Anna and the Swallow Man - by Gavriel Savit - Book Review - Published by Bodley Head

“Man who try to understand the world without the help of children are like men who try to bake bread without the help of yeast” ― Gavriel Savit

Anna and the Swallow Man is a beautiful and stunning read that will hit the worldwide bookshops in January 2016. This is a very creative debut from an actor normally found on stage at  the Westside Theatre Off-Broadway. In the author's personal time he likes to read many fantastic books including: Neil Gaiman’s 'Sandman' series, Yann Martel’s 'Life of Pi', Lev Grossman’s 'The Magicians' and Susanna Clarke’s 'Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell'. These books have inspired him to sit down and write a novel that will equally captivate any audience. 

The story depicts an original and unique period within WW2. It captures the time brilliantly in war time Poland, Germany and Russia. In Kraków, 1939, it is no place for a young child to grow up; there are a million marching soldiers and a thousand barking dogs. Anna Lania is just seven years old when the Germans take her father and suddenly, she finds herself alone but then she meets the Swallow Man. He is mysterious, strange and tall. And like Anna's missing father, he has a gift for languages: Polish, Russian, German, Yiddish, even Bird. When he summons a bright, beautiful swallow down to his hand to stop her from crying, Anna is entranced. Over the course of their travels together, Anna and the Swallow Man dodge bombs, tame soldiers, and even, despite their better judgement, make a friend. But in a world gone mad, everything can prove dangerous . . .

The story mixes a lot of creative energy from fairytales, folktales and historical fiction. As a reader, you find yourself on a path of magical realism which will subdue you through some very powerful emotions. The story takes a very odd point of view which might take some readers by surprise. Written with unconventional characters, Anna is still working out how the world really works. This takes on a naivety that is born out of age and experience, which will have an affect on many different readers. The main audience is young adult/adult, but I would happily recommend it to eleven year olds and older rather than younger. 

The swallow man is a very unconventional character like no other that I can recall in a story of this genre. He is very mysterious and interchangeable like his moods and personality. He gives nothing away which really makes the ending of the book difficult to finish. I really wanted a more dramatic and bold end to than it had. In my opinion, this was a slight downfall, but it was still very enjoyable.

This is not an easy book to sum up. It's very unusual but the language is very poetic just like the characters lives. There is a fluent transition between a fantastic plot and limited dialogue which I actually liked. It is an engaging and realistic depiction of wartime countries. The action and the narrative have been brilliantly written within 232 pages. It creeps slowly into your heart just like Morris Gleitzman, Once and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas did. It will carry you on the wind of reflection and hopefully onto the path of freedom and peace.  

Published by Bodley Head (28 Jan. 2016)

Joseph Delaney - Arena 13 (Arena 13 Trilogy 1) - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Book Review

This is the first instalment from the new fantasy trilogy by Joseph Delaney and, in my opinion, it's about time. Especially as The Wardstone Chronicles series has now run its course, in my opinion, so it's time for a fresh start; something new for Joseph to push the creative boundaries on. It's time to give us readers another journey, another fight and an adventure that we will, yet again, remember and treasure....

It's time to get both feet firmly settled into this brilliant new book, so welcome to Arena 13. Like no other arena this one will keep you up all night. Here the warriors fight ferociously, so death is never far away. It's very brutal, totally delicious and very dark. It has a medieval/gladiator feel to it even though it has been set within a futuristic time.  

It feels like magical super glue has been applied as you are led deeper into the complex world of Arena 13. As you traverse its many levels, it reads as if you're peeling away the layers of fantasy onion - the more that you read, the further you are plunged into the world of combat, fighting and danger. 

Leif has one ambition: to become the best fighter, but that will not be easy in the notorious Arena 13. Here, punters place wagers on which fighter will draw first blood. And in grudge matches, they bet on which fighter will die. This feeds the plot with many bloody and gory encounters, which will keep the reader engaged and hanging on for more.  The varied methods of combat used in Arena 13 and the ideology behind it was one of the best aspects of the plot. It was inventive and very coherent - the Midgard Glossary will help you to navigate your way through the book.   

I loved the sub-plot surrounding the mysterious creature Hob, an evil being who delights in torturing people, displaying his devastating power by challenging an Arena 13 combatant in a fight to the death whenever he chooses.  Hob's character is very vague; there's just enough detail to let your imagination fill in the gaps, but it works. It is very powerful and sublime. 

You will rattle through this inventive book like a heard of horses on race day. It might be short on the page count front, but it packs a mighty action punch with a very climatic and eventful ending.

My reading experience was one of pure escapism. I absolutely loved this book. I believe that this is one of the best young adult books that I have read so far this year. I also think that it is one of the best books that Joseph has written to date. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series entitled MY NAME IS KWIN. This new book will introduce more new characters for Leif to battle and to overcome the various challenges that they bring with them. Bring it on soon.....

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Mr Ripley's Book Review: Tim Hall - Shadow of the Wolf - David Fickling

Robin Hood has been reinvented like you've never imagined before in this thrilling debut by Tim Hall. There are no Merry Men, no maidens in distress and no stealing from the rich to give to the poor. This story is loaded with mystery, suspense and a large helping of fantastic atmospheric action. The plot will have you turning the pages in a whirlwind.  This is a savage telling about Robin of Loxley, who was left in the woods by his father at the age of seven years old, but when he returns to the village his family have disappeared without explanation. From this point on, Robin leaves the village to make his own way in life. He receives no help from anyone except nature and the wild lands of the Winter Forest.

This is a mouthwatering adventure that has been chosen as a launch title for the newly independent David Fickling Books. It's deliciously dark, twisted and very gritty. Robin soon sets out to find Marion Delbosque, his only friend, who was taken under mysterious circumstances. The rage boils inside him, as he sets out to find his only friend. Robin's character goes through many changes in this story, without giving too much away, it is a really fascinating read. Never mind the dark and nasty events that occur on the way to make your blood boil.

The surreal setting and elements of the plot feel like you are watching part of the story unfold inside a swirling mist - it really feeds your imagination. At times, I got a little lost from the complexity of it at times, but nevertheless, I really enjoyed it.

Nothing stirs without his notice - the vixen in the undergrowth, the woodcock in the bracken, every disturbance tells him a story.  Robin finds himself roaming around the Winter Forest amongst strange, powerful Gods and a host of dangerous monsters. The epic battles and skirmishes make the story sing with dark intensity that I really gulped up with gusto. This book is an epic adventure that you can't put down; it is a fast paced action with arrows whispering through the trees with magical intensity that never miss their target. Many a swinging axe, sword on flesh and spilled blood keep the reader gripped by revenge, death and survival.

This is perfect pitch book for the hungry teenager. The fantastic book cover image from Richard Collingridge will draw any reader into picking up this book and giving it a chance; it certainly won't let you down. Forget everything that you've ever heard about Robin Hood as the truth is a lot darker than you could ever imagine. Be prepared to witness a new series that has a new spin and a sting in its tale! This is a cracking read from Tim Hall - David Fickling fans of my blog should truly love this book. Grab yourself a copy now.... I'm looking forward to hearing your comments.