Mr Ripley's Book Review: Roy Gill - Werewolf Parallel - Published by KelpiesTeen (Plus Book Giveaway)

I first discovered Scotland's dark side when reading Roy Gill's Daemon Parallel about two years ago. This was a truly brilliant read that I thoroughly enjoyed. In fact, the book made my list of favourites back in 2012. Since that time I have been eagerly waiting for the sequel and finally it has arrived. 

With the recent launch of Kelpies Teen, this book is one of four due to be released in March. A revamped version of the cover of Daemon Parallel, with it's bright red glowing eyes beaming daemonically at you, is quite different to the original version. This is in-line with the current sequel, Werewolf Parallel, which has a very similar cover style but in green.  Now that the anticipation is over and the book has been read, the question has to be . . . .  was it worth the long wait?

The opportunity to run with the pack again in another heart pumping adventure has been fantastic. I raced through the Parallel world turning the pages like a Daemon riding the Janus express train. The imagination Roy has applied to this instalment left me running wild through the Scottish countryside. Although, the next time that I walk down Princess street or Leith walk, my fantasy side will turn to the adventures in this book. I know that I will be making connections with elements of the story which, to me, shows that the story has really engaged with me on many levels. 

I will be running away from the malevolent beast known as Mr Grey, who has arms that endlessly stretch, as if they are continually growing and not to tickle you with! His fingers are waiting to strike you down whilst his sidekick, Mr Black, watches over you.  They are planning to destroy the Parallel - the realm between worlds which is populated by daemons, dark fantastical creatures, old gods and werewolves - and everyone in it. The sinister plot that is afoot makes for a very interesting and imaginative story. The book definitely reads with a distinctive older feel, as it's now aimed at the teen market. However, I still feel that this book will be loved by younger people as well as the older population, like myself!

This book is action packed with a pulsating adventure. It has a big wolf heart at the very core. Flowing with Scottish charm, this story has everything from spine tingling moments to emotional character enlightenment. It is difficult not to become wrapped up in the whole essence of the story and, before you know it, to be wolfing down each word. 

This is definitely a recommended read. By the light of the full moon, this story is both captivating and thrilling. I am looking forward to reading, what I hope will be, another exciting encounter. 

I will be giving away a copy of the Daemon Parallel on Twitter/ Facebook. All that you need to do is like my new Facebook page and comment on this review post at https://www.facebook.com/MrRipleyspage or retweet and follow me on Twitter,  @Enchantedbooks. Apologies but this is only open to the UK due to postage costs. Closing date is Tuesday 1st April 2014. 

Curtis Jobling - Wereworld: Rage of Lions Book Trailer

                                

• Pages - 432
• Published By Puffin
• Date -  7 July 
• Age - 11+
• Isbn - 978-0141333403 

Young werewolf Drew Ferran is the future king of Westland. He has the makings of a great warrior - but first he must master the blade and the beast. When Lady Gretchen is abducted by the Werelion Prince Lucas, Drew and his friends embark on a perilous chase to stop the prince fleeing to his homeland of Bast. As Drew encounters terrifying new Werelords along the way, he is led to the exotic city of Cape Gala, where the forces of Onyx, the Beast of Bast, await. Now Drew must summon all of his courage and strength - because the Catlords are ready to attack...

Steve Feasey - Changeling:The Demon Games - Book Review

                                   
I am reading this book some time later than expected, as the very nice people at MacMillan publishers have tried to send me this book on a number of occasions. However, the Demon, who I believe could be disguised as my postman, appears to like to run off with every copy. Finally, I got my hands on this book a couple of weeks ago and am now able to express my initial thoughts . . . . . . .

This is book four in the series from the ever growing talent of Mr Feasey, who certainly grasps the concept of writing good horror books for the younger generation. These are books that your mum and dad would be too scared to read. However, for the younger generation they are fun and gripping, although the fun part involves being totally frightened out of your skin. Every book that he writes evolves into an epic adventure that we find ourselves involved in, yet he still manages to keep the story feeling fresh and crisp.

This book is definitely about the plot - it shifts perspective in so many different ways and follows many characters by threading them together to produce a really captivating read. His imagination is growing and developing within each book. He really does have the ability to write imaginatively and still make it work.

Teenage werewolf Trey is facing the most important and dangerous mission of his life. He must journey into the dark Netherworld and rescue Alexa, daughter of his vampire guardian Lucien, who is being held hostage by a powerful demon lord. But strength and courage alone are not enough to succeed – instead Trey must ‘win’ both their freedoms by participating in a death-match against his deadliest nemesis yet. The forces of evil are stacked against him and Trey can only be certain of one thing . . . one of them WILL die.

I really enjoyed and appreciated the narrative development of Caliban the Vampire through his attempt to bring back the powerful sorceress - Helde 'Queen of the Dead'. This part of the story had me gripped, I really loved it. Another equally brilliant part involved the character Shentob, who again, is fantastically written. I was instantly drawn to his role in the book and the relationship played out between Trey and Shentob. This brought out an emotional side to the story, especially when Trey was fighting in the Demon Games, where the outcome was inevitably going to be in death.

The only downside to this book was that it had a really abrupt ending. This is partly due to the fact that the final part of the story was told after the events had actually happened and not as they were happening. However, we are now set up for the final book in this great series as the next book to be released is Zombie Dawn, which has the best book cover so far. Take a peek at it. Zombie Dawn- Book Cover.  I am looking forward to this next book as the story is coming to a big climax, however I will be sad to see the end of this series.

Steve Feasey Changeling

In this last week I have probably read the best debut books to be released in 2009 so far. That has made it a special week for me. So I'd like say to thank you to Michelle Harrison and Steve Feasey, for writing two such great stories.

Review

Steve has many big acts to follow in this genre of writing. But I think he's produced a great debut book. With a fresh imaginative story encompassing Vampires, Werewolves, Demons, Djins, Sorcerers and a Serial Shopper! It is an action packed mission; lots of fire power with good pace which leaves it set for the next book. This book should appeal to Darren Shan and Dean Vincent Carter fans and indeed give them a run for their money - so watch out. I have to say that I read this book in one sitting; from cover to cover and with great pleasure. This book gets five out of five, well done Steve!!



About the author.

He was born and raised on a council-estate in Hertfordshire, England. At the time he hated living there.He Say's in retrospect, I think that it gave me a good grounding in life that I may not have experienced if I had had a more privileged upbringing. There is something to be said about growing up in a tough environment.

Synopsis

Trey thought he was an ordinary teenager. Then he meets a mysterious stranger, Lucien Charron - luminously pale, oddly powerful, with eyes that seem flecked with fire and skin that blisters in sunlight. Somehow Trey finds himself in a luxury London penthouse, like a Bond villain's lair. It's the heart of a sinister empire, built on the powers of the netherworld - werewolves, vampires, sorcerers, and djinns. And Trey himself has a power that's roaring to break free. Is he a boy or is he a beast?



Changeling is published by Macmillan Children's Books out Jan 2 2009