8+: Safari Adventure and Arctic Adventure - Willard Price

Release Date: 26/04/12  
BOOK BLURB:  
'It's war. And right now we're losing it'. Hal and Roger Hunt fly straight into the jaws of death when they join warden Mark Crosby in Tsavo, an African park where poaching is big business. And with a gang leaving behind a blood-stained trail of terror and torture, the heat is on for the brothers to solve the string of mysterious murders - before they too become victims...

REVIEW:
Africa is clearly a place that holds a lot of fond memories for the author Willard Price and whilst it has been a number of years since I originally read the series its one that holds fond memories for me. The landscape is vividly described, the characters grow and when you add a whole host of supporting cast members from various backgrounds as well as cultures it adds a flavour that will give the reader their first taste of travel without leaving the country. Add to this a conservation message (which whilst the zoo options aren’t popular now was then) backed up with a whole host of antics that lead to capturing their prizes alongside fighting bad guys along the way which when backed with survival skills alongside quick witted planning really makes this a title to enjoy. Great stuff.

 

Release Date: 26/04/12  
BOOK BLURB:  
'Adrift in a savage land of ice and snow'. Hal and Roger Hunt are colder than they've ever been in their lives, up among the ice floes of Greenland. This harsh land holds many dangers, from killer whales to grizzly bears, but an evil man may turn out to be the deadliest threat the boys have to face.

REVIEW:
OK, yes another Willard Price adventure and one that I have really fond memories of as I was going through a tough time during my first reading. As with Willard’s other titles it’s gripping, it brings the scenes easily to the readers mind and of course with two intrepid heroes to lead the way its an adventure book that really will shine through. Add to this a great turn of pace, wonderful character interaction and an author who clearly has a love for people that he meets in his travels all come through the writing. Finally add to this sequences of danger, daring captures and a wonderful turn of prose all make this a wonderful read. Great stuff.

 

8+: Amazon Adventure and South Sea Adventure - Willard Price

OK, confession time, I’m a huge Willard Price fan and having read the books originally 25 years ago couldn’t wait to embark on the adventures with the Hunt boys, Hal and Roger again when I heard of Random House rereleasing eight of them. However when they arrived I was hit with a sudden worry, what would I do if they weren’t as good as I remembered? I’d have ruined some fond childhood memories and of course would resent my choice to go through them again after all this time. Whilst on a reread now they are in places quite dated (such as prices achieved for their finds,) they still took me away on a wonderful adventure with characters that I have extremely fond memories of (for example Roger’s ability to get into mischief.) In addition to this I found them nigh impossible to put down when begun (and found that I read them front to back in one session) which when added to the solid prose, cracking character interaction alongside a villain to challenge them, felt that it was a revisit well worth the time. All in, if you have a young male about the house who is reluctant to pick up a title, leave some of these around the house, you’ll find that they’re soon devoured.

Release Date: 26/04/12  
BOOK BLURB:  
'It's a lost world out there'. Hal and Roger Hunt sink deep into danger when a specimen-collecting trip takes them into the lost world of the South Seas. But the deep-sea trawl has a hidden agenda - a top secret mission for Professor Stuyvesant, and his scientific experiments in Pearl Lagoon...

REVIEW:
OK, confession time, I’m a huge Willard Price fan and having read the books originally 25 years ago couldn’t wait to embark on the adventures with the Hunt boys, Hal and Roger again when I heard of Random House rereleasing eight of them. However when they arrived I was hit with a sudden worry, what would I do if they weren’t as good as I remembered? I’d have ruined some fond childhood memories and of course would resent my choice to go through them again after all this time. Whilst on a reread now they are in places quite dated (such as prices achieved for their finds,) they still took me away on a wonderful adventure with characters that I have extremely fond memories of (for example Roger’s ability to get into mischief.) In addition to this I found them nigh impossible to put down when begun (and found that I read them front to back in one session) which when added to the solid prose, cracking character interaction alongside a villain to challenge them, felt that it was a revisit well worth the time. All in, if you have a young male about the house who is reluctant to pick up a title, leave some of these around the house, you’ll find that they’re soon devoured.

 

TEEN: Widdershins 2: False Covenant - Ari Marmell

Release Date: 26/06/12  
BOOK BLURB:  
A creature of the other world, an unnatural entity bent on chaos and carnage, has come to stalk the nighttime streets of the Galicien city of Davillon. There's never a good time for murder and panic, but for a community already in the midst of its own inner turmoil, this couldn't possibly have come at a worse one. Not for Davillon, and not for a young thief who calls herself Widdershins. It's been over half a year since the brutal murder of Archbishop William de Laurent during his pilgrimage to Davillon. And in all that time, Widdershins has truly tried her best. She's tried to take care of Genevieve's tavern and tried to make a semihonest living in a city slowly stagnating under the weight of an angry and disapproving Church. She's tried to keep out of trouble, away from the attentions of the Davillon Guard and above the secrets and schemes of the city's new bishop. But she's in way over her head, with no idea which way to turn. The Guard doesn't trust her. The Church doesn't trust her. Her own Thieves' Guild doesn't trust her. Too bad for everyone, then, that she and her personal god, Olgun, may be their only real weapon against a new evil like nothing the city has ever seen.  

REVIEW:  
To be honest with you I was left feeling confused and a little cheated with Ari’s previous title in this series so when the second landed it wasn’t one that I was prepared for to start straight away as I felt that I was never fully sure of the characters mental stability with her relationship with her personal god, Olgun. Don’t get me wrong Ari does present a solid fantasy title but when I’m still left questioning sanity as a reader it really doesn’t help me immerse within the world or really get to like the principle player but putting that aside I thought that I’d best give it a go. Whilst for me, this title is an improvement on the previous outing its still not a fantasy that is top of my reading pile as I felt a lot of the cliché’s that have existed for years were played upon within. It was a solidly crafted tale but it wasn’t one for me that made it stand on its own two feet for me as a reader. That said, the villain was delicious and Ari really knows what he’s doing to keep you reading but all in when I don’t like the lead character I’m left feeling lukewarm to the writing. A great shame all in as this could have been something spectacular. 

 

TEEN: Struck - Jennifer Bosworth

Release Date: 26/04/12  
BOOK BLURB:  
Mia Price is a lightning addict. She's survived countless strikes, but her craving to connect to the energy in storms endangers her life and the lives of those around her. Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction. But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger. The beaches become massive tent cities. Downtown is a crumbling wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the revelers drawn to the destruction by a force they cannot deny. Two warring cults rise to power, and both see Mia as the key to their opposing doomsday prophecies. They believe she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and to the far more devastating storm that is yet to come. Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but she fears he isn't who he claims to be. In the end, the passion and power that brought them together could be their downfall. When the final disaster strikes, Mia must risk unleashing the full horror of her strength to save the people she loves, or lose everything.

REVIEW:
If you love stories with a cracking lead female character that the reader will not only be able to associate with but want to spend time around, then this book will definitely be a title for you. Mia is smart, savvy and of course a girl of unknown depths who whilst she has a special power, seeks to avoid those who would use her for their own purposes. Its cleverly constructed, Jennifer brings a character that is not only likeable but a whole host of supporting cast who help to develop the world to its full potential as the tale unfurls. Add to this a solid understanding of pace, some great dialogue and of course a love interest to the mix and all in you’ll find that it hits the spots for the younger end of the teen market. Great stuff.

 

TEEN: Ship Breaker 2: The Drowned Cities - Paolo Bacigalupi

Release Date: 01/05/12  
BOOK BLURB:  
In this exhilarating companion to Printz Award winner and National Book Award finalist Ship Breaker, Paolo Bacigalupi brilliantly captures a dark future America that has devolved into unending civil wars, driven by demagogues who recruit children to become soulless killing machines. Two refugees of these wars, Mahlia and Mouse, are known as 'war maggots': survivors who have barely managed to escape the unspeakable violence plaguing the war-torn lands of the Drowned Cities. But their fragile safety is threatened when they discover a wounded half-man--a bioengineered war beast named Tool, who is hunted by a vengeful band of soldiers. When tragedy strikes, Mahlia is faced with an impossible decision: risk everything to save the boy who once saved her, or flee to her own safety. Drawing upon the brutal truths of current events, The Drowned Cities is a powerful story of loyalty, survival, and heart-pounding adventure. 

REVIEW:
Having read Shipbreaker last year, I was more than interested to see how the world would develop in future stories as it was dark enough to begin with. What this loose sequel to the original story does is amerces the reader into this dark apocalyptic future and takes them on an adventure where the cost of life and death is measured in seconds and choices have severe consequences. It’s well written, the prose as well as pace sharp and when added to dealing with harsh facts it’s a tale that needs the reader’s full attention as they get deeper within the pages. Add to this Paolo’s wonderfully addictive writing style as well as his ability to take you there in an almost cinematic manner and you know that its definitely a story that will stay with you long after the final page is turned. 

 

8+: Goddess Girls 1 and 2: Athena the Brain, Persphone the Phony - Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

Release Date: 03/05/12  

BOOK BLURB: Athena has always been above average. She's never quite fit in at Triton Junior High, but who would've guessed that Athena is actually a goddess? Principal Zeus's daughter, to be exact. When she's summoned to Mount Olympus Academy, Athena thinks she might actually fit in for the first time in her life. But in some ways, school on Mount Olympus is not that different from down on Earth, and Athena is going to have to deal with the baddest mean girl in history - Medusa! Follow the ins and outs of divine social life at Mount Olympus Academy, where the most privileged godboys and goddessgirls in the Greek pantheon hone their mythical skills. 

REVIEW:  
A new series for the girls here and one that was fun, brought a whole new twist to the greek myths and of course created a story that was not only fun but one that thrust the ancient world into a modern situation that the readers will be able to not only associate but also have fun with. The characters are quirky, they each have their own personalities and when the GoddessGirls get together, demonstrate that friendship, thinking and of course learning to cope with each others differences allow them to get the best out of their world. Add to this great dialogue and the book is one that will introduce your YA reader to a whole world of fun.

   


Release Date: 03/05/12  
BOOK BLURB:  
As Persephone's mum encourages her to do, she often "goes along to get along" instead of doing what she really wants. But when she meets Mount Olympus Academy bad-boy Hades, she finally feels she has found someone with whom she can be herself. He's the first person who actually listens to her, and she finds herself liking him, despite the fact that the other goddess girls think he's bad news. But if he makes her feel so special - and she's so comfortable hanging around him - can he really be all that bad? Authors Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams put a modern spin on classic myths with the Goddess Girls series. Follow the ins and outs of divine social life at Mount Olympus Academy, where the most privileged godboys and goddessgirls in the Greek pantheon hone their mythical skills. 

REVIEW:  
Having read and enjoyed the first Goddess Girl book, I decided to give the second a go, after all, it combines Greek myth and puts it into a modern setting that many readers will be able to associate with. It was fun, it had wit and with the wonderful continuation of the Goddesses growing friendship also helps bring these stories to life. Add to this a solid prose, a good pace and authors who are clearly in love with what they’re doing and you know it’s a book for young girls that will inspire curiosity as well as a sense of adventure. 

 

8+: Monster High 4: Back and Deader than Ever - Lisi Harrison

Release Date: 08/05/12  
BOOK BLURB:  
The RADs are free and Draculaura (Lala) is flashing her fangs with pride. But when Daddy Drac pays her a surprise visit everything goes batty. Mr D. thinks RADs should have their own school, but Lala isn't ready to give up the rights they fought so hard for. So when she hears about a glamorous contest, where the winning school gets mad moolah and a chance to star in a national ad campaign, Lala decides it's time to bite. It's father against daughter in a battle for Salem's student body. Despite the many challenges, Lala is determined to save Merston High. But she might die twice trying. 
REVIEW:
The latest Monster High book and one that centres Lady Eleanor’s favourite character, Draculaura (she owns about 4 of the Dolls) in the centre of the plot. She’s feisty, she has to cope with her own family troubles and also help improve the lot for the students of Merston High. As with the other books, the characters within have each grown as the stories have continued, they’ve learned to get along and also how to make friends with the normal whilst learning to express themselves as individuals. Throw into the mix the usual solid plot line, great personal developments as well as the authors usual style of prose and pace which all in makes this a wonderful read. Great stuff. 

 

12+: Order of Darkness 1: Changeling - Philippa Gregory

Release Date: 24/05/12  
BOOK BLURB:  
The first book in the thrilling YA sequence, Order of Darkness. The year is 1453, and all signs point to it being the end of the world. Accused of heresy and expelled from his monastery, handsome seventeen-year-old, Luca Vero, is recruited by a mysterious stranger to record the end of times across Europe. Commanded by sealed orders, Luca is sent to map the fears of Christendom, and travel to the very frontier of good and evil. Seventeen-year-old Isolde, a Lady Abbess, is trapped in a nunnery to prevent her claiming her rich inheritance. As the nuns in her care are driven mad by strange visions, walking in their sleep, and showing bleeding wounds, Luca is sent to investigate and all the evidence points to Isolde's criminal guilt. Outside in the yard they are building a pyre to burn her for witchcraft. Forced to face the greatest fears of the medieval world - dark magic, werewolves, madness - Luca and Isolde embark on a search for truth, their own destinies, and even love as they take the unknown ways to the real historical figure who defends the boundaries of Christendom and holds the secrets of the Order of Darkness.  

REVIEW:  
 This has been a hard book to review, not because of the subjects tackled within but because I felt that the book was below what I expected from Philippa’s writing skills. Don’t get me wrong it’s a complete story but one that I’ve noticed with her adult writing is that when it’s based on a well-documented person it works wonderfully, yet when left to writing based on the authors imagination, it sadly falls apart and as with the recent Cousin’s War series a lot of repetition between each title. What this book brings to the table is a farfetched story with so coincidences alongside flaws that had it not had the authors name attached I’m not sure it would have made it to the shelves. The characters are confusing, there’s no real direction with them and events seem to have been woven by strength of author rather than feeling natural. Add to this a story that feels like the pace is all over the place, characters that don’t feel rounded but thrown into a different timeline to suit the authors purpose and with a convoluted plotline that feels that additional ideas have been wedged in to fit the word count and all in I was disappointed with the overall product. Don’t get me wrong; had it been a debut author, a lot of the errors within could have been forgiven as over zealousness alongside lessons that needed to be learned, but from a multi title writer these should never have occurred. 

 

TEEN: The Soul Seekers: Fated - Alyson Noel

Release Date: 24/05/12  
BOOK BLURB:  
Strange things have been happening to Daire Santos. Animals follow her, crows mock her, glowing people appear from nowhere. Worried that Daire's having a breakdown, her mother sends her to stay with the grandmother she's never met, who lives on the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico.There Daire crosses paths with Dace, a gorgeous guy with unearthly blue eyes. Her grandmother recognizes Daire's episodes for what they are - a call to her true destiny as a Soul Seeker, a person who can navigate between the living and the dead. Guided by her grandmother, Daire must be quick to learn how to harness her powers, because Dace's brother is an evil shape-shifter, out to steal them. Daire must embrace her fate as a Soul Seeker and discover whether Dace is the guy she's meant to be with ...or if he's allied with the enemy she's destined to destroy.  

REVIEW:  
Alyson is an author who knows how to twist the readers emotion within her writing as she brings a love story to the reader that is not only hard to put down but compulsive reading. Here within this title Daire’s love for Dace is not only clear but one that will test the strengths of them both emotionally as well as physically especially when Alyson throws in Cade, Dace’s brother. It has some great twists, the characters grow emotionally and their connection to the reader strengthens with each passing page. I can’t say I was surprised at how quickly the pages flew by as for me Alyson is an author I have a hard time putting down but by the stories end I was left demanding more which for an author is always a good thing. Finally throw into the mix a reader left wondering how the series will develop and imagining all sorts of twists and you know damn well that I’ll be one of the first in line for the next tale. 

 

TEEN: Burn Mark - Laura Powell

Release Date: 07/06/12  
BOOK BLURB:  
Glory is from a family of witches and lives beyond the law. She is desperate to develop her powers and become a witch herself. Lucas is the son of the Chief Prosecutor for the Inquisition - the witches' mortal enemy - and his privileged life is very different to the forbidden world that he lives alongside. And then on the same day, it hits them both. Glory and Lucas develop the Fae - the mark of the witch. In one fell stroke, their lives are inextricably bound together, whether they like it or not.  

REVIEW:  
An unusual story and one that I was pleased to read as an Alternate Urban Fantasy world comes to the fore where Witchcraft is still alive and kicking in the modern age. Its dark, the characters within gel well to bring the world to life and when you throw into the mix various abilities of the characters to fight against the injustice heaped upon the few it really stands out. Add to this characters that not only have a realistic feel but also manage to rub each other up the wrong way as they all seek to find their place in the world and it really is a story that I enjoyed. Finally add to this an author who loves to play sleight of hand with the reader and then throws a curve ball into your imagination and all in it’s a satisfying read. I’ll look forward to seeing what Laura comes up with next.

TEEN: Scarlet - AC Gaughen

Release Date: 07/06/12  
BOOK BLURB:  
Posing as one of Robin Hood's thieves to avoid the evil Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only her fellow outlaws, John Little, Much and Robin Hood know the truth - this agile thief is no boy but in fact a fearless young woman with a secret past. But Scarlet is torn between her desire to get as far from Lord Gisbourne as possible and a strong sense of responsibility to those who took her in when she was first on the run. As Gisbourne draws closer to Scarlet and puts innocent lives at risk, she must decide how much the people of Nottinghamshire mean to her, especially John Little and Robin, whose quick smiles and temper have the rare power to unsettle Scarlet. Full of exciting action, secrets and romance, this imaginative retelling of the classic tale will have readers following every move of Robin Hood and his band of thieves.  

REVIEW:  
A modern retelling of the Robin Hood myth with a twist within that really makes this truly remarkable storytelling. The lead character Scarlet is a woman of daring, great skills and of course whilst she can fight, the sheer brutality of the time make this a book to be savoured by readers of all ages. Add to this a solid storytelling themes, great prose, danger and of course combat all go on to add additional layers and flavours to the story. Back that up with a wonderful sense of pace, solid dialogue and all in this book will appeal to both genders seeking adventure, historical escapism and a great tale all wound up within. Finally back this up with a suitably dark villain, some cracking sequences and a solid twist of fate or two all go to make this something special. Great stuff. 

 

TEEN: The Grisha 1: The Gathering Dark - Leigh Bardugo

Release Date: 07/06/12  
BOOK BLURB:  
The Shadow Fold, a swathe of impenetrable darkness, crawling with monsters that feast on human flesh, is slowly destroying the once-great nation of Ravka. Alina, a pale, lonely orphan, discovers a unique power that thrusts her into the lavish world of the kingdom's magical elite - the Grisha. Could she be the key to unravelling the dark fabric of the Shadow Fold and setting Ravka free? The Darkling, a creature of seductive charm and terrifying power, leader of the Grisha. If Alina is to fulfil her destiny, she must discover how to unlock her gift and face up to her dangerous attraction to him. But what of Mal, Alina's childhood best friend? As Alina contemplates her dazzling new future, why can't she ever quite forget him? Glorious. Epic. Irresistible. Romance.  

REVIEW:
OK, this is a book that I originally put on the back burner for a number of reasons, first of all because the burb sounded a little confusing alongside complex and at the time I fancied something straight forward and secondly because I had to be in the mood for a love story. Whilst I am pleased I left it until I was really in the mood for it, I was a little upset that I left it so long, purely because the author, Leigh Bardugo has put a lot of work in, the world building is up there with a lot of the top adult authors, the characters shine through the pages and the complex plotline works on so many levels keeping the reader guessing from the first page to the last. Add to this a wonderful sense of roundedness to the characters, wonderful interaction and of course a love thread that really does make this a hard to put down book. But when you throw in a great sense of pace alongside solid prose as well as cracking dialogue the reader really is in for a treat. All in a great novel to use as a break through from Teen to Adult but also one that will enamour itself of a great many readers old and young. Magical.