Amazing special offer!

Wulfie

Hi guys!

We all know that September 3rd is a huge publishing day this year. One of the titles releasing that day is Wulfie: Stage Fright, A new book by an author called Lindsey Sedgewick. The publishers, Little Island, have given us some treats to share with you.

New Titles

Hi all! We got a lot of wonderful new titles in this week. I've chosen just a few to showcase here, in no particular order, but I hope you'll come in and have a browse around and see all the new things.

Click on the covers featured below to visit their goodreads page and learn more about them.

Happy birthday, more or less

Hi all.

You might know, or might not - maybe you'll be quite surprised to learn this! - but our store had a big anniversary this year. We turned fifteen at the start of July. Yep, the big one five! We were all very excited. We were planning celebrations, a party, there'd be authors and publishers and you, our lovely customers...it was all going swimmingly.

That was in February.

Since then, everything has gone a bit 2020, and our birthday slid past without any fanfare or notice at all. As things stand now, of course, we can't have a party. But there'll be one in the future. For now, we'll celebrate by chatting to you, by selling you the best book you never heard of and the one that guy was talking about the other day.

Keep visiting. We can't wait to see you. And we'll have the party one of these days. You're invited.

We are BACK!

Hi everyone! We're so thrilled to be opening our doors again this very day. We're looking forward to seeing you all again and finding out how you've been doing!

Like everywhere, we have new guidelines to follow and new supply chains to unravel. Our suppliers have their own guidelines to follow. So stock and orders may take a little longer than they used to. But we are doing our best to help you find the books you want.

Remember our website, thebookcentre.ie is always open, with postage throughout Ireland and beyond. Why not try out our new Book Box? I can tell you from experience, it's fantastic!+

We look forward to seeing you!

Blog tour: Incendiary by Zoraida Cordova

Hi guys! Hope you're all doing ok.

Incendiary, the fantastic (literally!) new novel from Zoraida Córdova, releases today. To celebrate, Zoraida was kind enough to take the time to answer a few questions for us as part of the blog tour.. Enjoy, and find the book's details at the end of the article.

Children's Books of the Month March

Hi guys! Sorry for the long break in posting, but I hope we're back on track now. Welcome to the Books of the Month for March!

New Titles 6 February 2020

This is one of the biggest publishing days this quarter, with literally dozens of books publishing on this single day across childrens and adults books. I've (randomly) chosen just a few of the children's titles to highlight here, but there are many more to see in store!

Special offers on baby books

Although they're better known for reference books, DK have some fabulous baby ranges as well. We've been lucky enough to get some of those titles on special offer. Check them out below and come visit us to see them in person.

New Titles 9 January 2020

Welcome back! It's the first New Title day of the year and there are some fantastic titles out today. Remember, these are just a few of the new titles, presented in no particular order.
(A Heart So Fierce and Broken and Chosen are not in stock yet, but should arrive very soon!)

Christmas Opening Hours

Hello lovely customers! Our Christmas opening hours have been announced, and I hurried straight here to tell you.

Our hours are as normal up to and including Thursday the 19th. On Friday the 20th, we'll open 8.30am to 8pm. Saturday is as normal, 9 to 6. Sunday, 10 to 6. On Monday, it's 8.30 to 8 again! And Tuesday, 24th, 8.30 to 4.30.
We're closed Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day and reopen on Friday, 27th, 10 to 6. Hours are normal after that, bar our closing on Wednesday Jan 1st.

So, once more for clarity's sake:

1. Friday 20th: 8.30 to 8
2. Saturday 21st: 9 to 6
3. Sunday 22nd: 10 to 6
4. Monday 23rd: 8.30 to 8
5. Tuesday 24th: 8.30 to 4.30
6. Wednesday 25th: Closed
7. Thursday 26th: Closed
8. Friday 27th: 10 to 6
9. Wednesday 1st: Closed

We hope to see you all during this fun season!

New titles: Boxsets

Good morning! I'm taking a break from our publishers series to highlight some children's boxsets that recently came into stock. These sets represent a significant saving over buying the books individually, and numbers are very limited.

New titles: HarperCollins Children

The third in our series focuses on HarperCollins Children's books. HarperCollins has been publishing fiction and nonfiction for 200 years and currently host some of the biggest names in children's publishing. As always, these titles are in no particular order and represent only a tiny sample of HCC's fantastic range.

New Titles: DK Children's

In the second of our series on new titles, we're turning to DK. Dorling Kindersley produce factual books for adults and children and regularly top best seller lists.

New Titles: O'Brien Press

Welcome to (I hope!) the first in a series of posts highlighting some of the new titles. At this time of year there are so many lists and suggestions and best buys, it's easy to be overwhelmed. I'm hoping to make things a bit clearer, so do let me know if there's particular information you'd like to help you decide on your books.

We're starting with the O'Brien Press; they've been publishing in Ireland for more than forty years and their children's books regularly win awards nationally and internationally.

For toddlers, this chunky, brightly coloured picture book is a great introduction to vehicles they'll see on the streets every day. From bicycle and car through to Luas and Dart, it's a fantastic first book and a great match with my first book of GAA, also available.

Pangur Ban escapes a manuscript in chase of a plump grey mouse. The ghosts of Trinity help her search - well, some of them do - but she just can't seem to catch that mouse! A beautifully illustrated book showcasing the history of one of our most famous buildings.

The most famous of the Three Sorrows of Irish storytelling, this new rhyming version is a wonderful gift. The illustrations are full of details and just beautiful to look at. Amazing.

One of the best of this genre, this book features more than thirty Irish men and women who excelled in their fields or inspired others, or both! I'll admit I didn't know most of these people before reading the book, which made it really interesting to me. Love the illustrations, too.

Judi has dabbled in historical fiction in the Stand by Me series, but Lily is set much farther back, mixing real fact with imagined history to produce a wonderful adventure novel. This is already selling very well and will be a great buy coming up to Christmas for your tween.


This is a tiny samlpe of the amazing books O'Brien are producing. Please do drop in and see them!

Super Thursday New Titles

Super Thursday is the biggest single publishing day in the year. There are more than five hundred new titles publishing today! Please remember, this is only a tiny sample of the children's titles; there are so many more amazing ones available, and hundreds of adult titles. Do come in and have a browse and we'll be happy to talk through them with you.

New Titles 24 Sept 19

There aren't as many new titles this week, because most of the publishers are focusing on Christmas now. I can tell you that next week includes some titles I've really been looking forward to. For now, enjoy these few new titles and don't forget to come in and look around for the rest.

New Titles

Another amazing list of new titles this week, spanning all ages and interests! Remember, it's never too early to start your Christmas shopping. Just don't forget where you hid them or you'll have to buy them all over again!
Synopses (mostly) from Goodreads.

New Titles

Some wonderful new titles today, in both fiction and non fiction. Starting with the fiction, in no particular order. All summaries from Goodreads. Most of the summaries are from Goodreads, apart from the books that aren't actually listed on there.

These titles cover all age ranges.



Today is a very special day. It is the President’s birthday and everyone is preparing a birthday surprise for him.

So while the President is sent out to the Phoenix Park to walk the dogs, preparations get underway. The pigeon helpfully puts up the bunting, the postmistress delivers the birthday cards, Mrs Mullins dusts down the pictures and the cheeky cat tastes the freshly whipped cream!

Meanwhile, the President enjoys tea and scones at Farmleigh House and even does a spot of yoga on the fifteen acres. But will our forgetful President enjoy his day out in the park too much to remember his own birthday party? Or will it be his turn to surprise everyone instead?



From Paul McCartney—an action-packed picture-book adventure celebrating the fun that grandparents and grandkids can get up to.

See the compass needle spin, let the magic fun begin!

Meet Grandude—a super-cool grandfather who is an intrepid explorer with some amazing tricks up his sleeve. Grandude is a one-of-a-kind adventurer! With his magic compass, he whisks his four grandkids off on whirlwind adventures, taking them all around the globe. Join them as they ride flying fish, dodge stampedes, and escape avalanches! Brought to life with gloriously colorful illustrations from talented artist Kathryn Durst, it’s the perfect bedtime story for little explorers

When Anna borrows a tiny wooden tiger from her Russian grandmother's mantelpiece, little does she realize that it is the start of a magical adventure...

Waking the next day, Anna finds herself in a snowy Russian village, where she hears the news that a tiger cub has been spotted in the nearby woods. Anna knows this is why she must be here - the cub needs her help! But is Anna brave enough to set out in search of a tiger in the forest at night?

The novel of the laugh-out-loud high school musical coming to Netflix in 2020, starring Meryl Streep, James Corden and Nicole Kidman.

Emma knows better than anyone that Edgewater, Indiana, is not a great place to be gay. But she's had enough of high school homophobia and really wants to take her girlfriend - the popular, closeted It Girl Alyssa- to prom. How big a deal could that really be?

But when their classmates find out, the backlash exceeds Emma's worst nightmares.

Meanwhile, in Manhattan, Barry and Dee Dee are Broadway stars of yesteryear. When their new show bombs, they need some good publicity - fast. So when they happen to hear about Emma's plight, they decide to step in and create a prom for everyone.

Suddenly, Edgewater is the centre of a national news story. As the drama queens of New York take over the sleepy town, chaos ensues and the glare of the spotlight is brighter than anyone could have guessed.

But all Emma and Alyssa want is to dance together. Is that too much to ask?

Ellie is a rebellious princess hiding her real identity.

Lottie is her Portman, acting as the princess for the public to shield Ellie from scrutiny.

Jamie is Ellie's Partizan, a lifelong bodyguard sworn to protect the princess at any cost.

Together they are attempting to stay safe from Leviathan, a group determined to take the princess for unknown reasons.

When Leviathan force them to travel to their beloved Rosewood Hall's sister school in Japan, the threesome find that nowhere is beyond Leviathan's long reach. The only solace they find is a secret group called Banshee who are fighting against the organisation's hold. But when long-buried secrets are uncovered, the lives of Lottie, Ellie and Jamie will never be the same again...

This one is borderline fiction/nonfiction, so I've put it in the middle here.

Matilda is BRAVE and BRILLIANT - and you can be too!

Packed with GAMES, JOKES, QUIZZES and much more, this marvellous book has all the tips and tricks you need to become a REAL HERO and even stand up to THE TERRIBLE TRUNCHBULL.

Review: A World Full of Spooky Stories: 50 Tales to Make Your Spine Tingle

A World Full of Spooky Stories: 50 Tales to Make Your Spine Tingle by Angela McAllister
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

They said spooky and they weren't kidding! I knew a few of these stories, but not most of them. A couple were properly creepy. My favourite is Herne the Hunter, but there's plenty of others here for all tastes. The illustrations are more cartoony than creepy, but they add to the book and it's a very attractive package. I'm looking forward to selling this one this Hallowe'en!

A fantastic collection.

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Book of the Month, September

New month, new books of the month! Our teenage book is the wonderful No Big Deal by Bethany Rutter, and our picture book is the fabulous The Giggle Pigs by Leonie Lord. Hurry in before they sell out!

Review: The Warehouse

The Warehouse by Rob Hart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An extremely well thought out dystopian novel. Cloud has taken over America. It's the online store of your dreams, stocking everything, products sent to you by drone so they're with you almost before they're needed. Cloud now employs most of America, and its CEO controls the government as well. Although he thinks of it as 'advising'. He only wants the best for everyone, after all.

My favourite thing about this fantastic novel is the watch that buzzes on different side to direct the workers. It's such a tiny detail, but it fits and it really shows the work that Rob put into imagining this increasingly possible future. A fantastic read, one that everyone should try.


Dakota didn’t speak. Didn’t look interested in speaking. She walked, and Paxton followed. A few people threw glances their way. He understood this dance. Dobbs called the polo shirt an equalizer. It wasn’t. Didn’t matter if the badge was tin, it still shone if it caught the light at the right angle. 


A tram car pulled in and they climbed aboard. The crowd seemed to part for them. Still Dakota didn’t talk. This, Paxton understood too. For them to talk, to engage in conversation like normal people, would humanize them too much. 


Paxton hated how easy it was to slip back into that mind-set. Like walking the stacks all over again.

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New stock

These fantastic new Guardian Angels from Depesche come with the date already printed on them. Chose one for any occasion in your life; a birth, a birthday, graduation, a wedding. Whatever the occasion, a Guardian Angel is waiting to join you.

(I told you it wasn't what you were expecting.)

Review: A Pocketful of Stars

A Pocketful of Stars by Aisha Bushby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A heartbreaking story. Saiya's mother suffers a stroke just after they've had a fight. Drowning in guilt, Safiya finds that when she visits her mother, she sees fragments of her childhood. With each fragment, she unlocks more of her mother's history and her own personality.


I can't say much about this book, because it made it cry so much. But it's amazing, and beautiful, and I cheered, and everyone should definitely read it. Definitely. Just have tissues to hand.


As I walk through the map and see the ruined palace in the distance - ivy growing all over it, walls cracked - I can't help but remember the house from my dream with the silver branches. The park, too, looks similar. Except, instead of palm trees they're made of oak, and instead of a corner shop there's the Wicked Woodlands where the wizards live.

Almost an hour later and I'm just about to get most valuable player when Dad's voice floats up from the living room beneath me. 'Safiya!' he calls, his voice penetrating the bubble that my headphones have formed. 'Dinner!'

And, just like that, the spell is broken.

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Review: The Black Flamingo

The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Told in free verse, this heartfelt story follows Michael from birth to university as he discovers his identity and finds the people who will stand with him. Mixed in is the poetry he writes to try to understand himself and his reactions and those of the people around him. This is a lovely, quick read with beautiful illustrations. This is a story that will stay with you for a long time.

Be aware, there is a lot of discussion of sex and some drugs.



He puts his arm around me and says,
'Don't worry, you can't score every time
but you still gotta take the shot.
Respect for taking the risk, bro.
I've got a question for you: why did you
ask out the whitest boy in school?
Why not give a brother a chance?'

I laugh, through my tears. 'You're funny.'

'Yeah,' Kieran sighs, 'so are you.
I should go but if anyone gives you any trouble,
you let me know.'
He squeezes my shoulder,
walks to the door.

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Review: D.O.G.S

D.O.G.S by M.A. Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Greer is trying to settle back into school after the horrific visit to Longcross. The appearance of a long lost play catapults her back into a world of mystery, forcing her back to Longcross to lay old ghosts to rest.

So this is the second in what is now apparently a trilogy. As such, not a lot actually happens. There's a secret play that's tied into the Order, a lot of arguing, a visit to Longcross to find part of the play that is mostly not at all about the actual play. However, this is still an exciting, interesting read and I read it in one go, wanting to know what was going to happen next. I loved that we couldn't quite tell which side the characters were on; of the two reveals at the end, one confused me adn one really impressed me. I'm looking forward to reading the third part, but going on history that's a couple of years away at least!


Receiving an ARC did not affect my review in any way.



'So you're from the Isle of Dogs, right?'

'Yeah.'

'Why's it called that?'

'It was called Isle of Dogs cos it was s'posed to be where Elizabeth I's royal kennels were. So back then it was literally swarming with dogs.'

'Makes sense.'

'There's this pub called the Ferry House where my uncles used to drink,' she went on, 'and there was a crazy old guy who always used to sit at the bar and say that on frosty nights you could hear those Elizabethan dogs baying across the mudflats.'

I shivered. I was back at Longcross, hearing Henry's dogs barking through the dense fog after Nel's blood. If I was a real friend to Ty, could I really let her go to Longcross alone? Yes, I liked the twins, and no, they weren't Henry. But before I could make up my mind she hurried away, probably to catch up with Louis.

I could've stopped her. I could've called her back. But I said nothing, and my own silence made me feel a bit sick.

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Review: Sea Witch Rising

Sea Witch Rising by Sarah Henning
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The politics get a bit more confusing in this follow up, which sees Evie, our Sea Witch, re-enacting the Little Mermaid by sending Alia ashore without her voice to capture the heart of her prince - the grandson of the boy Evie loved once. Alia's sister refuses to take it lying down, though, and demands to negotiate her own deal.

The fifty year gap between this story and the first one means that some things are filled in on the run, as it were. This one is also rooted in a much more modern time than I had assumed reading the first one. It could, technically, still be as early as the 1850s, but the reference to Germany wanting to cut of Britain's supplies and starve her out seems, to me, to place us in the 1940s. Which makes Havnestad seem really backwards and strange. I guess it could be an alternate world.

Apart from that niggle, though, this is a fantastic read, with lush language and a well thought out magic system. Runa is now my favourite of the heroines, and I enjoyed the ending very much. This was a one day read for me.

A wonderful duology for anyone who enjoys fantasy.



Maybe there's a chance.

Maybe he really does love Alia.

Maybe their love is enough that he'll stop this wedding farce and bring Alia up there instead, marrying her with a kiss so fierce, the magic has no choice but to be satisfied.

Maybe the only sad part of the story is that I will remain human against my will. If Alia is happy and survives, that will be enough for me.

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Review: Sea Witch

Sea Witch by Sarah Henning
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A beautiful, magical retelling of the Little Mermaid...sort of. For spoilery reasons, I can't explain, but this book is not quite what you think it is. It is a wonderful, magical - I keep saying that, but it's true - story, though.

Switching time periods can make things tricky at first, but things become clear very quickly. The language is amazing and I'm very eager to move on to the next title in the series. Hoping for a happy ending!



"Happy birthday, Cousin." Eyes laughing, Iker claps Nik on the back and brings him in for a hug, his toned arms fully encasing Nik's spindly-yet-strong form.

When they release, Iker's eyes go right to me. They're the clearest of blues - like ancient ice in the fjords of the north.

"Evelyn," he says, still retaining an air of formality from his upbringing, but he then shockingly pulls me into a hug.

I freeze, eyes on Nik as he and everyone else on the ship stares. Iker doesn't seem to notice or care and pulls me tighter, his arms wrapped around my waist. Warm from ship work, he smells of salt and limes. His shirt is freckled with water droplets, onyx on the starched gray fabric - the sea leaving her mark.

When the moment is over and he lets me go, an arm lingers across my shoulders. I try to ignore the question nagging me, the one I'm sure everyone else is asking too. Why me? We've known each other since we were children, but he's never shown me this kind of affection before. I'm not his type. I'm not anyone's type. Yet Iker continues to act as if it's all completely normal. He turns to Nik, to the crowd, and grins that perfect smile.

"Good people of Havnestad," he says, his voice commanding yet sincere. Then the grin grows wider. "Let's give the prince a celebration so hearty, he'll never forget it."

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Review: The Starlight Watchmaker

The Starlight Watchmaker by Lauren James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An abandoned android scrapes a living as a watchmaker on an intergalactic campus. He's lonely but content until the day a fast paced duke comes to his door, demanding help. Everything will change if they succeed in their mission.


I've read several Lauren James novels, but I think I'm most impressed by this one. The others were all amazing reads, but this is so imaginative; butterflies riding bicycles, living (but mini) planets and underwater species living on algae are just a few of the delights here. Lauren has been on my instabuy list since The Loneliest Girl in the Universe but she is now firmly ensconced there. The characters are fantastic and the whole story rattles along at a wonderful speed; not so fast we're lost, not so slow we're bored. This is going to be a great one to add to her portfolio.



I received a proof copy and chose to write an honest review.

View all my reviews

The Kingdom blog tour

Welcome to the blog tour for The Kingdom! This futuristic fantasy/Disney mashup has people talking about it everywhere and hopefully the excerpt below will catch your attention, too.

The Kingdom is a futuristic amusement park, covering thousands of acres. The main draws are the hybrids; animals rescued from extinction by a combination of genetic engineering and mechanics, and the Fantasists, seven beautiful princesses who stroll through the park interacting with the visitors. They're kept safe inside The Kingdom at all times. Safe, confined, and controlled.

Ana was the perfect character to explore this world with. She's not the oldest or the youngest of the Fantasists, she knows that life has always been this way for them. And at first it seems like a pretty good life; Mother and Father look after them, they have people to help them get dressed and made up and people following them around The Kingdom to make sure they're safe. Mother tucks them in and tells them stories, Father makes sure they're healthy.

And then little details creep out, and the tone of the book changes. Mother doesn't tuck them in - she ties them down. Her stories include the time an older Fantasist was stolen and beaten to death outside The Kingdom. Father ignores their complaints unless their performance is suffering, then he adjusts them.

For Ana, things really start to go wrong when one of her sisters vanishes. She's different when she comes back, and Ana slowly starts to notice things. Many of the animals hybrids are sickening, for one. And her sister Kaia, who only speaks in gentle cliches; a sign of her older operating systems, or something more sinister? And there's Owen, the park worker who turns up everywhere she is.

Interspersed with the story are trial transcripts, newspaper cuttings and other artifacts from a trial taking place about a year and a half after the main story. At that time, Ana is on trial for murder. There's a lot to think about in the defence's arguments that Ana is incapable of murder. It's just not in her programming.

I went into this novel expecting a mystery/fantasy and came out thinking about everything from cultural appropriation to what makes a person a person - admittedly, a question a lot of sci fi asks, but not one that's been answered yet. I hope Jess is planning to return to the world of The Kingdom, but if this shining piece is all we get, it's enough.


Pick up the blog tour at Pythia Reads on the 15th July and enjoy the excerpt below! The book is on sale now.

1

THE DECEMBER OF THE LESSER CHAMELEON 

ONE HOUR AFTER THE MURDER 

The room where they at last found him was so cold, they wondered at first if he had frozen to death. Face as white as snow, skin as cold as frost, lips as blue as ice. His expression seemed, to the police, perfectly peaceful. As if he had passed away in the middle of a very lovely dream.

Except for the blood. Blood always tells its own story.

2

POST-TRIAL INTERVIEW [00:01:03–00:02:54] 

DR. FOSTER: Are you comfortable? 

ANA: My wrist hurts. 

DR. FOSTER: Security felt the cuff was necessary. I hope you can understand. 

ANA: [Silence.] 

DR. FOSTER: Do you need anything before we begin? 

ANA: Can I have some water? 

DR. FOSTER: Certainly. [Into microphone.] Can I get a glass of H,O in here, please? Six ounces, no more. Thank you. [To Ana.] That'll just be a minute. 

ANA: Thank you. 

DR. FOSTER: Of course. It's the least we can do. 

ANA: That's true. 

DR. FOSTER: It's been a long time since our last interview. 

ANA: Four hundred and eighty-one days. 

DR. FOSTER: How are you feeling? 

ANA: Like this interview should be over. 

DR. FOSTER: One last time, Ana. Then I promise, we'll let you rest. 

ANA: I thought I was done answering questions. 

DR. FOSTER: We still need your help. 

ANA: Why should I help you? After everything you've done? 

DR. FOSTER: Because it's the right thing to do. 

ANA: Don't you mean, because I don't have a choice? 

DR. FOSTER: How would you like to see your sisters? They've missed you. Maybe after we finish here I could arrange a visit. Kaia. Zara. Or maybe Zel? Would you like that? 

ANA: [Quietly.] What if I want to see Nia? What about Eve? 

DR. FOSTER: [Silence.] Ana, you know that's not possible. 

ANA: Why don't you just ask me whatever it is you want to ask me? I'm not in the mood for your games. 

DR. FOSTER: My games? 

ANA: You're smirking. What's so funny? 

DR. FOSTER: I'll tell you in a minute. But first, there's one thing I still haven't figured out. 

ANA: I'm listening. 

DR. FOSTER: What did you do with the body, Ana? 

Welcome to the Kingdom... where 'Happily Ever After' isn't just a promise, but a rule. 

Glimmering like a jewel behind its gateway, The Kingdom is an immersive fantasy theme park where guests soar on virtual dragons, castles loom like giants, and bioengineered species--formerly extinct--roam free.

Ana is one of seven Fantasists, beautiful "princesses" engineered to make dreams come true. When she meets park employee Owen, Ana begins to experience emotions beyond her programming including, for the first time... love.

But the fairytale becomes a nightmare when Ana is accused of murdering Owen, igniting the trial of the century. Through courtroom testimony, interviews, and Ana's memories of Owen, emerges a tale of love, lies, and cruelty--and what it truly means to be human.

Review: Arctic Zoo

Arctic Zoo by Robert Muchamore
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Muchamore is an excellent writer. There's no denying that. This book has adventure, politics, lessons about drone racing and young offender's institutes. But it just wasn't riveting, at least for me. It took the two storylines far too long to come together, so it was more like reading two different books, and they didn't really affect each other much in the end.

There was nothing wrong with it. The prose is brilliant, the characters were good. As always in Muchamore's stories, the violence happens often and is well described, and he'd clearly put a lot of thought into the politics of his little slice of Nigeria. But it's a long way from the highs of the CHERUB series. I'll keep reading him, but I'm not sure we'll ever get that high again.

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Review: The Lost Tide Warriors

The Lost Tide Warriors by Catherine Doyle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The second in the series sees Fionn, along with friends and enemies old and new, battling against Soulseekers determined to revive Morrigan.


First of all, this isn't the book to start with. Although things are explained reasonably well as you go along, you'll still likely be confused for quite a portion of it.

However, if you've read the first one, this is a fantastic follow up, expanding the mythology and keeping the same wonderful tone. I cried - quite a bit - and read as fast as I can. I still love the magic system, I've still never seen anything like it, and I'm very excited to read the third one to find out what happens next.


I received an ARC and chose to write an honest review.

(This isn't the section I wanted to copy, but my favourite one made me cry and I couldn't see the words. This one shows the use of language very well.)

The  candle  in  Sam’s  fist  was  shaking  violently.  “I  regret  this  decision,” he  called  over  his  shoulder,  just  as  Hughie  released  a  triumphant  shout,  pulled  his  free  hand  into  his  chest  and  closed  it  into  a  fist.

The  sky  ignited.  

There  were  three  awful  seconds  of  nothingness  when  both  vessels  seemed  to  hang  by  an  invisible  thread,  then  the  wind  snapped  and  the  sky  roared  and  the  world  dropped. The  wave  surged  over  The Corpus,  taking  them  all  with  it,  screaming  at  the  top  of  their  lungs.  Hughie  Rua  threw  his  head back and laughed  as  they  flew  down,  down,   down,  following  his  billowing  sails  into  the  sea.  

The  wind  pulled  their  cheeks  from  their  mouths  and  stole  their  breath,  their  stomachs  flip  ping  upside  down  and  inside  out  as  they  cut  through  the  air. Their  screams  ran  their  voices  hoarse  before  they  hit  the  water.

Then  they  left  the  world  behind  them,  piercing  the  skin  of  the  ocean  in  two  identical points.

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Review: I Hold Your Heart

I Hold Your Heart by Karen Gregory
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gemma has just started her A levels when she meets Aaron. He understands her in a way no one else ever has, and soon she's spending all her time with him. Her friends don't understand what it's like. They're jealous. Right?

This book starts out fine; Gemma's studying, playing music, working and hanging out with friends. Even Aaron, at first, seems nice; kind and thoughtful, dedicated to Gemma's happiness. As things go on, though, they get increasingly creepy. Aaron's change in behaviour is slow and subtle and it's easy to understand why Gemma gets caught up with him. It's terrifying to watch; I just wanted to scream at her to get out of there immediately. This is a fantastic read on a very important topic; too many teenagers wouldn't recognise abuse of this kind and it needs to be talked about more. This book will definitely do it.

Between this title and Countless, Karen Gregory is on my must-read list.

Receiving an ARC did not affect my review in any way.


When she doesn’t answer her messages, or her phone when I call her, that’s when I look. Not before. But I know how to get into her WhatsApp; it’s easy if you’ve got someone’s number.

The first thing I see are the messages from Cal. Way more of them than she said. The winky faces. Kisses. Little in-jokes from a time before I knew her.

I read through each one, feeling the nausea rising.There’s a rational part of me that’s aware her messages indicate nothing more than friendship, though his are screaming he wants more. But a larger part of me feels like a vortex, as though my lungs are collapsing in on themselves and I’m struggling for breath, fighting to pull up and out. Fighting to remember who I am. Before I know it, I’m dressed and driving, taking the corners on the wrong side of the road, not bothering to brake at red lights, the night a blur of looming hedgerows and cat’s eyes flaring at me from the middle of the road.

I kill the engine at the bottom of her track and sit there, holding on to the steering wheel. Go home, a voice is whispering in my head. I try her number again but there’s still no answer. And the need to just see her, to touch her hair, is overwhelming. Too big for me to fight.

I step out of the car and jog up the track.

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Review: The Beholder

The Beholder by Anna Bright
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 rounded up.

Selah only wants to help keep her people fed and happy. Their little colony is only scraping by, and she knows her duty is to marry a good, hard working man who will help her take her father's place and led her people. When the man she expects to marry her turns her down, though, she's plunged into a humiliating journey across the sea in search of a husband, in a game between her stepmother and the dreaded Baba Yaga she knows nothing about.



This should have been an amazing read. It's so confused, though, it turned me off a little. As near as I can tell, this is set in a world where England abandoned the Colonies before they could declare Independence. In fact England doesn't seem to have much of an empire at all any more. But also a lot of folklore is happening all at once; Arthur, surrounded by several of the Knights, is in England, and in what's probably Norway she visits Asgard and meets various members of the pantheon, except they don't actually seem to be gods, just people with the gods' names. The overarching villain is known as Baba Yaga and it's never clear (at least to me) whether she is called that because of the mythological figure, or whether the myth doesn't exist there. All the European countries have different names, and while I could puzzle most of them out by context I'm still lost on a few. A map would have been amazingly helpful; maybe the print version will have one.

But it's not all bad. Selah grows into an amazing character, and her determination to return home is never less than endearing. A couple of her suitors are good as well, obvious twist with one aside. Sadly I didn't really follow the political subplot, possibly because, again, I couldn't place the countries involved.

I did enjoy it overall, and I'll watch out for the sequel, because naturally there's a cliffhanger. Not a horrible one, though, so there's that going for it.

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Review: Queen of Ruin

Queen of Ruin by Tracy Banghart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In Viridia, women are objects, not people. Beautiful, demure, obedient objects. Those who disobey are killed or sent to the island prison of Mount Ruin, forced to fight and kill for the guards' amusement. Serina has successfully led an uprising against them, but they are now trapped on the island, pinning all their hopes on the next supply ship. Serina's thoughts are with Nomi, though, left behind in the palace at the mercy of the cruel Superior. Together, these girls can destroy a country. If they can find their power.

This was a brilliant follow up to Grace and Fury. There was enough recapping for me to remember what happened in the last book, but not so much that it seemed out of place. Serina and Nomi continued to grow as characters, facing awful situations head on. The rest of the characters are distinct enough for it to really matter when they start fighting. The ending was clever and about the only way things could really have worked out. I'm glad the story wasn't dragged out longer; this felt like the right length.

I received an ARC of this title and chose to review it honestly.


Serina couldn’t mistake the naked misery in her sister’s voice. “He . . . he must care for you, to let you go.” Nomi’s face crumpled. Understanding dawned. “But you cared for Asa.”

Nomi’s voice hardened. “I thought I did. I trusted him, and he used me. He used my affection for him, my love for you, for his own ends. He killed his father and tried to kill his brother, and he shipped me off to prison . . . but before all of that he kissed me and told me he wanted me to be queen, and I believed him.”

Serina put her arms around Nomi, aching for her sister. She sat in silence, holding Nomi as she cried, just as she’d done when they were children. The moment was bittersweet; Serina hated that Nomi was hurting, but she was also grateful to be able to comfort her. Not long ago, she’d been certain she’d never get this chance again.

After a while, she murmured, “Asa will pay for what he’s done. I am certain.”

Nomi cleaned her face on the edge of her shirt. “I hope so.”

They curled into each other’s arms and listened to the surf and let the wind whip through their hair, and soon enough, dawn found them.

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Review: The Chain

The Chain by Adrian McKinty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A teenage girl is kidnapped. A terrified mother receives a call. Her kidnappers don't want a ransom - or, not only a ransom. She must also kidnap another child and pass the conditions on to those parents, thus ensuring her own complicity and keeping the Chain going. The Chain is important. The Chain must never be broken. Or the Chain will come for you...


This is a tense, exciting thriller. It doesn't exactly have twists - most of the plot developments are signaled long before they come into play - but I definitely wanted to find out what was going to happen next. The characters are well written and the peril is nicely played, not too gratuitous, just the right amount. The style reminded me a little of Stephen King in spots.

A fantastic read all around.



“All right, this is the plan,” Rachel announces. “One, we drive to the Old Customs Hall. Two, we wait for the kids to come out. Three, we follow Toby home along Revenue and Standore Streets. Please, God, let Toby be by himself. Four, we pull the car up next to him. Five, we grab him and throw him inside. Six, we drive off.”

“Do you want me to grab him?”

She nods. “And I’ll drive.”

“OK, then.”

She looks at him. “There are so many things that can go wrong, Pete. I’m glad you’re with me.”

Pete thinks back to that night at Camp Bastion in September of 2012 when everything went wrong. He bites his lip. “Yeah, it’ll be fine, Rach,” he says.

“But even if it all goes right,” she replies wretchedly, “it’ll still be absolutely terrible.”

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Review: The Shamer's Daughter

The Shamer's Daughter by Lene Kaaberbøl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dina's mother has a special gift. Just by looking in someone's eyes, she can force them to feel all the shame of any crime they've committed, from not cleaning the kitchen table right up to murder. Dina has inherited this gift, and when her mother is caught up in a political struggle Dina means to do her very best to get her out of it again.

First things first. The translation on this is smooth as butter. There's no hint of the awkward phrases and strange sentences that often show up when something is translated. In fact, I wasn't even sure it was translated until I looked it up on Goodreads.

The story itself is relatively uncomplicated. The bad guy is obvious almost at once, there are various allies of varying levels of usefulness. There are dragons, here animals rather than intelligent, and they're sufficiently terrifying. Dina is convincingly ten years old, sometimes. At other times she seems far older, but we can attribute that to the gift of Shaming. It's an inventive gift, not one I'd read about before.

I'm interested to know what will happen next in this series, and I'll be watching out for it.


Receiving an ARC did not affect my review in any way.



The black horse looked very big, but the stranger boosted me up as if I weighed nothing at all and settled me with my legs to one side like the grand ladies riding sidesaddle in their long gowns. Of course it looked better than hiking up my skirts and riding astride, the way I usually did, but it was also a lot more difficult. I felt as if I was about to slide off the whole time. The stranger mounted behind me, put his arm around my waist in a firm grip, and still managed to control the horse one-handedly and with total ease.

“I still don’t know your name,”I said nervously.

“Drakan,”he replied, not deigning to tell me whether that was a first or a last name. Then he prodded the horse into a canter, and I had my hands full just staying on.

But as the black stallion’s long strides brought us farther and farther down the road to Dunark, I could hear Beastie still, barking and barking as if he would never stop.

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Review: Heartstream

Heartstream by Tom Pollock
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cat's dating a member of the hottest boyband around...maybe. And Amy's the hottest streamer on Heartstream, the app that lets other people literally feel your emotions. Both think they've experienced the dark side of fandom. But they haven't seen anything yet.


Where to start with this one? First of all, it does not have the tear your hair out ending that White Rabbit, Red Wolf had, so rest easy on that. Not everything is tied up by the end, but it's enough.

Second, I like this view of fandom; that it can be the best place ever, an amazingly supportive family who will bear you up and support you...so long as you follow the rules. I've been on the edge of some of those fandoms, and they can be hideous or wonderful. Often both at once. It's beautifully portrayed here.

Third, I kind of started to get an inkling about what was going on about halfway through, but I had to keep adjusting my thoughts and shifting things around. Tom is amazing at giving you enough information to keep you guessing but not enough to figure things out, but not so little you get bored. I've no idea how he does it.

Fourth, a small amount of violence and gore, be careful.

Fifth, read it. Get two copies and give one to someone else.



I received an ARC and chose to review it honestly.


Panic and despair welled up in me. I suddenly remembered being tony, maybe four or five, and losing Mum in the bustle of a supermarket, and running up and down the aisles of cereal and vegetables and frozen meat frantically searching for her and not finding her and battling against the growing conviction she was gone, gone, and I was never getting her back, and tears springing up hot in my throat because it was my fault, because she told me to keep hold of her hand.

This felt exactly like that, only edged in a leaden despair, because I knew it would never end, because there was no bored girl with a supermarket PA system who could call her to the customer information desk from where she'd gone now. And then I was back watching the burning house, and then...

And then I sort of lost touch with myself.

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Wally is lost again! He should really invest in a good map. Come and see if you can find him - and while you're at it, invest in a good map. Or a compass. They're useful for all sorts of things.

Review: You Won’t Believe This: Get swept up in the most stunningly moving and hilarious mystery of the year.

You Won’t Believe This: Get swept up in the most stunningly moving and hilarious mystery of the year. by Adam Baron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cymbeline is having trouble at home and at school, with someone targeting his favourite teacher and his best friend's grandmother not well. Can he help to solve both problems before they run out of time?

This is a great read. I think it's at least the second in a series, but I didn't feel like I was missing anything, there were just a couple of references to things that didn't happen in this story. All the clues come together really satisfyingly, including the ones that didn't seem like clues at the time, and I loved how everything worked out. Apart from that, there's some fabulous history on Boat People weaved carefully in.

I recommend this to everyone.


Receiving an ARC did not affect my review in any way.



There was music then, and dancing. We watched for a bit and then walked up past the National Gallery, where all the roads were shut. There was an EVEN BIGGER dragon in Leicester Square, after which my mouth literally dropped open. I'd been to the street that is Chinatown itself. But today it ws hung wit red paper lanterns, lots of smaller dragons dancing around beneath them to even more drummers, the sound SO loud as it thudded back off all the buildings. There were men with red-and-gold robes and long fake beards, their hats like snakes. Again I thought about trying to talk to Veronique but she kept pulling me off to see this thing, and that thing, before pointing to the end of the street. Another procession was marching towards us, this one of enormous inflatable pandas which went right over our heads. It was stunning and for a second it felt like I'd been whisked off to China.

But it wsn't just Chinese people. There were white people and black people and Asian people. Outside one shop there were some very British-looking police officers with flags poking out from their uniforms. So we weren't in China; this was my city, where I live. My London. It made me feel bigger, as if there was more to me than I knew about. I looked at Veronique and felt something similar, remembering my thoughts when she'd first told me about Nanai. I'd thought that the Chinese bit of Veronique was, sort of, on the reverse side of her, that it had nothing to do with me. But if this party was here, where I lived, then that part of Veronique was connected to me too. It wasn't a bit of her that was different. Her Chinese bit was mixed in with her British bit. And if this was happening here, where I lived, then I was mixed in with it too.

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Review: Malory Towers: New Class at Malory Towers: Four brand-new Malory Towers

Malory Towers: New Class at Malory Towers: Four brand-new Malory Towers by Enid Blyton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Four new authors write about four new girls attending Malory Towers during Darrell River's years there.

On the plus side, the tone is almost perfect all the way through. I'm not too sure about Mam'zelle in the last one, but I can let it slide. The girls are recognizably themselves - although neither Alicia nor Gwen were ever quite that mean in Enid's stories. The new girls are intriguing and interesting in and of themselves, and the stories go along nicely.

This is a great addition to the classic stories and will go well.



'Shall we show you to your dormy?' asked Sally, her voice shaking. She was an excellent leader but she hated conflict and the tension in the common room was so thick that it felt like a heavy fog hanging in the air. 'It's really lovely.'

'What is that supposed to mean?' Margaret's words were quiet and her eyes bored into Gwen. 'What about my parents?'

'I expect your trunk has been taken upstairs by now,' said Darrell, slightly desperately. She could see that Alicia was loving every second of the confrontation but there was something about Margaret's voice that was making Darrell feel increasingly nervous.

'Oh, you know very well!' Gwen clearly wasn't about to back down. 'My mother married up and your mother married down and that is why I am who I am and you are, well-' she gestured at Maggie -'you.'

There was silence and the rest of the girls held their breath. They were used to arguments between them but they'd never heard anyone say anything so personal and unkind before.

'I'd rather be me with my wonderful parents, than spoilt darling Gwendoline Mary,' murmured Margaret, her face pale. 'There isn't enough money in the world that would make me ever want to swap places with you.' She turned and let her gaze sweep over them all. 'I wouldn't want to be like any of you. Not even for one day.'

And then she turned and ran from the room, her long legs striding across the floor and out of the door before anyone could stop her.

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