Mr Ripley's Book Cover Wars 2012 - Heat 2 of 4 Plus Competition - Jonathan Maberry Proof

You have, yet again, entered Mr Ripley's Book Cover Wars.......

Heat one has just recently come to an end. The runner-way winner was Ransom Rigg's book cover for 'Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children'. This cover received 104 votes out of the 217 votes that were cast. Therefore, as a worthy winner, it now finds itself in the final.

For any new or existing follower of this site this is the chance for you to become part of the weekly book cover wars. Each week (for the next 3 weeks) I am going to select four book covers for you to vote from. The winner of each heat will then go forward to the final round and get a chance to be crowned as 'Mr Ripley's Enchanted Book Cover Winner 2011'.

As a voter not only will you get the chance to choose your favourite book cover, but you will also be in with the chance to win a different special book each week.

The book competition winner from last week was picked at random by Sarwat Chadda to win a copy of his new proof "The Ash Mistry Chronicles". The lucky winner is Pagecrawler - I will be in touch with you for your postal details. Hope you enjoy reading it.

In order to kick off the competition this week we have an amazing US book proof by Jonathan Maberry called Dead of the Night, which is a great read and is due out early November. 

If you are interested in voting for a book cover and being in with a chance to win a book then all you need to do is: 

• Vote for your favourite book cover using the poll (see top of the page)
• Leave a comment through this post 
• Sit back, watch the voting develop and wait to hear whether you've won (once the poll has closed). Please note that this competition is open Worldwide.

So here are the four book covers to vote for:

                                        

Book One - Jon Mayhew - The BoneHill Curse - Published by Bloomsbury -  May 2012

                               

Book Two - Derek Landy - Scepter of the Ancients - US book cover - Published by HarperCollins - 2012

                                                                                                             

Book Three - Che Golden -  The Feral Child - Published by Quercus

Publishing - 5 Jan 2012

                           

                           

Book Four - Conrad Mason - The Demon's Watch - Published by David Fickling -  March 2012

 

Happy Voting,may the best book cover win!

One to Watch: James Bartholomeusz - The White Fox

James Bartholomeusz lives in Hertfordshire, England, with his parents and two brothers, but is currently studying English Literature at the University of Exeter. When not reading or writing, he enjoys films and British comedy. He’s also interested in politics. His first young-adult novel, The White Fox, is published in December 2011 by Medallion Press, with two more in the same series to follow.

 

By all accounts, Jack Lawson was a normal British teenager. He had few friends, no love life, and a horde of embittered teachers who seemed to be after his blood on a regular basis. In his Birchford home, a centuries old overflow prison–turned–orphanage, life was excruciatingly mundane.Then came the Cult of Dionysus, a sect of sorcerers at the head of an encroaching Darkness.Then an old friend back from the dead.

And then the white fox.

Suddenly life wasn’t so mundane anymore.

New Books: Published November 2011 - UK

                                 

Christopher Paolini - Inheritance: Inheritance Cycle, Book 4 - Published by Doubleday - 8 Nov - 2011

Not so very long ago, Eragon - Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider - was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now, the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders.

Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chances.

The Rider and his dragon have come farther than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaësia? And if so, at what cost?

Featuring spectacular artwork by cult artist John Jude Palencar, this stunning book brings the bestselling Inheritance cycle to a breathtaking conclusion.

                                  

Joanne Harris - Runelight - Published by Doubleday - 3 Nov 2011

The squabbling Norse gods and goddesses of Runemarks are back! And there's a feisty new heroine on the scene: Maggie, a girl the same age as Maddy but brought up a world apart - literally, in World's End, the focus of the Order in which Maddy was raised. Now the Order is destroyed, Chaos is filling the vacuum left behind... and is breaching the everyday world.

A chilling prophecy from the Oracle. A conflict between two girls. And with just twelve days to stave off the Apocalypse, carnage is about to be unleashed . . .

                                         

                                          

Jasper Fforde - The Song of the Quarkbeast: A Last Dragonslayer Novel - Published by Hodder & Stoughton - 10 Nov 2011
A long time ago magic faded away, leaving behind only yo-yos, the extremely useful compass-pointing-to-North enchantment and the spell that keep bicycles from falling over.

Things are about to change. Magical power is on the rise and King Snodd IV of Hereford has realised that he who controls magic controls almost anything. One person stands between Snodd and his plans for power and riches beyond the wildest dreams of avarice.

Meet Jennifer Strange, sixteen-year-old acting manager of Kazam, the employment agency for sorcerers and soothsayers.

With only one functioning wizard and her faithful assistant 'Tiger' Prawns, Jennifer must use every ounce of ingenuity to derail King Snodd's plans. It may involve a trip on a magic carpet at the speed of sound to the Troll Wall, the mysterious Transient Moose, and a powerless sorceress named Once Magnificent Boo.

But one thing is certain: Jennifer Strange will not relinquish the noble powers of magic to big business and commerce without a fight.

John Flanagan - Brotherband:The Outcasts - Published by Bodley Head - 3 Nov 201

There is only one way to become a warrior.

Boys are chosen for teams called Brotherbands and must endure months of gruelling battles in the treacherous sea.

Hal finds himself the unwilling leader of a band of outcasts, the boys that no one wants. They are small and wiry but what they lack in size, they make up with skill and courage. Now they must battle against the other bands in the ultimate race where there can only be one winner.

The icy waters make the sea a deadly playing field. Especially when - for some - this is anything but a game...

                                    

Ian Beck - The Haunting of Charity Delafield - Published by Bodley Head - 3 Nov 2011

A magical, enchanting tale, with stunning illustrations that will transport you into another world.

Flame-haired Charity Delafield has grown up in a vast, isolated house - most of which she is forbidden to explore - with her fiercely strict father. With only her kindly nurse, Rose, and her cat Mr Tompkins for company, she knows very little of the outside world - or of her own family's shadowy past. What she does know is that she is NEVER to go outside unsupervised. And she is NEVER to over-excite herself, because of the mysterious 'condition' that she has been told she suffers from.

But Charity has a secret. All her life, she has had the same strange dream - a dream of a dark corridor, hidden somewhere in the house. Then, one day, Charity stumbles across the corridor. It leads to a door . . . and suddenly she realises things are not quite what they seem.

The History Keepers by Damian Dibben - The Online Character Generator Game

Time for a New Hero: As Harry Potter hangs up his wand, a new series looks set to take young readers by storm - The History Keepers

A debut novel - The History Keepers: The Storm Begins - has been caught in a rights frenzy ahead of its UK launch this autumn. Featuring Jake Djones, the unwitting young hero for a new generation, the book is the first in a series from screenwriter-turned-novelist Damian Dibben. With foreign rights snapped up in 22 languages and over 30 territories so far and a film optioned by Working Title (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Shaun Of The Dead), The History Keepers is set to be the next phenomenon in crossover fiction.

For your website, we have crafted a History Keepers online character generator game as a fun way for young readers to engage with this new fiction series.  You can choose which era you travel back to and what type of hero you want to become before uploading an image of yourself.  Share the results - a picture of yourself as a Roman soldier or Aztec princess - with friends.  The online game is free and available at: http://thehistorykeepers.com/blog/?page_id=397

The History Keepers

When Jake is kidnapped by strangers on a stormy London night he discovers his loving parents have been leading a double life and are now missing, lost somewhere in history. He is plunged into a world of secret societies, dangerous double agents, and a terrifying countdown to oblivion. Transported by a Spanish galleon back to 19th century France, he finds himself in the headquarters of The History Keepers – a remarkable league of time-travelling special agents. The History Keepers preserve the true course of history against those who would change it for their own gain, such as the diabolical Prince Zeldt.  Driven by a sense of adventure and a desire to reunite his family, Jake makes the most thrilling - and dangerous - decision of his life.

Damian Dibben has worked extensively as a screenwriter on projects as diverse as Phantom of the Opera and Puss in Boots. Dibben, who lives on the South Bank with his dog Dudley, has lived in London all his life. He was born in Eaton Square to a family of famous eccentrics from whom he inherited his sense of humour and a love of London and history. His passions include cosmology, archaeology and natural science, all of which have informed this remarkable debut.

Mr Ripley's Book Cover Wars 2012 - Heat 1 of 4 Plus Competition

The Book Cover Wars is finally back for the third year and is looking for another worthy winner. Therefore, if you are returning to the site for the third year or are new to this competition, then I send you a very warm welcome and am pleased that you're joining the book cover war zone.

For any follower of this site, then this is the chance for you to become part of the weekly book cover wars. Each week (for the next 4 weeks) I am going to select four book covers for you to vote for. The winner of each heat will then go forward to the final round and get a chance to be crowned as 'Mr Ripley's Enchanted Book Cover Winner 2011'.

As a voter, not only will you get the chance to choose your favourite book cover, but you will also be in with the chance to win a different special book each week. Therefore, in order to kick off the competition this week, we have an amazing book proof by Sarwat Chadda which is bound in a special cloth and not published till March 2012,so you will get a chance to read this book super early. It's the start of an exciting new series featuring Ash Mistry, reluctant hero. 

If you are interested then all you need to do is:

• Vote for your favourite book cover using the poll (see top of the page)
• Leave a comment through this post 
• Sit back, watch the voting develop and wait to hear whether you've won (once the poll has closed). Please note that this competition is open Worldwide.

So here is the four book covers to vote for:
Book One - Will Hill - Department 19 - The Rising -  Published By HarperCollins -  March 2012

Book Two - Ransom Riggs - Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Published by Quirk Books -  June 2011

                                 

Arthur Slade - Hunchback Assignments:Empire of Ruins - Published by 
Wendy Lamb Books - September 2011

Book Four - Patrick Carman - Floors - Published by Chicken House - January 2012
                                               

Get voting and may the best cover win...............

News: Joseph Delaney - New Book Deal For Random House

                        
HOT OFF THE PRESS!! 

Random House Children's Books is delighted to announce the acquisition of world rights in a four-book deal from Joseph Delaney. The first title Delaney will publish as part of the four-book deal is Slither, a terrifying stand-alone horror novel which will appeal to his existing fan base and lure in many new ones.

Delaney has decided that the twelfth book in the Wardstone Chronicles series, which will publish in 2013, will be the last.


I Am Grimalkin, the latest, brillilant instalment in Joseph Delaney's Wardstone Chronicles sequence. If you're not already a follower of the series then this book is also a great way in. It's a bit of a departure in that it's narrated by Grimalkin, the fearsome witch assassin herself, rather than Tom Ward the Spook's apprentice. But it picks up the story where book eight, The Spook's Destiny left off and all the things that make the Spook's books so fantastic are present and correct as usual; pace, tension, great characters and someseriously scary scenes. Joe loves writing Grimalkin as much as we love reading about her. This one is not for the faint-hearted, believe me, this kick-ass assassin does not suffer fools gladly and the body count is high!

Reading Now - Vernor Vinge - The Children of The Sky - Queng Ho Book 3

Ten years have passed on Tines World, where Ravna Bergnsdot and a number of human children ended up after a disaster that nearly obliterated humankind throughout the galaxy. Ravna and the pack animals for which the planet is named have survived a war, and Ravna has saved more than one hundred children who were in cold-sleep aboard the vessel that brought them. While there is peace among the Tines, there are those among them - and among the humans - who seek power...and no matter the cost, these malcontents are determined to overturn the fledgling civilization that has taken root since the humans landed. On a world of fascinating wonders and terrifying dangers, Vernor Vinge has created a powerful novel of adventure and discovery that will entrance the many readers of "A Fire Upon the Deep". Filled with the inventiveness, excitement, and human drama that have become hallmarks of his work, this new novel is sure to become another great milestone in Vinge's already stellar career.

                       

Published by Tor 14 Nov 2011 - Not for younger readers.

Marcus Sedgwick - Midwinterblood - Book Review

• Pages -  224
• Date - 6 October 2011
• Published by Indigo
• Age 12+
• ISBN: 978 17806 2000 1                                

White Crow was the last book that I read by Marcus and I really loved it. Therefore, I was very intrigued to see what he would come up with next. In the past, I've not always connected with his stories and I've not always felt the passion within his writing. However, if he carries on writing books like these last two, then I feel he will certainly be creeping up my author rankings for sure.


Marcus has a certain flair for constructing a world that not only has you, but keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. Perhaps the best way that I can describe that particular feeling is that it's like dancing with the devil, only to find out that he is stalking you everywhere you go! 


The story is told through the differing perspectives of Eric and Merle, who are bound by their love for each other, but in different forms. These two people, drawn together through the seven parts of the story are both influenced by the moon. They travel from 2073 back in time to the days of the Vikings and the start of their first life together. I'm not sure that I grasped the full meaning of all the shorter stories that made up the one big story, but I felt the important aspect was how they all connected with each other. 


The shorter stories are written beautifully. The descriptive writing leaves a lasting impression as you follow the characters from life to life. The book has the writer's trademark gothic feel which is very powerful, but the ultimate drive is love and sacrifice - both of which leave many heart wrenching moments. 


Compelling to read, dripping with emotion and truly enjoyable. This book is a supernatural thriller which is well worth reading. It did not disappoint me in any way, another big thumbs up!


I followed you............ Mr Ripley's Book Cover Wars is on,your vote is much appreciated,if you leave a comment on the post as well you may get the chance to win Sarwat Chadda's new book proof which is out next year!

Chris Priestly - Mister Creecher - Book Review

     

• Pages - 400 
• Publisher - Bloomsbury Publishing
• Date - 13 October 2011
• Age 11+
• Isbn: 9781408 811047

Billy is a street urchin, pickpocket and petty thief. Mister Creecher is a monstrous giant of a man who terrifies all he meets. Their relationship begins as pure convenience. But a bond swiftly develops between these two misfits as their bloody journey takes them ever northwards on the trail of their target ...Victor Frankenstein. Friendship, trust and betrayal combine to form a dangerous liaison in this moving and frightening new book from Chris Priestley.

I wasn't quite sure what I was expecting to read once I had read this particular book synopsis. Especially having read all of Chris Priestley's imaginative Tales of Terror short stories, where I always felt like I was left wanting more. I was so easily sucked into these - they felt like a great master was telling the story, but for them to end so suddenly was always disappointing. Nevertheless I loved the insightful and twisted glimpses into the dark and abnormal story world. However, Mister Creecher proved to be something totally different again.

Playing on the classic concept of Frankenstein, it spun a whole new wonderful and thought provoking story which I loved from the very start. Set in Regency London (known as the underground of crime and poverty) Mister Creecher is an unimaginable seven foot monster who saves Billy from the clutches of death. Mysterious events carefully and enticingly unfold to hook you in before launching you back into the real world once more.

The main part of the book is inspired by Chris Priestley's love of the Classical novel, Frankenstein. He has paid homage to this by writing an account of two well-known literary characters. As a result, this has become a particularly cleverly written and compelling story that will be read and discussed for some time. Whilst it's written within the normal dark and Gothic constraints that we are all accustomed to reading from Chris, he does actually add a new level to this traditionally based plot. As a result, he brings it bang up to date whilst also incorporating a modern twist.

The relationship between the main characters is written seriously, but also portrays a poignant telling. It highlights the reality of loneliness and the need for friends. However, the book also shows a funny and uplifting side whilst also incorporating the dangerous and macabre side of this particular period.

Mister Creecher was a great book to read. I was not sure of the journey that I would take along the way and the ending was certainly not what I was expecting. In fact it leaves many more areas left still to unfold as we have only really just stared to scratch the surface with this tantalising start.

                   

New Books Picks for October 2011

                         

Tommy Donbavand - Scream Street 13: Flame of the Dragon - Published by Walker (6 Oct 2011) 

Having been banished to the Underlands by Acrid Belcher, the evil head of G.H.O.U.L., Luke, Resus and Cleo begin their thirteenth adventure fighting for their very existence. And life doesn't get much easier from there – the quest to return the sixth and final relic will take them to a dragon’s lair in China, after which they must overcome the not-so-small problem of a deluded slime beast hell bent on creating an evil new world order. Once again it’s up to the trio to save Scream Street – but will they fall at the final hurdle?

                                                  

                                               

Teresa Flavin - The Crimson Shard (Blackhope Enigma Series) - Published by Templar (1 Oct 2011)

This sequel to The Blackhope Enigma is imbued with alchemy and intrigue. During what seems like an ordinary museum visit, tour guide Throgmorton lures Sunni and Blaise through a painted doorway into eighteenth-century London. When Throgmorton demands secret information from the pair about their Blackhope escapades, they attempt to flee, encountering body snatchers, art thieves and forgers in this gripping time-travel adventure.

                                                   
                                                   
Kenneth Oppel - This Dark Endeavour - Published by David Fickling Books ( 6 Oct 2011)

In this prequel to Mary Shelley’s gothic classic, Frankenstein, 16-year-old Victor Frankenstein begins a dark journey that will change his life forever. Victor’s twin, Konrad, has fallen ill, and no doctor is able to cure him. Unwilling to give up on his brother, Victor enlists his beautiful cousin Elizabeth and best friend Henry on a treacherous search for the ingredients to create the forbidden Elixir of Life. Impossible odds, dangerous alchemy and a bitter love triangle threaten their quest at every turn.

Victor knows he must not fail. But his success depends on how far he is willing to push the boundaries of nature, science, and love – and how much he is willing to sacrifice.


Rick Riordan - Heroes of Olympus:The Son of Neptune - Published by Puffin (4 Oct 2011)

The SECOND title in this number one, bestselling spin-off series from Percy Jackson creator, Rick Riordan.

This crazy messed up world of gods and monsters is Percy Jackson's reality, which pretty much sucks for him.

Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, God of the Sea, has woken from a very deep sleep and come face to face with two snake-haired ladies who refuse to die.
But they're the least of his problems. Because Percy finds himself at a camp for half-bloods, which doesn't ring any bells for him. There's just one name he remembers from his past. Annabeth.

Only one thing is certain - Percy's questing days aren't over. He and fellow demigods Frank and Hazel must face the most important quest of all: the Prophecy of Seven.If they fail, it's not just their camp at risk. Percy's old life, the gods, and the entire world might be destroyed . . .

NEWS: MAUREEN JOHNSONS - JACK THE RIPPER FAN WALK UK ( The Name of the Star)

                                       

To celebrate the publication of Maureen Johnsons new YA thriller The Name of the Star, HarperCollins Children’s Books is offering 10 lucky readers the opportunity to accompany Maureen Johnson on a private Jack the Ripper walk in London on Thursday, 13th October 2011.

The walk begins at 5:00 PM and will carry-on for two hours into the night! Visit the haunting sites of Jack the Ripper and hear first-hand from Maureen how they inspired her new book The Name of the Star.

To enter, simply email nameofthestar@harpercollins.co.uk for a chance to attend the event with a friend. 

Disclaimer: Entrants must be 13 or over. Please ensure that you are available to attend the event on Thursday, 13th October from 5.00pm to 7.00pm before entering. Winners will be informed on Friday, 7th October, and will be provided with further instructions then.


Please check out my glowing Book review for this scary book! Loved it,you can buy it now as it's out today!