I read this book pretty much by mistake, having confused Kelly Link in my head with Nell Zink, and it's not the sort of thing I would usually pick up.

I liked a lot of of the more prosaic elements - gays, sisters, gays, even more gays - and I enjoyed a lot of the supernatural stuff too, which is not usually up my street. The writing slips down a treat, and though I think the book is too long and I can understand some of the criticisms of it being slow, I found it pleasurable to read throughout. If anything I thought the ending was a little hurried, compared with the rest of the story, and maybe slightly unsatisfying ... ? But that could be due to my unfamiliarity with the genre.

At any rate, I'm keen to read some of Link's short stories now.

My thanks to Head of Zeus and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book was so good! It was intriguing and really drawed me in. I'll be reading more of this authors work.

I went into, The Book of Love, with high hopes as I really loved the premise and through this sounded really interesting but sadly it didn't work for me. I think it might work better for a younger audience than me but I just could get get engrossed into the book as it felt way to slow. However I do believe a lot of people will love this I am just not the right audience for this sadly.

The Book of Love is an ambitious work, that in parts I found absolutely gripping. The combination of the slipping of time, and a large cast of characters whose POV we see from can at times be confusing - but it makes for a rich text. The prose is lush and lyrical - which fits nicely with the recurring musical themes. However, the pacing fluctuates throughout, and at times this elongates the feeling of what is already quite a long book (it's just under 650 pages long, which for a more literary take on fantasy is quite lengthy). I wasn't consistently engaged at the same level throughout - but for the parts that I enjoyed, I was completely enveloped in the book. I could picture clearly the town of Lovesend, and the people within it. This is a truly interesting book, though not without its small flaws, and I am sure it will stay with me for some time.

This was a novel that I didn’t manage to complete. I like the premise and found the initial few chapters interesting. However, for me it was too drawn out and I found it hard to connect with the characters.

2023 52 Book Challenge - 11) A Book About Secrets

DNF at 15%.

This book sounded so good and I was so excited to read it. Unfortunately, nothing actually happens. Even at 15%, the plot was not progressing and no amount of flowery prose about the scenery was enough to stop the boredom. Most of what I've read of this book could have been condensed down immensely and most of the information feels irrelevant anyway.

Three teenagers are missing, presumed dead. A year later, Mr Anabin, their former music teacher, resurrects them so they can investigate how they died and then return to life. All now have magical powers. An interesting premise and, as the gorgeous cover suggests, perfect for fans of full-on, psychedelic fantasy.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.

I really enjoyed the mystery element of this book which kept me hooked. Definitely recommended as I couldn't put it down.