Review: Rejoice, A Knife to the Heart

Rejoice, A Knife to the Heart by Steven Erikson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A unique look at First Contact. I've never seen a book, movie or TV show handle it in quite this way. I liked seeing all the different points of view, although like other reviews I thought there were a lot of people to keep track of.

I enjoyed this book and I'll happily read more in the series, because like many books nowadays it ended on an awful cliffhanger!


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


"Imagination is like a muscle. It requires exercise. Stay trapped in this world with all its mundane necessities, and it won't be long before your imagination - the gift you were given in your childhood - atrophies, and when that happens, why, you've lost something precious that even nostalgia won't bring back to you, no matter how much you long for what was. With the death of your imagination, you lose wonder. But you need wonder. You need it to stay sane, and you need it to keep your heart from turning into stone."

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Review: Villain

Villain by Michael Grant
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another breathless, gory adventure story from Michael Grant. I'm half enjoying, half terrified to keep reading this series; every time I think the stakes can't possibly get any higher, I'm proved wrong. The Battle of Las Vegas is horrifying in every sense of the word.

I'm in awe of the way Michael can sow in hints early on, throw away moments that later become very important. It takes real skill and I'm looking forward to seeing how everything pans out in a year.

I've taken a star off, though, because it's been a year since I read Monster, which had a lot of characters and a lot happening, and it took me a while to remember who everyone was and what the connections between them were. A Previously On or recap would have been very much appreciated. This was a problem with the original series too, though, so I don't expect any progress on it.

I can't wait for the next book, but I also don't want this series to be over!

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


"I believe there's a reason for everything that happens, you know? Which means you were given this power for a reason." Saffron looked intently into his eyes. "Things like this don't just happen. This is part of some larger plan. You were meant to have this power, which means you were meant to use it."

Dillon nodded along, not quite convinced, and still half thinking he would just tell Saffron to strip off her robe and her bikini and... But his thoughts were not alone in his head; the Dark Watchers, his audience, were listening. And they were liking what they were hearing. He could sense their pleasure, their anticipation.
"Well...okay," Dillon said with a shrug. "How do we start?"
Saffron smiled. "Let's start with school and work outward."
Dillon winced. "You want me to be a superpowered Dylan Kebold? I'm not into killing people, I'm just trying to have a few laughs."
"Don't be silly, Dillon. You don't need dead bodies, you need living slaves. And, of course, one other thing."
"What?"
"A queen, Dillon," she said. "You need a queen."

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Review: Distortion

Distortion by Victor Dixen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The bad point first, just to get it out of the way; the quality of the translation has slipped a little in this book. In my review of the last one, I said I hadn't realised it was a translation until I'd finished reading. That's not true in this one, where everyone seems to have become quite formal suddenly, and some of the descriptions are strange.

But! Apart from that, this is a fabulous book. Tension remains high, characters are recognisable while still being allowed to grow, learn and change, and a few more characters are added to the roster. The technology all seems plausible to my sci-fi-fan mind, and I'm really looking forward to seeing where Victor takes our hapless contestants next. Roll on book three!

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Review: The Dog Who Lost His Bark

The Dog Who Lost His Bark by Eoin Colfer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF I KNEW THIS BOOK WOULD MAKE ME CRY AND I READ IT ANYWAY I AM IN WORK ARGLEBARGLE right. This is a beautiful story about a boy and a dog who help each other heal after some bad things. There's a touch of fantasy to it, but not enough to detract from the story. PJ Lynch's illustrations are, as always, fabulous and add just the right tone to the story. Buy it. In fact, buy one for you and one to give away, because you won't want to share it.

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Review: JW Untitled Autumn 18

JW Untitled Autumn 18 by Jacqueline Wilson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jacqueline goes back to the old days with her new novel, My Mum Tracy Beaker. Tracy has matured a little, but she's still a spitfire, charging into situations without thinking. Her daughter, Jess, is one of Jacqueline's 'timid, bookish' heroines, and Cam features hugely, along with other characters from the Tracy Beaker trilogy.

I won't spoil the story for you ... if you've read enough Wilson books, you'll recognise it anyway ... but it's a good read with engaging characters. A great Christmas present for the nine year old in your life.

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Review: The Tales of Beedle the Bard

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A lavishly illustrated version of the most famous folktales of the Wizarding world. Chris Riddell's signature style lends itself beautifully to these stories, and you'll see something new each time you look at them. The pick of this year's Potter titles for any fan.



The warlock was sure that he must be an object of immense envy to all who beheld his splendid and untroubled solitude. Fierce were his anger and chagrin, therefore, when he overheard two of his lackeys discussing their master one day.
The first servant expressed pity for the warlock who, with all his wealth and power, was yet beloved by nobody.
But his companion jeered, asking why a man with so much gold and a palatial castle to his name had been unable to attract a wife.
Their words dealt dreadful blows to the listening warlock's pride.

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Review: Bah! Humbug!

Bah! Humbug! by Michael Rosen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A perfect Christmas story, cleverly entwining lines from A Christmas Carol into a new story, echoing the message contained in it. A child might need to know the story already - I suggest A Muppet Christmas Carol, still the best version ever - in order to get the nuances, and there's a reveal about the main character's sister that's slightly hidden until about halfway through, but overall it's a fantastic read for any time of year. Perfect.

(I was slightly unsure how old everyone was, which is not a huge concern but worth noting; I'm not even sure which sibling is older, not that it matters to the story. They're something between eight and eighteen, anyway.)


Eva thought of how angry Harry had got when a spot appeared on his face.

"It's just a spot," she had said to him.

"I hate it, I hate it, I hate it," he had shouted at the mirror.

"Maybe shouting at it will scare it away," Eva had said, which, even in the midst of his rage, had made him laugh.

...

And now, in the show, Harry was making everyone laugh with his 'pimple'.

No, not Harry, she reminded herself. Scrooge. Mr Scrooge.

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Review: Dry

Dry by Neal Shusterman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As a dystopian fan and an armchair prepper - meaning I know a bit about it; please don't invade my house looking for supplies, there aren't any - this book was a strange read. On the one hand, the number one rule of prepping is don't tell anyone you're prepping. No one should have known that Kelton's family had anything stored away. On the other hand, every other aspect of this is pretty much perfect. I'm restraining the impulse to go out and stock up some water now. (See above re no supplies in my house.)

The Shustermans have obviously researched this very carefully, and it shows in the different viewpoints and POVs scattered throughout the book. I did have to reread the end a couple of times to make sense of it, but at that point I was flying through the pages so it's probably my fault!

A brilliant, chilling read.

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


"If you're getting this report, and you're in the Southland right now - there is a mandatory evacuation," says Anderson Cooper. His image is accompanied by shots of military personnel helping families evacuate onto massive trucks, handing out water to long lines of people. "Evacuation centers are being set up throughout Southern California in school gymnasiums, churches, and malls - but there seems to be a staggering number of people who are choosing not to cooperate with these government mandates."
"Look on the bright side," I say. "At least malls have a purpose again."
The next shot shows mobs of people flowing like a human river down a winding road, and disappearing beneath a forest canopy. "These families are making their own way toward Lake Arrowhead and the Big Bear Lake area, but reports on the ground tell us that people who have been entering many of these woodsy areas aren't coming out on the other side..."
Everyone watches silently, and then I turn to Kelton. "Hey, bug-out boy - If they're not making it through the forest, what makes you think we will?"
"I told you, we're not going where they're going."
And that's good - because if all those people aren't getting to the high lakes, there's only one of two places they're going. And neither of them are places you come back from./78

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Review: Ladybird Tales of Adventurous Girls: With an Introduction From Jacqueline Wilson

Ladybird Tales of Adventurous Girls: With an Introduction From Jacqueline Wilson by Ladybird
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love this time of year; the beautiful anthologies and collections start piling in, almost too many to read. This one I definitely made time for. Five folktales from around the world, each featuring a brave, clever girl who solves problems on her own.

You'll know Gretal and Hansel, of course, and probably the Snow Queen, but the others may be new to you. Each story is illustrated by a different artist, so there's plenty of styles to look at and enjoy. I love collections with stories I haven't read before, and this one certainly delivers on that.

Fantastic. Put this one on the Christmas lists.



"If she doesn't go, then neither do you," said their mother.
So off the three sisters went, down the long path to the sea.
"Don't you go anywhere without us," Tisha said to Tamasha, as she and Tosha rushed into the waves, laughing and splashing.
Tamasha sighed. I would much rather be searching for a tree to climb, she thought. But instead she paddled at the water's edge.

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Review: Magical Myths and Legends

Magical Myths and Legends by Michael Morpurgo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A beautiful collection of famous myths and legends. Each story is retold and illustrated by different people, so there's a wide variety of styles on offer. Children are sure to find something to enjoy in this collection.

I've taken a star off for two reasons; apart from one story these are all European in origin. How lovely to have a collection like this be truly international? And my other reason; John Dougherty, retelling the Irish story, used the English version of Finn MacCool rather than the proper Irish.

Those are relatively petty problems, though, and this is a fabulous book that should be under many trees this Christmas.


Robin was running, running, running for his life. Behind him a gang of burly men shouted. Robin glanced back. The soldiers were getting closer! They were going to catch him.
But robin was a quick thinker. He saw a clump of bushes and quick as a wink he leapt into it. He lay safely hidden in the leafy damp as the soldiers pounded by.
Robin lay as still as a stone, breathing as quietly as he could. 'Safe at last!' he thought.
It was then he saw that the leaves and bushes all around him were moving...they were moving towards him!

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Review: Impostors

Impostors by Scott Westerfeld
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fantastic read. I've read Uglies, but not in quite a long time, and I still was able to follow this perfectly. I'm very eager to know what happens next! I'll have to watch out for the next one, hopefully not too long from now.

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


He takes my right hand. Something electric goes through those knitted bones. "Don't apologize, Rafi. And don't worry. I'll make sure Jefa keeps her promise."
He touches his lips to my hand. Just for a moment.
"J'en mettrais ma main au feu," he says.
I'm staring at my hand, at his lips.
The cyrano translates in my ear - I put my hand in the fire.
What do they mean, those words? That kiss? Is this how they seal promises in Victoria? Or is it the start of something else?
I don't know anything about kissing.
His dark eyes lock with mine. No one looks at me this intently, except Naya, when she's sizing up my weaknesses. I feel measured, scanned, defenceless.
Then Col lets go and turns towards the hallway.
"We should get back to the party," he says.
I nod dumbly. Suddenly that swirl of music, fire, and projectiles seems safer than being alone with him.

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Review: And the Ocean Was Our Sky

And the Ocean Was Our Sky by Patrick Ness
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is up there with A Monster Calls as Patrick's finest work. This is amazing, a fantastic re imagining of Moby Dick from the whale's point of view, with real thought put into how the whale society functions. Absolutely amazing. I'll be looking forward to seeing the real illustrations, but even the samples here add immeasurably to the story. Just fantastic.


Update: I've now seen the finished work, and it's amazing. Dream like pictures in just enough detail; most are in black and white, so the occasional flash of colour really pops and stands out. Buy this for the illustrations, even if you don't like the story.


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


"I do not wish to kill you," I said, surprising myself by saying it out loud, though quietly, for only Demetrius to hear.
"That much is obvious," he said, though not happily. "You have let me live far beyond kindness out of your own fear." He dropped his head. "But you will kill me. Before the end. And nothing between whale and man will ever change."
I breathed from the bubble in my throat. There was no further delay I could make. He said he did not know what the upside-down ship meant, so he was right:
I would kill him.
And that would be the end. So many ends.

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Review: Ogre Enchanted

Ogre Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I never thought thought I'd be back in the world of Frell, but here it is, and it's every bit as magic as it was in Ella. Evie is just as fascinating a character, Lucinda still as annoying, and I loved slowly figuring out the connections between this story and Ella - although this one stands completely alone, so you can read it without knowing anything about Ella. A fantastic read, and I hope to return to Frell again another time.

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

I wouldn't endanger anyone else in this quest. I'd go alone. If I succeeded, I'd be welcome anywhere, at least for a while, even as an ogre. I could live at home again and wouldn't have to eternally miss Mother and Wormy.

When I rejoined humanity, I might save someone whose gratitude would progress to love. Then, if I could set aside the memory of Master Peter, I might return the feeling, because saving someone's life was almost as good as drinking a love potion.

Yes! I would go to the dragons' Spires. If I died trying to get purpline, my end would sadden only two people, neither of them myself.

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Review: Vox

Vox by Christina Dalcher
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

A difficult one to review. I like the idea, and it was handled well, but I wish the enemy hadn't been regular Christians. A new sect would have been much easier to take.

I didn't follow a lot of the science...I really hope it's not that easy to create aphasia in someone...and there seemed to be a lot of lucky coincidences along the way. Sometimes life is like that, of course. I liked this, and I'll read more books by the author, but it's not one of my top books for the year.


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


The clock on the lab wall says five. I have less than forty eight hours to make what I know will be an irreversible decision.

My parents, this baby the size of an orange inside me, and Lorenzo balance on one side of the scale. Patrick and the kids, on the other. Two seemingly inevitable but different fates hang over each choice like a storm cloud. Stay and wait for Reverend Carl to rachet up his terrible game, or go and watch Europe crumble to its knees, close up, front row, best seats in the house.

Next to me, Lorenzo inches closer, enough so that our hands touch. It's a solid feeling, those fingers of his brushing mine.

But it's not enough.

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Review: That's Not What Happened

That's Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've seen other novels by Kody Keplinger; The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend, Shut Out. I've always thought they looked interesting, but I've never gotten around to reading them. I'll be changing that at my first opportunity. Kody is amazing.

It's a sadly current book, the story of a school shooting from the point of view of the survivors. As I write this, the Texas shooting is still in the news. By the time the book publishes, it'll be some other shooting.

The book is mostly from the POV of Lee, a teenager who was shot at, but not physically injured, during a shooting rampage in her school. A legend has built up around one particular victim, Lee's best friend, causing townsfolk to harass and abuse another survivor who tried to correct it. Lee knows the truth and is finally ready to come forward, but it's not going to be as simple as she thinks.

I started crying within a few chapters and never really stopped. This is an incredible book, heartfelt and real, showing a range of coping mechanisms used by the six survivors - forgetting, faith, happiness, ignoring, medication and alcohol. Each choice is treated and right for that person, although the alcohol user stops during the course of the novel, and no one is demonised for how they cope.

My only tiny problem, and it's very common across a lot of media, is that while initially a couple of the survivors were against Lee's plan, in the end they all came around and agreed it was for the best. Why couldn't they have dissenting opinions that were right for them? However, I see this a lot and it's not by any means a deal breaker.

I also loved that Lee is asexual. It's comparatively rare still, but gaining ground and it's nice to see. It's great to have books to recommend to people, especially like this when it's not a major focus, just a part of who she is.

A fantastic read. I'll definitely be trying more by this author.


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

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Review: The Island

The Island by M.A. Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very difficult book to review. The idea of it is brilliant; posh private school kids are stranded on an island, and the only one with any survival knowledge is the oppressed bully, leading to a reversal of the 'natural' order of things. (Even at that, though, there's never any mention that they should be boiling their drinking water, not even a "I curse the lack of equipment, as boiled water would be much safer" or anything like that. Minor complaint, I know, but still.)

It's an interesting read, and I was never tempted to put it down. Parts of it are difficult to read, though. Link, our 'hero', goes through some ugly phases, and though they're understandable they're still not easy to read. His parents also put me right off near the end. The rest of the characters are mostly ciphers, which is of course the whole point. And the ending of this one wasn't nearly as upsetting as the ending of S.T.A.G.S.

I'll definitely continue reading MA Bennett, and I hope to read many more.

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

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Review: Tarot

Tarot by Marissa Kennerson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fantastic read and a very clever idea. Turning the Tarot into different worlds is a brilliant idea. (Let's hope it helps me remember when I'm trying to learn them...)

I liked Anna, although I thought she recovered remarkable quickly from her sixteen years locked in a tower and showed very few after effects; a good sleep and a nice meal seemed to take care of everything. I'll accept 'magic' as the excuse there, though.

A brilliant read, and I'll be looking forward to reading more in the series.


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


Anna felt a deep pit in her stomach. She wondered briefly if she should offer him the truth. He might think she was being absurd, but she was more afraid of what might happen if Daniel believed her. She had history with the people of Cups now; unfortunately, not all of it was built on the truth.
Which was the very reason why she couldn't tell him what she'd seen. Anna had placed them in grave danger by associating herself with them, but she also couldn't bear the thought of losing the friends she'd made.
No, she had to discover exactly what was happening and exactly how to fix it. She would figure out how to protect the people of Cups from the Hierophant King. To tell them the truth now would only scare them.

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Review: The Last

The Last by Hanna Jameson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A good, but not fantastic, entry into the post-apocalyptic genre. I liked the characters, at least the ones that didn't meld into a faceless blob of 'others', but nothing much seemed to happen. They stayed at the hotel for a while, there were fights, they met some other people, they met some other other people, then it ended. It wasn't bad at all; the POV character is a history professor and his musings and asides are really interesting. However, the ending doesn't answer most of the questions, and even though I saw it coming I still didn't like it much.

Worth reading, but not amazingly fantastic.


The end of the world is a fairly comforting concept, because - in theory - we wouldn't have to survive it. Maybe what's been f***ing us up, more than anything, hasn't been finding a way to cope with the world ending but finding a way to cope with the fact that it didn't.

An ending is easy. This terminal waking up, morning after morning, isn't easy. Repairing and rebuilding isn't easy either. I think that's why I've been so angry, so desperate to believe Arran's paranoid theory about purgatory, why I wanted to believe that the girl in the water tank had died for a more important reason than men's continued violence.

Instead of a conclusion, we've been offered nothing but more life.

I don't know how to come to terms with that.

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Review: The You I've Never Known

The You I've Never Known by Ellen Hopkins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A difficult one to rate. I didn't like Ariel's romantic choices, in that she was seeing two people at once and not telling them about each other. I liked the rest of her character, though, and I liked the style of the book. But, like another reviewer, I kept waiting for something described in the blurb to happen. It didn't happen until page 400. That's a long time to be waiting.

Not an awful book, but not a great one either.


Abuse?

I'm not abused.
Am I?

Dad's only hit me
a few times.
Open-handed.

And only when I
deser-
Wait.

I really was thinking
deserved it.

But that's not right.
I never deserved it.
Never deserved his
ugly words, either.
Not to mention
what happened tonight.

Oh my God.
I'm a mess.

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Review: Girls of Paper and Fire

Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

What a fabulous, clever book. Lei is a very strong heroine who knows what she wants and goes for it. She is a little prone to snap judgements, but at least she'll correct herself afterwards, which is something. I can't wait to read more on the series and find out what happens... especially after that ending!

Be warned, there is rape (man on woman), consensual sex (woman on woman) and a prostitute who talks openly about seduction. None of this is graphic but it's quite clear.

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


During the first days of my confinement, I’d tried the breathing technique Mama taught me over and over again to no avail, unable to find comfort in it. Light in, darkness out. Trapped in that tiny room, there only seemed to be darkness, and though I wanted to be set free, I also knew that the moment I was, it would be straight back to my Paper Girl life. And to the King.
But then Wren came along with her stolen food and warm hands, and a spark of something—the barest quiver of light—entered the room. And after that, my breaths came a little easier, a little brighter. Not quite golden, but…sun-touched.
Now I shoot Wren a look out of the corner of my eye, Aoki’s chatter wrapping around us.
She offers me a brief half smile in return. “All right?”she mouths.
I nod. And while it’s not exactly the truth, it isn’t a lie, either.

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Review: Deception

Deception by Teri Terry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's rare for the second book in a trilogy to live up to the first. This is one of those times. Although I didn't like the time jumping aspect ... we covered a stretch of time with some characters, then the same stretch with other characters ... I enjoyed the story very much. There's less focus on the epidemic itself and more on the survivors and immune, this time around. Kai, Shay and Callie all have their parts to play, making and breaking alliances with other characters along the way.

As with Contagion, I saw a couple of plot twists coming before they hit, but others took me by surprise. A lot of things wouldn't have happened if people had just talked to each other, but that's common to a lot of novels, I haven't counted it against this one.

A fantastic read, I can't wait to read the third and see how everything ends up.


That's when I realise there are no windows or doors; at least, none that I can see. There must be: how else did I get in here?
That weird feeling of being watched is still on my skin, as if eyes leave fingerprints I can feel. Could there be a hidden watcher?
I swallow again.
"Hello?" I say, tentative. My voice feels rusty, like I haven't used it for a while.
I try again, and this time it is stronger. "Hello? Is there anybody there?"
My voice seems to echo off the bare walls, ceiling and floor, and bounces back to my ears.
No one answer. Can't anyone hear me?
Panic is rising up inside, waves that build and build, and I'm shaking. Where am I? I don't want to be here.
"Let me out of here! Let me out!"
I say it, louder and louder again, until I'm screaming.

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Review: The Day of the Triffids

The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A classic of the science fiction genre, one I've read before but not for several years. I wondered whether I would still enjoy it, since I know the ending and most of the story beats. It's so old fashioned, after all; maybe without the 'newness' I wouldn't like it.

Needless worry. It's old fashioned, especially with regard to the women, but the tone fits well. It's definitely a cozy catastrophe; anyone writing this story today would make much more of the breakdown of society. Wyndham glosses over most of that.

The Triffids are a much smaller part of the story than I remembered from my previous reading, but the rest of the book is interesting enough without them. I can't wait to reread in another few years...


"In the time now ahead of us a great many of these prejudices we have been given will have to go, or be radically altered. We can accept and retain only one primary prejudice, and that is that the race is worth preserving. To that consideration all else will, for a time at least, be subordinate. We must look at all we do, with this question in mind: 'Is this going to help our race survive-or will it hinder us?' If it will help, we must do it, whether or not it conflicts with the ideas in which we were brought up. If not, we must avoid it, even though the omission may clash with our previous notions of duty and even of justice.
"It will not be easy; old prejudices die hard. The simple rely on a bolstering mass of maxim and precept; so do the timid; so do the mentally lazy-and so do all of us, more than we imagine. Now that the organization has gone, our ready reckoners for conduct within it no longer Live the right answers. We must have the moral courage to think and to plan for ourselves."
He paused to survey his audience thoughtfully. Then he said:
"There is one thing to be made quite clear to you before you decide to join our community. It is that those of us who start on this task will all have our parts to play. The men must work-the women must have babies. Unless you can agree to that, there can be no place for you in our community."


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Review: Floored

Floored by Sara Barnard
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It always seems to happen that the books everyone is crazy about, I find fine but not amazing, and the books I stumble across on my own I find brilliant. This is a book everyone is crazy about. It's perfectly fine; a chance friendship that grows and deepens, becoming more important than any of the members could have imagined when it all began. But I found it just fine, not amazingly brilliant.

All the events take place on the same day each year, which means the first part of each new section is taken up with what happened in the year we've just missed. There's very little time to get used to the status quo before it shifts again. It's hard to connect to anyone in that short a time. And I personally found it hard to remember which character was which; Hugo and Dawson were ok, and after a while I got Kait, but the others just seemed to blur. It was hard to remember who was crushing on whom in which section.

I don't want to put anyone off; this is a perfectly fine teenage romantic novel, and I'm sure other people will really enjoy it. I liked Hugo's storyline, and the overall plot was good. There's nothing wrong with it at all. I think my expectations were just that little bit too high.


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


I wait until David has staggered off, shaking his head in confusion, and then I can't control my giggles for a moment longer. I laugh so hard, my eyeliner really does run this time. All over my face, and I don't care.
I'm not laughing because it's particularly funny, or laughing at putting David on the spot like that, even though he really did deserve it. I'm laughing because...well, who knew it was so easy? To stand up for myself; to not be silenced; to tell my own story how I want to tell it. It's about power. Hugo realised he needed to start using his for good. I'm only just realising that I actually have some.
It's about time.
'Velvet,' Hugo says with a huge grin, 'you are bloody magnificent.'

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Review: The Restless Girls

The Restless Girls by Jessie Burton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a beautiful updating of a classic story. It still has the feel of a fairytale, helped immeasurably by Angela Barret's fabulous artwork, but there are touches of newness; a telephone, the daughter who love astronomy and the daughter who uses a typewriter. These things give it a feeling of being set anywhere, anywhen.

I loved the ending, too. A very clever solution to the problem. What a lovely message to give children - princesses can save themselves. Five stars.


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


Frida walked, head held high, towards the curtain covering one of the windows.
When they realised what she was about to do, the advisors cried in unison for her to stop.
But Frida did not stop..
With one sharp heave, she pulled the curtain back, and a golden vengeance poured into the room.
'Insolence!' screamed the king, and in that moment it was hard to tell whether he was blinded by the light of the sun, or of his daughter.
Frida was moving like a spirit, curtain to curtain, pulling down the black drapes, advisors and maids cringing with their eyes closed, the dust swirling like gold notes around the throne as velvet and taffeta tumbled to the floor. Ariosta rushed to help her, and Bellina followed, then Chessa and Delilah and Mariella, then Polina and Emelia, then Flora and Vita, and finally Lorna and Agnes, twelve princessly pairs of hands making portal after portal of sunshine to flood the room.
No one could stop them,
no one dared go near them,
and thus their father's throne was nothing,
a chair, bleached white by the light of grief.

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Review: The Light Between Worlds

The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A sweet little story, not quite what I was expecting but still beautiful in its way. Perhaps deliberately, it evokes the most famous portal story of them all, and the comparisons are good. This story stands up to CS Lewis, and that's a high bar to reach.

There were a couple of things that threw me - Ev talks about being crowded in her brother's car because of her luggage, then later in the same holiday explains how she has barely any luggage because most of it's still at school; Philippa tells Jack "No one bothers with Philippa, they call me Philippa." Apart from those, though, it's a lovely meditation on love and lose and home, wherever that may be. A fantastic read.

(It is a little strange that Jamie isn't mentioned in any of the promo material, though!)

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


Philippa takes a step away. She's quiet for a while before answering, and when she speaks, her voice is colorless. "Even if you can't promise to keep Evie safe, I did.So I suppose it'll be up to me as always, to look after her and to get her home. If that means helping to hold off your war until you're ready, then so be it."
Cervus rests his head on her shoulder, and at last she turns, throwing her arms around his neck, and burying her face in that ruff of rust-red fur. I creep away, knowing she's said things she won't want me to overhear.

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Review: The Rescued Kitten

The Rescued Kitten by Holly Webb
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The strength of Holly Webb's books...one of their strengths, anyway...is the relatively predictable plot. Child has always wanted pet, child gets pet, maybe child can't keep pet/loses pet, child keeps/finds pet, everyone's happy. It's a formula that has seen Holly through more than forty of these books, and they're fantastic for newly confident readers who find comfort in familiarity. This story mixes things up a little...the newly discovered kitten isn't in any real danger, but her siblings and mother might be...but the core of the story stays the same.

The other strength of Holly's books is her writing. I often find myself tearing up as I read. Holly has certainly hit on a winning formula here, and long may it continue.


It must be her mother coming back to get her, the kitten decided. Her mother wouldn't abandon her like this. The kitten tried again to wriggle, and then mewed, as loud as she could. Find me, help me, take me home, I'm frightened!
Even though it was her loudest mew, the sound was still very faint. Hardly more than a squeak. She tried again, squeaking and tugging back against the wire as hard as she could. It bounced a little and she squeaked once more, with pain this time as the long fur on the back of her neck pulled and the wire pressed into her skin.
The noise was coming closer and she twisted her body, pulling to try and see what was making it, still calling faintly to her mother. But instead of a cat hurrying to rescue her, the kitten saw two frightened, wide eyed faces. She wrenched at the wire again and the cut on her neck went deeper. It hurt and she sagged down miserably. She was terrified and so, so tired.
She didn't understand. All she could do was close her eyes and hope that whoever this was would go away and then her mother would come.

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Review: Slave Day

Slave Day by Rob Thomas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Slave Day was interesting, but it could have been so much better. Each 'chapter' is only a couple of pages long, and they move between eight different characters, so it's hard to connect to any of them. I couldn't pick out a 'plot', as such; it's just a bunch of stuff that happens on this one particular day. Maybe I missed something; I'd be glad to learn I did.

Because this should have been a brilliant book. It tackles real issues, issues that are very important now, and some of the characters are much better than others...Jen and Brendan spring to mind. As it is, though, it's only so so, and that's a real shame.

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



"I AM ROBERT E LEE, and you've named your school after me."
A couple of the same brothas who told me to speak up start booing. Boys better be booin' the speech and not the speaker. Some people got no sense of humour.
Stump Milton yells "Somebody shut him up."
Right, Stump. You tell fag jokes all day, last period Dr Pepper was spewin' out your nose when you were watchin' me pick up cotton balls, but this pisses you off. I look down at the next lind of the speech. Ain't no way I'm reading this. The warning bell rings, keeping me from havin' to flat out refuse.
I am Robert E Lee, and if you were a slave, I slept with your mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives. You named your school after me.
I wonder if that's true.

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Review: Access Restricted

Access Restricted by Gregory Scott Katsoulis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A brilliant sequel to All Rights Restricted, picking up very soon after the end of that book. However, while it's been mere hours for the characters, it's been much longer for me and I found myself struggling to remember exactly what happened to what character when. A recap of some kind would have been very welcome.

That aside, though, this is a fantastic read. Speth's world expands in this one and we get to see a lot more of what's left of America. Saretha seemed much younger than her age this time, griping and complaining at Speth all the time. It grated on me but it never made me stop reading.

I think the series is over now; it seemed the right stopping point. But I'll be watching out for more by Scott.

Be aware the main character and others are tortured with electric shocks and nauseating patterns and sounds.


"How do you know? A name could be anything."
"Nah. They took our names, priced 'em out. You ever look at the Spanish Word$ Market? See what they charge? They don't want us to have a history. They don't want us to know each other and don't want us to know ourselves."
...
"Friends. Family. Words. Even our past. Cut us off from everything. Want us to have nothing, so we'll feel like nothing. They don't want your fight. S'why they hate you so bad. When they come to Indenture, they don't want anything left but strong hands and backs."

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Review: Ten After Closing

Ten After Closing by Jessica Bayliss
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

An exciting read about a hostage situation gone very, very wrong. I enjoyed all the parts in the 'now' section; however, I found myself skimming the past sections. I'm sure they were meant to make points about the characters, but I found them dull and uninteresting and I didn't need them to understand what was happening.

A great read, one I'll heartily recommend.


"Ok, everyone," Pavan whispers to us as he comes around the counter with Twitch's coffee. "Just calm down. Those guys will be back soon. If you're saying we're still defenceless, we'd better come up with a way to remedy that."
I'm such a stupid, useless ass.
Everyone's martyr...
Except it's the martyr's job to die. With my rash decision, I may have killed us all.

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Review: Exile

Exile by S.M. Wilson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A great second parter to the series. I do wonder, if it keeps on, how many more excuses S M Wilson can find to bring the team back to Piloria? This one worked well, but five books down the line...

I've also taken one star off for all the times someone licked their lips. After a while it was really throwing me out of the story. But other than that, this is a fantastic read, full of action, adventure and heartbreak, and I can't wait to read the next one and see what happens now. It did end on an almost literal cliffhanger, after all!


Lincoln spoke clearly. "I told you I met Kayna. I told you I met Caleb."
Blaine nodded his eyes wide. Then something happened. Part of his brain must have clicked into gear. "But, what about..."
Lincoln gently slipped his arm around Jesa's back and edged her forward. "Blaine, this is Jesa. Your daughter. The person you just slapped." He watched as the words registered, then leaned forwards and kept his voice low. "Touch her again and I'll kill you myself."

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Review: And the Ocean Was Our Sky

And the Ocean Was Our Sky by Patrick Ness
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is up there with A Monster Calls as Patrick's finest work. This is amazing, a fantastic re imagining of Moby Dick from the whale's point of view, with real thought put into how the whale society functions. Absolutely amazing. I'll be looking forward to seeing the real illustrations, but even the samples here add immeasurably to the story. Just fantastic.


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


"I do not wish to kill you," I said, surprising myself by saying it out loud, though quietly, for only Demetrius to hear.
"That much is obvious," he said, though not happily. "You have let me live far beyond kindness out of your own fear." He dropped his head. "But you will kill me. Before the end. And nothing between whale and man will ever change."
I breathed from the bubble in my throat. There was no further delay I could make. He said he did not know what the upside-down ship meant, so he was right:
I would kill him.
And that would be the end. So many ends.

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Review: Me and Me

Me and Me by Alice Kuipers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've always been interested in the Many Worlds theory, and it's fantastic to read about it in a book this entertaining. Lark is a brilliant character, racked with guilt over something that wasn't her fault at all. That said, I liked World 2 Jade...where she saved Annabelle...better than World 1 Jade, where she saved Alec. Maybe that was part of the point, to show how someone's character can change very quickly in certain circumstances. If so it's clever.

A great read that should spark some fun discussions.



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


I swim toward the screen, toward her. I feel like I might die the effort is so immense. But then, with a ripping feeling through my entire body, as if my insides are being torn from me, I'm there.
I'm standing on my street, looking at myself. Oh, my God.
She's me. She's wearing the same jeans, the same shirt, the same everything. Even the same makeup. But her hair only just reaches into a ponytail and is dyed red.
"Can you hear me?" I say to her. To myself.
"Oh, my God. I can hear you," she replies.

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Review: All of This Is True

All of This Is True by Lygia Day Peñaflor
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A strange, meta novel about a novel, written in interviews, journal extracts and samples of the novel. I didn't mind the format, it's interesting, but the story itself didn't grip me, especially when I was basically getting it twice; the novel-within-the-novel mimics what's happening in the interviews and journals down to the word. I skipped about thirty percent in the middle and didn't feel I'd lost anything. It's interesting from a moral standpoint, though.

Enjoyable but not fantastic.

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

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Review: The Fallout

The Fallout by Glasko Klein
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A short, action packed novel about teens during an alien invasion. I hadn't realised it was part of a series, but I'd love to read more to get a fuller picture of what was going on elsewhere and what the full story was with the aliens. I'm impressed that a full squad of soldiers risked themselves for two teens, but I guess that's to be expected in this kind of story.

Easy, enjoyable read.


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



Nina was becoming less frightened and more frustrated by the moment. The Visitor was being thwarted pretty handily by an unlocked glass door, and Steve seemed to have switched his brain into some other mode that thought only in action star one-liners.

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Review: Next in Line

Next in Line by Vanessa Acton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A quicker read than I was expecting, but that's no bad thing. This is a cute story about expectations, wish fulfillment and being true to yourself no matter what. Carly read a little young to me, but not so much it was distracting. A nice story.


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


After the call ended, Carly looked around at her enormous, glittering new bedroom.
She was Charlotte Valmont, Princess Royal of the Kingdom of Evonia.
She was second in line for the throne.
And she had never felt so small.

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Review: Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix

Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix by Julie C. Dao
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was a little worried going into this one. Could it possibly be as good as Forest of a Thousand Lanterns? Second books are often weaker, what if this wasn't good, what if it spoiled the memory of Forest for me?

I shouldn't have worried. This is an amazing close to the series, with fantastic characters and even more of the wonderful worldbuilding I loved so much in Forest. I loved watching characters I knew turn back up in unexpected ways, playing different roles this time around.

I can't wait to see what else Julie has lined up for us. I'm sure it'll be amazing.


She didn't know if she would be successful. She didn't care to make grand, empty promises - to herself or anyone else - that she might be the ruler Feng Lu deserved. But if she ever reached that throne, she would try to be an empress of whom her family might be proud.
Yes, there was time yet to discover what sort of monarch she wished to be.
For if you wished it, you could light all the world.
Jade lifted the rose higher and raised her chin to face the darkness.

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Review: The Cursed Queen

The Cursed Queen by Sarah Fine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A great companion novel to The Impostor Queen, expanding on a race that were only 'savages' in that book. Ansa's struggles and race were fascinating. I do wish she hadn't gone back and forth quite so many times, as it makes her look weak and indecisive, but I wouldn't have any idea who to trust in that situation either!

Now I just have to wait for The True Queen to find out what happens!

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Review: Witch Born

Witch Born by Nicholas Bowling
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A great look at a slightly alternate England. Alyce is a great character, and the changes to history have been cleverly woven into and through the history we know. I'd love to read more and see what becomes of the witch queen's daughter, and just how far she manages to alter things.


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Review: KILLER T: A near-future dystopian thriller from the bestselling author of CHERUB

KILLER T: A near-future dystopian thriller from the bestselling author of CHERUB by Robert Muchamore
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Muchamore can write action.There's no doubt about that. And he knows how to choose a compelling plot; the idea of back street gene enhancers holding the world to ransom is very intriguing and throws up a lot of questions around morality and ethics. Unfortunately, the execution leaves something to be desired in this case.

The first time skip kind of makes sense; nothing much was going to happen in the interim anyway. The second surprised me. After that they were just jarring. I couldn't connect to the characters, because every time I got to know them we skipped some time and they'd changed in the interim. The events we'd missed were always neatly filled in, the plot didn't suffer, but the emotions did. There was no real connecting story, unless you count Charlie's sister, who barely featured in several of the sections. Instead there was The Prologue - Now SNor Is Around - Now It's Killer T - Psych, It's Something Else - Now Everything's Over Very Abruptly.

It's not a bad book by any means; I kept reading to see what happened next, and I'd read more set in this world. But from Muchamore, I expect a lot better.


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

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Review: Sanctuary

Sanctuary by Caryn Lix
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

X Men meets Prison Break in this fantastic sci fi novel, set on an orbiting space prison full of super powered teen criminals...Or maybe not criminals. Maybe this seeming utopia is something very different...

Action, twists and excitement make for a brilliant read. I don't know if there'll be more, but I really hope so. I'll be looking out for it.


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

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Review: That's Not What Happened

That's Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've seen other novels by Kody Keplinger; The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend, Shut Out. I've always thought they looked interesting, but I've never gotten around to reading them. I'll be changing that at my first opportunity. Kody is amazing.

It's a sadly current book, the story of a school shooting from the point of view of the survivors. As I write this, the Texas shooting is still in the news. By the time the book publishes, it'll be some other shooting.

The book is mostly from the POV of Lee, a teenager who was shot at, but not physically injured, during a shooting rampage in her school. A legend has built up around one particular victim, Lee's best friend, causing townsfolk to harass and abuse another survivor who tried to correct it. Lee knows the truth and is finally ready to come forward, but it's not going to be as simple as she thinks.

I started crying within a few chapters and never really stopped. This is an incredible book, heartfelt and real, showing a range of coping mechanisms used by the six survivors - forgetting, faith, happiness, ignoring, medication and alcohol. Each choice is treated and right for that person, although the alcohol user stops during the course of the novel, and no one is demonised for how they cope.

My only tiny problem, and it's very common across a lot of media, is that while initially a couple of the survivors were against Lee's plan, in the end they all came around and agreed it was for the best. Why couldn't they have dissenting opinions that were right for them? However, I see this a lot and it's not by any means a deal breaker.

I also loved that Lee is asexual. It's comparatively rare still, but gaining ground and it's nice to see. It's great to have books to recommend to people, especially like this when it's not a major focus, just a part of who she is.

A fantastic read. I'll definitely be trying more by this author.


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

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Review: Princesses Behaving Badly: Real Stories from History Without the Fairy-Tale Endings

Princesses Behaving Badly: Real Stories from History Without the Fairy-Tale Endings by Linda Rodríguez McRobbie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A more grown up version of the 'Rebels Girls' books that are growing in popularity, this well laid out book has divided its girls into loose categories. Each category has one or two detailed stories, and a couple of less in depth ones. All in all a fantastic read, probably not one that I'll read cover to cover again but I'll definitely dip in and out of it.

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Review: Hav3n, by Tom Easton

Hav3n, a mix of avian and human flu, is spreading across the world. It's deadly. It's 100% contagious. There's no escape.


One tiny village in England is spared, through the last minute discovery of a vaccine. 82 people left; as far as they can tell, the only people left in the world. Now the danger really begins.


Hav3n starts right in the thick of the outbreak and never lets up. The village of Little Sheen, isolated and often overlooked, sets up barricades to keep everyone out, though the disease finds its way in anyway. Only the timely intervention of a virologist who works in the village saves them. Alone in the world, the villagers start making plans for the future. But why do so many of the plans revolve around the village's four teenagers? Why are they more and more restricted? As the village splits into factions, the children are caught in the middle – and the danger didn't end with the virus...


The tension never lets up in this fascinating story. It's a stand alone, but I'd be happy to read more stories set in this world. Maybe there really were other survivors out there somewhere? Tom Easton has obviously done his research and every detail of life After The End rings true.


Parental warning; some relatively detailed descriptions of symptoms of the plague; discussions of marriage for procreation purposes. Some very mild cursing. Some descriptions of gun injuries and wild dog attacks.


'Where's Kitty?' Sam asked, changing the subject.

'She's in her room, where she'll be for the next week.'

Sam rolled his eyes. 'Oh, right. Her too. What's she done? Sneezed without using a tissue? Laughed on a Sunday?'

'Rather more serious than that,' Monica replied frostily. 'Adultery.'

'Eh? Who with?'

'Joshua Pirbright.'

'What?' Sam said, brow furrowed. It felt like a demon was sitting in his brain, stabbing at the back of his eyes with a pitchfork. 'Neither of them are married – however much you've tried to force it.'

'She's engaged, Sam,' Monica said through pursed lips.

'OK, I officially pronounce you as insane as Michael,' Sam said. 'I'm off.'

'Where are you going?' she snapped as he stepped gingerly down the stairs. 'We should have dinner first and then we'll go together. We'll face this as a family.'

'Actually, I'd rather go on my own,' Sam said. 'Don't worry, I will go to the town meeting like a good little citizen. But first I'm going to go see Reg to find out if he has any sodding aspirin.'

Review: Shadows on the Moon, by Zoë Marriott

Suzume lives a life of pleasure and comfort - when her mother's not around to scold her, anyway - until the day the Prince's men come to her home. Branded a traitor, her father is killed, along with her cousin and their household. Suzume survives through the kindness of an old servant, Youta, and and her own unknown shadow weaving powers. Suzume can weave shadows into any shapes she wants; she can literally become anyone she wishes to be.

But this power does not help her. Hounded from her stepfather's house, she drudges in his kitchen, unknown to him, hiding among the shadows. An act of revenge takes even that small shelter from her and she is forced to run into the city. Only one man in the country can save her; the Moon Prince. Only by becoming his consort can she lift the label of traitor from her family name.

There's only one obstacle. Otieno. The shadow weaving boy whose life seems intertwined with hers. To gain her revenge, to reclaim her name, Suzume must reject him. And time is running out...



First of all; this book is for older teens. It is a retelling of Cinderella, loosely, but this is no children's fairy tale. It covers, among other things, murder, self harm and becoming a courtesan.

With that out of the way, this is also a beautiful, lyrical story. It's deeply embedded in Japan's feudal past, but not so much that it becomes impenetrable. Suzume is a fascinating character - a heroine whose deepest desire is to commit murder in the name of revenge? But it works here. You really want Suzume to succeed. Her allies are fascinating - Youta was my favourite, as you can never quite tell what his intentions are.

A fascinating, beautiful book, one I'll happily reread for many years to come.



     An overwhelming surge of anger crashed through me, bursting in my head and chest and limbs until I stood up straight, vibrating with it. My body still trembled, but the fear  – that fear which had choked me for so long – was gone. 

      They had done this to me. They were liars. Traitors, cowards and murderers, and yet I was running from them. They had killed my father. They had killed my cousin, the sister of my heart. They had taken everything – everything – from me.

     Why had I run?

     What did I have left to lose?

     I knew then that I would die that night. I did not care. I would die, but I would make them suffer first. I dropped to my knees, scrabbling in the dirt of the herb garden for the sharp fragments of stone that edged the borders. I would have used anything. Any weapon was good enough. I felt as if I could tear out my enemy's throat with my teeth, if only I could get close enough.

     I would wait, here in the dark, hidden from everyone. The only one who could see me was Terayama–san. He would find me, and when he did, I would not run. I would not give him the satisfaction. I would let my weaving fall, and I would scream out the truth fopr everyone to hear. When he reached me I would put out his eyes.

     For my father. For Aimi. For myself. For all of us. 

Review: Little Manfred, by Michael Morpurgo

Charley has never really understood why her mother is so fond of the toy dog, Little Manfred. She doesn't know why her mother cries when the toy is broken. But in 1966, just after the World Cup, she and her brother Alex meet two strangers on the beach below their house. Strangers with a story to tell...


Little Manfred was written for the Imperial War Museum. It's a (slightly) fictionalized account of a true story; Little Manfred was made by a German POW for the children of the family he was lodged with. Morpurgo's beautiful account captures the futility of war, and how even in extra ordinary circumstances, people can make ordinary lives.

Illustrations by Michael Foreman.

"The ship was already turning and steaming away. We had to stand there and watch. We left nearly 2,000 men to drown, not the enemy to us anymore, who had sunk the Hood, but fellow sailors. For one sailor to leave another to drown, no matter what uniform he wears, cries out against all he believes in, against all traditions of the sea. To leave one would be bad enough. To leave 2,000...I still see those men in the water every day of my life."

"But you did pick up nearly a hundred of us, Marty," said Walter. "I have told you often that you must never forget this. On the Hood, they never got a chance - only three survived."

For a while, neither of them spoke, but looked out to sea, each lost in his own thoughts. The silence was broken by a pair of gulls, screeching and swooping overhead.

I said the first thing that came into my head. "My dad says that every gull you hear is the ghost of a dead sailor, letting you know he's still alive."

...

"I also do not believe in ghosts," Walter told him, "but I like this idea of your father's  very much. "

Review: rot and Ruin, by Jonathon Maberry

Benny Imura is fifteen. Fourteen years ago, on First Night, he saw his parents killed by zombies. He's always kind of resented his older brother, who ran with him instead of trying to save their parents.

But now Benny's fifteen, and the rules of their enclosed little town say he has to get a job. And the only job he can find is working with his brother as a zombie killer.

It's not how he imagined it.

It's much, much worse.



rot and Ruin is unique among the zombie genre; the zombies aren't the bad guys. Sure, they'll eat you if they can, but there's no malice in it, any more than there is in the mosquito that bites you. Zombies are people who caught a disease, were bitten by zombies or died of other causes.

Of course, not all the characters share this view. Benny doesn't. But he grows and learns through the novel, and watching him is fascinating. Apart from a couple of speeches from his older brother, Benny is left to come to his own decisions, and through entirely natural growth his entire worldview has flipped by the end of the book.

This is the first of either a two or four book series, depending on who you believe. Either way, I'll be looking forward to the next book.




Benny shook his head. 'Doing this over and over again would drive me crazy. How do you do it?'

Tom turned to him as if that was the question he'd been waiting for all day. 'It keeps me sane,' he said. 'Do you understand?'

Benny thought about it for a long moment. Birds sang in the trees and the cicadas buzzed continually. 'Is it because you knew what the world was before?'

Tom nodded.

'Is it because if you didn't...then maybe no one would?'

Tom nodded again.

'It must be lonely.'

'It is.' Tom glanced at him. 'But I always hoped you'd want to join me. To help me do what I do.'

'I...don't know if I can.'

'That's always going to be your choice.'

Review: Flip, by Martyn Bedford

Alex wakes up one morning in someone else's room, in someone else's home, in someone else's
life. Philip - Flip - is his age almost to the minute, but that's the only thing they have in common. Except that Alex is now stuck in his life with no way out - and Flip is stuck in Alex's.


There's an odd creepiness underlaying this story. I have to say I was very relieved to find I'm past the age where PE - psychic evacuation - might be an issue. Imagine waking to find yourself in a country where you don't speak the language? The book is clear that while muscle memory may carry over, memories don't. Alex finds himself hurled into a new world without warning and with no map along the way. With only one person on his side, the weight on his shoulders is sometimes overwhelming, and the way he deals with it is very realistic.

The story touches on some moral issues - what is the soul, what is the mind, what's the difference, can your soul really be dragged from body to body - but thankfully keeps them in the background instead of preaching about them. Flip is a fantastic debut from Mr Bedford and I'll be looking forward to his next novel.

And I love the cover - the back cover is a mirror of the front, bar Flip's eyes being open - and the way the chapter headers are mirrored. It's a nice touch.

Parents be warned; there are direct and indirect references to suicide, and some kissing and drunkeness by teens.


The typical, all-too-familiar mood swings of the new PE was how Rob saw it.

"One day you feel great, like you've got a whole new lease of life; the next day you're so far down you could top yourself." Rob ran his fingers through his fake yellow hair, causing it to spike up even more than usual.

"Did you ever think about that?" Alex asked. "Topping yourself?"

Rob held his gaze. "Alex, there isn't a psychic evacuee who hasn't."

That shut them both up for a while.

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Review: Avalon High, by Meg Cabot

Ellie is used to new schools. Her professor parents have been dragging her around the world for years. But this time is different. This time, she's going to fit in.

Avalon High isn't like other schools. On the surface it's all the same; jocks, cheerleaders, that one kid who's always angry about something and takes it out on everything around him. Ellie doesn't mind, though, because she's met Will, the most perfect guy ever.

Too bad he has a girlfriend. {Although she is seeing his best friend on the side.} And his step brother seems to hate his guts. {Although they're actually half brothers, not steps.} And the mystical Order of the Bear, ancient protectors of King Arthur, seem to think he's about to rise again. {Unless the Dark Side gets to him first...}



The recent Disney movie took a lot of liberties with this, one of Meg Cabot's best novels. The book is a fun read, and it's interesting trying to figure out exactly who everyone is. The samples from The Lady of Shalott at the top of each chapter give a hint to what's going to happen, which is a nice touch. Will is a genuinely nice guy, and Ellie a fascinating narrator.

I've heard that Meg Cabot's history is not very accurate, but that doesn't detract from the novel at all. My personal favourite of hers, and her best selling.



As often thro' the purple night,
Below the starry clusters bright,
Some bearded meteor, burning bright,
Moves over Shalott.



'Oh, hey, Elle,' Will said when he saw me.

It was a sign of how freaked I truly was by what I'd just seen that my heartstrings didn't so much as quiver at hearing him call me Elle.

'Hi,' I said faintly.

'Have you seen Jen?' Will wanted to know. 'Someone said they saw her come up here.'

'Jen?' I echoed. My gaze, though I tried not to let it, strayed towards the closed door to the spare bedroom. 'Um...'

What was I supposed to say? I mean, really?

Christmas Hours

Our hours are the same as always up to the 21st. On Wednesday 22nd we are open until 9pm. Thursday 24th is normal hours, 8.30am to 9pm. On the 24th, Friday, we will close at 5pm. We reopen on Monday the 27th at 10am. All these hours are weather permitting and may be changed.

Barker and Jones would like to wish all our customers a very happy Christmas and a great New Year.

Review: Matched, by Ally Condie

Matched is the newest in the wave of dystopian fiction sweeping the teen market. On Cassia's seventeenth birthday, Society chooses her perfect match for her. This will ensure her offspring are as healthy as possible. Cassia is lucky; out of everyone in her age group, she's the only one Matched to someone she already knows. Not only someone she knows, but her best friend, Xander.

But when she looks at the data, his picture disappears and another flashes on the screen for just a moment. Another boy she knows. One who is destined never to be Matched. Cassia is told this was a cruel prank and to forget it, to prepare for her life with Xander. But the more she tries, the more she thinks of her second Match. Until finally she is forced into a choice between everything she's ever known, and something she never could have imagined...


Matched is a fascinating read for all the little details spread through it. Cassia causally mentions that the Society only has 100 of most cultural things; 100 poems, 100 novels, 100 songs. There are a few Artifacts floating around, too; Cassia has an old powder compact, and her brother has a pocket watch. Most of the Officials seem friendly and helpful, until something goes wrong. Then they can literally be terrifying. The three pills issued to each citizen are troubling, as well; if the Cities are so safe, why does anyone need a nutrition pill designed to keep them alive for several days? Why are pills designed to calm your nerves handed out in such a blase way? And what is the purpose of the mysterious red pill?

Cassia's gradual realisation is perfectly handled. It's difficult to know which boy to root for; Ky is more interesting, but Xander is sweet and funny and genuinely cares for Cassia. This first of a trilogy will leave you desperate for more.

Whatever I've been feeling for Ky must stop. Now. I am Matched with Xander. It does not matter that Ky has been places I've never been or that he wept during the showing when he thought no one could see. It does not matter that he knows about the beautiful words I read in the woods. Following the rules, staying safe. Those are the things that matter. Those are the ways I have to be strong.

I will try to forget that Ky said 'Home' when he looked into my eyes.