Review: The Maker of Monsters

Title: The Maker of Monsters
Author: Lorraine Gregory
Series: – –
Genre: MG Fantasy
Age Range: 9+
Available: Now

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Brat has always lived in the isolated castle on the island, taking care of the vicious creatures that his master creates, waiting in terror for the moment when they are ready to be put to use. But then the unthinkable happens. The monsters get out. Now Brat must overcome his fears, and venture into the world he has hidden from his whole life. For the fate of everyone rests on his shoulders alone. . .
A thrilling new standalone adventure from Lorraine Gregory.

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Review: Way of the Waves

Title: Way of the Waves
Author: Janina Ramirez
Illustrator: David Wyatt
Series: A Viking Mystery #2
Genre: Historical Children’s Fiction
Age Range: 9+
Available: Now

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Join young investigator and shield maiden Alva as she goes a-viking around the medieval world in search of adventure!

Alva clings to her sleeping wolf as the Viking longship pitches and rolls over the North Sea’s crashing waves. Soon she will reveal herself as a secret stowaway, but only when there’s no chance of turning back. This is her opportunity to put her shield maiden spirit to the test – exploring strange new lands, solving mysteries, and most importantly finding her father.

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Review: The Last Life of Prince Alastor

Title: The Last Life of Prince Alastor
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Series: Prosper Redding #2
Genre: MG Fantasy
Length: Novel
Available: Now

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Every family has secrets – but not every family has a secret pact with a demon.

The thrilling second book in the darkly comic PROSPER REDDING series – with enough twists and turns to make every reader dizzy. Perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket, Jonathan Stroud and Skulduggery Pleasant.

Prosper is the only unexceptional Redding in his remarkable family. So, when he discovers that an 800-year-old demon called Alastor is responsible for their luck – and that this demon is currently living inside him – he’s more than a little surprised.

Worse luck, now Prosper needs a favour from him.

Prosper’s sister Prue has fallen into the clutches of evil queen Pyra, and only Prince Alastor can help him get her back. His demonic malefactor agrees to be Prosper’s guide through the demon realm under one condition – Prosper must enter into a contract of eternal servitude in the afterlife.

With Prue in mortal danger, Prosper has no choice but to agree.

Will Prosper ever make it out again, and if he does, will his afterlife be damned for all eternity?

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Review: Closest Thing to Flying

Title: The Closest Thing to Flying
Author: Gill Lewis
Series: – –
Genre: Children’s Fiction
Age Range: 9+
Available: Now

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Present day: Semira doesn’t know where to call home. She and her mother came to England when she was four years old, brought across the desert and the sea by a man who has complete control. Always moving on, always afraid of being caught, she longs for freedom. 

1891: Hen knows exactly where to call home. Her stifling mother makes sure of that. But her Aunt Kitty is opening her eyes to a whole new world. A world of animal rights, and votes for women, and riding bicycles! Trapped in a life of behaving like a lady, she longs for freedom. 

When Semira discovers Hen’s diary, she finds the inspiration to be brave, to fight for her place in the world, and maybe even to uncover the secrets of her own past.

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Review: The Peculiar Peggs of Riddling Woods

Title: The Peculiar Peggs of Riddling Woods
Author: Samuel J. Halpin
Series: – –
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Age Range: 9+
Available: Now

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This is the story of a sleepy town called Suds. A place where stories fill the air of children who keep turning grey and disappearing without a trace…

Poppy and Erasmus are certain there’s something peculiar going on in Suds, and they’re determined to unravel its secrets. But when they discover the answers might lie in the darking and twisting woods, can they find the courage to creep inside and solve this riddling mystery?

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Review: The Orphans of Raspay

Title: The Orphans of Raspay
Author: Lois McMaster Bujold
Series: Penric and Desdemona #7
Genre: Fantasy
Length: Novella
Available: Now

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When the ship in which they are traveling is captured by Carpagamon island raiders, Temple sorcerer Penric and his resident demon Desdemona find their life complicated by two young orphans, Lencia and Seuka Corva, far from home and searching for their missing father. Pen and Des will need all their combined talents of mind and magic to unravel the mysteries of the sisters and escape from the pirate stronghold.

This novella follows about a year after the events of “The Prisoner of Limnos”.

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Review: Billy and the Dragon

Title: Billy and the Dragon
Author: Nadia Shireen
Series: Billy and the… #2
Genre: Picture Book
Available: Now

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‘Shireen’s latest book confirms her as one of the brightest and best picture book creators working in Britain today… Sensational.’ – The Observer 

Our fearless heroine Billy is back!

Whilst at a fancy-dress party, something terrible happens: Billy’s loyal sidekick Fatcat is kidnapped by a fire-breathing dragon. Uh-oh!

But luckily for Fatcat, Billy won’t stand for that: off she goes on a brave rescue mission…

Join Billy for a fairytale adventure with a twist. 

‘It’s a great story for everyone, especially those not used to seeing themselves centre-stage’- The Guardian on Billy and the Beast

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Review: Desire and the Deep Blue Sea

Title: Desire and the Deep Blue Sea
Author: Olivia Dade
Series: Love Unscripted #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: Novella
Available: Now

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Thomas McKinney has never wanted a woman the way he wants Callie Adesso. Since she started working alongside him at the Colonial Marysburg Research Library, he’s spent his desk shifts fumbling pencils, tripping over his own feet, and struggling to remember both the Dewey Decimal System and the existence of her inconvenient boyfriend. Now, however, Callie is suddenly single–and in need of a last-minute faux-boyfriend for an episode of HATV’s Island Match. Thomas is more than happy to play the part…and in the process, convince Callie that a week together isn’t nearly long enough.

Callie has never found a man as irritating as she finds Thomas. He may be brilliant, kind, and frustratingly handsome, but the absent-minded librarian also makes every workday an anxiety-inducing exercise in stress. Even seven days in paradise by his side won’t change her opinion of him. Really. No matter how attentive he is. And gentle. And sexy.

One plane ride later, the two of them are spending long, hot days under the sun and on display, pretending to be in love for a television show. This may be a vacation, but it’s also an act–as well as Thomas’s last chance to persuade the woman of his dreams to include him in hers. And soon, the island heat isn’t the only thing steaming up HATV’s cameras…

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Review: Spell Mason

 Title: Spell Mason
Author: Alex C. Vick
Series: Light Mage #2
Genre: YA Fantasy
Length: Novel
Available: Now

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Devin is a Light Mage on the run. When his boyfriend is accused of murder and sentenced to death, Devin manages to rescue him just in time. The two boys escape the magical dimensions for Tudor England, hoping to remain anonymous while they figure out what’s going on.

But witchcraft is a capital offense in the sixteenth century. It’s not the best place for a pair of seventeen-year-old Light Mages to hide, especially when one of them doesn’t know he’s carrying a deadly tracking spell. In order to have any chance of clearing their names, they’ll have to accept help from some unlikely sources and push the limits of their combined magical abilities.

The alleged murder could change things forever. Light Mages are the trusted protectors of the earthbound dimension. Discrediting them could turn magical society upside down. The stakes are high, and the potential prize is more than enough to turn any magician’s head.

All Devin has to do is stay alive long enough to uncover the truth. 

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Review: Billy and the Beast

Title: Billy and the Beast
Author: Nadia Shireen
Series: Billy and the… #1
Genre: Picture Book
Available: Now

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‘It’s a great story for everyone, especially those not used to seeing themselves centre-stage’- The Guardian

From the author of Bumblebear, comes a new hero for our times. Introducing: Billy!

Whilst on a lovely walk in the woods, Billy and her trusty sidekick Fatcat hear a terrible rumble… a terrible rumble coming from a Terrible Beast…

He’s making a Terrible Soup out of all of Billy and Fatcat’s friends!

Luckily, our brave heroine Billy has a trick or two up her sleeve (or in her hair)…

Join Billy on her mission to defeat the Terrible Beast (and save those adorable little bunny rabbits too).

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