Masquerade Blog Tour

As part of the Masquerade Blog Tour, I'm pleased to host an excerpt from the beginning of one of the chapters. Author  Laura Lam spent a long time, researching the extracts needed for the  each chapter and this blog tour, goes into detail about some of the chosen pieces, explaining why they were used. 

The Hospital - 11 march

When a child under twelve is injured, it’s common practice for any child present to “call upon the fairies” to help heal them. The other child or children will circle the injured child thrice, chanting “sprites, take flight, we need your might to spite the blight!” Sometimes the child will kiss the other on the forehead; a target for the fairy to know where to sprinkle their magic dust. 

— A History of Ellada and its Colonies, Professor Caed Cedar, Royal Snakewood University

Every chapter in the Micah Grey series has a short found document at the start, ranging from a variety of sources: history books, diaries, songs, poetry, and more. It’s basically a sneaky way to add in more worldbuilding and detail about Ellada & the Archipelago. 

As in another excerpt shared on the blog tour, Masquerade has more folklore type remedies in the third book. Ellada is rich with mythology and magical creatures, and the Chimaera are very common and tend to function a lot like fairies in stories. Every now and again, Chimaera are sometimes called fairies or sprites, as above. I used to play games like this as a child, where one of us would pretend to be ill and the others would use magic to heal them. It’s a little bit of whimsy in a section of the book where things are growing more dangerous . . . 

If you buy Pantomime or Masquerade and send your receipt to Laura, you can claim a free 10k short story, “The Mechanical Minotaur,” set in the same world. If you buy all three, you can claim 60k of free fiction as well. More details here.

Summary

The gifted hide their talents, but dare they step into the light?

Micah's Chimaera powers are growing, until his dark visions overwhelm him. Drystan is forced to take him to Dr Pozzi, to save his life. But can they really trust the doctor, especially when a close friend is revealed to be his spy?

Meanwhile, violent unrest is sweeping the country, as anti-royalist factions fight to be heard. Then three chimaera are attacked, after revealing their existence with the monarchy's blessing - and the struggle becomes personal. A small sect decimated the chimaera in ancient times and nearly destroyed the world. Now they've re-emerged to spread terror once more. Micah will discover a royal secret, which draws him into the heart of the conflict. And he and his friends must risk everything to finally bring peace to their land. 

To find out more about Laura Lam:

Twitter / Website

Make sure you check out all the stops on the blog tour. 

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Joost had two problems: the moon and his moustache. 

He was supposed to be making his rounds at the Hoede house, but for the last fifteen minutes, he'd been hovering around the south-east wall of the gardens, trying to think of something clever and romantic to say to Anya.

Published by Indigo in September 2015

Pages - 465

Summary

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums. 

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes. 

Kaz's crew are the only ones who might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.

******

If you're ever in the middle of a reading slump, this is the book you want to read to get you out of it. I haven't lost myself in such an outstanding book and invested all my emotions in every character for quite some time. I couldn't read anything else while I was reading it, because I was so caught up with the characters and the world.  I think the last one might have been The Night Circus. Giving Six of Crows five stars on Goodreads, honestly doesn't do it justice, I want to give it ten out of five!

If you haven't guessed yet, I'm seriously in love with this book. I've always enjoyed fantasy but never really thought it was my thing, but after reading this I'm willing to invest all my energy in fantasy books from now on. 

I read the first couple of books of Bardugo's  Grisha series and enjoyed them but I never got around to finishing them. I will definitely go back and reread the series from the beginning. If you compare this book to the Grisha series though, you realise very quickly that Leigh Bardugo has seriously upped her game as this is the best book she has ever written. 

The book revolves around Kaz, known as Dirty Hands, who has a sinister Artful Dodger style personality. He can't be trusted and doesn't show emotion to anyone... to begin with. He pulls together the most colourful and interesting motley crue he can find, each with a past and a hidden reason why they want to help him. Each member is worth getting to know because they are all so well written. The book is told from multiple perspectives and I really think it adds so much depth to the story because you really get involved in each character's world and you are rooting each member's own agenda. 

The plot is intricate and Bardugo must have invested many months in getting it perfect, because it is flawless. As a writer, it's one of those books I want to keep re-reading and picking it to bits to see how this epic story is put together. It also makes me think, why am I bothering to write, because I  will never be able to create a book like this. 

The Grisha world is so detailed and beautifully created, you have a hard time believing it doesn't actually exist. I'm starting to wonder if Leigh Bardugo has a magical entrance to another plane where the World of Grisha actually exists. 

This book is set in Ketterdam, which has strong resemblances to a historical Amsterdam.

The first chapter surprised me, because we never see the characters in it again, which feels like it goes against everything I've been told about the set up of a story. Until you realise that the main character is there, boldly owning the first chapter, because the main character of this book is jurda parem. Jurda parem threatens to change the Grisha world forever. It is deadly and must be stopped. Kaz is only interested in the money he will receive for rescuing the creator of jury parem, but the rest of his employees have different reasons for helping him. 

I loved the relationships within this book. I don't want to say too much about these because I don't want to spoil it for you as these relationships aren't obvious or clear cut from the beginning of the story. 

 I honestly can't wait for the sequel, Crooked Kingdom, which comes out on September 27th! I've not been this excited about a sequel since the last Harry Potter book! 

If you love a good heist along the lines of Ocean's Eleven, but from a fantasy perspective, this is the duet for you!

The Other Alice by Michelle Harrison

Alice Silver had never met anyone who had killed before, but that changed on the day Dorothy Grimes walked past the window of Alice's favourite coffee shop. 

Published by Simon and Schuster on 28th July 2016

Pages -352

Summary

What happens when a tale with real magic, that was supposed to be finished, never was? This is a story about one of those stories . . . 

Midge loves riddles, his cat, Twitch, and ‒ most of all ‒ stories. Especially because he’s grown up being read to by his sister Alice, a brilliant writer.

When Alice goes missing and a talking cat turns up in her bedroom, Midge searches Alice’s stories for a clue. Soon he discovers that her secret book, The Museum of Unfinished Stories, is much more than just a story. In fact, he finds two of its characters wandering around town.

But every tale has its villains ‒ and with them leaping off the page, Midge, Gypsy and Piper must use all their wits and cunning to work out how the story ends and find Alice. If they fail, a more sinister finale threatens them all...

*****

I may be completely biased, because I love everything Michelle Harrison writes. Ever since reading The Thirteen Treasures, I've hailed Michelle as the new Enid Blyton and I still stand by my words. She weaves fantasy with ease into a contemporary setting. 

This book is pure magic! I love that there is a book within the book! This tale brings to life, Alice's characters from her stories. Some are lovely but many are menacing and out to get what they want. For them to return to the story, Alice must finish writing it. When Alice disappears, Midge, Alice's younger brother, struggles to search for and save his sister. He must help her to return the characters back to the fictional world. 

The characters effortlessly spill out of the story into real life. I thought it was excellent how they believed themselves to be alive and really felt their shock  and fear on realising they were just characters from a story. I loved Tabitha, the talking cat, who loves a good cup of tea.

There is a real darkness to this tale, which is very much a signature of Michelle Harrison's style of writing. Her characters are never sweet or innocent. Dorothy Grimes is seriously scary!

The prose is intricately plotted and bursting with descriptive passages. I am in awe of Michelle's plotting abilities. 

The book reminded me how much I loved Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. If you are a fan of Inkheart, you will really enjoy this book.  

Pugs of the Frozen North by Reeve and McIntyre

Winter came in the night, like a white sheet laid over the world. It came so cold and so fast that the waves of the ocean froze as they rolled. The good ship Lucky Star froze with them, trapped tight in the suddenly solid sea.

Published by Oxford University Press in September 2015

Pages - 211

Summary

The Race to the Top of the World! It comes around once in a lifetime, and the prize? Your heart's desire. Shen and Sika can't resist the chance to win, but competition is fierce. The path to victory is littered with snow trolls, sea monsters, and a gang of particularly hungry yetis. But Shen and Sika have something the other contestants don't have. Actually, they have 66 other things; pugs to be exact. That's a 264 paw-powered sled. Let the race begin! 

*****

This book is delightfully bizarre! I'm completely convinced that sixty-four pugs could pull a sled in a race to meet the Snowfather. In fact, I would argue with anyone that doubted it.

From the moment the sea freezes over, I was wrapped up in this story. All the characters are quirky and unique. How could you not love Mitzi Von Primm with her newly grown Yeti fur or Helga Hammerfest and her beard?

The story is mind blowingly original. The Yeti Noodle Bar was the zaniest part of the book and yet so utterly believable. 

Sensitive situations were made extremely child friendly and I imagine children getting comfort from the way the story climaxes. 

I honestly don't know what I loved best - the illustrations or the words. They both work so beautifully together. I think someone should capture the imagination of Reeve and McIntyre and bottle it. It would sell for a thousands on Ebay. When I'm plotting in the future, I shall ponder over the question - what would Reeve and McIntyre do in this situation?  

I can see why these books are such a hit with the kids. They take situations further than extreme and make them down right hilarious. I would say it would suit the more confident reader but it would also be a brilliant book for parents and children to share together. 

What a super talented team.

A Fragment Of Moonswood (Assalay Trilogy I) by Tracey Mathias

A fateful birthday gift… 

It was a piece of soft white stone. Veins glittered through it like caught moonlight. One face was as smooth as new fallen snow; the other was engraved with a pattern of flowing lines. Gaia traced her fingers along the carvings. After a long time, she looked up at Mai. 

‘What is it?’ 

Published by Canfield Dragon Press 2015 

254 pages in softback - available for Kindle too 

Cover Art by Tim Mathias 

Summary from author’s own website 

All anyone knows about the old amulet is that it’s a good luck charm that hasn’t worked. And luck is about to turn worse, plunging Gaia and her brother Tal into undreamed-of dangers and strange discoveries that might change their world for ever… 

***

Reviewed by K. M. Lockwood

I have to be honest - I had my doubts about doing this review. It’s hard to report on a friend’s work - and Serendipity Reviews doesn’t usually handle self-published work. You can imagine why on both accounts. 

BUT I’d said I’d give it a go. After all, the whole trilogy was translated and traditionally published in Germany. 

Quite rightly too. 

This a richly imagined fantasy with layers of meaning. It is ideal for experienced readers from around 11 upwards - family is at the heart of the book but the story inhabits a world touched by Gormenghast-like complexity and threat. The central brother-sister relationship is handled with great heart and a good deal of humour. 

There’s plenty of peril and action to keep you going through the intriguing landscapes - and the city of Freehaven is a marvellous stage set for all sorts of scrapes and near-misses. There’s some lovely lyrical writing at points - but nothing to slow the pace too much. Just moments to savour - and to catch your breath before there’s yet more jeopardy for Gaia & Tal.

Did I mention dragons? And trials and Prohibited Objects? All sorts of mysteries and secrets emerge about The Fellowship who run the country - and some hard choices have to be made by the children. The reader who has stuck with Gaia and Tal through their dramatic adventures will be itching to know how these decisions work out in the sequel: The Singing War. 

Recommended for those who like their fantasy to be both thoughtful and warm-hearted, enjoy a deep sense of history in their fictional worlds and are unafraid of the occasional polysyllabic word!

Half Wild by Sally Green

 

You will have a powerful Gift, 

but it’s how you use it that will show

you to be good or bad.

[The Half Bad Trilogy No 2]

Published by Penguin UK/Viking US March 2015

416 pages in hardback

Cover Art by Deborah Kaplan and team

Summary adapted from Publisher’s website

After finally meeting his elusive father, Marcus, and receiving the three gifts that confirm him as a full adult witch, Nathan is still on the run. He needs to find his friend Gabriel and rescue

Annalise, now a prisoner of the powerful Black witch Mercury. Most of all he needs to learn how to control his Gift - a strange, wild new power that threatens to overwhelm him.

Meanwhile, Soul O'Brien has seized control of the Council of White Witches and is expanding his war against Black witches into Europe. In response, an unprecedented alliance has formed between Black and White witches determined to resist him. Drawn into the rebellion by the enigmatic Black witch Van Dal, Nathan finds himself fighting alongside both old friends and old enemies. But can all the rebels be trusted, or is Nathan walking into a trap?

The Half Bad Trilogy is set in a parallel universe occupied by witches, where light and dark, good and evil are in continuous flux.  It is a journey into adulthood, whereby Nathan must find himself, and his place in the world.  A journey of discovery that will lay bare the best and the worst of humankind.

Reviewed by K. M. Lockwood

I read Half Wild from NetGalley via the publishers in return for an honest review. 

Whatever you do - read Half Bad first. I have now read them the wrong way round - such a mistake! Some series it doesn’t matter too much which order you follow the story in, but in Sally Green’s novels it certainly does.

Not that she doesn’t keep you up to speed in the second book - the plot is clear and given short but necessary recaps at various points. Just enough to keep you going. But it’s the

emotional engagement with Nathan that will work best the right way round. The beginning of Half Bad is so gripping - and you need that grounding to empathise with Nathan.

Both books are certainly distinct from any airy-fairy whimsical view of witchcraft. In many ways, they incline more to the political and psychological thriller.  Decidedly YA territory. I should point out Sally Green does not shy away from the gory details of violence in Half Wild, though there’s not that much swearing to object to and none of it gratuitous in context.

The relationship between Nathan and Gabriel is particularly well drawn - and Celia makes a welcome and intriguing re-appearance. Marcus, of course, comes to the fore too. Those who wanted less ‘fancy writing’ and more action in book 2 get their wish - but those who love the weird stuff (other than the opening) might be a bit disappointed.

This sequel will thrill those hooked on Nathan’s complex personality and the alternative world that Sally Green has created. I don’t want to give spoilers, but it’s enough to say that the nature of Nathan’s major gift is shocking, and graphically portrayed. Not for the squeamish - but utterly part of that setting. For me, Nathan’s relationship with his environment has been one of the strongest features.

I suspect Half Wild might divide readers - some will think it reads better than Half Bad, others will find it less well-written. Much depends on how intrigued you are by Nathan’s conflicted character. If you’re in #TeamNathan already, chances are you’ll love it.

NB. When this second book is over, those desperate for more before Half Lost comes out in a year can read Half Lies. This short story gives insight into Gabriel’s backstory and character from the perspective of Michele his sister.

Secret Serendipity Seven with Taran Matharu

Today I’m pleased to welcome debut author, Taran Matharu, author of The Novice, onto the blog.

Secret 1 - The Novice is a blending of everything I love about fantasy; taking all my favourite elements and adding my own twist and spin to each.

Secret 2 - The first 50,000 words of The Novice were written in the space of one month, when I took part in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). The second half was written in the back of juddering buses as I explored the Australian Outback.

Secret 3 - An early, unfinished draft version of The Novice was read over 1 Million times on Wattpad within four months, 3 Million in six months and 5 Million a year later. I guess you could say it went viral!

Secret 4 - When I came up with the idea behind the Summoner series,I was actually in a bookstore. I was hunting through the fantasy shelves with a specific kind of book in mind, but couldn’t find anything remotely similar. I went home and wrote the first chapter as soon as I got in.

Secret 5 - Racism and class division are major themes in my books. The inspiration for that comes from my own experiences as a child, as one of the only minorities in the private school I attended.

Secret 6 - As of today, The Novice is being translated into 11 languages! That’s pretty cool. I’m also half Brazilian so I get to chat with my Portuguese translator sometimes.

Secret 7 - I just became a full-time author, which is a dream come true! This one isn’t really a secret, I’ll tell anyone. It’s the best job in the world.

 Published May 5th by Hodder Children’s Books

Book Summary

Fletcher was nothing more than a humble blacksmith's apprentice, when a chance encounter leads to the discovery that he has the ability to summon demons from another world. Chased from his village for a crime he did not commit, he must travel with his demon to the Vocans Academy, where the gifted are trained in the art of summoning.
The academy will put Fletcher through a gauntlet of gruelling lessons, training him as a battlemage to fight in the Hominum Empire's war against the savage orcs. Rubbing shoulders with the children of the most powerful nobles in the land, Fletcher must tread carefully. The power hungry Forsyth twins lurk in the shadows, plotting to further their family's interests. Then there is Sylva, an elf who will do anything she can to forge an alliance between her people and Hominum, even if it means betraying her friends. Othello is the first ever dwarf at the academy, and his people have long been oppressed by Hominum's rulers, which provokes tension amongst those he studies alongside.
Fletcher will find himself caught in the middle of powerful forces, with nothing but his demon Ignatius to help him. As the pieces on the board manoeuvre for supremacy, Fletcher must decide where his loyalties lie. The fate of an empire is in his hands ...

To find out more about Taran Matharu:

Twitter / Facebook

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

Kell wore a peculiar coat.

It had neither one side, which would be conventional, nor two, which would be unexpected, but several, which was, of course, impossible.

Published by Tor Books in February 2015

Pages - 400

Summary

Kell is one of the last Travelers—rare magicians who choose a parallel universe to visit.
Grey London is dirty, boring, lacks magic, ruled by mad King George. Red London is where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London is ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. People fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. Once there was Black London - but no one speaks of that now.
Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see. This dangerous hobby sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to another world for her 'proper adventure'.

But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive — trickier than they hoped.

****

To create an alternate version of London is clever, to create four very different versions is simply genius. V.E. Schwab has obviously spent many hours world building for this book, because each London stood out from it’s counterpart and  felt like a character in it’s own right. I’m in awe of the author’s talents.  I found myself completely absorbed by these very different lands and could easily see the transition as Kell stepped from one to another. The London had a real feel of Victorian times, which I  enjoyed.

I loved Lila! She really stood out for me. She has the kick ass persona of Celaena from Throne of Glass, yet the deeply hidden affection of Katniss from The Hunger Games.  I think Lila has a lot of secrets hidden within her, that even she doesn’t truly know about, but as a reader the snippets about her past leave you guessing. I didn’t warm to Rhys, as I’m convinced he will turn out to not be as loyal to Kell as he is in return. I’m sure there are elements of evil and jealousy hidden within Rhys. I’m really looking forward to seeing how the relationship between Kell, Rhys and Lila develops. There’s definitely a  love triangle coming in the next book, I am positive.

The plot was brilliant. The author took us through so many twists and turns that it left me unable to put the book down. I needed to know what would happen next. This book weaves cross dressing, LGBT issues with fantasy and epic adventures. I was lucky enough to read Victoria Schwab’s first book, The Near Witch, a few years ago, which I really enjoyed. With A Darker Shade of Magic, it is clear how far the author has come with her writing. The paragraphs are brimming with descriptions and emotion, touching every sense and feeling.

An epic adventure, beautifully written, flawless through out. This book is way too good to wait for. Buy it!

Guardians of the Wild: A Whisper of Wolves by Kris Humphrey

 

Alice wished that the demons were just ancient history, but she knew better than that. The missing hunters and the changes in the forest were small things, coincidences perhaps, but Alice felt a growing fear that something sinister was behind it all - and she knew Storm and the other wolves shared her suspicions.

224 pages

Paperback due 2nd March 2015 from Stripes Publishing

Summary from Publisher’s website

When a raven drops a white feather at the doorstep on the day of your birth, it is a symbol of your destiny. You are a Whisperer - a guardian of the wild.

Many years have passed since the people of Meridina last knew war, but a shadow has settled over the kingdom. When Alice and her companion, Storm, sense a demonic presence in the forests, they send for help. But they’re running out of time. With the entire balance of the natural world at stake, will Alice and Storm have to face the demons alone?

******

Reviewed by K. M. Lockwood

This is the first in a four-part series featuring different children with animal companions who have to save their world from the evil Narlaw. It’s an appealing concept - and another in the growing trend of featuring the natural world in books for children - hoorah! As anyone who

knows children is aware, animals and nature have a deep resonance with younger readers. Anything that focuses the great outdoors as an alternative to a purely ‘virtual’ existence has a head start for many children - and a place in my heart.

It’s quite short - and fairly easy to read. It does move from Alice’s point of view to Dawn’s on occasion - though not without signal. Any reasonably competent reader would enjoy the adventure as it zips along. There are some frightening scenes - but the resilience of the main characters really helps you feel it will work out - somehow. That means I can recommend it for younger fluent readers - unless they are sensitive about demons and the like. One of the best aspects is the gender balance. This story passes the Bechdel Test - and then some. There are lots of male and female characters in important roles - which is an improvement on many traditional fantasies I have read or watched. I have hopes that the next story ‘Warning Cry’ will be even more inclusive. Surely Nara from the remote savannah with her leopard companion, Flame, won’t disappoint?

This first story has an attractive cover which gives a flavour of the book: full of green forest trees and featuring our heroines, Alice and Storm: I wish I knew who did it to give them due credit.

All in all, an enjoyable fantasy read for the younger fluent reader with a soft spot for magic and animals. I will be interested to see the series progress in summer 2015.

The Elites by Natasha Ngan

There is a rumour that the Elites don’t bleed.

As the boy stand in the corner of the small, shadowy room, his whole body trembling, he thinks, If only I could be an Elite. Clenching and unclenching his hands, he tries to stop the shaking. An Elite wouldn’t feel anything, he thinks. Then: But I will feel it all.

Published by Hot Key Books on the 5th September 2013

Pages - 368

Goodreads  Summary

Hundreds of years into the future, wars, riots, resource crises and rising sea-levels have destroyed the old civilisations. Only one city has survived: Neo-Babel, a city full of cultures - and racial tension.
Fifteen-year-old Silver is an Elite, a citizen of Neo-Babel chosen to guard the city due to her superior DNA. She’d never dream of leaving - but then she fails to prevent the assassination of Neo Babel’s president, setting off a chain of events more shocking and devastating than she could ever have imagined. Forced to flee the city with her best friend Butterfly (a boy with genetically-enhanced wings), Silver will have to fight to find her family, uncover the truth about Neo-Babel and come to terms with her complicated feelings for Butterfly.

******

I feel like I’ve been waiting to read this book for such a long time. Natasha Ngan has been on my radar for quite some time and  I was intrigued about this YA fantasy novel that dealt with such adult topics as politics, class segregation and rebellion. I was impressed with how the author managed to make a political situation, so action packed and fast paced.

The author has created an intricate and highly detailed world which must have taken a long time to evolve. The world felt real, yet you knew it was really imaginary - if that makes sense. The writing is beautiful - such a strong descriptive voice that breathes life into this world. I could easily imagine what this world would look like.

The book is told in third person, but from three different viewpoints in short tightly packed chapters. There were a couple of times where I found myself getting slightly confused as to whose viewpoint I was reading, especially as the first part of the story is mainly Silver’s, but I soon worked this out. The story shows the contrasting lives between the Elite and the children living in the slums of Neo-Babel, which really works well.

I loved the relationship between Butterfly and Silver.  They had known each other all their lives and were only just beginning to realise how they felt. As the romance gently blossomed, it was good to see that it didn’t take centre stage to the main plot revolving around finding out why Silver’s parents disappeared and where they went. In fact, it made an interesting minor plot line.

On the whole a beautifully written debut with stunning imagery and an action packed ending.

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

The shutters swinging in the storm winds were the only sign of her entry. No one had noticed her scaling the garden wall of the darkened manor house, and with the thunder and the gusting wind off the nearby sea, no one heard her as she shimmied up the drainpipe, swung onto the windowsill, and slithered into the second-floor hallway.

Published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books in August 15th 2013

Goodreads Summary

Eighteen-year-old Celaena Sardothien is bold, daring and beautiful - the perfect seductress and the greatest assassin her world has ever known. But though she won the King’s contest and became his champion, Celaena has been granted neither her liberty nor the freedom to follow her heart. The slavery of the suffocating salt mines of Endovier that scarred her past is nothing compared to a life bound to her darkest enemy, a king whose rule is so dark and evil it is near impossible to defy. Celaena faces a choice that is tearing her heart to pieces: kill in cold blood for a man she hates, or risk sentencing those she loves to death. Celaena must decide what she will fight for: survival, love or the future of a kingdom. Because an assassin cannot have it all . . . And trying to may just destroy her.

******

When the book started off a little slow and seemed to spend ages developing the romance between Celaena and Chaol, I was worried. I kept thinking that the book would sink like all the other second books in  a series, after catching the highly contagious ‘Second Book Syndrome.’ However out of nowhere, the author completely smashed it and I came away loving this book even more than the first! This is now officially the best second book in a series EVER!

I love Celaena dearly. She is one of the strongest female characters I have ever come across and in this book we actually discover why she is so tough. The book fits neatly into two halves with each showing a contrasting side of Celaena’s personality.  In the first half  we get to see a lot more of her softer side as her romantic feelings develop. Her relationship with Chaol, the Captain of the Guard, really surprised me. He had always appeared so cold and tough with Celaena, during the first book, that it was really rather refreshing to see a softer side of him appear. In the second half of the book, the nastier, ice cold side of Celaena comes back with a vengeance as she emotionally explodes after some very dramatic events.

What I really love about this author’s book is that she isn’t afraid to completely transform the character’s life. Right from the first novella, we have been through some quite traumatic life changes with Celaena, and with each one you see how it makes her even stronger. At the end of this book, you come away thinking Celaena is about to embark on a whole new situation.

The ending was outstanding. The second half of the book was just so fast and furious, I barely had time to breathe.  The information that was revealed in the last chapter took the book to a whole new level! I was so shocked by what we learn at the end. An almighty ending to pull the rug from beneath you.

This is a truly outstanding second novel where we get a better insight into the reasons motivating our favourite heroine. I honestly can’t wait for the next book to find out what happens next.

Railsea by China Miéville

384 pages

Published in paperback by Pan Macmillan 25 April 2013

THIS IS THE STORY OF A bloodstained boy.

There he stands, swaying as utterly as nay windblown sapling. He is quite, quite red. If only that were paint!

Summary from The Hive

On board the moletrain Medes, Sham Yes ap Soorap watches in awe as he witnesses his first moldywarpe hunt. The giant mole bursting from the earth, the harpoonists targeting their prey, the battle resulting in one's death & the other's glory are extraordinary. But no matter how spectacular it is, travelling the endless rails of the railsea, Sham senses that there's more to life. Even if his captain can think only of her obsessive hunt for one savage mole. When they find a wrecked train, it's a welcome distraction. But the impossible salvage Sham finds there leads to trouble. Soon he's hunted on all sides: by pirates, trainsfolk, monsters & salvage-scrabblers. & it might not be just Sham's life that's about to change. It could be the whole of the railsea.

*********

Reviewed by K. M. Lockwood

This book is Marmite.

It’s got people on trains hunting giant moles. It’s got some of the strangest prose you will ever read, and a narrator who takes you from one scene to another, withholds information and philosophises. There are nonsense words and gruesome moments and humour and a touch of romance too.

The reader is immersed in an extraordinary world - and not one bit of it is explained. You are never told - you have to work things out. This will either thrill or annoy you. 

The more ‘normal’ elements include a hunt for missing parents, plenty of action and plot twists. Whether or not you like Miéville’s highly individual style, it’s hard not to at least approve of a book where strong female characters feature so prominently. Similarly, the appealing main character is so well-drawn, flaws and all, that you have to cheer him on.

I have to say I loved it - and hated it at times, and will have to read it again. You will like this if you enjoy finding your way round an astonishing version of our world somewhere far in the future, and you relish strange musical uses of language. My advice is to roll with it - let it flow and don’t worry if some parts are too dense/weird/ confusing. It’ll maybe make sense one day and the story is too good to miss.

It is aimed at confident readers over eleven. There are gory bits and scary bits - but it does show courageous and inventive young people. It is a challenging read - but in a rewarding and light-hearted way. Highly recommended- IF you like that ‘weird fiction ‘sort of thing.

The Oathbreaker’s Shadow by Amy McCullough

Raim sat in the crook of an old, cracked tree, one leg dangling in the breeze, his head leaning back against the trunk. Long, needle-like leaves shaded him from the oppressive heat and hid him from the view of his grand-father, in case he was looking to assign him yet another chore. He just wanted a moment for himself.

Pages - 405

Published by Doubleday in June 2013

Goodreads Summary

Fifteen-year-old Raim lives in a world where you tie a knot for every promise that you make. Break that promise and you are scarred for life, and cast out into the desert.
Raim has worn a simple knot around his wrist for as long as he can remember. No one knows where it came from, and which promise of his it symbolises, but he barely thinks about it at all—not since becoming the most promising young fighter ever to train for the elite Yun guard. But on the most important day of his life, when he binds his life to his best friend (and future king) Khareh, the string bursts into flames and sears a dark mark into his skin.
Scarred now as an oath-breaker, Raim has two options: run, or be killed.

*****

I was excited about this book from the first time I heard about it and I was really pleased it didn’t let me down. This is an extremely well written, evenly paced action novel that engulfs you and transports you to a world of fantasy.  I can’t believe how quickly I was lost in the story. The premise just blew me away. The idea of promise knots that can be broken to cause someone a life time of misery is just outstanding. Two people make a promise and a knot is tied to represent it. Should the promise be broken, the person would be physically scarred and haunted by a constantly abusive shadow.

The writing is the type that just flows off the page. Each sentence carefully crafted to allow the prose to flow beautifully. It’s the kind of book you want to quote from.

Raim is one of those characters, you instantly admire and care for. On one hand, he is strong and prepared to be the warrior he has trained all his life to be. Yet on the other hand, you see a softer, caring side - a loyal friend and family member, who will do anything to protect the ones he loves. I loved the twist in the relationship between Raim and Khareh, as oaths are finally broken. It was extremely clever how the author portrayed the two opposing versions of Khareh. The emotions of each character are easily identified allowing the secondary characters to stand out just as well as the main ones. 

The setting was breath taking. The author has portrayed the imaginary world of Darhan in such intricate detail, that you can easily visualise it.

The story builds in pace gradually to an epic ending. I really was pleased with the way it ended. A stunning work of fantasy. I am so eager to read the final book in this dualogy.

Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder

Pages - 413

Published by Mira Ink in December 2012

Book received from publisher via Net Galley

'I'm dead,' I said to Kerrick.

He kept his flat expression, and I knew I'd get more cooperation from the cave's stone walls. Too bad for him that I didn't need his approval. But it would be nice if we worked out an agreement at least.

Goodreads Summary

Avry of Kazan, the last Healer of the mystical Fifteen Realms, has a power that can’t be matched. But in the minds of her friends and foe alike, Avry no longer exists. Now, as the psychotic King Tohon builds an army mightier than any that has been seen before—a league of undead soldiers—Avry must face her toughest, most terrifying battle alone. Fighting to be reunited with her family and her lover Kerrick, Avry must infiltrate Tohon’s troops. But does she have the power, the rare magic; to do what legend says is impossible?

********

I love this series! When I read this series, it makes me want to rush out and buy every book by Maria V. Snyder. It is just so good.

This is the second book in the Healer series and before I go any further, I have to tell you to stop reading this review if you haven’t read the first book as it will contain spoilers!

 

*taps feet* *checks watch* *whistles while the people who haven’t read the first book leave the blog*

Are we ready?

Well as you already know, Avry, didn’t die. Nope, she is a living, breathing, snarky yet gutsy girl  out to get her sister back. Even though her sister would rather be eaten alive than spend time with her. So Avry departs on a dangerous mission to save her sister leaving Kendrick behind to return to his army and his own kingdom and prepare to fight against Tohon. The book is told in alternating viewpoints. Avry’s story is told in first person, while Kendrick’s is told in third. I have noticed more and more YA books writing like this lately and I have to say I really like this style of writing.

All the well-loved characters from the first book appear in this one. Kendrick’s men remind me of Robin Hood’s merry men, as they defend Avery at every moment. I loved them all. Avry and Kendrick are still my favourite characters. Unfortunately they don’t spend enough time together in this book for me as I love the sparks that fly in their tempestuous relationship.

Avry’s power is pretty amazing. The way she can take anyone’s illness and pain and make it her own is awe inspiring. However it comes with a price, any scars that the other person would have had become Avry’s and occasionally she pushes her body to the limit and death can often look inevitable for her. I think this power and her need to heal against all odds, shows her incredible strength of character.

Every chapter is short, compact and thrilling, leaving you on a cliff hanger every time as you alternate between points of view. I struggled to stop reading as I always ended up on a cliff hanger and I needed to know what happened next.

The ending! Oh my goodness. That completely left me in shock. I haven’t a clue how Book Three will deal with that.

I am so intrigued by the Peace Lilies and the Death Lilies and the way Avry has such a strong connection to them. The way they work seemed to change dramatically in this book and I am presuming we will learn more in the final book.

A brilliant world building fantasy book with an exciting plot that leaves you breathless. I can’t wait to find out how it all ends. This is the best second book in a series I have read in a long time. It is just as strong if not stronger than the first.

The Icarus Project by Laura Quimby

Image from Goodreads

Review by Sophie Duffy 

Published by Amulet Books, 1st November 2012

293 pages

The computer screen glowed in my dark bedroom like a moon. Mom was late logging on to video-conference with me. My mom was totally into ancient civilisations: Mayans, Incans, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans. She even liked Vikings. Her latest expedition had taken her to the jungles of South America. She had told me that in the jungle nothing dries, that everything stays wet. She said even the moonlight felt damp on her skin, s if she had been bathing in milk.

Good Reads

More than anything, Maya wants to discover something incredible. Her parents are scientists: Her mother spends most of her time in tropical rainforests, uncovering ancient artifacts, and her dad is obsessed with digging up mammoths. When her father gets invited by an eccentric billionaire to lead a team investigating a mammoth’s remains in the Arctic, Maya begs to come along. Upon her arrival at the isolated camp, the mammoth is quickly revealed to be a fake, but there is something hidden in the ice—something unbelievable. Along with a team of international experts, each with his or her own agenda and theory about the mystery in the ice, Maya learns more about this discovery, which will change her life forever.

********

Thirteen year old Maya is a spirited, determined character with a passion for books and learning. With her snow-white hair, she has always found herself on the outside. She is desperate to find her own place in the world of science, like her parents, where she will be accepted for what she does, not how she looks. An unexpected expedition to the Arctic with her father is hopefully the start of this journey.

Quimby writes beautifully and the descriptions of the Arctic are both poetic and atmospheric. She builds a believable setting in which the drama can unfold. And unfold it does.

We soon realise nothing is as it seems at the camp. There is no woolly mammoth buried in the ice. It is something quite different. Something that will be life-changing for all involved.

Maya is the first-person narrator and her voice is authentic and inviting. We navigate the new, unknown landscape of snow and ice through her eyes, emotions and thoughts, feeling the biting cold as she does, and sensing the wonder of it all. When she teams up with Kyle, the son of an anthropologist, they become a dynamic duo, intent on uncovering the intrigue that they know is going on. Their friendship is based on fun, discovery and doing what they think is right - no hint of a romance (which is refreshing!). They have no agenda, just empathy with the mysterious creature that comes from the ice.

What I really liked about ‘The Icarus Project’ is the way Quimby makes this world of mythology and fantasy also very real, based in science, and with a believable strong female lead, a girl on the cusp of womanhood, finding her place in society and full of hope for her future and her desire to do good. The fast-paced adventure is balanced satisfyingly by the beautiful language and the emotional depth of Maya.

A fabulous read.

Witch Crag by Kate Cann

Pages - 376

Published by Scholastic in October 2012

Kita crawled the last stretch of the bramble tunnel on her stomach to protect her face and hands from thorns. Then she wriggled out on to the flint ledge and gazed down at the grasslands that sloped away below. 

Nada's funeral procession had just emerged from the greater outer gates of the hill fort. Two men carried the flimsy stretcher with the old woman's body on it; two boys who had opened the heavy wooden gates and who now ran back in an arc to close them again, followed behind. 

Goodreads Summary

In a tribe where basic survival is the only priority, Kita must make a choice: to accept arranged marriages and being treated with less value than sheep, or escape and journey to the place that even the strongest men fear with their lives — Witch Crag.

But a common threat is facing the witches and sheepmen alike. The tribes must somehow overcome their prejudices and join together if they are to win a war that threatens to destroy everything they hold as good.

*********
For some reason I was expecting this to be really scary, but it wasn't at all. This  was my first Kate Cann novel and I had been led to believe that she wrote frightening books yet this wasn't like that at all. This book was a beautifully written dystopian/fantasy which was reminiscent of the Mad Max films. The world building was fantastic and I found it very easy to immerse myself in the segregated world the author had created. The book follows the journey of Kita, who knows in her heart that there is more to life outside of the gates. Just as should be, she values her life and her own importance and can see the potential of her future, should she escape. At first she is disgusted by Arc, the cocky and arrogant foot soldier, destined to one day lead the sheep people. He treats her like a sexual prize to be had and fears his insistence to mate. When it looks as though she will lose her friend, Quainty, who is to be married off to the horseman, she is quick to put their escape into action. 
Now you're probably thinking that Arc must be a real jerk, and for the first half of the book, I would totally agree with you, but as situations develop and events unfold, Arc changes dramatically. He grows up very quickly, realising that the old ways of life are becoming archaic and dramatic change is needed for their village to survive. I went from hating him to loving him by the end of the book and from what I can gather that was the author's intention.  Kita grows dramatically in this book too;  in the early chapters she appears quite innocent and timid, but as her powers grow she becomes a force to be reckoned with and is soon valued highly by  her peers.
The women were treated really badly in this book. They were seen as being lower than even the sheep they cared for and at times I found myself frustrated by this.  Women were treated like cattle, used for mating and slave labour. Children were born out of necessity and existed without ever knowing of the existence of love. The witches were feared by the other villagers mainly because of lack of knowledge on their behalf. It took time for everyone to learn the truth about Witch Crag.  
The segregated villages were stifling to read about. Each male dominated village seemed to run under a dictatorship and the only one worth living in was the one they feared most of all. 
This book was a really interesting read and one that flowed with ease; I found it extremely easy to read and I was soon lost in the story. I loved learning more about the ways of the witch, a subject that always attracts my interest.
My only niggle  with the book was the ending which I felt told us what would happen rather than actually showing us. It all felt a little rushed and personally I would have liked to have seen an epilogue set in the near future, showing how life had changed and how each society had embraced the new regime. 
Apart from that I loved it and I look forward to reading all the republished books by this author. 

The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver

Review by KM Lockwood

246 pages

published by Hodder & Stoughton October 2012

One night when Liza went to bed, Patrick was her chubby, stubby, candy-grubbing and pancake-loving younger brother, who irritated her and amused her both, and the next morning, when she woke up, he was not.

In fact, he was quite, quite different.

Goodreads Summary

“When Liza's brother, Patrick, changes overnight, Liza knows exactly what has happened: The Spindlers have gotten to him and stolen his soul. She knows, too, that she is the only one who can save him. To rescue Patrick, Liza must go Below, armed with little more than her wits and a broom. There, she uncovers a vast world populated with talking rats, music-loving moles, greedy Troglods, and overexcitable Nids . . . as well as terrible dangers. But she will face her greatest challenge at the Spindlers' nests, where she encounters the evil queen and must pass a series of deadly tests--or else her soul, too, will remain Below forever.

*******

 Both the cover and the short extract above give an accurate flavour of this charming fantasy book, ideal for 8-12 year olds. The world Lauren Oliver creates is full of colour and magic - with a good deal of creepiness. The reader encounters a host of strange creatures such as Lumer-Lumpen, Nocturni , Scawgs and of course, the wonderfully scary Spindlers.

If it sounds all a bit Roald Dahl, that’s not an inappropriate comparison, though there are touches of classical myths and legends, and a dose of traditional folk-tales too.

The author clearly revels in the rhythms and sounds of language, and enjoys detailed description - but that doesn’t mean the story lacks a strong plot. The love and loyalty of a young girl are at the heart of the action. The story is easy to follow, yet the characters are engaging and well-drawn: Mirabella the talking rat in particular.

There are moments of fanciful whimsy and sheer prettiness- and some which are decidedly scary. It won’t suit everyone. Some chapters would not make good bedtime reading for more sensitive souls!

I have only one real criticism - couldn’t somebody have told her that spiders have eight legs and are not insects but arachnids? The copy I read was an uncorrected proof so I rather hope that this has been amended in the final version.

All-in-all, this is a delightful and compassionate read for its intended audience. It would suit being read aloud for less confident readers - or just for fun - and there some important ideas to be discussed about family and friendship. Recommended.

Between The Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer

Reviewed by Georgina Tranter

Published by Hodder & Stoughton on the 5th July 2012

Pages - 361

Once upon a time in a land far, far away there lived a brave king and a beautiful queen, who were so much in love that wherever they went, people stopped what they were doing just to watch them pass. Peasant wives who were fighting with their husbands suddenly forgot the reason for the argument; little boys who had been putting spiders in the braids of little girls tried to steal a kiss instead; artists wept because nothing they could create on canvas came close to approximating the purity of the love between King Maurice and Queen Maureen. On the day they learnt that they were going to have a child, it is said that a rainbow brighter and grander than anything ever seen before arched across the kingdom, as if the sky itself was waving a banner of joy.

Goodreads Summary

Delilah knows it’s weird, but she can’t stop reading her favourite fairy tale. Other girls her age are dating and cheer leading. But then, other girls are popular.

Delilah loves the comfort of the happy ending, and knowing there will be no surprises.

Until she gets the biggest surprise of all, when Prince Oliver looks out from the page and speaks to her.

Now Delilah must decide: will she do as Oliver asks, and help him to break out of the book? Or is this her chance to escape into happily ever after?

*****

Bestselling author Jodi Picoult has teamed up with her teenage daughter Samantha to write a novel for young adults. Between the Lines is the result of this partnership, and as a huge Picoult fan I couldn’t wait to review this title. Would it work, could she write as successfully for a younger audience?

Delilah is a sixteen year old school girl who dreams of happy endings. With divorced parents, Delilah is aware that real-life doesn’t always work out the way you want it to and she seeks solace in the books that she reads. One day in the school library she finds a book on a shelf that she has never noticed before. Taking it home she is immediately drawn into the fairy tale world of King Maurice and Queen Maureen.

She reads and re-reads the book to the extent that she knows every page off by heart, then one day she hears a voice from within the book - Prince Oliver is talking to her! Delilah is the first reader who has ever been able to hear him and they strike up a friendship that develops as time goes on. The big question is, how can they be together when one person lives in the real-world, and the other is trapped inside a book? Suspend your disbelief and think back to the favourite book that you always return to reading (my favourite is Diana Wynne Jones’ Fire and Hemlock) and imagine what could/would happen if the book could come to life.

The book is set into three distinct parts - the fairy tale, Oliver’s story and Delilah’s story and all written in different coloured inks with pictures from the fairy story to accompany the reader into the world of Between the Lines. We follow the story of Oliver and his quest to rescue the beautiful Princess Seraphima from the clutches of the evil Rapscullio. We then learn of Oliver’s desperation to escape the world that he is trapped in and his wish to enter into the real world. Delilah is having a hard time at school, she has already broken the knee of the head cheerleader and is clearly not very popular; she would much rather escape into fiction where things are clearly defined and the ending is always happy.

I loved this book, it’s nearly 400 pages long but it never felt like a struggle. The way that it is broken up makes it really readable, and the illustrations are so beautiful that this is a book I definitely want to share with my daughter when she is old enough. I questioned all of the positive comments that I initially read about this book, could it be that good, and were parents really reading it alongside their daughters - well it is, and they are. No violence, drugs or sex; just pure escapism, romance and fairy tales. Do Delilah and Oliver get their happy ending though? There’s only one way to find out, go between the lines.

If you are a big fan of Jodi Picoult, you might be interested in taking part  Jodi Picoult reading challenge which can be found here organised by the lovely Suko. 

The Movie Maker with Cassandra Rose Clarke

As part of The Assassin's Curse tour, I am really pleased to welcome Cassandra Rose Clark onto the blog to discuss her possible cast  should her book ever be made into a film. 

I adore films as much as I do books.  The two forms of media scratch different itches for me: both transmit stories and human experiences, but books do so though the beauty of language and the poetry of thought, whereas movies revel in auditory and visual beauty.  I’m actually one of those weirdos who will cheerfully pay twenty dollars to see a movie in an IMAX theatre, just because I love being completely subsumed into a movie’s world.

So as you might imagine, I’m jumping at the chance to write a post about a movie version of The Assassin’s Curse. 

The director is a pretty easy choice for me: Alfonso Cuaron. He’s directed some amazing and utterly devastating adult-oriented movies, like Y Tu Mama Tambien and Children of Men (one scene in the latter had me weeping uncontrollably). However, he also directed the third Harry Potter film and was responsible for the shift in tone that transformed those movies from a nice Christmas divergence into something more sinister and adult, befitting the rising threat of Voldemort in the story arc.  And his adaptation of A Little Princess was one of my favourite films as a little girl (before I even had any concept that movies were made by directors).

One of the things Cuaron does so well in both Harry Potter and A Little Princess is balance the human element with a pervading sense of magic. The magic feels not only integral to the world, but realistic, as if it could be a part of our world too. He can also direct a killer action sequence, but he’ll make you cry as you’re watching it. I would love to see how he would approach the characters and events in The Assassin’s Curse.

Next, it’s time for casting, which is a little trickier. I’m not as up on actors as I am on directors, but I’ve got a few choices I think would work.

For Ananna, I would cast Keisha Castle-Hughes, who played the main character in Whale Rider. While she doesn’t look exactly how I picture Ananna (Ananna’s supposed to be fairly curvy), she’s still quite close, and she would do a great job capturing Ananna’s no-nonsense personality.

Naji was a lot tougher. When I was writing the book, I kept picturing Oded Fehr, who’s perhaps most well known for a role in the 90s version of The Mummy. So he has the right look, but he’s about thirty years too old for the part! I would actually love to hear people’s suggestions as to who they think would make a great Naji.

Marjani, however, was a super easy choice: Rutina Wesley, who plays Tara on True Blood. She’s got the same mixture of intelligence and toughness that I imagined in Marjani.

For Tarrin of the Hariri, I’d probably go with Gael Garcia Bernal, because he’s sufficiently dreamy. He’s also pretty good at playing a jerk. That’s Tarrin!

Finally, I thought I’d take a look at some potential location options, if only because location and setting was such a huge part of the book. Here are some of the major ones:

Lisirra:

Ghardaia, in Algeria

The River Canyon:

Bryce Canyon, in Utah, USA

The Isles of the Sky:

Pacific Northwest rain forest

So there’s the framework for my dream Assassin’s Curse movie.  Maybe someday I’ll get to pay twenty dollars to see it in IMAX!

I get the impression Cassandra might have really enjoyed writing this ! Thank you Cassandra for a brilliant post.

The Assassin's Curse is published on the 2nd of October by Strange Chemistry. To read one of the first reviews, please click here. 

*********

As part of The Assassin's Curse blog tour, Cassie is offering up a one-of-a-kind signed and annotated copy of The Assassin's Curse - a copy where she's marked out her favourite scenes, given added extras, and drawn pictures. Because there is only one of these and a number of blogs doing the blog tour, one person from each blog will be chosen to enter a draw where Cassie will pick the overall winner. So if you would like to be in with a chance of winning this very special copy of The Assassin's Curse, then please leave a comment on the post about this book or concerning Cassandra's chosen cast, director or settings and your name may be chosen to enter the final.  This will close at midnight tomorrow - 22nd September. 

**********

To find out more about Cassandra Rose Clarke:

Website: http://www.cassandraroseclarke.com/

Twitter: @mitochondrial