I was absolutely gripped by Mia and the Lightcasters so was very excited to read the next in the trilogy, Mia and the Traitor of Nubis, and I was not disappointed!  I loved being back in this dark, dangerous and exciting world and was, once again, swept into Mia’s incredible adventure as she battles against forces of darkness.

Since the Reaper King’s attack and his banishment to the Spirit Plain, life has not been easy for Mia. Whilst trying to learn more about, and control her lightcaster powers, she has to deal with animosity and fear from her classmates and the citizens of Nubis.  Terrifying nightmares plague her and a voice from them even seems to be following her into her waking hours.  She does however gain comfort and support from her loving family and her devoted umbra, Nox and Lux.

As part of her training, Mia must take part in umbra tamer trials held on the Nightmare Plains but, when Nox is almost lost to her, she fears that her nightmares may have become reality.  Have all the Elite been locked up, or could there be one hiding in their midst?  Could there be a traitor in Nubis intent on bringing back an old enemy?  And could there be an enemy even closer to Mia than she imagines?

And so begins a breath-taking, epic and action-packed adventure brimming with excitement, peril and scariness as Mia is determined to prove her suspicions about who has tried to take control of Nox; as she battles to save Nubis and all those she loves before an old enemy destroys them; and as she learns to control her lightcaster powers before they are used by others.  During her mission, Mia meets both old friends and new, but I was never quite sure whether they were friend or foe, which kept me utterly intrigued.  The unexpected twists and revelations, and the edge-of-your-seat building of threat and tension as the action and peril intensified, made this a real page turner.

Once again, I have been completely immersed in this fascinating, richly described world of darkness and light, and loved using the map at the start of the book as I travelled through Lunis from Nubis to the Nightmare Plains to Astaroth. The illustrations are absolutely stunning and complement this world of darkness and moonlight perfectly. 

I adored the close bonds between Mia and her family, and especially her love for her little brother Lucas.  She is incredibly protective of him, but I also really liked that, despite how young he is, Lucas also sees himself as his big sister’s protector.  Mia is such a strong, resilient and courageous young girl who is determined to learn to harness her lightcaster powers to help her protect her home – even when that means sometimes going against the wishes of her family.  I just have to mention Mia’s umbra, Nox and Lux, who have such a loyal, trusting and protective bond with her which is reciprocated fully.  They really feel like her friends, and I loved the humour that they bring.

This is a captivating, exhilarating and edge-of-your-seat adventure, perfect for adventurers of 9+.

Thank you to Bethany Carter and Faber Children’s Books for a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

When I first started teaching, I bought a copy of Oscar Wilde Stories for Children which contained my favourite tale ever. This new paperback picture book edition of The Selfish Giant is absolutely stunning with large, detailed oil paintings on one page and accompanying text on the other.  There is a small square image tile introducing the text, and I loved seeing how this related to the larger artwork.

On their way home from school, the children love going to play in the Giant’s beautiful Garden, filled with flowers and birds singing, which brings them great happiness.  But, when the Giant returns from visiting his friend, he builds a wall around his garden so that the children are no longer welcome there.  The giant’s selfishness and lack of compassion leads to all seasons apart from Winter forsaking his garden.  But then, one day, the Giant has a visitor who changes his life …

This is a very familiar story to me and is one that I adored both as a child and as an adult so it was wonderful to re-read it, accompanied by such beautiful illustrations.  I really cannot emphasise enough how gorgeous and intricate these are:  there is a real fairytale quality to them.  They tell the story and so much more … I can just imagine the conversations that could take place with young readers just from the illustrations alone.  There is a wonderful blending of the beauty of nature, a sense that there is magic in the world as well as giving an insight into the lives of children in the 1800s.

This is a truly beautifully illustrated version of a classic tale of how love can lead to an epiphany and transformation, to forgiveness and compassion, and of how these can affect the lives of others. Perfect for young readers of 6+ who are sure to be mesmerised by this gorgeous edition and will want to return to it again and again.

Thank you to Laura Smythe PR and the Publisher for a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Search for the Black Mirror is the second in The Light Thieves trilogy:  a thrilling, gripping rollercoaster of an eco-adventure that kept me utterly entranced throughout.  This can be read as a standalone as it starts with an innovative four-page illustrated synopsis of the first book.  I also thought this was a brilliant quick reminder of the events in the first book for those of us who have read the first book, and were left with the tantalising cliffhanger that made this one an eagerly anticipated read. 

It is being widely reported that friends Grian, Jeffrey and Shelli are responsible for the destruction of the Tipping Point which had been built by tech-entrepreneur, Howard Hansom, for the sole purpose of saving the planet which had been tilted on its axis after an earthquake three years previously.  This disaster has led to a black mark appearing on the sun which has grown bigger after the destruction of the Tipping Point taking the world one step closer to destruction …

The children have made their way back to the Wilde community who live in the forest, living in harmony with nature, and distrusting the technology which others rely on.  Grian shares a secret with his friends which his kidnapped Grandad has entrusted him with:  he has a letter and a crystal from the White Rose who may well be the only person who knows what is happening to the sun and can stop its energy loss.  Who is the mysterious White Rose, and can the children find them before the sun is damaged beyond repair?  Will they be able to get the help they need from those in the Council of Colour?  And, can they avoid being caught by the police and the Proctors, both of whom are chasing them?

So begins a brilliantly fast-paced, action-packed adventure as Grian, Jeffrey and Shelli begin their mission to save the world from the machinations of someone determined to steal the sun’s light for their own ends.  Can they find the mysterious black mirror mentioned in a puzzle that may be the key to saving the sun?  Who amongst those they meet can they trust, and who is prepared to betray them? This is one of those stories that I found impossible to put down as I became completely caught up in the adventure:  the danger, the twists, the revelations and the just not knowing who was friend and who foe.  I loved the tension and excitement built by the feeling that time was running out and, just when I thought I could take a breath, something else happens that makes me desperate to continue.   I just have to say that the villains are brilliantly portrayed and each time they appear, the tension and danger really ramps up.

I loved the role nature and animals play in this story with Shelli having a special bond of friendship with animals that saw many aid the children in their mission, and fight back against those who would harm the sun and their planet.  I especially loved her friendship with Nach, the fox she had rescued, and found their bond just beautiful.  I found it incredibly sad that technology was encroaching in to nature’s space and harming both flora and fauna.  There is a wonderful message about the need to protect nature in order to protect humanity.

Grian, Jeffrey and Shelli have formed a close bond of friendship with Grian trusting them with his Grandad’s secret letter.  They each have their strengths which they draw on to work as a team in their dangerous mission, showing great courage, ingenuity and determination.  I really enjoyed the camaraderie between them, their honesty with each other and the support they give each other when it is needed.

This is a brilliantly inventive, unputdownable eco-adventure that is guaranteed to captivate readers of 9+.  I absolutely cannot wait to find out how this incredible story ends, and really enjoyed the sneak peek at the end of the book.  Now, for the wait …

Author Information

Helena Duggan is a children’s author, graphic designer and illustrator from
Kilkenny, a medieval town in Ireland, which was the inspiration for A Place
Called Perfect. She writes in a treehouse built by her husband Robbie and his
brother in the bottom of their garden. She lives in a small house with Robbie,
their daughters Jo and Bobbie and dog Tinker.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/heldideas

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helddesign/

Thank you so much to Kaleidoscopic Tours for inviting me to be part of the Blog Tour, and to Usborne for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Do check out the other stops on this week’s Blog Tour below:

Well, that was a busy month! I said goodbye to another class of Year 6 children moving on to secondary school – and then it’s the summer break! Vashti Hardy came to work with each of our Year Groups and it was so lovely to see their enthusiasm for creating fantasy maps. Having more authors visit is definitely a goal for next year.

Books I’ve read:

I’m not sure how I did it, but I read 16 books in July – to be fair, a few were shorter books. Three of these are from my Beat the Backlist Challenge so 27 to go!

Books sent by publishers:

I am grateful to have been sent 9 books by Publishers this month. I have read and reviewed five of them so far.

NetGalley:

My feedback ratio is still at 96%. I requested and have been approved to read three books.

Books bought:

I’ve bought six books this month.

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

Dead Good Detectives:  Ghost Rescue is an epic ending to this daring duology:  exciting, funny and heart-warming.  It can be read as a standalone, but I guarantee, if they haven’t already read it, young adventurers will be racing for Dead Good Detectives after reading this.

Sid Jones is now firm friends with 300-year-old ghost pirate Ezekiel Kittow (aka Bones) after using those well-known magical tools – a gel pen and a chocolate bar – to free him from the Halfway House where he and his crew were trapped by Old Scratch who may – or may not – be the sinister Innkeeper who has placed the entrapment curse on the inn.  Whilst Sid has her doubts as to whether she has magical powers, Bones convinces her to try to free another of the ghosts, and so her mission to free her new friends begins … 

Oh my giddy goodness!  This is the most wonderful adventure:  action-packed, fast-paced with oodles of excitement, plenty of giggles and heart, not to mention the danger, the scariness, the twists and revelations that kept me utterly engrossed.  I absolutely loved joining Sid and her best friend Zen as they work alongside their ghost friends to break the curse of the Halfway House, allowing the ghosts to complete their unfinished business in this world before moving on.  Could Old Scratch be the sinister Innkeeper, or is someone even more villainous behind the ghosts’ imprisonment?  Is time running out for the ghosts?  What could be causing the mysterious illness that is affecting the people of Fathom?

Sid and Zen are incredibly likeable characters with a wonderfully close friendship and a great deal of courage. They are determined to help free their ghost friends, even when they find themselves in dangerous situations.  I absolutely adored Bones who is incredibly protective and supportive of Sid, helping her to believe that she can complete her mission.  The trapped ghosts feel like a wonderfully close family group who are determined to help and support each other and their new friends as their situation becomes more and more precarious.  Their interactions are both warm and humorous which made this diverse group really likeable characters. 

The full-and-partial-page illustrations throughout are absolutely gorgeous and really complement the warmth, humour and friendships in this brilliant adventure.  I also loved the inclusion of Sid’s map of Fathom in full colour which I really enjoyed poring over.

This is the most magical, exhilarating adventure brimming with heart and humour, danger and daring that is sure to enchant readers of 8+.

Thank you to the Publisher, Farshore, for an early copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’m about half way through the audiobook of The Werewolves who Weren’t and am really enjoying it. I love the relationship between Sam and the gargoyles, and am looking forward to seeing how to escapes the clutches of an old adversary. I’m reading the second book in the Lightcasters trilogy, Mia and the Traitor of Nubis and am loving being back in this world which is so brilliantly realised.

It’s been a good reading week, helped by the rainy weather and being off school! I finished City of Stolen Magic which I did enjoy but not as much as I thought I would! I also read Willodeen which was so beautiful, joyous and magical (I have posted my review). I loved The Light Thieves which has a brilliant cliffhanger ending so loved being back in Search for the Black Mirror which is a brilliant ecoi-adventure. I will be posting my review as part of the Blog Tour on Friday. I also picked up The Thing at Black Hole Lake from my backlist and, oh my goodness, I shouldn’t have waited so long to for this. It is such a fun sci-fi read, so much so that I immediately ordered the next one. On Twitter yesterday, I read a review that made me pick up Finn Jones Was Here at 10pm and I absolutely couldn’t put it down – read in one sitting. The premise is heart-breaking and there was definitely tears, but my goodness there were also laughs and so much love for these best friends. Finally, I read the utterly brilliant Dead Good Detectives Ghost Rescue – I will be posting my review tomorrow.

I’m hoping to read The Valley of the Strange and Her Majesty’s League of Remarkable Young Ladies next – and maybe another couple before I head off on holiday for a couple of weeks when I will have very little time for reading – except on the plane!

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

Willodeen is the most beautiful, heart-warming and magical story:  a story of finding friendship, family and of appreciating nature and its interdependence.  Just an absolute joy of a story that brought smiles and tears.

Willodeen lives in Perchance, a village which suffers hardship through fires which have been responsible for the loss of Willodeen’s family.  She is a loner who finds solace and healing in nature and loves all creatures, but especially the unlovable ones such as the Screechers, creatures who are despised in the village and who are hunted to almost extinction.  She also has a pet hummingbear (just gorgeous!) who has survived the fire and, due to an injury, is unable to return to the other hummingbears.

Perchance attracts an influx of tourists to its Autumn Faire to see the hummingbears who migrate there during the winter months to build glistening bubble nests in the blue willow trees.  The Faire provides a much-needed source of income for the village so they are understandably worried when the hummingbears stop visiting Perchance.  What has caused this disaster for the village, and is there anything that can be done to encourage their return?

When Willodeen is given a birthday present by local boy Connor, her angry tears have a magical effect upon it. Could this present lead Willodeen to a discovery that could save the creatures she loves?  Can she find the strength to speak up for the animals she adores and to help restore the vital connections between animals and plants? 

I loved the environmental messages within this story as the reader is shown the importance of the interdependence between creatures and their environment, and the need to respect and care for all animals.  I also really enjoyed how the village ends up coming together to help each other and thereby growing stronger as a community.

Willodeen is an incredibly sympathetic young girl:  gentle, fierce and empathetic. She has buried the pain of the loss of her family, and suffers from recurring nightmares about the fire which cost them their lives whilst struggling with feelings of guilt.  She is a loner who has a real affinity with nature, and is able to see what others cannot.  I loved her developing friendship with Connor who is a kind-hearted, artistic boy who makes the most wonderful sculptures.  I love how Connor just accepts Willodeen for who she is and gives her the space she needs to develop their friendship.

The illustrations are absolutely stunning and complement the warmth and charm of this story perfectly.

This is a mesmerising, magical adventure with a warm and fuzzy heart that readers of 8+ will absolutely adore.

Thank you To Toppsta and the Publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Pixies vs Fairies is the start of a gorgeous, fun new fantasy series for readers of 6+ who are sure to be enchanted by this magical adventure.

Alice has moved to a quiet, countryside village where she is convinced her adventurous spirit will be stifled but how wrong can she be?  It is not long before the most wonderful adventure finds her when she meets her neighbour, Max who reveals an amazing secret … a trio of pixies live in the oak tree at the bottom of his garden. 

The pixies, Omfra, Bran and Gillie, need Alice and Max’s help as their Queen has been frozen by their enemy, the Fairy Queen … and she’s coming for humans next!  Can Alice and Max find the courage to sneak into the fairy territory to find what they need to free the pixie queen?  Can they outwit the mean fairies, and save the pixies from being driven from their home? And could someone within the fairy land prove friend rather than foe?

This is a perfect adventure for younger readers with just the right amount of danger and daring, giggles and mayhem and the most gorgeous, vibrant illustrations throughout. 

Both Alice and Max are incredibly likeable characters who form a wonderful friendship and make a great team.  Max is not quite the adventurer that Alice is, but he overcomes his fears to help the pixies, and finds strength and courage from his new friendship.  Alice definitely has an adventurous spirit and is kind-hearted and clever.   The three nature-loving pixies are adorable, but I have to admit that Bran is my favourite as he definitely has an impetuous, naughty side, but with a heart of gold.   

This is magical start to a charming new series for young readers of 6+ who I have no doubt will enjoy joining Alice and Max on their action-packed, daring adventures.

Thank you to Hachette/Welbeck Flame for a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’ve just started listening to The Werewolves Who Weren’t which is the second in the series after The Monster Who Wasn’t which I read a while ago and really enjoyed. I definitely think I’m going to enjoy Sam’s next adventure as he finds himself in the company of shifters. I’ve also continued with City of Stolen Magic but didn’t get as far as I thought I would. Chompa seems like a very strong character and I’m looking forward to continuing her adventure.

I decided to read another book from my Beat the Backlist Challenge and picked up Zeina Starborn and the Sky Whale. Wow! This is a fantastic adventure book which I absolutely devoured. I also couldn’t resist Carnival of the Spider as I adore this series and, oh my, did it live up to expectations. I have posted my review today.

As I’m on holiday, I’m going to aim to get four books read his week. Moondial is from my Beat the Backlist Challenge and Wolf Road is from NetGalley. I have been sent copies of Willodeen and The Light Thieves Search for the Black Mirror.

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

Carnival of the Spider is the third stunning adventure in the Carnival series which has absolutely captivated me with its atmospheric, dark and dangerous Victorian steampunk vibes which swept me into an action-packed, intriguing adventure that I really could not put down.  This series can be read as standalones, but I have no doubt that, once one adventure has been read, the others will prove irresistible!

Remy makes a dangerous escape from the streets of Paris, chased by part-mechanical villains, seeking help from the Carnival in London as instructed by his imprisoned mother who he has had to leave behind.  Using his gift of being able to manipulate the shadows of darkness to conceal himself, he finds himself aboard a wagon and then a boat to London.  Luck is on his side, and he soon finds the talented and extraordinary Carnival. 

When Sheba, the wolf-girl, learns that Remy’s mother is none other than her old friend Sister Moon, she is determined to use the skills of the Carnival to free her from her captor, the Spider.  So begins THE most incredible adventure as Sheba, along with her friends Pyewacket and Inji, embark on a perilous mission to the streets of Paris which are under siege by the Prussian army.  They find themselves searching for a treasure map in the underground catacombs, facing capture by the Spider’s terrifying villains and trying to avoid the war which has come to the streets of Paris.  Will they be able to rescue Remy’s mother before they are caught in the Spider’s web?

Well, that’s how to tell a story!  I was absolutely engrossed from the intriguing opening which sent a shiver down my spine … tick, tick, tick, tick.  I could feel the threat of danger, the ominous, dark atmosphere which is so richly described, and the building tension throughout.  The mechanical villains, with their clockwork technology, are deliciously scary and brilliant creations that oozed with threat and purpose.  Each chapter, with its descriptive ‘in which’ heading, really immersed me in the action making me feel a part of the story as I ventured with the Carnival in their daring and courageous race to save Remy’s mother.  The darker atmosphere of the streets of London and Paris, where people are treated appallingly for the way they look, and where criminals lurk, were almost tangible and I really sensed the sights and sounds as I read.

Just in case anyone is in any doubt, I absolutely LOVED this story (and Carnival of the Lost and Carnival of the Hunted).  It’s a gripping, immersive read with some brilliant twists and revelations and really clever interweaving of plot and background that kept me utterly engrossed throughout. 

I loved being back with Sheba, Pyewacket and Inji who are living successfully in London.  They are a wonderful found family of people who have faced prejudice, and terrible treatment, from others because of the how they look, yet they have overcome this to help others in need.  Pyewacket is one of my favourite characters ever – I adore his humorous interactions with others.  Remy is a wonderfully sympathetic character, with his own gift, who has been hidden away from others in the hopes of keeping him safe.  He faces his fears with incredible courage and determination and finds the family and sense of belonging that he craves which I found wonderfully heart-warming.

The full-page, grayscale illustrations by Sam Usher are absolutely stunning and complement the mood of the story perfectly.

Carnival of the Spider is an epic, unforgettable adventure, catching the reader in a web of danger, twists and intrigue that makes this a breath-taking page-turner …. an absolute must-read for readers of 10+.

Thank you to Bethany Carter and Faber Children’s Books for a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.