Always, Clementine - Carlie Sorosiak

 

Clementine is a mouse, but no ordinary mouse; she is an incredibly intelligent mouse who can think, do maths and have emotions like a human and all because she was bred in a lab to be like this.  However, the story starts with Clementine (along with another mouse named Hamlet) sat in a post box where has been put by one of the scientists who believes that they shouldn't be kept in the lab any more.  When Clementine and Hamlet are found by Gus, he takes them home to his grandfather.  Gus and his grandfather quickly realise how special Clementine is but also realise that she is in danger when they see a TV appeal for her safe return so set about devising a plan to keep her safe which involves a game of chess.  But can they keep Clementine safe with the scientists hunting her down?

Having thoroughly enjoyed Carlie's first two books (I, Cosmo; and My Life As A Cat), I was delighted to receive a proof copy of Always, Clementine and I have to say that I think this is her best book yet.  Told from Clementine's point of view as a series of letters to Rosie, the chimpanzee friend she had in the lab, she recounts everything that happens to her.  She is a delightful character full of spirit and determination who is in awe of all the new experiences she is having now she has escaped from the lab.  I found her such an endearing character and she stole my heart from the beginning - in fact, I found myself wanting to adopt her so I could play chess with her (not that I would stand a chance of winning!).  Gus also captured my heart, along with Pop, Gus's grandfather: it is apparent that Gus has been in trouble at the end of term in school and has been given strict instructions by his parents that he needs to behave whilst he is at his grandfather's over the summer.  However, his compassion and desire to help Clementine drive him on and, before he knows it, he and Pop are fully invested in securing Clementine (and Hamlet's) safety.  Pop and Gus are genuinely good people and there absolutely needs to be more people like them in the world.

The whole idea of a mouse playing chess is one that I know will appeal to many children in my school where chess club is always popular and I found the narration of the games interesting and well balanced, with just enough detail to intrigue readers but not so much detail to confuse those who don't know how to play the game - in fact, I think the book may encourage more children to want to learn to play.

Published on the 1st September, Always, Clementine is a delight of a book with strong messages about doing the right thing, animal testing and never giving up.  I know that readers will fall in love with Clementine and I can't wait to share the book in school next week.

The Shadow Order - Rebecca F. John

 

It is my absolute pleasure to be kicking off the blog tour for The Shadow Order today.

I'm starting with a snippet of exclusive content from Rebecca to whet your appetite:

Hangman’s Alley

In a grimy corner of Copperwell, underneath elevated railway tracks and thick clouds of billowing locomotive smoke, sits Hangman’s Alley. Here Betsy – full name, Elizabeth Blue – lives in the attic room of the laundry where she works, with the owner Mrs Saltsburg and her cat Madam Bee. Madam Bee has fur blacker than coal and was once employed to keep the mice out of Saltsburg’s Laundry, but Madam Bee refuses to do as she is bid and she spends most of her time sleeping on the freshly washed clothes. Madam Bee doesn’t care to know much, but she does know all of Betsy’s dreams because Betsy has whispered them to her while she has scrubbed skirts and jackets and socks clean. And what the cat doesn’t care to know is that Betsy loves to study the stars, and that she’s not half so confident as she pretends to be, and that she longs for nothing more than a great adventure.

And if you still need any persuading (why would you after that?), here's my review:

Everybody in Copperwell lives by night: they work and play at night and, by law (The Shadow Order), must be at home before dawn so that they cannot see their shadows which have changed and show their true selves. However, friends Teddy, Betsy and Effie decide to defy that order and the Unified Government to watch the sun rise, but whilst there, they realise that things are different when they find an orchid mantis which shouldn't be in the UK.  Minutes later, they hear a woman in the street below them who is also defying the order, shouting about the government and the orrery.  When the constables drag her away, the three friends become determined to find out Prime Minister Bythesea and his government are up to, what the orrery is and why everyone is banned from seeing their shadows.

There is a definite darkness to The Shadow Order, not just in the fact that it is largely set at night, but also in that it is very much a book about control.  It is evident that the government are controlling the people of Copperwell: they are forced to live by night and hide by day and are clearly terrified of the constables and the consequences of breeching The Shadow Order, after all, readers see the constables' response to the woman in the street and the assumption the children have of what would have happened to her.  

The three friends, Teddy, Betsy and Effie, are very different children who are united in their friendship as well as their desire to get to the bottom of what is happening and their bravery is seen in so many different ways and for different reasons.  As the book progresses, the danger they are in increases, leaving the reader, at times, uncertain as to what will happen.

The Shadow Order is an immersive book to be savoured and not to be rushed; it is one to contemplate and to take in the world building and description which is clever and vivid.  In my mind I imagined a time many years ago but this could equally be a tale set in the future.  It is a story with messages about the environment that are relevant today and show us what over-control can do, but there are also messages about friendship and being your true self.

As I finished the book, I took a moment to sit and savour the ending (I won't give anything away) and to hope that there may be a second book so I know what happens next.

Publishing today, The Shadow Order will be a perfect read as the days shorten and the longer, darker nights descend.

Dread Wood: Fear Ground - Jennifer Killick

 A few months have passed since the end of book 1 (Dread Wood) and, although things have been quiet, there is a new game that the students at Dread Wood High are playing: Flinch.  The game begins when the app alerts everyone by playing the beginning of Pop Goes the Weasel; it then pauses, at which point all players try to scare others around them in order to make them 'flinch' and claim points before the end of the song rings out.  As the days progress, the Angelo and his friends (Club Loser) begin to realise that everyone seems to be behaving more unusually than normal, including Hallie's chicken.  With the arrival of the fair at Finches Green, things are hotting up ... but Club Loser also have to face mysterious people in creepy clown masks - who are they?  What is going on with the app?  And can Club Loser get to the bottom of things before it's too late?

I love Jennifer's books and she rightly deserves her crown as the queen of MG horror so I was very excited to have a NetGalley copy of Fear Ground to enjoy (I also had my teddy to keep me company and began reading the book in day light - yes, I am a coward!). From the very beginning when the game is explained, the book is chilling and it doesn't let up with a round of the game being played in chapter one.  I have to say that I would be terrible at playing Flinch, as I couldn't even remain calm whilst reading the book (I jumped at both the door bell and my mobile in the first 30 minutes of reading the book).  However, in amongst the nail biting bits, there are funny moments that made me chuckle and I particularly enjoyed Mr Canton's character and his cringeable attempts to be cool - he may just be my favourite character and, despite his failed attempts to be 'down with the kids', his heart is always in the right place and he really looks out for Club Loser.  

It was lovely to be back with Angelo, Hallie, Gus and Naria, and also to get to know Colette more.  Jennifer is brilliant at creating believable characters with dialogue that feels very real.  

Jennifer really has done it again with Fear Ground and readers will delight in both the scare and the humour which are perfectly balanced.  This book will make you cringe, it will make you squirm and it will most definitely make you flinch.  You have been warned!

Fear Ground is due for release on the 1st September.  

Operation Nativity - Jenny Pearson

Oscar and Molly live in Middlesbrough with their parents but are spending Christmas in Chipping-Bottom in Hampshire at their father's family home.  You see their father is part of the Cuthbert-Andersons who own a rather large family estate where his parents, Lord and Lady Cuthbert-Anderson still live.  Christmas is a big event there and includes the family performing a nativity play for the rest of the village.  Oscar and Molly's parents have managed to find ways of avoiding Christmases here for the past few years, but this year, as Lord Cuthbert-Anderson is rather ill, they feel they have to go.

On their first night, whilst trying to sleep in the nursery, Oscar and Molly see a bright light in the sky and Molly convinces Oscar that they have to investigate.  Whatever they thought they would find, it certainly wasn't a rather dazed Angel Gabriel who has managed to knock Christmas off course and needs their help to get things back on track before Christmas Day or Christmas will no longer exist.  Sounds easy?  Not if you also need to locate a shepherd, a wise man, a donkey, oh, and Mary and Joseph.  

Can I just say now that Operation Nativity is a gloriously funny celebration of Christmas with all its traditions and I thoroughly adored every minute of it.  I loved the small details and humour that will be as funny for adults as for children - funnier perhaps - and I can absolutely imagine this being a brilliant book to read aloud as a family (or to a class) in the run-up to the festive season.

Every family has their own particular Christmas traditions but the Cuthbert-Anderson's nativity is quite the organised event involving every member of the family, whether they want to be part of it or not.  Old traditions meet with the exuberance of youth as Lady Cuthbert-Anderson organises the carol singing and the play rehearsals, with hilarious results.

The characterisation within the book is really rather wonderful.  I very much enjoyed the Angel Gabriel, Balthazar and Steve: their mannerisms and the way they spoke made me chuckle.  However, it was Molly who stole the show for me.  Her knack for telling the truth and being completely honest is a joy to read and her outfits always unique (she may become my new style icon).  After Molly, never again shall I hear 'Joy To The World' in quite the same way again.

Oscar, although very different to his younger sister, is a wonderful young man who takes the weight of the world on his shoulders but does so with immense style.  I loved his approach to everything (including stealing his dad's clothes).  His love for his grandfather is evident and I found this very touching.

As well as the belly laughs (this book had me laughing out loud on a train from Venice to Florence - great for me, not so good for my embarrassed teenage son who was sat next to me), there are some very important messages about love and family within the book (I recommend having a tissue handy).  Love and celebrate your family (in whatever form your family takes), embrace them for who they are and enjoy those times together for they are the memories you make and hold dear.  I am reminded of the fact that my dad constantly tells my son and I to 'make memories' and I feel that Oscar's grandfather would approve - he is a wonderful character with a mischievous twinkle in his eye and the perfect balance to his wife.

Released on the 13th October, Operation Nativity is the perfect addition to my collection of Christmas books and one that you need to pre-order.

Alice Éclair Spy Extraordinaire A Recipe For Trouble - Sarah Todd Taylor

 

Ok, so, before I start this review, I have to declare that I have a serious weakness for all things Paris, including books set in Paris, so when I saw information about Alice Éclair starting to appear on Twitter I kept my fingers and toes crossed that one would make its way to me - it did!

However, next I had the dilemma of whether to drop everything and read the book immediately or save it until August and read whilst I was actually in Paris.  I went with the latter (thanks to Hannah Prutton for her advice on this) and, although the wait was agonising, I can say that it was absolutely the right thing to do and reading it last week whilst sat in the Jardin de Tuileries and later whilst eating macarons, made the perfect accompaniment to this rather wonderful book. 

Thirteen-year-old Alice lives with her mum and together they run Vive Comme L'Éclair pâtisserie in Paris.  We quickly learn that she is an incredibly pastry chef who bakes the most wonderful creations, but we also discover that she has been secretly receiving spy training from an unknown mentor.  When that mentor reveals themselves to Alice, it leads her to a temporary job on board The Sapphire Express, Paris's most luxurious train, as a pastry chef; however, she also needs to discover the identity of an enemy spy before the train reaches its destination.

Alice is a wonderful character and one that readers will love from the start.  She is evidently a creative and very skilled baker (the images in my mind of the wedding cake from the opening chapter are still making me drool!); however, we very quickly learn that she is also independent, strong, quick-thinking and level-headed.  I can completely see readers wanting to be Alice and imagining themselves in her shoes as a spy - I was definitely doing that and know that children at school will do it too!

I mentioned earlier that Alice is a pastry chef and the descriptions of the cakes and creations she conjures up throughout the book are mouth-watering to say the least and I highly recommend having a steady supply of sweet treats at your disposal as you read (I blame Sarah Todd Taylor for the macarons I bought in Paris and am just chastising myself for not also including éclairs as part of my reading snacks).

Alice Éclair Spy Extraordinaire is a delicious adventure that builds to a thrilling ending with twists and mouth-watering treats at every turn.  The perfectly sized chapters make it impossible to put down (just one more chapter...) and I can't wait to see what Alice gets up to next.

My thanks to Nosy Crow for sending me the book, to Hannah for telling me that waiting until Paris was the best way to read it (if you happen to be heading to Paris soon I highly recommend Alice as your travelling companion, and if you are already there I know that Shakespeare and Company have copies in stock!) but most of all my thanks go to Sarah for creating such an enticing book.  Roll on January and book 2!

The King Is Dead - Benjamin Dean

 

O and I used to blog together all the time but, as he has grown-up, his reading has changed and so we rarely now read the same books.  However, whilst on holiday in Crete a couple of weeks ago that all changed when we both read The King Is Dead!  Here is our joint review:

The king has died which means that his son, James, is now king at the age of seventeen.  Young to take on such a huge role, he knows that the eyes of the world will be on him even more than any other monarch as he is the first Black and queer king.  However, the public don't know the truth about his sexuality, instead believing that he is in a relationship with Ophelia, a long-standing friend who has agreed to the ruse.  However, journalist Quinn Buckley is determined to bring the new king down and is publishing rumours and scandals in his newspaper on an almost daily basis.  James knows that he must be getting the information from somewhere, he just needs to figure out where before too much damage is done.  But who can he trust?

O's Opinion:

The King Is Dead is a book like no other, with its take on the royal family and the public’s opinion of them at the forefront of the plot throughout. The vividness with which the details of the palace and the grounds are captured make this book come to life, and the characters are no exception to this. Using the antagonist Quinn Buckley and his news stories to drive a wedge of distrust between James and his family and staff, Dean manages to powerfully create a sense of tension whenever James speaks to someone he suspects. The plot of the novel is fantastic, with a setup Agatha Christie would be proud of so towards the end of the book anybody could be responsible, which certainly kept me on the edge of my seat. This is a very enjoyable read, that keeps suspense and drama throughout.

K's opinion

I have loved both of Benjamin Dean's MG books so was rather pleased when O picked up The King Is Dead to take on holiday with him.  He was completely engrossed and read the entire book in under a day, only really looking up to tell me how good it was and that I had to read it - who was I to argue?  I picked up the book the following morning and instantly knew why he had enjoyed the book so much.  The reader is instantly transported into the heart of the palace and the inner sanctum of the royal family; you feel as though you are privy to things you shouldn't be and it makes for delicious reading.  As O said, the sense of suspense was tantalising and I think he got as much enjoyment from watching my reactions to parts of the book as he did to reading it himself.  The characters are perfectly created and I loved James for his realness: although he is king, he still has so many doubts and makes mistakes which made him feel much more human.

Like O, I gobbled the book up in under 24 hours as I just couldn't put it down.  It's a perfectly woven mystery that will keep you guessing right until the very end.  If you only read one YA this summer, it absolutely has to be The King Is Dead.

The Girl, The Ghost and the Lost Name - Reece Carter

 

Corpse is a ghost who has created a body for herself out of wax, seaweed and shells.  She lives on the rock-that-doesn't-exist with her friend, Simon, the huntsman spider.  Since her death, she cannot remember her real name or any memories of her life but when a ghost visits her with a message about a treasure that will help her regain her memories, she decides it's time to head for the near-by town of Elston-Fright but must also battle three terrible witches who also want the treasure.  

Corpse is a strong character who lives a unique life.  Other than Simon, she has nobody since she lost her only other friend, Girl.  You quickly discover that she is very determined, refusing to be constrained by her abilities (or lack of).  Everything she does is borne of her desire to find her family and her memories; she just wants to belong and is clearly lonely, despite Simon's company (I have to say that I loved Simon, even though I am terrified of spiders!  His click-clicking was rather reassuring).  I will also mention the three witches who made me shiver whenever they were around - I found them really nasty but could also imagine them being wonderful characters to read aloud.

The Girl, The Ghost and the Lost Name is a very different book and one that had me intrigued, especially when the box arrived with the proof copy.  The book has a very dark feel about it and you are instantly drawn by the front cover.  From the beginning, you know that this is a book for those who enjoy a spookier read.  Full of ghostly characters (some good, some bad), this is the perfect read for autumn when the nights are getting dark and you want to curl up with something more sinister.

The Girl, The Ghost and the Lost Name is due for release on the 29th September.

Leila and the Bule Fox - Kiran Millwood Hargrave with Tom de Freston

Leila has lived in London with her aunty and her cousin since fleeing Damascus with her mum.  However, six years ago, Leila's mum left London and Leila, and moved to Norway to work as a meteorologist.  Leila hasn't seen her since but, now she is journeying alone to Tromsø to spend the summer with her.  Leila is nervous about both the journey and seeing her mum again after so long, and when she lands, she is upset to discover that her mum has sent a friend to collect her as she is too busy at work, securing funding for her research into an Arctic fox she has been tracking.  Then, only a day or two later, Leila is taken on another journey, aboard The Floe, a boat that will help them find the Arctic fox and continue to track it on its journey.

Kiran Millwood Hargrave has always been a writer whose work I have adored and her collaborative work with Tom is just an amazing enhancement of that - two very talented people combining their work to create a real art form.  Julia and the Shark was spellbinding so when I was given the opportunity to receive an early copy of their second book together, I already knew it was going to be something special... and I wasn't wrong.

Leila and the Blue Fox is a book to be savoured, to be read at a slower pace so that you can take in everything that is being shared.  It's a book that you will think about between reading sessions and one that will undoubtedly stay with you after you have finished reading the final words.  Based on a true story of an Arctic fox that walked over 2,000 miles in 76 days, that was tracked by scientists, Hargrave and de Freston have used this as the basis of the novel.  They have then seamlessly woven in the story of Leila and her journey through her life, first as a migrant fleeing Syria with her mum, aunty and cousin, and then again, her journey to her mum as well as the journey they make together, tracking the fox whilst trying to rebuild their relationship.  

Leila is a complex character, who has a settled life in England with her aunty and cousin.  She has buried her journey out of Damascus but this new expedition opens up old memories for her.  She clearly feels lonely and uncertain, after all, she and her mum haven't seen each other for six years and she is hurting on several levels - they are essentially strangers trying to navigate the rebuilding of a relationship, both tiptoeing around each other, not knowing what to say.  There were so many times when I wanted to reach into the book to hug and comfort Leila.  It's a powerful journey she makes with her mum, both in her rediscovery of memories of her pervious life, as well as the rebuilding of their relationship.

I cannot fail to mention Miso too, the Arctic fox who is at the centre of the scientists' work.  Innocent and focussed only on finding where she truly needs to be, she is looking for nothing more than food and a home.  The sections that focus on the story from Miso's point of view are incredibly effective and highlight the plight of these animals in the current climate.

The illustrations that are woven into the book are beautiful and perfectly compliment the story being told; they are worth pausing over and studying in their own right and I cannot wait to see them in their full glory in the final book.  

There are so many powerful messages raised within the pages of this book: environmental issues and climate change; migration and people who to flee their homeland in order to seek a safer life; family relationships and the things we do for our families; the sense of belonging and love.  

Leila and the Blue Fox is a beautifully told tale full of love and it will draw you in and tug at your heart in so many ways.  It's a stunning book and one I know I will be reading again.  Released on the 29th September, this is a book to pre-order.

Running Out Of Time - Simon Fox

 

Alex has a gift that only his father and his grandmother know about: he can steal time which means that he can see what will happen in the future.  So far he can only manage 15 seconds but he has been told that his grandmother once managed to steal 15 minutes.  As things become difficult in Alex's home country, he and his father are forced to flee, leaving his grandmother behind.  The journey is a difficult one with Alex and his father becoming separated as they arrives in England.  It's now up to Alex to find his way in this new country and to find his father without ending up on the wrong side of the people smugglers.

Told in duel narrative, the chapters switch between 'before' which reveals Alex's story with his father as they flee, and 'after' which sees us follow Alex's journey in England.  As he comes to terms with being alone in a country he doesn't know, with no money and nowhere to stay, he begins to steal time to help him but is it enough?

Alex is a brilliant character whose unique ability could be seen as a blessing or a curse and not one I am certain I would want.  He is alone in a country where he knows no one and is terrified of what has happened to his father.  Although he has a difficult relationship with his father, he is clearly desperate to find him.  He is also struggling with the idea of having left his grandma behind - he has a lot going on and needs to learn who to trust which is where is gift comes in, but he can only steal a few seconds which, in itself, causes problems.  

The story is a fast-paced sci-fi and the duel narrative will ensure that you cannot put the book down (I even read it during the women's football final last night I was that gripped!).  Running Out Of Time is a book that shows the best and the worst of people, it highlights the plight of people fleeing their country and their treatment at the hands of people smugglers, but it is also a book with full of hope.  As the story came to a close, I was genuinely surprised by the ending and I know that this is a book that will be in demand with my Year 6 class next term.  

Due for release on the 4th August, Running Out Of Time comes highly recommended by me.

Mouse Heart - Fleur Hitchcock

 

Mouse has been part of the Moth theatre group for as long as she can remember with the troupe her 'family'.  Then, one day, her friend Walter, the company's leading man, arrives back at the theatre in a state, saying that he needs to be hidden as he had tried to help a woman in the street who was already dead and now the authorities want to arrest him for murder - it turns out that the lady in question was Lady Margaret Grey, confidante to the queen.  Mouse knows that he is innocent and is determined to prove it, but with a murderer on the loose, can she get to the bottom of things before it's too late?

A historic novel bursting with period atmosphere,  Mouse Heart is an exciting murder mystery that will have you gripped from the very beginning.  Set during the reign of Queen Anne II (a fictional queen), the description allows you to perfectly imagine the filthy streets and the busy docks as Mouse experienced them,

Mouse is the most fantastic main character and one readers won't help but route for.  The theatre has been her family since she was abandoned and, although she is still young, she is incredibly brave and loyal to the other members of the group.  She fears for Walter and will do anything to get him out of prison.  It is this that starts her on her detective quest and the mistakes the killer has made soon begin to reveal themselves to her.  She is feisty and seemingly afraid of nothing as she follows the trail that could lead to Walter's release but this, in itself, could put her in danger and there were times that I worried about her safety and the situations she was putting herself in.  She leaves the theatre every night to bring food to Walter, assisted by Kwadwo who cannot leave the building for fear of being found by those who had previously kept him as their servant.  He is calm and gentle influence on all of those around him, particularly Mouse.  However, it is Valentina who took Mouse under her wing; she is the life and soul of the company and is charismatic and bold in everything she does.  

This is a thrilling book that weaves different elements of history into an exciting and tense book that you won't be able to put down.  Set at a time when law enforcement wasn't what it is today, Mouse Heart is a swashbuckling adventure with skulduggery and love at its heart.

Mouse Heart is due for release on the 4th August.

Spark - MG Leonard

 

I read and loved Twitch last March and then introduced it to school where it became an instant hit with my class who chose to have it as their daily read (my review is here) so I was thrilled when I saw that Spark was available on NetGalley.

It is Jack who takes the lead in this book and we see him at the beginning heroically carrying a cat to the vet who has been shot.  From there, he discovers that this is not the first cat to have been shot recently so he decides that this could be the second case for the Twitchers to solve.  However, when he goes to tell everybody, Twitch is preoccupied by the imminent arrival of a bearded vulture, a very rare bird, to the area and the investigation gets lost in the excitement.  This means that it's up to Jack to lead the investigation into the shootings but this leads him into a criminal plot that could prove deadly if it isn't stopped in time.

Despite the excitement at the end of book 1, Jack seems to be wrestling with some issues at the beginning of Spark: he is struggling to find his place in the group and is also finding it difficult to identify the birds he sees.  Despite Twitch's reassurances that he is just impatient and needs to find his spark bird, Jack is upset that the others are more occupied with the bearded vulture than his investigation.  He is determined to get to the bottom of things, even if he has to branch out without the whole team and this undoubtedly causes friction amongst the group.  As a result, we see Jack grow as a character and, although he makes mistakes along the way, he grows in strength and determination as the book progresses.  He is brave and his fear of the consequences of abandoning his search is what drives him on.  

As with Twitch, Spark had me hooked from the beginning and I simply loved the pace and the peril that are woven into the plot.  It is a glorious sequel and it was a delight to be back with the group - I really enjoyed getting to know Jack more.  It's a pacey plot which I know will be a huge hit with my class when it is released.  And I have to say an additional thank-you to MG Leonard for getting me through a night flight back from Crete!  I found it impossible to sleep and was incredibly pleased to have Jack, Twitch and the others to keep me company whilst everybody else slept!

Spark is due for release on the 1st September.

Festergrimm - Thomas Tyler

The Eerie-on-Sea series is one that I know I am going to enjoy without having to look at the blurb so it was with much excitement that I discovered book 4, Festergrimm, appear on NetGalley.  There was no doubt that I would be reading it and I was able to enjoy it in one sitting whilst lying around the pool on holiday last week.

At the beginning of the book Herbie and Vi are at Eerie's train station along with Mr Mollusc, the manager of the Grand Nautilus Hotel.  They are there at Lady Kraken's request to welcome a VIP guest to the hotel.  Curious as to who it will be, Herbie and Vi are both shocked and worried when they discover Sebastian Eels emerge through the smoke.  The renowned local author has history with Herbie and Vi, so his arrival comes as quite the shock to both of them; however, it appears that he intends to reopen the long-closed Festergrimm's Waxworks museum and declares that his intentions are purely honourable.  Despite what he is saying, Herbie and Vi are wary and fully intend to keep a close eye on him and find out exactly what is going on.

The narration of the book from Herbie's point of view is one I have always enjoyed with the humour that is interspersed with the adventure that unfolds and Festergrimm is no exception.  Herbie is a joyous character and one I always love to read.  He and Vi have grown since Malamander, but their individual characters still shine through and they work so well together.  We also get to know more about some of the other villagers in this book which I enjoyed.  

If you have read the other books in the series (& if you haven't, why not?) then you will know that Sebastian Eels will undoubtedly be up to no good, and I thoroughly enjoyed the anticipation of what he was doing and exactly what mischief he was up to.  

Like the other books, Festergrimm combines adventure, darkness, peril and humour in just the right amounts to create a gripping read, and now I'm just desperate to read the final book in the series.

Orla and the Wild Hunt - Anna Hoghton

 

Orla and her brother, Apollo, have chosen to spend the summer with their gran in Ireland instead of in France with their father, his new fiancée and her children.  They anticipate a quiet summer but as soon as they arrive, Orla notices that her gran is behaving slightly differently and then when she goes missing Orla realises that it is up to her and her brother to find her and bring her home.  With the help of a creature they discover locked in the shed and a local boy who turns up on the doorstep, Orla and Apollo set out on a life-changing journey that will change them forever. 

I adored Anna's first book, The Mask of Aribella, which has made me long to head to Venice since I read it (something I will be doing very soon!), so when Chicken House got in touch about Orla and the Wild Hunt, I didn't have to think twice about jumping at the chance to read it.  

Orla and Apollo are clearly still grieving for the loss of the their mother two years ago and Orla, in particular, is finding it difficult to adjust to life without her.  She resents her father for moving on, feels isolated and on the outside of everything and hopes that summer with her gran will help to rectify this.  However, when she sees Apollo getting on with her gran that just makes her angry and she shuts herself away even more.  It's her grief that is controlling her and she doesn't know how to move on; she needs help but doesn't know how to ask for it.  She doubts everything and everyone one, and is the complete opposite of her younger brother who is trusting and charming at every turn.  

Beneath the tension that exists between Orla and her brother, love is at the heart of this book.  It is a wonderfully told story, combining adventure and Irish mythology seamlessly.  It will draw you into its pages and won't let you go until you have finished it - I read it in a day and was spellbound by the mythical creatures, the journey the siblings make and the tasks Orla has to endure.  A book perfect for readers who enjoyed The Chime Seekers and The Storm Keeper's Island.