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 ...

Dan Smith - Below Zero - The Big Idea - UK Blog Tour (Chicken House Books)

It's a pleasure to be the fourth stop on the Dan Smith Below Zero blog tour. He will be visiting some great bloggers along the way, so make sure you check them all out. The blog tour list is in the top right-hand corner of the blog. 

Dan Smith's Below Zero was published by Chicken House books on the 4th of January 2018. I have also recently reviewed the book, please check that out here if you fancy doing so. 

All stories need a good idea to start the process of writing a book. When the book is finished that idea might not be the same path you thought the story might take. This is Dan's guest post how the idea for Below Zero was formed and involves food and Barry Cunningham. Enjoy people. Bon appétit!

Some time ago, I was having dinner with my publisher and he mentioned that he’d been reading about the Mars One project. I hadn’t heard of it until then, but he told me just enough to spark my interest. ‘Could be a story in there somewhere,’ he said. Or, that’s how I remember it anyway. And when Barry Cunningham says there might be a story in it, it’s a good idea to take note!


So, Mars One is all about sending people to live on Mars. People from all over the world have applied to be in with the chance of travelling in groups of four on a one-way mission to colonise the red planet. It would take about a year to get there, and the plan is that they will never return to earth.


I’ll let you think about that for a moment. They will NEVER. Return to Earth. 


Sounds completely crazy-bonkers, but Mars One claims that over 200,000 people have applied. That’s 200,000 people who want to leave earth and never come back. 


Yep, there had to be a story in there somewhere. People leaving families behind, maybe? Someone running from something and getting as far away from it as possible? Survival in space? It needed investigation. 


It turned out that these crazy-bonkers people would train in Antarctica, where conditions are the closest we have living on Mars. It’s tough there. Harsh. Isolated. Cold. Temperatures can drop as low as -90C, which is cold enough to freeze fuel and prevent planes from flying. At the coldest time of year, there’s no getting in or out, and most research bases are evacuated. There are abnormal day and night cycles, extremely dry air (did you know that Antarctica is our planet’s largest desert?) low oxygen levels, limited supplies, no variation in the environment, and parts of Antarctica are in continuous darkness for months on end. 


Scary. Maybe even scarier than going into space? 


Then I read about a 200km crack in the ice - ice that can be as thick as 4km in places - and I started wondering what might be down there. Waiting for us. And how long has it been there? Millions of years? Billions? So I began writing. I put my characters - Zak Reeves, his sister May, and his mum and dad - in a small plane, in the middle of the worst storm to hit Antarctica in years. When they finally reach Outpost Zero in one piece – a base where 32 people are training for a mission to live on Mars – they find it empty. Everybody has disappeared. The electricity is out, the communications are gone, and they face the prospect of being stuck there for six months in the cold darkness. As they search for the missing 32 people, strange things begin to happen with the machinery in the base; some of it seems to have a life of its own. And Zak begins to get visions, as if something out there, below the ice, is trying to contact him, trying to get inside his head. Something OLD. Something that has been waiting 
. . . 

BELOW ZERO by Dan Smith out now in paperback (£6.99, Chicken House). Find out more at chickenhousebooks.com and connect with Dan Smith @DanSmithAuthor

About Dan Smith

Growing up, Dan Smith lived three lives: the day-to-day humdrum of boarding school, finding adventure in the padi fields of Asia and the jungles of Brazil, and in a world of his own, making up stories.

Dan's Chicken House novels include My Friend the Enemy, My Brother's Secret and Big Game, the latter of which is now a major movie starring Samuel L. Jackson. His fourth novel for Chicken House, Boy X, published in 2016, and his newest novel Below Zero is publishing January 2018.

Dan lives in Newcastle with his wife and two children.

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Dan Smith - Below Zero - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - Book Review (Chicken House)

When Zak's plane crash-lands on Outpost Zero, a small Antarctic research base in one of the most isolated places on Earth, he discovers a cold, dark nightmare. The power's out and the people who live there have disappeared. Worse, as he searches for answers, bizarre visions suggest a link to something else - deep beneath the ice - which only he can understand. 

Published by Chicken House, 4 January 2018, Paperback, £6.99, Ages 10 +

Why do we read for pleasure? The main reason for me is to escape into another world that is so far removed from my own. The Best books and the books I love do that for me - they stop time and transport the readers into the story and beyond. Dan Smith, for me, is an author who does just that in so many ways. He makes ME into an armchair adventurer and a fantasy warrior. In this story, he brings the outdoor Antarctic to Life and creates an imaginative and believable setting that will make you want to read every page from the start to the end.     

You will plough through the white wilderness with an eerie pace that will leave you on the seat of your thermal pants. This is a seasonal adventure full of horrors, mayhem and, madness. One moment you are running from creepy mechanical spiders (tick-tack, tick-tack) as they scuttle across Outpost Zero. The next moment you uncover events that challenge the characters' perspectives Which make you think about our existence on Earth. This will deliver a creative and thought-provoking punch that drives an unexpected narrative that will leave you exploring and thinking in equal measure. 

This is a clever, imaginative story that twists the perspective of the characters as they uncover trapped creatures deep underneath the arctic ice. The mystery unfurls in a vortex of bugs and insects that will leave the reader filled with dread and wonder. The book explores artificial intelligence in a world of technology and the possibilities of what a future might look like in years to come. There is also a Zombie element to this book without giving too much away, which I really loved. 

This book has everything you would Expect from Dan Smith. EXCITEMENT - it is a high octane thriller that will leave you exhilarated and satisfied. It is a book that boys and girls will love for different reasons. Nevertheless, everyone will be able to Relate to the characters and the ending. So put on some warm clothes, grab a hot drink and turn the pages if you dare. This is a distinctive read that will have you chilled to the fantasy core. JOIN US, JOIN US....

About the Author

Growing up, Dan Smith led three lives. In one he survived the day-to-day humdrum of boarding school, while in another he travelled the world, finding adventure in the padi fields of Asia and the jungles of Brazil. But the third life he lived in a world of his own, making up stories . . . Which is where some people say he still lives most of the time.

Now settled in Newcastle with his wife and two children, Dan writes books to share with both adults and children.

Read AN EXTRACT OF THE BOOK HERE
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Dan Smith Boy X - Book Review (Chicken House Ltd)

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• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Chicken House Ltd (4 Feb. 2016)
• ISBN-10: 1909489042
• Age: 10+

Kidnapped and drugged, Ash wakes up on a remote tropical island. His mum - a genetic scientist - has been imprisoned and infected with a deadly virus. Where is he, and what's he doing there? He sets out to cross the jungle to find out and rescue his mother. Soon he realises he's quicker and sharper than before. But there's something else ...why are the animals watching him, and how can he use the jungle to his advantage?

I'm a big fan of Dan Smith's previous books, so my expectations of Boy X (his new book) was very high. Especially as his previous book, Big Game, was an absolute smasher. I found a lot of similarities between the two books, which made me very excited as I turned the pages. I was not let down in anyway, as it had everything that I wanted in a story and more. This is another classic read that will stop time as you hurtle through the pages - all 287 of them. 

No sooner will you start reading and you will be asking questions about what is happening. Ash McCarthy wakes up in a small and unfamiliar white walled room, with fluorescent light bulbs flashing in his eyes. He has no idea how he got there. He hears a voice inside his head. What could be happening? As you follow him through the door, you will find a gigantic mystery that will keep you on your toes.  As you walk along the corridor, this will lead you on a deadly path of friendship, gunfire and mayhem. 

You are cleverly placed inside an action packed bubble that does not let up one ounce of a Howler monkey's toe. You'll follow an explosive mission impossible that will rock you to the jungle core and, believe you me, this jungle is crazy beyond believe. It really makes the story come alive; breathing wild danger and  battling strange creatures. The excitement is palpable as Ash and his new found friend, Isabel, scrape danger in pursuing a deadly virus that could wipe out the human race in a blink of a boar's eye. 

The story provides just enough detail to rattle the imagination. Ash and Isabel are great characters, in my opinion. Ash is a normal twelve/thirteen year old or he thought he was, but he develops some unknown skills that suddenly come in useful and add to the mystery. Isabel is my favourite character; she is jungle savvy, very feisty and courageous. She also is a crack shot with a rifle - I really did rally behind her, hoping that she would survive.  

This is a great adventure with a race against time that boys and girls will equally love. There is a splash of terror, untold dangers and a

mysterious black research facility. All of which take place in a mega jungle wonderland, on an even stranger island.  

As your heartbeat thumps wildly, you'll try and second guess what is going to happen and especially the end of the book. However, you'll find this difficult as it throws up some unexpected twists and turns. There is a totally unexpected cliffhanger of an ending which could easily lead to a follow up book. At least that is what I am hoping as it would be a very welcomed sequel to read. 

Dan Smith - Big Game - Book Review & Trailer ( Chicken House)

The idea of this story started its young life as a film script; originally written by Jalmari Helander and Petri Jokiranta. With a sprinkling of author magic and creative direction by Dan Smith, it has been adapted from the original idea into an exciting adventure in book form. It should tie in nicely with the release of the movie, which will hit the big screens in May. Starring the super actor Samuel L. Jackson as the President of the United States, if it's anything like the book, it should be a blockbuster of a film.

The book is set in the wildness of Finland and after my recent visit to Norway last year, I could really relate to the extreme landscape and weather conditions described. It's a fast paced adventure with big time action that will both thrill and captivate you at the same time. 

As you skip and dance through the snowy wilderness, you will gain a powerful bond with the lead character Oskari, a 13 year old boy. He sets off into the forest to fulfill an ancient tradition as a test of his manhood. Armed with only a bow and arrow, he has to survive day and night using all of his experience and knowledge to bring back a hunting trophy - something that he did not envisage. 

Unfortunately, his adventure does not go to plan. At this point, the plot intensifies into a heart stopping adventure. It involves the US President running from a group of, shall we say, big game terrorist and, from this moment on, it's electrifying. You will be thrilled and gripped to the core.

This is an action packed story full of danger and explosive moments that will rock you all over the forest floor. I really loved certain pockets of the storyline such as the plane and helicopter. I'm not going to say anymore, as I may spoil your enjoyment of the story, but they are really well written and will definitely gain your attention. You may even find yourself at the point of holding your breath. 

The suggested audience for this book is 10+, but I definitely feel that it will find a comfortable home with older readers as well. If you are looking for adventure and suspense, then this book has it in spades. It is written with a film-like vision right until the brilliant ending. 

This is another great release from Chicken House and is available to purchase now. If you are game, then hunt a copy down. You won't be disappointed.

Book Trailer


Film Trailer

Book Review: Dan Smith - My Brother's Secret - Published by Chicken House

The first book that I read by Dan Smith was 'My Friend the Enemy'. At large it showed the developments and the perspective of what it was like to be living in Britain in World War Two. The hardships and the reality of death; a strong sense of communities pulling together and friendships developing but war always has two sides to it. What if you flipped that on it's head and showed the same reality living in Germany in 1941? Would there still be the same problems, questions and opinions, not everyone shares the same beliefs and opinions of Adolf Hitler?

In my humble opinion, this books explores the theme of war in a sensitive and understanding nature. The story takes inspiration from the original Edelweiss Pirates, a loosely organised youth movement, where groups arose in response to the strict paramilitary of Hitler Youth and initially rebelled against the government's control of leisure time. It is based on real Second World War events; the author has weaved in both fact and fiction to deliver a narrative that will provoke deep thoughts, feelings and give the reader a greater understanding as to how the fight for freedom was one of the hardest times that Europe went through.

Told through the eyes of a twelve year old boy from Germany, Karl wants his country to win the war. His father has gone away to fight, but will he ever return to his family? The book is full of family love and conversations that reflect the difficult and testing time. I really did enjoy following Karl and learning about his views, opinions and feelings throughout the book. I thought these were beautifully portrayed in the story. I could visualise the narrative and see what was happening through the character's eyes.

I did feel that the book was slightly too short, but nevertheless I really did enjoy the reading experience of what it was like to be a child gripped in the face of evil and conflict in war.  I really loved the start of the first chapter which is entitled War Games. From that moment, I saw the rapid change in Karl's mindset which to me was the highlight of the book. I would really love for more people to read this type of book, especially as you can discuss the issues faced by the characters and begin to understand and recognise the historical events of that time in 1941.

From the words of Barry Cunningham, 'fighting for our freedom - who knows if it may be something we have to choose again one day!' To me that sums up the book, so take a copy off the bookshelves to read as you will not be disappointed.

Published by  Chicken House; 1 edition (1 May 2014)

Author Guest Post #3: Dan Smith - Favourite Reads Past or Present

                                               

Twitter: @DanSmithAuthor   Website: http://www.dansmithsbooks.com/

Favourite Reads – Past or Present by Dan Smith

I don’t really remember reading a lot of children’s books when I was growing up – as a 10/11 year old I had already started on the likes of Jack Higgins and Alistair Maclean (‘The Eagle Has Landed’ and ‘Where Eagles Dare’ were firm favourites), but there is one book from my childhood that sticks in my mind. I loved ‘The Runaways’ by Victor Canning. There was something about the main character, Smiler, being accused of a crime he didn’t commit, that stirred something in me. Oh, and I loved ‘Danny, Champion of The World’ by Roald Dahl – all those ingenious ways of catching pheasants! 

‘Lord of The Flies’ by William Golding is a book that grabbed me when I read it at school. The isolation, the darkness, the savagery and, of course, The Beast. I’ve now read this book more times than I can remember and it never gets boring. It’s the ultimate survival story . . . or is it? You see, when I was twelve years old, I was introduced to the film of The Old Man and The Sea, and decided I had to read the book. I was mesmerised by it and still am. I once recommended the book to someone who returned it saying, ‘it’s about a bloke who catches a fish’. Well, yes, but it’s the best book ever written about a bloke who catches a fish. It’s also about so many other things, like friendship, tenacity, pride, loss, courage, struggle, human nature . . . you get the idea.

‘The Go-Between’ by LP Hartley is another favourite. It might seem an unlikely choice with its genteel Edwardian setting, but when I read it as a teenager, it was the dark underbelly of the society that intrigued me. The lies and deception. I also love that the narrator only really knows what happened when he is much older and able to understand it all. 

Oh, and don’t get me started on ‘The Road’ by Cormac McCarthy! What a beautifully grim book that is. In fact, I love McCarthy’s writing and could re-read many of his books – as long as there’s time to read Elmore Leonard and James Lee Burke. What else, what else . . ? ‘The Wasp Factory’ by Iain Banks was a huge inspiration for me to start writing, as was pretty much anything Stephen King wrote in the eighties. I love ‘True Grit’ by Charles Portis, ‘Clockwork Orange’ by Anthony Burgess, ‘Fight Club’ by Chuck Palahniuk, ‘Game of Thrones’ has had me gripped and ‘Holes’ by Louis Sachar is brilliant – read it now if you haven’t already – and . . . phew, I should probably stop now. 

Well, I don’t read anywhere near as much as I would like to. When I’m writing a first draft of a new novel, reading someone else’s work is fine, but when I’m editing, it sometimes feels a bit too much like work. In those circumstances, I often turn to another overlooked form of storytelling – the graphic novel. So here’s a list of my favourite gra . . . oh? You’ve heard enough? Well why are you still here, then? Go and read a book or something. 

About the Author

Growing up, Dan Smith lived three lives: the day-to-day humdrum of boarding school, finding adventure in the padi fields of Asia and the jungles of Brazil, and in a world of his own, making up stories. He lives in Newcastle with his wife and two children. My Friend the Enemy is his debut children's novel.

Dan Smith reads from his novel My Friend The Enemy (Chicken House Publishing) Published on 4 July 2013

Book Review: Dan Smith - My Friend the Enemy + Trailer and Book Reading - Chicken House

                                       

I was really looking forward to reading this book once I knew that it was coming through the post. It's always a treat when I get books from Chicken House as I seem to love every book that I receive. In my opinion this publishing company have a great skill of picking a range of fantastic and diverse books to cater for every imaginative mind and this book is no different. 

It's a great skill when an author can write a story that provokes many thoughts from the reader - this book does it in spades. The book is set in the summer of 1941. The main character is called Peter. One day, when out playing in the woods, a German plane is shot out of the sky and comes crashing down very close to Peter. He rushes to the crash site hoping to finding something to keep but what he finds is something very different . . . . This is the start of a beautiful story that explores the friendship and the moral dilemma of helping the enemy and doing what feels right. It's told with great skill through the eyes of children within a hostile environment. 

This is a very captivating read. Whilst it is really sad in parts it is also told with an upbeat tempo. It portrays the times and spirit of that period particularly well. The attitudes and the hardships are very well depicted. They show everyone pulling together in times of need and keeping morale high. The life of making do, the lack of food and those everyday things that we now take for granted just make you think and begin to recognise what life was like at that time

The characters in the book are brilliant; I would even go on to say that they are special. It is as if the author has handpicked the key memories of children who lived through World War 2 and then captured these in his own vision. 

This is a sparkling book of friendship and adventure that will capture your heart strings and certainly take you down a turbulent path of mixed emotions. One of my favourite authors is Robert Westall who often took me down the fantastic path of WW2 gritty stories. Dan's first foray into children's literature brought back these golden times and I would really like to thank him for that. Perhaps he also enjoyed these qualities and aspects himself as a child - I believe that he also lives in the North East and might well be already acquainted with the same Robert Westall books as myself.

I would really like to see many people picking up this book and not just children. It's a book to get lost in a world which was someones reality back in the day. It may stir the emotions of people who perhaps lived through those times and, for those who are just far too young, it may help them to understand that particularly dark and bleak time. In my strong opinion, it might just make us all better people. The book is out on the 4th July so get it on your summer reading list.