The Bone Dragon by Alexia Casale was published in the UK on the 2nd May by Faber and Faber, and here's a summary to tell you more:
Evie's shattered ribs have been a secret for the last four years. Now she has found the strength to tell her adoptive parents, and the physical traces of her past are fixed - the only remaining signs a scar on her side and a fragment of bone taken home from the hospital, which her uncle Ben helps her to carve into a dragon as a sign of her strength.
Soon this ivory talisman begins to come to life at night, offering wisdom and encouragement in roaming dreams of smoke and moonlight that come to feel ever more real.
As Evie grows stronger there remains one problem her new parents can't fix for her: a revenge that must be taken. And it seems that the Dragon is the one to take it. This subtly unsettling novel is told from the viewpoint of a fourteen-year-old girl damaged by a past she can't talk about, in a hypnotic narrative that, while giving increasing insight, also becomes increasingly unreliable. A blend of psychological thriller and fairytale, The Bone Dragon explores the fragile boundaries between real life and fantasy, and the darkest corners of the human mind.
As part of the blog tour, I have an extract to share with you all. (I hope it's uploaded properly so you can read it here on my blog, but if not, please let me know). Enjoy!
The 5th Wave was published a couple of weeks ago in the UK by Penguin, and so far it's creating quite a storm of excellent reviews. I haven't read it yet, though it's waiting on my Kindle and is high on my to-be-read list. I'm really looking forward to it - it sounds brilliant! In case you don't know what it's all about, here's a summary from Amazon:
THE 1st WAVE
Took out half a million people.
THE 2nd WAVE
Put that number to shame.
THE 3rd WAVE
Lasted a little longer. Twelve weeks . . . Four billion dead.
IN THE 4th WAVE,
You can't trust that people are still people.
AND THE 5th WAVE?
No one knows.
But it's coming.
On a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs.
Runs from the beings that only look human, who have scattered Earth's last survivors.
To stay alone is to stay alive, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan may be her only hope.
Now Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.
Here's an audio extract from The 5th Wave, courtesy of Penguin and Riot. At the end of this blog tour (details below), this whole extract will be available to listen to in full. After you've listened to this little snippet, scroll further down for a geeky quickfire Q&A with author Rick Yancey!
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Quick Q&A with Rick Yancey
Which show would you choose to watch: Buffy or Angel?
Buffy. Love her attitude, very close to Cassie’s in The 5th Wave.
Where would you rather live: Narnia or Middle-earth?
Middle Earth. I’ve wanted to go there since I was a kid. The Shire, Mirkwood, the Lonely Mountain and, of course, Elrond’s house. As for Mordor, I’d probably settle for a fly-over.
If you could be a superhero, would you want to be Superman or Batman?
If I was still a kid, I’d say Superman, definitely. But as I got older, I became more and more a Batman fan. I guess because he’s more “realistic.” Plus, cool gadgets!
Greatest wizard: Gandalf or Dumbledore?
Depends upon your definition of “great.” Gandalf always scared me a little – the short-fuse thing.
Favourite alien: E.T. or the Xenomorph?
Well, in a fair fight I think we all know who would win! The part of me that is morbidly fascinated with squishy stuff can’t get enough of the Xenomorph. But then the part of me that doesn’t want to be eaten (well, that part would be all of me) favors E.T.
Mariella Mystery (That's me!) - totally amazing girl detective, aged 9 and a bit. Able to solve the most mysterious mysteries and perplexing problems, even before breakfast.
When their teacher Miss Crumble spots the ghost of her pet guinea pig, Mr Darcy, in her back garden, she doesn't know what to think. But Mariella knows it's up to her and her fellow Mystery Girls to get to the bottom of The Case of the Ghostly Guinea Pig.
Review:
Mariella Mystery Investigates: The Ghostly Guinea Pig is the first book in Kate Pankhurst's mystery series for younger readers. It introduces Mariella Mystery as one third of The Mystery Girls, a team of clever super-sleuths (they even have a handbook that goes by this name) who solve mysteries from the comfort of their tree house HQ.
Mariella's two best friends, Poppy and Violet, round out The Mystery Girls, while Mariella's little brother, Arthur, tries his best to help but really just gets in the way. In this first book, ghostly guinea pigs are being seen around town and no-one knows why they glow in the dark or just where they come from. It's a mystery only Mariella and Co. can solve, and so they set about closing the case as quickly as possible so as not to frighten unsuspecting residents.
The Ghostly Guinea Pig is a fun start to this new series and comes complete with very funny, and very cute, illustrations by author Kate Pankhurst. It's fast-paced and humorous and keeps readers guessing right until the end. Where are the guinea pigs coming from and why do they appear so ghostly?! All will be revealed!
I enjoyed this book and would happily carry on reading the series, which continues with Mariella Mystery Investigates: A Cupcake Conundrum. I like a good funny book, and I tend to find most of those in the 5+ age range. This book is a great addition to fiction for younger children and is one I'm sure they'll enjoy. After all, who doesn't like solving a mystery about cute glow-in-the-dark guinea pigs?!
Publisher: Indigo Format: Paperback Released: May 17th, 2012 Rating:8/10
Amazon summary:
Originally published as The Gathering Dark. The Shadow Fold, a swathe of impenetrable darkness, crawling with monsters that feast on human flesh, is slowly destroying the once-great nation of Ravka. Alina, a pale, lonely orphan, discovers a unique power that thrusts her into the lavish world of the kingdom's magical elite - the Grisha. Could she be the key to unravelling the dark fabric of the Shadow Fold and setting Ravka free? The Darkling, a creature of seductive charm and terrifying power, leader of the Grisha. If Alina is to fulfil her destiny, she must discover how to unlock her gift and face up to her dangerous attraction to him. But what of Mal, Alina's childhood best friend? As Alina contemplates her dazzling new future, why can't she ever quite forget him? Glorious. Epic. Irresistible. Romance.
Review:
I've had a copy of Shadow and Bone (formerly known as The Gathering Dark) since last year but, because of all the hype surrounding it, I didn't feel like reading it until now. I finally read it last week and really enjoyed it. It's exactly the kind of fast-paced, exciting book I was looking for and I'm glad I can now join the Grisha fan ranks!
Shadow and Bone is so well written and richly imagined, and I was immediately lost in the world of the Grisha. From the descriptions of towns and various locations to how the Grisha dress, nothing was left unturned and Leigh Bardugo really made me feel like I was there with Alina and Mal. The plot loved quickly and before I knew it I was turning page after page as fast possible, racing to the end to find out what would happen. I haven't felt the need to do that for a while!
Alina is exactly the kind of female character I like to read about: she's strong willed, sure of herself and fiercely loyal to the people she loves. Her friendship with Mal is a strong part of her story right from the beginning, and the way they are together shows just how deep their friendship runs. They are each other's family, and no-one can take that away from them. Not even the Darkling. Without spoiling anything, I have to say that the Darkling is an acquired taste. I never particularly liked him, and I still don't, though I am intrigued to find out what happens to him in book two, Siege and Storm.
Shadow and Bone is YA fantasy exactly how I like it: deep, epic and full of action and adventure. I fell in love with the story when I was only a few chapters in, and the many twists and turns that followed kept me hooked right until the end. I'm really glad I read this book and I'm even more glad that I have the sequel sat waiting for me. I have no idea where Leigh Bardugo is going with her story, but I can't wait to find out. Read this if you're a fan of fantasy - you won't be disappointed!
Publisher: Gollancz Format: Hardcover Released: April 18th, 2013 Rating:8/10
Amazon summary: POISON is a beautifully illustrated retelling of the Snow White story which takes all the elements of the classic fairytale that we love (the handsome prince, the jealous queen, the beautiful girl and, of course, the poisoning) and puts a modern spin on the characters, their motives and their desires.
Review:
Poison is the first book I've read by Sarah Pinborough and it definitely won't be my last. It's a dark, contemporary retelling of the fairytale and is perfect for fans of Snow White and the Huntsman and Once Upon a Time. Fast-paced and completely addictive, Poison is a joy to read and I was hooked from chapter one. I love twisted fairytales, and this is just that! Snow White
Poison tells the story of Snow White, but not the usual version we all know. It's a lot darker, with many unexpected twists and turns. It's not as black and white as the original tale, and I like that about it. The ending certainly surprised me - I wasn't expecting the twist and I do hope a couple of loose ends might be tied up in a future novel. Even just a quick mention of Snow's future would suffice. Here's hoping.
Poison is illustrated by the very talented Les Edwards who has provided line drawings for the beginning and end of chapters. This adds even more to the fairytale element of the book and gives it a beautiful, memorable presentation. You'll see what I mean if you read it! Even though this is an adult novel, it definitely has crossover appeal and is a good read for the YA audience. There's a bit of sexually explicit content but probably nothing much worse than is found in some YA books these days.
Like Grimm's fairytales, Sarah Pinborough has tapped into the more evil side of Snow White and its cast of quirky characters, while still keeping in theme with the original tale. There's Snow White, a prince, a wicked with and seven dwarves with names like Grouchy, Dreamy and Stumpy. Pretty genius, I think. The story flows fast and there's never a dull moment, especially not when my favourite seven dwarves get page time. I would love to hear more about them and the wars of the past, and that leads me to my only quibble with this book - I wish it were longer!
There are at least two more books to come in this series: Charm, a retelling of Cinderella, and Beauty, which focuses on Sleeping Beauty. I'm going to pre-order both, and hope July and October come round quickly. What an exciting new series!
Publisher: Titan Books Format: Large hardcover Released: May 3rd, 2013 Rating:9/10
Amazon summary:
Epic reveals an ongoing battle deep in the forest between the forces of good and evil. When a teenage girl finds herself in this secret universe, she must band together with a rag-tag team of characters to save their world -- and ours. The Art of Epic includes over 300 pieces of concept art, character sketches, storyboards and digital paintings, along with interviews with the key animation talent.
Review:
"I want people to see our movie and then take a walk in the woods and imagine that those birds squawking overhead are being ridden by Boggan warriors".
- Chris Wedge, director of Epic.
I've been following Epic's journey to the big screen since late 2012 when I saw the first trailer. I was instantly excited; the art, characters and concept looked amazing and I've always had a soft spot for tiny talking creatures. Since then I've followed every aspect of it's production and have looked forward to this book, The Art of Epic, for months. I knew the film would be something special (will it overtake Rise of the Guardians as my favourite animated movie?) and reading this book has cemented that further - honestly, it looks like a magical adventure for all ages. I can't wait to see it in a couple of weeks!
Epic is brought to you by Blue Sky Studios, the geniuses behind films such as Ice Age, Rio and Robots. That should give you a quick idea of the scope of their animation and art featured in Epic, all of which is beautifully showcased in this art book.
Director Chris Wedge provides an insightful foreword before handing the reins over to Tara Bennett, who then takes us through the film section by section. Even though I haven't seen it yet, it seems most aspects of the story and characters are covered, including major plot points (beware a few spoilers) and all the cool little people you see in the trailers. After starting with the human world, Mary Katherine, Bomba and Ozzy the dog, The Art of Epic then explores the Leafmen and their forest environment. The baddie Boggans are then introduced, and included throughout are pages and pages of early concept art, digital art and final frames. Some of the artwork showcased here is so eye-catching that I went back a few times to re-read sections and paragraphs just so I could take it all in again. The world created for Epic really is breathtaking and I'm looking forward to seeing how it translates on the big screen!
In addition to amazing art and scene sneak peeks, The Art of Epic also includes a decent amount of text detailing the making of the movie. Lots of little facts are made available, like the significance of Nim's jacket design and the differences between Nod's sword and the other Leafmen's. It's all fascinating stuff and anyone with even a passing interest in Epic or animated films in general will agree that this book deserves a place on their bookshelf.
Titan have once again delivered with The Art of Epic, and it's the best movie art book I've seen since last year's The Art of Rise of the Guardians (also published by Titan, review here). I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys this film or even likes the look of it - a further glimpse into Epic's world is well worth your time and effort. I hope you all like the film when you see it and, if you wonder where I am around the week of May 22nd, I'll be glued to a cinema seat watching it multiple times!
Publisher: Headline Format: Hardcover Released: April 4th, 2013 Rating:7/10
Amazon summary:
When 17-year-old Graham Larkin sends an email to a friend about his pet pig, Wilbur, the last thing he expects is a response from the other side of the country, from one Ellie O'Neill. As their online friendship blossoms, they begin to reveal more about themselves but crucially leave out the truth about Ellie's past and Graham's career as a Hollywood heartthrob. And when a new location needs to be found for Graham's next film, he jumps at the chance to visit Ellie's hometown, Henley, Maine. But, now that they're together, it's impossible to keep their secrets for long and there's a lot to overcome if love is to blossom...
Review:
This Is What Happy Looks Like is Jennifer E. Smith's eagerly awaited follow up to the brilliant Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. It's a heartwarming, sweet contemporary tale of a boy, a girl and a chance meeting through an email sent to the wrong address. Easily done, right?
I generally liked the plot, especially how some of it took place through back-and-forth emails between Ellie and Graham. It's a quick and easy format to read I think it suits this type of book. I didn't identify with the characters as much as I would have liked, and that's because the plot was slightly unbelievable to me. Famous actors never show up like that in real life (as far as I know, anyway) and it never quite convinced me. Still, it's a really fun concept and one that I could easily get past.
Ellie and Graham are likable protagonists, thanks to Ellie's normality and Graham's desire to lead a life like everyone else. They fit together well though I think they could have had a bit more chemistry, more like Hadley and Oliver in The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. That's a very special book though, and not many YA romances live up to it!
This Is What Happy Looks Like isn't your average YA book. It's a lot deeper than you'd first think, with strong themes of family and friendship adding to the romance. I didn't expect it to be so serious in parts, but it gave it a while other dimension that I think readers will appreciate. It's not a fluffy story, that's for sure.
While I didn't like this one as much as The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight (I really do love that book), This Is What Happy Looks Like is another great contemporary novel from Jennifer E. Smith. She could easily be the next Jennifer Echols, and I have no doubt that she's got a lot more good stuff in store for us. I'll read any and all future books of hers and I'm looking forward to seeing what she writes next. Contemporary authors of the YA world: watch out!
