A Magical Fantasy Adventure

White Hart by Sarah Dalton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A beautifully written, well crafted and devised fantasy novel aimed at the 13+ market. The detail is rich, the setting beautifully realised and the characterisation excellent. We are introduced to Mae - a half-wild young woman who lives with her father on the very edges of civilisation. Her past times are climbing trees, riding her stag Anta and basically avoiding the trappings of femininity. But she has a secret - she is Craft-born, having a magical connection with elements and with it, power. Alas, such talent is what the kingdom needs and she finds herself unwittingly caught up in grief and thrown into the horrors of the deadly Waerg wood, where she shall have to face disaster and death at every turn, and something even more dangerous: heartbreak.

The plot takes off early, and never lets go. I loved Mae's personality - so stubborn and single-minded that she was responsible for a number of her own self-injury (physical and emotional) and over-complicated an already complex situation. Several times you wanted to shriek at her "just admit to it!". The character of Cas too was excellent - the pampered prince who, at first glance seemed just that but when one looks deeper, is revealed in his many layers. Likewise, Sasha.

The ending? Well, I would have preferred it without the cliff-hanger, personally. That seemed a little abrupt and sudden as though the author were going "oh, so you think the story is over now. You're WRONG!"

I wish I didn't have to wait to find out what happened next...





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Faeries with a Twist

Faery Swap by Susan Kaye Quinn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I almost missed the chance to read this book, as the Netgalley invite had somehow found its way into my "spam/trash" folder (thanks gmail - not) but I am so very glad I found it! It was a quick and most entertaining read, devoured within approximately 24 hours and now being happily digested.

The writing style is excellent - rich in detail and strong in characterisation. Finn and Erin, American children suddenly plunged into England (I loved the interjections with English slang etc) and then - just as Finn has started to settle down and see his sister off to school, a faery possesses his body and sends him away to the land of the Fae. But is Finn deterred? Well, slightly, but he is also very determined and will not let his sister be left alone.

Each chapter focuses on one of the two main characters - Finn and Zaneyr (the faery prince who "steals" his body). Together it weaves the story and brings us to a conclusion that is both satisfying but also makes us wish for more.



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Fairies of the Dreamdark

Purchased on ebook via Amazon for $7.99 - not cheap, but this is definitely one I would read again and will likely cherish for years to come. I just wish there was a way to share it.

I already own book two.


Blackbringer by Laini Taylor

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Before she penned the amazing "Daughter of Smoke and Bone", Laini Taylor wrote some other novels - most noteably the Dreamdark books. There are two books in the series so far, and this is the first. The Dreamdark books are populated with faeries - delightful winged people such as you might like to find in your garden. Magpie Windwitch is a particularly fierce faerie. It is her duty to rid the world of devils - djinn that have escaped their bottle and are wrecking havoc. Her latest endeavour brings her up against a devil more terrible than any she has ever seen before - a beast of darkness that does not appear to devour people but to rip them from existence entirely. With the help of her seven crow friends (who add comic value as well) Magpie must destroy this beast before it destroys everything she knows and loves.

The lyrical writing style and evocative descriptions make this a delicious and engrossing read. With fun, somewhat quirky characters and a delightful and well conceptualised setting; I fell in love a little with this book and can hardly wait until I next venture into the Dreamdark. A charming delight to read.

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And this is Snoshti - an adorable little Hedge Imp:

And another Top Pick for 2011

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Enter the lyrical and haunting world of the Night Circus. It will draw you in, entrance you and wisk you away to a different time and place. With its evocative language, and gently flowing plot, it reminded me rather of "Jonathan Strange" and some of Neil Gaiman's work. The descriptions are lush and vivid, the characters entrancing. It haunted me long after the final page. However, there is a blemish to every jewel and in this one it was the constantly shifting time periods - each chapter would jump back or forward some years, which left me feeling a little disorientated. It was to good purpose though, to aid the ebby and flow of the tale.



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Cute animal stories for children

Donna Jo Napoli is well renowned for her delightful children's books, including her own versions of popular fairy tales. Writing across the whole spctrum from age zero to teenages, it is her animal stories that have currently enchanted me.

Both of the two I have read recently have been based on fairy tales, and both have provided me with inspiration for my own animal chapter books. I shall review them both here:

Mogo, the Third Warthog
An adorable story about a little warthog growing up. I loved the portrayal of this ugly, yet endearing pigs and Mogo's accounts of his adventures in the African savannah. Written in first person narrative, this felt a little odd at first - but I found it quite enjoyable. It helped me relate better to the character, and his trials and triumphs. A goodly amount of facts were thrown into the mix, scattered higgledy-piggledy in a way which educates the reader almost without their knowledge. There is a fair amount of action as well, and she does not shy away from darker issues, like death. Whilst something of a retelling of "Three Little Pigs" this is more the story about survival and spirit. Gotta love the Wild Dog being cast as the Big Bad Wolf!

Ugly
Another delightful story, also told in first person narrative. This one is set in Australia, and contains themes of friendship, family and also spirit. Ugly is the last duckling to hatch in Mama duck's brood, and much larger (and uglier) than his siblings. His behaviour also provides something of a conundrum. Ducks do not trust strangeness, and Ugly and his family quickly find themselves being bullied by the other ducks in Dove Pond. A pacifist by nature, Mama Duck realises that there is no way around it - Ugly must use his brains and survive on his own. But once it is him against the world, Ugly quickly learns that he's not as smart as Mama has lead him to believe. The world is a dangerous place, and a friend is what one needs to get by. He makes many new friends on his quest for his identity - a competitive wallaby; a sweet, loveable wombat; two bawdy geese and a feisty possum, before he finally realises what family and friendship truly are. Enchanting.

These books are both well suited for the 8-10 age group. But because of the inclusion of death in both books - albeit briefly - parents are also encouraged to read them. So they can discuss it with their children. And because they're good ^^