Showing posts with label New Books 2026. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Books 2026. Show all posts

Thursday, 20 August 2026

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - Favourite Children's Book Picks - September 2026 - UK Post

 

Gryffin Murphy - Twig's Traveling Tomes - Published by Zaffre (8 Sept. 2026) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1806171521 - Hardback - Age: 9+

    A witch with a magical affinity for books who owns a travelling bookstore reluctantly teams up with a charming rogue, her former professor and a gnome in search of a rare stolen grimoire. Perfect for fans of Rebecca Thorne, India Holton, Travis Baldree and Sarah Beth Durst. 

    Louella Twig is the only witch of her kind, much to the disappointment of her former mentor and her previous academic ambitions. While others connect to nature as their source of magic, Louella has an affinity with books. Denied her graduation broom, Louella carves a new path using her talent, creating a magical ambulatory bookshop that travels throughout the realm, uniting readers with stories.

    She lives a cosy, stable life, until she collides - quite literally - with a mysterious man between the Romance and Adventure aisles. Everett Sharp is handsome, charming ... and a rogue on the run. He's absolutely not someone Louella wishes to share either an adventure or a romance with. But then her old mentor arrives with a desperate request: a valuable grimoire has been stolen and there is only one witch who can retrieve what has been lost ... a witch who now finds herself in need of a bandit with experience.

    Together with friends both old and new, Louella and Everett embark on an adventure across the four kingdoms, encountering whimsical creatures, a flying greenhouse full of plant pirates and a magical World's Fair. Along the way, Louella starts to wonder if this new chapter of her life could include some romance after all ...


     P. J. Killburn (Author), Markia Jenai (Illustrator) - Deep Yard: Deep Trouble - Published by Little Tiger (3 Sept. 2026) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1788957922 - Paperback - Age: 8

    Jermaine is determined to put the events of his great-great-uncle Carl's Dead Yard behind him. No more supernatural shenanigans! 

    But that's easier said than done, and soon Jermaine is hearing a voice calling out to him from the water. Then several kids in his class disappear into the Thames and return with zombie-like personalities, to top it off, snakes are bursting out of the school sinks. 

    Jermaine and his friends reluctantly admit there must be a new spooky threat in town. Could it be another monster from Caribbean legend, and does Jermaine have what it takes to stop it? 

    The second in a spook-tastic new series, perfect for fans of GoosebumpsHide and Seekerand Dread Wood.

    Emma Carroll - Dracula & Daughters: School for Slayers - Published by Faber & Faber (10 Sept. 2026) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0571388820 - Paperback - Age: 9+

    At last . . .

    Dracula & Daughters are open for business.

    Their mission: to heal vampires and keep the streets of Temstown safe.

    Trouble is, the new Guildmaster is insisting the city is now vampire-free, and wants Dracula & Daughters to close.

    But the undead are still lurking. After a string of strange events at the prestigious Poisonwood School for Boys, frightened pupils start holding vampire slaying lessons in secret.

    It's up to Mina, Buffy and Bella to convince them that slaying isn't the answer. But when vampires are appearing by the classful, is it already too late?

    The granddaughters of Dracula are about to have their healing skills firmly put to the test . . . And are reminded never to underestimate the undead.

    9+ readers will devour the atmospheric setting, the vampish powers and the gothic details - including a talking raven - perfect for fans of Murder Most UnladylikeThe Swifts and TV show, Wednesday.

    Guy Bass & David Roberts - The Worst Thing That Could Possibly Happen - Published by Little Tiger (3 Sept. 2026) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1788954198 - Paperback - Age: 8 

    I have a question.
    What's the worst thing that could happen?
    Wait.
    Before you decide, let me tell you a story...


    Take a trip through the sideways door and let supernatural secrets come alive in these chilling tales of terror! Meet the nightmare pig, a sinister swine with teeth on her mind. Witness the terrifying reality of swapping places with your reflection or visit the ravenous monster in the shed. And, if you dare, come face to fear-filled face with Doctor Panic, who's seen far too much of the world behind the sideways door. But be warned - 
    your
     world may never be the same again...

    Monday, 10 August 2026

    Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - Favourite Children's Book Picks - AUGUST 2026 - UK Post

     

    Freddie Kölsch - SPINDLEWOOD - Published by Puffin (27 Aug. 2026) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0241753873 - Paperback - Age: 7+

      Lilac Black does not believe in ghosts. So she’s rather surprised to learn she comes from a long line of gifted Seers, all of whom attended Spindlewood: a top-secret boarding school for children with the power to see, hear and communicate with spirits.

      And now, Lilac has an invitation to Spindlewood herself. The only problem? There's been a huge misunderstanding. Lilac does not have the gift.

      Reluctant to disappoint her proud uncles, and curious to see this mysterious school for herself, she decides to play along. But as Lilac’s web of lies becomes more tangled, one thing is clear: there is something wrong at Spindlewood. Something ancient and sinister, hidden beneath the library. Something connected to the long-ago disappearance of Lilac's parents.


        Eiko Kadono (Author), Joe Todd-Stanton (Illustrator), Emily Balistrieri (Translator) - Kiki and the New Magic - Published by Puffin (27 Aug. 2026) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0241825198 - Paperback - Age: 7+

      Join Kiki, the beloved young witch, and her clever cat Jiji in the enchanting sequel to the modern classic! 

      This new translation will reveal more about the story that inspired the Hiyao Miyazaki film, 
      Kiki's Delivery Service.

      It has been a year since Kiki started her new life as an honest-to-goodness witch, and the - not quite so - little courier has become a real celebrity.

      But fame comes with its own set of challenges. As Kiki faces increasingly perilous tasks, her friendships with Jiji and Tombo are put to the test. Doubts creep in, leading her to question her purpose.

      Danny Wallace (Author), Tor Freeman (Illustrator), - Henry Tudor: The Incredible Diaries of Me!- Published by Simon & Schuster Children's UK (27 Aug. 2026) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1398554412 - Age: 7+

      Horrible Histories meets Horrid Henry meets Loki, in the laugh-out-loud funny diary adventures of a royally awful young Henry VIII. Enjoy immersive sound design, silly sound effects, and the incredible combined vocal talents of Jude Farrant and Danny Wallace in the must-listen audiobook of The Incredible Diaries of Me!

      Prince Henry is eight and a half, and definitely the BEST at EVERYTHING. The best at jousting, the best at sword fighting, the best at archery and wrestling, and stealing pies from the kitchen. But after a mysterious stranger challenges Henry to a series of competitions, nothing seems to be going his way. Can Henry prove to everyone that they’re wrong, he’s right (as always), and he IS the best at everything? And just who is this mysterious stranger anyway?! 

      Discover the rudest, snobbiest, most chaotic new voice in middle grade, with this hilarious, mostly historical diary series starring the famous royal that everyone loves to hate, from bestseller Danny Wallace.



      Annie Graves  (Author), Glenn McElhinney (Illustrator) - The Nightmare Club: The Elsewhere Funfair - Published by LITTLE ISLAND (‎ 6 Aug. 2026) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1912417179 - Age: 7+

      Welcome to the Nightmare Club, the sleepover that is definitely not for wimps. Annie Graves is your host, and she only invites guests who can tell really creepy stories.

      Lynn thinks her granny is really cool, until family secrets start creeping out… Reader be warned – a trip to the funfair does not always turn out as planned!

      Don’t come snivelling to Annie if you’re sorry you ever opened this book … You’ve been warned!

      Thursday, 16 April 2026

      Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - Favourite Children's/Kids Book Picks - April 2026 US Post

      Brandon Mull - Forbidden Mountain - Published by Labyrinth Road (April 14, 2026) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593712047 - Deluxe Hardback - Age: 8+
      Every Anoran child dreams of the day they will enter the sacred bonding hut and match with a guardian—a spiritual guide who grants magically enhanced abilities. A lucky few will bond with Advocates, who promise greatness and glory. Others will be tempted by forbidden offers from the Accursed—dangerous spirits who bring nothing but destruction and a penalty of death to any Anoran who chooses them. But when Mako discovers that the worst of these agents of chaos has returned to spread an ancient evil through the empire, he faces an unthinkable choice: Will he bond with one of the Accursed to gain the power to stop another?

      Halfway across the empire, Arden has no guardian and no prospects of adventure…until she infiltrates an underground criminal network to find her missing friend. Relying on her knack for sensing the truth through even the smoothest lies, Arden finds herself at the center of a sinister conspiracy that runs much deeper than she ever imagined.

      Soon Mako’s and Arden’s fates collide, and together they must face bandit armies, dark secrets, and untold dangers to fight an enemy who could destroy all they’ve ever known. 


      Mats Strandberg (Author), Sofia Falkenhem (Illustrator) - Frank the Monster - Published by Gecko Press (April 7, 2026) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8348027285 - Hardback - Age: 6+

      Frank is nipped by a dog on his ninth birthday, and his life turns inside out. His nights are filled with mysterious dreams and eerie adventures. A wild beast is reported roaming the town after dark. 

      Frightening encounters lead to Frank’s discovery that he is a shapeshifter. But he can’t understand why everyone is afraid. Even in his monster form, Frank is still a boy inside―just one who feels a strong urge to have his tummy scratched.

      Forced to own his new identity, Frank learns about the town’s secret underbelly. Beneath the library live other monsters, hiding from the humans. Perhaps he has found a place to belong. 

      Frank the Monster is a gripping adventure about trying to belong, with a big, warm heart.



      Deva Fagan - The Delta Codex - Published by 
      Atheneum Books for Young Readers (April 14, 2026) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1665963572 - Hardback - Age: 9+ 


      A girl whose subconscious contains dangerous ancient knowledge finds her voice in this gripping middle-grade sci-fi fantasy perfect for fans of Diana Wynne Jones and Scott Reintgen.

      Is there safety in silence?

      In the city of Danak-Tol, children known as codexes are chosen to safeguard echoes—fragments of ancient knowledge too valuable to destroy but too dangerous to use. Forbidden to speak lest she accidentally release her echo, codex Delta lives a lonely life. Still, she knows she must obey the wardens’ strict rules to keep her home safe from the vicious beasts, heretical Scrappers, and toxic blood storms that lurk beyond the city walls.

      But when Delta breaks her vows to help a young girl escape a blood storm, she begins to have strange dreams, which lead her to question everything she knows to be true about herself and her city. To find answers, Delta must journey to the one place she most fears: the wasteland beyond the walls of Danak-Tol.

      Together with her small but feisty mechanical companion Flick, Delta dares the perilous ruins of a long-abandoned skyship, the gullet of a ravenous sphincter worm, and even befriends a young Scrapper named Drii. But all these adventures only lead to more questions. What is the true danger that threatens her entire planet—is it really her echo, or is it the silence that has imprisoned the truth for so long?



      Sarwat Chadda - Crow's Revenge (Storm Singer) - Published by 
      Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (April 21, 2026) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1665962476 - Hardback - Age: 8+


      Nargis faces deadly new foes and the unintended consequences of bringing back the rain in this riveting middle-grade fantasy sequel to Storm Singer from Rick Riordan Presents author Sarwat Chadda. 

      A year has passed since Nargis overthrew the centuries-old tyranny of the winged garudas by freeing the storm goddess Monsoon and bringing the rains back to the desert. Now, Nargis has everything she could have wished for—fame, wealth, respect. But success comes with a price, and an old foe, the crow assassin Sickle, is sharpening her talons for a piece of Nargis…literally.

      Instead of waiting for Sickle to strike, Nargis and her friends journey beyond Bharat to defeat the assassin once and for all. There, Nargis discovers the price of her success. The rains she freed have brought flood and devastation to villages across the country. And the vulnerability of that desolation has drawn the fabled bat-winged rakshasas, the ancient enemies of the garudas, out of hiding—hungry for garuda blood.

      With the shadow of war looming between the garudas and rakshasas, Nargis is faced with a choice—ally with the assassin sworn to end her life or watch Bharat be torn apart.



      Thursday, 9 April 2026

      Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - Favourite Children's Book Picks - April 2026 - UK Post

       

      Alastair Chisholm - We are Dragon (I am Wolf) - Published by Nosy Crow Ltd (9 April 2026) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1805131274 - Paperback - Age: 8+ 

      An outstanding, highly original and unputdownable read. Following on from I AM WOLF and I AM RAVEN, this is a bold, thought-provoking adventure perfect for fans of MORTAL ENGINES and THE LAST WILD.

      Rieka’s world is on fire.

      She’s lived her whole life aboard Constructs, giant mechanical creatures that battle each other for territory. Now a new enemy has swept across the land – DRAGON. And even with all the survivors united against it, Dragon is winning.

      Technically brilliant, Rieka believes that she alone can turn the war. But the path she sets out on is dangerous, both for her and her friends. And all the while, there is a truth about herself she must face…

      If she doesn’t, she could destroy everything she’s trying to save. See Book Review HERE!

      Also written by the award-winning Alastair Chisholm:

      • I Am Wolf - Shortlisted, Peters Children's Book of the Year award 2025 
      • I Am Raven
      • Orion Lost
      • The Consequence Girl



      Katharine Orton - The Traitor Moth (A Moon Realm Novel) - Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (7 April 2026) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1665982085 - Hardback - Age: 8+


      A brave young moth sets off on an epic quest to save his clan and the kingdom from peril in this first book in the sweeping Moon Realm fantasy middle grade series--perfect for fans of Wilderlore and Erin Hunter's Warriors series.

      Catclaw dreams that one day he will have the gift of prophecy, just like his Dreamkin ancestors. 

      But many moons ago, the Dreamkins were exiled from the other noble moth clans for a crime too awful to even speak of, and their gift of prophecy was lost. No Dreamkin has seen the future in generations. So when Catclaw receives a vision telling him that all the moth clans are in terrible danger, he's branded a liar and exiled. 

      Catclaw knows it's the right thing to protect his fellow moths, even if his own clan doesn't believe him, so he sets out alone on the long and treacherous journey back to Queen Adeia's Kingdom to warn them. 

      But there is more to the moth clans' history than Catclaw ever knew, and the closer he gets to the kingdom, the more the danger grows.



      Sophie Anderson - The House with Chicken Legs Runs Away - Published by Usborne Publishing Ltd (9 April 2026) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1803704364 - Paperback - Age: 7+ - See Book Review HERE


      Brimming with fairy-tale magic, friendship and extraordinary adventure, The House with Chicken Legs Runs Away is the epic, spellbinding return to the bestselling, award-winning world of The House with Chicken Legs.

      All Marinka's life, she has lived in her house with chicken legs. Running across the world on magical adventures, Marinka knows how her house is feeling, and it listens to her, too. But something is wrong. And before anyone can stop it, the house has pulled itself apart and run away. 

      With her friend Benjamin and crow Jack, Marinka races after it to find answers. Travelling across far-distant lands, through new realms and magical places, Marinka must face up to her fears to save her friends. But her house might not want to stop running...



      Mina Ikemoto Ghosh - Hyo and the Deep-Rooted Demon - Published by Scholastic Books (9 April 2026) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0702328961 - Paperback - Age: 12+ 


      "A vividly imagined fantasy like no other. With a plot that keeps twisting, Hyo will satisfy both the mystery and anime fans alike." - Eliza Chan, author of Fathomfolk

      Meet the Hakai Family Hellmakers: Purveyors of artisan hells and unlucky days to inflict upon your enemies.

      They'll make it personal... But for a price!

      Onogoro is in the middle of electing a new chief - but, as the deadline looms, a sword-wielding serial killer comes to town. Hyo, busy trying to solve a kidnapping mystery, soon crosses paths with the serial killer himself, who reveals a sinister conspiracy with the future of the island at stake. Promising vengeance, Hyo embarks on her strangest special commission yet - and learns more about the powers of being a Hellmaker...

        * The second YA fantasy from author and illustrator Mina Ikemoto Ghosh. * This beautiful package is highly illustrated with Manga-style art. * Perfect for fans of Six of Crows, Iron Widow and Spirited Away.



        Thursday, 12 March 2026

        Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - Favourite Children's Book Picks - March 2026 US

        Matteo L. Cerilli - Fathom Fall - Published by Bloomsbury Children's Books (March 3, 2026) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1547616527 - Hardback - Age: 12+ 

        The Maze Runner meets Fortnite in this action-packed young YA about a boy who finds out the monsters from his favorite video game are real.

        They came for our water, but they'll settle for your blood.

        On 
        Fathom Fall's leaderboard, player Wyatt “DoctorDoctor” Docherty ranks at number three. In real life, he's seen only as the privileged kid of head engineers at Hydrexo, the company that supplies 75% of North America's water. He has easy access, while others must line up to pay exorbitant prices at public water taps, and he feels totally useless. 

        To prove he's more than a spoiled Water Baby, Wyatt wants to win the upcoming 
        Fathom Fall competition and finally make a name for himself. But when he starts seeing Bluddites – the water-guzzling monsters from the game – in real life, Wyatt suspects that the tournament is about more than just prize money.

        Wyatt wants to 
        win, but as the tournament approaches, he starts to worry: Why won't anyone tell them what's really going on? Why would the game – the military, even – be training kids to hunt monsters for them? And how far is he willing to go to prove himself?

        Set in a near-future, water-scarce Toronto, 
        Fathom Fall is a high-octane speculative thrill ride that questions the ethics of new technology and how it defines our very reality.


        Micah Johnson (Author), 
        Durk van der Meer (Illustrator) - Aku: Journey to Ibra - Published by Random House Books for Young Readers (March 3, 2026) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593811788 - Hardback - Age: 7+

        Aku has always dreamed of becoming an astronaut. It’s easier to picture life among the stars than deal with the bully at school—or the pain of his grandfather’s mysterious disappearance. But when a strange space helmet shows up in his basement, Aku is pulled into something far bigger than he ever imagined.

        The space helmet doesn’t just look cool—it teleports him to Ibra, a distant planet under siege. There, precious Lunaberries are being stolen by a ruthless space militia, and Aku’s grandfather may be the key to stopping them. With the help of his best friends and a few unlikely allies, Aku must dream bigger than ever before, find the courage to lead, and discover that bravery isn’t about having no fear—it’s about rising above it.

        Ross Montgomery - Small Wonder - Published by Candlewick (March 3, 2026) - ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1536252468 - Paperback - Age: 8+ 

        Remember everything I taught you, Small Wonder. Take care of Leaf. Take care of Pebble. I’ve done all I can. The rest is up to you . . .
        Tick, called Small Wonder by his grandfather, lives peacefully at the edge of Ellia, along with his little brother and faithful horse. But then a deadly assassin and an invading army arrive. The kingdom is in danger and Tick has six moons to get to King’s Keep and warn their ruler. Traveling through forests and over mountains, encountering bandits and rogue knights, Tick is determined to honor his grandfather’s last words of advice . . . Make it count. Can Tick warn the kingdom in time and protect his little brother from the dangers they encounter? As they make their treacherous journey through Ellia, Tick starts to uncover a long-buried history that will change everything he thought he knew.


        Christina Uss - 
        Midnight Mayhem - Published by Holiday House (March 3, 2026) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0823456352 - Hardback - Age: 8+  

        Kaz Jakobsen can’t sleep.
        Ever again.

        Kaz Jakobsen knows things will never be the same after his family’s sudden move to Philadelphia. He’ll have to make new friends, which isn’t his strong suit. But an even bigger change arrives at a restaurant where he orders a bagel sandwich. Kaz eats a potent combo of the world’s greenest mustard and rootiest rootbeer and loses his ability to sleep.

        Scientifically, brain + no sleep = kablammo. The longest a human insomniac has gone without sleep is eleven days. What will happen to Kaz without sleep for more than seventy 
        years? How will he survive the lonely boredom?

        Kaz luckily meets Floyd, a fellow non-sleeping kid, at a sleep study lab. Floyd thinks being sleepless is a super-power, a chance to try a million new things. He takes Kaz on madcap midnight adventures, introducing him to all the things kids are allowed to do at night in Philadelphia. And a few things they aren’t. The bad news: his ideas always seem to lead to mayhem.

        Kaz wants to keep Floyd’s friendship but lose the mayhem. When he learns there’s an antidote to a lifetime awake, he has a tough choice to make. If Kaz cures his sleeplessness, will he lose the best friend he’s ever had?



        Thursday, 5 March 2026

        Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - Favourite Children's Book Picks - March 2026 UK




        Beth O'Brien - Feather Vane - Published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, 26 March 2026 - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0008642044 - Paperback - Age: 8+

        In the village of Greeth-Under-Edge, magical creatures are causing chaos. A green-toothed hag lurks in the river, a nest of gnomes are up to no good and a scatter of salamanders threaten to set everything on fire.

        Creirwy and Morfran, trainee sorcerers, have been sent to banish the creatures by brewing an almost impossible potion. To collect the ingredients, they’ll need to go on an adventure with dangers at every turn.

        But as the twins journey through a moon fairy forest, into a hag’s watery lair and to the top of a giant’s beanstalk, they find that the most powerful magic is not always where you’d expect. 



        M. G. Leonard (Author), Polly Dunbar (Illustrator) - The Adventures of Portly the Otter - Published by Farshore, 26 March 2026 - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0008667771 - Hardback - Age: 7+ 

        Beautifully illustrated in full colour by award-winning illustrator of The Hug, Polly Dunbar, this gorgeous hardback gift book celebrates the 95th anniversary of EH Shepard’s iconic artwork for The Wind in the Willows. 

        There is a time in a young otter’s life when they must be introduced to their river. For Portly, today was that day …

        Told across four seasons in one year, little Portly has the greatest of adventures. Among other fur-raising encounters, the youngest of Mrs Otter’s pups learns to swim, battles a large trout, rescues a human girl, outwits the weasels and stoats of the Wild Wood and sleeps in the care of the god Pan – a scene familiar to readers of the original book.

        Full of all the charm, nostalgia and sounds of splashing in the river that fans of The Wind in the Willows have fallen in love with over the years, M.G.Leonard’s faithful spin-off will enchant an entirely new generation.



        Catherine Doyle (Author), Rachael Dean (Illustrator) - Scare B'n'B - Published by ‎ Bloomsbury Children's Books, 12 March 2026 - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1526655141 - Paperback - Age: 7+

        Spooky silliness reigns in Catherine Doyle's brand new series as Ted and Frankie team up to save their hotel from a ghostly duke and his restless spirits. Featuring hilarious illustrations from Rachael Dean. 

        Ted McKenley would rather live anywhere than with Frankie "spawn-of-the-devil" Stark. And Frankie wouldn't go near a coward like Ted. Too bad - their parents just got married and blew their savings turning a creepy old mansion into a boutique hotel. At least it's big enough for the stepsiblings to stay 
        far apart.

        But when Ted encounters a disappearing housekeeper and Frankie runs into a screaming suit of armour, their feud becomes the least of their problems.

        With cranky spirits on the loose, Ted and Frankie reluctantly team up to stop the devious Duke of Snoring from turning their new home into haunted rubble.

        The battle for the hotel has begun!


        • Aaron Starmer - You Are Now Old Enough to Hear This - Penguin Workshop, 24 Mar. 2026 - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593751091 - Hardback - Age: 10+ 
        • There's always more to the story. 

          In the latest middle-grade speculative novel from Spontaneous author Aaron Starmer, Roman follows the twisted threads of bizarre family legends and magical secrets to write his own chapter in his peculiar family narrative.

          The Toe Beast looms large in the Barnes family lore--a tale concocted by twelve-year-old Roman's grandpa to explain his missing toe. But Roman has never actually heard the full story, and after his grandpa dies suddenly, it seems like he never will. 

          That is, until Roman is tasked with clearing out his grandpa's house and stumbles upon some strange things. An old mason jar full of formaldehyde, a mysterious handwritten book about a girl and a pack of dogs, a rusty metal bucket with peculiar abilities. And they all tie back to extraordinary secrets from the distant past. 

          By unraveling even more unbelievable stories that have been hidden from him, Roman is forced to rethink how he fits into his family's history. Now it's up to him to see his own story through to the end. Because the Toe Beast was only the beginning . . .


        Friday, 13 February 2026

        Emma Rea - ENTANGLED - Book Review - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books


        By Emma Rea | Cover artwork by Kade Doszla
        Published by Firefly Press| 2nd April 2026 | ISBN 9781917718189


        A Thrilling Venetian Quest! 

        Emma Rea’s upcoming novel, set against the evocative backdrop of Venice, promises a captivating blend of suspense, emotion, and mystery that can grip readers from the very first page.

        An Imaginative SettingOne of the novel’s greatest strengths lies in its rich portrayal of Venice. The labyrinthine canals, bustling carnivals, and shadowed alleyways not only create a picturesque setting but also serve as the perfect stage for the unfolding mystery. This vibrant yet mysterious backdrop elevates the narrative and adds layers of depth, immersing the reader in a city where beauty and danger coexist.

        A Tale of Family and Determination - At its heart, the story is a moving exploration of sibling love and resilience. Tia’s triumph in winning an art prize trip contrasts sharply with her vulnerability as a blind individual. Her brother Thomas, whose endearing clumsiness only makes him more relatable, embodies the fierce determination of a protective sibling. His journey through the darkened streets in search of his missing sister is both a literal and metaphorical quest, highlighting the lengths one will go to for family.

        A Gripping Conspiracy - The disappearance of Tia is the catalyst for a suspenseful narrative that keeps the reader guessing at every turn. With no one to believe his concerns, Thomas's lone crusade into the hidden corners of Venice uncovers a conspiracy that is as hair-raising as it is complex. Rea weaves this mystery wonderfully, mixing elements of psychological intrigue with high stakes, ensuring that every page is steeped in tension and urgency.

        Emma Rea’s novel promises to be a memorable journey through both the vibrant heart of Venice and the intricate landscape of family loyalty and human determination. With its blend of atmospheric settings, heartfelt emotion, and a twisting plot, this book is set to become a standout read for those who crave a story that is as visually rich as it is emotionally compelling. Keep an eye out for its release early April 2026—it might just be the next literary adventure that captivates your imagination.