The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Avery's fortune, life, and loves are on the line in the game that everyone will be talking about.

To inherit billions, all Avery Kylie Grambs has to do is survive a few more weeks living in Hawthorne House. The paparazzi are dogging her every step. Financial pressures are building. Danger is a fact of life. And the only thing getting Avery through it all is the Hawthorne brothers. Her life is intertwined with theirs. She knows their secrets, and they know her.

But as the clock ticks down to when Avery will become the richest teenager on the planet, trouble arrives in the form of a visitor who needs her help - and whose presence in Hawthorne House could change everything. It soon becomes clear that there is one last puzzle to solve, and Avery and the Hawthorne brothers are drawn into a dangerous game against an unknown and powerful player.

Secrets upon secrets. Riddles upon riddles. In this game, there are hearts and lives at stake-and there is nothing more Hawthorne than winning.

#Bookpost!

Happy Tuesday, all! We had an excellent week for new books this week, and we are excited to share! We've even already reviewed a couple.

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

Lord of the Fly Fest by Goldy Moldavsky

One of Us Is Lying meets Lord of the Flies meets Fyre Fest in this wickedly addictive and funny YA thriller.

Rafi Francisco needs something really special to put her true crime podcast on the map. She sets her sights on River Stone, the hearthrob musician who rose to stardom after the mysterious disappearance of his girlfriend. Rafi lands herself a ticket to the exclusive Fly Fest, where River will be the headliner.

But when Rafi arrives on the Caribbean island location of Fly Fest with hundreds of other influencers and (very minor) celebrities, they quickly discover that the dream trip is more of a nightmare. And it’s not just confronting beauty gurus-gone-wild and spotty WiFi. Soon, Rafi goes from fighting for an interview to fighting for her life. And, as she gets closer to River, she discovers that he might be hiding even darker secrets than she suspected . . .

Weekly roundup

Happy Sunday, all! Here is the weekly roundup in case you missed anything you might be interested in.

2023 Nature Month-By-Month: A Children’s Almanac By Anna Wilson & Elly Jahnz

Take an inspirational journey through the seasons with this updated edition of Nature Month-by-Month: A Children’s Almanac.

Beautifully illustrated by Elly Jahnz and written by nature-lover and wild swimmer Anna Wilson, this fantastic, fully illustrated guide to 2023 includes nature spotter guides, indoor and outdoor craft and activity ideas, seasonal recipes and celebrations of religious festivals and special events.

A wonderful gift to treasure and explore over the coming year, this gorgeous almanac, which has been updated with one third new material and revised design throughout, will encourage young readers to connect with nature and the world around them.

Our Big Day by Bob Johnston and Michael Emberly

Uncle David and Simon are going to get married! There's lots to do, from making the invitations to arranging the decorations, but when the wedding rings go missing just before the ceremony, Bear the dog has to use all of his special skills to help save the day!

This fun and engaging picture book is a celebration of love, family and weddings and is a gentle introduction for children to the idea of same-sex partnerships and marriage equality.

Happy #BookBirthday!

Happy Thursday! This week there is ONE book from our lists publishing.

The Liar's Crown by Abigail Owen (spoilers in review)

One born to rule. One to forfeit…

Everything about my life is a lie. As a hidden twin princess, born second, I have only one purpose—to sacrifice my life for my sister if death comes for her. I’ve been living under the guise of a poor, obscure girl of no standing, slipping into the palace and into the role of the true princess when danger is present.

Now the queen is dead and the ageless King Eidolon has sent my sister a gift—an eerily familiar gift—and a proposal to wed. I don’t trust him, so I do what I was born to do and secretly take her place on the eve of the coronation. Which is why, when a figure made of shadow kidnaps the new queen, he gets me by mistake.

As I try to escape, all the lies start to unravel. And not just my lies. The Shadowraith who took me has secrets of his own. He struggles to contain the shadows he wields—other faces, identities that threaten my very life.

Winter is at the walls. Darkness is looming. And the only way to save my sister and our dominion is to kill Eidolon…and the Shadowraith who has stolen my heart.

#Bookpost!

Happy Tuesday, all! We had a good week for new books this week, and we're even read one of these already!

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

Cat Lady by Dawn O'Porter (one spoiler at end of review)

CAT LADY [n.]

Single, independent, crazy, aloof, on-the-shelf, lives alone . . .

It's safer for Mia to play the part that people expect. She's a good wife to her husband Tristan, a doting stepmother, she slips on her suit for work each morning like a new skin.

But beneath the surface, there's another woman just clawing to get out . . .

When a shocking event shatters the conventional life she's been so careful to build, Mia is faced with a choice. Does she live for a society that's all too quick to judge, or does she live for herself?

And if that's as an independent woman with a cat, then the world better get ready . . .

Fresh, funny and for anyone who's ever felt astray, CAT LADY will help you belong - because a woman always lands on her feet.

Weekly roundup

Happy Sunday, all! We did end up missing one review this week, but otherwise it's been normal.

Fox & Son Tailers by Paddy Donnelly

FOX & SONS - Makers of the Finest Traditional Tails for All Animals and Every Occasion!

Rory’s dad, Fox, is a tailer. The BEST in the business! Animals come from all over to have their tails made by him. Rory helps his dad in the shop and one of his jobs is measuring the customers for the tails - which isn't always easy!

But Rory is bored of making the same old tails. He has his own amazing ideas ...

The Nicest Girl by Sophie Jo

Sixth-former Anna Campbell is the go-to girl when anyone needs anything. Teachers, friends, random strangers... It never occurred to her that she could say no. After all, Anna Campbell's always been too 'nice' to say no. But Anna is sick of being that girl, the nice girl, and she's going to do something about it. Only, is she prepared to risk losing everything she cares about - even herself - along the way...? A novel for anyone who's ever struggled to put themselves first.

Happy #BookBirthday! (16/8)

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

Bad Fruit by Ella King

LILY IS A GOOD DAUGHTER

Every evening she pours Mama a glass of perfectly spoilt orange juice. She arranges the teddy bears on Mama's quilt, she puts on her matching pink clothes. Anything to help put out the fire of Mama's rage.

MAMA IS A GOOD LIAR

But Mama is becoming unpredictable, dangerous. And as she starts to unravel, so do the memories that Lily has kept locked away for so long.

She only wanted to be good, to help piece Mama back together. But as home truths creep out of the shadows, Lily must recast everything: what if her house isn't a home - but a prison? What if Mama isn't a protector - but a monster . . .

#Bookpost!

Happy Tuesday, all! This week we received two new books which we're very excited about! As always, you can click on the cover to learn more about each book.

Weekly roundup

Happy Sunday, all! We've had a usual week here on the blog, despite the heat wave. However, B is not well so we may miss Monday's review - it's unsure as of yet! 

The Lighthouse by Alex Bell

On Bird Rock, gannets circle and thick mist surrounds the lighthouse at its centre, hiding the secrets of a tragic past within …

From the second they set foot on the island to join their dad and his new family, Jess and Rosie feel that something’s wrong. Nightmares haunt their dreams and there seems to be someone, or something, else with them in the lighthouse – their home for the summer.

Counting down the days until they can leave, Jess and Rosie decide to investigate. But when Rosie disappears, the countdown takes on a new meaning. Especially when no one but Jess remembers Rosie at all…

Lucie Yi is not a Romantic by Lauren Ho

Management consultant Lucie Yi is done waiting for Mr. Right. After a harrowing breakup foiled her plans for children—and drove her to a meltdown in a Tribeca baby store—she’s ready to take matters into her own hands. She signs up for an elective co-parenting website to find a suitable partner with whom to procreate—as platonic as family planning can be.

Collin Read checks all of Lucie’s boxes; he shares a similar cultural background, he’s honest, and most important, he’s ready to become a father. When they match, it doesn’t take long for Lucie to take a leap of faith for her future. So what if her conservative family might not approve? When Lucie becomes pregnant, the pair return to Singapore and, sure enough, her parents refuse to look on the bright side. Even more complicated, Lucie’s ex-fiancé reappears, sparking unresolved feelings and compounding work pressures and the baffling ways her body is changing. Suddenly her straightforward arrangement is falling apart before her very eyes, and Lucie will have to decide how to juggle the demands of the people she loves while pursuing the life she really wants.

Happy #Birthday! (11/8)

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

The Fox's Tower by Sam Thompson

When Willow witnesses her animal-loving father, Silas, get kidnapped by a group of foxes and a huge wolf-like creature, she pursues them into the woods. There she meets wolves who tell her they know her father. Together they boldly enter the enormous tower the foxes have built deep in the forest. In the tower Willow discovers the dark project of the chief fox, Reynard, to create new life forms from magical clay buried in the Deep Forest where few can enter. To rescue her dad Willow must brave the Deep Forest and dig deep in herself to foil Reynard’s evil scheme to remake the world – but she also finds herself siding with the foxes against their new oppressor, the charismatic but wicked lion Noble.

#Bookpost!

Happy Tuesday, all! As expected, B had several books waiting which we are thrilled to dig into!

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

Tarot by Numbers by Liz Dean

Do you want to learn tarot, but feel overwhelmed by all the card meanings? Tarot by Numbers teaches you one of the easiest ways to read cards in an instant—to look at each card’s number.

Numbers are tarot’s operating system. In a tarot deck, there are 22 major arcana cards numbered 0 to 21, plus four suits of 56 cards, named the minor arcana. Just like playing cards, these minor cards are numbered Ace to 10. Even at a glance, you can see how the Ace might reveal beginnings (the idea) and the Ten, an ending (or ultimate expression of the idea). Combine the numbers with other immediate clues such as the card’s suit (Wands, Cups, Swords, Pentacles), colors, and main image and you will be able to quickly discern the card’s meaning.

With Tarot By Numbers, you’ll discover what numbers mean in a reading, along with some professional number techniques, such as finding your tarot Birth Card by adding up the numbers in your date of birth, and discovering your ‘tarotscope’—which tarot cards influence each year of your life.

This book is perfect for tarot newbies who need an accessible route into tarot (without having to read all the history, myth, and symbolism), as well as the more experienced practitioner looking to refresh their tarot connection.

Weekly roundup

Happy Sunday, all! Welcome to this week's roundup of activity here on the blog.

If you're willing, I'd really appreciate you letting us know if you find this roundup useful or if you'd rather see something else here instead?

The Gathering Dark anthology

A cemetery full of the restless dead. A town so wicked it has already burned twice, with the breath of the third fire looming. A rural, isolated bridge with a terrifying monster waiting for the completion of its summoning ritual. A lake that allows the drowned to return, though they have been changed by the claws of death. These are the shadowed, liminal spaces where the curses and monsters lurk, refusing to be forgotten.

Hauntings, and a variety of horrifying secrets, lurk in the places we once called home. Written by New York Times bestselling, and other critically acclaimed, authors these stories shed a harsh light on the scariest tales we grew up with.

Cake Eater by Allyson Dahlin

She has a million followers on social media.

She uses her fashion-forward eye to pick the perfect angle and filter on every photo.

She’s iconic.

She’s a trend-setter.

She’s Marie Antoinette, the year is 3070, and she’s arrived in the Franc Kingdom to marry the prince, secure an alliance, and rake in likes from her fans.

Versailles is not the perfect palace Marie’s seen on The Apps. Her life is a maze of pointless rules, and the court watches her every move for mistakes. Her shy husband Louis is more interested in horses and computer-hacking than producing heirs. Versailles seems like a dream full of neon-lit statues, handsome android soldiers, and parties till dawn. Under the surface, it’s a creepy den of secrets: surveillance in Marie’s bedroom, censored news feeds, disappearing courtiers.

When Marie and Louis become king and queen long before they’re ready to rule, any efforts to aid their suffering subjects are stamped out by the mega-corporations of the First Estate. Between riots in Paris and image-wrecking social media firestorms, Marie can’t afford to lose her head. Using her social media savvy and Louis’ hacking knowledge, they try to fix their reputations and change their kingdom for the better, but the royals may find it’s already too late. They’re ruling over the end of an era.

Happy #BookBirthday!

Happy Thursday, all! This week there are FOUR books on our various lists publishing.

Cuts Both Ways by Candice Brathwaite

London is all Cynthia knows, so when her parents abruptly uproot the family after a traumatic incident, to a place where there is only one bus an hour and the faint smell of horse manure continuously permeates the air, it's a culture shock, to say the least. As is transitioning to a private school.

At her new school, Cynthia is one of the only black students. Goofy Thomas, her white lab partner, immediately takes her under his wing. He's kind and sweet, and her parents are pleased - someone like Thomas will be good for her 'future prospects'.

As much as Cynthia likes Thomas though, she can't help noticing Isaac, the only other black student in her year. He is aloof and doesn't seem to like her, but there's something about him she cannot quite get enough of...

But when it turns out both boys have been keeping secrets from her, secrets that link back to the life Cynthia thought she had left behind in London, she realises that not everything is as it seems.

Will Cynthia be able to forgive the lies and follow her heart?

#Bookpost

Happy Tuesday all! Just one book this week as we wait for B to return, no doubt to shower us with new reads!

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

The Story of Greenriver by Holly Webb

The animals of Greenriver are in danger. Can Sedge and Silken find their way along the river to each other in time to save their home? A gorgeously illustrated adventure story that readers aged 8+ will treasure.

Last spring, the otters’ home flooded. Now the water is high again.

Young otter Sedge believes he can save his holt from another flood – but he has to be brave enough travel downstream for help.

Downriver, the beaver lodge is also at risk. Silken – who is too small and weak to do the work needed to strengthen the beavers’ dam – feels something calling her up the river.

As the two animals unknowingly swim towards each other, they are drawn to the spirit of Greenriver, who takes the form of a snow-white otter, Lady River.

But will Lady River hear their plea for safety?

Weekly roundup

Happy Sunday, all! With no #Bookpost and no #BookBirthday this week, it's been quieter than usual on the blog, but we still have all the usual reviews.

Leila and the Blue Fox by Kiran Millwood Hargrave and Tom de Freston

She was very tired.

She lay down, her soft head on her soft paws.

The sunset licked her face.

The snow covered her like a blanket.

Fox wakes, and begins to walk. She crosses ice and snow, over mountains and across frozen oceans, encountering bears and birds beneath the endless daylight of an Arctic summer, navigating a world that is vast, wild and wondrous.

Meanwhile, Leila embarks on a journey of her own - finding her way to the mother who left her. On a breathtaking journey across the sea, Leila rediscovers herself and the mother she thought she'd lost, with help from a determined little fox.

Based on the true story of an Arctic fox who walked from Norway to Canada in seventy-six days, a distance of two thousand miles, this compelling, emotional and beautifully illustrated story is the perfect gift for 9+ readers.

The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi

Red is the blood of the elite, of magic, of control.

Blue is the blood of the poor, of workers, of the resistance.

Clear is the blood of the slaves, of the crushed, of the invisible.

Sylah dreams of days growing up in the resistance, being told she would spark a revolution that would free the empire from the red-blooded ruling classes’ tyranny. That spark was extinguished the day she watched her family murdered before her eyes.

Anoor has been told she’s nothing, no one, a disappointment, by the only person who matters: her mother, the most powerful ruler in the empire. But when Sylah and Anoor meet, a fire burns between them that could consume the kingdom—and their hearts.

Hassa moves through the world unseen by upper classes, so she knows what it means to be invisible. But invisibility has its uses: It can hide the most dangerous of secrets, secrets that can reignite a revolution. And when she joins forces with Sylah and Anoor, together these grains of sand will become a storm.

As the empire begins a set of trials of combat and skill designed to find its new leaders, the stage is set for blood to flow, power to shift, and cities to burn.

Ember Shadows and the Fates of Mount Never by Rebecca King

In the magical village of Everspring, everyone receives a fate card before their twelfth birthday, sent down from the mysterious Mount Never. It tells them their purpose, their profession and how old they’ll be when they die.

Nearly 12-year-old Ember Shadows has always believed she is destined for great things. But when her fate card arrives, it’s blank. What does that mean? Then, worse still, her sister’s card decrees she will die before her next birthday. No way is Ember’s going to let that happen.

Determined to challenge what – or who – is responsible for these cards, Ember sets off up the mountain, a place no one is allowed to go. She encounters forbidden realms full of magic, trickery and curious creatures. In a thrilling race through a magical landscape, Ember Shadows must uncover the secret behind the fate cards in order to save her sister …

But will Ember like what she finds at the top of the mountain?

(lack of) #Bookpost!

Happy Tuesday, all!

B, who receives more books than the other two of us put together, is away from home this week, and it happens that we haven't got anything either. I'm sure there'll be a build up next week or the week after! For now, we are working our way through our TBRs instead.

Have a good week!

Curse Undone by Brandie June

In the sequel to Gold Spun, Nor discovers she is more than just a miller’s daughter when she is revealed to be not only half-fay, but the heir to a kingdom she despises. 

Two crowns. Two kingdoms. One chance to rule.

Nor and King Casper are captured by the fay army and forced to face the indomitable Faerie Queen, Marasina. At her command, Casper is thrown into a mysterious prison while an even sinister fate is in store for Nor—a deadly fay poison that reveals Nor’s true nature. She’s not only half-fay. She is Queen Marasina’s heir.

Revealed to be like the very creatures she despises, Nor must not only find a way to free Casper but also navigate a court that is as deadly as it is beautiful. Her allies are few, and though Pel claims to want friendship, Nor finds she cannot forgive his betrayal. As tensions mount and war looms between the kingdoms, Nor must choose a side, before it’s too late.

In this epic conclusion to the Gold Spun duology, Nor discovers that a glamour and a curse may be two sides of the same coin.

Weekly roundup

Happy Sunday, all! We've had a week of very hot temperatures, so we've been happy to stay inside and read.

The Light Thieves by Helena Duggan

Who would you trust to save the world...a boy or a billionaire?

The earth has shifted on its axis and a mysterious dark mark has appeared on the sun - the whole world is in peril! But billionaire tech genius Howard Hansom has a plan...

When Grian's sister goes missing he's convinced she has run off to Hansom's new city to help save the world. But when Grian and his two friends Jeffrey and Shelli track her there they find that nothing is quite as it seems.

Why is everything so secret? Where is the mysterious Area 13? What does Howard Hansom want with all the people he has enticed to live in his city?

The days are getting darker but what's really happening to the sun?

Let Down your Hair by Bryony Gordon

Barb may have zero friends IRL, but online, she is popular. Like, several-hundred-thousand-followers popular. Or at least, her hair is popular. Because Barb's hair is glossy and beautiful. Which is why hairbrush manufacturers pay her stupid money for a 30-second clip. But most of the time Barb just wants to be a normal teenager, who has friends and a life. One who isn't confined to her bedroom on the 12th floor of the tower-block flat she shares with her aunt making content. One who can go about her business without everyone obsessing over the way she looks. Barb just needs to save up some money to make a new life for herself.

But it's soon clear something isn't right. Because when Barb runs her fingers over her scalp, she feels something smooth and different. She gets out her mirrors and combs for a video and sees it ... a bald patch the size of a ten pence coin, slap bang in the middle of her head.

Barb has alopecia.

In this stunning retelling of Rapunzel, Barb must learn that she is so much more than her hair and that there is no such thing as a happy ending ... just lots of complicated new beginnings.

Happy #BookBirthday!

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

Tune in Tomorrow by Randee Dawn

She’s just a small town girl, with big mythic dreams.

Starr Weatherby came to New York to become… well, a star. But after ten years and no luck, she’s offered a big role – on a show no one has ever heard of. And there’s a reason for that. It’s a ‘reality’ show beyond the Veil, human drama, performed for the entertainment of the Fae.

But as Starr shifts from astounded newcomer to rising fan favorite, she learns about the show’s dark underbelly – and mysterious disappearance of her predecessor. She’ll do whatever it takes to keep her dream job – though she might just bring down the show in the process.

#Bookpost!

Happy Tuesday, all! We received several new books this week that we can't wait to dig into!

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

The Lost Girl King

Amy and Liam Bell have been packed off to stay at Gran's house in the wilds of Connemara for the summer. Out for a walk on the first morning of their holiday, they trace the flight of a hawk to a nearby waterfall - only to watch the bird disappear through it. Intrigued, the children follow and soon realise they've discovered the entrance to Tir na nOg, the legendary land of eternal youth. But they've been tricked. Almost immediately Liam is captured by a troop of headless horsemen who take him to Tarlock, the ruling sorcerer of Tir na nOg, who is seeking the bones of a human child for a sinister new spell. Packed with edge-of-your seat adventure, incredible imagination, humour and warmth, The Lost Girl King is the rare kind of story that has you reading long past lights out.

Weekly roundup!

Happy Sunday, all! With no #BookBirthday this week, and one less review than normal, it's been a pretty lean week on the blog! I'm sure we'll make up for it another time, though.

The Railway Children Return by Linda Chapman

The Railway Children Return tells the story of a group of children evacuated to a Yorkshire village during World War Two. There they meet Bobbie, (played by Jenny Agutter) now a grandmother, and her daughter, Annie (played by Sheridan Smith) and a runaway US soldier who needs their help.

No Way Home by Jody Feldman (spoilers in review)

In this propulsive new thriller, a dream summer in Italy turns into a harrowing ordeal for an American exchange student.

Tess Alessandro is living a dream: she was selected for an incredible exchange program in Rome, where she's spending the summer taking in the beautiful sights and sounds and tastes of Italy. Her Italian counterpart, Sofia, is staying with Tess's family while she's away. Sure, her host parents barely speak English, but they seem cool enough.

Until that morning when Tess's hosts make her join their video chat. Sofia is standing over Tess's sleeping parents, and she's brandishing a knife. "Do everything we say, or they will die." Tess is suddenly forced to complete a series of crimes without her passport, cash, credit cards, or privacy. Somehow, she must find a way to uncover their shocking plan and outwit these criminals before she—and her family—end up dead.

#Bookpost!

Happy Tuesday, all! We got a nice mix of books this week. As always, you can click on the cover to learn more about the book.

Alex Neptune: Dragon Thief by David Owen

For as long as Alex Neptune can remember, the ocean has been trying to kill him. So he's not too happy when a bunch of sea creatures drag him to the abandoned aquarium on the hill, where an imprisoned water dragon needs his help. But how can he say no to a magical myth?

Recruiting his tech-genius best friend Zoey, legend-lover Anil, a sharp-shooting octopus, four acrobatic otters and a thieving seagull, Alex plots a heist to break the dragon out. And suddenly discovers the power of the ocean at his fingertips...

Weekly roundup

Happy Sunday, all! Welcome to the weekly roundup of posts.

No One is Alone by Rachel Vincent

Michaela is a junior in high school, close with her single mom. Her dad lives a few towns away and pops in and out of her life only on holidays and birthdays. They barely know each other beyond surface obligations.

That is, until her mom dies. Suddenly on her own, Michaela has to move in with her Dad . . . and learns he's been married with kids all this time, and she was the product of an affair. Before she can even grieve her mother, Michaela is thrust into a strange house with a stepmom and three half-siblings, including new sister Emery, who is in the same grade and less than thrilled at the prospect of sharing her room and school life. Will Michaela be able to let go of everything she's ever known-and find herself anew-with a family who didn't ask for her in the first place?

Don't Let in the Cold by Keely Parrack

The storm isn't the only thing they'll have to survive.

It was supposed to be just one night in the cabin: one night for Lottie and her brand new stepsister, Jade, to try to get along. When a solar flare causes a massive blackout―no power or cell signal―Lottie knows they've got a long night ahead of them.

Then, in the dark, someone else shows up at the cabin―a stranger named Alex, claiming to be lost and needing shelter from the coming snowstorm. But later that night, Lottie spies him in the driveway talking to two mysterious men in a pickup truck, and she's sure he's lying about why he's here.

Before Lottie can find out more, a fire forces her, Jade, and Alex out into the blizzard, where they must rely on one another to get to safety―wherever that is. In the remote, freezing Tahoe wilderness, they have to survive more than just the elements. Soon it becomes clear that Alex's accomplices are hunting for all three of them, in a scheme that's gone too far and taken a chilling, deadly turn.

Happy #BookBirthday!

Happy Thursday, all! This week there are no less than NINE books on our lists publishing!

Spellstoppers by Cat Gray

Welcome to Yowling - a secretive seaside village where magic is just one step away...

Max has spent years thinking he is cursed, because whenever he touches anything electrical it explodes. But then he is sent to Yowling and discovers he is a Spellstopper, someone with the rare ability to drain dangerous build-ups of magic and fix misbehaving enchanted items.

When Max's Grandad is kidnapped by the cruel Keeper of the malfunctioning magical castle that floats in the bay, only Max's gift can save him. Together with his new friend Kit, Max throws himself into an adventure filled with villainous owls, psychic ice cream and man-eating goldfish. But can he really pull off the biggest spellstop ever?

The perfect summer-holiday magical adventure for fans of Diana Wynne Jones, Catherine Doyle and Thomas Taylor.

#Bookpost!

Happy Tuesday! This week we received TWO new books, and we were so eager that we have already read them both! Click on the cover to learn more about the books and see our reviews linked below.

Out There: Into the Queer New Yonder ed by Saundra Mitchell

To conclude the trio of anthologies that started with critically acclaimed All Out and Out Now, Out There features seventeen original short stories set in the future from fantastic queer YA authors.

Explore new and familiar worlds where the human consciousness can be uploaded into a body on Mars…an alien helps a girl decide if she should tell her best friend how she feels…two teens get stuck in a time loop at a space station…people are forced to travel to the past or the future to escape the dying planet…only a nonbinary person can translate the binary code of a machine that predicts the future…everyone in the world vanishes except for two teen girls who are in love.

This essential and beautifully written collection immerses and surprises with each turn of the page.

The House of Shells by Efua Traoré

Kuki refuses to believe in the curse of the Abiku.

Her destiny is not to die young!

Her biggest problem right now is moving house and fitting in at her new school.

One evening while exploring, Kuki spies a driveway lined with giant palm trees. It leads to an abandoned beach house of shadows and scattered sea shells.

And in the fading light, she meets a girl called Enilo.

They become friends – the best of friends.

Until Kuki makes a terrifying discovery …

Weekly roundup!

Happy Sunday, all! The end of another week here on the blog.

Once Upon a Fever by Angharad Walker

Since the world fell sick with fantastical illnesses, sisters Payton and Ani have grown up in the hospital of King Jude’s.

Payton wants to be a methic like her father, working on a cure for her mother’s sleeping fever. Ani, however, thinks the remedy for all illness might be found in the green wilderness beyond the hospital walls.

When Ani stumbles upon an imprisoned boy who turns everything he touches to gold, her world is turned upside-down. The girls find themselves outside the hospital for the first time, a dark mystery unravelling ...

Orla and the Wild Hunt by Anna Hoghton

Orla and her brother go to stay with their gran in Ireland. Grieving the death of their mum, the children revel in the comfort of their grandmother’s house and her magical storytelling. But soon after they arrive, Gran vanishes. Helped by a local boy – and a peculiar creature found in the garden shed – they set out to find her. Shadowed by a shape-shifting darkness known as the Wild Hunt, the children – and especially Orla – must put their sadness behind them if they’re to rescue their beloved Gran.

Happy #BookBirthday!

Happy Thursday, all! This week, there's ONE book from our lists publishing - but next week is going to be a banger, so watch out for that!

Sadé and her Shadow Beasts by Rachel Faturoti

Twelve-year-old Sadé has been escaping to an imaginary world ever since her mum passed away - with its candy-floss lilac sky, she goes on endless adventures atop her purple-winged bird, Nix. But soon she discovers that frightening shadow beasts live here too and they are seeping into the real world.

Luckily, when her sister signs her up to an anonymous grief counselling group, Sadé finds her anxiety gets better.

But then she's asked to perform spoken word in the talent show. The beasts won't let her get on stage: Tiger appears with her long sharp claws, Lion with his piercing blue eyes, and Fox stands on his giant hind legs.

Will Sadé find the courage to say what she needs to - can she banish the shadow beasts for good?

A story about a girl dealing with the death of a parent - with the help of a school support group and a colourful world only she can see.

#Bookpost!

Happy Tuesday! This week we received THREE new books! As always, you can click on each cover to learn more about the book.

The Lighthouse by Alex Bell

On Bird Rock, gannets circle and thick mist surrounds the lighthouse at its centre, hiding the secrets of a tragic past within ... From the second they set foot on the island to join their dad and his new family, Jess and Rosie feel that something's wrong. Nightmares haunt their dreams and there seems to be someone, or something, else with them in the lighthouse - their home for the summer. Counting down the days until they can leave, Jess and Rosie decide to investigate. But when Rosie disappears, the countdown takes on a new meaning. Especially when no one but Jess remembers Rosie at all... Alex Bell's chilling novel is part of the Red Eye series, perfect for fans of Juno Dawson's SAY HER NAME and Kat Ellis's HARROW LAKE.

Weekly roundup

Happy Sunday, all! Hope you've had a good week.

The Truth About Everything by Bridget Farr

Gut a fish. Rewire a truck. Survive the collapse of the US government. All lessons fifteen-year-old Lark has learned during “homeschool” with her conspiracy-theorist-Doomsday-prepping parents. If only she’d also learned the fundamentals of human biology or even how to read. When Lark gets her first period and realizes how much she doesn’t know, she ignores her fears of everything outside their rural Montana farm and secretly attends school for the first time.

At high school, Lark discovers the world is very different than she has been told, from the basics of the internet to government takeovers that never happened. Lark uncovers the holes in her parents’ beliefs and realizes that she must decide her own truth. But it won’t come without sacrifices.

Powerless by Jeff O'Handley (mild spoilers in review)

Sunspots, Al-Qaeda, North Korea—no one knows why the power goes out in sleepy little Harpursville, how much of the world is affected, or how long it will last. In one instant virtually every modern convenience stops working, leaving the townspeople scrambling.

For Kevin Barton, the problem is compounded by the presence of his sixteen-year-old daughter's best friend, Dina, who's been stranded at the house after yet another sleepover. When Kevin's attempt to escort Dina home ends in robbery and humiliation, their "second daughter's" overnight visit becomes a permanent stay. Kevin doesn't really mind. Dina helps with everything from hauling water to digging a garden, and she does it with a smile. But with food scarce and hunger eating away at reason, her large appetite and constant presence sets the household on edge, causing a rift between Kevin and his wife, Monica.

Help is offered by the man who stops Harpursville from sliding into everyone-for-themselves chaos but then he gives Kevin an unthinkable ultimatum. With the peace of the town and Kevin's own family hanging in the balance, he faces a two-front war. Can Kevin find the power in himself to protect everything he holds dear?

Happy #BookBirthday!

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

#Bookpost!

Happy Tuesday, all! This week we got FIVE new books! PLUS, an email mistake meant we missed a new book last week, so I've added it in this week! We've already read one of these so the link is under it, and one is from a blog tour, link to be added shortly!

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

Blog tour: Chameleon Dad by Debbie Thomas

When Connie gets a letter from the dad she thought was dead, she sets out to discover why he left her, eight years ago, sitting in an airport café with only her pet chameleon for company.

Since then she’s lived with her foster mum, a cleaner at the airport, and dreams of seeing her dad again.

With her new friend, a fearless, fossil-hunting boy called Thyo, she tracks her dad down. But as he reveals his true colours, Connie starts to wonder if she’s made the biggest mistake of her life.

The King is Dead by Benjamin Dean (mild spoilers in review.)

James has been a prince all of his life, and since he was born, he's been thrust into the spotlight as the first Black heir to the throne. But when his father unexpectedly dies, James is crowned king at seventeen. Now, the secrets he could keep as a prince with no real responsibility - namely, his sexuality and hidden relationship - are rocked as his life irrevocably changes.

When his boyfriend suddenly goes missing, the royal secrets and scandals that only he knows start to leak online. And when it becomes clear that whoever is behind the messages isn't going to stop anytime soon, James begins to question everyone around him .

Weekly roundup

Happy Sunday, all! This was a nice, normal week for us - watch out for next week though!

Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett

The Discworld is very much like our own – if our own were to consist of a flat planet balanced on the back of four elephants which stand on the back of a giant turtle, that is . . .

They say that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it’s not half so bad as a lot of ignorance.

The last thing the wizard Drum Billet did, before Death laid a bony hand on his shoulder, was to pass on his staff of power to the eighth son of an eighth son.

Unfortunately for his colleagues in the chauvinistic (not to say misogynistic) world of magic, he failed to check that the baby in question was a son.

Everybody knows that there's no such thing as a female wizard. But now it's gone and happened, there's nothing much anyone can do about it.

Let the battle of the sexes begin . . .

This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron

How much would you risk to save the ones you love? Would you tempt even the most dangerous fate?

Briseis has one chance to save her mother, but she'll need to do the impossible: find the last fragment of the deadly Absyrtus Heart. If she is to locate the missing piece, she must turn to the blood relatives she's never known, learn about their secret powers, and take her place in their ancient lineage. Briseis is not the only one who wants the Heart, and her enemies will stop at nothing to fulfill their own ruthless plans. The fates tell of a truly dangerous journey, one that could end in more heartache, more death. Bolstered by the sisterhood of ancient magic, can Briseis harness her power to save the people she loves most?

Happy #BookBirthday!

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

The Wilderness Cure by Mo Wilde

A captivating and lyrical journey into our ancestral past, through what and how we eat.

Mo Wilde made a quiet but radical pledge: to live only off free, foraged food for an entire year. In a world disconnected from its roots, eating wild food is both culinary and healing, social and political. Ultimately, it is an act of love and community. Using her expert knowledge of botany and mycology, Mo follows the seasons to find nutritious food from hundreds of species of plants, fungi and seaweeds, and in the process learns not just how to survive, but how to thrive. Nourishing her body and mind deepens her connection with the earth – a connection that we have become estranged from but which we all, deep down, hunger for.

This hunger is about much more than food. It is about accepting and understanding our place in a natural network that is both staggeringly complex and beautifully simple. THE WILDERNESS CURE is a diary of a wild experiment; a timely and inspiring memoir which explores a deeper relationship between humans and nature, and reminds us of the important lost lessons from our past.

#Bookpost

Happy Tuesday, all! This week we received THREE new books which we're very excited about. In fact, we've already read and reviewed one of them! As always, you can click on each cover to learn more about the book.

H.A.W.K.S by M.A. Bennett

The gripping final instalment in the twisting series that will have fans of One of Us is Lying and Pretty Little Liars hooked.

Determined to crush the Order of the Stag once and for all, and in a desperate last throw of the dice, Greer walks willingly into the lion's den by accepting a sinister invitation to Castle MacLeod, a Scottish stately home in the Isle of Skye.

Greer will be aided and kept safe by Shafeen and Nel, and the enigmatic Abbot Ridley. Plus, of course, Henry de Warlencourt who will accompany her and insists he has changed his colours. But as their darkly fraught romance evolves, can Greer trust him as she places her life in his hands?

A deadly and shocking finale that will have readers on the edge of their seats.

Weekly roundup

Happy Sunday! No glitches this week so we had a full slate of reviews.

The Siege by John Sutherland

Nine hostages. Ten hours. One chance to save them all.

Lee James Connor has found his purpose in life: to follow the teachings of far-right extremist leader, Nicholas Farmer. So when his idol is jailed, he comes up with the perfect plan: take a local immigrant support group hostage until Farmer is released.

Grace Wheatley is no stranger to loneliness having weathered the passing of her husband, whilst being left to raise her son alone. The local support group is her only source of comfort. Until the day Lee James Connor walks in and threatens the existence of everything she's ever known.

Superintendent Alex Lewis may be one of the most experienced hostage negotiators on the force, but there's no such thing as a perfect record. Still haunted by his last case, can he connect with Connor - and save his nine hostages - before it's too late?

Go Hunt Me by Kelly DeVos

Alex Rush is ready for the trip of a lifetime.

She and her friends have made some creepily awesome films together throughout high school, so with only a few months left before they go their separate ways for college, they’re determined to make the best one yet: an epic short film that reimagines the story of Dracula, filmed on location at a remote castle in Romania.

But when they get there, it’s not quite the majestic setting they planned for. Menacing weapons line the walls, the twisted halls are easy to get lost in, and with no connection to the outside world, the group is unexpectedly off the grid. After just a few hours spent under its roof, Alex and her friends have no trouble imagining how this dark, terrifying castle inspired one of the most enduring horror novels of all time.

Only soon they no longer have to use their imaginations to understand the location’s terrifying history—just as they get the film’s first shot rolling, one of Alex’s friends disappears, and she’s nearly certain she saw a cloaked stranger lurking in the shadows. As more members of the group begin to meet an untimely demise, Alex is desperate to stop the bloodshed, even if it means facing a monster she never thought would be let loose.