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serendipity_viv's reviews
762 reviews
The 13 Treasures by Michelle Harrison
5.0
OH MY GOD! This book is awesome and even better than that, there are two more to follow. ( Having just finished the second one, I can honestly say, that this series manages to improve on perfection.)
Tanya has been sent to stay with her grandmother at Elvesdon Manor, after her mother had reached a point where she could no longer cope with the unexplained nightly disturbances. Tanya is distraught at the thought of going to stay with her cold hearted grandmother in a decrepit ancient manor, where she knows the fairies will still taunt her. However when she discovers the unsolved mystery of a young girl who disappeared in the woods by the house and how the disappearance affected the residents of Elvesdon manor, she is desperate to find out what really happened. With the help of Fabian, the caretaker's son, she sets out to find out the truth about the girl's disappearance, only to find herself caught up in the mystery and in danger of becoming a central part of it.
This is a rather dark tale of mystery and suspense that has you gripped from page one. I did find a few comical aspects within the pages, which really appealed to my sniggering inner child (Fairy splattered on windscreen like a fly!). The fairies in this book are not sweet and loving like dear old Tinkerbell, they have a sinister side to their nature, be prepared to be scared by their antics. The story flows beautifully reaching high and low points in tension like a winding river.
The characters are extremely well written and believable. I fell in love with Red on her first appearance in the book. I adored her courageous and spunky attitude and I knew straightaway that she and I would be great friends. She doesn't let anyone stand in her way. Tanya makes a wonderful lead character. She is honest and respectable and takes on any challenge to solve the mystery. Elvesdon Manor is one of the biggest characters in the book and one where I could happily live amongst the secret fairy residents.
It is not often that I buy the rest of a series, after reading just half a book, but I knew I was onto a winner with this one. I could imagine this book being picked up by Disney and made into a film. It is just so good.
I can't leave a review of this book, without mentioning the cover. It is awesome, isn't it? The Thirteen Treasures are created so beautifully on the front cover, I wanted to reach in and pull the bracelet out to wear.
Michelle Harrison won the Waterstones Children's Book Award in 2009 with this, her debut novel and I can see why it won. It contains everything a good children's book should have and will be loved by young and old. Michelle Harrison's book had me reminiscing the delightful adventures of the Famous Five and Secret Seven in the Enid Blyton books that brightened my childhood. I felt that the author had recaptured Enid Blyton's long lost writing style and giving it a thorough makeover, suitable for the modern children of the 21st Century.
Don't take my word for it. Go and read it for yourself!
Tanya has been sent to stay with her grandmother at Elvesdon Manor, after her mother had reached a point where she could no longer cope with the unexplained nightly disturbances. Tanya is distraught at the thought of going to stay with her cold hearted grandmother in a decrepit ancient manor, where she knows the fairies will still taunt her. However when she discovers the unsolved mystery of a young girl who disappeared in the woods by the house and how the disappearance affected the residents of Elvesdon manor, she is desperate to find out what really happened. With the help of Fabian, the caretaker's son, she sets out to find out the truth about the girl's disappearance, only to find herself caught up in the mystery and in danger of becoming a central part of it.
This is a rather dark tale of mystery and suspense that has you gripped from page one. I did find a few comical aspects within the pages, which really appealed to my sniggering inner child (Fairy splattered on windscreen like a fly!). The fairies in this book are not sweet and loving like dear old Tinkerbell, they have a sinister side to their nature, be prepared to be scared by their antics. The story flows beautifully reaching high and low points in tension like a winding river.
The characters are extremely well written and believable. I fell in love with Red on her first appearance in the book. I adored her courageous and spunky attitude and I knew straightaway that she and I would be great friends. She doesn't let anyone stand in her way. Tanya makes a wonderful lead character. She is honest and respectable and takes on any challenge to solve the mystery. Elvesdon Manor is one of the biggest characters in the book and one where I could happily live amongst the secret fairy residents.
It is not often that I buy the rest of a series, after reading just half a book, but I knew I was onto a winner with this one. I could imagine this book being picked up by Disney and made into a film. It is just so good.
I can't leave a review of this book, without mentioning the cover. It is awesome, isn't it? The Thirteen Treasures are created so beautifully on the front cover, I wanted to reach in and pull the bracelet out to wear.
Michelle Harrison won the Waterstones Children's Book Award in 2009 with this, her debut novel and I can see why it won. It contains everything a good children's book should have and will be loved by young and old. Michelle Harrison's book had me reminiscing the delightful adventures of the Famous Five and Secret Seven in the Enid Blyton books that brightened my childhood. I felt that the author had recaptured Enid Blyton's long lost writing style and giving it a thorough makeover, suitable for the modern children of the 21st Century.
Don't take my word for it. Go and read it for yourself!
The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
5.0
The more Young Adult books I devour, the more my thirst for them intensifies! This book was quite an original concept to me. The main character Violet is able to hear the echoes left by the dead. Every time an animal or a person is murdered, they leave an echo which stays with the victim as well as the killer. Violet can always pick up on these and now has a garden full of reburied animals that only begin to lose their echo after they are laid to rest in peace.
Violet can live with her ability until a murderer enters her world killing young girls in the area. As more girls disappear, each one closer to home than the last, Violet realises that she can help to solve these murders and try and stop the killer committing any more.
I don't normally enjoy books filled with suspicious murders, they tend to make me a little nervous as they are just to realistic for my liking, but I read thoroughly enjoyed this one. I am always in awe of the abilities the Young Adult characters tend to have, but this is one I am not yearning for. I couldn't think of anything worse than being able to hear the echoes of the murdered, so I am little in awe of Violet being able to cope so miraculously well with this gift.
The book is written from two view points. You see the world through Violet's eyes as well as the killer's. It was interesting to see how his mind worked and you thought you could work out his next move, but I found I didn't always get it right. There are a few twists within the novel that I can honestly say I didn't see coming.
Not only does the book deal with Violet's dangerous quest to discover the killer, but it also deals with the change in her friendship with the local hottie Jay. They had grown up as friends and half way through the book they become a couple and it is utterly gorgeous. Jay is everything you want in a leading male; handsome, strong, patient and very protective. His instincts to keep Violet safe are the most intense I have ever seen in a Young Adult novel. I found myself sucked into the romance so easily. The passion is a little hot and heavy, especially where parents kind of leave them to it, but I know I am speaking with my parent head on there, rather than my lustful hormonal teenage head that got stuck back in the 8o's. It is when I read books like this one, I regret being born before the birth of the modern Young Adult book. When I was a teenager, Mills and Boons just didn't do it for me!
The story has a great build and by the last hundred pages I was frantic to find out how it would end. Always a good sign to me of a good book, when I am struggling to resist the temptation to read the last page!
Violet can live with her ability until a murderer enters her world killing young girls in the area. As more girls disappear, each one closer to home than the last, Violet realises that she can help to solve these murders and try and stop the killer committing any more.
I don't normally enjoy books filled with suspicious murders, they tend to make me a little nervous as they are just to realistic for my liking, but I read thoroughly enjoyed this one. I am always in awe of the abilities the Young Adult characters tend to have, but this is one I am not yearning for. I couldn't think of anything worse than being able to hear the echoes of the murdered, so I am little in awe of Violet being able to cope so miraculously well with this gift.
The book is written from two view points. You see the world through Violet's eyes as well as the killer's. It was interesting to see how his mind worked and you thought you could work out his next move, but I found I didn't always get it right. There are a few twists within the novel that I can honestly say I didn't see coming.
Not only does the book deal with Violet's dangerous quest to discover the killer, but it also deals with the change in her friendship with the local hottie Jay. They had grown up as friends and half way through the book they become a couple and it is utterly gorgeous. Jay is everything you want in a leading male; handsome, strong, patient and very protective. His instincts to keep Violet safe are the most intense I have ever seen in a Young Adult novel. I found myself sucked into the romance so easily. The passion is a little hot and heavy, especially where parents kind of leave them to it, but I know I am speaking with my parent head on there, rather than my lustful hormonal teenage head that got stuck back in the 8o's. It is when I read books like this one, I regret being born before the birth of the modern Young Adult book. When I was a teenager, Mills and Boons just didn't do it for me!
The story has a great build and by the last hundred pages I was frantic to find out how it would end. Always a good sign to me of a good book, when I am struggling to resist the temptation to read the last page!
Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
4.0
I have to admit to being a little confused when I started reading this book. The first two chapters seemed to be set in completely different settings and eras with no explanation and I found myself rather lost. The second chapter was set in what appeared to be the 17th Century whilst the first chapter felt like a scene from a Dickens novel. It was only when I got to chapter 3 that I seemed to find my feet, becoming aware of a dystopian feel. It gave me the impression that the author had set the story on Earth, yet in some descriptions it felt too far fetched to be Earth and was more likely to be a fantasy world.
I felt I had to make this clear, because I really want you to read it. You need to have an idea of the settings of the story in order to see the bigger picture. Once I reached the third chapter, I could not put the book down. The book is over 450 pages long and I read it in two evenings! That is how good it is.
The book takes place in two very different places as I mentioned above. Firstly you have Finn, a prisoner inside Incarceron, who has a vague impression that he may have originally lived on the Outside, but as his memory seems to have deserted him, he is unsure. He is determined to find his way out of the prison which has been sealed for centuries. Only one person has ever managed to escape before.
On the outside, Claudia lives in a replica world of the 17th Century. She lives in a manor house, with servants, a tutor and an absent father, who happens to be the Warden of Incarceron. Underneath the period visage, you discover that her world is run by computers, yet they are treated as they though they don't exist. All modern elements of our world are rejected and discussed in a whisper or hidden from view. Claudia's father has arranged for her to marry a Prince she abhors. Claudia knows that something is not quite right with the world that she lives in and is desperate to get inside Incarceron to find out what is really going on in there.
As you begin to get sucked into the book, realisation dawns that both characters are really in prison. Although Claudia's life on the outside might appear to be more tolerable with all the finery's around her, you begin to realise how her life is so controlled by the society she lives in. You begin to wonder whether it is better to be inside Incarceron or out.
Catherine Fisher has managed to build an incredible world in this book. I could not help but stand back in awe of her world building abilities. She has created a prison that is an intelligent living organism and a 17th century world that is a sham. It is amazing and believable.
From the beginning, you are desperate for Finn and Claudia to find each other, yet you are totally lost in the belief that it will never happen. They both have to hurdle such difficult obstacles, that you just can't envisage an end in sight . I kept thinking they were both doomed until I reached the last couple of chapters , I just couldn't see how they would escape.
The prison is extremely scary and very unpredictable. I couldn't help but imagine it as a rather large snake, that could see and feel everything. It reminded me of the intenseness of 1984, only the Incarceron prison scared me a lot more, as it seemed to absorb its inhabitants. Extremely suffocating!
I was surprised to discover that this book is aimed at children. I found it to be quite indepth and felt that many younger children would struggle to understand it. I would have aimed it more at the teen market.
I really enjoyed Catherine Fisher's world of weirdness and can't wait to read the follow up Sapphique.
I felt I had to make this clear, because I really want you to read it. You need to have an idea of the settings of the story in order to see the bigger picture. Once I reached the third chapter, I could not put the book down. The book is over 450 pages long and I read it in two evenings! That is how good it is.
The book takes place in two very different places as I mentioned above. Firstly you have Finn, a prisoner inside Incarceron, who has a vague impression that he may have originally lived on the Outside, but as his memory seems to have deserted him, he is unsure. He is determined to find his way out of the prison which has been sealed for centuries. Only one person has ever managed to escape before.
On the outside, Claudia lives in a replica world of the 17th Century. She lives in a manor house, with servants, a tutor and an absent father, who happens to be the Warden of Incarceron. Underneath the period visage, you discover that her world is run by computers, yet they are treated as they though they don't exist. All modern elements of our world are rejected and discussed in a whisper or hidden from view. Claudia's father has arranged for her to marry a Prince she abhors. Claudia knows that something is not quite right with the world that she lives in and is desperate to get inside Incarceron to find out what is really going on in there.
As you begin to get sucked into the book, realisation dawns that both characters are really in prison. Although Claudia's life on the outside might appear to be more tolerable with all the finery's around her, you begin to realise how her life is so controlled by the society she lives in. You begin to wonder whether it is better to be inside Incarceron or out.
Catherine Fisher has managed to build an incredible world in this book. I could not help but stand back in awe of her world building abilities. She has created a prison that is an intelligent living organism and a 17th century world that is a sham. It is amazing and believable.
From the beginning, you are desperate for Finn and Claudia to find each other, yet you are totally lost in the belief that it will never happen. They both have to hurdle such difficult obstacles, that you just can't envisage an end in sight . I kept thinking they were both doomed until I reached the last couple of chapters , I just couldn't see how they would escape.
The prison is extremely scary and very unpredictable. I couldn't help but imagine it as a rather large snake, that could see and feel everything. It reminded me of the intenseness of 1984, only the Incarceron prison scared me a lot more, as it seemed to absorb its inhabitants. Extremely suffocating!
I was surprised to discover that this book is aimed at children. I found it to be quite indepth and felt that many younger children would struggle to understand it. I would have aimed it more at the teen market.
I really enjoyed Catherine Fisher's world of weirdness and can't wait to read the follow up Sapphique.
The 13 Curses by Michelle Harrison
5.0
The Thirteen Curses concentrates on the story of Red, who was one of my favourite characters in the first book The Thirteen Secrets. At the end of The Thirteen Secrets, Red swapped places with Tanya and became trapped in the fairy realm. Red is determined to find out what happened to her brother who was kidnapped by the fairies and sets off on a journey to the fairy court. Whilst confronting the fairy court, Tanya discovers that she will have to carry out a bargain, in order to see the safe return of her brother. He will be returned to her, if she can find all 13 charms from Tanya's bracelet which have been scattered around the human world.
Red returns to Elvesdon Manor and with the help of Tanya and Fabian, they begin the hunt for the charms. They have to think carefully where they would be and soon discover that the charms have taken a nasty turn and are now cursed. Each of the thirteen treasures has become a darker side of itself, and the longer the children take to find them, the worse the consequences are for who ever holds the charm.
I didn't think the story could get any darker from the first book, but it surely does. I can now envisage Michelle Harrison as Enid Blyton's dark side! The Thirteen Charms are cursed with such horrible curses that you can just imagine how evil they would have become if left undiscovered.
I loved that Red was the main character throughout this story. She really kicks butt. She is just so self reliant and full of feistiness, that no one would dare to cross her. Within her story, two rather surprising twists occur, neither of which I saw coming.
I loved the search for the charms and trying to second guess where they might be hidden. My favourite would have to be the one found on Oberon's collar which caused his food bowl to keep refilling, pushing his over eating to an extreme.
Just like the first novel, this book just flows and I found myself quickly absorbed back into the story. I have often found second books not to live up to their predecessors, but I found this one surpassed it. However, that might have a little to do with adoring Red. (Did I mention that before? Tee hee)
I truly love Michelle Harrison's imagination. She has created a world that I am sure I should live in. Her characters are so well written, you keep hoping they might pop up out of the page for a chat.
By the end of the book, I was left wondering what else could happen to Red, Tanya and Fabian, and have found my fingers creeping over towards the next book in the series to curb my impatient alter ego. It is so annoying when you have other books that must be read and you are desperate to finish a series. Watch out The Thirteen Secrets - I have my beady eye on you and I am coming to get you!
Red returns to Elvesdon Manor and with the help of Tanya and Fabian, they begin the hunt for the charms. They have to think carefully where they would be and soon discover that the charms have taken a nasty turn and are now cursed. Each of the thirteen treasures has become a darker side of itself, and the longer the children take to find them, the worse the consequences are for who ever holds the charm.
I didn't think the story could get any darker from the first book, but it surely does. I can now envisage Michelle Harrison as Enid Blyton's dark side! The Thirteen Charms are cursed with such horrible curses that you can just imagine how evil they would have become if left undiscovered.
I loved that Red was the main character throughout this story. She really kicks butt. She is just so self reliant and full of feistiness, that no one would dare to cross her. Within her story, two rather surprising twists occur, neither of which I saw coming.
I loved the search for the charms and trying to second guess where they might be hidden. My favourite would have to be the one found on Oberon's collar which caused his food bowl to keep refilling, pushing his over eating to an extreme.
Just like the first novel, this book just flows and I found myself quickly absorbed back into the story. I have often found second books not to live up to their predecessors, but I found this one surpassed it. However, that might have a little to do with adoring Red. (Did I mention that before? Tee hee)
I truly love Michelle Harrison's imagination. She has created a world that I am sure I should live in. Her characters are so well written, you keep hoping they might pop up out of the page for a chat.
By the end of the book, I was left wondering what else could happen to Red, Tanya and Fabian, and have found my fingers creeping over towards the next book in the series to curb my impatient alter ego. It is so annoying when you have other books that must be read and you are desperate to finish a series. Watch out The Thirteen Secrets - I have my beady eye on you and I am coming to get you!
The Swan Kingdom by Zoë Marriott
5.0
This book is a retelling of Hans Christian Anderson's 'The Wild Swans.' I have never read the original story, but after reading Zoe's enchanting interpretation of it, I feel an urge to search out a collection of Hans Christian Anderson's short stories.
Alexandra is the only daughter of the king and feels that her father has never shown her any love. Fortunately she is satisfied with the amount of love she receives from her mother and three brothers, learning to accept her father's lack of emotion towards her.
Alexandra's world begins to fall apart, when her mother is killed by a terryifying beast whilst walking in the woods. Her father turns into a man possessed, desperate to kill the creature who murdered his wife. Until one day he returns with a strange young woman, who he instantly falls in love with. The woman has the power to charm her way into everyone's life within the castle and puts them all under a spell, apart from Alexandra and her brothers. Determined to discover the truth about this unusual woman, whom everyone has fallen in love with, they venture into her bedroom one night, only to find that their lives will be changed forever.
Alexandra finds herself banished from her family home and her brothers in exile. She must find a way to save her family from this evil woman whom her father has married and to help bring her brothers back home.
I loved this book completely. The story is beautifully written and I found myself in tears when Alexandra's mother was murdered. Through the words of the book, I could feel her pain as the whole story is told from her point of view, giving you first hand her thoughts and feelings. Alexandra suffers intensely throughout most of this book. However the saying 'what doesn't kill you makes you strong' is so apt for this character. By the end of the book she has found her inner strength and power and finds that she is capable of taking on her biggest enemy. I could almost imagine her glistening with power.
Alexandra's love interest Gabriel, is everything you would hope him to be. He is strong yet patient and caring. He protects her whilst letting her strength shine through. They make an elegant couple together and will definitely be in my Top Five Couples of the year.
I hated Zella, the evil stepmother as soon as she appeared in the book. I could see right through her from the beginning. She makes the Evil Stepmother from Snow White look like a pussy cat!
I found Zoe's magical world to be believable, hypnotic and enveloping. All my senses standing to attention as I read. Through her vivid descriptions, I could clearly picture the castles and the surrounding lands. I adore the way Zoe Marriott writes. I found the book just flowed. I want to share one of my favourite passages with you.
The rolling and sighing of the waves was almost hypnotic. My mind emptied, and I relaxed completely for the first time since reaching this place, savouring the breeze that gently lifted and stroked my hair. After a few more moments, I stood and went to the edge of the water, where the sea music drowned out all other sounds. I let out a shocked laugh as the cold water broke over my feet and soaked the hem of my gown. I jumped and twirled in the foam, my nightdress flying up above my knees in the wind.
Isn't that beautiful?
The ending crept up on me unexpectedly as I was expecting a different route completely, so I congratulate Zoe on an incredible red herring.
A beautiful retelling that made me reminiscent of the fairy tales of my childhood.
Alexandra is the only daughter of the king and feels that her father has never shown her any love. Fortunately she is satisfied with the amount of love she receives from her mother and three brothers, learning to accept her father's lack of emotion towards her.
Alexandra's world begins to fall apart, when her mother is killed by a terryifying beast whilst walking in the woods. Her father turns into a man possessed, desperate to kill the creature who murdered his wife. Until one day he returns with a strange young woman, who he instantly falls in love with. The woman has the power to charm her way into everyone's life within the castle and puts them all under a spell, apart from Alexandra and her brothers. Determined to discover the truth about this unusual woman, whom everyone has fallen in love with, they venture into her bedroom one night, only to find that their lives will be changed forever.
Alexandra finds herself banished from her family home and her brothers in exile. She must find a way to save her family from this evil woman whom her father has married and to help bring her brothers back home.
I loved this book completely. The story is beautifully written and I found myself in tears when Alexandra's mother was murdered. Through the words of the book, I could feel her pain as the whole story is told from her point of view, giving you first hand her thoughts and feelings. Alexandra suffers intensely throughout most of this book. However the saying 'what doesn't kill you makes you strong' is so apt for this character. By the end of the book she has found her inner strength and power and finds that she is capable of taking on her biggest enemy. I could almost imagine her glistening with power.
Alexandra's love interest Gabriel, is everything you would hope him to be. He is strong yet patient and caring. He protects her whilst letting her strength shine through. They make an elegant couple together and will definitely be in my Top Five Couples of the year.
I hated Zella, the evil stepmother as soon as she appeared in the book. I could see right through her from the beginning. She makes the Evil Stepmother from Snow White look like a pussy cat!
I found Zoe's magical world to be believable, hypnotic and enveloping. All my senses standing to attention as I read. Through her vivid descriptions, I could clearly picture the castles and the surrounding lands. I adore the way Zoe Marriott writes. I found the book just flowed. I want to share one of my favourite passages with you.
The rolling and sighing of the waves was almost hypnotic. My mind emptied, and I relaxed completely for the first time since reaching this place, savouring the breeze that gently lifted and stroked my hair. After a few more moments, I stood and went to the edge of the water, where the sea music drowned out all other sounds. I let out a shocked laugh as the cold water broke over my feet and soaked the hem of my gown. I jumped and twirled in the foam, my nightdress flying up above my knees in the wind.
Isn't that beautiful?
The ending crept up on me unexpectedly as I was expecting a different route completely, so I congratulate Zoe on an incredible red herring.
A beautiful retelling that made me reminiscent of the fairy tales of my childhood.