More and more by Emma Dodd

I love every bit of you - 

your eyes and ears and nose.

I love every bit of you,

from your head down to your toes.

I love your tumbles, jumps, and bumps,

your fidgets and your wiggles

So starts this charming and endearing book about a monkey parent sharing with their monkey child all the things they about them.  Like most children our little monkey is less than perfect, but like parent everywhere their parent still loves them.

Children love it when grown ups read to them, and when that grown up is someone they have a strong bond with then the story sharing experience is even better.  While I attribute the relationship to a parent and child relationship, the wonderful thing about this book is that it could just as easily be the relationship between a child and their aunt or uncle, grandparents, or another caregiver.

Picture books are a great way to share thoughts and feelings with our little ones, and this is one of those books that will be timeless for generations - much in the same way that Guess how much I love you has become a much loved book passed from one generation to the next.

Dodd has sweet and engaging illustrations that has subtle hints of gold threaded throughout - it is nearly impossible not to be attracted to the simplistic charm of the characters.  This simple and clean style appears to be Dodd's trademark, and the same splashed of sparkling colour were in her other books too.  There is a lot to like here, and I can't wait to see more books by this author and illustrator.  

If you like this book then try:

• When I grow up by Emma Dodd
• All the things I love about you by LeUyen Pham
• Guess how much I love you by Sam McBratney & illustrated by Anita Jeram
• Grandma calls me gigglepie by J.D. Lester & illustrated by Hiroe Nakata
• Just like my mum by David Melling
• Just like my dad by David Melling
• Ten things I love about you by Daniel Kirk

Reviewed  by Brilla

Maresi by Maria Turtschaninoff

The Red Abbey is a sanctuary for girls and women, a place where they can learn knowledge about the world and the three aspects of the Goddess - Mother, Maiden, and Crone.  Girls from all over come to the Red Abbey, escaping from the oppression of women in their own lands, or escaping from hardships and famine.  It is a place of learning but also of safety - men are forbidden from stepping foot on the island.  Maresi has called the Abbey home for years, and while she is yet to be chosen as a novice for a specific aspect of the Mother she does have a love of reading and acquiring knowledge and she has a knack for soothing the fears and worries of the younger novices.  

It is a peaceful existence with Maresi certain about the turn of the seasons and what is to come with each change of the moon.  When Jai arrives at the Abbey she is quiet and guarded, keeping secrets about her past and the scars upon her back.  As she settles into life at the Abbey she starts to share some of her story and Maresi realises that she has a lot to learn about the world beyond the safe and secure walls of her home.  When Jai's father comes in search of his daughter it places the whole Abbey in danger and Maresi starts to understand what it truly means to be a novice in an Abbey where the three aspects of the goddess come into play - but which aspect will be strongest Mother, Maiden or Crone?

It takes something special for a book to stand out from the crowd, and this A.A. Prime translation of Finnish author Maria Turtschaninoff's book is truly special.  It is difficult to put my finger on what makes it so special - Maresi is a clear voice and a very emotive one that embraces us on her journey, it is a well envisioned world with an engaging and believable mythology, a world of relationships and empathy, and a subtle magic that seems to dare you to deny it exists.  This is not a long novel, nor a particularly challenging one to read, but it is appealing (even more appealing) than some of the big names and the bigger novels out there.  I didn't want to put Maresi down and I am regretting picking it up in a way - only because now I have to wait for the sequel!

If the rest of the series is as amazing as Maresi then this has the potential to become a great classic fantasy series - partly because it is well written, and partly because it is set in a fantasy world that won't "date" the way some series do.  This was a delightful find and I look forward to seeing where Maresi's adventures take her next.

If you like this book then try:

• Soundless by Richelle Mead
• Throne of glass by Sarah J. Maas
• A court of thorns and roses by Sarah J. Maas
• Pangur ban the white cat by Fay Sampson
• Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
• Ink and bone by Rachel Caine
• Arrows of the queen by Mercedes Lackey
• The kiss of deception by Mary E. Pearson
• Graceling by Kristin Cashore
• Grave mercy by Robin LaFevers
• The girl of fire and thorns by Rae Carson
• Walk on Earth a stranger by Rae Carson
• The hunt by Andrew Fukuda
• Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey
• The pledge by Kimberly Derting
• Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst
• Daughter of smoke and bone by Laini Taylor
• The demon trapper's daughter by Jana Oliver
• Red queen by Victoria Aveyard
• Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst

Reviewed by Brilla

Saving June by Hannah Harrington

June was the perfect big sister, she got good grades and was a dutiful daughter - so different to Harper.  But Harper was not the one who took her own life, that was June, and it was Harper who found her.  What could have caused her perfect big sister to take her own life just before graduation?  If June had waited a few weeks she would have been free of high school, free of so many things, but something drove her to take her own life and it has left her family in pieces.  They were already a broken family, her father had moved out and on to live with his girlfriend, but now they are so broken that June's ashes are going to be split so that each of their parents can have some of the ashes.  

In a moment of insane inspiration Harper decides to steal the ashes and take them to California, the place that June longed to be.  Talking her friend Laney into the cross-country trip is not that difficult, but when disaster strikes Harper and Laney find help in the form of Jake Tolan.  For some unknown reason Jake is willing to help them travel to California and spread June's ashes - and Harper is not willing to look that gift horse in the mouth.  The road trip is not what Harper was expecting and she discovers some rather amazing things about Laney, Jake, June, and herself.  

Suicide is a very difficult topic for any author to tackle, especially when you are examining the wreckage that suicide leaves behind.  A person who commits suicide is in pain, but the people who are left behind can experience feelings of intense pain, grief, loss, and guilt.  The journey that Harper takes with Jake and Laney is more than just a physical journey from point A to point B, it is also a journey of discovery about her sister June and herself.  This is a deeply emotional read at times, and at other times it screams "road trip" - sometimes in the same sentence.  

Harrington has done an amazing job of giving voice to something that too many teenagers experience, the loss of a loved one who has taken their own life.  There is a great deal of sensitivity to the subject, but she has also not pulled any punches, using real language to expose the rawness that Harper feels over the loss of her sister, and the anger she feels at her parents (who really should know better).  There are moments when the language made me raise my eyebrows a little, but taken in context it is a very genuine language - both in terms of emotion and profanity.  Harrington has a gift for giving voices to teenagers experiencing trying times, and she has huge potential to become a voice for teenagers who are too often silent or silenced.  

If you like this book then try:

• Speechless by Hannah Harrington
• Lies we tell ourselves by Robin Talley
• Looking for JJ by Anne Cassidy
• Thousand words by Jennifer Brown
• Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
• The mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney
• Living dead girl by Elizabeth Scott
• Hate list by Jennifer Brown
• Sold by Patricia McCormick
• Thirteen reasons why by Jay Asher
• I swear by Lane Davis
• Such a pretty girl by Laura Wiess
• Hate list by Jennifer Brown
• Thirteen reasons why by Jay Asher
• Blindsided by Priscilla Cummings
• Whale talk by Chris Crutcher
• Pushing the limits by Katie McGarry

Reviewed by Brilla

Soundless by Richelle Mead

For generations Fei's village has been cut off from the rest of the world, their only source of food and other essential supplies is the zip line that connects them to the village at the base of the mountain.  In a system that has worked for generations the villagers mine for precious metals and send them down in the zip line, with the line keeper sending food and other supplies up in return.  It is not a perfect system, the food they receive is barely enough to keep the village alive, but at least it is something.  Escape from the village is practically impossible, not only because the cliffs are dangerous, but also because the entire village is deaf - and it is impossible to miss falling rocks if you can't hear them coming.  

Fei and her fellow villages are used to a world without sound, but now some of the villagers are losing their sight as well - including Fei's sister Zhang Jing.  It seems as though the village is doomed, especially when they are punished for asking for more food.  It seems hopeless, but then one morning Fei awakens from a dream and discovers that she can hear.  Armed with a secret weapon that might make it possible for her to climb safely down the mountain, Fei volunteers to travel in secret with Li Wei down the mountain - a journey that might bring them some answers.  What they find is a shocking truth that places their lives in great danger, because there are powerful people who will stop at nothing to prevent the truth reaching the villagers.  Fei must find courage to face the truth and fight for her family, her friends, and her village.


Soundless is one of those amazing books that is terribly difficult to review - because if you are too detailed you blow some of the twists and turns that make this book so amazing, and if you are not detailed enough then it makes the book almost sound boring (which it most definitely is not!).  Richelle Mead has created a truly original and believable world that seems to have come straight out of medieval China, a world where the lines between mythology and history are blurred by time.  The basic concept of a village where everyone is deaf is unique, especially as the reason for the deafness is unknown and people just seem to accept it.  Into this soundless and very traditional world steps two characters who have the chance to change everything - if only they can find the inner strength to do so.  

Soundless is amazing and Mead has managed to find a unique voice in an increasingly cluttered teen market - creating a book that deserves to be discovered and read because it is an amazing book, rather than just a well marketed one.  If you enjoy reading fantasy that has its feet well grounded with a sound mythology and strong characters, then you have to try reading Soundless and discover Fei and her world for yourself.  Highly, highly recommended.

If you like this book then try:

• Throne of glass by Sarah J. Maas
• A court of thorns and roses by Sarah J. Maas
• Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
• Ink and bone by Rachel Caine
• Arrows of the queen by Mercedes Lackey
• The kiss of deception by Mary E. Pearson
• Graceling by Kristin Cashore
• Grave mercy by Robin LaFevers
• The girl of fire and thorns by Rae Carson
• Walk on Earth a stranger by Rae Carson
• The hunt by Andrew Fukuda
• Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey
• The pledge by Kimberly Derting
• Daughter of smoke and bone by Laini Taylor
• The demon trapper's daughter by Jana Oliver
• Red queen by Victoria Aveyard
• Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst

Reviewed by Brilla

So yesterday by Scott Westerfeld

You probably don't think too much about the origin of fashion and technology trends, the first people that decided to do something just because they could, only to have it become something huge.  There are people out there though who watch constantly, looking for the next big thing, the next idea that will be "the" idea. These cool hunters understand the way things work, this whole pyramid of how ideas go from the street to the shops.  The Innovators start the ball rolling with their creative individuality, and their ideas are picked up by the Trendsetters and then the Early Adopters.  The weight of the pyramid is then carried by the Consumers and finally the Laggards.  Hunter is very aware of all this, he is a cool hunter after all, but he is about to discover that there is something not quite right in his home town of New York, something that has caused some interesting shock waves to go through the Trendsetters and Early Adopters.  On top of all this confusion is a missing boss and an interesting new female friend who seems determined to shake Hunters world loose.

Writing a truly original book is challenging and brave for any author, and few manage to pull off the trick successfully.  What seems fresh and original can sometimes be extremely cliched or too clever for its own good as it tries to find a unique voice in an increasingly crowded young adult market.  Luckily for Scott Westerfeld, he did not fall into the trap of the mediocre or trying too hard when he wrote So yesterday.  I will be honest and say it takes a few pages to get used to the way Hunter talks to his audience, and tries to avoid using actual names for brands, but once you get into the flow it is kind of fun to try and figure out the brand names that are hinted at.  This book is over ten years old now, which pushes it into the retro read category, but it reads as well today as it did then and didn't feel too dated at all - probably because of the careful crafting of the story.

This is a quirky and unique voice that blends together elements of self discovery, the crime thriller, and a little touch of romance and blooming friendships.  Hunter is a complex character who initially comes across as quite shallow and self centered, but as the story develops so does he and we get to see why he is the way he is - and what he really is like.  This is quite a quick read because of the fast pace (the action happens in a matter of days) and because of the short chapters - and it should appeal to teens of all ages as well as both sexes.  There is a lot to like here and very little not to like.  Westerfeld carved a very unique niche for himself with the release of his Uglies series, and has continued to write broadly and challenge new genre with his smooth and engaging style.  I have picked up his new stuff, and I am going back to read his old stuff because it was just that good the first time, and really enjoyable the second time.  If you have only just discovered Westerfeld remember to go back and try some of his back catalogue because there is a lot to enjoy.

If you like this book then try:

• Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
• Peeps by Scott Westerfeld
• I hunt killers by Barry Lyga
• Arrival by Chris Morphew
• Tomorrow, when the war began by John Marsden
• Variant by Robison Wells
• Survival by Chris Ryan
• The hunt by Andrew Fukuda
• The lab by Jack Heath
• Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
• The walls have eyes by Clare B. Dunkle
• The Industry by Rose Foster

Reviewed by Brilla

Speechless by Hannah Harrington

Chelsea doesn't really stop and think about the words that come out of her mouth, they just suddenly appear in her mind and come out of mouth.  People have gotten used to the fact that she can't keep a secret, but Chelsea knows it's just part of who she is - it's not like anyone has died because she couldn't keep a secret.  At a party one night Chelsea stumbles (literally) upon a juicy bit of news and rushes off to tell her best friend Kristen, and ends up telling more than just Kristen.  Chelsea's juicy gossip results in one badly beaten teenage boy, a statement to the police, and instantly becoming the social pariah of her school and the former friend of everyone who was her friend before.  

Isolated and remorseful Chelsea takes a voluntary vow of silence, refusing to speak at school or at home.  Some of her teachers roll with the idea, albeit a little reluctantly, while others seem determined to punish her until she stops acting out.  At home her parents are worried about her and want her to get professional help - and if they knew about the harassment and backstabbing at school they would insist on it even more.  Into this brave new world comes a new friend from an unexpected source, and Chelsea comes to understand more about herself and the defining features of life "before" and life "after".  Chelsea has a lot to learn about herself, and for the first time in her life her voice is silent and instead of talking she is listening - and learning.

I started following Harlequin teens on Instagram recently and there was a photo of several of their books and one of them was Speechless - and when I looked it up I just knew it was a story I had to try.  I have very eclectic taste in books (as you may have noticed) although I am a sucker for a good fantasy, science fiction, crime, or real life reads that make you stop and think.  Speechless could have so easily gone badly, it could have been preachy or idealistic, but instead it is a book that feels very genuine and realistic.  Chelsea is far from perfect at the beginning and she is no angel in the end, but over the course of the novel she goes on a very realistic journey of soul searching and discovering who she really is when she is by herself rather than being Kristen's best friend.  

There are a lot of topics here that are suitable for class room study, but most of all it is a gripping, gritty and engaging read.  Chelsea is the focus of the story, but through her eyes and her experiences we get to see a microcosm of high school life where the queen bee rules through manipulation and social control (don't the always), the ruling elite get to decide who is "in" and who is "out", and teenagers can discover that they don't have to be one of the sheep to survive high school.  This is one of those rare reads for teens that is confronting and makes you think and get involved with the story, but it doesn't shove messages down your throat or resort to gratuitous sex and/or swearing.  There is some swearing here, but it is natural language and adults just have to accept that!  A thoroughly good read, and I am now waiting for a copy of Saving June so I can see if it is as good (or better) than Speechless.

If you like this book then try:

• Lies we tell ourselves by Robin Talley
• Looking for JJ by Anne Cassidy
• Thousand words by Jennifer Brown
• Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
• The mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney
• Living dead girl by Elizabeth Scott
• Hate list by Jennifer Brown
• Sold by Patricia McCormick
• I swear by Lane Davis
• Such a pretty girl by Laura Wiess
• Hate list by Jennifer Brown
• Thirteen reasons why by Jay Asher
• Blindsided by Priscilla Cummings
• Whale talk by Chris Crutcher
• Pushing the limits by Katie McGarry

Reviewed by Brilla

The weight of feathers by Anna-Marie McLemore

For as long as Lace can remember her family, the Palomas, have loathed and hated the Corbeau family. She knows how it started, the death of one of the Palomas, and each season when the families come together there are petty fights and squabbles between the clans.  But Lace knows it is their fault and that the feud only continues because of the regular acts on the part of the Corbeaus.  Cluck also knows who started the feud, like any good Corbeau he knows it was the Palomas that started the feud and they must pay, even if he is not the one who usually takes part in the fighting.  Neither Lace nor Cluck would dream of talking to a member of the other family - until a fate filled night when a siren pierces the air and a deadly rain falls across the town.  Lace is badly injured and is left with a taint that drives her from her family and into the path of Cluck and the rest of the Corbeaus.  

It is a foreign world in more ways than one, the Corbeaus show is in the tree tops while the Palomas flit through the water, the danger to the Corbeaus is slippery and treacerous branches, while the Corbeaus must watch for nets in the water that can suck the unwary into a watery grave.  As she learns more about the Corbeaus Lace buries who she really is behind half truths and avoided answers, because if Cluck figures out who she really is then all bets are off and she may never be able to return to her own family.  But secerts are difficult to keep, even secrets that everyone seems to know, because a secret always wants to come out and be free.  As Lace fights against decades of hate and prejudice she can only hope that her developing feelings for Cluck will help both of their families break free of the hate that drives them and keeps them apart.

The weight of feathers is a difficult book to review without giving away too much of what happens, the little twists and turns that make the story so interesting and engaging.  This is not the kind of book that I would normally read, the whole idea of star crossed lovers like Romeo and Juliet just seems so far fetched in a modern world - but Anna-Marie McLemore has taken that theme and created a rich and wonderful world that sucked me in from the first chapter and refused to let go until I had reached the end of this chapter in the lives of the Palomas and Corbeaus.  It seems to start simply enough, rival families of performers that come to the same town each year, rubbing open the wounds from years past on both sides.  Each family has their own special performances, and their own secrets - for Palomas the birthmarks like fish scales, and for the Corbeaus the feathers that grow from their hair.  There are secrets and magic in both their families, and through Lace and Cluck we discover the multifaceted world of complicated relationships, petty acts of vandalism against each family that have the potential to be deadly, and the ignorant bliss of not knowing that someone is your mortal enemy simply because of the family they were born into.

Lace is in many ways the main character of the novel, with Cluck being the (slightly) more secondary character.  Their worlds are strictly controlled by the matriarchs of their families, and while they are both reaching adulthood they are both very much children within their families, trusted to do their part and no more.  When Lace is forced out of the family her reaction is that of a child seeking forgiveness so she can return to her family, but over time she develops a greater understanding of the world around her - and she comes to understand what love is and what it can drive people to do.  In some places the story was a little disjointed and felt a little less polished than I was expecting, but this is a startlingly original story that takes something that was rather far fetched and dull (Romeo and Juliet) and turns it into a modern story in a world where magic is possible.  It will be interesting to see how McLemore follows on from this amazing debut novel.

If you like this book then try:

• Red queen by Victoria Aveyard
• Throne of glass by Sarah J. Maas
• Graceling by Kristin Cashore
• Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst
• Ella enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
• Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
• The girl of fire and thorns by Rae Carson
• Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
• Crown duel by Sherwood Smith
• Walk on Earth a stranger by Rae Carson
• Dealing with dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
• Princess of the midnight ball by Jessica Day George
• Mechanica by Betsy Cornwell
• Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Reviewed by Brilla

The disappearing Duchess by Imogen Rossi

Bianca is a young apprentice to the great artist Annunzio di Lombardi, learning the secrets of his craft so that one day she too will be able to create works of art that seem like they are alive.  She has already shown such a knack for the work that he has been teaching her techniques that the older apprentices don't know and taking her to support the art lessons of importnat people like the Duchess Catriona.  

When her master takes ill Bianca and the other apprentices are taken in by a former apprentice, Filpepi, who now has a studio and apprentices of his own.  Something is not right though, and when Bianca manages to return to her master it is to find a greater tragedy.  There is something sinister going on, and the Duchess doesn't seem at all concerned about what is happening to Bianca and di Lombardi.  When Bianca makes a shocking discovery her own life is in danger because there are people putting plans into motion, plans that they will stop at nothing to see through.

I picked up The disappearing Duchess after seeing the books on Instagram and thought they looked really interesting, and when I read the blurb I ordered the first book through the library to see if the series was as good as it promised to be - it wasn't, it was better!  Bianca and her world are magical and mysterious, a subtle blend of historical fiction that makes it feel very authentic, and a well developed magical world and mythology that makes it a believable and intriguing series.  

Bianca lives as a character off the page, it is very easy to believe that she exists in this world.  She is strong, stubborn, head strong, passionate, and loyal - all the characteristics that make the perfect hero because she is both a paragon of virtue and completely flawed like the rest of us.  I have to admit I saw where the book was headed but the ride was so good I got tangled up in the story and the characters rather than the moment when I could go "ah ha I guessed that was coming!"  I am waiting on the next books in the series to see what happens to Bianca and her friends in the rest of the series.

If you like this book then try:

• The star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson
• Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo
• Museum of thieves by Lian Tanner
• Stone heart by Charlie Fletcher
• Bartlett and the ice voyage by Odo Hirsch
• Dragon shield by Charlie Fletcher
• Under the mountain by Maurice Gee
• Stone heart by Charlie Fletcher
• The eighth day by Dianne K. Salerni
• Maddy West and the tongue taker by Brian Falkner
• The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland and Kari Sutherland
• Pangur ban the white cat by Fay Sampson
• Northwood by Brian Falkner
• Finding the fox by Ali Sparkes
• Hollow Earth by John Barrownman and Carole Barrowman
• The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann
• Ella enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
• Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
• Museum of thieves by Lian Tanner

Reviewed by Brilla

The hob's bargain by Patricia Briggs

Aren of Fallbrook thought she would never marry, her chances tainted by the touch of magic that saw her brother kill himself rather than be taken by the Bloodmage who demanded his life when he refused to train to become a Bloodmage himself.  It is a taint made worse by the secret that Aren herself is magic touched, she has the sight which allows her to see glimpses of what might happen, snatched feelings of dread or warning that are usually too vague and garbled to make sense until their time has passed.  

The unthinkable has happened though, Aren has found a husband who loves her and who is willing to work the land with her father to ensure their future, and even though their marriage is only one day old it seems like it will be a good one - until the vision of her family murdered in the field by bandits steals her breath away, a vision that comes too late for her to do anything.  Widowed and orphaned in the blink of an eye Aren has lost everything, and when she admits to the elders of the village that she has the sight it makes her the target for hostile glances, frosty distance, and outright hostility.

The people of Fallbrook are in danger from the bandits that are trying to claim their valley, but also from the creatures of magic that are returning to the land now that the binding power of the Bloodmages has been stripped away.  It is a new and dangerous world, and Aren shines like a beacon to magic creatures - a tasty morsel for some and a target for others.  The only hope for Aren and the village that loathes her is to make a bargain with the hob that lives on the mountain of the same name - and it is Aren who must pay the price the hob asks.  In dangerous times people will do desperate things, but in dangerous times people can also discover the goodness that lives inside - and they can see what lies behind the rumours, the myths, and the legends.  

I have been enjoying the urban fantasy series by Briggs and thought it was time to try reading some of her other fantasy works and I was delighted with what I found in The hob's bargain.  Aren and her world were a wonderful discovery full of well defined mythology, drama, adventure, and a delightful sense of humour.  There are hints that it is a dangerous time and place and that the hob's bargain is a dark and dangerous one to make, but as you read through the story it becomes clear that there is a lot of humour and compassion in the hob that make him seem more than human rather than less.  

I am not sure if Briggs intended it to be the case, but after reading quite a few fractured fairytales over the past year or so it feels like The hob's bargain has it's roots in a certain classic fairytale about a beast and a woman forced to interact with him for the sake of her loved ones.  I could be reading too much into it, it could just be a great fantasy read that feels familiar because it is a quest to save a village that leads to discovery of self and others.

If you like this book then try:

• Moon called by Patricia Briggs
• Arrows of the queen by Mercedes Lackey
• Throne of glass by Sarah J. Maas
• Graceling by Kristin Cashore
• Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst
• The Fire rose by Mercedes Lackey
• Home from the sea by Mercedes Lackey
• Reserved for the cat by Mercedes Lackey
• Steadfast by Mercedes Lackey
• Beauty and the Werewolf by Mercedes Lackey
• From a high tower by Mercedes Lackey
• A court of thorns and roses by Sarah J. Maas
• Deerskin by Robin McKinley
• Beauty by Robin McKinley
• Rose daughter by Robin McKinley
• Spindle's end by Robin McKinley
• Sing the four quarters by Tanya Huff
• Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Reviewed by Brilla

The red pyramid by Rick Riordan

For the past few years Carter and Sadie Kane have lived very different lives.  Sadie has lived in London with her maternal grandparents, while Carter has traveled the world with their father.  They see each other on only two days a year, a tense time for everyone at the best of times, but this year things are really going to blow up on them.  Visiting the British Museum after hours would be a real treat for most people but for Carter and Sadie it is the start of a fly by the seat of your pants adventure where everyone seems to be out to get them, they don't know what the rules are.  Normally when your a teenager if something goes wrong it's not the end of the world, but in Carter and Sadie's case if things go wrong it really WILL be the end of the world!

Sadie and Carter are at a distinct disadvantage in this race against time because not only do they know piratically nothing about the world of Egyptian magic, they also know practically nothing about each other.  You can change a lot in a few years, and when you only get to see each other two days a year it is a challenge to really get to know your sibling.  From Sadie's point of view Carter is the lucky one because he got to travel the world with their dad, and while he might be serious and dress like a miniature professor at least he got quality dad time.  From Carter's point of view Sadie is the lucky one because she has a normal home with their grandparents including friends and a cat, even though she can be really stubborn and in your face.  As they race against time they have a lot to learn about each other - and themselves.

The red pyramid is the first book in a trilogy based on Egyptian mythology - a change from the world of Greek god and demigods that made the Percy Jackson series so unique and fresh.  With the Kane chronicles Riordan has made more than a change of mythology, he has also changed the way the story is told and it takes getting used to - the story is "transcribed" from a recording, which means you get the story but also some little sibling rivalry asides which can be amusing or distracting depending on your point of view.  It took me a little while to get used to, and I am not 100% convinced I like the style, but it does add a unique voice to the series which makes it stand out a little more compared to the Percy Jackson series which is good because other Riordan could be accused of being a one trick pony!

Taking something that is well known and working it into a work of fiction is always risky and challenging, yet Riordan makes it seem easy.  His characters are well developed and are complete - they have strengths and weaknesses, hopes and dreams, flaws and faults, and histories.  In the case of The red pyramid they also have more than 500 pages of adventure, mystery, fantasy, and danger to get through.  The library where I work has this series in the children's fiction area, and while it is easily accessible to 'tweens (ages 10+) this series seems best suited to children 12+ because of the commitment it takes to read through the whole book, and because there are themes that younger readers may struggle with a little (but this was also true of the Percy Jackson series).  

One of the "funnest" parts of the book is (as always) the chapter headings, Riordan has a somewhat twisted sense of humour and that shines through in some of the incidents and the chapter names.  There is a lot to love here and very little to dislike.

If you like this book then try:

• Percy Jackson and the lightning thief by Rick Riordan
• Percy Jackson and the sea of monsters by Rick Riordan
• Percy Jackson and the titan's curse by Rick Riordan
• Percy Jackson and the battle of the labyrinth by Rick Riordan
• Percy Jackson and the last Olympian by Rick Riordan
• Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
• The girl of fire and thorns by Rae Carson
• Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst
• Firelight by Sophie Jordan
• The chaos of stars by Kiersten White
• Drift by M.K. Hutchins
• Legacies by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill
• Sweet venom by Tera Lynn Childs
• The chaos of stars by Kiersten White

Reviewed by Brilla

Lies we tell ourselves by Robin Talley

Sarah Dunbar, her sister Ruth, and a handful of other black students are about to break new ground - they will be the first black students to attend Jefferson High School in Virginia.  The law and the courts may be on their side, but to the students and parents of Jefferson High School desegregation is wrong and must be stopped by whatever means necessary.  The first day of school is full of screaming and yelling, and small and not so small acts of violence follow.  The belief in segregation runs so deep that some of the parents are determined to create their own all white academy to protect their precious children from the influence of the black students.  

It appears that the school is following the letter of the law by admitting the black students, but not the spirit.  Sarah was at the top of her old school, but at Jefferson she is placed in remedial classes.  It is a bitter pill to swallow, and it has the potential to affect her acceptance to University.  Everyday is a struggle, and when the first of her fellow black students gives up and decides to return to their old school it has the potential to fan the flames.  When Sarah has to work with one of the white students for a class project it is a real eye opening experience - for both of them.  

Her whole life Linda has lived under the thumb of her controlling and violent father who ignores her one moment and lashes out at her the next - and she firmly believes that the blacks are inferior to the whites and that segregation must stay in place.  As she spends more time with Sarah she comes to see more similarities than differences, although at times she finds Sarah to be almost too confrontational to believe.  All Linda dreams about is marrying her secret fiance and escaping her family home, but her senior year has been thrown completely into chaos - and that may be the best thing that ever happened to her.

Lies we tell ourselves tackles two taboo topics with style, grace, and sensitivity.  Most people would love to forget the way black Americans were treated before desegregation, echoes of which are still felt today.  Words like segregation, apartheid, and dawn raids bring intense shame for different people around the world, but for similar reasons.  Not only does Robin Talley touch on the topic of ingrained and institutionalised racism, she also touches on the taboo topic of lesbian relationships and coming of age as a lesbian in a time when such relationships were seen as unnatural and could result in institutionalisation for mental illness.  

Lies we tell ourselves is in turns deeply emotional, horrifying, and satisfying, made more powerful by the switching viewpoints between Sarah and Linda.  By switching viewpoints we get to under more about each character, filling out the picture of each young woman so they are entire beings rather than cardboard cut outs or caricatures.  There are elements of archetypes here, with the strong female lead (who happens to be black in this story) who is facing challenges at school, and the popular girl (who in this case happens to be white) who seems to be leading the charge - but by switching viewpoints we get to see that Linda is not what she appears and that neither is Sarah.

As someone who is not American there are subtleties of this story that I would have missed, although that being said it is a very accessible book and most of the themes are universal.  In the days when I was a student we studied black civil rights as part of the New Zealand high school curriculum and some of the names and places are still easily recalled - Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X, Rosa Parks - but Lies we tell ourselves breathes fresh life into those memories, giving the struggle for equality a name and a life that will resonate with young people everywhere.  This is a confronting read because of what the black students went through, and it took me a few days to read because it was a very emotionally draining read, but it is also a book where the characters and their coming of age will stay with me for quite some time.  

There are some truly amazing themes explored here and it is a highly recommended read for people of all ages.  I have not read a book like Lies we tell ourselves before so I don't have any recommended reads that exactly fit, but if you explore some of the tags you may find other reads you will enjoy.

Reviewed by Brilla

Tarnished by Kate Jarvik Birch

Tarnished is the sequel to Perfected so this review contains ***SPOILERS*** if you have not read the first book in the series.  This is a series that really needs to be read in order so stop reading this review and read Perfected instead!

Ella has achieved the impossible - she has escaped from America into the relative safety of Canada, emphasis on the "relative" part.  She may be free of the Congressman, but she is not truly free, trapped in a centre where escaped pets are housed together.  In many ways it is no different to being a pet in America, they are fed and clothed, but they are also treated as though they need protection and guidance.  Escaping from the centre Ella stumbles into another pet who has managed to survive on her own, someone who is willing to help her get back into the United States so she can get back to Penn - even though that means she will have to risk being recaptured by Congressman Gibbs.

The world is a big and scary place, especially for a pet who is considered nothing but property.  The black market is their best chance at getting back into the States and close enough to Penn, but it is also a dangerous place for a naive pet like Ella to be.  The safe world of an owned pet is a far cry from the pets who find their home in the black market - where any pet can be sold to the highest bidder.  As Ella gets closer to her goal she comes to realise that the black market is hiding all kinds of secrets, and that no pet is truly safe from the storm that is approaching on the horizon.  Ella has been pushed around her whole life, treated like property with no right to her own emotions - can she find her voice and fight for her right to freedom?

I have been looking forward to Tarnished since I finished reading Perfected - even before I knew what the book would be called!  Perfected was a strong voice in the dystopian genre, standing out for a number of reasons - it was well written, had strong characters, and was believable.  Tarnished picks up the action immediately, driving the story forward and dragging you along on an emotional roller coaster of hopes and dreams - yours and Ella's.  Ella was soft and cowed in the first book, but here we see her developing a voice and trying to shake off the years of conditioning she received while she was in the kennels.  Without belittling what domestic violence victims go through, a lot of what Ella went though can be compared to the long term psychological abuse of women who are moulded by and abuser telling them what they are worth and what they should be like.  

Without ruining any surprises her travelling companion also develops and grows during their journey, becoming a more rounded personality and taking on a surprising amount of responsibility for both of them.  While I had hoped that this might be the end of the story (because while I don't want it to end the wait for the next book would have been akin to torture) it does appear that there is at least one more book to come in the series because while Tarnished is a complete story in itself it does leave hints that there is more to come.  

This is a mind blowing series that is just screaming out to be adapted to the big screen or as a mini series, and it is one of my must read series of the dystopian genre because Birch has written a well crafted world that is believable but also just that little bit horrifying and disturbing.

If you like this book then try:

• The Jewel by Amy Ewing
• Wither by Lauren DeStefano
• The hunger games by Suzanne Collins
• Renegade by J.A. Souders
• Adaptation by Melinda Lo
• The forest of hands and teeth by Carrie Ryan
• XVI by Julia Karr
• The 100 by Kass Morgan
• Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
• The testing by Joelle Charbonneau
• Proxy by Alex London
• Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
• In the after by Demitria Lunetta
• ACID by Emma Pass
• Reboot by Amy Tintera
• What's left of me by Kat Zhang

Reviewed by Brilla

The white rose by Amy Ewing

The white rose is the second book in the Jewel trilogy so this review contains ***SPOILERS*** if you have not read the first book in the series.  This series really needs to be read in order so if you have not already read The Jewel then I suggest you do before reading this review!

Violet has done the unthinkable for a surrogate - she has become romantically entangled with a companion.  It is an act of treason and now Ash has been sentenced to death, a sentence the Duchess seems all too eager to carry out.  The chains of her servitude are bound even tighter than before, but the worst thing for Violet is knowing that people have died and are going to die for her - a surrogate, a disposable life, a tool in the hands of the Duchess and her doctor.  When she manages to achieve the impossible and escapes from the manor it is only the start of a hair raising and dangerous escape from The Jewel, because the Duchess is determined to get her back, and Violet is not travelling alone.

The world beyond the walls of The Jewel is chaotic and dangerous, each ring of the city full of it's own dangers and challenges.  Violet and her companions are at a distinct disadvantage, depending on Lucien and his plans to get them to safety.  It is a dangerous situation, and not just because the Regimentals are searching high and low for them, although for some strange reason the Duchess has kept news of her escape very quiet.  Even when they reach their destination in the Farm they may not truly be safe, because although Lucien has plans for Violet those plans depend on her learning how to harness the power of the Augeries.  Any rebellion carries risks, especially if you can not always trust the people around you.  Violet has a lot to do, and very little time in which to do it - and to achieve her goals she may have to sacrifice everything.

The Jewel was an outstanding debut novel, a fresh voice in the world of dystopian novels, a glimpse of a world where the few rule the many with an iron fist.  Violet and her world were expertly sketched out and then populated with interesting and humanly complicated characters that have continued to grow and devlop in this gripping sequel.  In The white rose we learn more about what the Augeries are and where they come from, as well as learning more about the history of the island where Violet and her fellow surrogates live - but don't worry it is not a boring history lesson, it's more dynamic than that!  Through her escape we learn more about Violet's world and it's rulers, and we learn that there is a rebellion afoot that has plans for Violet.

Violet's world is controlled and she is a slave to her place in life, but this series is not as dark and despairing as some of the other dystopian series - in many ways it is presented as a glittering world of glamour and luxury, with a rotten core of power plays and manipulation.  As Violet learns more about her world so do we, and it becomes clear that everyone wants something from Violet, some people are just more obvious about it than others.  This is a series that would be suitable for younger teens who are interested in reading dystopian series without too much of the outright gruesome and grim that you get with series like The hunger games or even The testing.  One of my colleagues read The Jewel and felt it was quite cliched, but I found a lot to like and enough subtleties to enjoy it as a unique voice.  The white rose continues on well from The Jewel, and it will be interesting to see how Ewing brings the trilogy to a close.

If you like this book then try:

• The Jewel by Amy Ewing
• Perfected by Kate Jarvik Birch
• Wither by Lauren DeStefano
• The hunger games by Suzanne Collins
• Renegade by J.A. Souders
• Adaptation by Melinda Lo
• The forest of hands and teeth by Carrie Ryan
• XVI by Julia Karr
• The 100 by Kass Morgan
• Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
• The testing by Joelle Charbonneau
• Proxy by Alex London
• Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
• In the after by Demitria Lunetta
• ACID by Emma Pass
• Reboot by Amy Tintera
• What's left of me by Kat Zhang

Reviewed by Brilla

Percy Jackson and the last Olympian by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson and the last Olympian is the fifth and final book in the  Percy Jackson and the Olympians series so this review contains ***SPOILERS*** if you have not read the first books in the series.  This is one of those series where it really pays to read them in order so if you have not already read the other books then I suggest you do so before reading anymore of this review!

For the past four years Percy Jackson's life has been all about the prophecy, the one that says a child of one of the three great gods will decide the fate of the world.  As a son of Poseidon Percy is likely to be that child, and the last few years may have thrown up a few false leads but the great Titan Kronos has his sights set on destroying Percy and the gods of Olympus.  There have been skirmishes in the past, and Percy has lost friends and foes, but the great battle is approaching and it appears that the gods and their demigod children are divided and ill prepared for the battle that is approaching.  The titans have stirred and while they may have their own agendas they are powerful allies for Kronos, and to make matters worse some of the minor gods have joined team Kronos to take down the gods of Olympus and their children.

Battle lines have been drawn and sides have been chosen, and for Percy the time has finally come to discover what he is really capable of - and for him to hear the full prophecy.  Allies old and new are needed for this last mighty quest, and if they are to succeed they need to find courage and cunning, because Kronos is not playing fair.  As his sixteenth birthday approaches Percy is willing to try just about anything to stop Kronos and save his father (and the other gods of course).  That willingness to put himself at risk, to try anything to save the world is Percy's greatest strength and his greatest weakness - there is a fine line between bravery and courage, and being a seaweed brain and brash.  If Percy is going to save the world he needs to understand history, ancient history and more recent history, otherwise he may make the same mistakes they made in the past and doom the world.  

The Percy Jackson series has been a real delight to read, not only because of the readability of the series and the engaging characters, but also because it brings the wealth of Greek mythology to life for modern readers.  This has also been a surprisingly meaty read, with Percy and his friends experiencing hardship and the loss of friends and family, as well as having to make very mature decisions for young people their age (or people of any age really).  Over the course of the novels Percy has developed as a character and as a person, he has become a living breathing person that could step off the page and into the real world.  His closest friends and enemies are the same, characters that have been fleshed out over the series to become more than just names on a page.  The cast of hundreds for Camp Half-Blood also developed, but to a realistic background noise rather than overwhelming the reader with details and side stories that go nowhere.  

I came to the series late, and in one way that was a good thing because it meant I could read the books quite quickly - with only a matter of days between the last two books.  It must have been torture for die hard fans to have to wait for the last books in the series to come out!  It is unusual to find a series that has strong male and female main characters that are instantly relateable and you get that with the main characters of Percy, Annabeth, and in his own way Grover.  The characters grow and change, in much the same way as the readers themselves would grow over the years of the series.  I have seen comments calling Rick Riordan the "US Rowling" and in many ways that is a disservice as while Rowling wrote an amazing series it was not the easy to access world that Riordan has created - Rowling was more bookish and clever, while Riordan has created a world of action and discovering the hero within (my personal opinion, but after all the series I have read over the years I think its valid!).

It has been a pleasure to meet Percy Jackson and his world, and I am all set to jump into The red pyramid to see if Riordan has breathed such believable life into ancient Egyptian mythology.  If you have not discovered the Percy Jackson series then try it, and that includes the adults reading this review thinking about buying/borrowing this series for the young people in their lives - this is a series that adults need to discover too!

If you like this book then try:

• Percy Jackson and the lightning thief by Rick Riordan
• Percy Jackson and the sea of monsters by Rick Riordan
• Percy Jackson and the titan's curse by Rick Riordan
• Percy Jackson and the battle of the labyrinth by Rick Riordan
• The chaos of stars by Kiersten White
• Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst
• Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
• Born at midnight by C.C Hunter
• Mortal danger by Ann Aguirre
• Firelight by Sophie Jordan
• The girl of fire and thorns by Rae Carson
• Drift by M.K. Hutchins
• Legacies by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill
• Daughter of smoke and bone by Laini Taylor
• Sweet venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Reviewed by Brilla