By Ash, Oak and Thorn - Melissa Harrison

Three of the Hidden Folk - Moss, Burnet and Cumulus - leave their home to search for the reason Cumulus (the oldest of them) has started to fade away. In their quest for answers they travel away from the garden where they live to an old oak tree and then even further to the home of the humans - The Hive.

 I wanted to like this much more than I did and whilst there were bits of it that I enjoyed I found it too flowery and overly descriptive for my liking. In places I really wanted the author just to get on with it. I'm not aware of the original books that inspired this story so it may be that the style used by the author developed from there but I definitely think it's a book you need to be in the mood to read. I was torn between giving it C+ or D+ but in the end have chosen the higher rating because there were parts of it that are beautifully written.

Things that I liked - the way that a lot of natural history was woven into the story was well done and there are some lovely descriptions of animal behaviour - I especially liked the information on hares and the phases of the moon. It's just in places it felt overwhelming - too much description and not enough actually happening.

 There are some wonderful and deep moments (sentences) that stand out:- 

"Few things feel worse than helping search for someone who's got lost..." 

"The world doesn't stop when something terrible happens." 

I also loved how in places you had to read between the lines to see the truth of what's happening, for example when the deer talked of what they believed happened to the wolves - you are in a position of knowing but they are not and I think that added a needed depth to the story. (Bearing in mind that this story is set in the UK and we currently have no wolves - the deer are not completely convinced).

I feel the recommended age range (9-12 years) may be slightly high due to the style of the story but I think younger children would either need help reading or have the story read to them.

At the end of the book there are some nice extras - Watching the Wild World which covers things to look out for from March to August, and a list of things to watch; things to do and things to read.

 The ending is uplifting, positive and inspiring - and I think that is what raised it to a C+ read for me. It did make me feel that I wanted to get out and do something for the natural world.

 Overall - I don't think this is a story for everyone, but children who have an interest in the natural world will probably find it more engaging.

(I received a free copy of this book to review.)

The God Equation by Michio Kaku

 And now for something completely different...

This book follows the quest to find a Theory of Everything - an equation that will tie all the forces of the universe together. It follows the history of physics from Newton's law of gravity to Faraday and Maxwell, then Einstein before moving onto string theory. It's a whistle-stop tour of Physics into the 21st century.

I don't know enough about string theory to comment on the validity of Kaku's argument, I have to admit that is the part of the book that went a little bit over my head. (Maybe on a re-read I'll understand it a little better). But it is a book that I very much enjoyed reading. Along with the heavier stuff there are anecdotes and observations that lighten the read a little.

"When Einstein kept repeating that God does not play dice with the universe, Bohr reportedly said, "Stop telling God what to do."

I am reasonably familiar with Classical Physics - Newton, Faraday and Maxwell - so sailed through the first part of the book. The middle bit which covers quantum mechanics I didn't do too badly with. But string theory covered in the last part of the book left me bemused in places and I seemed to lose the ability to comprehend and my brain lost the ability to cope. I wish there had been more on string theory and explanations as I was really having to concentrate on the concepts and I wasn't always up to it.

One of the things that made me smile is where he says (at the beginning) that he hopes that the book will give you a balanced objective analysis of string theory's breakthroughs and limitations and then admits that he does have somewhat of a stake in string theory as he's been working on it since 1968. I like that there is humour among the serious science. I also like the way he relays the snarkiness and sarcasm that occurs between the various scientists over the years.

I think for someone who is familiar with quantum mechanics and string theory this book will feel like too broad an overview, a skimming of the surface of everything. But if you are looking for an introduction to the major ideas and breakthroughs of physics and where physics is heading this is very readable and the concepts of Newton, Maxwell and Einstein are explained clearly.

(I received a free ARC of this book to review)

Escape the Rooms by Stephen Mangan

The last thing Jack expected when he bungee-jumped at the fairground was to end up in a maze of underground rooms...Alongiside, a mysterious girl called Cally he must find the key to unlock each room and find his way home.

At the beginning when I first started reading the story I could "hear" Stephen Mangan's voice in the text. Just some of the phrasing and I think because his voice and tone are so individual that came across in the writing. The beginning of the story certainly felt stronger to me - when (as a reader) you're not really sure what's going on and everything's just a little not right.

Also my favourite funny bit is on page 28 - when they're describing Wanda's teeth which made me laugh out loud. I think at this point I had quite high hopes for where we might be going.

I loved the character of Cally who was so angry and snarky :- 

"I can be smart AND angry,"

I liked the overall theme of dealing with one room at a time and looking for answers and how you can feel like you keep coming back to the same place.

But there was more that I didn't like or just didn't work for me as a reader. Although the beginning was strong I don't think the idea of the rooms could hold up the story -  I found it became repetitive - even the strangest and weirdest thing can become boring when it keeps happening on a loop. 

I didn't like the book having no chapters - I like having a fixed place to stop. I'm presuming this was a thematic choice but for me it ended up adding to the interminable feel.

I wasn't keen on the illustrations.

There's a fair amount of gross-out humour which I think some kids will love and it does tip towards horror in a couple of places which I thought was written well. Horror and humour have always worked well together. Nothing too scary but just a little bit of fear for when Jack and Cally leave the path.

The book deals with fear, loss, grief and bereavement in a way that sometimes felt quite sensitive but at times the message also felt a little heavy-handed - Cally is angry, Jack is apathetic. As the whole book is essentially about fear, loss, grief and bereavement it felt like the message was being continually hammered home.

Do the rooms only choose bereaved children who aren't coping well with loss? I feel like it's been marketed more as an adventure fantasy because that's popular. Whereas perhaps, it's closer to the horror side of the fantasy genre. The rooms are coming to get you if you aren't able to cope in either a way or amount of time that's deemed socially acceptable.

I laughed in a couple of places but overall (the further I got into the story) found this a struggle to read as it wasn't holding my interest and in the end (like Jack and Cally) I just wanted to get through the rooms as quickly as possible so it could be over.

(I received a free copy of this book to review).

The Children of Swallow Fell - Julia Green

Possibly one of the nicest dystopian novels I've read. It focusses on the promise / hope for what comes after the fall of modern society. There are still some scary and disturbing bits but they feel age appropriate. There are moments of fear, sadness and loss..."I try to smile for her, but the tears keep coming."... however the overall tone of the book is hopeful.

I don't think it's immediately obvious that this is set at some undisclosed future date - if not for the mention of mobile phones it could almost be set during World War II. 

The story begins as war breaks out in Italy where Isabella lives with her family. She and her father flee to the North of England, (through circumstances) leaving her mother and older sister behind. Once there they discover that some kind of sickness has devastated the local area. Isabella has to adapt to a new way of life - no shops, no electricity, no mobile phone. She meets two "wild" children - Rowan and Kelda - and slowly they build a new life.

The war and sickness are never fully explained. This fits with the loss of communication and isolation that occurs to the characters. I did wonder if the sickness was something to do with the lead mine that's located in the area as the water supplies to the houses are cut off. However, we are told that the spring water is still safe to drink so I think that was just me trying to solve a puzzle.

I love the two questions that frame the story. From the back cover - "What do we really need for a happy life?" and from the first page - "How do you begin life all over again?" I tried to keep these in mind whilst reading as I think they cut to the heart of the story.

I thought the beginning of the story was stronger than the end and illustrated how quickly normal can change to scary, unexpected and uncertain.

Once they arrive at Swallow Fell it's more a story of Isabella coming to terms with her new life and finding a way to live. Acknowledging that she has to let go of the past and that things are never going to be the same again.

The relationships in the story are interesting. Isabella has to take on more of an adult role as her father struggles to deal with what is happening. And her relationship with Rowan and Kelda is well drawn. Rowan is more cynical and distrusting, while Kelda is more hopeful and open. It's Rowan who opens Isabella's eyes to her new reality.

It didn't make me cry but there were a couple of moments where it came close. It's a story where I wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen but I'm not sure it's a book I would read again.

Overall - I found it melancholy but hopeful. 

(I received a free copy of this book for review.)

The Unadoptables by Hana Tooke

 In the autumn of 1880, five "unadoptable" orphans make a daring escape from their orphanage to evade the clutches of a sinister gentleman. Embarking on a daring adventure, they begin looking for a family of their own, which may already be closer than they realise.

(It's a pity that so much emphasis and attention has been placed on the title because that really is such a small part of the story. I would say that this is a piece of historical fiction which reflects the views and beliefs of the time period in which it is set. Any prejudice is clearly shown to be a flaw or ignorance in the antagonists and is nothing to do with the children themselves.)

What I liked about the story - I loved that each of the five children is an individual with their own quirks, values and beliefs. I have a clear picture in my head of who Lotta, Egbert, Sem and Milou are. Fenna (who is selectively mute) I have less a picture of, but I think that would change on a second reading. 

I love that there is a point where Milou acknowledges she is behaving selfishly. Too often characters behave selfishly without repercussions or self-awareness and it makes them really annoying to read about! Her need to find her birth family above what the others in the group want is understandable but it does put the others in danger and it's good that this is acknowledged.

Whilst the story never made me cry, it did make me chuckle in a couple of places and also gasp out loud as there is a surprise and shock or two.

The baddies are very very bad - think evil laughs and (figurative) signs over their heads saying these are the bad guys. But other characters in the story are well-rounded with flaws and their own believable motivations.

It's well written and the plotting is tight, with things that are casually mentioned early in the books being tied up by the end. It also has some memorable lines - 

"I suppose there's only so much normal the five of us can realistically get away with."

and also:-

"I'm making you nervous? She's speaking in tongues."

Things I struggled with - At 384 pages it's quite a long read and I didn't always feel completely engaged with the story and characters. It's a book that I enjoyed whilst reading but I could put it down and not feel the need to pick it up again. However, it is a story that grows on you, probably for me starting as a D and ending as a B- hence the C review. I think you'd get more out of it on a re-read as you'd have more appreciation for the deft plotting.

Overall - I liked it but didn't love it. Lovers of YA historical fiction may find it more appealing.

(I received a free copy of this book for review)

Between the Covers Season 4

 If like me you missed any trailers for this - Between the Covers Season 4 has started. Wednesday night BBC2. I think the first episode  - which had some brilliant discussion - is available on IPlayer, as are episodes from previous series.

A great series if you like book discussion and finding out about new titles which may be out of your genre comfort zone. I just wished they publicised it better.

A link below to the main books for this series:-

Between the Covers Series 4 Books

But I get as much inspiration from the BYOB's (Bring your own books) that the guests bring every week. 

Uma and the Answer to Absolutely Everything - Sam Copeland

(A complete change of pace and style from the previous review.)

 

"Uma Gnudersonn has a head full of questions - then she finds a genius artificial intelligence called Athena who knows everything. Suddenly Uma has the answer to any question she can imagine but Athena's sinister inventor wants her back and Athena will find out that all questions have answers."

This is narrated in the first person by the character of Uma Gnudersonn - she's an engaging narrator - occasionally a little bit snarky, especially about her best friend Alan Alan (yes his first name and middle name are the same) - but you are pulled into her story and see the world through her eyes. She has a great voice - 

"...my English teacher told me that tragedy is very useful in a story,'to get empathy from the reader'. Well, I hope you're full of empathy."

Before I go any further I have to say - there are FOOTNOTES! - which I love. Just little comments on what is happening in the story. Like Easter Eggs for books. There are a lot of alpacas in the book - also awesome - and my favourite footnote is on page 7 - 

"...if you don't like alpacas, then this book probably isn't for you. And if you don't like alpacas, you should probably take a long, hard look at yourself because alpacas are awesome." 

There is even an alpaca fact file at the end!

Back to the review.

We find out early on in the story that Uma's mother has died and that her dad is still grieving. Uma desperately wants to help her dad but doesn't know how. This is an ongoing thread throughout the story. The main story is her finding Athena and discovering that Minerva Industries (who created Athena) have nefarious intentions. So Uma has to save her village, stop Minerva Industries and try and reach her dad in his grief. It's a tall order but with help from Athena, Alan Alan and a pack of alpacas, Uma is going to try.

There is a scene towards the end of the book where we find out more details of what happened to Uma's mother and it did make me cry.

There is some absolutely brilliant description - 

"She had the face of a woman who would eat pizza with a knife and fork." 

And somehow you know exactly what she means.

It is a fantastical story - so if you prefer realism this probably isn't for you. The bad guys are very bad, there's a mineral called bogeymite, there are drunk (and sometimes talking alpacas), though they only ever talk in alpaca. But it's a rollicking read that goes along with it's heart front and centre. It does deal with grief and loss but I think in a sensitive way that feels organic to the story.

(I received a free copy of this book to review)

This Can Never Not Be Real - Sera Milano

 

This Can Never Not Be Real shares the fictional experiences of initially four - Joe, Ellie, Violet, Peaches (then five) teenagers following a terrorist attack on a local festival. What follows is a series of "testimonies" from each of the teenagers as they recall the events of the night and what followed. 

Although Chapter One begins with each recollection headed in the following style -  Testimony of Joseph (Joe) Mead, 17 - and then a brief statement from the character. The following recollections for that character are just headed Joe - which I took to mean it came from a more personal experience of the character hence the emotions and detail rather than legal testimony. There are also a couple of places where there are testimonies from Police Officers - I think just to give you an idea of what is happening on the outside. 

Each chapter has multiple points of view - Chapter 1 has 35 different sections, as the POV changes. You always know which character is "speaking" as the sections are headed with their name. I wish the voices had been a little more distinct but this style certainly helps immerse you in the chaos and confusion of the situation.

It is a harrowing read, there is a trigger warning in the front of the book which tells you "...this story involves  descriptions of violence and the aftermath of violence including serious injury and death. The book also deals with suicide, some discussion of racial and faith based micro-aggressions and negative body image."

I make notes as I'm reading and for page 20 I made the note - "incredibly upsetting, intense and powerful" And I'm not going to lie there was a moment early on where I had to turn to the back of the book to find out what was going to happen to a particular character - otherwise I don't think I'd have been able to carry on. 

I expected to cry when reading this book - which I did on several occasions. I also felt an incredible amount of tension in certain sections and just had to keep turning the pages to find out what was going to happen. I didn't expect to laugh but I did in a couple of places - mainly because of Peaches self-depracating humour.

The story captures a feeling of claustrophobia and fear. The quickly switching point of views mean that you need to concentrate on what's happening because as the reader you get more of a whole picture of what's happening - you realise what happened with the phone on page 89 which might be something that the characters never do.

I didn't think this would be a book that I would want to read again. I know I won't want to read it for a while. But I think it is a book that I will read again because knowing how it ends will add a new depth to the re-read and I found it's themes of listening to the survivors, remembering the victims and not letting fear stop you living powerful and inspiring. 

(I received a free copy of this book to review).

Update

Back to posting again.

Currently reading Uma and the Answer to Absolutely Everything.

I did read in January - but it was a re-read of Ilona Andrew's Sweep Series - books 1 through to 4.5. Just in case anyone was wondering why my book total of the year was so high.

The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh - Helen Rutter

 "Billy Plimpton has a dream to be a famous stand-up comedian when he's older. He already knows lots of jokes but thinks he has one big problem - his stammer."

I'm always a little bit wary when you read high praise on the cover and the inside pages about how fantastic a book is going to be - maybe because I've been let down in the past.

But...

We absolutely loved this - such a brilliant debut. The author perfectly captures the difficulties of starting secondary school, feeling/being different, having to deal with bullying and changing family situations, whilst also trying to figure out how to pursue your dreams and what you want those dreams to be.

The characters are all well written and feel like real people. If you are reading it to or with your child I think this is a book you will enjoy reading. I empathised with the character of the mother - a lot - and there was one scene between her and her son which had me in floods. I had to put the book down for a moment.

Each chapter begins with a joke and they are funny (there should be at least one chapter joke that makes you smile). My favourite is the onion joke at the start of Chapter 21. But Chapter 1 starts with:-

The past, the present and the future walked into a bar.

It was tense.

 - there's also lots of funny moments throughout the book, but also some sad ones too - there were a couple of places where I cried (one of them being the mother moment above). I love when a book connects with your emotions in that way.

I thought the depiction of bullying was well done. The author made it clear that there were reasons but didn't excuse the behaviour. I think this can be quite tricky to get across. 

I really like that Billy isn't perfect. He makes mistakes, he gets frustrated, makes choices - not always good ones - and has to deal with the consequences.

 I could see this as a book that you would come back to again and again. Recommended and I think  it would be especially good for children who are going to start secondary school and are a little worried.

(I received a free copy of this book to review)

Between the Covers Series 3

 Why did I not know this had started? Stumbled upon it by accident when changing channels and have not read any of the books!

Have only just finished Amari and the Night Brothers which is why I haven't posted. Yes it has taken me since August to finish that book. Review coming soon.

All twelve main books from the series have a short description here.

Episodes (and previous series) are currently available on Iplayer.

The Lost Soul Atlas - Zana Fraillon

From the back cover - " For as long as Twig can remember, it's been him and Da - family over everything. So when Twig finds himself alone on the streets, he feels totally lost. That is until he meets Flea, a cheerful pickpocket, who feels like the best friend he never had.

But then Twig wakes up in the Afterlife with just a handful of memories from Earth and one big question...how did he get there?"

I am conflicted about this story. On the one hand some of the writing is beautiful, so well written and eventually I was pulled into the story but on the other hand I feel slightly mis-sold on the fantasy aspect of the book and it's based around the Oliver Twist trope which I don't like.

Firstly, the writing. I think Zana Fraillon has a wonderful knack for choosing phrases that will live with you after you've finished the story. "Fight the forgetting." which is a constant throughout the book. "Impossible is what they say when they don't want you to try." "With a map, anything is possible." It's worth reading the book for the beauty of the language.

I liked how it could have been set anywhere - the reality of children living on the streets didn't require the city to be named - which is horrifying that this is a universal reality. It could have been in any city. Some details do narrow the choices - for example the police have guns and a hotel is referred to as the Highett (Hyatt?) But those details feel incidental to the setting.

It took a long time for me to get pulled into the story - too long really - it was page 252 of a 320 page novel. If I hadn't been reading it for review I would probably have given up before then. But I think that's the point at which I was completely pulled in, all the disparate threads are coming together. The characters felt more alive and it also felt more hopeful, and that things are possible. I wanted to know how it was going to end.

I don't like the Oliver Twist trope (I really can't stress how much I dislike Oliver Twist) which is essentially what you have here in the reality based sections of the book. Twig (the Oliver character) causes things to happen and has things happen to them, but it doesn't feel like he has any agency of his own. You could say that that is because of the circumstances he is in - a child on the streets - but Flea (Artful Dodger) is a much more dynamic and engaging character. I felt for most of the book Twig was a passive character who I wasn't that interested in reading about. 

A lot of the early chapters have a downbeat hook ending. For example - "But neither the boy nor his Guardian would notice. Not until it was too late."And - "I should know by now, that if I really cared for Flea, I should never have wished at all." Basically, something is going to happen and it's going to be something bad. This is perhaps the main reason I found the first part of the book so difficult to get through.

 

I also think if you are buying this for the fantasy aspect of the book, you should be aware that the majority of the story takes place in the real world. Twig is tasked with opening up the Crossings between the Afterlife and our reality, so that when people die they don't forget who they are, as part of this he falls back into his memories of being alive - hence why so much of the book takes place in the real world. This allows the reader to slowly understand what happened to Twig and how he ended up in the Afterlife and combines it with a quest element of opening up the crossings.

As a fantasy reader I was looking forward to seeing more of the dynamics and creatures of the Afterlife, because what we did see was fascinating and unique. As the story is called The Lost Soul Atlas I don't think it's unreasonable to assume that the fantasy elements would play a major part. Instead they are more stepping stones between memories. This is the other reason I found the first part of the book so disappointing. We'd fall into a memory and be there for several chapters, then return to the Afterlife for one chapter before falling into another memory.

Up to page 252 I would give this book a D, and the last 60 or so pages a B because they brought everything together. So I've given it a C which I think is a fair rating.

Overall - it ended up as an okay read from me. Part of me would like to read it again to appreciate how all the story threads fit together, as I said it is cleverly written, but I don't think I could face reading the first 200 pages again. Maybe in a couple of years.

I received a free copy of this book for review.

Starfell - Willow Moss and the Forgotten Tale

The story opens with Willow's magical power of finding things misbehaving - suddenly she's making things disappear. To make things worse her friend Nolan Sometimes has sent her an urgent letter - he's just seen ten minutes into the future and he's about to be kidnapped. Willow resolves to find her friend but with strong magical forces working against her and her own powers out of control, will she be able to do it?

I would start by saying that if you haven't read the first book you may struggle a little to make sense of what's happening as the story is carrying on from there. Having said that I couldn't remember all the details of what happened in the first story and I still very much enjoyed this one and the main plot points are covered in the first few pages which are quite exposition heavy. However, opening with Nolan Sometimes plea for help is an intriguing start. 

The things I really liked about the story. The simultaneous plot lines of what is happening to Nolan and Willow searching for him worked well especially in the first half of the book. It keeps you thinking - How on Earth can Willow solve this when she has so little to go on. 

The exploration of grief and loss is integral to the plot and was really well done - how sometimes the feelings can creep up on you and punch you in the chest with their intensity. I thought how at the beginning of the story, Willow's family not understanding or coping very well with what's happening to Willow was a realistic way that family's behave. How they deal in different ways with events and don't always handle situations as well as they could, compounded by the fact that Willow has different memories of what happened.That they doubt her, is what Willow finds devastating.

The illustrations are brilliant and bring the story to life - the few double page illustrations are well chosen allowing us to see Holloway's boat or the topiary children for example.

Favourite line - "...magic never really dies - it simply waits until we're ready for it."

The writing often foreshadows what is going to happen, sometimes this is a little heavy handed. The age range for the book is 8+, so I think this provides a good example of how storytelling can work. I am still convinced that Holloway's eye is important beyond what was mentioned in this book.

I think everything that's in the story is there for a reason with some good examples of when you should listen to your inner voice which of course Willow doesn't do. The line in Chapter 5 - 

'"Come on in child," said the witch.'

 First of all Willow thinks of her as "the witch" even though she knows her name.Secondly I'm not sure any good ever came of following someone into a building when they've invited you in by saying "Come on in child," you know it's going to end badly.

My only niggle is that the end feels rushed. The story is 291 pages and on page 235 the plot accelerates with things happening one after the other and it feels more like a series of events that have to happen to get the story finished. I wonder if the author had been allowed 350 pages if that extra 50 pages could have allowed the end of the story a bit more breathing room to pack everything in.

Overall - very good second book in a continuing series, looking forward to book 3.

(I was provided a free copy of this book for review)

Map's Edge - David Hair

I feel like whoever wrote the blurb for this story should get some kind of industry award for making it sound much more exciting than it is.

"Soldier, sorcerer and exiled nobleman Raythe Vyre has run out of places to hide...Now he's found a chance of redemption for himself...a map showing a hitherto unknown place that's rich in istariol, the rare mineral that fuels sorcery. Mining it will need people, but luckily there are plenty of outcasts, ne'er-do-wells and loners desperate enough to brave haunted roads through the ruins of an ancient, long-dead civilisation, to seek wealth and freedom."

It sounds like it's going to be a rollicking read,fast paced and exciting but that's not really what you get.

There are parts of it that are gripping, the magic system is interesting though not unique and the female character Kemara has a story that I want to keep reading. Unfortunately it's also incredibly exposition heavy (especially in the beginning), the pace is far too slow not helped by overlong chapters and familiar fantasy situations kept cropping up.

Positives. On the whole the characters are well written, though I found the protagonist Raythe (ex-nobleman and sorcerer) to be one of the least interesting, however, he is the glue holding everything together. Kemara (the healer or is she?), for me, is the most interesting character and the one that kept me reading. I always wanted to know more about her.

The second half of the book is a better read than the first half. There is much more actually happening, towards the end perhaps too much and characters are actually doing things rather than talking about doing things.

The story does slowly pull you in, the quest aspect becomes more interesting and the behaviour of the various groups within the band of travellers increases the intrigue as they all decide whether to put their own self-interest first or help the others. Though the fluidity of this change among some of the characters became somewhat repetitive.

Negatives. There are lots of characters and no character list. In the first chapter I knew I was going to struggle with who was who and it doesn't improve as the story goes on and more and more characters are introduced. In the end I decide to keep track of the characters who interest me and treat the others as background because there are too many for me to remember.

The first half of the book is slow. Not helped by the length of the chapters, for example chapter 4 starts on page 70 and finishes on page 126. As someone who reads a chapter a night before going to sleep I found myself dropping off somewhere around page 100 still nowhere near the end of the chapter. It's also exposition heavy and is not subtle about it. (I may have mentioned that already).

It felt like the story took a while to find it's own identity and if you read a lot of fantasy / watch fantasy television you may find it somewhat derivative. Example at the start there's a bit where I was thinking, this feels a little bit like the Mines of Moria (Lord of the Rings) I bet I can guess what's going to happen next.

Later on a character says "You know nothing" to another character and if you've watched Game of Thrones you're automatically adding "Jon Snow" to the end of that sentence.

Overall - it's a bit of a mixed bag, maybe worth checking out if you're looking for a new fantasy read but I won't be pursuing the series any further.

Hollowpox by Jessica Townsend

The blurb - "...a strange illness has taken hold of Nevermoor, turning its peaceable Wunimals into mindless, vicious unnimals on the hunt. As victims of the Hollowpox multiply, panic spreads. And with the city she loves in a state of fear, Morrigan quickly realises it is up to her to find a cure for the Hollowpox, even if it will put her - and the rest of Nevermoor - in more danger than ever before ..."

If you haven't read the previous two Nevermoor books do not start here. I do not think I can stress that enough - DO NOT START HERE! This story builds upon what has already happened and I really don't think you'll appreciate the depth of the story if you don't understand how the characters have reached this point.

The end of book 2 made me weep - if you've read it you'll know why - I actually found it emotionally devastating. I was talking about book 2 with someone (who had finished book 3) a few weeks ago and just thinking about it made me start crying. So I was slightly surprised that those events are only mentioned in passing once and that is the only niggle I have about this book. (Bearing in mind I'm reading an ARC - I am getting this book in hardcover, though, for my bookshelf).

I love how Jessica Townsend is able to combine the plot of this book - the outbreak of Hollowpox - with the everyday events that are happening in Nevermoor, superb character development, and an ongoing story arc that started in the first book.

Something that happened at the very beginning of this book made me think - damn! I need to go back and read the second book again to see how what I've just read affects what I read then.

Morrigan's character develops significantly in this book. She's definitely more of a teenager now, is quite an independent thinker but often doesn't think her actions through. It will be interesting to see how this sometimes reckless behaviour plays out in the next book, especially as it's clear that she's a person who cares a lot about her friends and adopted family but often acts on impulse. 

I think she also sees more in this book, partly the fallibility of some of the adults in her life - that they don't always have the answers, but also understanding more about how the world of Nevermoor works. 

We learn more about Ezra Squall in this book - but not enough! Very intriguing the path that his character took here, as we learn more about what he was like before he became the monster he is considered to be.

The writing is just beautiful. 

"There's three of us! And I've easily got the strength of three people, so technically there's five of us."

"Technically still three," Francis disagreed.

And.

Cadence shrugged. "That's different."

"How is it different?"

"It's different because I'm actually good at this stuff and you're actually rubbish," she said.

Not just the quotability of it, but the use of language. How Morrigan is learning about fire in this book and there is fire imagery throughout the book just subtly (and not so subtly sometimes) woven into the story.

Page 412 of the ARC I made a note - This is not going where I thought it was - I love that! I read a lot and watch a lot of fantasy television as well. It is not often that I think  - "I wasn't expecting that." 

I love that in reading this book, it feels like I've taken a trip to another world. It's a book and a series that you can read over and over again, and each time find something new. I cannot recommend this book and series  highly enough.

(I received a copy of an ARC for review.)

Shadow and Bone Box Set

I have been watching Shadow and Bone on Netflix and loving it. Currently on my second viewing.

I have taken the plunge and ordered the first three books as a box set. If like me you are interested in getting the books, then you may wish to know that the first three books are available as a box set from The Works for £15. These are the old covers.

Note - you will have to pay postage if you don't top up with other books to their minimum free postage amount.

If books are reissued with new covers (for example when they end up on Netflix or get made into movies) I tend to pop onto The Works just to see if the old covers are there for slightly less. Doesn't always happen but it's always worth trying.

The Beast and the Bethany - Jack Meggitt-Phillips

Ebenezer Tweezer is a youthful 511-year-old, who keeps a beast in his attic. He feeds the beast all manner of things, things that are increasingly rare and hard to find and in return the beast provides him with a potion that keeps him young...but the beast grows even greedier and now it wants to eat a child. What is Ebenezer going to do?

This book has a brilliant opening line - "Ebenezer Tweezer was a terrible man with a wonderful life." Immediately you want to know more. It's a fantastical tale which requires some suspension of disbelief. This is the kind of world where if you're in need of a child you can just visit an orphanage and get one. Kind of like Despicable Me but instead of Minions in the basement there's a horrible beast in the attic.

Both Ebenezer and Bethany are not that nice to begin with and it's interesting seeing how they develop as characters. Ebenezer has kind of fallen in to being bad without too much thought over what he's doing as long as it doesn't cause his life inconvenience. Bethany's bad behaviour is caused by a much different reason and I like how this isn't spelled out but we gradually learn why she is so badly behaved.

The recommended age range is 8 and up and I think this is about right as there are some scary moments in it, especially towards the end. Something rather unpleasant also happens at the beginning which may upset more sensitive children but what's going to happen is pretty much signposted and lets you know that the beast means business.

I like that things happen early in the book and then they are referred to later in the book. Not in a big fanfare-y way. In a way that requires you to have been paying attention at the beginning to either get the joke or understand where the plot is going. I like that the author doesn't spell everything out he assumes that the children reading the book are along for the ride and he doesn't dumb things down for them.

I think I would have given it 5 stars, except the sweet shop scene at the beginning really annoyed me, it didn't flow logically. Suspension of disbelief is required for a fantasy novel but I don't believe you can make two conflicting statements about a character within a few pages and not pull the reader out of the story. I don't think most readers would be bothered by it but like I said it annoyed me.*

Overall though - this is a great read, it moves along at a fast pace and you want to know what's going to happen next. The ending is definitely setting up a sequel. So it will be interesting to see how Ebenezer and Bethany fare against the Beast in round 2.

* On page 27 Ebenezer says "Whenever he visited the local sweet shop..." implying that he has visited the shop more than once and that presumably he goes there to buy sweets and therefore knows how much sweets cost. Then on the next page he sets up his own sweet stall and charges stupid amounts (£253) for the sweets. I thought these three pages could have been cut from the book and made it a better book. The zoo bit which preceded it was much funnier and a stronger scene.

I received a free copy of this book to review.

Here in the Real World - Sara Pennypacker

 If you like books with lots of action, thrilling chase scenes and rollicking adventure then this may not be the right book for you. The plot is very simple, two children who feel like misfits find a refuge - an abandoned church lot -  and when it is threatened the boy tries to save it. It is much more about the development and growth of the character Ware over a summer and how he finds his voice.

Ware is a boy who prefers his own company and dreads the "meaningful social interaction" that his parents believe is essential for him. He determines that to please them he needs to be "reborn" as the boy they want him to be, but through the course of the book and the characters he develops relationships with - Jolene, the girl with the garden - who tells him he needs to live in the real world; his Uncle Cyrus - who sees his potential and his Grandma (Big Deal) - who urges him to ask questions and use his voice - he comes to see that he doesn't need to become something else, he needs to become the person he actually is.

I thought this was beautifully written. The chapters are short so you fly through them. Aimed at 9 years and up, I think adults will also enjoy the story, younger children may struggle with the slow pace and lack of action. It's a story that rewards your attention, there are sections where characters see or hear things that make you as a reader think "Oh no!" but it's understandable that the characters don't immediately grasp the consequences of what they are seeing or saying.

For example, right at the beginning of the story, Ware is floating in the pool at his Grandma's living complex and an ambulance arrives. He telegraphs the words "Don't be afraid" to the person on the stretcher and you as the reader are (virtually) screaming "Get out of the pool!"

I also loved how Ware - who thinks he is so different to his parents and not the boy that they want him to be - is actually more like them than he realises - he quotes his Dad towards the end of the book, something I picked up on the second read.

Some of the observations from Ware are spot on - How "Joining in" with other children, "is a matter of geography to grown-ups" a few steps either way does the trick.

My favourite lines probably come from Ware slowly working out who he is and who he wants to be:- "Everything was something else before and will be something else after."

...and also from Ware's friendship with Jolene - the girl who is growing papayas in the church lot -  their relationship develops slowly, she has quite a spiky personality and isn't afraid to call Ware out:- 

"You spend a lot of time imagining things that aren't going to happen," Jolene said. 

There is a contrast and a friction between them - Ware wants to believe in a world with knights and chivalry, or at least a world where he can adapt those ideals; whereas Jolene has a stark view of what is and isn't possible. I think Ware offers her hope and an alternative way of looking at things, and she offers him practicality, she challenges him to offer real solutions to their problems and not dreams.

I think that this is a book that rewards the reader. I think if a young person reads it and enjoys it, I could see it as a comfort read, a book that they come back to again and again.

Blood Heir - Ilona Andrews - First Thoughts

 This is not a review (that should hopefully come in a few days) because I have inhaled (metaphorically) this book today and I know I haven't taken everything in. Need to do a proper re-read for the review.

But first thoughts - Squuuuuuueeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

This book is everything I hoped and then more. This was the thing getting me from Christmas to nearly mid-January in lockdown.

Being honest, Julie wasn't my favourite character from the Kate Daniels books and initially I was unsure but I do hope this will be the start of a new series because there is so much I want to know.

Do you need to have read the Kate Daniels books to  enjoy this one? I think so...yes. I think there is enough explanation for you to understand Aurelia / Julie's motivation and backstory and for it to work as a standalone. However, reading the previous stories gives you an understanding of how all the characters work together - their relationships and conflicts - things you would miss if you didn't have that knowledge.

I think what I liked most of all was "seeing" how everything has changed in the years between the Battle of Atlanta and this book.These are not the same characters as at the end of Magic Triumphs they have evolved and changed, some for the better, some for the worse.

If you loved the Kate Daniels books I highly recommend this new story set in that world.

The Last Resort by Susi Holliday

 This was my kindle first read choice for November, so I got it for free. 

I have had little joy with my kindle first read choices and unfortunately this book was not one that I enjoyed.

Be aware there is a spoiler in the review below.

The blurb - "When Amelia is invited to an all-expenses-paid retreat on a private island, the mysterious offer is too good to refuse. Along with six other strangers, she’s told they’re here to test a brand-new product for Timeo Technologies. But the guests’ excitement soon turns to terror when the real reason for their summons becomes clear.

Each guest has a guilty secret. And when they’re all forced to wear a memory-tracking device that reveals their dark and shameful deeds to their fellow guests, there’s no hiding from the past. This is no luxury retreat—it’s a trap they can’t get out of."

I quite like a murder mystery and thought this sounded interesting and whilst it started off well - six strangers get on a plane together, they are off to a mystery location to test a brand new product for Timeo Technologies. It quickly went downhill as it became apparent that the characters were only there to serve the plot.

As a reader we know who we're meant to like because they have the least awful secrets, we know who we're meant to hate because they are portrayed as having no redeeming qualities. We don't get close to the characters to find out why they are the way they are because the narration style is such that we are basically told what to think.

The characters also behave in ways that aren't believable. When they arrive they are told to clip a device behind their ear, it quickly becomes apparent after the first person puts it on, that it actually burrows inside your head, as that first person is unable to remove it. But the other four people put up very little resistance to also attaching one of these things to their skull. (Yes, just four, Amelia doesn't have to do it, she gets to wear a wrist band).

I can accept that people will behave like sheep within certain social situations but I'm not sure I'd include having an untested piece of technology stuck into my brain.

Another character is bitten by a snake. But insists long past the point of credibility that she hasn't been bitten - because the character's actions have to serve the plot. A more sympathetic narration would allow for the fact that everyone has secrets and no-one looks good underneath a microscope, but that's not what you're getting here.

There are also two plot threads - the six people stranded on the island testing the technology and the other thread takes place in the past. All the way through the book you are waiting for the pay-off for these two threads to come together in a coherent way and for everything to be explained, for us to understand why these people have been lured to the island. Please don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen.

The first part of the book is the most interesting as they explore the island and you (the reader) know they are going to be picked off one by one, as you discover what their secrets are.

Everything (for me) falls apart in the last third. I was hoping for something that was going to gel all of this together and make for a satisfying ending. (You know, like at the end of an Agatha Christie when the clever detective puts it altogether for you and realise all those clues that you missed). Instead it went batshit crazy and that was three or four hours of my life that I'll never get back.

I think what I'm most disappointed about is that it didn't live up to it's promise. It was reasonably well written, the author had some interesting ideas about the uses of virtual technology and it was quite a compulsive read because you wanted to know what was going to happen. 

I think if the reason (because there should have been one) for the characters being brought to the island had been better thought out and the author had just concentrated on that plot, rather than tying it to the past in a rushed way at the end, it would have been a better story.