How To Catch A Witch by Abie Longstaff

Charlie was dreaming. 

The house was flying through the air, spinning and bumping on the wind. 

She was off to Oz to see the Munchkins.

Here comes Glinda, floating around in a pink bubble saying, "Charlie, Hogwarts is expecting you. Wear your blue-and-white dress."

Then she was falling.

Published by Scholastic in October 2016

Pages - 240

Summary

Charlie and her family have moved from the big city to a small country village, and everything feels wrong. Their cottage is old and creepy. Anxiety about her new school is causing Charlie's stutter to return. And the villagers are just plain weird. Not least, Agatha, who may not have a broomstick or a cauldron, but is definitely a witch...

*****

What a gorgeous launch to a  brand new series. I adored How To Catch A Witch from the first line and I didn't want to put it down. Not only is it an entertaining, page turning story, but cleverly hidden within the plot, are lots of interesting facts about the history of witches. You can tell that Abi has carried out thorough research just by how detailed the spells are.  It's like getting two books for the price of one!

The story has that believable factor to it. There's no flying on broomsticks or swishing around with a witch's hat. This book portrays a much more modern approach to witches and magic. 

I loved the main protagonist, Charlie, who really tried hard to cope with her speech impediment and finally could see how it might help her by the end of the book. However my favourite character was definitely Agatha. She radiated the modern day witches I've come across over the years.

Abi writes beautifully. Her descriptive languages sucks you into the story, grabbing hold of you until the very last page. 

The book has a real classical feel to it. It would have been a firm favourite with me as a child and I'm sure it won't be long before the series is loved by the Middle Grade brigade. I knew Abi was a talented picture book writer, but she has definitely made her mark in the Middle Grade bracket. 

 I can't wait for more. Luckily I won't have to wait too long, as the next book, How To Trap A Wolf is featured in the back of the book and will be out in 2017. 

Cover Reveal : The Graces by Laure Eve

I am so excited to be part of #TheGraces cover reveal today!

The Witches Are Coming!

“Where shall we three meet again in thunder, lightning, or in rain? When the hurlyburly 's done, when the battle 's lost and won”

Macbeth, William Shakespeare.

***

Welcome, child. 

You've picked a good day to join us.

Are you here for the gathering?

 You were only looking for candy?

 A little bit of harmless trick or treating? 

Oh dear. 

That's not good.

 You really did you pick the wrong house. 

You see tonight is All Hallows Eve and the witches are gathering. Three very special witches have been chosen to call the rest of the coven.

Each witch will summon three lost witches,  to join them in a coven of thirteen.

 Are you ready for the gathering? 

I hope so! 

Because once the witches are all in place, there is no knowing what will happen!

Ritual to Call A Lost Witch

"Power of the witches rise

Course unseen across the skies

Come to us who call you near

Come to us and settle here."

Charmed

Welcome Kat Ellis, the first witch to join us this Halloween. By day Kat is an author. Her first novel, Black Fin Sky was published earlier this year.  Please present the witches you wish to join us.

Gwen ferch Ellis - first woman hanged as a witch in Wales

In 1594, Gwen was accused of leaving a destructive charm in the house of a man with whom her friend had allegedly been having an affair. During her trial, 7 witnesses also accused Gwen of crimes ranging from invoking insanity in a child to murdering an old man. Gwen, who outlived 2 of her 3 husbands and was described as a ‘vengeful’ sort, was sadly underappreciated in her own time, but would make a wonderful addition to our coven.

Phoebe Halliwell from Charmed

The youngest of The Charmed Ones couldn’t freeze people or toss them across the room like her older sisters, Piper and Prue. Phoebe’s gift of seeing snippets of the future sprang on her at the most inconvenient moments, and was far less kickass than what her sisters could do. So, rather than wallowing as the weakling in the powers-department, Phoebe learned how to kick asses, old-school-style. And when she did develop an active power, she used her levitation to keep on kicking asses from on high. Who wouldn’t want a witch with that kind of moxie in their coven?

The Grand High Witch from Roald Dahl’s The Witches

Travelling from country to country, furthering her cause of exterminating all children, the Grand High Witch was certainly inventive. Why not turn children into mice to be snapped up in mousetraps? Or mince them up into hot dogs to be eaten by their own parents? She also had quite the flair with wigs and make up. With such a creative streak, we would be foolish not to invite her into our coven (especially as she had a machine that printed money!)

****

Welcome Dawn Kurtagich, our second witch to join us. Dawn is also the author of Dead House, which was published by Indigo earlier this year. Please present your chosen three witches who you wish to join the coven. 

Winifred Sanderson from Hocus Pocus

Winnie Sanderson, the eldest of the three Sanderson sisters, read from her devil’s book as she stood at the hanging post, which is in itself pretty badass, and declared: “My ungodly book speaks to you. On All Hallow's Eve, when the moon is round, a VIRGIN will summon us from under the ground. Oh oh! WE SHALL BE BACK, and the lives of all the children of Salem will be MINE!” She would round out our coven rather nicely with that smooth spell action. Go Winnie!

Lamia from Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Lamia is the main antagonist of the novel Stardust by Neil Gaiman. She is the youngest sister of the three in the Lillim Coven. Her one goal is to capture Yvaine (a star in human form), and eat her heart to regain her youth and beauty. She would definitely have an expiration date if no stars fell from the sky for a while (definite downer), but just look at that attitude!

Moll Dyer 17th Century Witch, and Likely Inspiration behind the Blair Witch.

Moll Dyer Moll Dyer, the legendary witch who lived in Leonardtown in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, was accused of practicing witchcraft and, according to legend, chased from her home by local townsfolk in the dead of a winter night. Her body was found a few days later, partially frozen to a large stone. Today, a stream, a road and a large rock bear her name, and her story likely inspired the plot of the 1999 movie The Blair Witch Project and its sequel. If the legend is anything to go by, she would want revenge on the descendants of her townsfolk, but after that, she’d be a lot of fun! I say, add her to the coven!

****

And our final witch, welcome Tatum Flynn, who wrote The D'Evil Diaries which debuted earlier this year. Tatum, please present your chosen three witches. 

Willow from Buffy the Vampier Slayer

Because DUH. Willow has one of the best character arcs ever in fiction, from sweet timid dork to loved-up lesbian witch to grief-stricken Evil Willow and back again, and all whilst wise-cracking plenty along the way. 10/10 would witch again.

Marie Laveau.

 If witchcraft is fascinating, voodoo, to me, is even more so, and Laveau was the original Voodoo Queen, combining her Catholicism with African spirits and beliefs to create her own occult religious mix. She was incredibly powerful, with the city’s elite calling upon her for help in court cases, to combat the yellow fever epidemic, and for many other private matters, and there are contemporary reports of as many as 12,000 spectators watching her perform her legendary rites on St John’s Eve on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Also, she had a giant pet snake called Zombi.

Nancy from The Craft. 

Okay, if I were being sensible, I would choose Sarah for my coven, since she’s the most powerful of them all and actually manages to stay sane. Nancy is vicious and power-crazy and homicidal. But let’s face it, she has so much charisma she totally steals the film, and is still one of the first people that springs to mind when I think witch. I just better make sure to stay on her good side...

Now that only makes twelve witches, so the coven have gathered together to choose the thirteenth and final witch.

Morgan le Fay

Morgan was a witch of Arthurian legend whose earliest appearance was as a healer on the isle of Avalon. She later found her feet as a proper witch, seducing men including Merlin (“is that a wand in your pocket or are you pleased to see me?”) and Accolon, and as Arthur’s half-sister who hated the knights of the Round Table and, in particular, the insipid Guinevere. She also nicked Excalibur and gave it to Accolon to use against Arthur, and when that didn’t work, she took Excalibur’s scabbard—said to protect Arthur—and threw it in a lake. Sounds like our kind of witch!

And there you have our coven. Thirteen witches who will stand side by side this evening. 

Beware! Be warned! Be worried!

"When witches go riding,
and black cats are seen,
the moon laughs and whispers,
‘tis near Halloween."

Unknown

Happy Halloween!

@el_kat

 @dawnkurtagich

@tatum_flynn

The Watching Wood by Erika McGann

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

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

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

‘Agh! My feet are on fire!’

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

Published by The O’Brien Press, Dublin

262 pages in paperback

Cover & illustrations by Emma Byrne

Summary from Publisher’s Website:

Danger wherever you turn …

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

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

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

******

Reviewed by K. M. Lockwood

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

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

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

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

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

I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett

Why was it, Tiffany Aching wondered, that people liked noise so much? Why was noise so important?

Published by Doubleday Books in September 2010

Pages - 349

Illustrations - Paul Kidby

Summary

It starts with whispers.
Then someone picks up a stone.
Finally, the fires begin.
When people turn on witches, the innocents suffer. . .
Tiffany Aching has spent years studying with senior witches, and now she is on her own. As the witch of the Chalk, she performs the bits of witchcraft that aren't sparkly, aren't fun, don't involve any kind of wand, and that people seldom ever hear about: She does the unglamorous work of caring for the needy.
But someone or something is igniting fear, inculcating dark thoughts and angry murmurs against witches. Aided by her tiny blue allies, the Wee Free Men, Tiffany must find the source of this unrest and defeat the evil at its root before it takes her life. Because if Tiffany falls, the whole Chalk falls with her.

*****

I Shall Wear Midnight is the 38th Discworld book and the fourth in the Tiffany Aching series, which is aimed at the YA market.  It was believed to be the last of the Tiffany Aching books, but a fifth one, The Shepherd’s Crown, will be published posthumously this year.

 

When you read a Terry Pratchett book, you know that you're entering a well planned, finely detailed fantasy world, like no other. Terry Pratchett's world is like ours in some ways, but so distorted in others. I am in awe of his talent; it makes you wonder where his ideas came from.  I loved the idea of a Good Dungeon Guide, where the best dungeons would win five balls and chains.  I also liked the way he created characters based on real people. For instance, the young man called Simon, who had been cursed with every ailment, making it impossible for him to walk, yet being granted the power to understand the who of the universe,  screamed Stephen Hawking at me.

 

Tiffany Aching  has to be one of my most favourite female YA characters. She is innocent,yet worldly wise at the same time. There isn't anyone she is frightened of taking on, constantly standing her ground where others would run away.  There is a strength of character running solidly through her bones, making her stronger with each disaster as we watch her grow up through the series.

 

In this story, Tiffany faces some dark times. You get to see the full extent of  what whispering can cause. As the whispers turn to accusations, Tiffany realises her future as a witch is in  jeopardy. Witches are no longer trusted; fear has spread like a virus throughout the Chalk. Tiffany’s whole way of life is threatened, yet she shows no fear as she takes on this new threat.
 

You can’t review any of this series, without showing love for the Nac Mac Feegles, who are so loyal to Tiffany and protect her constantly from the trouble that keeps surrounding her. They add such humour to the story, with their hilarious antics, breathing lightness into this dark tale.

Although these books can be read out of order, I would strongly suggest reading the Tiffany Aching books in the right order. I would recommend Wee Free Men as a starting pointing. Once you start reading, you will want to keep on reading the series.  A mixture of humour and darkness, keeping you entertained until the end.
 

I can’t wait for the final book, The Shepherd’s Crown.

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.

Crow Moon by Anna McKerrow

 

The fire in the middle of the circle casts flickering shadows over our faces: we stand obediently in its fierce warmth, following the words of the monthly full-moon ritual.

I raise my hands up to the star-riddled Cornwall evening just like everyone else, just like every month, and feel nothing.

First of Greenworld Series

Published by Quercus on 5th March 2015 

408 pages in review paperback

Summary from Publisher’s website

Danny is a fun-loving 16-year-old looking for a father figure and falling in love with a different girl every day. He certainly doesn’t want to follow in his mum’s witchy footsteps.

Just as his community is being threatened by gangs intent on finding a lucrative power source to sell to the world, Danny discovers he is stunningly powerful. And when he falls for Saba, a gorgeous but capricious girl sorceress, he thinks maybe the witch thing might not be such a bad idea…

But what cost will Danny pay as, with his community on the brink of war, he finds that love and sorcery are more dangerous than he ever imagined?

*****

Reviewed by K. M. Lockwood

Quercus, the publishers, quite rightly mention passion and wickedness in their promotion for this novel. For me what underpins the whole story is Anna McKerrow’s passion for the setting she has created. This Greenworld is fully realised and utterly believable - she includes the muck as well as the magic. 

We’re seeing it through Danny’s eyes - our 16 year old main character - and so the reality of the wickedness that threatens his community grows on him - and us. As the publishers say, it is a coming-of-age adventure. We want him to grow up - and oh does he get the dramatic events to do that! I was thrilled by the cunning use of witchcraft and folklore, enough to feel real, yet so sparing and wrapped up in the adventure to intrigue.

I am not really a romance fan - but I’d say the relationship tensions add to the story. Many readers will fancy Danny, I expect. There’s a fair bit of character-led humour too which enriches the mix. That makes any perils and losses all the more heartfelt.

This will suit those who love reading about adolescents trying to find their role in a magical world very close to our own. The sort of person who wants to speculate about an alternative future - but see it through a credible contemporary character. More thoughtful readers will pick up on the underlying issues of gender, race and spirituality - but happily, it zips along without preaching.  There’s plenty of action with supernatural threats and violence, and romance that touches on sexuality. Nothing there without a point, though, I’d say.

The notes were an informative bonus.  You will just have to wait for the second story - which I rather hope lets us see the Redworld - until next spring.

The Witching Hour by Sara Grant

The long black tail swished from side to side with each tick tock. The yellow googly eyes looked from left then right. The big and little hands clicked into position, both pointing straight up. Trixibelle’s black cat clock meowed twelve times.

Pages - 126

Published by Orion Children’s Books in March 2013

When Trix turns ten she finds out that she’s a witch! It’s the best birthday present ever and Trix can’t wait to start casting spells. But learning witchcraft isn’t easy, and nobody non-magical must know!

Can Trix keep the secret and use her magic to help her best friend, Holly?

******

What a delightful debut for a magical new series for  the 7 to 9 year olds. I loved this book from the first sentence. I felt like I had whooshed down a helter skelter into the magical world of Enid Blyton. It took me a couple of hours to read it and I was left wanting more from this enchanting world.

Trix is an adorable character who doesn’t find magic easy to begin with. I was completely smitten by her and  her familiar, Jinx who wasn’t very good at staying out of mischief. Trix not only has to deal with learning with the difficulties of magic but she also has to put up with nasty Stella and her  friends from the Enchanted Grove school. Stella is a bit of a know it all and I do hope she is brought down a peg or two before the end of the series.

Trix struggles to keep her magic a secret, especially from her life long friend Holly who she shares everything with. Yet Trix goes out of her way to help Holly and builds up her confidence in the process. A delightful tale with a happy ending.

You can’t read these books without commenting on the gorgeous illustrations by Erica-Jane Waters. They are simply stunning and just add even more magic to the book.

This is going to be an amazing series, I can feel it in my bones. One for every child to cherish for years to come.  Move over Rainbow Magic, you have some new competition on your doorstep! Now if you’ll excuse me, I must dust off my fairy godmother outfit and hunt for my wand in case I get the call to join to join the Sisterhood of Magic.

The Dark Glamour by Gabriella Pierce

 

Published by Canvas

294 pages.

‘Thanks.’ Jane Boyle aimed a friendly smile at the tired-looking barrista, a sallow-skinned girl with a barbell through her septum. In spite of the fact that the macchiato in Jane’s hand was approximately the eight hundredth she’d bought from the girl in the last three weeks, the barista didn’t show the faintest glimmer of recognition.’

Goodreads Summary

Jane Boyle married her prince charming and moved into his upper east side castle - but she didn't get her fairy-tale ending

It's hard to live happily ever after when you discover your demanding and controlling mother-in-law is literally a witch, determined to steal the magical powers you didn't even know you had. Jane narrowly avoided Lynne Doran's clutches when she escaped on her wedding day, and has been hiding out in New York City. But she can't hide forever.

When Jane learns of the one thing Lynne wants most, she sets out to provide it, hoping her good turn will persuade her mother-in-law to stop hunting her. Unfortunately, Jane's daring plan will send her right back into the witches' den - the Doran clan's multistory town house on Park Avenue. But thanks to a tricky spell, blond architect Jane will be transformed into Ella, a dark beauty with a whole new look . . . and all of Jane's budding powers. Though the stakes are life or death, nobody said "Ella" couldn't have a little fun along the way, too.

**********
Reviewed by Sophie Duffy

‘The Dark Glamour’ is the second of the 666 Park Avenue trilogy, set in the Upper Eastside of Manhattan. It’s a kind of Sex in the City for witches. Shoes, sex and magic.

In the first novel we are introduced to Jane Boyle, a young, talented architect who discovers she’s from a long line of witches. She falls in love with a man who is also from a family of witches, a

Manhattan family with a heap of money and magic, headed by the matriarch, Lynne Doran, who becomes Jane’s nemesis.

I haven’t read the first novel, ‘666 Park Avenue’, but was able to follow the plot as there is a lot of exposition in the first few chapters. This meant I could keep up with the story but it did slow the action down. As with all trilogies I’d say this one would be best read together rather than as stand-alones and would be enjoyed by late teens or twenty-somethings.

The style is slick with some wry humour and moments of tension. Pierce creates a believable world and it’s fun to think there could be witches out there, only recognized by other witches. It would be fun to change your appearance by magic rather than a Gok Wan make-over or plastic surgery. 

So if you like chick-lit with a slice of magical fantasy, maybe this is the trilogy for you to try this cold, wet January. And if you read the first two quickly you won’t have long to wait for the third, ‘The Lost Soul’, published later this month.

Black Spring by Alison Croggon

Pages - 286

Published by Walker Books on the 3rd of January 2013

 

After the last long winter, I needed to get as far away from the city as I possibly could. My life there filled me with a weariness of disgust; I was tired of endless conversations in lamp-lit cafes with over-educated aesthetes like myself, tired of my apartment with its self-consciously tasteful artworks and its succession of witty visitors, of the endless jostling for status among the petty literati, the sniping envy and malicious gossip.

Goodreads Summary

Anna spent her childhood with Damek and her volatile foster sister Lina, daughter of the Lord of the village. Lina has magical powers, and in this brutal patriarchal society women with magical powers are put to death as babies. Lina’s father, however, refuses to kill her but when vendetta explodes in their village and Lina’s father dies, their lives are changed forever. Their new guardian Masko sends Anna away and reduces Lina to the status of a servant. Damek—mad with love for Lina—attempts to murder Masko, then vanishes for several years. Anna comes home five years later to find Lina about to marry a pleasant young farmer, and witnesses Damek’s vengeful return and its catastrophic consequences.

*****

It's no big secret that I loathed Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. I don't think a classic has ever seriously depressed me more. So with trepidation I began reading Black Spring, keeping my fingers crossed it would greatly improve on the original, otherwise I knew I wouldn't be reading very much of it. Thankfully, this book was soooo much better. With the inclusion of witches and wizards, giving it a fantasy appeal, this book made a much disliked novel really exciting to read. The plot doesn't really deviate that much from the original but the characters are just so much more interesting and likable. It still has that strong Gothic richness to it, yet it loses the terrible depressive nature of the original, giving it much more vibrancy.

The book has two narrators. The first narrator Hammel, comes across as a pompous twit. I struggled to read the chapters in his voice, because he was just so annoying and droll. Surprisingly I felt the same anger that Damek felt towards him. However when Anna took over the narrative the story really improved. I really liked her voice - she was vibrant yet wise; obviously affected by everything she had suffered.  Her voice was clear and concise, which made it a pleasure to read her tale. From her words, you could tell how much she loved Lina and Damek, even though they continued to disobey the rules of society.

Lina came across as a spoilt, selfish yet highly spirited child who had a wicked wild side just brimming beneath her surface.  and perhaps she was, bearing in mind she was the only child of a rich land owner. She would eventually get her own way even after punishment - she knew how to control a situation. The fact that she was believed to be a  witch frightened a lot of people and they would give in to her requests. It is interesting to note how valued and honoured the wizards of the land are, yet all witches would be burned at the stake. In the end it appears that Anna is stronger than the wizard, which surprises many. I much preferred Damek in this book to Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights, although his mistreatment of Lina's daughter was disgraceful.

I can't review this book without discussing the vendetta that plagued the country. It was truly horrible - that one person would be killed and a chain of murders would then continually occur to avenge each previous death. Towns would lose every male relative as the murders continued until only the women were left. They all knew they would die and I found it so sad and heart wrenching to read about.

Once I moved past Hammel's part in the book, I really began to enjoy the story. Anyone who can turn my most hated read into an excellent enjoyable book is definitely an author to be explored further. I have never read any of Alison Croggon's fantasy novels but after reading this and really enjoying her style I will definitely look into her other books.  

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. 

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. 

Halloween by Kate Cann

As part of the Witch Crag blog tour, I am pleased to have Kate Cann on today talking about Halloween!

Don’t let anyone tell you that Halloween is a commercial American import. It’s an ancient pagan Celtic festival - it used to be called Samhain - and it was a season, not just a night, celebrated over the last couple of weeks of October. It was a time of getting ready for winter; preparing food for storage; gathering in the animals. Feasts would be held and bonfires lit. It was a time when the veil between the spirit world and ours was believed to be at its thinnest, when ghosts would appear, and runes of the future could be read.

Trick-or-treating existed then, too. Punkies - swede or turnip lanterns - would be set about in trees and hung on gates to scare away evil spirits. Dressing up in weird costumes and rags and smearing soot on your face would confuse anything wicked out to get you. And in this disguise, you went from door to door, threatening mild harm such as hiding a cow or chaining up the gates - unless you were given a treat.

The Christian church created All Hallows’ Day on November 1st in an attempt to pull Samhain’s pagan teeth: the idea was that evil witches and ghouls had a last hurrah before that most holy of days. The church nearly succeeded: back in the 1960s, when I was a child, Halloween had disappeared from middle England. Then my family moved to Scotland, where Halloween still clung on. It had been dwindled down, tidied up, it was decidedly well behaved - but it was still there.

There’s something wonderful and elemental about the way those faint shreds of Halloween survived on the edges of Britain. My imagination thrilled to it all.

Absolutely nothing to do with Halloween was for sale except for black cardboard witches’ hats at Woolworths. I adored them. They had crepe-paper frills and a little gold scrap of a broom-riding witch on the front. Turnip lanterns were laboriously carved, and the children went “guising”. You dressed up, “dis-guised” yourself, and went politely from door to door with your friends, reciting a poem or singing a song for sweets or money.

Nineteenth-century European immigrants took Halloween to America. Then in the 1980s, a rip-roaring, trick-or-treating, grinning-pumpkin tide started to flow back across the Atlantic again. Thank you, America, for revitalizing Halloween and sending it back to us! Nowadays, it’s our form of carnival.

I’m still in thrall to Halloween. The recklessness, the risk, the thrill and the fear - dressing up and going wild and behaving badly for a night. Autumn, and the death and rebirth of nature. Bright falling leaves, owls hooting, bats flying, bonfires at dusk. Scarecrows, ghost stories, candles and longing to see a witch fly past the full moon. They do say there’s no true light without the dark.

Kate’s blog tour continues tomorrow at www.feelingfictional.com

Find out more about Kate www.facebook.com/authorKateCann

  Three other books by Kate Cann are being republished at the same time and have been given these gorgeous new covers. Aren't they gorgeous! All avaialable to buy now. 

The Hex Factor by Harriet Goodwin

Review by K. M. Lockwood

Published by Stripes Publishing in September 2012

184 pages

‘It’s no use hiding behind that pile of books!’said Mr Wood, smiling across the classroom at Xanthe. ‘I know you’re there.’ He checked the register. ’And since you’re the only person who hasn’t spoken yet, I’m guessing you must be Xanthe Fox. What an unusual name!’

Xanthe turned crimson.

Summary from Amazon UK

Xanthe Fox can't wait to turn thirteen, but as the big day arrives her world starts to fall apart. Set-up at school for something she didn't do, it seems her age-old enemy, Kelly, is making trouble for her...and as things escalate, even her best friend Saul starts to doubt her innocence. With the school threatening to expel her, and mysterious glowing Xs appearing in front of her eyes, Xanthe turns to Grandma Alice for help. But what the old lady tells her will change Xanthe's life for ever...

**********

This is a briskly paced school fantasy ideal for pre-teen girls. Told from the point of view of the heroine, Xanthe, it blends familiar school difficulties with an element of magic.

There is a small cast of well-defined characters: I particularly liked Grandma Alice and her cat, Blanche. Readers will enjoy recognising the kinds of problems that they encounter and the struggles that Xanthe has dealing with them - best friends, rivals, a possible boyfriend.

There is a strong element of family support involved but Xanthe does her best to sort her life out for herself. Readers will feel for her as her efforts only make things worse. The fantasy element is integral to the story but feels credible in this context - it seeps in gradually and then springs a few surprises.

I think many of the intended readers will identify strongly with the likeable Xanthe and would be very pleased if there were a sequel. ‘The Hex Factor’ works perfectly well as a standalone - but equally Xanthe could easily have more adventures.

The striking cover will make sense to the reader later on in the novel - and the vignettes at the top of each chapter are a pleasing feature. We should have more pictures in older books, I say - well done Stripes Publishing!

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

Pages - 373
Published by Simon and Schuster on 13th September 2012
Book kindly sent by publisher for an honest review.

Kami had been hearing a voice in her head all her life. When she was eight, people had thought it was cute that she had an imaginary friend. It was very different now that she was seventeen. Kami was accustomed to people thinking she was crazy. 
Goodreads Summary
Kami Glass is in love with someone she's never met - a boy the rest of the world is convinced is imaginary. This has made her an outsider in the sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale, but she doesn't complain. She runs the school newspaper and keeps to herself for the most part - until disturbing events begin to happen. There has been screaming in the woods and the dark, abandoned manor on the hill overlooking the town has lit up for the first time in 10 years. The Lynburn family, who ruled the town a generation ago and who all left without warning, have returned. As Kami starts to investigate for the paper, she finds out that the town she has loved all her life is hiding a multitude of secrets- and a murderer- and the key to it all just might be the boy in her head. The boy who everyone thought was imaginary may be real...and he may be dangerous.

*******

I wanted to really love this book. Everyone had been raving about how wonderful an author Sarah Rees Brennan was and I became desperate to read one of her books and although I enjoyed it I was left a little irritated by it.  I have rewritten this review a few times because I  found it really difficult to define what I actually felt about the book. I feel like I should sit on the fence and present my likes and dislikes and leave you to be the judge  whether this book is for you or not. 

I thought the storyline was very good; the author weaved into elements of magic and gave the story a fairy tale dusting which was intriguing and kept me reading.  I found most of  the characters very entertaining. Angela was definitely one of my favourite and came across as similar to an angry sloth. I don't think I have ever come across such an entertaining character before. She could have her own sitcom and I would be glued. 

The Lynburns were a rather strange family - I think the dancing in the rain would have had me backing away from them at speed. The only likeable character from that family was the rather temperamental and disagreeable Jared. The first real encounter between Jared and Kami was priceless - they had spent all their lives talking to each other telepathically yet when they actually meet, neither one is impressed by the other. 

The book has that Nancy Drew style of narrative to it, where the mystery unravels as the protagonist painstakingly tries to find out the truth.The plot was a mixture of old school mystery and modern day sitcoms, blended to create a charming Gothic tale.

 Sarah Rees Brennan would probably make an excellent stand up comedian as she is as witty in her writing as she is in real life. To begin with her witticisms had me snorting all over the place, however as the book progressed, I began to get fed up of them and  Kami, the main character began to grate on my nerves. The sarcasm that Kami used constantly to deal with difficult situations became annoying to me in the end and I felt it didn't fit  with the dark progression of the story. 

I found the pacing a little slow to begin with. A lot of the action doesn't actually occur until the last hundred pages where the initial part of the book deals quite heavily with the change in relationship between Kami and Jared. Personally I would have liked to have seen these elements run more smoothly side by side, so that the mystery was more evident throughout the book with the suspects being more evident to begin with. 

I also found myself getting really annoyed with the American language used by characters who were supposed to be English, in a book set in England. We don't ever talk about Jello, because we don't eat it - we definitely don't hail for cabs either.  I really felt that it lacked the Englishness it was trying so hard  to create. 

So on the whole I did enjoy the book but I felt that the issues I had with it stopped me really loving it. I am still interested to read other books by this author  and just because I didn't love, doesn't mean others won't. From the reviews I have seen on Goodreads, I would say this book is probably a Marmite book - you will either love it or hate it.  Personally, I am still balancing on the fence!

Poltergeeks by Sean Cummings

Published by Strange Chemistry in October 

Pages - 288

Mrs Gilbert literally flew out the front door of her house. I should add that Marcus Guffman and I had absolutely nothing to do with it because frankly, I've had it with the whole irresponsible teenager thing. It's bad enough when people over forty look at you like you're planning on axe murdering their entire family just because you and your best friend since grade school are going door to door raising money for the Crescent Ridge Hig School Read-A-Thon. 

Goodreads Summary

15-year-old Julie Richardson is about to learn that being the daughter of a witch isn't all it's cracked up to be. When she and her best friend, Marcus, witness an elderly lady jettisoned out the front door of her home, it's pretty obvious to Julie there's a supernatural connection. 

In fact, there's a whisper of menace behind increasing levels of poltergeist activity all over town. After a large-scale paranormal assault on Julie's high school, her mother falls victim to the spell Endless Night. Now it's a race against time to find out who is responsible or Julie won't just lose her mother's soul, she'll lose her mother's life.

*********

As soon as I heard about this book I was desperate to read it.  From the first sentence I felt like I was on a thrilling ride which continued at a fast pace all the way through the book.

I adored the humour  in the book. Sean Cummings has one sarcastic mind and I personally love it!

The characters really stand out, they all have a quirkiness about them.  Julie, the main protagonist, is just full of sassiness and sarcasm. Straight away, you are cheering her on, desperate for her to solve the disasters erupting around her.  Poor Julie, just never stops! The action is wham, bam all the way through the book, never giving her a chance to catch her breath, let alone worry about what she was letting herself in for. That is probably the  only thing I would change about the book; the pacing.  At times I would have liked it  to be a bit slower. I really wanted Julie to slow down, but I felt she never got the chance. 

And then there is Marcus! I personally don't relate to the geeks in YA books, but this one is a real sweetie. His heart is definitely in the right place and he is just such a strong character for Julie to lean on. 

The Tutelary was hilarious in his or her many disguises. His later appearance in the book really had me in stitches. 

The plot is very well written and kept me intrigued. I always get a little excited when Matthew Hopkins makes an appearance in a book. What witch book would be complete without him? 

There are lots of red herrings with the story, so I didn't see the ending coming until very near the end. I thought the author had an original  and unique voice, one that I felt stood out from the crowd.  The book was a dramatic page turning rollercoaster that slipped in snippets of humour. 

I really enjoyed it and I can't wait to see what else Sean Cummings writes.