Celtic Healing Oracle by Rosemarie Anderson and Susan Dorf

• The cards feature black-and-white symbols representing goddesses, gods, cauldrons, leprechauns, faeries, animals, trees, and other figures to express the Celtic way of “carving” reality from darkness rather than light

• The accompanying guidebook explores the meaning and mythic background for each card, the Celtic worldview, the principles of Celtic divination, as well as how to use the oracle to receive answers to specific questions

Attuned to the movements of nature, the Celts understood that all things are connected, and they “divined” answers to their queries as well as what the future holds from the animals, plants, the winds, and the seasons. Trees and animals had particular knowledge of past, present, and future. Through natural methods of divination, bards, healers, soothsayers, and holy women and men gained powers to see into the unseen. Stories and legends of their powers were told and retold, transmitting an enormous store of wisdom across the generations.

In this oracle deck and guidebook, Rosemarie Anderson interprets Celtic myths and legends to create an oracle system of 64 cards featuring symbols from the ancient Celtic ways of knowing. The symbols represent three thousand years of Celtic culture and history, derived from archaeological excavations of Bronze and Iron Age Celtic sites throughout Europe and from the myths, folktales, and faery traditions still flourishing in rural Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The symbols of the cards represent cauldrons, spirals, leprechauns, faeries, animals, trees, the wondrous child (Cú Chulainn), the Sacred King, Cernunnos (the antlered god), the Morrigán (the raven goddess), Tir na nóg (the Blessed Isles), and other imagery and figures from Celtic lore.

The accompanying guidebook explores the meaning, symbology, and mythic background for each card, such as how the Triple-Mother Goddess (Card 1) represents magnificence and the primal goddess in all her aspects--maiden, mother, and crone. The guidebook also explores the Celtic worldview, the basic principles of Celtic divination, as well as how to use the oracle to receive answers to specific questions.

Conveying the power and wisdom of the ancient Celtic ways of knowing, this oracle offers a hands-on way to gain insight into the hidden forces at play in our lives.

Seven Percent of Ro Devereux by Ellen O'Clover

A clever, charming, and poignant debut novel about a girl who must decide whether to pursue her dreams or preserve her relationships, including a budding romance with her ex-best friend, when an app she created goes viral.

Ro Devereux can predict your future. Or, at least, the app she built for her senior project can.

Working with her neighbor, a retired behavioral scientist, Ro created an app called MASH, designed around the classic game Mansion Apartment Shack House, that can predict a person’s future with 93% accuracy. The app will even match users with their soul mates. Though it was only supposed to be a class project, MASH quickly takes off and gains the attention of tech investors.

Ro’s dream is to work in Silicon Valley, and she’ll do anything to prove to her new backing company—and the world—that the app works. So it’s a huge shock when the app says her soul mate is Miller, her childhood best friend with whom she had a friendship-destroying fight three years ago. Now thrust into a fake dating scenario, Ro and Miller must address the years of pain between them if either of them will have any chance of achieving their dreams.

Through the Aftermath ed. by Shawn Schuster

Have you ever wondered what the world will be like when everything ends? Why will it end? HOW will it end?

This anthology was created as an opportunity for a variety of voices to be heard in one place. From best-selling authors to first-time writers, this collection showcases some of the best short stories in modern apocalyptic fiction.

#Bookpost

Happy Tuesday, all! Given the week that's in it, we expected to have a long list today, but this has exceeded all our hopes! We're mentally preparing for some very lean weeks to balance it out.

As always, you can click on each cover to learn a bit more about the book.

Girls who Slay Monsters by Ellen Ryan and Shona Shirley Macdonald

Unsung stories from ancient Irish myths re-imagined for nine to twelve-year olds.

Have you heard of Eithne the supernatural scholar or Fand the shape-shifting eco-warrior?

What about Bé Mannair, a gender-fluid spy who challenges an entire army, or Bé Binn, a giantess who gets her own back on her bullies?

From mermaids and fashionistas to athletes and farmers, meet goddesses of all shapes and sizes from Ireland’s ancient myths. Stand by their sides as they wield magic, fight monsters, and protect the powerless – and you might discover that you, too, are a force of nature.

Weekly roundup

Happy Sunday and Merry Christmas! I hope Santa was good to you all.

Blackout Trail by Linda Naughton (slight spoilers in review)

A World Without Electricity

Doctor Anna Hastings is no stranger to disasters, having spent much of her career as an aid worker in conflict zones around the world. Yet when an electrical phenomenon known as an EMP brings down the power grid, Anna faces catastrophe on a scale she never imagined. She must learn what it means to be a doctor in a world deprived of almost all technology.

As the blackout causes planes to fall from the sky, Anna crosses paths with devoted father Mark Ryan in the chaos at the airport. Mark convinces Anna to travel with him and his seven-year-old daughter Lily to their family’s cabin in remote Maine. There Mark hopes to reunite with his wife, and find a safe refuge from a society on the brink of collapse.

Journeying across a thousand miles of backcountry trails, they will face a daily struggle against nature. Their biggest peril, though, may come from their fellow survivors. As Anna grows closer to Mark and Lily, she resolves to see them safely home. But can she hold onto her humanity in a world gone mad?

A Tricky Kind of Magic by Nigel Baines

Cooper is brilliant at magic tricks. Card tricks, clever illusions – he can do them all. His dad, also known as the Great Eduardo, taught him the tricks of the magical trade before he passed away. But the one thing Cooper can’t do is see his dad again.

So when a talking rabbit appears from his dad’s top hat, and reveals there is a place where Cooper might find him, he jumps at the chance. Magic is about believing the impossible, after all. And Cooper desperately wants to believe that he can see his dad once more.

But what – and who – is waiting for them in the land where magic goes wrong?

Filled with filled with humour and emotion, this is an action-packed graphic novel about finding magic when you need it the most.

Happy #BookBirthday!

Happy Thursday, all! This week there's ONE book from our lists publishing!

The Tribe Collector's Edition Screenplay by Raymond Thompson

'The Tribe' has distinguished itself as a television series with truly cult status around the world. Almost 300 episodes were produced over 5 seasons. And the series heralded other Tribal activity, from soundtracks to albums to novel tie-ins. Including the bestselling works by A.J. Penn being 'The Tribe: A New World', 'The Tribe: A New Dawn' and 'The Tribe: (R)Evolution'. Which are rather like seasons 6, 7 & 8 in the continuing saga.

There has been much speculation about a sequel or a motion picture version which was explored in the enormously successful 'Keeping the Dream Alive' which was not only a Tribe memoir, but also a fascinating account of what occurred behind the scenes. It is also a compelling memoir of the creator of 'The Tribe' - as well as the founder of the Cloud 9 Screen Entertainment Group - who produced the iconic series. 'The Tribe' screenplay has an introduction, bringing the behind the scenes story right up to date to 2022 since the time 'Keeping the Dream Alive' was published.

And the screenplay is a must read for 'The Tribe' fans to read. Along with anyone interested in the motion picture and television industries and what it takes to bring productions from conception to the silver screen.

#Bookpost

Happy Tuesday, all! Christmas came early for us this week with SIX new books for us to enjoy over the holiday.

As always you can click on the cover to learn more about each title.

Essential Oils and Gemstone Guardian Cards by Margaret Ann Lembo

A deck to help you amplify your intentions with aromatherapy oils and vibrationally matching crystals

• Includes 42 full-color cards, each featuring an essential oil, a vibrationally matching crystal, and a positive affirmation

• Includes a 160-page booklet explaining how to use the cards

• Provides, for each essential oil, its therapeutic properties and safety precautions as well as how the gemstone relates to the use of the oil

Just like gemstones, essential oils work on an energetic level to rebalance us spiritually, mentally, and emotionally and offer many physiological benefits.

Bringing aromatherapy into partnership with crystals, Essential Oils & Gemstone Guardians Cards present a hands-on way to engage with the enhanced powers of allies from the mineral and plant kingdom together. Specifically created to help you establish clear intentions, the 42 two-sided cards each show an essential oil and a vibrationally matching crystal, offering guidance and positive affirmations for your life. The color-coded cards are divided into six groups: Focus, Grounding, and Protection; Health and Well-Being; Love, Friendship, and Romance; Money, Creativity, and Motivation; Happiness and Self-Confidence; Intuition and Communication--each helping you to understand yourself better. With an intention or request for clarity or insight in mind, you can either draw just one card or create a card spread by choosing several cards.

The accompanying booklet provides, for each essential oil, the botanical name, fragrance profile, chemical components, therapeutic properties, and safety precautions as well as how the gemstone relates to the use of the essential oil. As author Margaret Ann Lembo explains, the energetic value, or vibration, of an essential oil is stabilized by the devic forces associated with mother plant, flower, root, or bark. The energetic vibration of a gemstone holds records and goals to help you focus on the reality you wish to create. You design your reality and the cards in this deck will help you focus on your intentions and ignite transformation in your life.

Designed to spark your courage and innate knowledge and abilities, this deck and guidebook set helps empower you to step forward with confidence and realize your unlimited potential.

Weekly roundup

Happy Sunday, all! We are rocketing towards Christmas and trying to decide what lovely books we want to have on our lists.

This Book Kills by Ravena Guron

"I'll make it clear from the start: I did not kill Hugh Henry Van Boren. I didn't even help. Well, not intentionally." 

When Hugh Henry Van Boren, one of the most popular and richest kids in Jess Choudhary's school, is found dead, the student body is left reeling and wondering who the murderer could be... Jess, a student under strict instructions to keep her record clean or risk losing her scholarship, finds herself at the centre of the investigation when it's revealed that Hugh died in the exact same way as a character in a short story she wrote. And then Jess receives an anonymous text thanking her for the inspiration. 

With time running out, Jess knows if she doesn't solve this mystery she'll finally have something in common with Hugh Henry. She'll be dead too.

All Four Quarters of the Moon by Shirley Marr

Everything so far, if Peijing had to sum it up, was a string of small awkward experiences that she hoped would end soon. 

The night of the Mid-Autumn festival, making mooncakes with Ah-Ma, was the last time Peijing remembers her life being the same. Now facing a new home, a new school and a new language, everything is different. Peijing thinks everything is going to turn out okay as long as they all have each other. 

But cracks are starting to appear in the family. Biju, lovable but annoying, needs Peijing to be the dependable big sister. Ah-Ma keeps forgetting who she is; and Ma Ma and Ba Ba are no longer themselves. Peijing has no idea how she's supposed to cope with the uncertainties of her own world while shouldering the burden of everyone else. If her family are the four quarters of the mooncake, where does she even fit in? 

A big-hearted, magical story about sisterhood and a family finding their way in a new place.

Different for Boys by Patrick Ness and Tea Bendix

Friendship, masculinity, sex—Anthony Stevenson has a lot of questions. Is it different for boys who like boys? A poignant and frank story filled with meta-humor by renowned author Patrick Ness.

Anthony “Ant” Stevenson isn’t sure when he stopped being a virgin. Or even if he has. The rules aren’t always very clear when it comes to boys who like boys. In fact, relationships of all kinds feel complicated, even with Ant’s oldest friends. There’s Charlie, who’s both virulently homophobic and in a secret physical relationship with Ant. Then there’s drama kid Jack, who may be gay and has become the target of Charlie’s rage. And, of course, there’s big, beautiful Freddie, who wants Ant to ditch soccer, Charlie’s sport, and try out for the rugby team instead. Ant’s story of loneliness and intimacy, of unexpected support and heart-ripping betrayal, is told forthrightly with tongue-in-cheek black-bar redactions over the language that teenagers would actually use if, you know, they weren’t in a story. Award-winning author Patrick Ness explores teen sexuality, friendship, and romance with a deft hand in this structurally daring, illustrated short novel.

#Bookpost!

Happy Tuesday, all! This week we received FIVE new books! Sadly no reviews yet - we'll get back to that in the New Year!

As always you can click on the cover to learn more about each book.

Harry Potter Magical Meditations

Let the wisdom of the Harry Potter films guide you with this card deck and book set featuring quotes, activities, and prompts to help you bring the magic of the Wizarding World to your daily life.

This enchantingly designed inspirational card deck features 64 cards, each of which offers the reader a unique question, prompt, or invitation for self-reflection based on the major characters, moments, quotes, and themes of the Harry Potter films. It comes packaged in a decorative gift box with a book that delves deeper into the cinematic moments explored in the cards and the inspiration the filmmakers drew from while creating them. Harry Potter Guided Deck and Book Set is the perfect gift for fans looking to tap into the powerful messages of love, hope, and heroism in the Harry Potter films.

INCLUDES 64 CARDS: Each card includes a question, prompt, inspirational quote, or suggestion to help guide your day

FACT-FILLED BOOK: Included book delves deeper into the themes of love, hope, and heroism in the Harry Potter films

PERFECT GIFT: Packaged in a beautiful gift box, Harry Potter Guided Deck and Book Set is an ideal gift for the Harry Potter fan

OFFICIAL WIZARDING WORLD GIFT SET: Created in collaboration with Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Weekly roundup

Happy Sunday, all! Shops are getting busy and people are buying books by the hundred - what's on your wishlist?

Bunny's First Christmas by Enid Blyton and Becky Cameron

An adorable Christmas picture book about friendship from a storyteller loved by many generations.

As Christmas approaches, most of the toys in the toyshop are excited to be going to new homes. But Bunny, the littlest one, is worried. He can’t imagine life outside the shop or without his best friend, the sailor doll. When Bunny is selected as a present to be given away at a Boxing Day party, he hopes desperately to go to kind children. Luckily, a happy surprise is in store for him!

A perfect story for sharing the Christmas spirit with the youngest children, beautifully illustrated with charming colour pictures throughout.

Millie and the Magical Moon by Brian Gallagher and Phillip Cullen

Mum, Dad and Millie are off on their summer holidays to beautiful Inis Oirr. With a little help from the not-so-shipwrecked MV Plassey, Millie has a magical moonlit adventure!

Maybe it's not quite so long since the Plassey's last voyage after all...

#BookBirthday! 8/12

Happy Thursday, all! This week there are FOUR books from our lists publishing!

Silver in the Mist by Emily Victoria

Eight years ago, everything changed for Devlin: Her country was attacked. Her father was killed. And her mother became the Whisperer of Aris, the head of the spies, retreating into her position away from everyone… even her daughter.

Joining the spy ranks herself, Dev sees her mother only when receiving assignments. She wants more, but she understands the peril their country, Aris, is in. The malevolent magic force of The Mists is swallowing Aris’s edges, their country is vulnerable to another attack from their wealthier neighbor, and the magic casters who protect them from both are burning out.

Dev has known strength and survival her whole life, but with a dangerous new assignment of infiltrating the royal court of their neighbor country Cerena to steal the magic they need, she learns that not all that glitters is weak. And not all stories are true.

Five Survive by Holly Jackson

The brand new, explosive crime thriller from Holly Jackson, best-New for 2022, an explosive crime thriller from the best-selling, award-winning author of the Good Girl's Guide to Murder trilogy.

Eighteen year old Red and her friends are on a road trip in an RV, heading to the beach for Spring Break. It's a long drive but spirits are high. Until the RV breaks down in the middle of nowhere. And as the wheels are shot out, one by one, the friends realise that this is no accident.

There's a sniper out there. He's watching them and he knows exactly who they are. One of the group has a secret that the sniper is willing to kill for.

As a game of cat-and-mouse plays out, the group desperately tries to get help. Buried secrets are forced to light and tensions within the group reach deadly levels. Only one thing is for sure. Not everyone will survive the night . . .

#Bookpost!

Happy Tuesday, all! We received five new books this week (and in true form, have read one already but not reviewed.)

As always, you can click on each cover to learn more about the book.

Out of Service by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch

After the events in Coldbay where they sealed the hell hole, Lucy is trying to learn more about it and how to save Murzzzz from eternal damnation. Yes, he's a demon and all, but he's also a part of the family. Lucy's turned to her diocese for guidance but they've gone strangely quiet so she persuades the Rooks to drive there so they can sort this out.

On the way, they realise something is incredibly wrong with a motorway service station - it's empty except for lingering, sad ghosts and... oh no, another hell hole has opened up and sucked in a load of people. They know they need to stay until they can rescue them and close it down, but not before they've done everything in their collective power to rescue Murzzzz. After all, one man's hellhole is a family of ghost-hunter's opportunity to save their demon friend. That's the expression, right?

Weekly roundup

Happy Sunday, all! We are back to normal here on the blog with a full week of reviews and features, and we're looking forward to digging into some of next year's most exciting and/or upcoming titles!

Be Inspired! by Sarah Webb and Graham Corcoran

Meet the inspiring young Irish people taking on the world!

Award-winning author of Blazing a Trail and Dare to Dream, Sarah Webb interviews inspiring young Irish people about their amazing achievements.

It’s never too early to achieve your dreams – why not start today?

You can do it, Rosie! by Elena Browne and Brian Fitzgerald

‘Let’s go on an adventure!’ says Aoife. But poor Rosie is an old dog. Can she do it?

With a little imagination and lots of help from everyone they meet along the way, of course she can!

A trip to the park can be just as magical as any adventure to the mountains or the sea - as long as Rosie is there!

(lack of) #BookBirthday!

Happy Thursday, all! This week there are NO books on our lists releasing. There are a couple of weeks in December with nothing as well; depending on how we're doing we might put an extra review on those days or we might just leave them empty!

Acting the Part by ZR Ellor

This delightfully tropey teen romance perfect for fans of Ashley Poston and Lyla Lee follows a queer teen actor navigating their gender identity-while pretending to date their co-star.

Queer actor Lily Ashton has found fame playing lesbian warrior Morgantha on the hit TV show Galaxy Spark. Lily knows how little representation queer girls have, so when the showrunners reveal that Morgantha's on-screen love interest, Alietta, is going to be killed off, Lily orchestrates an elaborate fake-dating scheme with the standoffish actress who plays her, to generate press and ensure a happy ending for the #Morganetta ship.

But while playing a doting girlfriend on- and off-screen, Lily struggles with whether a word like "girl" applies to them at all.

Lily's always been good at playing a part. But are they ready to share their real self, even if it means throwing everything they've fought for away?

Bookpost!

We didn't receive anything this week, so we are having fun tackling our TBR piles! We're looking forward to getting caught up a bit.

Gulliver by Jonathon Swift, Mary Webb and Lauren O'Neill

New paperback edition of this modern retelling of a perennial favourite, with illustrations by Lauren O'Neill!

Gulliver’s Travels is a memorable classic that takes you into the amazing worlds travelled by Lemuel Gulliver. In Lilliput, he is a giant compared to the tiny people there, followed by the reverse in Brobdingnag, where Gulliver finds himself in a country of giants. Full of humour and adventure, these exciting stories have survived the centuries and are now retold and re-imagined with thrilling illustrations.

Weekly roundup

Happy Sunday, all! Despite still being not quite all finished our Nanos (::cough::BeeJay::cough::) we managed a full week on the blog!

Come Out, Come Out, Whatever You Are by Kathryn Foxfeld

Welcome to the reality game show that'll scare you to death! Have you got what it takes to last the night?

On the reality show It's Behind You!, five contestants competing for prize money must survive the night in the dark and dangerous Umber Gorge caves, rumored to be haunted by the Puckered Maiden, a ghost who eats the hearts of her victims. But is it the malevolent spirit they should fear, or each other?

As the production crew ramps up the frights, tensions rise and the secrets of the cast member start coming to light. Each of these teenagers has hidden motives for taking part in the show. But could one of them be murder?

The Princess Bride: The Official Cookbook by Jenn Fujikawa

Few films have captured the hearts and imaginations like The Princess Bride. Based on the book by William Goldman, the 1987 film, directed by Rob Reiner and starring Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Billy Crystal, Andre the Giant, Carol Kane, Chris Sarandon, Wallace Shawn, Christopher Guest, Fred Savage, and Peter Falk is as universally beloved as it is quotable. Now, for the first time, The Princess Bride Cookbook: The Official Cookbook features more than 50 recipes for dishes seen in, and inspired by, the film, including: Buttercup Buttermilk Scones, Hash You Wish, Farm Boy Breakfast, Six-Fingered Sandwiches, Chips of Insanity, MLT, The Grandson's Soup and Sandwich, Vizzini's Sicilian Meatballs, Fezzik's Stew, The Spaniard's Paella, Bread Pirate Roberts, Twu Wove's Kiss Cookies, Iocane Powder Punch, Inigo Montoya's Taste of Revenge. Perfect for fans, families, and Brute Squads, The Princess Bride: The Official Cookbook is the ultimate way for home cooks to plate up the adventure, comedy, and romance of everyone's favorite film.

#BookBirthday! 24/11

Happy Thursday, all! This week there are TWO books from our lists publishing!

Never Ever Getting Back Together by Sophie Gonzales

It’s been two years since Maya's ex-boyfriend cheated on her, and she still can’t escape him: his sister married the crown prince of a minor European country and he captured hearts as her charming younger brother. If the world only knew the real Jordy, the manipulative liar who broke Maya’s heart.

Skye Kaplan was always cautious with her heart until Jordy said all the right things and earned her trust. Now his face is all over the media and Skye is still wondering why he stopped calling.

When Maya and Skye are invited to star on the reality dating show Second-Chance Romance, they’re whisked away to a beautiful mansion—along with four more of Jordy’s exes— to compete for his affections while the whole world watches. Skye wonders if she and Jordy can recapture the spark she knows they had, but Maya has other plans: exposing Jordy and getting revenge. As they navigate the competition, Skye and Maya discover that their real happily ever after is nothing they could have scripted.

#Bookpost

Happy Tuesday, all! We are approaching the end of the month and should be getting back to normal very soon! We had a quiet week for new titles, which is fine, we'll soon start catching up on things. And, as is tradition, we have already read one and we even got the review done this time!

As always, you can click on each cover to learn more about each book.

A Consuming Fire by Laura E Weymouth

Weatherell girls aren't supposed to die.

Once every eighteen years, the isolated forest village of Weatherell is asked to send one girl to the god of the mountain to give a sacrifice before returning home. Twins Anya and Ilva Astraea are raised with this destiny in mind, and when their time comes, spirited Ilva volunteers to go. Her devoted sister Anya is left at home to pray for Ilva's safe return. But Anya's prayers are denied.

With her sister dead, Anya volunteers to make a journey of her own to visit the god of the mountain. But unlike her sister, sacrifice is the furthest thing from Anya's mind. Anya has no intention of giving anything more to the god, or of letting any other girl do so ever again. Anya Astraea has not set out to placate a god. She's set out to kill one.

Weekly roundup

Well, the third week of Nano is always the toughest! We are all just about hanging in there, with a lot of complaining and urging each other on. This was a very quiet week on the blog, so thanks for hanging in with us. Things should be closer to normal next week and back to normal after that!

The Sackville Street Caper by Alan Nolan

Eleven year old Bram Stoker, future author of Dracula, escapes school to 1850s Dublin City seeking adventure. There he meets Molly Malone, accomplished sneak thief and part time fishmonger. Together they must thwart the evil Count Vladimir who plans to steal the Irish Crown Jewels from Dublin Castle.

Terry Pratchett: A Life With Footnotes by Rob Wilkins

'PEOPLE THINK THAT STORIES ARE SHAPED BY PEOPLE. IN FACT, IT'S THE OTHER WAY AROUND.'

At the time of his death in 2015, award-winning and bestselling author Sir Terry Pratchett was working on his finest story yet - his own.

At six years old, Terry was told by his headteacher that he would never amount to anything.

He spent the rest of his life proving that teacher wrong. At sixty-six, Terry had lived a life full of achievements: becoming one of the UK's bestselling writers, winning the Carnegie Medal and being awarded a knighthood for services to literature.

Following his untimely death from Alzheimer's disease, the mantle of completing Terry's memoir was passed to Rob Wilkins, his former assistant, friend and now head of the author's literary estate.

Drawing on his own extensive memories, along with those of Terry's family, friends, fans and colleagues, Rob recounts Terry's extraordinary story - from his early childhood to the literary phenomenon that his Discworld series became; and how he met and coped with the challenges that 'The Embuggerance' of Alzheimer's brought with it.

'Of all the dead authors in the world, Terry Pratchett is the most alive.' - John Lloyd

#Bookpost!

Happy Tuesday, all! We had a great week for new books, we'll have a lot to catch up on next month! Unlike last week, although we have read one of these we haven't got the review done yet, sorry about that.

As always you can click on each cover to learn more about the book.

Weekly roundup

Happy Sunday, all! We are all still more or less on track for NaNo, and thanks to an author interview we had a practically normal week on the blog.

Author interview: Sam Thompson, The Fox's Tower

'The wolves howled, far behind, but it was not a song for her.

Night-smells of the Forest stirred.

Ferns were curling, wildflowers closing, sap retreating.

She went further in.’

Willow’s dad has disappeared: stolen by foxes in the night. To find him, Willow must enter the secret world of the Forest. There she will speak with wolves and find the magical Tower where the foxes are ruled by their silver-tongued leader, Reynard.

In the Tower, Willow sees wonders: statues walking the streets, spires reaching to the stars, and a lion who wants to be king. But disaster is near. The magic is running out and soon the Tower will fall.

Reynard has a plan that will change everything, and he needs Willow’s help. But can she trust the story he is telling? Can Willow save her dad and find a way out of the Fox’s Tower?

Happy #BookBirthday! (10/11)

Happy Thursday, all! This week there are THREE books from our various lists publishing!

Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan

After winning her mother's freedom from the Celestial Emperor, Xingyin thrives in the enchanting tranquility of her home. But her fragile peace is threatened by the discovery of a strange magic on the moon and the unsettling changes in the Celestial Kingdom as the emperor tightens his grip on power. While Xingyin is determined to keep clear of the rising danger, the discovery of a shocking truth spurs her into a perilous confrontation.

Forced to flee her home once more, Xingyin and her companions venture to unexplored lands of the Immortal Realm, encountering legendary creatures and shrewd monarchs, beloved friends and bitter adversaries. With alliances shifting quicker than the tides, Xingyin has to overcome past grudges and enmities to forge a new path forward, seeking aid where she never imagined she would. As an unspeakable terror sweeps across the realm, Xingyin must uncover the truth of her heart and claw her way through devastation--to rise against this evil before it destroys everything she holds dear, and the worlds she has grown to love... even if doing so demands the greatest price of all.

The stunning sequel to Daughter of the Moon Goddess delves deeper into beloved Chinese mythology, concluding the epic story of Xingyin--the daughter of Chang'e and the mortal archer, Houyi--as she battles a grave new threat to the realm, in this powerful tale of love, sacrifice, and hope.

#Bookpost!

Happy Tuesday, all! We are still mostly hanging in there with Nano, and we have read a few more books - just need to find time to write the reviews!

We did quite well for new books this week - and in a return to old habits, we've already read and reviewed one! As always you can click on the cover to learn more about each book!

The Drift by C. J. Tudor (spoilers in review)

Survival can be murder . . .

During a deadly snowstorm, Hannah awakens to carnage, all mangled metal and shattered glass. Evacuated from a secluded boarding school, her coach careered off the road, trapping her with a handful of survivors.

Meg awakens to a gentle rocking. She's in a cable car stranded high above snowy mountains, with five strangers and no memory of how they got on board.

Carter is gazing out of the window of an isolated ski chalet that he and his companions call home. As their generator begins to waver in the storm, the threat of something lurking in the chalet's depths looms larger.

Outside, the storm rages. Inside one group, a killer lurks.

But which one?

And who will make it out alive?

Weekly roundup

Happy Sunday, all! At the end of the first week of Nano, we are all still on track, but as we feared the blog has suffered a little. Don't worry, we will be back on track in another couple of weeks!

#Bookbirthday! 3/11

 Happy Thursday, all! This week there are TWO books from our various lists publishing!

Look Both Ways by Linwood Barclay

They think as one. They act as one. They kill as one.

The residents of Garrett Island are part of a visionary experiment. Their cars have been sent to the mainland and for one month, they've got self-driving vehicles called Arrivals. With just a voice command, an Arrival will take you where you want to go, and as the cars are all aware of each other, road accidents should be a thing of the past.

As the world's press arrives for a glimpse of this driverless future, islander and single mom Sandra Montrose preps for the huge media event. She's ready for this new world. Her husband died when he fell asleep at the wheel, and she's relieved her two teens, Archie and Katie, may never need driver's licenses.

But as the day gets underway, there are signs all is not well. A member of the press has vanished. There are rumours of industrial sabotage.

Before long, the sleek driverless cars are no longer taking orders. They're starting to organize. They're starting to hunt. And they've got the residents of Garrett Island in their sights.

Announcement

Hi all!

If you remember from this time last year, we all three like to (attempt to) do NaNoWriMo, the 'Write a novel in a month' project. Naturally, it takes up a chunk of time, and it makes it hard to keep up with our reading schedule as well.

So, for this month, expect to see a bit less of us. We've tried to read ahead, and there are some scheduled reviews and other features that will go ahead, but it will be quieter around here for this month and a little way into December as we catch back up. Unless we fail out of NaNo, in which case we'll be back soon! 

Max Magic by Stephen Mulhern with Tom Easton and Begona Fernandez Corbalan

The MAGICAL debut children's book from superstar TV presenter and magician, Stephen Mulhern! ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! Max Mullers loves doing magic tricks - his gran has taught him everything he knows! But his tricks aren't enough to keep Bottley the Bully off his back. Then a run-in with Bottley at his parents' market stall gets Max into even bigger trouble - now the notorious East End gangsters the Crayfish Twins are after him! If Max is going to get out of this one, he'll need A MIRACLE. Fortunately for Max, with magic . . . anything is possible! An unforgettable adventure celebrating friendship, family and . . . MAGIC! Engaging black-and-white illustrations throughout and a dyslexic-friendly layout make this perfect for every child. Ideal for fans of Greg James & Chris Smith, Noel Fitzpatrick and David Baddiel. Inspired by Stephen Mulhern's incredible story of his journey to becoming a magician, performer and TV star.

Weekly roundup

Happy Sunday, all! We're almost at the end of October, nights are drawing in - perfect for reading, right?

100 Disasters that Shaped World History

From the Great Fire of London to the Challenger explosion, earthquakes, crashes, floods, and accidents have been major turning points throughout history. In 100 Disasters That Shaped World History, young readers will be introduced to some of the most notorious disasters known to mankind, discovering how these fateful events unfolded-and how they changed the world as we know it.

The Macmillan Collection of Myths and Legends

A beautiful hardback treasury, containing over forty myths and legends from around the world. The perfect gift for mythology lovers of all ages. 

This glorious collection contains incredible stories from Greek and Norse mythology, such as Theseus and the Minotaur and Ragnaroek, and famous British legends including The Sword in the Stone, alongside lesser known stories. Bringing together amazing stories from across the world, there are tales of spirits from Spain, fish Gods from China, an Australian Aboriginal frog that drank up all of the water in the world, and many more. 

Fully illustrated throughout, with beautiful colour and line-work images from iconic Golden Age illustrators, including Arthur Rackham, Walter Crane and Warwick Goble. A sumptuous 352 page gift hardback, complete with a foiled cut-through cover, foiled edges and a ribbon marker, The Macmillan Collection of Myths and Legends is a book to share and treasure.

Happy #BookBirthday! (27/10)

Happy Thursday, all! This week there are TWO books from our various lists publishing!

Snowed in for Christmas by Sarah Morgan

She's snowed in with the family. The only problem? They're not her family.

A family gathering

This Christmas the Miller siblings have one goal - to avoid their family's well-meaning questions. Ross, Alice and Clemmie have secrets that they don't intend to share, and they are relying on each other to deflect attention.

An uninvited guest

Lucy Clarke is facing a Christmas alone, and the prospect of losing her job - unless she can win a major piece of business from Ross Miller. She'll deliver her proposal to his family home in the Scottish Highlands and then leave. After all, she wouldn't want to intrude on the Miller's perfect family Christmas.

A Christmas to remember

When Lucy appears on the Miller's snow-covered doorstep, she is mistaken for Ross's girlfriend. But by the time the confusion is cleared up, a storm has hit and Lucy is stuck. As everyone settles in for a snowed-in Christmas, tensions bubble to the surface and suddenly Lucy finds herself facing a big family fallout with a family that isn't hers...

#Bookpost!

Happy Tuesday, all! This week we received two new books, plus three new tarot decks which will be featured over on the tarot blog in due time!

As always you can click on the covers to learn more about each book.

Well, that was Unexpected by Jesse Q Sutanto

An outrageous, laugh-out-loud YA rom-com about a girl who's whisked from LA to her mother's native Indonesia to get back to her roots and finds herself fake-dating the son of one of the wealthiest families there, from the author of Dial A for Aunties.

After Sharlot Citra's mother catches her in a compromising position, she finds herself whisked away from LA to her mother's native Indonesia. It'll be exactly what they both need. Or so her mother thinks.

When George Clooney Tanuwijaya's father (who is obsessed with American celebrities) fears he no longer understands how to get through to his son, he decides to take matters into his own hands.

To ensure that their children find the right kind of romantic partner, Sharlot's mother and George's father do what any good parent would do: they strike up a conversation online, pretending to be their children.

When the kids find out about their parents' actions, they're horrified. Not even a trip to one of the most romantic places on earth could possibly make Sharlot and George fall for each other. But as the layers peel back and the person they thought they knew from online is revealed, the truth becomes more complicated. As unlikely as it may seem, did their parents manage to find their true match after all?

Weekly roundup!

Happy Sunday, all! We've had another great week on the blog.

Maame by Jessica George

Maame (ma-meh) has many meanings in Twi but in my case, it means woman.

It’s fair to say that Maddie’s life in London is far from rewarding. With a mother who spends most of her time in Ghana (yet still somehow manages to be overbearing), Maddie is the primary caretaker for her father, who suffers from advanced stage Parkinson’s. At work, her boss is a nightmare and Maddie is tired of always being the only Black person in every meeting.

When her mum returns from her latest trip to Ghana, Maddie leaps at the chance to get out of the family home and finally start living. A self-acknowledged late bloomer, she’s ready to experience some important “firsts”: She finds a flat share, says yes to after-work drinks, pushes for more recognition in her career, and throws herself into the bewildering world of internet dating. But it's not long before tragedy strikes, forcing Maddie to face the true nature of her unconventional family, and the perils––and rewards––of putting her heart on the line.

Smart, funny, and deeply affecting, Maame deals with the themes of our time with humor and poignancy: from familial duty and racism, to female pleasure, the complexity of love, and the life-saving power of friendship. Most important, it explores what it feels like to be torn between two homes and cultures―and it celebrates finally being able to find where you belong.

The Last Storyteller/Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera

There lived a girl named Petra Peña, who wanted nothing more than to be a storyteller, like her abuelita.

But Petra's world is ending. Earth has been destroyed by a comet, and only a few hundred scientists and their children – among them Petra and her family – have been chosen to journey to a new planet. They are the ones who must carry on the human race.

Hundreds of years later, Petra wakes to this new planet – and the discovery that she is the only person who remembers Earth. A sinister Collective has taken over the ship during its journey, bent on erasing the sins of humanity's past. They have systematically purged the memories of all aboard – or purged them altogether.

Petra alone now carries the stories of our past, and with them, any hope for our future. Can she make them live again?

Happy #Bookbirthday! (20/10)

Happy Thursday, all! This week there is ONE book from our various lists publishing!

The Boy who Lost his Spark by Maggie O'Farrell and Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini

When Jem and his family first move to a small town, he struggles with his new life. The unhappier he grows, the stranger things become ... mischief and chaos seems to bloom everywhere. His sister Verity is sure it is the work of a "nouka", an ancient creature that lives deep down inside the hill; a creature forged from the sparks of a long-extinct volcano. Jem is adamant - there is no such thing. But it is through the magic and mayhem of this small mystical creature that Jem finally finds a sense of belonging, a sense of home. He, once more, discovers a spark of magic.

A beautiful and atmospheric long-form picture book set against a dramatic backdrop of an ancient hillside and the mysterious mood-affecting creature that lives within...

#Bookpost!

Happy Tuesday, all! A quieter week of all physical books this week - in fact, as I write this, there are NO ebooks on our lists, just physical! (I'll have to get something promptly if I want to keep my kindle reading streak going...)

As always, you can click on the cover of each book to learn more about it.

Retro by Sofia Lapuente and Jarrod Shusterman

What starts off as a light-hearted competition to live without modern technology for a year turns into a fight for survival in this unputdownable young adult thriller by New York Times bestselling author Jarrod Shusterman and debut author Sofía Lapuente.

To save her struggling family, Luna enters a competition offering reward money to anyone who can successfully live without modern technology for a year. But when this social experiment turns sinister and her classmates start disappearing, her family’s livelihood might not be the only thing she’s in danger of losing.

Weekly roundup!

Happy Sunday, all! It's the end of another week here on the blog.

The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D Jackson

When Springville residents—at least the ones still alive—are questioned about what happened on prom night, they all have the same explanation... Maddy did it.

An outcast at her small-town Georgia high school, Madison Washington has always been a teasing target for bullies. And she's dealt with it because she has more pressing problems to manage. Until the morning a surprise rainstorm reveals her most closely kept secret: Maddy is biracial. She has been passing for white her entire life at the behest of her fanatical white father, Thomas Washington.

After a viral bullying video pulls back the curtain on Springville High's racist roots, student leaders come up with a plan to change their image: host the school's first integrated prom as a show of unity. The popular white class president convinces her Black superstar quarterback boyfriend to ask Maddy to be his date, leaving Maddy wondering if it's possible to have a normal life.

But some of her classmates aren't done with her just yet. And what they don't know is that Maddy still has another secret... one that will cost them all their lives.