Release Date: 19/07/12
BOOK BLURB:
The kingdom of Goredd is populated by humans and by dragons who fold themselves into a human form. Though they live alongside each other, the peace between them is uneasy. But when a member of the royal family is murdered, and the crime appears to have been committed by a dragon the peace and treaty between both worlds is seriously threatened ...Into this comes Seraphina, a gifted musician who joins the royal court as the assistant to the court composer. She is soon drawn into the murder investigation and, as she uncovers hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace in Goredd for good, finds herself caught desperately in the middle of the tension. For Seraphina hides a secret - the secret behind her musical gift - and if she is found out, her life is in serious danger...
REVIEW:
A new title by a new author in a fantasy world setting that will amaze, delight and bring to the fore a new character who will not only endear herself to the reader but develop her skills and personality as events unfurl. It has great prose, the world is wonderfully designed and when you add a writing style that gently brings the reader in alongside allowing them to get to know the lead character then you’ll be in no doubt about the time and care that has been lavished upon the pages.
Add to this a plot that is almost too big for one book to contain, solid pace and a whole host of supporting cast which will leave the reader in no doubt that this author is not only here to stay but has the imagination alongside ability to keep the reader glued for future releases.
Release Date: 01/03/12
BOOK BLURB:
This is a collection of wise and wacky words of advice, from the bestselling and award-winning author of "Why Eating Bogeys Is Good For You". From the marvellous mind of Mitchell Symons comes such gems of wisdom as: You can't trust a dog to watch your food. Why buy shampoo when real poo is free? Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, as you won't have a leg to stand on. And if getting even doesn't work, then just get odd.
REVIEW:
I’ve enjoyed a lot of Mitchell’s books in previous outings however this one is more advice and one that follows the weird as well as wonderful that really doesn’t make sense upon hearing. It is quirky, it does have some great illustrations however its nothing new and a lot of the snippets within are things that a great many of us have heard before. All in it is a good bit of fun but could well be a title that you might want to hold fire buying and borrow from a library to save your money.
All in you will get a laugh, some of the advice and snippets will amuse but really to be blunt, its not a title worth spending you money on unless its burning a hole in your pocket.
Release Date: 01/03/12
BOOK BLURB:
Busy Hen has five little chicks to look after while making sure number six - still an egg- stays warm. The last thing she needs is hairy, scary Fox sniffing about. She is frantic when the other birds warn her that her chicks are in danger, but her five little chicks are a lot braver than she realises! The rollicking rhythmic text is rammed with catchy refrains that beg to be shouted out. Children will love the repeated action words and thinking of new ways to act them out.
REVIEW:
Six Little Chicks, some farm animals and a crafty fox in this wonderful story by Jez Alborough. It has some wonderful rhyming language, some great refrains and of course illustrations that match the storytelling style beautifully. Add to this some smart thinking, different animals banding together and a wonderful outcome all in, and this is a story that many people will enjoy reading time and again to their children. Don’t be surprised if this becomes a firm favourite and of course remember to encourage your Young Reader to join in to get the most from it.
Release Date: 08/11/11
BOOK BLURB:
Not so very long ago, Eragon - Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider - was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now, the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders. Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chances. The Rider and his dragon have come farther than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaesia? And if so, at what cost? Featuring spectacular artwork by cult artist John Jude Palencar, this stunning book brings the bestselling "Inheritance" cycle to a breathtaking conclusion.
REVIEW:
If there’s one thing you have to say about Christopher it’s that he know how to write book that will enthral his audience, and whilst courting some controversy it is evident that a lot of people have fallen in love with this series. Yes the premise was a simple one but the delivery really took the reader on a rollercoaster of an adventure. So prior to starting this book I had a refresh and read the other stories so that I had the full effect.
What comes out with this book is that the scope is something that Christopher has learned to accommodate, choosing to extend the series by one more title to enable the reader to get the full effect of his plans. Whilst this was a clever and wise move, what did also occur was the author extended scenes further than they needed to be almost overloading with detail in sequences that would have been better had they been edited down. That said, I was surprised a few times by some of the choices and outcomes alongside being surprised at some of the solutions that the characters come up with to achieve objectives.
Overall an ending that will please fans and a title that rounds it all off pretty nicely. Although that said, with the complexities within, I definitely recommend a reread and starting with the first before going anywhere near this. If you haven’t read the other stories then don’t start here.
Release Date: 29/09/11
BOOK BLURB:
This is a pacy, bloodthirsty, hugely entertaining teen zombie novel with an unconventional but tender love story at its heart. From the ruins of a cataclysmic ice-age a new society has emerged, based on Victorian customs. Nora Dearly, a feisty teenage girl and apparent orphan, leaves her exclusive boarding school for the holidays to return home - only to be dragged into the night by the living dead. Luckily for her, this particular crack unit of zombies are good guys - sent to protect her from the real nasties roaming the countryside and zeroing in on major cities to swell their ranks. Nora must find a way to defeat the evil undead with help from Bram, a noble, sweet and surprisingly hot zombie boy for whom she starts to fall...
REVIEW:
As they say Steampunk is the new fantasy genre, so when an author blends the embellishments of the Victorian period alongside a futuristic look and adds zombies to the mix, it’s enough to get me running to the shelves to grab a copy. What this tale does well is the characters, they’re fresh (depending if they’re living or dead. LOL) they have great depth and the way in which the tale develops has a very organic feel to it.
It’s cleverly done and if you forgive the many errors within and concentrate on the overall arc it’s a tale that is immensely satisfying. Add to this a decent understanding of pace, some clever twists and a clear idea where it’s going and it was crackingly done. However if you have problems with world-building or convoluted points then this really won’t be a book for you. Overall a great piece of fun provided you don’t take it too seriously.
Release Date: 03/11/11
BOOK BLURB:
The squabbling Norse gods and goddesses of Runemarks are back! And there's a feisty new heroine on the scene: Maggie, a girl the same age as Maddy but brought up a world apart - literally, in World's End, the focus of the Order in which Maddy was raised. Now the Order is destroyed, Chaos is filling the vacuum left behind...and is breaching the everyday world. A chilling prophecy from the Oracle. A conflict between two girls. And with just twelve days to stave off the Apocalypse, carnage is about to be unleashed ...
REVIEW:
OK, I read the original Runemarks a few years ago, yet even so, it’s a title I remember fairly well as I loved the complexities as well as plot intrigue that Joanne had woven within almost as if she were a Norn herself. Yet this book almost dwarves that with its huge plot, more twists than the roots of Yggdrasil and just as complex with the developments as well as emotional turmoil for the characters within.
It’s a beautiful piece of writing and whilst it took a little time to get back into the spirit of, it was well worth the time and effort and lets face it a book aimed at this market at 600 pages has to have something special woven within to keep the target audience happy. Add to this the introduction of a new character who’s just as tough as the original which when backed with cracking prose and wonderful pace alongside classically complex world building and it’s a title that was really hard to put down for sleep at the end of the night. Great stuff and definitely a title I’d recommend to others, provided you’re prepared to do a little slogging first to get to the good stuff.
Release Date: 03/11/11
BOOK BLURB:
Have you ever been to a place called Boring? Met Mr Botty? Used a piece of Spong equipment? These are just three of the real-life places, people and things from around the world that feature in best-selling non-fiction author Russell Ash's fabulous new book. Jam-packed full with lists of names plus fascinating facts, stories and anecdotes, "Boring, Botty and Spong" will keep you entertained for hours on end! You'll find names to make you wonder, think and certainly laugh out loud.
REVIEW:
I was really looking forward to this book as I love titles that are full of fun, factual pieces of trivia that very few seem to know. The problem with this book however is that it reads like a long list and as such I feel will miss its place with the audience as they’ll take one look and wonder where the interest is.
It is researched very well but for me the execution falls a little flat with just the facts and no other information at hand to help keep it in the memory. Its information overload and for me would have been better had it had the writing style of Mitchell Symons to help bring it to life. A great shame all in and heres hoping a future edition will fix this major problem.
Release Date: 01/09/11
BOOK BLURB:
Imagine if you lost your parents – not just in place, but in time.
Jake Djones’ mum and dad have gone missing and they could be anywhere in the world – at any time in history. Because the Djones family have an astonishing secret, which for years they’ve managed to keep - even from each other. They belong to the HISTORY KEEPERS: a secret society which travels through the centuries to prevent evil enemies from meddling with History itself.
In the quest to find his parents, Jake is whisked from 21st Century London to 19th century France, the headquarters of the mysterious History Keepers, where he discovers the truth about his family's disappearance - and the diabolical Prince Zeldt's plan to destroy the world as we know it . . .
REVIEW:
History is fluid and whilst many say that history is written by the victors, this title goes to prove that history is saved or damned by the victors. This debut has been cleverly crafted with cracking characters and a whole host of supporting cast members that add extra flavour and believability. Its quirky, it has some great drama and the author does a lot to give the reader some amazing twists and turns as the tale progresses. Add to this mix some decent prose and a wonderful pace that keeps you glued and all in this was a most satisfactory read.
If you’ve read Alex Scarrow’s Time Riders and looking for something in a similar vein then give this a go, definitely worth your time as well as giving you an experience to remember as our hero is thrown into the past with little more than his wits to save not only himself and friends but his parents. Glorious.
Release Date: 05/05/11
BOOK BLURB:
Stuart Horten - ten years old and small for his age - moves to the dreary town of Beeton, far away from all his friends. And then he meets his new next-door neighbours, the unbearable Kingley triplets, and things get even worse.
But in Beeton begins the strangest adventure of Stuart’s life as he is swept up in quest to find his great-uncle’s lost workshop – a workshop stuffed with trickery and magic. There are clues to follow and puzzles to solve, but what starts as fun ends up as danger, and Stuart begins to realize that he can’t finish the task by himself . . .
The first children’s novel by Lissa Evans, this is a fast-moving blend of comedy and magic.
REVIEW:
REVIEW BLURB
Release Date: 14/04/11
BOOK BLURB:
This is the first thrilling book in the most exciting children's fantasy series since Harry Potter . They were taken from their beds one frozen night, when the world was covered in snow. The silhouette of a tall, thin man has haunted Kate ever since. Ten years on, Kate, Michael and Emma have grown up in a string of miserable orphanages, and all memories of their parents have faded to a blur. Arriving at Cambridge Falls, the children quickly realise there is something different about this place - and Kate feels sure she has seen the dark, crooked house before. As they explore, they discover an old, empty leather book. The moment they touch it, an ancient magical prophecy is set irrevocably in motion, and the children are thrown into a dangerous alternate reality of dark enchantments and terrifying monsters. Only they can prevent the terrible event that will ruin Cambridge Falls - and stop the world from falling into complete devastation.
REVIEW:
Adventures are all the rage and when you write a book for the young reader market you need to come up with something special to not only keep them interested but also to create something that will take the genre into new ground. What John has managed with this title is create three memorable characters that allow different reading groups the chance to find one that they really like and stick with.
Add to this a seriously great adventure, with touches of City of Embers lovingly blended with great character personal exploration as well as growth which when backed with story development really creates something new. Its definitely going to be a series that will expand to become something totally unique.
BOOK BLURB:
This is the explosively page-turning new novel for teenagers from the author of the award-winning Noughts and Crosses sequence. You're about to receive your A-level results and then a future of university and journalism awaits. But the day they're due to arrive your old girlfriend Kendra turns up unexpectedly ...with a baby ...You assume Kendra's helping a friend, until she nips out to buy some essentials, leaving you literally holding the baby ...Malorie's dramatic new novel will keep you on the edge of your seat right to the final page.
REVIEW:
A book that is pretty frightening, if only because of the real world implications within which when woven within this title offer a warning about unplanned pregnancies with life changing outcomes where the cast has to learn to adapt to the changes as well as accepting the consequences of their choices.
Beautifully written and whilst when I originally read the concept thought that it would be a real struggle, found myself getting emotionally involved with the cast as well as having the opportunity to see the adaptable nature of life with positive outcomes. Blackman definitely brings the issues raised within to life and with realistic characters alongside the emotional context does it with a style that the young adult reader can also pick up without feeling either looked down upon or overwhelmed. Definitely a title all teens should read and a title that may help some choices with a bit more information at hand.
Release Date: 02/09/10
BOOK BLURB:
Bill's own fascination with science began with a battered old schoolbook he had when he was about ten or eleven years old in America. It had an illustration that captivated him - a cutaway diagram showing Earth's interior as it would look if you cut into it with a large knife and carefully removed about a quarter of its bulk. And he very clearly remembers thinking: 'How do they know that'? Bill's story-telling skill makes the 'How?' and, just as importantly, the 'Who?' of scientific discovery entertaining and accessible for all ages. In this exciting edition for younger readers, he covers the wonder and mysteries of time and space, the frequently bizarre and often obsessive scientists and the methods they used, the crackpot theories which held sway for far too long, the extraordinary accidental discoveries which suddenly advanced whole areas of science when the people were actually looking for something else (or in the wrong direction) and the mind-boggling fact that, somehow, the universe exists and, against all odds, life came to be on this wondrous planet we call home.
REVIEW:
As a fan of a lot of Bill’s works I’m always interested to see what he turns up with next. Here, in this abridged version, he answers questions that young readers have been asking for years, presenting them in easy to understand language. Add to this, quirky facts, a comprehensive breakdown and it’s a great book for young readers and adults alike.
The only downside to this title is the ending of this offering, as it left me feeling quite low due to the bleak outlook. Still a good book for reference and one that will entertain which when backed up with a love of learning will make this a great addition to any young persons personal reference library.
Release Date: 02/09/10
BOOK BLURB:
A man with no eyes. No eyes at all. Two tunnels in his head ...It's not easy being a witch, and it's certainly not all whizzing about on broomsticks, but Tiffany Aching - teen witch - is doing her best. Until something evil wakes up, something that stirs up all the old stories about nasty old witches, so that just wearing a pointy hat suddenly seems a very bad idea. Worse still, this evil ghost from the past is hunting down one witch in particular. He's hunting for Tiffany. Andhe's found her...A fabulous Discworld title filled with witches and magic and told in the inimitable Terry Pratchett style, I Shall Wear Midnight is the fourth Discworld title to feature Tiffany and her tiny, fightin', boozin' pictsie friends, the Nac Mac Feegle (aka The Wee Free Men).
REVIEW:
The latest offering in the Young Adult Discworld series by Terry Pratchett featuring Tiffany Aching and everyones favourite discworld blue skinned clan, the Nac Mac Feegles.
The tale is beautifully interwoven with country myth and folklore alongside Terry’s wonderful way of weaving a story which when blended alongside the usual Pratchett quirks and the Feegles, leave the reader in no doubt that he has still got it. Add to the mix another member to the clan returning “home” alongside a cracking supporting cast, great dialogue and magical understanding of pace and you know that it’s going to be a gem of a story.
Release Date: 14/10/10
BOOK BLURB:
Fans of Jonathan Stroud's Bartimaeus books will devour this book - a cracking adventure brimming with magic, intrigue and a treasure trove of characters that the reader can't help but fall for. We find everyone's favourite irascibly insolent djinni serving at the court of King Solomon in 950 BC Jerusalem, where he is causing his customary chaos and must help a girl assassin sent by the Queen of Sheba steal the all-powerful ring of Solomon. The comic relief is perfectly timed, the dialogue sharp and snappy and the fiendishly clever plot perfectly handled with Jonathan's trademark flair and command of language. Thrills, chills and a danger-spiked finale - this is one of the publishing events of the year.
REVIEW:
Jonathan Stroud, has long been a big name in the young adult world and yet I’ve only really read one of his titles before (Heroes in the Valley) which whilst fun, didn’t exactly set my world alight and left me wondering exactly how he’d managed to earn the kudos of so many readers.
That was until I read this book. Whilst I haven’t read other titles in the Bartimaus series, I was instantly struck with the authors writing style, that was not only fast paced but also written with an almost unparalleled level of humour as the reader follows the exploits of our heroic djinn. The style was crisp, the dialogue ideal but overall the real thing that sells the book is the principle character who not only stole the show but gave the reader a real link to the world in which he inhabited. This was done through his sense of humour alongside his warped principles for the way that the world should work which when backed up with an ego the size of a skyscraper really did make this something spectacular.
Finally add to this a seriously huge story arc, a huge selection of supporting cast members and an easy to access world made this ideal reading material and overall really has made me want to buy the previous titles so that I can have a lot more fun with the heroes other exploits. Great stuff, although judging by how the djinn have been pushed into service to create things for other, I do wonder if they sprinkled Jonathan’s writing with some of their magic. It really is just too good to be true.
Release Date: 07/10/10
BOOK BLURB:
In Do Igloos Have Loos? Mitch Symons, the revolting reference expert, answers burning questions such as: How do you get out of quicksand? Why does your skin get wrinkly if you stay too long in the bath? Is your right foot really clever? And, crucial for everyone likely to get caught short in the Arctic, 'Do igloos have loos'?
REVIEW:
Having come across Mitchell’s work before, I pretty much knew what to expect here as the king of mad trivia brings his talent to the young reader.
It’s quirky, it’s definitely a book for Dad’s to share and a title that will bring to the fore a lot of household trivia. I did feel however that a couple of the author’s facts needed checking as some tv shows have done the experiments such as Mythbusters who found that certain wasps would outlive the cockroach alongside missing the Templar connection to Friday the 13th which left me wondering how well researched a number of the other facts were.
BOOK BLURB:
What if the person you were meant to be with could never be yours? 17-year-old Lucinda falls in love with a gorgeous, intelligent boy, Daniel, at her new school, the grim, foreboding Sword & Cross ...only to find out that Daniel is a fallen angel, and that they have spent lifetimes finding and losing one another as good & evil forces plot to keep them apart. Some angels are destined to fall...
REVIEW:
Whilst this theme seems to be replacing Vampires in young adult fiction, the author really has to do something special to keep the audience glued. That said this offering is one that has had a lot of press, a lot of hype and a fair few reasonable reviews from people that I tend to trust. So feeling a tad more confident about this title I finally bit the bullet and decided to give it a go
What unfurled however was sadly disappointing, the plot was slow, the “sexy” aspect pretty tame and it really didn’t put any fear into me as it wound its way to its conclusion. It did have potential, it did have some interesting characters however the ones that spoke to me had fleeting parts to play and the author really let themselves down with substandard two dimensional principle protagonists. A sad shame in my opinion but at the end of the day these things sometimes happen.
BOOK BLURB:
Sophie and Josh have returned to San Francisco. They must protect themselves from the Dark Elders, but they've not yet mastered the magic they'll need to do so. Their trust in Nicholas Flamel is shaken, and their friend Scatty is missing. Unbeknownst to the twins, John Dee has amassed an enormous army of foul creatures, with which he plans to battle Nicholas and his wife, Peronelle. In order for his plan to work, he must train a necromancer to raise the Mother of the Gods from the dead. The twins of legend will make the perfect pupils in his diabolical scheme.
REVIEW:
OK, I am a newbie to the series, I have not read any of the other titles in this series and to be honest here, I was quite lost when I began. So a quick break was taken and thanks to Wiki, I was brought up to speed on the novels to date and thus knew where I was and able to carry on.
The series is definitely pretty epic for the Young Adult market, its definitely got a whole host of interesting characters and each one stands out presenting the reader with something new and unique to the overall story arc. The reader won’t know which way to turn as events overtake the principle characters as they discover facts that have been withheld as well as testing the boundaries of old friends and new. It is captivating, it is gripping and above all else, and it is a tale that was incredibly hard to put down once I knew what was happening. Definitely one of our tips for the Summer months and we’d even go so far as to suggest getting the series from the first offering to keep your Young Reader happy.
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.
Release Date: 19/07/12
BOOK BLURB:
The kingdom of Goredd is populated by humans and by dragons who fold themselves into a human form. Though they live alongside each other, the peace between them is uneasy. But when a member of the royal family is murdered, and the crime appears to have been committed by a dragon the peace and treaty between both worlds is seriously threatened ...Into this comes Seraphina, a gifted musician who joins the royal court as the assistant to the court composer. She is soon drawn into the murder investigation and, as she uncovers hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace in Goredd for good, finds herself caught desperately in the middle of the tension. For Seraphina hides a secret - the secret behind her musical gift - and if she is found out, her life is in serious danger...
REVIEW:
A new title by a new author in a fantasy world setting that will amaze, delight and bring to the fore a new character who will not only endear herself to the reader but develop her skills and personality as events unfurl. It has great prose, the world is wonderfully designed and when you add a writing style that gently brings the reader in alongside allowing them to get to know the lead character then you’ll be in no doubt about the time and care that has been lavished upon the pages.
Add to this a plot that is almost too big for one book to contain, solid pace and a whole host of supporting cast which will leave the reader in no doubt that this author is not only here to stay but has the imagination alongside ability to keep the reader glued for future releases.
