Book of the month

Birds Of Prey

By Wilbur Smith

Publisher: Zaffre

Genre: Historical Fiction

The first in a trilogy which begins in 1667, this is a swashbuckling masterpiece.

Set off the coast of South Africa and the many surrounding islands, Francis Courtney is a privateer and a decent honourable man. His mission is to fill his ship with spoils from fighting the Dutch and return to England fully laden. The war between the Dutch and the English continues apace.

Sir Francis, his son Hal and their crew are carried around the southern tip of the African colonies by the good ship Lady Edwina, licensed to attack and seize the treasureladen ships of the Dutch East India Company. When they capture a Dutch trader and hold the passengers to ransom, Sir Francis hopes only for a good price and a small sense of satisfaction.

But this is unlawful territory they sail in. An unexpected betrayal will mean the men on board will face greater peril than they have ever faced before – and many good men may never see home again.

This series has everything: heroes and villains, fighting, slavery, sex, passion, love, loyalty and betrayal... Wilbur Smith is renowned for his books set in and around Africa and Birds of Prey is the beginning of an incredible journey for Hal whilst simultaneously delivering us valuable history lessons we all need to learn from.

Wild Things

By laura Kay

Publisher: Quercus

Genre: Romance

El is in a rut. She’s been hiding in the photocopier room at the same dead-end job for longer than she cares to remember; she’s sharing a flat with a girl who leaves passiveaggressive smiley face notes on the fridge and, worst of all, she’s been in unrequited love with her best friend, effortlessly cool lesbian Ray, for years. When a plan is hatched for El, Ray and two friends (newly heartbroken Will and karaoke-and-Twilight-superfan Jamie) to ditch the big city and move out to a ramshackle house on the edge of an English country village, it feels like just the escape she needs. Despite being the DIY challenge of a lifetime, Lavender House has all the makings of becoming the commune of the friends’ dreams. But, as they start plotting their bright new future and making preparations for a grand housewarming party to thank the surprisingly but wonderfully welcoming community, El is forced to confront her feelings for Ray; the feelings that she’s been desperately trying to keep buried. Is it worth ruining a perfectly good friendship for a chance at love?

I’m not a huge fan of chick-lit, but you have to admire this author for writing a funny, happy, emotional book about life as a young gay person today. It can’t be the easiest place to be but hopefully, lovely stories such as this help by ‘normalising’ what is already normal.

Checkmate In Berlin

By Giles Milton

Publisher: John Murray

Genre: Military History

Berlin was undisputedly a mess in 1945. The Yalta Conference carved up Germany among the victorious powers – the United States, Britain, France and the Soviet Union. On paper, it seemed a pragmatic solution; in reality, once the four powers were no longer united by the common purpose of defeating Germany, they wasted little time reverting to their pre-war hostility toward one another.

The veneer of civility between the Western allies and the Soviets was to break down in spectacular fashion in Berlin. Rival systems, rival ideologies and rival personalities ensured that the German capital became an explosive battleground. The warring leaders who ran Berlin’s four sectors were charismatic, mercurial men, and Giles Milton brings them all to rich and thrilling life here.

We meet unforgettable individuals like America’s explosive Frank ‘Howlin’ Mad’ Howley, a brusque sharp-tongued colonel with a relish for mischief and a loathing for all Russians. Appointed commandant of the city’s American sector, Howley fought an intensely personal battle against his wily nemesis, General Alexander Kotikov, commandant of the Soviet sector. Kotikov oozed charm as he proposed vodka toasts at his parties, but Howley correctly suspected his Soviet rival was Stalin’s agent, appointed to evict the Western allies from Berlin and ultimately from Germany.

Checkmate in Berlin recounts the first battle of the Cold War – an exhilarating tale of intense rivalry and raw power, it is, above all, a story of flawed individuals who were determined to win. Milton does a masterful job of weaving between all the key players’ motivations and thinking at every turn. A story of unprecedented human drama, it’s one that had a profound, and often underestimated, shaping force on the modern world, the repercussions of which reverberate today.

Thread Needle

By Cari Thomas

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Genre: Fantasy

Within the boroughs of London, nestled among its streets, hides another city, filled with enchantment and the belief that magic is the first sin; it must be controlled. Ever since Anna can remember, her aunt has warned her of the dangers of magic. She has taught her to fear how it twists and knots and turns into something dark and deadly.

It was, after all, magic that killed her parents and left her in her aunt’s care. It’s why she has been protected from the magical world and, in one year’s time, what little magic she has will be bound. She will join her aunt alongside the other Binders who believe magic is a sin not to be used, but denied. Only one more year and she will be free of the curse of magic, her aunt’s teachings and the disappointment of the little she is capable of.

Again, not my favourite genre but this title has something special. It’s considerably more grown up than Harry Potter and very clever. I love the parallels between the worlds and the fear of magic – all very clever and just shows what control can achieve.

Hungry Ghosts

By Kevin Jared Hosein

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Genre: Fiction

I loved this book because it’s a social commentary of a time and location so unknown to me. Fascinating, informative and thoroughly entertaining.

The story of two families colliding in 1940’s Trinidad and a chilling mystery that shows how interconnected their lives are. Trinidad was, at this time, nearing the end of American occupation and British colonialism.

On a hill overlooking Bell Village sits the Changoor farm, where Dalton and Marlee Changoor live in luxury unrecognisable to those who reside in the farm’s shadow. Down below is the Barrack, a ramshackle building of wood and tin, divided into rooms occupied by whole families.

Among these families are the Saroops; Hans, Shweta and their son, Krishna, all three born of the barracks. Theirs are hard lives of backbreaking work, grinding poverty, devotion to faith and a battle against nature and a social structure designed to keep them where they are. But, when Dalton goes missing and Marlee’s safety is compromised, farmhand Hans is lured by the promise of a handsome stipend to move to the farm as a watchman.

Hungry Ghosts is deeply resonant of its time and place while evoking the roots and ripple effects of generational trauma and linked histories; the lingering resentments, sacrifices and longings that alter destinies and the consequences of powerlessness.

Lyrically told and rendered with harrowing beauty, this is a stunning piece of storytelling and an affecting mystery, from a blazingly talented writer.

Left: Pão de Alfarroba, sometimes made with walnuts. Below: Pão de Mafra, an artisanal bread made with wheat and rye flours. Bottom, left: Traditional Easter bread, Folar de Páscoa