Better Left Buried by Emma Haughton

When it happens, I'm so lost in my thoughts I barely notice. A yank on the steering wheel and we spin into a U-turn, heading back up the road the way we came. I peer into my side mirror. Right behind us a large black car does the same manoeuvre.

My blood goes cold. Oh god...oh shit...it's true. They're really after us.

Published by Usborne in May 2015

Summary

Brother dead. 

Best friend missing.

House ransacked. 

Stalked by a stranger. 

Attacked in the street...

...And Sarah has no idea why.

She never knew her brother was hiding a dark secret when he died. But now his reckless actions have led the wolves to her door. And the only way out is to run.

*****

I've wanted to read a book by Emma Haughton since her debut stormed through the publishing world last year. This author's debut novel quickly became a must on everyone's TBR list. But somehow, with the usual review pile toppling over, I never got around to buying it. So when I was offered Better Left Buried, I jumped at the chance to review it. 

Just reading the quote on the front was thrilling! Now everyone knows how much I love Sophie McKenzie books, so for another author to be compared to her, I definitely needed to read the book. 

Better Left Buried did not disappoint. It's the type of book that keeps you sitting nervously on the edge of the seat as you walk alongside the main character, desperate to find out what on earth is going on around her. At certain points, you could be forgiven for thinking Sarah had lost the plot, as everything that happens to her, occurs without witnesses. Luckily we know the truth!

Sarah puts her own future on the line to protect her brother's reputation. Such an endearing family bond to see. Sarah won't let her parents ever find out the truth and that shows a maturity beyond her age. Grief has a way of making you grow up fast.

The book is perfectly paced, with each chapter revealing just a little more to keep you turning the pages, desperate to discover what really happened. If I'm honest, I was a little surprised by the ending. I was convinced it would end differently and it felt as those things had been left quite open ended, so I wonder if a sequel might be in the pipeline.

This is one of those books that you read quickly. The way the tension slowly builds, draws you in so that you forget whatever else you are supposed to be doing and practically read it in one sitting. Emma Haughton obviously has a super power - she knows how to reel her readers in and won't let them go until the last line. 

A fast paced thriller, full of twists and turns, which I completely agree would be ideal for fans of Sophie McKenzie!

The Movie Maker with Lucy Saxon

Today I am pleased to welcome author, Lucy Saxon onto the blog to tell us who she would love to cast as her lead characters in her latest YA novel, The Almost King, published this month with Bloomsbury.

Movies are great. Movies based on books are even better; they allow you to imagine the story in a whole new way, bringing characters to life and allowing for a different level of depth to be explored. 

I spend far more time than I probably should imagining what my books would be like as movies — one of my favourite things to do when I have writers block is to spend hours on the internet trying to find the perfect actors and actresses for my characters. It’s hard — obviously there’s no telling how they’d take to the role in real life — but going on looks and what I’ve seen them in before, a girl can dream, right? I’m not saying these actors would be perfect, but short of plucking the characters directly out of my head and into corporeal existence, they’re pretty close.

Nicholas Hoult is top of my list to play Aleks, my main character in The Almost King. He’s got the right sort of look, and is still about young-looking enough to convincingly play a seventeen year-old! With his older brothers played by Harry Lloyd (Grigori), Colin Morgan (Torell) and Andrew Lee Potts (Maxim), I’m sure the family resemblance could work well enough, and Nicholas Hoult is a truly stellar actor who could easily carry off Aleks’ many adventures.

The pair of risk-taking brothers, Drazan and Zhora, would be played by Ben Barnes and Sebastian Stan respectively. I love both these actors separately, and could imagine them having the same sort of camaraderie together that Drazan and Zhora have. 

As for my leading lady, I would love for Saria to be played by Lily James; her character in Downton Abbey actually reminds me a fair bit of Saria in a lot of ways, and she’s really coming into her own as an actress with Cinderella. 

The role of Luka, my mad mechanic, goes to the one and only Sir Ian McKellen. Because, well, obviously. 

Over at the Compass, I’d have Bodan played by Sean Bean, with Helen McCrory as his wife Ksenia. Sean Bean has the sort of rough charm I imagine from my friendly landlord, and Helen McCrory, like Ksenia, is a woman who is not to be messed with. 

Georgie Henley is my pick for Raina, Aleks’ no-nonsense best friend and pseudo-sister in his new home. Mostly because I’m of the firm opinion that Georgie Henley should be in most things. I think she could do wonders with bringing Raina’s character to the big screen.

I always imagined Jarek, Aleks’ barracks-mate, as Tom Felton. I live a Draco Malfoy Appreciation Lifestyle, and sometimes that creeps into my writing. Just a little bit. 

The villain of the hour goes to Tom Hiddleston, because as we’ve all seen he can play evil superbly. Shulga is cold, cruel and power-hungry; all of which are no problem for Hiddleston. Plus, he can pull off a blond moustache remarkably well.

Last but not least is Kara, who would be portrayed by Naomie Harris. After seeing her as Moneypenny, I’m pretty confident she could have the right sort of attitude for the Captain. 

That’s about where I stopped myself on the casting, in order to actually finish writing the book, but I’d say that’s enough to give any hopeful production company something to think about. My books becoming movies would be an absolute dream come true, though sadly by the time that happens, if it ever does, most of my dream cast will have likely aged out of their roles. Clearly I’ll just have to do the whole thing again in a few year’s time! For productivity’s sake, of course.

The Almost King by Lucy Saxon 

Sequel to Take Back The Skies. Published this week by Bloomsbury Books.

Summary 

In the second book in this sprawling saga, Aleks is the youngest of four brothers, each with his future predictably mapped out. But Aleks wants more than a life in his father’s shop. So when he hears his parents worrying about money, he decides to save them the cost of his keep by running away.

Aleks joins the army—but when that doesn't answer his problems, he breaks the law and deserts. Wanted and alone, he heads north, where he stumbles into love, adventure, and a skyship he might be able to call home . . . if he can evade the soldiers pursuing him.

Prepare for another sweeping adventure by nineteen-year-old Lucy Saxon in a series that seamlessly blends genre elements and a compelling contemporary voice. 

To find out more about Lucy Saxon:

Website / Facebook / Twitter

Blogger Island Books- UKYA Day Version!

So as per usual my brain got carried away and I came up with a brand new feature for the blog. However this isn’t an author feature, this one is just for bloggers.

The new feature is called Blogger Island Books and involves bloggers picking between five to eight books that they couldn’t live without, which they could take with them to live on Blogger Island.

As today is UKYA day, I thought it would be really cool, to start this new feature differently. I asked a few bloggers to pick just one UKYA book that they couldn’t live without to take to Blogger Island. I have to make some allowances as to the YA bracket, because some bloggers couldn’t live without  books by a particular UKMG author…

So I will pass you over to the blogging community so that they can tell you their chosen book for this UKYA special edition of Blogger Island Books. Click on the blog names to check out their amazing blogs.

Andrew from The Pewter Wolf - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling

"I'm kinda stuck on which one UKYA book I would take with me to a desert island. There's too many that I would take (would my eReader count as one book or several?). But if I had to take one, it would be Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling. I know this isn't technically YA but it's read by all ages and the characters are becoming teenagers in the book. But I love Prisoner of Azkaban. I love how this book becomes layers and question the lines of good and evil, tackles issues such as mental health, while talking about the problems being a teenager can be.

And plus, the Dementors are one of the most frightening creatures in literature and I love that this book brings them in! I love this book and I just think this would be the book I would read when being stuck on a desert island got too much!"

Sophie from So Little Time For Books - How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

My choice is How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff. I've already read this one about 10 times and I get something more with each read. The unusual style just keeps on giving and Daisy, Edmond, Piper, Isaac and Osbert are so complex and well-developed that it blows my mind. Though this book isn't for everyone, it's definitely for me and I would gladly re-read this a thousand times more.

Laura from Sister Spooky - The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 3/4 by Sue Townsend

I'd take this book because this was the first YA I read as a young girl when YA wasn't even a genre.  I'd dipped into Point Horrors and a few tween novels but it was hard to find a book about "real" teens.  Then my Mum said I should read this as she had done when she was growing up.  I was astonished.  At both the book's ability to make me crack up laughing and at the thought that boys were really like this.  If you want to get an idea of what YA is like in it's best form; read this book.  There are many UKYA books out there now but respect needs to be made to those that came before them too. 

Plus; you'll never look at a ruler in the same way ever again.

Chelle  from Tales of Yesterday - Cruel Summer by James Dawson

Yes I know….here I am again picking a James Dawson book I hear you shout!  This may be a predictable pick for me…But seriously I would take this book with me to a desert island and read it over and over again!  I love it THAT much!  It’s definitely one of my favourite UKYA books!  It’s a perfect summer read so I could pass the hours away whilst turning a rather reddish lobster colour on the desert island beach and hallucinate about Gil Grissom and Sangria ;-)  

Look at it this way…what better way would there be to pass the time! With characters Ryan, Kate, Alisha, Greg and Ben around there would never be a dull moment!  Moments full of tension and suspicion and okay the odd dead body occasionally!  And with a romance that will break your heart what better book to read again and again than a story set in a sunny paradise, blue sea, lots of sand and well….basically murder! 

*looks suspiciously at that shadow in the trees and gulps*  

Can I please leave the island now?!

*cries for Mommy*

Carly from Writing From The Tub - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling

The one UKYA book I can't live without is...(after much deliberation) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. It was such a cosy, comforting read that I adored during my teenage years and it still brings back those warm, happy memories whenever I settle down to read it again. I remember calling (these were the days before texting was a big deal, people!) my best friend every day while we were reading it to discuss what had happened - as soon as we picked up the phone we shouted out what page number we were on so we could avoid dishing out spoilers!

Plus, it's the one that tipped me over the edge from a Harry Potter fan to a crazed superfan who spent weeks writing out theories for what might happen in The Half Blood Prince! WHO COULD R.A.B POSSIBLY BE?

Stacey from Pretty Books - Trouble by Non Pratt

It's incredibly difficult to pick just one UKYA book that I'd read again and again, but I finally went with Non Pratt's TROUBLE. It's one of the highlights because it captures everything you could want from a contemporary UKYA story: superb writing, realistic characters and British humour. Trouble stands out because it does not shy away from the awkward, uncomfortable and often harsh reality of teenage life, but it’s still funny and touching. I also picked it because Non Pratt's such an important member of the UKYA community. If I had to read Trouble over and over, all by my lonesome, it'd remind me of all the fun I've had with the book community!

Sarah from Sarah’s Chapter - Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson

This task was quite difficult for me because I'd love to lug my entire Harry Potter series and read that over and over but I'll try and resist and pick one book that is just as meaningful to me. My UKYA desert island pick is Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson. Although it doesn't really fit into what we usually think of when we picture YA (fantasies, dystopian etc.) I think that's why I love it so much. It's a coming-of-age book that focuses on Ruby, a girl from York, and spans not only her life but the lives of her ancestors, including her great-grandmother, grandmother and mother. It is a heart-wrenching adventure through generations, loss, love and family and I honestly don't think I've been the same since I read it.I first read this book at sixteen, and have read it many times since, finding new things in each re-reading. It makes me laugh, cry and feel like I'm growing up alongside Ruby.

Rachel from YA-bbering Booklover - Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman

My Blogger Island Book UKYA Edition would be Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman. I read this when I was about 11 and it is the book that made me the bookworm I am today. It is the benchmark by which I judge all other books - if it makes me feel the way Noughts and Crosses did, then it gets 5 stars. Also, growing up in a small rural town, I had never been confronted with race issues like those that Callum and Sephy faced, and it really opened my eyes to the world beyond my own horizon. I saw Malorie at the Hay Festival talking about it as a teenager and fell in love with her even further, a love I still hold today as I stalk her around the festival circuit *bring on YALC 2015!* I re-read my beloved signed copy as often as I dare, maybe every two years or so because I don't want to kill the magic. But if I had to read just one book for the rest of my life, I have no doubt that Noughts and Crosses would be it.

Stephen from Dark Readers - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

The one book that I would choose is: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon. The reason I would choose this books is because this is the book that has most resonated with me over the years, the one I go back to and encourage everyone to read. It crops up in strange ways when I haven't been expecting it. There is also a level of personal resonance, that makes me feel more connected to it, each time I read it, and i know it is one of those books I can pick up at any point and just enjoy it!

 

Thank you to all the bloggers who took part in this UKYA special edition of Blogger Island Books. If you would like to take part in the main feature where you get to pick up to eight books from any genre and for any age, then please leave a message in the comments with your email address and I will get back to you.

Thanks for reading and have a happy UKYA day!

Thank you!

On  Saturday I discovered that I’d been shortlisted for five awards for the UKYA Blogger Awards. There were only ten categories, so to be shortlisted for five, made me feel rather overwhelmed and humbled. I am astounded that publicists, publishers and authors took the time to vote for me and I thank them from the bottom of my heart.

This is a big thing for book bloggers. We have worked passionately for a long time, sharing our love of books especially YA and MG books in particular. So to realise that our efforts have not gone unnoticed, gives us an immense feeling of happiness and acceptance.

I am over the moon to be voted for alongside so many of my dear blogging friends. These are the people who have stood beside me for many years, sharing their love of books. We have become friends and I can’t imagine my life without them. With so many book bloggers shortlisted in these categories, I would be happy for anyone to win. We all deserve it. To the bloggers who weren’t voted for, I can assure you that it doesn’t mean you have gone unnoticed. We as a community, support all book bloggers and commend each and everyone one of you who takes the time to write reviews and share your love of books.
I also want to give a big thank you to KM Lockwood, Liss Norton, Elizabeth Dale, Sophie Duffy and Caroline Hodges and Jill Atkins for reviewing books for me over the last few years. I honestly couldn't keep up with the reviews if it wasn't for you all helping out.

I shall be attending the event at Waterstones on the High Street, in Kensington at 7pm on Saturday the 7th March. If you would like to join us, tickets are still available here.

There is also still time to vote for the blogger’s Blogger Award, which you can do by clicking below.

http://ukyabloggerawards.co.uk/?page_id=36

I look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible  and raising a glass of something bubbly to the awesome book blogging community.

Split Second by Sophie McKenzie

I glanced at my phone. It was almost three p.m.

Three p.m. was when the bomb would go off.

Published by Simon and Schuster in September 2013

Pages - 356

Bound together by the devastating consequences of a terrorist attack on a London market, teenagers Charlotte (Charlie) and Nat appear at first to have much in common. But, as Charlie gets closer to Nat and his family, she begins to wonder if perhaps he knows more about the attack than he has let on. Split Second is an action-packed thriller that shifts between the perspectives of its two main characters as their courage and their loyalties are tested to the limit.

*****

Only one word to describe this book - EXPLOSIVE!

From the very first couple of sentences you are hit by an almighty panic, catapulting you through the story to find out why one of you main characters is frantically searching for a bomb. This book has been glued to my hands for the past couple of days as I nervously jumped between the dual narratives of Charlie and Nat as one moment in time alters their live for ever, as well as tying them together for eternity.

I loved the way the relationship developed between Nat and Charlie. I was also really pleased to discover that Charlie stood out as the stronger character of the two; she was more focused and in control of her emotions than Nat, who was more likely to suffer with doubts. I wondered if that was because Charlie had suffered a lot more than Nat, making him a little more wary, where as Charlie had a score to settle.

The plot keeps you on your toes through the book. It’s actually like being on a high speed train, heading to an unknown and dangerous destination. You think you are going to take one route and then the author switches tracks. The writing is sharp and tight. Each chapter often not more than a couple of pages long,but grabbing your attention and pushing you further into the story.

I think Sophie McKenzie has done an excellent job of creating a realistic story of what could happen in our country - it almost had an eerie premonistic feel to it, in the same way George Orwell’s  1984 did. A gritty, thrilling and fast paced novel that makes you worried about the future - I just hope our country has the sense to pull back before we end up living like this.

Tide by Daniela Sacerdoti

It was the first time that Sarah ever felt close to Morag Midnight, and the last time she saw her alive.

Pages - 416

Published by Black and White Publishing in February 2013

Amazon Summary

Sarah Midnight is no ordinary teenager. She is a demon hunter, caught up in one of the deadliest wars unknown to man. Orphaned at the age of sixteen, Sarah learned the family trade of hunting without her parents to guide her but under the watchful eye of her ‘cousin’, who was revealed to be Sean Hannay, no relative at all, but a dear friend of the real Harry Midnight. Now, in the exciting sequel to Dreams, the fight continues. Sarah and Sean may have defeated the Scottish Valaya, but the rest of the war still rages on, and Sarah, Sean, Nicholas and their companions must unearth the identity and location of the Enemy - the leader of the demons - before the world plunges into the Time of Demons once more. Their quest leads them to Sarah’s family home, the Midnight mansion in Islay, and there they discover horrible truths about the demon ruler, his plans, and Sarah’s own personal history. Along the way, Sarah must battle not only the demons but her hurt toward Sean and her feelings for the enigmatic Nicholas, who has plans of his own.

******

I do love a Daniela Sacerdoti book!

I think she is one of those authors who has really captured my interest over the last couple of years and is instantly on my Buy list.

That first line really draws you in. Your intrigue and imagination are both captured at once.

This is the second book in the Sarah Midnight Trilogy series and I  can assure you there is no second book syndrome in this book. Uh uh! This book introduces new characters, new settings and new turn of the page thrilling action and drama.

We finally get to meet Elise, Harry Midnight’s wife, who appeared briefly in the first book. On arrival her relationship with Sarah is relatively frosty. You keep thinking they will never ever become friends. Luckily as the book progresses, they begin to see the bigger picture and accept each one’s part in it. Nicholas had the most interesting character arc within this book and throws some unexpected punches into the story. Sarah changes a  lot in this book. You see her so much stronger and capable than she was in Dreams. She really accepts her destiny and grows into it.

We also get to see Sarah’s ancestral home, Midnight Hall, on the isle of Islay. This house could have stepped out of the pages of a Susan Hill ghost story, it was seriously spooky. Sarah learns so much more about her past while here and unanswered questions from Dreams are dealt with. We learn so much more about Sarah’s family and you get a glimpse of what Sarah could become if she isn’t careful.

The battle intensifies while on the island and the conclusion of the book is extremely dramatic. Sarah’s life takes an unscheduled turn towards another journey that is necessary to end this battle. By the end of the book I was left shell shocked and lost, desperate to find out what would happen next. Book 3 seems such a long way away!

The story is told from many viewpoints, some of which are in first person, while others in third. I struggled a little with that in Dreams, but recently there has been a trend within the YA market for more like this, so I  really enjoyed this style this time round.

Dani Sacerdoti really is an incredible writer. She knows how to bring every image to life. You don’t have to question any scene as you can see it easily in your head, as the descriptions flow easily off the page.

If you haven’t read a book by this author yet, you are seriously missing out. This is an excellent example of paranormal YA set in the UK.