embroiled with the real life figure of William Shakespeare, who Rees depicts before he becomes the famous playwright of Stratford.  I loved all the little references to his plays, such as his struggle to write 'Hamlet' and the scene where he's reunited with his family, including his wife Anne Hathaway.  Rees herself says that she was daunted to write about one of the greatest figures in English Literature but I think she's done it brilliantly. 

I loved revisiting all the characters - it's a bit like meeting old friends again and I enjoyed the unravelling of the mystery surrounding their real reasons for being in London.  My only real criticism would be the characterisation of Malvolio.  Whenever I've seen the play performed I've always felt really sympathetic towards him.  I think he gets a bit of a hard time and I would love it if someone attempted to put that right.  He's really not so bad and he does get teased mercilessly by everyone in the play.  However, that aside, this was a great book and I'd recommend it to new and old fans of Celia Rees.  Plus, if you're a Shakespeare buff like me then you'll want to explore Rees's take on a literary classic.  

Find out more about Celia Rees on her website  or check out her facebook page

Also, see Celia talking about the inspiration for the book in Shakespeare's hometown of Stratford on youtube