I’m currently reading The Midnight Howl and am really enjoying being back in the world of the Night Post. I’m also listening to the brilliant Crownbreaker.

I’ve had Skandar and the Unicorn Thief on my TBR since it was published, and don’t know why I waited to long to read it! It is exactly the kind of book I love – action-packed fantasy adventure with wonderful characters. The depiction of the unicorns is fantastic. I’m definitely looking forward to the next one. I also read The Frost Goblin which was just gorgeous, and written in Abi’s wonderfully warm style. This would make a wonderful gift for younger readers.

I’m hoping to read Saving Neverland next.

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

I really enjoyed my re-read of The Midnight Hour, so am reading the next one, The Midnight Howl as my ‘Reading for Pleasure’ book when my class are reading. I’m listening to the sixth book in the Spellslinger series, Crownbreaker. This is a series that I absolutely loved and will feel a little bereft when I finish this one!

I finished reading Libby and the Highland Heist whilst I was in Edinburgh and really enjoyed Libby’s second adventure. I will post my review in the next few days. I also read Wren which was a darkly atmospheric read which I loved. I have posted my review. I also finished another book for adults. This one took me so long to read as it was my evening read and I was often just too tired to pick it up. But, it is a fantastic book. I ended up becoming so hooked on it that I was getting up at 5am to read instead of trying to read at night.

I have so, so many books on my TBR that I’m finding it harder and harder to choose! I’ve loved the Eerie-on-Sea series, so think I’ll pick up Festergrimm next.

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

October has been another busy month at work, but I’ve also just had a wonderful half-term where I went to Edinburgh for a few days which was gorgeous. We went to Edinburgh Castle, Greyfriar’s Kirkyard, Dean Village as well as exploring the city and doing a tour through the vaults which was scarier than I thought it would be! Not sure how my reading month has been – about to find out!

Books I’ve read:

I’ve read 13 books this month: 8 physical books, 3 audiobooks and 2 ebooks. I think this is the most I’ve read in a while now. I’ve posted reviews for 6 of these books.

NetGalley:

My feedback ratio is at 97% and I have now given feedback for 92 books. I’m going to try to get my 100 Book Reviews Badge by the end of the year! I have just requested and been approved to read one book this month, and it’s the new Abi Elphinstone which I couldn’t resist!

Books sent by publishers:

I am grateful to Publishers for sending me these books this month:

I was also sent a wonderful package from Farshore with so many fantastic books – and rock!

Books bought:

I really need another bookcase as I’ve gone a little overboard with buying books! 13 this month!

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

Wren is a mesmerising, dark gothic adventure that completely captured me as I was swept in to the mystery surrounding the ancient castle and Wren’s struggle for freedom. 

12-year-old Wren lives with her Pa, brother Tudur and Aunt Efa in their ancient castle on the island of Anglesey in North Wales.  Her Ma had died two years before following an accident which left her aunt paralysed. 

Wren has an indomitable spirit and longs for the freedom to be herself; however, her father demands that his daughter behaves like a responsible young lady undertaking needlework and studies.  When it seems that he cannot control her, he threatens to curtail her freedom by sending her to the much-feared Anglesey Institution for the Re-Education of Young Women run by the sinister Aireys. 

Angry and trapped, Wren is determined to escape her fate and puts in motion her plan to build a flying machine, an artificial bird, to help her gain her freedom from the constrictions of her home and the possibility of her incarceration in the Institution …

Wren loves being outdoors and especially sailing in her coracle and looking for seabirds.  She is mystified when she hears strange sounds coming from her home, sounds that seem like the house is singing.  Alongside this, the foundations tremble and cracks appear in the thick walls.  What family secrets are hidden within the castle, and will Wren be able to reveal them?

This is a truly incredible adventure which took me on the most unexpected path as I followed Wren and her friend Medwyn as she uncovers her family’s dark past and as she fights for what she believes in, despite the consequences.  I loved the blend of history, myth and fantasy within the story as well as the focus on strong women who fight against the expectations of Victorian society and follow their own path and their dreams.

Wren is the most wonderful young girl whose story is both heart-wrenching and hopeful.  She fights against the boundaries placed on her by her father who appears cruel and uncaring towards her.  She is lonely and finds re-newed friendship with Medwyn who is a kind-hearted, supportive friend with his own secrets.  She feels trapped and longs for freedom, hence her desperation to fly as this symbolises freedom to her.  She wishes to carry on her inventor mother’s legacy and gain success where her mother failed, in honour and memory of her mother.  She shows a great deal of empathy when she finds another who is trapped and in need of her help.

A heart-wrenching, stunning and unforgettable adventure that completely and utterly enchanted me, perfect for readers of 9+.

Thank you to Toppsta and the Publishers for a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Dragon Girl and the Awakened Flames may not start with a knock at the door – as all good stories do – yet it is most definitely a thrilling adventure:  action-packed, magical and brimming with peril, humour and heart.

Emba Oak hears a thwump, thwump, thwump sound from outside her cave and, armed with her scaring-off stone, decides to investigate … could it be a bear or a boar?  Nope!  It is something impossible … a dragon or rather, a phantom dragon!  Whilst Emba’s friend, runaway blacksmith’s assistant and hero-in-training, Odolf doesn’t believe that Emba has seen a dragon, her guardian, Fred, does.  She decides that it is time that Emba knows the truth of her birth.  Fred had found a dragon egg and had brought it back to her cave to wait for it to hatch and, when it did, Emba was born, a girl with dragon scales covering her arms and legs. 

Fred has protected and looked after Emba all her life and has given her a charm (seriously yucky, but also life protecting) to keep her hidden from a terrifying, dragon-obsessed sorcerer who will stop at nothing to get his hands on her blood for his own nefarious ends.  It’s just a shame that Odolf may have unwittingly revealed her whereabouts to his henchmen. 

Luckily for Emba, Fred also just so happens to be the Wise Hermit of Witchingford Wood and interpreter of the prophecies of the Tome of Terrible Tomorrows which reveals (sort of) that Emba will be safe if she remains in the cave.  Which proves to be another impossibility when Emba wakes up to the discovery that Fred has gone missing and there is blood and a note …

And so begins an exciting, fast-paced and humorous adventure as Emba and Odolf undertake a mission to rescue Fred from the clutches of the evil sorcerer.  And what an adventure they find themselves on!  River monsters, thieves and bears not to mention a duchess with a penchant for executioner blocks.  And then, there’s the twists, misunderstandings and revelations – just wonderful!  Will Emba be able to save herself and her loved ones from a terrible fate? 

Emba and Odolf are both endearing characters who have a close bond of friendship, bickering and teasing included, which brought plenty of humour to this magical adventure.  They are supportive and encouraging towards each other, and are fiercely loyal.  Emba is quick-thinking and clever and is willing to take risks to save those she loves.  Odolf is impetuous and perhaps a little too easily tricked, but he shows great courage in facing his fears in order to help Emba and proves himself a wonderful friend. 

I adored the writing style with its awareness of the ingredients of a good adventure which are then turned on their head to leave an exciting, enchanting adventure.  Just brilliant!  I also loved the chapter headings which are playful, alliterative and brought plenty of giggles – wonderful introductions to each chapter!  And the ending!  I’m so looking forward to Emba’s next adventure in The Beckoning Bones.

An utterly fantastic, fast-paced, fun-filled adventure, perfect for young adventurers of 9+.

Thank you to Maverick Publishing for providing me with an early copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

• Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
• Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
• Finally… reveal the book!

Number 14 Darlington Road in Bloomsbury, London, looks like a perfectly ordinary townhouse – at first glance anyway.

Any ideas?

I have absolutely adored all of Abi Elphinstone’s books, so was very excited to have been approved to read Saving Neverland on NetGalley.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Number 14 Darlington Road, looks like a perfectly ordinary townhouse – at first glance, anyway, but magic is good at hiding . . . when it’s waiting for the right person to discover it . . . Martha Pennydrop is ten, and desperate to grow up. But growing up is a tricky business. It means turning your back on imagination, fun and magic, because those were the things that led to the Terrible Day when something awful nearly happened to Martha’s younger brother, Scruff, which would have been All Her Fault. But when Martha and Scruff discover a drawer full of mysterious gold dust in the bedroom of their new house – along with a window that’s seemingly impossible to close – it’s the start of an incredible adventure to a magical world: Neverland! The Pennydrop’s new house used to belong to another family – the Darlings – who once visited this world themselves. Now Peter Pan is back, and in need of their help. Neverland is in the icy grip of a terrible curse – cast long ago by Captain Hook. And only Martha and Scruff can save it . . . A reluctant Martha and excited Scruff are swept off to Neverland and into the company of the Lost Kids. But when Scruff is kidnapped, Martha must rediscover all the imagination, magic and belief she has buried deep inside herself for so long, to save him – and Neverland itself.

I’ve finished my re-read of The Midnight Hour which I really enjoyed. I love the alternative Victorian London setting and the myriad Night Folk. Emily is a wonderful main character (with plenty to say) who has a lot to learn about her family – and herself! I’m looking forward to picking up the next one, The Midnight Howl. I also listened to The Little Match Girl Strikes Back. I enjoyed the themes of empowerment and fighting back, and liked Bridie as a strong, courageous character. This story is based on real life events and learning more about the lives of the factory workers was sobering. I’ve also finished Emba Oak and the Terrible Tomorrows which I really enjoyed – adventure, humour and wonderful characters. I will be posting my review shortly.

This one isn’t out until April next year, but I was lucky enough to be sent a proof copy, and it sounds like a brilliant spooky read, so I’m hoping to read it next.

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

This is a weekly meme now hosted by That Artsy Girl Reader.  This week’s theme is a Halloween Freebie so I thought I’d recommend some middle-grade books featuring witches.

The Chestnut Roaster is an unforgettable, mesmerising historical fantasy which swept me into late 19^th century Paris and into a gripping, dangerous and exciting adventure that completely captivated me.

Twelve-year-old Piaf was born on All Fools Day with a rare ability, both a gift and a burden:  she can remember everything since the day she was born by unlocking memory boxes in her brain.  She remembers that her twin brother Luc is ill, suffering from memory loss, and has been in a Parisian hospital for over a year.  She remembers that the man who tries to snatch her from her chestnut roaster stall could not possibly be the relative he claims to be.  And she remembers the year, 1887, that everyone else in Paris has forgotten …

Could this man be the child snatcher who has taken 20 gifted children over the past year, children whose disappearances seem to have been forgotten?  When this dangerous, determined villain sets his sights on Piaf and her ability, she finds herself plunged into the depths of Paris’s underground twin, the Catacombs, with her brother Luc.  Will the twins be able to foil the memory thief’s plans before he takes years of memories from Parisian citizens?  Will they discover the whereabouts of the taken children and reunite them with their families?  And could the disappearance of these gifted children be linked to the missing memories?

What an absolutely incredible adventure:  atmospheric, dark, thrilling and utterly unputdownable.  Fast-paced, short chapters kept me turning the pages, telling myself ‘just one more chapter’ but that was never enough.  I loved being taken on a journey through the Parisian streets and through the underground catacombs which felt so real, exploding with sights, sounds and smells – and a few ‘jumpy’ moments!  I was on the edge of my seat as I didn’t quite know who the twins could trust which kept me on tenterhooks as did the incredible twists and revelations, one in particular which left me stunned, but which was just perfect!  An adventure as intricate and magical as the gorgeous leaf-skeleton map that the twins follow on their journey against time through the Parisian underground …

Piaf is the most wonderful young girl who I absolutely adored.  Her name means ‘sparrow’ which suits her perfectly; she is tiny and goes almost unnoticed; and, she finds it impossible to keep still, constantly fidgeting.  On the inside, she is a giant, filled with courage, determination and empathy – even if she doesn’t always see this herself! Piaf sees her ability as a burden whereas her brother, Luc sees it as a gift.  He may have no memory of events and people beyond the current day, but he retains his knowledge of books and poetry and is a font of knowledge. The bond between the siblings is so gorgeous, offering comfort and support, and working as a team when faced with danger and fear and the need to help others.

The double-page illustrations by Ewa Beniak-Haremska are absolutely stunning, and capture the mystery and intricacy of this superb story perfectly.  I really enjoyed reading the information about the illustrations at the end of the story which made me take a further look. 

A breath-taking, magical adventure:  a story of loss, survival, and the strength of friendship, family and self-belief.  This is a story that firmly deserves to be warming readers’ hearts and minds on a cold autumnal evening, and is one I can highly recommend for readers of 9+.  C’est inoubliable!

Thank you so much to Mikka at Everything With Words for providing me with an early copy in exchange for my honest opinion.