This is the amazing (and possibly true) story of Cecilia Undergarment and her unplanned (and very dangerous) trip to the Northwood. Everyone knows that you never enter the Northwood, and those that do are never seen again. It's partly because the woods themselves are so dangerous, and because of the black lions that prowl within the shadows of the forest. Cecilia didn't mean to go there, she was only trying to help an animal in need, but what she finds in the Northwood is more than just danger - she also finds mystery, intrigue, and a few wrongs that might need to be made right.
Brian Falkner is a New Zealand author who has written some brilliantly original books for young readers, along with some excellent reads for teenagers and 'tweens. Northwood is both charming and original, and while the style of writing takes a little getting used to (it is a little like someone telling you a story when they are easily distracted), the story bounces along at a decent speed and keeps you turning the pages to find out what happens next.
It is all too easy for fantasy/adventure books to become walking cliches, but Falkner sidesteps most of them neatly to provide you with a thoroughly enjoyable read. This was fun to read and I hope there are more from Falkner written in this light and bouncy style (with some hidden depth) that makes it a great read for younger readers wanting to stretch themselves a little, and for teenagers and 'tweens who want to take a break from all the vampires, werewolves, and other supernatural reads that everyone is reading. This is a real treasure and I hope more people will try this fun and engaging book (and no Brian Falkner did not pay me to say this!).
If you like this book then try:
- The project by Brian Falkner
- The real thing by Brian Falkner
- The Half-men of O by Maurice Gee
- The mysterious howling by Maryrose Wood
- The familiars by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson
- The quest begins by Erin Hunter
Reviewed by Brilla
Matthew Bannon was in the wrong place at the right time when Walter Zelvas was taken out by the hitman known as the Ghost. Walter Zelvas wasn't only an alround dirtbag, he was also a dirtbag carrying a bag full of diamonds he stole from his boss and the international diamond syndicate he works for. As a financially challeneged art student Matthew knows exactly what he is going to do with all those diamonds - he is going to find a way to cash them in for a couple of million dollars. But things are about to take a desperate twist because the syndicate want their diamonds back, and the hitman who killed Zelvas has been given the job of tracking Bannon down and getting the diamonds back - over Bannons dead body. A rival assassin after Bannon and the Ghost just makes things so much messier (and so much more enjoyable to read).
We often joke at work that each month there is a new James Patterson to enjoy, and with all the co-authored books he has written in the past few years it almost does seem like there is a new James Patterson and co every other month. Some of the books are hits, some are misses - and this is definitely one of the hits. The writing partnership of Patterson and Karp has created a dynamic read that keeps you turning the pages to see what happens next - it was easy to get lost in the story, and get dragged into the world of Bannon and those around him. The attention to detail is there is the little subtle details, but the story isn't bogged down in detail, or weighed down with too much detail. And the wonderful little twists and turns are fantastic when you stumble across them and make the book that much better.
Patterson and Karp definitely have a winner with this book, and there appears to be hints that there could be more in the series (don't worry - no spoilers here). I really hope there are more books to come as this is a dynamic writing duo who keep you on the edge of your seat with anticipation to see what comes next, and to see what action is coming up next.
If you like this book then try:
- Postcard killers by James Patterson and Liza Marklund
- Swimsuit by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
- The rabbit factory by Marshall Karp
- The surgeon by Tess Gerritsen
- The silent girl by Tess Gerritsen
- Full black by Brad Thor
- American assassin: a thriller by Vince Flynn
Reviewed by Brilla
Sally Hyder was a young woman who loved life and lived it to the fullest, travelling to far off lands with her boyfriend (and future husband) and faces challenges that most of us would never dare to even dream about. When they weren't off on an adventure in a far off land they were both working towards their careers, with Sally moving into the public health sector as a nurse and public health worker. Life was good, and the were going places - until Sally got the devastating news that she had MS.
Finding Harmony is a deeply personal, and often times a very emotional, account of the life that Sally led up to her diagnosis, and then the sometimes dark spiral that her life took after the diagnosis - especially when her youngest daughter was diagnosed with an equally devastating condition (no spoilers here). Throughout it all Sally is honest about the challenges she faced, both from her condition, and from having to cope with the changes in her life. At times she was very low and the story is a little dark, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel - a yellow Labrador named Harmony from the charity Canine Partners. With the welcome addition of Harmony to their family, Sally begins to reconnect with the life she once had and all new doors open allowing her and her family to move forward knowing that she will always have the support of Harmony to help her physically, and emotionally, through the rough patches ahead.
Harmony is the light and centre of this biography, and while Sally leads you through the challenges of her life, it is Harmony that shines through. Like other people with disabilities who have written about their assistance dogs, the story that leads up to Harmony is deeply emotional and at times leaves you with tears in your eyes (if not rolling down your cheeks). Sally has faced significant loses over the years personally and as part of her family, and yet she never broke and always tried to carry on. Harmony on the other hand is a real character, an example of how although the dogs are highly trained and bond strongly with their human partners, they are still dogs and can have dog moments. I had to laugh every time she was described as a "blonde bimbo" by one of the trainers or Sally.
There are other books about assistance dogs and their handlers out there, in fact it appears that writing books about your disability and your assistance dog is becoming the "thing to do" there is a depth and emotional investment in Finding Harmony that is missing from some of the other books - you really connect with Sally and enjoy the antics of Harmony almost as much as Sally and her family. The story is a little disjointed, at times jumping between points in time rather than progressing stage by stage, which at times made it hard to figure out where everyone was in time, but it was irritating rather than offputting. This is an enjoyable read, but maybe not one to read in the staff room at work or on the bus/train as the other people around you may wonder why you are crying one minute and laughing out loud the next.
If you like this book then try:
- A friend like Henry by Nuala Gardner
- A dog named Slugger by Leigh Brill
- Emma and I by Sheila Hocken
- Partners for life: True stories of canine heroes by Jane Bidder
- Endal by Sandra and Allen Parton
- Let Buster lead by Deborah Dozier Potter
- Puppy chow is better than Prozac by Bruce Goldstein
- A puppy called Aero by Liam Creed
Reviewed by Brilla
Jenna has just woken from a coma - more than a year after the accident that caused her injuries. But something is not right, she can't remember most of her life and everything feels strange. Her mother gives her a series of movie disks that record her old life, but it is like watching another persons life, another person who looks like Jenna but isn't Jenna. Things only get weirder when Jenna starts moving around the house and connecting with her family again, connecting to a world that doesn't seem to fit right - a world where her grandmother is cold and distant, her mother is hovering and distracted at the same time, and her father is thousands of miles away in the house where they all used to live together. As Jenna starts to piece together her memories of her life, the accident, and the time of her coma she comes to a startling realisation - one that will change her life forever.
This is a an amazing book that takes you on a roller coaster journey of discovery, love, loss, and the lengths that people will go to to hold onto the things they love. The story unfolds for you as it does for Jenna, with each new discovery a further piece in the puzzle of her life and what has happened. You will also probably guess quite early what has happened to Jenna, but it doesn't ruin the story, it is more like a vindication of what you already thought. Jenna is a fresh and true voice, and the concept at the centre of the novel is very real - how far can medical science go before it really has gone too far and crosses the line for most people. Other novels have tackled a similar question or idea, but this is one of the best examples of a novel that tackles a controversial issue and turns it into a gripping and engaging novel that will keep you reading from start to finish.
If you like this book then try:
- Star split by Kathryn Lasky
- Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
- Double helix by Nancy Werlin
- The walls have eyes by Clare B. Dunkle
- The lab by Jack Heath
- Gem X by Nicky Singer
Reviewed by Brilla
Belladonna Johnson is not like the other kids at her school. The other kids think she is kind of weird because she keeps to herself, and because she talks to people who aren't there - the thing is there are people there, they just happen to be ghosts. Since her parents died Belladonna has been able to see and talk to not only her parents, but also every other ghost as well. It works fine for her at home because she gets to keep her parents and have a (somewhat) normal life with them, but it gets harder when she is out and about and can't really tell if the person talking to her is a ghost or not.
When she meets a ghost who tells her some of the ghosts are missing and that she needs to find the Spellbinder, Belladonna is not sure what to do. When her parents vanish on the same night as pretty much every other ghost Belladonna starts out on a quest that will be dangerous for her and everyone else around her. There are dark forces at work,, and unless Belladonna can learn to see past what people want her to see, she is doomed and so is every ghost that has ever been in our world.
This is the first book in a new series, and although I had to work a little to read through it (it is a rather hefty 372 pages) I am glad that I finished it. Stringer doesn't talk down to her reader, she uses ideas and words that will challenge her reader and encourage them to develop their reading skills, while also telling a story that has pulled together some interesting mythology to make a unique read. At times the story seems to be a little bogged down in detail, but as the story builds and the speed of the action picks up you begin to realise that the detail is there to prepare you for the story that is to come. Interestingly, it took a few pages to figure out which country the story was set in which is unusual for this kind of story, but was also a nice surprise to be able to go "Aha" when you figure it out.
While the intended target may have been just children, this is a book that firmly belongs in the 'tween age range, not only because of the language skills that are required to read it, or the age of the characters, but also just the plain fact that younger children may struggle to read this book. The action is well written but is buried at times under the building of mythology that always happens in the first book of a series like this one, and the mythology draws from a wide variety of sources that may be difficult for younger readers to process to the best effect. Teenagers will also enjoy this book, but they are not the intended target audience (or if they were then the author missed her mark). I look forward to the release of the next book, The Midnight Gate, to see if Stringer can keep the momentum going.
If you like this book then try:
- Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo
- Stone heart by Charlie Fletcher
- The Halfmen of O by Maurice Gee
- Under the mountain by Maurice Gee
- Museum of thieves by Lian Tanner
- The mysterious howling by Maryrose Wood
- The roar by Emma Clayton
Reviewed by Brilla
Conspiracies is the second book in the Shadow Grail novels and appears to be book two out of four (according to the plug for the first book in the series anyway) - and picks up right where the first novel left off. Without giving away too much of the first novel for those of you who like to read things in order, Spirit still appears to be the only student at her boarding school for young magicians who doesn't actually appear to have any magic, and the mysteries that are swirling around the school still seem to be swirling rapidly towards some unknown destiny.
While friendships are discouraged at Oakhurst Academy, Spirit and her friends are managing to hold on to each other and the strength their friendship brings, but outside forces are at work and soon even their strong friendship will be tested in brutal ways. A war is coming to Oakhurst, and event though Spirit remains suspicious and watchful, others around her are not so careful - and when at war the worst thing you can do is relax and let your guard down.
Mercedes Lackey is one of my favourite authors and has been since I was a teenager myself, and with this series she brings her skill as a writer to younger readers with a series that is both fast paced and dynamic, and dripping in mystery that is teased out over the course of a novel. To be honest I had to work a little to get into this book, but that is partly because it has been some time since I read the first book and the details get a little fuzzy when you read the number of novels that I do over any given period of time (the ones that I review here are a) the ones I actually finish, and b) the ones that I think are worth bringing to other peoples attention).
Once I was into the story it was hard to put down, mainly because Lackey has a deft touch with teasing out human emotions and human dynamics - the magic is often just a bonus. While this series won't appeal to everyone because it blends together several broader genre/type books (the supernatural, the boarding school story, a thriller, a destiny, etc...) it is an enjoyable read that doesn't cheat the teen reader by talking down to them, and it will also appeal to adults because of how well written it is.
If you like this book then try:
- Legacies by Mercedes Lackey
- Marked by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
- Raven's gate by Anthony Horowitz
- The demon trappers daughter by Jane Oliver
- Across the nightingale floor by Lian Herne
- Arrows of the queen by Mercedes Lackey
Reviewed by Brilla
Beck Granger is visiting Colombia with his Uncle Al on a trip that is a mystery right up until the point where their host proclaims that they will be going in search of the lost city of gold, the legendary El Dorado. Searching for the legendary city seems like a dream, that soon turns into a nightmare with the disappearance of Uncle Al and their host Mayor Rafael de Castillo. The nightmare is not over though as the chief of police secures Beck and the mayors children Marco and Christina inside the manor, but Beck has other plans and the three teenagers are soon on a dangerous trip across deadly seas and dangerous jungles in an attempt to find the lost city so they can save their loved ones. But there is something mystical surrounding the lost city and those who try to find it, and the search may be more deadly than they know as they race against time.
This is part of a larger series of books featuring young Beck Granger as the hero. His survival skills and ability to work across a range of potentially lethal environments are explained away through a series of comments about the places he has been when he learnt the various skills either through his adventurous father, or through the indigenous people he has meet on the families travels. There are other books that have this strong sense of reality, that there could really be a Beck out there somewhere who has learnt all these ways to survive, and who could really be living these adventures right now.
Bear Grylls is a well known survivalist and his successful television series shows that he is not making this stuff up, he really knows how to survive these situations and that comes across loud and clear with Beck - although at times he does come across as sounding way too mature for his age. The storyline is punchy and moves along at a good clip and the reading age would suit confident younger readers as young as 8, but would also suit teenagers who like to read something interesting without having to tax themselves too much reading it. There are other series for younger readers and teenagers, but Grylls has blended fact and fiction together very well here into a very fast paced and enjoyable read that will appeal to both girls and boys (though probably more the boys). A great read for reluctant readers who enjoy watching and learning about all the survival skills Bear Grylls has to share.
If you like this book then try:
- Way of the wolf by Bear Grylls
- Survival by Chris Ryan
- Red eye by Susan Gates
- Arrival by Chris Morphew
- Man eater by Justin D'Ath
- Anaconda ambush by Justin D'Ath
Reviewed by Brilla
Tuesday is not only a day of the week, Tuesday is also the name of a service dog who saved his partners life by bringing him back from a life that was on the brink of collapsing due to the effects of PTSD, a traumatic brain injury, and other physical injuries that resulted from more than a decade of serving his country in the army. Luis Carlos Montalvan saw action in Iraq that left him with injuries that were physical and psychological, like so many of the men and women who have served in the armed forces over the years.
Like so many of those men and women he was also let down by the system when he returned to the States left to drift by a system that seemed designed to fail, unable to help the men and women who were often badly traumatised by what they had seen and done. Unlike so many of those men and women though, Luis found a saving grace a Golden retriever named Tuesday who had his own issues to deal with. As they learned to trust each other and work together, Luis and Tuesday were laying the foundations for a working partnership that would see them both come into their own, forming a bond that is unique to them, but also represents the best of all service dog partnerships. This is both a heart-warming, and heart-breaking, account of the relationship of deep love, trust, and mutual affection that formed between a wounded warrior and an service dog that overcame his abandonment issues to become an example to everyone.
This is a truly touching, and deeply personal, account of two individuals who overcame obstacles and formed the kind of partnership that most people will never truly understand. In the past five years there has been a trend in the book world to release autobiographies of people and the service and assistance dogs that have made an incredible difference in their lives. It appears to have started with the emotional A friend like Henry and the account of a family that was brought from the brink of despair with a child with autism, to a family with hope after the intervention of a Golden retriever named Henry. Shortly after came the release of other stories, each one an emotional rollercoaster ride that introduced individuals facing a variety of challenges and the dogs that entered their lives and seemed to work miracles in their shattered lives.
Like other authors Luis has laid his life bare, being brutally honest about the circumstances that led to his PTSD and his need for Tuesday - at times that story is fragmented and seems to dive off course, but that is part of the experience and part of the core of this story about a man who was damaged through no fault of his own, who tried to save himself, but in the end needed saving. It is also the story of Tuesday, a charming character in his own right who was placed in the Puppies Behind Bars programme, and working with a troubled teenager before finding a place with Luis. This is Tuesday's story as well, a story that will touch everyone who reads it.
If you like this book then try:
- A friend like Henry by Nuala Gardner
- A dog named Slugger by Leigh Brill
- Emma and I by Sheila Hocken
- Partners for life: True stories of canine heroes by Jane Bidder
- Endal by Sandra and Allen Parton
- Let Buster lead by Deborah Dozier Potter
- Puppy chow is better than Prozac by Bruce Goldstein
- A puppy called Aero by Liam Creed
Reviewed by Brilla
It begins with a Jane Doe found in Chinatown with her hand cleanly sliced from her body. The body is the beginning of a bigger mystery, one that began nearly 20 years earlier with a murder/suicide in the Red Phoenix restaurant. It is a mystery that will test the skills of Detectives Frost and Rizzoli as they try to make sense of the murder, but also try and navigate their way through the insular world of Chinatown - where they are separated from the people around them by language and culture.
Detective Tam joins their team temporarily to try and help them navigate this new world, and is able to offer some insight into the world they are entering, but even he may not be able to help them find the answers before it is too late. At the centre of the current mystery is the secret of what happened in the Red Phoenix so long ago, and the secrets kept by Mrs. Iris Fang and the people who surround and protect her. While Rizzoli is battling to solve the mystery, Maura is struggling to work in an environment where she has suddenly become the enemy, the medical examiner who dared to speak out against a cop and testify at his trial.
From reviews of this book I have already seen, and from the blurb it is apparent that this is a personal exploration for Tess Gerritsen, a chance for her to explore some of her Chinese heritage through her writing, which also gives all of her readers the chance to experience some of that culture as well. The traditional aspects of the different Asian cultures always seem to have so much to offer to todays societies, teaching that we should respect those who came before us, and respect those who live with us. They also teach about the importance of respecting the world around us, as so many other cultures do too.
In this novel Gerritsen seamlessly blends together two worlds, the traditional world of Chinatown with all its mysteries and heavy layer of cultural norms, and blends it into the modern almost corrupted world of Boston where the outside world has very little understanding of what is going on - where the mysticism of the East almost becomes a supernatural affair.
There is great respect for Chinese history and culture, and what could easily have become an over-the-top kung fu inspired story that bends the ability of the reader to accept the truth instead becomes a book that is almost impossible to put down because you want to know what happens next, to see what other aspects of Chinese culture of mythology will be woven into the story next. While you can jump straight into this story without having read the other books in the series, in many ways the Rizzoli and Isles books are best read in order so that you can experience the building of their relationship and the beginning of this amazing series. I can't wait for the next one in the series.
If you like this book then try:
- The surgeon by Tess Gerritsen
- The apprentice by Tess Gerritsen
- Virals by Kathy Reichs
- Now you see her by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
Reviewed by Brilla
Ryan is a newly qualified Cherub agent and is eager for his first mission, no matter how small it is. However his first mission wont be small, it will involve a trip halfway round the world to make friends with a boy who has ties to one of the biggest crime syndicates in the world - a mission that seems relatively easy on the surface, but things aren't always what they seem. Meanwhile, in China Ning is quietly (and not so quietly) rebelling against the expectations of her school and culture, wanting to be anything other than a good, obedient Chinese girl. When her personal life falls apart Ning finds herself over her head and fighting for her life. What neither Ning nor Ryan realise is that they are about to get tangled up with a dangerous organisation, a criminal syndicate that is on the verge of splitting as one family member attempts to take control of the family empire - no matter what the cost.
This is the eagerly anticipated new Cherub novel from Robert Muchamore and it is an expolosive and gripping start for a new trilogy. Starting a new series in such a well known world is always tricky, especially when your former "hero" is not involved in the story, but People's republic is a strong story in it's own right and keeps you wrapped up in the action from start to finish. While some of the early Cherub books were suitable for 'tweens and younger readers, like the later Cherub books this is one for the teenagers with strong language, and includes storylines referring to the sex slave trade, paedophiles, murder, and other unsavoury passtimes for international criminal syndicates. The length would also put off some younger readers, but it was just the right length to really carry the weight of introducing the main characters that will no doubt be with us through the last two books in the trilogy.
People's republic is well written and continues to be the most realistic series in the secret agent/spy genre for teenagers. Alex Rider is amazing but he was always having gadgets and adventures that had a touch of fantasy, and some of the Chris Ryan series are awesome, but they also stretch your ability to suspend belief at times. Cerub is a world that you can easily see exisiting, and it is that realism that makes it so engaging. It would be quite something to see the Cherub series turned into a tv series or movie franchise - although not repeating the books, rather moving into new characters and new adventures. If you have enjoyed the later part of the first Cherub series, then you will enjoy this new book in a brand new series.
If you like this book then try:
- Brigands M.C by Robert Muchamore
- Shadow wave by Robert Muchamore
- Survival by Chris Ryan
- Death run by Jack Higgins and Justin Richards
- Silverfin by Charlie Higson
Reviewed by Brilla
