Friday 30 April 2010

Winner for Limited Edition of Shadow Prowler, by Alexey Pehov


Thank you for all who entered the competition. I will announce the winner in a moment, but first I'd like to collate the entrants' thoughts about thieves in fiction. I simply asked whether people liked them. Here are the results:

  • Like thieves or not ? Well it really depends. If you are talking about the "good" type of thieves then yes if the character is interesting and very clever in the way they steal. The old "golden-hearted" thief type. If they are evil and scary, then yes as well provided they are not just stupid and violent with no charcter traits to make them interesting said BuddyT
  • I'm fine with thieves in fiction as long as they're presented as well-rounded characters with a decent backstory. I don't have to like the character so long as they and their actions are believable. That said, I suppose it depends on the individual character and the setting I find them in said Sam
  • An interesting question! It all depends really, as long as they're present well, or struggling against a corrupt authority which is making people poor and needing to steal to survive. Though an anti-hero is also good, still a very underused genre methinks said Keith
  • I like thieves. As a child I stole and would as an adult if I thought nobody would see, if no CCTV said pithound
  • It depends on what kind of thief, but usually I like them, especially if you don't know who the thieve is and you have to find out. But if the protagonist of the novel is a thief, I would prefer that he had a good reason for stealing said Spav
  • I like thieves. Everyone's a thief - everyone deprives others of something. In the same way no lunch is a free lunch, we deprive someone of something whenever we decide to do anything. It's human nature - everyone's a thief. So of course I like thieves in fiction. Their inclusion in literature signifies an acknowledgement of the thieving nature of humanity although this may or may not be an acceptance of it. So there, yes, I like thieves said Dwayne.
  • I think it depends very much on the author's perspective. If he or she is on the thief's side and the victim is obviously meant to be disliked, we will side with the thief and want him to succeed.said Happyfox
  • I actually did a blog post a few weeks ago about how I'm usually drawn to books about thieves. From Robin Hood to Locke Lamora, they are usually the most interesting kind of characters. Particularly books a thief would normally be considered a villain of some sort but as a protagonist, the author has to show us their "good" side, which makes it even more interesting said Simcha
  • It depends. I like Robin Hood because he's a "good" thief, but I'm not sure about the others said Aik
Generally, people like a good thief. Bad thieves make interesting characters.

I can happily announce that the winner is

pithound!

Congratulations, I'll be emailing you today (Friday 30th April) to arrange where to send Shadow Prowler to you.

Thursday 29 April 2010

Wyrmeweald: Returner's Wealth by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell


29th April, 2010, Random House Children's Books

416 pages, (this edition proof copy, published edition Hardback)

Review Copy


Children's, 12+, Adventure


Cushions: 3

Daggers: 3

Paperclips: 1

Smiles: 3

Tissues: 4

Nayuleska's recommended rating: ♥♥♥♥♥


Young pioneer, Micah, enters Wrymeweald full of hope to return home having made his fortune. But this is a land where wyrmes, fabulous dragon-like beasts, roam wild and reign supreme. In Wyrmeweald man is both hunter and hunted – and seventeen-year-old Micah may never return alive, let alone a hero…After a near-brush with death on the edge of a canyon, Micah soon finds a chance to prove his worth when he meets with Eli, a veteran tracker of Wrymeweald. They choose to defend a rare whitewyrme egg and its precious hatchling before it falls into the hands of a band of evil Kith. But the fledgling wyrme has its own guardian in the shape of the beautiful, brave and dangerous Thrace. Thrace, a Kin and a highly-skilled wyrme rider-assasin; and Micah, a would-be Kith, should never mix - but the magnetism between them is strong. Together they join forces on a mission to rescue the hatchling and seek vengenace for loved-ones lost at the hand of Kith bandits. Meanwhile the glorious whitewyrme colony of Wyrmeweald looks on as its land is encroached by gold-diggers and ravaged by bounty hunters. Is Exodus the only option? And if so, when - and where - will they flee too?

Here be dragons! Truly :) Wyrmes = dragons. Not just the big ones which fly in the sky. There are scavenging dragons, dragons in water, dragons used illegally for entertainment. I like dragons - which is why as I soon as I saw dragons mentioned, I said 'yes' to reviewing this book.

I haven't read any work by Paul or Chris before, and I like their style. They look at several characters' point of view. Admittedly I initially struggled with Micah - purely on the reason that I've only ever heard Micah used as a girl's name. It took about two chapters before I convinced myself that Micah, in this case, is a boy. For a while he wasn't my favourite character - he's a bit smitten with a girl, and in my opinion acts foolishly because of his feelings. However, he grew on me. I still thought he was a slight idiot for what he wanted to do on his quest, however there is great bravery in the way that he keeps his goal in mind, and does all he can to achieve it.

I liked the insight given by povs' from the kith - it heightened the danger knowing what was around the corner for Micah, and made me hate the antagonists even more than if it had just been from Micah's pov.

I had two all time favourite characters. The first, Thrace, is cool! As Wyrme Kin, she is highly attuned to her wyrme's feelings. Her weapon isn't restricted to what she holds in her hand. She's fierce, strongly loyal to her wyrme, and is also quite vulnerable. Events in the story show the softer side of her, a side which had me in tears when certain events unfolded. The 2nd favourite character is one who only appears a handful of times in this installment, but I have a feeling she will appear more in the rest of the series. Heppy doesn't have it easy (less so than Micah and Thrace), but my heart went out to her upon the first mention. I hope there's going to be a lot of room to develop her character.

The concept behind Wyrmeweald is awesome. It did have me thinking a little of Anne McCaffrey's Dragons of Pern series. I've only read one of the books, about 10 years ago now, and I loved it. I think this is a modern version, with a lot more twists in the new world. The harsh setting raises the already high stakes for Micah and Thrace.

The relations between characters: Micah and the wyrm kith, Micah and Thrace (which is bitter-sweet but not for the reasons you'd expect), Thrace and her wyrme - they are all much more complicated then they first appear. The range of human emotions, and roles which humans play in the world are examined thoroughly. Some nuances might be missed by younger readers, but for those readers who do pick up on them, it's a book with lots to think about.

Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell have a fun website, with info about their work here.

I recommended checking out Anne McCaffrey's books on dragons :)

Wednesday 28 April 2010

Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani

29th April 2010, Simon and Schuster
288 pages, Paperback

Review Copy

Children's, 11+

Paperclip: 0.5-1
Smiles: 5
Tissues: 5

Nayuleska's recommended rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Summary from Simon and Schuster

Viola doesn't want to go to boarding school, but somehow she ends up at Prefect Academy, an all-girls school in South Bend, Indiana, far far away from her home in Brooklyn, New York. Now Viola is stuck for a whole year in what seems to be the sherbet-coloured-sweater capital of the world. Ick.There's no way Viola's going to survive the year - especially since she has to replace her best friend Andrew with three new roommates who, disturbingly, actually seem to like being at Prefect. She resorts to viewing the world (and hiding) behind the lens of her video camera.But boarding school is nothing like Viola thought it would be, and she soon realises that she may be in for the most incredible year of her life. But first she has to put the camera down and let the world in.

Admire the pretty pink cover. The butterflies on the front, are at the beginning of every chapter too! The cover probably gives it away, but this a lovely, girly book about friendship and discovery.

In 95% of books about boarding school, the protagonist usually wants to be there. This made Viola's view of Prefect a refreshing one. It's interesting how her pre-existing views about the school affected how she interpreted her room mates personalities. They could have shunned her resistance to fitting in. Yet they didn't. I think they sensed that Viola was a nice person, who was just feeling very unsettled about being away from her parents, who were on a job in the Middle East.

Viola isn't as alone as she feels. She has friends to keep in touch with by email. Her grandmother is a pillar of support. I liked the happy-go-lucky nature of her new friends. They drag Viola into happiness, support her during a new relationship with a boy at a neighbouring school. They show Viola the true spirit of Prefect. In return Viola shows that the things she notices through her camera lens. Her passion for filming leads to discovering some paranormal activity in the school. The ghostly encounter stimulates Viola's creative side, giving her an idea for an entry to a filming competition. The competition results provide a big lesson to Viola about her relationships with everyone she knows.

Adriana Trigiani can be found on her website.

If you liked this school story, check out Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins (YA fantasy) or School Friends: Dreams at Silver Spires by Ann Bryant (Children's, 9+, includes filming!)

Tuesday 27 April 2010

Devices and Desires by K J Parker


This edition January 2010, Orbit
548 pages, Paperback
Review Copy

Fantasy

Cushions: 4 (5 at the very end)
Daggers: 5
Paperclips: 1
Smiles: 3
Tissues: 2
Yunaleska's recommended rating: ♥♥♥♥♥



When an engineer is sentenced to death for a petty transgression of guild law, he flees the city, leaving behind his wife and daughter. Forced into exile, he seeks a terrible vengeance - one that will leave a trail of death and destruction in its wake.
But he will not be able to achieve this by himself. He must draw up his plans using the blood of others ...
In a compelling tale of intrigue and injustice, K. J. Parker's embittered hero takes up arms against his enemies, using the only weapons he has left to him: his ingenuity and his passion - his devices and desires.

I don't think I could get away with paraphrasing my tweet upon finishing this book 'NNOOOOOOOOOO! I want the next book NOW!'. I could try, but that wouldn't be doing the book justice.

Whatever you do, please don't think the engineer's tale is boring. The passion for the subject shines through the book. My knowledge of engineering is almost on a par with my knowledge of football. yet I found the insights fascinating. The idea that one nation would strictly enforce a law so that everything was made to a specification, and if anything was outside the limits, it was unacceptable and severe punishment would follow, is scary.

Vaatzes is supposed to be punished for such a crime. He escapes by committing further crimes, and ends up in the hands of enemy. Although enemy is such a loose term. Yes, both sides want to conquer each other. But, they really deserve what happens to them. Respective leaders in both areas make silly mistakes (which are funny to read about). Events are blown disproportionately out of control. While dukes are hunting, lords and ladies are scheming, one clever engineer has to set aside near-perfection to free his creative side.

Usually long lists of items, or in depth details over machinery has me skimming paragraphs. I didn't in this book. Vaatzes' enthusiasm is catching, I wanted to find out how his mind works. He uses his engineer's intellect to fighting skills. It's successful enough that he doesn't die in the book. He does it all for the family he can never see again, although he dreams about saving them and being with them.

His isn't the only story told - there are others, all of which are equally funny. It isn't a comedy per se, I just found some parts really funny. It is a book about a war, and how the two sides fight each other. However, the focus is on the smaller details. It is on the people's lives, how they feel about the situations they find themselves in, rather than pages and pages of battles.

Before I read the last few pages, I thought 'Yes, I'd like to read the rest in the series, but I wouldn't give it 5 heart rating'. After reading the very last pages, well, all I can say is that K J Parker is both mean and clever to end Devices and Desires on that note. It gets top rating for the ending. That twist has me more than a little eager for the next book in the Engineer trilogy, The Escapement. I will try to secure a copy for review.

K J Parker's new website is coming soon.

If you like the sound of this, try Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan

Monday 26 April 2010

Princess For Hire by Lindsey Leavitt


February 2010, Egmont
416 pages, Paperback
Review Copy

Children's, 10+

Cushions: 2
Smiles: 5
Tears: 3
Yunaleska's recommended rating ♥♥♥♥♥+

Summary from Egmont

Wanted: teenage girl to serve as substitute princess. Must be willing to travel. Please call Meredith. Ever wanted to be a princess? To float away from your ordinary life and swan about in a tiara, with everyone telling you how fabulous you are? Desi desperately wants to escape her boring, unfulfilling life in Hicksville, Idaho. And now she has the chance - she's got a job substituting for various real princesses when they need a holiday. But not all princesses live in a palace, and not all princes are gorgeous... plus the whole fairy godmother thing is seriously misleading. Thrown into the job with little training, Desi finds that she'll need an awful lot of luck - and a bit of magic - to get by. Maybe having your wishes granted isn't always as straight forward as it seems..

Everyone should read this just because of the cover. It's pink! With bubbles! (Or, if you take my first attempt of typing the word, pubbles! Which could be hybrid word for pink bubbles)

I hadn't read this blurb before I received the book. I didn't realise there was a fairy godmother. This raised the book's coolness factor. Magic doesn't solve everything. It can cause a lot of problems. Like Cinderella's pumpkin coach, there are limitations to magical objects. Desi follows the rules some of the time, but situations occur which means she can't always make certain deadlines. Cue hilarity and mild peril for Desi.

If you think fairy godmothers are perfect, please think again. Poor Desi doesn't have the ideal fairy godmother. Meredith has issues of her own. She isn't like the other fairy godmothers. This is a little tricky for Desi, for without a full knowledge of being a princess for hire, how can she do her job properly? The answer - Desi is Desi. She is herself. Even knowing the basic rules, she follows her heart. Doing the right thing threatens Desi's princess career forever. If you want to know if she can be a princess double again - go read this book!

Princess For Hire is a feel good story, showing how even small gestures can make a large difference to setting people on the right path in life. And that fairy godmothers are human too :) Well, in appearance...if you ignore their radical hair!

Lindsey Leavitt can be found on her website, which does have a tiny bit of pink on it.

For another book with a princess in, try Castle of Shadows by Ellen Renner

What are you reading? #15

What are you reading on Monday? is a weekly meme hosted by J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book blog where you post books completed last week and plans for upcoming books. Jump over to her blog and see who else is participating.

Books I've finished

Fantasy
Review coming soon!


Horror/Suspense



Books I've started and/or hoping to finish this week


Fantasy



Adventure



Thriller



Fantasy

Sunday 25 April 2010

Striker Boy by Jonny Zucker


March 2010, Frances Lincoln
336 pages, Paperback
Review Copy

Children's, Thriller, 9+

Cushions: 5
Daggers: 1
Smiles: 5
Tears: 1
Nayuleska's recommended rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Summary from Frances Lincoln

Nat has grown up travelling around the world with his Dad. He's played football everywhere they've lived and honed his skills on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro. Now they are settling back at home in England. Then at a 'community' day at his favourite football team, Hatton Rangers, currently struggling at the bottom of the Premiership, Nat's talent is spotted by the club's scout. To his and his father's amazement, he finds himself talking to the manager about a place on the first team squad. There is just the little detail of his age - he's big for 13 but surely they can't get away with him posing as a 16-year-old, the minimum age for a professional player?

But the club's veteran striker takes an immediate dislike to Nat and warns him off trying to get a place on the team. Nat's suspicions are aroused and soon he begins to think there is something more to Hatton Rangers' poor performance, and a local reporter begins to have suspicions about Nat. What seems like every boy's dream is quickly confronted by the tough reality of the world of professional football in this superbly exciting thriller.

It's no secret that I'm not a fan of football. Yet strangely it doesn't stop me from picking up football centred novels. In fact, I would go as far to say it is because I don't like football that I requested Striker Boy. A book based on sport must be good if I enjoy it. I definitely enjoyed Striker Boy!

For those who enjoy football, there is a lot of football terminology in here. I still don't understand the game, but the strength of the writing meant I enjoyed hearing about strategies for matches. It's all as clear as mud to me. Nat's story is as clear as crystal.

Having to use a new identity isn't too much of a challenge, since Nat doesn't have a firm, permanent friend. He makes friends on the team, friends who are the total opposite of his enemies. This friendship is important. Nat is far from delighted at the house his father picks out for them. It will take a lot of work to make it feel like a home. This provides a source of tension between Nat and his father, a tension fueled mostly by early teen angst. Nat's emotions are believable, and came across loud and clear to me as a reader, and also to the other characters!

On top of that - there is the football thing. *grins*. Just a little thing. (I'm making an understatement on purpose). It's not often that 13 year old footballers unknowingly get drawn into danger. There were plenty edge of the seat moments in the book. I liked the change of point of views, leading us to guessing more about who Nat's enemy is. The finale had me in tears, it's a touching read in that area. (This isn't to deter boys from reading it, they would probably just think 'yes'!).

Be sure to check out another thriller from Frances Lincoln, When I Was Joe by Keren David

Saturday 24 April 2010

School Friends: Dreams at Silver Spires by Ann Bryant


March 2010, Usborne
160 pages, Paperback
Review Copy

Children's, 9+, school story

Cushions: 1
Smiles: 5
Tears: 1
Nayuleska's recommended rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Summary from Usborne

A TV crew has come to Silver Spires to film a documentary! But Emily’s more interested in her plan to make the school eco-friendly than the cameras popping up everywhere. The trouble is, putting her plan into action attracts the attention of the film crew – and the school’s biggest attention-seeker, Jet, is not happy that Emily’s stealing all the limelight. Emily’s teachers aren’t happy either, when they realize that her eco-efforts are taking priority over her classes. Will Emily’s dreams be brought crashing down around her?

Just like Success at Silver Spires, Dreams at Silver Spires is another fun read. I haven't read of a film crew in a boarding school before, and it provided great entertainment. Jet is hilarious, its all too easy to picture her personality type, trying to grab all the moments of fame that she can. I think it's a good lesson that Emily, who just wants to help save the world the best she can, is the real star of the show. She has some great ideas, but learns there is more to ideas than the means to carry them out. Logistics have to be taken into account - time, money and manpower are three areas Emily has to work on.

Time causes a few issues: she is first and foremost a school girl. I like how the issues of what happens if you do skip class are explored. It's not a good thing, and won't necessarily make a person popular. Not only does Emily make the mistake of gardening in class time, but her way of funding the project also brings the teachers' wrath on her. So, don't cut class, and listen carefully to what people say. Try not to just pick out the parts you want to hear. Those are my pieces of advice for the day!

I was tearing up at the end - I love happy endings! Especially this one. Go read it!

Ann Bryant can be found on her website.

Also check out the other Silver Spires books, including Success at Silver Spires.

Friday 23 April 2010

School Friends: Success at Silver Spires by Ann Bryant


March 2010, Usborne
160 pages, Paperback
Review Copy

Children's, 9+, school story

Cushions: 1
Smiles: 5
Nayuleska's recommended rating:♥♥♥♥♥

Summary from Usborne

Sasha loves her life at Silver Spires, but hasn’t quite found her special passion yet. While all the other girls are pursuing their dream hobbies, Sasha begins to wonder if she isn’t getting left behind. But all that changes when she begins sculling at the local water sports club. Balance; agility; speed; concentration; Sasha has it all and she is thrilled to have finally discovered her true talent – and with it, a newfound confidence. But Holly, a student with previous sculling experience, soon makes it clear that she’s keen to thwart any competition on the water. In fact, Holly is determined to come out on top…even if that means pushing both herself and Sasha to their ultimate limits. Can Sasha rise to the challenge and gain success at Silver Spires?

I beamed widely at the book when I started reading it. This is exactly what I have been looking for. It's a modern school series aimed primarily at girls. It deals with the ups and downs of growing up. Boarding school stories are a timeless concept. I always wanted to go to boarding school, but for various reasons I didn't. It was books like these which kept me going when I was younger. I longed for midnight feasts and having fun with friends. Strangely, I found all of that at university.

Anyway, the reason I love Silver Spires so much is because it is a clean read. There's barely any mention of boys or relationships with them, which is present in older school series' books. It's very suitable for the intended age group. I'm already passing this one onto a friend's daughter, to try and get her loving books.

It was fun to watch Sasha grow as a person, for her to discover something she was naturally talented at. I felt the jealousy which arose from her proficiency was a realistic portrayal. The spiteful emotion can make people do crazy things. Also Sasha's tale goes to show that just because someone isn't friendly, doesn't mean that you don't have anything in common with them, or that you can't get on with them.

Sasha also learns that to reach a goal, you have to work hard. Success takes time. It isn't guaranteed. And, if you want to get a bit philosophical, what is success? True success, as Sasha learns, isn't necessarily being the best. It is the lessons she learns along the way to reach her goals as a rower that will stay with her. Little beats team spirit, the thrill of working together and achieving success with the help of other people.

Success at Silver Spires will make you want to reach for the sky!

Find out what Ann Bryant is getting up to on her website.

Be sure to check out Dreams at Silver Spires.

Thursday 22 April 2010

Mr Monster by Dan Wells


March 2010, Headline
278 pages, Paperback
Review copy

Horror/suspense (see note)

Cushions: 4.5
Daggers: 5 (see note)
Paperclips: 3
Nayuleska's recommended rating: ♥♥♥♥.5

Summary from Headline

John Wayne Cleaver has always known he has a dark side but he’s fought hard to oppress it and live a normal life – separating John from Mr Monster to survive. But after confronting and destroying the vicious killer that was terrorizing his town, his inner monster is getting stronger and harder to contain. And now more bodies are being discovered... With the police failing to catch Clayton County’s second serial killer John is going to have to use his secret knowledge of the first demon-killer to trap the second...but will he be able to avoid suspicion falling on him, and, in the face of extreme horrors, will he be able to restrain Mr Monster?

Genre note: Headline file it under sci-fi, fantasy and horror. I'd say this is horror/suspense.
Content note: not for those who prefer mild peril. The peril here is far from mild. Scenes of abuse and torture.

Hopefully I haven't put off too many of you! All the content is relevant to the story. Yes I felt queasy at some of the book. It's definitely not a fluffy bunny story. It's a hand-to-mouth read, partly for the shocking plot twists, partly to quell the nausea caused by reading about the sick psycho who John had to deal with.

Written in first person, John wasn't necessarily a character I could relate to for the life he leads. There are no demons in my neighbourhood that I had to vanquish (John's story in I am Not A Serial Killer, which I haven't read). I'm not a sociopath. John is a sociopath - well, an underage one. The first few pages are rather shocking. He does have kindness (of sorts) within himself, so please don't be put off by the thoughts he first has. Yes, there is that side of his personality. But it's not there all the time. It's a side which will ultimately save him, (after it lands him in Dire Peril) and one which will prove invaluable in the future.

I liked how inventive John was. Yes, some of these inventive thoughts weren't what I would call normal (unless you are a sociopath, or a writer who has to think these thoughts for a story). But his mind worked fast. He looked solutions to problems. The solutions didn't always work - other factors interfered with them, but they had me eagerly turning over the page.

I think books like Mr Monster are fascinating to read. I feel that in order to understand the world a little better, it's important to be aware of the less pleasant side to humanity. People like John aren't monsters. It isn't their fault. With the right guidance from friends, family and the medical profession, they can keep their inner monster at bay.

Be sure to check out book one in the series, I am Not A Serial Killer. The way the book ends is a strong suggestion that there could be more books with John in them. Yay! (Extra note: seen a tweet saying there will be more books - double yay!)

Tuesday 20 April 2010

City of Ships by Mary Hoffman




March 2010, Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
368 Pages, Paperback
Review Copy 
Children's Fantasy
Cushions: 4
Daggers: 4 
Smiles: 3 
Paperclips: 3

Gerry's recommended rating: ♥♥♥♥

Summary from PUBLISHER

The much anticipated fifth title in the bestselling Stravaganza Sequence

Set in Classe (Ravenna in our world), the Stravagante is Isabel, a younger twin by a matter of minutes. Her talisman is a pouch of silver mosaic tiles and she stravagates to Classe, where she is met by Flavia, a successful female merchant who trades spices, silks, tapestries, and whose son is an outcast and a pirate. Isabel finds that Classe and Bellezza are under threat from attack by the fierce Gate people. What can she do to help save the city? A thrilling story packed with action, pirates and drama.

I started this book a little anxiously as my daughter is a big fan of the Stravaganza books. If I didn't enjoy it then how would I fare at home? It must also be considered that I hadn't read any of the first 4 Stravaganza books, although she has read all 4.

We meet Isabel who is studying for her exams and has few friends at school. She finds the velvet bag and is whipped off to Talia where she starts her adventure but on returning to modern day life she suddenly has friends and a very active social life. She meets the other stravaganti and starts an adventure that sees her pitched into the middle of a ferocious and bloody sea battle.

The violence and mayhem is touched upon delicately and leaves the reader feeling sufficiently remote to enjoy the action without being terrified by it.

The book earns the 'paperclips' because we see Isabel go from an invisible in a crowd teenager to a popular friend in a way that surprised me as a reader.

Just a couple of points though. Throughout the reading I was aware I was reading a children's book but I am told that these books are aimed at a '14 year old called Laura'. Coincidentally my daughter's name is not Laura and she read it after me and thoroughly enjoyed it and will review it for herself, and coincidentally she's not yet 14 either!

May I stress that I DID enjoy the book, although I am not a '14 year old  girl called Laura' either.

The other point is that having read it I have no desire to read the first 4 books now, which is a shame but there are so many 'splot poilers' (a term concocted during our recent holiday) that I feel I know the outlines and characters too well. I am currently reading another fantasy out of sequence and that has references to previous books in such a way as to say 'Go on - find it - read it!'. I STRONGLY recommend reading these books in sequence for the best enjoyment.

I would recommend this book to all children who like fantasy or who would like to try fantasy. Adults can enjoy it, as I did, but it is primarily a children's book.

The author can be found at http://www.maryhoffman.co.uk/
Other reading I would recommend is The Land of Silver Apples by Nancy Farmer.

Monday 19 April 2010

What are you reading? #14

What are you reading on Monday? is a weekly meme hosted by J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book blog where you post books completed last week and plans for upcoming books. Jump over to her blog and see who else is participating.

Books I've finished

None. Not entirely sure how that happened...I'm working my way through a wonderful book, which is rather thick though! Life was...life and various things led to a dip in reading.


Books I hope to finish this week

Fantasy 



Fantasy
 

Friday 16 April 2010

Twice a month I'll be reviewing on another blog!

For a long time I have been following the review blog Enduring Romance. It reviews a variety of books, including but definitely not limited to romance. Titles can sometimes be misleading.

When the call for reviewers went up today, I tentatively volunteered. I get on well with Kimber An, the moderator online. The tentative part came from me being in England. There are logistics of receiving ARC's. However, hopefully this won't be a problem since some can be received electronically.

KimberAn said yes!


So that's where I'll be every first and third Thursday of the month. I'll put the links to the reviews up on here on those days.

Thursday 15 April 2010

Monthly Round-Up: March 2010

Reviewed

This is in reverse order....its just the way I turned out doing it. Below each picture will be a link to the review, and who reviewed it - I like having several reviewers here!

(Nayuleska) Fantasy


(Emina) Fiction


(Nayuleska) Fiction/Historical


(Emina) Fiction


(Gerry) Thriller/crime

(Martin) Science Fiction


(Nayuleska) Children's


(Nayuleska) Children's
(Nayuleska) Non-fiction


(Nayuleska) Children's


(Nayuleska) Non-fictio


(Nayuleska) Paranormal Romance


(Nayuleska) Paranormal, YA


(Nayuleska) Children's, Fantasy


(Nayuleska) Fantasy, YA


(Nayuleska) YA, thriller


(Nayuleska) Children's, Fantasy


(Nayuleska) Children's, Fantasy


(Nayuleska) Children's, fantasy


(Nayuleska) Children's, Fantasy


(Nayuleska) Children's, Fantasy


(Nayuleska) Children's, Fantasy


Interviewed

Just to keep you on your toes, this is in the order they were given!

Other interesting posts

March was a pretty good month (April is proving to be just as good). Nearly time for my 1 year anniversary!

Wednesday 14 April 2010

The Fool's Girl by Celia Rees


April 2010 (out now) Bloomsbury
320 pages, Hardback
Review Copy

Historical, perhaps YA

Cushions: 3
Daggers: 1
Smiles: 3
Tissues: 2
Yunaleska's recommended rating: ♥♥♥♥

Summary from Bloomsbury

Violetta and Feste have come to London to rescue the holy relics taken from the church in Illyria by the evil Malvolio. Their journey has been long and their adventures many, but it is not until they meet the playwright William Shakespeare that they get to tell the entire story from beginning to end!

But where will this remarkable tale ultimately lead Violetta and her companion? And will they manage to save themselves, and the relics from the very evil intentions of Malvolio.


Before reading this book, I didn't think much about what Shakespeare's life was like. I knew he wrote plays, but that was about it (I studied a few of them at school). I loved the insight into this world. The dangers he faced, the uncertainty over whether people would like his plays or not. I learned a fair bit about how plays were put on in the past, the advantages and disadvantages of tours. I liked learning about more about the 17th century, a bonus of reading historicals (although I realise some details may be tweaked and/or fabricated). I liked how his life was tied up with Violetta's, the heroine of the tale.

Violetta has certainly lived an interesting life. Never a dull moment, my heart was in my mouth when I read her pov. And not just hers - I came to love the other characters as much as Violetta. They take risks to keep her safe. The relationship between herself and Stephano isn't overly done - it's actually quite sweet. It wasn't the primary reason why I enjoyed the book, yet it did further my enjoyment. I haven't read many books where the heroine is an actress. This career path was able to keep Violetta safe (for a while) from her enemies. Who are pretty scary, and had me wanting to hide behind a cushion at a few points of the obok.

One good twist about the book was that there were several povs told in first person, then an overall narration told in third person. It might sound a bit confusing, but it worked smoothly for me. It means that the reader gets a complete picture of the story and can watch as various plot lines cross paths, tangle up, and eventually merge at the end of the story.

My only small grumble about the book is that it didn't quite have the edge for me. The edge which gave Sovay a top rating. I can't pin point exactly what I wasn't fond of, there's just something which has me thinking 'oh'. I still recommend this book as a great read.

Celia can be found on her website.

Make sure you check out Celia Rees' Sovay

Tuesday 13 April 2010

Author Interview with Richard Jay Parker


I'm pleased to present Richard Jay Parker, who kindly agreed to be interviewed. Richard wrote the thriller Stop Me, which explores all the emotions involved with a missing person, who could possibly be dead.


Given the ease of communicating through emails, the concept of the killer in Stop Me using this medium is more than a little creepy. How did that concept of the book come into being?


I get SPAM on a daily basis and it struck me how bizarre the idea of not being happy or wealthy if you don't forward an email to ten friends is. Usually the contents are quite innocuous which makes the threat seem a little sinister. It got me thinking about what people's reaction would be to the email if someone's life depended on it being forwarded. Would they still ignore it or would they be more inclined to send it on just in case? It's certainly been a talking point with readers.


The uncertainty of Leo's wife's safety permeates the whole book. Leo's attachment to Laura makes him do things that he wouldn't normally do. Was it your intention to place such a great emphasis on Leo's emotions? Did they take Leo's character in any unexpected direction, or did you have a pretty good idea from the start how you wanted Leo to be?


It was my intention to make Leo increasingly isolated throughout the story. Everyone believes that his wife is dead which is why he embarks on a relationship with Bookwalter. You're right - he's doing things that he normally wouldn't do and engaging with a Bookwalter is the ultimate example of this. It's what the title refers to more than the emails.


The ending was definitely more than satisfactory for me. How did you choose the ending? Was it the one you originally intended, or did you want to try something that the reader wouldn't expect?


My brief throughout was to try and confound the reader at every turn. Readers love to second guess where a plot is going and there's great satisfaction from having your suspicions confirmed. However, it's even more exciting to be taken in the exactly the direction you don't expect. I always knew how the story was going to end but the whole Leo/Bookwalter liaison was something I had great fun with. I think readers will have expectations about where this will lead and I wanted to keep them guessing right up to the wire.


Could you tell us a little about your road to publication? What made you think 'I can write'? Did you go the route of querying an agent first?


I spent a good while writing TV scripts as well as script editing and producing. I started by submitting material on spec to TV companies and was told fairly consistently that my ideas weren't very good. I eventually got a few pieces picked up, however, and that led to commissions and a more active role in production. As a writer, you have to be slightly arrogant about your talent in the face of criticism. It's the same with book writing. I made the decision to leave my TV agent and started from scratch. I got an agent with my first book but I think this lulled me into a false sense of security. My work didn't get picked up and I was still working out what sort of material I was comfortable with. Then I started writing thrillers but it was a couple of other agents, eight manuscripts and a lot of near misses later before I got an offer.


Could you tell us what has surprised you in being a published writer, and why?


I think the biggest revelation has been the amount of promo it's necessary to do. My publisher has a dynamic publicity specialist in Chiara Priorelli so I'm lucky to have her support. The idea of being a reclusive writer who delivers a manuscript once a year to his publisher before vanishing to their retreat is now defunct. Writers have to push themselves as much as possible in an increasingly competitive market. I enjoy the process though and the advent of Twitter, Shelfari and blogging means that writers can get the sort of immediate feedback from readers they would never have had before. Trouble is, it's time consuming and it's a real balancing act between promo and writing.


Along with other thriller writers, you're a member of The Curzon Group . Could you tell us a little about this, how the group's blog features in your writing life, and the benefits that have arisen from it?


The Curzon Group is a very informal organisation and we've done some fun events - like the airport signings and library debates. It's a great opportunity to hook up with other writers from the genre and compare notes. The blog is a good discipline. I blog every Friday at http://www.thecurzongroup.blogspot.com/ and usually use something that's happened to me in my writing week as fodder. I also Tweet @Bookwalter and a lot of my followers there read the blog. It's sometimes difficult to know just how much exposure you get this way but I've met some good people and blogging is great therapy.


Are you able to tell us about the next project you are currently working on?


Am currently rewriting book 2 for my publisher. Its title is still to be agreed but I can tell you that it explores some of the elements that I touched upon in STOP ME (Internet, online relationships) but also focuses on how people have lost touch with each other and the anonymous and reclusive way we live with our immediate neighbours in the 21st Century. I hope to be able to tell you more about it very soon.


I for one am looking forward to Richard's next project. I hope you are too!