Saturday 27 June 2009
Posting temporarily suspended
Friday 26 June 2009
Princess Poppy: The Hidden Jewels by Janey Louise Jones
June 2009, Young Corgi
118 pages
Review copy
Clouds: 5/5
Overall rating: 4/5
Worth re-reading? Yes
Without a doubt it was the front cover which attracted me to this sweet story. I love medieval costumes, and couldn't resist finding out more about Princess Poppy. From the map on the first page which included places like 'Peppermint Pond', I could tell this would be a sweet book. Poppy's friend Honey lives most of the year without her parents. They come to visit the small world nestled in Honey Hill to escape the busy life of LA.
After visiting the castle, Honey and Poppy are intrigued about the tale of Princess Alyssa, especially when there's a suggestion that she left a box full of treasure in the castle. Together with their parents they embark on a hunt for the treasure, aided by an anonymous helper who leaves clues for them.
It's a story about friendship and family: that sometimes families can't always be together but when they meet up they enjoy each other's company. I found two messages in this story: the first is that eavesdropping is rarely beneficial to the listener. Honey was very worried when she heard her father missed the busy life of LA that she puts her heart and soul into making sure he enjoys himself. He does - and never complains again. The second message is how hard work reaps its rewards - by spending extra time pouring over the clues, Poppy was able to solve the smaller mysteries in the story (although I don't recommend staying up past bedtime to most younger readers).
The illustrations are very cute, I could spend a long time looking at them. They are of a style I remember from when I was little (not all that long ago really!).
The reason this receives a 4 and not a 5 is because I don't think Poppy is a real Princess. She lives in a cottage, not a castle. There is no mention of her being a real Princess in the story. I haven't read any of the other books in the series, and feel it's a little misleading to have a title 'Princess Poppy' without indication of royal heritage. I tried searching the other books, but haven't shed light on this matter yet. I picked up the book because I enjoy reading about Princesses, and thought it might shed light on life in a castle. Perhaps she's a princess in spirit - she's certainly kind to her friends, and eager to put her best into everything she does.
Princess Poppy has her own website:
Thursday 25 June 2009
Author Interview with Katherine Howe
Do you have any special writing rituals? For example, what do you have on your desk when you’re writing?
The hardest part of writing for me is, of course, getting started. Even if I am in the middle of a project, if I am starting a new segment of it – like a chapter, for example – I spend a lot of time agonizing without actually getting anything written down. I will find anything else to do: laundry is perfect, because you can really draw out the folding process. This can go on for hours or days. Then I will usually push through the fear long enough to get something written, like a page or so, which I promise myself can be thrown out later.
My desk is fairly spare. It contains a jar of pens, a box of graham crackers, a photograph of my husband, a couple of finger puppets, and a small sculpture of an ancient Egyptian cat, a replica of one in the
Sometimes, home offers too many distractions (laundry to do, dog to walk, refrigerator to stare into), and so I work at a little table in a cafe in
I often play a game with myself that I have started to call “time travel tourism.” I will be walking along in Boston or Cambridge, and I will imagine what would happen if all of a sudden I stepped through some kind of time fabric rip, and found myself on the exact spot where I was standing, but in, say, 1877. How would people react to seeing a woman suddenly appear in blue jeans and a pea coat? Would anyone accept the cash I was carrying? Where could I go for help? Would the hologram on my driver's license prove that I was from the future? If I couldn't get back, how would I support myself? A lot of my writing grows out of these kinds of thought experiments.
How did the idea for this book originate?
To relax while studying for my PhD qualifying exams, I would take my dog on rambles in the woods along the old railroad tracks between
Of course I knew the general outlines of what had happened during the
Did the book involve any special research?
Yes; I read all the major secondary source literature on the
What do you think is the main point of interest for readers in The Lost Book of Salem?
There has been a lot of interest in the fact that I am descended from two accused Salem witches, Elizabeth Howe (who was hanged) and Elizabeth Proctor (who was spared). But I think it is also interesting to talk about the book's new approach to witches in general. We are accustomed to having a fairy tale notion of what witches are like: black pointy hats, warts, green skin. We are also accustomed to thinking about magic as acting on a macrocosmic level: good versus evil. The book proposes that we instead look at witches as they were understood to be, back when people actually believed in them. They were individual women, dressed like everyone else, with strange personality quirks, and the magic that they were accused of practicing was very personal and small: causing someone to fall ill, causing property to disappear, being able to be in two places at once. This book brings fresh insight to the witch lexicon, by bringing real historical research and imagination together.
Witches are the new vampires!
How long did it take for you to get published? Any rejection-slip horror stories or inspirational anecdotes?
I was shockingly fortunate with Lost Book, though the road to the writing life was circuitous for me. I had always written, usually just on my own, and had never considered that writing could be a viable way to support myself. A life in academia seemed like the natural alternative, leaving time for writing and thinking in between teaching and research. I slogged my way through the first half of my PhD program, often doubled up on teaching to make ends meet. In 2005 I was scheduled to take my qualifying exams, and the stress from preparing for that process caused me to lose ten pounds, in addition to developing near chronic insomnia. The only way I could escape from that anxiety was to take my dog walking in the woods, and since my mind if left unsupervised would automatically turn itself back to worrying, I started telling myself stories as a distraction. The outline for my first novel gradually coalesced out of these stories. After passing the qualifying exam I began work on my dissertation, while secretly starting to write the novel on the side. My dissertation was slow going, however, and funding quickly began to run out.
Meanwhile, without my knowledge, a close friend who is a novelist, Matthew Pearl, mentioned my project to his wonderful, marvelous literary agent. To my utter surprise and delight, she was able to place The Lost Book of Salem with Hyperion/Voice when it was finally finished, about three years after I first started to play with the ideas that went into it. The day that my first ever advance check arrived, I had $112 in my checking account and $130 in my savings account. And it was my turn to pay the rent.
What tips or advice do you have for writers still looking to be discovered?
The first, and most important, thing that I would say to an aspiring writer is that one should never be afraid to share your work with others. I initially balked at mentioning my novel project to any of my “real” writer friends, for fear that they would think it was silly just because it was different from the kind of work that they did. Of course if I had never said anything to anyone, Matthew Pearl would never have mentioned my project to his agent, and my book would probably still be sitting on my laptop, read only by my husband and me.
The second, and perhaps equally important, suggestion that I would make is that a writer must be able to listen to constructive criticism. I had been teaching freshman composition courses at
Wednesday 24 June 2009
The Lost Book of Salem, by Katherine Howe
June 25th 2009, Penguin
468 pages
Fiction (I put it under Fantasy for easy clarification -it's not obviously fantasy)
RC
Cushions: 2
Daggers: 1
Paperclips: 1
Tissues: 2
Overall rating: 4/5
Worth a re-read? Yes
Far back in the late 17th century, Deliverance Dane, through no fault other than the desire to help the afflicted, is accused of witchcraft. In the present day 1990's, Connie, a PHD candidate, takes on the project of clearing out her grandmother's house. In it she finds a reference to Deliverance. Her interest as a scholar peaked, she digs a little deeper, not knowing that such an investigation will lead her to love, tragedy, and a much closer relationship with her mother.
I openly admit this type of book isn't my usual genre - although my 'usual' genre is now widening so fast I can barely keep up with the current genre list. What appealed me to from the brief in the newsletter, was the idea that the two women both race against time to save the one's they love. Keeping loved ones safe is a topic close to my heart, in both my life as a reader/reviewer and a writer. Add women as the protagonists and my attention was held.
I'm glad I went with my instincts on selecting this book to read. I was drawn in by the academic setting - having lived life as a student, smelling dusty tomes in the library, and now working in a university, I eat up anything related to this life. I nearly jumped up and clapped when Connie passed her viva (not a real spoiler because without it she wouldn't have needed research for her next project). I could feel her frustration when she reached dead-ends in searching for more information about Deliverance, and was intrigued about the interest one of the characters' takes in her work.
It was fascinating to learn about the history of the Salem witch trials, which I've never personally investigated. The detail rich life and vivid environment of Deliverance's life(and to some extent Connie's, although at least I was alive in the 1990's) reminded me that people in history are real, just like this. Not a major revelation, but it's something which Katherine wanted to achieve in writing this story (paraphrased from an interview I saw...somewhere.)
There is a level of suspense throughout the book, as hints are given a crumb at a time. Just as I think the story's getting would up, suddenly an event would occur that would have me racing through the next 100 or so pages. I feel this is a different type of suspense and action that I'm used to (action on every page, or at least in virtually every chapter). I can't even say that I was disappointed by this style of pacing - it was a refreshing change, and made the dramatic events have more of an impact, than having them every single chapter.
It's very clean on the romance front - Katherine applies a closed doors approach which works beautifully. The only reason there's a paperclip is due to the examination given to Deliverance during her side of the story - it's a little explicit for my liking. And the details of punishment near the end of the novel had me feeling rather green, which shows how well it's been written.
Referring back to why I picked the novel up, I would re-read, and recommend this novel for the way it brings mothers and daughters together. Deliverance and her daughter share a closeness that Connie and Grace, her mother, lack for most of the novel. It is because of Deliverance that 'things' happen to Connie, which makes her look at her mother in a different light, and feel that maybe she understands her a bit more. It's made me realise that even though we can be of a completely different personality from our mother (or father/sibling/close relative so that no-one is left out), usually, if we dig deep enough, we can find something in common. Even if it's the fact we're human, there is a connection. Given time, and the right circumstances, that connection can grow into something beneficial to both mother and daughter (insert other family members as appropriate).
The cover is beautiful - it's actually from The Royal Collections (c) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. I like the suggestion of an age worn book on the spine. I had a peek at the American version, and it's quite different! As is the title: The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane. On this occasion, I prefer the English verision.
Katherine's website rather cool site (put the speakers on) can be found here
An interview from Katherine, purloined from the Penguin website (not conducted by myself), will appear tomorrow on the launch day.
The TV Time Travellers, by Pete Johnson
June 2009, Corgi Yearling
248 pages
Childrens, 9 years +
Cushions: 2/5
Smiles: 4/5
Tissues: 2/5
Overall rating: 5/5
Even those who watch little TV (I'm a dvd fan) have probably heard or noticed the rising popularity of reality TV shows over the last few years. The TV Time Travellers documents the birth of a new reality show: Strictly Evacuees. Five children find themselves transported back to 1939, on a farm in wartorn Britain. Each child has a distinctive personality. Zac, miserable after his mother's death and the way his Dad isn't around any more had already immersed himself in research of the Second World War. Seeing the ad for the show was the icing on the cake. After the extreme measure taken to go to the audition, he settles into farm life, helping out the farmer with the chores. He and Izzy are the protagonists in this story.
Izzy is the opposite of Zac: if I'm being diplomatic, there's hardly anything about being an evacuee which she enjoys. Her mouth gets her into trouble, but that's nothing compared to the agony she endures because of her always happy room mate, Harriet. Her catch phrase 'It's all good, babe, all good' forces Izzy to take drastic action.
Then there's Barney, the sock ventriloquist who provides comic value. Leo, also a funny character. The strict Miss Weed and Mr Wallack unrelenting discipline contrasts to Mr and Mrs Benson, whose farm the show takes place on. I'll never forget Mrs Benson putting Izzy in the camera's blindspot, chucking her cakes (food was one of many things Izzy didn't like),
I feel there are two main themes to this book. The first, is an interesting way to help children understand what life was like in WWII, a way outside of textbooks. The characters themselves appreciate how hard life must have been for the evacuees - even Zac finds one thing about the war he wouldn't like to experience. It is helped by bringing in genuine evacuees, who lived through the war without their family beside them.
The second is about reality shows, that they aren't as fun as they appear. Sometimes unethical measures are introduced, behind the particpants' backs. This happens for Mr & Mrs Benson, they would never have agreed to one part of the show. As the children get evicted, both fairly and unfairly, the rest must choose whether they'll stand alongside their new friends and protest against the show, or stick around for the chance to win a holiday.
Content: There's quite a lot of tension throughout the book with both minor and major plotlines. There's a lot of laughs to be had here, as well as several sad moments where I couldn't read the text because my eyes filled up. The TV Time Travellers has a good mix of emotion, and sends out several positive messages about perception of fame from TV shows.
Information about Paul Johnson can be found here.
Liked this? Try Spellfall or The Witch Trade
Tuesday 23 June 2009
Without Looking Back, by Tabitha Suzuma
May 2009, Corgi Books
275 pages
Children's: 9 years +
Cushions: 2/5
Clouds: 1/5
Tissues: 2/5
Overall rating: 4/5
Divorce is never an easy event for children, particularly not those of dual nationality. It's an ordinary weekend for Louis (12 years), Max (14 years) and Millie: they're off to visit their Irish father. He makes them go to bed early, because they're going on a small trip. It seems innocent enough to the children, until Louis overhears his father talking on the phone - he's lost the custody case. Louis and his siblings only have this weekend with their father, after that it'll be supervised visits only. Their French mother will hold sole custody of them.
Surely this would be okay - its not an ideal situation, but they get to see their father, right? If only their father thought that way. Louis is a little mystified when their father orders them to bed at 8pm, in preparation for an early start. It seems a bit odd to fly to Amsterdam for the weekend. Even odder when they enter England for a week. What about their father's strange lady friend who cuts Millie's hair, allows Max to change his appearance and forcibly gives Louis a hairstyle he hates?
Surprisingly Max, the eldest, isn't bothered about all this. Not even when the truth comes out and they have to take on different identities, so they can stay with their father. Louis does worry about it all. Living with their father is fun, but he does worry about their mother back home. His concern increases the day he sees himself on a Missing poster.
Without Looking Back, told from Louis' perspective. The mixed emotions over which parent he'd prefer to live with, living with a large secret day in, day out are dealt with well over the story. It is broken up with light, amusing moments that happen with most siblings. The most heart wrenching moment for me is when Louis, a dancer, gets up in the night and practices outside, in the Lake District. Millie comes out, also unable to sleep, and thinks his dancing is beautiful. I needed a handful of tissues when her little voice wonders if their mother remembers them.
In time all the children miss their mother even more. Despite all their father's careful preparations, the truth slips out and they have to run.
It doesn't end as I'd expected, but I was happy with the ending. I would have liked to have seen more regarding the search for the children, and perhaps more desperation in their father's actions. At two points the father's character seemed a little odd;he uses the words darling and love, which seem very strange coming from a man. I've normally experienced them from a female point of view.
Other than these points, Without Looking Back is a good exploration into what happens when a parent abducts their own children during a custody battle.
Information about Tabitha can be found on her website.
Like this? Try Bang, Bang, You're Dead
Monday 22 June 2009
Bang, Bang, You're Dead
2009, Corgi Books (Random House imprint)
248 pages
YA/Teen
Cushions: 4/5
Tissues: 3/5
Overall rating: 5/5
The tone of the book is set by both the title, and the front cover. You can't see it from the picture, but the bullet holes are actual indents on the children crossing sign (at least, that's what I think it means...if not I may seriously need to examine the highway code again).
The book chronicles the day a gunman was discovered at Mia's school. What follows isn't a spoiler, for it is revealed on the first page that Mia's brother, Jamie dies. Mia has good reason to believe her brother is the gunman. They live with their manic depressive mother, whose manic phases are bad. My stomach dropped throughout the novel, the more I read about their mother's behaviour, and how Jamie reacts to it, the more I wanted to curl up and cry. For this isn't like a fantasy tale - gunman do really enter schools, and sadly, kill children. People, be they mothers, fathers, siblings or friends suffer from mental illnesses.
I applaud Narinder for this moving story. Mia's childlike view on her mother, and Jamie's very different outlook are realistic. Often families such as these don't have any support, they slip through the net of social services and it takes a tragedy for the system, be it in the UK, USA or any other country to step in and act.
I could see where the flashbacks were leading as Mia slowly worked her way through the school, searching for her brother as the rest of school remained outside with the police. It painted a clear picture of how Jamie came to be the gunman. Sadly, I could see these being real reasons for why people turn out the way they do today.
There's a major story twist at the end, one so big that if I didn't have so many books to read through at the moment (I'm not complaining, I'm very happy for them all) I'd re-read Bang Bang You're Dead again just to catch all the hints that I missed first time round. If indeed there were any. I couldn't have thought it would end the way it did.
This book is yet another I'd like to hand out at schools. It portrays a very clear message that no matter how messy life is, it is vital to talk to someone about problems, before they consume the person affected.
Content: it deals with mental illness, and what happens when a gunman is in a school. There isn't actually any blood or true violence.
If you like this, try Without Looking Back (next up for review).
Narinder's website is here
Sunday 21 June 2009
Sparkly, shiny news!
The first news is a bit late in posting, but I won this award from Danyelle, on Myth takes. Thank you Dani!
The second piece of news - remember by review on Warrior Daughter? Well, Janet Paisley was kind enough to put a link to it - on her home page! There was much excitement on this side of the computer screen. Thank you Janet!
I discovered it when I checked out the latest google analytics report. Okay, so it was the first time I'd realised I'd posted in the code correctly and that I had a report to read. Hooray!
As time goes on, I'll definitely put up posts with a few interesting statistics from analytics. I haven't yet had anyone find my through a strange search on google.
The Nostradamus Prophecy, by Theresa Breslin (Young Adult, 10E/10E0
But the great soothsayer's prophecies are not only for those who rule; he also has a message for Melisande, the minstrel's daughter, who he believes is linked with him by Fate. And as the Angel of Death approaches, Nostradamus entrusts to her safekeeping some very special parchments - parchments that the rulers of France would do anything to see . . .
Saturday 20 June 2009
Saturday book post #1
People, fall into two distinct categories when it comes to looking after books. There can be overlaps, but usually you're either a Preserver or a Handler. What follows in this series of short posts is how the types treasure their books. There is nothing wrong in either way. Preservers and Handlers share a common love of books. It's only the treatment which differs.
Buying a book in a store
The Preserver will, once the perfect book has been selected, pick the most pristine copy on the shelf. If it has a spine crease, or a bent corner, the book will be returned and another will be chosen. Once an ideal specimen is found, the Preserver will place the book carefully in the shopping basket, on top of any other items. Upon reaching the cashier the Preserver will follow the cashier's every move, like a hawk eyeing up its prey. Should the Preserver notice the cashier mishandle the book (horror of horrors the cashier could simply not care for books, or be the enemy Handler), frosty smiles will be given, and a memo to select a different cashier. Or shop online which virtually guarantees a near-perfect book through the post. At this point in time, the Preserver won't be thinking of the pitfalls of internet/mail order shopping. The Preserver will take the bag, hold it tight to their chest if returning by public transport, or put it tenderly on the passenger seat if using a car.
This careful approach can actually be followed by the Handler. Not all types revert to Handler mode until the book reaches home. For those who are 100% Handler, once they see a book, they'll take the first copy they see, regardless of those bent corners. So as not to appear aggressive, the Handler's book won't be slammed onto the checkout counter, but the Handler won't scrutinise the cashier's movements. They are more likely to be rummaging around in their unorganised handbag/wallet for payment. Once paid, the Handler will swing the bag by its handles until they reach home. The bag will be chucked onto the Handler's passenger seat, thrown casually on the back seat or shoved in the crowded boot/trunk. If the Handler uses public transport, they'll treat it as just another bag. Unlike the Preserver, they won't be sending out 'stay away' vibes, or contemplating the hiring of bodyguards for the next trip out.
Next Saturday I'll report on how Preservers and Handlers deal with purchasing a book by post. Look forward to seeing you in 7 days!
Vampire Academy, by Richelle Mead
2009, Penguin Books
336 pages
Cushions: 3/5
Daggers: 2/5
Paperclips: 3/5
Smiles: 1/5
Tissues: 1/5
Overall rating: 5/5
Review Copy - once I have all three I may give them away. Maybe.
I haven't read Twilight. The last book I read about vampires was...over a decade ago, back when I was school. It was The Vampire Promise by Caroline B Cooney. I was petrified when I read it, and gave up on vampires. Too scary for a girl who was/is afraid of the dark. Then, there was Buffy. I enjoyed vampires after that, yet still never ventured into vampire fiction. I didn't get the deal with Vampires, why they made such cool characters, why everyone raved about them. That was until Vampire Academy.
Vampire Academy is the first in a trilogy, already out across the pond in the United States of America. It's the story of Rose Hathaway, unofficial guardian to Lissa Dragomir, a vampire Princess. The only survivor in her family.
For reasons I will not divulge, the story begins with Rose and Lissa as runaways from St Vladimir's Academy. The guardians at the Academy unceremoniously drag them back to school. However, it isn't as safe as all believe it to be.
The Academy is home to other royal vampires, and novice guardians. There's the usual school atmospheres: cliques are formed, popularity is uppermost in most students' thoughts. Superficial friendships related to the constantly run popularity contests run alongside more recreational relationships. Surrounded by this, and the real threat of expulsion which will keep Rose away from Lissa forever if she caves in to her wild nature, is the mysterious bond the two girls acquired after the accident two years prior to their escape.
It's a bond on a physic level, one which neither will tell the teachers about. The bond saves Lissa's life countless of times. There's more than just the bond that's kept secret: Lissa, although she doesn't show particular aptitude in any of the four magical elements which the students study, has another skill, one which forced the two to run away from the Academy. Now they're back, the skill begins to consume Lissa, changing her from the sweet, vampire princess she used to be into a literally manipulative princess. She has many redeeming qualities, the level of compassion she has for anyone, or anything hurt, and the way she's not keen when other students exploit Feeders - humans who enjoy being fed off.
Rose definitely holds the crown for snarkiness - the story is told from her point of view - but Lissa doesn't keep her fangs hidden when issues she care about arise.
That's what drew me to Vampire Academy: the fact that it wasn't told from the POV of the princess, but from her friend - her unofficial guardian (technically Rose is still in training). I don't see this happen a lot in fiction, at least not the books I've read up until now. I've always wanted to know the stories behind the protectors, how they developed their fighting skills, how they strengthened their minds to protect their charges no matter the cost.
Rose believes that she can take on the Stirgoi, the type of vampires who never die. Think super-tough, with abnormally fast reactions and pure evil minds. The scariest thing about them? They can keep their nature hidden for a while.
Dimitri, Lissa's personal guardian, volunteers to help train Rose. He pushes her hard, but not as hard as she pushes herself once she learns the reason behind the seemingly useless exercise.
There is chemistry between the novice and master guardian. This and the other extra-curricular
relationships raised the paperclip level to three. There's some coarse language, a fair amount of innuendo and a little detail on adult relationships.
That didn't stop me from sitting glued to my book, oblivious as my parents kept picking up and putting back oven gloves on my lap this evening. The way sensitive topics that until not long ago were a taboo area are addressed makes me want to hand Vampire Academy out in schools around the country. Depression and self-harm are portrayed in a startling accurate manner. It shows the view from the close friend, seeing what the sufferer is doing to themselves, not quite understanding it, but accepting that it's a part of them. I won't spoil the outcome of that story line, but its one which touched my heart.
Vampire Academy has opened up a new genre for me - Vampires. (Yes, I may now go and read Twilight. Maybe). You can guarantee that I'll be waiting for the post when the second installment, Frostbite comes out in October. It's bound to have more plot twists and edge of chapter page turners than this one.
Find out more about Richelle Mead go here. For her blog link, check out my author links to the right.
Friday 19 June 2009
Spell Fall, by Katherine Roberts
2007 Chicken House
236 pages
Children's, Fantasy
Cushions: 3/5
Smiles:4/5
Tissues: 2/5
Overall rating: 5/5
The more I read, the more preconceptions are shattered. (Potential small spoilers here).
Unicorns: peaceful, horse type creatures, with a horn on their forehead. Usually white or a pale silver. I didn't put them as near-bloody thirsty creatures who (possibly) enjoy spearing the enemy in battle.
Thankfully the unicorns are on the same side as Natalie, the heroine of this tale. Following her mother's death, her father, despite remarrying, draws within himself. Natalie's step-brother does little to create a relationship. Thankfully Natalie has Jo, the daring friend who's ready for anything. It's on one of Jo's early morning escapades that sees Natalie forcibly kidnapped by the lunatic she'd met earlier at the recycling bins. He'd muttered about spellclaves, and about her familiar. Itsy is her pet spider, but it doesn't do anything. Yet the man thinks it can be used against her, especially when he brings his pet hawk into the equation.
Unfortunately for Natalie, the man, called the Hawk isn't a lunatic. He's an evil minded so-and-so who wants to destroy Earthaven, a magical place which Natalie's mother came from. His son, Merlin (unfortunately not possessing phenomenal magical power like his namesake), roped into helping catch Natalie, hates what his father does. With Natalie's help Merlin gains courage to escape from the house in the woods where they are imprisoned. However, they aren't safe in Earthaven, for his father has a plan: with the mysterious project Raven he'll destroy the soultree which is the source of magic in Earthaven.
This is a wonderful tale of good versus evil. No character in Spell Fall gets through to the end without changing (except perhaps the Hawk) for the better. What made this more enthralling for me were the unusual names of all within the magic world, the form (and hilarious character) of Natalie's true familiar, the way Natalie's broken family pull together to search for her. I was in fits of laughter when Merlin's familiar talks. A good HEA fantasy, with scope for a sequel (if there isn't already one).
Check out Katherine's other books here
Like this? Try Chosen Sister
Thursday 18 June 2009
Interview with a bookaholic
Yunaleska = Y
Bookaholic Within Me = BWM
Y: "So, BWM, tell me about yourself."
BWM, peering around a pile of books. "Isn't my name self-explanatory?"
Y, nodding. "Yes, but who are you?"
BWM: "I read books."
Y, smiles "Ok, we aren't getting very far. So, when did your book obsession begin?"
BWM perks up at the mention of books. "Once upon a time..."
Y, wondering if BWM has heard her correctly. "That wasn't quite the question." Quietens at the glare from BWM.
BWM: "...there was a young girl who loved to read. Every free moment found her with a book in hand. However, as she grew up, the little girl started other hobbies. Books were everywhere, but occasionally she could be found with a needle and thread, or knitting needles in her hand. Sometimes she managed to read past her bedtime without her parents knowing. Other times she'd wake up early to read a book."
Y, cutting in at a pause "So it began when you were a child?" Fails to dodge a book moving at high speed. Rubs head. "I thought you love books?"
BWM: "I have two copies of that one. I hadn't finished!"
Y: "Sorry, sorry." Lowers voice to add "Total headcase, this one."
BWM: "Then, the girl discovered video games. They consumed her life. Books gathered dust on her shelfs, being picked over every few weeks or so for it took her more than a day to read a book now. And so the years went on. Education took up most of her time. Books were read every week, usually before bed. And then the girl, now a young woman, started her path as a writer. She wrote. A lot."
Y, reading the book spines for signs of duplicates. "What happened next?"
BWM, "The writer steered clear of books for fear of getting ideas from them. However, finally it entered her rather dense skull (when it comes to logical matters) that reading could help improve her style. So she picked up a book, and fell in love."
Y, clapping hands "That's wonderful! So di-"
The room shakes for a moment.
BWM: "Dear reader, I'm afraid Yunaleska can't continue the interview." Glares at computer screen. "No, I didn't hit her with another book. An overladen shelf collapsed, and she's currently buried in books. She's still breathing. I'll continue the story:
The girl picked a book she'd loved from her past, and found herself plunged into a mystical world fraught with danger and excitement. Far from quelling her muse, the book encouraged to roam free in the land of imagination. The girl visited the library, a place she'd neglected for several years. She spent a good hour and a bit browsing through the YA section, the fantasy and sci-fi, came away with arms full of books, and went to read. She hasn't stopped reading since.
My 'obsession' as the Buried One calls it, only began now. As a child, I loved books, but my heart didn't leap up and down when I was in a bookshop. My feet never wanted to dance the moment I stepped through the library door. I never minded the 15 book limit on the library card. Now, that has all changed.
The library is my favourite place to visit during the week. Whatever happened in the day, I cheer up in the library. I come home, pick up a book and smile. Books cover my shelves, chest of drawers. They can be found under every item of furniture (yes, even the tv stand). I still persue my hobbies. I might not read every second of the day, but when I do, the moments feel like a lifetime.
I race up to my room, wondering if new books from lovely publishers have arrived. I caress the pretty book cover in my fingers, admiring the unbroken spine, the straight pages. They never last long for I bend my books, fold over pages when I lose bookmarks - you get the message. My books aren't handled with gloves.
Books are knowledge. Knowledge is power. Don't let anyone tell you others -especially with fiction! In fiction there's knowledge of relationships, of mistakes. Knowledge of far off places, of trials people face and overcome. Knowledge comes in all forms, the best of them, is a book.
Yuna will be back tomorrow with a book review of Spell Fall, by Katherine Roberts. I, BWM, can get back to what I do best. Devouring books."
Wednesday 17 June 2009
Talon, by Janet Lee Carey
2007, Faber Children's Books
336 pages
Childrens, Fantasy
Cushions: 2/5
Daggers: 1/5
Smiles: 1/5
Tissues: 2/5
On Wilde island lives Princess Rose, in exile from England with her family. Her life seems idyllic, all for one thing - a claw on her hand. Her hands never see sunlight. They are robed in golden clothes, which the queen also wears so no-one will comment on her daughter's strange practice. If anyone saw it, they'd think her a witch, and burn her for the crime-which-isn't-a-crime. You can't help what you're born with. But, as the book reveals, sometimes a mother can.
Talon follows Rose as the problem with a dragon escalates. No matter who gets sent to fight the dragon, it's never killed. As the attacks increase, events lead Rose closer to discovering how she received her claw. It's a tense journey, with loss and betrayal happening at every few chapters. I failed in predicting the end of the book.
This book gets five stars, yet I do have a small grumble. Sometimes dialogue for two different people sat in the same paragraph. This made it a little difficult to figure out who was speaking. Also, the blurb on the back cover intimated Rose was kidnapped by the dragon quite early on. It doesn't happen for at least 160 pages! (I peeked ahead). The build up leading to this is brilliant, and thoroughly enjoyable. I just expected it to happen quite a bit sooner than it did.
Themes in this book: definitely the theme of friendship, and caring for others. Rose puts herself out to help people, a characteristic which is a good role model. It deals with betrayal from people who Rose loved: the horror at finding out close acquaintances partook in questionable acts under the belief they could help her. It also looks at kindness, the kindness that can exist in a person who appears cold and evil.
Definitely one I'd like to own. Can't wait to read more by Janet, whose website is here.
Liked this? Try The Flowing Queen or The Lady in the Tower
Tuesday 16 June 2009
New Schedule!
- Daily reviews (unless something comes up, then I'll do a random post related to books)
- Thursday: Interview day! Authors, reviewers and even readers! If you'd like to participate, drop me a message.
- Saturday: a random post that will relate to books in some shape or form.
Blog ratings, abbreviations
- RC = Review Copy. I've received the book as a review copy.
- AFR = Available for request: I've got a copy of the book I'm happy to give away.
Blog ratings
- Clouds: amount of cute moments in a book
- Cushions: amount of edge of seat moments
- Daggers: amount of violence
- Paperclips: amount of blushables
- Smiles: humour rating
- Tissues: amount of teary moments
Author Interview: Cathy Cassidy author of Shine On Daisy Star
Remember how obsessed I was with the illustrations in this book? Especially the cakes on page 12? Well, Cathy Cassidy kindly answered the following questions for me. Enjoy!(There may be a few spoilers, so if you like to be kept in the dark until you read a book, you may wish to give this a skip)
Also, apologies for the font changes. The questions are in bold - the last bold paragraph is part of the previous answer. The blog gremlims are back.
The characters in Daizy Star's debut story are ones which everyone can relate to. Daizy, her melodramatic sister Becca and their environmentally passionate father are my favourites. How did you come up with the concepts for their unique characters?
Daizy is based a little bit on me at that age... full of dreams and big ideas, but also hopelessly chaotic! Becca is quite like my own daughter Caitlin... in style, anyway! I loved the idea of a goody-two-shoes big sister morphing into scary goth overnight, and she is the character who gets to strop and stress in true teen-trauma style. She was a lot of fun to write! The dad character is based on my dad... I began writing the book just after he died, and though it was never meant to be so persona, it ended up being that way. My dad was very eccentric, and a big dreamer. He was much more capable than Daizy's dad, though... it was fun to make Daizy's dad so hopeless and comic!
My next question is in two parts. How did the idea of building a boat to sail around the world come about? This concept is one of the main story lines.
When I was about 7, my dad really did start building a boat to sail around the world! I went with him to choose a pine tree for the mast etc, and the boat took over the garage and stuck out into the back yard! It was pretty well built and all to his own design, but my mum refused to sail around the world... I got to use it to play in, though! It was fun to use this idea as a basis for the book, but to make it a crazy, comic idea that went horribly wrong. When i was 7, though, I'd have LOVED to sail around the world!!!
Besides this runs the story that Daizy made such a fool of herself at the swim club that she's too embarrassed to go back. Is there any specific reason for the focus about lying to cover something up? (I'm fond of messages to readers in books, and felt this was one of them).
I do think lots of kids lie to save face, avoid getting into trouble, pretend things aren't happening... or, like Daizy, because they are just plain scared. Lies obviously get you into a MAJOR tangle and that was a message I wanted to show through Daizy's experience. She learns to trust her friends and family, and to tell the truth and get the support she needs.
One part I especially like about the book is that it isn't centred around boys. Becca has a boyfriend, but she's older so that's understandable. Daizy isn't at all interested in boys. Why didn't you make her character like Willow and Beth's, who both are idolising over Ethan?
My older books do have a romantic thread, so I wanted to keep all of that firmly in the background in the Daizy series. It's aimed at slightly younger children, too, and at 10 lots of girls are NOT especially into boys anyway. One of Daizy's best friends, Murphy, is a boy... but no crushing going on! I do remember feeling exasperated and baffled at that age when some friends started getting mushy over boys... it was fun to share those feelings with Daizy! She's just disgusted that her friends have fallen for Ethan, the most annoying boy in the school!
Writing stories and art are second nature to you. How did you come about the decision to use your cute and funky illustrations with your books?
Shine On Daizy Star is the first of my books I have illustrated properly, cover included... and that was BRILLIANT. I have sneaked little vignetty drawings into some of the other books, but Daizy was younger and needed a slightly different look, so it was a great chance to get more involved! I was doing some rough sketches for Daizy to show whoever might illustrate it, and my publishers looked at the sketches and said... 'Um... any chance you could do it?' Yay!!!!
Final question. My favourite illustration are the cakes on page 12. I adore cake (baking and eating. My friends all really like me when the oven is on). You love cake. I don't need details about the wonders of cake. I would like to know what your favourite cake is, and in how many of your stories have you included cakes in.
My fave cake ever is called Sophie's Sin and is a very wicked chocolate and cream layer cake from a fab cafe called Kitty's Tearoom in New Galloway, near where I live. It has Amaretto liqueur in it too... just the most amazing cake in the universe. The cakes in Kitty's definitely inspired my new book Angel Cake (out July 2nd).
Cake in books... hmmm. Scarlett makes fairy cakes in SCARLETT... there's a cake baked by friends in GingerSnaps... and then Angel Cake is pretty full-on with the cake, I have to admit! I like to sneak cake recipes into newsletters, books, the website... cake is GOOD!
The Flowing Queen, by Kai Meyer
2006, Egmont Press
Translator: Anthea Bell
280 pages
Children's: Fantasy
Cushions: 2
Smiles: 2
Overall: 5+/5
Assumptions I held before reading this book:
Mermaids: beautiful young maiden, with fish like tails and long flowing hair
Mirrors: you like in them, you see yourself (and the room behind you) reflected in it.
Stone lions: they are solid, don't speak, don't move.
Mummys (Egyptian): a human wrapped up in bandages. Certainly no threat.
All of those assumptions have since been squashed. Mermaids aren't as pretty as you think. Mirrors - not only can you enter them, with the right equipment, but things live in them. What things? I'm not telling. Stone lions protect the elite of Venice, and can fly. They're bred for that, although they weren't always that way. Mummys: are a formiddable enemy.
Young Merle is apprenticed, with her blind friend Junipa to the mirror maker Arcimboldo. She makes friends with the enemy: a weaver apprentice, who used to be a Master Thief.. She has a special mirror, that's not made of glass. She keeps this a secret from the strange Arcimboldo, and learns a little about it in this part of the trilogy. She makes friends with a mermaid and a stone lion, thanks to a connection with the Flowing Queen, a being who protected Venice up until recently. The Flowing Queen's life is at stake, and with it protection against Venice's enemies. Merle has to trust all the voice in her head, and perform acts she'd rather not do.
What are Arcimboldo's true motives? Why is one stone lion locked up in prison? How does Junipa get her sight back? Read it to find out. I'm eager to read the second installment that's lying on my TBR pile.
Liked this? Try another book about Venice, or for another fantasy adventure try here
Kai Meyer can be found here.
Thursday 11 June 2009
Author Interview: Sarwat Chadda author of Devil's Kiss
Sarwat Chadda, author Devil's Kiss, managed to fit time into his busy schedule to answer a few of my questions.
Devil's Kiss is reviewed here. It is Sarwat's debut novel, and was out early May. More information on Sarwat can be found on his website, where there are link's to his blog.
There's a minefield of information there, all very informative. I picked 5 questions which I really wanted to know the answer for. A huge thank you to Sarwat for answering these so thoroughly. I'm sure you'll be as fascinated with the answers as I was.
On your blog you mentioned Billi is the reluctant warrior. This is especially true when she gives up (temporarily) her role as a Templar Knight. At any point in writing this Devil's Kiss did you envisage Billi staying outside the Templar circle forever? It was a path I thought of as I read the book. Life could have been rather interesting with her helping out the Templars, even though she was an outsider. Also would you agree that writing is like being a Templar Knight? That although a person may decide to leave, circumstance/their muse prevents them from doing so because writing is as essential as breathing?
Sarwat: Err, I don’t want to give the game away but the path of a Templar is not a straight and narrow one. We’ll find out that most of the knights have chosen their profession as a kind of last resort. In Devil’s Kiss it’s very apparent that Arthur is an emotionally damaged man who’s never recovered from the death of his wife, Jamila.
Billi’s not like them. They were all volunteers and are driven by some need for revenge against the Unholy. You could argue (and I would) Billi’s attitude is far more balanced and her eyes are open to what the Templars do, and that their ambitions border on being evil. Billi, out of all of them, has the courage to leave. There is duty and then there’s blind obedience to a cause or dogma.
Writing requires dedication and isn’t something to be dabbled in. One of the key reasons I think people with talent don’t make it is they see their writing as a ‘hobby that pays’ or allow themselves to hedge their bets and not pursue it with naked ambition. I’m not saying they should get all arty or arrogant but they should take it as seriously as they would their career. Actually I took it far more seriously than my career. I think if there’s any connection to my style of story and what’s happened in my writing career, it’s the ‘all or nothing’ attitude to it. I’m not saying that’s a particularly sensible and I do realise breathing is MORE important than writing. One can lose perspective on these things.
What struck me once I'd read Devil's Kiss was the theme of protection. Billi is part of a group that protects the world. Her father keeps her at emotional arm's length throughout her life to protect her. Kay also protects her. It could be said that all this protection shows the love Arthur has for Billi. Did she receive the protection because she was female? His daughter? Or for other reasons (including combination of the two)?
Interesting because I agree with you regard to the theme, but feel Arthur fails to protect his daughter. Let’s face it, Arthur is a crap parent. In fact I’d be tempted to use a word stronger than crap.
If anything Billi protects her dad, both literally when she saves him from the ghuls and emotionally. Despite his coldness and rigidity, she clearly loves him and what she does is for him. If he wasn’t so messed up he would never have trained her as a Templar.
However, what parent is perfect? No parent has any real idea what they’re doing when they have children, we don’t get given any real guidance beyond lots of conflicting advice from friends, our own parents and Dr. Stoppard. We’re making it up as we go along. There are things I regret as a parent and in a small way this new career is part of my ambition to become a slightly better one.
After Devil's Kiss' sequel, The Dark Goddess, is out, you're currently working on a completely new story, The Age of Kali (with a male protagonist). You've mentioned that there could be more room for further stories starring Billi. Would you ever consider writing a story concerning her parents, and their time in the Templars, especially when Billi came into their life as a child? Parenting (so I'm told) is a full time job. Add trying to keep the world safe to must be pretty tricky for her parents to juggle alongside looking after Billi.
I think that’s a very valid point, and the answer’s pretty big. Who would be the main character? Arthur or Jamila? Both offer a fascinating viewpoint to the world they live in. I certainly would think about it if it was of interest but I suppose for me it would be to give the legacy justice. Billi is a very unique character and her parents backstory would need to be as unique.
Often, at least in the books I've read, writers have a pasttime which is related to the content of the book. For example those who fight (swords/bow and arrows/hand-to-hand) have taken it up as a hobby. There's a fine array of weaponry in Devil's Kiss. Have you got a background in weapons or fighting techniques? Or has it all been imagination and research? By research I include watching tv/movies with relevant combat scenes.
My fighting experience is non-existent.
I’ve done a lot of studying of weapons and reading about warriors. The Wallace Collection behind Bond Street has the most amazing array of exotic weaponry and it’s well worth having a visit, if you can. I’ve also spoken to people who do re-enactments and tried the weight of armour and swords. Mainly it’s reading historical accounts about and by warriors from the Middle Ages and earlier.
Plus I’ve read and re-read the Iliad. It’s almost 3000 years old but it’s an amazing resource. It’s about the glory, madness and evil of warfare. Hector and Achilles are two perfectly diametrically-opposed warriors. Hector fights reluctantly, but can himself be consumed by bloodlust and the sense of invincibility. But his first duty is to the city. Achilles fights for no reason other than he can. He’s the best and it’s a waste of his life not to take life. That irony amazes me and for that alone I think Homer is untouchable as a storyteller.
Billi’s character has these two souls fighting it out. Duty to a greater ideal (the Hector soul), and the fact she is just terribly good at war (the Achilles soul). Part of her reluctance is she knows that she could be seduced by it.
Action in novels must be about the emotion, it can’t be based on the physical mechanics because that’s predominantly visual and looses much of its power in the written medium. What novels do best is dwell on the internal world of the protagonist. Especially in life and death struggles.
Fighting is not primarily about skill, it’s about what’s at stake.
Final question: lets imagine that the Templar Knights in Devil's Kiss existed today. How would you react if you discovered one of your daughter's was preparing to face her Ordeal. Would you encourage her to become a knight? Or would you lock her up in her room and throw away the key (figuratively speaking).
There’s absolutely no way I’d let any child of mine be a Templar. Of course, if she was the sort of girl the Templars wanted, she could so totally kick my arse that I probably couldn’t stop her!
The Ordeal is something quite different. Lots of groups have initiation tests, all descended from warrior rites in ancient societies. Wouldn’t it be interesting to be tested, on an emotional, physical and moral level? The Ordeal is to find out what sort of person you truly are. For the Templars it’s more than being a fighter, but one who’s able to combine judgement, compassion and decisiveness.
Tuesday 9 June 2009
Life as a book reviewer, by myself
Sunday 7 June 2009
The Witch Trade by Michael Molloy
2001, The Chicken House
284 pages
Childrens, 9+ (boys and girls)
Clouds: 2
Smiles: 4
Overall rating: 4/5
Tea-drinking witches in the heart of England, a stranded princess and an albatross are a few of the characters who help Abby, and her friend Spike take on the Dark Witches. The years the Witches of Light have been fighting their evil counterparts, fighting over the use of Ice dust (think fairy dust, only it makes magic work). Abby lives in an English village which no-one else has heard of. The reason for this, is that its a magical village. All the residents are witches. She and Spike are the only children there - the others disappeared for reasons I'm not disclosing. Her Aunt and Uncle are more than happy for her to set off with Captain Starlight in an unusual boat - they know him from the past and realise he can help find Abby's parents.
Compared to the considerably darker books I've been reading lately, this was a fun book. There's mild peril, but nothing which has me reaching for a cushion. I smiled at the delight as Abby discovered an uncanny ability with magic, in particular invisibility. There are times when I'd like to become invisible just by whistling a tune. Her friend, a foundling, Spike - he provides a bit of mystery throughout the story because I kept wondering who he is. Why he had a spike when he was found, why he lost his memory, why he can swim like a fish (and talk with them). All the answers are revealed by the end - and they are quite surprising. The Atlantis cloaks reminded me a little of the almost sentient body suits in
The small grumble I have isn't to do with the writing, but the layout. There's one set of pages where its a little tricky to read the writing because of the picture set behind the text. I managed to make the words out, but it wasn't the easiest.
Definitely a book to recommend.
Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda
2009
Puffin
279 pages
YA: hard to place subgenre - adventure/mild horror/thriller
Cushions: 4/5
Daggers: 4/5
Smiles: 2/5
Tissues: 2/5
Overall rating: 5+/5
Templar Knights in the modern world taking on fallen angels. The devil who helps the heroine.
15 year old Bilqis 'Billi' Sangreal keeps secrets about living life as a Templar Knight, with her father as the head Knight a secret from her friends. In Devil's Kiss, secrets are kept from her until the end, under the umbrella term of protection.
Protection: along with the handful of Templars, Billi helps protect the world from vampires, ghosts and other demons. Only now she and the Templars are the target, thanks to a mistake made by her friend Kay. Well, he is a friend, but she's pretty ticked off with him when he returns from a year sabbatical the day she completes her Ordeal. It's an ordeal in more ways than one - to become a full knight she has to kill an innocent looking child, who's suffering from possession.
No wonder there was an auction for rights over this book - it truly is sensational. There wasn't ever a non-edge of the seat moment. Placing it in a genre is tricky: all the way through it reads thriller. I didn't think of the horror elements until I read the press release sheet: it is rather grisly in places - not the faint of heart. There were several moments where I felt a bit queasy.
Thankfully those moments were replaced with adrenaline as Billi ran or fought for her life against the strength of the devil. There was lots of sword action to keep my liking for strong, female fighters happy. Billi has little love in her life, her father's harsh treatment keeps affection at bay. But the passion and caring she has for her friends, the Templars, keeps her fighting in the darkest moments. She's a heroine who wants to quit her job, she doesn't enjoy fighting evil while trying to keep her grades up a school.
I can't speak highly enough of this book. There isn't anything wrong with it. There's an awful lot right about it - including a unique style of writing that crops up in a few places - I've never seen anything like it before and it works at crucial moments in the story. I won't spoil that surprise. Best news? There's a sequel! The Dark Goddess will be reviewed here, when its out. I'll do my best to nab a copy.
If you like this try Sword of God by Chris Kuzneski
The Story of Cirrus Flux, by Matthew Skelton
5th June 2009
Puffin
318 pages
Historical drama, 10+, boys and girls
Cushions: 4
Daggers: 0.5
Smiles: 1
Tissues: 2
Overall rating: 5/5
Thankfully I didn't have to put this book down. I couldn't. The stunning cover complements the story. I may not comment on every single cover, but whenever I look at this one it reminds me of the times I'd hold my breath as I turned over the page.
This is the tale of Cirrus Flux, an orphan, and Pandora, also an orphan but initially not Cirrus' friend. It's also the tale of James Flux, Cirrus' father, whose story is told over several flashbacks. James found a sphere, with the power of what some call the Breath of God. A mysterious light, desired by Madam Orrery whose strange power apparently 'cures' people of their ills. She 'adopts' Pandora from the orphanage, but there's no love in their relationship. Pandora is coerced to track Cirrus down, and thankfully breaks free from Madam Orrery's clutches later on in the story. Cyrrus doesn't even know the full story behind his special orb, only that people are after him; Madam Orrery and also a strange gentleman with a very special 'bird'.
Bonds of friendship are struck in this book as equally as ties of enmity. I confess to knowing little about 18th Century London, but the harsh realities of life for the homeless and those on the run is well portrayed here. I liked Cirrus as much as I liked Pandora, which for me is saying something. I cared for him. I was in tears when he lost people close to him. And cheered every time he overcame an obstacle.
The only small grumble I have with this book is the end. The end itself is satisfactory. However, it came a little too quickly for me. I'd have prefered perhaps one or two more chapters developing the final showdown. Perhaps a little more of the sphere's power could have been examined, to show how wonderful it really was before the end.
Apart from that, I loved this book. So much so that I'm giving less away about the story than I normally do.
I haven't read Matthew Skelton's earlier book Endymion Spring, but its going on my TBR list.
If you like the sound of this, try Philip Pullman's Dark Materials trilogy.
Blade of Fire by Stuart Hill
2006, The Chicken House
640 pages
Childrens fantasy: 10 years+
Cushions: 2/5
Daggers: 2/5
Smiles: 3/5
Tissues:3/5
Overall rating: 5/5
The saga which began with The Cry of the Icemark carries on at a later time date. Thirrin and her husband Oskan reign over their kingdom, with four children whose personalities are rather different. Their nemesis, Scipio Bellorum is still determined to wipe them out from the face of the earth - along with his two sons.
It makes a very interesting read. The characters are as funny as ever, although Thirrin is definitely showing signs of strain from being both Queen and a mother. Oskan's supernatural powers have developed tremendously. He has to watch when he uses them. It's a good thing they've grown, considering how one of the royal children, Medea (anyone else thinking of the Medea of Ancient Greeks who sought revenge on Jason?) is an evil little madam. That is putting it mildly for a girl who spends the entire novel trying to kill her siblings. I enjoyed having one of the villains be part of the royal family - it made quite a change from unrelated villains who usually feature in books. Jealousy is not an emotion to be trifled with.
The dark side of Medea is countered by her other siblings. There's the eldest, who is set to be queen when her parents die. I felt sorry for Cressida: she makes a good crown princess, but sometimes she tries too hard. It's something she regrets when a tragedy hits the family. The twins Eodrac and Cerdric, are hilarious with their antics and attitude.
Then there's Sharley, who is really the centre of the story. Although he recovered from a childhood illness, he's left with a slightly dodgy leg. As a result, he's not encouraged to become a fighter - in the eyes of court he's too weak. Frustration is at the forefront of Sharley's mind. He hates watching his siblings do all the things that he can't. This touched my heart: Sharley's character couldn't have been written any better. The confused emotions he feels are realistic, especially when he's sent off to exile so he can be safe from the invasion. Named IceMark's acting regent helps boost his confidence a little, a confidence which surprises his family when he returns at the end of the novel.
The story evolves around Thirrin and her family fighting Scipio and his family. New allies are made, each child has their own point of view which is delved into on a regular basis. This second installment is choc full of new wonders, starkingly different environments and cultures. Stuart Hill shines with how he weaves these elements into the story which focuses on characters and the environment equally. The vivid descriptions take the reader away to a wonderful world, not unlike our own.
Content: There are many cushion moments - I groaned every time I put the book down. Make sure a box of tissues is nearby, someone in Thirrin's family dies. There's a little coarse language, but no swearing that I can remember. It's violent in places, but then this is a war story.
If you like this, try The Story of Cirrus Flux.
Shine on, Daizy Star by Cathy Cassidy
Just out, 4th June 2009
Puffin
184 pages
Childrens: 7+ (more for girls)
Clouds: 4/5
Smiles: 3/5
Overall: 4/5
*coughs* Before I get into this new series by Cathy Cassidy, I would like to draw attention to the cover. Well, I think it draws enough attention with bright yellow and the cute little girl on the front. What can't easily be seen is that the purple letters are *shiny*! Moving the book around lets the light catch the letters. Cathy illustrated both the cover and all the little pictures inside this book. A daisy surrounds each chapter number, stars outline each page number. There's a two page spread the beginning with the main characters drawn out, and comments along side them. That set the tone of the book for me. My favourite picture? The cakes on page 12 :) I'm cake mad.
Now for the story! Dazzy Star is a year six girl (10/11 years old), enjoying life with her friends. There are two plot lines: the first is her father, a teacher, comes up with the crazy idea of sailing around the world. Daizy doesn't tell anyone about it, and lives with hiding the big secret that she'll be leaving school for a while. Her elder, rather moody sister Becca doesn't like the plan. Neither does their mother. But everyone eventually goes along with the plan. I won't say more than that for fear of spoiling the story.
The second story line is Daizy's swimming lessons. Or lack of them. Her parents sign her up, but she embarrasses herself by doing something in the first lesson, and doesn't go back. She pretends that she attends classes, but her lies catch up with her in the end.
Daizy has a vibrant personality. I loved her character because unlike her friends, she isn't interested in boys. She discovers lying isn't a good occupation - it becomes harder and the truth comes out when she doesn't want it to. All in all, she's a good role model for girls.
Content: nothing of note.
Overall impressions: well, I'm keeping an eye out for future books!
Cathy Cassidy's fun website is here
Like the sound of this? Try Fairy Secrets by Gwyneth Rees