The Watching Wood by Erika McGann

Grace Brennan’s feet pedalled furiously in the air below her. She was exhausted. Sweat dampened her shirt, and all she could think about were those women who sat on exercise bikes in the window of her local gym, spinning like their lives depended on it.

‘Don’t slow down, Grace, you’re nearly there!’ Ms Lennon’s voice sounded from the ground beneath.

The effort of staying airborne in one spot was starting to wrench at Grace’s gut and her legs were ready to give in, when a sudden spark singed her ankle and a sweeping blue flame surged from the heel of each foot to the toe.

‘Agh! My feet are on fire!’

‘Excellent, that’s perfect!’ Ms Lemon yelled. ‘Now, run!’

Published by The O’Brien Press, Dublin

262 pages in paperback

Cover & illustrations by Emma Byrne

Summary from Publisher’s Website:

Danger wherever you turn …

When Grace and her five best friends are sucked into a world of witches and faeries, it seems like a nightmare. Forced to take part in the Witch Trials, they risk life and limb to compete against other trainee witches in magical, death-defying stunts. But when they are discovered to be mere humans, this supernatural world turns against them, and the real nightmare begins.

Caught in the middle of an ancient and bloody feud, Grace must outwit powerful witches, avoid the clutches of menacing faeries, and bring her friends back together.

But have the girls enough power between them to make it back home?

******

Reviewed by K. M. Lockwood

Look at that cover, with the intimidating eyes watching you - and the green for leaves and for Ireland. Just right!

The story is downright creepy at times, and draws on Irish legends despite its contemporary start. It’s ideal for those who don’t want their tales in identical Disneyesque settings. Really good to read something so specifically local - and yet chockfull of dilemmas and dramas that any young reader from Detroit to Delhi can enjoy reading.

Back to those eyes - supernatural elements and peril give momentum to the story which might frighten a very sensitive reader. The publishers suggest 10 + but the strong friendships between our witchy heroines prevent it from being too alarming. There are enjoyable thrills and tension - but no really distressing horrors. 

The likeable and distinctive friends, which readers may know from their previous adventures in The Demon Notebook and The Broken Spell, are each tested on their weaknesses. You don’t need to have read the prequels (I haven’t) but I expect it would deepen your enjoyment. This tale rapidly moves out of the witchcraft school setting but the sense of camaraderie remains. A touch of Hogwarts - but with half a dozen girls in the foreground.

In short; quirky, spooky fun with friendship as its key.  More books from Irish writers please!

Secret Serendipity Seven with Paula Harrison

Today I am pleased to welcome author, Paula Harrison on to the blog to tell us seven secrets! Paula’s new book, Red Moon Rising, the first in a new series, will be published this April by Nosy Crow.

1. The inspiration for Red Moon Rising came to me during a mealtime with my family. I had to get up and run out of the kitchen to find a pencil and paper before the idea seeped away. When I came back, my pudding was gone. My family had decided I obviously wasn’t hungry!
 

2. I’ve always been drawn to stories which portray a layer of reality that’s imperceptible to most people. In Red Moon Rising, there’s a group of faeries living secretly among humans. They look exactly the same as anyone else in their human form, but they have eyes with golden rings around the pupils which are only visible to others of their kind.
 

3. The faerie ring - which can drag you into the Otherworld - is based on the ring in the community orchard near my house.
 

4. The faerie population is divided into tribes with inherited powers over water (Mists), plants (Thorns), animals (Greytails), air (Kestrels) or fire (Blaze). As well as different powers, the tribes have their own distinct ways and attitudes. The Thorns, with their power over plants, tend to be very traditional. They dislike change and are suspicious of newcomers. The Greytails, with their power over animals, are generally streetwise and mix more easily with humans.

Laney, the main character, is a Mist. Her tribe are often difficult to pin down and Laney finds answers about her heritage hard to come by.
 

5. If I’m a bit bored while sitting on a bus or waiting in a queue, I watch other people and try to decide what tribe they’d belong to. The idea behind the storyline began with the thought that we live in a world where people still behave in a tribal way. Many people feel the need to belong to a group, whether that’s the community they live in or the football team they support. People find comfort in belonging but at the same time it can lead to terrible behaviour towards others outside their group.
 

6. The red moon is seen as a bad omen by many of the characters. Its appearance triggers a chain of events at the start of the book. In real life, red-coloured moons are often seen during a lunar eclipse. The next one of these will be on the 4th of April but unfortunately it won’t be visible from the UK.
 

7. Late one night, I wrote the scene where Laney is trapped in a churchyard with a character called the Shadow. Then, having thoroughly spooked myself, I had to check all the windows and doors were locked before I went to bed. I’ve decided to write those kinds of scenes in daylight next time!

Summary of Book

Laney thinks the summer’s going to be boring but how wrong she is! From the moment she sees a blood-red moon, things take a turn for the magical. For Laney is a faerie, a member of the Mist Tribe, and things are about to get exciting, and mysterious, and dangerous. Laney and her faerie friends must stop an evil Shadow Faerie finding the magical objects he needs to become all-powerful. Each book deals with the quest for a different object.
To find out more about Paula Harrison:
Twitter/Website

Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey

Pages - 278
Published by Bloomsbury Books

' I hate this town,' Jo complained. 'There isn't a single hot guy anywhere.'
'Hey,' Devlin protested mildly, out of habit. We weren't really listening; we'd heard Jo give this same speech about a hundred times, and frankly, my mint choc chip ice cream was more interesting. It was too hot  to worry about guys. Only Jo could muster the energy to multitask a tantrum whilst sweating  through her T-shrit and eyeing the carful of perfectly droolworthy guys currently ignoring her. Mind you, I'd seen her flirt with a photograph of Ian Somerhalder in a magazine once. A little drought wouldn't stop her. 


Goodreads Summary
For seventeen years, Eloise Hart had no idea the world of Faery even existed. Now she has been abducted and trapped in the Rath of Lord Strahan, King of Faery. Strahan was only meant to rule for seven years, as Faery tradition dictates, and then give up his crown to another. But he won't comply, and now chaos threatens both worlds.

The only one who can break his stranglehold on the Faery court is his wife. . . Eloise's aunt Antonia. Using Eloise to lure Antonia, Strahan captures his wife, desperate to end the only threat to his reign. Now Eloise must become the rescuer. Together with her best friends Jo and Devin, she must forge alliances with other Fae, including a gorgeous protector named Lucas, and Strahan's mysterious son, Eldric-who may or may not betray them. 

**********
I had no intention of staying up until the wee hours of the morning to read, but as soon as I picked up this book, I just couldn't put it down. I was completely gripped from start to finish and like with all of Harvey's books, I was completely lost in the story. The story just flows with ease, captivating my imagination and losing me in a world of faeries.  I seriously had forgotten how much I love a faery book. 


The book was written in first person, but alternating to between two viewpoints: Eloise and Jo, who are best friends. Jo was without a doubt, my favourite character in this book. She was just like any other modern day teenager who finds herself falling head over heels with a dark,handsome stranger,who actually sweeps her off her feet. Eldric, is the dark handsome stranger in question and he definitely ticks all the right  boxes required for a leading love interest. Lucas was rather dashing and constantly reminded me of the Prince from  the film Enchanted; you know the one declaring his love in the middle of a busy Manhatten street. 


The book is rather fast paced, and a lot is packed into its small frame. It was a thrilling journey, which I couldn't get enough of. I was so disappointed to discover that this book is a standalone, as I felt there were many questions about the future left answered. I desperately want to know how the romances within the book turn out.  So I may start a petition for a sequel!


Alyxandra Harvey astounds me. Is there any paranormal creature that she can't write about? From vampires and ghosts to faeries, she gives her own unique stamp to each. She is fast becoming one of my favourite paranormal authors. 


If you have enjoyed the books by Michelle Harrison, Holly Black and R.J. Anderson, you will love this one to. 

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Pages - 328

Challenges - 100+

Published by Harper Collins in 2007

I know Wicked Lovely has probably been reviewed to death throughout the Book Blogging world, but when do I miss an opportunity to rave about a book and as it is my blog, you will have to suffer too. Or scroll down, or perhaps just bypass this altogether! I am not really moaning, I just think the excessive heat that has suddenly landed at our feet has got the better of me.

Wicked Lovely is the story of Aislinn who has always been able to see faeries. It is a flaw in her family's genes and they can all see them, but they pretend that they can't, as faeries who find out you can see them will probably take great enjoyment in killing you. So Aislinn, lives her life with blinkers on, ignoring the wickedness the fairies get up to around her. Until one of those faeries decides that Aislinn should belong to him. Enter Keenan, the Summer King, who has spent eternity looking for his Summer Queen. Many girls have failed the challenge and the Winter Queen continues to cause havoc in the world, as the Summer King just does not have the power to defeat her without his Summer Queen. Keenan is convinced that Aislinn is the one and the Winter Queen is worried.

There is definitely a lot of mixed reviews over this book throughout the blogging world, so I think you will either love it or hate it. I had the same experience with Tithe, where many people didn't enjoy it and I loved it, so if you followed my advice to read Tithe and didn't like it, then I would say Wicked Lovely is not for you.

I absolutely loved this book. For me, it was a slightly lighter version of Holly Black's Tithe and Valiant, but every bit as good.

If you have not read the book, I would not read on as I can't help but give spoiler alerts!

You jump into the story very quickly and stand back helplessly as Aislinn tries to fight her inevitable destiny. From the beginning you are aware that Aislinn is in love with her friend Seth and has no wish to change her life completely. Seth loves her just as much and the difficulties they need to overcome as a couple would drive most people apart.

The faeries in the book take on a very sinister role and if they truly existed, I would be a little nervous, so really glad it is all fantasy.

The characters are well written and show both sides of their characters. You understand that what Keenan puts Aislinn through is completely wrong, yet you can understand his reasons for doing it, as he has bigger issues to solve than just Aislinn's feelings.

The ending took me by surprise, as it definitely wasn't the one I thought it would be. I have to say I liked the way it ended though.

The book gives lots of details about faery folklore, which I have found had common information to other books about faeries. All the books, mention the fey, the Seelie Courts and the sidhe, but how did this common ground of information become known to everyone else. I find this really strange as I always was under the impression that faeries really don't exist, so where does all these written rules about faeries come from. If I am wrong and their really are faeries in the world and a book on how to be a good faery, then I stand corrected, otherwise who made up all these faery rules and beliefs? Anyone know?

Anyway this is a fabulous book, well worth reading and I am looking forward to moving onto Ink Exchange which I understand to be even darker than Wicked Lovely!

Here are some other reviews of the book, to give a rounded opinion of it.

Escape in a Book

Alaine - Queen of Happy Endings

Melissa's Bookshelf

Thanks for stopping by. Come back tomorrow for a giveaway connected to this post!

Friday Finds

Ooh you book blogging people are really bad. I have seen so many books on your sites that I want to read this week, but I have had to narrow it down to five.

Fairytale by Cyn Balog

I found this one over at Books Love Jessica Marie. It isn't released until 23rd of June in England but is already out in America - you lucky people!

It is a book that will appeal to Twilight and Wicked Lovely fans.

Here is the blurb for it from Amazon.

Morgan Sparks has always known that she and her boyfriend, Cam, are made for each other. But when Cam’s cousin Pip comes to stay with the family, Cam seems depressed. Finally Cam confesses to Morgan what’s going on: Cam is a fairy. The night he was born, fairies came down and switched him with a healthy human boy. Nobody expected Cam to live, and nobody expected his biological brother, heir to the fairy throne, to die. But both things happened, and now the fairies want Cam back to take his rightful place as Fairy King.Even as Cam physically changes, becoming more miserable each day, he and Morgan pledge to fool the fairies and stay together forever. But by the time Cam has to decide once and for all what to do, Morgan’s no longer sure what’s best for everyone, or whether her and Cam’s love can weather an uncertain future.

Now hasn't that whetted your appetite.


Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

I found this one over at Bermudaonions blog. There has been a lot of hype about this book, even though it has been out a few years, and it is believed to be an ideal read for teenagers as it deals with real teenage issues at secondary school. I do believe some schools are actually putting it on their curriculums.

Here is the blurb from Laurie Halse Anderson's site.


Melinda Sordino busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops. Now her old friends won't talk to her, and people she doesn't even know hate her from a distance. The safest place to be is alone, inside her own head. But even that's not safe. Because there's something she's trying not to think about, something about the night of the party that, if she let it in, would blow her carefully constructed disguise to smithereens. And then she would have to speak the truth. This extraordinary first novel has captured the imaginations of teenagers and adults across the country.

Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCulloI found this book over at Carrie's YA Bookshelf blog.

Here is what Carrie had to say about the book.

Tamsin Greene comes from a long line of witches, and she was supposed to be one of the most Talented among them. But Tamsin's magic never showed up. Now seventeen, Tamsin attends boarding school in Manhattan, far from her family. But when a handsome young professor mistakes her for her very Talented sister, Tamsin agrees to find a lost family heirloom for him. The search—and the stranger—will prove to be more sinister than they first appeared, ultimately sending Tamsin on a treasure hunt through time that will unlock the secret of her true identity, unearth the sins of her family, and unleash a power so vengeful that it could destroy them all. This is a spellbinding display of storytelling that will exhilarate, enthrall, and thoroughly enchant.

There are just so many good witch books out there at the moment.

Nothing but Ghosts by Beth Kephart

I found this one on Books Love Jessica Marie too.

Here is the blurb from Amazon.

Ever since her mother passed away, Katie's been alone in her too-big house with her genius dad, who restores old paintings for a living. Katie takes a summer job at a garden estate, where, with the help of two brothers and a glamorous librarian, she soon becomes embroiled in decoding a mystery. There are secrets and shadows at the heart of Nothing but Ghosts: symbols hidden in a time-darkened painting, and surprises behind a locked bedroom door. But most of all, this is a love story—the story of a girl who learns about love while also learning to live with her own ghosts.
This is a heartfelt, lyrical tale from the National Book Award-nominated author of Undercover and House of Dance.


The Walking People by Mary Beth Keane.

I found this one over at Dar's blog Peeking Between the Pages. If you haven't visited Dar's site you really should. She has fantastic book reviews and lots of competitions to enter. At the moment, she has a competition to win five copies of this book. the competition is here. Alas it is only open to American and Canadian residents, but Dar often has worldwide competitions too, so do go over and check out her blog.

Here is the blurb from Amazon.

Greta Cahill never believed she would leave her village in the west of Ireland until she found herself on a ship bound for New York, along with her sister Johanna and a boy named Michael Ward. Labeled a "softheaded goose" by her family, Greta discovers that in America she can fall in love, raise her own family, and earn a living. Though she longs to return and show her family what she has made of herself, her decision to spare her children knowledge of a secret in her past forces her to keep her life in New York separate from the life she once loved in Ireland, and tears her apart from the people she is closest to. Even fifty years later, when the Ireland of her memory bears little resemblance to that of present day, she fears that it is still possible to lose all when she discovers that her children—with the best of intentions— have conspired to unite the worlds she’s so carefully kept separate for decades. A beautifully old-fashioned novel, The Walking People is a debut of remarkable range and power.

So they are my Friday Finds this week, what books did you find?

Valiant by Holly Black

Pages - 319

Published by Simon and Schuster in 2005

Challenges - 100+, Once Upon a Time and A to Z Title

I just love reading these faerie books by Holly Black. She really takes the faerie away from the pleasant fairy tales we all grew up in and puts them in some very dark and dangerous places.

Valiant is not a followup of Tithe, instead it is a story that perhaps is happening at the sidelines.

The story starts with a real Jerry Springer style opening, where Val comes home to find her boyfriend doing the deed with her mother. I had images of them all on Jerry Springer's show fighting and arguing about what happened. Val's way of dealing with the situation is to just disappear. She gets on the subway, shaves all her hair off and heads for the back streets of New York. She ends up in the hobo areas and falls into company with a rather strange trio. Lolli who is definitely a love them and leave them type of girl, Dave, desperate to be the one who Lolli loves and Luis, who can see things that no one else can. Val ends up living with them in a disused subway station, where she soon discovers that faeries really do exist.

Val is determined to meet the troll Ravus, whom Luis works for and with the help of Lolli, she breaks into his home. He discovers her trying to steal from him and makes her pay by turning her into one of his slaves. However when Ravus becomes accused of killing faeries, Val comes to his rescue and saves his life. In return he offers to teach her how to use a sword, so that she can defend herself. A strange relationship develops between Ravus, the green long toothed troll and Val, permanently high on Never ( faerie juice that allows her to use glamour). Their friendship and budding relationship is pushed to the edge, when the real faerie killer is discovered.

This book is very very dark and I absolutely loved it. It was fast paced from the beginning and you are desperate for Val to find her true self. The life they lead on the streets sounds appalling and you just want to offer all of them a good bath and a meal.

Val is a very strong character, after witnessing her mother's betrayal, she learns to take care of herself as well as her new found friends. Ravus reminds me a little of the Beast in Beauty and the Beast and I really couldn't see how anyone would be attracted to a green long fingered, long toothed troll, but I suppose it takes all sorts. Val goes to such great lengths to save her friends life and nearly loses her own in the process.

Holly Black is a fabulous writer who takes faeries into a very disturbing place. I would definitely recommend this book, as well as Tithe, which I reviewed some months back.

Have you read any of this series of books by Holly Black?

Just a quick note about the Melinda Marr trilogy of books that I bought for £7.99 this week - a few of you asked about them and I thought I should let you know where I bought them. Unfortunately I think they may be only available in the UK from here, but I got them from Red House and you can access them here. I often buy teenage and children's books from Red House as they are always so much cheaper.