Mr Ripley's Book Review: Dawn Finch - Brotherhood of Shades

This is the debut book from Dawn Finch. Ever since she was a young girl, Dawn wanted to be a writer and librarian; her home was filled with books. She had a love for Edgar Allan Poe that soon turned from a small dream into a large vision once Dawn grew older. Her love of books and reading never went away; one day her dream turned into reality and the Brother of Shades was born.

I've wanted to read this book for quite some time now but, unfortunately, I've never seen this book in any bookshop to buy. I actually find this really hard to believe as it is a cracking read. I really do agree with the quote on the front of the book by Jonathan Stroud stating that this is "a wonderful new fantasy". I love the cover as it really does scream 'read me, pick me up, delve into my pages and read me word for word' - this is exactly what I did and I was not disappointed.

From the very first page, I was gripped by the opening of the story. I loved the feel of it and the excitement that was generated at the prospect of what was to come. I seemed to read this part of the story more slowly, as I was, perhaps, rather absorbed by the world and characters a little too much. However, the more that I read, the more I really loved this book. The author's love of reading oozed from every pore and helped to create a mental picture that held-fast like a good oil painting. Every detail was stored through the clever weaving of historical events, places and people which gave it a sense of reality as you zipped from the 1500's to the present time.

This is a great ghost story but with magical elements such as talking books, scary monsters and some very well-timed twist and turns. The plot is hinged around protecting the living from the world of the dead and mythical legends. The secret order was set up along time ago by a group of monks who named themselves Brotherhood of Shades. One of the first to be enlisted was enigmatic Toby D'Scover who is humorous, dapper and totally dead. He's a saviour of the world of the living - a protector of ancient books. This is an important role as one false move and this could lead to the dead rising again to bring havoc and chaos to the world. This is a dark fantasy, with some lip smacking moments, that will have you gripped and hooked to the point that you cannot put this book down.

The characters were convincing - not too many to get to grips with which really helped to keep the pace of the book flowing. The progressive complexity of the story and the realistic dialogue between the characters supported their role in travelling back in time/spectral realm. A great deal of research has gone into the plot, but the setting really comes to life as a result of this. The ending was an explosive triumph; the climatic battle really got you thinking. I think that both teenage boys and girls will love reading this book - it is a great reading experience full of action adventure, discovery and secrets.

When a book really is this good, it's always sad to get to the end. I do have a feeling that we will be seeing Adam, Toby, Edie and the Brotherhood of Shades again real ghostly soon. This is an author to watch and a series to get very excited about. Bring it on.....

Will you join the Brotherhood?

Published by Authonomy (26 Sep 2013)

Mr Ripley's Children's Book Recommendation - Animal Spirits Series: Wild Born/Hunted - By Brandon Mull & Maggie Stiefvater

                         

WILD BORN - Book One by Brandon Mull - Out Now
Four children separated by vast distances all undergo the same ritual, watched by cloaked strangers. Four flashes of light erupt, and from them emerge the unmistakable shapes of incredible beasts - a wolf, a leopard, a panda, a falcon. Suddenly the paths of these children - and the world - have been changed for ever. Enter the world of Erdas, where every child who comes of age must discover if they have a spirit animal, a rare bond between human and beast that bestows great powers to both.

 A dark force has risen from distant and long-forgotten lands, and has begun an onslaught that will ravage the world. Now the fate of Erdas has fallen on the shoulders of four young strangers ... 

Book Two: Hunted is by Maggie Stiefvater - Published 1st Jan 2014 - Check out the cool game and more: http://spiritanimals.scholastic.com/

Book Review: Brandon Sanderson - Steelheart - Published by Gollancz/Delacorte Press

                   

Brandon Sanderson has done it yet again. He has produced another book that has just blown through the cobwebs of my mind. As soon as I had read the synopsis, I felt that this book had real potential both as an individual story and a new series. That assumption stayed with me from the very first page to the last. This is an epic book (in every sense of the word) that really does deliver a packing punch.

The story starts with 8 year old David and his father, who are in a bank, trying to secure a mortgage. The author eases us gently into the story until Steelheart (the super villain) rampages through the bank in a show of dominance and force. He starts killing the workers and eventually destroys the bank by creating an earthquake that wipes it off the face of the earth. 

The story leads us through a world in chaos. A key event, known as the "Calamity", causes normal people to suddenly gain superpowers. These people, who are called Epics, are a superbly crafted 'pick and mix' bunch of super villains. They are like a mad amalgamation of your favourite DC and Marvel comic characters. They really are fantastically depicted and very well represented throughout this fantasy read. 

I particularly grew to like one of the main characters known as David. I was interested in the way that he analysed the situations that he faced. I also enjoyed the way in which he delivered a variety of metaphors really badly - I found myself chortling on a number of occasions at the air of foolishness created when he delivered these.

The last thing that I want to do is to give away the whole story in this review. However I just want to comment on a few further aspects that really enhanced the story such as the minimalistic use of dialogue. This really created just the right balance of conversation between characters which didn't give too much away or slow down the pace of the story. Equally, the language used to explain the weapons, gadgets and other Sci-fi technology was very well used and created an amazing visual picture.

This is a book that you can easily get wrapped up in - so much so that time soon rapidly disappears. The author has an amazing ability to take you from the safety of your sofa into the fantasy world within just a few sentences. Once hooked, you remain there until you finally finish the book. It's full of thoughtful and well worked out plot twists and turns. Great ideas such as a city made of steel and enforcement officers really add an interesting dimension to events.

This story is easily one of the best books that I have read this year. It will grab you and then punch you straight through into the Sci-fi fantasy world. It's filled with so much action that it will leave you breathless. Brandon is a great artist in painting an imaginable and make-believe post-apocalyptic world where anything can happen. It is one of the best starts to a new series that I have read in a very long time. I am really looking forward to the next installment, which I hope will be very very soon!

Guest Author Post by Sandra Greaves - The Skull in the Wood

                             

Guest post: Shivers down the spine

As Hallowe’en approaches, Undiscovered Voices 2012 winner Sandra Greaves talks about how she created the creepy atmosphere in her first novel, The Skull in the Wood, and how to get into the right frame of mind to bring on the shivers. 

A contemporary ghost story set on Dartmoor, The Skull in the Wood is the tale of two quarrelling cousins who unearth a curlew skull in the middle of a wood. From that moment, dark things start to happen – birds and animals turn bad, and there’s talk of an ancient evil called the gabbleratchet stirring into life. Which is very bad indeed…

The Skull in the Wood became spookier over several rewrites. In part, it was down to the moor. Dartmoor can be a very scary place, and it got into my blood – we live close by and I did lots of walking there as I was writing the book. It’s vast, strange and empty – 368 square miles of wilderness, and one of the last bits of wild Britain.

And of course it’s a gift of a location – brooding, dark, unsettling. There are countless myths and legends associated with it, and most of them are nasty. Conan Doyle set The Hound of the Baskervilles here, and the folklore is full of tales of giant black dogs that spell big trouble. On top of that, it’s a dangerous place – extremely cold, with mires you can sink into, and the fog can come down without warning, obliterating every landmark. 

All I had to was to bring it to life.

I drew on a number of dark myths to construct my plot. The folklore of birds features prominently – particularly the malevolent reputation of curlews, seen for centuries as birds of ill omen. And I took the European-wide myth of the Wild Hunt, led by the devil, which is prominent on Dartmoor, and entwined it with weird English folk tales about wild geese changing into hellhounds on stormy nights. In some regions this is known as the ‘gabbleratchet’ – a wonderful word that became central to The Skull in the Wood.

What I found along the way was that less was more. Not describing what lay at the heart of the gathering evil was far more effective than trying to spell it out. My editor, Rachel Leyshon, was brilliant in encouraging me to up the scariness and increase the peril at every stage. What worked best for me was to take terror into the everyday – to twist normality a tiny bit so that ordinary things became suddenly chilling.

Often I wrote the most frightening bits after dark. For the scariest passages, I had to get myself into a kind of semi-waking state (often with a glass of wine at my hand). Then I’d type madly, letting the demons in and onto the page.

Happy Hallowe’en.

                          

The Skull in the Wood is out this autumn, published by Chicken House, for 10+ readers. Mr Ripley's Book review find it Here
www.sandragreaves.com Twitter: @sandra_greaves 

Book Review: Sandra Greaves - The Skull in the Wood

                           

This book looked really good when it arrived through the post - it  definitely looked and sounded like my kind of read. As always with books published by Chicken House, it had a reputation to live up to, so I was really pleased to get stuck into this story and to find out more.

Sandra is a prize-winning poet who has now turned her hand to writing books for children. Her first outing is aimed at the 9+ audience which is suitable and appealing to both boys and girls. It really is an impressive start - she is definitely an author that has serious potential. 

The creepy plot is based around the atmospheric backdrop of Dartmoor; desolate, bleak and wild but yet also beautiful. The story ambles along at a steady pace. Mysteriously you become drawn into the storyteller's power - a superb blend of dark imagination that will have you running away in delicious fright. You will never see a spooky wood in the same light once you have experienced Old Scratch Woods. 

As the mist rolls in off the moor, dark things start to happen when a buried skull is found by Tilda and Matt. These two quarrelling cousins soon find themselves cursed by the gabblerachet - a fantastic name but a deadly nightmare. Dreadful things start to happen as the curse thrives on the bad blood between Tilda and Matt. As it feeds off their emotions, black things start to happen such as animals turning bad, dogs turning wild and other unimaginable events. The only way to break the curse is to work together, but will it be enough.... or will the curse end up taking them all?

This is an original ghost story that is both imaginative and enjoyable, which is  a refreshing change. It is a down-to-earth, old-fashioned tale set in a real place but in modern day life. It is a tale of a family full of complications and unpredictabilities that we all can relate to. The flesh and bones of life and emotional turmoil e.g. sadness, happiness, anger and joy. Everything that makes us human is sophisticatedly portrayed in this book.  Psychologically, this page turner will stay with you for a while. It is a book that you will be glad to have read. 

Move over you badly behaved chickens as there is a new voice in town to recommend. This book had now been published in clucking paperback glory and can be found in a hen house near you. 

Guest Post: My Top Five Sci-Fi Films By Jennifer Ridyard + Conquest Book Competition

                              

CONQUEST by John Connolly and Jennifer Ridyard is the first in a new sci-fi series for young adults. To celebrate the publication day, you can win a hardback copy of the book. All you need to do is to write something interesting about the book ,in the comments section, and I will pick a winner on the 10th October. I look forward to reading your comments ..... this competition is open worldwide. Thank you Jennifer for taking the time to write the follow post.

My Top Five Sci-Fi Films by Jennifer Ridyard

The best science fiction films ever made? You’re asking me? Are you sure?
Well, there’s obviously the canon (Alien/s, Star Wars, et al), and then there are the ones with cannons (Riddick, Mad Max, etc), but these are not necessarily my own favourites, or the ones that made me laugh, or cheer, or sob into my popcorn, or that have simply stayed with me.

So then here they are, my top five sci-fi movies, with no nodding to canons or even cannons, and no apologies either. If you expected more from me then, to quote Ripley, “I’m happy to disappoint you”:

5) Donnie Darko – yes, we’re veering into noir fantasy here, but this has that sci-fi staple of time travel, a rabbit from the future, schizophrenia, and the end of the world too. And love. And a very dark heart.

4) The Terminator – the first of a great series, because you just can’t argue with Arnie. “I’ll be back,” he said, and he didn’t let us down. See also: Total Recall for more Schwarzenegger splendour as well as that sci-fi chestnut, the three-boobed woman.

3) E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial – because Steven Spielberg has never been sweeter and neither has an alien.

2) District 9 – because sci-fi is often social commentary, and sometimes it can be really witty, but very occasionally it’s both, and this has calorific dollops of spectacular violence thrown in for good measure too. Yes please.

1) Men in Black – watch all three of them. I insist. You’ll pray for a fourth. I laughed until my stomach hurt, and I still do every time. I even love the maligned number two – and quit sniggering at the back, please. What’s not to love about a tiny alien world inside a storage locker at Grand Central Terminal?

Book Review: Philip Caveney - Watchers

I first started this blog back in 2008, if you search back that far you will actually find a post for Philip Caveney's 'Watchers' as an unpublished version. Five years on, I never thought that I'd actually get a chance to read the full book or even see it published. I've been watching, waiting and even flapping my wings waiting to read this. Fortunately, the wee independent  Edinburgh based publisher Fledgling Press have done the honours of publishing it and rightly so. They've commissioned a fantastic front cover by Kylie Tesdale that might just make it on the list of this year's 'Book Cover Wars' perhaps . . . . what do you think?

After all of these years, was the book worth waiting for? Well, the answer is a resounding YES!

I loved every page of this book, in fact so much so that I would have liked to have read even more. It has a really good feel factor to it; a brilliant family read that everyone will enjoy from eight to eighty. It will lift your spirit and soul to enjoyable levels but, at times, it will also take you on a ride that may drag you down to hell. 

This book is very cool - kids will relate to it on many levels. They will discover a ripping good story behind the book cover. It's very funny and witty - you will find yourself chuckling along to some of the antics from each character. However, it's also sad as well as Will Booth has to come to terms with the death of his father in a fatal car accident. Struggling to come to terms with his life, he has a chance encounter with a mysterious tramp called Ari. Will discovers that Ari is a member of a band of new age travellers - The Watchers - a group of fallen Angels that have been cast out of heaven in the "great war". The characters are very well written and somewhat quirky. 

These angels have been sentenced to travel the earth, making up for their past sins, by helping mankind. However the second band of angels, led by the dark and sinister Lou, bring an evil and cruel element to the story. They devote themselves to causing mischief and have their sights on adding to troubled times for Will and his friends. I loved the idea of 'Hells Angels' being real angels and riding Harley Davidson motorbikes causing mayhem - this was really fun to read. 

I would love for many people to read this book, so you may need to track a copy down.  Philip has a great skill of blending his imagination which he uses to great effect in all his books. He really grounds the story in reality whilst also adding a large dollop of strong idealistic ideas which make the whole story sing. It reads like lightning; it is  an adventure with wings that will keep you entertained throughout the journey. This is a fantastic and memorable piece of fiction which was well worth waiting for. It is one that I hope you will also enjoy.

Be a devil and pick up a copy. Read it and let me know your thoughts.....

 

Published by Fledgling Press (16 Sep 2013)

Book Review: Joe Ducie - The Rig (Published by Hot Key Books)

                           

Joe Ducie's first Young Adult novel was the winner of the Guardian and Hot Key books Young Writers prize in 2012, at the London Book fair. A year on, it has finally been published for all of us lucky people to read. The book cover and the synopsis really intrigued me, so I was really looking forward to reading it.

Normally I read a book in one or two sittings. However, recently, I have been so busy that I've just not had the time to do so. As a result, over the last week or so, this book has been my best friend and the story has been swirling around my head for a little while longer than usual. However I'm really glad that it was this book that was available for me to digest, as I really enjoyed it - it certainly pulled me through my very hectic schedule over the last week. Reading a few stolen chapters here and there, before bedtime, was a real tonic and one that made the story and the characters feel so real. 

Reading this book felt like I was strolling down the road of reality. The timeline to this story was actually quite comparable to the length of time that it took me to read it. The story is told from the perspective of Will Drake who finds himself arriving at yet another Juvenile prison known as the Rig. Stranded in the middle of the freezing Arctic Ocean, every moment is tracked, every door is locked. The challenge is to escape this secure institution which houses some of the worlds worst and most dangerous kids.

The brutality inside this prison is graphic and feels very real through its telling. Drake knows two things: he will have to be tough to survive, and that there is always a way out. I loved the turn of events in this book. The Rig is packed full of dark secrets and fantasy magic that you just don't expect or see coming. It is a great blend of gritty reality and a massive hit of Sci-fi(ish) fantasy which, again, is very unexpected. It certainly gets your imagination fired up and brings a new dimension to the on-going story. 

One of my favourite parts involved the competitive game of rigball. It is a brutal, vicious and physical game which is rather similar to lacrosse. However, the main difference is that both the racquets and the ball are magnetised. Also the ball has to pass between three racquets before a goal can be created and scored. The other side can intercept or steal possession at any point. However, body checking is not only allowed, but encouraged. Hopefully you get the idea that this section reads particularly well and, that to be honest, I really loved this part. 

This is a great debut book published by a major publisher. It is recommended for teenage boys and perhaps even curious teenage girls as well. The book explores friendship and hope as well as being dark and gritty. Certainly some of the very nasty characters create mixed feelings, but will a sense of justice be served up in the end? You'll have to read it to find out!

This is yet another sure fire winner published by Hot Key Books. It is a little reading gem that crosses the genres and feels somewhat different to other books being published at the moment.

Out now in a bookshop near you....... ESCAPE IS IMPOSSIBLE - YOU MAY AS WELL RELENT AND READ THIS BOOK NOW! 

Book Review: John Connolly & Jennifer Ridyard - Conquest ( The Chronicles of the Invaders)

This is the first instalment within the Chronicles of the Invaders series, which has been written by John Connolly and his partner Jennifer Ridyard. It is an epic new science fiction series described by Connolly as "an adventure novel". Inspired by some of John's favourite films such as Ridley Scott's Blade Runner (one of my personal favourites), Alien and Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Never mind the additional influence from the novels of John Wyndham - all of the above might give you a hint and idea of what you may expect. 

This book is an epic 400 page journey of sci-fi goodness that gripped me right until the very last page.  I was really surprised as to how good this book actually was, to be honest. It really was such an amazing read and a fantastic story. The best way to perhaps sum up this book is as follows: Star Trek meets Aliens but set on earth. It is smart, intelligent writing that ticks all the boxes for me. 

There is a strong female and male protagonist which will appeal to all teenagers and adults who love crossover fiction and science fiction. The novel is set at a time when Earth no longer belongs to us; we have been invaded by a slightly more advanced race called the Illyri - a beautiful, civilised yet ruthless alien species.  A small faction of people called the Resistance Leaders wage war on the invaders with dramatic effect. The storyline is set in, and around, Edinburgh castle and the Scottish Highlands which I thought was a fantastic backdrop to an amazing story. 

Full of visual characters (both human and alien) who are all seeking for attention is one great aspect of the book. Whilst another is through the gripping and fascinating dark side which runs throughout the story. Encompassing death and sorrow around every explosive corner as well as featuring some rays of warmth from the sun. The feelings and friendships of the characters struggling to overcome races and cultures are explored sensitively and, in my opinion, hold a very strong key to the plot which really pulls off the stark reality to what occurs in the story. The action-packed, explosive and technical battle scenes will have you in awe; they really are some of the best that I've read within this genre for some time. 

I enjoyed reading this book immensely - the imaginative qualities are on another plateau. I will even go as far to say, that it is out of this world. John and Jennifer are a great writing duo. They have created a book that will definitely be in my top reads for the end of the year. I believe that the sequel will be rocketing onto my wish list once it has been published next year. 

Published by Headline (Hardback) -  26 September 2013

Press Release: New trailer by budding film makers released for Charlie Higson’s The Fallen

New trailer by budding film makers released for Charlie Higson’s The Fallen

Trailer created by winners of unique film making competition

with Penguin Books and the BFI

http://www.the-enemy.co.uk/competitions

·         Over 25’s category, and overall winner: http://youtu.be/87Knn-zJebg

·         Winning trailer in the 16 – 24s category: http://youtu.be/YUE9Gl7JEy0

·         Winning trailer in the under 16s category: http://youtu.be/56tPCoWSmlU

A group of young film making enthusiasts have made the official trailer for Charlie Higson’s new thriller The Fallen, after winning a unique film making competition.  The Fallen is the fifth book in cult thriller series The Enemy and is published by Penguin on Thursday 12 September.

Penguin Books teamed up with the British Film Institute as part of the BFI Gothic: The Dark Heart of Film blockbuster project, which runs until January 2014, to run a unique film making competition to make the official trailer for Higson’s new book.  The competition launched in May and entries equates to hundreds of hours’ worth of blood, sweat and tears, from budding film-makers around the nation.

Author Charlie Higson judged the competition and announced the winner at an event at BFI Southbank, London, on Saturday 7 September.  He said, ‘This was a really professionally made trailer, with particular attention paid to sound and music. It also captures the story and atmosphere of the series well and has some really powerful shots. It will be a great advertisement for The Fallen.’

The trailer can be viewed here, http://www.the-enemy.co.uk/competitions  

The competition was open to all ages, in three different categories - under 16s, 16-24s and 25 year-olds and over.  The best film from each category was chosen by Higson, before the overall winner was selected to become the official trailer for the book.

The winners are a group from the over 25s who made the film on a budget of £300.  It took just over a week and was shot at Kingston University, where one of the group studies.   They had two make-up artists on the team, which was led by 24 year-old James Lee from London. 

He comments, ‘Two of us had worked on a short film a month earlier and were really motivated from that experience. We wanted to work on another film project from the ground up and see what we could do.  It was a great experience but quite intense, as we came to the competition quite late.  Coming up with the idea and script didn't take too long and I tried to write it in a way that would make it easy to create. After working on the project, I'm excited to get my hands on the books and dive into the world Charlie Higson has created. I would definitely do something like this again!’

The winning group is made up of twelve people including James Lee (24).  The others are Saruta Puff Pisanwalerd (25), Poom Saiyavath (25), Carl Ward-Reid (25), Mui Vattanasiriporn (24), Luke Doolin (32), Leanne Alamiri (19), Claudette Fruchier (33), James Pickering (35), Emmett Glynn (22), Maxwell Sweeney (22) and Ed Matthews (30).

In addition to the main prize, the group will also have the chance to meet with industry specialists at the BFI Film Fund.  Each of the category winners gets £350 vouchers for film making equipment, BFI Membership and signed copies of The Enemy series.  In addition, the winners of the 16-24 category, win a mentoring experience with IdeasTap.

The category winners:

Winning trailer in the under 16s category: http://youtu.be/56tPCoWSmlU

A group of twelve children who made their trailer during a BFI Future Film DIY film-making workshop in August, won the under 16s category.  They include Ava Bogdanovic, Luc Dellaway (10), Joe Walker (11), Jamie Moreland (13), Jack Moreland (10), James Rantell (12), Izabelle Chappell (13), Victor Jack (14), Grace and Beth Volante(13),  Bill MacKillop (11) and Fred MacKillop (9).

Charlie said: ‘The trailer really encapsulates what kids love about zombies and the fun they must have had making these films. It was great to see so many trailers with all members of the family getting involved and I think the kids making them must have had a blast being chased around by zombie adults. This trailer also had the added detail of the two little boys remembering how things used to be. The shots of them are really strong and make this video stand out.’

Joe Walker said: ‘I love the books because of the action, suspense and fun. I also liked the children being in control.  Making the trailer was a fantastic experience and overall just a brilliant day. We were so lucky to have professional directors helping us. We learnt so much about filming and make up.  I really hope we do get to meet Charlie Higson, he is so Epic that would definitely be the icing on the cake!’

·         Winning trailer in the 16 – 24s category: http://youtu.be/YUE9Gl7JEy0

The winning film was created by a group led by Samuel de Ceccatty, a 23 year-old French-American living in London. He worked with animator Caroline Landry (22), composer Gaston Ardisson (17) and producer Manon Ardisson (24).

Charlie comments, ‘This was a really strong category with a huge number of entries, so it was very hard to pick an overall winner, but I loved how original and spooky this trailer was – so different to all the others. The clever use of animation and the ghostly figures of the children are very effective and this trailer really sticks in the mind.’ 

Samuel de Ceccatty said: ‘I entered the competition because it combined the two industries I'm interested in: my ambition is to become a film director but I work as a book cover artist.  I'm also really interested in zombies.  The experience was creative and intense! I worked with illustrator Caroline Landry non-stop for two weeks. She designed and animated the characters in photoshop and then I integrated them in photographs I took around London.  I graded the whole film to give it a zombie-like feel.  It was great working with Edward Newgate on the music! He sent me some initial suggestions and then we spent a day tailoring the soundtrack to the trailer.’

Fantastic Four Fantasy Books Published In September 2013 - US Post

                                              

Anne Ursu - The Real Boy - Published by Walden Pond Press (September 24, 2013) - Age 8+

The Real Boy, Anne Ursu’s follow-up to her widely acclaimed and beloved middle-grade fantasy Breadcrumbs, is an unforgettable story of magic, faith, and friendship.

On an island on the edge of an immense sea there is a city, a forest, and a boy named Oscar. Oscar is a shop boy for the most powerful magician in the village, and spends his days in a small room in the dark cellar of his master’s shop grinding herbs and dreaming of the wizards who once lived on the island generations ago. Oscar’s world is small, but he likes it that way. The real world is vast, strange, and unpredictable. And Oscar does not quite fit in it.

But now that world is changing. Children in the city are falling ill, and something sinister lurks in the forest. Oscar has long been content to stay in his small room in the cellar, comforted in the knowledge that the magic that flows from the forest will keep his island safe. Now, even magic may not be enough to save it.

         

Emily Rodda - The Third Door (Golden Door) - Published by Scholastic Press (September 24, 2013) - Age 8+
Three magic Doors are the only way in and out of the walled city of Weld. The golden Door is grand and majestic -- a Door for heroes. The silver Door hints at mystery and knowledge -- a door for schemers. But the plain wooden Door has always held the most appeal for Rye and his friend Sonia. And now, at last, they have the chance to open it.

The city of Weld is under attack by skimmers, flying beasts that terrorize the night. If Rye and Sonia can't discover the enemy sending the skimmers in time, Weld has no hope. Twice before, Rye and Sonia left Weld on a quest to save it. Twice before, they failed.

Now there's just one Door left -- one last chance to save the people of Weld. Rye and Sonia know everything depends on them. But nothing can prepare them for the horror that waits behind the wooden Door.

                            

S. A Bodeen - The Fallout ( The Compound) - Published by Feiwel & Friends (September 24, 2013) - Age 12+ 

Eli and his family lived in an underground shelter they called the Compound for six years. They thought they were the only survivors of a nuclear attack, but when Eli learned that it was all a twisted experiment orchestrated by his tech-visionary father, he broke the family out. His father died trying to keep them imprisoned.

Now, the family must readjust to life in the real world. Their ordeal has made them so famous, they must stay in hiding—everyone from fatalists preparing for doomsday to the tabloid media wants a piece of them. Even worse, their father’s former adviser continues to control the company Eli and his twin brother are the heirs of.

As Eli tries to determine who the family can trust, he learns the nightmare of the Compound—and his father’s experiment—might not be over. The Fallout is S.A. Bodeen's highly anticipated, thrilling sequel that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

                                             

Carey Wallace - The Ghost in the Glass - Published by Clarion Books (September 3, 2013) - Age 12+ 

In a 1920s seaside town, Clare discovers a mysterious glass house in the backyard of her new summer home. There she falls in love with Jack, the ghost of a boy who can’t remember who he was before he died. Their romance is a haven for her from the cruel pranks of her society friends, especially her best friend, Bridget, who can’t wait to grow up and embark on romances of her own. As Clare begins to suspect an affair between her mother and Bridget's father, she retreats to the glass house. But that haven begins to crack when she realizes that Jack has lied to her about his name . . .

From a dazzling and fearless new voice comes a shimmering story full of wonder and mystery, in a world where every character is haunted by lingering ghosts of love.

Book Review: Chris Riddell - Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse

Welcome to Ghastly-Gorm Hall - the home to yet another brilliant read. Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse is one of the best books that I have read by Chris Riddell as a solo writer. It is brilliantly funny and an absolute joy to read.

The first thing that you will notice is how gorgeous this book both looks and feel. There is a great deal of attention to detail which is brilliant to see within this digital era. The hand-held hardback is in the same style as the much loved Ottoline series which was published way back in February 2007. The book will definitely jump off the bookshelves to potential readers through the striking and quirky image of Ada on the front cover. 

Before you even start to read the book, another two aspects that will capture your attention are the iridescent purple page edges and the silver gilt skull motifs on the endpapers. Both of these elements work particularly well, in my opinion. These are definitely the best endpapers that I have seen for a very long time. The silver gilt skull motifs on black paper shine with so much light that you will need sunglasses on just to look at them. They really make the book come alive before you even start to read the fantastic adventure inside. 

When Ada Goth wakes in the night to find the disgruntled ghost of a mouse on her bedroom carpet, she is more intrigued than scared. The mouse, formally known as Ishmael, is rather cross about his ghostly predicament so Ada decides to befriend him. In a house where it is believed that little girls should be heard not seen, which means Ada has to walk round Ghastly-Gorm Hall with large oversize boots, a whim of her eccentric father Lord Goth. 

Whilst exploring the mysterious halls and winding corridors, Ada and Ishmael uncover a dastardly plot to sabotage her father's annual Metaphorical Bike Race and Indoor Hunt. 

As you follow Ada and the Ghost mouse through this tale you will be both enchanted and delighted in this family adventure. It is a perfect book to read to your children - the fantastic pen/pencil detailed images scattered throughout this beautiful book add another outstanding level of fantasy to enhance the story.

Chris Riddell has excelled himself with this book. It is a witty homage to some of the most famous literary classics, which have allowed him to run riot with his spectacular ideas. It is a warm, funny and highly imaginative tale of courage, friendship and loyalty. All of which have been told in a deliciously dark and gothic way. What more could you want? Well there is a little bonus at the end, but I shall say no more!

We need many more books like this.........

Published by Macmillan Children's Books in Hardback on 12th September 2013

New Book Picks - Published September 2013 - US Post One

                                      

Brandon Sanderson - Steelheart - Published by Delacorte Press - 24, September - 2013  - Age 12+
Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics.

But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his wills. 

Nobody fights the Epics . . . nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them.

And David wants in. He wants Steelheart—the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David's father. For years, like the Reckoners, David's been studying, and planning—and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience. 

He's seen Steelheart bleed. And he wants revenge.
                                              

Robin Mckinley - Shadows - Published by Nancy Paulsen Books - 26, September 2013  - Age 12+

Maggie knows something’s off about Val, her mom’s new husband. Val is from Oldworld, where they still use magic, and he won’t have any tech in his office-shed behind the house. But—more importantly—what are the huge, horrible, jagged, jumpy shadows following him around? Magic is illegal in Newworld, which is all about science. The magic-carrying gene was disabled two generations ago, back when Maggie’s great-grandmother was a notable magician. But that was a long time ago.
 
Then Maggie meets Casimir, the most beautiful boy she has ever seen. He’s from Oldworld too—and he’s heard of Maggie’s stepfather, and has a guess about Val’s shadows. Maggie doesn’t want to know . . . until earth-shattering events force her to depend on Val and his shadows. And perhaps on her own heritage.
 
In this dangerously unstable world, neither science nor magic has the necessary answers, but a truce between them is impossible. And although the two are supposed to be incompatible, Maggie’s discovering the world will need both to survive.
                                

Roland Smith - Chupacabra - Published by Scholastic Press 24, September  2013 - Age 8+

Monsters of legend come to life! The third thrilling title in Roland Smith's popular Cryptid Hunters series.

A mysterious creature, a missing girl, and danger at every turn . . .

CHUPACABRA, the riveting sequel to TENTACLES and CRYPTID HUNTERS, reunites Marty and his unusual uncle, cryptozoologist Travis Wolfe, as they search the world for Wolfe's daughter, Grace. Grace has been kidnapped by her grandfather, the ruthless and dangerous Noah Blackwood, who has also stolen the two dinosaur hatchlings Wolfe was raising in secrecy. Now, with word that the mysterious creature known as Chupacabra has been sighted again, Wolfe is torn between his obsession with finding cryptids and his desperate need to rescue his daughter. With trouble at every turn and a dangerous journey ahead, will Marty and Wolfe come face-to-face with the mythic monster? Even more frightening, will they reach Grace before it's too late?

New Children's Books Published September 2013 - UK

                                     

Neil Gaiman & Chris Riddell - Fortunately, the Milk - Published by Bloomsbury -17,  Sep 2013

You know what it’s like when your mum goes away on a business trip and Dad’s in charge. She leaves a really, really long list of what he’s got to do. And the most important thing is DON’T FORGET TO GET THE MILK. Unfortunately, Dad forgets. So the next morning, before breakfast, he has to go to the corner shop, and this is the story of why it takes him a very, very long time to get back.

Featuring: Professor Steg (a time-travelling dinosaur), some green globby things, the Queen of the Pirates, the famed jewel that is the Eye of Splod, some wumpires, and a perfectly normal but very important carton of milk.

                                  

Joseph Delaney - The Ghost Prison - Published by Andersen - 5, Sep 2013

This is the entrance to the Witch Well and behind that door you'd face your worst nightmare. Don't ever go through there.'

Night falls, the portcullis rises in the moonlight, and young Billy starts his first night as a prison guard. But this is no ordinary prison. There are haunted cells that can't be used, whispers and cries in the night . . . and the dreaded Witch Well. Billy is warned to stay away from the prisoner down in the Witch Well. But who could it be? What prisoner could be so frightening? Billy is about to find out . . .

                                   

Andrew Lane - Young Sherlock Holmes: Knife Edge - Published by Macmillan Children's Books - 12, Sep 2013

Something sinister is afoot in the house in the west of Ireland in which Sherlock is staying. There are frightened whisperings among the servants and the house's owners are clearly scared. But who - or what? - has terrified them so much that nobody will speak out? Young Sherlock must bring all his powers of deduction to unravelling his greatest mystery yet. Another fast-paced, brilliantly plotted adventure as teenage Sherlock investigates a new crime and comes up against a fresh crop of sinister, clever criminals.

Philip Reeve & Sarah McIntyre  - Oliver and the Seawigs - Published by OUP Oxford -5, Sep 2013

Oliver grew up in a family of explorers - but his biggest adventure is about to begin! Along with his new friends, a grumpy old albatross, a short-sighted mermaid and a friendly island called Cliff, Oliver goes off in search of his missing parents. But before he can put his rescue plan into action there's the evil Stacey de Lacey and an army of greasy, green sea monkeys to contend with . . .