Aphra's Child

I was a little hesitant at first because of the limited description but this book was amazing. Lots of times authors want us to believe a character is innocent and sheltered but then make them hip and knowledgeable but Tula was neither of those. It was refreshing and made the story much more believable. I would 100% recommend this novel

Thank you NetGalley and Stirling Publishing for providing me with a copy for review.

Aphra's Child follows the protagonist, Tula, whose world is threatened when her mother, Aphra, is taken and she is left alone. Tula is a chimera, someone who is treated as a slave by their society, so her mother has been protecting her all her life and keeping her safe from marauders and people who wish to do her harm. Aphra is taken the day that she was finally going to give Tula some of the answers that she most desperately seeks about who she is, her place in the world, and who her father is, leaving Tula alone and confused.

This was a good novel and I enjoyed the fantasy elements. I have only ever seen chimeras have passing mentions or small roles in media so it was nice to see a different take on them and to read about them in more detail. I love fantasy and it is my favourite genre, but it can get repetitive at times and this novel really pushed those boundaries and felt different.

It was a really easy book to read due to its fast paced nature and nice reading style and the characters were well written, especially Tula who was a great character to read about. It is a very promising book with a nice message to remain true to yourself and one I would definitely recommend.

A wonderful tale. A rich, dark, imaginative world described so brilliantly as to feel real. The characters range from warm and engaging to chiilingly dark and are all very human, even when they aren't. The plot is fast paced and exciting, gathering momentum as it leads you along to a conclusion which hopefully leaves plenty of scope for the story to continue in further books. There are moments of levity and despair throughout, making a rollercoaster of a read. The kind of fantasy a reader dreams of, timeless, exciting, draws you in from the beginning and leaves you wanting more.

With a barely-there synopsis, you would think that this would be quite the gamble for most readers, but given how reliable critically-acclaimed author Lesley Glaister is I figured it was an odds-on favourite. Don't let the limited blurb put you off as some books simply work best when the reader goes in blind. However, if you think you've happened upon a lighthearted, fantasy world then you are very much mistaken. As with all of her novels, Glaister infuses it with issues that reflect those in our own societies.

Although the pacing is quite slow at the beginning it still works well as I feel you often need some time to adapt to the writing style and pick up on how the world works, once you become accustomed to both, the pace picks up. Glaister's worldbuilding could rival anyone's, even the greats of the fantasy genre, her characters are beautifully painted and interesting, and I look forward to both the world and the characters evolving over the upcoming books. Despite being based in a richly imaginative world, the author manages to make it both believable and wonderful, and the contrast between the light and dark in this fictional universe is masterfully executed. It features a sprawling fantasy world, suspense, and a smattering of romance, there is certainly something for everyone here. The portrayal of the conflict between humans and chimeras echoes that between classes, races and sexualities in the real world. This is one of the most refreshing fantasy titles I've had the pleasure to read recently, and the message it holds about being true to yourself no matter the consequences is one I can completely get behind.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable young adult debut, but with more substance than most. I really had a hard time putting this down, it was utterly immersive. This was a great read, and it has already gotten me anticipating the next book in the Chimera series. Glaister is a highly underrated author whose gift for engaging plots deserves a wider readership. Tighter editing could have perhaps sharpened up some of the prose, but apart from that, I loved it!

Many thanks to Stirling Publishing for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I was sent an uncorrected advance proof of Aphra’s Child by Lesley Glaister to read and review by NetGalley.
I really enjoyed this book! It is a very different genre to Lesley Glaister’s other novels, which I love, but she rises to the challenge well. The bones of the story are firmly rooted in the tradition of the Sci Fi/Fantasy genre – good against evil, class structures, birth rights and quests for equality. There is also an underlying reference to certain real-life events, past and present, which I don’t think can be mistaken. The author manages to put a twist in the tale as she conjures up the atmosphere and sense of place within the narrative and brings her characters to life. I look forward to reading the next book in this entertaining Teen/YA series.