I’m really enjoying The Spell Tailors as my cosy evening read! I’m listening to the audiobook of Into the Sideways World which is absolutely fascinating.

I finished the audiobook of Orla and the Serpent’s Curse which I thought was a great witchy read, and am looking forward to reading Orla and the Magpie’s Kiss soon. I’ve also read Scareground which was a wonderfully dark, spooky read – I’ve posted my review. Dreamweavers is a gorgeous book for younger readers and the start of a series. I will post my review shortly.

I’ve absolutely loved this series so am hoping to spend my weekend back in this incredible world.

What are you reading? Have you read any of these?

Scareground is a spine-tingling, dark and atmospheric adventure set in Victorian Greenwich which utterly captivated me as I joined Nancy on her thrilling journey to uncover secrets of the past.

Twelve-year-old Nancy Crumpet is leaping from rooftop to rooftop above the streets of Greenwich with a mission:  to exact revenge on a neighbour who has been horrible to her adoptive mother, Ma Crumpet.  Whilst up on the rooftops, she sees an unusual sight – a black balloon surrounded by black feathers and a whisper of:  Scareground, Scareground, Scareground.

Nancy senses an adventure and wants to share it with her best friend, Arthur Green.  In fact, Arthur is her only friend besides the sky.  Yes – the sky!  Nancy has a rare gift:  she is a Skyreader, someone who can communicate with the sky and tell what it is thinking – a secret she keeps to herself.  This is not the only mystery surrounding Nancy.  She was found and adopted by the Crumpets in unusual circumstances and has grown up in their bakery surrounded by love, flour and a dusting of intrigue.

When she meets Arthur, he shares that a fair is returning, something that hasn’t been seen in twelve years following a terrible tragedy. Despite their parents not wanting them to visit, both children are keen for adventure …  Sneaking out at night, they enter the Scareground, where they meet its rather sinister, yet charming, owner, Skelter Tombola.

And so begins an intriguing, spooky and exhilarating adventure that kept me completely fascinated and gripped, not just by the Scareground itself, but also by the mystery surrounding Nancy’s birth.  Can she uncover the truth about what happened to her birth parents?  Where did her gift of skyreading come from?  And, what is the significance of her silver birthmark?  I loved the building of anticipation, danger and fear as Nancy and Arthur discover more about the fair and its darker, macabre intentions as they race to uncover the truth of Nancy’s past.

I thought that the setting of a Victorian fair in the woods outside Greenwich was perfect:  spooky, eerie and ripe for unexpected frights and shocks.  I’m a huge fan of maps in books, and this one has a wonderfully detailed map which shows not only the locations mentioned in the story, but the different rides visited in the Scareground.  I felt that the description of the fair with its illusions, magic and rides – bringing both scares and delight – was brilliantly immersive.

I really liked both Nancy and Arthur who have a wonderfully strong friendship, able to withstand some difficult times.  They have a shared sense of adventure, show courage when overcoming fears and are there for each other when it really matters.  Whilst Nancy is determined to discover the truth of her birth and puts herself at great risk to do so, there is no doubt that she has been surrounded by a loving family in Ma and Pa Crumpet who clearly adore her, despite keeping secrets from her. 

An exciting, spooky and intriguing adventure with just the right amount of frights and chills, so enjoy curled up with a hot chocolate as the evenings darken.

Thank you so much to Dave at The Write Reads for inviting me to be part of this blog tour, and to the publishers, Neem Tree Press, for sending me a copy of this fantastic book in exchange for my honest opinion.

About the Author

Angela Kecojevic is a senior librarian, author and creative writing tutor. She has written for the Oxford Reading Tree programme and the multi-award-winning adventure park Hobbledown where her characters can be seen walking around, something she still finds incredibly charming! She is a member of the Climate Writers Fiction League, a group of international authors who use climate issues in their work. Angela lives in the city of Oxford with her family.

Do check out the other stops on the Blog Tour:

Well, this is definitely late! I keep forgetting how hectic the start of a school year is which hits harder after a wonderfully relaxing summer! I spent a almost a couple of weeks of August on holiday in Disney World which meant no reading – except for on the plane there and back! But, I still managed to read quite a lot for the time I was at home!

Books I’ve read:

I read 18 books in August and posted reviews for 10 of them which is probably a record for me! I’ve reduced my #BeatTheBackList challenge by 4 books. I think I have about 20 left to read before the end of the year.

Books sent by publishers:

I am grateful to have been sent 12 books by Publishers this month. I have read and reviewed seven of them so far, but should get the rest reviewed by the end of the month/start of October.

NetGalley:

My feedback ratio has increased to 97%. I have three books on my shelf.

Books bought:

I have bought three books this month.

How has your reading month been? Have you read any of these? Have you any of them on your TBR?

The Secret of the Blood-Red Key is the next incredible adventure in the Stolen Dreams Adventures series, and follows on from the events in The Book of Stolen Dreams which was in my top reads of 2021.  I have no doubt that this one will be in my top reads of 2023:  it is an absolutely superb, unmissable adventure.

Rachel and Robert Klein have become the heroes of Krasnia, but they seem to have gone their separate ways.  Whilst Robert is caught up in politics and speech writing with his new friends, Rachel is caring for their father who is living as a mere shadow of himself after his wife’s death.

On her way home, Rachel meets a boy who shows her a blood-red key identical to the one she has hidden at home.  He reveals that she is now a Keeper of the Key, a secret group who know the truth of the Hinterland and who must answer the call of the key.  When she discovers that the boy is telling the truth, and the key is asking for her help, she turns to her brother, but he is too distracted by his new life to listen to her.

Rachel’s investigations lead her to the revelation of a terrible wrong:  a young girl, Elsa Spiegel, has been tricked into entering the Hinterland (the Land of the Dead) by those with evil intent.  Rachel is determined to right this wrong, and uses her key to enter the Hinterland in order to rescue Elsa and reunite her with her distraught family.  But what she unearths on her journey leads her to save so much more than one child …

I absolutely loved this heart-racing adventure which I genuinely could not put down as I was transported between a newly free Krasnia to the most fascinating and richly described world of the Hinterland.  This is a world where I felt both a sense of awe and wonder and an underlying thread of fear as corruption seeps in.  There is a real sense of danger and time running out as Rachel races to find Elsa and solve the mystery of why she was sent to the Hinterland whilst her brother Robert follows a path of discovery towards his sister.  I don’t want to give away any spoilers but, oh my goodness, what incredible twists and revelations!  Gasps guaranteed!  I thought that the ebb and flow of the dual narrative worked brilliantly to tantalisingly bring the dreadful truth to light.

I really enjoyed being back with familiar characters and meeting new ones.  Whilst Rachel and Robert are adapting to their new found fame in different ways, they both have the interests of Krasnia and family at heart.  Rachel has a firm belief in doing the right thing and shows great courage in facing danger and fears, and making sacrifices for the good of others.  Robert clearly loves his sister, and is determined to make amends for not making the time to listen to her when she needed him.  I felt the way that their father’s grief is dealt with was incredibly sensitively handled, and my heart really ached for his evident pain and loss.  I will mention one other character – Bobby – readers will definitely adore Bobby!

This story is beautifully illustrated with each chapter heading having its own image, giving a clue to the contents of each. I especially adored those referencing Greek mythology and the very special animals in the story.

This is a stunning, gripping story that swept me into a wonderfully intricate world and took me on an unforgettable adventure … a must-read for 9+.

Thank you to Fritha Lindqvist and Usborne for inviting me to be a Keeper of the Key, and for sending me a copy of this fantastic book.  My review is my honest opinion.

I’m currently reading The Spell Tailors which I’m really enjoying – it feels like its going to be a wonderfully cosy, magical adventure! I’m listening to Orla and the Serpent’s Curse which is a dark, witchy adventure which has definitely intrigued me as I can’t quite work out if those I think are a danger actually are!

I’ve finished reading The Boy Who Hatched Monsters which I think is a really underrated series. A brilliantly, heartfelt end to a series I have really enjoyed. I also finished Explorers at Stardust City which is another fun, wildly imaginative book in this series – not sure if there will be any more. I then devoured two books over the weekend – and have managed to write reviews for them too! The Secret of the Blood-Red Key is a brilliant continuation of this series, and I really, really hope there will be more. I will be posting my review tomorrow. I also read a deliciously scary sci-fi horror adventure, Shiver Point, which I absolutely loved. I have posted my review today.

I’m hoping to read Dream Weavers: Night of the Scary Fairies and Scare Ground next.

What are you reading? Have you read any of these?

Shiver Point:  It Came from the Woods is the first book in a deliciously dark and thrilling new sci-fi mystery series, guaranteed to send shivers of fright and delight down the spines of young fans of horror. 

Alex has recently moved to Shiver Point, the most boring small town, where nothing exciting ever happens.  How wrong could he be?  One night, whilst waiting for his mum to return from her shift at the hospital, Alex sees something bright falling from the sky into Howlmoor Forest.  Hoping that it is a meteorite, which could be a ticket back to his old home and friends, he skateboards through town towards the forest.

The forest proves almost too creepy for him but, just as he is about to head home, he sees a green light in a clearing – but he is not alone! A group of his classmates from Point Academy have also been drawn by the light and are staring at the meteorite pieces, and some strange black slime on the ground.  Their conversation is disturbed by a terrifying shriek as a strange, dark shadow moves through the trees towards them.  The five children run, but is it already too late?  Has something sinister with evil intent arrived with the meteorite?

And so begins an action-packed, scary and tense adventure as the children realise that their town is in terrible danger.  Slime trails appear, break-ins take place, and people begin acting strangely.  The group find themselves in a race to save the town from a terrifying creature, but can they defeat the invader before it destroys their home and everyone in it?

Oh my goodness!  What a brilliantly spine-tingling delight!  I don’t want to give away spoilers, but I loved the invasive feel as the visitor begins its mission, the jump frights and the use of sights and sounds to build tension.  There are some genuinely scary moments, definite grossness and quick-witted humour as well as some unexpected twists and revelations which will definitely appeal to young readers – as well as this older reader who is not quite ready for adult horror yet!

I really liked all of the Shiver Squad, who are a diverse group, and felt that the building of their friendship was really genuine as they are brought together by a shared experience, a desire to save their town, and a need for friendship – whether they know it or not!  I liked how different interests helped them in their battle with the creature from Oli’s love of horror and gaming to Riley’s electronics and engineering expertise.  The children show real courage in overcoming their fears, not only of the creature, but also in opening themselves up to friendship.  They are by no means perfect, but I think this makes them more authentic and relatable to readers, who will enjoy getting to know them as they get to understand and trust each other. 

This is an exhilarating, creepy mystery adventure brimming with frights, screams, humour and friendship, perfect for readers of 9+. 

Thank you to the Publisher, Piccadilly Press, for providing me with a copy prior to publication.  My review is my honest opinion of Shiver Point.

Now that I’m back at work, I am listening to audiobooks again! I’m currently listening to The Boy Who Hatched Monsters which I’m really enjoying. Sam is a wonderful character with some great friends – especially the gargoyles and shapeshifters. There’s plenty of peril in this one and I’m really looking forward to finding out the final outcome. I’m reading Explorers at Stardust City and am loving following Ursula and her friends on a very unusual expedition to rescue Stella.

I’ve finished reading Tapper Watson and the Quest for the Nemo Machine which is a really quirky, fun read. I have posted my review.

I’m hoping to read The Secret of the Blood-Red Key next.

What are you reading? Have you read any of these?

Tapper Watson and the Quest for the Nemo Machine is a blast of an adventure:  a perfect blend of Greek mythology and science-fiction written with such warmth and wit.  Oh, and it’s brilliantly bizarre, and wonderfully weird and wacky – and I absolutely loved it! 

13-year-old Erisean boy, Tapper Watson, loves adventure stories but is not so keen on real life adventure which is a little unfortunate as he has found himself aboard an interworld submarine with two smugglers who have been employed by his Uncle Five to make delivery of some expensive cargo to another world.    

When the submarine is damaged, they make an unscheduled visit to Earth where he meets Fern Shakespeare and her talking plant, Morse, who communicates using morse code (just adorable).  Fern’s father is a submarine mechanic and just who is needed to repair the Boldly Goes. He is also the inventor of the missing Nemo Machine, a machine which can restore memories lost by drinking water from the river Lethe.  When disaster strikes, Fern needs to find the Nemo Machine …

And so begins a thrilling, action-packed adventure as Fern and Tapper find themselves diving away from trouble aboard the Boldly Goes to escape Earth as they race through worlds to find the missing Nemo Machine before it is too late.  But they are not the only ones seeking the Machine, and soon they find themselves being chased by lobster mobsters (I know – brilliant!) with Medusa blasters.  Can they outrun their pursuers and complete their quest?  Who else could want the Machine so badly that they are prepared to do anything to get it?

Oh my goodness!  I loved this adventure so much!  The blend of Greek mythology and science-fiction works so well and feels really fresh and inventive.  I really enjoyed the playfulness with changing well-known phrases which made me giggle as did lots of the interactions which makes this a brilliant read for both adults and children.  I also really loved that this felt like a Greek myth quest, but with a science-fiction setting and references.  I loved the fast-paced action and wit, the wackiness and wonder of the world-building, the absolutely fantastic characters, the sense of peril and the unexpected twists and turns that kept me turning pages.

What if heroes are ordinary people who don’t give up when things get dangerous?

I adored both Tapper and Fern who come from very different worlds which often makes them argue as they adjust to each other’s beliefs and personalities rather than bonding in friendship quickly. Tapper is the youngest of 68 cousins whilst Fern is an only child; they are each a little jealous of the other.  I think that there is a lot of change for most characters in this story (there is one who is deliciously evil and doesn’t change, but I won’t say anything further!).  Tapper wants to find his adventures through his story heroes safely at home, but finds the courage to face dangerous situations and become the hero of his own story. 

This is a wonderfully witty, action-packed and unmissable adventure, perfect for those of 9+. It’s certainly one I can’t wait to share with my class at the start of the new year.

Thank you for the Publisher, Firefly Press, for providing me with a proof copy which has not affected my honest review of the book.

It’s my stop on the Blog Tour for Tapper Watson and the Quest for the Nemo Machine, a brilliantly exciting and fun blend of Greek mythology and science-fiction – a real blast of an adventure!

Today, I’ve got a wonderful guest post from Claire Fayers in which she shares her top five sci-fi adventures.

Guest Author Post: My top five sci-fi adventures

Tapper Watson comes out of a long line of science fiction books, movies, radio and TV. If I mentioned them all, this blog post could go on forever, so here are my top five picks.

Guardians of the Galaxy

I blow hot and cold when it comes to Marvel movies. Some I love, others bore me into a coma. Guardians of the Galaxy falls somewhere in between – not as good as Iron Man, but a hundred times better than the latest Thor, which I failed to finish.

I’m including it because Tapper Watson has been pitched as Guardians of the Galaxy meets Dr Who, and I kept the movie soundtrack on my playlist while I was writing. (You can see the full playlist on another stop in this blog tour.) What I like about the film is the chaotic feel of a group of misfits thrown together into situations they can’t handle. And of course there is a talking plant – though Groot was not the inspiration for Morse. Morse, my talking danger plant, has a much bigger vocabulary, though it only ‘talks’ in Morse code.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Nothing beats the original radio show, but the books are terrific fun and the TV series has its moments.

I love everything about it – the improbability drive, Vogon poetry, the importance of towels, and Arthur Dent stuck in the middle of it, trying to make sense of what’s going on. Most of all, I love the sense that Douglas Adams was making the story up as he went along and he was permanently half a page away from everything imploding, and yet he kept it all going.

You’ll spot a couple of references to the Guide in Tapper Watson. Fern Shakespeare would agree that towels are very useful items of equipment.

Galaxy Quest

At the risk of turning this into my top five sci-fi adventures with ‘galaxy’ in the title, I cannot leave out Galaxy Quest. It has everything – adventure, humour, romance, danger, a terrific villain, great music, and some moments of real poignancy. I love everything about it.

The Galaxy Quest crew are looking for the mysterious Omega Device. My crew of smugglers and petty criminals are on the trail of the mysterious Nemo Machine. It’s always good for your characters to have a goal.  As Captain Jason Nesmith would say, “Never give up. Never surrender.”

Or, in the words of Tapper Watson, “What if heroes are ordinary people who don’t give up when things get dangerous?”

Blake’s Seven

Leaving the Galaxy theme, here’s a TV show I really wish they’d bring back. I might even admit in a whisper that I prefer it to Dr Who. I love characters who don’t fit into neat boxes and Blake’s Seven was full of them. Ignore the wobbly sets, the stilted dialogue and the atrocious final series. Blake’s Seven introduced me to Avon, the anti-hero; Servalan with her capacity for cunning; the cowardly Vila, doing whatever it takes to survive.

Many of my characters have mixed motives and none of them are completely good or completely bad (with possibly the exception of Tapper’s Cousin Twenty-Three. He is delightfully horrible and was great fun to write.)

The Extraordinary Colours of Auden Dare by Zillah Bethell

I thought long and hard about which children’s sci-fi adventure book to include on this list before plumping for this one.

A boy who can’t see colours, a war brought about by water shortages, a robot called Paragon who quotes Emily Dickenson poetry. The various pieces sound like they don’t belong in the same story, but Zillah is such a skilful storyteller and weaves the disparate elements together into something really special.

Thoughtful and moving, this book is the opposite of Tapper Watson, except maybe that, like Auden Dare, Tapper Watson feels out of place in his world, but he never gives up battling through the many problems that are thrown at him.

So that is my five. There are many others I’ve left out. Look out for the subtle and not-so-subtle nods to Star Wars, Star Trek, The Lord of the Rings (I know that one isn’t sci-fi, but I hope you’ll let me get away with it) and others. And please tell me your own top five selections. What would you include?

Thank you to Claire for this wonderful post.

I’ve had a think about my top five selections which I’ve included below, but there are so many others I could include!

Firefly

Stargate SG1

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Orion Lost by Alistair Chisholm

The Infinite Lives of Maisie Day by Christopher Edge.

Thank you to Firefly Press for inviting me to be part of the Blog Tour and to Claire Fayers for the fantastic post.

Do check out the other stops on the Blog Tour:

I loved The Wondrous Prune when I read it last year so I was very excited to discover that there was another book in this series about children from the same neighbourhood who develop incredible abilities.  The Stupendous Sonny is a heartfelt, exciting adventure that completely captured me, making it an unputdownable, one-sitting read.

12-year-old Sonny loves superhero films and comics so it probably isn’t surprising that he dreams of having superpowers of his own.  Imagine his surprise and excitement when he discovers that he has developed telekinetic abilities and can fly and teleport.  He tells his best friend, Elliot, who is intrigued but doesn’t believe him until Sonny begins to get his powers under control and proves his abilities.  Can Sonny use his powers to help himself and others, or will he find that he puts himself and others in danger?

Sonny wants to share his abilities with his dad but, before he can, his dad is involved in a serious road accident.  His mother is working away from home and is unable to get home quickly, so his Aunt Cleo, who has been estranged from the family, moves in to look after him and his younger brother and sister.  Can Sonny trust her enough to tell her about his superpowers, or does she already know more than she should?  Does she have his best interests at heart, or does she have darker motives?

This is both a wonderfully exciting, action-packed adventure and a heartfelt story of family and friendship with some wonderfully humorous moments.  I really enjoyed learning more about the Delmere Magic which I found so intriguing, and loved spotting Prune’s cameo appearance.  I would absolutely love to read the story of another character in this book who I won’t mention, but I think anyone who reads this brilliant story will know who I mean! 

I adored Sonny who has to deal with some difficult issues, including being bullied; his feelings towards his mother; and, the uncertainty around his father’s health after his serious accident.  Sonny is braver than he thinks and faces situations which he finds difficult with courage.  He is determined to learn how to control his powers and wants to use them to help others, but he is also fallible and makes some impulsive decisions which makes him all the more likeable.  Elliot is a wonderful friend who he trusts with his secrets and who supports him – and teases him as good friends do!

This is a fantastically exciting, heartwarming adventure, perfect for readers of 9+ and is one I would highly recommend. 

Thank you to the author, Ellie Clements, for sending me a copy.  My review is my honest opinion.