Sam Sedgman - The Clockwork Conspiracy - Book Review - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

Sam Sedgman's "The Clockwork Conspiracy" marks the start of a riveting new series, unveiled by Bloomsbury Children's Books in February 2024. The book's cover, masterfully illustrated by Tom Colohosy Cole, serves as a prelude to the enthralling narrative that awaits within. From the very first pages, readers are thrust into a captivating mystery teeming with rooftop pursuits, enigmatic codes, and scientific marvels. The resonance of Big Ben heralds the commencement of an adrenaline-fueled plot, brimming with danger and transformative potential, where time itself takes on new dimensions.

A perfect complement to Sedgman's collaborative series with MG Leonard, "Adventures on Trains," this tale follows young inventor Isaac Turner on a high-stakes mission to locate his vanished horologist father, unveiling a sinister governmental plot nestled within London's iconic landmarks, against the backdrop of the mesmerising Houses of Parliament.

Sedgman's seamless blend of mystery and breakneck adventure, interspersed with intriguing tidbits, ensures the book's triumph. With expert finesse, the author knits together suspense and innovation, ensnaring readers in a whirlwind of discovery with each twist and turn of the plot. The vivid tapestry of London that he paints breathes life into the city, endowing it with a character as vibrant as any protagonist.

"The Clockwork Conspiracy" beckons to young detectives hungry for pulse-pounding escapades and to thrill-seekers alike, offering a rich tapestry of history, enigma, politics, and exhilaration that will leave readers clamoring for the sequel. Thank you for such a great book! 

Sophie Kirtley - The Wild Way Home - Book Review - Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books

Sophie Kirtley is a prize-winning published poet. The Wild Way Home is her debut middle-grade children's book which is due to be published in July 2020 by Bloomsbury Children's Books. I think the book cover is superb - it really made me want to read it instantly when it arrived through the door.  In fact, this is the reason why the book review is slightly early.

The book is an unforgettable adventure that starts from the very first page. Charlie's baby brother is born with a problem in his heart - it is a very sad and poignant story that sets the branches swaying and the brains ticking. As Charlie RUNS away from the hospital to the forest to face his emotions, in a fit of rage, he climbs up a tree and the world changes before he reaches the ground. At this point, we are plunged back into an atmospheric time THE STONE AGE. Something wild is just about to happen which finds the readers hurtling into a rich and detailed adventure that will capture the hearts and minds of the readers.

The story tension builds into a thrilling action-adventure set in the forest. Charlie stumbles upon a strange boy dressed in deerskins lying in the RIVER. The characters have a lot in common as they try to solve their own predicaments. Both have lost their family and have obstacles to battle as their path is intertwined with each other's destiny. The book has a lot of raw emotions going on that will make you think about the situation the characters are facing and feeling. This will help younger readers with empathy and deal with the topics of jealously, loneliness, love, and family. 

The landscape is very well written and the historical detail has the right feel for that time period. The book delivers timely action in the wilderness. The communication between both characters, Charlie in English and Harby speaking Stone Age, is very imaginative and helped to keep the authenticity of the plot.  The story has a spiritual element giving it a little spooky edge that adds to the mood. This is a brilliant and engaging read about finding the way home. It will flip the reader's inside out - your wild spirit will soar with hope and adventure. Recommended highly so get it by pre-ordering today.

Chris Naylor-Ballesteros - Interview Q&A (Author & Illustrator)

Hello Everybody! I'm delighted to be posting another brilliant interview today. Chris Naylor-Ballesteros is a children's picture book writer and illustrator. He's had books published by Bloomsbury and Nosy Crow.  One particularly great book (published last year by Nosy Crow Books) is The Suitcase. This is about a strange-looking animal who arrives pulling a big suitcase. He meets other animals who are curious about what is inside. What on earth could be in that suitcase? A teacup? Maybe. A table and chair? That is for you to find out in this interview. Why not take a journey with us and see what you would put in your SUITCASE?

The Suitcase was published by Nosy Crow Books. It's a picture book about people who are forcibly displaced around the world. What gave you the idea to write about this as a picture book?
My previous books were more light-hearted and were about animal characters that seemed to confuse reality and fantasy. I was trying to retain that element in the next story and, seen as the first two were about food and then companionship, I was looking at the theme of home or shelter - another very basic, universal need. I'd also been thinking of a story idea about a wall that divided two populations and the misconceptions about what was on the other side. This was roughly around the time of the US presidential election campaign and the Brexit referendum in which the politics of division and denial of others were (and still are) gaining a lot of ground.

But the wall idea was a bit stuck and I was doodling and drew a little animal figure with a ruck-sack at the bottom of the wall, looking confused and lost. I started to think about this character and wondered where it was from, where it was going and what might be in its bag. The wall was put to one side and the animal became the centre of a new story that thankfully came together quite quickly.

If you could only put five objects in the suitcase, what would you choose and why?
Strangely, though I've asked this question a lot visiting schools and libraries, I've never yet been asked it. Well, a phone, a torch, a pencil, and some paper, a cuddly toy, a fridge, a million pounds. These were some of the suggestions I was given by school children - all pretty useful items, especially the cash. It's probably impossible to answer without having the urgent, instinctive thinking that must come when living through such a situation in real life. If I discount practical objects, I'm sure I'd take a family photograph just like in the book. But which one? Oh heck...

How do you start the process of writing and illustrating a book?
Usually, it starts with a spontaneous premise or idea that feels interesting. I have quite a lot of those but ultimately most aren't strong enough to carry a good story. So a lot of work is in trying to develop them all as far as they'll go by asking hundreds of 'what if...?' questions, and then recognising when something is worth pushing onwards or should be abandoned. Most fall by the wayside and those left standing I keep niggling away at until they feel like they might work. Sometimes (like for The Suitcase) a doodle or sketch helps things develop but often it's just a lot of thinking time without even putting pencil to paper that much. The hardest thing to do is to develop a natural story that feels credible, rather than just some characters and an interesting premise, followed by a series of occurrences that don't have any fundamental meaning.
It rarely feels like creative work, it more often feels like you're trying to repair something that looked interesting at first but you took the back off and messed about with the workings and all the springs and sprockets flew out. Then you have to put it all back together in a way that no one notices you'd tinkered with it and also that you'd had to throw a load of redundant nuts and bolts in the bin.

Another picture book you've produced was I'm Going To Eat This Ant which is very humorous. Where did the humour come from and how is this important to the story? 
That was my first published book and in effect, I set myself a brief before writing it: I wanted a funny story with two characters that were obviously in some sort of conflict from the outset - like a cat/mouse situation that needed no backstory or explanation but something less often seen - eg. an ant and an anteater. I then wanted it to be short and quite repetitive in structure with a punchline or surprise at the end. Then I just thought it through. I think a lot of the humour came from the cartoon brutality in the story. The ant is imagined to be squished, smoked, sliced, sizzled and sautéed but seems to take it all fairly stoically, without reacting or even seeming to notice. Of course, none of it is actually happening in reality - just in the mind of a deluded anteater but one publisher did reject it on the grounds that it was too cruel. They mustn't have seen Tom & Jerry or Roadrunner.

What do you think makes a really good picture book?
The stories that really work for me are those that are so well put together and uncontrived that they feel like they weren't written at all but unfurl themselves like a rolled-up rug that's been given a little shove.
Even some really successful, enjoyable picture books can have a little moment where you feel the author having to slightly bend or push things in a certain way for it to work out how they needed.
I like books that divide the storytelling between the words and the pictures so that sometimes the text leads the way and the pictures play catch-up and then vice-versa.

What golden rules do you follow when writing and illustrating a picture book?
I really don't have any - I could probably do with some though. I just feel very happy when I think I might have a good story that works, often before anything is even written or drawn.

Could you tell us a bit about any of your upcoming projects?
I have three more books to come with Nosy Crow and I feel really lucky that they've shown me such commitment. I also have two books to come elsewhere, details of which are mostly under wraps for now. The first of the three Nosy Crow books is finished and is called Out Of Nowhere. It looks quite different to 'The Suitcase' and it was nice to have a visual change of direction.
It was due out this May but the Coronavirus crisis has put it on hold for now. Most distribution channels are barely operating and all the independent bookshops (many of whom really supported 'The Suitcase') are of course closed for the moment. I can't wait to see them all re-open their doors again and I really hope they make it through the current crisis and can flourish afterwards. 

Do you have a Portfolio? If so, what is your favourite piece of work?
Before starting my first book a few years ago I tried - unsuccessfully - to find freelance work as an editorial illustrator and I did a lot of personal projects based on newspaper or magazine articles to build an online portfolio. At the time we lived in a small apartment so, out of necessity, all my work was digital. It looks a lot different from the books I've made since then. Some of them I still like but I wouldn't go back to that style now.

Which illustrators have inspired you over the years? 
I was a relative late-comer to this world and only got inspired when I started buying books for my children, and realising how varied and graphically interesting and beautiful and odd they could be. Some of these were Tyranosaurus Drip by Julia Donaldson and David Roberts, Cockatoos by Quentin Blake, the 'hat' books by Jon Klassen, The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers, The Gruffalo and Stick Man by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, Say Hello To Zorro by Carter Goodrich. Since then I've been inspired by Carson Ellis, Sydney Smith, Shaun Tan, Benji Davies, Yuval Zommer, Amandine Piu, Pascal Blanchet amongst many others - a long list of amazing illustrators and writers. It's such a massive world and I'm still discovering 'new' things that are in fact very old and well-known.

What tips would you give any aspiring writers and/or illustrators? 
I don't know if I'm qualified or experienced enough to give advice but I've learned some things that were useful to me. I spent a lot of time early on worrying about finding my own illustration style. I made two different-looking versions of the Ant book one after the other, neither of which felt right, before I realised I should stop over-thinking my 'style' and just try to be a bit more intuitive and natural. So I picked up a nib-pen and ink and watercolour and went ahead more instinctively. This third version took about three weeks (ie. very quick) and that was the one that was submitted and finally accepted by a publisher. Then I worked on it with an editor and a book-designer to refine it but, in essence, it didn't change much for publication.

I've also learnt that persistence is useful, both in hammering away at an interesting idea until it either hits a brick wall or it starts to work. Also persistence in how your work fares once you submit it to agents or publishers. Rejections are hard to take when they happen but you can only learn from them and move on. My first submitted book (before 'Ant') was taken on by an agent and then steadily rejected by all the editors it was sent to. But they were often quite constructive rejections that showed there might be some potential and it encouraged me to eventually pick myself up, learn from it and have another go. Also, on more than one occasion I can honestly say that, with hindsight, a rejection led to something better happening that wouldn't otherwise have happened. It never feels that way at the time though!

Catherine Doyle - The Lost Tide Warriors - Book Review - Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books

Breaking onto the reading scene last year was the Irish author Catherine Doyle. Her debut book was showered with many lovely reviews and some super comments. The book has gathered momentum and recently been awarded the independent bookshops children's book choice which is a great accolade. She has now just written the anticipated sequel, The Lost Tide, which will make up book two in the Storm Keeper quartet series. The book will be launched on the 11th July by the good people at Bloomsbury Children's with another sparkling book cover illustration by Bill Bragg.  

Are we are ready for another epic adventure on the Island of Arranmore? Fionn Boyle has been Storm Keeper of Arranmore for less than six months. The clock is ticking and the fight for the island's survival is gradually becoming perilous once again. The book hits you with drama and suspense as thousands of terrifying empty-eye Soulstalkers arrive on the island in their boatloads. This starts the magic flowing and the web-spinning as the dreaded sorceress Morrigan is ready to rise up once again and destroy the storm keeper and his precious Island. What can they do to save it? 

Fionn and his best friends Shelby and Sam go in search of an ancient story that might help save the island. They search for the ferocious sea creatures (whom nobody believes exist) known as the Merrows. With their razor sharp teeth, they are deadly in combat and could be the answer to their prayers. As they go in search of the lost army, the other islanders prepare for invasion. The only problem is The Storm Keeper's magic has deserted him. Can his family or the islanders save the day? Let the battle begin and the pages turn; pull up the fantasy trousers and get stuck in. You will not be disappointed.

This is another fantastic installment building on the first book which explores a whole community, friends, and family coming together to save the day. The book takes you on a whimsical dream-like escapade full of magic and a cracking good plot. The book delivers on action and drama drawing on ancient myths and folklore that pull the threads neatly together. It is a brilliant read for everyone especially the targeted audience age 8 and upwards. The only feedback I have for this book is that I would have liked the characters to have reflected their Irish heritage colloquially. 

The narrative for me holds some surprises as the book has a lovely dark element that captures the reader's attention. I loved the concept of magic being used and displayed in a different way and not overly used in this story. However, the emotional side of the story was amazing. As the story rolls like gathering stones on a flat landscape, the tension distills and poignant moments spill out of the pages. Be warned: some tears may be shed. However, this helps the reader to get involved with the story that is full of bravery and courage. It is a rapid read that you will escape into and enjoy very much with much more to come. The next book is called The Storm Keeper's Island and is out in July 2020. 

Katherine Rundell - The Good Thieves - Book Review - Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books

Trotting out this summer is the latest installment by Katherine Rundell. The Good Thieves will hit the shops on the 13th of June 2019. The book will be published in a lovely hardback edition by Bloomsbury Publishing. I'm a very big fan of the amazing cover that has been produced by Matt Saunders. In the finished copy, which I have not yet seen, there are some exquisite black and white chapter headers by the illustrator as well. They not only add a little slice of detail but also transport you straight back to the 1920s in New York City. 

This is an example of one of the images that I've had permission from the illustrator to use from his Twitter feed. You can check out some of his others at: @msaunders_ink. 

The magic of adventure is here to see in this book. The opening lines of the first chapter are both poetic and captivating. Vita set her jaw and nodded at the city in greeting, as a boxer greets an opponent before a fight. That is probably one of my favourite opening lines to a book for some time. It feels like a quotation from the great boxer, Muhammad Ali.

The plot is focused around a group of children (all fantastically different) who come together to right a wrong. Vita is the main character. A born fighter, she arrives on the wind with her mother from England. Fresh off the boat in New York City, she admires the horizon: tall, grey, blue and beautiful. However, Vita Marlowe is there for a reason. She has a job to do. Her beloved grandfather (Jack) has been cheated out of his home and possessions by a notorious conman with Mafia connections. Seeing Jack's spirit is broken, Vita is desperate to make him happy again. So, she devises a plan to outwit his enemies and recover his home. However, will Vita and her newfound friends be up to the challenge?

The story slowly creeps inside you and grips you with a brilliant all-out action heist of a plot like no other. As the adventure slowly builds, the characters personalities seep through and pull you on a journey of friendship and crazy antics that entertain. It's a story of loyalty, bravery and clever thinking. There are some brilliant moments built in which make this book both an entertaining triumph and a joy to read. 

The author has done a fantastic job of capturing the time period - approximately five years after the First World War. The children in the book radiate the feeling of recovery and anticipation as they bring their talents together to overcome any obstacles in their way. It's a fantastic story to escape into; an acrobatic circus of delights and truly wonderful storytelling with nature and wildness running at its heart. 

This is a brilliant story full of heart-stopping moments, thrills, spills and many different smiles. It's a fantastic performance - a pickpocket delight to read - where two boys with unusual skills, two girls full of determination and a host of animals find themselves in a death-defying adventure. What more could you possibly want? 

William Sutcliffe - The Gifted, the Talented and Me - Book Review - Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books

The Gifted, the Talented and Me is the latest YA book by William Sutcliffe to find its way onto the bookshelves this May. Published by Bloomsbury, this will be William's third YA novel and it is very different from his previous books. When I received this book for review, I scanned the synopsis and thought this is not my cup of tea. One of the lines on the press release was "you think Adrian Mole had problems?" I knew at this point that I'd got problems as this was not a book I thought I was going to remotely enjoy. So, you can see that my expectations were set really quite low.

I started to read this book but then, to be honest, the preface left me slightly intrigued. Dad got rich and his mum moved the family to London. Sam, the main character, then takes us on a teenage journey of mixed emotions that actually feel like you are reading an actual account from a real person. The author has really skillfully achieved this in his writing.

Sam and his brothers find themselves moving to a new school, but not any ordinary school. It's the North London Academy for the Gifted and Talented. At this point, the idea slowly reeled me in like a little worm looking for some fantasy gold. I actually started to find the story interesting and before I knew it, with a grumpy teenage strop here and an Instagram update there, I found this book to be really brilliant.

I felt like I was sitting on a fantasy fence watching how some families when elevated with wealth, change their lives and their outlook on the world. The Mum in the family suddenly embraces the arts and is laughed at. I also like the blogger side of Mum in the plot - a very neat touch and, for me, particularly relatable to.  Dad is aloof but brings a sense of realism to some of the situations, alongside his many rounds of golf. This book really explores the lives of the three siblings adapting to their new school life. It's brilliantly warm and very comical. It will make you laugh and possibly choke on your tears at the same time.

The story is essentially about adapting and finding your own place; playing the LIFE game and dealing with emotions. It has a great message for the reader about staying true to yourself. This, for me, was five-star entertainment from a book that I thought I was going to struggle with. HOW wrong was I? I loved it. A delight and an absolute joy to read from the very first page. It will keep you on your toes with crazy capers until the very last page has been turned and only then will you be able to breathe easily again!

Synopsis: Laugh-out-loud funny and instantly recognisable - not since The Inbetweeners has a coming of age story been so irreverent and relatable. 

Fifteen-year-old Sam is not a famous vlogger, he's never gone viral, and he doesn't want to be the Next Big Thing. In fact, he's ordinary and proud of it.

None of which was a problem until Dad got rich and Mum made the whole family move to London. Now Sam's off to the North London Academy for the Gifted and Talented, where everyone's busy planning Hollywood domination or starting alt-metal psychedelica crossover bands. Sam knows he'll never belong, even if he wanted to. And that's before he ends up on stage wearing nothing but a fur onesie ...

A brilliantly funny look at fitting in, falling out and staying true to your own averageness.

Kesia Lupo - We Are Blood And Thunder - Book Review - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

A stunning and original YA fantasy from a fantastic new talent. Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Laini Taylor

In a sealed-off city, a young woman, Lena, is running for her life. She has been sentenced to death and her only way to survive is to trust those she has been brought up to fear - those with magic. 

On the other side of the locked gates is a masked lady, Constance, determined to find a way back in. Years ago she escaped before her own powers were discovered. But now she won't hide who she is any longer. 

A powerful and terrifying storm cloud engulfs the city. But this is more than a thunderstorm. This is a spell, and the truth behind why it has been cast is more sinister than anyone can imagine ... But what neither Lena and Constance realise is that the stormcloud binds them - without it, without each other, neither can get what they desire.

What a fantastic start to the year already. As I skip and dance through the large pile of books in the hallway, I am delighted to have uncovered another absolute literary diamond. We Are Blood And Thunder has been written by a fantastic new voice, Kesia Lupo, who is a children's editor at Chicken House Books. This is an outstanding debut YA book that will be published by Bloomsbury in April 2019. I hear you cry but that's such a long time away. However, when a book is as good as this, I need to let you know early on so that you can get it pre-ordered and look forward to reading this in Spring. 

So, what is it that has made me so excited? Well, it all starts many years ago in the Year of Kings 554 to be exact. A city is in quarantine and has been sealed off from the outside world. A young woman on the run, convicted for being a mage, crosses paths with a mysteriously masked lady on the other side of a locked gate. They each have a path to walk and an adventure to explore as they take the reader on a journey into a fantastic plot full of dark and deadly magic. The mysterious vapor will definitely crawl all over your skin and flood your senses as you explode onto the scene of this story. It will both hypnotise and enrapture you with delight. 

When you first start this book, you will have no idea as to where you will end up as you follow a wide cast of brilliantly written characters. However, the book is particularly centered around two lead female characters - Lena and Constance. Their narrative weaves a spider's web of mystery. In fact, you'll get tangled up in the gossamer threads of dark fantasy as you become trapped in a storm of darkness, desire, and danger. The turbulent battle of magical disorder will captivate any readers' attention due to the intense and mind-boggling story. Lingering on key and pivotal moments enables a powerful chemistry to be developed between all of the characters.

The imagination is fully unleashed in this story. A ball of white light hits the reader with twists and twirls of darkness to create an atmospheric backdrop. Everything has been very well crafted and created. I particularly loved stepping into Lord Chatham's Emporium of Magical and Mechanical Delights. This is just one of many special moments that you will dip your fantasy toes into and come out wanting more. It was captivating just stepping through that fantasy door and watching the scene develop - absolutely amazing.

This is undisputedly one of the best YA fantasy books that I've read for some time. The world building and the setting of the story are faultless; cleverly written but not too complicated. The detail and the backstory are just exquisite - I loved the idea of radical mages and the concept of chaos. It all just added to the depth and fascination of the story. It is just a shame that a plot that is so fully delivered and immersive has to end. 

This is a very special book. Within the YA age-range, this has to be one of the most memorable and exciting reads for me in such a long time. Wow, I can't wait for the next book!

A. F. Harold (Author), Illustrated by Emily Gravett - The Afterwards - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - Book Review

Fact: Ember and Ness are best friends. There's nothing more to say about it. It is what it is. It is what will always be. Ember and Ness. Then Ness dies. It is sudden and unexpected and leaves Ember completely empty. How can this be? When Ember finds a way into the Afterworld, she determines to bring Ness back. Because that's what friends do isn't it? They rescue each other. They help. They never give up. Ember and Ness. That don't change. A powerful, poignant, darkly comic and deeply moving story about friendship at its most extraordinary.

This is another moving book by A. F. Harold titled "The Afterwards". On the 1st November 2018, this tiny little seed of a story will amble into the life of the reading world and beyond. It is delightfully and intelligently illustrated by the amazing Emily Gravett. You only get a glimpse of the illustrations inside the proof copy, however, you know they will fit seamlessly together like a fantasy glove. Working together in harmony they give the reader both the feel and the flavour of the story inside. For me, it's another masterclass of the author and the illustrator working and connecting together to deliver something special to the reading world. 

The book cover for me captures the story really well. It draws you in and makes you want to start reading. You instantly turn the pages which are filled with children's laughter and vibrant colour. It's a book filled with friendship, but the mood does dramatically turn to death. The rainbow of happiness is stripped back for the main two characters (Ness and Ember), falling through a sieve to land in a world of black and white. These are ordinary children about to embark on an extraordinary adventure like no other, but will there be a happy ending?

The reflective story takes shape the more you read. You'll be pulled and tugged through the emotional playground of life and what it means to be HUMAN, but more precisely what it means to be YOU. Everybody who reads this book will SEE it from a different perspective. It is very poignant and thought-provoking. A powerful narrative lies ahead with one that will seek answers to what lies within. It is a grown-up book written from a child's perspective as it is played out through two young children capturing the essence of true friendship. 

You can expect a straddle of mystery and a large slice of the author's personality. You'll navigate a family path of love, an endless amount of hope and perhaps even a handful of tissues. There is also a cat which is probably based on one of the author's own. This is a great book that has a fantastic reach into the human world and beyond. It's a story that will make you think and certainly reflect on life. Consider it as a train ride into the reader's past and when the last page has been turned, a journey into the reader's future. A brilliant and much recommended read. 

David O'Connell (Author),‎ Claire Powell (Illustrator) - The Dundoodle Mysteries: The Chocolate Factory Ghost - Mr Enchanted Books Book Review

Archie McBudge knows his lucky underpants must really work because when he and his mum are summoned to Honeystone Hall in the remote Scottish village of Dundoodle, they find Archie has inherited not only the enormous hall but the whole of the world-famous McBudge Confectionery Company from Great-Uncle Archibald. That's a new home, a fortune and a lifetime's supply of treats rolled into one! 

But all is not well in Dundoodle, and when Archie reads the mysterious letter his great-uncle left him he finds himself on a quest to save his family's company from ruin. With the help of his new friends Fliss and Billy, Archie has to try to figure out the puzzles of Honeystone before his sweet future melts away like an ice lolly in the sun!

Fans of How to Train Your Dragon and Tilly and the Time Machine will be hungry for this delicious mystery full of weird clues, strange creatures, malevolent relatives and lots and lots of SWEETS!

For your reading pleasure is the review for "The Chocolate Factory Ghost" by David O'Connell. This is the first book in The Dundoodle Mysteries which will hit the bookshops on the 5th of April 2018, just in time for Easter. It is published by Bloomsbury Children's Books in the UK. The book has been fabulously illustrated by the multi-talented Claire Powell, who was also the winner of the best short animation "The Scapegoat" at the British Animation Film Festival in 2015.  


Are you ready for a sugar-coated mystery?

Well put on your lucky underpants, like the main character in the book Archie McBudge, and get ready to turn the pages. You will hurtle into a pick and mix adventure that will leave your hands sticky with creative and clever imagination. You will follow the sweet crumb trail of strange clues and uncover the magical mystery with a great set of characters. Some of which you will love and some you will love to hate. Just like all good stories, there are plenty of villains about so watch your step!  

This is a great interactive family book to share with children; it will really engage them. It's a brilliant story for a younger audience and a new series that you will want to come back to again and again. It's very playful and fun to read with lots of moreish references to sweets that will make you want to dip your fingers into the sweety jar and pull out a treat. 

It's a full-on fantasy escapade that will have you fizzing with delight. The more you read, the more you will be hit by the feel-good factor. You will have strange puzzles to solve, mayhem to pursue and action in abundance. It has everything to keep you hooked on your spooky toes. 

WARNING: This is an honest review and the bribery of free chocolate fudge that came with this book has absolutely no bearing on the review above. All my opinions are prior to eating my weight in chocolate fudge. Thank you very much, Bloomsbury Children's Books.  

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Jo Simmons (Author),‎ Nathan Reed (Illustrator) - I Swapped My Brother On The Internet - Book Review

'I can get a new brother? On the internet?' Jonny muttered. 'Oh sweet mangoes of heaven!' 

Everyone has dreamed of being able to get rid of their brother or sister at one time or another - but for Jonny, the dream is about to become a reality with SiblingSwap.com! What could be better than someone awesome to replace Ted, Jonny's obnoxious older brother. 

But finding the perfect brother isn't easy, as Jonny discovers when Sibling Swap sends him a line of increasingly bizarre replacements: first a merboy, then a brother raised by meerkats, and then the ghost of Henry the Eighth! What's coming next?! Suddenly old Ted isn't looking so bad. But can Jonny ever get him back?

This is another brilliant book published in January 2018 by Bloomsbury Kids. I Swapped My Brother On The Internet by Jo Simmons is just the type of book you need to kick off the New Year. Christmas is over, winter is kicking in and you've gone back to school - do we have to? These are the cries that can be heard. Yes, you do as your parents want some peace and quiet. Therefore, what you need is a cracking good read that will make you laugh your holey, odd socks off regardless of age or sense of humour. This is the book for you (and your holey socks!) Oh, I'm sorry, I hear you got new socks for Christmas, what was I thinking....? 

From the start of the book, you will start to see the input from Nathan Reed the illustrator. The drawings are fun and the typeface changes in places to keep the reader engaged in the story. The book cover is strong, bold, bright and eye-catching. With such a combination it should definitely pull the readers in for a closer look. Do book covers make a difference when choosing a book?

You will be taken on a bizarre journey where everything goes wrong in the most spectacular way. It's a comical story written really well and told through a wild imagination. The plot is brilliant and transports the reader on a carpet of laughter and humour that is both engaging and easy to read.

The book takes a close look at the relationship between brothers and what it's like to have a brother. The concept is a brilliant one which the middle-grade audience will relate to and love. The reality side of the book depicts a typical family and school life background. The subplot heads the reader into the unknown and will keep you guessing until the very end of the book. The characters grow with the story and play a fantastic part. At the end of the book, you may FIND a surprising twist that really makes for a satisfactory conclusion.

This is a brilliantly fun and bizarre read that will wash the New Year blues away with a squeak or two.  Would you dare swap your BROTHER?

A.F. Harrold (Author) Levi Pinfold (Illustrator) - The Song from Somewhere Else - Book Review

Frank doesn't know how to feel when Nick Underbridge rescues her from bullies one afternoon. No one likes Nick. He's big, he's weird and he smells - or so everyone in Frank's class thinks.

And yet, there's something nice about Nick's house. There's strange music playing there, and it feels light and good and makes Frank feel happy for the first time in forever.

But there's more to Nick, and to his house, than meets the eye, and soon Frank realises she isn't the only one keeping secrets. Or the only one who needs help. 

One of the good things social media does is highlight important issues. This week it's #AntiBullyingWeek where we're celebrating what makes us All Different All Equal. The Song from Somewhere Else by A. F. Harrold is the exact book that covers this topic in a clever and unique style. The book was published on the 2nd November 2017 by Bloomsbury.

When you turn the book cover, you will be greeted with Levi Pinfold's amazing illustrations. He has done a sublime job of interpreting the story and creating the mood that the plot encapsulates. Levi delivers a FANTASTIC balance of brooding charm that manifests through the illustrations; a CREEPING darkness with a blend of solitude in a black and white world. This is a clever feature that makes the book stand out from the crowd. It is a book that should be bought and read.  

When the first page is turned, you are already on the backfoot as the narrative draws to the loss of the main character's pet cat, Quintilius Minimus. This leads the reader down a wildly imaginative plot that is equally heartbreaking and uplifting. The story engages the reader with the theme of bullying - it is the driving force of the narrative.

The developing friendship between Frank and Nick is deeply moving. Their worlds crash together in an atmospheric tale of difference and isolation. The book explores deep inside the workings of a child covering loss, friendship, betrayal and family life. This is intertwined with another plot that is so far removed from reality. It is a fantastic blend of fantasy involving a Troll and shadow type stick men.

I loved Frank, the main character, she had an internal dialogue with her stomach depicting her feelings and emotions. I found this refreshing as it delivered a naivety and really highlighted the character's perspective and thinking. This is a brilliant read that covers a really serious issue that many kids will be facing today. The story gives readers hope. In the face of adversity, courage and brave actions that lie within the story, give us inspiration and make the book a very special and poignant read. This is a brilliant book that will make you think on your magical fantasy feet - so flex those toes and give it a read. 

Saviour Pirotta - ANCIENT GREEK MYSTERIES (Q&A) Interview With Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

Welcome Saviour to Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books. Thank you for taking the time out to answer some questions about the Ancient Greek Mysteries. The series sounds like a fun and action-packed read that all readers will learn from and enjoy. Here is the first question. 

• For potential readers from this blog, how would you summarise and sell the first book to encourage them to read it? 

MARK OF THE CYCLOPS is a thrilling adventure mystery set in 433BC. Nico is a scribe and his best friend Thrax is a slave who dreams of buying his freedom so he can set off to find his mother. When the two attend a wedding in the city of Corinth, someone smashes one of the precious wedding gifts. A vase. The master of the house blames Gaia, one of the slaves. She insists that a cyclops climbed in through the window and broke the vase. No one believes her but Thrax and Nico set out to find the truth. 

Their investigations pit them against a gang of ruthless criminals who would stop at nothing to conceal the truth. What is the gang up to? Why is it smashing vases all over Corinth, vases that are marked with the face of a cyclops? Will Thrax and Nico find out or will they end up buried alive in one of Corinth’s long-abandoned graveyards?

Book 1, MARK OF THE CYCLOPS was published by Bloomsbury on the 9th March 2017.

•  Tell us more about the encounter you had with a real-life detective twenty-five years ago on the Island of Poros in Greece? How did this shape the book? 

Poros is a small island about ninety minutes away by boat from Athens. It’s the perfect place to plan books and write. The last time I visited, it was out of season. Most of the other travellers on board were Greek. There was only one English guy. He was very tall, with a tattoo of a snake on one side of his shaved head. I nicknamed him Snake, after the main character played by Kurt Russell in Escape from New York. 

We struck up a conversation. It turned out Snake was a detective. He wouldn’t tell me what he was investigating and I couldn’t for the life of me think what a detective would be doing on Poros. It’s a tiny island with only a small town and a handful of shops and cafes. 

During my week there I spotted Snake several times, once on the beach and at least three times guzzling stew in a café. He seemed to be on holiday rather than working. But one morning, I saw him boarding the boat back to Athens. There were two Greek policemen with him, who shook his hand warmly and thumped him on the shoulder before he left. It was obviously a case of mission accomplished. I asked locals if they knew anything about Snake but no one even seemed to be aware there’d been a detective on the island. Or if they did, they were keeping mum about it. The next day I visited the famous temple of Poseidon on Poros. I was researching a non-fiction book about temples in ancient Greece but somehow I couldn’t stop thinking about Snake and the policemen seeing him off on the ferry. Snake became Thrax in my imagination and the Ancient Greek Mysteries were born.

• How are the books being used in schools to support the KS2 curriculum? 

A lot of schools doing Ancient Greece in KS2 are adopting the Ancient Greek Myths as their class read. The stories can be read for pleasure but they also give you tons of facts about how the ancient Greeks lived, not just what they are and wore but also what they felt about major issues like slavery, poverty, freedom of expression, the role of women in society etc.

 I quote from a teacher’s review on Amazon: "Expertly written historical fiction - an engaging narrative with historical accuracy and carefully woven facts. Perfect to support the study of Ancient Greece and perfect for children who enjoy a good read. My son is now hooked, desperately awaiting the next book in the series!" 

From a teaching point of view, books like this are worth their weight in gold, especially with the Primary Curriculum having so many historical drivers and topics and, sadly, very little historical fiction available. 
Bloomsbury have produced teaching notes to go with Mark of the Cyclops which teachers can download HERE!

I also do writing workshops in schools helping children to write their own mystery stories set in the past.

• How have you used research to incorporate facts and information about life in ancient Greece?

One of the reasons I wrote the Ancient Greek Mysteries is because I feel there are a lot of fantasy books based on Greek mythology but not much about what life really was like in Ancient Greece.

I’m obsessed with facts, especially everyday details from ancient history. I’ve always been curious about how people lived in the past, what clothes they wore, what food they ate, what games they played. My aunt used to get me a magazine called Look and Learn which fed my obsession. It had wonderful articles and illustrations. I was always in awe at how the authors could spin an actual incident in history into an exciting story.

The Ancient Greek Mysteries use the same technique. They’re mystery adventure stories but they’re peppered with what I hope is interesting information about Classical Greece. I have a huge non-fiction library which I built up over the years and I mostly use that for research. I have whole books about ancient Greek coins, weapons and food. I actually cooked the food Thrax and Nico eat, to make sure I described it right.

Book 2, SECRET OF THE ORACLE publishes on 5th October.

• How was the collaboration established between you and Freya (illustrator)?

I have no say on who gets to illustrate any of my books. Which is probably a good thing or they’ll all look like the Pauline Bayliss editions of the Narnia books. 

Bloomsbury chose Frey who’d just illustrated The Dragon with the Chocolate Heart. It was the right choice. Freya had really made my version of Ancient Greece come alive. The characters are so close to what I imagined them to be, it’s uncanny. She first drews roughs which Hannah Rolls, my brilliant editor at Bloomsbury, emailed me to make sure we got right. There were little details that had to be tweaked, like the shapes of tombstones, the patterns on vases and styles of haircuts but I was amazed at how accurate her portrayals where. I printed out the final edits when they arrived and hung them up in my office for inspiration. Freya is hard at work on the illustrations for Book 3 at the moment. It’s called Pirates of Poseidon and I’m dying to see what they look like. 

• What is the best question that you've been asked by a child? 

I’ve been asked all sorts of questions over the years. They vary from the sublime, to the incisive, to the downright funny. The most bewildering one came from a Year 2 boy in South Shields a few years ago. Do you have a toilet in your house? I thought that was a pretty odd question, until I discovered that the boy’s grandfather still used an outside toilet in the backyard. Perhaps to the boy I looked as old as his grandpa.


I get asked one question over and over again, and it’s my favourite. How do you become an author? The answer is simple. Write every day. Work on your writing to make it better. Read other people’s work; it will inspire you and give you ideas. And never give up your dream. I had to leave my country of origin to achieve mine. I slept rough in London, lived in freezing squats, cried when I got rejection slips, but it never occurred to me to give up.

• Are you able to give us a sneak preview of one of the illustrations from book 2 prior to its release in October?

Here’s an early rough that Freya did for Secret of the Oracle. The two boys are Thrax and Nico, the main stars of the Ancient Greek Mysteries. The woman is a diviner called Mother Kessandra. She can interpret dreams and tell the future. She receives her clients in a mysterious cave high above the famous oracle in Delphi. It’s a real cave, which is still there to this very day. It cost money to consult the famous oracle so the very poor used to make do with visiting people like Mother Kessandra. 


I think even in this early sketch, Freya managed to capture the eerie atmosphere of the cave. I love the contrast between the light from the fire and the shadows in the background.

• Who would you choose as your four guests for a literary dinner party? 

I had to give that question a lot of thought. I am completely obsessed by the creative process and there are a lot of writers whose brains I would love to pick. In the end I settled on these four. Sadly they’re all dead, so my fantasy literary dinner party will never be anything but a dream. 

Guest of honour would be C.S. Lewis, because he wrote the Narnia books. They blew my mind when I first read them. His house was packed to the rafters with books. A bit like mine, really, so we’d have a lot to talk about.

My second choice would be R.L. Stevenson. I think Treasure Island is the best pirate story ever written and I’d love to find out how he created the character of Long John Silver.

I’d also invite Tove Jannson, creator of the Moomins. Her books are not only entertaining but also deal with some very serious issues, like mental health and artistic freedom.


Last of all I would invite Roald Dahl. He’d probably be vile to the other guests and that would make for a lively evening. Hold on, he’d probably be horrible to me too…

Book 3, PIRATES OF POSEIDON publishes March 2018.

Book 4, REVENGE OF THE CENTAURS publishes October 2018

Check out Saviour Pirotta Website for more details:https://www.spirotta.com

Chris Priestley - Curse of the Werewolf Boy (Maudlin Towers) - Bloomsbury Kids - Book Review (Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books)

Mildew and Sponge don't think much of Maudlin Towers, the blackened, gloom-laden, gargoyle-infested monstrosity that is their school. But when somebody steals the School Spoon and the teachers threaten to cancel the Christmas holidays until the culprit is found, our heroes must spring into action and solve the crime!

But what starts out as a classic bit of detectivating quickly becomes weirder than they could have imagined. Who is the ghost in the attic? What's their history teacher doing with a time machine? And why do a crazy bunch of Vikings seem to think Mildew is a werewolf?

This is the brand new series from the talented Chris Priestley. The first book, The Curse of the Werewolf Boy, will be published by Bloomsbury and will hit the shops on the 5th October 2017. Book two will soon follow as it is going to be published during the summer of 2018.

You only need amble through the first few pages to see the rising pillars of gloom leading to Maudlin Towers. Here you will enter the weird and wonderful world and meet the unlikely heroes, Mildew and Sponge. 

This amazing adventure is illustrated throughout by the talented author. The pen and ink style complements the gothic appeal perfectly. The black and white illustrations provide an extra dimension to the story and certainly develop the atmosphere. They will definitely appeal to the younger audience.

Chris Priestley welcomes the reader to the weird and wonderful world and delivers a fantastic spooky narrative by bringing together a range of quirky characters. The muddled and varied humour makes for an interesting and funny read. The character gallery is entertaining just by itself, as it introduces each character profile and personality. 

There is a crime to be solved at Maudlin Towers. It is down to Mildew and Sponge to detect who has stolen the school spoon. It is imperative that they catch the thief otherwise the school Christmas holidays will be cancelled. Together they unravel the mysteries, but rather weird events also unfold such as ghosts in the attic, a teacher with a time machine, werewolves and a group of Vikings in the school perhaps. 

This is a hugely engaging and easy going gothic story which is full of action-packed twists and turns, mayhem, madness, and nonsense. It is perfect for readers of 8+. Fans of Lemony Snickett and Chris Riddell will love this book. The mystery adventure has a bit of bite and some atmospheric realism which will captivate readers of all ages. There's never a dull moment at Maudlin Towers so grab a copy now - it is a perfect autumnal read. 

Chris Priestley lives in Cambridge with his wife and son. His novels are brilliantly original additions to a long tradition of horror stories by authors such as M.R. James and Edgar Allan Poe. Chris wrote one of the World Book Day books for 2011 and has been shortlisted for a variety of prestigious children's book awards. Catch up with Chris at www.chrispriestley.blogspot.com.