Philip Caveney - STAND AND DELIVER - Blog Tour (Top Five Adventure Books Post)

Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books has been running for over fourteen years now and from the very start, Philip Caveney has been a big influence on this website. We have read and loved every book both he and his alter ego have written and published. Every story is different, unexpected, and thrilling, and Stand and Deliver is just another example of how great a writer he is. 

It's a wonderful privilege to be on this blog tour celebrating the publication of Philip's new book. This post covers his top 5 adventure books which are all classics that have shaped the landscape for future writers. Just like Philip's books will also do in the future. What would be your choice?

I should perhaps apologise for the fact that my choices are not recent releases. Like so many writers, I have been an avid reader since early childhood and I genuinely believe that it’s the books you read as a youngster that stay with you forever. Of course I still read. All writers begin as readers and it’s important to keep doing it, but these days I’m reading a lot of different kinds of fiction  And the focus here is on ‘adventure,’ so… here goes.

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. 

This is pretty much the book that set the template for the public perception of what a pirate says, does and thinks. It features pretty much all the qualities we identify with such men - and yet, only a little research will confirm that they tended to be more complex than this gives them credit for. No matter, it’s a classic tale of scurvy dogs and buried treasure from Scotland’s greatest writer. What’s not to like?

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne. 

Verne’s brilliant undersea adventure, written in 1871, is one of the first adventure stories I ever read, along with A Journey to the Centre of the Earth and Around the World in 80 Days.  20,000 Leagues is both thrilling and prophetic. Captain Nemo’s famous submarine, The Nautilus is powered by sodium/mercury batteries, something that wouldn’t widely be used until the 1940s! It also features incredible underwater battles with terrifying creatures of the deep.

War of the Worlds by HG Wells. 

People will argue that it's actually an early sci-fi novel, but this account of a martian invasion, first published in 1897, soon develops into a fast-paced adventure story. The main protagonist (known only as ‘the narrator’) struggles to survive in a transformed world where the squid-like Martians and their giant fighting machines lay waste to everything they encounter. Its scenes of the disintegration of society have rarely been equalled.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding.

Published in 1954, this is the dark and troubling tale of a group of schoolboys whose plane crashlands on a remote desert island. They are compelled to organise themselves and find ways to survive, but they soon break into two separate factions, who consequently find themselves at war with each other. It may be a comment about the nature of mankind, but it’s also a thrilling tale of adventure, brilliantly written.

Brazilian Adventure by Peter Fleming

Not fiction this time, but a fascinating account of a real life adventure deep into the heart of the unexplored Amazon. In 1932, the author, Peter, Fleming joined an expedition to look for the lost explorer, Colonel Fawcett who, with his son Jack, had disappeared on a similar trip seven years earlier. Reading this book inspired me to write my third novel, The Tarantula Stone.

Book published by UCLan Publishing 03.11.2022. Book Cover Illustration by Jill Tytherleigh. 

Synopsis: Ned is awkward, a little shy, and just trying to find his place in the world. He also happens to be the assistant to the nation’s most feared highwayman, The Shadow . . .

In a time when highwaymen ruled the roads, Ned is reluctantly swept up into a whirlwind of adventure. Whilst escaping the grasps of the thief-takers, Ned soon finds himself stepping into his Master’s shoes and an unwanted life of crime. The pressure is building with new friends and enemies galore when Ned stumbles upon a long-infamous gem, The Bloodstone, which forces him to make an important choice. Can he ultimately escape this new threat and finally free himself from the grips of The Shadow?

Eve McDonnell - The Chestnut Roaster Blog Tour - The Chestnut Roaster Illustrations Post

 

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books welcomes you to the last day of The Chestnut Roaster blog tour (see all dates below). Today we are celebrating the publication of Eve McDonnell's fantastic book published by Everything With Words. We're delighted to have a post from Eve about the brilliant illustrations inside the book by Ewa Beniak-Haremska. The black-and-white illustrations are absolutely amazing as they really open your imagination to possibilities We highly recommend this book, especially at this time of year. If you want to catch a memory thief and treat yourself to a Halloween read then you can buy a copy of the book HERE. 

You are a very visual writer and the illustrations by Ewa Beniak-Haremska blend beautifully with the story. How did the collaboration work. Which are your favourite illustrations?

One of the highlights of The Chestnut Roaster’s publication journey was being introduced to artist Ewa Beniak-Haremska. My publisher has an eye for the extraordinary and was certain Ewa’s style would not only complement the story but lift it to another level. Not all authors have the opportunity to work closely with their illustrators, but I had the joy of seeing Ewa’s work unfold. 

Ewa read The Chestnut Roaster and her initial feedback was very encouraging – we could see that she had grasped the spirit of the story whole-heartedly. Based on Ewa’s previous work (check out her website here), it soon became clear that full spreads rather than smaller illustrations would showcase her amazing talent and Ewa endeavoured to retell the story in blocks of double full-page spreads to appear in four sections of the book. This way, the reader could recap the story to-date through illustration before moving on. This tickled me pink as one of my all-time favourite childhood books similarly had blocks of illustrated spreads – L Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – and as a young reader, I would find myself being pulled forward through the story in great anticipation of the art.

Once the format was agreed, I prepared a summary for Ewa, focussing on the visual aspect of each major scene, and we delivered it to Ewa as a kind of ‘pick n’ mix’. She merged scenes together in her magical way leaving so much for the viewer to unpick and interpret.

I adore the image of Piaf on her corner at Rue du Dragon. It captures Paris of the 1880s so perfectly – the cobbled roads, the flapping birds, the musicians, the diners at the café. We see ladies straining their necks looking down, seemingly knowing that something is about to happen. A black cat ominously walks across the street while the silhouette of a stranger draws his attention to his target – little Piaf, the chestnut roaster.

Piaf on her corner at Rue du Dragon – illustration by Ewa Beniak-Haremska

Another illustration I particularly love is the depiction of Piaf falling through a circular hole, arriving in Paris’s underground twin where miles of squirming tunnels await her adventures. You can see Piaf in the top left and the image sweeps your eye to the right, past eerie tunnels filled with of bones and danger until she arrives at a remarkable place – the Museum of Objects. This is where we meet Bertie, Paris’s finest button maker. In his underground nest, he has carved objects from wood. What objects can you see? Russian dolls? A fox? How many roosters can you find? I could stare at this image for hours!

There are seven more double spreads as stunning these for readers to explore, and together they tell the full tale of The Chestnut Roaster so beautifully. The illustrations and words are all wrapped up in a stunning cover, designed and illustrated by the award-winning artist Holly Ovenden who also created the cover of my first novel, Elsetime.

Finally, I will leave you with one image by Ewa that spoke straight to my heart – that is the image of Piaf, the tiny girl who cannot forget. She might look small and fragile, but inside, I can assure you, she is a giant.

Simon Packham - Has Anyone Seen Archie Ebbs? - Book Review Blog Tour - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

 

I'm delighted to be able to introduce this debut middle-grade children's book by actor and musician Simon Packham. Has Anyone Seen Archie Ebbs? is a fantastic poignant read that will be published this April (2022) by the Welsh publisher Firefly Press. The book starts with the introduction of the main character, Archie Ebbs. Life is brilliant, the summer term has just begun and we find him watching YouTube, eating chocolate brownies, as well as laughing and joking with his friends. The PERFECT life, however, the script does not run to plan just like his recent YouTube hit video The Revenge of the Fruit.

 The story is a really intriguing one. It's very cleverly written and highlights a series of issues that some families and people might relate to. It highlights the devastating effect that homelessness can have on a family and children's lives. In this plot, the subject is tackled in a brilliant and somewhat surreal but imaginatively quirky way. The story cleverly reveals the stark realities of the situation in a sad and funny way. 

The characters really danced and jumped off the page to bring one of the best stories that I've read so far this year. It's a modern and fresh take highlighting an important topic that doesn't feature much in stories. In fact, I loved this book so much that I couldn't help but go through a roller-coaster of emotions with all the characters - each and every one of them. This is a great class read for children to discuss but I would highly recommend it to everyone. 

It's a real pleasure to be on the blog tour for this book. One of the characters you will come to love is Charlie Ebbs's sister Izzy. Her boyfriend is called Clint and he plays an important role in the book. Here we have a little fun character bio that has been put together for the book tour. However, as you're here why not check out all the other stops too by taking a look at the list above (on the right). BUY HERE. 

Dan Smith - Nisha's War - Book Review Blog Tour 2022 - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

 

Welcome everybody to a jolly blog tour for Dan Smith's latest book Nisha's War. To find out more about this fantastic book please check out my review below. On Twitter we have a fantastic giveaway; a copy of the book, bar of chocolate and a £10 book voucher to spend on more great books. Please see our pinned tweet on Twitter @Enchantedbooks. Ends 18.02.22 UK Only.

Publisher: Chicken House (3 Feb. 2022)

Book Illustrator: Matthew Land and Cover design by Steve Wells 

Age Range: 9+ (Only a guide)

Paperback: 368 Pages - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎978-1912626755

What makes a good story? Well, for me a good story starts from the very first page by creating a really interesting and intriguing narrative. In Dan Smith's latest book, Nisha's War, the story starts on a grey, Spring evening. Mother and daughter, hardly more than skin and bone, are weary and tired as they depart from the train. The author describes them as travellers from another time and place. By this point, I was hooked and really looking forward to reading more.

The story has so much depth; focusing on the past and the future. There are so many themes that it is a real marvel and a treat. Essentially, this is a historical English ghost story with the main characters fleeing from the WARTIME invasion of Singapore in 1942. Snippets of the character's experiences are shared by Nisha (a young girl) from her diary. However, the story also transports itself to a remote area in the North of England where a brilliantly haunting tale is introduced. There's a puzzle to solve and the introduction of a mysterious weeping tree.

The story is really written with heart and soul; pulling on different character emotions and feelings. Complex topics such as loneliness, grief, guilt, and being a refugee are all tackled creating an interesting discussion. It's a book that feels very relevant today such as coping with many changes that are beyond our control. The story is fantastically well written as it develops different backdrops that submerge you into really creative worlds. 

This has to be the best book that Dan has written to date. It's a story that will give you hope but also a chill to the heart. There is action and adventure in an abundance but also a classic dollop of mystery, and heartwarming friendship. Overall, it is a brilliant, thought-provoking story - it made me think that perhaps it is time for me to find some new friends.

Synopsis: Malaya, 1942. Nisha’s home is destroyed by war and she and her mother, Amma, flee to her father’s ancestral house in England, perched on a cliff top on the cold Northern coast.

When Amma falls gravely ill, Nisha is left to face her formidable grandmother alone. Grandmother's rules are countless, and her Anglo-Indian granddaughter is even forbidden from climbing the old weeping tree.

But when a ghost child beckons Nisha to sit under its boughs, and promises her Amma’s life in return for three truths, its pull proves irresistible ...