Highlight: Andrew Prentice and Jonathan Weil - Black Arts

        

                                    

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: David Fickling Books (5 Apr 2012)
• Language English
• ISBN-10: 0385615132
• ISBN-13: 978-0385615136

Jack walked slowly across the court. Already his heart was beginning to thud. He looked back as he was lifting the mat of ivy that hid the opening in the wall. His ma was standing at the door, watching him.

'I'll be back before sundown, then,' said Jack.
'And what else?'

She said it every day, before letting him go. The answer came on its own, like a ritual.

'Watch my back.'
'Never forget it, Jack,' she said. 'Stay sharp. Stand the test, and don't be afraid.'

They were the last words she ever spoke to him.

Elizabethan London is a filthy, dangerous city ruled by criminals. After his mother is murdered, Jack seeks refuge with a notorious gang of offenders, led by Mister Sharkwell. Offering his services as a thief, Jack earns his keep. But when the 'Judicious Nipper' picks the wrong pocket at the Globe Theatre, he uncovers another side of London altogether - a city pulsing with magic and haunted by demons.

As an outbreak of devil-worship is publicised, Londoners' hatred mounts in retaliation - forcing bewildered Jack into pursuing the truth in secret. The Elect - a band of Puritans preaching against witchcraft, magic and devilry - spearhead the city's anti-witch fervour, led by the charismatic Nicholas Webb. A growing power at Court, rumour has it that the preacher wants to purge the city entirely and build a New Jerusalem. But Jack suspects Webb - not least of killing his ma.

This atmospheric, action-packed story is the debut in an original series from talented and highly inventive duo, Prentice & Weil

Darren Shan - ZOM-B - Book Cover Reveal - Simon and Schuster

Hi guys!

We revealed the cover for Darren Shan’s ZOM-B today on our London Book Fair and I wanted you guys to see it in all its glory… please do let me know what you think, we’re really excited about it! - (Brilliant Book Cover - I love it!)

Try not to have nightmares!! ZOM-B is out on 27^th September 2012 and is the first in a 12-part serial, with books publishing every three months until 2015.

Preview - Laura Powell - Burn Mark - Bloomsbury

By Laura Powell

Publisher:Bloomsbury

Publication Date: 7th June 2012

Price: £6.99

Preview:

The walls of the Burning Court were high and white-tiled, its ceiling one giant chimney. If the young witch at the stake had been able to look up the funnel, she might have glimpsed a distant pane of sky.

Instead, she stared ahead. There was a glass panel in front of her, and the shadowy shapes of the inquisitors behind. One of them would have his hand on the switch, ready to light the fuse.

She couldn’t speak or move. Her body had been frozen rigid by the drug they’d given her so that she would be numb and immobile throughout her execution. Her reflec- tion in the glass was calm. Everything was quiet and orderly, exactly as it should be.

In which case . . . should she be aware of the coarse material of her prison shift, or sense the chill coming off the shining tiles? Propped up in the centre of the pyre, she was newly conscious of the weight of its wood.

The witch’s heart began to stammer. This wasn’t right. Something must have gone wrong. The drug wasn’t working properly. She had to let them know before it started. She had to tell them, she had to explain –

But her tongue didn’t move. Her eyes were locked open, her mouth was locked shut. The fear was suffocating, but she couldn’t gasp for breath. Her face in the glass gazed peacefully back, while every nerve, every muscle, every pulse of her heart and brain screamed STOP.

The wood sparked.

No, wait, please wait –

A thin yellow flame wriggled into life, then danced upwards. Smoke rose with it. Heat blossomed, intensified.

Behind the blurred glass, the unseen audience was waiting.

Somebodyhelpmeohgodpleasestopstopstop

Tendrils and coils of fire. Her eyes stung from its smoke. Her pale hair was already rippling into flames. At any second they would be eating into her flesh. She was screaming and screaming now, soundlessly –

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Burn Mark is the first of a captivating new series of thrillers with a fantasy twist. In a world where witches are the persecuted underclass and inquisitors the ruling power, a shared destiny forges an unlikely alliance between the children of two ancient enemies.

Glory is from a family of East End witches that was once feared and respected. She is desperate to become a witch herself and restore their reputation. Lucas is the privileged son of the Chief Prosecutor for the Inquisition, the witches' mortal enemy. Becoming a witch is the worst thing that could happen to him, but it does, and on the same day it happens to Glory. The unlikely allies must overcome their differences as they are thrown into the centre of a conspiracy that could destroy their lives.

Think Witch Child meets The Sopranos meets Spooks and you have a flavour of what this incredible book is all about. Laura Powell has used her extensive research into the history of witchcraft to create a convincing alternate world where mortals and witches coexist. This is a truly impressive novel from a talented writer new to the Bloomsbury list.

WINNER OF THE TIMES/CHICKEN HOUSE CHILDREN'S FICTION COMPETITION 2012! - FLETCHER MOSS

                              
YA writer. 1st novel, a car-crash. 2nd novel, a train-wreck. This novel - winner of The Times/Chicken House children's book competition 2012. (In his own words.)

About Sleepwell and Fly

Sleepwell and Fly’, is an adventure set in a thrilling fantasy world populated by bandits, pistol-bearing brawlers and poisonboys. Highlions is a city of shadows; a smuggler’s den of secret passageways, flooded cellars and moonlit rooftops. Making a tenuous living in these lawless streets are Sal Sleepwell and Dalton Fly, teenage poisonboys – orphaned food-tasters for the idle rich, and principal members of a threadbare team of homeless children, Oscar’s Honest Dozen (“antidote and food tasting for the people of Highlions”). 

Read more here Here

A panel of distinguished judges – all key figures in the field of children’s literature – were unanimous in their decision, despite the strength of this year’s shortlist. The Times children’s literary critic and competition judge, Amanda Craig, described Moss’ novel as ‘oozing raw talent’, while fellow judge, and bestselling children’s author, Michelle Paver, loved the novel’s ‘visceral style’ and the ‘utterly believable friendship between the two food tasters’.

Writing under the pseudonym Fletcher Moss (in tribute to an Alderman of the city of Manchester), the busy assistant headteacher of a large state secondary school is thrilled to have made an important step towards joining the ranks of his literary heroes.

Moss is now set to work with the Chicken House editorial team, including Barry Cunningham, to turn the raw manuscript into what promises to be a remarkably exciting and original debut novel. The competition was set up in order to give promising new writers a chance at having, as Barry Cunningham himself says, ‘the career they thought was impossible’. Something he did for J.K. Rowling when he gave Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone its big break. 

Kieran Larwood - Freaks - Guest Post - Chicken House

Chicken House have some fantastic emerging debut authors releasing their very first books this year. One such author is Kieran, a reception class teacher, who manages to find time to write stories late at night. I'd like to thank him for writing this post. 

Whilst I haven't had time to read this book myself yet, I have managed to find a great introduction to "Freaks". I hope that you all agree that it sounds like a particularly great read. If it grabs your attention, like it did mine, then go and grab yourself a copy to read. I'll be reaching for a copy very soon . . . . . . 

‘Freaks’ is a mystery thriller set in the crusty depths of a very unpleasant Victorian London, but it was very nearly something completely different.  About five years ago, when I first started having a serious crack at writing a novel, it was a story about a crew of aliens on a spaceship.  That book fizzled out after three unimpressive chapters, but something about the strange characters and the way they interacted refused to get out of my head.

I wanted to write more about them, but had to come up with a setting that would work.  It was very late one night when I had the idea of a Victorian freakshow.

After that, the characters themselves came really quickly, but I found I had lots of research to do.  I started wading through reams of Victorian history texts and gradually filling up several notebooks.  It was like History A-level all over again.

I soon found out that the real Victorian London was nothing like the image we all have of top hats and hansom cabs rattling past Big Ben, while Oliver Twist-like orphans skip around finding their fortune.  Even though Dickens showed a glimpse of the shady side, life for the less fortunate citizens was bordering on horrific.

There was disease and crime everywhere.  People starved, children were enslaved and mistreated, hygiene was non-existent, and the sheer stench of the place was enough to actually stop parliament on one occasion.

Even though it must have been a terrible place to live, I soon realised it would make an excellent setting for a story.  I put my Freaks right at the bottom of the social ladder, where they could see, feel and smell the grime first hand.

At first I had them battling supernatural monsters.  I spent a few years sending drafts of that story off to agents, and re-writing it several times, before I eventually entered it for the 2011 Times/Chicken House competition.

Somehow, it won, and my prize was to finally be published-but not before fitting in another couple of re-writes and changing the story from horror to thriller.  I had to trim a couple of my Freaks along the way, but most of them made it intact, and the book is being released this April.

It’s been five years of very hard work, squeezed in around my day job and family.  I daren’t even try to count the hundreds of sleepless hours that have gone into it, but it has been a real pleasure to write.  I hope you enjoy reading it just as much.

Garth Nix - A Confusion Princes - Book Review

                                    

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books (17 May 2012)
• ISBN-10: 0007298358
• Age: 13+

It has been such a long time since I picked up my very first Garth Nix book and read it. In fact venturing back to 2001 was when I first found myself holding the US proof in my hands. Interestingly, this had a much better book cover than the UK version, in my opinion. Nevertheless, as soon as  I had finished reading it, I was amazed as it was brilliant - such a great book. Even today, I still love to think about the story and the different characters. This book turned me into such a big fan that I've just about loved and collected most of Garth Nix's other books - Shade's Children being another one of my personal favourites.

When I first received this book, I was very excited for two reasons. Firstly, it was a sci-fi book written by Garth Nix for older readers (or more precisely teenagers). Secondly, the blurb on back was perfectly written to entice my reading appetite. To be honest, not many good books have been written, or published in recent times with either of these aspects in mind.

A major standalone space opera, this is Garth Nix’s first novel for older readers since the conclusion of the Old Kingdom trilogy… and it’s worth the wait.

A grand adventure that spans galaxies and lifetimes, A Confusion of Princes is also a page-turning action adventure.

These are the three deaths of Prince Khemri. Told in his own words, we follow him as he trains to become a Prince of the Empire, an enhanced human being, equipped with biological and technological improvements that make him faster, stronger and smarter than any ordinary person. Not to mention the ultimate benefit: should he die, and be deemed worthy, he will be reborn…

Which is just as well, because no sooner has Prince Khemri graduated to full Princehood than he learns the terrible truth behind the Empire: there are a million princes, and all of them want each other dead, because there can only be one Emperor…

So, was it a page turner? Definitely, yes - the beginning of the book was packed full of information. Although, at times, this perhaps slowed down the start as there was a lot of explanation required to describe the technical, scientific and historical aspects. Especially in order to help you develop a better grasp of both the story and the characters. However, once this was established, the story flowed like a well oiled machine with Bitek ,Mektek, and any other imperial technology that you can find.

This is another book that I'm sure to look back on in years to come - it's a brilliantly engaging read that I really loved. Garth writes about a fantastical world that takes you on a journey through the galaxy, but all the time with a take on a advanced life of the future. Told through the eyes of Prince Khemri - emotionless and almost robotic. That is until the very end, when the story takes you on a galactic voyage of discovery which is told in a very poignant way.

This book is brimming full of space action - like you would see on Star Trek, or something of that nature. Although this is much better. In fact it would be great to see this as a mini TV series; I think it would be fantastic to watch, providing it was produced correctly of course.

I'm not actually sure if there will be any more books to come from Garth. Although it really would be a shame as he has started something that I would really love to continue to follow. This is fantastic entertainment; YA at it's best. Buy, beg or borrow this book, but make sure you read it. This is easily one of the best reads of the year. 

Leigh Bardugo - Shadow and Bone - Trailer and Preview

                                                   

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (June 5, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805094598

                                        

Book One of the Grisha Trilogy

(Henry Holt/Macmillan)Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near-impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one unlikely refugee.Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life– a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha… and the secrets of her heart.

New Children's Books: Published in the US - April 2012

                                       
Marissa Burt - Storybound - Published by HarperCollins - 3 April  2012

When Una Fairchild stumbles upon a mysterious book buried deep in the basement of her school library, she thinks nothing of opening the cover and diving in. But instead of paging through a regular novel, Una suddenly finds herself Written In to the land of Story—a world filled with Heroes and Villains and fairy-tale characters.

But not everything in Story is as magical as it seems. Una must figure out why she has been Written In—and fast—before anyone else discovers her secret. Together with her new friend Peter and a talking cat named Sam, Una digs deep into Story's shadowy past. She quickly realizes that she is tied to the world in ways she never could have imagined—and it might be up to her to save it.

                                      

Ellis Weiner - The Templeton Twins - Published by Chronicle Books - 1 April 2012

Suppose there were 12-year-old twins, a boy and girl named John and Abigail Templeton. Let's say John was pragmatic and played the drums, and Abigail was theoretical and solved cryptic crosswords. Now suppose their father was a brilliant, if sometimes confused, inventor. And suppose that another set of twins-adults-named Dean D. Dean and Dan D. Dean, kidnapped the Templeton twins and their ridiculous dog in order to get their father to turn over one of his genius (sort of inventions. Yes, I said kidnapped. Wouldn't it be fun to read about that? Oh please. It would so. Luckily for you, this is just the first in a series perfect for boys and girls who are smart, clever, and funny (just like the twins), and enjoy reading adventurous stories (who doesn't?!)

                                   

Toby Forward - Dragonborn - Published by Bloomsbury USA - 24 April 2012

When Flaxfield the great wizard dies, his apprentice Sam is left without a master. Sam has great power-but he doesn't know it yet. All he knows is that he needs a new master if he wants to finish his education in magic. With his dragon Starback at his side, Sam sets out alone on his quest. But there are those who want Sam's power for themselves, dangerous forces who are waiting for his first mistake so they can attack. When Sam is tricked into making a mortal error, only Starback can save him, thanks to a bond between them that is deeper than either of them know.With a strong sense of adventure and a lyrical writing style, Toby Forward has created a page-turning, accessible fantasy with the literary quality of a classic.

                              

Art Corriveau - 13 Hangmen - Published by Harry and N.Abrams - 1 April 2012

“Some people won’t believe any of this story. You might be one of them. But every single word is true. Tony DiMarco does catch a murderer, solve a mystery, and find a treasure—all in the first few days after he moves, unexpectedly, to 13 Hangmen’s Court in Boston. The fact that he also turns thirteen at the same time is not a coincidence.”

So begins the story of Tony and his friends—five 13-year-old boys, all of whom are living in the same house in the same attic bedroom but at different times in history! None are ghosts, all are flesh and blood, and somehow all have come together in the attic room, visible only to one another. And all are somehow linked to a murder, a mystery, and a treasure.

                                         
THE MAPMAKER AND THE GHOST by Sarvenaz Tash (Official Trailer) from Sarvenaz Tash on Vimeo.

Sarvanez Tash - The Mapmaker and the Ghost - Published by Walker - 24 April 2012
Goldenrod Moram loves nothing better than a good quest. Intrepid, curious, and full of a well-honed sense of adventure, she decides to start her own exploring team fashioned after her idols, the explorers Lewis and Clark, and to map the forest right behind her home. This task is complicated, however, by a series of unique events—a chance encounter with a mysterious old lady has her searching for a legendary blue rose. Another encounter lands her in the middle of a ragtag gang of brilliant troublemakers. And when she stumbles upon none other than the ghost of Meriwether Lewis himself, Goldenrod knows this will be anything but an ordinary summer . . . or an ordinary quest. Debut author Sarvenaz Tash combines an edge-of-your-seat adventure, a uniquely clever voice, and an unforgettable cast of characters to prove that sometimes the best adventures of all are waiting right in your own backyard.

                               

Michael Bedard - The Green Man - Published by Tundra Books - 10 April 2012 

Teenaged O – never call her Ophelia – is about to spend the summer with her aunt Emily. Emily is a poet and the owner of an antiquarian book store, The Green Man. A proud, independent woman, Emily’s been made frail by a heart attack. O will be a help to her. Just how crucial that help will be unfolds as O first tackles Emily’s badly neglected home, then the chaotic shop. But soon she discovers that there are mysteries and long-buried dark forces that she cannot sweep away, though they threaten to awaken once more. At once an exploration of poetry, a story of family relationships, and an intriguing mystery, The Green Man is Michael Bedard at his finest.

New Children's Books: Published UK - April 2012 - Post Two

                              

                                   

Garwen Ewing - The Rainbow Orchid: Adventures of Julius Chancer v.3 - Published by Egmont books -  2 April 2012

At the beginning of Volume Three, Julius and Lily are recovering from the electrifying end of Volume Two. What does the future hold for Evelyn Crow and her gang of desperate villains? Do Julius and Lily have the strength to prevent Urkaz Grope from enacting his evil plans? Don't miss the stunning conclusion to the biggest adventure in comics! "The Rainbow Orchid" is an ambitious blend of classic storytelling, and cinematic artwork, in which adventure, historical drama and legend are seamlessly intertwined.

                               

Ursula Jones - The Youngstars - Published by Inside Pocket - 1 April 2012

“There was a thud in Ollie’s midriff, as though he had been shot. The boy stared at Ollie, open–mouthed with surprise … and suddenly the boy smiled.” Ollie knew that smile. He knew the boy’s face. He’d seen it looking at him from countless dressing room mirrors. It was his own smile, his own face. The boy was his double.” Ollie, the youngest of the troupe, struggles through life with a stammer and a deep desire to become an acrobat (to escape the clutches of The Pig). Unbeknownst to him, his world is about to be torn apart and re-made by the arrival of movie star, Hal Havern. Meanwhile, Hal Havern’s son, Ralph, and his comrade in arms, Giselle, have jumped a train, are evading the law, and trying to escape a mysterious pursuer who dogs their every step. The variety troupe, Havern, Ralph and Giselle all descend on the bustling and industrial city of Liverpool, where the troupe are set to give their biggest performance yet. And Olly and Ralph are about to get the shock of their lives…

                               
Michelle Harrison - Unrest - Published by Simon & Schuster -26 April 2012

Seventeen-year-old Elliott hasn't slept properly for six months. Not since the accident that nearly killed him. Now he is afraid to go to sleep. Sometimes he wakes to find himself paralysed, unable to move a muscle, while shadowy figures move around him. Other times he is the one moving around, while his body lies asleep on the bed. According to his doctor, sleep paralysis and out of body experiences are harmless - but to Elliot they're terrifying. Convinced that his brush with death has opened up connections with the spirit world, Elliott secures a live-in job at one of England's most haunted locations, determined to find out the truth. There he finds Sebastian, the ghost of a long-dead servant boy hanged for stealing bread. He also meets the living, breathing Ophelia, a girl with secrets of her own. She and Elliott grow closer, but things take a terrifying turn when Elliott discovers Sebastian is occupying his body when he leaves it. And the more time Sebastian spends inhabiting a living body, the more resistant he becomes to giving it back. Worse, he seems to have an unhealthy interest in Ophelia. Unless Elliott can lay Sebastian's spirit to rest, he risks being possessed by him for ever, and losing the girl of his dreams...

A . J Hartley - Darwen Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact - Book Review

                                                

Eleven-year-old Darwen Arkwright has spent his whole life in a tiny town in England. So when he is forced to move to Atlanta, Georgia, to live with his aunt, he knows things will be different--but what he finds there is beyond even his wildest imagination!

Darwen discovers an enchanting world through the old mirror hanging in his closet--a world that holds as many dangers as it does wonders. Along with his new friends Rich and Alexandra, Darwen becomes entangled in an adventure and mystery that involves the safety of his entire school. They soon realize that the creatures are after something in our world--something that only human children possess.

This is a terrific book that I picked up in Paris, after a recent visit to the amazing Shakespeare and Company bookshop. After looking through the interesting bookshelves which stocked a very good selection of both UK and US book titles, I finally stumbled upon a copy of this book. Both the synopsis and the book cover caught my eye. Interestingly, I soon realised that this book has managed to creep under my radar, as it was actually published at some point last year.


It has some elements that will be familiar to young readers such as the orphaned boy making his way in a new school and having to live with a relative with whom he is not entirely comfortable spending time with. However, other elements are entirely innovative, fresh and lots of fun. 


In Darwen Arkwright, A.J. Hartley has created a sympathetic and believable hero who struggles to fit into his new surroundings. As the story further unfolds, you'll find yourself being able to relate to his problems, you'll cheer on his efforts to find his way whilst continually being amazed by the adventure that he stumbles into. 


Darwen's friends are quirky enough to be entertaining and yet still charming enough to leave readers hungry for more books about the Peregrine Pact. Especially as the world that these kids discover is filled with both wonders and frights that are sure to make this book an instant favourite with its intended audience. 


A snappy fast paced adventure that stands out from a crowd, I would really recommend it to you all.

New Children's Books: Published UK - April 2012 - Post One

                                 
Darren Shan - The Saga of Larten Crepsley - Brothers to the Death - Published by HarperCollins - 26 April 2012

The fourth and final instalment in the epic saga of Larten Crepsley – vampire, hero and victim of fate…

Just as Larten is finding a new place for himself in vampire society, trying to help vampires escape the Nazi menace, horrifying tragedy falls on his own family, thanks to the nefarious Vampaneze.

With his old friend Wester calling for war against the ancient enemies of vampires, Larten finds himself a figurehead of the campaign.

But there are more evil things than just the Vampaneze stirring. And soon, Larten might find himself grieving again – as he faces the worst and final betrayal…

                                  

James Dashner - Maze Runner 3: The Death Cure - Published by Chicken House - 5 April 2012

The Trials are over. WICKED have collected all the information they can. Now it's up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test. But something has happened that no-one at WICKED has foreseen: Thomas has remembered more than they think. And he knows WICKED can't be trusted ... The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than anyone could have imagined. With the Gladers divided, can they all make it?

M.G Harris - The Joshua files: Apocalypse Moon - Published by Scholastic - 5 April 2012

Something is very wrong with the 2012 Plan. Is it really on course to save the planet from the gigantic Electro-Magnetic Pulse that's due to shatter civilisation at the end of the year? After a narrow escape from US government agents Josh decides to risk his own life on a daring mission - a leap forward in time to discover the truth about 2012. He's jumped ahead far enough to glimpse a post-apocalyptic world in collapse. And to realise - it could be his destiny to stay.

                                   

Jenny Nimmo - The Stones of Ravenglass - Published by Egmont Books -  2 April 2012

This is a spell-binding new tale spun by a prize-winning storyteller. Timoken, the lost king of a secret kingdom that was destroyed by wicked viridees, believes he has found a new home in a castle in medieval Britain. But when an evil steward takes control of the castle, he imprisons Timoken and wreaks havoc on surrounding villages. With the help of Gabar the talking camel, a mysterious wizard and a friendly dragon, Timoken escapes and embarks on a journey to find and rescue his friends - and build himself a kingdom to call home for good. In this thrilling new series, bestselling author Jenny Nimmo takes her readers on an extraordinary quest that will enthrall any fan of magical fantasy.

                                 

Vanessa Curtis - The Haunting of Tabitha Grey - Published by Egmont Books - 2 April 2012

I've just moved into a creepy old manor house with my family. And it feels like the house is waiting for something. I can't explain all the things that are happening here. The maids I hear sobbing...The old ladies that stand in the hall. The cold breath of...Life? Death? I don't know. I can't tell Dad or Mum. But least I've got my little brother Ben to talk to. This is a ghost story unlike any other...It will leave you chilled to the very last page.