Book Review | The Ballad of Smallhope and Pennyroyal #booksky

The Ballad of Smallhope and Pennyroyal by Jodi Taylor caught my eye as I checked the latest offerings from Netgalley. Thank you to them and the publishers for an ARC. It was published on Thursday (8th May).

The Ballad of Smallhope and Pennyroyal

by Jodi Taylor

From the globally bestselling author of the Chronicles of St Mary’s and Time Police series – the origin story of bounty hunters Smallhope and Pennyroyal.

Meet Lady Amelia Smallhope, for whom there is no problem that can’t be solved by a drink and a think.

And Pennyroyal, for whom there is no problem. Ever.

Everyone’s favourite bounty hunters. Sorry – recovery agents. No bad guy they can’t handle. No expense account too flexible. No adventure too outrageous.

Join them as they settle scores, break every rule in the book and take the world by storm.

Fasten your seatbelts. The timeline doesn’t know what’s hit it. (Goodreads)

My Review

’Everyone’s favourite’ the blurb says. Well, if you haven’t read any of Jodi Taylor’s other work, they will be once you’ve read this!

We start with a comprehensive introduction to Lady Amelia’s upbringing, moral compass, and status in life. Daughter in the British peerage, with all the closed doors that entails. And a brother who sincerely hopes she’ll run the estate for him when Papa dies. Then comes a turnaround, and Amelia has to make some hasty exit plans. These are nearly foiled by the new butler, Pennyroyal. Fortunately Pennyroyal is much more than a butler and has his own escape route ready and waiting…

Which is where the time travel comes in.

This is a fantastic adventure full of well written characters where I never had to think ‘who?’ When they cropped up later. The pacing is wonderful, the balance between light and shade superb, and I’m desperate to read the previous stories where they obviously turn up as side characters. They must have stolen the show.

This is a fabulous adventure with characters I want more of. A lot more. Time travel suspense at his best. My new favourite book.