The Fairy Ring

The Fairy Ring by Mary Losure

"Elsie and Frances Fool The World"

It all began with Frances, a young girl who, being new to England, one day discovered fairies at the bottom of the garden. Unfortunately it seemed Frances was the only one to see these fairies and so without proof no one believed her, that is apart from her cousin Elsie of course. But that didn't stop the teasing that followed.

Elsie, being of kind heart and somewhat mischief nature, decided to put a stop to the teasing of her cousin Frances by providing proof of the existence of fairies. Something that was easier said then done, however with a strong will, an artistic flair and a borrowed camera she had managed to do just that.

The Fairy Ring is a true story told of how two girls, innocently enough, fooled the world and those with the passion enough to believe. As spiritualism was becoming increasingly popular at the time, fairies and nature spirits were a popular talking point, and with so little known about the subject proof of the existence of such beings were highly sought after. But little did Frances or Elsie realise just how seriously their proof would be taken.

Mary Losure Webpage
Mary Losure @ Walker Books

On sale: 01 July 2012
Price (US): $24.95
ISBN: 9780763656706
Recommended age: 12+
In a word: Fairies
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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Taken Away

Taken Away by Celine Kiernan

 

'Into The Grey'
  

It all started after the fire had consumed their home, their possessions, everything in the world they had but each other. At least they all still had each other. That is they did have each other, until the goblin boy showed up. He was there waiting for them, he had always been there, had always been waiting and now he had thought he had found what he was waiting for. Only he was wrong, and his mistake was going to cost a life.

The nightmares were vivid and all consuming. Upon waking the horrid dreams would become nothing more then a phantom memory, a vague recollection of something unpleasant leaving only an all mighty hunger in its wake. After food and the bright light of day those bad dreams could almost be forgotten, almost be dismissed, that is until the nightmare became a reality.

Taken Away is a contemporary story of the bonds of brotherly love, it is a haunting ghost story that will send shivers down your spine, it is compelling mystery of the past affecting those in the present. Whatever way you approach this story you will find a well written, entertaining and intelligent read that will stay with you long after you have finished this book. A story that all ages will enjoy.

Celine Kierman Webpage

Celine Kiernan @ Allen & Unwin

On sale: 01 October 2011
Price (AU): $16.99
ISBN: 9781742377520
Recommended age: 13+
In a word: Brothers
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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Haunting Violet

Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey

I Don't Believe In Ghosts!

Violet always knew there was no such thing as ghosts, a fact that she could never admit with her mother being a medium. Mediums were another thing she never believed in, after all the years she spent assisting her mother in seances and readings she had just assumed that all mediums were frauds like her mother. But then one day Violet saw a ghost and everything she believed changed.

This was to be the most important reading of her mothers career with only the most important people in attendance. Who knew that a real ghost would show up to spoil everything. However it's not just the dead who are causing mischief and keeping secrets. There is a murder afoot and the one person who knows their identity is a girl made mute by her brutal murder.

Haunting Violet are a number of spirits, some more friendly then others, a guilty conscious, an unknown future and a new love. With a few well chosen words and a handful of parlour tricks, Violet and her mother have made a living at comforting and consoling the wealthy of London, and all at a price. A trip back in time to when propriety and social standing were all important and catching a murder could be scandalous. A great romantic ghost story.

Alyxandra Harvey Webpage
Alyxandra Harvey @ Bloomsbury Australia

On sale: 01 August 2011

Price (AU): $15.99
ISBN: 9781408811313
Recommended age: 12+
In a word: Spirits
Re-read it: probably
Recommend: yes
Star rating: three out of five
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Haunted Heart

Haunted Heart by Tania Donald

What I Did For Love!

Eloise was a simple village girl whose life was consumed by her rose garden, her dear friends Georgiana and Miriam, and the possibility Mr Jones, a very amiable man whom she could grow to care for over the years they might spend together as man and wife. Although this was the future she could expect, somehow Eloise couldn't help wanting more, more then her little village, more then an agreeable marriage. What she dreamt of was a deep romance, but the price for such love does not come cheap.

With the newly arrived Mr White comes new possibilities for Eloise. With his alluring presence in her life, Eloise is awakening to a passionate love filled with the joy of possibilities and the pain of neglect. However if Eloise is to survive this new love and her lovers demands she is going to have to survive a transformation that will lead her through dark and beguiling ways. But even if she survives this transformation she may still yet fall pray to a darker end.

Haunted Heart tells the tale of love, passion, danger and a life lived through any means with only one goal; survival. As one young girl crosses the threshold into womanhood, she steps between the boundaries of her moralistic society and into a world of dark seduction, a world that brings life with death, a world of loneliness and of great love. In this mixture of a Jane Austen character let loose in the world of Dracula, what follows is a provocative tale of romance, where in the end one woman will sacrifice all for her love.

Tania Donald @ Penguin

On sale: 27 June 2010
Price (AU): $29.95
ISBN: 9781921518706
Recommended age: 18+
In a word: Hearts
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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The Narrow Escapes of Ves Asirin #1

THE NARROW ESCAPES OF VES ASIRIN:

Tower Of Parlen Min by Matt Xell

Can He Escape 'The Shadow'?

Ves is a boy with no past and no memory. Before the orphanage there is no record of his life or where he came from. He himself has no memories of his life before the orphanage, nor has he any memories of the previous years, months, weeks or days. Ves suffers from a rare condition that wipes his mind clean every 10 to 15 hours. Without his scrapbook to remind him of who he is, where he is, he would not remember anything at all.

With the opportunity of a life time to visit the Tower of Parlen Min, Ves finds himself thrown into a world of new friends, extreme challenges, werewolves, witches, ghosts, murderers and a chance to win twelve million dollars in the Sword Challenge. However surviving the Sword Challenge will be nothing compared to surviving the serial killer stalking the inhabitant's surrounding the Tower.

The Tower Of Parlen Min is an epic children's story with violence, death and a lot of history lessons. For a story of a boy with a faulty memory who happens to be somewhat of a daredevil, he has no trouble remembering when he needs too. Through all the danger Ves faces and puts himself through he comes through little scathed but in a curious position. A very long and jam-packed story that's not too bad for a self published story.

eBook @ Smashwords
Ves Asirin

On sale: 23 July 2010
Price eBook (US): $2.99
ASIN: B0058EALC0
Recommended age: 14-18
In a word: Ves
Re-read it: possibly
Recommend: possibly
Star rating: two out of five
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Fallen Grace

Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper

Grieved, Mute And All Alone!

Grace and her older sister Lily lost their mother at a young age, before that they had lost their father. Alone in the world the girls had been sent to an orphanage and when older to a workhouse, but now they were living on their own making what they could selling watercress in one of the poorest areas in London.

It had always been Grace's responsibility to look after Lily, who now almost seventeen was still as unable to care for herself as she was when a child. Grace and Lily had left the workhouse and all it's horrors behind them, or so they had thought until Grace could no longer deny what was to be the outcome of her short stay there. And so, grieved and emotional, Grace found herself at Brookwood Cemetery with two business cards placed into her hands.

When the worst came to worst and Grace and Lily were forced from their home, Grace determined not to see her sister or herself resorting to living in the streets. She tried unsuccessfully to contact Mr Solent, the man who had given her the first business card. When that had failed she reluctantly took up the second black edged business card. She had been offered a job once, working for a funeral business.

It was not a position Grace was comfortable with but the Unwin family had agreed to take in Lily also, and although the sisters were to be separated Grace was only pleased they would both have food, clothing and shelter for the quickly approaching winter. However unbeknownst to Grace, the Unwin's had motives of their own for taking in the young girls.

Fallen Grace is a historical novel depicting life in London for both the poor and the wealthy, discriminating against neither as a poor beggar on the streets could be as much a thief as the wealthy in their posh houses, or worse. Amongst death, grief and greed Grace shines as a strong and vulnerable character able to tell a story that is fast paced, well thought out and all her own. A story full of deceptive actions, heartbreaking decisions and, if she's lucky, happy endings.

Mary Hooper Webpage

Mary Hooper @ Bloomsbury Australia

On sale: 27 June 2011
Price (AU): $15.99
ISBN: 9780747599128
Recommended age: 14-18
In a word: Grace
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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Thyla #1

THYLA:
Thyla by Kate Gordon

Her Story Is Still Being Written!

When you place a girl, who only days earlier was found wild and battered in the bush, a girl who doesn't even know what waffles are and who is irrationally afraid of the television, amongst a group of spoiled and stuck up daughters of the wealthy in an exclusive all girls boarding school, is it really any wonder that she doesn't quite fit in?

The world has changed, what Tessa remembers does not match what is before her. How is it she is able to remember names and dates from the past but nothing from the present? But it is more then just facts she is remembering, it is memories of a life lived long ago. But what has any of that to do with where she came from and how she came to be alone in the bush with such injuries?

Thyla is about a girl desperate to remember who she is, but the more she remembers the harder she is finding it to not believe she is crazy. On the surface this is a mystery filled with lost memories, dark secrets, heartbreak and loss; a tale of Tasmania's unique fauna, Australia's convict history and the supernatural. But at its core this is the story of Tessa, a girl who is discovering her identity, forming friendships and falling in love. Definitely one to read.

Kate Gordon Webpage

Kate Gordon @ Random House

On sale: 01 April 2011
Price (AU): $17.95
ISBN: 9781864718812
Recommended age: 16+
In a word: Tasmania
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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Bridei's Court - Book 3

BRIDEI'S COURT:
The Well Of Shades by Juliet Marillier

Peace At What Cost?

Faolan is a man unmoved by sentiment, a man with no room in his life for friends and no thought given to love. Or at least that is the man he was before Briar Wood and all the tragedies that befell there. Now Faolan is on a new mission, one he hopes that will close the wounds torn open in his past journey to the north. Faolan is returning to Ireland to fulfil a Kings mission, to fulfil a dying wish and to fulfil a promise.

After delivering heartbreaking news, hiding a fugitive, being captured, facing his demons and accepting new responsibilities, Faolan is finally able to concentrate on the Kings mission but he does not do it alone. Once again Faolan is travelling in the company of a woman, only this time she is no princess and she is carrying a lot of baggage, both emotionally and in the form of a small child.

Back in Fortriu King Bridei is facing trials of his own with family going missing, threats from within his kingdom and within his home, Christian travellers making demands that will upset the gods, once allies and friends plotting against him, and secrets and lies filling the court and endangering those he loves. It is a dangerous and volatile time for Kings and Queens, assassins, maidens, chieftains and children alike.

The Well Of Shades is a journey into the past where darkness lurks within and hope is ever present. The final chapter in this engrossing trilogy is a masterpiece in which myth, history and fantasy blend seamlessly together to create a tale of a people whose lives, challenges and loves are as sincere in their depictions as they are in their genuine ability to affect us. A truly precious story that I loved.

Juliet Marillier Webpage

Juliet Marillier @ Pan Macmillan

On sale: 01 February 2010
Price (AU): $24.99
ISBN: 9780330426022
Recommended age: 18+
In a word: Journey
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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The Wardstone Chronicles - Bestiary

THE WARDSTONE CHRONICLES:
The SPOOK'S Bestiary by Joseph Delaney

Let This Be A Warning!

This is John Gregory's guide to The Dark and all the creatures whom dwell within it. Some creatures you will have heard of, you may even have had your own dealings with the likes of boggarts, ghasts and witches. Other creatures you may be learning about for the first time such as boogles, Kabalos mages and skelts. Regardless of their notoriety and level of threat to the County all beings of the dark should he handled without fear, with knowledge and always using common sense.

Not everyone can be a seventh son of a seventh son and therefore eligible to become a Spook, many of you will stumble blindly through the dark with little knowledge of the threats that lie in wait for those of you who are foolish, ignorant or just plain unlucky. But within this Bestiary is the knowledge that could one day save your life, if only making you aware that you have a problem and giving you the foresight to fetch a Spook before you loose your thumbs, are drained of your blood or are just plain frightened to death.

The Spook's Bestiary is an invaluable guide not only for Spooks' and their apprentices but also to those fascinated with the dark, frightened of the dark or are fans of The Spook's series. The Dark is an ever present threat that is continuously growing in strength, but so to is the Spook's determination to fight The Dark in all its forms. With descriptions, stories, notes and sketches no home in the County is safe without a copy of this book to stave off the dark times. An informative and riveting read.

The SPOOK'S - map

Joseph Delaney Webpage

Joseph Delaney @ Random House

THE SPOOK'S

On sale: 01 December 2010
Price (AU): $29.95
ISBN: 9780370329796
Recommended age: 12-16
In a word: The Dark
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

Thankfulness!

Minli's world is dull, shadowed by the dark mountain, lying beside the murky river with only the muddy rice fields for company. The only bright spot in Minli's world is the colourful stories her father told her in the evenings after a hard days work in the rice fields. Minli's father had many stories and Minli had many questions, but always her father told her 'that is a question you will have to ask the Old Man of the Moon'. So one day Minli decided to do just that.

On the instructions of a talking fish Minli leaves her home in search of Never-Ending Mountain, the home of the Old Man of the Moon. Minli has many questions, but the one she wishes to know the answer to most of all is how her mother and father may be happier and not have to spend their lives working so hard for so little. On the way Minli meets dragons, monkeys, Kings, tigers and a little white rabbit all in her quest to change her family's fortune.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a fable of friendship, belief and thoughtfulness. It is a timeless story about a girl who believes in fairytales and sets out on an impossible journey, along the way picking up both stories and friends in her quest. A cast of colourful characters demonstrate the true meaning of friendship, courage, good fortune, and happiness. It is easy to see why this delightful book was awarded the 2010 Newbery Honor.

Grace Lin Webpage
Grace Lin @ Hachette Children's

On sale: 01 June 2010

Price (AU): $16.99
ISBN: 9780316122696
Recommended age: 8+
In a word: Moon
Re-read it: probably
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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The Wardstone Chronicles Book4

THE WARDSTONE CHRONICLES:
The SPOOK'S Battle by Joseph Delaney

This Is Just The Beginning!

It has been over a year since Tomas Ward crossed Hangman's Hill leaving his home to begin his apprenticeship with the Spook. During that time Tom and the Spook have faced many dangers of the dark together and they have always done what was needed to triumph over those dangers. But this time Tom may have to pay too high a price to overcome the darkness that is about to be unleashed.

Pendle, a district of witches, has been left unchecked for far too long. It was time for the Spook and Tom to do something about the darkness growing there, but even with Alice it would be a desperate task to accomplish. However they weren't counting on what the witches would have in store for them, so even if they survived it would be to discover worse things in the world then witches.

The Spook's Battle is not just a fight against witches but against the most evil threat yet to walk the earth. Tom faces many battles alone as he struggles with personal demons as well as malevolent beings and never has he been so close to the dark that he could feel its affects so acutely. Never has there been a more real time to be afraid of the dark, not after the evil in this book has been released. A brilliant series that just gets better and better.

The SPOOK'S - map

Joseph Delaney Webpage

Joseph Delaney @ Random House

THE SPOOK'S

On sale: 01 May 2009
Price (AU): $17.95
ISBN: 9781862308541
Recommended age: 12-16
In a word: Witches
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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Bridei's Court - Book 2

BRIDEI'S COURT:
Blade Of Fortriu by Juliet Marillier

Love Will Break Your Heart!

Five years, and a life time, have gone into this, and now after all this time King Bridei is ready to march into battle to unite his people, to drive out the invaders, to save the gods he loves. As with every war there are uncertainties, and for Bridei the north holds one of these; Alpin of Briar Wood.

As a hostage and princess of Fortriu Ana's duty compels her to agree to an arranged marriage to a man of unknown character but of fearful reputation. For Bidei's sake, and that of Fortriu, Faolan, Ana and a small party set out northward in the hopes of securing an alliance for the King. However no one could have predicted the horrors of what awaited them.

Lives are about to change through war, imprisonment, freedom, truth, love and death. Bridie faces an uncertain future where death seems the only outcome. Ana follows duty to a fault until she learns there are more important things in life. Faolan is a man unmoved by emotions but will find new strength in his weaknesses. A secret prisoner is held by bonds of blood and guilt and one very big cage until love sets him free.

The Blade Of Fortriu is a symbol of hope and courage to a people who's lives, land and religion are under threat from invaders. However the Blade of Fortriu is much more then a symbol or an idea, it is a man, the one man fated to unite a land. As people are change, loves are found, hearts are broken and lives are taken, this story, part history, part myth, part fantasy, will capture your imagination as well as your heart.

Juliet Marillier Webpage

Juliet Marillier @ Pan Macmillan

On sale: 01 February 2010
Price (AU): $24.99
ISBN: 9780330426015
Recommended age: 18+
In a word: Love
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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The Wardstone Chronicles Book3

THE WARDSTONE CHRONICLES:
The SPOOK'S Secret by Joseph Delaney

Can You Keep A Secret!

Tom is about to experience his first winter as the Spook's apprentice and take his first trip to Anglezarke, the Spook's winter home. Anglezarke is nothing like Chipenden, it is a dangerous and cold place where the dark is felt the strongest. It's going to be a long winter.

When a stranger appears on the Spook's doorstep darkness follows and secrets that have been long buried will surface to bring havoc to Tom and those he cares most about. But the Spook is not the only one who has been keeping secrets, Tom risks loyalty to the Spook and his friendship with Alice when forced to keep secrets of his own.

The Spook's Secret will reveal a whole new perspective to the Spook that will leave you guessing as to who and what to believe. The darkest story yet in this richly chilling and exciting series, The Wardstone Chronicles is a series that can not be overlooked for a witty, dark and thrilling read. Each book just gets better and better... 

The SPOOK'S - map

Joseph Delaney Webpage

Joseph Delaney @ Random House

THE SPOOK'S

On sale: 01 May 2009
Price (AU): $17.95
ISBN: 9781862308565
Recommended age: 12-16
In a word: Secret
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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Anxious Hearts

Anxious Hearts by Tucker Shaw

Home Is Where The Heart Is!

Gabriel and Evangeline, Eva and Gabe; two couples living more then one hundred years apart sacrifice everything to find what it means to love and be loved. Despite their differences both couples experience similar hardships and separation through distance, time, grief and death only to discover true love in the end.

Ever since that day under the docks when Gabe and Eva lost their shoes Eva knew that no matter what was to happen in the future, she would follow Gabe anywhere. But that was years ago, and although neither have talked to each other since that day, although years later Gabe disappears without a trace, she knows she would follow him still.

As children Gabriel and Evangeline played together but it was as they grew older that they realised their true feelings for each other. Even when on their wedding day when Gabriel and Evangeline were torn apart, neither would give up on the love they felt for each other, even if it meant they would lose each other in the end.

Anxious Hearts is a love story caught somewhere between dreaming, imagining and memories of a past life. It is a tale of longing, losing and finding love, but not all endings are happy ones. The alternate perspectives are the heart of this story with both Eva and Gabriel searching for the one person in their lives who make them feel complete.

Tucker Shaw @ Thames & Hudson

Tucker Shaw @ Abrams Books

On sale: 06 July 2010
Price (AU): $24.95
ISBN: 9780810987180
Recommended age: 14+
In a word: Love
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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The Prince of Mist

The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

A Man By Any Other Name!

Max was thirteen when his eccentric watchmaker of a father decided to move the family out of the city and to a beach house in a small town on the coast. There was war coming and it was a move to keep them from danger. However danger found them but it wasn't the war, it was something much more sinister.

Hidden behind a high wall at the edge of a forest is a garden full of statues, but these are not ordinary statues. A sunken ship sits at the bottom the sea, but it did not sink naturally. The clock at the old station was not just slow it was moving backwards, but that was not the only clock to be moving back time.

A new friendship, a hidden secret and a promise that must be kept will lead to a summer that will change lives forever. A summer that would bring fear to your very core, a summer that would break your heart, a summer that would never be forgotten.

The Prince of Mist is just one name this sinister being goes by. It is also a dark and haunting tale of danger, magic, friendships and love. One of the most eerie and gripping mysteries that will leave a chill down your spine and so unforgettable that will stay with you long afterwards.

Carlos Ruiz Zafon Webpage

Carlos Ruiz Zafon @ Text Publishing

On sale: 03 May 2010
Price (AU): $22.95
ISBN: 9781921656354
Recommended age: 13+
In a word: Mystery
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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Montacute House

Montacute House by Lucy Jago

But She Never Owned A Mirror!

Cecily Perryn is an illegitimate child and as such is very lucky to hold the position of poultry girl at the estate house of Montacute. A position she is very proud to have and happy with too as she enjoys the company of the hens, they were much more accepting of her then those folk in the village, even those of her own relation.

For three years Cess had worked for Sir Edward Mortain, the Earl and master of Montacute, but it was only recently that she had know his son to be at residence. However such things did not interest her as they did her socially aspiring cousin Amelia, what was more interesting to Cess was what she discovered on the morning of her thirteenth birthday beneath the bottom of a hen, and no it was not an egg.

But this discovery was only the beginning of a series of seemingly random events to happen at Montacute, not the least of which being the disappearance of her best friend William. Can it really have anything to do with the dead boy who was earlier discovered as well as the rumour of witches that has everyone reaching for their pitchforks and, if she's not careful, pointing them in Cess's direction?

Montacute House is a story of court intrigue, murderous mystery and happily ever after. A little disappointed with the predictable outcome to this story, there are also a couple of story threads that are left without purpose. However despite this it still managed to be a solid read and a pacey adventure into the past.

Lucy Jago Webpage

Lucy Jago @ Allen & Unwin

On sale: 01 June 2010
Price (AU): $16.99
ISBN: 9781408803776
Recommended age: 13+
In a word: Witches
Re-read it: possibly
Recommend: possibly
Star rating: three out of five
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Bridei's Court - Book 1

BRIDEI'S COURT:
The Dark Mirror by Juliet Marillier

The Best Laid Plans...!

Bridei's destiny is to one day become king, the druid Broichan and his secret council have worked hard towards this even before Bridei was born. They planned every step and every aspect of Bridei's life, save one.

Tuala was a gift from the gods, a daughter of the goddess and a child of the Good Folk. She and Bridei grew up together, much to Broichan's dismay, but even he would not turn his back on what was seen to be the will of the gods. But neither would he trust her, especially with Bridei.

In time Bridei and Tuala's childhood friendship grew into something much more. It was a love that would be tested time and again, a love that would face many dark times.

Bridei was to be king, it was destined, but the people would never accept one of Them as Queen, for the Good Folk were feared and despised. But if Bridei could not marry the woman he loved was he really willing to risk his destiny, a kingdom and the wrath of the gods to be with her?

The Dark Mirror is a sacred place haunted by the memories of the past, showing the possibilities of the future. An intricately plotted story of a boy and a girl and a great destiny. A love story at heart, this is a tale of friendships and betrayal, of politics and war, and the gods. A monumental adventure that steps into the past seamlessly blending history with myth and fantasy. A brilliant read written with beauty.

Juliet Marillier Webpage

Juliet Marillier @ Pan Macmillan

On sale: 01 February 2010
Price (AU): $24.99
ISBN: 9780330426008
Recommended age: 18+
In a word: Destiny
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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The Fool's Girl

The Fool's Girl by Celia Rees

How Many Shall Fall For Her!

A young woman emerges from the sea, a lone survivor from a shipwreck, onto a foreign land. To preserve her virtue she presents herself to the Duke of Illyria as a man. In this disguise many mix-ups and mistaken identities are plotted through before Viola is able to reveal her true self to Orsino, the man she loves. Thus the story of Violetta's parents is portrayed by Shakespeare. But what has Shakespeare to do with Violetta, and what is she doing so far from home in England?

The Fool's Girl is many things, Stephano's girl, Viola's daughter, Duchessa of Illyra's, but she is no Fool's Girl. I really wanted to like this book, there are so many elements that on their own are exciting and mysterious and if explored more would have been very interesting. There are pirates, politics, Shakespeare, allusions to faeries, and love. Unfortunately the end product is a story of a girl who is always protected by one shinning knight or another.

Celia Rees Webpage

Celia Rees @ Allen & Unwin

On sale: 01 May 2010
Price (AU): $16.99
ISBN: 9781408803325
Recommended age: 12-18
In a word: Viola
Re-read it: possibly
Recommend: probably
Star rating: two out of five
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The Wardstone Chronicles Book2

THE WARDSTONE CHRONICLES:
The SPOOK'S Curse by Joseph Delaney

But I Don't Believe In Curses!

It has been almost six months since Tom began his apprenticeship with the Spook and in that time he has come to see Chipenden, and the Spook's home, as his own. But all that may change if the curse is to be believed, but who has time to fear a curse when there exists the Bane.

Deep in the catacombs under Priestown cathedral an ancient being corrupted by the passing years has turned towards the dark and has in turn corrupted Priestown, a town full of Priests and often visited by The Quisitor.

But as the lives of the Spook and Tom become increasingly in danger there is also Alice to worry about. As the curse becomes ever more possible and Alice turns further towards the dark will Tom lose them both, or will he have to pay the ultimate price to save them?

The Spook's Curse is an old and powerful curse that will one day claim the Spook's life, but that is only if it is to be believed. In a mixture of history, mythology and fantasy The Spook's is a series that perfectly blends mystery and danger to create a dark and exciting world that has to be read to be believed.

The SPOOK'S - map

Joseph Delaney Webpage

Joseph Delaney @ Random House

THE SPOOK'S

On sale: 01 May 2009
Price (AU): $17.95
ISBN: 9781862308558
Recommended age: 12-16
In a word: Curse
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
xx

Fallen Grace

Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper

Grieved, Mute And All Alone!

Grace and her older sister Lily lost their mother at a young age, before that they had lost their father. Alone in the world the girls had been sent to an orphanage and when older to a workhouse, but now they were living on their own making what they could selling watercress in one of the poorest areas in London.

It had always been Grace's responsibility to look after Lily, who now almost seventeen was still as unable to care for herself as she was when a child. Grace and Lily had left the workhouse and all it's horrors behind them, or so they had thought until Grace could no longer deny what was to be the outcome of her short stay there. And so, grieved and emotional, Grace found herself at Brookwood Cemetery with two business cards placed into her hands.

When the worst came to worst and Grace and Lily were forced from their home, Grace determined not to see her sister or herself resorting to living in the streets. She tried unsuccessfully to contact Mr Solent, the man who had given her the first business card. When that had failed she reluctantly took up the second black edged business card. She had been offered a job once, working for a funeral business.

It was not a position Grace was comfortable with but the Unwin family had agreed to take in Lily also, and although the sisters were to be separated Grace was only pleased they would both have food, clothing and shelter for the quickly approaching winter. However unbeknownst to Grace, the Unwin's had motives of their own for taking in the young girls.

Fallen Grace is a historical novel depicting life in London for both the poor and the wealthy, discriminating against neither as a poor beggar on the streets could be as much a thief as the wealthy in their posh houses, or worse. Amongst death, grief and greed Grace shines as a strong and vulnerable character able to tell a story that is fast paced, well thought out and all her own. A story full of deceptive actions, heartbreaking decisions and, if she's lucky, happy endings.

Mary Hooper Webpage

Mary Hooper @ Allen & Unwin

On sale: 01 August 2010
Price (AU): $24.99
ISBN: 9780747599135
Recommended age: 14-18
In a word: Grace
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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