Mr Ripley's Book Preview: Lord R. Benson - iPlot

                                     

When an older married couple inadvertently claim the iPad of a stranger at airport security, its shadowy contents thrusts them into a dizzying world of political corruption, suicide and the attempted assassination of the Australian Prime Minister.

For Londoners Derek and Beth Rosengold, an escape to the beauty of Australia to visit their extended family was to be a well- deserved break. But while passing through security at London Heathrow Airport, their iPad is confused with that of a stranger, altering the course of their trip in an unimaginable way. When they realise they have the wrong iPad, Derek spends the flight trying to access it, discovering that the cryptic device reveals a sinister plot to kill the Australian Prime Minister. Upon arriving in Sydney, their son, with his tech-savvy knowledge, tracks their lost iPad to the political capital of Canberra. After sending a slew of unanswered messages to the other iPad, in a bid to trace its owner, Derek and Beth change their travel plans and embark on a dangerous and intriguing journey that takes them to Canberra.

Meanwhile, Coco Martinez also discovers the device she has is not hers and fears that the compromising information on it could fall into the wrong hands. To her surprise however, she is reunited with her iPad when Derek and Beth arrive. Shortly after the exchange the Rosengold’s discover that the Aussie PM has mysteriously been taken ill, and begin to fear that their efforts have come too late. Unable to trust anyone, they soon find themselves trapped in a landscape of lethal political corruption far removed from their everyday lives.

iPlot is the debut novel by the author Lord R. Benson, an electrifying depiction of two average people thrown headlong into a murder plot exacted on Australia’s first female leader, set largely around the nation’s foremost city of Canberra.

iPlot begins with the pair’s guarded intrigue and quickly displaces them into a well realised and tension-wrought world of murderous political backstabbing, all punctuated by Benson’s creative use of technology and science. Its political backdrop reflects current real-world tensions and disillusionment toward the maligned current Prime Minister, demonstrating an eerily plausible near future. These poignancies run deeper still, as iPlot raises the question of modern society’s dependence on social networking and our complacency with information flow, ultimately leaving us vulnerable.

About the author: Lord R. Benson was a war baby born to parents from Vienna and Warsaw, and since 1981 has been the MD of Eureka Entertainment, a movie distributing company that releases classic films. His most notable achievement with Eureka came in 2004 with ‘The Masters of Cinema Series’, a curated DVD collection of movie greats including Shoah (Lanzmann, 1985), Onibaba (Shindo, 1964), Sunrise (Murnau, 1927), plus many more. This is his first novel.

iPlot by Lord R. Benson (published by Matador 2012) is available in Hardback (RRP £12.99) paperback (RRP £8.99) and ebook (RRP £3.99) online at retailers including Amazon.com and can be ordered from all good bookstores.

Book Review: Daniela Sacerdoti - Really Weird Removals.com - Published By Floris Books (Kelpies)

                                                  

Whatever your supernatural dilemma, call the Really Weird Removals company!

If you don't live in Scotland or anywhere near then there is a good chance that you may not have found or discovered this book yet. However, never fear, as I'm going to point you in the right direction once I've told you how good it is! This novel is a product of the annual Kelpies Prize and was shortlisted back in 2011. Some time on, it's now finally being published for all of us good beasties to read.

This is a great family read, both for the grown ups who want to be transported back to their childhood, or for the child having it read aloud on a dark winter's evening. It could even work as a book to share with a class - many children could be engaged and involved in this story.

The book is narrated by a brother and sister (Luca and Valtentina) who really do present themselves as real children rather than characters. When Uncle Alistair turns up out of the blue, the children soon find themselves on an adventure of a life time. Uncle Alistair has a strange line of business (pest control) but he doesn't really get rid of rats or other pests. Instead, the 'Really Weird Removals Company' catches supernatural creatures, and features a fantastic array of memorable creatures such as the Zeuglodon, stone fairies, Selkies and a singing troll! It's a full scale assault of the paranormal in a world full of danger and secrets.

The story is told amazing well - it will have your imagination stretched to the very fullest. Each chapter of the book has an entry from the Paranormal Database which leads very skillfully into the next section. The story is both funny and poignant. It is brimming with the full flavour of a  Scottish adventure. It has a host of likeable characters, all of whom are set in a fantastical back drop of Eilean, an Island off the West Coast of Scotland.

My favourite part of the story was when the children were attacked by malicious kelpies and hungry vampires. This made for great reading especially under-the-blankets reading when it's well past bedtime!

Family life and folklore all collide into one memorable story. I'm pleased to say that I enjoyed both aspects very much. The fast paced story and character driven plot will have you wanting much much more.  

Published by Floris Books of Edinburgh. Check out the brilliant book trailer.

Kate Cann - Witch Crag - Book Review

                                           
Paperback: 320 pages

• Publisher: Scholastic (4 Oct 2012)
• Age: 12+
• ISBN-10: 140710702X
• ISBN-13: 978-1407107028

In a world where 'elite' men rule and women and 'weak' men are second class, Kita and her friends must make a choice: to remain with tribes and accept arranged marriages and being treated with less value than sheep, or escape and journey to the place that even the strongest men fear with their lives - the witch crag.

The first thing that you'll notice about this book is that it is very easy to read which I actually really enjoyed. The writing is not particularly over the top which, I think, really helps to navigate the story with ease. The Dystopian setting has been written very well - it felt fresh and original which kept me reading right up to the very last page.

The story revolves around four tribes: the sheepmen, the horsemen, the farmers and the witches. All who live a basic life of survival within their own communities. 

Kita, the leading character of the book, finds herself seeking a better life after being treated with less value than a sheep. She embarks on a journey that will change the four tribes forever. However, the tribes must somehow overcome their prejudices and join together, especially after facing the evil threat from the people from the city. 

I found the city to be a particularly interesting part of the story. It was really sinister and yet still enchanting. I would have liked to have read more as it set my imagination on fire. Nevertheless I was soon quickly drawn to the characters of the city - Geegaw and The Manager. They might have only played a small part in the story, but I feel that one of them will certainly have a greater part to play in further adventures. I feel that there will be more to come but I'm really not sure what the author's intentions are.  

The book brings about some timely interventions - mild violence/adult themes that help the adventure to flow with ease and bring it to life. I felt that I was able to engage with all of the characters. The friendships and the romantic theme that the author built in may have been slightly predictable in my opinion, but I can live with that.

The ending built into a climax although it was, at times, rather vague. Nevertheless it was still very gripping to read. The final battle scene was graphically very well written and concluded the story admirably.

This is an enjoyable read from an author that I've not heard of or read before. I will certainly look out for more of her books or maybe the next part to this book . . . . if  there is going to be one. One to pick up and have a go.........

Oldman Brook - The Wizard of Crescent Moon Mountain - Book Review

The Wizard of Crescent Moon Mountain

Mr Ripley's Book Review

I'm a very big fan of the fantasy genre, so when I heard a little whisper about this book, I thought to myself . . . .  'I need to read this'. I tracked a copy down through the publisher's website and eagerly waited for it to arrive. When it eventually came, my first thoughts turned to the book cover image as it didn't immediately suggest the storyline and, to be honest, didn't really sell itself to me. Fortunately, the synopsis on the back sounded very interesting and outlined just enough for me to be intrigued. However, all in all it wasn't really the best start. 

I really liked the size of the book (about 430 pages) as it was able to give the adventure enough life and sustain the reader's interest. The first part of the story is very detailed and, as a result, quite slow going. However as an older reader, I liked that. But for those readers who might be put off or find it too slow, my advice is to keep going as you shall be rewarded on an epic scale. It has taken the author many years to write this book; influences from J.R.R Tolkien, Philip Pullman and Philip Reeve can be found within this story, and what a story it is.

The start of the plot is focused around one Wizard (Greybeard) and his quest to save Everlast. Through the story he is joined by three Dwarfs, two shape shifters and two Elves (all brothers) as well as Perrywinkle, who is a man with a talent for dishonesty. Interestingly, he is enlisted to the task of documenting events that occur along the way. One such example involves the Goblin army, who have a love for killing, and killing they do in abundance! At this point, the story writing is dark and, at times, very graphic which I really loved.

The epic battle scenes that are played out in this book have a feel of the Hobbit or the Fellowship of the Ring. They can only be described as big time, movie-screen, fantasy action which leave you feeling breathless for the eventual outcome. The host of characters will keep you engaged, but will probably leave you feeling sad at the end. My favourite character was a Goblin called Bobbucket. He may only play a minor role within this book, but he really made me laugh and will probably have a greater role in the next book - if I am reading between the lines correctly!

This is a deliciously dark and, at times, graphic fantasy novel that is a brilliantly entertaining read. It is a great debut book written in an accomplished hand to tell a tale traditionally. The end of the book delivers an epic finale which will leave the reader feeling satisfied. Although the mouth watering glimpses to the start of the sequel are tantalising - I can't wait to get my hands on the next book. I would recommend this to anyone who loves adventure/fantasy and hope that this books gains more coverage over the next few months. Unfortunately, it probably won't find itself on many bookshop shelves, but it is definitely worth tracking down on the Internet. This is one of my top five books of the year, so far!

Book Synopsis

Elven boys Finn and Beezle enter a time portal just before their race is wiped out by an otherworldly warrior and his goblin army. Travelling 3,000 years into the future and arriving in snow-filled lands, the boys are saved from the cold by two shape-shifters sent by Greybeard, the wizard of Crescent Moon Mountain. 

Out of their time and depth, Finn and Beezle are enlisted to join Greybeard and his friends on a quest to save the world of Everlast from the very same otherworldly warrior. Seeing that Beezle has a talent for magic after an incident with his magical bear-headed staff, Greybeard begins to teach the little elf a few tricks. But a problem arises when Finn comes into possession of a magical weapon capable of defeating the warrior. Little does anyone know the weapon has a mind of its own and wants Beezle as its master...

Published By Matador/Troubador - 2012 (ISBN  978 1848767 621)

                                     

Book Review: The Unfed by Kirsty McKay

                                               

Paperback: 384 pages

Publisher: Chicken House; 1 edition (6 Sep 2012)

Language: English

Age: 12+

ISBN-10: 1908435321

ISBN-13: 978-1908435323

• Book Synopsis:

  The good news: Bobby survived her Undead school trip. Bad news: her best mate, Smitty, is missing. Bobby knows she's got to find him \. even if it means risking it all and going out into the starving-zombie-infested wastelands again. Even if it means taking fellow survivors \- including a couple of old frenemies \- along for the ride. And even if the zombies are not the only ones who are chasing them this time.

  
  
If you are a vegetarian then this might not be the book for you - there is so much floppy dead skin within this story that it would even make a butcher blush! This is the second installment in the gripping Zombie series, and it will certainly not disappoint, if you are gagging for a good horror read. This book starts where the Undead finishes off. No time is lost in bringing the dramatic bus crash into focus as it flips onto its side and everything turns to blank before being flung headlong into more action, as the bloody entrails drip through every page.


The Zombies are growing with intelligence and things are really starting to heat up; there's no time for Bobby to lose. She finds herself in a strange hospital with lots of unanswered questions but before long she is faced with a full-scale Zombie disco, playing to the tune of ripping out flesh and brain feasting! At this point of the story, there is certainly lots to get your teeth into for sure.

The action sequences are well placed within the story. They bring well deployed bouts of scary tension that really create an impact on the reader. The giggles are perhaps optional as the quick one-liners might escape some readers. The slight development of sizzling romantic passion didn't necessarily enhance the storyline for me; at times it felt this was aimed at a more romantic audience. Nevertheless, this book had more graphic detail in than book one. In fact it had been intensely ramped up, which in my opinion was a good aspect, but the jury is perhaps still in discussion for me in terms of the romantic element. 


This was a very engaging and gripping book to read, and to be quite honest, I loved (nearly) every page. It had a good ending in which to start book three, but I hope that this next book will continue to remain imaginative and to consider different approaches in order to keep it fresh.

Mr Ripley's Children's New Book Picks: July 2012

                                     
Chris Colfer - The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell - Published by Atom - 17 July 2012 

Alex and Conner Bailey's world is about to change....

Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories, twins Alex and Connor leave their world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic where they come face-to-face with the fairy tale characters they grew up reading about.

But after a series of encounters with witches, wolves, goblins, and trolls alike, getting back home is going to be harder than they thought.

                                  
Matt Dickinson - Mortal Chaos: Deep Oblivion - Published by OUP Oxford - 5 July 2012
Butterfly effect: The scientific theory that a single occurrence, no matter how small, can change the course of the universe forever. Hannah, homeless and on the run. Gwen and Tehpoe, kidnapped by violent rebels. Todd and Isabella, threatened by piranha attack. Wai Yan, hunted by a cruel dictator. Stian Olberg, fighting to save his vessel from imminent destruction. For them, and many others, things will never be the same again. Some will live. Many will die. All are connected. The action is non-stop in this tense and compelling adventure.

                                    

C . J  Busby & David Wyatt - Icespell (Frogspell) - Published by Templar Publishing - 1 July 2012

Join Max and Olivia for more magical thrills, spills and spells in their third hilarious adventure. Max and Olivia are loving life in Camelot - not only is Max having magic lessons with the great wizard Merlin, Olivia is finally in training for the Squire's Challenge. But disaster strikes when Camelot is frozen inside a magical mountain of ice and it's all Max's fault! Can he and Olivia rescue Arthur and Merlin from their icy prison before evil Lady Morgana gets to Camelot and seals their doom?

                                

David Gatward - Doom Rider - Published by Hodder Children's - 5 July 2012 

Seth Crow has lived a thousand lives, and in each one he's been murdered before he turns thirteen.
And now he's being hunted again. But this time it's different.
Enter Lily, who tells him of his fate: Seth is CONQUEST. The first of the four riders of the Apocalypse. And people want him dead, before he can fulfil his destiny.
Seth's only hope lies in finding the other riders - Strife, Famine and Death.
Together, the fate of the world lies in their hands ...

                                            

Keith Austin - GRYMM - Published by Red Fox - 5 July 2012

Something stirred in the gravelly yard beneath their window . . . A soft slippery nuzzle, the sort of sounds you'd expect a pig to make with its snout in a trough . . .

The small mining town of Grymm perched on the very edge of the Great Desert is the kind of town you leave - but when Dad gets a three-month contract in the mine there, Mina and Jacob, unwilling stepbrother and sister, are reluctantly arriving.

From a grotesque letting agent who seems to want to eat their baby brother, a cafe owner whose milkshakes contain actual maggots and the horribly creepy butcher, baker and candlestick-maker, Mina and Jacob soon realize that nothing in Grymm is what is appears to be.

And then things get seriously weird when their baby brother disappears - and no one seems to even notice! In Grymm, your worst nightmares really do come true . . .

Michael Scott - The Enchantress: Book 6 (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel)

                                            


The truth: Nicholas Flamel was born in Paris on September 28, 1330. Nearly 700 years later, he is acknowledged as the greatest Alchemyst of his day. It is said that he discovered the secret of eternal life. The records show that he died in 1418. But his tomb is empty. 

The legend: Nicholas Flamel lives. But only because he has been making the elixir of life for centuries. The secret of eternal life is hidden within the book he protects - the Book of Abraham the Mage. It's the most powerful book that has ever existed. In the wrong hands, it will destroy the world. That's exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals it. Humankind won't know what's happening until it is too late. And if the prophecy is right, twins Sophie and Josh Newman are the only ones with the power to save the world as we know it.

In The Enchantress, the sixth and final book in the series, the twins of prophecy have been split. Nicholas Flamel is near death, and John Dee has the swords of power. The future of the human race lies in the balance - how will the legend end?

The first five books in Michael Scott's six-part epic fantasy series, The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel , have all been New York Times bestsellers, and they are perfect for fans of Harry Potter or Percy Jackson.The Enchantress is the sixth and final book in the series.


Published by Doubleday Childrens (24 May 2012)

US New Children's Books Published - June 2012

                             

Elizabeth Cody Kimmel - ParaNorman:A Novel - Published by Little,Brown For Young Readers - 5 June 2012 - Age 8+

In a quaint New England town with a history of witches and pilgrims, misunderstood eleven-year-old Norman Babcock can see and talk to ghosts. No one believes him, of course-everyone just thinks he's weird (including his parents). But when a folktale of a witch who cursed her accusers turns out to be true, it's up to Norman to save the town from pilgrim zombies! In addition to the zombies, he'll have to take on a very angry witch, an annoying sidekick, his boy-crazy teenage sister, and dozens of moronic grown-ups who get in his way. This young ghoul whisperer finds his paranormal talents pushed to their otherworldly limits in this hilarious and spooky adventure!

Featuring gorgeous black-and-white interior illustrations and a story beyond what you'll see in the film, this novel is sure to delight!

                                        

Garth Nix - TroubleTwisters:The Monster - Published by Scholastic Press - 1 June 2012 - Age 8+

Jaide and Jack Shield have a secret. When they're unexpectedly sent to live with their mysterious Grandma X, they're thrust into a world where cats talk and strange weather comes out of nowhere. There they learn that they're troubletwisters, with powers they must use to stop the Evil from taking over our world.

Before, they'd defeated the Evil through luck and intuition. Now though, Jaide and Jack will have to learn how to use their powers, and how to keep on their toes when evil forces return.

Constance Leeds - The Unfortunate Son - Published by Viking Juvenile - 14  June 2012 - Age 11+   

                           

Kidnapping, family secrets, and adventure on the high seas--perfect for middle grade fans of historical fiction!

What does it mean to be lucky? Luc doesn't really know. He was born with just one ear, his father constantly berates him, and his younger brother is already bigger and stronger than he is. But when he is chosen to become an apprentice to a local fisherman, his life takes a turn for the better. Luc is a natural at sea, and before long he and a teenaged girl who lives with the fisherman form a strong bond. That bond is tested when Luc is taken captive by a band of merciless pirates, and sold into slavery.Moving from 1485 to 1500, from France to Africa, from humble beginnings to a noble future, this historical fiction adventure will leave readers pondering the true meaning of good fortune.

                                 

Stacy DeKeyser - The Brixen Witch - Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books - 26 June 2012 - Age 8+      

                            

An enchanted coin. A witch’s curse. And rats, rats everywhere! What’s a boy to do?

When Rudi Bauer accidentally takes a witch’s coin, he unleashes her curse. Accident or not, he knows he’s got to fix things, so he tries to return the coin, only to lose it on the witch’s magic mountain just as the snows come. Plagued all winter by terrible dreams, Rudi tries to find the coin again in the spring, but it has vanished—and a plague of rats has descended on his village.

     Then a stranger arrives and promises to rid the village of rats—for the price of the missing coin. Desperate to get rid of the rats, the villagers agree—but when they cannot pay, the stranger exacts a price too terrible for anyone to bear. Now Rudi is going to need all his courage—and some help from his savvy grandmother and a bold young girl—to set things right in this fast and funny adventure.

Book Launch: Nicola L Robinson - The Monster Machine

'The Monster Machine' is a monster picture book written and illustrated by Nottingham illustrator Nicola L Robinson. It is published by Pavilion Children's Books on the 16t May 2012.

From the back cover-

'My Dad is an inventor… he has just finished his latest and greatest invention. The Monster Machine!' A story of fun, inventions and all the monster mischief you can imagine. A great message about having fun and working together, beautifully illustrated with masses to look for on every page, a wonderful text to read aloud. (Approximately 350 words.)

Nicola has been illustrating children's books for many years now,  and 'The Monster Machine' is her first picture book and outing as an author.

She has  always loved things with teeth and claws and fur and scales (and machines are fascinating anyway) so creating this picture book has been a lot of fun. Nicola's illustrations are vibrant and colourful with a lot of detail making The Monster Machine a picture book with lots and lots of things to look at and look out for. It tells the story of a small boy and his Dad and their monster making machine. If you like monsters and machines this one is for you...

To learn more about the book or to contact Nicola and/or the monsters  do visit the Monster Machine's website here - www.monstermachine.co.uk

Chicken House - Up and Coming New Book Titles 2012

                                       
William Osborne - Hitler's Angel - 3rd May 2012 - 10+
Otto and Leni have escaped to England from Nazi Germany. They thought they were safe, but now the British want them to go back. Dropped behind enemy lines, they embark on a secret operation codenamed Wolfsangel. Their mission is to find and kidnap a girl who could bring down Hitler And so begins their bravest journey yet...

                                           
Mike and Rachel Grinti - Claws - 24th May 2012 - 10+
Emma's sister is missing. Her parents have spent all their money trying to find her and the family has moved to a trailer park for Crags \- magical creatures that live on the edge of human sociey - next to the dark forest. Here Emma meets a smooth-talking cat named Jack who has a plan to rescue her sister. He shows her how to shape-shift, to developlaws and cat senses. But cat magic isn't easy, and Emma soon learns her sister is in the thrall of the faeries, the most beautiful and dangerous creatures of all.

                                      
Thomas Taylor - Haunters - 24th May 2012 - 10+
Eddie, Adam and David have the same gift. Separated by generations, they are linked by their ability to time-travel. Using their dreams, they can appear like ghosts, wherever and whenever they want. The first is the genius who discovers dreamwalking. The second is a Haunter, a dream-terrorist, determined to change history foris own ends. The last is the novice dreamwalker who must battle to save his family, and himself, from oblivion.

                                       
David Massey - Torn - 2nd August 2012 - 14+
Afghanistan. In the heat and dust, young British army medic Elinor Nielson watches an Afghan girl walk into a hail of bullets. But when she runs to help, Ellie finds her gone. Who is she? And what's happened to her? What Ellie discovers makes her question everything she believes in even her feelings for the American lieutenant who takes her side.

                                          
Andrew Peters - The Glass Forest - 2nd August 2012 - 9+
Ark lives a mile up from the ground - in the last trees in the world. But Ravenwood faces a new threat by the empire that wants its precious wood. Ark and his friends must travel deep into enemy heartland to find out what evil is planned Awaiting them is a glittering forest of glass skyscrapers, a twisted echo of home. But the wildlife within is infinitely more dangerous.


There are some great reads, and certainly lots more to come at the end of this year, from Chicken House. The Wolf Princess by Cathryn Constable is due to be published in October. Whilst the sequel to the Undead by Kirsty Mckay, entitled 'The Unfed', looks like another winner. And of course, we should not forget 'Zac and the Dream Stealers' by one of my favourite authors, Ross MacKenzie, which is due to be released sometime in June.

Susanne Winnacker - The Other Life - Book Review

The Other Life: who we were before the virus. How we'll never be again. It's been 3 years, 1 month, 1 week and 6 days since Sherry has seen daylight. When things went wrong up above, she was sealed off from the world in a bunker with her family. But when they run out of food, Sherry and her dad must venture outside. There they find devastation, desolation...and the Weepers: savage mutant killers. When her dad is snatched, Sherry joins forces with gorgeous but troubled Joshua - an Avenger, determined to destroy the Weepers. But can Sherry keep her family and Joshua safe, when his desire for vengeance threatens them all?

At the start of the book, the author quietly builds up the tension and the curiosity levels by introducing us to Sherry and her family, who are locked in the bunker in the basement of their house. It has been three years since they last saw daylight and lost all contact with the world. At this point, everything has just got too much and the family are at boiling point, especially when they run out of food. This is when the story becomes really interesting and exciting as Sherry and her father leave the bunker to find food. . . . As a result of this action, we suddenly become thrown into a post-apocalyptic world with rabies-infested humans known as Weepers. Whilst they are perhaps described with vague detail, the very vicious nature of them certainly allows the magic to spark in the imagination department. 

I have to say that I did find Sherry (one of the main characters) slightly annoying. I did try really hard to overlook this and felt that I just about managed it. It was not her OCD traits, in fact I found this element fascinating, it was actually the dialogue that she engaged in. At times, I found this confusing - she asked too many questions and, like all of the other characters, she appeared to be rather too stereotypical. Whilst the little snippets of her former life weaved throughout the story were clever, I'm not sure that they really worked.

This book has a real emotional depth to it - the feelings portrayed through the characters make the story more convincing. The supporting characters all portray a different story with different feelings as they learn to cope and survive. This worked amazingly well as it is often difficult to get the balance just right.

I think that this is a great debut book. It is very readable and will certainly have you, in parts, hiding behind the covers and wanting to read faster in order to find out more. The ending was great - it sets up the next book to be even better. Perhaps the characters may have more to fight than just the Weepers . . . .  If you love dystopian and zombies, then this will be a book just for you and if you don't, then give it a try anyway.

The Life Beyond will be the next book and I just can't wait.