Dark Earth by Rebecca Stott
★★★★.5 / ★★★★★
I absolutely loved this book. For a start, the relationship between the two sisters is complex and rich, with both of them trying to protect the other whilst doing things that would not have been legal (having the sight for one of them in a time where it was considered witchcraft in a burgeoning Christian nation, and being a smith for the other in a time when it was illegal for a woman to be able to use the forge for anything).
I loved all the little historical tidbits, particularly everything about the Sun Kings and the mentions of the Iceni and of Bodicea's rage and fight against Roman oppression. Also, another mention of a Temple of Mithras. (I'm a sucker for any mention of the Cult of Mithras in any media and this made me super happy.) The twists and turns throughout the plot make it really easy to follow, despite how slow in pacing it can be at times and how the narration of certain characters goes almost towards monologue territory.
If you're interested in a character driven narrative set within the British Dark Ages and siblings who stick tight together when things get tough within a found community, then this is for you.
TW: gore, blood, threat of rape & the death of a parent
One of the Girls by Lucy Clarke
★★★★ / ★★★★★
So for a start, the massive plot twist at the end? I did not see that coming. The intertwining with each of the characters and how they relate to each other, despite at first them seemingly not being connected at all apart from being friends with the Bride to Be? Absolutely brilliant. And admittedly I did initially pick this up because it is set in Greece, but the murder mystery made that an even easier decision.
The character who we are led to believe is the murderer, at least for me, actually turns out to be the murderer. But, she doesn't end up killing the person (or people) that it seems like she will. That was what got me.
'We all had different reasons for being there. But one of - well, she had a very specific reason for saying Yes to the hen weekend. The problem was, none of us realised until it was too late.'
The complex relationships between the characters, and how each of their relationships develop, devolve and evolve over the four days that the main plot of the book takes place allows for the development of complex and interesting characters of different backgrounds, sexualities and ethnicities. The pacing of the book is quick, making the reader (me especially) keep their interest (so much in fact that I read this in one sitting).
TW: implied infidelity, implied past rape, threat of rape, suicidal thought & manslaughter