Murder, fantasy and a couple of fascinating events.

I read a huge number of children's and young people's books (sort of goes with the job) but since I have retired I have allowed myself a bit more of a free rein and actually pick up a number of books from our local book swap, charity shops and other secondhand outlets as well as buying new from independent booksellers.  Deanna Raybourn has a huge catalogue of books to her name - though they had completely by-passed me until I picked up Killers of a Certain Age ( Hodder & Stoughton 2022 ISBN 9781399713108).  Maybe the title appealed because I am 'a certain age' I'm not sure, but I found this a thoroughly enjoyable light read. Four retired assassins (all female) are on a luxury cruise when they discover someone is trying to assassinate them!  And the mayhem, killing and humour go from there - it may not be to everyone's taste but I spent a few enjoyable hours in its company. 

A night in the museum - well, the Natural History Museum in the Earth room - a spectacular setting for the launch of Katherine Rundell's Impossible Creatures. This is a fabulous read set in an archipelago where glorious but impossible creatures - like centaurs and griffins exist, but where they are fighting for their survival. Wonderful writing keeps you on the edge of your seats and makes you totally believe all these creatures do exist...  The launch was enhanced by Charles Dance reading from the first few chapters of the book - I would love to hear him read the whole book!  I can't wait for the next volume. 

The Klaus Flugge Award is a vital, high profile and thoroughly enjoyable annual event rewarding the most promising and exciting newcomer to children's picture book illustration.  This year Mariajo Illustrajo won for the innovative and empathetic book Flooded (Frances Lincoln Books).  Do get a copy if you haven't already seen it!

 

Nation by Terry Pratchett

Mau is a boy just finishing his initiation to manhood, leaving his soul behind on a small island - when he canoes back to his home - Nation - he gets a man's soul. But on his journey he, and the rest of the world, face a tsunami that wipes out the world as it exists. He gets back to his home (by luck) to find it completely destroyed and he has to carve a life for himself.

Meanwhile the daughter of an ambassador is the only survivor of the wreck of the Sweet Judy - which also wrecks on the Nation. Setting the scene for a clash of cultures when the trouserman girl Daphne and Mau meet.

This is a wonderful exploration of the human spirit, the way individuals cope with disaster, rebuild their lives, their civilisations and work out their new societies and their belief systems; which makes it sound deadly dull, and of course it is far from that containing many flashes of Pratchett humour and slightly cock-eyed logic. The period is Victorian and the world similar but not entirely like our own - I believe the tsunami is probably based on the fallout from the Krakatoa eruption. Includes some wonderful and readable scientific deduction - Daphne is a science devotee. Read it for fun, and let it make you think too.

Blade of Fire by Stuart Hill

The second volume in the Icemark Chronicles - and again a hugely involving saga with battles of the various allies and the evil Polypontian General Bellorum. The action takes place 20 years after the first volume. Thirrin and Oskan now have a family - and three of them take part in the battles that ensue - possibly the battles to end the Icemark. Charlemagne the youngest has had polio, and is to be the regent in the country many of the population are evacuated to. The other sister Medea has her father's skills but is particularly drawn to the darker side of her skills - never quite being on the same side as the rest of the family.

This is such a gripping roller coaster of a ride, with the wonderful images of the mixed species allies working together and collaborating (not always so smoothly as one might expect.) Gives you the flavour of the sagas in an easily readable, gripping, un-put-downable book.

The Magician by Michael Scott

This is the second volume in the Secrets of the Immortal Michael Flamel series - a really cracking fantasy novel, very well researched and squarely based in history and mythology. Gripping and enthralling story of the twins of prophesy, as their gifts are awakened - to help the world in it's fight against the next coming of the old Elders. Can't wait for volume 3!

The Battle for Gullywith by Susan Hill

Olly and his family move to Gullywith - a tumbledown farmhouse near a mysterious mere. There are strange stones, covered in runes, appearing to follow Olly; a bookseller who knows what Olly wants before he asks for it; and a legend about a stone king who's castle is rumoured to be drowned beneath the mere - where will this all lead?

Interesting fantasy grounded in today, slighly over written in places and will need reading stamina to complete but well worth the effort.

Artemis Fowl and the Time Paradox by Eoin Colfer

Two Artemis's, two Butlers, two Holly's, all converging on one time - to try to beat Opal before she can stop a cure for Mrs Fowl being found. Great fun - if you've liked the others you'll love the fast pace and the humour here.
http://www.artemisfowl.com/

Starcross by Philip Reeve

Follows on from Larklight - but can be read perfectly well by itself. The idea of the Victorians in space and the adventures that the family get up to are totally believable and thoroughly involving. The wicked moob try to take over the world from a resort hotel near Mars - a real space based ripping yarn, wonderfully told. Enjoy! More info here -
http://www.bloomsbury.com/childrens/microsite.asp?id=1177&section=3&mscssid=ADF9B3VP7LX08KR9BC8Q62MFB0GT09XF

Cosmic by Frank Cotterell Boyce

This is the usual madcap and delightful mix we have come to expect from Boyce. Liam is a normal boy, but very tall, and as such is regularly taken for a grown up - and so he ends up masquerading as his friends father - and via a series of adventures and misfortunes they end up on the greatest adventure imaginable - in space!

There are some elements when you need to suspend your disbelief but the sheer pace and plot means you are carried along happily.

Once Upon a Time in the North - Philip Pullman

This is another element in the His Dark Materials saga. This book explores the first meeting of Lee Scoresby, the Texan balloonist, and Iorek Byrnison - the armoured bear. The sense of cold in the far north has seeped into the human inhabitants and made them devious and politically corrupt. Lee and Iorek form an unlikely alliance that will help some of the innocent people caught up in the problems in the town of Novy Odense.

This is a superb short novella - illustrated beautifully by engravings by John Lawrence. It is also a lovely object in itself with cloth cover and quality paper production. Any reader of HDM must read this.

Skulduggery Pleasant-Playing with Fire by Derek Landy

Derek Landy started life as a screen writer and this certainly shows in his style which creates a rollercoaster of a ride.

The skelton detective Skulduggery and his sidekick Valkyrie Cain (Stephanie to her family) have to defeat terrible evil in the form of Baron Vengeous who is trying to master the deadly armour of Lord Vile and thus gain world domination....

This is a rip roaring adventure that will pull the reader into the story and keep them reading right to the exciting end. This is the second in the series - and more promised for the future.
Great for top of primary schools!

The Bone Magician by F E Higgins

This is the second book from the author of the 'Black Book of Secrets' although the events in this book run concurrently with those in the first book. The names of the characters and places in this novel are wonderfully inventive and add to the fantasy/horror aspect of the tale.

The Bone Magician is a sort of fairground side show where the dead appear to be raised and talk again - but somehow everything seems to be tied up with the Silver Apple Killer who stalks the street at night apparently killing any random passerby - and Pin himself is left wondering if he is the son of the killer as his father disappeared about the time the killings started.

A good read with just enough grime and horror to make it appeal to primary children with fluent reading skills.

Barnaby Grimes - Curse of the Night Wolf

Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell have created another winning formula for young people - a book about Barnaby Grimes - a sort of slightly skewed victorian courier service operative in a fantasy city where strange creatures can roam the night rooftops. This is a macabre new story, with lots of intrigue and horror (but not too terrifying!) It rushes on at a pace so that it is difficult to put down - and the turn of the page to reveal one of Riddell's detailed and fantastic illustration is always a joy.