Swift #0.5

SWIFT:
Renegade by R J Anderson

Martin's Story!

On the run from the Empress, he never guessed the lengths she would go to in order to bring him back, or if not bring him back, end him. He never realised just how far he would push himself to escape. But pushed too far, Martin almost completes the Empresses wishes for himself. Falling out of the sky, one minute a bird, the next a boy, Martin never hoped to survive. But then a girl appeared.

Renegade is the story of Martin's escape from the Empress and his meeting with a human girl who not only saves his life, but would go on to play a vital role in Ivy's story Swift. With insights into his past and his relationship with the woman he would go on to kill, Renegade is one short story that's long in history, filling in events that have taken place between the old faery series ending with Arrow and the new piskey series starting with Swift.

R J Anderson Webpage

R J Anderson @ Hachette Children's

On sale: 01 May 2012
Price (AU): free with Swift
ISBN: 9781408312636
Recommended age: 10+
In a word: Martin
Re-read it: possibly
Recommend: to those reading the series
Star rating: four out of five
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Swift #1

SWIFT:
Swift by R J Anderson

A Piskey Like No Other!

There were only a couple of times a year when the piskeys ventures out of the Delve and into the world above, only a couple of times of year when it was made safe for piskeys to leave their underground home. With all the spells and wards in place no one expected danger to find them, but when Ivy's mother disappears there can be only one explanation, the spriggans have caught her.

Five years later and the impossible happens, the spriggans have returned. But as only Ivy alone has seen the creature no one believes her, that is until piskeys start disappearing from the Delve and the creature is caught. But what this spriggan has to say will have Ivy question all that she knows and lead her to betray her kind in search of the truth.

With nothing left to lose Ivy takes the word of a stranger, worse still, the word of a spriggan, over her own piskeys as one choice leads into another and eventually she finds that the truth is not as simple as she believed. With no one to trust and danger closing in around her and those she cares for, time is running out for Ivy and her fellow piskeys.

Swift introduces a new series of magical beings troubled by the past, trapped by their environment and unable to move on from their current situation. Alongside this clan of piskeys and knockers are some familiar faeries from the previous Faery Rebels series, and with this new tale comes some new and exciting adventures. As an added bonus this book includes the free short story Renegade.

R J Anderson Webpage

R J Anderson @ Hachette Children's

On sale: 01 May 2012
Price (AU): $16.99
ISBN: 9781408312636
Recommended age: 10+
In a word: Piskeys
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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Ultraviolet

Ultraviolet by R J Anderson

I Can Taste A Rainbow!

When she woke it was to a bare room, alone with no memory of how she came to be there. Soon however she realised she was in a hospital. However her stay was a short one, or so it seamed, for upon waking she was soon escorted by police to a new destination. A place where she is told she will be with patients her own age, a place where she will be able to get the treatment she needs. And the handcuffs, she is told, is just a formality.

Being abandoned by her mother to a place like Pine Hills should not have come as such a shock to her. Her mother had always been a little wary of her, a little to quick too judge her insane. Now however she had to try to prove to others that not only was she not insane, even though she could taste words and see sounds, but that she was innocent, even though she had no other explanation for a girls disappearance other then the fact that she disintegrated.

Ultraviolet is more then just a story of a girl coming to accept herself for who she is, forgiving her family for what they have done and gaining new understanding of others. It is a story of a girl falling in love, a girl discovering she is stronger then she thought she was, a girl who although different is no longer alone. A compelling and engaging contemporary read with a delightful sci-fi twist.

R J Anderson Webpage

R J Anderson @ Hachette Children's

Ultraviolet

On sale: 01 June 2011
Price (AU): $16.99
ISBN: 9781408312759
Recommended age: 14+
In a word: Synesthesia
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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Faery Rebels #3

FAERY REBELS:
Arrow by R J Anderson

'We Are At War'

Timothy and Linden left the Green Isles with more then a stone and a few good men of the Children of Rhys, they left with the means of protecting themselves and their fellow faeries against the all conquering Empress. Returned home to the Oak the real work is now to begin. At any time the Empress would descend on the Oak she has vowed to destroy with her many hundreds of follower, willing or otherwise. But would the faeries of the Oak be ready?

When the Stone of Naming was taken from the Green Isles, the Children of Rhys were left confused, frightened and desperate to have their most precious possession returned to them. But as faeries of peace, the Children of Rhys have little chance of surviving on the mainland against the Empress and her faeries to take back the stone from the rebels, unless they are willing to break their most sacred law.

As a Child of Rhys and daughter of one of the most esteemed elders, Rosemary is shocked to discover her mother plans to invade the mainland and break this sacred law. With little choice to save her people, Rosemary leaves home in an effort to reclaim the sacred stone and restore peace to her homeland. However the mainland is nothing like the sheltered home she left behind and Rosemary soon finds out how tricky faeries can really be.

Arrow sees a new heroine take the spotlight in this charming yet dangerous series. Rosemary is a faery who is learning about life the hard way, but she is not the only one. As her innocence and naivety are turned against her, Rosemary is able to find inner strength in her beliefs. Even after being betrayed, humbled, dominated, kissed, forgiven and exiled she is still strong, smart and brave in the face of all. A delightful and endearing continuation of a wonderfully enchanting series.

R J Anderson Webpage

(cover art) Brian Froud - World Of Froud

R J Anderson @ Hachette Children's

On sale: 01 March 2011
Price (AU): $16.99
ISBN: 9781408312629
Recommended age: 10+
In a word: Faeries
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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Faery Rebels #2

FAERY REBELS:
Rebel by R J Anderson

Hope Is A Newly Hatched Faery!

Fourteen years ago Knife left the Oak in search of the truth, she became a foster mother to a newly hatched faery and she was sent to live with Paul as human among humans. However, she continues as the Oak's defender and protector while its inhabitants continue to live without magic and their numbers continue to dwindle. For although Knife had found the truth she did not succeeded in returning magic to the Oak.

Queen Amaryllis was dying, after 350 years she had lived a full life and now the end was near. But before she passes she has some unfinished business, to name a successor and to appoint an occupation to the youngest faery of the Oak, Linden. But at only fourteen years Linden is yet too young to take up the task appointed her, and yet if nothing is done soon it will all be too late.

On a chance opportunity Linden risks all, leaving the safety of the Oak in search of other faeries and the possibility that they might find a way to restore their magic. But the world outside the Oak is vast and full of dangers, where friends offer only their backs enemies offer salvation, albeit at a price. And all hopes rest on the shoulders of the youngest of their kind, naive and ill-equipped for such a task, with only her strong will and pure spirit to guide her, and a little glamour too.

Rebel faeries are gathering as an old enemy emerges and Linden has walked right into the middle of trouble. But one determined little faery will have a great and powerful impact as strength and friendship are woven together in a tale where only faith will see the conclusion a happy one. A gorgeously imagined story that enchants and delights leaving you wanting more.

R J Anderson Webpage

(cover art) Brian Froud - World Of Froud

R J Anderson @ Hachette Children's

On sale: 01 March 2010
Price (AU): $16.99
ISBN: 9781408307373
Recommended age: 10+
In a word: Faeries
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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Faery Rebels #1

FAERY REBELS:
Knife by R J Anderson

If It's A Choice Between Love And Duty, I Choose...!

Faeries have always existed in the Oak; it has been their home for hundreds of years, long before the humans and their house. But there are no longer as many faeries as there once were. They are fading, dying. Their magic is all but gone, and no one can say why.

There are a few simple rules all faeries must live by, obey the Queen, never go outside, and above all else stay away from humans. These rules are made to protect the Oak and its faery inhabitants. But what if it is these rules that are slowly killing the faeries?

No faery would dare to disobey the Queen, but when one faery has the chance to leave the Oak, to discover the truth of the faeries past; will she be able to save her kind, finding a way to restore the faeries magic? Or will she bring the destruction of the faery world down upon them all in her quest for the truth, and be forced to make the ultimate sacrifice?

Knife is a story of adventure, danger, secrets, love and faeries; a magical world to lose yourself in. This is the kind of book you can read again and again, with something in it for everyone. It is surprisingly touching and more involving then first appears. The first in a series, this book is a must read.

 

R J Anderson Webpage

(cover art) Brian Froud Webpage

(cover art) Brian Froud - World Of Froud

R J Anderson @ Hachette Children's

 

On sale: 08 January 2009
Price (AU): $16.99
ISBN: 9781408303122
Recommended age: 10+
In a word: Faeries
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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