Between bullies at school and changes at home, Charlie Challinor finds life a bit scary. And when he’s made guardian of a furry fox cub called Cadno, things get a whole lot scarier. Because Cadno isn’t just any fox: he’s a firefox – the only one of his kind – and a sinister hunter from another world is on his trail. Swept up into an unexpected adventure to protect his flammable friend, Charlie’s going to need to find the bravery he never thought he had, if he’s going to save the last firefox . . .
This book was everything I love about middle grade – a delightful adventure story full of family, friendship, and an animal companion! Charlie is exploring the castle in his town when he comes across a hidden doorway, and is given a firefox to take care of and protect from the world beyond the door.
Charlie has to hide the magical fox from his parents, as his dad is a firefighter and would freak out if he found a fiery animal in the house! While trying to care for the fox, who he names Cadno, he is also trying to protect him from a sinister monster from the world beyond the door.
There was so many amazing aspects to this book that I loved so much. I read it in just a few sittings because it kept me gripped and was beautifully illustrated with drawings by Laura Catalan. Charlie was bullied throughout this story and he was supported by his two friends, Roo and Lippy. I loved seeing Charlie grow throughout this story with the support and help from his friends, family and his little firefox.
The Queer rep in this book was so lovely, Charlie had two dads and it’s just part of his everyday life. This was hardly discussed throughout the story and was just normal. I loved it. And obviously, the best part of this book has to be Cadno. I want a firefox please! He was so cute and was such a lovely and genuine way of moving the plot forward.
I’d highly recommend this one to anyone of any age, and I can’t wait to recommend it to kids at work throughout the month! I’m really happy to say this is the Waterstones children’s book of the month for March.
Helen has it all… Daniel is the perfect husband. Rory is the perfect brother. Serena is the perfect sister-in-law. And Rachel? Rachel is the perfect nightmare. When Helen, finally pregnant after years of tragedy, attends her first antenatal class, she is expecting her loving architect husband to arrive soon after, along with her confident, charming brother Rory and his pregnant wife, the effortlessly beautiful Serena. What she is not expecting is Rachel. Extroverted, brash, unsettling single mother-to-be Rachel, who just wants to be Helen’s friend. Who just wants to get know Helen and her friends and her family. Who just wants to know everything about them. Every little secret…
I don’t read that many thrillers, but this one really gripped me from the first page. With short chapters from many points of view and no one to be trusted, I couldn’t put it down. This book is set in Greenwich, which appealed to me as a place I’ve been a number of times and I could picture the setting quite well.
One of my main hesitations going into this book was about the characters – I often find that I can’t connect with a thriller because of all of the characters being unlikeable (this happened with The Guest List by Lucy Foley). But even though I wouldn’t say any of the characters are particuarly likeable in this book, they’re difficult to hate and I sympathised a lot with Helen, the main character.
Trying to work out where it all began, where it all started going wrong.
The plot was wild and thrilling, keeping me on the edge of my seat until the very last page. The more I read of this book, the more I found myself drawn into the pages, not wanting to put it down until I’d found out what was going on. I kept thinking about it when I wasn’t reading it, just waiting until I could pick it up again. Although I had my suspicions, I never guessed where this was going to go and was definitely surprised by the intricacy of the plot twists!
Despite having more than one point of view, I followed the story easily and didn’t particularly enjoy one more than the other. I liked the balance of the perspectives and the short chapters meant I just wanted to read one (or five!) more before I put the book down. The ending felt a little flat, but it kind of felt like any ending would after the amount of lead-up and tension we had throughout the rest of the story.
And I suppose the real answer is it started years before you could have ever imagined it did.
Overall, I enjoyed this one so much more than expected, and I’m really glad I picked it up. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who loves a thriller, or doesn’t read many but is drawn to the story, like me!
Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga where we share books we’ve bought or received this week. Find out more and join in here!
Hi everyone! I’ve actually done a little better in the past few weeks with controlling my book-buying! I have borrowed a few books recently though, so I’m not making as much progress on my tbr as I’d like to.
When the Superflu wipes out most of the population, Jamie finds himself completely alone in a cabin in the woods – until an injured stranger crosses his path. Life is dangerous now and, armed with a gun, Jamie goes to pull the trigger. But there’s something about Andrew … something that stops Jamie in his tracks. Jamie takes him in, and as Andrew heals and they eventually step out into the strange new world, their relationship starts to feel like more than just friendship … But trouble isn’t far behind. As the boys make a perilous journey south, they’ll come face to face with a world torn apart and society in ruins. And who, or what, will they find waiting for them at the end of it all?
I received a proof copy of this book from the publisher, Hodder, this week! It looks so good and I love the cover, so I’m really excited to read it soon.
Sixteen-year-old Olivia Prior is missing three things: a mother, a father, and a voice. Her mother vanished all at once, and her father by degrees, and her voice was a thing she never had to start with. She grew up at Merilance School for Girls. Now, nearing the end of her time there, Olivia receives a letter from an uncle she’s never met, her father’s older brother, summoning her to his estate, a place called Gallant. But when she arrives, she discovers that the letter she received was several years old. Her uncle is dead. The estate is empty, save for the servants. Olivia is permitted to remain, but must follow two rules: don’t go out after dusk, and always stay on the right side of a wall that runs along the estate’s western edge. Beyond it is another realm, ancient and magical, which calls to Olivia through her blood…
I also had my pre-order of the beautiful Waterstones edition of Gallant arrive. I’ve already read the proof copy, but I’m very happy to have the lovely hardback edition with beautiful sprayed edges!
Edinburgh is a city filled with magical creatures. No one can see them… until Ramya Knox. As she is pulled into her family’s world of secrets and spells, Ramya sets out to discover the truth behind the Hidden Folk with only three words of warning from her grandfather: Beware the Sirens. Plunged into an adventure that will change everything, Ramya is about to learn that there is more to her powers than she ever imagined.
Like a Charm is the third book by the author of A Kind of Spark and Show Us Who You Are, both books I’ve read and really enjoyed. Elle McNicoll enters into fantasy with this book, with a magical realism story set in Edinburgh. There was a great balance of the real city and magical elements, making it very accessible and easy to read.
All of Elle’s books have great representation, and this one was no different. Our main character, Ramya, had dyspraxia, and this was discussed throughout her story. Not only will this allow so many neurodivergent children to see themselves reflected in it’s pages, but other children will build a greater understanding of those around them.
Ramya was a great strong female main character, and I love that all of Elle’s books have female main characters to provide role models for young people. The way the characters are discussed and the magical beings are used to discuss our differences and similarities was so well done.
This one was a really enjoyable middle grade and I’ll definitely be recommending it, but sadly I didn’t feel myself quite as addicted to it as I was with A Kind of Spark and Show Us Who You Are. It was still a super entertaining read and gave me goosebumps at the end, but A Kind of Spark still holds the top spot for me of Elle’s books.
Hi all! It’s time for my February wrap-up, and even though I still didn’t do amazingly in February with my reading, I did manage to read 12 books. That means I’m only 1 book behind my Goodreads goal now, and I’m definitely feeling like I can catch up! I also read some really good books in February and had a lot of 4.5 star and even 5 star reads.
If you fancy watching this as a video, it’s available below on my BookTube channel!
Two sisters. One throne. Who will ultimately rise to power and wear the crown? Wren Greenrock has always known that one day she would steal her sister’s place in the palace. Trained from birth to avenge her parents’ murder and usurp the princess, she will do anything to rise to power and protect the community of witches she loves. Princess Rose Valhart knows that with power comes responsibility including marriage into a brutal kingdom. Life outside the palace walls is a place to be feared and she is soon to discover that it’s wilder than she ever imagined. Twin sisters separated at birth and raised into entirely different worlds are about to get to know each other’s lives a whole lot better…
Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong. Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find—aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end?
Fifty-one years, nine months and four days have passed since Fermina Daza rebuffed hopeless romantic Florentino Ariza’s impassioned advances and married Dr Juvenal Urbino instead. During that half-century, Flornetino has fallen into the arms of many delighted women, but has loved none but Fermina. Having sworn his eternal love to her, he lives for the day when he can court her again. When Fermina’s husband is killed trying to retrieve his pet parrot from a mango tree, Florentino seizes his chance to declare his enduring love. But can young love find new life in the twilight of their lives?
Witty, intelligent Elizabeth Bennet has no desire for a marriage of convenience. And when she meets the handsome, wealthy Mr Darcy, her opinion of him is quickly set: he is aloof, selfish and proud – the last man in the world she would ever marry. Until their paths cross again, and again, and the pair begin to realise that first impressions can be flawed… But as Elizabeth and Darcy become entangled in a dance through the strict hierarchies of society, will there be space for true love to bloom?
Torn from the world of ‘Vicious’, where death is not the end, only the beginning of extraordinary powers… Three new “EO”s must grapple with their new abilities… and with those who would hunt them down! Featuring unseen character design galleries from Andrea Olimpieri and story commentary from V.E. Schwab!
Sixteen-year-old Olivia Prior is missing three things: a mother, a father, and a voice. Her mother vanished all at once, and her father by degrees, and her voice was a thing she never had to start with. She grew up at Merilance School for Girls. Now, nearing the end of her time there, Olivia receives a letter from an uncle she’s never met, her father’s older brother, summoning her to his estate, a place called Gallant. But when she arrives, she discovers that the letter she received was several years old. Her uncle is dead. The estate is empty, save for the servants. Olivia is permitted to remain, but must follow two rules: don’t go out after dusk, and always stay on the right side of a wall that runs along the estate’s western edge. Beyond it is another realm, ancient and magical, which calls to Olivia through her blood…
Aspiring actor August Greene just landed a coveted spot at the prestigious School of Performing Arts in New York. There’s only one problem: His conservative parents won’t accept that he’s transgender. And to stay with his aunt in the city, August must promise them he won’t transition. August is convinced he can play the part his parents want while acting cool and confident in the company of his talented new friends. But who is August when the lights go down? And where will he turn when the roles start hitting a little too close to home?
There is something strange about Coraline’s new home. It’s not the mist, or the cat that always seems to be watching her, nor the signs of danger that Miss Spink and Miss Forcible, her new neighbours, read in the tea leaves. It’s the other house – the one behind the old door in the drawing room. Another mother and father with black-button eyes and papery skin are waiting for Coraline to join them there. And they want her to stay with them. For ever. She knows that if she ventures through that door, she may never come back.
Remember a time before cell phones could be found in every pocket? Or when even accessing the world wide web was something only readily available in a library? Back then letters still filled up postboxes and moments just felt so much more precious when captured on Polaroid film. Now life seems to move at the speed of light. Our memories are captured and shared with the world on social media platforms. And love, which is already capricious, can feel like it is moving at terminal velocity.
Drifters in search of work, George and his childlike friend Lennie, have nothing in the world except the clothes on their back – and a dream that one day they will have some land of their own. Eventually they find work on a ranch in California’s Salinas Valley, but their hopes are dashed as Lennie – struggling against extreme cruelty, misunderstanding and feelings of jealousy – becomes a victim of his own strength. Tackling universal themes of friendship and shared vision, and giving a voice to America’s lonely and dispossessed, Of Mice and Men remains Steinbeck’s most popular work, achieving success as a novel, Broadway play and three acclaimed films.
It’s difficult to pick a favourite for February as I really enjoyed a lot of the books I read – but If I had to choose it’d probably end up as a tie between Vicious and 5 Centimeters Per Second. My least favourite was sadly Love in the Time of Cholera.
How many books did you read in February? Which was your favourite?
Years have passed since the love between Sephy – a Cross – and Callum – a Nought – destroyed their world and changed their families and society forever. Society appears to be very different now. For the first time ever, a Nought Prime Minister – Tobey Durbridge – is in power. Race and class don’t divide people anymore. But things are never really that easy. Because Tobey’s just been framed for murder, and the only way to free himself is to turn to his oldest friend – Callie-Rose. Their families divisions run deep, and when two young people are kidnapped, their lives and everything they’ve fought for are put in the firing line. And when you’re playing a game as dangerous as this one, it won’t be long before someone gets caught in the crossfire…
It’s been a while since I read the first 4 books in this series, and I was definitely a little hesitant to go into this one. I have mixed feelings about the earlier books in the series, and I’ve definitely had some that I’ve loved and some that I’ve enjoyed a lot less. However, this one definitely ended up on the higher end of the scale.
I started reading this on Monday morning and ended up reading 350 pages and most of the book in one day. I honestly found this book hard to put down and that was definitely helped by the short chapters. Much like other books earlier in the series, I found this one so easy to get through and so entertaining.
You wanna know the difference between a mosquito and a lawyer?
The plot of this book was definitely my favourite element, and was so quick. This one changes perspectives between chapters and covers quite a few different characters. I’ve found with the earlier books that I definitely preferred some of the perspectives and then found myself bored when the point of view changed, but that was definitely different with Crossfire. I actually found that I liked all of the perspectives pretty equally with this one, and I was invested in the different plots evenly.
I didn’t love the characters, but it was definitely interesting to see them much later on in their lives in comparison to the earlier books. As with the entire series, there were some very important and relevant discussions about race, and I definitely felt like this one reflected some real world aspects in such a clever way.
One is a blood-sucking parasite and the other is an insect.
I’m glad I’ve finally picked this one up and carried on with the series, and I’ll definitely be picking up Endgame very soon!
Drifters in search of work, George and his childlike friend Lennie, have nothing in the world except the clothes on their back – and a dream that one day they will have some land of their own. Eventually they find work on a ranch in California’s Salinas Valley, but their hopes are dashed as Lennie – struggling against extreme cruelty, misunderstanding and feelings of jealousy – becomes a victim of his own strength. Tackling universal themes of friendship and shared vision, and giving a voice to America’s lonely and dispossessed, Of Mice and Men remains Steinbeck’s most popular work, achieving success as a novel, Broadway play and three acclaimed films.
Yes, I’ve never read Of Mice and Men. I have read East of Eden though, and I loved it when I read it a couple of years ago. I’m so glad Mark gifted me this book, because I’m not sure if I’d have been drawn to this otherwise, having forgotten by love for Steinbeck’s writing.
I read this in less than 24 hours, as it’s quite a short book at just over 100 pages. My edition also included a 15ish page introduction about this book and Steinbeck himself and his other work, which was super interesting and also gave some background information about this story and the inspiration for it.
As happens sometimes, a moment settled and hovered and remained for much more than a moment.
As I said above, I’d forgotten how much I loved Steinbeck’s writing, but I really enjoyed the prose in this one. Although this one is only short, it’s so heartbreaking and beautifully composed. I felt so sad for the characters and the only way I can describe this story is it felt so emotionally weighted. It just felt so heavy. And although it was painful to read, I also loved it.
As I’m sure you all know, this book covers some very difficult topics including racism and following a guy who I would say has learning difficulties. Although this was obviously hard to read, it was also handled so well in my opinion, and packed so much into such a short story.
And sound stopped and movement stopped for much, much more than a moment.
Overall, I loved this story and although it was painful to read and made very emotional, it reminded me of how much I enjoy Steinbeck’s writing.
There is something strange about Coraline’s new home. It’s not the mist, or the cat that always seems to be watching her, nor the signs of danger that Miss Spink and Miss Forcible, her new neighbours, read in the tea leaves. It’s the other house – the one behind the old door in the drawing room. Another mother and father with black-button eyes and papery skin are waiting for Coraline to join them there. And they want her to stay with them. For ever. She knows that if she ventures through that door, she may never come back.
Thank you to Mark for buying me this book! I loved The Ocean at the End of the Lane when I read it last year and I’ve been excited to read other books by him. Mark picked this one up for me, and although I was really hesitant going into this book because I do have a fear of dolls, I did still enjoy it a lot (I don’t think I’ll be watching the film anytime soon though!).
This book follows Coraline, who moves into a new house with her family that has a door in one of the rooms that goes to nowhere. However, one day, Coraline walks through the door into an alternate life and universe, where her parents have black-button eyes and papery skin and want her to stay.
Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist,
This story was so entertaining and very whimsical, in true Neil Gaiman style. I loved the atmosphere of this book and the alternate universe, and I could picture the world very well. This one reads like a middle grade fantasy for me, but I do think all of his stories have a very similar feeling in that sense and they all feel so whimsical.
There’s a beautiful author’s note at the start of this book which I loved, and it talks about how the story portrays bravery and courage through Coraline’s journey. I definitely felt this which I really enjoyed, and I can see why this book stays with people throughout their lives, as I’m sure it will stay with me throughout my life.
but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.
Although this didn’t blow me away enough to be a 5 star read, I did still really enjoy it and I can’t wait to dive into more of Neil Gaiman’s adult releases!
Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga where we share books we’ve bought or received this week. Find out more and join in here!
Hi all! It’s time for a Stacking the Shelves post to catch up on the past few weeks when I haven’t been keeping up to date. I’ve acquired a few books over the past few weeks and a few of them have been gifts from publishers!
Deadly storms have ravaged Mina’s homeland for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to serve as the Sea God’s bride, in the hopes that one day the “true bride” will be chosen and end the suffering. Many believe that Shim Cheong, the most beautiful girl in the village—and the beloved of Mina’s older brother Joon—may be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is to be sacrificed, Joon follows Cheong out to sea, even knowing that to interfere is a death sentence. To save her brother, Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong’s stead. Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep. With the help of a mysterious young man named Shin—as well as a motley crew of demons, gods and spirits—Mina sets out to wake the Sea God and bring an end to the killer storms once and for all. But she doesn’t have much time: A human cannot live long in the land of the spirits. And there are those who would do anything to keep the Sea God from waking…
I already had a pre-ordered copy of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea which I received this week, but I also received a hardback copy from the publisher! My friend Sophie wanted a copy though, so I gave her one of mine that I had spare.
Growing up in Ember Grove, Bitsy Clark knows better than to mess with the long-held traditions of her hometown. Until her best friend, Amy, persuades her to sneak into the Revelry – the end of school party in the woods, to which only those leaving are invited. When she wakes the next day, Bitsy can’t remember anything from the night before. Weirder still, whenever she tries to speak about the Revelry, Bitsy chokes on the words. But this is just the beginning, and what starts out as a run of bad luck starts to feel like a curse. As Bitsy’s life goes from bad to worse, things only get better and better for her best friend. It’s as if there’s only so much luck to go round and Amy’s getting all of it…
I also received a copy of The Revelry, which is very exciting because I’ve read all of Katherine Webber’s books and I’ve loved them all! Thank you to Walker Books for my copy.
In general, Karou has managed to keep her two lives in balance. On the one hand, she’s a seventeen-year-old art student in Prague; on the other, errand-girl to a monstrous creature who is the closest thing she has to family. Raised half in our world, half in ‘Elsewhere’, she has never understood Brimstone’s dark work – buying teeth from hunters and murderers – nor how she came into his keeping. She is a secret even to herself, plagued by the sensation that she isn’t whole. Now the doors to Elsewhere are closing, and Karou must choose between the safety of her human life and the dangers of a war-ravaged world that may hold the answers she has always sought.
I stumbled across this beautiful hardback first edition of Daughter of Smoke and Bone at a charity book swap in a supermarket, which felt like such a good find! I haven’t read the series yet but I really want to and I love this edition.
I also bought the second book in the All Our Hidden Gifts series as I found a signed edition at work! I buddy read the first book with my friends Amy and Jo, and we’re hoping to buddy read the second one together soon too.
Remember a time before cell phones could be found in every pocket? Or when even accessing the world wide web was something only readily available in a library? Back then letters still filled up postboxes andmoments just felt so much more precious when captured on Polaroid film. Now life seems to move at the speed of light. Our memories are captured and shared with the world on social media platforms. And love, which is already capricious, can feel like it is moving at terminal velocity.
I’ve read a lot of Makoto Shinkai’s work and I just fall in love with it every time. I’ve read the light novels and manga for both Your Name and Weathering With You by him and loved them, but I always knew I was biased because of my love for the original films. With 5 Centimeters Per Second, I decided to read the manga before the film and see how I felt the other way around. And I loved it.
This manga is about love. It’s a love story, and that’s kind of it. But I really loved that so much. I fell into this story so easily, and when I picked it up just to read the first 20ish pages, I ended up reading the entire thing in one go.
The writing in this made me so emotional and I was crying at around 150 pages in, with many other parts making me teary. I just loved the characters and the conversations they were having with one another, and the first section I related to so much.
The drawings were beautiful and I could picture the story so well. I don’t know how to describe how I felt about this manga, I just really loved it. I can’t wait to watch the film!
The Books are Everywhere 