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.

Norah’s Ark is a powerful, empathetic story told from the dual viewpoint of two children from very different worlds who find each other when they are both in need of friendship.  This is a story that captured my heart and, I must admit at times, broke it a little.  Whilst there are some very difficult issues addressed, there is also a real sense of hope and love woven throughout that makes this an uplifting, heart-warming read.  This is a story that will stay with me, and is one I cannot recommend highly enough for homes and schools. 

When Norah’s father loses his job, and is unable to afford the rent on their house, they are made homeless and rely on temporary accommodation, food banks and benefits to just about get by.  Norah suffers dreadful bullying at school, and her only friends are the animals she brings home and those she finds to look after, including a nest of motherless baby birds who she shares her food with.  When she visits the nest, she discovers that it has been taken by a boy who lives in a big house with a large garden and a treehouse, and she is determined to get them back …

Adam has spent a lot of time in hospital and is now recovering from leukaemia, is being home-schooled, and is confined to his home and garden by his anxious, over-protective mother who has given up her job to look after him.  When he visits his treehouse to feed the birds, he is met with an angry girl who accuses him of stealing them from her. 

And so, these two children are brought together through their shared love of animals and nature.  Despite the protective shells that they have placed around themselves, they take the first tentative steps towards friendship by working together to release the birds.  Can they overcome their fear of rejection to find a friendship based on trust, honesty and openness? 

This is a wonderfully empathetic story that really opens up so much opportunity for discussion with children around issues such as poverty, homelessness, climate change, animal welfare and illness.  This is a story that I have no doubt will resonate with some young readers and will encourage empathy in others through giving an opportunity to talk about these issues.    

This is also a story with an intriguing family mystery, with danger and with secrets and, as I read it, I loved the dawning realisation of how apt the title is!

I loved that the story was told from the dual viewpoint of Norah and Adam as it gives a genuine insight into their lives told through their authentic voices.  I think what really shines through for me is how these children have so much taken from them, yet they have the capacity for so much love and hope, and give so much through their kindness and resilience.  They are both faced with the consequences of a parent’s fear of losing them and not being open with them, something that impacts on their emotional wellbeing, yet both show courage in challenging that fear and making a positive difference in the lives of their families. 

Norah’s Ark is a beautifully written, heart-warming story of family and friendship, a story of love and hope in the face of adversity, that is a must-read for both children and adults. 

20% of the author royalties for this novel will be donated to Shelter.

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 wonderful book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Do check out the other stops on the Blog Tour:

I’ve missed this for the last couple of weeks as I was in Disney World with no time for reading, but I did start reading again on the flight home!

I’m currently reading Explorers at Stardust City from my Beat the Backlist Challenge. It’s so wonderful being back with Ursula and her friends as they are on a mission to rescue Stella from the Collector. Such an engaging, fun read, and one I’m enjoying late into the night as I’m still on Florida time!

I really enjoyed The Stupendous Sonny who develops superpowers which someone else may want to exploit! I will be posting my review shortly. I also read In the Shadow of the Wolf Queen which is the first in the Geomancer series. I adore Kiran Millwood Harwood’s writing and this was no different. Lyrical with brilliant worldbuilding and a brilliant plot. I’m very keen to read the next one after an ending where it feels there is a lot more adventure to come! I also finished Norah’s Ark which is such a powerful and empathetic story with so much scope for discussion of difficult issues. I will be posting my review tomorrow as part of the Blog Tour.

I’m hoping to read Tapper Watson and the Quest for the Nemo Machine next. I’ll also be starting to listen to audiobooks again as I start back to work, but not sure which one yet.

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

Her Majesty’s League of Remarkable Young Ladies is the most marvellous mystery set between Victorian London and Paris, an adventure that completely captivated me as I joined Her Majesty’s League’s newest recruit on her first unmissable mission.

14-year-old Winnie attends Beacon Academy for Poised and Polished Young Ladies.  She has aspirations to become an engineer like her father and has even helped him with his latest design, the Telautograph, which he hopes to show at the prestigious Exposition Universelle World’s Fair in Paris.  Winnie is also hoping to have her latest design chosen as an entrant for the Petit Prix for Young Inventors at the same Fair.  But then something dreadful occurs … and something which changes Winnie’s life …

When she gets the terrible news that her father is missing and that he has been accused of being involved in some underhand business, Winnie is determined to find him and clear his good name.  Leaving the Academy, she takes a hansom cab which, rather than bringing her home, takes her to meet a mysterious woman hiding her identity behind a veil.  This encounter leads to Winnie agreeing to join a League of female secret agents, inventing espionage tools for their missions, on the condition that they will use their resources to help find her father.

The League work to protect none other than Queen Victoria who is far from amused by the antics of a Mr Magpie who appears to be stalking her.  Can the League use their ingenuity to discover the identity of, and capture, this villain?  Will Alice’s new role help her in her mission to be reunited with her father?

This is a fantastically fast-paced, intricate mystery that kept me delightedly turning pages as I was desperate to uncover the identity of the Magpie and learn the reason for their interest in the Queen. I also loved the intrigue behind Winnie’s father’s disappearance and the tantalising trail of clues that led from London to Paris.  The unexpected twists and turns, and the increasing danger, in this tale of espionage and secrets are just perfect, and some revelations genuinely made me gasp … brilliant!

Winnie is the most wonderful protagonist, determined to realise her dream of becoming an engineer and inventor, at a time when society had very different expectations of young ladies.  She is strong-willed, determined and courageous, relishing the opportunity to put her talents to good use in inventing ingenious gadgets to help in the League’s missions.  Despite some initial reluctance to accept her from some of the other agents, Winnie proves herself a worthy agent, and develops wonderfully close and loyal friendships. 

It is so wonderful to read an adventure with female STEM representation and with strong female characters who operate successfully outside of societal expectations, and who stand up for themselves, and to others, when needed.  I must admit that I also really enjoyed the portrayal of Queen Victoria, which brought plenty of humour to the adventure, as well as the references to other historical figures and events.

An absolutely unmissable adventure brimming with intrigue and danger, and with the importance of family and friendship at its heart.  I really hope that there are further adventures for Her Majesty’s League of Remarkable Young Ladies as I would absolutely love to join them on further missions.  Perfect for readers of 11+.

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