Midnight Magic Blog Tour

Good morning everyone and welcome to the next stop of the Midnight Magic blog tour celebrating the release of the new book from the lovely Michelle Harrison! Author of such tales as The 13 Treasures, A Pinch of Magic and now Midnight Magic!

It gives me great pleasure today to present to you an extract from the book itself which is wonderfully illustrated and such a fun read. I read this to my niece who is nearly 3 and she loved it!

So without further ado here we go...

Isn't that delightful and doesn't it make you want to read more? Well you can - my full review is coming in the next few days and you can buy the book right now! Do go and check it out because it is a delight and children will love it!

You can also follow the tour on tomorrows stop on Story Snug!

Spooky Reads - Recommendations this Halloween!

October, and in fact autumn and winter in general, is the perfect time of year to snuggle up and read a good book. And there are plenty out there. But at this time of year in particular, around Halloween, a good spooky, often scary, read is just what the doctor ordered. Something to get your adrenaline going, get you scared, make you jump, or even squeal.

Today I'm going to be highlighting some books that I think you should all add to your Halloween/Spooktastic reading lists! First off, I haven't read all of these books. One is next on my to read pile and I shall be making a start this weekend... so here we go...

(Please note, for your ease, I have linked the titles to Amazon. Just click, and away you go!)

Zom-B by Darren Shan.

One that I haven't read yet but cannot wait to start. I've heard nothing but praise for this and with zombies, it's perfect for Halloween. Apparently, it's gory as hell, but what else do you expect from Mr. Shan? The cover says it all. The master of horror! The first in a twelve book saga, it sounds like one to miss at your own peril!

Official synopsis: "Zom-B is a radical new series about a zombie apocalypse, told in the first person by one of its victims. The series combines classic Shan action with a fiendishly twisting plot and hard-hitting and thought-provoking moral questions dealing with racism, abuse of power and more. This is challenging material, which will captivate existing Shan fans and bring in many new ones. As Darren says, "It's a big, sprawling, vicious tale...a grisly piece of escapism, and a barbed look at the world in which we live. Each book in the series is short, fast-paced and bloody. A high body-count is guaranteed!"

 Oblivion by Anthony Horowitz.

The finale in the epic The Power of Five series, this book is equal parts horror and awesome. From start to finish it is a rollercoaster as you see the complete and utter destruction upon the world, wrecked by the Old Ones. A stunning conclusion, my full review is coming next week, but make sure you check out the book itself, weighing in a hefty, and justifiable, 672 pages. And of course the first four books in the series, Raven's Gate, Evil Star, Nightrise and Necropolis!

Official synopsis: "Having escaped from Hong Kong, the Five Gatekeepers - Matt, Pedro, Scott, Jamie and Scarlett - are scattered in a hostile and dangerous world. As they struggle to re-group and plan their next move, the malevolent King of the Old Ones gathers his forces in Oblivion: a desolate landscape where the last survivors of humanity must fight the ultimate battle."

 The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker.

It's dark, creepy, and there are the Weepers - I can't even desribe the fear that they struck in me when I read the book late last year. And with the release of the second book, The Life Beyond just beyond the horizon, March 2013, there's no better time than now to pick up the first instalment!

Official synopsis: "The Other Life: who we were before the virus. How we'll never be again. It's been 3 years, 1 month, 1 week and 6 days since Sherry has seen daylight. When things went wrong up above, she was sealed off from the world in a bunker with her family. But when they run out of food, Sherry and her dad must venture outside. There they find devastation, desolation...and the Weepers: savage mutant killers. When her dad is snatched, Sherry joins forces with gorgeous but troubled Joshua - an Avenger, determined to destroy the Weepers. But can Sherry keep her family and Joshua safe, when his desire for vengeance threatens them all? The seeds of first love are sown amongst the death and destruction of a nightmare future in this incredible debut novel. Beautifully formed and gut-wrenchingly gripping, it's essential reading."

 Department 19: The Rising by Will Hill.

The second book in what is already shaping up to be a fantastic series, it is a big book, coming in at just over 700 pages, but boy is it worth it. It packs a massive punch, and there are buckets of blood, guts and gore to keep you entertained the whole way through. Again, the timing is perfect for you to pick up both the first book, simply Department 19, and The Rising, because the third book, Battle Lines, is due in March, so get on it! What are you waiting for?

Official synopsis: "The pulse-pounding sequel to DEPARTMENT 19 – “The best action horror story I have ever read” according to Bookzoneforboys… 91 DAYS TILL ZERO HOUR. THAT'S 91 DAYS TO RUN. 91 DAYS TO HIDE. OR 91 DAYS TO PRAY FOR DEPARTMENT 19 TO SAVE YOU… After the terrifying attack on Lindisfarne at the end of the first book, Jamie, Larissa and Kate are recovering at Department 19 headquarters, waiting for news of Dracula’s stolen ashes. They won’t be waiting for long. Vampire forces are gathering. Old enemies are getting too close. And Dracula… is rising."

Unrest by Michelle Harrison.

Hands down, this is perhaps the most un-nerving, terrifying books I have read this year, if not in a long time. The chills I got when reading this - it's insane! I can't even desribe it. Just... go. Get it. It's got ghosts. Enough said! Michelle, you're a genius! But you did stop me from sleeping. Thanks, thanks a bunch!

Official synopsis: "Seventeen-year-old Elliott hasn't slept properly for six months. Not since the accident that nearly killed him. Now he is afraid to go to sleep. Sometimes he wakes to find himself paralysed, unable to move a muscle, while shadowy figures move around him. Other times he is the one moving around, while his body lies asleep on the bed. According to his doctor, sleep paralysis and out of body experiences are harmless - but to Elliot they're terrifying. Convinced that his brush with death has opened up connections with the spirit world, Elliott secures a live-in job at one of England's most haunted locations, determined to find out the truth. There he finds Sebastian, the ghost of a long-dead servant boy hanged for stealing bread. He also meets the living, breathing Ophelia, a girl with secrets of her own. She and Elliott grow closer, but things take a terrifying turn when Elliott discovers Sebastian is occupying his body when he leaves it. And the more time Sebastian spends inhabiting a living body, the more resistant he becomes to giving it back. Worse, he seems to have an unhealthy interest in Ophelia. Unless Elliott can lay Sebastian's spirit to rest, he risks being possessed by him for ever, and losing the girl of his dreams..."

So, there you go. Whatever you decide to read this Halloween, even if it isn't scary at all, happy reading!

Unrest by Michelle Harrison [Review]

Written by: Michelle Harrison.

Published by: Simon and Schuster.

Format: Paperback.

Released: 26th April 2012.

Rating: 5/5.

Official synopsis: "Seventeen-year-old Elliott hasn't slept properly for six months. Not since the accident that nearly killed him. Now he is afraid to go to sleep. Sometimes he wakes to find himself paralysed, unable to move a muscle, while shadowy figures move around him. Other times he is the one moving around, while his body lies asleep on the bed. According to his doctor, sleep paralysis and out of body experiences are harmless - but to Elliot they're terrifying. Convinced that his brush with death has opened up connections with the spirit world, Elliott secures a live-in job at one of England's most haunted locations, determined to find out the truth. There he finds Sebastian, the ghost of a long-dead servant boy hanged for stealing bread. He also meets the living, breathing Ophelia, a girl with secrets of her own. She and Elliott grow closer, but things take a terrifying turn when Elliott discovers Sebastian is occupying his body when he leaves it. And the more time Sebastian spends inhabiting a living body, the more resistant he becomes to giving it back. Worse, he seems to have an unhealthy interest in Ophelia. Unless Elliott can lay Sebastian's spirit to rest, he risks being possessed by him for ever, and losing the girl of his dreams..."

I'll start this review by saying that I LOVE Michelle Harrison! Everything she's written so far has been just simply incredible. From The Thirteen Treasures, to The Thirteen Curses and The Thirteen Secrets, till now, with Unrest, she just knows how to hook you right from the very start.

Unrest is the tale of Elliot Drake. He's seventeen, and a few months ago, he nearly lost his life in a car accident. Just when he thought he'd be able to get back to some sense of normality, it all goes horribly, horribly wrong. He starts seeing things, things he wishes that he couldn't. It all happens when he sleeps. He see's his poor, defenceless body, and he's powerless to stop the dead that want to take it over.

I will say, that this book is not for the faint-hearted. It is downright terrifying. I even had to stop reading at a few points, because it was nearing bed time and I wanted a good nights sleep, nightmare, and hopefully ghost free! The images, the ghosts themselves. The bathtub... I'll say no more, other than SCARY! However, the fact remains that once you start, you just can't stop!

What I love about the book is its reality. Yes, we're dealing with ghosts - there are those that believe, and those that brush it off as tricks of the mind, but there's more to the book than just that. The characters are all well fleshed out. I love that Elliot isn't perfect. He's far from it. He's had his troubles, he's got a bit of a reputation with the ladies, and he's not exactly going to be awarded a Son of the Year award, but that's what makes him so loveable. He's flawed, just like everyone else, so he is fairly easy to relate to. 

Michelle's writing as always is brilliant. Rich, engaging - the voice in this book is just perfect! I love when you read a book and the writing is just so seamless, it flows, and Unrest, and indeed all of Michelle's previous work, is a good example of that.

So, to conclude...

You'll be hooked right from the very start. Bring a torch, but it's about to get pretty dark and scary up in here! You have been warned.

Buy from Amazon UK

Buy from The Book Depository

News: Cover for Michelle Harrison's UNREST!

Argh! At last the cover for Unrest by The Thirteen Treasures author, Michelle Harrison has been released and it is a corker. I love how simple yet effective and creepy it is! The smoke effect looks so cool. Cannot wait to read it! It's out 26th April!

Seventeen-year-old Elliott hasn’t slept properly for months. Not since the accident that nearly killed him. Sometimes he half-wakes, paralysed, while shadowy figures move around him. Other times he is the one moving around, while his body lies asleep on the bed. His doctors say sleep paralysis and out of body experiences are harmless - but to Elliott they’re terrifying. 

Convinced that his brush with death has attracted the spirit world, Elliott secures a job at a reputedly haunted museum, determined to discover the truth. There, he meets the enigmatic Ophelia. But, as she and Elliott grow closer, Elliott draws new attention from the dead. One night, during an out of body experience, Elliott returns to bed to find his body gone. Something is occupying it, something dead that wants to live again . . . and it wants Ophelia, too . . . 

A chilling new novel for teen readers from the best-selling author of the widely-acclaimed 13 Treasures sequence.

2012: Books of Interest (Part 1)

So with just over 2 weeks left of the year, the time has come to look forward to what 2012 has in store for us! One thing that spings to mind instantly is The Hunger Games movie which I for one am DYING to see! I'm also looking forward to all the little companion things, including the official guide written by Suzanne Collins herself! But anyway, this is about books... So, here are some books that have me salivating at the mouth, all due to be published throughout 2012!

Kickstarting the year, there are a few titles I'm looking forward to in JANUARY! First up, The Fault In Out Stars by John Green. Much to the dismay of some of my fellow bloggers, I have never read any of John's previous work (I shall prepare for some abuse, most likely from Iffath... I'm watching you!) but this sounds so good and I love the cover. Have a copy on pre-order thanks to The Book Depo and it sounds a little like this...

Official synopsis: "Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now. Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means) Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault. Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly, to her interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind."

Having lost family members (Total count so far of 4) to cancer, this sounds like it's going to be a heart-wrencher!

It also sees the publication of the second Casper Candlewacks adventure. It's called The Claw's of Crime and I can't wait. I loved the first book, Death by Pigeon (which I should be reviewing soon) and recently read it again. It's only a little book and it is aimed at younger readers (it says 9+ on the back... I'm only 10 years older... it's okay...) but it is so funny and such a good read! 

Official synopsis: "Most villages have an idiot but Casper's village is full of them. So being bright makes poor Casper something of an outsider. An infamous cat burglar has struck in the village of Corne-on-the-Kobb, stealing a precious jewelled sword and kidnapping Casper’s baby sister. To make matters worse a gaggle of amateur detectives are on the case, questioning the villagers and getting in the way. Armed only with his wits, an egg-boiling lie-detecting machine and his best friend Lamp, can Casper rescue his sister and save the day?"

FEBRUARY will see the release of Hollow Pike by James Dawson, courtesy of Orion Children's Books. I've raved about how much I want this book both here and on twitter, and as soon as I actually do get a copy, you will all know... You'll hear me shout with joy, I believe. If not, there'll be a twitpic with lots of !!!!!!!!!! marks... And such a beautiful cover. I hope it's shiny and has foil!!! (You hear me, Orion?!!)

Official synopis: "Lis London moves to Hollow Pike looking for a fresh start. She's intrigued by the town's sinister history of witchcraft, ritual and witchfinders. But when a fellow teen is murdered in the woods in what appears to be a ritual killing, Lis starts to wonder whether the witches are really history after all... Who is the mysterious figure caught on camera in the trees at the time of the murder? Could he be the killer? And do Lis's ominous nightmares of being murdered in the forest mean that she might be the next to die?"

Marvelous!

We also get this little beauty! Advent by James Treadwell. It looks beautiful, and it currently sitting on my "to read" pile. It sounds fantastic and I for one can't wait to get stuck in!

Official synopsis: "For centuries it has been locked away. Lost beneath the sea. Warded from earth, air, water, fire, spirits, thought and sight. But now magic is rising to the world once more. And a boy called Gavin, who thinks only that he is a city kid with parents who hate him, and knows only that he sees things no one else will believe, is boarding a train, alone, to Cornwall. No one will be there to meet him."

Creepy!

Then in MARCH, another very exciting release! The second Department 19 book, by Will Hill! Titled The Rising, the cover is quite literally on fire! HarperCollin's design department have taken what was already a very striking image from the first book, made a few changes and then set it ablaze and made it even more eye-catching! Reviewed the first book in this series earlier today, and this is perhaps one of my most anticipated releases for 2012.

Official synopsis: "The pulse-pounding sequel to DEPARTMENT 19 – “The best action horror story I have ever read” according to Bookzoneforboys… DEPARTMENT 6 IS THE ARMY. DEPARTMENT 13 IS MI5. DEPARTMENT 19 IS ALL THAT STANDS BETWEEN YOU AND THE END OF THE WORLD. After the terrifying attack on Lindisfarne at the end of the first book, Jamie, Larissa and Kate are recovering at Department 19 headquarters, waiting for news of Dracula’s stolen ashes. They won’t be waiting for long. Vampire forces are gathering. Old enemies are getting too close. And Dracula… is rising."

Eep! What is going to happen next?! 

In April, Simon and Schuster UK will publish Michelle Harrison's first offering since she finished her Thirteen series/trilogy. It's called Unrest, and it's out right at the end of the month. Not much is known... there's no cover art yet, but we do have a synopsis and it sounds deliciously ghosty!

Official synopsis: "Seventeen-year-old Elliott hasn't slept properly for six months. Not since the accident that nearly killed him. Now he is afraid to go to sleep. Sometimes he wakes to find himself paralysed, unable to move a muscle, while shadowy figures move around him. Other times he is the one moving around, while his body lies asleep on the bed. According to his doctor, sleep paralysis and out of body experiences are harmless - but to Elliot they're terrifying. Convinced that his brush with death has opened up connections with the spirit world, Elliott secures a live-in job at one of England's most haunted locations, determined to find out the truth. There he finds Sebastian, the ghost of a long-dead servant boy hanged for stealing bread. He also meets the living, breathing Ophelia, a girl with secrets of her own. She and Elliott grow closer, but things take a terrifying turn when Elliott discovers Sebastian is occupying his body when he leaves it. And the more time Sebastian spends inhabiting a living body, the more resistant he becomes to giving it back. Worse, he seems to have an unhealthy interest in Ophelia. Unless Elliott can lay Sebastian's spirit to rest, he risks being possessed by him for ever, and losing the girl of his dreams..."

Join me in a chorus of "I WANT... RIGHT NOW!!!"

News: Cover Art For Michelle Harrison's The 13 Secrets

Just a short while ago, Michelle Harrison, author of The 13 Treasures and The 13 Secrets, released the cover art for the third book in the series, The 13 Secrets onto Twitter for the world to see. And here it is in all of it's purpley amazingness.

(Click To Enlarge)

Looks good, no? I cannot wait to read this (although I still haven't got The 13 Curses - WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?!). And Michelle also said that there are plans for it to have a foil finish. Ooh! Sounds brilliant! And this is also the first time we've seen the synopsis! Sounds so good! It's published in Feb 2011 by Simon And Schuster UK. 

The Thirteen Treasures [Review]

Written by: Michelle Harrison.
Published by: Simon and Schuster UK.
Format: Paperback.
Released: 5^th January 2009.
Rating: 5/5.

Official synopsis: “While visiting her grandmother's house, an old photograph leads Tanya to an unsolved mystery. Fifty years ago a girl vanished in the woods nearby - a girl Tanya's grandmother will not speak of. Fabian, the caretaker's son, is tormented by the girl's disappearance. His grandfather was the last person to see her alive, and has lived under suspicion ever since. Together, Tanya and Fabian decide to find the truth. But Tanya has her own secret: the ability to see fairies. And, after disturbing an intruder in the night, it emerges that someone else shares her ability ...The manor's sinister history is about to repeat itself ...”

A stunning debut novel that I absolutely devoured. I read this last year and have read it several times since. The writing is top class, beautiful and easy to read, yet at the same time, it doesn’t feel as if the writing has been dumbed down so that younger audiences can keep up. When reading it, there is no doubt as to why it was awarded the Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize for 2009.

These are not the fairies you’d associate with Disney. These fairies are dangerous, and torturous. They hate that Tanya can see them, and so want to make her life hell. There are many stories about fairies out there, but what is magical about The Thirteen Treasures is that it feels completely original. One of the fairies stood out more for me and that is Brunswick, an ugly little goblin, who suffers beatings from his fellow goblins. Something I loved so much about the goblins was how they talk in rhyme and cannot understand anything said unless it rhymes. This I thought added real character, and also showed that a lot of thought went into the characters.

Tanya, the main character is entirely likable. In some books, there are characters that have annoying traits in their personality, and do silly things, but with Tanya, everything about her is anything but annoying. Fabian, another main character, is equally as excellent. His dedication to Tanya is very admirable. What I liked about this book is that there are some heroes that have to go it alone completely, wheras in The Thirteen Treasures, friendship and loyalty are very important.

Overall, The Thirteen Treasures is an excellent read. Compelling and beaurifully writte, it will be appreciated by people of all ages, male and female (although the cover is a bit of a deterent to male readers). And what with the second book in the series, The Thirteen Curses published last month (January 2010), and a third book titled The Thirteen Wards due next year, Harrison’s career in literature looks set to flourish.

Buy from Amazon UK

Buy from Amazon US