Royal Blood by Aimée Carter

Kicked out of her American boarding school, Evan is sent to live with her estranged father, the King of England. Her existence as his illegitimate daughter is top secret - until someone leaks it to the press. Suddenly she's the focus of a thousand lurid headlines, plus the hatred of her stepmother the Queen and half-sister Princess Maisie.

Then the royal scandal intensifies... After Evan is seen disappearing with a journalist's son at a party, he is found dead and she becomes the primary suspect in a murder investigation. Did "the Killer Princess" really do it? It seems that only the Queen's gorgeous nephew Kit will help Evan clear her name. But can she really trust anyone at the palace?

Tarot Spreads Yearbook by Chelsey Pippin Mizzi

The perfect book to inspire readers to use tarot as a tool to enhance intuition and mindfulness, making tarot fun and accessible for people just starting out on their tarot journey, or for the more experienced tarot reader wanting to engage with their deck more fully.

A guidebook to the art of using Tarot.

The Tarot Spreads Yearbook features 52 spreads that allow beginners to get to know their decks and cards, build confidence, and find the reading methods that are most comfortable for them - all while having fun and honing their intuition.

Featuring simple spreads for quick and easy readings, as well as more complex in-depth spreads for longer readings, the book is an easily accessible handbook for readers just setting out on their Tarot journey, the more experienced Tarot reader looking to expand and explore new ways of using their cards, or even just the casual Tarot reader who is looking for a fun way to experiment.

With 52 ideas for spreads that cover all areas of life, The Tarot Spreads Yearbook introduces readers to using the tarot as a tool for mindfulness, allowing the reader to feel more in tune with the world around them and develop trust in their own instincts.

Happy #BookBirthday! 30th Mar

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

To Swoon and to Spar by Martha Waters

This is a real marriage of inconvenience.

Viscount Penvale has been working for years to buy his ancestral home, Trethwick Abbey, back from his estranged uncle. So, of course, he's thrilled when his uncle announces that he is finally ready to sell . . . but with one major caveat: Penvale must marry his uncle's ward, Jane Spencer.

When the two meet in London, neither is terribly impressed. Penvale finds Jane headstrong and sharp-tongued. Jane finds Penvale cold and aloof. Nevertheless, they agree to a marriage in name only and return to the estate.

Back at Trethwick Abbey, irascible Jane soon enlists her housekeeper for a scheme: they will stage a haunting to make Penvale return to London, leaving Jane in Cornwall to do as she pleases.

But Penvale is not as easily scared as his uncle and, as their time together increases, Jane realizes that she might not mind her husband's company so much after all.

Nic Blake and the Remarkables by Angie Thomas

It's not easy being Remarkable in a world where standing out is dangerous...

Nic Blake is a Manifestor. All she wants is to learn the Gift, so she can be as powerful as her dad ... until she discovers a shocking secret. Now she must find a powerful magical weapon, or risk losing him for ever.

Book 1 of Nic Blake and the Remarkables

Weekly roundup

Happy Sunday, all! We've had a nice quiet week here, catching up on our TBRs and enjoying ourselves.

Wider than the Sea by Serena Molloy and George Ermos

The powerful tale of a girl who feels broken, and the dolphin who makes her whole. A story of friendship, hope and self-discovery, perfect for readers aged 9+.

Ró finds school impossible. She knows people think she's shy - and stupid. But when she goes to the bay each afternoon to watch the dolphin leap through the water, she finds the strength to keep going. Then the dolphin disappears, and everything starts falling apart.

Can Ró overcome her fears to find him?

Where the Light Goes by Sara Barnard

A heart-wrenching exploration of grief, set in a landscape corrupted by fame and the scrutiny that comes from living in the shadow of a star.

"Lizzie Beck" is one quarter of British pop sensation The Jinks, who launched their career via a reality TV talent show and rose straight to fame – and in Lizzie’s case, infamy, for her tumultuous relationship with her boyfriend, stints in rehab and candid confessions about her mental health on Instagram.

To Emmy, though, she will always be her older sister, Beth, the person whose footsteps she intends to follow.

Except now she can’t. Because Beth, Emmy's beloved sister, has died by suicide.

Forced to face a world without the guiding light of her bright, brilliant big sister, Emmy must wrestle with the impact of private grief, public scrutiny and discover who she once was and who she will become, now that Beth is gone.

Happy #BookBirthday! 23rd Mar

Happy Thursday, all! This week there is ONE book on our lists publishing.

Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu

Meet Winter Young—rookie backup dancer turned global pop phenomenon. His star power has smashed records, selling out stadiums from LA to London. Now he’s bringing his swoon worthy assets to a whole new arena...

Infamous criminal tycoon Eli Morrison has just one weakness—his daughter, Penelope. And Penelope has just one wish for her nineteenth birthday—a private concert with Winter Young. When covert ops organization The Panacea Group approaches Winter with this once-in-a-lifetime chance to infiltrate Morrison’s inner circle, Winter must use his fame, cunning, and charisma to pull it off—only he won’t be on his own.

Posing as Winter’s bodyguard is the fiery Sydney Cossette, Panacea’s youngest spy. Sydney may be the only person alive impervious to Winter's charms, but as the mission brings them closer, she's forced to admit there's more to this A-lister than slick dance moves and a handsome face. Panacea's unlikeliest partners just might become its biggest heroes—and maybe even more—if they can survive each other first.

Raise your Vibes Crystal Cards by Athena Bahri

The Raise Your Vibes Crystal Cards take your self-healing further than any other oracle deck by linking the power of crystals with the energy of Reiki and of the chakras. When we channel the divine energy of Reiki into our crystals, chakras and affirmations, we maximize the energetic vibrations of them all and the result is deep healing, profound wellbeing and supercharged manifestation. There are 55 stunning crystal cards in this deck, each carrying the energetic imprint of their crystal, so you don't need to own the actual crystals themselves to benefit from their powers. Draw on each crystal's power with Quick Fix Vibes, Rituals and Affirmations. Use crystals to work on life areas linked to each chakra, from protection, finances and fears in the root chakra to inner wisdom and enlightenment in the crown chakra. Create layouts that range from a simple one-card draw to a nine-card crystal grid in order to ask the cards for guidance on problems, healing and how to shift your vibration to the positive!

#Bookpost!

Happy Tuesday, all! It's the first of what we expect to be two quiet weeks, as B is on holiday and she gets more books than the rest of us put together, but that's all the good for catching up!

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

Jamie by LD Lapinski

Jamie Rambeau is a happy 11-year-old non-binary kid who likes nothing better than hanging out with their two best friends Daisy and Ash. But when the trio find out that in Year Seven they will be separated into one school for boys and another for girls, their friendship suddenly seems at risk. And when Jamie realises no one has thought about where they are going to go, they decide to take matters into their own hands, and sort it all out once and for all.

As the friends' efforts to raise awareness eventually become a rooftop protest against the binary rules for the local schools, Jamie realises that if they don't figure out a way forwards, they might be at risk of losing both their friends forever.

Weekly roundup

Happy Sunday, all! It is cold and wet here today.

Standing on One Leg is Hard by Erika McGann and Clive Mc Farland

A story about a little chick learning to do a big thing! The heron chick sees her mum and all the big herons standing gracefully on one leg, but she just CAN'T do it! Maybe she just needs a little help? She tries to get her balance by leaning on a variety of things you'd find in the canal: a rock, another chick, and otter a swan - even a shoe someone has dumped! But she KEEPS overbalancing. Then she works it out. She can't do it with people looking. Not even the reader. If they reader closes their eyes, she just might do it! Do you think she did it?

A fun interactive book for small children, who will identify with the need to try and try again. They will also enjoy the fun of closing their eyes and wondering if the chick is succeeding while they can't see her!

Maybe Next Time by Cesca Major

Emma is having the worst day of her life. Frustrating. Chaotic. And the only person who could make it better is gone by the end of the day.

Yet even worse than all of that: Emma keeps waking up to the same day, over and over again.

But what if this is a sign things could be different? Can Emma change the heartbreaking end to this love story?

Happy #BookBirthday! 16 Mar

Happy Thursday! This week there are FIVE books on our lists publishing!

The Táin by Alan Titley and Eoin Coveney

The Great Irish Battle Epic

A new children’s retelling of Ireland’s great epic legend featuring the hero Cúchulainn and the warrior Queen Maeve

This is Irish myth as you haven’t read it before.

Queen Maeve’s army is marching north to steal the great brown bull, the pride of Ulster. But one man stands in their way. Cúchulainn, the Hound of Ulster, vowed in boyhood to protect his homeland – even if it means taking on an invading army himself.

One by one Maeve’s warriors challenge the hero, and one by one they fall. Can Cúchulainn hold out until reinforcements arrive – and how will he fare against the one man in Ireland he doesn’t want to fight?

Ireland’s most important myth is retold in English for children by the great scholar of Old Ireland, Alan Titley. Titley goes back to the source material and his translation sparkles with the wit and humour, as well as the thrill and battle, of the ancient tale. Illustrations by comic artist Eoin Coveney lend a modern feel.

#Bookpost!

Happy Tuesday, all! This week we received some lovely new books, some oracle cards, tarot for the tarot blog - and we've already read a book! (Go on, you were expecting me to say that...)

As always, you can click on the cover to learn more about each book; this week those links are mostly not to goodreads, as I usually do.

A Door in the Dark by Scott Reintgen

A fantasy thriller that follows six teenage wizards as they fight to make it home alive after a malfunctioning spell leaves them stranded in the wilderness.

Ren Monroe has spent four years proving she’s one of the best wizards in her generation. But top marks at Balmerick University will mean nothing if she fails to get recruited into one of the major houses. Enter Theo Brood. If being rich were a sin, he’d already be halfway to hell. After a failed and disastrous party trick, fate has the two of them crossing paths at the public waxway portal the day before holidays—Theo’s punishment is to travel home with the scholarship kids. Which doesn’t sit well with any of them.

A fight breaks out. In the chaos, the portal spell malfunctions. All six students are snatched from the safety of the school’s campus and set down in the middle of nowhere. And one of them is dead on arrival.

If anyone can get them through the punishing wilderness with limited magical reserves it’s Ren. She’s been in survival mode her entire life. But no magic could prepare her for the tangled secrets the rest of the group is harboring, or for what’s following them through the dark woods…

Weekly roundup

Happy Sunday, all! The weather is very cold here at the moment. All the more reason to curl up with some great books!

Happy Head by Josh Silver (mild spoilers in review)

We are in an epidemic. An epidemic of unhappiness.

…

Friends, here is the good news: HappyHead has the answer.

When Seb is offered a place on a radical retreat designed to solve the national crisis of teenage unhappiness, he is determined to change how people see him and make his parents proud. But as he finds himself drawn to the enigmatic Finn, Seb starts to question the true nature of the challenges they must undergo. The deeper into the programme the boys get, the more disturbing the assessments become, until it’s clear there may be no escape...

Bob vs the Selfie Zombies by Andy Jones

The hilarious and unforgettable story of Bob, accidental time traveller.

IT'S DOWN TO BOB TO SAVE THE WORLD . . . ALL HE NEEDS IS TIME!

For Bob and his best friend Malcolm, winning the school talent competition with their band The Tentacles of Time is really important. And that's before they realise the future of the world depends on it . . .

Bob doesn't know why he can time travel. He does know that it always happens at the worst possible moments. Like when he's in the bath. Awkward! But when Bob comes face to face with his future self in the midst of a disastrous alternative reality, he's got no choice but to try and . . . do something!

In this future, an evil genius has created a smile-operated selfie camera that turns people into zombies, and the world as Bob knows it has completely collapsed. There's not even anywhere to get a takeaway pizza from . . . Things are SERIOUSLY bad.

Now it's up to Bob to change the course of the present to save future him, future Malcolm AND the whole world. Yikes!

A hair-raising race into the future and back again . . . and again.

Perfect for fans of David Solomons, David Baddiel and Greg James & Chris Smith. First in a laugh-out-loud series for 7-12-year-olds.

#BookBirthday! 9 Mar

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

Kevin's in a Mood by Sarah Bowie

Suzy and Kevin are best friends. They do everything together! Until one day, Kevin's in a Mood. Suzy tries everything to cheer him up - she tells him jokes and even plays his favourite song. But Kevin's STILL in a Mood. All their friends try to help, but nothing seems to make Kevin feel better ... what could be wrong?

#Bookpost!

Happy Tuesday, all! How are you all doing this lovely week? Sadly this week one of us is not very well and we haven't read any of this lot of books, but we'll catch back up!

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

Mr Wolf goes to the ball by Tatyana Feeney

Mr Wolf is SO EXCITED to be invited to the ball.

What should he wear?

He thinks he’s got the perfect outfit, but he’s not sure …

Can his friend help him to decide?

Weekly roundup

Happy Sunday, all! We're having a cold snap here, so today will be spent curled up with lots of lovely books.

The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell

Every summer for the past ten years, six awe-struck bakers have descended on the grounds of Grafton, the leafy and imposing Vermont estate that is not only the filming site for “Bake Week” but also the childhood home of the show’s famous host, celebrated baker Betsy Martin.

The author of numerous bestselling cookbooks and hailed as “America’s Grandmother,” Betsy Martin isn’t as warm off-screen as on, though no one needs to know that but her. She has always demanded perfection, and gotten it with a smile, but this year something is off. As the baking competition commences, things begin to go awry. At first, it’s merely sabotage—sugar replaced with salt, a burner turned to high—but when a body is discovered, everyone is a suspect.

A sharp and suspenseful thriller for mystery buffs and avid bakers alike, The Golden Spoon is a brilliant puzzle filled with shocking twists and turns that will keep you reading late into the night until you turn the very last page of this incredible debut.

End of Story by Louise Swanson (unmarked spoilers in review)

Too much imagination can be a dangerous thing

It has been five years since writing fiction was banned by the government.

Fern Dostoy is a criminal. Officially, she has retrained in a new job outside of the arts but she still scrawls in a secret notepad in an effort to capture what her life has become: her work on a banned phone line, reading bedtime stories to sleep-starved children; Hunter, the young boy who calls her and has captured her heart; and the dreaded visits from government officials.

But as Fern begins to learn more about Hunter, doubts begin to surface. What are they both hiding?

And who can be trusted?

Happy #BookBirthday! 2 Mar

Happy Thursday! This week there are SIX books on our lists publishing!

Thirsty Animals by Rachelle Atalla

THE WORLD IS RUNNING OUT OF WATER.

With supply in the Scottish cities drying up, Aida is forced back home to live with her mum at their rural farm. For now, they are safe with just enough to get by.

Yet at the border, tensions are close to breaking point as more and more southerners chase the delusion that Scotland is an eternal spring - while fewer and fewer are allowed through. The service station where Aida works grows emptier with every day. Then, when suspicious strangers arrive at the farm asking for help, Aida and her family face a terrible decision. How much water can they afford to share?

AND THEN THE TAPS ARE TURNED OFF.

Now they must survive long enough for the rain to come.

Completely compelling, devastating and thought-provoking, Thirsty Animals takes us on a captivating journey of survival and self-discovery.