The Dazzling Dresskeeper Contest

The Bookette is very excited to annouce that she is teaming up with her friends at Prospera Publishing to host a dazzling giveaway. In celebration of today's official release of The Dresskeeper, I have five copies of this fantastic book to giveaway. And yes, of course, this is an international contest!

You can read my review of The Dresskeeper here.
You can read my author interview with the wonderful Mary Naylus here as well as read the sample chapters.
You can follow Mary's blog The Official History Blog of The Dresskeeper here.

The Blurb from Amazon:
When Picky's Mum forces her to look after Gran, who has dementia, Picky is accidentally transported back to the year 1685, where a man in a wig insists she is someone called Amelia and tries to kill her. Managing to get the dress off just in time, Picky returns to the present with the dress covered in blood. Who is Amelia? Is she dead? Will wearing the other dresses in the chest take Picky back in time too? And does she dare put herself in danger again?

To enter:

Follow me! Leave me a comment telling me what your dream princess ball gown would be like. I know I do have a couple of guys following me, so I realise this is a little sexist. So if you guys want to enter, you can just tell me what princely outfit you dream of wearing! Also leave me your email address so I can get in touch if you're a winner!

Here's my dream ball gown comment, just in case you're totally confused: My gown would be midnight blue. It would be floor length and have a huge puffy skirt. It would sparkle in the candle light. It would be worn with a matching velvet cape. I've been watching too much Merlin LOL. You get the idea!

Extra entries (please leave links in the comments):
+1 For tweeting about this contest
+1 For posting about this contest
+1 For linking this post in your sidebar
+1 For commenting on my review of the back

This contest will close Sunday 6th December, midnight UK time.
Under 16s, please get permission from a parent of guardian before entering.

Please note as I am hosting this on behalf of Prospera, I will need to pass on the winner's postal addresses to them.

Good luck and happy entering,

The Bookette.

In My Mailbox #10

Wow, is it Sunday already? Don't the weeks just fly by?
So it is time for In My Mailbox, a great meme hosted by Kristi, The Story Siren who was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.

I bought one book:

Swoon by Nina Malkin

Simon & Schuster.com say:

Sin is coming... Prepare to Swoon.

Torn from her native New York City and dumped in the land of cookie-cutter preps, Candice is resigned to accept her posh, dull fate. Nothing ever happens in Swoon, Connecticut...until Dice's perfect, privileged cousin Penelope nearly dies in a fall from an old tree, and her spirit intertwines with that of a ghost. His name? Sinclair Youngblood Powers. His mission? Revenge. And while Pen is oblivious to the possession, Dice is all too aware of Sin. She's intensely drawn to him—but not at all crazy about the havoc he's wreaking. Determined to exorcise the demon, Dice accidentally sets Sin loose, gives him flesh, makes him formidable. Now she must destroy an even more potent—and irresistible—adversary, before the whole town succumbs to Sin's will. Only trouble is, she's in love with him. What do you do when the boy of your dreams is too bad to be true?

Leant to me by a very wolfish friend:

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
I'm up to page 255 and so far I am loving this book. It is really hard to put down!

In Ethan Wate’s hometown there lies the darkest of secrets . . . There is a girl. Slowly, she pulled the hood from her head. Green eyes, black hair. Lena Duchannes. There is a curse. On the Sixteenth Moon, the Sixteenth Year, the Book will take what it’s been promised. And no one can stop it. In the end, there is a grave. Lena and Ethan become bound together by a deep, powerful love. But Lena is cursed and on her sixteenth birthday, her fate will be decided. Ethan never even saw it coming.


Borrowed three books from the town library:

Glass Houses (The Morganville Vampires Book 1) by Rachel Caine

The covers on these old UK editions are hideous in my opinion!

College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation, where the popular girls never let her forget just where she ranks in the school's social scene: somewhere less than zero. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life, but they come out fighting when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood...

The Dead Girls Dance (The Morganville Vampires Book 2) by Rachel Caine

Claire has her share of challenges. Like being a genius in a school that favours beauty over brains; homicidal girls in her dorm, and finding out that her college town is overrun with the living dead. On the up side, she has a new boyfriend with a vampire-hunting dad. But when a local fraternity throws the Dead Girls' Dance, hell is really going to break loose.

The Rainbow Opera (The Dreamhunter Duet) by Elizabeth Knox

Laura comes from a world similar to our own but for one difference: The Place. An unfathomable land filled with dreams of every kind and invisible to all but a select few: the Dreamhunters. Treated as celebrities, the Dreamhunters catch larger-than-life dreams and relay them to audiences in the magnificent dream palace, The Rainbow Opera. Now, 15 year-old Laura and her cousin Rose are going to find out whether they are part of this prestigious group. But nothing in their darkest nightmares can prepare them for what they are about to discover. For within the Place lies a horrific secret kept hidden by corrupt members of the Government. And when Laura's father suddenly disappears, she realises that this secret has the power to destroy everyone she loves...

Unless stated otherwise, all descriptions are from Amazon.

So these are my new reads for this week. Most of them are books I've seen reviewed on book blogs that I follow and comment on. Post a comment with a link if you've reviewed them!

Random Magic: Blog Tour Round Up

Random Magic Tour – October 17th – November 25th 2009

Author: Sasha Soren



I started this post on Thursday evening. The day after the final tour stop but my laptop was protesting and so after three hours of frustration I hadn’t finished it. I refused to give up and today, I have success.
 So November 25th was the final stop of the Random Magic blog tour. This was my first experience of being a part of a blog tour. I remember back in early October when I got an email from what I assumed was a publicist asking me to take part. I sent back a really short email saying "yes, I'd be happy to" but "I only write honest reviews". Little did I know I had just emailed back the author, Sasha Soren. It actually took weeks for me to realise I was in contact with Sasha and not a publicist. It was quite embarrassing but Sasha - who is so wonderful - found it really funny and I think that's when we became virtual friends. Or it could have been when I took the Random Magic character quiz and found out I was amoral. But that’s another story…


Random Magic sadly arrived late so I missed my tour stop. I did post an author interview but I was a little disappointed. I guess you have to expect these things when you're relying on a postal service that was in the middle of strike action. (Royal Mail and I have finally made up; you'll be pleased to hear). Anyhow, opening the parcel that contained Random Magic was so exciting. There were all these random things in the box: a rubber duck, peppermint tea, a blue feather and autumnal leaves. It was both bizarre and magical at the same time.

I read the book as quickly as I could. I really wanted to post a review for Sasha - not only because I had agreed to but - because she had put so much work into organising the tour. I posted my review and bit my lip waiting to see if Sasha would understand my viewpoint. Thankfully, she did and she is still very much my virtual friend. This is the reason I wanted to do a round up post. Sadly I didn’t get this ready in time for Thanksgiving but I really wanted to. It isn’t something we do in the UK but I wish we did. I want to give a little thanks back to Sasha for the endless tweets and emails she has sent me spurring me on to complete NaNoWriMo and for being just so friendly.


Sasha, I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say it has been a pleasure to work with you and we wish Random Magic every success!

Here are the tour highlights:


Stop 1: Michelle's Book Blog Her review said: "Random Magic is cute and quirky. I love the 'no guts, no glory' attitude of young Winnie Flapjack."

Stop 2: Amy @ My Fluttering Heart said "Random Magic by Sasha Soren is a firecracker box crammed full of crayon-colourful, whizz-happy tricks."



Stop 3: Allison @ Well Read Reviews said "There is definitely more to this story than meets the eye. Brilliant."

Stop 4: Casey @ A Passion for Books posted the tour schedule and the Random Magic book trailer.


Stop 5: Kim @ And Anything Bookish said "Henry and Winnie's adventures never ceased to end--and that only made the book more fun to read."



Stop 6: Kate @ The Neverending Shelf said "Sasha Soren combines a multitude of different plot themes and pulls them together in a way that somehow just works. There is something for everyone in this little gem."

Stop 7: Hey, it's me! I said "Random Magic is kind of like a piece of modern art. Some people will read it and be absorbed by its exuberant and hilarious details; it's twisting and digressing story. Some people will read it and think I should like this but I just don't understand it. Some people will read it and think yikes that's not for me!"
 Stop 8: My coven sister, Meri @ Elbit Blog also posted a very thoughtful review. A tiny snippet, "This book is so witty and... well, charming."
 Stop 9: Brande @ Book Junkie Reviews posted an author interview and she rounded up her review by saying, “All in all, just plain fascinating characters that capture your heart, the entire time reading this I kept thinking this would make one wicked movie ( I read a few placed others felt the same, see, I am not alone!!!) and started casting the characters in my head. I knew I was in deep then, and I know I needed to spread the word on this magical delight!”
 Stop 10: Jenny at Take Me Away said "Random Magic by Sasha Soren may be the quirkiest novel I have ever read -- in a good way! It is definitely random, and I couldn't help thinking while I read this that it definitely fit the title of the blog and it did "Take Me Away"!"


Stop 11: Ellz Readz and she had this to say "The descriptions of the locations and beings they encounter are incredible, you can tell the author is an artist because she writes with all of her five senses."

Stop 12: Mariah @ A Reader's Adventure had lots of fun posts and she shared my Random Magic alter-ego Nevermore.
 Stop 13: Cat @ Beyond Books summarised by saying "I certainly recommend Random Magic to those of you who enjoy wit and whimsy and zany adventures and British humour." Being British, I found that kinda amusing.
 Stop 14: Jill @ The O.W.L said “Once I got to the part where Henry goes into the book and meets Winnie I got into the swing of the story. And boy did this story swing along from one crazy adventure to another! It never slowed which was great. By the end I found it to be a fun story full of twist and turns and crazy characters.”
 Stop 15: Juju @ Tales of Whimsy illuminated Random Magic and gave me the idea for this post. She also had this really cool Midnight Tea thingy in her post. Juju you're my top commentator and I just adore you!!!
 Stop 16: Charity @ Keep on Booking didn't get to finish the book because life is life and things get in the way. She posted a review of the book so far in a V-Log. How innovative!


Stop 17: Alaine @ The Queen of Happy Endings posted the tour schedule.

Stop 18: Sasha took over Tina's Book Reviews for a guest post about being a writer. Fascinating stuff! Tina said in her review that “Winnie is hilarious with her doodle wit, charm and one liners like Glob head and Chum.”
 Stop 19: McKenzie @ The Book Owl got to post some amazing facts about butterflies. Okay, so I'm a tiny bit jealous!

Stop 20: Willow Raven @ Red House Books admitted, "While it's not really my cup of tea, I really do think there are others out there would very much enjoy it.”

Stop 21: Emily @ What Book is That? is waiting for Random Magic to arrive and cannot wait to review it. She posted a great author interview with Sasha.


Stop 22: Alistair @ Cerebrate’s Contemplations said “The author's dry, witty, and quirkily clever writing style is a perfect match for the plot and the setting, and the main characters (the initially out-of-his-depth Henry - who develops marvellously as a character throughout the book - and the clever, never-say-die Winnie) keep you moving on through the book.”

Stop 23: Jenn @ Falling Off The Shelf said “The world that Sasha Soren has created in Random Magic is completely and utterly engrossing. At times I had an extremely hard time peeling my eyes away from the pages.”
 Stop 24: Nicole @ Books! Posted an author interview with Sasha.

Stop 25: Bianca @ Wicked Good Books posted some exciting extras and an author interview.

Stop 26: Michelle @ The True Book Addict had this to say: “My advice to a reader of Random Magic would be to look deep inside the labyrinthine goings on throughout the book...which is really the point (hence the word "random" in the title)...and search for the real message, as I did. If you take my advice, you will not be disappointed.”

Stop 27: Andrea The Little Book Worm posted the fun character quiz and I believe she must be reading the book right now as it was her Teaser Tuesday.

Stop 28: Miss Eliza @ Strange & Random Happenstance posted reader notes about the colour red and Random Magic. Is it just me or is Elizabeth’s blog the perfect fit for Random Magic? She also posted a full-tour summary which is the other place this thank you idea post originated.

Stop 29: Eleni @ La Femme Readers was the final stop of the tour. She posted a mega finale of cool things including an author interview, a cool quiz (which I still need to take to find out which of the Nine Muses I am) and a review. Her thoughts: “The world that Sasha created was amazing and totally entertaining. Her writing style is very descriptive and quirky.”


And that’s it! All that is left for me to say is yet another Thank You to Sasha for being such a great virtual friend, I dedicate at least 10000 words of my NaNo book to you for all your support and encouragement.

Good luck with the release of Random Magic!

More information can be found at: Sasha Soren.com

You can follow Sasha on Twitter @RandomMagicTour

Waiting on Wednesday: Monsters of Men

Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness

Chaos Walking Triology: The Finale
Released UK 3rd May 2010, Walker Books

Amazon says:
“War,” says the Mayor.“At last.” Three armies have marched on New Prentisstown, each one intent on destroying the others. And Todd and Viola are caught in the middle of it all. As the battles commence, can they hope to stop all-out war? Can there ever be peace when they’re so hopelessly outnumbered? And if, as they have been told, “War makes monsters of men”, what terrible choices await them? And what of the third voice that watches them, one bent on revenge... The electrifying finale to the multi-award-winning Chaos Walking trilogy, Monsters of Men is a heart-stopping novel about power, survival, and the devastating reality of war.

Me again:
If you haven't read The Knife of Never Letting Go or The Ask and The Answer, I cannot recommend them highly enough. Chaos Walking is the most amazing dystopian series ever!

Waiting on Wednesday is a very cool meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Review: Hunted (House of Night Book 5)

Author: P.C. and Kristan Cast

Release date: 2009 UK/US
Genre: Urban Fantasy / Vampire fiction
Target audience: 15+





The House of Night Series
Book 1: Marked
Book 2: Betrayed
Book 3: Chosen (my review here)
Book 4: Untamed (my review here)
Book 5: Hunted

WARNING: This post contains spoilers

Amazon says:
'The door closed with a sickening thud of finality, shutting my friends out and leaving me alone with my enemy, a fallen angel, and the monstrous bird creature his ancient lust had created. Then I did something I'd only done twice before in my life. I fainted.' It's all happening, though Zoey Redbird wishes it wasn't. She has her friends back, which is great. But a dark angel has taken over the House of Night, supported by High Priestess Neferet. Not so great. This leaves Zoey hiding out with the (supposedly friendly) red fledglings in Tulsa's prohibition-era tunnels. The not greatness continues. Zoey has some boy-thoughts to distract her, with a chance to make-up with super-hot-ex Eric. But thoughts of the archer that died, semi-permanently, in her arms also keep distracting her. Then he shows up as Neferet's newest minion. Well, hell. Zoey and friends need a plan to put things right, soon, if she's to keep both head and heart intact. - Not suitable for younger readers -

Review:
This will only be a short review. My opinion of The House of Night Series hasn't changed after reading Hunted (Book 5). I am still really enjoying following Zoey's exploits and I was so pleased that she at least tried to exert some control over her need to have so many boyfriends in this book.

I was really gripped by the story, I couldn't wait to find out how Zoey would challenge Kalona - the fallen angel and Neferet the House of Night's High Priestess. However, I have to say there seemed to be very little actual plot in terms of ending. In my opinion the ending reached the highest proportion imaginable on the cheesy-o-meter. It really did lack content but I hope that this is because the real battle will take place in the next book, Tempted. I ordered it from Amazon as soon as I finished Hunted. I guess this indicates two things: firstly, that I am seriously getting addicted to this series. Secondly, that I have gone over to the dark side as I am now reveling in the ludricous "teen" style these books are written in.

On a more positive note, I like the way the Aphrodite's storyline is developing and her blossoming relationship with Darius. I am also becoming quite fond of Stark. Although, I have to say I take a serious objection to Zoey's willingness to forgive the hideous thing that he does! I'm not sure the authors gave enough consideration as to how they dealt with the issue. I have to be cryptic about this because I don't want to spoil the story for you. If you read it, you'll know what I mean.

Okay, I said I was going to keep this short, so I'll just round up. Overall, I really enjoy these vampire novels despite their many flaws. If you're, looking for a more in depth review, please check out the links to my other two reviews above. These books are officially my guilty pleasure!!!

Review: Eyes Like Stars

Author: Lisa Mantchev

Release date: July 2009
Genre: Fantasy
Target audience: 12+

From goodreads.com:

Enter Stage Right

All her world's a stage.


Beatrice Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theatre.


She is not an orphan, but she has no parents.


She knows every part, but has no lines of her own.


Until now.


Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the characters of every place ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Théâtre by The Book—an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family—and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.


Lisa Mantchev has written a debut novel that is dramatic, romantic, and witty, with an irresistible and irreverent cast of characters who are sure to enchant the audience.


Open Curtain

Review:
Eyes Like Stars is one of those books that I would have never have read if I hadn't been a blogger. I just don't think I would have heard about it. Maybe I would have happened to pick it up in a book store but I've been looking out for it since I read a review and still haven't spotted it. I came by this copy from a really sweet blogger, The Book Bug. Anyway, I think I'm dithering a little here because I still haven't quite decided how much I like this book.

Bertie, as her fairy friends know her, is our heroine. She lives in a theatre with all the characters from all the plays ever written. She is the part of the theatre but she is set apart from the characters because she is a real person. Eyes Like Stars is the first book in the Theatre Illuminata series and it tells us of the mystery behind how Bertie came to find her home at the theatre.

Bertie is such a great character. She is feisty and perhaps due to the influence of four very famous fairies is quite troublesome too. The character I least liked was Ariel (not The Little Mermaid one but the Shakespeare's Tempest one). I found him dark and manipulative. Then there's Nate who was a pirate from the Little Mermaid. (This is where I started to get a little confused). Nate was simply adorable. There is also a whole supporting cast of minor characters which are largely from the plays of Shakespeare. I think the more you know of Shakespeare, the more you will get from this book. Macbeth being the only play mentioned that I'm really well acquainted with meant that I found Lady Macbeth's lines hilarious. Perhaps if you know the Tempest, you will understand Ariel on a different level and find a stronger connection with him than I did.

The plot itself is actually quite straightforward but the complexity of the novel comes from the setting. The theatre is an amazing landscape and I loved Mantchev's description of it. There are frequent scene changes with hilarious consequences. A multitude of characters which are all superbly crafted. The workings of her fantasy world are well thought out and executed.

The reason I have mixed feelings about the book is because of the section which precedes the ending. I guess it is the climax. Naturally, I don't want to reveal it but I will say that I was so confused as the action unfolded. There were almost too many players on the stage and it detracted from my enjoyment of what is effectively the most important part of the book.

Overall, I did enjoy reading it. At times I even loved reading it. Reading a book set in the theatre is so new to me and I absolutely adored the atmosphere behind the curtains.

Read this if you dream of being an actress, you love the works of Shakespeare, you love pirates (Nate is so sweet) or you just fancy a change. It is a funny, imaginative and theatrical read.

Fallen Extravaganza!

Contest and Trailer: Fallen by Lauren Kate

I cannot wait to post my review of Fallen but NaNoWriMo has temporarily taken over my life.
While you wait, check out this totally awesome UK trailer!



That's not all folks! Thanks to the lovely Lauren at Random House I am hosting a Fallen contest. I have three copies of the finished UK Fallen to giveaway. As you know, I am a global girl so I'll be sending these out internationally.

To enter:
Leave me a comment telling about me your favourite type of fantastical character and why. eg. vampire because they are dark and dangerous. You must also be a follower of The Bookette. Please leave your email address to enter. Please note: Under 16s you must check you have permission with a parent or guardian before entering. Safety first people!

Extra entries
+1 for tweeting about this contest
+1 for posting a link or post on your blog
+2 for being a top commentator - your name will be in my sidebar from tomorrow afternoon

You have until 2nd December midnight UK time to enter!
Good luck!

Review: Eye of the Wolf

Author: Daniel Pennac

Translator: Sarah Adams

First published: UK 2002

Genre: Animal tale
Taret audience: 8+

Amazon says:

The wolf has lost nearly everything on his journey to the zoo - including his eye and his beloved pack. The boy has lost nearly everything too, and seen many terrible things. As they face each other on either side of the wolf's enclosure they share their stories in this captivating, mysterious and utterly unforgettable tale.

Review:
Eye of the Wolf is a short but beautiful story told from two perspectives. Blue Wolf has a sad tale to tell of how he came to be held in captivity in the zoo. The boy - whose name I shall not reveal because it is a part of his story - tells a remarkable tale of survival, hope and friendship. Both stories intertwine beautifully.

The wolf's narrative is incredibly descriptive and expertly communiates the world through an animal's perspective. Blue Wolf's memories of his family are endearing and gentle. He has a very distinctive voice which I found a joy to read. The boy's narrative is a more amusing tale as he finds ingenious ways to ensure his survival. He is a storyteller and there is a folk tale feel to his voice that I really enjoyed.

This novel is very short but in just 110 pages I felt that I understood Alaska from a wolf's viewpoint and that I had travelled the breadth of Africa. Eye of the Wolf will be the other book in my project at work and I use it with my students to discuss cultural differences, animal viewpoints, captivity versus freedom, slavery and literature in translation.

Overall, I highly recommend this book. It is an uplifting tale of friendship and survival. Adams has most skilfully translated Pennac's story so that every word is truly enchanting.

 

In My Mailbox #9

This great meme is hosted by the one and only Story Siren, Kristi. She was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.

So this week I only have two books in mailbox. That is no bad thing as I attempt to reduce my TBR pile whilst cracking on with NaNoWriMo.

Bought:

For work:
Eye of the Wolf by Daniel Pennac

This is the second book that I'm going to be using for my Young Cultural Creators project. It is translated from French. This will be a really short read. It is only 110 pages.

Amazon says:

The wolf has lost nearly everyhting on his journey to the zoo - including his eye and his beloved pack. The boy has lost nearly everything too, and seen many terrible things. As they face each other on either side of the wolf's enclosure they share their stories in this captivating, mysterious and utterly unforgettable tale.

For the memory:

The Dresskeeper by Mary Naylus

Yes, I know I have read this book and already reviewed it but I just had to buy a copy. I gave away my proof because I like doing nice things for nice people. Do you what happens if you do nice things for people? Nice things happen to you! Trust The Bookette!

This book means so much to me. Firstly, Mary signed this copy for me before it was dispatched. Secondly, it represents some of the unexpected great things that have happened to me because I'm a book blogger. Getting to know Yannick at Prospera was so much fun and it was nice for me as a children's librarian to share my knowledge to help an independent publisher and debut author. Reviewing this alongside lots of my favourite UK bloggers is a real highlight of my blogging experience so far. Inside the finished book, there are so many quotes from UK bloggers that I love and I'm going to link to all their amazing blogs.

In order that we are quoted:
Mary from The Sweet Bookshelf
Sophie from So Many Books, So Little Time
Sammee from I want to Read That
Lauren from I was a Teenage Book Geek!
Liz from My Favourite Books
Moi!
Jenny from Wondrous Reads
Sasha for Chicklish

You can read my review of The Dresskeeper here and also my author interview here.

Here is what Amazon says about this great book:
When Picky's Mum forces her to look after Gran, who has dementia, Picky is accidentally transported back to the year 1685, where a man in a wig insists she is someone called Amelia and tries to kill her. Managing to get the dress off just in time, Picky returns to the present with the dress covered in blood. Who is Amelia? Is she dead? Will wearing the other dresses in the chest take Picky back in time too? And does she dare put herself in danger again?

The book is officially released on 27th November. It can be ordered from Amazon or from Prospera who ship free internationally. They are wonderful people.
 
For my followers who are interested in my NaNoWriMo progress, I am pleased to say I have now gone over the 24,000 word mark. So pretty much on target.
 
So what wonders did you get in your mailboxes this week?

Review: Toby Alone

Author: Timothee de Fombelle

Translator: Sarah Ardizzone
Release date: UK 2008
Genre: Fantasy Adventure
Target audience: 9+

From Amazon:
Toby Lolness is just one and a half millimetres tall, and he’s the most wanted person in his world, the Great Oak Tree. When Toby’s father makes a ground-breaking discovery, tapping into the very heart of the Tree’s energy, he also realizes that exploiting it could permanently damage their world. Refusing to reveal the secret of his invention to an enraged community, the family is exiled. But one man is determined to get hold of the forbidden knowledge ... and his plan is to destroy the Tree. Now Toby's parents have been imprisoned and sentenced to death. Only Toby has managed to escape, but for how long?

Review:
Toby Alone is a wonderful and fascinating adventure story. Toby Lolness is a tiny character with a truly moving story to tell. The story follows his experiences as a fugitive after his parents are accused of treason. The Tree is an extraordinary fantasy world which is nothing short of an imaginative masterpiece. Ardizzone has translated de Fombelle's words so beautifully and the novel has a seamless flow and is brimming over with elegant description.

The narrative moves back and forward through time slowly revealing the events that cause Toby to be alone. The novel has two clear messages. The first is that fear is the most powerful weapon to use to manipulate someone. The second is about climate change and the cost of abusing the earth. However, I didn't feel like I was being preached at while I read the novel. The message is told through Toby's observations of the world around him. He doesn't fully understand the extent at which the Tree is at risk from its inhabitants' greed.

At times I thought the novel was quite long for the target audience but it is well-paced. The ending was full of twists and turns and was far from disappointing. I really had no idea how Toby's life was going to grow and change. He goes on a remarkable journey and meets many characters both good and bad.

You may remember from my In My Mailbox #8 post that I was reading Toby Alone in preparation for a project that I'm planning at work. This novel will be an excellent starting point to discuss viewpoints and perspective. Toby is so tiny that his view of the Tree is entirely different from how I would see it. I'm hoping that this will inspire my students' creativity and help them to produce a piece of art that looks at the world we know in a different way. The book also deals with these themes: climate change, friendship, betrayal, isolation, cultural differences. The overall theme for my project is literature in translation.

Overall, this is a very literary adventure story. I enjoyed reading it and I simply adore the world de Fombelle created in The Great Oak.

 

Waiting on Wednesday: Immortal Beloved

Waiting on Wednesday is a very cool meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine.

So today I was trying to find out when the next book in Cate Tiernan's Wicca series is released. But I found out something even better. Cate is writing a new trilogy and it is released in the US next year. UK publishers have expressed interest in the rights. Either way, I will definitely getting my hands on this. No official cover yet. The blurb below and picture right are from her website which you can check out here.

Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan

New name, new town, new life. Nastasya has done it too often to count. And there’s no end in sight. Nothing ever really ends . . . when you’re immortal. But this time is different: Nastasya knows that this new town must hold her salvation—or her death.



Nastasya was born into darkness, and has embraced it her whole life. Four hundred years ago, a tragedy robbed her of her birthright, and she’s been living a lie ever since. Now, four centuries of exploring the depths and limits of dark power has left Nastasya feeling sickened unto death. If she continues down this road, she will end up as a very dark, twisted, evil thing—with unthinkable power. Or she can begin the long, painful road toward light, and reclaim the destiny that others tried to destroy.


They’re rare. You may have never met one, never sat next to one on a plane, never eaten in the same restaurant at the same time. But the Immortals are there. Have always been there. Will always be there. Moving among humans, playing out their own cursed fate. Sometimes subtly, sometimes with huge, sweeping implications for mankind. But no one will ever know. Except you.

Coming in 2010 from Little, Brown

What do you think? I think it sounds amazing!

Are any of you Cate Tiernan fans? Do you know when the next Wicca book will be out in the UK? It will be another reprint of the original series - effectively books 9 and 10 which will be our UK book 5.

Review: Random Magic

Random Magic Blog Tour Update

Here is my review, better late than never!

Author: Sasha Soren (one of the nicest people you could ever be asked to review a book by)
Release date: March 2010
Genre: Fantasy
Target audience: I'm not quite sure...

The blurb:
When absent-minded Professor Random misplaces the main character from Alice in Wonderland, young Henry Witherspoon must book-jump to fetch Alice before chaos theory kicks in and the world vanishes. Along the way the meets Winnie Flapjack, a wit-cracking doodle witch with nothing to her name but a magic feather and a plan.

The review:
Random Magic is unlike any other book I have ever read. I almost want to call it post-modernist although I probably don't have quite the proper understanding of what that is. Perhaps I should have concentrated more in those final lectures of my degree? Anyhow, what I really mean is that Random Magic is kind of like a piece of modern art. Some people will read it and be absorbed by its exuberant and hilarious details; it's twisting and digressing story. Some people will read it and think I should like this but I just don't understand it. Some people will read it and think yikes that's not for me! I've come to think of this book as similar to the art of Tracy Emin (although the subject matter couldn't be any more different if it tried).

Random Magic is story of Henry Witherspoon who gets transported into a magical world in the hunt for a lost Alice who has disappeared from wonderful. He meets an interesting and quirky companion in the form of Winnie who is a doodle witch. I really liked Winnie. She was definitely my favourite aspect of the book. She was well characterised in an unpredictable and kooky kind of way. I like kooky. The book follows their great adventure in search of Alice and all the frightening obstacles they come up against. I think the premise of this book is ideal for early tweens but the complex language wouldn't really work for that audience. Younger readers will be put off really early on by the use of such unfamiliar language and sadly I think Soren may be alienating her target audience by being so adventurous. Also, from my perspective as a children's librarian, I'm sure parents won't be happy seeing a younger tween reading some of the swearing but it is fairly mild.

I have to say I found the prologue really confusing. There were so many characters and voices introduced at once and story darted around so that I felt I couldn't keep up. This is an integral aspect of the novel - it's about constantly moving on to the next part of the adventure, meeting the next character, taking the next risk. It's the fastest paced novel I have ever read and I couldn't really keep up. It was Winnie who kept me grounded and helped me to understand the story.

Random Magic is brimming over with vivid imagery. It is a very visual book and would undoubtedly work well as a film. Visual representation of the characters we meet would aid understanding of the story as a whole. It would certainly work well for parodied characters based on well-known figures. In places it is laugh out loud funny. One of my favourite parts was when we meet the character Hyperbole - her name says it all. Nevermore was a great character too. The elegant description of the garden of the nine muses was simply beautfiul and is just one example of Soren complete realisation of her fantasy world.

Overall, I suggest you read this if you are looking for something challenging and willing to whole-heartedly live outside your comfort zone or you are a quirky, kooky, eccentric fantasy or Alice in Wonderland lover. At times, you may be like me surely discombobulated but you will also be in complete awe of Soren's imaginative powers.

In My Mailbox #8

This meme is hosted by the sensational Story Siren, Kristi and she was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.

This week is a mega book week for me. I have nine books in my mailbox and I didn't buy a single one! It was my birthday on Tuesday (27!) and naturally my loved ones got me booky gifts.

All product descriptions are from Amazon.co.uk.
So from left to right, top row:

From my husband:

The Pain Merchants by Janice Hardy

I think this sounds amazing. What a good choice!

A young girl becomes a pawn in a bigger political game when her uncanny -- and dangerous -- ability to shift pain between people turns out to be the only weapon she has to save her sister. Fifteen-year-old Nya is one of Geveg's many orphans; she survives on odd jobs and optimism, finding both in short supply in a city crippled by a failed war for independence. Then a bungled egg theft, a stupid act of compassion, and two eyewitnesses unable to keep their mouths shut exposes her secret to the two most powerful groups in the city: the pain merchants and the Healer's League. They discover Nya is a Taker, a healer who can pull pain and injury from others. Trouble is, unlike her sister Tali and the other normal Takers who become league apprentices, she can't dump that pain into pynvium, the enchanted metal used to store it. All she can do is shift it from person to person, a useless skill that's kept her out of the league and has never once paid for her breakfast. When a ferry accident floods the city with injured, the already overwhelmed Takers start disappearing from the Healer's League and Nya's talent is suddenly in demand. But her principles and endurance are tested to the limit when her talent turns out to be the only thing that can save her sister's life.

The Spook's Stories: Witches by Joseph Delaney

Although I'm not keen on short stories, I am really glad he chose this for me because The Wardstone Chronicles is a fantastic series. I highly recommend it. This is a companion book.

This is a fabulous collection of stories based on many of the witches from Joseph Delaney's Spooks books. Ever wondered why the Spook doesn't trust girls who wear pointy shoes? Or why Grimalkin became the Assassin for the Malkin Witch clan? Find out all this and more in this a dark and eerie collection. You don't have to know the Spook's books to enjoy the stories. They're all standalone and absolutely haunting. This is a perfect introduction to the world of "The Spook's Apprentice". But for any fans of the series out there, this collection will be a must-have.

From my Mum:

An Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris

Book Three in the Harper Connelly series. If you read my review of the first book you'll know I'm addicted. I still haven't read Book Two Grave Surprise but I know I'll love this so I asked for it!

Harper Connelly was struck by lightning as a teenager, and now she can find the dead. In her third case, Harper and Tolliver, her stepbrother, are hired to find a missing grandson. But the truth is far worse than a single dead child, for numerous teenage boys, all unlikely runaways, have disappeared from Doraville, North Carolina. Harper soon finds the eight bodies, buried in the half-frozen ground, but then, still reeling from coming into contact with her first serial killer, she is attacked and injured. Now she and Tolliver have no choice but to stay in Doraville while she recovers, and as she reluctantly becomes part of the investigation, she learns more than she cares to about the dark mysteries and long-hidden secrets of the town: knowledge that makes her the most likely person to be next to end up in an ice-cold grave.

Middle row, Left to right:

From my sister:

Small-Minded Giants by Oisin McGann

I'm sure I read a good review of this by a fellow British blogger. I can't remember where! If you read this and know it was you, please leave a link in the comments.

Beyond the huge domed roof of Ash Harbour, a city built inside a hollowed-out mountain, deadly storms and Arctic temperatures have stripped the Earth bare. Resources are limited and access to power is all-important. Sinister bodies reign supreme, undercover operations are rife and every move is monitored by the Clockworkers and Dark-Day Fatalists. When sixteen-year-old Sol Wheat's father goes missing and is accused of murder, Sol sets out to find out why, and in doing so uncovers the harsh reality behind Ash Harbour.

The Riddles of Epsilon by Christine Morton-Shaw

I'm not too sure about this one but I'll give it a go. Have you read it? Is is good?

A haunting and gripping mystery that you won't be able to put down. The doorstep was black, shiny as glass. Through the layer of dead leaves and yuck, some words shone through. Words, carved on the doorstep! Scraping the leaves away, I found some symbols, and in English: WHERE --SILON DWELLS Inside an abandoned cottage on the remote island of Lume, Jess encounters an eerie ghost-like presence. She also finds three locked boxes and, as she earns the right to unlock each, the contents send her mind spinning. Gradually, Jess unravels the mysteries, guided by the mysterious Epsilon. But is he a guide from the bright side or the dark?

Non-birthday books

The wonderful Book Bug sent me her copy of Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev because she knew I really wanted to read it. If you haven't checked out her blog yet, what are you waiting for? Click the link!
Weirdly, there was no product info on Amazon for this! If you've reviewed it, please leave a link in the comments.

Bottom row, Left to right:

For Review

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Thank you so much to Lauren at Random House Children's Books for sending me this and indulging me and my angel books obsession. A perk of being a School Librarian, what I can I say? I'm guilty.

What if the person you were meant to be with could never be yours? 17-year-old Lucinda falls in love with a gorgeous, intelligent boy, Daniel, at her new school, the grim, foreboding Sword & Cross ...only to find out that Daniel is a fallen angel, and that they have spent lifetimes finding and losing one another as good & evil forces plot to keep them apart. Some angels are destined to fall...

For Work

Toby Alone by Timothee de Fombelle

I'm planning a project for the summer term. The theme will be literature in translation. This book was first published in French. The aim of the project is to develop student's reading, creativity and cultural experiences. I'm so excited to be working on this.

Toby Lolness is just one and a half millimetres tall, and he’s the most wanted person in his world, the Great Oak Tree. When Toby’s father makes a ground-breaking discovery, tapping into the very heart of the Tree’s energy, he also realizes that exploiting it could permanently damage their world. Refusing to reveal the secret of his invention to an enraged community, the family is exiled. But one man is determined to get hold of the forbidden knowledge ... and his plan is to destroy the Tree. Now Toby's parents have been imprisoned and sentenced to death. Only Toby has managed to escape, but for how long?

For NaNoWriMo

Yes, the final book in the picture is a tiny book about Basketball. A litle insight into my NaNo novel, one of the minor characters plays basketball and so I borrowed this from work for a little research.

I also got this really cool gift (again from my husband).

It's a Book Seat and you can buy them from Amazon. I essence it is a triangle shaped bean bag with a perspex shelf. Your book sits in place perfectly and it is so comfy to use in bed. I love it. A great Christmas present idea for bookish friends.

So how about you? Did you have a super IMM this week too?