The Road to Ever After by Moira Young

Davy emptied the brooms from his bag. He laid them on the ground according to size. Made of twigs, grass and feathers, there were twelve in all. He used the largest for smoothing the earth in preparation and broadly sketching the outlines. The smaller grass and feather ones were for finer detail.

Published by Macmillan in October 2016

Pages - 240

Summary

Davy David, an orphan, lives by his wits in the dead-end town of Brownvale. When a stray dog called George turns Davy's life upside down just days before Christmas, he sets in motion a chain of events which forces them to flee. A mischievous wind blows the two of them to a boarded-up museum on the outskirts of town where they meet the elderly recluse, Miss Flint. She has planned one last adventure before her time is up and hires the reluctant Davy and George to escort her.

*****

Oh this wondrous book! It gently reaches inside and grabs your soul, holding it up to the sky. It is the most spiritually uplifting book I've read in a long time. You come away from  it, desperate to be a better person. You start to believe in magic. 

Davy  appears like an angel in disguise. I'm not sure if that is how he's supposed to be viewed, but that's how I see him. He has goodness bursting out of him. He is so sensible and wise for such a young boy. When his world collides with Miss Flint's, you struggle to see how they will ever get along. Miss Flint isn't the most friendliest of people. She is extremely crabby, but Davy really can't refuse her offer as he needs to get out of town quickly. As the story progresses you warm to Miss Flint and the relationship she has with Davy softens. You start to wonder who is really saving who.  I loved that this book revolves around the relationship between a child and an elderly adult, because this type of relationship is often so important to a child, especially if they are close to their grandparents.  It reminded me of Goodnight Mr Tom. 

The ending took my breath away. I had to read it twice because it was such beautiful writing and it filled me with hope. If this is heaven, then I want in! 

I can totally see why this book is described as It's A Wonderful Life meets The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, because I couldn't describe it better if I tried. It also reminded me of A Christmas Carol and The Christmas Box. 

 The following quote filled me with promise. 

"And to die is different from what any one supposed."

It portrays death as just another journey we have to go on, but with such a beautiful destination.

This book is like a warm hug during dangerous times. An ideal book to put in a stocking for Christmas Day.

The Magic Potions Shop: The Young Apprentice by Abie Longstaff & Lauren Beard

In the Kingdom of Arthwen,

there was a very unusual shop. 

It wasn't on the high street;

it was deep in the forest. 

It wasn't in a building;

it was inside a tree.

It didn't sell food, or clothes,

or toys: this shop sold potions. 

Published by Red Fox in July 2015

Pages - 160

Summary

Book 1 in the 6-part Magic Potions Shop series, from the creators of the bestselling Fairytale Hairdresser series, Abie Longstaff & Lauren Beard.

Tibben wants to be the Potions Master one day, just like Grandpa, but for now he is an apprentice and there is a lot to learn!

*****

Oh my! If I was a child again and learning to read, this would be the series I'd fall in love with. Not only does the story transport me to a wonderful world full of magical creatures, it also keeps me glued to my seat, so that I find myself reading the story in one sitting. The story is full of magical details, like those you would find in Enid Blyton's books such as The Magic Faraway Tree.

I loved the characters in the book, especially Whizz! Tibben is delightful as he comes to terms with finally learning how to be a potion master. 

 With Lauren Beard's gorgeous illustrations to accompany it, you will find yourself poring over the pictures to make sure you don't miss even the tiniest of details. This type of book would be absolutely gorgeous in hardback & colour.  

A truly magical chapter book!

I've picked up the rest of this series and I'll soon be devouring them all. I also can't wait to read Abie's first non illustrated book, which came out last week. 

Lily and the Christmas Wish by Keris Stainton

Almost everyone Lily knew had gathered in the town hall. Her mum was sitting on her right, humming along with 'O Little Town of Bethlehem', and Lily's seven-year-old brother Jimmy sat next to mum. 

Published by Piccadilly Press in November 2015

Pages - 160

Summary

When a town's Christmas wishes get mixed-up, can one little girl and her dog put them right? 

The little town of Pinewood can't wait for Christmas this year. They're going to celebrate by putting up a giant Christmas tree in the town square, and asking all the townspeople to hang a Christmas wish on its branches. Everyone is feeling very festive, including nine-year-old Lily - although she's not sure she believes in wishes. Then a very strange storm blows in, scattering all the wishes...and Lily wakes up the next morning to a bit of a surprise. Bug, her adorable pug puppy, can talk! It's magic - and a wish come true! But it's not Lily's wish...

Lily and her little brother James soon discover that something must have happened during the storm - the town's wishes have been granted, but to all the wrong people! Lily, James and Bug must work out which wish belongs to who, and sort everything out before Christmas Eve - otherwise no one will get what they want for Christmas.

****

I picked this book up just to read the first chapter, to get a feel of what it was all about. Two hours later, I realised I'd read the whole book without stopping! I absolutely LOVED IT!

Keris Stainton immerses you into the gorgeous little town of Pinewood, which is something like the Christmassy towns you see on the Christmas channel. It's seriously heartwarming and you soon discover the Christmas spirit has embraced you. I seriously want to visit shops such as Our Daily Bread and Kate's Kakes. 

Lily and James are adorable, but I do think the star of the book has to be Bug the Pug. I won't let out any secrets, but readers, you are going to love him!

All the characters are adorable yet current, which will help to make this a modern day classic. 

This book could easily be made into a film. And it has the potential for merchandise with it. I want a Bug Pug soft toy! Seriously, someone pass this book onto Debbie Isitt, the director of the Nativity films, because I'm positive she will love it.

Everyone Christmas I normally recommend a book to go into a child's  Christmas stocking, this will be the book I'm recommending this year. 

I really hope we get to revisit Pinewood and it's inhabitants again one day as I'm sure that  town has more magic hidden within it. 

The Secret Fire by CJ Daugherty & Carina Rozenfeld

"Jump!'
The voice was as cools the night. Each turned around - he looked more amused than afraid.
'You really want to do it?' Clutching his chest, he pretended to quiver. 'But... but... I might get hurt.'

Published by Atom Books in September 2015

Pages - 424

Summary

French teen Sacha Winters can't die. He can throw himself off a roof, be stabbed, even shot, and he will always survive. Until the day when history and ancient enmities dictate that he must die. Worse still, his death will trigger something awful. Something deadly. And that day is closing in.

Taylor Montclair is a normal English girl, hanging out with her friends and studying for exams, until she starts shorting out the lights with her brain. She’s also the only person on earth who can save Sacha.

There’s only one problem: the two of them have never met. They live hundreds of miles apart and powerful forces will stop at nothing to keep them apart.

They have eight weeks to find each other.

Will they survive long enough to save the world?

*****

Reviewed by Vivienne Dacosta

Ever since  I heard CJ Daugherty talking about The Secret Fire at YALC, I've wanted to read it. I really enjoyed reading her Night School series, even though I'm still a bit behind in it. So I knew this would be as dynamic and fast paced as Night School is. I was intrigued by the prospect of reading a book written by a duo as it isn't something I read that often, but does appear to be becoming more popular in YA and MG fiction.
 I love that we are thrown into the action from the first scene where we find Sacha being told to jump off something that sounds extremely high. All I could think of was that the main character was about to peg it in the first paragraph! But no, the authors are playing with us and we are swept up into a dramatic chase that keeps us running all the way through the book as we jump effortlessly from France to England and back again.  I'm guessing that Carina wrote Sacha's POV and CJ wrote Taylor's, but I could be horribly wrong. As a writing team, they have created an action packed book, where their voices blend seemlessly and beautifully together.
I really think this series will appeal to readers who have grown up loving Harry Potter. It has that dark magical feel to it, only more contemporary and more dangerous. The book ends on a pause in the drama, where we know the characters will soon be back to deal with the disasters that are in their not too distant future.
I loved the relationship between Sacha and Taylor. By rights, they should hate each other, but their attraction to each other sets the pages alight. 
I honestly can't wait for Book 2!!! I need to know what happens next. An excellent writing team, creating a screen worthy series. 

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!

Dirty Magic by Jaye Wells

It was just another messed-up night in the Cauldron. Potion junkies huddled in shadowy corners with their ampoules and pipes and needles. The occasional flick of a lighter’s flame illuminated their dirty, desperate faces, and the air sizzled with the ozone scent of spent magic.

I considered stopping to harass them. Arrest them for loitering and possession of illegal arcane substances. But they’d just be back on the street in a couple of days or be replaced by other dirty, desperate faces looking to escape the Mundane world.

Published by Orbit in 2014

385 pages in paperback plus 5 bonus interview pages

Summary and extract from Orbit books

Dirty magic - it's dangerous, illegal and twice as addictive as cocaine.

The Wire with wizards - in a world where illegal magic is as dangerous and addictive as hard drugs, police detective Kate Prospero is cleaning up the streets.

The last thing patrol cop Kate Prospero expected to find on her nightly rounds was a werewolf covered in the blood of his latest victim. But then, she also didn't expect that shooting him would land her in the crosshairs of a Magic Enforcement Agency task force, who wants to know why she killed their lead snitch. The more Prospero learns about the dangerous new potion the MEA is investigating, the more she's convinced that earning a spot on their task force is the career break she's been wanting. But getting the assignment proves much easier than solving the case. Especially once the investigation reveals their lead suspect is the man she walked away from ten years earlier—on the same day she swore she'd never use dirty magic again. Kate Prospero's about to learn the hard way that crossing a wizard will always get you burned, and that when it comes to magic, you should be never say never.

*******

Reviewed by K. M. Lockwood

This fantasy is very definitely not for children: I would say 16+. It’s also not appropriate for anyone who dislikes swearing - I changed the fifth word in the extract for example. In fairness, the language is what you might expect in such a downtown city setting - if anything, it’s toned down.

The first in an urban fantasy series, this establishes our heroine Kate Prospero as an assertive, sometimes abrasive, crime-fighter - with some serious back story. Think of a high intensity, cynical fast-moving cop show - but with alchemy - and you’ve got the idea. Very American - in a good way.

There’s no shortage of action, revelations and plot shifts to keep the reader intrigued. Jaye Wells slips family drama into the bubbling pot, and if it were a film, it would definitely pass the Bechdel Test. There are plenty of strong female characters to enjoy.

For my own tastes the most successful element is the portrayal of the dirty magic itself - which happens fairly late on in the story. The use of alchemy in a parallel contemporary gangland culture is rather different and convincingly shown. Readers will be interested to see how the turf wars between the various covens develop in future books.

In short, this is an adult cop fantasy book which will suit readers who want a quickly paced plot, with some hints of romance, in a grimy city setting. They should also appreciate some gory moments, wise-cracking, courage and cynicism. A really good read if that’s to your taste.

The Shadow Lantern by Teresa Flavin

‘Besides, who wants to walk home through that? ‘

She nodded at the wind and rain lashing at the cafe’s picture windows.

‘It’s just a bit of weather. ‘

Ellie shrugged. ‘Or are you scared the ghosties will get you?’

‘I think all the ghosties are in here.’ 

Blaise waved his hand at the Halloween decorations hanging on every wall and door. Ellie laughed and hurried away. ‘And all the ghouls too,’ said Sunni under her breath, looking sideways at a table of boys teasing a girl across the room

‘Wonder how long it’ll Shug and his mates to start on us.’

 

Published by Templar May 2013

304 pages

Summary from Templar Publishing

The concluding part of the critically acclaimed time slip adventure.

When a mysterious old oil lantern and a box of painted slides appear at Blackhope Tower, Sunni and Blaise are drawn back to the place where their adventures first began. On discovering that the slides conceal secrets about artist-magician Fausto Corvo, the pair find themselves caught up in a deadly pursuit. An old enemy is still tracking Corvo and he will stop at nothing to find him.

Sunni and Blaise must fight to protect Corvo's secrets and rid themselves of Soranzo's evil threat once and for all.

*******

Reviewed by K. M. Lockwood

As can be seen from the attractive cover, this darkly supernatural mystery story will please many readers who love art and magic. Ideally, you need to be good at imagining strange settings, and slipping in and out of different times. It will help if you enjoy books where the point of view shifts so you can see the action from different angles, and you’re happy with a complex plot.

The main struggle involves a raft of characters, all of whom are after a set of magical paintings. There are ghosts and skeletons and a cat that can see strange things - not to mention the weird paintings themselves. There is also a nicely drawn relationship strand - but it’s not over-dominant.

It is the end of the trilogy begun with The Blackhope Enigma and continued with The Crimson Shard. I haven’t read the other two - but I didn’t need to. The author has made a great effort to make sure the reader knows the relevant events from the earlier novels. Similarly, although the contemporary part of the story has a Scottish setting, it could be read by any English speaker from Hawaii to The Philippines without confusion.

It is a story full of striking images- and this is further developed by the use of Teresa Flavin’s own illustrations in the text. Other publishers take note - in a world of graphic novels and highly visual media, this really adds to the book as a whole.

Confident readers of nine and over who like unravelling mysteries and exploring eerie worlds full of artistic creepiness may well enjoy all three books in sequence.

Undercover Magic by Ellie Boswell

Pages - 247

Published by Atom - Summer 2012

Sophie Morrow groaned and pulled the duvet over her head as the house filled with clattering and noise. There was no way it was time to get up!

Goodreads Summary

Sophie and Katy should be the worst of enemies - witches and witch hunters just aren't supposed to be friends! So they've got to try and keep their special powers a secret from their friends and family if they want their BFF-dom to last.

But when Sophie's grandmother goes missing in mysterious circumstances, the girls are willing to try anything to find her. Even if it means risking revealing themselves. Can they keep their magic undercover and get back to Turlingham Academy in one piece.

******
This really is a lovely refreshing and modern series for tweens. Sophie is a sassy girl with her finger on technology, there is no escaping modern times in this book, as she texts and downloads music. Though Sophie isn't just a sassy tween, she is also a witch, whose best friend has been sent to get rid of her! Sophie and Katie have a very unique friendship because if Katie's family knew the truth, Sophie wouldn't still be able to use magic; she would be on her way to madness as Katy's family would destroy her new talent.  

This book delves further into Sophie's history and we learn a lot more about her family and where her magic came from as she embarks on a school project to discover her family tree. Sophie learns about some new family members and finds herself reunited with ones she never thought she would see again. Sophie also plays as match maker between her friends as she gently nudges her friends together. As for her own love life, well that looks like it is about to take a very unsuspecting turn. 

I love the setting of this series -  the building is so old and Gothic in style, fitting perfectly with the old school magic that spirals through the story. I enjoyed getting to know more about the history of witches and their rivalry with the witch hunters, showing that life wasn't always such a constant battle between the two. 

My only niggle with this book is that sometimes events are solved too easily - there appears to be no build up. For instance certain characters suddenly returning with a lame excuse for their reasons for staying away. However, I then remember that this book isn't aimed at adults, it is aimed at the 8 to 12 year old age bracket and they would be more than happy with the reasons given. 

This series  is an easy read and one I would definitely recommend for reluctant readers as the books can easily be read in one sitting. 

666 Park Avenue by Gabriella Pierce

Pages - 294

Published by Canvas, an imprint of Constable and Robinson in August 2012

'Twirl.'

Jane Boyle spun obligingly, her skirt flaring in a satisfying burst of green silk. She  craned her neck for a glimpse of the back in the boutique's narrow mirror,but it was hard to tell what she'd look like when she wasn't twisting around like a lime coloured flamingo. This, she reminded herself, was why friends were so essential to the shopping process - especially when shopping to impress a man who was an unrepentant fan of the back view. Jane had spent every lunch hour that week hunting for the perfect dress, but by Thursday it had become clear that she needed an expert's help. 

Goodreads Summary

What if your mother-in-law turned out to be an evil, cold-blooded witch . . . literally?

Ever since fabulously wealthy Malcolm Doran walked into her life and swept her off her feet, fledgling architect Jane Boyle has been living a fairy tale. When he proposes with a stunning diamond to seal the deal, Jane can't believe her incredible luck and decides to leave her Paris-based job to make a new start with Malcolm in New York.

But when Malcolm introduces Jane to the esteemed Doran clan, one of Manhattan's most feared and revered families, Jane's fairy tale takes a darker turn. Soon everything she thought she knew about the world—and herself—is upended. Now Jane must struggle with new found magical abilities and the threat of those who will stop at nothing to get them.

*********

Well this book really does have the mother in law from hell! Organising your wedding is hard enough to deal with, without throwing in the Wicked Witch of the West, intent on killing all your new friends who might just tell you the truth about the skeletons hiding in the diamante and gold edged cupboards of your family to be.

Poor, poor Jane! She really has no idea what is going on with Malcolm's family and you feel this dread filling up your stomach as she slowly discovers the truth.  I knew a little about what to expect from this book, but it was still uncomfortable finding out about the new family at exactly the same time as the protagonist did.

Jane's relationship with Malcolm left me unhappy as I was so hoping for a beautiful outcome, however it does seem that blood runs thicker than water, especially if you have magic bursting through your veins. Malcolm's mother, Lynne, is like the modern day version of Cruella De Ville. There is nothing but poison running through her body; she manipulates everyone and everything to selfishly get her own way - no one else is allowed to make a decision in her family. You really wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of her, yet Jane really held her own, as she came to terms with her new found talents and explored and strengthened her  own magic. She wasn't about to play the dumb and dutiful daughter in law in the way Lynne wanted; she had the guts and intelligence to take her on.

I did enjoy this book and I found the plot to be very good indeed. It did dip a little in the middle, once Jane discovered the truth about Lynne, but it then soon picked up and sped to the final confrontation. The characters were interesting yet they were overshadowed, as they should be, by the powerful Lynne who ruled the book. For me, this book felt like a mix of Gossip Girl and Charmed. You had the mean bitchy society girls playing with magic. I loved the setting of the book, as Jane flitted from the cosmopolitan streets of Paris, to the American royalty region of Manhattan.  This book is full to the brim of glamour and glitz, fused with magic and power, resulting in an explosive setting for the rich and famous of New York. 

An excellent foundation for the series and definitely one I am looking forward to reading more about. 

Inspire Me! with Abi Burlingham, author of A Mystery for Megan

Today I am really pleased to have Abi Burlingham on my blog to discuss her inspiration for her new children's book entitled 'A Mystery For Megan', hopefully the first book of many in the Buttercup Magic series, which will be available to buy from the 26th of April . I have spoken to Abi quite a bit recently via Twitter and I am a big fan of her weekly blog posts which you can find here. 

I have always been fascinated by the idea of other worlds, but also like to make the most of the real one that I am in. People have often described me as having ‘one foot in another world’ - I think this is fairly accurate - one foot somewhere mysterious, one firmly planted on terra firma!

The idea for Buttercup Magic actually came to me in a dream, a very lovely and strange one, but the story itself was also influenced by some of the books and TV programmes that I loved as a child.

My favourite book was C.S. Lewis’s, ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’. I was enchanted by the magical world and by the fact that it was reachable through the back of a wardrobe. To my mind, this was saying that magic was just one step away, that it was available to anyone who let it in. I gladly let it in - my whole childhood was about escaping to other worlds, something I still continually do as a writer. I wanted to convey a similar sense of magic in Buttercup Magic. But, I wanted the two main characters, Freya and Megan, to remain in their world - one foot in, one foot out.

In this aspect, the books that most influenced this sense of adventure in the real world, were the Famous Five books, not any one in particular. I only had about five or six, as I remember, but the appeal of them was that the children always got wrapped up in some sort of mystery or adventure, and the reader would puzzle away to work out what this was. When I began writing Buttercup Magic, I realised that I wanted to combine these two ideas, the other worldliness of ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’, and the down to earthness of The Famous Five… so this is what I did - at least, I hope I managed to achieve that.

The biggest influence over one of the central characters, the big golden dog, Buttercup, was a wonderful programme I watched as a child called ‘Belle and Sebastian’. It was in French and was
about a little boy and his dog, Sebastian. I loved it! I loved any programmes about animals - ‘Black Beauty’, ‘White Horses’ and ‘Follyfoot Farm’ were all firm favourites. But Belle and Sebastian, partly, I think, due to it being in French, the music and the beautiful settings, completely captivated me. I loved Sebastian, the golden retriever; hence, Buttercup, became a golden retriever, which in turn inspired his name, the name of the house - Buttercup House -and one of the plot threads, that buttercups appear when Buttercup is around.

My all time favourite TV programme (and I have a DVD collection of them) was Noggin the Nog, by the wonderful and amazing Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin. Although it hasn’t directly influenced the story of Buttercup, it so seeped into me that it subconsciously influences a lot of the things I write. Again, it was a programme I found completely magical, about another world, The Northlands, with the Nooks, Graculus - the huge green bird who would take to the skies - the Ice Dragon and the Flying Machine. Along with the gorgeous tones of Oliver Postgate, I would be completely mesmerised by it… I confess, I still am and can curl up in my chair and watch the DVDs for hours!

Buttercup Magic wasn’t especially influenced by any particular music. However, I was listening to Arcade Fire’s, ‘The Suburbs’ at the time. I hadn’t chosen it to go with the story though. At the same time as writing Buttercup, I was also working on an idea for quite a gritty novel, and The Suburbs suited it perfectly. So, I’d switch from the novel to Buttercup, while still listening to the same music. I don’t think any of the lyrical grittiness of The Suburbs seeped into Buttercup Magic, but the songs are very up-beat, and so is Buttercup, so maybe it did influence it, just a little bit!

Thank you Abi for this post. It was definitely a trip down memory lane for me.


To find out more about Abi Burlingham:
Website: http://www.abiburlingham.talktalk.net/index.html
Twitter: @AbiBurlingham
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AbiBurlingham


Pop back this afternoon for my review of the book.

Firespell by Chloe Neill

Pages - 278
First published in 2010 by Gollancz. This copy published by Indigo in March 2012.

They were gathered around a conference table in a high rise, eight men and women, no one under the age of sixty-five, all of them wealthy beyond measure. And they were here, in the middle of Manhattan, to decide my fate. 


Goodreads Summary
Lily's parents have sent her to a fancy boarding school in Chicago filled with the ultra-rich. If that wasn't bad enough, she's hearing and seeing bizarre things on St. Sophie's creepy campus. Her roommate, Scout, keeps her sane, but keeps disappearing at night. When one day Lily finds Scout running from real-life monsters, she learns the hard way that Scout is involved in a splinter group of rebel teens. 

They protect Chicago from demons, vamps, and dark magic users. It's too bad Lily doesn't have powers of her own to help. At least, none that she's discovered yet...  

**********

Everyone knows I love a witch book and this one didn't disappoint. Chloe Neill's first offering for The Dark Elite series was seriously good.  Although technically they are not witches; they have powers, each one different, but they can do spells, so in my eyes they are sort of witches!

Lilly and Scout were amazing characters. I loved the instant banter between them as they enjoyed each others company. Their conversations peppered with humour, instantly found me loving them both.  I loved Lilly's voice, she was really a cool character, humorous in times of stress too.

The series is set in Chicago and I felt the writing really gave you a good feel for it; the attention to detail really encompassed your senses, allowing you to virtually walk into the setting. It definitely made me intrigued enough to want to find out more about Chicago. 

In this book there are hot boys all over the place, as you find Scout and Lilly fluttering their eyelids at them all. You find you don't know which one to look at first. 

This book really sets up the whole series. It felt like we were only seeing the tip of the iceberg we about to crash into as the series  begins to develop. Lots of unanswered questions, leaving you desperate for the next book. 

I loved the pace of the book and I found I couldn't put it down once I had started reading it. If you like books about boarding schools and magic, then this one will be just the book you are looking for. 

Watch Over Me by Daniela Sacerdoti

Pages -247

Published by Black and White Publishing in 2011

The strangest, most amazing day of my life, the day that changed my perception of life and death, started like any other. I woke up in the world I've always known, I went to sleep wrapped in a mystery.

Goodreads Summary
Eilidh Lawson's life has just been turned upside down. Her marriage is ending and she's lost her much longed-for baby. Mentally and physically exhausted, she's not sure what to do but feels oddly compelled to return to Glen Avich, a small village in the Scottish Highlands, where her family has lived for generations. Here, she meets her best friend from childhood, Jamie McAnena, who is raising his daughter alone. Following the death of his mother, Elizabeth, Jamie has resigned himself to being a family of two, closing himself off and devoting his life to his daughter, Maisie. What none of them can know is that it is Elizabeth who has called Eilidh back to Glen Avich. Though dead for three years, she has not been able to leave Jamie behind in his lost and lonely state. Now, she starts working behind the scenes for Jamie and Eilidh to get close again, but both are scared of repeating the past and Elizabeth's influence can only reach so far. An ethereal tale narrated from several different perspectives, "Watch Over Me" is a beautifully written debut novel. It is a poignant yet subtle story about letting go and moving on - with a little bit of help from beyond the grave.

**********

As I began to read this book, I was completely unaware of how the author was quietly captivating me and drawing me into the story. If you look at the book as a whole, you realise it is a basic love story, yet as you delve into the layers of the story you find it is so much more. There is magic hiding within the chapters.

The little village of Glen Avich, is enchanting. It reminded me of the mythical Scottish town in Brigadoon, one of my favourite musicals ever. It seems like a town that hasn't aged with time. Everyone still knows everyone else's business and goes about the same thing just as they have done since they were children. 

I hated  putting this book down, as I needed to find out what would happen and I found myself desperate not to let go of this book, once I had finished it. I was so mesmerised by this beautiful village and its inhabitants, I was sad to finish it. I wanted to find the village and move there. Search out the characters to see how their lives had progressed, because the way they were written had brought them to life for me. There wasn't a character in the book, that I did not feel empathy for. I was convinced I could see snippets of people I know within them. 


This book has a strong theme to it. It is about learning to accept the past in order to help you move on with the future. The characters had been trapped by the events of their past, which seem to cloud their judgement of the decisions they should make. However, a little helping hand from the spiritual side of life, helps to bring them together. 


The book reminded me of two of my favourite authors. It had the warmth of Beth Hoffman's book and the magic of the books by Sarah Addison Allen. A book I will treasure and read again and again. I feel like I should buy hundreds of copies and give them out in the street. If you want a mesmerising, captivating read that presents the circle of life in such a magical way, then I suggest you read this book. 

A Tangle of Magicks by Stephanie Burgis

Pages - 285
Published by Templar on the 1st August 2011
Book kindly sent by publisher.

1803
My brother Charles was a hopelss gamester, a ridiculous over-sleeper, and the one sibling too lazy to take part in any family arguments, no matter how exasperating our sisters might have been (and usually were). 
But he had one shining virtue as an older brother: he was infinitely persuadable. 


Goodreads Summary
After her antics in A Most Improper Magick, Kat Stephenson is back to cause more chaos! Stepmama drags the family to Bath to find Kat's sister a new suitor. But, unknown to most of its gossipy visitors, Bath is full of wild magic. When Kat uncovers a plot to harness this magic in the Roman Baths, she finds her brother Charles is unwittingly involved. Kat must risk her new found magical powers as she defies the Order of the Guardians to foil the plot and clear her brother's name.

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A Tangle of Magicks is the second book in The Unladylike Adventures of Kat Stephenson. As mentioned in my review yesterday, I do like to see whether or not a book which is part of a series can be read as stand alone and this one definitely can. This is a whole new adventure for Kat and I didn't find myself searching for information from the previous book in order to aid my reading experience. 

However, on saying that, it did take me a couple of chapters to work out who was magical and who wasn't in the story.  Once I had worked that out, I found the first few chapters are bursting with action and I find myself quickly immersed in the story.  

The book is set during the Regency period and is told in first person by Kat. She is a brilliant character, so mischievous and always in the middle of any trouble occurring. She is sassy and sarcastic, which often left me chuckling. Kat came across as a cross between Nancy Drew and Harry Potter. I did struggle a little with her age and I couldn't help feeling that she often came across as being older than twelve. Her mannerisms and actions seemed  quite bold for a young girl during that era, however as I wasn't around during the 1800's I really couldn't comment on the characteristics of a 12 year old from a well to do family.

Lucy was my favourite character within the book. She transforms from such an innocent girl to an intelligent young lady with a glint of magic in her eye. She became an ideal sidekick for Kat, as she helped her to solve the mystery that occurred, whilst finding herself in immense danger. She really was a kindred spirit for Kat and I do hope she will return in future adventures with Kat.

I love the shock and horror that occurs on the residents of Bath, as they witness magic with their own eyes. The shame brought on the families by public shows of magic, believing many people to view it as an illness. 

The story is set in Bath and the author manages to weave in true facts about the area into the fiction. I am a sucker for a  story based on weird and wonderful facts, so this really appealed to me and made me curious to visit Bath. 

The book has a very climatic ending where a rather sinister event reminded me of one of the Ghostbusters films. I am not going to say anymore as it would give away the plot.  There are a few rather devious villains within the plot, yet my super sensitive crime solving nose worked out the culprit early on. 

A quick nerdy moment here. This is a rather unusual thing to really like, but I have to say. I loved the font style and size the book was written in. OK, nerdy moment over. 

An enjoyable read that had me giggling quite a lot.  A tale where magic and a sassy lead character manage to save the day. I look forward to reading more adventures with Kat and hopefully Lucy too. 

Other reviews of this book.

Chicklish

So Many Books, So Little Time

Steph Likes Books

Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton

Pages - 405

Published by Doubleday, an imprint of Random House Children's Books in July 2011

Book kindly sent by publisher for an honest review.

I am Josephine Darly, and I intend to live forever.


Silla is suffering since finding both her parents dead in her home. She has lost weight and friends as they alienate her, convinced that her father went mad and killed her mother. So Sdilla loses herself in the unexpected mysterious spell book that arrives at her home. The book draws her in and binds her to Nick, the new boy in town who has a chilling past of his own.

What begins as a simple exploration of magic, turns into a deadly race to save lives.

*********

The book is told from the viewpoints of the two main characters, Nick and Silla, as well as stepping back in time for us to read notes from the diary of Josephine Darly. 

I loved the concept of this book and found it be fresh and original. It took the theme of magic to a different level and drew me in from page one. The story is extremely dark, so don't expect everything to leave you satisfied and happy by the end.  The writing is very atmospheric and draws you in straight away.

Silla was a fantastic main character. She was so strong,despite everything that she suffered. Most people would be heading for a straight jacket by the time they had endured all she had, but she comes out of the situation stronger. Reece was an adorable character too, who looked after his sister right until the end. The relationship between Nick and Silla was very strong and you could feel the intensity flowing over the pages. With each new trial, they are brought closer and closer together.

I am so pleased that this book did not have a cliff hanger ending. Thankfully everything is wrapped up beautifully by the end of the book.

My only quibble is that I would have liked the identity of the murder to be kept a secret just a little bit longer. What can I say, I am a red herring girl who likes to be kept guessing!

This book is not for faint hearted. I don't think I have ever come across so much blood and gore in one book, but it is so essential to the plot. However if you are Haemophobic you might want to bypass this book.

On the whole a fantastic debut that leaves you wanting more. I can't wait to see what else Tessa Gratton will produce in the future. 

The Girl With Glass Feet by Ali Shaw

Pages - 292

Published by Atlantic Books in 2010

She'd developed a particular way of walking to accommodate her condition. Step, pause, step, instead of step, step, step. You needed that moment's pause to make sure you'd set your foot straight. Like the opening gambits of a dance. Her boots were thick and padded, but one accidental fall or careless stumble could do irreparable damage that would finish her off for good, she supposed. That would be that.

I know there have been mixed reviews about this book lately, but I have to say I absolutely loved it and it will be one of those books that I will always keep and read again and again.

This book tells the haunting tale of Ida Maclaird who has developed an unusual medical condition - she is slowly turning to glass, beginning with her feet. She is determined to stop the change and heads back to the enchanted island where she believes the transformation began. Once on the island, she searches for the island reclusive Henry Fuaw, who she believes knows something about her condition.

Whilst on the island, she meets Midas Crook, a young lad whose life seems to have stood still. Midas begins to help Ida in her search and a transformation begins within him. As they begin to fall in love, Midas begins to experience life and learns to let his past go.

This book is just full to the brim of heart ripping emotion. It basically puts immortality in the forefront of your mind and makes you realise that every day does matter and needs to be lived in, not bypassed for another time. Before Midas and Harry came into contact with Ida, there lives were basically at a standstill. They were not really living, they were just existing, yet through her quest for life, they learnt to go for the things they want to experience.

This book is about transformations. It deals not only with Ida's transformation to glass, but also with the transformation of relationships from non existent to full blown love. It also deals with the transformation of personalities, every person Ida touches changes the way they live.

The story begins with just two characters, but by the end you have a whole cast who are all linked to each other via different channels. The links between them are gradually given as the story proceeds.

The writing was detailed and rich with beautiful descriptions. Through the lens of Midas's camera, you begin to look at the minutest things in life with more detail. A raindrop, an icicle and a white orchid all require a closer look next time you see them. This is one of those books that cannot be read quickly, it requires you to devour the detailed information provided and needs to be contemplated afterwards.

Ida is a wonderful character, even though she is slowly turning to glass, she is such a warm and giving person, almost blowing life into the people she meets. She accepts her condition with grace and lives for the day. She reminded me of those courageous cancer victims you read about, who know they have a limited time on Earth, yet take the bull by the horns and really experience the joy of living.

The book is set in an imaginary setting where an archipelago of islands make up St Hauda's Land. You experience these islands during the height of winter and the book offers you vivid descriptions of snow covered landscapes. You get the feeling that you might just find these islands just above Scotland, hidden by mist, yet just waiting for you to discover them. Although the story is full of magical realism, is is not unbelievable or far fetched. The way the author describes events you could actually believe them happening. The medical condition that Ida suffers with, is written so well and in such detail, you feel that you could open up a medical dictionary and be guaranteed to find the condition. This is magic realism at it's best.

Shaw's book reminded me a little of Sarah Addison Allen books, only The Girl With Glass Feet is lot sadder and more haunting.

I absolutely loved this book from the beginning to the end and I was really disappointed when I had finished it. I look forward to reading more from Ali Shaw.

Other reviews of this book.

Paperback Reader

Reading Thru The Night

Kyusi Reader

Booklust

Passionate Booklover

Flyte by Angie Sage

Pages - 521 (gulp!)

Published in 2006 by Bloomsbury.

Challenges - RIP, Reliquiae and 100 books.

First paragraph

It is night on the Marram Marshes; a full moon shines down on the black waters and illuminates the night-time Things who are going about their business. Silence hangs in the air, broken occasionally by the glugs and gurgles of the Quake Ooze as the creatures tha tlive beneath it make their way to a feast. A huge ship with a full complement of sailors has sunk into the Ooze and Things are hungry- but they will have to fight the Quake Ooze Brownies for the leftovers.

This is the second book in the Septimus Heap series. I reviewed the first one, Magyk , here.

This is not going to be a long post, as it would be pointless for you to read if you have not read the first book in the series. All I will tell you about the story line is that Septimus has now become the ExtraOrdinary Wizard's Apprentice and is quickly becoming a very capable magician. During this book, his sister, the Princess has been kidnapped by someone meddling in the Darke side. Septimus is shocked by the identity of the kidnapper and with the help of his family sets out to rescue her and save the ExtraOrdinary Wizard at the same time.

I am really enjoying this series of books. As a sequel, it did not disappoint, in fact I thought the storyline was actually an improvement on the first and seemed to have a better direction. Septimus has grown in character and strength and now has more belief in his potential as a Wizard. You cannot help but love the characters in the book.

Within this book, the Darke side, gets darker and nastier, in the same way that the Harry Potter books get darker with each one.

These books are long, but really are quite quick to read. I know you are probably gulping like I did at the length at the book, but the pages are actually quite small in length.

The book has the most beautiful illustrations in it, just like the last. Unfortunately I forgot to take pictures of some of them before I took it back to the library, so if you happen to see a copy in a bookstore, do have a look at the pictures. They are truly awesome.

I would definitely recommend this series of books. As I mentioned in my previous post, if you love Harry Potter, then I feel you would definitely enjoy these.

See, look, nice short post.

Voodoo Season by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Pages - 273

Challenges - 100+, Southern Reading Challenge, A to Z Titles

Voodoo Season is the second book in a trilogy, but can definitely be read alone.

The first book Voodoo Dreams looks at the life of Marie Laveau, who really existed back in the 1800's and was known to be a practitioner of Voodoo.

Voodoo Season revisits New Orleans, but is the story of Marie Levant, who is the great-great granddaughter of Marie Laveau. Marie is compelled to leave her promising medical career in Chicago to go back to where she was born - New Orleans. Once she arrives in New Orleans, Marie is both seduced and horrified by the mysterious landscape where the slave holding past starts to merge with present day. Quadroom balls where pretty young black girls were dressed up and then lined up to be chosen by men purely for rape, have become reality again and these women are being left 'undead' . Marie has to tap into her past life and her ancestors power to fight these horrific crimes and bring peace back to New Orleans.

I have always been fascinated by the practice of voodoo, a rather dark practice,yet intriguing. This book allows you to see the good and the bad practices within voodoo. There are some fairly gruesome parts, especially when the ' undead ' girls are discovered ( girls raped whilst in a state of being dead, their body would register as dead within a hospital as having no signs of life, yet when buried they would wake up and then suffocate). However, you do see Marie using voodoo for the greater good, with the help of the Guede(the family of spirits that embody the powers of death and fertility). Marie brings revenge on the evil perpetrators who have caused so many young girls to die purely for their pleasure. It is nice to see voodoo being shown in a positive light.

This is a very dark book and not one for the lighthearted. I did find the story disturbing in some parts and I was shocked by the way it ended. There is a whole section on voodoo rituals which do build into an unexpected ending.

I enjoyed the story, it was unusual and fascinating to read, but I did find in parts that the story became confusing. I found that I would often lose track of who was actually speaking, especially if you take into account her ancestors joined in with her conversations.

I was a little disappointed with the way New Orleans was described. I am a very visual person and when I am reading about a place I like to be immersed in descriptions about it, so I can actually visualize it in my mind. With the beauty and the originality of New Orleans, I was expecting it to be be richer in description, but that is a very personal taste to me.

Some of the terminology was difficult to understand and required looking up. It would probably be easier reading for a true New Orleans resident, as the language used seemed very familiar to that lifestyle.

Marie came across as a strong character and she really needed to, in order to cope with the situations she was forced into. Her friends seem to betray her in order to help her find out who they believe she really is. You couldn't help but feel exhausted and weary for her and anxious as you turned the pages of the book.

So on the whole, I have mixed emotions about this book, I enjoyed aspects of it and disliked other parts. I would be interested in reading the book before and after, but I am not sure if I would rush to read them. I would be really interested to read other bloggers reviews on this one.

Other reviews on this book.

The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of

A Little Giveaway!

I have been blogging now for nearly six months and I wanted to celebrate by having a little giveaway.

I did a review a couple of months ago of The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen which you can find here.

I raved about how much I loved this book and I also mentioned my love of Garden Spells by Sarah too. Well it just so happens I have a double of this book, so I would like to offer one of my gently used copies as a prize on my blog.

Here is the blurb from the back of the book, so you can see if you would be interested in entering.

Welcome to Bascomb, North Carolina, where it seems that everyone has a story to tell about the Waverley women. The old house that's been in the family for generations, the walled garden that mysteriously blooms year round, the rumors and innuendoes of dangerous loves and tragic passions. Eccentric, reclusive, or renegade, there's not a one that wasn't somehow touched by magic.
As the town's successful caterer, Claire has always clung closely to the Waverleys' roots in their enchanted soil, tending the family garden from which she makes her much sought-after delicacies. She has everything she thinks she needs - until one day she finds a vine of ivy creeping into her garden and knows that everything is about to change.Then her prodigal sister Sydney arrives with her five-year-old daughter and a dark secret she hopes to keep well hidden. And suddenly Claire's carefully tended life is about to run gloriously out of control.
Sarah Addison Allen's beguiling and luminous new novel is sure to cast its spell over even the most sceptical heart.

If you love Practical Magic, Alice Hoffman books or even other books about witches, then you might want to enter it.

The cover I have for it, is as above and is all sparkly.

This is an international giveaway, so anyone can enter.

All you have to do is:

For 1 entry - leave a comment in my blog.

For 2 entries - become a follower, or be a follower already and leave a comment.

For 3 entries - Both of the above and publish this competition on your blog.

That is it!

The competition closes on Thursday 18th June at midnight GMT.

Good luck!