You'd Better Watch Out - Frank Cadaver

When Evangeline gets into trouble at school again, her father decides on a different form of discipline: he brings home a Christmas elf; however, this is no ordinary Elf on the Shelf, this is a Watching Elf and it's about to change Evangeline's life forever.  The question is, can she rid herself of the elf before it's too late?

You'd Better Watch Out is the first in a new YA series called The Blood Texts and  it's certainly not for the faint hearted: the Watching Elf is quite possibly the most evil creature I've encountered in fiction and unless those it's watching are good, it will punish them (or their family) in rather gruesome ways.  The question is: what is good?  This is an elf that will punish anything that it perceives to be remotely unkind.  As Eveline tries to unpick the mess she has got herself in to, the elf is watching every move.

Publishing on the 31st October, You'd Better Watch Out, is a fast-paced, quick read (at 142 pages, it will appeal to reluctant readers).  Written in a way that will appeal to teenagers, this is a book for the brave and those who are prepared to be good!

Kevin The Vampire: A Fanged & Fearsome Fiend - Matt Brown

 

Kevin is heading to his Gloaming, a test for all nearly eleven-year-old vampires to see if they are worthy of being given their first vampire cloak; there's just one problem: Kevin can't perform The Melt.  As they head to Castle Mort to face the most fearsome vampire ever, Bernard the Destroyer, Kevin needs to muster all his skills if he wants to pass the tests and win his cloak.

I have loved this series since the first book was published and so I was thrilled when A Fanged And Fearsome Fiend arrived for me.  Leaving the The Carnival Monstromo, Kevin and his parents head to Castle Mort for the Gloaming.  As a humam, Susie isn't permitted to attend but I was thrilled when I realised she'd managed to sneak her way in - she's a strong and fearless character who shows that she's a quick thinker and a loyal friend to Kevin.  I love their friendship and really enjoyed seeing it develop in this book.

The book is a fangtastic adventure with laughs and lessons woven perfectly into the plot.  With wonderful illustrations by Flavia Sorrentino to compliment the story, Kevin the Vampire: A Fanged & Fearsome Fiend is the perfect read for this time of year and is guaranteed to lift your spirits.

The Night House Files: The Deadsoul Project - Dan Smth

In 1977, something very unusual happened at Alpine Heights, a high-rise block of flats where soldiers awaiting family accommodation at Lightpipe Garrison were placed.  Now, forty-six years later, as the block is being demolished, The Night House, a secret organisation that investigates strange events, is looking into exactly what happened.  This book is the log of that investigation.

Kyle and Laruen live with their mother in a high rise block named Alpine Heights.  They also lived with their step-father, but have just been informed that he was killed in action, so when Kyle and Laruen discover him sitting at their kitchen table, they are shocked to say the least.  This shock grows to concern when they realise how oddly he's behaving, and then fear as this behaviour spreads to other residents of the building.  Determined to get to the bottom of what's going on, as well as save themselves, Kyle and Lauren determine to discover exactly what is going on. 

The Night House Files: The Deadsoul Project is the first in a new series from Dan Smith and continues his collaboration with Barrington Stoke.  His previous series, The Crooked Oak Mysteries, has proved very popular with my classes (both in previous years and with my current class), so the promise of a new series could only be good news.  Needless to say, the book by-passed my reading pile and I began reading it last weekend (during daylight hours!).

The book is set during the 70s and there are references to be found (dinner of crispy pancakes - I loved those!) whilst the book remains current and relevant.  The absence of technology and mobile phones gives the book an edge and leaves the children more isolated than they would be today, which really helped to build the tension.

The plot unfolds chronologically over two days and is interspersed with classified, top secret files from the modern day Nighthouse Investigation which is looking into the incident forty six years later.  I loved this element as it helped to add information and gives it a slightly non-fiction feel with news articles, interviews and diary entries.

With the mystery of military experiments and people behaving in unexpected and scary ways all interwoven into this creepy and very believable book, The Deadsoul Project is chilling and moreish in equal measure.  It's safe to say that Dan Smith has done it again with this book: I couldn't put it down!

Publishing 13th February, The Hight House Files: The Deadsoul Project is a grippingly scary book that will terrify and entertain even the most reluctant reader - just make sure you have a teddy bear ready to keep you company!

Ember Spark And The Frost Phoenix - Abi Elphinstone

Ember and Arno are sitting in Ember's kitchen eating pizza one October evening when a bird flies in through the window and causes chaos.  At first, they believe it's a seagull but upon closer inspection, Ember knows it's a magical creature, she just doesn't know what.  The following day, they head to Rusty's cave where they discover it's a frost phoenix, a very rare and special creature as there is only ever one in existence.  The phoenix (Dazzle) soon lets them know that he needs to journey back to his homeland in the Arctic and, with the help of Mrs Rickety-Knees, Ember, Arno and Rusty jump in the bath tub and follow.  However, things aren't straightforward and Jasper Hornswaggle is in hot pursuit.  With danger lurking everywhere they turn, can Ember and Arno protect Dazzle and save themselves from Jasper's evil clutches.

There is something rather magical and special about Abi Elphinstone's books and I never fail to get lost amongst their pages.  When I first met Ember Spark last year (you can read my review of Ember Spark and the Thunder of Dragons here), I fell in love with everything about the book, not least the names of the characters, so it filled my heart to discover that I could get a sneaky early read.  

Ember and Arno make the perfect pairing, with Ember's gutsy heroic attitude to everything she does contrasting against Arno's reluctance for adventure - he prefers the idea of a quiet life baking as opposed to charging across continents in a bathtub.  But they have one thing in common: their love of magical creatures, and this is what drives them both.  With the help of Rusty and Mrs Rickety-Knees (possibly the best name in literature ever!), the pair will stop at nothing to help those creatures in need.  

Ember Spark and the Frost Phoenix takes our heroes to the Arctic where danger lurks from the second they arrive.  Jasper will stop at nothing to get what he wants and the action ramps up in a gripping and heart-stopping adventure.  I couldn't put it down!

Publishing on the 24th October, this book is an utter joy to read and is guaranteed to warm the frostiest heart; it's like a hug in paper format and the perfect antidote to the cold and dark nights that are closing in.  Written in a way that only Abi can, the magic oozes from the pages and seeps into your soul.  With wonderful illustrations by Kristina Kister that perfectly compliment the story (the last one in particular melted my heart), Ember Spark and the Frost Phoenix is the perfect prescription to banish the wet-weather blues.  Now ... only 6 months to wait for book 3!  I'm already counting the days!

Starspill - Catherine Fisher

 

Zac lives in the town of Starspill, where fog has dominated everywhere since the Wolf swallowed the sun 140 years earlier (except 3 slivers that were saved by a cat and scattered).  Living with his brother Gryff and his wife Martha, making lamps from stars to provide light, Zac just wants to live a simple life, but when he wakes one night to find a conclave of cats demanding to be let into his room, his life takes a dramatic turn for the cats demand that he steal one of the three Embers of the Sun...

This is a fantasy novel that creates a dark and mysterious atmosphere from the start.  With the sun gone, the darkness dominates and the fog is everywhere; in fact it's a character in its own right - a chilling one at times. 

In a world where cats have access to any building, they are both scheming and fun to read.  As a conclave, they appear menacing and devious; however, Jinx shows a lighter side to these creatures: full of confidence, his bright attitude is in contrast to the rest of the cats.  Zac is their intended victim and the one they choose to steal the first ember; however, Zac wants nothing more than a quiet life listening to stories and helping his brother, the starsmith.  If it wasn't for Zac's treasured map which the cats are holding to ransom, Zac wouldn't entertain their demands.  What ensues is a quest to return light to the darkness in one heck of an adventure. 

Legend and magic mixes with fantasy and mystery in Starspill which is available to buy now.