Sam Osman - Quicksilver - Book Review - Jan 2010

Mr Ripley's Book Review

I last mentioned this book in December 2008 and was particularly looking forward to reading it. Now it's 2009 and I have just been sent a copy to read, but I must say it has been worth the wait. Perhaps when I mention that the book has been longlisted for the Waterstone's Book Prize 2010 and has a great chance of success, you'll begin to realise its full potential. The story flows really well following the mysterious adventure of three children, who have been brought together by circumstances out of their control. The children find links with each other and their lives, and these discoveries eventually drive them to an ancient thousand-year-old prophesy which has them on a epic course of discovery. It's an epic fantasy novel inspired by the earth's ancient leylines. The author has a great narrative voice in telling both the story and character dialogue. The historical inter-twining of the ancient past works particularly well to develop realistic events.The plot feels and is original, which can be hard to find in books these days.The further you read into the story, the faster you turn the pages wanting to uncover the untold history and understand the complex system of our planet whilst still engaging with the children and their adventures. This is an outstanding read which will have every reader gripped to the end. I give this book five out of five - a great ending with lots to keep the reader entertained. I am looking forward to the next book by this exciting new author.

Book to be published by Marion LLoyd Books 4 January 2010 (An older book cover I had back in Dec 2008. Which one do you like the most?)

SYNOPSIS
Dark powers from the past are searching for three extraordinary chilren... Wolfie, Tala and Zi'ib were born on the same day on opposite sides of the world. They are brought together by astonishing coincidence - or so it seems. But only they can fulfil an ancient prophecy - and find a treasure of incalculable power. Can the mysterious energies that flow through the Earth's prehistoric leylines be controlling their lives? And will they discover the chilling truth of who they really are?

Book cover wars update

Thanks to everyone who took time to vote and what a battle it was! This battle actually amounted in the most number of votes and entries for a bookcover, so far. I have now emailed the winner of the book competition, they're the lucky owner of a signed and lined Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve. I will send it out once I have the address details.

We now have four bookcover winners who willl do battle in the final, which will be Monday 2nd November. Good luck to the winners who are Steve Feasey - Changeling, Tracey & Kevin Morley  - Unravellers, David Whitley - The Midnight Charter (U.S cover) and the last bookcover winner, Jon Mayhew - Mortlock.

Cherie Priest - Boneshaker - (A Steampunk Adventure) Book Review

Mr Ripley's Book Review

This is a new author to me and I was interested to read the book after visiting another website. The synopsis sounded very good and I loved the last 'SteamPunk' adventure I read.

The book is set in the civil war period where a machine goes on a malfunction underground rampage and brings down Seattle's Banking District, causing mass destruction. In the process it uncovers a vein of 'Blight Gas' which turns everyone who breathes it into the living-dead; intent on killing and eating human flesh. A great build-up to some magical 'SteamPunk' adventure. 

The world Cherie has depicted is one of immense quality and every page read leaves you wanting more. This is a boneshaker of a ride with airships, Zombies and colourful characters that are all well written. The gruesome and gory scenes are depicted realistically and in a terrifying way. 

It's fast paced with lots of action, it has great imagination and I really recommend this book to older readers who might be seeking another outing in the fantasy world of Steampunk. I give this book five out of five - a darn skippy read!

Cherie has a second novel in the series entitled 'Dreadnought' which is coming in 2010 with Tor. Also to come is Clementine which is expected to be published by Subterranean Press 2010.

To find more about the author and her books please take a look at her web site. cmpriest.livejournal.com.

Also you may want to try Paolo Bacigalupi - The Windup Girl published by Night Shade Books (September 15, 2009)

Book Synopsis
In the early days of the Civil War, rumors of gold in the frozen Klondike brought hordes of newcomers to the Pacific Northwest. Anxious to compete, Russian prospectors commissioned inventor Leviticus Blue to create a great machine that could mine through Alaska’s ice. Thus was Dr. Blue’s Incredible Bone-Shaking Drill Engine born.

But on its first test run the Boneshaker went terribly awry, destroying several blocks of downtown Seattle and unearthing a subterranean vein of blight gas that turned anyone who breathed it into the living dead.

Now it is sixteen years later, and a wall has been built to enclose the devastated and toxic city. Just beyond it lives Blue’s widow, Briar Wilkes. Life is hard with a ruined reputation and a teenaged boy to support, but she and Ezekiel are managing. Until Ezekiel undertakes a secret crusade to rewrite history.

His quest will take him under the wall and into a city teeming with ravenous undead, air pirates, criminal overlords, and heavily armed refugees. And only Briar can bring him out alive.

Book Wars Week Four - Plus New Book Prize - Philip Reeve - Fever Crumb

Thanks for all of your votes last week it was a great battle, which finally decided on another winner - David Whitley - The Midnight Charter - U.S Book cover edition.  This now finds its way into the final with Steve Feasey's - Changeling and Tracey and Kevin Morley's - Unravellers. However we now have four more fresh book covers for you to vote for and then the final for all four heat winners.
Thanks for all of your votes last week which finally decided on another winner - Tracey + Ken Morley - Unravellers. This now finds its way into the final with Steve Feasey's - Changeling. However we now have four more fresh book covers for you to vote for.

Thanks to our last lucky winner, your book is on its way to you. Hope you enjoy it!


This weeks book-give-away is a signed lined and dated copy of Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve. All you have to do, to have a chance to win, is to vote and leave a comment on this post, email me or send a message to me via Twitter. I will then put you into The Mr Ripley's Random Hat where a lucky winner will be plucked out at random once the poll has closed. This competition is open to worldwide entries.

Thanks to our last lucky winner, your book is on its way to you. Hope you enjoy it!




Book One is Jon Mayhew - Mortlock - U.K Cover

Book Two is Frank Beddor - The Looking Glass Wars - Arch Enemy - U.S Cover

Book Three is Brandon Sanderson - Alcatraz v The Knights of Cyrstallia - U.S Cover

Book Four is Tommy Donbavand - Scream Street - Invasion of the Normals - U.K Cover

Rick Yancey - The Monstrumologist: The Terror Beneath - Book Review And Trailer

Mr Ripley's Book Review
Yancey Rick takes us into the world of the unknown and manages to scare the pants off us at the same time! This gruesome Gothic-horror tale of flesh-eating creatures, which are depicted throughout the book, sets the mood of the story particularly well. The adventure starts and quickly sets the tone of the book in the first few chapters. Will Henry (assistant to a doctor) whose speciality is monster-hunting and the study of other such like creatures; late one night becomes embroiled with a mystery corpse - brought to the doctor's house by Erasmus Gray, a local misfit. The scene is then set as the young doctor and his assistant spend the night in the basement, cutting up the specimen known as an Anthropophagi - a headless monster that feeds through the mouthfuls of teeth in his chest. The story then takes the reader on a macabre but very well written journey that is not for the faint hearted!
The author has a very adept way with words, writing an intelligent story - full of great description and yet still with the imagination of a killer zombie army! This is one of the best books written in this genre that I've read for along time, making my blood trickle and bones crunch. Five out of five for an epic tale of monstrous, horrific proportions. A very thrilling read and with another book to be published in the future, only the start of an epic series. This book comes with a 13+ guidance rating - so be warned.

Published by Simon And Schuster 1 October 2009



Synopsis
Will Henry is an assistant to a doctor with a most unusual speciality: monster hunting! In the short time he has lived with the doctor, Will has grown used to late night callers and dangerous business. But when one visitor comes with the body of a young girl and the monster that was feeding on her, Will's world changes forever. The doctor has discovered a baby Anthropophagi - a headless monster that feeds through the mouthfuls of teeth in its chest - and it signals a growing number of Anthropophagi. Now, Will and the doctor must face the horror threatening to consume our world and find the rest of the monsters before it is too late...

Book Cover Wars Week Three - Plus Book Competition - Charlie Higson - The Enemy

Thanks for all of your votes last week which finally decided on another winner - Tracey + Ken Morley - Unravellers. This now finds its way into the final with Steve Feasey's - Changeling. However we now have four more fresh book covers for you to vote for.

This weeks book-give-away is a signed copy of Charlie Higson's new book The Enemy plus I'm going to throw in some additional promotional items to accompany the book. All you have to do, to have a chance to win, is to vote and leave a comment on this post, email me or send a message to me via Twitter. I will then put you into The Mr Ripley's Random Hat where a lucky winner will be plucked out at random once the poll has closed. This competition is open to worldwide entries.

Thanks to our last lucky winner, your book is on its way to you. Hope you enjoy it!

Book One - Ian Beck - Pastworld

Book Two - David Whitley - The Midnight Charter - U.S Book Cover

Book Three - Barry Hutchison - Invisible Fiends

Book Four - Steve Augarde - X Isle

Malcolm Rose - Forbidden Island - Book Review

Mr Ripley's Book Review This book worked really well - taking a child like vision of a secret, undiscovered island and the enchanted magic that it brings. The children embark on a great adventure until it all goes horribly wrong. They set sail in a small boat, finding a small island off the Scottish coast that doesn't appear to exist on any map. The story trail then leads to amazing findings, giving the story a severe and realistic feel. Emotions run high as the stakes increase uncovering more underlying plot themes. The dialogue flows really well and the story uses real-life facts to enhance the narrative. It's a gripping novel in a world of conspiracy and cover-ups. The ending is unexpected and leaves an everlasting impression on the reader. A great quick read, I look forward to reading more of his books. I give this book three out of five,I found the story lacking in detail and the book could of used alot more pages to do this story justice. Book published by Usborne publishing Ltd - 29 May 2009

About the book

Mike and his four friends ignore the clear warning sign. They decide to explore the mysterious island that doesn’t appear on any map. Not realizing how dangerous it will turn out to be, they stumble across a deadly secret. Alone and stranded on the island, they become the next victims of its terrible history.

It’s a world of conspiracies and cover-ups, twists and turns, revelations, and some shocking science.

‘This compact, tense and gripping story begins like an adventure for readers of eleven or so, but its serious political themes, moral dilemmas and physical outcomes make it best suited to a teenage readership. Although the cause of the danger lies 70 years ago, it is the behaviour of present-day security services and the government which drives the story, and makes it highly topical in a society where the balance between national security and individual rights and freedoms is a living issue. Forbidden Island is a very good thriller, fast-moving and highly readable. It is also a thoughtful and effective parable of modern Britain.’ Books for Keeps.

‘What starts as a traditional adventure story - four wealthy kids go out on their boat and discover an island unmarked on their maps - soon develops into a much more complex and chilling thriller. The island where the teenagers become stranded after a helicopter destroys their boat is contaminated - and if they don't escape they will die. Based on the true story of Gruinard island off Scotland, this pacy read asks uncomfortable questions.

About the author
I  began writing stories while I was carrying out research at York for my DPhil degree in chemistry. Writing became a means of escape from everyday life. While I was at York, my then girlfriend (now wife) read my efforts and commented that I ought to try and get something published. I had never thought of writing as anything other than a hobby. Besides, as I thought then, a budding chemist couldn’t possibly be any good at it! Anyway, I joined a writers’ club to find out how to submit a manuscript to a publisher and, to cut a long story short, found a publisher in William Collins for my first novel, Rift.

Pat Walsh - The Crowfield Curse - Book Review

Mr Ripley's Book Review
I love the mix of subjects which the author has used to make this story a really good read. S/he has delved into the world of monks, angels, fays, magic and the great character of Master Bone (a cursed leper). The author manages to weave all of these aspects into a traditional-type spun story, which I believe is written incredibly well. The story is original, with the added religious and dark magic theme, giving the story depth and ambience. The book was actually short-listed for the Time's Children's Competition in 2008, which just shows how good it is.
It is a gripping read, taking you on an adventure which is truly wonderful and thoughtfully executed. I had to put the book down now and again (unfortunately the reality of life and work took over) but every time I left it I wanted to know more, and got excited about finding out what was going to happen next. A stunning read with the use of a great deal of memorable detail. The ending of the book was particularly good, leaving it open for the next installment which I look forward to reading.
I give this book four out of five, only because I believe that book 2 will deliver even greater things. I wonder if it has been started yet? Can't wait to read it!


Book Published by Chicken House -  1st January 2010


Synopsis
It's 1347 and fifteen-year-old Will, an orphan boy, lives at Crowfield Abbey. Sent into the forest to gather wood, he rescues instead, a creature from a trap - a hob, who shares with Will a terrible secret. Somewhere in the forest behind the abbey where he lives,is a grave. And buried deep in the snow is an angel. But how can an angel die? What has it to do with the monks of the Abbey? When two hooded strangers arrive at Crowfield asking questions about the angel's grave. Will is drawn into a world of dangerous Old Magic. The Crowfield Feather was short-listed for the Times Chidren's Fiction Competition in 2008. This is a stunning debut novel and the first of a two part series.

Wayne Thomas Baston and Christopher Hopper - The Berinfell Prophecies - Curse of the Spider King

This looks like a great book and I am looking forward to it's release date.

About the Book:

The Seven succeeding Elven Lords of Allyra were dead, lost in the Siege of Berinfell as babes. At least that’s what everyone thought until tremors from a distant world known as Earth, revealed strange signs that Elven blood lived among its peoples. With a glimmer of hope in their hearts, sentinels are sent to see if the signs are true. But theirs is not a lone errand. The ruling warlord of Allyra, the Spider King, has sent his own scouts to hunt down the Seven and finish the job they failed to complete many ages ago.

Now 13-year-olds on the brink of the Age of Reckoning when their Elven gifts will be manifest, discover the unthinkable truth that their adoptive families are not their only kin. With mysterious Sentinels revealing breathtaking secrets of the past, and dark strangers haunting their every move, will the young Elf Lords find the way back to the home of their birth? Worlds and races collide as the forces of good and evil battle. Will anyone escape the Curse of the Spider King?

Book published by Thomas Nelson November 3, 2009

Learn more about The Berinfell Prophecies at www.heedtheprophecies.wordpress.com.  Create your own tribe.  Connect with fans through the forum.  Win pre-release chapters and the opportunity to have Wayne and Christopher at your very own book party!

New books out in November 2009

These are some of the best picks due to come out in the very quiet month of November. I find that near the festive time there are less quality reads and more novelty books or books to give as presents.

Jeanette Winterson - The Battle of the Sun - Published by Bloomsbury 2 Nov 2009 - H/B


Synopsis
Jack is the chosen one, the Radiant Boy the Magus needs in order to perfect the alchemy that will transform London of the 1600s into a golden city. But Jack isn't the kind of boy who will do what he is told by an evil genius, and he is soon involved in an epic and nail-biting adventure, featuring dragons, knights and Queen Elizabeth I, as he battles to save London. 


Chris Ryan - Battleground(Code Red) - Published by Doubleday 5 Nov 2009 - H/B


Synopsis
You wake up in a dark room with no idea where you are. You are gagged and forced into a waiting truck. You have done nothing wrong. What would you do? Fourteen-year-old Ben travels to Pakistan on a school exchange programme. Ben and his Pakistani host, Aarya, find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. They see something they're not supposed to and are kidnapped by some strange men. Caught up in a terrifying planned terrorist attack that could destroy Southern Afghanistan, killing thousands, Ben and Aarya are dragged through the most terrifying battleground in the world. 


Barbara Mitchelhill - Dangerous Diamonds - Anderson Press 5 Nov 2009 - P/B


Synopsis
When Dad goes missing, twins Harry and Charlie scour Edinburgh to find him. But why are others determined to stop them? And how is a strange wooden box linked to his disappearance? The twins soon find they are in terrible danger but push themselves to the limits in their attempt to outwit those who are holding their father. 


Anthony Horowitz - Crocodile Tears(Alex Rider) - Published by Walker Books- 12 Nov 2009


Synopsis
Targeted by a hitman and under threat of his past being exposed by the media, Alex reluctantly turns to MI6. But their help doesn't come cheap: they need Alex to spy on the activities at a GM crop plant. There he spots Desmond McCain, a high profile charity organiser, who realises that Alex is on to him and the real plans for the money he's raising. Kidnapped and whisked off to Africa, Alex learns the full horror of McCain's plot: to create an epic disaster that will kill millions. Forced to ask MI6 for protection, Alex finds himself being manipulated in a deadly game that could lead to the destruction of an entire East African country.





Mr Ripley's pick of the month book.


Dave Steven's - The Rocketeer:The Complete Deluxe Edition - Published by IDW Publishing - 11 Nov - H/C


Synopsis
The phenomenally popular Rocketeer by the legendary Dave Stevens is collected in its entirety for the first time as an oversized hardcover, in a beautiful slipcase, including hundreds of never-before-seen Rocketeer drawings and preliminaries by Dave Stevens! This impressive collection combines The Rocketeer and The Rocketeer: Cliff's New York Adventure into a single volume, completely re-colored, as per Dave Stevens' wishes, by renowned colorist Laura Martin. The best possible reproduction and the highest production values will ensure that this is the definitive Rocketeer collection. Additionally, hundreds of drawings, sketches, and preliminaries by Dave Stevens, nearly all published here for the very first time, will make this a very special book.

Book Cover Wars Week Two - plus prize book to lucky voter

Hello all,

The winner of week one was Steve Feasey - Changeling - well done and see you in the final!

Win a great prize - read on!
To get more people to vote this time we are going to give away a special copy of Caro King's book "Seven Sorcerers". The book has been signed, lined and dated by the author. All you need to do is vote for your favourite book and leave your name in the comments box of this post, or you can send a direct mail via Twitter and I will pick one lucky person at random. Good luck all and start the voting.

Book One is - Tracey and Kevin Morley - The Unravellers UK

Book Two is Brandon Mull - Fablehaven - US Cover

Book Three is Caro King - Seven Sorcerers - UK Cover

Book Four is Scott Westerfeld - Leviathan - UK Cover