Book Review, Fiction, History

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah (Guest Book Review)

Guest Book Review by Sthembile Mthethwa of Kristin Hannah's historical fiction The Four Winds.

Book Review, Fiction, History

Review: Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta

Under the Udala Trees is Okparanta’s debut novel about a young girl, named Ijeoma, and her story of life in Nigeria around the time of their Civil War: One day in 1968, at the height of the Biafran civil war, Ijeoma's father is killed and her world is transformed forever. Separated from her grief-stricken mother,… Continue reading Review: Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta

Book Review, Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Review: Into The Water by Paula Hawkins

I thought for this review I’d skip the typical intro of what the book is about because let’s face it, the hype around this book was huge after Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train hit the big screen. I’ll tell you what I think about Into The Water in four parts, like the book (fitting hey?)… Continue reading Review: Into The Water by Paula Hawkins

Fiction, Non-Fiction, Thriller

New Book Releases: August 2017

These exciting books are about to be released by Penguin Random House in August 2017: INTERNATIONAL FICTION: A State of Freedom by Neel Mukherjee What happens when we attempt to exchange the life we are given for something better? Can we transform the possibilities we are born into? A State of Freedom prises open the… Continue reading New Book Releases: August 2017

Book Review, Fantasy, Fiction

Review: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan (Heroes of Olympus series)

NOTE: This review was written by a new member to the Lotus Book Blog team - Baruch! This is his first review and it's great. Continue reading this post in HIS voice and not mine 🙂 ... WARNING:  This review has major spoilers- in fact, I spoil just about everything that can be spoiled!  You… Continue reading Review: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan (Heroes of Olympus series)

Fiction, Non-Fiction

New Book Releases: July 2017

These exciting books are about to be released by Penguin Random House in June 2017: INTERNATIONAL FICTION Fierce Kingdom by Gin Phillips Lincoln is a good boy. At the age of four, he is curious, clever and well behaved. He does as his mum says and knows what the rules are. 'The rules are different… Continue reading New Book Releases: July 2017

Bookstores, Feature, Fiction

Wrap-Up of the 2017 Cape Town Book Sale and Book Haul!

Last weekend, I attended the Cape Town Book Sale where book sellers offered as much as 50% off on a wide range of titles. The book sale ran all weekend (16-18 June) at The Avenue, V&A Waterfront and offered you the chance to buy two kinds of tickets online or at the door. The Beat… Continue reading Wrap-Up of the 2017 Cape Town Book Sale and Book Haul!

Crime, Feature, Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

5 Must-Read Crime Mystery Thriller Fictional Series

Here are some of the most exciting crime mystery thriller fictional series from popular authors that you absolutely MUST read: Harry Bosch series – Michael Connelly This series has to be one of favourite crime thrillers yet! It follows a Los Angeles cop, Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch, who joined the LAPD in 1972. This 20+ book… Continue reading 5 Must-Read Crime Mystery Thriller Fictional Series

Crime, Current Affairs, Fiction, Investing, Non-Fiction

New Book Releases: June 2017

These new exciting books are set to be released by Penguin Random House in June 2017: INTERNATIONAL FICTION Dead Letters by Caite Dolan-Leach Ava doesn't believe it when the email arrives to say that her twin sister is dead. It's not grief or denial that causes her scepticism it just feels too perfect to be anything… Continue reading New Book Releases: June 2017

Book Review, Crime, Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Review: Good Me Bad Me by Ali Land [Penguin Random House]

This psychological thriller by Ali Land is surely one for all who love exciting stories with twists! I really liked the way Good Me Bad Me was written and how Land lures the reader into the different subplots while the major plot develops. The story is exciting for so many other reasons too! I liked… Continue reading Review: Good Me Bad Me by Ali Land [Penguin Random House]

Feature, Fiction, Non-Fiction

New Book Releases for May 2017 by Penguin Random House

Penguin Random House is set to release these exciting fiction and non-fiction books in May 2017: International Fiction: The Black Book by James Patterson How can you prove your innocence when you can't remember the crime? Being a cop runs in Billy Harney's family. The son of Chicago's Chief of Detectives whose twin sister, Patty,… Continue reading New Book Releases for May 2017 by Penguin Random House

Book Review, Fiction, History, Mystery

Review: The Muse by Jessie Burton [PICADOR]

After her first novel, The Miniaturist became a hit in 2014, Jessie Burton returns with a historical fictional novel set to have readers hooked for days with The Muse: Something that really stood out about The Muse is just how BRITISH it is! From the story’s setting to the way in which the characters interact with… Continue reading Review: The Muse by Jessie Burton [PICADOR]

Book Review, Contemporary, Fiction

Review: A Thousand Tales of Johannesburg by Harry Kalmer [Penguin Random House]

Spanning more than a hundred years A Thousand Tales of Johannesburg is a novel that documents and probes the lives of the inhabitants of this incomparable African city the exiled, those returning from exile, and those who never left. A Thousand Tales of Johannesburg is the story of Sara, who poses stiffly for a photo… Continue reading Review: A Thousand Tales of Johannesburg by Harry Kalmer [Penguin Random House]

Book Review, Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Review: The Apartment by S.L. Grey [Pan Macmillan]

The Apartment tells the story of a couple, Mark and Steph, who struggle to move on with their lives after armed robbers broke into their home and brutalised them. Shaken, they decide to get away and leave their troubles behind. A house swap in Paris with a couple they meet online, the Petits, seems to… Continue reading Review: The Apartment by S.L. Grey [Pan Macmillan]

Book Review, Fantasy, Fiction

Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by Jack Thorne, JK Rowling and John Tiffany

“Harry, there is never a perfect answer in this messy, emotional world. Perfection is beyond the reach of humankind, beyond the reach of magic. In every shining moment of happiness is that drop of poison: the knowledge that pain will come again. Be honest to those you love, show your pain. To suffer is as… Continue reading Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by Jack Thorne, JK Rowling and John Tiffany

Book Review, Fiction, Science Fiction, Thriller

Review: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch [Pan Macmillan]

“We all live day to day completely oblivious to the fact that we’re a part of a much larger and stranger reality that we can possibly imagine.” This is undoubtedly one of the most popular books of 2016! If you’ve spent even just 5 minutes on Instagram bookstagram you’d have seen this book being shown… Continue reading Review: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch [Pan Macmillan]

Book Review, Crime, Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Review: The Bone Collection by Kathy Reichs [Penguin Random House]

“I’d seen so much death. Corpses whole and partial, known and unknown. Lives ended in every conceivable manner. From the very old to the very young, male and female. At times cause was apparent, at other times a puzzle requiring prolonged assessment and all my acuity.” The No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Kathy… Continue reading Review: The Bone Collection by Kathy Reichs [Penguin Random House]

Book Review, Contemporary, Fiction

Review: Autumn by Ali Smith [Penguin Random House]

“That’s the thing about things. They fall apart, always have, always will, it’s in their nature.” Autumn was my first novel by well-renowned Man Booker-shortlisted Scottish author Ali Smith. It is also the first of a quartet of seasonally-titled novels. Ali Smith’s Autumn is the story of Elisabeth Demand and a man named Daniel Gluck,… Continue reading Review: Autumn by Ali Smith [Penguin Random House]

Book Review, Crime, Fiction, Thriller

Review: Cross The Line by James Patterson [Penguin Random House]

“Obsession has been a staple in the recipe book of murder since time immemorial. Sometimes obsession is a major ingredient. Other times, obsession is the oven that makes things too hot to handle” Alex Cross is back and James Patterson is at it again with another action-packed crime thriller from the Cross series! Shots ring… Continue reading Review: Cross The Line by James Patterson [Penguin Random House]

Book Review, Crime, Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Review: James Patterson – Cross Justice

“I followed the adage that if you really want to learn about someone, you should just shut up and listen.” – James Patterson This is James Patterson’s latest book in the Alex Cross series. Once again, Patterson continues to bring to life one of his most iconic characters in yet another thrilling chapter of the… Continue reading Review: James Patterson – Cross Justice