pickSummer 1985, & two young mountaineers, Joe & Simon, set off from camp to climb a route no-one had conquered before. After several days they reached the summit with a few minor issues, but when setting off back down Joe has a catastrophic accident resulting in him breaking his leg. Disaster! Although Simon initially tries to belay Joe down the mountain, a snow storm develops which results in him having to leave Joe for dead.
pickVisitors to London, especially those from outside of the UK, who wish to see the remnants of early Victorian London are probably going to be somewhat disappointed, although this is not just a recent thing, As the author argues, the truth is that the London of Dickens's time was already being lost before the end of the Victorian era & his writing was beginning to be thought of as 'old hat' by then too.
pickTLDR: This is very much a historical fiction novel with elements of horror towards the end. Overall, I thought it was nicely done with the dual timelines of present-day & London 1769 working well here & a fitting, if slightly rushed ending. 3.75🌟
My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, VERVE Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
Full Review & TWs: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7463737218
Read 17th - 19th Sept 2025
so-soThe plotline itself was well thought out, with the mixing of the two timelines & the gradual reveals, but for me, I'm afraid the characters rather spoiled things. Dolly Dove seemed to have almost no personality & I had no strong feelings about what happened to her character, Fern was just annoying, & did Nell have to be quite so useless at everything? I also found the ending to be rather melodramatic. (continued)
so-so“If the man with the skull cup offers you a drink, accept it or you will die a gruesome death; don‘t buy ice from the children with no wagon; and of course, never ever follow the lights.“
Oh, this started off so well....but soon degenerated into a bit of a dog's dinner. The first chapter details the rules for staying at the campground & it really sets the scene & is very intriguing. (continued)
This is a, what seems at times, minute-by-minute recounting of Joe's experiences on this climb in 1985. It's very detailed & honest, but it's not a book to read if you have anxiety! At the point where Joe was still trying to reach the camp & the others were preparing to leave it, 16h
Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2555377137
Read 18th-21st Sept 2025 16h
#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
16h