Claire Fayers - Tapper Watson and the Quest for the Nemo Machine - Blog Tour - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

 

Welcome to readers and all sixty-seven cousins of Tapper Watson as we embark on another exciting Blog Tour stop. Tapper Watson and the Quest for the Nemo Machine is one of our favourite reads of the year. Therefore, we’re delighted to have a post from the author introducing The World of Tapper Watson – A Guide for New Adventurers and really hope that you enjoy finding out more. You can also read our raving review for the book HERE. 

The book is due to be published by all eight limbs of the publishing house (otherwise known as Firefly Press) on the 7th September 2023. Hope you enjoy it and see you on the next BIG ADVENTURE! 

Greetings, adventurers and welcome to Swansea, the capital of Earth and home to Earth’s only portal into the river Lethe.

Before you travel, there are a few things you should know.

SMILE - the Swansea Multiworld Institute of Lethe Exploration is situated on the far side of Swansea Bay. SMILE is Earth’s largest exploration and research centre, attracting visitors from hundreds of different worlds. The guards here have many powers: to grant and revoke submarine licenses, to confiscate goods and even issue arrest warrants. They take their jobs very seriously. It is said that the only thing a SMILE guard cannot do is actually smile, so please do not annoy them.

Submarines – These, of course, are our means of travel between worlds. We exit Earth via Swansea Bay and you may experience a momentary weight loss as you enter the Lethe. Your vessel will be fully equipped with the latest artificial gravity so do not worry.

The Lethe – The great space river is our pathway to a thousand other worlds. It is, of course, named after the Greek river of forgetfulness. You knew that, didn’t you? You will also know that the Lethe’s waters contain the memories of everyone who has ever lived, and that drinking a single drop will strip every memory out of your head. Submarines are tightly sealed so there is no cause for alarm, however, if you do notice a drop of water on your person, do not panic, but keep your mouth tightly shut and report to your submarine captain, using Morse Code, or mime.

Morse Code – As you are all aware, radio waves upset the waters of the Lethe, causing riverstorms, and so all submarines communicate by Morse Code. I assume you are all fluent in Morse, but if not, I suggest you brush up on your skills quickly.

Echolings – The memories in the Lethe are in constant motion and as they collide, they merge to create strange new shapes. Don’t be surprised if you spot a duck with an elephant’s trunk, or a teapot floating past your submarine window. Despite recent warnings of “incidents”, echolings are not alive and they are not dangerous. Most of them are insubstantial, like ghosts, and the few that take solid form will simply bounce away from the submarine. 

Worlds – Our first stop will be the octopod world, Zymandia. Take time to enjoy the pastel rivers and the curious towns on stilts. The low gravity means you will see the octopods flying. Please do not try to fly yourselves, the gravity is not that low.

From Zymandia, we will proceed to the fire world of Cassini where the dragonlike inhabitants have evolved scales that change colour according to their mood. Remember – a pale dragona is an angry dragona.

Our final stop will be a shopping trip to Eris. We allowed extra time for this as the Erisean merchants will ask you about your families and tell you all about theirs before letting you buy anything. A large family is a sign of status on Eris and it’s customary to have at least eight brothers and sisters.

Thank you for listening to this safety announcement. Now, please buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Daniel Dockery - Wendington Jones and the Missing Tree - Book Review - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

 

We have a big theme on the blog this year as we're shouting about all the fantastic debut children's authors that have books coming out in 2023. Daniel Dockery has written plenty of gripping TV scripts for some of our well-loved soaps e.g. Hollyoaks and Coronation Street but the question is can he deliver a hit with his first book? Wendington Jones and the Missing Tree is due to be published on the 6th April 2023 by UCLan Publishing. The book cover illustration has been fantastically produced by Marco Guadalupi and really reflects the story inside.  

The story starts off rather sad and very reflective as the main character, Wendington Jones, mourns her mother's death. Unfortunately, her adventuring mother dies in a car crash in the late 1920s. This tragic accident sets the scene for a very fast-paced start as Wendington receives a mystery parcel in the middle of the night. As a result, she finds herself undertaking a global adventure to find the legendary Tree of Life. Wendington is a remarkable character who has many roles: a daughter, friend, and traveller. She is clever, inquisitive, witty, and, multi-talented: twice Latin scholar, adequate horse rider, and the second-best fencer in three countries. However, she's going to need every ounce of these skills to solve her mother's mystery. 

After the fast-paced start, the story slows down a little which gives you time to settle into the story. The journey enables you to float along a fantastic and surreal plot that has a different feel from other books in this genre. You get to think about what is happening and allow all the actions and consequences to be absorbed. I really loved this as it enabled me to become fully immersed in the world.

Another strong point of the book was the ending - I really did not expect it. It felt unusual and really made me reflect on the adventure I'd just been on. So, if you are ready to flex your detective skills, fly into peril, stop a boat from exploding, and explore the theme of immortality then this might just be the read you're looking for. Expect drama, bloodshed, and sugar bombs as you meet a truly extraordinary character. She will certainly stay with me for some time. This story is a brilliant titanic read that does not sink.  

Richard Pickard - The Peculiar Tale of the Tentacle Boy - Interview (Q&A) - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books #9

 

Are you ready for something rather fishy? If so, then welcome to our interview with debut author Richard Pickard. The Peculiar Tale of the Tentacle Boy was published in August 2021 by Chicken House Books. It's a super sandy affair to get your suckers into and your imagination ready for ice cream, but before you set off on your adventure check out this post. The book is available to buy from all seaside resorts and good book shops. 

1. How would you summarise your debut book, The Peculiar Tale of the Tentacle Boy, to new readers? 

The Peculiar Tale of the Tentacle Boy is a quirky seaside adventure set in a strange town where seventeen fishmongers line the seafront, and everyone is obsessed with fish. Everyone except for Marina Minnow, a young girl who loves to tell stories. One day she sets out to prove that she can have a real-life adventure by rowing across to the haunted pier and inside, she meets an amazing boy named William – who has crab claws for hands and tentacles for hair. He has been waiting there for years, for the fisherman who rescued him from the sea to return. So, together with Marina, these unlikely new friends set out to unravel the mystery of his past. It is surreal, funny, a little bit dark but absolutely full of heart at its core.

2. This is a great name for a book, is this the original title or did it start life with another version? 

My working title was ‘Something Fishy’, which was just a placeholder literally meaning “I will come up with a fishy sounding title eventually”. After a while, it actually started to grow on me as I enjoyed the double meaning. I always knew it would probably change, and the team at Chicken House felt it was a bit too flippant for a book that also has some weight to it. I came up with a new list of suggestions, and after much discussion we all agreed ‘The Peculiar Tale of the Tentacle Boy’ was the winner. I really think it sets the tone perfectly, especially when paired with the incredible cover by Maxine Lee-Mackie.

3. Marina is one of the central characters of the book. Can you explain to us what she is actually looking for?

Marina is a storyteller. It’s something she grew up doing, telling stories with her dad who has since gone missing at sea. Now she tells stories for herself, in order to keep her hope for his safe return alive after everyone else has given up on him ever coming back. She writes her own fantastical tales to explain his disappearance and to stay positive. But lots of people in the town think that she’s a troublemaker and a liar, so she sets out prove that she can also have a real-life adventure – and that’s when she meets William…

4. Do you have an underlying moral or message for us to take away from this story?

Something I’m delighted to see readers are taking away is a message of tolerance and acceptance. What I hope Marina and William have proved by the end of the novel is that friendship and family can really be found in any place, if only we can embrace each other’s differences and see people for who they are in their hearts.

5. Do you believe that your visits to the seaside have inspired parts of the story and, if so, which aspects in particular?

Absolutely! In terms of the setting, Merlington is a real mix of many different seaside towns including West Bay in Dorset, Lyme Regis in Devon, and Whitstable in Kent which is famous for its oysters and shellfish. Brighton’s dilapidated West Pier, one of my favourite UK landmarks, was also the starting point for William’s crumbling shack. That was one of the earliest seeds for the story – imagining what kind of character might live in such an inhospitable place, cut off from the land… A boy with crab claws for hands, obviously!

6. I understand that two of your greatest childhood influences were Roald Dahl and Tim Burton. Are there any characteristics or features from their writing that you have developed or been inspired by to write your story?

With regards to Tim Burton, I’ve always loved his weird and wonderful characters. Especially those who find themselves living in a community of people who are often even stranger! Edward Scissorhands is of course a huge favourite, but more specifically it is Burton’s ability to blend the whimsical with the gloomy and frightful that has always excited and fascinated me. Equally Roald Dahl never shied away from taking his stories in a darkly funny direction. I really think kids love that kind of stuff. When I thought about the kind of town that a boy who is part-fish might be living in, the most deliciously dark idea was of course a town obsessed with eating fish! I think Dahl would’ve loved that, too.

7. Would you have read your book when you were a child?

Absolutely. As we’ve discussed, I was a huge fan of Burton and Dahl growing up and I think the novel was written in the spirit of their work. I loved anything that was slightly odd or unusual as a kid, and I would have instantly been drawn to Maxine’s amazing cover illustration. I wrote the book hoping that it would find its way into the hands of readers who are similar to how I was at the same age – kids who like it when their adventure stories skirt the edge of darkness in a humorous way.

8. How do you go about writing interesting and realistic characters and can (or do) they take you to places you have no control over?

My earliest characters are informed by the setting, which seems to come first for me. The abandoned pier cut off from land created William, and then his presence informed the kind of people who populated Merlington – hungry fishmongers, for the most part. 

From there, without wanting to sound too pretentious, it definitely feels like the characters need to tell me who they are for themselves. For example, I never intended for Marina’s talent for storytelling to be so vital to the plot, but the entire structure would now crumble without it. That’s why my first draft has to be written by hand, as I need to let it spill out on the page which is impossible if I’m staring at a blank computer screen. When it’s ink and paper, I don’t feel the pressure to make it perfect.

9. What has been the best/most surprising experience working with Chicken House books?

Chicken House had always been my dream publisher, so I was quite nervous before the real work started. I had no idea whether I would be able to make the novel any better having already put so much time and energy into it. In reality, I absolutely loved the whole editing process from start to finish. It was incredible to have a team of people so invested in my barmy story which had been private for such a long time. There were so many fantastic ideas and suggestions flying about – not least from my brilliant editor, Kesia – and I can’t believe how far it has come from that very first draft. I really surprised myself.

10. Can you tell us about any new projects or plans that might be in the pipeline? 

I’m just coming to the end of the first draft of my second novel for Chicken House, with the deadline just around the corner! This one is a full-blown summertime adventure. Much less fish, but a lot more sun and sea, plus another very odd family mystery…

Book Review: The Grunts Are All at Sea by Philip Ardagh - Illustrated by Axel Scheffler

                                         

We've got something to crow about with this latest adventure from Nosy Crow - the small publisher with wings. This is the second instalment featuring The Grunts. All at Sea is contained in a lovely yellow hardback which has been exquisitely illustrated by one of the best illustrators in town - Axel Scheffler. 

This book is fantastically peppered in black and white images that are really daft. Each one captivates the reader and lends a whole new imaginative quality to the plot. Philip Ardagh is the wordsmith of this mad cap adventure; his clever word-play and his trademark whit are in abundance. This book is a wonderfully delightful story that will keep you engrossed right until to the very end.

Whether you are six or one hundred and six, this book is crying out to be read. It is recommended for readers who love the power of a great story. You will soon romp through this crazy tale packed full of silly and bizarre antics that are totally off the scale. Loaded with irony and total mayhem this is a fun story to read; it will have you laughing on a journey all the way to the sea and back.

The Grunts are on a wibbly wobbly mission to get a Person of Great Importance (or POGI) to someone called Mrs Bayliss.  Along the way they meet some mysterious villains and some very unlikely heros; each is very imaginatively written and brilliantly characterised. Speedy McGinty is my favourite character. She is a wheelchair-whizzing globe-trotter action type and, in my opinion, makes a refreshing change to other characters that I have been introduced to. 

I haven't had so much fun and enjoyment reading a book since riding an elephant backwards down the high street in my underpants. So batten down the hatches, run to a bookshop and grab yourself a copy of this book. It will not only make you smile but it will transport you to the far reaches of your imagination. You'll find fun, frolics and a crazy sea adventure ahead . . . . . . in fact what more could you every wish for?

Did I mention the Grunts game on iTunes? It is called Beard of Bees and is really quite cool if you'd like to check it out.

Book Review: Jon Mayhew - Monster Odyssey

                                           

A huge red tentacle gripped a sailor and whisked him above the deck. Dakkar caught the look of horror in his staring eyes as he vanished, dragged over the side and into the sea. Water rained down on the deck as more tentacles squirmed their way over the side and across the deck or through the rigging. Men's shouts of anger or terror mingled with the odd gunshot. 

This is the fourth book by Jon Mayhew - it is due to be published by Bloomsbury this month. This book is slightly different from Jon's previous books as it's not just about the frights and spills of horror. It is instead a pure epic fantasy from the bottom of the ocean. Jon, at an early age, was captivated like so may of us by the classic 1950 Disney film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. This was of course originally written by the great man and author, Jules Verne. 

At the time, the film industry was making great leaps and bounds with new technology. This film captivated many watchers, just like the book. It has certainly inspired Jon to be very creative historically - additional embellishments through a creative vision creates a mix of 200,000 Leagues and The Mysterious Island. A memorable and enchanting read has been created that will have you in awe. You'll be gripped by the strongest tentacle and dragged down into the deepest depths of fantasy. 

The main character in the book, Prince Dakkar, will rejuvenate the memory of Captain Nemo in so many ways. I'm hoping that he may pave the way for many future stories. Son of an Indian Rajah, he certainly has issues with authority, as he was expelled from the world's finest schools and finally sent to an unconventional educator known as Count Oginski. Unsurprisingly, Dakkar plans his escape immediately and eventually sets off on a roller-coaster adventure. This is a seafaring-tale that will have you splashing about wanting much more.

Count Oginski is a genius inventor, as a character he works really well for me. Although, in my opinion, he might be a little bit stereotypical but nevertheless he is very mysterious and definitely interesting to read and follow. Another key character is the sinister Cryptos, who is hellbent on taking over the world. He's just like a super villain from a Bond movie as he lives in a fantastic hideout where he can be found plotting evil world domination.  

This book was brilliant - it has all of the classic ingredients that will take you back to your childhood. Assassins, espionage and a mind boggling adventure. There are pirates and a big giant squid, which is just pure magic as it creates some epic, high-octane, action sequences.  Whilst a whole host of deadly sea creatures produce a horrifying element that cannot be imagined. All of which is told at a blistering pace - the pure fantasy and imagination does not let up until the very end of the book.

Jon's new adventure has taken him into a new territory, but he has certainly come up trumps. I loved this book as much as his other stories. He has a great ability to conjure up something really special which transports the reader back to their childhood roots . . . . . just like the classic film all those years ago. Fantastic reading - I'm sure that you'll love this book as much as I did.

Published by Bloomsbury May 9th 2013

Book Review: Conrad Mason - The Goblin's Gift - Tales of Port Fayt 2

Picking up the story from the first book (Demon's Watch) the newest recruit Joseph Grubb, and his fellow Watchmen, have their work cut out protecting Port Fayt once again. From page one onwards we are flung into a second madcap adventure as the characters set sail to Port Fayt. However, trouble is brewing from the League of Light - the Duke of Garran and his fleet of ships are trying to wipe them off the map.  The only hope for Port Fayt is to persuade the magical merfolk to fight alongside them, but the merfolk won't go to war. At least not until their princess is returned, which creates a magical split story setting. My favourite part of the story involved a nine year-old underground super villain known as The Boy King. Ruthless ruler of the Ebony Ocean, he is a crazy bully boy who loves a brutal song and a dance or two. One of his star acts includes Princess Pallione - a voice of the gods and a demon shark fighter. However it's up to Joseph and his blue-haired friend, Tabitha, to rescue the mermaid princess from the gangsters clutches. I have to say that I was so immersed in the story from the start, that in a blink of an eye I was half-way through the book in no time. I really liked the style of writing involving the split story setting between the different characters - each immersed in their own battles and dealing with a range of encounters. In my opinion this worked really well as it certainly showed the many different angles to the story. Packed full of filling, this story incorporates lots of well thought out ideas that keeps the reader on their toes such as Joseph's secret from the past. This certainly turned part of the story onto its head and made sure that the reader took a new course of direction. Hugely entertaining, this second book has certainly built upon the magical setting from the first book. The author has delivered another high adventure on sea and land transferring both into a well written story. All lovers of the fantasy genre will want to read this story. The bickering, fighting and waves of emotion are memorable parts of the story as well as the timely sprinkling and inclusion of wit. However, be warned, the loveable characters from the first book may not make it through to the very next book. Hopefully this isn't a cheeky spoiler from me - I don't usually make a habit of giving away such elements of insight! Conrad wraps the book up with a whirlpool of action and plot which will keep you transfixed until the very end. It leaves you with a satisfied feeling having been led onto the subtle path that he has created for the next adventure. This is a superbly written magical fantasy that is up there with the best. It has barrel loads of imagination, action galore, and a huge dollop of mayhem and mischief. The author has triumphantly built on the great foundations of the first book and made this one even more enjoyable. I am looking forward to the next book to be further led along the path that has been started. Published by David Fickling Books - 4th April 2013

Book Review: House of Secrets By Chris Columbus and Ned Vizzini

Time flies when you're having fun! This time last year, I remember being excited by the prospect of this book and the subsequent dream collaboration between two great writing icons. The first writer being Chris Columbus, who has written and produced so many great classic household blockbusters, such as the first two Harry Potter films, Gremlins and one of my all time favourites, The Goonies. 

To add more excitement to the pot, he has teamed up with Ned Vizzini, the US bestselling author of young-adult books and screen programmes such as Teen Wolf and the ABC'S Last Resort. Last year, HarperCollins struck up a three book deal which created a great deal of discussion and conjured up a lot of eager anticipation. One year on, the first book has finally arrived and I certainly couldn't wait to read it.

This is the first in the series of the House Of Secrets to be published by HarperCollins. It will be hitting the bookshop shelves in late April. It's a very fast paced read and doesn't take long to hurtle through the 560 pages. From the offset, you uncover many secrets and mysteries - it's like an epic film script. There are some tasty glimpses of the pedigree of both writers who, at times, share slightly different visions. One writes in a film-like style, whilst the other writes in a more traditional storytelling way. At times, there might be too much emphasis on the big screen. Although, in my opinion, this will certainly be a forthcoming option for this book.

The Walker kids had it all: loving parents, a big house in San Francisco, all the latest video games . . . but everything changed when their father lost his job as a result of an inexplicable transgression. Now the family is moving into Kristoff House, a mysterious place built nearly a century earlier by Denver Kristoff, a troubled writer with a penchant for the occult. By the time the Walkers realize that one of their neighbours has sinister plans for them they're banished to a primeval forest way off the grid. 

The story begins with a mysterious start. It contains little bits of cheeky humour and some good story lines. However, in parts, a slightly darker flavour is perhaps needed to really get into the essence of the story. The characters, as a reader of 9 years and up, can easily be related to and the story concludes satisfyingly. However, there are a few negative elements to the story, in my opinion.

I felt that the story read like a mixture of different stories which, at times, all collided into one. The collaborative writing, to me, read like a jumble of ideas which were all thrown together. I have no doubt that this would work particular well as a film, but I struggled to make it work in my head. Therefore, it hindered the flow and spoilt the story in my opinion. I also felt that there was a distinct lack of voice from any one character - they really didn't stick in my memory and were easily replaced.

However, for a middle-age fantasy, this book ticks all of the right boxes and shows a lot of promise. It contains high adventure scenes, which share a similar theme to that of Pirates of the Caribbean. These are loaded with engaging action sequences that I particularly enjoyed. 

This book was an enjoyable read, but not as good as the hype. I was slightly disappointed, but I'm still looking forward to the next book in the series.          

HarperCollinsChildren'sBooks (25 April 2013)                                        

Arthur Slade - The Dark Deeps:The Hunchback Assignments - Book Review

  

We find ourselves back again for the second book in this series. In this book, Modo sets off on another mission as a British secret agent, he is their secret weapon. He has the power to change his face and appearance, this enables him to become a special member of "The Association"- formed to protect Britannia from outside enemies. The start of this book finds Modo heading straight into action, it begins well for the first three chapters. However after this, the story starts to go little flat but incredibly this actually enhances the story! I'm not sure if this was a clever ploy on behalf of the author but when you actually get to the heart of the story, it turns into a brilliant piece of storytelling.

The book takes a rapid turn of events when Modo falls overboard; the ship he is sailing on comes under attack. At this point the story is injected with amazing detail, in fact this would not be out of place within a Jules Verne adventure.  I found this book to be a very enjoyable read - Arthur has brought lots of traditional ideas together such as an underwater city and an invisible man. He has used these to great effect by creating a unique world that takes you back in time.

The book still runs on a smarting of steampunk snippets - the Clockwork Guild leaps back into the fray allowing the story to become an action packed sea exploration. The detailed descriptions of the gadgets and gizmo's in this book are very engaging. Whilst the eclectic mix of characters show a diverse range of personal traits and emotions which enable the reader to interact with them.

This series is getting better with each book - I would love to see it published in the UK as I feel it would do really well. The next book due to be published is the Empire of Ruins which has an amazing book cover. In fact keep your eye on this website, as this cover could easily find its way into the 2010 'Mr Ripley's Book Cover Wars'.

Please vote on heat one of Mr Ripley's Echanted Book Cover War's at the top of the page.  All your votes  are important to me and the author,and you could win a signed copy of Charlie Higson book "The Enemy". by leaving a comment.
Can anyone remember who won it last year?