BOOK BLURB:
Mae Crawford always thought she was in control. Now she's learned that her little brother Jamie is a magician and Nick, the boy she'd set her heart on, has an even darker secret. Mae's whole world has spun out of control, and it's only going to get worse. When she realises that Jamie has been meeting secretly with the new leader of the Obsidian Circle and that Gerald wants him to join the magicians, she's not sure how to stop Jamie doing just that. Calling in Nick and Alan as reinforcements only leads to a more desperate conflict because Gerald has a plan to bring Nick down - by using Alan to spring a deadly trap. With those around her torn between divided loyalties and Mae herself torn between her feelings for two very different boys, she sees a chance to save them all - but it means approaching the mysterious and dangerous Goblin Market alone...
REVIEW:
As a huge fan of Sarah’s original tale in the series, I really had to get my hands on this latest offering.
What unfurls is definitely an adventure that builds on the hard work of the author in the original. Beautifully written with cracking descriptiveness backed up with realistic dialogue only goes to demonstrate the sheer talent of the author. Add to the mix a real understanding of the target audiences mindset and its definitely a tale to enjoy.
BOOK BLURB:
Before the attack, sixteen-year-old Tom Harvey was just an ordinary boy. But now fragments of a shattered iPhone are embedded in his brain and it's having an extraordinary effect ...Because now Tom has powers. The ability to know and see more than he could ever imagine. And with incredible power comes knowledge - and a choice. Seek revenge on the violent gangs that rule his estate and assaulted his friend Lucy, or keep quiet? Tom has control when everything else is out of control. But it's a dangerous price to pay. And the consequences are terrifying...
REVIEW:
Kevin Brooks has a very identifiable writing style and it really didn’t take much to know that this offering was one of his. One thing that I am going to flag now is that this title has strong language and to be honest a lot of the content of this offering is not only dark but horrific and I’d recommend that an adult reads this title prior to letting their young reader lose on it.
It is a dark superhero tale, the characters have an almost realistic quality but above all else the desire for revenge weighed up against the moralistic problems within make this an offering that will make more than one reader question society.
BOOK BLURB:
A cunning disguise. Some stinky seaweed. And a dastardly villain on the loose ...sounds like another case for Wilma Tenderfoot! Wilma Tenderfoot, the feisty and determined assistant to the greatest living detective, Theodore P. Goodman, is faced with a peculiar, and pongy, case to crack. Cooper Island's vaudeville theatre becomes centre stage for a murderous menace, as one by one the actors are fatally poisoned. Can Wilma, along with her faithful hound and dazzling dancing partner, Pickle, discover the fiend's identity ...before the final curtain falls for Wilma herself?
REVIEW:
Having fallen for Emma’s writing style with the original Wilma Tenderfoot offering, I really couldn’t wait to get into this offering. The author has fun, gets the characters into scrapes and of course gives the reader a cracking crime story. Beautifully written, the readers get a treat within and with a deeper story arc underneath this offering as to the characters past you know that something special is happening within this series. I really can’t wait for the next offering in September.
BOOK BLURB:
Y'all need to get yourselves together. Here's a newsflash from the only High Priestess you have left at this dang school: Zoey isn't dead. And believe me, I know dead. I've been there, done that and got the fricken tee-shirt. Zoey Redbird is the youngest High Priestess in House of Night history and is the only person ? vamp or fledgling ? that can stop the evil Neferet from raising all kinds of immortal trouble. And she might just have a chance if she wasn't so busy being dead. Well, dead is too strong a word. Stevie Rae knows she can bring her BFF back from her unscheduled va-cay in the Otherworld. But it's going to take a lot more than hoping to bring Zoey back. Stevie Rae will have to give up a few secrets of her own ...
REVIEW:
When a number of people thought that the authors were losing their way, this title will go a long way to help those who have lost faith with the series regain it. The writing is beautiful and it’s the character interpersonal relationships alongside their growth that really make this offering the best title to date. They’re literally alive and breathing in this offering and give the reader exactly what they want in this title. Add to the mix great dialogue, the promotion of the positive emotional attributes backed up with a kick ass story arc and its really an offering to tick the boxes.
Whilst you could pick up this title without having read the previous titles in the series you’ll be missing a hell of a lot from the tale alongside a lot of the understanding that comes along with having built up your reader character relationship.
BOOK BLURB:
Grace Parkes has just had to do a terrible thing. Having given birth to an illegitimate child, she has travelled to the famed Brookwood Cemetery to place her small infant's body in a rich lady's coffin. Following the advice of a kindly midwife, this is the only way that Grace can think of to give something at least to the little baby who died at birth, and to avoid the ignominy of a pauper's grave. Distraught and weeping, Grace meets two people at the cemetery: Mrs Emmeline Unwin and Mr James Solent. These two characters will have a profound affect upon Grace's life. But Grace doesn't know that yet. For now, she has to suppress her grief and get on with the business of living: scraping together enough pennies selling watercress for rent and food; looking after her older sister, who is incapable of caring for herself; thwarting the manipulative and conscience-free Unwin family, who are as capable of running a lucrative funeral business as they are of defrauding a young woman of her fortune. A stunning evocation of life in Victorian London, with vivid and accurate depictions, ranging from the deprivation that the truly poor suffered to the unthinking luxuries enjoyed by the rich: all bound up with a pacy and thrilling plot, as Grace races to unravel the fraud about to be perpetrated against her and her sister.
REVIEW:
In the world of Young Adult fiction, the majority of tales that you come across these days tend to be pretty solidly set within the latest trends. So it takes a pretty strong author to branch out and create the type of offering that they not only want others to read but one to make them stand out from the crowd. What is portrayed within this title is an almost Dickensian world that is not only bleak and harsh but also one that will keep the reader glued as they hope and pray that the characters within manage to make their own way through the trials and tribulations thrown at them. The characters are outstanding, the dialogue crisp and the overall arc is one that will stay with you long after the final page. A truly memorable reading experience.
BOOK BLURB:
Hanover Falls hasn't had a werewolf problem in over one hundred years. But when people suddenly start dying in Claire Benoit's town, panic spreads fast. At Claire's sixteenth birthday party, the gruesome killings are all anyone can talk about. Claire, however, is more interested in the fact that the gorgeous Matthew Engle keeps chatting and flirting with her as if she's the only girl there. But that night, she discovers something that takes away all sense of normalcy: she's a werewolf. As Claire is initiated into the pack of female werewolves, she must deal not only with her changing identity, but also with a rogue werewolf who is putting everyone she knows in danger. Claire's new life threatens her blossoming romance with Matthew, whose father is leading the werewolf hunt. Now burdened with a dark secret and pushing the boundaries of forbidden love, Claire is struggling to feel comfortable in either skin. With her lupine loyalty at odds with her human heart, she will make a choice that will change her forever...
REVIEW:
A new take on the Werewolf mythos for the next generation as our heroine learns that the world is completely different to what she expected. Add to the mix a separate take on the whole wolf mythos and a huge dollop of paranoia backed up with a cracking story arc and it was definitely a title that I could enjoy. What also makes this title worth the readers time is the way in which you can connect with the principle protagonista as she has real human worries alongside those of her supernatural nature which made this a pure joy to read. A great offering and one that I can’t wait to see what Christine does next with.
BOOK BLURB:
Following on from Cathy's Book and Cathy's Key , 18-year-old Cathy wakes up one morning to discover three dead bodies slumped outside her house in San Francisco. One of the Eight Immortals, Ancestor Lu, is sending hired assassins after Cathy because she stole the mortality serum (this has the power to render even an immortal mortal). Cathy runs away from home to be pursued across the state, accompanied by broken-armed Denny, ingenious best friend Emma and techno-savvy Pete. Will Cathy escape Ancestor Lu's clutches? And can she keep 'evil twin' Jewel and boyfriend Victor safe?
REVIEW:
Whilst I haven’t come across this series prior to this offering I didn’t feel like I was left out in the cold. Why? Well theres a summation close to the beginning of this title that rounded up previous events without it being to obvious a recap and whilst the authors have taken this offering into a new realm it has tapped into the world of the Chinese mythos that has sadly been lacking in the Young Adult environment for so long. Add to the mix the friendly diary like style backed up with the emotional context of teenagers in an unseen world and it really was something different to a lot of the offerings out there.
BOOK BLURB:
Artemis Fowl's criminal ways have finally got the better of him ...Young Artemis has frequently used high-tech fairy magic to mastermind the most devious criminal activity of the new century. Now, at a conference in Iceland, Artemis has gathered the fairies to present his latest idea to save the world from global warming. But Artemis is behaving strangely - he seems different. Something terrible has happened to him ...Artemis Fowl has become nice. The fairies diagnose Atlantis Complex - that's obsessive compulsive disorder to you and me - dabbling in magic has damaged his mind. Fairy ally Captain Holly Short doesn't know what to do. Because the subterranean volcanoes are under attack from vicious robots and Artemis cannot fight them. Can Holly get the real Artemis back - before the robot probes destroy every human and life form.
REVIEW:
The latest offering in the mega Artemis Fowl series and one that see’s perhaps the biggest danger to Artemis being Artemis himself. What Eion brings to this latest offering is a tale of double dealing, mysterious occurances and danger to the extreme. Add to the mix a tale that is not only beautifully written but one that continues to allow the characters to grow binds it all together with something pretty damn unique in the world of Young Adult Literature. A real treat and a worthy offering for this series.
BOOK BLURB:
Deep within the heart of the Moiraean Mountains lies the town of Opum Oppidulum - home to the freezing Lake Beluarum and it's rumoured monster. An inescapable asylum stands in the centre of the lake, enclosed by the sheer cliffs of Drop Rock island. When Ambrose Grammaticus, famous inventor and master engineer, viciously attacks his own son, Rex, he is hauled to the island and imprisoned. Rex knows his evil stepmother, Acantha, is behind his father's 'madness', but how can he prove it? Only the asylum holds the answers ...This is a savage story of treachery, lunacy, greed, revenge and pure unadulterated wickedness.
REVIEW:
FE Higgins is definitely one of my favourite Childrens authors. I’ve just loved what has been done with the world, the characters just leaping from the page and tops it all off with mystery that keeps you hooked to the final page.
Its seriously good fun, with each tale being a standalone that can be easily dipped into by new readers and established fans alike. If you’re searching for something new that will appeal to both genders then you really have to buy this series. You won’t be disappointed especially when you need something for either holiday period and peace and quiet shall ensue.
BOOK BLURB:
As the new girl at Bixby High School, Jessica Day expected some unwelcome attention. What she didn't expect was to feel an instant connection to a stranger in the corridor ...Who is this boy dressed in black? And why can she feel his eyes following her wherever she goes? The answers will have to wait until the sun goes down, for here in Bixby, midnight is the time for secrets; secrets that Jessica is going to find out, whether she wants to or not.
REVIEW:
Whilst this offering has been about for a bit, Atom have repacked this classic Young Adult offering and not only done a bang up job of it but made sure that the next generation of Young Adult readers has a real series that will not only blow their mind, but generate something really unique and special. Whilst this is the first part of the Midnighters series, the concept is pretty unique, the characters fully formed and backed up with a pretty good pace that very few will be able to equal. If you want something that really will blow your young adult readers mind, generate something pretty damn special in their imagination and help them fall in love with reading again, then you absolutely have to buy this series.
BOOK BLURB:
It all started with a board game. But what was supposed to be an evening of friends, fun, and games, becomes a night of danger, drama, and obsessive love. Because when Jenny and her friends try to play the Game, it comes to life. Suddenly they are in a dark world where Julian, the gorgeous guy who sold Jenny the game, rules as Prince of the Shadows. Julian is in charge, making their darkest nightmares reality. And he will do anything to claim the beautiful Jenny as his prize. The Game is real, and these friends must play through - and the only way to win is to face their most secret fears. To lose the Game is to lose your life. And that is only the beginning...
REVIEW:
In the modern market, its always a hardship when you start a series and have to wait for the next novel in order to continue your adventure. In my own youth I remember how hard it was to wait for your favourite authors next title and by the time you’ve gotten around to it, you may well have forgotten what’s come before.
What you have here in the latest release from Simon and Schuster is the compendium of the Forbidden Game series (The Hunter, The Chase and The Kill) and you know that you’ve gotten value for money to start with. Whilst many know LJ more for her Vampire Diary series this one is just as eerie, just as spooky and above all else just as gripping. You have a great cast of characters, some reasonable dialogue and quite a few twists and turns that you’re not expecting. This is definitely one of the series to set the standards in the Young Adult realm and one that will help a great many progress to the Adult Urban Fantasy genre. A real joy to read.
BOOK BLURB:
Karen DeSonne always passed as a normal teenager - and now that she's dead, she's still passing - this time, as alive. When her dead friends are accused of a high profile murder and forced into hiding, she has to prove their innocence. Which means doing the unthinkable and becoming the girlfriend of bionist zealot Peter Martinsburg, who she suspects of framing them. But if he finds out who Karen really is, the consequences for her will be worse than death...
REVIEW:
The third novel in the popular series by Dan Waters and an interesting new take on the zombie mythos that the author has been working on. What occurs within this offering is something totally new to the genre and definitely a worthy addition that I feel a number of other authors will pick up upon. Beautifully written and backed up with realistic characters its an interesting world to walk through as these teens not only have to deal with the typical teenage worries but as the popular website itself says, there so called unlife.
Add to the mix a villain that deals from behind the scenes that you’ll just love to hate alongside a gullible stooge and this novel really is a treat to its epic conclusion. Few write teenage angst alongside zombiefication like Waters which makes him a name to set the standards by.
BOOK BLURB:
Rin, Razo's little sister, is haunted by the forest she has always loved. When Razo invites her back to the city to be one of Queen Ani's waiting women, she happily accepts...only to end up on the adventure of her lifetime, following the queen, Enna, and Dasha into the countryside in search of a fire-starting enemy that no one can see. As she learns more about the three women's magical talents, she finds her own strength comes from places both expected the forest and unexpected the sound of her own voice. A brilliant addition to the Books of Bayern', this book is a treat for fans of this series, and stands alone for readers who might be discovering the joys of Shannon Hale's writing for the first time.
REVIEW:
A title that I had great hope for and was sadly disappointed. It is well written but the way in which its set itself up I really couldn’t get into. The characters were clunky and I felt that the audience to which it was aimed was a bit younger than the actual readership, but the key part to this is that the reader has to well and truly love the whole fairy tale style which is the pretext of this offering. It may have been better had it been written more as a graphic novel in a similar way to the authors Jack book and it could well have grown had the author simplified some of the aspects for a younger audience but overall it’s a title that is just confusing. A real shame as I know this author has some real talent.
BOOK BLURB:
BOOK TRAILER
Young pioneer, Micah, enters Wrymeweald full of hope to return home having made his fortune. But this is a land where wyrmes, fabulous dragon-like beasts, roam wild and reign supreme. In Wyrmeweald man is both hunter and hunted - and seventeen-year-old Micah may never return alive, let alone a hero...After a near-brush with death on the edge of a canyon, Micah soon finds a chance to prove his worth when he meets with Eli, a veteran tracker of Wrymeweald. They choose to defend a rare whitewyrme egg and its precious hatchling before it falls into the hands of a band of evil Kith. But the fledgling wyrme has its own guardian in the shape of the beautiful, brave and dangerous Thrace. Thrace, a Kin and a highly-skilled wyrme rider-assassin; and Micah, a would-be Kith, should never mix - but the magnetism between them is strong. Together they join forces on a mission to rescue the hatchling and seek vengeance for loved-ones lost at the hand of Kith bandits. Meanwhile the glorious whitewyrme colony of Wyrmeweald looks on as its land is encroached by gold-diggers and ravaged by bounty hunters. Is Exodus the only option? And if so, when - and where - will they flee too?
REVIEW:
When authors have been successful its always hard for them to not only make a comeback but also to journey into a new world so that the readers have something a little different. What occurs within this offering is a more grown up novel from their previous work and with more adult themes explored within.
It’s a world of hardship, a world were great danger brings great rewards and populated by the most ruthless individual bloodthirsty band of brothers ever to walk a great many children’s titles. Its dark, its full of fantastical creatures but it’s the journey of a naïve young wanderer who experiences hardships, suffering and loss on his excursion. It is beautifully written but the adult themes within make this a novel that I’d recommend a parent read prior to letting their youngster loose within this world.
BOOK BLURB:
Ten years ago Kate Winters' parents were taken by the High Council's wardens to help with the country's war effort. Now the wardens are back...and prisoners, including Kate's uncle Artemis, are taken south on the terrifying Night Train. Kate and her friend Edgar are hunted by a far more dangerous enemy. Silas Dane -- the High Council's most feared man -- recognises Kate as one of the Skilled; a rare group of people able to see through the veil between the living and the dead. His spirit was damaged by the High Council's experiments into the veil, and he's convinced that Kate can undo the damage and allow him to find peace. The knowledge Kate needs lies within Wintercraft -- a book thought to be hidden deep beneath the graveyard city of Fume. But the Night of Souls, when the veil between life and death is at its thinnest, is just days away and the High Council have their own sinister plans for Kate and Wintercraft.
REVIEW:
As a huge fan of fantasy I love to keep an eye on what’s happening not only in the adult genre but also the young adult. After all the material that they’re given now will help to shape the genre in the future so when this offering landed I was pretty psyched as the book really did pitch itself well.
The writing from this debut author is definitely crisp and kicks off at a pretty reasonable rate but also demonstrates that the author has a good idea about pace with the lulls leading into high octane action. The characters feel realistic and backed up with dialogue that the reader really wants to read so that they can make sense of the world around them. Definitely a tale to savour and one that will burst onto the scene that will make a name for this debut author. A great offering and one that will allow you to get in on the bottom rung prior to the hype.
BOOK BLURB:
In the 11th Private Reed has arrived back to Easton after her harrowing kidnapping to the worst thing she can think of - Billings has been torn down. Finally, after years of controversy from the administration, the school's wealthiest female alumni have been overruled and the historical dorm is gone from Easton Academy. How will Reed and the rest of the Billings Girls handle this? Will they still be as powerful, as popular and as mean with literally no ground to stand on?
REVIEW:
To be honest a series that was reasonable but one that I really is loosing its polish fast. The characters are getting ridiculous, the plot outlines pretty repetitive and to be honest was a book that felt that it was taking too long to do anything when a lot of the points could have been reached quite quickly.
A great shame as the author had done so much to kick the series off originally but alas, I feel that she needs a new project rather than relying upon her name to sell inferior material where there are so many other up and coming authors producing superior writing.
BOOK BLURB:
Wintertime in the moody, atmospheric mists of East Anglia. Diving into the cold, murky water of a lake, Kit and Joe find an elaborate patten - a Fen word for ice skate. Its return to the surface is not widely welcomed and, as it emerges, the story of how the skate became detached from its owner fifty years ago leads the boys deep into a chilling mystery whose conclusion is yet to be played out. What could have been surging up through the ice that day half a century past that so frightened young Tom Townley? Why has Tom suffered constantly from nightmares and visions of beings who make no noise, but so menacingly watch? Who are they watching now - and why?
REVIEW:
Set against the unique backdrop of the Norfolk Fens this dark tale of a mysterious find blends the best of fantasy with a broad mystery. The characters are outstanding with the principle protagonists being not only realistic but fully rounded. The dialogue is reasonable, the story arc interesting but perhaps the best part of this authors writing is his prose, its sparse but allows the reader to fill in a lot of the details with moderate ease. A great book that will win a large number of fans.
BOOK BLURB:
It has been centuries since Isabeau St. Croix survived the French Revolution. Now she's made her way back to the living and must face the ultimate test by confronting the evil British lord who turned her into a vampire and left her buried for two hundred years. That's if she can control her affection for Logan Drake, a vampire whose bite is as sweet as the revenge she seeks...
REVIEW:
Having read the original and being pretty drawn in by the premise, I was hoping that this second title would surpass the original and fix some of the problems that I had. What unfurls within this title is definitely the better book by far as the world building was pretty established so the author could concentrate on the characters and overall arc. Its beautifully written, the characters come to life and it’s a title that will definitely announce that this series has arrived as it has something for everyone. You want love? Check. You want a kick ass plot with combat? Check. You want some devious double dealing and politics? You’ve got it.
Definitely a cracking title and one that appealed to me just as much as it will to the target audience, it could well be the book that will be a joy to share with your young reader. Also with the first title as an ebook today for free and you’ve got a great chance to get in before a lot of others descend.
BOOK BLURB:
Carter and Sadie have nothing in common but their parents: their father Dr. Julius Kane, a brilliant Egyptologist, and their mother, a famed archaeologist who died under mysterious circumstances when they were young. The siblings barely know each other, but one night, their father brings them together at the British Museum, promising a 'research experiment' that will set things right for their family. His plans go horribly wrong. An explosion unleashes an ancient evil - the Egyptian god Set who banishes Dr. Kane to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives. Now orphaned, Carter and Sadie must embark on a dangerous quest - from Cairo to Paris to the American Southwest, to save their father and stop Set from destroying everything they care about...
REVIEW:
Having loved Rick’s Percy Jackson series I really couldn’t wait to get my grubby little mitt’s on this offering. What unfurls within is, as you’d expect from this author, beautifully well written with an imagination that really will keep the readers glued to the pages within. Not only has he taken to setting his tale within the same world as Percy Jackson but it has got its own Parthenon. Add to the mix some cracking combat, great exploration and some almost photographical descriptiveness and its going to be the start of something big.
Although that’s all said the biggest problems caused by this offering will be the arguments in regard to which set of gods have which part of NYC. LOL
BOOK BLURB:
What the Cahors witches thought was the end of their troubles turns out to be only the beginning. A threat more powerful and more frightening than anything they have faced before has been watching and waiting. Holly and the Cahors witches must come together and find Jer and Eli as both the Deveraux and the Cahors family lines face eradication. All the secrets of the Cahors will be revealed, forcing them to overcome their greatest weaknesses in order to achieve their most powerful strengths. Only united do they have any chance at victory, but before the end, sacrifices will be made, alliances forged, and old friends lost forever.
REVIEW:
OK, having loved the original two titles in the series (recently released as omnibi) I was really looking forward to something special to help conclude the wonderful experience I’d had within their hallowed pages.
What unfurled however was not only a let down to the readers but something that I’m surprised actually made it to print as the title was not only slow in pace but almost tortoise like in its exploration as well as enthusiasm. Add to the mix no fizz or bang and an almost secondary consideration to characterisation and it’s a great shame as well as annoying after what readers had come to expect.
BOOK BLURB:
