Exceptional Fun for the Young (and Young of Heart)

The Last Akaway by Gary Karton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A cute adventure story aimed at young boys - 7-10 at a guess, and designed to encourage them to play outside instead of spending their time in the computer-game world.

This book was a LOT of fun - the characters of Jake and Brody were immediately likeable and immediately realistic. I did find the jumping viewpoint a little confusing at first: the chapters are so short that one minute you're in Jake's head, the next in Brody's, but once I slowed down my reading speed a little it became rather easier. The random conversation topics spattered throughout the text were highly entertaining, and I am wondering if the author garnered them from his own two boys, whom I imagine are a lot like Jake and Brody.

Some of the plot seemed a little forced - the fact that Jake stayed up all night basically reading every single book about the spirit animals that he could find seemed rather a convenient excuse to give him instant knowledge on everything important, but I would very much doubt a teenage boy would read that fast and retain that much. Still, this is not exactly a logical book - it is a tale to entertain and amuse the young fellows, who will not be analysing everything: like how a fish could walk and whether the Crab skittered sideways.

Overall, this was a great romp and would be exceptionally fun to read to a young audience. If I ever find myself in the situation where I have my tablet and are required to amuse a young boy (aged 6-9) then I shall certainly be reading this one! Heck, maybe it might inspire them to put down the game console and go outside, climb a tree or throw a snowball (but not a rock) and get in touch with their own spirit animal.



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A Well Crafted Fantasy Adventure

Journey to Landaran by Judy Goodwin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I was fortunate enough to receive an advance "beta" copy of this from the author, and I am highly impressed. Her characterisation and prose are splendid, with the world and its occupants truly coming to life. She has also put a great deal of thought into the political and magical structure of the world, with some pleasing hints at its origins. The writing style is eloquent, with vivid and dramatic descriptions, and never a dull moment. It has some darker moments too, including a really despicable villain and a goodly amount of emotional upheavel. I whole-heartedly enjoyed entering the realms around Landaran and look forward to venturing there again.

"Journey to Landaran" is the story of two twins, teenagers by our standards. They live a peaceful life in a mountain community, getting up to a fair amount of mischief. The brother, Tavish, has a Talent with fire, but Aidah's Talent is much rarer and much sought after. As the world grows darker, the two children are forced from their village and into a life on the run.


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A Fresh Face in Fantasy

Dream Caster by Najeev Raj Nadarajah

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A beautifully written and eloquently told tale, with the freshness and originality that can only be found within the realms of independently published fiction. The narrative is instantly enticing, the landscape well conceived and developed, described in just enough detail to allow the reader to form their own mental impressions. The protagonist, Weaver, is a young man of unknown heritage - a trope fairly standard in fantasy novels - but he appears to have no special talents or abilities, and has been raised by a man who treats him more like a servant than a son, yet still shows him care and attention. For the most part, the plot is well constructed, the characters diverse and interesting. The ending did leave me feeling a little disappointed though, not because it left too much hanging, but because I wanted the story to go on further, to tie up the remaining loose ends. I look forward to the sequel!


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Dystopian with birds - what's not to love?

Nest of Lies by Heather McQuillan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's no secret that I love birds - so when I discovered a dystopian novel set in my home city, with birds as a core element, I had to snap it up. What amazes me is that I never picked it up sooner!
I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself into Ashlee's world, which was familiar but at the same time utterly alien. It was fun trying to pick up the places from their slightly altered names. In not-too-many words, McQuillan introduces us to the Citadel - with its overgrown, abandoned houses. Where the guards watch out for the threat from the sky - the birds that brought with them the Plague many years before, a plague that decimated the human race.

But were the birds really to blame?

With characters like the Greenie, Whaleman, it would have been easy for this novel to slip into eco-preaching, but it does not and he is a strong and likeable character, counterbalanced with the scientist, "Egghead", Mynah. McQuillan manages to touch on both sides of the arguement, whilst keeping the pace steady and enjoyable. Mynah is likewise a fun character, despite her name (I dislike mynah birds), but it is - of course - Felix that steals the show. Ika was fun too. I enjoyed watching the characters' personalities grow throughout the novel, although for such a small book it does have a rather large cast, and some were not given enough room to shine. I would like to see a sequel, as there are numerous questions left unanswered.

I also enjoyed the allusions to various fairy tales.

Overall, a fine read from a local author.

(At first it bugged me when I discovered the scientists, Eggheads, were named for extinct birds  - because I was thinking but magpie, raven and mynah are opportunistic scavengers and will eat anything - if the human race were to end, then they would surely flourish. Then I remembered that the birds had died from the same plague as the humans - and therefore any bird that eats carrion is likely to be more susceptible. Not sure if Heather considered that or not, but it works with my mental reasoning!)


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Zombies VS Vegans

A Single Girl's Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse by JT Clay

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a crazy adventure story of a novel! For a zombie novel, this was very quirky and had some nicely original twists - a fresh bud in an oversaturated genre. The characterisation was great - Q being an awesome character, and her relationship with young Hannah was priceless. You've got to love the precocious a six year old!

Q has prepared all her life for the Zombie Apocalypse, but she never thought she would be away on a Vegan camping weekend when it struck. And she would never have been there at all, if it weren't for the super sexy hippy musician, Rabbit. Now she's out in the middle of nowhere, with a group of pacifists as the zombie hoards begin to close in.

It was so ridiculous and outrageous that it made for an awesome, super-quick read. There were times of sorrow, but times of laughter and times of wondering if anyone could possibly get out of it alive.

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Destiny, Dreams and the Desire for Popularity

The Dream Keeper by Mikey Brooks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An interesting and imaginative novel that works on several different levels. Ultimately, it is an adventure novel - the forces of good against the forces of darkness as Parker and Kaelyn help Dream Keeper Gladamyr fight against the evil usurper of the Dream realms.

Underneath that, however, is a storyline that will strike a chord with many of the young readers - ages probably 11+ - and that is the desire to be popular: Parker doesn't want to be branded a "loser" so badly that he is prepared to lie to his friends over something of no more consequence than a computer game; for Kaelyn it's too late - the "Plastic" crowd have already branded her as such, all because of her aunt Zelda, a psychic. Self doubt and loathing plague her throughout the story, but are interspersed with some true acts of heroism that really make her shine.

Add into this: the magical setting of the Dream world; Gladamyr - a Dream Keeper whose mere existence proves that your birth does not shape your destiny; a villain set on destroying the human race; the trials and tribulations of trying to "keep cool in school" and you've got an enchanting story, a fast-paced, diverse and slightyl surreal adventure and an overall jolly fine read.

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Adventures Await, in Alternate-Europe of 1888

The Forever Engine by Frank Chadwick

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I highly enjoyed this novel, which felt like a combination of scientific romp and espionage adventure.

Jack Fargo is a modern-day ex-soldier, seeking the simple life of a scholar in an effort to overcome the trauma of the battlefield and the tragic death of his wife. Alas, it all changes for him when a fluke explosion of a new, experimental weapon, blows him back in time, to London, 1888. Fargo is quick to adapt and think on his feet, but all he really wants is to return to his own time and his daughter, Sarah. Alas, events conspire against him and he is flung on an adventure carrying him across Europe and into the mountains, seeking the only man that might be able to help him - but is more likely to bring further pain and heartbreak.

For a debut novel, this is a jolly fine read - Chadwick clearly knows his stuff (a fact confirmed by his past work with Traveller and Space 1889). The science might be slightly implausible, but Chadwick explains it convincingly well, and in the exact amount of depth that it needs to be explained. Never once, throughout this entire novel, did I feel my interest waning.

Not only does he have the plotting tight and coherent, but he also develops excellent characterisation. From the brave, quick-thinking protagonist/narrator; to the somewhat unlikeable, cowardly Gordon and the potential love interest, French woman Gabrielle, who has some interesting quirks and a secret of her own. Even the minor players are well thought out.

Overall, this is a really good book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope to see more of Fargo and this alternate-1888 in the future.

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