Kemps of Malton's books of the month

While the weather is still pretty inclement and the evenings continue to draw in, the new releases this month seem to be embracing the darker side of life by giving us some richly gothic tales to get our teeth into. Publishers and the media have noticed a new genre to emerge out of this gothic tradition which they have labelled as ‘witch-lit’: a focus upon the darker, more potent side of women’s literature. However they are classified, we think that this selection can simply be called ‘great reads’!

The first of these books is The Whispering Muse by Laura Purcell whose gothic imagination spins a chilling tale of ambition and deceit set against the backdrop of the Victorian theatre. The plot centres on two women: the struggling Jenny who, in need of the money, takes a job at the Mercury Theatre as a dresser for their leading actress, Lilith. However, Jenny’s job is also to spy on Lilith who, it seems, has made a pact with the tragic muse of Greek mythology, in order to achieve her remarkable performances. Structuring the novel around classic tragedies such as Macbeth and Dr. Faustus, Purcell has created a tale of jealousy, betrayal and supernatural horror that will grip you to the very end.

Another novel that draws on the magical feminine is Weyward by Emilia Hart, a debut novelist to watch. Weyward is a beautifully written account of three different women (spanning 300 years), all of whom have had to navigate the difficulties of living within a male-dominated society. This is a perceptive story that weaves the lives of these three women together through their shared inheritance and, as a blend of historical fiction, women’s fiction and magical realism, it has a wide appeal.

The Sami people are indigenous to Northern Scandinavia and, in a similar manner to the native American population, their history is one of discrimination and cultural oppression. Sami journalist, Ann-Helen Laestadius, has written a compelling fictional account of the persecution faced by the Sami people. It is a coming-of-age story about a girl who witnesses the brutal killing of one of her family’s reindeer, her burial of the truth around this event and the consequences this has for her family and community years later. It is a powerful story that sheds light on a lesser-known area of colonial power.

We know that many of you have been eagerly anticipating the paperback release of Alison Wier’s latest novel, Elizabeth of York so it’s our pleasure to let you know that the wait is over! Weir’s strong record as a historical researcher and biographer adds gravitas to her novels which strive to reimagine the lives, thoughts and feelings of the women who are often at the heart of significant historical events. This time the life of the daughter of Edward IV of England, Elizabeth, is recreated in order to put forward a view of England’s history from her perspective. She was the eldest child of Edward and would have acceded the throne but her gender was against her. She was eventually married to Henry Tudor who defeated her uncle, Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth to take the throne himself. As such, she strengthened Henry’s claim to the throne and their union brought together the two warring factions of the House of Lancaster and the House Of York. In her usual style, Alison Wier allows this important female figure speak to us across the centuries for herself.

Valentine’s day is this month so our non-fiction run-down takes a look at some beautiful books that give just a little nod to this day of affection. Where better to start than food? A Table Full of Love by Skye McAlpine is full of home cooked dishes that aim to nourish the heart and souls of those who we love. This is a beautifully presented book that includes recipes for individuals, couples and families that, in her own words are designed to comfort, seduce, nourish, spoil and cocoon. If your romantic style is more flowers than food, Flowers and their Meanings by Karen Azoulay is a dictionary of over 600 flowers which gives information on the symbolism of each flower. For those who love to arrange their own flowers then Flower Philosophy: Seasonal projects to inspire & restore by Anna Potter is a project-based book that will take you through 25 seasonal floral creations. It also includes advice on how to create lovely arrangements on a budget, flower pairings and the wellbeing benefits of this creative and mindful hobby. Finally, Valentine’s day wouldn’t be complete at Kemps without a mention of our well-loved canine companions and Sally Muir’s new book of doggy portraits is a welcome addition to our shelves. This time she is focussing on Rescue Dogs where she has chosen a collection of real-life rescue dogs to paint and recount the extraordinary tales of their very special lives. It’s a must for any dog lover out there!

Our children’s bookshelves are starting to fill up with some fantastic new titles for this year and one section we are paying particular attention to is the Young Adult shelves. It can be tricky finding appropriate books for youngsters who are ready for the challenges of more complex plotlines or weightier themes but who aren’t yet fully-fledged adult readers. One book to try might be The Secrets Act by Alison Weatherby which is aimed at ages 14 plus. Set during the Second World War at Bletchley Park, it is a mystery-thriller about the friendship and loves of four young people who find themselves in dangerous circumstances at the park. With well-drawn characters, flawed protagonists and nuanced themes, this is a great historical fiction for young people. Another great writer for older children and younger teens is Marcus Sedgwick whose novel Ravencave is published by Barrington Stoke (who specialise in books for dyslexic and reluctant readers). It is is a gripping ghost story that considers family and grief throughout the ancient and more recent past and is full of evocative descriptions of the bleak Yorkshire landscape of its setting.

• The Whispering Muse by Laura Purcell, published by Bloomsbury, Hardback, RRP £14.99, ISBN 9781526627186

• Weyward by Emilia Hart, published by HarperCollins, Hardback, RRP £14.99, ISBN 9780008499082

• Elizabeth of York: The Last White Rose by Alison Wier, published by Headline, paperback, RRP £8.99, ISBN 9781472278074

• Stolen by Ann-Helen Laestadius, published by Bloomsbury, hardback, RRP £18.99, ISBN 9781526659989

• A Table Full of Love: Recipes to Comfort, Seduce, Celebrate & Everything Else In Between by Skye McAlpine, published by Bloomsbury, hardback, RRP £26, ISBN 9781526657367

• Flowers and Their Meanings, by Karen Azoulay published by Random House, hardback, RRP £15.99, ISBN 9780593234679

• Rescue Dogs by Sally Muir, published by Harper Collins, hardback, RRP £14.99, ISBN 9781911682783Ravencave by Marcus Sedgewick published by Barrington Stoke, paperback, RRP £7.99, ISBN 9781800901926

• The Secrets Act, by Alison Weatherby, published by Chicken House, paperback, RRP £7.99, ISBN 9781913322991

• Ravencave by Marcus Sedgwick, published by Barrington Stoke, paperback, RRP £7.99, ISBN 9781800901926