The Crimson Shard by Teresa Flavin (Children's, 9 years +)

October 2011, Templar

340 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Children's, 9 years +, 

Themes: time travel, artists, life in 18th century, girl having to pretend to be a boy, kidnapping, evil and conniving men, thieves aren't all that they seem, paintings, lots of danger, mild romance, a few laughs 

Summary from Templar

This sequel to The Blackhope Enigma is imbued with alchemy and intrigue. During what seems like an ordinary museum visit, tour guide Throgmorton lures Sunni and Blaise through a painted doorway into eighteenth-century London. When Throgmorton demands secret information from the pair about their Blackhope escapades, they attempt to flee, encountering body snatchers, art thieves and forgers in this gripping time-travel adventure.

Nayuleska's reasons for loving Sunni...she's brave and plucky, but doing what it takes to survive in the 18th century plays havoc with her conscience. However Blaise was sometimes there to help her. 

How nasty/evil was the enemy? My skin tingled every time I caught wind of him. People consumed by greed will stop at nothing to get what they want, which causes lots of problems for Sunni and Blaise. 

Are there lots of plot twists and surprises? This was as fast paced as the first book, perhaps more so just because I knew the characters so. I was seriously worried every time Sunni and Blaise ended up in a corner, and how they got out was pretty neat. 

One of my favourite parts was...when Sunni got to wear a masquerade costume. I'm pretty obsessed with costumes, and I had great fun imagining how it felt to be in it. 

This is such a pleasure to read, with the right balance of laughs, thrills and fear, getting 10/10 from me. 

Check out Teresa's website for more information about her and her books. 

Suggested reading

For another time travel read, check out Katie's adventures in Victorian England in The Queen Must Die! by K A S Quinn 

The Blackhope Enigma by Teresa Flavin

July 2010, Templar

304 pages, Paperback

Review copy 

Children's, 9 years + 

Themes: time travel (of sorts), magic, paintings, lots of danger, people with other agendas, strange monsters, labyrinth, siblings looking after each other, treachery, hope, life at sea, friendships blooming, mild suggestion of romance, puzzles, quite tense in places, a few laughs

Summary by Templar

When Sunni Forrest's stepbrother accidentally transports himself into a Renaissance painting, she and her friend Blaise set out to bring him back. They find themselves in a strange world of labyrinths, monsters and pirates. Can they evade their greedy pursuers? And will they ever find their way home? 

Nayuleska's thoughts

Sunni copes with heaps of responsibility as she tries to look after for herself, her stepbrother Dean and Blaise. The trio are often separated from each other, sometimes coming very close but not quite meeting which was fun to read about. Sunni finds the good in their capture, and a hint of something which surprises herself. She never gives up, and fights for freedom. I'm so glad I'm about to start book 2! I enjoyed the Q&A with Teresa at the end of the book, as well as the few illustrations scattered around the book too. 

Rating: 10/10 

Make sure you check out Teresa's website to find out more about her and her books. 

Suggested reading

Although for older readers, if you like time travel and mysteries in a not so modern world try Imprisoned in Time by Laura Gay

Guest Blog Post with Aimee Carter

Aimee Carter is the author of the fabulous Young Adult book combining the ancient world with our contemporary one, The Goddess Test  

Aimee very sweetly answered 5 of my questions as part of promoting her book with guest blog posts. 

Nayu: Kate is of a good moral grounding to be selfless and give up her freedom to save others, once she knows what the consequences of ignoring Henry are. There are moments when she is understandably selfish, for example in wanted to keep her mother around for longer. Is this selflessness the main characteristic you wanted readers to think about? 

Aimee: When I create characters, traits aren't necessarily the main things I work with. My primary focus is motivation (and, of course, how the prominent character traits affect it). With Kate especially, I think her desperation to save her mother and her willingness to do anything to make that happen may come off as both selfless in what she must do to see this come true, and selfish for her reasons behind it - for wanting more time with her mother, who is in so much pain. But that motivation and what it leads to - especially selflessness - is definitely one of her strongest characteristics, and it comes into play later on in the series as well. 

Nayu: I was a little disappointed that Kate got her way with her own clothes, as no matter how uncomfortable they are, I love historical outfits. What made you choose those particular dresses, as they are far from Ancient Greek fashion? 

Aimee: I chose those particular dresses because of  Ella - because she wanted to make Kate as uncomfortable as possible. Without getting into any spoilers, given who  Ella is, the idea of what Kate's going through doesn't sit well with her, and in a way she's trying to make Kate miserable in the hope that she won't be pushed into marrying a god. And let's face it, wearing a corset might just be enough to do the trick.

Nayu:  Is there are particular reason why the characteristics of the gods and goddesses weren't made more obvious so the reader could realise who they were? (Either that or I was sleepy when I read the book). 

Aimee: There are several hints sprinkled throughout the story, but when I wrote it, I'd hoped that if people ever read it, many would be familiar with Greek mythology already. And I did want the twist in the ending to be a surprise for them. 

Nayu: Would you ever consider telling the tale of the other girls, the ones who failed or perhaps even Persephone? It must have been so hard for everyone to watch them die, especially Henry who cared for them more than he cared to admit. 

Aimee: Yes! I would absolutely love to write short stories or novellas based on a handful  of those girls. One in particular, who shows up int he second book, has some fun backstory I would love to write out someday. As for Persephone, I can't promise anything for sure at this point, but somewhere down the line you may be able to read what really happened to her for yourself. 

Nayu: Last question: what's your favourite snack and drink while you write? 

Aimee: I usually don't eat anything while I write, since my hands are preoccupied. And as for drinks, I usually stick with water or hot chocolate, depending on the seasons. 

I'd like to thank Aimee for such interesting answers. Hot chocolate is the best winter drink!  

You can find out more about Aimee on  her website.

The Goddess Test By Aimee Carter (Young Adult, Fantasy)

October 2011, Mira Ink 

293 pages, Paperback

Review copy 

Young Adult, Fantasy 

Themes: Tests, trials, punishment, giving up loved things and loved ones, relinquishing control of life and love, danger, events turning out not as expected, historical costumes, friendship, mystery, betrayal, some teen romance, lots of humour and a few tissues needed. 

Summary from Mira Ink Books

It's always been just Kate and her mom - and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall. Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld - and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests. Kate is sure he's crazy - until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride...and a goddess. 

Nayuleska's reasons for loving Kate...she has a good heart, she wants the best for people and risks her own happiness to ensure that of others. Plus she's funny too. 

Is there another character who deserves a mention? I alternated between loving and hating Ava. her bubblyness rose off the page in cloudss. 

How evil/nasty was the enemy? Always having to look out for danger can be wearying, especially when Kate hasn't seen the danger herself so it's kind of like a ghost, although the misfortune caused by the enemy hurts Kate deeply on all levels. 

Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? I felt glad that I'd figured out one twist, but I was most positively floored when the final twists hit me head on. Wow!!! I'm wondering how book 2 will top this one. 

One of my favourite parts was...when Kate agreed to live with Henry to save others. No one has the right to call her selfish. 

This is a read that made me cheer at the end, especially seeing as there's a sequel in 2012 because I want to know what Kate's new life is like. This gets 10/10 

Be sure to find out more about Aimee and her book on her website. 

Suggested read

If you're looking for more tales about Grecian deities, try Dioscouri by Chrystalla Thoma. 

Naked by Kevin Brooks (Young Adult)

6th October 2011, Penguin

400 pages, Paperback

Review copy 

Young Adult

Themes: hippy life, good girl turns bad, being in a band, life in the 1970's, finding love and friendship, being fearful, family, content has lots of strong language, substance abuse (alcohol, drugs) and adult relationships

Summary by Puffin

London 1976: Teenagers Lili and Curtis are living the punk dream - playing out their romance as members of 'Naked', Curtis's up-and-coming band. But when enigmatic Belfast boy - William Bonney - joins on guitar, Lili finds herself increasingly drawn to him. 

As Billy the Kid's dark past is revealed, Lili finds she is caught up in more than just the fame-game. 

Nayuleska's reasons for loving Lili...I liked her more than expected, considering her lifestyle. Her voice was captivating and she cares for people around her. 

How evil/nasty is the enemy? Whether you pick the substances made by man or the very unsavoury men Lili encounters, both are as evil as each other in the effects they have on all they touch. 

Are there lots of plot twists and surprises? I got quite shocked at the turn of events, sometimes in a good way, sometimes in an 'Am I reading this correctly?' way. 

One of my favourite parts was....the end, which is emotional and you can feel the love Lili has for those she holds dear. 

This book gets 9/10, it isn't the kind I usually read, not with the strong content, but it was captivating and showing me a glimpse of a world I have no experience in. 

Suggested read

Try the remarkably fun read, Rockaholic by C J Skuse, where an obsessed fan kidnaps her idol by accident. 

Guest Blog Post by Jana Oliver on Writing Different Genres

In conjunction with my review of Forbidden (link to follow soon), Jana has very kindly written a blog post about her views on writing different genres. I'd like to thank Jana for an insightful post, and totally encourage you to go read about Riley's adventures in The Demon Trapper series! 

Writing Different Genres

Some authors write in only one portion of the fictional playground while others hop around and check out other parts of the sandbox to see what's fun and new. I'm one of the latter and to date I've written paranormal romance, medieval fantasy, a curious genre-blend of science fiction, fantasy, mystery and alternate history as well as young adult urban fantasies. 

For me the genre isn't as important as the story, though I'm sure others might disagree. We seem to have this need to categorize things and segregating books into genres allows bookstores to shelve their stock in separate sections, the visual equivalent of 'if you like this kind of book you'll enjoy all these others next to it.' 

Each genre has its own tropes or rules of the road as it were. A 'true' romance is expected to have a HEA (happy ever after) or, as a nod to the times we live in, a HFN (happy for now). Fantasy often involves complicated world building, a heroic quest and perhaps an epic battle between good vs evil (think Lord of the Rings). Science fiction might explore one man's (or woman's) fight against technology or against an unjust dystopian society. Mystery often has the classic 'who dunnit?' premise or a hunt for a MacGuffin (something that characters are willing to sacrifice everything to obtain.) 

All this labeling is secondary to the process of writing the actual story. When I switch from one genre to another I keep those basic rules in the back of my mind but I do not let them hinder me. This is why I often end up with genre-blended stories. An excellent example is my Demon Trappers Series which is a merry mix of fantasy (demons, agnels, necromances and witches) along with romance and mystery. Because it's set in 2018 Atlanta it could also be considered alternate history. I am not afraid to blend those genre rules, playing with them to tease out a more dynamic storyline. 

When I write I don't focus on one genre or the other. It's not until after the first or second draft I begin to see the individual genre threads. I usually weave in a few of the standard mystery elements (red herrings, double crosses, such as that). I'll examine the romantic thread to determine if I've given it enough weight and that the hero and heroine are moving forward, that their relationship is implausible. When it comes to the fantastical elements, I have to ensure my world building is solid and that I follow my own rules. If I say that Holy Water is a means to keep your house safe from demons, then that has to hold all the way through the series unless there is a legitimate reason that's not the case. I have to be very careful not to change my own rules to bend the story in a new direction. 

A well crafted genre tale is a joy to read. You can immerse yourself in the prose or 'fall through the hole in the paper' as Stephen King would say. As an author, employing various genre conventions to build my book is like mixing a great cocktail. So make mine a double: a shot of mystery, a splash of fantasy, and a dash of romance. Oh, and one o those cool little umbrellas would be nice as well. 

www.JanaOliver.com

www.DemonTrappers.co.uk

Macmillan Children's Books (U.K. Editions)

Demon Trappers: Forsaken - Jan. 2011

Demon Trappers: Forbidden - Aug. 2011

Demon Trappers: Forgiven - March 2012

Forbidden by Jana Oliver (Young Adult, Urban Fantasy)

August 2011, MacMillan 

424 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Young Adult, Paranormal

Themes: demons - both funny and terrifying, necromancers, angels, devils, trying to lead a normal life, grief, relationships - true/failed/muddled, poverty, trying to fit in, life changes happening all at once, spunk, weapons, inner strength, mild to moderate romance, lots of thrills and violence, a lot of laughs, tissues needed. 

Summary from Pan MacMillan

Riley's beginning to think being a demon trapper isn't all it's cracked up to be. Her dad's been stolen by a necromancer, her boyfriend's gone all weird and she's getting warm and fuzzy feelings for someone who is seriously bad news. It's tempting to give it all up and try to be normal, but that's not an option. 

Because the demons have plans for Riley. 

And they're not the only ones. 

Nayuleska's reasons for loving Riley...she feels easy to relate to with her love of hot chocolate and how she views life. She stuffs up a lot, gets hurt terribly but there's a fiery stubbornness which keeps her going. 

Is there another character who deserves a mention? Mortimer may be a necromancer but he has some good in him which he shows to Riley. 

How evil/nasty is the enemy? Absolutely terrifying, as it is after Riley and has already killed and injured a lot of people on the way to her. 

Are there lots of plot twists and surprises? Most of the twists affected Riley on an emotional level which had me wanted to save her from it all. 

One of my favourite parts was...whenever Riley had hot chocolate (with cream!), for no matter what was happening around her she always had time for the best drink ever invented. 

Naturally this gets 10/10 for its realism and for having a protagonist who is fun to know. 

Be sure to find out more about Riley's life, as well as Jana's own life on her website. 

Suggested read

If you after adventure with death and demons, try Rachel Vincent's My Soul To Take