Ola > Recent Status Updates

This will be hard to rate as a whole, as from Part Three onwards, it is really rather good.

It picks up a bit, but still not quite living up to the expectations... On the other hand, I also found The Essex Serpent - to which this is so often compared - lacking in many ways. Atmospheric - yes, but ringing a false, too "modern" note in its historical setting.

Sadly, I find it rather overrated. The set up is spectacular and it is an atmospheric read, but the main character is so farfetched and ludicrous, that franky she is too annoying for the book to be enjoyable.

Now, that the underlying metaphore becomes clear, I am even more impressed.

This is simply enthralling. Thinking of adjectives other than AMAZING is hard at the moment. Both zippy and wistful, sort of dusty-in-a-good-way, it is a gem.