Tag: young-adult

YA Review: Give Me ‘Til Midnight by Oran Doyle

Written by Oran Doyle
Cover by Rumney Design
Published by Everything With Words

Give me ‘Til Midnight is a tender, teenage romance, with a time-loop premise, that takes place over a single day in Dublin: a story of loss and connection, of hope and healing, that completely captivated me.

Sixteen-year-old Harmony (Harmie) spends her days working in her Mam’s small, traditional café, serving food to loyal, regular customers. Gazing out of the window, her attention is caught by a boy who seems out of place … a boy who, less than ten minutes later, walks into the café, announcing that he’s the ‘King of Dublin’! When he leaves, Harmie feels compelled to find him again to confirm her suspicion – that he is stuck in a time loop, a time loop in which she fears she has also become trapped.

Liam offers to break the repetitive cycle of Harmie’s days by promising her a fun-filled escape, venturing through Dublin, whilst Harmie is determined to help him break the time loop he’s stuck in. But, she only has until midnight before time resets. Can she break the loop before she loses Liam, or will time reset only for her to discover that she has also been trapped in the time loop?

What an absolutely riveting read that kept me eagerly turning pages as I became totally engrossed in the lives of these two teenagers as the loop played out and the minutes and hours ticked by, moving inexorably closer and closer to midnight. This is emphasised by the use of precise times used as chapter headings which allowed me to feel that I was living in the moment with Harmie and Liam – and fully aware of both the fragility and preciousness of time.

I loved exploring a vibrant, contemporary Dublin with Harmie and Liam, learning more about both their lives, and watching their relationship both blossom and flounder as they open up to, and learn to trust, each other: bittersweet, tender and hopeful. I loved how both these teenagers’ worlds come together, the fun and banter they share, their emotional growth and connection, their vulnerability and their desire to help each other – and the angst of not knowing if this would be their last day together. And what a brilliant and unexpected ending!

A mesmerising time-loop mystery and a tender, witty love story, Give Me ‘Til Midnight, is sure to capture the hearts and imaginations of teenagers of 14+.

Thank you to the author for sending me an electronic copy. My review is my honest opinion of the book.

Review: The Blood Texts: Uncle Zeedie by Colm Field

Written by Colm Field
Cover Illustration by Keith Robinson
Published by Fox & Ink Books

Uncle Zeedie is the second book in The Blood Texts series, perfect for fans of seriously spine-chilling horror.

Lacey and her younger brother George are spending the weekend with their weird Uncle Zeedie, an old friend of their acrimoniously divorced parents, in his isolated mansion in the Welsh valleys. But at least he’s rich so the mansion and food should be amazing, except neither are: the house is cold with lots of unfurnished rooms, the sandwiches are mouldy and the house smells of sour milk. Oh, and then, there’s the bloodstains on the locked door to the basin. Could Uncle Zeedie be hiding a terrifying secret, a secret linked to the Missing Child posters that they find? If he’s innocent, why is Zeedie sneaking around at night? Why does he have items belonging to the missing children in the mansion? And, what are the ghosts of the children that George sees trying to warn him about?

I absolutely felt the fear creep up my spine in this one! A fantastically chilling, macabre and tense read with incredible twists that made me gasp and kept me completely gripped throughout. The isolation from others, George’s sensing of the supernatural and the unsettling feeling of hidden danger and secrets revealed make this a deliciously dark, spine-tingly horrifying and ominously threatening read. A hugely enjoyable read for those who enjoy scares, shivers and shocks – and that ending – wow!

I really enjoyed the sibling bond between Lacey and her younger brother George which felt really authentic. She clearly wants to protect George from their parents acrimonious post-divorce arguments and is there for him when he needs her, but she also sometimes finds him annoying and wants to do her own thing with her friends. But I loved that she reads to him! George’s Feeling allows him to immediately sense that there is something strange about the mansion and he quickly begins to have supernatural experiences which really adds to the tense eeriness of the story. These two prove themselves to be incredibly brave children as they face up to the most terrifying danger.

I just have to mention the cover illustration by Keith Robinson which is in colour on the front cover and repeated in greyscale at the start and end. This perfectly portrays the spine-chilling horror waiting with its light, darkness and secrets hidden in the shadows beneath.

A deliciously dark, spine-chilling horror read, perfect for frights in the darker evenings – if you dare open The Blood Texts!

Recommended for 12+.

Thank you to Fox & Ink Books for sending me a copy of Uncle Zeedie in exchange for my honest opinion.