Endless Wonder

  Rating: five stars Wow. That was magical and mesmerising and so, so beautiful. It was definitely less fantasy and more magical-realism than I had expected (no actual mermaids, rip), but I absolutely loved the slightly off-kilter tone and the Gothic atmosphere, and the blending of reality with magic to the point where you're not sure what's real and what's not anymore. The writing was just gorgeous, so descriptive and poetic, and I loved all the sea imagery. I seriously couldn't put it down, I'm obsessed with it aaaaaaah The story is set on a tiny, isolated, rural island, where a subtle magic permeates everything, where the sea is a part of everyone's lives and it takes and takes and gives nothing back, where people slowly turn to stone and go up to the cliff when their time comes to die. The descriptions and tone were absolutely perfect; the landscape was so vivid in my mind, it was absolutely spellbinding. It follows a family who live in a massive run-down ho...

  “ So? What is it you wanted to talk to me about?” Olivia’s blue eyes are open and inquiring and intense as they bore uncomfortably into mine. I tap my fingers on the coffee shop table, looking away. I can’t meet her gaze. “Let’s order drinks first, shall we?” “Sure, good idea. Can you get me a latte?” Grateful, I escape to the counter to place the order. But too soon, I have to make my way back to Olivia, balancing the tray precariously on my hands. “Ah, lovely. Thank you,” she says, picking up her coffee mug. She closes her eyes and breathes in its warm scent as I fall back into my seat. “The coffee here is so good.” She pulls her wallet from her pocket, but I wave her away. “No need to pay me back. It’s my treat.” She frowns. “Are you sure?” “Yeah.” “Look, what’s going on?” Olivia leans forward. “Seriously, what’s happening with you? I’ve known you for years, and I’ve never seen you behave as weirdly as you’ve been behaving lately.” “What do you mean?” “Hmm, let me see. First y...