Review: Ice Apprentices by Jacob North

Ice Apprentices is the first in an epic fantasy trilogy – and what a start this is! I was completely absorbed in this icy world, its magic, its danger and its diverse inhabitants: a world where danger lurks, where secrets twist and turn and where answers lie hidden for a courageous stray to unearth.

Oswin Fields is an outsider – a stray – found in Tundra (the last settlement in an ice-covered world) and adopted by Lullia, a mother who is harsh and cold towards him. His is a hard life, and one that he doesn’t feel will ever change, so he is shocked when his adoptive mother tells him that he has been selected to train as an ice apprentice in Corridor – a school which trains apprentices to contribute to Tundra’s survival.

Oswin is met with hostility by many in Corridor as they cannot understand why a stray would be asked to become an ice apprentice and also because his surname is synonymous with an uncle who is viewed as a traitor to Tundra. But, when he and another apprentice, Ennastasia, are attacked by a monster they’ve just learned about in a lesson, he might just be the only hope of saving the Corridor …

And so begins an absolutely gripping, action-packed adventure that swept me into a richly imagined world of ice, of monsters and of peril and deception. I found the magical system fascinating and really liked that, as this is part of a trilogy, I know there is lots more to learn – but I was given enough to satisfy my curiosity and leaving me eager to find out more. There are plenty of unexpected twists and turns, moments of heart-pounding danger and incredible revelations that made this a real page-turner.

I really liked both Oswin and Ennastasia, and loved the friendship that develops between them, a hard won friendship and one they both desperately need. Oswin is impetuous, tenacious and endlessly curious, but he is also someone who doesn’t feel he belongs and doesn’t feel worthy of the place he has been given in Tundra and the Corridor. Ennastasia, because of who she is, fears opening herself up to friendship, yet Oswin, who doubts his worth so much, breaks down her barriers leading to a genuine, honest friendship that is so heart-warming.

This is an adventure that feels like it has so much more to come, and I cannot wait to join the ice apprentices in their next adventure – especially after that ending!

A breath-taking, perilous adventure into an icy world that will undoubtedly capture the hearts and imaginations of readers of 9+ who will be eager to continue the adventure.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-Arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Magicalia: Thief of Shadows by Jennifer Bell

Written by Jennifer Bell
Illustrated by David Wyatt
Published by Walker Books

Magicalia: Thief of Shadows is the second book in the Magicalia series, and it is another terrifically thrilling, heart-pounding fantasy adventure that absolutely enthralled me from start to finish.

12-year-old Bitsy and best friend Kosh are attending conjuring training sessions in an academy kept hidden from the outside world of cosmotypicals. Both children are cosmodynamics with the ability to use a meteoritic stone, a farthingstone, to channel their emotions to conjure magicores – incredible creatures, each with a unique power and close connection to their conjuror.

Whilst Bitsy and the other trainee conjurors have a farthingstone inherited from family members, Kosh feels left out as he does not have one. But, when Kosh is summonsed to the chrysalides, a secret cavern hidden within the academy, for his first lesson, he is asked by the Chancellor of the conservatoire to choose his farthingstone item from those in storage. Accompanied by Bitsy, Kosh is excited to make his choice but just as he chooses, everything goes dark …

When the lights return, the best friends discover that they are under attack from a terrifying thief who can control shadow weapons of darkness – the Shadowsmith. And he is searching for something, something that Kosh and Bitsy have saved from his grasp. Before Kosh can explain to the Chancellor why they have taken the object, Kosh is accused of being the Shadowsmith …

And so begins a brilliantly nail-biting, thrilling adventure as Bitsy and Kosh, with the help of their friend, Mateo, race to discover the true identity of the Shadowsmith before a war is instigated between two worlds, something that the thief’s master is determined to achieve. Can they discover the villain’s identity before the conservatoire catches up with them? Will they be able to prove their suspicions – and their innocence – before time runs out?

Oh my goodness! This is a fantastically fast-paced, gripping adventure that proved to be an irresistible page-turner. I was completely immersed in this adventure with its breath-taking levels of danger, twists and revelations as Bitsy and her friends hunt for clues whilst themselves being pursued by both the Shadowsmith and the conservatoire. Utterly unputdownable!

I absolutely loved the richly drawn, intricate world of Magicalia with its incredible range of magicores who are conjured by the conjurors’ memories of occasions which recall particular emotions. These creatures are each unique and form a strong bond with their conjuror. I loved that their personalities really shine through in their interactions as they support and help their conjuror. I also adored the gorgeous illustrations of these magicores at the start of each chapter as well as the references to them which Bitsy shares with the reader through her mother’s Magicalia encyclopedia.

Bitsy, Kosh and Mateo have formed a wonderfully strong, loyal and supportive friendship making them a brilliant team. They are becoming much more confident and assured when conjuring magicores. They show exceptional strength, courage and resourcefulness when faced with the most terrifying danger, taking great risks to discover the truth, foil a villain and prevent a war.

An exhilarating, action-packed fantasy adventure, guaranteed to hold young readers of 9+ spellbound.

Thank you to Walker Books for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Guardians of the New Moon: Ming and Miaow’s Great Race/The Year of the Rat

Guardians of the New Moon: Ming and Miaow’s Great Race and The Year of the Rat are the first two books in an exciting, action-packed and new series steeped in Chinese mythology.

Ming and Miaow’s Great Race

The Jade Emperor is bored but, when he looks into his magical pool, he sees something that gives him an idea that fills him with excitement. He decides to invite the animals of Earth to compete in a race where there will only be 12 winners with each winner having a lunar year named after them as a prize.

Meanwhile, temple cat Miaow is enjoying life as a guardian, frightening away intruders and getting rid of rats. Just as he finally has a pesky rat, Su, in his paws, they are interrupted by a visit from the Chief Consul to the Jade Emperor who tells them that they have both been selected to take part in the Great Race.

After agreeing to the offer, they find themselves at the start of the race alongside other animals taking part including Ming, a nine-tailed fox. Whilst Ming is gregarious and eager to make friends, Miaow prefers being on his own, finding it difficult to make friends. But when Ming helps him during the race, Miaow begins to realise that having a friend may be just what he needs during the race … especially as someone is intent on sabotaging his chances of finishing the race.

And so begins a wonderfully exciting, action packed adventure as the animals compete in a race through forest, mountain and river to be one of the fortunate twelve to reach the finish line. I really enjoyed the trickery and danger as events in the race heat up which made this a wonderfully fun and engaging read.

A wonderful friendship develops between Miaow and Ming who are polar opposites. Miaow is much more of a loner with a reserved, thoughtful nature whilst Ming is much more sociable with a more fiery, impetuous temperament. Together, they balance and complement each other and make a great team.

The Year of the Rat

Impressed by Ming and Miaow’s resourcefulness and kindness, the Jade Emperor has appointed them as Guardians of the Moon, responsible for ensuring that the Year of the Rat goes perfectly. Their first mission is to take the winner of the Great Race home to prepare for the inaugural Year of the Rat celebrations.

Unfortunately for Miaow, this means spending lots of time with the winner of the Great Race, Su, whose trickery and sharp sense of humour has not endeared the rat to him. As soon as they arrive back at their old home, the temple, there is instant animosity between them which leads to disaster when they incur the wrath of Mazu, goddess of the sea.

And so begins another exciting, fast-paced and humorous adventure as the Guardians are faced with trying to contain the chaos caused by water spirits and whale demons whilst trying to keep the truth from the Grand Consul. Can natural enemies, rat and cat, learn to put their differences aside and work together to save the Year of the Rat? Can what they learn about each other build empathy and allow them to finally develop a genuine friendship?

It was wonderful to be back with Miaow and Ming who have now developed a firm, supportive friendship. Both are determined to do all that they can to save the first Year of the Rat. I also really liked that, through shared empathy, Miaow and Su learn to appreciate each others’ strengths and weaknesses so that the door opens for a genuine friendship to develop.

The full-and-partial-page illustrations in both books are wonderfully energetic and expressive and complement the narrative perfectly.

A wonderfully exciting, action-packed new adventure series for readers of 7+ who I have no doubt will enjoy meeting the Guardians as they venture with the animals of the Chinese zodiac.

Thank you to Little Tiger for providing me with copies of these books in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Libby and the Egyptian Escapade

Written by Jo Clarke
Illustrated by Becka Moor
Published by Firefly Press

Libby and the Egyptian Escapade is the final adventure in the truly wonderful Travelling School Mysteries series. And what a perfect ending to this fantastic series: an exhilarating, action-packed and intriguing mystery in a wonderfully vivid setting that kept me completely enthralled.

Libby and her best friend Connie arrive in Cairo, ready to participate in another term of learning and exploration with her aunt, Miss Mousedale’s, Travelling School. Meeting up with twins, Sebastian and Noah, and new student Anastasia, it is not long before they are visiting a museum to see some of its ancient treasures, including Tutankhamun’s death mask. And, as in all good school excursions, it ends with a visit to the gift shop where Noah buys a replica canopic jar. But, just as they are about to leave, an alarm sounds and Noah bumps in to a rather rude stranger …

When the children discover that an ancient artefact has been stolen from the museum, they wonder if a mummy’s curse has been reawakened, a curse that brings great danger to those who have the treasure. But the children are not thieves, so why does it feel that danger is following them …

And so begins another intriguing, action-packed mystery as Libby and her friends find themselves in perilous situations as they visit the pyramids of Giza, take a night train to Luxor and even join a cruise on the Nile. Could the children have unleashed a mummy’s curse, or could there be a more logical explanation for the bad luck that seems to be following them on their Egyptian travels?

I absolutely loved following these determined sleuths as they work to unravel another conundrum. I adored the twists and turns, the sense of peril and the uncertainty as to what/who the culprit could be. This is another really clever mystery that kept me turning pages as I was as eager as Libby discover the truth.

I have really enjoyed following Libby and her friends on their adventures with the Travelling School. They have formed such a close bond which feels really authentic and have made a brilliant sleuthing team, always looking out for each other. Despite Libby being distracted by her mum’s search for her dad, she is still determined to get to the bottom of a mystery that puts her and her friends in danger.

The full-and-partial-page illustrations are wonderfully expressive and really capture the perils faced by the friends, and the stunning Egyptian locations they visit, as well as the closeness of the bonds between those who attend the Travelling School.

A fantastic finale to a brilliant adventure series: action-packed, exciting and fun – and perfect for young readers of 8+.

Thank you to Firefly Press for sending me a copy of Libby and the Egyptian Escapade in exchange for my honest opinion.

Alex Neptune: Dragon Champion

Written by David Owen
Illustrated by George Ermos
Published by Usborne

Alex Neptune: Dragon Champion is the final book in this action-packed, exciting and fun series – and what a way to wrap up!

The pirate Brineblood has been resurrected and is intent on regaining his full strength by stealing sea magic. Alex and his friends, Zoey and Anil, are determined to prevent him regaining his full magical strength and give chase following a sighting, but their nemesis is always one step ahead and disappears beneath the waves in his ship before they can thwart him. When they discover what he needs to regain his strength, they set a trap, but instead Alex loses his sea magic …

With his strength restored, Brineblood has one aim. He intends to steal all the remaining sea magic and use it to raise a terrifying monster from the deepest depths of the ocean.
He intends that this monster will destroy Haven Bay, the last magical place of power, before flooding the entire world, leaving Brineblood to rule over a watery kingdom.

Determined to do everything in their power to defeat Brineblood, the three friends follow him into the depths of the ocean in their home-made submarine … can they stop a tyrannical pirate from raising a monster? Can they save their home from destruction? And, can Alex still lead his friends to victory, despite losing his sea magic?

I absolutely loved being back with Alex and his friends for this final thrilling, perilous, page-turning adventure. There are definitely some terrifying moments as the stakes are raised ever higher as Brineblood gets closer and closer to achieving his ultimate goal. He always seems to be one step ahead with his zombie crabs at his command and the friends fighting to find a way to finally defeat him. I’m so glad there are humorous moments to release the tension caused by the dangerous, scary situations faced by the friends.

Alex, Zoey and Anil have such a strong, supportive and humorous friendship that gives them the strength and courage to face terrifying, seemingly impossible situations. They each have different strengths but these combined make them a formidable team. Even though Alex has lost his sea magic, he is still a pivotal part of the trio showing wonderful leadership skills and an ability to bring people together. I really liked the sense of community in Haven Bay and how the people – both family, neighbours and friends – came together to fight for their home.

Whilst being an exciting fantasy adventure, this story also conveys a timely environmental message relating to the disastrous effects of climate change and pollution and the importance of living sustainably. There is also a fascinating ‘Ocean Facts’ section at the end of the story.

A fantastic finale to an exhilarating, action-packed and humorous series – perfect for young adventurers of 9+.

Thank you to Usborne for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

You can read my reviews of the first four books in this series by clicking on the links below.

Alex Neptune: Dragon Thief

Alex Neptune: Pirate Hunter

Alex Neptune: Monster Avenger

Alex Neptune: Zombie Fighter

Review: Sword of the Sun

Written by Sinéad O’Hart
Cover illustration by Manuel Šumberac
Published by Piccadilly Press

Sword of the Sun is a brilliant contemporary fantasy adventure, steeped in the magic of Celtic myths and legends, that held me absolutely enthralled throughout.

When Ben and his older brother, Fin, lose their home in Dublin, the family find themselves with no other choice than to move in with their Aunt Niamh and her wife, Eun-Kyung. This move takes his mother back to her isolated ancestral home in rural County Clare. Whilst Niamh and her wife welcome them and have sympathy for their situation, their cousin, Ji-Ah is less keen to have them sharing her home and there is friction as they learn to accommodate each other.

Ben soon feels unsettled by strange dreams and a feeling that he is being watched by crows, building a real sense of foreboding. Ji-Ah tells the brothers that their grandfather was obsessed with the house and the surrounding land to the extent that he neglected his family, dying before anyone found out the nature of his obsession. Eun-Kyung reveals that their grandfather was a respected folklorist obsessed with the Sword of the Sun and she shares some local mythology relating to this weapon of the Tuatha De Danann. As Ben finds out more about the Sword and his grandfather’s obsession, as the crows haunt his dreams and threaten his reality, he begins to wonder if there could be any truth in ancient myths …

And so begins a breath-taking, action-packed adventure brimming with danger and a sense of foreboding, with secrets and revelations and with the clashing of ancient powerful beings. Ben finds himself thrust into keeping a family promise, a promise of protection passed on from generation to generation within his family, but one that he will have to discover for himself. Can Ben keep his family safe from someone determined to possess a weapon capable of great destruction? Will he have the strength and courage to overcome his fears, face great danger and make difficult decisions? What is he prepared to sacrifice to save those he loves?

This exhilarating adventure blends the contemporary with ancient legends perfectly. I am a huge fan of mythology in stories, and especially love Celtic mythology as these were the stories of my childhood. I am always in awe of how the author weaves these two threads into her adventures making the reader believe in the possibility of old magic, and bringing myths to life in the most unforgettable way. I also loved the vivid depiction of the wild Irish landscape of the Burren and Mullaghmore, places that are easy to imagine were home to ancient gods and goddesses.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Ben and his brother Fin which felt really authentic as they argue and fight, but clearly love each other. Neither finds the move away from Dublin easy as they have to leave behind friends, connections and interests. Ben is an anxious young boy who enjoys reading and is sensitive to the world around him, showing empathy towards others; he has an admirable inner strength and a courageous heart. There is some friction between the brothers and Ji-Ah as they adapt to living together but, as danger escalates, she proves herself a wonderful friend. I loved following the interactions, relationships and re-connections within the family as they adapt to living together and loved the diversity within the family.

A spellbinding, breath-taking adventure: a story of courage and hope, of old magic and new beginnings, and of trusting that there is light in the darkness. This is a story I cannot recommend highly enough for readers of 9+.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I have now purchased a physical copy.

Review: The Zombie Project by Alice Nuttall

Written by Alice Nuttall
Cover Illustration by Ali Al Amine
Published by Chicken House Books

The Zombie Project is a gripping, thought-provoking, one-of-a-kind zombie story that completely captured me from start to finish.

Eleven-year-old Merian wakes to a familiar sound: a zombie tapping at her cabin window. Unperturbed by such occurrences, she traps it and drops it into a dead-trap pit and then takes her cat for a walk in the forest … where she is confronted by another zombie. Luckily, friend and ranger, Justin, is on hand to help her deal with the danger. Despite this perilous situation, Merian does not wish to kill zombies as she knows human survival depends on them …

Merian is the daughter of scientist, Dr Gwen Hope, who is the leading expert in the field of death-flies, the world’s most important pollinator after the extinction of many other insect pollinators, including bees. The larvae of the death-flies incubate in humans and are activated when they die, turning them into zombies until the death-flies hatch. This makes zombies a vital part of the ecosystem and instrumental in the survival of the human race, but what if there are those whose greed supersedes the needs of humanity?

As Merian and her mum leave their home to attend a science exhibition in the city where her mum is facing challenge from those with opposing views, they leave behind possible sabotage and head towards dangerous encounters. Will they be able to convince people that zombies are essential to survival, or will others persuade people that they have been fed a lie about the necessity of zombies?

And so begins an action-packed, edge-of your-seat read that I absolutely couldn’t put down. With plenty of scares, horror and unexpected twists and turns, this is a story that completely gripped me as tension builds and danger intensifies to heart-pounding levels. A perfect blend of excitement and terror!

This is such a thought-provoking read with so many powerful messages around environmental issues, media manipulation and influence, corporation control, activism and fake news conflicting with science. I found the portrayal of zombies as both something to be feared, but also absolutely necessary to the survival of humanity, absolutely fascinating. I won’t deny that I found the zombies scary but they also engendered pity and, with dawning realisation, hope.

Merian is an incredible character: strong, determined, resilient and courageous. She understands the importance of the zombies to the ecosystem and, when she makes an important discovery, she takes great risks to ensure the future of the zombies – and the future of humanity! When she finds others trying to manipulate situations, she takes control, often placing herself in danger, to ensure that the truth unfolds.

An unmissable, one-of-a-kind zombie adventure for our time – a thought-provoking story of courage and determination, survival and hope, frights and horror … young readers of 11+ will absolutely devour this!

Thank you to Laura Smythe PR and Chicken House Books for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: The Moonlight Mystery Agency: The Birthday Cake Thief

Written by Vashti Hardy
Illustrated by Agnes Saccani
Published by Barrington Stoke (an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers)

The Moonlight Mystery Agency: The Birthday Cake Thief is the first adventure in a brilliant new series for younger readers.

Hana has always wanted a pet but she gets a little brother instead – a little brother who is allergic to fur. When Arlo takes Hana’s teddy cat, Tibby, she gets cross with him and upsets her little brother. Storming off to her bedroom, Hana calms down by lying on her bed and drawing pictures of the farm she dreams of living on one day.

At midnight, Hana is woken by the sound of tapping at the window and opens it to find a black cat waiting to be let in, a cat with a strange key around its neck – a key which fits the bedstead which belonged to her Great-Grandpa, Monty. But this is no ordinary cat … Ace is a detective cat and a member of the Moonlight Mystery Agency and he invites her to join the Agency.

And so begins the most magical adventure as Hana finds her bed turning into a hot air balloon which takes her to Moonlight where she meets Spark, a bionic unicorn with a rainbow mane who needs her help to find the culprit who has stolen her birthday cake. Can Hana solve her first case before Spark’s birthday party turns in to a disaster? Will she learn a lesson about the importance of kindness and friendship?

I absolutely adored this gorgeous mystery which has all the hallmarks of the author’s fantastic books for middle-grade readers: STEM references, encouraging empathy, magical world-building, steampunk, discovering new places and heart-warming messages of friendship, family bonds and kindness. I have no doubt many young readers will be secretly wishing for an invitation to join the Moonlight Mystery Agency!

The full-colour illustrations throughout complement the story perfectly: magical, vibrant and so wonderfully expressive and full of warmth.

What a fantastic start to a wonderful new mystery series for younger readers of 5+ who I have no doubt will be eager to return to Moonlight again and again.

This book is published by the wonderful Barrington Stoke who publish dyslexia-friendly, super-readable and accessible books for children of all ages.  This one is from the Little Gems series of fully-illustrated first chapter books for ages 5-8.

Thank you to Barrington Stoke for sending me a copy of The Moonlight Mystery Agency in exchange for my honest opinion.

December 2024 wrap-up

Well, December has been a month of two thirds hectic to one third relaxing! Both the run-up to Christmas at work and home were hectic, but it has been wonderful to have a proper break over Christmas.

Books I’ve read:

I’ve read 11 books this month (the same as in November): 4 books for adults and 7 middle-grade books. My highlights this month were Swordcatcher, Orbital, The Snow Child (all adult books) and Fia and the Last Snow Deer (a stunning illustrated verse novel set in prehistoric Ireland).

NetGalley:

I have added one book to my NetGalley shelf this month.

Books sent by publishers:

I am grateful to have been sent 8 books by publishers this month.

Fairyloot Adult Book

I’ve also now got a subscription to the adult book box for Fairyloot. This month’s read is The Courting of Bristol Keats.

Gifted Books

I didn’t buy any books this month as I had some on my Christmas wish list which have been very kindly gifted by my family and as part of the wonderful Reading Rocks Secret Santa.

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