Eve & Adam

Eve & Adam by Michael Grant, Katherine Applegate

Evening Wakes To A New World!

Evening has just witnessed her own death. Watched as her arm was crushed, her leg severed, and the blood, so much blood accompanied by a horrific screaming that she realises is coming from herself. She doesn't think she will survive this, is sure no one could survive this. Then after what they say was fourteen hours of surgery, Evening wakes up clean, bandaged and with less and less pain. Her severed leg reattached and healing at a remarkable rate, Evening is no longer in hospital but is recuperating under her mothers care in a facility that is more used to lab rats than human patients.

Adam has just witnessed his own creation, watched as a girl put him together piece by piece. Once born he is given many facts but there is only one true thought that is his own. Evening, he loves Evening.

Solo has just witnessed one unscrupulous horror to many. Over the years he has come to despise Terra Spiker and her facility, has plotted how to expose her amoral, unethical and illegal practices to the world. The day is coming when he will have all the evidence he needs to bring her down. Then that day arrives and he has more then enough to prove Spiker Biotech should be shut down, there is only one problem, Evening. He never expected to develop feelings for the bosses daughter, never thought he would have to chose between covering up a crime or protecting the girl he loves.

Eve and Adam is a creation story that begins with an apple and ends with a boy, created and brought to life by a girl. Only there is more to creation then pushing a few buttons, and sometimes perfect isn't at all what we are looking for. This is a story that goes beyond themes of friendships, loss, gang violence and identity. A story that strays into the realm of human experimentation, genetic modifications and corporate cover-ups. Alongside the philosophical, scientific and even artistic implications of life and creation is a dangerous, bloody and romantic story that you just can't resist.

Michael Grant Webpage

Michael Grant, Katherine Applegate @ Hardie Grant Egmont

On sale: 01 October 2012
Price (AU): $22.95
ISBN: 9781405265263
Recommended age: 14+
In a word: Eve
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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Trolls

Trolls by Brian & Wendy Froud

'A Tail of Tales'
   

One of the most important things a troll possesses is his, or her, tail. It is where they store their tales, the stories that tell of the nature of things, their world, their history, themselves. It is in the remembering, the telling and the sharing of these tales that trolls are able to pass on the knowledge and wisdom that has been learnt over the long, long years. But not all trolls are born to carry these tails, some are hunters, some are fighters, some live under bridges and others on very rare occasions have been known to eat small children.

Trolls leads us into a world where few humans have been before. The Otherworld is a place where every stone, every bone, every feather and every twig tells a story. Trolls are everywhere if you would only open your eyes to see. Although not all trolls are wise or intelligent, all are ancient beings of nature and time, majestic and complex, they are diverse as they are elusive. This beautiful and breathtaking tail reveals soulful and delicate beings who are greatly misunderstood. A stunning and skilfully illustrated guide into the land of Trolls.

Brian Froud - World Of Froud

Brian Froud @ Thames & Hudson

Brian Froud @ Abrams Books

On sale: 01 October 2012
Price (AU): $43.95
ISBN: 9781419704383
Recommended age: 16+
In a word: Trolls
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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The Raven Cycle Book 1

THE RAVEN CYCLE:
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Making Dreams Reality!

Blue has forever been told that if she ever kisses her true love, he will die. She doesn't doubt this for a minute. So without knowing who her potential true love may be Blue decided long ago that it would be much easier to just not kiss anybody, a much easier task at six then it was turning out to be at sixteen. But Blue was determined not to fall in love. Then on St Mark's Eve at the spirit watch Blue sees her first ever spirit. In the next twelve months the boy that spirit belongs to is going to die and Blue, having been able to see him, is either his true love, the person who kills him or both.

Gansey may seem the typical spoilt, rich kid with his expensive car, fine clothes and ability to solve most any problem by throwing money at it, but not everything in life can be solved with money. Surrounding himself with an eclectic group of friends, Gansey and his fellow Raven Boys have spent the last several years searching for the impossible. An ancient Welsh King lying in rest, sleeping for hundreds of years, hidden along the paths of time who will grand a wish to the one who awakens him. While each has their own reasons for joining in the search, for one it will lead to their death.

Raven Boys draws together a cast of psychics, students, explorers, friends and hidden enemies. An exciting tale of friendships, loyalties, predictions and murder. Where four Raven boys and one Blue girl are discovering that together they can find magic and mystery in the world. A world where the threat of a kiss is as heart stopping as the promise of death, where damning prophecies lead to true love and the search for an ancient king sleeping will lead to another world. This is a story where magical realism seamlessly mingles with ancient myths resulting in an engaging and complex beginning to an alluring and brilliant new series.

Maggie Stiefvater Webpage

Maggie Stiefvater @ Scholastic

On sale: 28 September 2012
Price (AU): $24.99
ISBN: 9780545224901
Recommended age: 9+
In a word: Raven Boys
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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Witch

Witch by Fiona Horne

 

'A Summerland Mystery'

  

After growing up halfway around the world in Australia, Vania is finally returning home to the town she was born in, Summerland, California. Not much is different in Summerland then it was in Australia, there are beaches, school and no real friends to speak off. That is until she causes a tree to come crashing down, meets a pair of psychic twins, discovers the power of positive thinking and sets out to uncover an old town mystery, and all with the help of a magical spell or two.

Witch is the story of a young girl finding magic within herself and in the natural world about her. Overcoming her fears, doubts and negativity, Vania and her friends are able to find courage, truth and magic in the everyday. Respect, love and friendship are gained though positivity, acceptance and trust and it is revealed that while magic is real, it doesn't always turn out as expected. An enchanting story of magical maladies, discovered identities and true love.

Fiona Horne Webpage

Fiona Horne @ Allen & Unwin

On sale: 01 September 2012
Price (AU): $16.99
ISBN: 9781742378695
Recommended age: 12+
In a word: Witch
Re-read it: possibly
Recommend: yes
Star rating: three out of five
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Witchy Magic

Witchy Magic
by Lucy Cavendish & Serene Conneeley

'I Am A Witch...'

For many the word 'Witch' conjures images of pointy hats, warty noses and flying broomsticks. However these fairy tale images of old women living in gingerbread houses and eating small children could not be further from the truth of what it is to be a real witch living today. The true heart of a witch and modern witchcraft lies in honouring nature and living in harmony and balance with all living things. Magic is found in the everyday, in the simple pleasures in life and in the understanding that everyone has the power to create their own magical moments in life.

Witchy Magic is a collection of differing philosophies, magical beliefs, seasonal recipes, ritual crafts, inspirational stories, insightful histories, empowering spells and spiritual wisdom. The magic within these pages teaches an open mind and caring heart, and encourages everyone to follow their own path. Being a witch is all about being true to who you are and having respect for your self and others regardless of each others differences. No matter if you are just curious about magic, a lover of nature or an avid pagan this book will hold something special for you.

Lucy Cavendish Webpage

Serene Conneeley Webpage
Witchy Magic

(includes Signed copy + carry bag + bookmark) from Website
On sale: 28 September 2012
Price (AU): $45.00 (Australia), $55.00 (International) from Website
Price (US): $21.95 from Amazon
ISBN: 9780987050557
Recommended age: 16+
In a word: Witches
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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A Magical Journey

A Magical Journey by Serene Conneeley

Do What's Write For You!

This is a journey into the soul, a look at oneself through thoughts, ideas and words. A record of where we have been, what we have done and all that we wish to achieve. A place to store our hopes and dreams, to keep our goals and aspirations. It may just be a book of stories either of our own experiences or born from our imagination. It could also be simply a diary, a notebook or a cook book. However you decide to use it this journal will be your own.

A Magical Journey presents practical advice and guidance on journaling and writing. It also offers calendars, moon phases and festivals held around the world with information on there origins, histories and mythologies. Full of inspirational quotes and largely dedicated to being a functional journal, A Magical Journey is a thoughtful and personal book that will be anything you make it.

Serene Conneeley Webpage
Serene Conneeley @ Blessed Bee Publishing

On sale: 01 June 2009
Price (AU): $27.95
ISBN: 9780980548716
Recommended age: 16+
In a word: Journey
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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Daughter Of Smoke And Bone #1

DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE:
Daughter Of Smoke And Bone by Laini Taylor

Make A Wish!

With her blue hair, imaginative stories and mysterious nature, Karou was not your average girl. When asked she would tell you she was raised by monsters, that her hair was blue because she wished it so, and that when she disappeared it was simply to run errands. Of cause no one really believed in monsters, wishes or simple errands that left behind bruises and bullet wounds. It was all just a part of her creative imagination. Only it wasn't her imagination, the monsters were real, and they were the only family she had ever known.

Karou was living two lives, that of an imaginative, art student living in the human world and that of an errand girl to a monster who deals in wishes and who was brought up Elsewhere. However when an ancient enemy returns and the connection to Elsewhere is lost as the doorways become closed off to her leaving her trapped in the human world, Karou is left helpless and alone. Being human it is where she belongs, however Elsewhere is the only home she has ever known, her only family is there and with no way left through, she can only hope she will see them again.

Daughter Of Smoke And Bone weaves you through the back streets and ally ways of some of the worlds most famous cities in search for teeth, truth and the doorway to another world. A highly imaginative and colourful beginning to a series full of art, languages, monsters, angels and a war that has raged for centuries with no end in sight. Despite this there is love, hope, the dream of peace and a new way to live. A uniquely magical story that is intelligent, funny, revealing and all together heartbreaking.

Laini Taylor Webpage

Laini Taylor @ Hachette
Daughter Of Smoke And Bone

On sale: 01 July 2012
Price (AU): $14.99
ISBN: 9781444722659
Recommended age: 15+
In a word: Karou
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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