Guest Review: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her own Making by Catherynne M Valente

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Title: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making

Author: Catherynne M Valente 

Publisher: Corsair

Publication Date: 7 June 2012

Source : Review Copy

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis from Goodreads

Gather up your courage and your wishes; grab a little pinch of luck - and prepare to be swept away, in a ship of your own making, to a land unlike any other. September is a twelve-year-old girl, Somewhat Grown and Somewhat Heartless, and she longs for adventure. So when a Green Wind and a Leopard of Little Breezes invite her to Fairyland - well, of course, she accepts (mightn't you?).

When she gets there, she finds a land in crisis and confusion - crushed by the iron rule of a villainous Marquess - she soon discovers that she alone holds the key to restoring order. Having read enough books to know what a girl with a quest must do, September sets out to Fix Things.

As September forges her way through Fairyland, with a book-loving dragon and a partly human boy named Saturday by her side, she makes many friends and mistakes; loses her shadow, her shoes and her way. But she finds adventure, courage, a rather special Spoon, and a lot more besides .

When this book came through my letterbox I think I fell in love just a little bit as the cover is just so beautiful and it really makes you want to dive straight in.

REVIEW BY SHELLY

The book is about September who is a 12 year old girl living in Omaha with her Mum. Her Dad is off fighting a war in Europe and her Mum is working all hours in a factory leaving September feeling very lonely. This is where the fairytale starts. She is whisked away by The Green Wind and The Leopard of Little Breezes to Fairyland where she is set to have many adventures.

Once there she finds herself on a quest for the mean Marquis, a good deed for some Witches and making friendships along the way. One of my favourite being A-Through-L, a Wyvern whose dad is a library so Ell, as September calls him, only knows about things beginning with A to L. He looks like a dragon but can't fly as the mean Marquis has made it law that no fairies or Wyvern's are allowed to fly so his wings have been chained up with a lock and key. Their friendship is at the heart of the book and the author really makes you care about them both to the point where later in the book it gets a little bit emotional! The characters you meet are as varied and colourful as you would expect from a fairytale but the author really makes you believe in them and this is coming from 40 year old Mum!!

This book is truly a great fairytale. The author describes Fairyland in such vividness that you feel as though you are there with September. In fact throughout the book I kept feeling how great this would be as a Tim Burton film with bright colours and slightly odd characters. I would highly recommend this to any age of reader. I say dive on in you won't regret it and you will certainly enjoy the ride.

Guest Mini-Review: Dearly Departed by Lia Habel

Image from Amazon

Title: Dearly Departed

Series: Gone With Respiration #1

Author: Lia Habel

Publisher: Corgi Children's 

Publication Date: 7 June 2012

Source: Review Copy

Rating: 

Synopsis from Goodreads

Love can never die.

Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

In Dearly, Departed, romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip-roaring adventure, spine-tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever redefines the concept of undying love.

GUEST REVIEW BY MADISON

Nora is attacked one night and carried away by an army of the living dead. don't get me wrong, these are the good guys sent to protect Nora from another group of living dead that want her well dead. The evil zombies want to kill Nora and are willing to feast on anyone in order to increase their numbers. Bram, one of the good undead, tries to earn Nora's trust but she wonders if she will ever be safe again.

My favorite part of the book was when Bram trying to earn Mora's trust uses the locks on his door. This is where they first started to bond, getting to know each other better and trust is built between them. I didn't like Bram's boss at all, he was cruel and unfair however his character was necessary to the plot.

I really enjoyed this book, it was thrilling and I am looking forward to reading the next one. 

Musical Moments: Guest Post: Character Play-list by Ellie Phillips

It is my pleasure to welcome Ellie Phillips to Book Angel Booktopia today with the character play-list for  Dads, Geeks and Blue Haired Freaks

Image from Goodreads

Review HERE

Dads, Geeks and Blue Haired Freaks Blog Tour

I thought I'd start my blog posts on this tour with a Hairstyle of the Day. In Dads, Geeks and Blue-haired Freaks my main character, Sadie, gets given a calendar for her birthday called 'A Hairstyle a Day, One Year of Original Styles'. So I thought I'd do the same on my blog posts. I must add that I haven't actually tried any of them out!

Wednesday 6th June

Hairstyle of the Day:

I think if we're mentioning post-rock then we need to look at boys' hair and so I think today's hairstyle should be something around bald and beardy like these guys here:

Source

PLAY-LISTS

Wow - the iPod play-lists of my characters. I know my characters inside out, but it took me a while to think about what they might be listening to. Obviously Billy has very particular tastes, being an embryonic Post-rock god, but Sadie's playlist I thought would reflect her character which is understated but stealy and determined. Aunt Lilah - well I thought her taste would reflect her youth - as well as the playlist for her hairdressing salon - so nothing too exciting there.....Here we go:

Sadie :

Links to YouTube:

Katy B Katy On a Mission

Yasmin Light Up (The World)

Lewi White Young Guns

M.I.A. Paper Planes

Ciara Love Sex Magic

Amy Winehouse Back to Black and Stronger Than Me

Gyptian Hold You

Soundgirl Don't know why

Billy

YouTube Links:

Mogwai White Noise

Explosions in the Sky Your Hand in Mine

This Will Destroy You Quiet

Red Sparowes In Illusions of Order

Sigur Ros Glosoli

65daysofstatic Radio Protector

Aunt Lilah:

YouTube Links:

Whitney Houston Saving All My Love for You

Phyllis Nelson Move Closer

Dolly Parton 9 to 5, Jolene and Here You Come Again

Diana Ross Do You Know Where You're Going To

Luther Van Dross Never Too Much

Thank you to Ellie for coming up with such fabulous and diverse play-lists. I hope you have enjoyed.

Guest Mini-Review: Dads, Geeks and Blue Haired Freaks by Ellie Phillips

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Title: Dads, Geeks and Blue Haired Freaks

Author: Ellie Phillips

Publisher: Electric Monkey

Publication Date: 4 June 2012

Source: Review Copy

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis from Goodreads

Sadie Nathanson spends her life trying to survive the excruciating embarrassment of simply existing. It’s hard enough being a bit of a shrinking violet within a loud and outspoken extended family, but the unexpected card from ‘Dad’ on her 15th birthday is the last straw.

As ‘Dad’ was an Internet sperm-donor, it doesn’t take a genius to work out that this is a bad joke, probably set up by her ex-best-friend Shonna. But it starts Sadie wondering – just who was her father? Is he the cause of her worry crinkle and wonky bum? What would happen if she tracked him down?

So she decides to do just that. With help from her nerd cousin Billy, his friend Nodding Tony and a regular dose of ‘Haironomics’ (Sadie’s own hairstyle-related philosophy system), they uncover a lot more than they bargain for...

REVIEW BY MADISON

Although getting a birthday card from your Dad on your birthday should be completely normal, for Sadie it is anything but. You see, Sadie's Mum had artificial insemination via a sperm donor website. Therefore, you can imagine how surprised Sadie is to receive this particular birthday card.

At first Sadie thinks it is some kind of cruel joke, but then she starts wondering what it really would be like to meet her biological father. The things that go through her mind are completely understandable after all we all have certain traits that can be attributed to our parents, Sadie only has one half of the equation in order to figure out who she is.

I really enjoyed this book, it was a fun, light-hearted read that was refreshing. I especially liked the use of the different hairstyles Sadie's associated with each day, a quirky little trait that she used to show how her day had gone.

I really liked how this book made me giggle out loud at the things that happened and the things Sadie said.

MG Monday: Guest Review: Lolly Luck by Ellie Danes

Image from Goodreads

Title: Lolly Luck

Author: Ellie Danes

Publisher: Andersen

Publication Date: 5 Jan 2012

Source: Review Copy

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis from Goodreads

Lolly is Lolly Luck by name, lucky by nature. She always wins magazine competitions, on scratch cards and any game you can think of. But when Lolly’s dad loses his job and then the family home, Lolly’s luck starts to change. And when she overhears her parents arguing, she learns a secret that will change her life forever.

REVIEW BY BETH

Lolly Luck is a well written and thought out novel that takes some seriously major family and personal issues and makes them palatable, manageable and readable for an audience of around 9-11. Lolly is a happy go lucky, likeable and fun character who narrates her own tale, from the beginning where her luck seems to be on the up, throughout the story when it seems to come upon hard times and everything that could go wrong, does go wrong. Lolly is an extremely believable and genuine narrator who has many personality quirks and nuances that make her especially likeable, including her dislike of the popular school bully and her love of making paper fans for her dad and family members.

Everything is going so well at the beginning, it’s Lolly’s birthday and she’s already received a wad of cash from a mysterious Great Uncle and is looking forward to her special bike from her parents. However, after school everything changes, her dad has lost his job and nothing seems as lucky anymore. From then on, their household shifts and things are no longer the way they were for Lolly and her big sister Zola. It comes to a head when Lolly hears a heart-breaking secret in an argument between her parents and she knows nothing will be the same again.

This novel deals with some highly relevant and current social issues and markets them wonderfully to a young adult/older child audience. With issues such as redundancy, social housing and family breakdown treated with care and dignity, Ellie Daines gives us a novel which whilst dealing with such big issues isn’t depressive or too hard to handle. An enjoyable and fun novel where you constantly find yourself cheering Lolly on and hoping she reaches a happy ending.

Guest Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Image from Goodreads

Title: The Night Circus

Author: Erin Morgenstern

Publisher: Vintage

Publication Date: 24 May 2012

Source: Review Copy

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis from Goodreads

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.

REVIEW BY BETH

Strangely this book had not even come onto my radar, which is a huge shock once I found out how much popular interest it’s gained and also when it found itself of Richard & Judy’s Summer Book club list but anyway. I don’t want to use all the stereotypical magical language to describe this book, because however right it is, it seems an understatement. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is simply beautiful, bewitching and the tone and language used is absolutely captivating and perfect for the setting that is created and grows with the novel.

“The Circus arrives without warning” and only opens at night and punters are treated to a late 19th century spectacular that cannot be beaten. Where you expect trickery and illusion, you are actually met with real, unaccountable feats of “magic” which are truly fascinating. I don’t read fantasy or science fiction or anything like that and this novel doesn’t fit into those categories because I have no reason to believe that it couldn’t be enjoyed by absolutely everybody, it’s that good.

The Circus is the backdrop to a more sinister undertaking between two young, specially selected illusionists who spent their entire childhoods being trained and developed into their modern day selves. Celia and Marco are tied into a ‘game’ which is about more than what it seems and as the novel develops there is more than what it seems to all those involved in the circus production. The feats of imagination that Morgernstern is able to create are undeniably beautiful and the way she draws and develops the circus is just breath-taking – my favourite features included The Wishing Tree and Widget’s special room so look out for them, they’re amazing.

When looking back at this novel you can’t fail to comment upon the illustrative nature of its format too. Pages throughout are scattered with stars and this adds another element which adds to the all-round wonder created by this novel, to the extent that I’ll have to buy my own copy after I return this one to Emma!

My only tiny misgiving as that the ending wasn’t strong enough for me, it seemed to peter out a little but this was by no means enough to detract from my overall love and enjoyment of the novel.

Guest Mini-Review: Fever by Dee Shulman

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Title: Fever

Series: Fever #1

Author: Dee Shulman

Publisher: Puffin

Publication Date: 5 April 2012

Source: Review Copy

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis from Goodreads

A fearless Roman gladiator. A reckless 21st century girl. A mysterious virus unites them . . .

152 AD. Sethos Leontis, a skilled and mesmerising fighter, is unexpectedly wounded and lies dangerously close to death.

2012 AD. Eva is brilliant - but troubled. Starting her new life at a school for the gifted, a single moment in the lab has terrifying results.

An extraordinary link brings Sethos and Eva together, but it could force them apart - because the fever that grips them cannot be cured and falling in love could be lethal . . . Can love survive when worlds collide and threaten time itself?

REVIEW BY MADISON

In 152AD a Roman gladiator fights to survive; in 2012 a teenage girl lives in a boarding school called St Magdalene's. A fever infects the gladiator, Seth, enabling him to discover a brand new world. Meanwhile, in 2012, Eva finds out extraordinary lab results that could endanger her too. Somehow, the 2 of them are brought together by a mysterious force. They have to unite in order to understand the mystery that surrounds them.

I really liked how the two different times and places were portrayed, the author does a really great job of showing what life was like both then and now. I also enjoyed how the two main characters had common ground even though they were from such completely different places.

I did find that the end for me felt a bit rushed and cut off, as if there should have been more to it, the story was at a really good point but then it just cut off. Nevertheless I really enjoyed this book, it was captivating.

Guest Mini-Review: The Storm Begins by Damian Dibben

Image from Amazon

Title: The Storm Begins

Series: The History Keepers

Author: Damian Dibben

Publisher: Corgi Children's

Publication Date: 24 May 2012

Source: Review Copy

Rating: 2/5

Synopsis from Goodreads

When Jake is kidnapped by strangers on a stormy London night he discovers his loving parents have been leading a double life and are now missing, lost somewhere in history. He is plunged into a world of secret societies, dangerous double agents, and a terrifying countdown to oblivion. Transported by a Spanish galleon back to 19th century France, he finds himself in the headquarters of The History Keepers - a remarkable league of time-travelling special agents. The History Keepers preserve the true course of history against those who would change it for their own gain, such as the diabolical Prince Zeldt. Driven by a sense of adventure and a desire to reunite his family, Jake makes the most thrilling - and dangerous - decision of his life.

GUEST REVIEW BY MADISON

Jake's parents have gone missing, they could be anywhere not only in the world but in time itself. Their ability to travel through time and their part in a society called The History Keepers is a secret they have managed to keep from Jake. Jake sets out to find his parents, a task made all the more difficult when he realises that the evil Prince Zeldt is planning to destroy the world.

To be perfectly honest I didn't really enjoy this book, it's appeal is more for younger readers. It has a simple plot making it easy to follow yet I can see how thrilling it would be for a younger reader. The magical element of time-travel was interestingly portrayed, the inclusion of the evil genius in Prince Zeldt made the plot more exciting.

Although I didn't enjoy it myself I wouldn't hesitate in recommending it to younger readers especially boys, as it was a good book just not my personal taste.

Spotlight: Guest Post: Comfort Foods by Chloe: Queen of the Universe

As part of her whistle stop blog tour, it's with great pleasure I welcome Chloe: Queen of the Universe to Book Angel Booktopia today. Chloe's going to talk about comfort food.

Review HERE

Chloe: Queen of the Universe – Comfort Foods 

Welcome bloggers, this is Chloe, Queen of the Universe. Normally you can find me on the air at 88.8 The Edge, a high school radio station broadcasting from the campus of the Del Rey School in Tierra del Rey, California. But this week I’m touring the blogosphere in celebration of the release of my YA contemp book, WELCOME, CALLER, THIS IS CHLOE. Glad you stopped by!

Today we're going to talk about the food you love and need when life gets rough…when you get a Rudolph-size zit on the end of your nose right before the big dance…when you get into a fender-bender with Daddy’s new car. Visualize with me, bloggers, you’re down, you’re beaten, and you need munchies to make it better.

In the queen’s castle, the royal comfort food is Twizzlers – soft, sweet, and oh-so comforting. The last time I had more than the recommended daily allowance was the day a certain guidance counselor disemboweled my Junior Independent Study Project, a story that deserves its own radio show. But back to comfort foods. I want to know what food soothes your battered heart and calms your soul.

At the radio station, news director Clementine loves beets. You heard right: beets, as in purple, bulbous root vegetables. Duncan, who runs the radio boards and wears the cutest scarves, likes eggs and cheese on toast. Haley from the arts and entertainment desk finds comfort in anything with watermelon, and our music guru, Taysom, can find his inner bliss with a hot fudge sundae.

Now it's your turn. What food do you turn to when you need a little comfort? 

One commenter will receive a WELCOME, CALLER, THIS IS CHLOE swag pack, which includes a pen, bookmark, bottlecap necklace, mousepad, and Twizzlers.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To learn more about young adult author Shelley Coriell and Chloe’s high school radio world, visit www.shelleycoriell.com. 

Musical Moments: Guest Post: Mercy Series Soundtrack by Rebecca Lim

It is with great pleasure I welcome Rebecca Lim to Book Angel Booktopia today, you may have noticed my reviews this week [ ;D ], with the soundtrack to the Mercy Series it is very eclectic: Over to Rebecca:

When I was writing the books in the Mercy series (Mercy, Exile, Muse and Fury) I had a few songs on high rotation on my iPod, and even name check a few of the choral pieces in some of the books (for those readers who happen to be ex-choir nerds like me!).

The following list isn’t exhaustive, but listening to some of these worked like hanging a magic amulet around my neck when I needed to drop straight into the mood of the storyline:

Symphony No. 8 in E-flat major by Gustav Mahler has a starring role in the first book, Mercy, because it’s the reason Carmen Zappacosta (whose body Mercy is “inhabiting”) has been drawn to Paradise in the first place.

Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand by the Primitive Radio Gods. Chris O’Connor and the band were kind enough to let me extract a portion of the lyrics at the start of Exile as a kind of “mood setter” for the book.

The Flower Duet (Sous le dôme épais) from Léo Delibes' opera Lakmé crops up in Mercy and in Muse as a kind of indicator of how far Mercy’s memory has returned between books 1 and 3.

If This is It by Newton Faulkner. Listen to the bit about “slings and stones and fire” and you’ll get why I loved listening to this.

Anything by the early music group Hesperion XX. Their stuff can instantly transport you to another time.

The Last Day on Earth by Kate Miller-Heidke, an Aussie singer-songwriter. An absolutely haunting song about lost love.

The album Science and Faith by The Script.

Walk On by U2, written about and dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi.

The 16^th century Corpus Christi Carol (author anonymous). Benjamin Britten as interpreted by Jeff Buckley. Spine-tingling.

Huge thanks to Rebecca for sharing. My favorites are If This Is It which I will be adding to my ipod this evening and I adore The Script, I chose that particular video because I think it goes fabulously with the ending of the series [ ; D ]

Mercy Review HERE                         Exile Review HERE

Muse Review HERE                           Fury Review HERE

Spotlight: Guest Post: Happily Ever Afters by Kerrianne Coombes

It is with pleasure I welcome Kerrianne Coombes to Book Angel Booktopia today to share her love of Happy Ending (me too). Over to Kerrianne:

I am here to celebrate my new release called The One That Got Away And as part of the celebration, I am offering one commenter a chance to win a copy of the novella.

So what are you waiting for - leave a comment [ : D ] 

Why I love a happily ever after…

We live our lives reaching for something, right? Every day we wake up, go to work and try to have a great day. We try our hardest and sometimes even that is not enough. Your boss is either being difficult, or your kids drive you mad. Not every day is perfect. Sometimes you just need to close off your mind from the piles of bills, and the messy house. Sometimes you just need to stop for a while.

That is where my books come in.

I don’t know about you, but reading is a form of escapism. I love nothing more than to sink into a great book and be swept up into a world where the bad guys get their comeuppance, and love always wins. If I choose to read a book, I don’t want to come away feeling disappointed, angry or even depressed. I guess that is my choice—but I want to put a book down and sigh happily. If life cant be perfect outside of a book, it doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be inside the book. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all roses and plane sailing in my books, but you will always get a happily ever after.

Synopsis from Author

When William Adams is forced to return to his home village to bury his drunk, violent father, memories of his first love rise. Driven from his childhood home at eighteen, William had begged his girlfriend Cammy, to go with him. With only a bag of clothes and a twenty pound note, he had nothing to offer her, except his love and devotion. When she refused to flee with him, Will was crushed. He left his town and his first love and vowed never to return.

Ten years later, regret and unfinished business force him to rescind his vow.

Camilia Jones, pub owner and bitter singleton is stuck in a rut. Constantly hurt by the popular misconception that she is miserable and surly, and not able to move past the attack that ruined her life and left her permanently scarred. She is tired, broken and utterly alone. When William Adams, the man who stole her heart arrives back in the village, Cammy feels her old self come back to life

Spotlight: Guest Post: Historical Book Recommendations by Barbara Mitchelhill

Title: Road to London

Author: Barbara Mitchelhill

Publisher: Andersen

Publication Date: 5 April 2012

Synopsis from Goodreads

Thomas dreams of becoming an actor, and when Shakespeare comes home to Stratford, Thomas's life changes forever.

Thomas is desperate to join 'the players', he'll do anything to watch them perform, even skip school and risk a caning. But when Thomas's rule breaking gets him in trouble with more than just his school master, he has to flee his home and make his way to London. Here he meets his hero, Shakespeare, and his players. But behind the excitement of the theatres is a grimy world of deception, poison and treason. Will Thomas manage to uncover the plot in time? And will he manage to save Shakespeare from a fate worse than death?

Barbara has kindly put together a list of 5 historical novels that provide action and adventure as well as a great introduction to historical novels. Have you read any?

These are five historical fiction books for children published within the past five years.  I found all of them very exciting page-turners.

Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper

Set in London 1861 about young Grace whom we first meet carrying the body of her baby to Brookwood Cemetery. We watch her struggling to earn enough money to pay the rent and to avoid the unscrupulous family whose shady business deals with death and mourning. A wonderful story with lots of detail of Victorian London.

Powder Monkey by Paul Dowswell

Lots of action in this story of Sam Witchall working in difficult and dangerous conditions on board one of Nelson’s ships. Exciting and packed with action for those readers who can’t get enough of gory battles. Wonderful descriptions and historical details in the telling of the adventures of this young sailor.

Witch Child by Celia Rees

When Mary’s grandmother is hanged for being a witch, she is taken by a mysterious lady to begin a new life in New England where she lives in a strictly religious and isolated community. But Mary has a deep connection with the natural world and forms a secret friendship with Native Americans. With the arrival of the Witch Finder in the community, she must take care to avoid being branded as a witch. This exciting story gives the reader wonderful insight into the lives of the early settlers.

The Diamond of Drury Lane by Julia Golding

The best of the Cat Royal books. London 1790. Feisty Cat is an orphan living in the Drury Lane theatre where strange and amazing things happen in the theatrical world, including involvement with London’s underclasses. Exciting and funny. Full of historical detail of the theatre and 18th century London.

The Falconer’s Knot by Mary Hoffman

Italy, 1316. Silvano is accused unjustly of murder and runs away from home while Chiara is abandoned by her family and takes refuge in a neighbouring convent. When the two teenagers meet, they become friends but soon several murders strike fear into the close-knit community. In an attempt to avoid becomes victims, they try to solve the crimes themselves. This is a thrilling medieval murder mystery.

Are there any other historical novels you would recommend for my pupils as an introduction to this genre?

Guest Review: Road to London by Barbara Mitchelhill

Title: Road to London

Author: Barbara Mitchelhill

Publisher: Andersen

Publication Date: 5 April 2012

Synopsis from Goodreads

Thomas dreams of becoming an actor, and when Shakespeare comes home to Stratford, Thomas's life changes forever.

Thomas is desperate to join 'the players', he'll do anything to watch them perform, even skip school and risk a caning. But when Thomas's rule breaking gets him in trouble with more than just his school master, he has to flee his home and make his way to London. Here he meets his hero, Shakespeare, and his players. But behind the excitement of the theatres is a grimy world of deception, poison and treason. Will Thomas manage to uncover the plot in time? And will he manage to save Shakespeare from a fate worse than death?

GUEST REVIEW BY SHELLY

“Plots, Treason and Drama! When Thomas flees to London in search of a life in the theatre, he meets his hero, William Shakespeare, and thinks his dream has come true.

But Elizabethan London is a grimy place; full of scoundrels, treachery and murder. Thomas and his friend, Alice, find themselves caught up in a treasonous plot to kill the Queen.”

I have to say that this kind of book is right up my street. I do love a good historical novel and this is an easy read. I know I am not the targeted audience for this book, I am after all no longer a teenager, but I have to say that I enjoyed travelling with Thomas into the grimy streets of Tudor London.

Thomas has always dreamed of being an actor and so when he meets his hero William Shakespeare in Stratford he feels that his dreams may come true. His Father though has different ideas and Thomas must attend school and become a lawyer. Circumstances change for Thomas and he must flee Stratford and there begins the tale of treason and murder. I feel that this is where the story really takes off and the way that the author has captured the dirty smelly streets of London is quite something. Although basic in language she manages to give you the sights and smells of that era.

Along the way Thomas meets Alice. She is a very feisty character and sometimes I did have to suspend belief in her as I did wonder if there were female characters like her at that time. But go with it as she becomes a truly likeable and enjoyable part of the book. She is the one who finds out about the plot to kill the Queen and with Thomas’ help, they manage to foil it.

There were some lovely references in the book to past historical events. Look out for the baker on Pudding Lane, a very witty nod to the Great Fire of London.

I enjoyed reading this and as I said at the start it is a very easy read with uncomplicated language but this does not detract from the great story that Barbara Mitchelhill weaves for her reader. I think this is a perfect book for those who want to delve into historical novels but don’t know where to start.

Musical Moment: Official Book Theme Songs: The Goddess Chronicles by Aimee Carter

It is with great pleasure I welcome Aimee Carter to Book Angel Booktopia today. I asked Aimee to think of a character soundtrack for the books. Here is what she said and what she came up with: 

I am absolutely terrible at soundtracks. TERRIBLE. I could probably name a Kate song and a Henry song, but everyone else – gah. So here are songs I think work pretty well for themes for the three books:

Title: The Goddess Test

Series: The Goddess Chronicles #1

Author: Aimee Carter

Publisher: Mira Ink

Publication Date: 16 Sep 2011

Synopsis from Goodreads

EVERY GIRL WHO HAS TAKEN THE TEST HAS DIED.

NOW IT'S KATE'S TURN. 

It's always been just Kate and her mom--and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear that her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she suceeds, she'll become Henry's future bride and a goddess.

IF SHE FAILS...

Courage Is, by The Strange Familiar 

REVIEW HERE

Title: Goddess Interrupted

Series: The Goddess Chronicles #2

Author: Aimee Carter

Publisher: Mira Ink

Publication Date: 6 April 2012

Synopsis from Goodreads

Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life with Henry in the Underworld, she'll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans. As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person whom she would really rather not meet. Henry's first wife, Persephone.

 Someone Like You, by Adele

REVIEW HERE

Title:The Goddess Inheritance

Series: The Goddess Chronicles #3

Author: Aimee Carter

Publisher: Mira Ink

Publication Date: 2013

No Synopsis available at this time.

This Time Around, by Hanson

I love this series and cannot wait for more, luckily there are a series of short stories available shortly.

Title: The Goddess Hunt

Series: The Goddess Chronicles #1.5

Author: Aimee Carter

Publisher: Mira Ink

Publication Date: 1 June 2012

Synopsis from Goodreads

A vacation in Greece sounds like the perfect way for Kate Winters to spend her first sabbatical away from the Underworld...until she gets caught up in an immortal feud going back millennia. Castor and Pollux have been on the run from Zeus and Hades' wrath for centuries, hiding from the gods who hunt them. The last person they trust is Kate, the new Queen of the Underworld. Nevertheless, she is determined to help their cause. But when it comes to dealing with immortals, Kate still has a lot to learn....

Title: The Goddess Legacy
Series: The Goddess Chronicles #2.5
Author: Aimee Carter
Publisher: Harlequin Teen (USA)
Publication Date: 31 July 2012

No Synopsis available at this time