Dragon Legend - Katie & Kevin Tsang

 

I first read Dragon Mountain last April, gobbled it up in a day, immediately fell in love with the book and have been shouting about it ever since! If you've read Dragon Mountain, you'll know that to say it ends on a cliff-hanger is an understatement, so I've spent the past nine months wondering what was to become of Billy, Dylan, Charlotte and Ling Fei, along with their dragons Spark, Buttons, Xing and Tank.

In Dragon Legend, Dylan has been kidnapped by Old Gold and the Dragon of Death, and it's down to Billy and the others, along with their dragons, to save him; however, this means making the dangerous journey into the Dragon Realm and risking their own lives in the process.  Of course, they don't hesitate and embark upon a perilous journey to collect the eight pearls they need in order to defeat the Dragon of Death and the nox-wings.

As you might expect from such a suspenseful ending to book one, you are thrown straight into the action from the very first page of Dragon Legend (but fear not, there is a rather good recap woven into this to remind you of what happened previously) and the adventure doesn't let-up until the very end of the book, with the stakes even higher than last time.  Not only are they searching for Dylan, they are desperate to find him before anything can happen to him. And, as well as that, they know that the fate of the world depends on them being able to defeat the most powerful dragon of them all, the evil Dragon of Death. Along the way, they journey through new and wonderful lands, as well as encounter blood-thirsty fish and a flying pig (please can I have one of these?!). They must work together if they are to succeed in their mission but there are secrets being kept and, at times, it is difficult to tell who will win out in the end ... and speaking of the end - wow! Be prepared for an other cliff-hanger that will have you desperate to reach for book 3 before the authors have even finished writing it!

Slightly darker than Dragon Mountain, Dragon Legend allows us to travel through the next perilous stage of the journey alongside our heroes, inhaling the lemony scent of the The Forgotten Sea, feeling their fear for Dylan and experiencing the thrill of on dragons. 

Mythology combines with modern day adventure that will have you utterly gripped and unable to put the book down in this brilliant sequel. Full of friendship, warmth and determination, Dragon Legend is pure escapism at a time when we need it more than ever.

Released on the 3rd March, I urge you to pre-order a copy today!

Now, how long until book 3 is released?!?!

The House at the Edge of Magic - Behind The Scenes

I first read The House at the Edge of Magic back in December and found it a wonderfully magical world to disappear into, and particularly loved the mysteries of the house so I am thrilled to be hosting Amy on my blog today who is talking about the secrets of the house.

Behind the scenes…

My favourite thing about writing ‘The House At the Edge Of Magic’ is that I am constantly surprised. I’m one of those people who loves new adventures, loves learning new things and loves spontaneity. The House delivers all these things to me, wrapped up with a bow which will probably explode into stars when I touch it.  

I didn’t plan too much with this story but let the adventure unfold, especially inside the House. I didn’t think too hard about what would be behind every door, or lurking up the chimney, or the drawer in the kitchen dresser. I have no idea how many rooms the House has, but my guess would be hundreds. Although possibly not always at the same time. And maybe they all shrink a bit on Tuesdays.

I loved exploring the House along with Nine, so when she discovered something new, it was often the first time I had thought of it, too. I love writing off the top of my head. The wonder – the delight of knowing very little about the House is that there is sooooooo much more to explore and it all feels very unpredictable and changeable. There is an entire world within this House and I’m keen to discover its secrets.

One thing which really intrigues me is the huge spiral staircase (p. 91, in case anyone’s interested!). Nine describes that it reaches right up to the ceiling, which appears to be a fair hike away. This seems to be a central feature of the landing. Some doors are reachable by it, but also… what’s at the top? What is such an important-looking staircase leading to? I was saying to my lovely editor, Gráinne Clear, the other day, that I have no idea but can’t wait to find out what’s up there. I’m resisting thinking about it too much. I want to discover it the same time Nine does and not spoil the surprise.

I’d also love to see into some of the bedrooms of the other characters. What does Flabberghast’s bedroom look like? Or Eric’s? I’m a little scared to venture into Spoon’s, which will probably explode and cover me in yellow gloop the moment I set foot over the threshold, but still, I’m curious.

I’m also very intrigued about some of the inanimate (or seemingly inanimate) objects in the House. Often, things aren’t quite as they seem. The umbrella stand inside the doorway has a blue arm zooming out of it, which catches cloaks. Who on earth – or what on earth – does this belong to??? And where does it take the cloaks? Who or what is in the sugar bowl? Or is anything in the sugar bowl? (Whispers: is it even really a sugar bowl??). The House often raises more questions than it answers, but that’s the joy of something mysterious. I will explore these things one day, but all in good time. I think it would be fun to enjoy the mystery for a little longer.

This House is full of so many secrets and surprises that if I devoted the rest of my writing life to exploring it, I still don’t think I would have all the answers. And that’s what makes this such a fun story to write. It’s a world where the impossible is possible. Where magic turns expectations upside down. Where chaos rules and sweeps you along for the ride.

I hope readers enjoy reading about the House as much as I enjoy writing about it. Step into the world with me. Because sometimes you’re a whisper away from magic without even realising it. (And you might want to double-check your sugar bowl…)

Thank you very much!

You can find my full review of The House at the Edge of Magic here:

 https://kandobonkersaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2020/12/the-house-at-edge-of-magic-amy-sparkes.html 

Why not check out some of the other blogs from the tour this week?

Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow - Benjamin Dean

There are 2 reasons why a a proof copy jumps to the top of my to be read pile: I know/love the author and have been eagerly anticipating the book, or the plot intrigues me so much I am desperate to dive straight in and read it.  Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow fell into the second category and I most definitely was not disappointed!  In fact, I devoured it in one sitting, reading the end of it by torch-light in bed as I couldn't put it down!  

Archie Albright is just your average boy who is trying to navigate his way through high school as best he can with his two best friends, Seb and Bell.  By his own admission, he isn't the most popular or the cleverest in school, in fact he feels as though he's bumbling along somewhere near the bottom of the pecking order, but he has his friends.  Things at home, however, have become very different and confusing of late as his dad has moved out and is arguing with his his mum a lot.  Something is wrong but they won't tell Archie what it is.  When Archie overhears a conversation between his parents after a particularly embarrassing incident at parents' evening, he discovers that his dad is gay.  Struggling to understand how this will change everything in his life, Archie turns to his friends and his neighbour Oscar for help.  But then stumbling on a flier his dad has dropped in his car, leads Archie, along with Seb and Bell, on an adventure they will never forget to London and Gay Pride, in search of the answers Archie is looking for.

This really is the most wonderful, heart-warming book I have read in a while.  From the very beginning, you feel for Archie: his parents are doing that classic thing of keeping things from him; Archie believes it's to protect him, but in this instance, it's simply because his dad doesn't know how to talk to him about what's happening - cue some very awkward conversations between the pair where I simply wanted to reach into the book and help them both out!  Archie has so many questions when he finds out the truth, but just doesn't know how to ask his dad and doesn't want to upset his mum any more (who seems to switch between hiding the fact that she's been crying and going into hyper-drive cooking mode!).  Instead he turns to his neighbour and babysitter, Oscar, who is in 6th form and who is also gay.  Oscar is a wonderful character and the cake metaphor he uses to explain Archie's dad to him is wonderful (see chapter 9!).  Seb and Bell are two of the best friends anybody could have: they are there for Archie whenever he needs them and understand when he is upset.  In fact, their friendship runs all the way to doing something that Seb most definitely is terrified of: heading to London on their own to watch the Gay Pride parade.

I've never been to Gay Pride but, after reading about it in this book, all I wanted to do was hop on a train and head down to be part of the action.  The crowds, the atmosphere, the friendliness and the characters were portrayed in such a way that made me feel like I was already in the middle of it and also made me want to head down and experience it in real-life.  With a host of colourful and wonderful characters becoming embroiled in the adventure (I wanted to hug Lester and Michael when they turned up, was desperate to meet Buttercup and Viv just sounded like the sort of mum everybody would want to have), this is an unputdownable book full of colour and pride that teaches us to celebrate diversity in all its wonderful glory.  

Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow is a book with love at its heart that I truly believe everybody should read.  It's a funny, heart-warming hug in paper format that will brighten your winter/lockdown days; it navigates LGBTQ+ brilliantly, is about understanding and accepting everyone for who they are and shows us that it's ok to be yourself.

As it says on the back of the proof copy, the book is 'coming out February 2021' (the 4th to be exact) and I urge everybody to ore-order it.  It's most definitely a 5 star read for me!

Crater Lake Evolution - Jennifer Killick

Lance and his friends have been back from Crater Lake for 5 months and have settled into high school, although they seem to have all grown apart.  Lance and Chets don't see as much of each other now Lance is friendly with Karim; Katja and Ade have fallen out; Big Mak is keeping himself to himself now he's got a girlfriend; and Trent ... well nobody's really seen Trent.  Life carries on and Christmas is approaching; however, strange things are starting to occur in Staybridge.  The town had been chosen to be the first SMARTtown in the country, but then an explosion at the university's research departments plunges everything into chaos.  Nobody is allowed into the centre and everybody is forced to abide by a curfew as one of the living test subjects has escaped.  Then, when Lance's mum starts behaving strangely, he becomes increasingly more concerned that his old adversaries from Crater Lake are back and he needs to find a way to rally the troops once again.

Crater Lake was such a gripping book and a huge hit with my class last year when I read it to them (and, indeed, is a big hit with many of my class this year too!) that I was thrilled to be able to read an early copy of Crater Lake Evolution thanks to NetGalley.

It was good to be back with Lance and the rest of the gang from book one.  They have clearly grown since we last saw them and their experiences at the activity centre in Year 6 have effected them.  They have grown apart so no longer see each other and feuds have formed between some of them.  Lance and Chets are still friends but Chets is clearly jealous of Lance's new friendship with Karim (who, in my opinion, is a wonderful addition and a brilliantly funny character).  It's Lance's leadership skills that come to the fore once again to reunite the group in order to try to save the town.  One of the things I really like about each of the characters is their individuality and the fact that they aren't perfect; they make mistakes and there is very definitely a human side to them; readers can see this and it makes them relatable.  Can I say though, that I love the fact that Trent is still Trent and doesn't seem to have changed - he makes me laugh!

This is a brilliant sequel to Crater Lake; full of laughs and adventure, and the perfect was to introduce children to sci-fi.  Be ware the evolution of the species and remember: Don't. Ever. Fall. Asleep.

Crater Lake Evolution is due for release on the 20th May.  

My Christmas Reading

 I have to admit that this Christmas has been a quieter one in terms of getting out and seeing family; however, looking on the positive side, it's been a great time for me to curl up with chocolate and enjoy a few books.  My round-up of my holiday reading is below.  There are some links to reviews I've already published and some new reviews as well, all listed in the order in which I read them.

Jane Austen Investigates: The Abbey Mystery - Julia Golding 

(Released 23rd April).

https://kandobonkersaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2020/12/jane-austen-investigates-abbey-mystery.html

A Tangle of Spells - Michelle Harrison (Released 4th February).

https://kandobonkersaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2020/12/a-tangle-of-spells-michelle-harrison.html

Featherlight - Peter Bunzl (Released 15th April)

Deryn's father is the lighthouse keeper on Featherstone Island but when her mum goes into labour, Deryn is left alone to watch over things.  When a fishing boat finds itself in trouble just off the island, Dery must rely on the help of a very special bird to help prevent disaster.

This is a wonderful story with an incredibly brave character at the heart of it.  Deryn is a strong young lady who is determined to do the right thing and not to let anybody down - her qualities are admirable and will inspire readers.  With a mix of magic, adventure and family, this is a joy to read.  Featherlight appealed to me especially as, growing up in the North-East, I am very familiar with the true story of Grace Darling, a local girl who was one of the inspirations for the book.  Once museums are back open again, I'll certainly be going back.

Ever Dark - Abi Elphinstone. (Released 7th January)

The prequel to Rumblestar, Ever Dark is the story of Smudge and her monkey, Bartholomew, who set sail from Crackledawn in an attempt to stop Morg, the evil harpy who is determined to steal Crackledawn's magic.

This was as wonderfully written as I have come to expect from Abi's writing.  The description paints vivid pictures of wonderful new worlds that emerge from the page and allow you to imagine you are there with Smudge as she ventures on her quest.

Smudge is a determined character but rather clumsy; she's full of heart and kindness, and is very much a character that readers will want to get to to know; however, I have to say that I had a real soft spot for Bartholomew, the monkey whose grumpiness is rather endearing, as is his loyalty to Smudge. 

Full of positive messages and full of adventure, this edition of Ever Dark is being published in a dyslexia-friendly format and is available to buy from 7th January -  it will just about help get me through to May when I can dive into The Crackle Dawn Dragon!

Luna Rae Is Not Alone - Hayley Webster (Released 4th February)

 Luna and her family have just moved into their first home which means a new school and making new friends.  Luna finds this difficult, especially as she is worried about everything at home.  However, when her school announces a family Bake Off competition, she feels that this will be the answer to everything and is desperate to enter with her mum.  There's only one problem: she hasn't seen her mum in several days.

This is one of those wonderful books where you find yourself completely immersed in the main character's life so quickly that you just want to keep reading to find out what is going to happen.  Luna is a sensible girl but one who is known to catastrophise - she sees the worst possible outcome in everything and worries about things.  However, this leads her to be a rather wonderful big sister and a daughter, looking out for her dad as much as she can.  She finds making friends at school hard so she is pleased when the boy who lives on her street is actually in her class.  Together, the pair become firm friends.

Full of friendship, family and messages for adults about not hiding things from children, this is a book that I know will go down well in school.

Murder on the Safari Star - MG Leonard & Sam Sedgman (4th February)

Hal and his Uncle Nat are back on their third adventure and this time they're venturing on safari in Africa on a journey that will take them from Pretoria to Victoria Falls.  From the very beginning of the journey, Hal's detective senses are twitching and he feels that something is not as it may seem, but he doesn't expect one of the guests to be murdered.  With a retired detective on the train, investigations begin in earnest; however, can Hal and his new friend Winston get to the bottom of things before they reach the end of the line?

It was great to be back with Hal and his uncle who have such a wonderful relationship.  But there was also a host of other characters to get to know and love (or hate) this time, in particular Chipo, the mongoose, who was such a loveable character.  

Full of action and suspense, this is a fast-paced novel that will have you on the edge of your seat, and I guarantee there's an ending you won't see coming!  Most definitely Hal's most dangerous but mist exciting adventure yet and I can't wait to board the next train with him.

Chocolate Milk, X-Ray Specs and Me - Bethany Walker; 

illustrated by Jack Noel (Released 7th January)

Freddy Spicer's parents are currently working as Brussel-sprouts farmers in Outer Castonga ... or so he believes.  In fact, they are secret agents working on a highly classified mission.  Completely oblivious to the strange goings on around him, Freddy just wants his parents to come home so he can have a birthday party at Blast Yourself Bonkers!  

Written in letter format, this is a hilariously funny book and Freddy's obliviousness to the strange events that are going on around him (his very glamorous new neighbour falling for his grandad; the unusual gadgets he keeps finding, the much older pupil who arrives at school...) make things even funnier.  Oh and the sprouts, I have to mention the sprouts which poor Freddy is forced to eat all the time (with the obvious consequences!). You'll find yourself rooting for Freddy whilst laughing along with him.  A great read!

Greyfriars Bobby - Eleanor Atkinson

Written in 1912, this is the classic story of Bobby, the Sky Terrier who befriends Auld Jock in Edinburgh.  The pair become inseparable, so much so, that when Jock dies, Bobby refuses to leave his side, returning to his grave in Greyfriars Kirkyard every evening to lie with him.  Despite the efforts of the Lord Provost, Bobby will not be moved and, as a result, changes the lives of all those around him.

This has always been one of my favourite stories, especially having spent so much time in Edinburgh as a child (it's where my father is from), and it's a wonderful story of loyalty and perseverance that's guaranteed to warm even the hardest of hearts.  

This beautiful cloth bound edition of the book is even more special to me as it was a Christmas present from my son.  Having remembered me mentioning it some time ago, he took himself to Waterstones and ordered a copy for me (and also bought me my very own JellyCat elephant!)  This edition will take pride of place on me shelves and will continue to make me cry every time I read it!

The Monsters of RookHaven - Pardaig Kenny

Mirabelle is one of the monsters who are part of 'the family' who live at Rookhaven Manor which has, for years, been separated from the rest of the world by glamour.  However, a fault in this results in orphans Jem and Tom stumbling across the house.  Tom is unwell which forces the pair to stay for a week and, during this time, Mirabelle and Jem become friends.  However, there is danger lurking that threatens everybody in the manor, meaning the the monsters and humans need to help each other in order to survive.

I had heard so many good things about this book so I was thrilled when I unwrapped a copy on Christmas Day and I most certainly wasn't disappointed.  It's a deliciously dark and sinister book that hints from the very beginning of secrets that are waiting to be revealed as the story unfolds.  The wonderful range of unusual characters only adds to the atmosphere and I found their different characteristics interesting - I particularly liked the chapters written from Piglet's point of view, although they were rather chilling and, in many respects, towards the end, thought provoking. 

This is a beautiful book both in its gothic writing but also in the illustrations by Edward Bettison which most certainly add to the atmosphere.  I shall miss 'the family' now I've finished the book but am pleased I got to visit Rookhaven, just for a while.

The Storm Keepers' Battle - Catherine Doyle (Released 4th March).

https://kandobonkersaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-storm-keepers-battle-catherine-doyle.html

Where Happiness Begins - Eva Eland (Released 5th March)

A wonderful picture book about what happiness is and where you may find it.  This is a perfect book for children (and adults actually!) which will help them to understand happiness.  It's one that will be heading in to school with me and is a book that will be used again and again in assemblies, with my classes and with individuals.

Dreams for our Daughters - Ruth Doyle; illustrated by Ashling Lindsay (Released 4th February)

We all have hopes and dreams for our children and this book so beautifully puts it down on paper.  We want our daughters to dream big and be whatever they want to be - there should be no limit to their dreams.  Although it is titled Dreams for our Daughters, I feel that this is a message that is important for all children to understand.  Beautifully written and illustrated, this is a book that will help girls realise that they should follow their dreams.

Melt - Ele Fountain

 

Yutu lives in a village in the Arctic Circle, in an area where the warming climate is threatening the home he lives in with his grandmother.  Bea has just moved to yet another new school due to her father's job and isn't settling in well, so when her father suggests she join him on a flight up to the Arctic as part of his job, she jumps at the chance.  However, when the pair land, Bea is forced to flee alone after watching her father being attacked by those who were due to be meeting him.  Something is very wrong.  When Yutu and Bea's worlds collide, they must help each other in a fight for survival.

Yutu and Bea are very different people.  Yutu has lived his entire life in one tiny Inuit village where everybody knows each other and his friends are people he has known since birth.  Life is lived using the land and the animals around them to the maximum, and the village works as a community.  Bea, however, is a very insular character, with good reason: her father's job as a geologist means that he spends his life moving from oil company to oil company, helping them find the prime locations for drilling.  Constantly being the new girl in school is difficult so she has stopped trying to make friends and does her best to ignore the bullies, but life is lonely, especially as her father has begun behaving very secretively about work, something that is very out of character.  Yutu longs to move away, see different places and experience what the rest of the world has to offer; whereas Bea is desperate to stop moving, put down roots and find somewhere to call home. When the pair are forced together, their very different worlds collide. 

Ele has a way of writing books for children that are both engaging as well as showing children what is happening in other parts of the world, highlighting important and often sensitive issues in an age appropriate way, and Melt is no exception.  Climate change is having a devastating effect upon our planet and this is brilliantly but subtly highlighted throughout the book: Yutu's grandmother's home is in danger due to the rising temperatures/melting permafrost; seals are no longer as easy to be found and therefore hunting for essential meat is more difficult, and oil companies are ever more desperate to find the right places to drill that will yield the most oil for the biggest profit.  Although the terms climate change and global warming are never uttered, they are evident themes throughout the story.

Melt is a gripping story of bravery, determination and friendship that highlights the environmental impact of what we are doing to the Earth.  But be warned: it's hard to put down once you've started reading it!   

Due for release on the 29th April, this is a book that you should pre-order!

The Storm Keepers' Battle - Catherine Doyle

The final book in the Storm Keeper trilogy sees Fionn in one last battle against Morrigan and her Soulstalkers in order to save Arranmore, his friends and family.  But can he believe in himself enough to conquer his fears and to triumph over Morrigan?

I have loved this series from the very start and have been waiting with much anticipation for this final instalment so I was incredibly grateful when Bloomsbury chose me as one of five lucky people to receive an early copy (it's due for release on the 4th March).

From the very beginning, as you would expect, the book is full of anticipation and adventure, and things most certainly aren't straight forward for Fionn and his friends.  Morrigan was never going to lie down and allow him to take back the island and her evil knows no bounds.  It's a dark and menacing path to the end of the book and one that will most definitely have you utterly hanging on every word.  There are twists and turns along the way that will keep you guessing and things that you probably won't see coming.  

Fionn has come along way since he first arrived on the island, scared of the sea and completely unaware of the fate that awaited him.  Now, as the island's Storm Keeper, the fate of Arranmore and the islanders lies with him.  It's a huge responsibility and he still doesn't know if he's up for the job ... and that's what I like about him: he isn't your typical hero, full of his own importance and belief in himself.  Quite the opposite, he spends much of his time doubting his ability and his skills.  He is scared more than he is confident and has to muster everything he can to do what he has to do.  I think this is something that a lot of children (and possibly adults) will be able to relate to - ok, not the wielding magic bit but the idea of lacking self-confidence and belief, worrying that everybody else is relying on you and thinks you are more capable than you believe you are.  He is human and by no means perfect, and this is an important message for children to understand.  He is, though brave and loyal to his friends, his family and the island. He is most definitely one of my favourite heroes and one I will talk about for quite some time.

The Storm Keepers' Battle is a wonderfully dramatic final instalment and I was rather sorry to say goodbye to Fionn and Arranmore when I finally finished the book, but I can't wait to see what Catherine Doyle has install for us next!