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
I write children's fiction, non-fiction and teacher resources for a wide range of publishers. I had two monthly columns in Writers’ Forum, one on writing for children and the other about authors and their research before the magazine shut down. I do school visits and run creative writing workshops . I also review children's books and do blog tours and have special guest authors on my blog. I am passionate about stationery, growing bonsai trees and walking my bearded collies.
My Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) 2024 semi-finalist spotlight for today is Time’s Orphan by Hayley Reese Chow.
About BBNYA and the Spotlight Tours
The Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it to the semi-finals with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title.
BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 16 finalists and one overall winner.
If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.
Time’s Orphan by Hayley Reese Chow is a 196 Page, young adult fantasy romance, publishedFebruary 8th, 2023.
Blurb
Speak of pain, and I’ll tell you of the Time who stole it away…
Besieged by war, ravaged by monsters, and crawling with the undead, the land of Okarria is dying. Seventeen-year-old Emara survives by using her modest healing gift to save as many as she can while eluding the invaders who thirst for her enchanted blood.
So when a cursed cat saves her life and reveals Emara is the legendary Time Heir the necromancer king’s been searching for, she agrees to act as bait in a plot to destroy him. But when the plan goes horrifically awry, Emara must discover how deep her powers go, what she can change…
And what she cannot.
About the Author
Hayley Reese Chow is the author of Odriel’s Heirs and Into the Churn series. When not writing, her hat collection includes mother, wife, engineer, USAF veteran, reservist, four-time All American fencer, ex-ultramarathoner, avid traveler, book inhaler, and super nerd. Hayley currently lives in Florida with two small wild boys, her long-suffering husband, and her miniature ragehound.
To find Hayley’s other stories and see what she’s working on next, check out hayleyreesechow.com.
Another Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) 2024 semi-finalist and another spotlight tour. Today my potlight is for The Pretender by Katie Ward.
About BBNYA and the Spotlight Tours
The Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it to the semi-finals with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title.
BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 16 finalists and one overall winner.
If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.
The Pretender by Katie Ward is a 232 Page, Young Adult contemporary fiction, romance, whcih was published August 18th 2018.
Blurb
France, 2000: Two babies are born on the same day just two hours apart – but to very different lives. Isabella is a Princess and heir to the French throne, while Sophia is born into a life of poverty and abuse.
At the age of 18, Sophia runs away from home. That same night, Isabella is also fleeing from the burden of her royal life when she finds Sophia slumped at the Palace gates. Amazed by how alike they look, Isabella proposes a daring plot – to exchange their lives for one week.
The Pretender is an emotionally intense and compelling story of friendship, love and the strange power of destiny.
About the Author
Katie Ward always knew that she wanted to write for a living. After completing a degree in Journalism at the University for the Creative Arts, she moved to Dublin. While there, she had a short story published in an anthology titled ‘Do the Write Thing’ which was part of a competition being run by Irish TV show Seoige and O’Shea (the Irish equivalent of Richard and Judy!). The anthology reached the top 20 in the Irish Bestsellers List in 2007. Shortly after this, Katie was also shortlisted for a competition judged by Man Booker Prize-winning author Roddy Doyle with an excerpt of her second novel Red Roses.
Katie returned to Devon where she continued to focus on her writing and in 2015 she began writing her debut novel, The Pretender, which became a top 30 bestseller on the Amazon Young Adult chart and was also awarded a BRAG medallion. Katie lives in Devon and aside from writing, she also loves to sing, dance and travel.
Take a look at my Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) 2024 semi-finalist spotlight for today. I am spotlighting The Fairy Wren by Ashley Capes.
About BBNYA and the Spotlight Tours
The Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it to the semi-finals with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title.
BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 16 finalists and one overall winner.
If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.
The Fairy Wren by Ashley Capes is a 238 Page, adult literary fiction, fantasy that was published October 31st 2014.
Blurb
From the moment a fairy wren drops his lost wedding ring at his feet, Paul realises there’s more magic to the world than he thought…
When Paul Fischer receives a strange phone call asking for help, from a woman who might be his estranged wife Rachel, he’s drawn into a mysterious search that threatens not only his struggling bookstore, but long-buried dreams too.
Unfortunately, the only help comes from a shady best friend, an Italian runaway and a strange blue fairy wren that seems to be trying to tell him something – yet the further he follows the clues it leaves the less sense the world seems to make. Is he on the verge of a magical, beautiful discovery or at the point of total disaster?
About the Author
Ashley is a poet, novelist and ex-teacher living in Australia.
He taught English, Media and Music Production, played in a metal band, worked in an art gallery and slaved away at music retail. Aside from reading and writing, Ashley loves volleyball and Studio Ghibli – and Magnum PI, easily one of the greatest television shows ever made.
Today I am excited to announce I am on yet another of Victoria Williamson’s blog tours. This time for a brillaint middle-grade science fiction adventure, Skyfleet: March of the Metabugs. It is 198 pages and was released on October 24, 2024 by Tiny Tree Books.
Blurb
When the skies turn deadly, a young heroine must rise from the ashes…
Twelve-year-old Amberley Jain has faced incredible challenges since the crash that took her parents and paralysed her legs. Now, with her best friend Ricardo Lopez about to be sent away and a swarm of mutated insects closing in on the Skyfleet base, the stakes have never been higher. Something monstrous is driving the mutabugs north from the contaminated meteor site known as the Cauldron, and the only plane capable of stopping it – the Firehawk – lies in pieces in the hangar.
Determined to honour her parents’ legacy, Amberley hatches a daring plan. With Ricardo’s help, they stow away on a supply train, trading his most treasured possession for the parts needed to repair the Firehawk. After secret test flights, the legendary jet is ready for action. Now, Amberley and Ricardo must confront the deadly swarm and save their home, discovering their inner strength and the true meaning of friendship along the way.
Skyfleet: March of the Mutabugs is a thrilling tale of adventure and resilience, perfect for middle-grade readers.
Review
Title: Skyfleet: March of the Metabugs
Written by: Victoria Williamson
Illustrated by:
Published by: Tiny Tree Books
This gripping sci-fi dystopian tale masterfully blends themes of determination, friendship, grief, and resilience into a heart-pounding adventure.
The story follows Amberley and Ric (Ricardo), two vividly portrayed protagonists with richly developed personalities and relatable struggles. Ricardo, who is visually impaired, relies on an advanced opti-kit to navigate the world. Amberley, paralyzed in a plane crash that claimed her parents’ lives, has been confined to a wheelchair ever since. Their lives take a perilous turn when their village is threatened by swarms of monstrous metabugs hatching in a nearby meteor crater.
As if giant, crop-destroying insects weren’t enough, the stakes escalate when they uncover an even deadlier enemy: colossal spiders immune to their weapons, abducting villagers and cocooning them for a gruesome feast.
The only hope lies in the Firehawk, a powerful jet fighter that crashed in the same tragic accident that left Amberley scarred. Though deemed irreparable, the Firehawk becomes the centre of a daring plan. With the help of Screwball, a maverick pilot with a knack for trouble, and her quirky pet wombat, Amberley and Ric embark on a secret mission to rebuild the aircraft.
The story surges forward with electrifying intensity as they scavenge for parts, outwit doubting adults, and test their skills and courage against all odds. The final showdown, with the restored Firehawk blazing into action, delivers a thrilling climax that will leave readers on the edge of their seats.
What sets this tale apart are the dynamic narrative touches: the interwoven reports, technical specs, and log entries that seamlessly propel the story while immersing readers in the high-stakes world.
About the Author
Victoria Williamson grew up in Glasgow, Scotland, and has worked as an educator in a number of different countries, including as an English teacher in China, a secondary science teacher in Cameroon, and a teacher trainer in Malawi.
As well as degrees in Physics and Mandarin Chinese, she has completed a Masters degree in Special Needs in Education. In the UK she works as a primary school special needs teacher, working with children with a range of additional support needs including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, physical disabilities and behavioural problems.
She is currently working as a full time writer of Middle Grade and YA contemporary fiction, science fiction and fantasy, with a focus on creating diverse characters reflecting the many cultural backgrounds and special needs of the children she has worked with, and building inclusive worlds where all children can see a reflection of themselves in heroic roles.
Victoria’s experiences teaching young children in a school with many families seeking asylum inspired her debut novel, The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, an uplifting tale of redemption and unlikely friendship between Glaswegian bully Caylin and Syrian refugee Reema.
You can find out more about Victoria’s books, school visits and free resources for schools on her website: www.strangelymagical.com
To read reviews of Skyfleet: March of the Metabugs by Victoria Williamson take a look at:
You can find out more about Victoria’s books, school visits and upcoming events on her website: www.strangelymagical.com and follow her on X (formly known as Twitter) @strangelymagic
I would like to thank The Write Reads for inviting me to take part in this ultimate tour. Thank you. @The_WriteReads @WriteReadsTours
A special thank you must also go to Victoria Williamson and Tiny tree Books for sending me the wonderful book package.
My Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) 2024 semi-finalist spotlight for today is Murder in Velvet by Sarah Wynne.
About BBNYA and the Spotlight Tours
The Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it to the semi-finals with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title.
BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 16 finalists and one overall winner.
If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.
Murder in Velvet by Sarah Wynne is a 290 page middle grade thriller/ mystery. It was published September 1st, 2023.
Blurb
13-year-old Grace loves her new charity shop coat. In fact, it’s perfect. Except for one tiny thing. When she wears it, she sees visions of the previous owner’s life … and their murder! Grace and her best friend, Suzy, decide to investigate but digging up the past reveals secrets some people want to keep hidden. Can Grace stay one step ahead and solve a fifty-year-old murder or will she become the killer’s next victim? A gripping story of secrets and murder for fans of fast-paced middle grade thrillers.
Author Bio
Sarah Wynne is from Chester in the northwest of England and lives with her husband, son and their little white ball of chaos, Daisy the dog. She spent over 10 years working as a primary teaching assistant but now writes full-time and provides editorial services to writers of children’s fiction.
When she’s not writing she’ll usually be found with her nose in a middle grade book or researching which book to read next or talking about books!
I am happy to announce today is my stop on blog tour for Spooksmiths Investigates: The Cinderman by Alex Atkinson. This chilling Middle grade novel ws publsihed on the 10thOctober 2024 by Usborne books.
If you would like to win a copy of Spooksmiths Investigates: The Cinderman by Alex Atkinson simply leave a comment on this blog post. This prize giveaway is open to all UK residents. Please be aware you must be happy for your postal details to be forwarded to Usbourne and Kaleidoscopic Tours so they can mail you a physical copy of the book.
My stop on the tour takes the form of a review.
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Title: Spooksmiths Investigate: The Cinderman
Written by: Alex Atkinson
Cover art by: Miriam Serafin
Published by: Usborne
Blurb:
Discover a brilliantly spooky new horror-mystery series for fans of Dread Wood, Goosebumps and Aveline Jones…
Indigo and Rusty might live in a funeral parlour, but they don’t believe in ghosts. That is, until Indigo knocks over an old urn, accidentally releasing the Cinderman: a terrifying ash monster, who will smother their town in ashes and turn everyone into zombies, unless they can stop him by sunset.
Using their newly awakened Spooksmith skills, Indigo and Rusty set out to enlist the help of other ghosts. But can the Blasted Banshee and Chuckles the Phantom Toddler really help them find the Cinderman’s true name and put him in his grave for good before Ashmageddon strikes?
Review
Spooksmiths Investigate: The Cinderman is a well-paced mystery with plenty of spooky scenes and cliff-hangers that kept me turning the pages.
Indigo and Rusty’s parents run the 400-year-old funeral home in Greyscar. Bhind one of the bookshelfs Indigo discovers a secret room where she inadvertedly smashes an urn containing the ashes of The Cinderman who was trapped there by here grandfather. That night the ashes cover the village turning everyone to zombies except the twelve-year-old twins, Indigo and Rusty, as they are Spooksmiths who have the ability to see and talk to ghosts.
The Cinderman is a formidable villain with a few spine-chilling traits. In contrast Phrank the Pheasant is a dynamic and hilariously funny ghost with some excellent one-liners. Together they add the ideal mix of comedy and horror that will delight middle grade readers.
Rusty and Indigo’s character arc has been artfully crafted to demonstrate how they antagonise each other at the beginning and gradually learn to overcome their differences to work together to uncover the mystery of The Cinderman to save the village before Ashmageddon strikes. One of my favourite scenes is when Indigo and Rusty meet the residents of Little Hope Graveyard and we see them beginning to work as a team.
A great, excellently written middle-grade mystery with themes of sibling rivalry and finding the best in yourself, ideal for Key Stage Two at Halloween.
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Here is a little Halloween taster from the first chapter:
Extract
There’s a secret door in my family’s bookcase.
A secret door with steps going down behind it…
It’s the entrance to a basement. Or a dungeon. Or maybe it’s a bat cave. I let out a nervous laugh, but I’m more excited than scared. I have so many questions. I could – and probably should – get Mum or Dad, but they’ll just tell me it’s dangerous and stop me investigating…
Or maybe they already know about the secret door and have kept it hidden? A familiar fizz of anger bubbles in my belly. It would be so typical of them to keep something like this quiet. I can hear their disapproving voices in my head: It’s too dark and dangerous and dirty.
I’m going in.
The doorway doesn’t reach down to the floor like a normal door. It’s two shelves up, so I have to climb inside, ducking to avoid the clusters of spider’s webs dangling from the ceiling. The light behind me illuminates a set of twisting stone steps. I take a deep breath and immediately regret it: the air in here is stinkier than Rusty’s bedroom, like dust mixed with sweaty socks.
Halfway down, the stairs twist to the left, a pillar blocking the light from above. The next step down is in complete darkness. I curse myself for not having my phone on me, but heading back up to get it and being caught by Dad isn’t an option, so I keep going, holding the wall to guide me. Maybe
there’s a light switch further down.
Five more steps and I reach the bottom. There’s a faint whispering sound, but it’s probably just the pipes from the house. I take a few hesitant, shuffling steps forward and my outstretched hands brush something cold and metallic. The whispering gets louder as I pick the something up. It’s the size of a coffee jar and weighs almost nothing.
Intrigued, I shuffle back to the stairs, towards the light. As I climb, the thing seems to get colder. Icy tendrils numb my hands, climbing up my arms towards my heart, leaving me wondering what could be inside.
I round the corner of the basement stairway and a shaft of light from upstairs lands on my hands.
I’m holding a dented, dusty old urn.
The hairs on the back of my neck prickle.
We’ve got urns all over the place. Why is this one hidden in a secret basement?
As if in answer, the urn lid rattles.
I scream and instinctively throw the urn away. It lands with a clatter somewhere beneath me. The gasping sound that follows chills me to the bone. It sounds like someone taking their first breath in a long time. Heart pounding, I race up the stairs to the doorway pursued by a dry, ash-choked voice:
“Speak my name.”
I’m so freaked out I can barely remember my own name, but I think…I think that voice came from whatever –or whoever – was in that urn.
Which means only one thing: I can hear the dead.
About the Author
Alex Atkinson loves scary books filled with oddball characters. She blames her idyllic North Yorkshire childhood spent playing murder-in-the-dark and listening to her dad’s blood-curdling bedtime stories. After studying English and Politics at Newcastle University, she worked as a website content editor.
She now lives in a village in Hertfordshire with her husband, kids, dogs and tortoise, but dreams of abandoned buildings, ghosts and zombies. SPOOKSMITHS INVESTIGATE: THE CINDERMAN is her debut novel.
It is with great pleasure I am joining the tour for Handle with Care by Louisa Reid, published by Guppy Books on 10thOctober 2024. Handle with Care is a stunningly powerful YA novel from a master storyteller told in both prose and verse.
Blurb
No one knows Ruby is pregnant – not even Ruby herself. So when she gives birth at school on a miserable February morning, her world is thrown into chaos. Keeping the baby isn’t an option, but keeping quiet about who the father of her child definitely is; because if Ruby’s best friend Ashley finds out the truth, then she’ll lose her too.
When Ruby finally realises what she and her baby need, somehow that doesn’t seem to matter any more. So Ruby must take matters into her own hands, with tragic consequences…
Extract
Pretend I’m fine.
Pretend I’m not standing here
something running down my legs.
They all think I’ve wet myself.
All night I lay in bed
my belly tight.
Not a second’s sleep.
Period, I thought,
thank God,
maybe
my period is coming at last,
and I swallowed pills,
paracetamol, ibuprofen,
and tried to dream.
But now,
now my body
is an enemy
that takes my breath,
and holds me in a relentless fist.
I pant, try to stand up straight,
gasp,
don’t want to make a noise,
don’t want them to look,
but it HURTS.
I bite my lip, my cheeks.
Head spins.
I want to be sick.
About the Author
Louisa Reid is the author of the YA verse novels Gloves Off, nominated for the Carnegie Medal, Wrecked, which was selected for both the Read for Empathy collection and National Poetry Day and Activist. Her debut adult novel, The Poet, was published to critical acclaim. Louisa Reid has spent most of her life reading.
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When Louisa’s not reading she’s writing stories, or imagining writing them at least. As an English teacher, her favourite part of the job is sharing her love of reading and writing with her pupils. Louisa lives with her family in the north-west of England and is proud to call a place near Manchester home.
My spotlight today is for Ayo’s Adventure: Across the African Diaspora from Afro to Zulu written by Ain Heath Drew and illustrated by Erin Robinson. It is due for publication by Barefoot Books on Tuesday 17th September 2024 and suitable for readers 5+.
Quote
“Our ancestors come from many nations in Africa. We are still connected to them today… Our cultures, our style, and our ways are connected to the ways of our ancestors.” “What do you mean, Dad?” “I’ll tell you more about this tomorrow, Ayo. Right now, it’s bedtime.”
Blurb
Join Ayo as he explores the creative and resilient cultures of his heritage.
One night, a young African American boy Ayo tumbles into an extraordinary journey across the African diaspora. From hip-hop to kente cloth, from Mansa Musa to revolution, the African diaspora has inspired the world!
Ayo’s Adventure is an A-Z introduction to the vast and powerful global concept of the dispersion of African people across the globe and offers an engaging way to explore many diverse cultures, historical figures, nations, events, and movements within the diaspora.
The wide-ranging countries and cultures represented include Trinidad and Tobago, the Dogon and Makonde people, Nigeria, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Ghana, Haiti, Mali, Ethiopia, Xhosa, Yoruba, Zulu, and more! Colourful spreads include info boxes and country labels, while thorough back-of-the-book resources deepen engagement with the story and further explore connections between the nations and traditions represented on both sides of the Atlantic.
About the Author
Ain Drew is the author of Ari J.’s Kinky, Curly Crown. She is inspired by the power of words and loves writing beautiful stories for children. As an educator, Ain uses books to expand her students’ knowledge about the world around them.
Ain lives in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, and enjoys spending time with her son, DJ, learning about different cultures around the globe, exploring new places, and reading.
Ain Heath Drew says:
“Bringing the idea for this book to life has been an adventure. I expected to teach young readers about the beauty of the African diaspora, but I didn’t anticipate how much I would learn.”
About the Illustrator
Erin K. Robinson is an Emmy-nominated illustrator trained at the Parsons School of Design and the Corcoran School of Art.
Erin’s illustrations have been featured in the New York Times and the Washington Post, and she has illustrated numerous picture books, including A Library by Nikki Giovanni. Erin splits her time between Brooklyn, NY, and Washington, DC.
Reviews
“A book brimming with affirmations of Blackness! Ayo’s Adventure is a love letter that reveals to be part of the African Diaspora is to be part of a global community of Black brilliance, Black creativity, Black resilience, Black joy” (Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul, co-founder of the Institute for Racial Equity in Literacy)
“Structured as an ABC book (A is for Afro, B is for Braids, C is for Calypso), Ayo’s adventure takes him all around the globe . . . This is a valuable book to serve as a mirror or window for a wide variety of readers and reading levels” (School Library Journal)
“A gentle but enormously powerful introduction to the Diaspora, Ayo’s Adventure is a joyfully inventive journey that can inspire readers of all ages to explore the many ways that people of African heritage around the world are connected” (Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, author of Makeda Makes a Birthday Treat)
“As a lifelong literacy advocate, I seek out children’s books that help kids explore the world around them. Ayo’s Adventure is a journey through the sights and sounds of the African diaspora. I loved hanging out with Ayo on his adventure. I learned so much.” (LeVar Burton, Actor + Children’s Literacy Advocate)
“Ayo’s Adventure is a dreamy and illustrious stroll through Black history and culture. It is a beautiful and brilliant reminder that Blackness is both deep and wide and joyful. It is everything I would read to my three free Black children” (Dr. Kellie Carter Jackson, Ph.D, Chair of the Africana Studies Department at Wellesley College)
I am please to announce I am taking part in the spotlight tour for the Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) 2024. Today I am spotlighting a young adult fantasy , Lady of Dragons (Part One) by Shelby Elizabeth.
About BBNYA and the Spotlight Tours
The Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it to the semi-finals with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title.
BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 16 finalists and one overall winner.
If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.
Lady of Dragons (Part One) by Shelby Elizabeth is a 375 page historically based fantacy romance published on August 29th, 2023.
Blurb
“You will be bound, dragon and human.”
Finlay McDonough wants nothing more than to be a Dragon Knight: a warrior bound with a dragon partner, intent on ridding the kingdom of its dragon-killing monarchy. Well, she might want one thing just a bit more … Evander, her childhood friend, now keeper of the dragon sanctuary. Scouting with Evander one day, Finlay’s attempt to save a dragon goes horribly wrong, and she inadvertently ties her fate to the dragon’s—their souls bind, lending Finlay powers like those of the Mages the Knights are sworn to destroy.
After passing the trial to train as a Knight, Finlay discovers a devastating truth about a beloved dragon. To save them, she’ll need to risk her dream of becoming a true Knight, her chance at a happily-ever-after with Evander . . . and maybe her very identity.
Fantasy romance with a fierce heroine, gentle love interest, sassy dragon companion, and more than a dash of adventure awaits.
My Thoughts on the Book:
The writing was engaging with a good pace. There is some detailed world building and plenty of information given to keep me turning the pages. Enough hints were dropped to me want to find out more. In this way, I was invested in the story.
Finlay and her friends want to be dragon knights and they have to complete their training and apprenticeships. We really delve into their feelings for each other with the extensive descriptions of the characters. There was also some intensive world building to help set the scene.
The characters were well developed and there was plenty of character emotional response which was good. They were believable and their feelings for each other relatable. I liked Finlay’s impetuous nature, which sometimes had devestating results.
I particularly liked the dilemma of Finlay wanting to be a Dragon Knight whilst knowing she would love to work full time in the dragon sanctuary with Evander. I was also impressed with the characterisation of the dragons. Each dragon has been given it’s own personality, which comes out in the way they speak and react.
On the whole, lots of intrigue throughout. An enjoyable read with a real Mills & Boon style romance.
Author Bio
Shelby Elizabeth is a teacher in Upstate New York. She is a major geek (favourite fandoms include Lord of the Rings, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and One Piece) and loves spending time with her family, and relaxing at home with her cats.
She writes both young adult fantasy romance and young adult contemporary romance. Shelby can be found on Twitter (X) @ShelbyEBooks and on Instagram @shelbyelizabethbooks.
You can read more reviews by following the links below.
I am thrilled to be able to join The Write Reads Ultimate US Blog Tour for Terra Electrica: The Guardians of the North by Antonia Maxwell. This brilliant dystopian,middle grade adventure is published by Neem Tree Press and was launched in the UK on July 4th 2024 .
My stop on the tour takes the form of a spotlight of the book.
About the Book:
Blurb
Book 1 in an action-packed dystopian adventure series set in the near-future post-melt Arctic.
The last ice cap has melted, and the world is on the brink of collapse. A deadly force—Terra Electrica—has been unleashed. It feeds on electricity. It is infecting civilization.
In this chaotic, rapidly changing reality, 12-year-old Mani has lost her family and community to the Terra Electrica. Armed only with some ancestral wisdom and a powerful, ancient wooden mask she was never meant to inherit so soon, she suddenly finds herself responsible for the fate of the world.
Can Mani piece everything together and harness her newfound powers in time to save humanity?
You can read reviews of Terra Electrica: The Guardians of the North here:
Antonia Maxwell is a writer and editor based in North Essex and Cambridge, UK.
With a degree in Modern Languages and a long-standing career as a book editor, she has a lifelong curiosity for language and words, and a growing fascination in the power of story – the way it shapes our lives and frames our experience.
I would like to thank The Write Reads for inviting me to take part in this tour. Thank you.
To follow the rest of the tour please see the schedule below:
Much To Do About Writing 