The Not-So Great Escape by Emma Green - Book Review - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

Published by Usborne Publishing Ltd (1 Jan. 2026) - Book Cover Illustration by Jack Noel. 

"The Not-so Great Escape" is a thought-provoking narrative penned by Emma Green, offering readers a blend of suspense, introspection, and adventure. With its clever interplay between personal recovery and the challenges of overcoming societal constraints, the book has captured the attention of a diverse audience eager to connect with its relatable themes and engaging storytelling.

## Why You Should Read This Book

1. **Rich Characterisation:**  

   Emma Green’s characters are meticulously crafted, drawing readers into their inner worlds. The protagonist’s journey is both an external quest and a profound inner exploration, making the narrative deeply personal and universally resonant.

2. **Engaging Plot:**  

   The book deftly balances suspense with introspection. Every twist keeps readers on edge while the introspective moments invite reflection on personal and societal struggles. It’s a book that challenges your perceptions and stays with you long after the pages are closed.

3. **Thought-Provoking Themes:**  

   Central themes include identity, resilience, and the complexities of modern life. The novel encourages readers to ponder what it means to seek genuine liberation in a world filled with subtle confinements. It’s a reflection on the escape from not just physical situations, but also the mental and emotional barriers that hold us back.

4. **Stylish Prose:**  

   Emma Green’s elegant writing style enhances the storytelling experience. The precise language paired with vivid imagery makes every scene come alive, inviting readers to savor each moment and fully immerse in the narrative.

5. **Universal Appeal:**  

   Whether you’re drawn to character-driven stories or thrilling plots, "The Not-so Great Escape" offers something for everyone. It’s a narrative that bridges the gap between literary art and accessible storytelling, perfect for a wide range of readers.

"The Not-so Great Escape" is more than a traditional narrative—it is an invitation to explore the paths of self-discovery and understand the nature of freedom in our modern society. With a combination of intricate character studies and an engrossing plot, Emma Green’s novel is an excellent choice for readers looking to be both entertained and intellectually stimulated. This is a compelling read for anyone ready to question the boundaries of escape, both in life and within themselves.

Happy reading!

Helen Fairley - The Soul Collector - Author Interview Q&A - (The Book Guild Ltd)

This week we're delighted to introduce Helen Fairley and her debut book "THE SOUL COLLECTOR" published by The Book Guild on the 28th Feb 2025. This was recently featured in our Children's Book Picks for Feb 2025 post, which you can find HERE. We hope after reading this interview you might dare to put this SPOOKY ghost adventure on your reading list. You can order it from all the best places you usually buy your books from or you can ORDER HERE. Please help Sam, Jude, Olly, and Elsie uncover the MYSTERY that has haunted the village for centuries. 

What inspired you to write "The Soul Collector," and how did your experiences living in a haunted village influence the story?

Writing has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember, and I’m a complete bookworm—especially when it comes to a good ghost story. Over the years, I started many books but often reached a point where the characters or plot stopped working, leading me to set them aside. That all changed when I moved into my house, right in the middle of Britain’s most haunted village – Pluckley. It was there that the story for The Soul Collector truly came to life.

What intrigued me most was that, despite the countless eerie tales about Pluckley, there didn’t seem to be a clear connection between them—no single reason why the village had become such a ghostly hotspot. That mystery sparked my imagination, and I wanted to create a story that wove fragmented legends together, giving them a unifying thread.

Can you share any particular challenges you faced while writing this book, especially considering its themes of ghost stories and horror?

One of the biggest challenges I faced while writing The Soul Collector was finding the right balance between making the story thrilling and eerie without making it too frightening for young readers. Ghost stories should have just the right amount of suspense and chills to keep readers hooked, but for a 9-11 age group, it’s important not to push the fear factor too far.

I wanted to create an atmosphere that felt properly spooky—one that would send a shiver down the spine but still allow readers to feel safe enough to keep turning the pages. I focused on building tension through eerie settings, mysterious events, and the unknown rather than relying on outright horror. The bravery and resourcefulness of Sam, Jude, Olly, and Elsie also help to balance the scares, giving young readers characters they can root for and be inspired by.

It was definitely a challenge, but I loved playing with that fine line between excitement and fear, making sure The Soul Collector delivered plenty of thrills without tipping into nightmares!

How did you develop the characters of Sam and Jude? Are they based on anyone you know?

None of the characters in the book are wholly based on one person, but more an amalgamation of the many children I’ve taught over the years plus a little bit of my own two. I wanted to create characters who felt real, with all the wonderful warmth and complexities of young people, especially those who are dealing with trauma like Sam and Jude

The novel is targeted towards children aged 9-11. What message or themes do you hope young readers will take away from the story?

I’m a real champion of young people, and I want my readers to be inspired by the actions of Sam, Jude, Olly, and Elsie. The characters are brave, resourceful, and deeply loyal to their friends. Through their journey, I hope to show young readers the power of courage, teamwork, and resilience.

I love the energy and enthusiasm of children—it’s one of the reasons I enjoy my job so much—but I also feel that the modern world can sometimes dampen their natural curiosity and determination. With The Soul Collector, I wanted to create characters who remind young people just how marvellous they are, encouraging them to embrace their own sense of adventure and belief in themselves.

In "The Soul Collector," the setting plays an important role. How did you choose Pluckley, Kent, as the backdrop for your story?

I was born and raised in Kent and so have always been aware of the stories connected to Pluckley. When I was younger I’d be terrified of driving through the haunted woods at night in case a face appeared in the rearview mirror. I never imagined I’d end up living here, but when I did I realised there was so much more to this beautiful spot than just spooks. That said though, I also discovered just how widespread the village’s haunted fame spreads. We have a constant stream of ghost hunters prowling the graveyard and even our black cat has made his way into some of the numerous YouTube videos that ghost fans have posted. 

The village provided the perfect backdrop for a ghost story. The ancient churchyard, with its weathered headstones and whispering trees, felt like a place where the past still lingered. The quaint cottages, nestled among leafy lanes and surrounded by old orchards, held an undeniable charm—but also an unsettling stillness, as if they, too, were keeping secrets. Walking through that landscape, I could feel the weight of history pressing in. The Soul Collector was my way of capturing that eerie beauty and giving life to the spirits that seemed to echo through its streets.

What is your writing process like? Do you have any specific rituals or routines that help you stay focused?

I’m a real pontificator and had to be really strict with myself to write and not get distracted. As I did most of my writing during the school holidays, I had limited time and so had to be very regimented. I write first thing in the day and set myself a daily word limit, which I could obviously go over, but had to complete before moving on to other tasks. 

How do you balance your career as a teacher with your writing? Do your students inspire your work in any way?

The most enjoyable aspect of my day job is sharing books with my class and fostering a love of reading and writing. When writing, I would always practice reading chunks imagining I was reading to the children. This helped with the flow of the story. The enthusiasm and excitement I got from the children when I told them I was writing The Soul Collector also really helped me to keep going when I suffered any bouts of writer’s block. 

What do you hope readers will feel while reading "The Soul Collector"? Are there specific emotions or reactions you aimed to evoke? 

I want readers to go on the full emotional journey with Sam, Jude, Olly, and Elsie—feeling their excitement, fear, determination, and triumphs along the way. There are moments of suspense and mystery, where I hope readers feel that thrilling sense of anticipation, but at its heart, The Soul Collector is a story about friendship, bravery, and loyalty.

More than anything, I want young readers to come away with a sense of warmth and happiness. No matter how spooky the adventure gets, the bond between the characters is what truly matters. I hope the story leaves them feeling comforted, reminded of the importance of friends and family, and maybe even a little more confident in their own strength and resilience. 

Annaliese Avery - The Nightsilver Promise - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books Author Interview

 

Hello Everybody. In this interview with Annaliese Avery, we promise you adventure, dragons, and a heady amount of excitement. The Nightsilver Promise is one of the most eagerly awaited book releases and one we cannot wait to read. The book will be published by Scholastic on the 6th May 2021. However, we thought we would take the opportunity to explore more about this intriguing book. 

If you are interested in supporting this debut author then you can pre-order a copy here or pop into your local bookshop and buy a copy. We are looking forward to seeing what your thoughts are here or on social media. Twitter: @Enchantedbooks and @AnnalieseAvery   

1. The Nightsilver Promise sounds very mysterious upon reading the synopsis. How would you describe it to potential readers?

The Nightsilver Promise is an epic race against time adventure! Thirteen-year-old Paisley Fitzwilliam lives in the London of the Empire of Albion where the Dragons of old have all been vanquished and the stars of the Celestial Mechanism dictate the rule of the land. In Paisley’s world everyone is given a track of stars which is tattooed on their wrist that tells them what their destiny is. Paisley has lived without a track until now and when her stars tell her that her fate is to die before her next birthday she begins a race against time adventure to protect her dragon-touched brother, find her missing mother, and change her stars before her destiny catches her. 

2. What would the characters say to you about the setting that they have found themselves in? 

The characters are very comfortable in their setting, they are used to seeing the floating boroughs of London littering the sky, or travelling on aerocopters, and visiting grand buildings like the Institute of Celestial Mechanics where the inside of the building shifts and moves. 

I think that Paisley would tell me that she like living in London but would love to live on the floating borough of Kensington Above, and her little brother Dax would much rather live in the Northern Realm where Dragons are allowed to roam, unlike in London, which is part of the Empire of Albion where all dragons are banned and killed on sight. 

3. What are Dragon Walkers and how do they feature in the storyline?

The Dragon Walkers are an amazing group of young girls and women who have all been Dragon Touched. The Dragon Touched are all born with dragon attributes, they might have dragon wings or their skin may be covered in scales, they may have dragon claws at the ends of their fingers or they might have an unseen dragon ability like immense strength or being able to breath fire. No dragons are allowed in the Empire of Albion and this extends to any one found to have Dragon Touch, so to protect themselves those with Dragon Touch become members of the Dragon Walkers and live in the floating boroughs of London. As well as being quite brilliant at engineering, Dragon Walkers are skilled fighters. Their fighting skills allow them to protect themselves and the Dragon Vaults where they look after people’s treasure. 

In The Nightsilver Promise Paisley and Dax visit their family treasure trove at the Dragon Vault on the floating borough of Kensington Above. I don’t want to give too much away, but let’s just say they find more than they were looking for there. 

4. The book cover is amazing. What are your feelings about it and do you think it conveys the right message about the story inside?

The awesome cover was illustrated by the very wonderful Natalie Smillie and designed by the equally wonderful Jamie Gregory. I think the cover gets across the energy of the story; the epic adventure and the vastness of the world, as well as the peril that Paisley faces. 

5. I understand that this is the first book in a trilogy. When you first started writing this book were you expecting it to be in three parts?

No, when I first started writing I expected the story to be a stand alone book. It then grew as I was writing and after a chat with my Golden Egg editor Bella Pearson, we realised that the story was bigger than just the one book. 

6. You have an MA in Creative Writing. What did you learn that may have helped you write this book?

I learnt many things on my MA, one of the most important was how much I loved writing for children. My MA was in writing fiction for adults and in writing screen plays. I really enjoy writing for adults but I love writing for children. Luckily the skills of good writing apply to both audiences, but for me there is a shift in outlook, an opening up that is required for children's books that you don’t often find in books written for adults, unless they are Sci-fi or Fantasy - you find that outwardly-looking-wonder there more often than not. 

7. How do you process the ideas for your storyline?

What a fabulous question. I am a keen amature astronomer and I like to think of building a story as being a very similar process to the way that the solar system is formed. The first thing you need is a large cloud full of tenuous ideas floating about in your imagination. Every time you come across an idea that you think might have promise you pop it in the cloud and you just let all those ideas swirl about. 

When two ideas connect they start to draw other ideas towards them and when they do they erupt is a massive explosion. If we were building a solar system this eruption would form the star, as we are building a story system what we form is the central idea that all the other things in the story will circle around. Just like with a solar system there can be more than one star, more than one central idea.
Around this then forms a thing called an accretion disk, this is where all the matter that will make the planets and moons and comets reside it is made of all the star stuff that was blown off when the star formed. When it comes to the story the accretions disk is full of all the ideas that were in the cloud before the central idea formed. Some of the ideas have changed, some have remained the same. 

The ideas with the most mass will stay closest to the centre of the story; they become the characters that travel through the solar system of the story like planets and the world-building elements that give the story its colour and shape; it’s space to travel through.
In building a solar system the heavy elements stay closest to the sun, they form rocky planets, and the lighter elements drift outwards and collect together often forming gas giants - much bigger planets whose gravity can affect the objects in the solar system. In the story system, I like to think of these large gas giants as elements of theme and tone. 

When the story system has formed, when the characters have settled into their orbits and all the elements are moving, that’s when I have my story. 

8. Do you think reading other children's books has helped you to become a better writer? If so, can you share an example of what and how this has been useful?

I think that accessing and assessing any type of story is a great way to become a better writer be it through a movie or play, a song or a poem, a painting or a dance. Thinking about the story that we are being presented with, the emotional response that we are having to it, the way it makes us feel, what it makes us think about, the connections that we find, recognising the stories around us and how they speak to is a great way of building up our skills as storytellers.

9. Do you think social media now plays a significant part in the publishing process? How do you use it?

I love Twitter. For me, social media is about connecting with my fellow writers, seeing how they are doing, supporting them in their journey, and keeping up with what’s going on in the industry. Also, it’s the best place for book recommendations. I’m not as good at Instagram and I don’t really like to use Facebook, and my children have said they will disown me if I ever go on Tick-Tock! so I tend to be most active on Twitter, I feel it’s important to engage on platforms that you like otherwise it feels like a chore.

I think that social media does have an impact on the publishing process but the impact that I would say is most important for a writer is to look at if the time spent on social media is enriching. If it is something you enjoy doing and have fun with then do it, but if it becomes a distraction or a procrastination tool and takes you away from your writing then maybe you need to assess its value. 

10. Is there anything you are particularly looking forward to once your book has been published? 

The thing I’m most looking forward to is sharing Paisley’s adventure and getting to meet readers. I know that things are a little different and difficult right now, and it might be a little while before I can visit schools, libraries, bookshops or festivals but as soon as I can I will be there. 

Kirsty Applebaum - The Life and Time of Lonny Quicke - Book Review - Mr.Ripley's Enchanted Book

 

I'm delighted to be able to introduce another new title published on 6th May 2021 by Nosy Crow. This is the third middle-grade book by Kirsty Applebaum and for me the best one so far. The brilliant book cover has been illustrated by Matt Saunders and makes it very appealing. This for me has an intriguing premise and from the very start asks a lot of questions. What if you could save animals or human lives with the touch of your hand but every time you healed someone you got older? What if you got older more quickly if you saved a larger life, would you still do it?  I thought this was a really interesting concept.

Of course, the quicker you got older would mean you had less time for yourself. How would you feel and what would you think as an older person looking at yourself in the mirror? I wonder how many people would actually forfeit some of their life if this was a possibility in the real world? Is it a gift or a curse? You have to decide as you walk the tight rope of tension and daily life. 

Lonny, the main character, is a lifeling that is passed down from generation to generation. He has the power to heal any living creatures, but he has to be VERY careful and stay hidden with his family in the forest. Midge is his smaller brother but the relationship between them is rather sad and slightly bitter. Life has taken its toll on the family. Lonny dreams of travelling to amazing places and meeting new people. At this point, the buzzing starts again as his jaw vibrates which tells him something is dying nearby. How is he ever going to get the chance to visit these places when this keeps happening? Lonny is a very endearing and well-written character.

What can you expect from the story? The first thing is that it's a very earthy story that belongs to nature and human emotions. In my opinion, it is also a modern-day fairytale told with thought and emotion in a folkloric way. You'll find yourself investing your emotions in each of the characters as they make you think about yourself as a reader in the real world. Grandad made me particularly smile as he never leaves his bedroom and is always looking out of his bedroom with his binoculars. 

The author has done a fantastic job of teasing the fantasy strands out of her head and applying them onto paper. She has a very creative and unique way of telling the narrative which is full of mystery, family secrets, and a yearning to have a normal life. It takes a philosophical look at how stories can shape us as readers and takes us on journeys without even leaving our home. I would have loved to have seen the story expanded upon in some areas. However, by keeping it trim, readers can fill in the gaps and develop their own opinions. It would be a really fantastic book to discuss as a group with so much to ponder over. I had no idea how the story would pan out - it kept me guessing throughout!

This is a chocolate delight of a book that will make waves in the literary world. It's a great seed for thought so grab a copy, read it and talk about it. Let the story fully blossom into a profound place in your heart. 

Catherine Bruton - Another Twist in the Tale - (Nosy Crow) - Book Review (Mr.Ripley's Enchanted Books)

I've always enjoyed the ability to pick up a book and read it from cover to cover. However, like many others, I've really struggled of late to keep my focus and concentrate. Fortunately, this book has been a turning point as I have really enjoyed it. Another Twist in the Tale is the second book by Catherine Bruton and was published by Nosy Crow (5th November 2020). The story takes us back to Victorian London as we gatecrash a world created by the great man and author Charles Dickens. You've heard the tale of Master Oliver Twist, but have you heard the tale about Twill Twist?

Well walk this way, my fellow reader, and watch your step on the slippery, cobbled streets rife with pickpockets, gangs, and cutthroat thieves. It's time to discover the mysterious tale of TWILL TWIST who was separated at birth and discarded on a rubbish heap. Here the imagination begins as we set off on a thrilling journey that will entertain the socks off a spider and send you spinning into a Victorian frenzy full of mayhem and mishaps. 

This is an action-packed adventure full of life where characters gamble the odds and undertake daring rescues. The book is very well executed and delivers the time period rather well; the plot is compact and full of intrigue and suspense. Weaving through the thick smog with the child catchers chasing you will leave you with an uneasy feeling in your bones. It is a perfect introduction to the young and old as we visit some very familiar Dicken's characters such as Jack Dawkins (better known as the ARTFUL DODGER) and Fagin (a miser and cheat who would swindle his own mum out of the clothes on her own back). 

I loved every minute of this book; it's a magical walk into fantasy and beyond. It really depicts Victorian hardship through the feminist characters all of whom you will be cheering on and hoping for the best. The world is depicted full of dark promises and nefarious deeds that you will enjoy from the very first page to the last. The ending is brilliant and leaves a hint of another adventure yet to come. There's plenty to reflect on as you pop on the kettle, crack open the Jammy Dodgers, and ask for more. MORE?! Absolutely! 

Teaching Resources

They have also produced some Activity packs which we hope you will enjoy – they can be downloaded here as PDFs.  There is a teaching pack, some activity sheets, and some stylish bookmarks!

• Another Twist in the Tail Teaching Pack– 4.5mb
• Another Twist in the Tail Activity Sheets – 3.3mb
• Another Twist in the Tail Bookmarks – 3.3mb

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? 

Liz Flanagan - Dragon Daughter - Book Review - David Fickling (Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books)

On the island of Arcosi, dragons and their riders used to rule the skies. But now they are only legends, found in bedtime stories, on beautiful murals and ancient jewellery. Then servant girl Milla witnesses a murder and finds herself caring for the last four dragon eggs. Forced to keep them secret amidst the growing tensions in the city, she begins to fear that the island's ruler, Duke Olvar, isn't all that he seems. But how can Milla and her friends keep the eggs safe when it means endangering everything she's ever loved? Fiery friendships, forgotten family and the struggle for power collide as Milla's fight to save the dragons leads her to discover her own hidden past.

The last book to be reviewed this month is in keeping with our theme of escapism. It is Dragon Daughter by Liz Flanagan which will be published by David Fickling Books on 4th October 2018 in glorious hardback. The cover has been fantastically illustrated by Angelo Rinaldi and deserves a closer inspection. It has a large blue dragon taking centre stage with three smaller dragons in the sky above. It is a very appealing look for this genre and has a similar look to that of Eragon (Christopher Paolini) and the original book cover for Dragon Rider (Cornelia Funke). It will certainly help to pull the readers in once it's been published later this year. 

Will it live up to the fantasy expectations when it flies off the shelves later this year?

For me, the answer is YES. The story inside is a fantastic middle-grade read that is full of rich detail and a great story concept. As soon as you turn the pages, you stumble into an epic adventure that is thrilling, captivating and covers one of my favourite fantasy themes, Dragons. The author's love for travelling has made the location of this book wonderful and imaginative. The small island of Arcosi feels like a magical timeless place that you would really want to explore yourself. If you take a magical pinch of Yorkshire, a splash of Rome and a very large Italian fishing village, this just about sums up the amazing location. 

I HEAR you say you need more than a great location and dragons to make a good story. Well, the story also has a fantastic set of characters. Each reader, I'm sure, will have their favourite which will make this book exciting to read. It also covers key themes that are relevant today like migration and belonging in society. You follow the characters with your heart as the struggle for power is a key element in this story. It's a fantastic blend of action, fleet of foot realism that coalesces into a brilliant and vibrant story. It makes you want to take flight on the wing of fantasy and adventure. Soaring on the thermals of friendship, forgotten family and war, it will take you to new literary delights like no story will have taken you so far this year. 

THE DRAGONS WILL RETURN ONE LAST TIME... One of the best aspects of the story was to follow the evolution of the Dragons from eggs to hatchlings and the bonding process with the four main characters. This was a very different and interesting take on events. All the characters personalities and traits came through with their respective dragons.

This is a very creative story that has been well written and is very different from Liz's first book Eden Summer.  It slowly builds into an epic adventure before finishing with a climatic and brilliant ending. This, for me, reflects the author's life and passion for stories that she has both read and loved. It really shows the power they can have on the reader. This is a story that stays with you for life and this one ends with a bang. Hopefully, there is still more to come.... 

Tom Nicoll (Author), David O'Connell (Illustrator) - Boyband of the Apocalypse: Washed Up - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books (Book Review)

Just when Sam thinks life has returned to normal he’s bundled into a black van by agents of the Apocalypse Intelligence Agency who send him off the remote jungle island of Fin del Mundo to appear on a celebrity reality TV game show. One of Sam’s rival ‘celebrity’ contestants is none other than evil music mogul Nigel Cruul, who the A.I.A. suspect is planning to bring back the Horsewomen of the Apocalypse. Luckily his best friend Milo and kick-ass sister Lexi are starring in the show too. But they’ll have to survive everything from alligator-infested swamps to public vote offs, if they’re to save the world once more.

There is a large tower of swaying books to be read in Mr Ripley's corner at the moment. However, this book caught my eye purely from the book cover alone, which has been wonderfully designed by David O'Connell. It's a fantastically inviting book image that might suggest what's on offer to the reader once you start to delve inside. The illustrations inside creatively complement and enhance the brilliant story. The book has been published by Stripes Publishing and will be available on 3rd of May 2018. It is really aimed at ages 8-11 but older readers, like myself, should not be dissuaded from reading this. 

After whisking through the opening chapters, I quickly worked out that this is the second book in the series. I had not read the previous book and, to be honest, it did not hinder my reading experience. Nevertheless, I would go back and read the first book. I really loved the fantastic blend of reality, crazy fantasy and playful humour that the book has in bucket and spade loads. The imaginative story is along the lines of the reality TV show, I'm A Celebrity Get Me out of Here, versus the final destruction of the world. This sounds crazy, I agree, however, any reluctant reader will soon be sucked in by this ingenious idea. 

I really loved this book. It offers the reader the chance to dream and float amidst the story, whilst settling in your own fantasy clothes, in your own comfortable reading armchair. You will laugh, giggle and be entertained by a host of crazy characters which you'll be able to relate to and maybe even vote for. There is a brilliant mission, for a group of young children, to save the planet from destruction. As you run through the story, the thread of tension and suspense unfolds whilst your heartbeat quickens ever more.

This is a great book that delivers a theme which is on-trend and full of twists and turns. It's an all-out action adventure which is set on a mysterious tropical island. Full of deadly tasks, the characters are in danger of it all ending quickly at any time. This is a great read to get your teeth stuck into. Are you ready for a public vote? This gets the thumbs up from me so give it a read....

Harriet Whitehorn - The Company of Eight - Book Review - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

Cass has always wanted to audition as an acrobat for the famous Circus Boat that sails the warm seas of the Longest World. But when her chance is snatched away, she comes up with a new plan. Soon she has secured a job on the Palace Boat, following the circus around the islands. Yet Cass has been invited on the boat for a very different reason – and it’s not long before she is embroiled with thieves, sword fighters and a mysterious group of women called The Company of Eight… 

Are you ready to set sail on a perilous voyage? Here we have a marvelous rumbunctious tale from Harriet Whitehorn the author of the Violet books. The Company of Eight will dock in the harbour on the 3rd May 2018 by Stripes Publishing. Exploring this book from page one was an absolute delight and really enjoyable to read. Here we have a fast-paced and spectacularly delivered story from the perspective of Cass, a plucky and courageous young female. It will warm the hearts of the readers as she set sails into a world of peril and self-discovery.

You will hurtle into a swashbuckling affair that will take you to the far-flung corners of the world. Visiting an impressive landscape full of ice bound cities and tropical Islands you will be led into a world full of enchanted magic. It is a creatively imaginative story fuelled by strong-lead female characters. They find themselves facing danger and leaping into a wild and abundant action full of pirates, swordfighters, thieves and slave traders. 

It's a brilliant and easy going read that everybody will love and enjoy, regardless of age or reading ability. It is a book that explores the dreams and ambitions of Cass whilst searching for a life as an acrobat in a circus and travelling the world.  The young female heroin chases her goal and takes some big risks by running away from home. When things don't go to plan, the story unfolds in a dramatic and thrilling way which will captivate your imagination on so many levels.

The narrative will leave the readers asking questions and even challenging their own perceptions. It's a brilliant escape into fantasy which is brimming with peril. It delivers intrigue, fantastic twists and plot-turns with copious amounts of action both on land and sea. However, there is also a sprinkling of old-fashioned magic that gives this book another dimension, which I really liked. 

This is an epic start to a new series with so much more to explore. Especially after the explosive and brilliant ending. So are you ready to join the company? 

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Nicholas Gannon - The Doldrums and the Helmsley Curse (The Doldrums, Book 2)

Last year one of my favourite reads was "The Doldrums" - a brilliant visual debut by Nicholas Gannon. However, this book, in my opinion, has generally gone unnoticed by the reading public. Please read what I had to say about it by checking out my book review HERE 

A year later and the second book, The Helmsley Curse, will be published on the 16th November 2017 by HarperCollins Children's in the UK and the US. At first glance, it looks as visually stunning as The Doldrums. I'm really looking forward to reading a copy very soon. If you are interested then please take a look at the author's website The Doldrums Press. http://www.nicholasgannon.com

I hope that you read both of these books - I really don't think you will be disappointed.  

Archer B. Hemsley and friends are back and yearning for adventure in this second beautifully told, stunningly-illustrated story from author-illustrator Nicholas Gannon.

After two years, Archer B. Helmsley’s famous explorer grandparents are finally coming home. They had been missing – abandoned on an iceberg – and Archer and his best friends, Adélaïde L. Belmont and Oliver Grub led an adventurous mission to rescue them.

Archer is overjoyed by his grandparents return. However, he seems to be the only one. Rumours begin to surface that Archer’s grandparents weren’t abandoned after all. People are claiming that they made it all up. Well, Archer knows those rumours are false, and with the help of his best friends and new neighbour, Kana, he is going to prove it. Off the foursome set, into a snowstorm and beyond, to restore his grandparent’s reputation.

The Helmsley Curse from The Doldrums Press on Vimeo.


The Doldrums Process from The Doldrums Press on Vimeo.

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Children's Middle-Grade Book Picks (9-12yrs) October 2017 - UK Post TWO

Tom Fletcher (Author) Shane Dervries (Illustrator) The Creakers - Published by Puffin (5 Oct. 2017) - ISBN-13: 978-0141388762

The darkly magical new story about the monsters under the bed, from bestselling author of The Christmasaurus, Tom Fletcher.

What silently waits in the shadows at night? What's under your bed, keeping just out of sight?

Do you ever hear strange, creaking noises at night? Ever wonder what makes those noises?
Lucy Dungston always did.
Until, one morning, Lucy discovers that all the grown-ups have disappeared - as if into thin air. Chaos descends as the children in Lucy's town run riot. It's mayhem. It's madness. To most kids, it's amazing!
But Lucy wants to find out the truth. Lucy lost her dad not long ago, and she's determined not to lose her mum too. She's going to get her back - and nothing is going to stop her . . .
. . . except maybe the Creakers.

Lauren St John  (Author) Catherine Hyde (Illustrator) - The Snow Angel - Published by Zephyr (5 Oct. 2017) - ISBN-13: 978-1786695895

Lauren St John's stunning Christmas classic is about forgotten children, the power of nature to heal us and a girl who will climb mountains in search for a place to call home. 

Growing up in vibrant, crowded Nairobi, Makena has only one dream: to climb Mount Kenya like her hero, her mountain guide father. But when her beautiful world is shattered, she finds that in the city's dark places there are a thousand ways to fall, each more deadly than any crevasse. In a world of strangers, does she dare trust Snow, whose ballet dreams are haunted by a past she's still running from? And is the sparkling fox friend or foe? 

After a fresh start in the Scottish Highlands turns bad, Makena flees to the mountains. But will they betray her or be the making of her?

Kaye Umansky (Author) Ashley King (Illustrator) Witch for a Week - Published by Simon & Schuster Children's UK (5 Oct. 2017) - ISBN-13: 978-1471160905

When Elsie Pickles offers to house-sit the mysterious home of local witch Magenta Sharp, she has no idea what she's getting herself into. Left with a talking raven and a scruffy dog for company, a magical tower that has a mind of its own and a book of instruction called Everything You Need to Know, what could possibly go wrong?

With an assortment of weird and wonderful neighbours banging at the door and a box of volatile magical ingredients that must be used immediately, Elsie finds out that looking after Magenta's home might not be as easy as she first thought ... does she have what it takes to be a witch for a week or will it all end in a magical disaster? 


A new magical adventure from Kaye Umansky, the bestselling author of the spellbinding children's classic Pongwiffy, brought to life with charming illustrations from rising star Ashley King!

Lisa Lueddecke - A Shiver of Snow and Sky - Published by Scholastic (5 Oct. 2017) - ISBN-13: 978-1407174037

On the frozen island of Skane, the sky speaks. Beautiful lights appear on clear nights, and their colours have meaning: Green means all is well, and the Goddess is happy. Blue means a snow storm is on the way. And then there's red. Red is rare. A warning. Seventeen years ago the sky turned red just as Osa was born, unleashing a plague that claimed the lives of hundreds of villagers, including her own mother. This time, when the night sky once again bleeds crimson, she must discover what it means before so many lives are lost again.

Danny Weston - Scarecrow - Published by Andersen Press (5 Oct. 2017) - ISBN-13: 978-1783445318

 Jack and his dad are runaways. Jack’s father recently turned whistleblower, revealing the truth about the illicit dealings of some powerful people. Realising that he and Jack might be in danger, Dad drives them to a remote shooting lodge in the Scottish Highlands, where they intend to lay low. 

In the cornfield beside the lodge stands a scarecrow. When Jack witnesses something incredible, he begins to realise that it is no ordinary scarecrow – it is alive, hungry and fuelled by rage. And when Dad’s enemies begin to converge on the lodge, the scarecrow might just turn out to be Jack’s best hope of survival.

Jessica Townsend - Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow - Published by Orion Children's Books (12 Oct. 2017) - ISBN-13: 978-1510104112 - (Book Review Here)

Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day of the year, she's blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks - and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday. 

But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away to the safety of a secret, magical city called Nevermoor.

It's then that Morrigan discovers Jupiter wants her to contend for a place in the city's most prestigious organisation: the Wundrous Society. In order to join, she must compete in four difficult and dangerous trials against hundreds of other children, each boasting an extraordinary talent that sets them apart - an extraordinary talent that Morrigan insists she does not have. To stay in the safety of Nevermoor for good, Morrigan will need to find a way to pass the tests - otherwise she'll have to leave and confront her deadly fate once and for all.

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Children's Middle-Grade Book Picks (9-12yrs) October 2017 - UK Post

Alex Bell (Author), Tomislav Tomic (Illustrator)The Polar Bear Explorers' Club - Published by Faber & Faber (2 Nov. 2017) - ISBN-13: 978-0571332540

It sounded like a respectable and worthy enough death for an explorer - tumbling from an ice bridge to be impaled upon a mammoth tusk - but Stella really, really didn't want that to happen, just the same.

Join Stella Starflake Pearl and her three fellow explorers as they trek across the snowy Icelands and come face-to-face with frost fairies, snow queens, outlaw hideouts, unicorns, pygmy dinosaurs and carnivorous cabbages . . . 

When Stella and three other junior explorers get separated from their expedition can they cross the frozen wilderness and live to tell the tale?

Andrew Beasley - Carnival of Monsters (S.C.R.E.A.M #2) - Published by Usborne Publishing Ltd (1 Oct. 2017) - ISBN-13: 978-1474906937

Roll up, roll up if you dare to Doctor Vindicta's carnival! Gasp at the dancing ghosts! Grimace at the creepy clowns! Giggle in the hall of mirrors!

It's all harmless fun and frights... until a young boy disappears. The police believe he's run away, but his sister swears he was snatched by a monster.

Only the cleverest detectives can catch a demon: send for Billy Flint and Charley Steel aka S.C.R.E.A.M. - top-secret investigators of Supernatural Crimes, Rescues, Emergencies And Mysteries.

Kate Saunders - The Land of Neverendings - Published by  Faber & Faber (5 Oct. 2017) - ISBN-13: 978-0571310845

The cat flap opened. Emily thought a wild animal was coming into the house. But the muddy creature that climbed through had four little wheels and a tail. It spoke in a voice like rough sandpaper. 
'Come on, you two - it's nice and warm in here.'

What if there exists a world powered by imagination?

A world of silliness, where humans and their toys live on long after they've left the Hard World . . . and what if the door between that world and this one was broken?

Welcome to the Land of Neverendings.

Moving, raw and funny in all the right ways, The Land of Neverendings is a rip-roaring adventure, but it also gives an honest portrayal of grief for young readers, and shows us that whilst sadness does exist in the world, it doesn't have to cancel out happiness, or silliness, even when you lose someone you love.

Andy Mulligan - Dog - Published by Pushkin Children's Books (26 Oct. 2017) - ISBN-13: 978-1782691716

 

When Tom gets a puppy called Spider, it changes both their lives. Tom finally has a special friend all of his own - which is just what he needs as he struggles with a difficult new school and trouble at home. And Spider has someone to love him. But the course of their love does not run entirely smoothly, as they embark on a gruelling journey of separation and reunion.

Dog is a book about trust, standing up for yourself, and learning to love. By the award-winning Andy Mulligan, author of the bestselling Trash, it is a story that will delight readers young and old.

Chris Priestley - Curse of the Werewolf Boy (Maudlin Towers) - Published by Bloomsbury Childrens (5 Oct. 2017) - ISBN-13: 978-1408873083 - Book Review Here

'We shall be detectives, Sponge!' exclaimed Mildew. 'We shall solve the Mystery of the School Spoon!'

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?

Hugely funny, deliciously creepy and action-packed by turns, this brand new series from Chris Priestley is perfect for 8+ readers who like their mysteries with a bit of bite. Fans of Lemony Snicket and Chris Riddell will love Curse of the Werewolf Boy.