Fantasy
March – Catherine Jinks – A very peculiar plague (Book 2 City of Orphans series).
Having read Book 1 – A very unusual pursuit but being somewhat ambivalent about it (6 months on), I decided to re-acquaint myself with Jem, Birdie and Alfred Bunce as they seek to clear London of child eating monsters (bogles). A mix of fantasy, mystery and action – A very peculiar plague, seemed to provide … Continue reading
October – Isobelle Carmody – Obernewtyn
Many years after its initial publication (1987)and its shortlisting for CBC Book of the Year 1988 – Short-listed Older Readers, I have finally read Obernewtyn. Why now? A student whose opinion I respect told me it was his favourite book/series of all time. So, my struggle started. I generally read a YA book in a … Continue reading
John Flanagan – Ranger’s Apprentice Book 12: The Royal Ranger
As I haven’t read any of the Ranger’s Apprentice Series by John Flanagan I asked a student to review this book for me. Better review than I would write. Well done Will! RANGER’S APPRENTICE BOOK 12: THE ROYAL RANGER Review by Will C After the tragic death of Alyss, Will’s wife, he becomes withdrawn and unsociable. … Continue reading
Saga September – Skye Melki-Wegner – Chasing the Valley
Chasing the Valley – Skye Melki-Wegner This is another of the books I received from Random House. The first few chapters had me hooked and I had high expectations. I liked the character of Danika and the magical /but not completely magical setting. The steady introduction of other characters was well done in that you … Continue reading
Spooky September – Jonathan Stroud – Lockwood and Co: The Screaming Staircase
Jonathan Stroud – Lockwood and Co: The Screaming Staircase The first of a new series and another of the Random House books it reminded me of The Laws of Magic series by Michael Pryor X and Rivers of London (Peter Grant #1) by Ben Aaronovitch. Looking at the cover, as a non-horror reader I approached … Continue reading
Speculative September James Roy – Ichabod Hart & the Lighthouse Mystery
This fits into the steampunk part of speculative fiction (mix of history and fantasy). It poses various what if scenarios: What if the French settled (invaded)Australia at the same time as the English? What if convicts could be made to work even harder? This is a mystery/fantasy that is mixed up with the steam era (hence steampunk) where a … Continue reading
Action and Adventure August – Eoin Colfer – Artemis Fowl and the last guardian
I have loved the Artemis Fowl stories since discovering them back in 2001/2. This last in the series of eight doesn’t disappoint. There is plenty of action and adventure and laugh out loud moments from the exploits of combining a teenage genius (Artemis) with an elf (Holly Short), centaur (Foaly), a farting dwarf (Mulch), a … Continue reading
Magic May- Ondine,The Summer of Shambles
Ebony McKenna Ondine – The Summer of Shambles This was a lovely way to finish Magic May and get me in the mindset for Joking June. Fairy tale like Ondine is a quirky, magical, humorous romance about a 15 year old girl who is befriended by a ferret (Shambles). The ferret turns out to be … Continue reading
Magic May – The Spell Book of Listen Taylor
The Spell Book of Listen Taylor – Jaclyn Moriarty With a title like this and a place in the young adult section of my local library, this book should surely fit Magic May. Unfortunately NOT! Why? Because I didn’t finish it (I made it to page 173). Why else? Because it seems to be more … Continue reading
Magic May – The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel
Michael Scott – The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series It is Magic May and the publishers are about to release (22nd May?) Irish author Michael Scott’s 6th book (The Enchantress) in this series, so it is an appropriate time to talk about this fantasy/magic series. I started this series a few years ago … Continue reading
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