8 Souls by Rachel Rust follows Francesca ‘Chessie’ Carpenter who suffers from recurrent nightmares of a house, sometimes decrepit, sometimes new, but always the same and always beckoning of death. It’s not just any house either. It’s the Villisca Axe Murder House and her grandparents live right across from it. When she ends up being […]
A Fire Story by Brian Fies recounts the effects of the 2017 California wildfires from the perspective of a family that lived it. The Fies’ lost everything. They fled with the fire knocking at their back door. Brian was among the handful who went back and valiantly tried to make a difference. Unfortunately, not even […]
Tudor Rose by W.H. Doyle follows two young women as they journey to London, Sybille to be married, and Rose as her companion. Sybille was to be a lady-in-waiting to Lady Agnes, one of Queen Elizabeth’s ladies-in-waiting, and sister to Valentine, Sybille’s fiancé. However, Lady Agnes passes from what seemed like pneumonia, or possibly tuberculosis. […]
Starworld by Audrey Coulthurst and Paula Garner was a poignant tale of two girls trying to find themselves, and their place in the world. One day during art class, Sam Jones is interrupted by Zoe Miller, who asks about a painting Sam has done. This simple action opens a tentative dialogue between the two, which […]
Anne Frank by Isabel Sanchez Vegara Anne Frank by Isabel Sanchez Vegara is a very abbreviated version of Anne Frank’s story for young readers. Most of the book is taken up by engaging artwork. Like the ‘girl in red’ in Schindler’s List, only Anne’s diary is in colour. I think this is a great touch! […]
Seven Jane’s The Isle Of Gold is a truly magical novel that will transport you far away, and long ago, to the Golden Age of Piracy. Disguised as a man, orphan Merrin Smith joins the pirate crew of the Riptide. Captained by Erik Winters, the Riptide is setting sail for the mystical island of Bracile […]
Secrets of Hawthorne House by Donald Firesmith is a charming ‘found family’ story that deftly illustrates how people of different cultures/ spiritual backgrounds can get along just fine. For decades, Vivianne Hawthorne has kept to herself and not interacted with the residents of the town her grandfather gave name to. That changes when the Mitchell […]
Harley and Ivy Meet Betty & Veronica by Paul Dini & Marc Andreyko Dini and Andreyko’s Harley and Ivy Meet Betty & Veronica brings the gals of Gotham to Riverdale when Poison Ivy learns that Mr Lodge plans to destroy the Sweetwater Marsh and put a fancy strip mall and ‘college’ on the land. Sweetwater […]
Storm of the Gods by Amy Braun is first in the Areios Brothers urban fantasy series. Set in a world where the Greek gods have returned, and taken over the state of California as their new base, we jump right into the action as Derek and Liam are attacked while transporting a captured dracaena back […]
South’s Suicide Tango, previously title WTF, Dorkus, is an illuminating, gallows humour look at teen suicide via dialogue between Tripsy and the psychiatrist she decides to claim as a confidant. She waltzes into Dr Jon Moore’s office one day, changing his life forever. Over the course of a year, she and the doc have some […]