Monthly Archives: February 2024

Book Review – Emba Oak and the Screaming Seas

Title: Emba Oak and the Screaming Sea

Written by: Jenny Moore

Illustrated by: David Dean

Published by: Maverick Books

Another writing masterpiece written by Jenny Moore and published by Maverick Press. In the third book of the Emba Oak series we join Emba as she searches for her best friend Odolf, who was kidnapped by her wicked father, Necromalcolm. Emba follows the trail back down the mountain to the Screaming Sea where she befriends the Grand Thief Master and steals a pirate ship in pursuit of Odolf, which has been perfectly portrayed on the fabulous front cover illustrated by David Dean.

I am always in awe of Jenny Moore’s characterisation and their unique voices. Emba continues to leap off the page and into the reader’s hearts. In fact, I will be bold enough to say, the whole Emba Oak seriesis a masterclass in how to create a strong protagonist voice. Written in third person we are still strongly in Emba’s mind and point of view.

Full of peril and adventure this is another epic journey that will keep the reader on the edge of their seats. I would like to thank Maverick for sending me a review copy. It was great to be able to join our intrepid heroes again and follow Emba as she discovers more about her dragon powers.

I am looking forward to the next and last book in the series.

I have also reviewed this book on Amazon.

To read the my reviews of the other books in the Emba Oak series take a look at:

To read my interview with Jenny Moore about the writing of the Emba Oak series see: Special Guest Q & A with Jenny Moore.

To find out more about Jenny Moore and her books take a look at her website: https://jennymoorechildrenswriter.weebly.com and her blog: https://jennifermoore.wordpress.com/. Or follow her on her various social media outlets:

You can buy copies of all of Jenny Moore’s books from your local bookshops, which are always top of the list – if they don’t have the Emba Oak books in stock they’ll be able to order them in for you. Or you can purchase direct from the publisher Maverick Publishing, otherwise Jenny recommends Hive books or any of the usual online retailers, such as uk.bookshop.org, an organisation with a mission to financially support local, independent bookshops

Cover Reveal – Pierced by Silver by Anca Antoci

I have been invited today to take part in the cover reveal for Anca Antoci’s latest cosy paranormal mystery, Pierced by Silver.

But first let me tell you a little about the book.

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Title: Pierced by Silver

Series: Paranormal Misadventures #2

Genre: Cosy Paranormal Mystery

Release date: March 21st 2024

Pre-order: Yes

Kindle Unlimited: Yes

Here is the blurb:

“Where the boundaries blur between the living and the dead, the line between hero and monster is thin Deep in the heart of Transylvania, nestled amidst ancient forests and shrouded in centuries-old superstitions, lies the village of Vânători.

A string of gruesome murders has left the villagers terrified, and the authorities baffled. Joining forces are Ella Martin, a witch with a hidden past, Felix Goia, a brilliant but haunted police inspector, and Radu Lupu, a mysterious police captain whose supernatural nature has the potential to unravel everything.

As the bodies pile up and the villagers’ fear turns to rage, Ella, Felix, and Radu find themselves caught in a race against time. The locals suspect one of their own to be a strigoi – a relentless force that hungers for blood. They must uncover the truth behind the killings, whether it’s a human monster or a strigoi, before the village is consumed by darkness. However, their investigation takes a perilous twist when Radu, as a vârcolac, becomes the target of an unrelenting predator armed with silver tipped arrows.

With their strongest ally out of commission, Ella and Felix must hurry to save him and stop the killings before Vânători becomes a ghost town.”

Blurb for Pierced by Silver by Anca Antoci

And the moment you’ve all been waiting for… here is the cover for Anca Antoci’s latest novel in the Paranormal Misadventures series:

Based on Romanian folklore and mythology, the story follows the events of Midsummer Night’s Curse, but can also be read as a standalone.

Each book in this series features a new mystery that will be solved by the end of the story, but the dynamics between the characters may change and evolve, so I recommend that you read the books in order.

Amazon: https://amazon.com/gp/product/B0CT94BJ1Y…

Goodreads: https://goodreads.com/book/show/205957560-pierced-by-silver…

Fun fact: The wolf head on the cover is called Draco and was a religious and military symbol for the Dacians, an ancient people who inhabited what is now Romania and parts of surrounding countries (before we were conquered by the Romans 2000 years ago). It was a standard, typically made of bronze, that depicted a wolf head with an open mouth and a snake-like body.

The Draco held significant meaning for the Dacians in two ways: military and religious. It was mounted on a pole, carried by a standard bearer, and often displayed proudly during battles and religious ceremonies. The Draco played a crucial role in uniting Dacian warriors and intimidating enemies during battle. The wolf head contained metal tongues that vibrated in the wind, creating a howling sound resembling wolves or dragons. Its wind-borne howl served as a psychological weapon against the enemy, striking fear into their hearts.

The Draco also represented the Dacian pantheon, particularly the sky god Zalmoxis (serpent) and Gebeleizis (wolf). Both gods embodied power, protection, and connection to nature. Now, you may be wondering why I’m telling you all that. Since this is the second book in Paranormal Misadventures, I’ll assume you have already met police captain Radu Lupu (by the way, lupu means “the wolf” in Romanian and it’s a pretty common surname).

Just in case you haven’t finished Midsummer Night’s Curse, I’ll avoid spoilers. Let’s just say it’s relevant to the story. There’s actually a Dacian legend of the Great White Wolf I drew inspiration from. I hope you’ll enjoy the pieces of my culture and heritage I included in this story.

Like all Anca’s covers, this one too was designed by her husband, Florin.

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To see the cover reveal for Midsummer Night Curse the first book in the Paranormal Misadventures series take a look at: Cover Reveal – Midsummer Night Curse: Paranormal Misadventures.

Book Review: The Clockwork Conspiracy by Sam Sedgman

To celebrate the release of the The Clockwork Conspiracy by Sam Sedgman last week I am posting a review.

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Title: The Clockwork Conspiracy

Written by: Sam Sedgman

Published by: Bloomsbury

Aspiring inventor Isaac Turner lives with his dad, the Chief Horologist in charge of Big Ben. But when his father vanishes from the belfry on the night the clocks go back, leaving behind only a smashed pocket watch and a cryptic message, Isaac determines to find him.

Hunting a trail of clues through London’s landmarks, Isaac uncovers a sinister plot in the gears of government and embarks on a race against time to save his father – and time itself.

Blurb for The Clockwork Conspiracy by Sam Sedgman

Review

This is a clever mystery adventure with a brilliant concept that expertly uses science and maths to validate the idea of New Time. Sam Sedgman skilfully creates a megalomaniac antagonist intent on dominating the whole world by manipulating time for their own devious ends. This exciting quest around London is well plotted and keeps a good steady pace. It had me turning the pages to find out the reasoning behind their terrible plans.

Issac Turner’s father is kidnapped in the early hours of the morning on the day the clocks go back whilst they were both recalibrating the time of Big Ben‘s clock. His disappearance prompts Issac and his new friend Hattie to embark on a thrilling puzzle-filled journey to discover why significant horologists from all over the world are going missing. The clues and their solutions are cleverly devised. Issac and Hattie are well-rounded, likeable and believable characters.

I particularly enjoyed how the book is set in London around the British Parliamentary system and some of London’s most iconic landmarks. After reading The Clockwork Conspiracy by Sam Sedgman I made a visit to Little Ben to see the clock for myself.

Ideal for readers who enjoy mysteries set in prominent cities such as:

The Jules Verne Prophecy by Larry Schwarz and Iva-Marie Palmer

Libby and the Parisian Puzzle

Libby and the Highland Heist

Libby and the Manhattan Mystery

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An abridged version of this review has been published on NetGalley, Amazon and Goodreads.

You can buy copies of The Clockwork Conspiracy by Sam Sedgman from your local bookshop, or online at uk.bookshop.org which supports local, independent bookshops.