book review – Page 24 – M J Mallon YA Author and Poet

My Kyrosmagica Review of Nicholas Rossis’s Runaway Smile

Goodreads Synopsis:

“I woke up this morning and I had lost my smile and it wasn’t my fault and I looked everywhere and it was gone. Then I met a workman and a king and the best salesman in the world and a clown and no-one wanted to give me theirs. At school, I asked Miss to give me hers, but she gave us a pop quiz instead, and then no-one was smiling and…”

A little boy wakes up in the morning and realizes he has lost his smile. After spending the entire day trying to find it, he learns the truth behind smiles: the only real smiles are the shared ones.

My Review:

The title to this children’s book really intrigued me, Runaway Smile. How can a smile runaway? Nicholas did make this little boys smile runaway, but thankfully he returned it to him in the end!

It is a wonderful children’s book, an enthralling and heartwarming journey to search for one little boy’s lost smile. Nicholas introduces us to a whole host of eccentric characters. (What an imagination, Nicholas!!) The boy’s dog wears glasses, smokes a pipe, and drives a car but has lost his sense of smell, there’s a closet monster who eats all of the boy’s clothes, and even a bunch of surf boarding ants!

In his quest to find his smile the little boy talks to a bunch of characters who just can’t help him. There’s a workman walking his goldfish in a bowl on a small cart! Hey, I see this everyday too. Just regular workman kind of activity! A king with a wide smile. A salesman with an even wider one, and a clown with a painted on smile. I particularly liked the character of the salesman whose smile disappears, and ages, when he realises that he can’t sell the boy anything. “The salesman took a mirror from his pocket and stared at his image. All of a sudden he looked very old and tired, and the boy wondered how he could have missed the thinning hair, deep wrinkles, and expanding waistline.” That one’s for my husband he’s worked in Sales all his life and well let’s just say it’s tough. Being a Sales Manager, isn’t all it’s cracked up to be!

I’m digressing here a bit. In desperation, the boy turns to his teacher hoping that she will be able to help him. But she doesn’t think that a classroom is the right place to keep a smile! So, by the time he gets home to his mum he is in tears and has given up hope of finding his smile. But of course his mother is the only person that can help him, because the only true smile that exists is a genuine one straight from the heart. The final reflection that greets the boy is not a false one like the salesman’s reflection. “The boys eyes opened wide. He ran to the mirror to check his reflection. She was right! A wide smile had finally appeared on his face!”

The secret to keeping his smile is to share it with those he loved. Absolutely. That’s the secret.

“She tussled his hair. Anything you give with love, multiplies. No-one can take it from you then.”

So the boy promptly goes off to share his smile with his dog. Of course!

The book finishes with a lovely Ode to a runaway smile.

So, definitely recommended, a very sweet book and lovely illustrations too.

My rating:

Nicolas C. Rossis

From his About page on WordPress:

I was born in 1970 in Athens, Greece. I love books and write fantasy, children’s books and science fiction. Except for my books, I have had numerous science fiction short stories published in Greek magazines and in an anthology.

I hold a doctorate in digital architecture from the University of Edinburgh, where I lived for a number of years before returning to Athens, where I currently live with my wife, dog and two very silly cats, one of whom is purring on my lap as I type these lines.

Runaway Smile is his first children’s book. Mad Water, the third book in his epic fantasy series, Pearseus, was published in July 2014. He has also published The Power of Six, a collection of short sci-fi stories.

Authors Website: http://nicholasrossis.me/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NicholasCRossis

Free book for those following Nicholas’s Blog: http://nicholasrossis.me/2014/12/07/my-first-childrens-book-runaway-smile/

Illustrator: Dimitris Fousekis

Dimitri Fouseki, is an artist of Greek origin who makes innovative illustrations. Since 2003 he has successfully focused on illustrating mainly children’s books. He already has numerous publications in Greece in this field (nine so far, with a number of further publications pending). Since 2010, Dimitri has been living on the beautiful island of Hydra, where he teaches art and works on his first major exhibition as a painter, when not illustrating.

http://www.dimitrisfousekis.com

https://www.facebook.com/dimifous/

Have you read Runaway Smile? Please comment below I’d love to hear from you, it certainly would put a smile on my face…

Bye for now,

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

My Kyrosmagica Review of The Martian by Andy Weir

Goodreads synopsis:

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first men to walk on the surface of Mars. Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first man to die there.

It started with the dust storm that holed his suit and nearly killed him, and that forced his crew to leave him behind, sure he was already dead. Now he’s stranded millions of miles from the nearest human being, with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive–and even if he could get word out, his food would be gone years before a rescue mission could arrive. Chances are, though, he won’t have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old “human error” are much more likely to get him first.

But Mark isn’t ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills–and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit–he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. But will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?

My review:

Mark Watney is a botanist, mechanical engineer, and one of the astronauts on the Ares program, a human guinea pig, alias Astronaut, sent to Mars. Unfortunately Mars isn’t a very good host. Mars plays dirty. Forget sweetness and light. Instead Mars sends a welcoming dose of Category 5 hurricane winds, which pummels the crews MAV (“Mars Ascent Vehicle”.) The crew make a mad dash for escape. Mark is left behind, with a punctured suit, (no party cocktail stick for poor Mark,) and his crew leave him behind believing him dead. Major guilt trip. Mark Watney becomes one of the first people to walk on hostile Mars but will he be one of the first to die there?

The Martian is told through two voices – Mark, in log form and the scientists at NASA trying their utmost to save him. On the whole this is done extremely well, and I didn’t find the shift in voices a distraction.

The Martian is anything but boring. Though the title of the book is a little misleading. There are no alien beings in the book. Effectively Mark becomes the Martian, an unwilling inhabitant of Mars, an alien, human species trapped on an unforgiving, and intolerant Mars.

The first line of the book reads: “I’m pretty much fucked.”

Mark is in deep shit, deep Martian shit. Mark has to battle hostile territory, looming starvation, a plethora of technical, and communication problems. But Mark doesn’t allow the words, “give up,” in his vocabulary. This guy must have been born with a positive stamp on his head. His catch phrase must be, Eliminate Doubt ……..Lock it out! Forget about the Caution!

I know that some reviewers have criticised this aspect of Mark’s character.

Is he too positive? Shouldn’t he have at least one major melt down? I would counter this by saying that yes, Mark Watney is too positive for your ordinary Joe, but he’s an astronaut, and astronauts are a special breed, heroic in pure essence form. Most of us mere mortals would think twice about getting on a mission to Mars. Mark Watney is believable because his humour illustrates his vulnerable human side. It is this astronaut’s coping mechanism. You know how people respond to stress differently? Some talk more, some less, some speak fast, some tremble, fidget, pee loads, well Mark makes a joke out of his situation, and admits, “I’m pretty much fucked.”

But Mark just wants to LIVE. The desire to live may not be programmed into his astronaut suit but it sure lives within his heart and soul. This is an inspiring tale of trying to overcome all the daunting obstacles to just survive, breathe, eat, sleep, another day. Even if that day is lonely, boring, and full of relentless tasks. When you break it down that’s all that counts. SURVIVAL. He must:

In fact he kind of sees himself as a James Bond kind of hero.

Loved this quote: “Live another Sol would be an awesome name for a James Bond movie.” Except he’d be Q! “ Live Another Sol! (Starring Mark Watney as …. probably Q. I’m no James Bond.)”

I don’t believe this for one moment, I think he has a secret desire to be James Bond, the returning astronaut hero who gets all the girls. Remember it’s a long time since he’s had female company, this guy is just longing to get l….. back to earth! Oops, nearly slipped my PG rating there.

To counterbalance the seriousness and complexity of the science Andy Weir applies it with a huge dollop of humour. Now, I love a chuckle and this book had me quietly giggling along and smiling like a crazy person so many times.

Mark Watney is just so appealing. You can’t help but root for him. Anyone who has to survive on a potato diet, listen to disco, (which he hates), and run out of coffee, and caffeine pills, deserves a big hug. A huge one. Here Mark.

With no creature comforts, and an exceedingly boring diet of potatoes, (I really feel for you), he still has the resourcefulness to survive. And joke about it. Way to go.

I have to admit I shed a tiny tear at the end, I just found the ending so poignant.

The Martian would make a great movie. Can you just imagine the 3-D effects? Oh, and the laughter. I’d go. Any takers? I do believe this is releasing this year, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon, scheduled for release in November 2015.

So whether you’re a total science geek, a space exploration nut, or just a person like me who appreciates a good book, go buy a copy of The Martian. I was lucky to get my copy for Christmas! Thanks to my lovely daughter.

Heck, I can’t believe this is Andy Weir’s debut novel, such an impressive first novel, having won this year’s Goodread’s Choice Award in the Science Fiction category.

No doubts about it, The Martian has to be a full Martian 5 stars. :

Authors websites:

http://andyweirauthor.com/

http://www.galactanet.com/

More to come:

I found this quote from Andy on Goodreads: “It’s (his next novel) tentatively titled “Zhek”. It’s a more traditional sci-fi novel, not a deeply technical story like The Martian. Zhek has aliens, FTL travel, telepathy, etc.”

Favourite quotes from The Martian:

“If the oxygenator breaks down, I’ll suffocate. If the water reclaimer breaks down, I’ll die of thirst. If the Hab breaches, I’ll just kind of explode. If none of those things happen, I’ll eventually run out of food and starve to death. So yeah. I’m fucked.”

“Yes, of course duct tape works in a near-vacuum. Duct tape works anywhere. Duct tape is magic and should be worshiped.”

“I can’t wait till I have grandchildren. When I was younger, I had to walk to the rim of a crater. Uphill! In an EVA suit! On Mars, ya little shit! Ya hear me? Mars!”

“Actually, I was the very lowest ranked member of the crew. I would only be “in command” if I were the only remaining person.”
What do you know? I’m in command.”

“It’s true, you know. In space, no one can hear you scream like a little girl.”

But really, they did it because every human being has a basic instinct to help each other out. It might not seem that way sometimes, but it’s true.”

“If a hiker gets lost in the mountains, people will coordinate a search. If a train crashes, people will line up to give blood. If an earthquake levels a city, people all over the world will send emergency supplies. This is so fundamentally human that it’s found in every culture without exception. Yes, there are assholes who just don’t care, but they’re massively outnumbered by the people who do.”

“As usual, I’m working with stuff that was deliberately designed not to burn. But no amount of careful design by NASA can get around a determined arsonist with a tank of pure oxygen.”

My Kyrosmagica Review of Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

Goodreads synopsis:

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.

My Review

If you start Snow Like Ashes and decide to stop reading it I shall have to kill you, no seriously I will have no choice but to find, borrow, or steal Meira’s weapon, a lethal Chakram, and hurl it at you because you will undoubtedly be missing the best part of this wonderful debut novel.

It starts a bit slow, there’s a lot to take in, Sara Raasch fills us in on the details and if you’re not careful you can start to feel you’re eyes clouding over a bit. There’s an information, over-telling overload. But don’t be fooled. It is forgiveable because this is one heck of an exciting read, so stick with it. Boy, does she know how to write a strong female character, as well as interesting supporting characters and those thrilling battle scenes, well you might just find yourself wincing in parts. You can just feel super pumped high adrenalin charging through your veins!

Main character – Meira

Meira is one of eight of the surviving Winterians characterised by white skin and white hair. She lives in Primoria, a land of eight kingdoms. This orphan may be only sixteen years old but she is used to hardship and warring and sparring with warriors. This struggle will help her to understand and overcome the obstacles in her way to ensure that her defeated land Winter is once again a powerful kingdom. She learns who to trust and whom to avoid, and she discovers that freedom to choose a suitor is not always a gift that we can all have when political circumstances stand in the way.

The Seasons and The Rhythms

There’s four Season Kingdoms: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, as well as the Rhythms, whose four seasons occur naturally in a typical cycle: Cordell, Ventralli, Yakim and Paisly. The Season of Winter is as you would expect a chilly, frozen landscape of snow and ice. The thought of this just sends my teeth chattering. In contrast, Summer is a smouldering land of eternal sunshine. Like the sound of this one. Autumn is a kingdom of fallen, crisp, autumnal leaves. Spring is a place of awakening blooms, but instead of gentle flowering, evil lurks in this one. You get the picture? It’s interesting that Sara Raasch chose Spring to be the season of evil, rather than the more typical choice of harsh, unforgiving, Winter.

Evil King Agra

Spring may sound like a nice gentle season but don’t be fooled. No, sixteen years ago, Spring’s evil king Agra, stole the magical conduit and brutally conquered Winter, destroyed their magic, and enslaved most of the Winterians in the process, all except Meira, our heroine, Sir, her guardian, Mather, the heir of Winter, and five other Winterians. The two halves of the magical conduit are useless until they can be joined together, in a magical version of yin and yang. Yes, the clue’s in the wonderful cover of the book itself, you couldn’t get more conflicted yin and yang if you try.

The Former Queen of Winter, Hannah

Meira starts dreaming of the former queen of Winter, Hannah. To begin with she can’t understand these visions. But in time these dream sequences act as a device to explain, and fill us in on details in this great world-building, magical fantasy.

Winter are Tough Cookies

Winter may be a tough old season, and its people are too. The Winterians have taken one hell of a bashing, and some of them have just about given up. Our heroine Meira along with her seven other surviving Winterians are tough cookies but can they, and Meira in particular, save and restore Winter to it’s former glory?

Mather and Theron

Mather is introduced to us as the heir to the Winter kingdom, but unfortunately The Winter Kingdom is a matriarchy, where magic is passed on through a female-blooded conduit. So Mather may be a well meaning type of guy, but he just isn’t going to be the one to save the kingdom.

But can our heroine Meira save the kingdom? She spars with the men, is as fierce as the next guy, but there are times when her female side comes to the fore. No more so when she finds herself in amongst several warriors sparring with their tops off. Ok, so this kind of hormonal brain activity brings her down to normal mortal level, rather than kick ass heroine. But is it a bad thing? Not altogether in my opinion if the ……. yes, you guessed it …… love triangle is done well, and is shirts off, entertaining! This trio of love entanglement consists of our heroine Meira, her first love Mather, and Theron the Prince of the Cordell kingdom, who she is forcibly engaged to, an alliance reluctantly arranged by Mather himself. All’s fair in love and war!

Poor Mather you can’t help but feel sorry for him particularly when it becomes apparent that Meira starts to feel a bit of a smouldering attraction to Theron. Who can blame her? In my opinion, Theron comes across better, than Mather. The love interest is undoubtedly a cute well written diversion but it didn’t inspire me or fire me up quite as much as Meira’s fierce determination, bravery, and compassion in the face of adversity. As to the battle scenes these were thrilling, I never realised I was so blood thirsty! Meira sets out to find a solution to save Winter, and well let’s just say this young lady sure fights for what she believes in.

My Recommendation

So to sum up, great characters, wonderful world building, and magic. Just love that word, MAGIC, it just rolls of your tongue. I loved the idea of the seasons, the rhythms, oh and the decay was just fantastic too. There are a couple of unexpected twists at the end of the novel, maybe not too surprising a turn of events, but I won’t say anymore on that, no spoilers! This sits beautifully as a stand-alone novel but I do believe there is more to come. A sequel. Fantastic. Definitely looking forward to reading more from Sara Raasch.

As to the criticism that Sara Raasch shouldn’t have made the Winterian’s pale skinned, I think this is taking political correctness just a little too far, thank goodness we’re talking about a magical kingdom here, not real life slavery. Oppression is oppression whatever the colour of the person’s skin. So if it’s dudes with white skin, and white hair, being enslaved, let’s rise up against it! I’m with you Meira!

So highly recommended for readers of high fantasy, fantasy, young adult, romance.

My rating:

4.5 stars.

My favourite quotes:

The descriptions of winter just make you shiver inside!

“It’s so cold that foreigners have to wrap in layers of fur to walk from building to building, while our natural Winterian blood keeps us warm even in the worst conditions. And snow is everywhere, always, so much that the grass beneath it is white from lack of sun. An entire kingdom wrapped in an orb of eternal winter.”

You just can’t help supporting Meira, she’s strong, STRONG, STRONG!!!!!

“I don’t need made-up strength. I’m strong enough on my own—me, Meira, no magic or conduit or anything.”

“No matter what happens, no matter who turns on me, no matter what pompous swine thinks he has power over me, I am still me. I will always be me.”

This is just so poignant!

“Someday we will be more than words in the dark.”

She wants to be kick ass but also wants to be a woman. GREAT!!!

“I wanted to be a soldier. Someone who would earn standing in Winter. Someone Sir would look at with pride. Someone Mather would look at and —”

“I’m at the center of this, a weird possessive feud between the Winter king and the Cordellan prince.”

These simple words are so visually compelling

“Even the strongest blizzards start with a single snowflake”

“Fear is a seed that, once planted, never stops growing.”

For those amongst us who can’t resist a bit of well-toned bare skin!

“But I just stand there, eyes narrowing to hide the fact that my initial reaction is to gape at Theron’s bare expanse of glistening skin. He’s shirtless — and it’s clear that Cordell subjects its men to rigorous chest exercises.”

“But everything I want to say dies the instant I see him. Because –mother of all that is cold– he’s shirtless too, with only the locket half dangling around his throat and his freckled skin reflecting the sheen of a good workout. “

Have you read Snow Like Ashes? Do leave a comment below I’d love to hear from you.

Bye for now,

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

My Kyrosmagica Review of Jasper and The Magpie

Goodreads Synopsis:

Jasper really likes shiny metals…He loves that when the sun shines Electrons dance reflecting light. This makes him feel safe and calm, And helps him sleep at night. This fun and though-provoking rhyming storybook will delight anyone with a special interest and encourage readers to be more accepting of difference and unusual passions. The story will resonate particularly with children on the autism spectrum and their friends and family. This book is suitable for ages six and upwards.

Jasper and the Magpie: Enjoying Special Interests Together is a storybook written in rhyme for those along the autism spectrum and their caregivers, but it would be an excellent book to recommend in general to encourage acceptance of differences. I received a copy of this story book from Netgalley, published by Jessica Kingsley Publisher, in exchange for a review.

Jasper has a very strong interest in shiny metals, in fact he even resorts to taking them out of the garbage. His family aren’t happy about him collecting what they consider to be ‘dirty litter’ and they try to replace the shiny metals with other things, much to Jasper’s dismay, yet Jasper can’t explain why he is so upset.

This is definitely a good book for parents, siblings, and other children to read, to help them understand that yes Autistic children are different but we should do our best to understand and help, rather than hinder them. Possibly it would also be a useful tool, to use in primary schools, as an educational aid to reduce the instances of bullying. If we can educate our young people, in primary, then this should help them to be more understanding adults. This applies to all forms of ‘special educational needs’. I do know of an instance in our family when a family member was teased at primary school because they had some speech problems. If we can reduce the instances of these kind of issues that would be a welcome and positive development for all. With this in mind I also came across a review of The Wild Book by Margartia Eagle, on the Word by Word blog which may be of interest to families with Dyslexic children:

https://clairemca.wordpress.com

The illustrator of Jasper and The Magpie, Alex Merry, has done a fabulous job. I loved the page with the steps leading up to a massive head, a large pair of shoes left waiting at the bottom, with a colourful, almost jigsaw patterned head at the top.

The accompanying words are great:

“Jasper sometimes found it hard,

To understand what had been said,

To put himself in others shoes,

Or into someone else’s head.

But those that aren’t like Jasper,

Have a problem much the same:

For how can they jump into Jasper’s unique brain.”

The emphasis here is on uniqueness which I think is good.

Overall I enjoyed Jasper and the Magpie.

My rating:

Author information:

Dan Mayfield is a writer and a musician who has worked with people of all ages on the autistic spectrum for over 12 years.

http://www.enderbysroom.co.uk/music.html

Publisher:

Jessica Kingsley: https://www.jkp.com/

Bye for now,

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

My Kyrosmagica Review of Abhorsen by Garth Nix

Goodreads Synopsis:

The Ninth was strong and fought with might, But lone Orannis was put out of the light, Broken in two and buried under hill, Forever to lie there, wishing us ill. So says the song. But Orannis, the Destroyer, is no longer buried under hill. It has been freed from its subterranean prison and now seeks to escape the silver hemispheres, the final barrier to the unleashing of its terrible powers.

Only Lirael, newly come into her inheritance as the Abhorsen-in-Waiting, has any chance of stopping the Destroyer. She and her companions — Sam, the Disreputable Dog, and Mogget — have to take that chance. For the Destroyer is the enemy of all Life, and it must be stopped, though Lirael does not know how.

To make matters worse, Sam’s best friend, Nick, is helping the Destroyer, as are the necromancer Hedge and the Greater Dead Chlorr, and there has been no word from the Abhorsen Sabriel or King Touchstone.

Everything depends upon Lirael. A heavy, perhaps even impossible burden for a young woman who just days ago was merely a Second Assistant Librarian. With only a vision from the Clayr to guide her, and the rather mixed help of her companions, Lirael must search in both Life and Death for some means to defeat the Destroyer.

Before it is too late.

My Review:

Abhorsen smashed it for me, I just loved it. Garth Nix does a wonderful job building tension, and plot rather than getting side tracked by the somewhat wooden romance that we saw between Sabriel and Touchstone in the first novel. In Abhorsen Garth Nix’s writing flows effortlessly, its lyrical quality drawing the reader into a story that begins slowly but builds momentum to a fast paced, fantasy adventure and stunning conclusion. Sabriel introduces us to the Old Kingdom, Lirael fills us in on the details, and Abhorsen magnificently wraps up this wonderful trilogy in a near perfect parcel!

Abhorsen is the concluding novel in Garth Nix’s Old Kingdom trilogy. Nix has already introduced us to the fantasy world of the Old Kingdom with Sabriel, and Lirael. Abhorsen is followed by Nix’s recent prequel Clariel. Currently I believe it is intended to be a five book long series. I would recommend that you read all three books, in the Old Kingdom series (Sabriel, Lirael, Abhorsen), consecutively one after another, or without a large break in between, otherwise you might struggle to remember certain details from Lirael that are important to your understanding of Abhorsen.

In Abhorsen, Hedge, a Necromancer intends to awaken Orannis the Destroyer, with the help of Chlorr–a Greater Dead creature–and Sam’s poor, best friend Nick, who is unaware that he is the host avatar of the Destroyer. The Destroyer is the Ninth Bright Shiner, the most evil magical force or being. Lirael does not know how, but she has to find a way to stop Orannis. Everything Lirael has learned up until this point will be put to the supreme test as she must find a way to bind the Destroyer.

There is a heck load of tension, as Lirael and her band of friends race to defeat Hedge and Orannis. They must join together and conjure up all the magic they can find to stand up to and defeat an enemy that seems undefeatable, and threatens not only the Charter but all living things, and the fabric of life itself. The final part of the novel is the best and most moving part of the book, with the beautiful descriptions of Lirael’s journey through Death to use the Dark Mirror, to the final conflict with Orannis when all the heroes stand together as one to defeat Orannis.

I loved Lirael. Without doubt Lirael almost seems unrecognisable as we knew her before, she embraces everything she has learnt and though she may be quivering inside, she acts, sounds, and behaves like an Abhorsen-in-waiting. Wow, I just loved this about her. I think that I have said this before but it is well worth repeating, Garth Nix really knows how to create strong female characters, and Lirael is almost unrecognisable in this novel from the insecure girl we knew as the ex-assistant librarian in the second novel, Lirael. Lirael, and Prince Sameth develop in this novel and in a good way, both of them are up against it and instead of backing down, they measure up to the task in hand. Lirael has accepted her role as Abhorsen-in-Waiting, with all the responsibilities that title entails. Sam also benefits from character development, although I would say that more time and effort is spent on Lirael and rightly so.

In Lirael Prince Sameth expects to be the Abhorsen-in-Waiting, heir to the powers of ‘The Book of the Dead’ and the seven bells, but instead he discovers that this role is meant for Lirael, and not just that but he discovers that Lirael is his aunt. In Abhorsen we discover that Sam destiny’s is to be a Wallmaker.

I adored Disreputable Dog and Mogget. But, the relationship between Disreputable dog and Lirael became a focal point in Abhorsen and it really pulled at my heartstrings, whereas Mogget, in typical cat fashion appeared a bit aloof, until the bitter end! Cats, love them but you know what they’re like, independent souls! Loyalty tends to be a quality associated with a dog rather than a cat. No more about Mogget as I don’t want to spoil the novel’s conclusion for you.

So highly recommended, a favourite of mine, so anything less than 5 stars would be an insult!

Apparently, Garth Nix chose the name referencing “Abhorsen”, the executioner in Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure.

Favourite quotes:

“Time and death sleep side by side.”

“For everyone and everything, there is a time to die. Some do not know it, or would delay it, but its truth cannot be denied. Not when you look into the stars of the ninth gate.”

“This? It’s a feather-coin. I made it.’
‘What is it for?’
‘It isn’t for anything. It’s a toy.’
‘It’s for annoying people,’ said Mogget from Sam’s pack. ‘If you don’t put it away, I shall eat it.”

“Together, the bells and Dog sang a song that was more than sound and power. It was the song of the earth, the moon, the stars, the sea, and the sky, of Life and Death and all that was and would be. It was the song of the Charter, the song that had bound Orannis in the long ago, the song that sought to bind the Destroyer once again

Sam picked up his pack, but before he could put it on, Mogget leaped onto it and slid under the top flap. All that could be seen of him were his green eyes and one white-furred ear.
“Remember I advised against this way,” he instructed. “Wake me when whatever terrible thing is a about to happen happens, or if it appears I might get wet.”

“Nick shook his head and found to his surprise that he did have tears left after all. He wasn’t surprised by a talking cat. The world was crumbling around him and anything could happen.”

“As for you, Private, if you mention a word of this to anyone, I’ll feed you to the cat thing here. Understand?”
“Yum,” said Mogget.
“Yes, sir!” mumbled the telephone operator, his hands shaking as he tried to smother the burning wreckage of his switchboard with a fire blanket.”

Have you read Abhorsen? Do leave a comment I’d love to hear from you.

Bye for now,

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

My Kyrosmagica Review of A Girl is a Half-formed Thing by Eimear McBride

Goodreads Synopsis:

Eimear McBride’s debut tells, with astonishing insight and in brutal detail, the story of a young woman’s relationship with her brother, and the long shadow cast by his childhood brain tumour. Not so much a stream of consciousness, as an unconscious railing against a life that makes little sense, and a shocking and intimate insight into the thoughts, feelings and chaotic sexuality of a vulnerable and isolated protagonist, to read A Girl Is A Half-Formed Thing is to plunge inside its narrator’s head, experiencing her world first-hand. This isn’t always comfortable – but it is always a revelation.

Touching on everything from family violence to sexuality and the personal struggle to remain intact in times of intense trauma, McBride writes with singular intensity, acute sensitivity and mordant wit. A Girl is a Half-formed Thing is moving, funny – and alarming. It is a book you will never forget.

My review:

I have a grave fear that if I’m not careful this review is going to be a Half-formed thing so here goes:

My first thoughts upon finishing this novel were like a stream of consciousness itself. It seemed as if the novel had literally blasted my train of thought and left me with a series of broken uncertainties, which were flooding my consciousness.

It just didn’t seem to fit within my usual book rating system.

Did I like the novel? No, I don’t think that like is a sentiment you can apply to this particular novel.

Did I love this novel? Definitely not. It was a disturbing read.

But did I admire the person who had written this? Absolutely.

Will I forget it? Most probably not.

In my wildest dreams I could not imagine writing such a novel. No doubt that is why A Girl is a Half-formed Thing has won numerous awards: Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction, the inaugural Goldsmiths Prize, the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year Award, and shortlisted for the Folio Prize, the Desmond Elliott Prize, and the Authors’ Club Best First Novel Award.

So a difficult novel to review and rate. I found the first paragraph almost incomprehensible: For you. You’ll soon. You’ll give her name. In the stitches of her skin she’ll wear your say. Mammy me. Yes you. Bounce the bed, I’d say. I’d say that’s what you did. Then you lay you down. They cut you round. Wait and hour and day.

Somehow, the writing style became easier to decipher and understand as the novel progressed but trust me when I say it is not a novel to read while wrapped up in your duvet at night with a nice cup of hot chocolate, and fluffy pink and white marshmallows. No, the themes are disturbing, shocking, and sickening. There are brief humourous interludes that attempt to lighten the load but these are few and far between. In this short novel Eimear McBride tackles sexual abuse, religious fanaticism, love, dysfunctional families and grief at the loss of a family member, in a very raw and exposed way. This is not a novel for the faint-hearted. In my opinion, it should carry a health warning: Read on if you are prepared to enter the dark mind of an abuse victim. This novel is predominantly about a young woman who has suffered dreadful sexual abuse at the hands of her uncle, and her relationship with her brother who has a brain tumour. So not light reading.

The form of writing used in this novel, a stream of consciousness, works because it strips back the story to the bare, exposed elements, leaving very little room for fuller character or descriptive element, and therefore the reader can’t help but feel even more disturbed by the events within the novel. It is just so raw, and painful.

The way that Eimear Mcbride handles the ownership of grief is very startling, the mother and the daughter both want to be in control, to be the focal point of the dying man, this causes conflict at a time when they should be supporting each other. Grief can make people behave in a very strange, and destructive way, especially if there are deep-rooted relationship issues as there are in this case. The victim of abuse in this novel has been so damaged at a young age that she becomes the seeker of abuse, almost validating the original abuse, in a state of “sin” until this ultimately destroys her.

I can only recommend this to those readers who might appreciate a very sad, but thoughtful read. I will be listening to Eimear McBride discuss her long and difficult journey to getting this novel published at the Cambridge Literary Festival this coming weekend so more details on that to come.

My rating:

3 stars.

Links:

http://www.cambridgeliteraryfestival.com/events/a-girl-is-a-half-formed-thing/

Interesting interview with the author: http://www.thewhitereview.org/interviews/interview-with-eimear-McBride/

Have you read A Girl is A Half-Formed Thing? Do comment below I’d love to hear from you.

Bye for now,

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

My Kyrosmagica Review of Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Goodreads synopsis:

Hopeless romantic Isla has had a crush on introspective cartoonist Josh since their first year at the School of America in Paris. And after a chance encounter in Manhattan over the summer, romance might be closer than Isla imagined. But as they begin their senior year back in France, Isla and Josh are forced to confront the challenges every young couple must face, including family drama, uncertainty about their college futures, and the very real possibility of being apart. Featuring cameos from fan-favorites Anna, Étienne, Lola, and Cricket, this sweet and sexy story of true love—set against the stunning backdrops of New York City, Paris, and Barcelona—is a swoonworthy conclusion to Stephanie Perkins’s beloved series.

My review:

This final novel in Stephanie Perkins wonderful trilogy has been the hardest for me to review. I began by liking it but somehow I didn’t love it. I loved parts of it but not the whole. But, the ending more than made up for any shortcomings. The ending smashed it. I read the final few chapters coming back on the bus. I was sitting opposite two young boys, and trying to keep my emotions in check!

This final story is more complex and mature than the previous two books in the trilogy. Somehow with the complexity, certain important aspects of the characterisation are lost. Josh intrigues me, but somehow I just don’t get a full enough picture of who he really is. I like the idea of Isla’s friend Kurt being an autistic boy but again I just don’t quite connect with his character as much as I would have liked to. In previous novels I felt that Stephanie Perkins did an admirable job in the development and portrayal of supporting characters, Lola’s two gay fathers coming to mind. Isla herself is shy, insecure, and prone to indecision. She is portrayed as being the blank canvas, waiting for her pages to be inked and her story to unfold. Again this idea really appeals to me, using art as an expression of personality but somehow it’s aim is maybe a little lost along the way.

The settings are intriguing. They just seem to be a bit like a faded watercolour painting and yet they should have been anything but with locations such as Barcelona, Paris, New York. Vibrant, exciting cities. So what happened? I think characterisation and location played second fiddle to the sheer passion of Josh and Isla’s love! All the time that they are walking through the streets of Barcelona, we are seeing Barcelona through the eyes of two would be lovers who aren’t really interested in the city sights, all they want to do is get back to the privacy of their hotel room as quickly as possible. When they reach the top of the hill we see Barcelona from a DISTANCE. They RUN past “Gaudi sculptures, Gaudi buildings, Gaudi’s famous lizard fountain, but they barely earn a glance as we whiz by. We only have eyes for each other.”

I like the way that Stephanie Perkins handled the more “grown-up” scenes in which Josh and Isla try to make out, these are often hampered by adults imposing rules on them! One of my favourite sexy quotes: “His lips press deeply against mine, and mine press deeply back. Our mouth open. Our tongues meet. We’re hungry, deliriously so. Even with my eyes closed, the shape of his body flashes before me, lit by the spectacle outside. Light, dark, light, dark. He tastes like champagne. He tastes like desire. He tastes like my deepest craving fulfilled.” This one too: “I trace the ink on my body. His beautiful illustrations are smeared with streaks of gooey chocolate. Reluctantly, I turn on my shower. The steam is already billowing when I climb in. The hot water hits me, and purple-black ink floods down my body. It touches everything. He is everywhere.” Whoa, Stephanie you’re getting carried away! Of the three books this one has the highest rating for hottest action that’s for sure!

HOT PEPPER ACTION! SMOULDERING HOT The final part of this novel managed to reach out and touch a nerve in me mimicking things that have happened to me in my own relationship. I, met my true love when I was very young too. When you fall in love at a young age obstacles seem to stack up, and uncertainties multiply, but if you have someone like Isla’s sister to bring you together as I did, then in the end it may all end happily ever after!

Stephanie Perkin’s final words in her acknowledgment are so beautiful : “Finally thank you to Jarrod Perkins. I’m crying now just because I typed your name. I love you more than anyone. Ever. Times a hundred million billion. Etienne, cricket, and Josh – they were all you, but none of them came even close to you. You are my best friend. You are my true love. You are my happily ever after.”

Highly recommended for readers of YA, Contemporary, Romance.

My rating:

have you read Isla and The Happily Ever After? Do comment I’d love to hear from you.

Bye for now,

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

My Kyrosmagica Review of The Book Of Storms by Ruth Hatfield

Goodreads synopsis:

Eleven-year-old Danny’s parents are storm chasers – which sounds fun and exciting, and it is, so long as you aren’t the son who has to wait behind at home. And one night, after a particularly fierce storm, Danny’s parents don’t come back. Stranger still, the old sycamore tree in Danny’s yard seems to have been struck by lightning, and when he picks up a fragment of wood from the tree’s heart, he finds he can hear voices … including that of next door’s rather uppity cat, Mitzy. The stick is a taro, a shard of lightning that bestows upon its bearer unnerving powers, including the ability to talk with plants and animals – and it is very valuable.

So valuable, in fact, that it attracts the attention of a Sammael, an ancient figure of darkness and a buyer of souls. And he will do anything to get his hands on it … And so begins a dangerous and daring quest. Danny, who is bewildered, alone and unaccustomed to acts of bravery, must confront his fears, find his parents and unravel the secrets of The Book of Storms.

My review:

It is an altogether different experience writing a review about a book written by someone you know. Ruth Hatfield is a longstanding member of the Children’s writing group that I attend in Cambridge. At her book launch I mentioned that I would write her a review and her tentative response, ” I hope you like it,” made me smile, because having read drafts of Ruth’s wonderful writing I was certain that I would like the Book of Storms and in this I wasn’t disappointed.

The Book of Storms is without doubt a wonderful debut by Ruth, confidently written, and engaging from the very start. Danny, an eleven year old town boy adventures into the unknown to find his missing parents after a storm struck the sycamore tree in his garden leaving behind a Taro, a piece of tree which contains the essence of the power of the storm. The Taro endows Danny with the ability to hear animals talk. He realises that being home alone with no parents is not all it is cracked up to be, especially as he has no sibling alive to share this moment of liberation with. Sadly his sister Emma’s young life had already been claimed by a storm. Danny sets out to find his eccentric, unreliable but much loved parents, whose obsession with storm chasing has led to their disappearance. This is no easy task for young Danny as his adversary Sammael is a ruthless, dark, creature untouched by human feeling. Sammael’s intention is to wipe humans off the face of the planet, with the help of The Book of Storms, and Danny is the one obstacle standing in his way. Sammael tempts his victims by offering them the one thing that they desire more than anything else in the world in exchange for their soul. Before you even realise what this truly means to you, what dreaded price you have paid, he has the grains of your soul safely deposited in his pocket. Sammael’s only redeeming feature seems to be his fondness for his dog, Kalia, a grey, mistakenly loyal, lurcher. Kalia’s only wish is to serve his master even if his master is an evil, impatient guy who tends to kick him when Kalia disappoints or misbehaves.

There are so many wonderful characters, Abel Korsakof, the old Polish guy who has an obsession with storms but is under the control of the dreaded Sammael.

Danny’s reluctant cousin Tom who joins him on his quest to find his parents. Tom enjoys nothing better than a good adventure but soon it is clear that Tom has had enough and wants to go home to the farm. He thinks his cousin Danny has gone loopy talking to animals, even though he himself would like nothing better than to talk to animals himself.

Courageous Mitz the cat is fabulous, as are the horses Apple and the piebold, Shimny. There are also talking ants, swallows, grasses, worms, the river, and even dust mites! The world of nature truly comes alive. At times the natural world is a frightening, terrifying place but the character of eleven year old Danny rises above his fear, time and time again, as he grows in wisdom far beyond his youthful years. Sometimes even those who appear harmless are anything but, and those that should protect him, frighten him, wielding an axe in the middle of the night when he least expects it!

The pace of the novel picks up in the final chapters to its exciting conclusion. But I won’t say any more about the ending of the story for fear of spoiling it for you, other than to say that it ends on the top of a hill with a threat, which no doubt will be tackled in the future novels as The Book of Storms is the first novel in a trilogy. I’m so looking forward to reading the rest!

Of course The Book of Storms would be lost without the much needed character of death: “Sammael watched her. They rarely met, but he was always struck by her ugliness: her shapeless, plain face and drooping mouth. Her red eyes were usually as dull as ancient garnets, dragged from the earth covered in dust. Sammael hated creatures that tried to stand in his way, but he hated dull things even more. Death was both. All work and no play, he’d taunted her once, and she hadn’t argued.”

Just a thought to leave you with, if you were approached by Sammael what would you be tempted by? What is the one thing that you long for most? I think for writers it would probably be no self doubt, just the certainty that everything we write will be loved by all!

My rating:

4 stars.

Links:

The Book of Storms has a very positive review on Kirkus reviews: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ruth-hatfield/the-book-of-storms/

Have you read The Book of Storms? Do leave a comment I’d love to hear from you.

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

My Kyrosmagica Review of The Pointless Book by Alfie Deyes

Goodreads synopsis:

Brought to you by YouTube Vlogger Alfie Deyes, The Pointless Book, accompanied by the free downloadable app, is the ultimate addition to his YouTube channel a weird & funny video-diary of fun, challenges and nothingness: bake a cake in a mug; take part in a people-watching challenge; create a time capsule; diarise a week of your life and learn to make origami. Fully illustrated and packed with a host of games, activities and pranks, Alfie invites you to join his online following as he challenges you to complete your journal of pointlessness and do virtually nothing with pride.

Definition of Pointless: Having little or no sense, use, or purpose.

Reality: Providing hours of pointless fun.

The popularity of the Youtube sensation Alfie Deyes is unquestionable. Here’s a guy who isn’t embarrassed to be seen doing Youtube videos with his mum. How sweet is that? His poor mum looks a bit overwhelmed by Alfie’s va va voom, this guy has a whopping 1.88M following on twitter, and a phenomenal following on Youtube, Facebook and Instagram. So why is The Pointless Book such a success? Obviously it must be all down to Alfie’s creating purpose out of pointlessness. The pointless book doesn’t pretend to be what it isn’t. The cover isn’t flashy. It suggests tearing a page out of the brown paper wrapping of life and making a difference to your day. It doesn’t promise to be a great work of literary art, or fiction. It doesn’t engage the reader in a deep, thoughtful way. But what it does it does well. It makes you smile, laugh, and participate in meaningless, fun activities, and why not? Life can be all too serious, dull, and stressful, so bring on the pointless charm of The Pointless Book.

I was given my Pointless Book by my lovely friend Val, as a present before I went into hospital for my Gallbladder operation. Obviously she thought that a bit of light hearted fun would appeal to me after they whipped out my irksome Gallbladder. Also she knew that I had joined the blogging clan too, though in a modest way in comparison to our Alfie. I have to confess I knew very little about the book though I had heard my youngest daughter mentioning it as if it was some great literary tome. I should have cottoned on then!

So should you be inclined to indulge in Alfie Deye’s pointlessness? If it makes you happy, if you have fun filling in the pages and sharing with friends, then why not? We all have a childish side and sometimes it is good to nurture and rekindle this part of ourselves.

Here’s a pointless list of my favourite sections:

Drawing. Lots of pages to draw hair, make up, hats, shapes, a time machine, a pet, a landmark, a selfie.

Colouring the places you’ve been on a map.

Flick some paint on a page.

Design a Tattoo.

Or take it to the next level and Graffiti this wall.

Word search

Play a Song and Write the lyrics on this page

Write : Whatever’s on your mind, What you did today, Some funny overheard conversations, (I do this all the time), A compliment. A Poem. A love letter. A secret. Five favourite things about yourself and why. The all important Not To Do list.

If you’re feeling energetic you can even try some yoga:

Alfie suggests Five yoga positions to learn – some can even be done propped up next to a willing friend.

If all else fails why not fall back on Alfie’s good old fashioned pages devoted to: Spot the difference. Dot to dot. Noughts and Crosses. Or you might want to fill in Alfie’s Bucket List of ten things you’d like to do before you get old!

Hey, Alfie, steady on there, I may be a tad older but I’m still young at heart, and hope you will be too by the time you reach my age!

My rating:

Ingenious, I wish I’d thought of it! I’m giving it a Fun Factor rating of 4 stars. Eat your heart out Simon Cowell!

My Kyrosmagica Review of Puppet by Pauline C Harris

Goodreads Synopsis:

Penelope lives in a world of advanced technology but many claim society has yet to catch up. Marionettes have advanced in the form of robots; lifelike creations remote controlled to perform super human tasks.

When Penelope makes a deal with Jed, a marionette-obsessed scientist, she doesn’t fully realize what she’s getting herself into. In order for Jed to take her away from the orphanage she lives in, she must first agree to undergo his experiments and tests, ultimately creating something no one ever dreamed possible; the first living marionette.

As Jed shows off his scientific creation to the world, concerns arise surrounding Penelope’s abilities and what she’s capable of doing. Ordered to somehow lessen her abilities, Jed makes a desperate attempt to change Penelope to make her more human, more vulnerable. After Penelope lies to the officials about her past, Jed makes sure it’s the last one she’ll ever utter. The truth is now the only thing she is capable of telling.

As Penelope struggles with her past, her disturbingly new present, and her uncertain future, she is thrust into a magically twisted world of mayhem in search of the one thing she wants, but knows she can never have. The chance to be just a girl again. To be normal. To be real.

My review:

I received a copy of Puppet via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. Even though I enjoyed Puppet there were a few issues with the book. Initially I felt that the first two chapters told us too much about Penelope too early on. These ‘facts’ could have been fed into the narrative slowly rather than been thrust into the opening chapters of the book. In some ways, chapter three felt like the perfect place to begin the narrative, suddenly the story took me by surprise, and began to capture my attention. Also there was a definite tendency for Pauline C Harris to tell rather than show which is a typical error that new writers, myself included, often make when beginning to write. So in my opinion, I do think that Pauline could have benefited from tighter editing from a professional in order for this novel to reach its full potential.

On the plus side I do think that the premise for Puppet is an interesting concept, an imaginative twist on the Pinocchio tale. Penelope is a troubled teenager living in an orphanage when Jed, a mad scientist offers to take her away in exchange for agreeing to be his experimental guinea pig! Under Jed’s scientific care Penelope becomes a human marionette and “her strings” are not physical attachments controlling her but the result of a drug administered to give her the ability to exert super human powers. When the “Administrators” find out about her abilities, and her lying, they threaten to take her away from Jed and James, so in desperation Jed takes away her ability to lie to compensate the Administrators. I found Penelope’s reaction to this interesting, she was distressed that this freedom which we take for granted is no longer something she is capable of. The pain of this loss is intense because in Penelope’s eyes lying is evidence of the last scrap of her humanity. Can you imagine never being able to lie? Lying isn’t always necessarily a wicked thing to do, sometimes we lie because we want to protect people’s feelings, e.g. when someone asks us if we like the way they dress! Ultimately the “Administrators” and in particular the evil Edelin’s intentions towards Penelope become clear. Her powers are forcibly used in a way that she finds abhorrent and distressing. She no longer has any control over her body’s potential for cruelty. The plot twists at the end of the narrative are unexpected and a welcome aspect of the fast paced story line, characterised by short punchy chapters.

I didn’t quite buy into the romance between Penelope and James, somehow it seemed a bit forced to me. Also it seemed a bit odd because I had considered them to be more like brother and sister, up until the point when they kissed each other!

I was surprised that Penelope didn’t have more qualms about participating in Jed’s experiments, after all who would want to? I know that she felt grateful for being released from the Orphanage and her debt to them, but somehow this just didn’t seem enough cause for her to allow Jed to inject her with a cocktail of unknown and potentially dangerous chemicals. Somehow she just seemed a little too compliant. In addition, I think that the characterisation of the characters could have been developed more as could the setting and background to the story. More detail about the science in the story and world building in this futuristic land would undoubtedly have made the story a richer read.This novel had a lot more to give and I was a little disappointed that it just didn’t quite get to the giddy heights that I had expected.

Having said all of this, I did enjoy the premise for the story, and the pace of the novel. I found it a quick read, gripping at times, and I do think this author has such potential. Pauline C Harris is a young writer, she is the same age as my eldest daughter who also loves to write! So well done to her for publishing at such a young age. Incidentally this is not her first novel she has already written a trilogy in 2013: Mechanical, Perfect, and Flawed, as well as children’s/middle grade fiction, The Secret’s of Evelyn Taylor, and another fairy tale retelling is coming out in 2015, Hourglass. Oh and she loves Star Trek and tea, so she gets a high five for that!

So if you like a quick read, and an unusual re-telling of Pinocchio pick up Puppet. For readers of Young Adult, Romance, and Fantasy.

Favourite quotes:

“We won’t kill you,” the administrator repeats. “But …if you forgive the pun…” he trails off, smiling to himself at some internal joke. “There will be strings attached.”

Being forced to tell the truth doesn’t make me better than a criminal with a lie detector. Choice is what matters and my choice has been taken away.

I can feel panic slowly pulsing through my veins like venom.

The marionettes’ bodies are indestructible. They are capable of shuffling and dealing cards faster than the eye can perceive, of crushing rocks in the palms of their hands, of darting across rooms in the blink of an eye.

And now I am too.

It scares me more than it empowers me.

My rating:

3 stars.

Book Trailer on Pauline C Harris’s WordPress Blog: paulinecharris.wordpress.com/2014/10/17/puppet-book-trailer

Have you read Puppet? Do leave a comment below I’d love to hear from you.

Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx

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There are so many wonderful characters, Abel Korsakof, the old Polish guy who has an obsession with storms but is under the control of the dreaded Sammael.

Just a thought to leave you with, if you were approached by Sammael what would you be tempted by? What is the one thing that you long for most? I think for writers it would probably be no self doubt, just the certainty that everything we write will be loved by all!

My rating:

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