Rachel's Rambling Reviews: June 2021

So, today is a review blog tour post for you all of this book. I got the email in my inbox asking if I'd like to be a part of the blog tour and the description on this book just jumped out to me (and the cover, I mean, come on how beautiful is it?!) so I knew I had to say yes!

Here's the book:

Somewhere in England, in a small town called Strange Ground by the Skea, Ebbie Wren is the last librarian and he's about to lose his job. Estranged from his parents, unable to make connections with anyone except the old homeless lady who lives near the library, Ebbie isn't quite sure what he's supposed to do next. His only escape from reality is his deep interest in local folklore, but reality is far stranger than Ebbie can dream.

On the other side of the sky and the sea, the Queen of House Wood Bee has been murdered. Her sister has made the first move in a long game, one which will lead her to greatness, yet risk destruction for the entire Realm. She needs the two magical stones Foresight and Hindsight for her power to be complete, but no one knows where they are. Although the sword recently stolen by Bek Rana, small time thief and not very good at it, might hold a clue to their location . . . and to stopping the chaos. But all Bek wants is to sell the sword and buy herself a better life. She's not interested in being a hero, and neither is Ebbie.

But someone is forcing their hand and playing for the heart of the Realm. Ebbie and Bek are destined to unite. They must find a way to stop the destruction of House Wood Bee, save the Realm, and just maybe save themselves in the process. All victories come at a price. The Oldungods are rising. And they are watching...

The first thing I will say about this book is that it was absolutely magical, and I loved that. If you've ever dreamed of being transported to another world, this is the book for you. Ebbie, the MC, is transported between the land that he's only ever heard of from myths and folklore (Strange Ground Beneath the Skea) and his modern day home (Strange Ground by the Skea) in this story, and it just really resonated with me and made me think of all the times I've ever wanted to visit magical lands that I have read about or heard about - if I could take his place I totally would.

The main plot of the book is so interesting - it mixes some of the Gods we know, like Juno and Persephone, with new myths and superstitions and we also get to see just how Gods interferences can impact the life of the people who worship them. It was quite an interesting take on it, and showed what seems a bit like a chess game between two of the Gods involving the rest of the worlds that they look over which was such an intriguing concept to me.

Ebbie and Bek, two of the main characters, were written so well and you really started to like them as soon as you met them. Ebbie was especially easy to connect with as he was just as I imagined I would be if I took his place- full of wonder and awe whilst visiting the world that he has studied so much from back home. They were unlikely, and also slightly unwilling, heroes in this book and the way that they work together to help save the Realm is amazing - I particularly like Bek because as you learn more about her she just becomes a whole lot more likeable as a character.

I admit, I was a bit confused by the ending, but yaknow what - I liked that. It meant I can try and figure things out myself, and I'm sure it will mean it will be a fun book to reread. This is definitely one of my favourite standalone books of this year!

Overall, this is definitely a great read - it's a fast-paced, magical book that you can't help but love. I give this book: 5 cats!