Anita Loughrey's blog. This is my journal about my experiences and thoughts on writing. As well as news about me and my books, it includes writing tips, book reviews, author interviews and blog tours.
For more information about me and my books see my website: www.anitaloughrey.com. Follow me on Twitter @amloughrey, Facebook @anitaloughrey.author and on Instagram @anitaloughrey
Another gripping holiday read with a superb cast of diverse, well-rounded characters each with their own flaws and quirks. Priya is given a bangle by her grandmother before she dies. The bangle is a family heirloom but the catch is broken so it won’t unlock.
Things are not going well for Priya. It is the year anniversary of grandmother’s death and Priya misses her. On top of this, her parents keep arguing and Priya feels they are harder on her than her ADHD sister, she is being bullied at school and she is stressed about her gymnastics and qualifying for the Olympics. Her and her friends are also racially persecuted by adults on their way home from school. As she doesn’t want to disappoint anyone, she pretends to her friends and family everything is perfect but really she feels totally alone.
One night whilst her parents are yelling at each other she cries clutching the bangle. To her surprise it opens so she slips it on. From this moment on she discovers she is unable to continue telling her little white lies to keep everyone happy. The harder she tries not to blurt out the truth, the harder it becomes.
I liked the way The Girl Who Couldn’t Lie emphasises how all families no matter what race have their own secrets. This book also highlights how beliefs can be passed on through generations. I also liked the subtle message on racism showing even if parents are bigoted it doesn’t mean their children have to be. People no matter their age, can make up their own minds and opinions, breaking this detrimental cycle.
A great middle grade book suitable for 9+ readers. A fun and hilarious read. I can imagine this book as a series on the television.
You can buy copies of The Girl Who Couldn’t Lieby Radhika Sanghani from your local bookshop, or online at uk.bookshop.org which supports local, independent bookshops.
My spotlight post for today is for Bryony Pearce’s debut middle grade novel, Hannah Messenger and the Gods of Hockwold, which was released on 6th June 2024 by UCLan Publishing.
Blurb
From award-winning YA and adult author Bryony Peace comes a debut middle grade novel – a funny, contemporary fantasy story about learning that real power is in the friendships you make.
The Gods of Olympus have finally retired – not to a Greek island but to a sleepy English village, Hockwold cum Wilton, complete with a parish council, a cricket pitch and a local pub.
But the Gods of Olympus and their descendants have lost their memories. They think they are ordinary humans. Only Hannah Messenger, the great-granddaughter of Zeus, and her friends know who they really are. And that means, when the God’s objects of power start to go missing, only Hannah and her friends can stop the thief.
About the Author
Bryony Pearce is a multi-award-winning novelist working in both the YA and Adult markets. In the YA genre she has produced a mixture of dark thrillers, paranormal adventures, dystopia and horror. Hannah Messenger is her middle grade debut.
Bryony teaches the course Writing for Children at City University, regularly visits schools to speak about reading and writing and conducts creative writing workshops, as well as delivering entertaining and inspirational talks. She has performed at the Edinburgh Literary Festival, The Wychwood Festival, Comicon, YALC, the Sci Fi Weekender, The Just So Festival and a number of other festivals and events.
For my spotlight today I am shining a light on Billie’s Buzz by author / illustrator Alison Brown. This beautiful picture book is released today, Thursday 4th July 2024, by Farshore Books.
Blurb
Six Legs. Four wings. No limits!
Billie’s Buzz is a delightfully funny celebration of bees, unique friendships – and the importance of bee-ing your true self by Alison Brown.
Billie is a bee with BIG ambition… When the Festival of Talents comes to town, Billie is determined to show off her skills. She’s intelligent! She’s cute! She’s agile!
But Billie’s human friend has a bit of advice: don’t use your wings. Some people can be funny about bees… Can Billie share her talents without revealing her true identity?
A perfect book for those who are nervous of bees or learning about their unique importance to the world, little ones will also discover all sorts of facts about bees.
About the Author
Alison Brown studied Fine Art at Liverpool John Moores University and Goldsmiths College, London, and worked as a designer in an advertising agency before becoming a full-time writer and illustrator.
She learned to draw by copying cartoon strips from her comics and her father’s newspapers, particularly the Peanuts cartoons by Charles M. Schulz. Alison is the creator of Amazing Mum and Amazing Dad (2023), and Amazing Sister and Amazing Brother (2024), published by Farshore.
I love this trilogy. It is not very often I decide to review a whole trilogy in one go but it is been a long time since a trilogy has impressed me this much and what I had to say about the series is relevant to all three books.
The Legend of the Sky trilogy comprise of three distinct and dynamic, rip-roaring fast-paced adventures that will keep you on the edge of your seats and have you turning the pages to the very last word and leave you wanting another new episode – a fourth book.
Think of this series as Game of Thrones for younger readers with a real emphasis on the dragons. It puts other middle grade dragon adventures in the shade. The descriptions and the characters really pull you into the story.
I was enthralled on how the history and folklore of the dragons and the different islands was cleverly weaved into the story as it progressed so at no time did you feel like it was a massive info-dump.
The covers of all three books, by award-winning Joe Todd-Stanton, are dramatic and eye-catching that will entice readers to pick up the book to see what they are about.
Now I will spend a little time on each of these brilliant books.
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Title: Dragon Daughter (Legends of the Sky #1)
The first in the Legends of the Sky middle grade fantasy adventure series.
On the island of Arcosi, dragons and their riders used to rule the skies. But now they are only legends, found in bedtime stories, on beautiful murals and ancient jewellery. Then servant girl Milla witnesses a murder and finds herself caring for the last four dragon eggs. Forced to keep them secret amidst the growing tensions in the city, she begins to fear that the island’s ruler, Duke Olvar, isn’t all that he seems.
But how can Milla and her friends keep the eggs safe when it means endangering everything she’s ever loved? Fiery friendships, forgotten family and the struggle for power collide as Milla’s fight to save the dragons leads her to discover her own hidden past.
Milla is a shy, hard-working servant in the Thornsen household, who is unable to tell people ‘no’ even though she is exhausted. she has no self-esteem and tries so hard to please everyone she is running herself ragged. When she witnesses a murder and discovers a bag containing four oval objects, which she later realises are dragon’s eggs, she must learn to overcome her shyness and be more assertive. In this way Dragon Daughter has a brilliant and satisfying character arc that has the reader routing for her from the start.
This is a fantastic story and the dynamics between the different characters are believable as is the politics of the different islands and their struggle for power. I enjoyed reading about the contrasting relationships of the twins, Isak and Tarya, with their father and the conflicting feelings of Taya and Vigo.
An exciting fast-paced adventure with well-described charismatic dragons worth risking your life for.
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Title: Rise of the Shadow Dragons (Legends of the Sky #2)
The second in the Legends of the Sky middle grade fantasy adventure series.
Jowan wants only one thing – to bond with a dragon of his own. Then disaster strikes and his world suddenly turns into a darker and more dangerous place. But a new friend and an astonishing discovery could lead him to what he has always wanted….if he is just willing to take a leap of faith and brave the impossible.
Set on the Island of Arcosi ten years later. Vigo and Tarya are now the Duke and Duchess, Isak is chief dragonguard and runs the Dragon School and Milla is an important dragonrider and protector of Arcosi. I loved how we were introduced to some incredible new dragons in the form of the shadow dragons, Ren and Fidell, and the intriguing mystery that surrounds them. These dragons are born out of all four elements, fire, air, water and earth, so unlike other dragons they have to ability to swim underwater.
There are also some dynamic new characters who are the main protagonists of the story. Joe Thornsen, who we met briefly at the end of Dragon Daughter, is about to attend the Hatching Ceremony to see if he is lucky enough to be chosen as a dragon rider by one of the new hatchlings. When things go horribly wrong he befriends Winter, whose dragon died in the Great Loss when a terrible sickness killed over half the dragons. Together they must overcome them doubts and their overwhelming emotions.
I am in awe of Liz Flanagan’s world-building that really does without a word of a lie, keep you on the edge of your seat turning the pages. The new Game of Throne style power struggle is well-executed with highly believable motivations and disagreements, with the added peril of a volcanic disaster.
Another thrilling middle grade fantasy adventure that will fire up the imagination.
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Title: The Pirate’s Dragon (Legends of the Sky #3)
A thrilling conclusion to the award-winning Legends of the Sky middle grade fantasy series.
Serina and Raff live on separate islands, each believing the other’s people to be their sworn enemy. Forced together in dramatic circumstances, they become unlikely friends while caring for their young dragons. But when Serina’s home, family, and all the dragons of Arcosi are threatened, can Raff and Serina persuade their families to work together? It will take faith, forgiveness and courage to save the dragons!
Before I started reading The Pirate’s Dragon I thought, how can Liz Flanagan top the first two book in the Legends of the Sky series in her third and last book of this fantastic trilogy, but she certainly does. This final conclusion of the trilogy is as flawless and compelling as the other two. Again there is superb world-building and tremendous character arcs that had me enthralled to the end.
This time they are from the perspectives of another two new characters, Serina the daughter of Duke Vigo and Duchess Tarya and the Queen of the pirate’s step-son Raff Sparrowhawk. Their dragons are Alden and Pearl and each have their own characteristics and quirks in the same way as any of the humans.
Arcosi is under threat from their neighbouring nations again, as they want to own dragons of their own. The Norlanders are trying to return the city back to the way it used to be before there were dragons. Our heroes from all three books must join ranks to save the dragons and their homes.
An epic conclusion to this captivating middle grade series.
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All three books are cleverly plotted with highly motivated characters that will really capture your imagination and your hearts. With themes of determination, bravery and friendship, the Legends of the Sky series is a highly recommended middle grade read.
You can purchase copies of all three of the Legends of the Sky series from your local bookshop, or online at uk.bookshop.org which supports local, independent bookshops.
Much To Do About Writing 