Monthly Archives: June 2025

Spotlight – Netta Becker and the Timeline Crime

Netta Becker and the Timeline Crime by Jennifer Claessen is published by UCLan Publishing. It is due for release on Thursday 26th June 2025.

Blurb

Legend and edge-of-your-seat action fuse together in this exciting new time travel adventure by esteemed children’s author, Jennifer Claessen. With danger at every turn and new-forming friendships emerging, this middle-grade title is equal parts thrilling and heartwarming, underpinned with an informative feminist retelling of Ancient Greek myth.

A mysterious labyrinth. A desperate king. A rebellious princess.

Being stuck in a crumbling old villa in Crete with her annoying, history-obsessed little brother Remy isn’t exactly Netta’s idea of a fun summer holiday. But before she can even get bored, Netta starts having very real dreams where she is dragged back thousands of years to Ancient Greece. Here, King Minos is preparing for the opening of his precious labyrinth, and there are rumours that a monster lurks inside. As Netta becomes more drawn to the past, her present-day self starts slipping away. Netta and Remy must figure out what is pulling her back before they run out of time – and if they don’t solve the puzzle soon, Netta might just become history herself.

About the Author

Jennifer Claessen born in Reading so, of course, grew up a book worm. She is the author of the A Month of Magic series. She studied literature and theatre at at least five universities. As teacher and theatre-maker, Jennifer loves stories and leads interactive drama-based workshops.

She is currently Writer in Residence at Abney Park, a cemetery in northeast London, where she works with year five students on telling their own stories. Jennifer has two small feral children of her own and is raising them to love reading, travel and ice cream, just like her. You can find her whizzing to drama and creative writing workshops on her yellow bike.

I have previously featured Jennifer’s blog tour for her Month of Magic trilogy on my blog here: Blog Tour – The December Witches by Jennifer Claessen

Praise for the Month of Magic trilogy

‘This is such a warm-hearted and joyful story about finding your magic…A comforting hug of a book, with a sprinkling of peril and adventure too!’ – Yarrow Townsend, author of The Map of Leaves

‘It explores big, complicated feelings about identity and finding your place in the world in a thoughtful and charming way’ Anna James

Book Review: Pergrine Quinn and the Cosmic Realm

Title: Pergrine Quinn and the Cosmic Realm

Written by: Ash Bond

Cover design and llustrations by: Two Dots and lettering by Katie Foreman

Published by: Picadilly Press

The first in a fantastic new middle grade series, this atmospheric and imaginative adventure grabbed me from the very first page. Peregrine is a feisty, spirited and enterprising young girl who craves excitement, and the fast paced narrative delivers exactly that.

The story is told from the perspectives of four characters: Peregrine, Royan the dryad, Cal the faun and Hekate the witch. Their paths cross as Hekate attempts to reopen a portal and bring an ancient evil into the Cosmic Realm. Each viewpoint is clearly marked in the chapter headings, which helps guide the reader through the shifting perspectives.

The book draws on creatures from Greek mythology and weaves them into a unique and magical storyline. It explores themes of identity and belonging as Peregrine searches for the truth about who she is and what the Cosmic Realm means to her. The realm itself is a parallel world to Earth where magic is real and mythological beings exist.

I particularly enjoyed the portals used to connect the two worlds. The links to Oxford and the London Underground were clever and added depth, helping to move the plot forward in an inventive way. The included map was a helpful touch and added a clear sense of place.

The world building was rich and creative, and I found myself fully immersed in the setting. There was never a dull moment. The journey to the underworld was a standout section and added to the sense of mystery and excitement.

The story came to a satisfying close while still leaving the reader eager for the next instalment.

Book Review – Gargoyles: The Watcher by Tamsin Mori

Title: Gargoyles: Guardians of the Source

Written by: Tamsin Mori

Cover design and llustrations by: David Dean

Published by: Uclan Publishing

Tamsin Mori returns with another thrilling instalment in the Gargoyles series. I was excited to rejoin Callen and his friends, Yasmin, Raf and Angus, for Book 2 of the Gargoyles trilogy. The Watcher picks up where Guardians of the Source left off, plunging readers straight back into the magical world of Gargoyles Rest, where danger is rising once more.

Callen may have bonded with Zariel the gargoyle, but his training as a Guardian is far from complete. When Oculus, the organisation that oversees all magical sources, hears of his appointment, they send a Watcher to assess whether he’s truly up to the task. Failure could mean losing both his gargoyle and the home he has just begun to love.

But Callen has more to worry about than impressing a Watcher. A kelpie named Gem has gone missing since the final battle at the source and all signs point to Jake, the villain who escaped. Worse still, magic is blighting the local countryside and village again, twisting the land with dark energy. Callen, Yasmin, Raf and Angus suspect another source is being corrupted and if they cannot stop it in time, The Watcher will seal it and magic everywhere for good.

With the future of the world’s magic hanging in the balance, the group sets off on a new mission to uncover the truth behind the tainted sources and rescue Gem. Along the way they encounter other Guardians and magical creatures. Their journey is full of high stakes, fast-paced action and deepening friendships as they race to stop the spread of darkness before it consumes everything.

Callen and Zariel start training, practising gargoyle riding whilst his parents teach him archery and sword fighting. His inexperience is a constant obstacle, but it makes his courage and growth all the more compelling. He learns through his mistakes and begins to understand what being a Guardian truly means. The threat is bigger this time and so is the world, with the magic system expanding beyond the grounds of Gargoyles Rest.

The only thing missing is a map. With such a rich setting and a growing cast of characters, a visual guide to the grounds and surrounding locations would help readers stay grounded in the action.

Once again Mori delivers a gothic-tinged fantasy packed with charm, danger and imagination. Full of magical creatures, mysterious secrets and heartfelt moments, The Watcher is a spellbinding adventure that keeps the heart of the first book while raising the stakes.

An original and exciting continuation of the trilogy, perfect for fans aged 8 and up who love atmospheric fantasy with humour, heart and a dash of darkness.

Spotlight – Exit Stage Death

Curtains up… and someone’s plotting more than just stage directions. In Exit Stage Death, Ava Eldred delivers a whip-smart, twist-filled mystery for young readers who love their clues clever and their sleuths sharp. With a backstage full of secrets and a cast that’s anything but ordinary, this YA crime novel is set to steal the spotlight when it hits shelves on June 5th. Published by UCLan Publishing.

Blurb

From producer Ava Eldred comes a gripping YA musical theatre themed murder mystery. Strange happenings are plaguing Camp Chance, but can a group of friends solve these alarming disappearances before curtain-up? Dramatic in every sense of the word, this showstopping novel will have you on the edge of your seat.

Livi Campbell’s summer to-do list is simple:

  • 1. Have the best final summer at Camp Chance.
  • 2. Prove to her parents that acting is an acceptable career choice.
  • 3. Smash all her rehearsals and get the lead in the senior showcase.

But when a fellow camper shows up dead under mysterious circumstances and Livi finds a note suggesting all is not as it seems, she must team up with her campmates to catch the culprit before they kill again.

Enter Juliet, the social media influencer with everything to prove; Aaron, the nepo baby who isn’t sure he wants to be in Hollywood at all; Daisy, the inexperienced newbie trying to find her place; and Sam, the leading man who broke Livi’s heart last summer.

The players are in place. The stage is set. Curtain up.

About the Author

Ava Eldred was born in London, and has spent much of the last decade writing and developing stage musicals, as well as producing large scale theatrical concerts. Her work has been performed both in London and internationally.

She is a recent alumnus of Faber Academy’s Writing a Novel course. Her debut novel, The Boyband Murder Mystery, was published by Penguin Random House in 2021.