The author’s dedication in this book reads ‘For Black girls everywhere who feel like they’re not enough. You are. I promise.’ The characters are all Black or Brown, and all dwell in the fantasy kingdom of Keirdre which includes fae people, witches, some humans (lowest in the hierarchy), and most formidable of all, the Siren, she of Greek mythology who lures beings to their deaths beneath the waves. Saoirse is a Siren, forced to hide her identity, in this land ruled by the fae, where all other Sirens have been banished or killed.
Saoirse is also an assassin, a paid killer. When she casts aside her disguise her beauteous looks make her a temptress that none can resist as she sings them to their deaths. She works for an unnamed Employer, in a conspiracy against the oppressive monarchy, for money for her impoverished family . . . and for the thrill of the kill. It is in her blood, a power that is very hard to keep under control. The dilemma for Saoirse is ensuring she does keep control so that the adopted family she loves continues to care for her without fear.
Saoirse has no compassion for her victims until threatening demands from a blackmailer start raising questions in her mind, about her secret Employer, the connections between the murdered men, and whether she is actually being manipulated in her newly won role as guard to the Prince, a man she didn’t expect to like, but who gradually rises in her estimation. The quandary is whether she is actually an agent for good or for evil. Is she a monster; and can she ever be worthy of love?
This book had me enthralled from the very beginning. Although it is a fantasy novel, Burton doesn’t spend a lot of time on world-building; the setting of Keirdre is a backdrop. The central drama is the conflict within Saoirse, and her gradual change of perspective, as she gets to know and appreciate the character of Hayes, the Crown Prince, and she starts to realise how she is being used by unscrupulous forces. She has to take responsibility for her powers and for her actions; a particular challenge when she does not know who is friend and who is foe.
This is an exciting new fantasy novel for YA readers, who will be glad to know that this is only the first instalment in a duology which promises to continue with the soon to be released ‘Drown me with dreams’.
For readers who enjoy this book, I would also recommend Spice Road (2023) by Maiya Ibrahim, another brilliant fantasy novel, with diverse characters and a similar theme of finding one’s true values.
This camp is doomed is the first upper primary novel by Anna Zobel and it doesn’t disappoint!
The students at Dennith Grange School come from a world where teenagers don’t only have to worry about the normal adolescent challenges but also the spontaneous onset of their individual powers, these could be shapeshifting, premonitions or total recall. The story begins as they board the bus for Camp Buttress a run-down facility that has been in the Klock family for generations.
The students are all relatable in their own ways particularly for teachers who will be able to identify characteristics of each in their students. The camp is being run by teenager Alessia Klock, as her parents have been called away. Alessia seems to be out of her depth and unsure of what to do without her schedule, the students are not sure that they are safe or will make it through camp and along with the Grandmother who is cooking, although that is questionable as the food is not appetising, the camp seems to be more of a survival camp than an outdoor experience.
This book will be enjoyed by any reader who likes mystery, supernatural and relationship themes, the students work together to stay alive and solve the mystery they uncover.
This is a really well written book that will engage the reader and would be enjoyed as a class novel or as a read alone. Adults and younger readers will relate to the characters and the story, except for the powers, but these are relatable as the students all struggle with the discovery and understanding of their powers. This will become a favourite in any library.
I'd rather eat chocolate by Narelle Wynter. Illus. by Rebecca Cool
Little Steps, 2023. ISBN: 9781922833440. (Age:4+)
This simple rhyming story is about a young child who does not want to eat vegetables. His dad explains with humour how a number of different types of vegetables will help him do some activities better. The young child then thinks deeply and offers a response.
“Do deer eat zucchinis? If it’s true what you say.
I might have zucchini later in in the day.”
The big, bold and bright illustrations in this story perfectly complement the text which is well spread out and easily accessible to young readers. On the back endpapers are QR codes for various recipes which take you to the website Food Matters.
Themes Vegetables, Rhyme, Humour, Recipes.
Kathryn Beilby
Busy Betty by Reese Witherspoon. Illus. by Xindi Yan
To be honest I wasn't sure that a picture by a Hollywood star would be any good, but I am happy to say that I was wrong. Busy Betty is a story by Reese Witherspoon and tells us all about Betty who finds it hard to focus on one task at a time, and often gets distracted. She has a friend coming over and wants to make sure the dog is clean and ready to play! But, Betty gets distracted and creates much more mess than she started with. When her friend comes over they pool their busy brains and perfect plans to create their very own business....a dog wash.
There were many things that I liked about this story, to start with I enjoyed the writing. I think that the author captured how the busy brain of a child works. From one thing to another, distracted by hunger and ideas, and then the inevitable mess at the end. It was also really lovely to see how Betty's friend had no issue with any of this, accepts her for who she is and then together they came up with an idea, worked hard and put it to practice. It showed a wonderful picture of childhood friendship, no strings attached!
The print in the book is also nice and big, with the majority of it in black (except a few larger, coloured words) and on a white background. From an accessibility angle this is great but also I feel that this would ensure that parents could read it over the shoulder of their child and that emerging readers could have a go too.
The illustrations are very good, with Xindi Yan capturing lots of the mess and craziness of Betty's world. The dog Frank is so funny and you can imagine him in so many of the scenarios.
A great book for children 3+.
Themes Pet, Friendship, Small business, Persistence, Cooperation.
Lauren Fountain
Loki: A bad god's guide to ruling the world by Louie Stowell
While Heimdall and Hyrrokkin take a well-deserved holiday from their "children" Odin sends Baldur – Thor's half-brother to babysit. This makes Loki’s task of proving he can be good harder than ever, considering Baldur doesn’t believe that Loki can change for the good at all. As Baldur and Thor bond, Loki's attempts to prove he's good start getting a bit desperate.
At the heart of this story is the school play. The drama teacher casts Loki as the villain in the play because she believes he is the best actor for the part. But Loki really wants to have the part of the hero, which was given to Thor, and he starts to wonder whether there's any point in being good when everyone seems convinced of his wickedness.
During rehearsals he discovers a rather special ring in the prop room and, not realising the ring is the cursed ring of Andvari, he wears it and begins to hear a voice that convinces him that he can rule the world. Will Loki give into the ring and perform the darkest of tasks just to be the most powerful person in the world?
This is Loki's third diary in the best-selling series about the Norse God of mischief, trickery and deception which began with The Bad God’s guide to being good and continued with A bad God’s guide to taking the blame. All the books contain entertaining comic sections, doodles and speech bubbles that enhance the story for the reader and will appeal to reluctant readers. There is also a website dedicated to the books with activities, videos and a teacher section.
Themes Gods, Magic, Middle-schooling.
Gabrielle Anderson
Murtagh by Christopher Paolini
Penguin, 2023. ISBN: 9780241651346. (Age:12-17)
In Algaesia it is a year since the Empire fell, Galbatorix and his dragon Shruikan are dead and Murtagh, son of Morzan, half-brother to Eragon, falsely branded a traitor by the Varden, is travelling incognito with his dragon Thorn. Few people know his true story and the Elves and the Dwarves have no love for him after he was responsible for killing two of their own. Murtagh’s bond with his dragon goes deep, every night each speaks his one true name, together, prepared to face any challenge, their combined magic making them very powerful. However, Murtagh is troubled by the way he was manipulated during the time of the Empire and now more than ever feels the need to prove his worth and erase the stain of being Morzan’s son. Using the name of his old sword instructor Tornac, he travels to Ceunion to find out more about something evil rising in the land linked to a mysterious black rock. Thorn thinks the rock smells like 'blood hate and anger' but against his advice, Murtagh and the dragon set out to find the source of the evil and the witch Bachel who seems to be involved. Murtagh is not afraid of death, having experienced the depths of pain fear and debasement and now welcomes the chance to pursue a clear and righteous cause. It is 20 years since the publication of Eragon, the first book in the Inheritance Cycle and those who loved that book will welcome the chance to revisit that world. The story was a bit fragmented at the start with some short challenges involving kittens, fish and dragon scales that sat rather awkwardly with the later story and the trials with the witch could have been edited down to be less repetitive. Much as Murtagh seeks to prove himself I didn’t feel his character developed at all and there was a lot of killing with collateral damage made ok by the offhand comment to 'spare the children if possible'. Fans will still embrace this sequel to Eragon but Murtagh can stand alone with enough backstory to satisfy new readers and it is a good excuse to read or re-read the whole series.
Jin Zhara is a hidden magician struggling to know how to manage her magical tendencies. She is someone who must hide her magical gift to stay alive and to be able to stay around to protect her younger, blind step-sister. But rumours of monsters and the loss of fellow magicians has created an unstable environment in the world where she lives. Zhara stumbles into the community of the Guardians of Dawn, but how can her limited magic make a difference when she has no idea how to control it? Into this poor girl’s life stumbles Han who is also hiding something. He is hiding his identity as the royal heir, and the magical damage his younger brother seems to be bearing. The threat to existence by the anti-magic authorities adds a degree of menace, but it is the overbearing danger of magic-gone-wrong that creates a tension all through the story. Even in the midst of the uncertainty, Zhara seems to have had opportunity to have her hopes awakened, and even the spark of romance is possible.
This is a complex fantasy, with significant mystical and magical threads. The setting is complete fantasy, but it does have some Asian influence. There are occasional sparks of humour and romance amidst the tension of magical conflict with light versus dark forces in opposition. I loved it and yet there were times its complexity and internal philosophy confused me. Despite this, the lightness of the gentle romance between Zhara and Han had hints of a Cinderella tale that lifted the story out of darkness into hope. But as this is book 1 of the Guardians of Dawn series, the story is not over and Jae-Jones has more for our heroes, and perhaps more evil to overcome for the Guardians of Dawn. This will definitely be a book for 14+ - Adult readers who love intricate fantasies (and particularly revel in the Asian influence woven through their literature choices). But it has a level of complexity that will require some perseverance for those on the younger end of this scale. Note: the author regularly uses an Asian non-gendered use of third-person pronouns, deliberately using ‘they/them’ until the character reveals their own gender. This is an intriguing and sometimes surprising use of language, and for those who have a non-Asian background, it adds a mystery and cultural difference that is fascinating.
Themes Fantasy, Magic and magicians, Romance, Asian fantasy, Same-sex attraction.
Carolyn Hull
The lonely lighthouse of Elston-Fright by Reece Carter
Allen & Unwin, 2023. ISBN: 9781761066795. (Age:8+) Highly recommended.
In the second novel based around Elston-Fright and the Lighthouse keepers Flip and his Nan, along with his friends, a girl called Corpse, a ghost called Girl and a very large spider called Simon are the only ones in Elston-Fright who still believe in the magic that surrounds the town.
Before Flip was born the lighthouse had not only protected passing ships but had also kept bad magic at bay, but that is all gone and the light is destroyed. Nan has forbidden Flip from going up to the light and so he reads the stories written by his ancestors in the journals he keeps under his bed. When Magic does visit the town, the town people lead by the local policeman, stay inside and lock their doors and pretend it’s not magic!
When Simon, a very large spider who acts more like an oversized puppy than a scary spider, is taken by the Poltergusts; ancient weather ghouls, Flip and his friends must use the ancient Lightkeeper’s journals to rescue their friend. Along the way they will discover long held truths that are lies and loyalties are tested. For these friends, rescuing Simon means understanding the past and trusting in each other.
This is a sequel to A Girl called Corpse, however it works as a standalone novel. The reader will probably get more from this book if they have read the first book as there are a number of references to what happened prior to where this story starts and this may help younger readers understand how these four characters became friends.
This book is told by Flip and Corpse in alternating chapters that may be confusing for a younger reader as each character has a very different but interesting perspective on the way the story is developing.
I would recommend this book to independent readers who have experience with longer novels. It would also be great as a class novel either as a read aloud or read along. It will appeal to lovers of magic, mystery, ghost and ghouls but also to those who love family drama and friendship novels.
Simon & Schuster, 2023. ISBN: 9781761423260. (Age:Adult) Recommended.
After numerous unsuccessful dates, 30-something Gillian has sworn off dating apps and is channelling her energy into readying herself for the annual Willow Cove garden competition. However the arrival of her new standoffish neighbour Noah throws both these plans into disarray.
It’s Probably You, published in America as Hedging Your Bets, is light-weight rom-com, returning with the cast of eccentric small-town characters first found in Denker’s The Rom Com Agenda.
In Gillian we have an ‘ample-sized’ divorcee who seems doomed to forever endure a series of toxic dates with quite unsuitable men, while Noah is still smarting from a recent bad break-up that saw him leave his job and move interstate to the town he used to visit as a youngster. The two get off to a poor start when he inadvertently damages part of her garden, but well-meaning friends and nosey neighbours persevere in steering them together. When Gillian finally questions why she would continue to let herself be judged by her horrid dates, and Noah finds the courage to reveal his true feelings for her, the two eventually realise their shared passion for gardening, and each other.
The chapters alternate between Gillian and Noah’s perspectives as they get to know each other better, and extra insight is added when Gillian’s inner Bette Davis sardonically comments on her decisions. With a cast of (mostly) likeable but meddling towns-folk, and a plot with some unlikely twists It’s Probably You follows the enemies-to-lovers trope; in this case with easy-to-read, entertaining, small town escapism.
After enjoying Wrath by Sedgwick and published by Barrington Stoke, I immediately borrowed Ravencave when I saw that it had been nominated for the Yoto Carnegie Medal 2024. This book lives up to Barrington Stoke’s aim to produce 'super-readable, accessible books' and had me finishing the 113 pages in one sitting, and in tears!
James is very bored – his father loves tracing his family tree and he is being dragged around the hills of Yorkshire, this time not just looking for ancestors’ home, but to scatter his grandmother’s ashes. He finds it hard to keep up with his family, and one day sees the ghost of a young girl, who wants him to follow her. He is afraid, but when he sees her again, he decides to follow her and uncovers a gruesome secret.
Sedgwick has written a chilling ghost story that will have some surprises for the reader and will appeal to its target audience. However, the story is more than a simple ghost story. Sedgwick also explores family dynamics and technological change. James’ family is dysfunctional; his father has just lost his job along with 800 other workers, his mother who writes about ghosts has writer’s block and his brother Robbie is moody and is ignoring him. As James’ father explores the area where his ancestors lived, it is evident that changes in technology have also resulted in their displacement, especially when rich company owners have replaced workers with cheaper machinery and labour.
This is an easy to read, very accessible book, with a wonderful setting and complex themes of grief, family ancestry and capitalism.
Io is the youngest of three sisters and like Thais and Ava, Io inherited her ability to see the silver threaded quilt of reality, from the Olympian Gods of yore. The sister’s powers are based on the Fates of Greek mythology: Weaving (Birth), Manipulation (Life) and Cutting (Death). Potentially, Io can sever the relationship threads that bind each person to: other people, substance abuse, passions, and life itself. But she ekes a living by using her ‘other-born’ powers as a private detective in the coastal city of Alante.
This YA murder/mystery/romance is set in a post apocalyptic world so removed from ours it can be categorized as high fantasy. Indeed, Kika Hatsopoulou weaves a great many elements of classical, nordic and middle eastern mythology into her fictional world. The three moons of her world exploded from a single moon, causing the sea levels to rise and the destruction of coastal areas around the globe except for a few cities on stilts inundated daily by rising tides. Since our Earth has a single moon and rising seas, we can easily add speculative fiction to the author’s generic influences.
Each part of the three-part story is named for one of the sisters’ distinctive skills. During an investigation in Part 1, Io witnesses her target’s murder by a Wraith, a monster with a severed life-thread, able to cut another’s life-thread. Io has not encountered a Wrath before but due to her own ability to cut life threads, she is employed by the Mob Queen, Bianca Rossi, to find out who is ultimately responsible for these assassins. Conditionally, Io must work with Edei, Bianca’s second-in-command. She finds the partnership awkward because she has seen in the quilt that Edei is her soulmate - though he is none the wiser.
The two heroes, aided by many delightfully complex minor characters in an ever more detailed fantasy world of regions, tribes and mythologies; place themselves in constant danger as they piece the puzzle together. Non-stop action is broken only by passages of flirting, where Io struggles with her attraction to Edei, not wishing to derail her long-held resolve to ignore her own fate thread.
Not a fan of high fantasy, the detailed descriptions crucial to shaping this strange new world, are not off putting due to the fast-paced action always unfolding only pages away. Part 2 reveals that the murders are not the end in themselves but possibly the end of the entire world.
Highly recommended for fantasy fans and eclectic readers drawn to a wide range of genres. You won’t want to stop with this title. Hearts that Cut is the sequel and promises high drama for Io, who will leave Alante in search of the source of the golden thread and encountering ever more powerful deities and villains.
Themes High Fantasy, Speculative, Murder/mystery, Mythology, Romance.
Deborah Robins
Miss Penny Dreadful and the mermaid's locks by Allison Rushby
This is the third book in the Miss Penny Dreadful series, and it doesn't disappoint (except that it is the last and I really wanted it to be a longer series!)
Penny and her Aunt Harriet are on the hunt for a new story and discover a story in the newspaper about a Mermaid living in a grotto in the River Thames. They both think that this might just be the ticket, however Aunt Harriet's publisher doesn't seem as keen and is doing everything he can to stop them. Penny is becoming suspicious about his motives and his involvement in not only her parents’ absence but also the roles he has played in some of the other incidents that Penny and her Aunt have been confronted with.
When they arrive at The Mermaid Locks and see for themselves the mermaid grotto and find a comb with red-gold hair entwined around it, Penny decides to investigate and find out all she can about the mermaid. With Penny's parents still missing and strange postcards arriving can Penny solve two mysteries and finally reunite with her parents.
As this is the third book in a very well written series it really does need to be read in order so that the reader is aware of what has already happened, however it is a great book that could be read alone is the reader really wanted to.
I would highly recommend this book and the series to any mystery lover or a class teacher who wants to keep the listener on the edge of their seats. It is a fabulous book that will engage and delight any reader, it will be loved by all ages.
Only Children is three short stories that will engage the reader with quirky characters.
The first character is Alfie, a boy with a routine, actually multiple routines! He has a routine for everything in his life and everybody in his house follows them. That is until his regular babysitter isn’t available and his parents have a very important meeting to attend. Enter Mrs Stokes, she doesn’t do routines, she won’t follow the schedule and she tells Alfie to do what he likes! And this is when things start to get weird!!!
Then comes Chrissie, a girl who has loved trains for as long as she can remember even though she has never been on one. When the day comes for Chrissie to travel to London by train for an important operation, things don’t go exactly as planned. Along for this magical ride is her Grandpa Henry and together they must ensure that they (and all the other passengers) arrive safely.
Finally there is Ariel, a child who lives in Snoring-On-Sea, quite possibly the most boring holiday destination in the world. Max, Lily and Jack go every year with their parents and dread it, however, when they explore a tiny island out in the sea they meet Ariel. Ariel claims to never have had a holiday and finds everything amazing, including the view of the brick wall out of the children’s bedroom window.
Readers will enjoy seeing the world through the different characters eyes, with each character having a unique and very different story the reader will enjoy the exploits.
This book is one that could be used in a class setting as a teacher read aloud but is more likely to be enjoyed as an independent read by children.
Themes Children, Magic, Humour.
Mhairi Alcorn
Lily Halfmoon: The magic gems by Xavier Bonet
Allen & Unwin, 2023. ISBN: 9781761180354. (Age:8+) Highly recommended.
Turning nine should be a time of celebration and excitement but for Lily Halfmoon she wasn’t expecting her birthday cake to explode or for other magical happening to start. She doesn’t know how to control what is happening until she starts at magic school with two girls who help her negotiate this new chapter in her life.
When the three girls are assigned to find out who is eating their teachers’ magic flowers, they must work together to solve the mystery. With each girl having a crystal that holds their power, a familiar that is assigned to them and learning about their powers and what being a witch really means it is a lot to expect of young children, but the girls realise that their greatest power is friendship and trusting each other and this is why the story will be loved by adults and children alike.
This graphic novel is so well written and has excellent explanations about how things work and why things do what they do. For anyone who loves spells, witches, or mysteries this a great book. The illustrations are beautiful, and the story grabs the interest of the reader.
Although graphic novels are not great read aloud or class novels, this book will become a favourite on any library shelf, especially for those students who are interested in Harry Potter or the fantasy genre in general but don’t want to or have the capacity to read a long book.
This is the first book in a series and will be shared and loved by any reader.
As a fan of the detective genre, I was thrilled to read A disappearance in Fiji, discovering a debut author who I will want to follow as well as an unfamiliar setting. Akal Singh has been demoted from his promising police post in Hong Kong and sent to Fiji, where he is given lowly tasks and not trusted. It is 1914 and the British oversee the government in Fiji. Sugarcane plantations are an important source of income, and indentured workers from India provide the labour, planting and harvesting, while living in appalling conditions. When an Indian woman goes missing, the authorities ignore it until the local newspaper headlines that she has been kidnapped. Akal is given the job of investigating and he finds that it is not a simple missing person’s case.
The historical examination of the way indentured Indian workers were exploited, the descriptions of their living quarters and the arduous work that they perform form a fascinating background to the investigation. This is an unfamiliar part of history for me and it is dealt very well by the author, who is a descendant of Indian Fijians. Witty banter between Akal and his Fijian offsider lighten the story, while the police procedures revolving around the mystery were well crafted with some twists, turns, and surprises. Akal is an appealing main character and the reason he was sent from Hong Kong is a secondary mystery that kept me engaged.
This was a very enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more books by Nilima Rao. Readers may also like The paper bark mystery by Ovidia Yu and Murder at Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey.
