The Starkin Crown by Kate Forsyth

Title:  The Starkin Crown

Author:  Kate Forsyth

Genre:  Middle Grade/Childrens

Publisher:  Pan Macmillan  

Publication Date:  1st May 2011 

ISBN:  9780330404044

Stand alone or series: Series (But can be read separately)

Pages:  384 pages

Book Received from:  Publisher (Pan Macmillan)

First Lines:  Being a prince was no fun at all, Peregrine thought moodily, staring out through the arrow slit at the pine trees shivering in the snowy dusk.  Especially when you're the son of a king without a kingdom. 

Synopsis: 
Last, the smallest and the greatest...
Though he must be lost before he can find,
Though, before he sees, he must be blind,
If he can find and if he can see,
The true king of all he shall be.


Prince Peregrine, rightful heir to the starkin and wildkin crowns, longs for adventure. But Vernisha the Vile, who seized the starkin throne, seeks to destroy Peregrine, his family, and all the wildkin of Ziva.


With Stormlinn Castle under attack, Peregrine flees with his best friend, Jack, and Lady Grizelda – a starkin girl. Together they seek the Spear of the Storm King – the long-lost weapon which, it is prophesied, will destroy the starkin throne.


But a hunter is on their tail and someone close doesn't want them to succeed...

My Thoughts:
I was surprised when this turned up on my doorstep because when I opened the box, I didn't have just one copy of The Starkin Crown, I had SIX!!  So I sent off a couple to fellow Aussie bloggers and giving away three copies on here.


I have the Starthorn Tree (the first book) sitting in my TBR pile for a while now and meant to have read this before I'd read anything else but I was told I could read this one out of order and being from the Publishers I wanted to get it read and reviewed as soon as I could.


The beginning of The Starkin Crown is filled with a few family trees, a map and list of characters and who they were in the story.  I really enjoy stories that have these types of things in them.  I found it draws the reader in that little bit more and would be fantastic for the age group it's aimed at.  


Because I hadn't read the first two books I was thankful to have this to look back on when I needed to.  That being said, I didn't have to look back often as alot of the way through it is quite clear who is who and what they are in terms to Peregrine and Jack.


As far as characters go, I really fell in love with Peregrine!  He's a great and generous character to be reading the story from and while this is told from various viewpoints throughout the story, I was always glad to come back to his POV.  I didn't particularly enjoy reading about Grizelda though.  She was every bit the spoiled princess she's portrayed in the story and I found myself at times wishing Peregrine wasn't so nice to her.  I loved the little Omen-imp.  Such a funny little fella he was.  Molly was another I grew quite fond of too.


The Starkin Crown was an entertaining read.  It was so easy to imagine the world that Kate's set the story in and I enjoyed it all the way through!
  

The Familiars by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson

Title: The Familiars

Author:  Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson

Genre:  Children/Fantasy/Middle Grade

Publisher:  Harper Collins  

Publication Date:  7th September 2010 

ISBN:  9780061961083

Stand alone or series: Series?

Pages:  360 pages 

Book Received from:  Bought

First Lines: It all started with Aldwyn's whiskers beginning to tingle - the way they always did when he got hungry.

Synopsis:

Running fast to save his life, Aldwyn ducks into an unusual pet store.  Moments later Jack, a young wizard in training, comes in to choose a magical animal to be his familiar.  Aldwyn's always been clever.  But magical? Jack thinks so - and Aldwyn is happy to play along.
He just has to convince the other familiars - the know-it-all blue jay Skylar and the friendly tree frog Gilbert - that he's the powerful cat he claims to be.
Then the unthinkable happens.  Jack and two other young wizards are captured by the evil queen of Vastia.
On a thrilling quest to save their loyals, the familiars face dangerous foes, unearth a shocking centuries-old secret, and discover a destiny that will change Vastia forever.  Their magical adventure - an irresistible blend of real heart, edge-of-your-seat action, and laugh-out-loud humour - is an unforgettable celebration of fantasy and friendship.

My Thoughts:

I had seen The Familiars on one of the other book blogs quite a while ago and absolutely loved the cover!  And even though it look like it was aimed at around middle grade I desperately wanted to get my hands on it.

The story is told by Aldwyn an alley cat in Bridgetower who happens to stop in at a fishmonger's place one too many times.  Aldwyn, on the run ducks into a pet shop to hide in plain sight and that's where his story really begins.

Even though I'm 26 years old I thoroughly enjoyed this story.  Aldwyn, Gilbert and Skylar make the odd group up but are willing to watch each others backs to help save their loyals and embark on an almost impossible adventure to do so.


While this is not your airy fairy kind of story where nothing bad happens, the authors have done a brilliant job of stating matter of factly what happens, and then moving on.  For example, 'Aldwyn could hear his scream as he fell to a most certain death.  This was enough to snap Aldwyn and Skylar out of the ....'  Well you see what I mean.


Fave Line:  "No, we were a small family. There were just 62 of us." lol" Page 162

A Girl Named Willow Krimble by Giuseppe Bianco

Title: A Girl Named Willow Krimble

Author: Giuseppe Bianco

Genre: Middle Grade/Young Adult

Stand alone or series: (Web Novel) book 1

Pages: 119 pages

Book Received from: Author

First Lines: Willow Krimble could not remember the last time she was so nervous

Synopsis:
Forced to maneuver through obstacles most teenagers would not need to tackle, Willow is suddenly blessed (or cursed?) with the unusual power to heal others through touch. Ever selfless, Willow’s desire to help the injured and sick thrusts her into a world where she is given immense responsibility, putting the needs of others before her own, all the while trying to maintain her secret.

Willow’s adolescent journey takes her through an emotional cyclone where she finds joy and purpose in helping an array of patients from an old man with Alzheimer’s to a mauled animal in a pet store. But Willow soon finds out there are limitations to her ability and, no matter how hard she might try, she cannot save everyone.

Through the intermingling of joy and pain, Willow is repeatedly tested to discover just how strong she can be, how strong she has been her entire life, and how everyone possesses the ability to effect another person’s world, with or without a secret power.

My Thoughts:

I'll be honest.  Before Giuseppe had contacted me, I'd never even heard of a web novel.  I really liked the idea that there was a whole book posted WITH illustrations on the Willow Krimble website for everyone to read.  He was kind enough to send me a review copy and I must say I absolutely loved the story.

A Girl Named Willow Krimble is the story about a girl called Willow (you guess it lol) who is given the gift of healing.  Not only does she have to tackle school, adolescence, and living with a prosthetic leg, she's also got to deal with the unusual ability to heal just by touch.  Who do you tell without sounding like you've lost your marbles?  When you're not even sure yet if it is even possible!

Within the first page I fell in love with Willow.  Chapter one she has to face almost getting into a fight with two popular girls, her sworn enemies, right in the middle of the school cafeteria. Thankfully for her feisty best friend Razzel, she steps up to the challenge but it is quickly squashed when a teacher finally intercepts.  Within that first chapter,  I see a girl who doesn't want any trouble, tries to stay out of the spotlight and is the type that, if someone barges past her she is the one to say sorry.  How could you not love a character like that.  As the story progresses, you can see the subtle changes in Willow and watching her finally stand up and be heard. 

Razzel, her best friend was another character I just loved reading about.  She is Willow's opposite.  Razzel's not afraid to make a commotion and be heard, and she sure stands up for herself and Willow when it's needed.  Sometimes even when it's not.  She's the kind of girl you'd want to back you up in potentially bad situations.  Razzel is loyal and would do anything, including sitting through Willow's choice of movies just to keep her friends mind off things. 

A Girl Named Willow Krimble is recommended reading.  A story about true friendship, helping others, and being proud of the person you are and the things you can achieve!

Scourge by David H. Burton

Title: Scourge

Author: David H. Burton

Genre: Middle Grade Fiction/ Fantasy

Publisher:  David H. Burton

Publication Date: 29th November 2010

Stand alone or series: Series

Pages:  172 pages

Book Received from:  Author

First Lines:  There were three things that were a little different about Grimwald Doyle

Synopsis:

Grim Doyle has always known his life was not exactly "normal", and things gets even more curious when he discovers a set of stones that sweep him and his family to the fantasy, steampunk world of Verne - a place they had escaped from years ago. Now that they've returned, Grim and his siblings hide from the evil Lord Victor and his minions. And while learning about Jinns, Mystics, and the power of absinth they try to discover who is trying to kill them with the deadly Scourge.

My Thoughts:
I found this one really hard to get into in the beginning.  I was sucked in a little at the start but slightly put off when he was brought into the world of Verne.  From the top of my head I don't think I've read anything steampunk before so I'm not sure whether it was the unfamiliarity of the genre that kind of put me off or what.

In saying that, once I did get into it, the book was great.  Grim and his siblings made an interesting cast of characters, especially his 'two' Dads!  I also loved that Grim slips up like a kid of his age would do, when put in the situation they all were in.  Aunt Patrice was quite a surprise too.

I don't know whether I have a soft spot for animals though, but Scarlet was a definite favourite and when she turned up, that's when I really started to get hooked on what was happening to Grim and his family.  Least favourite character would have to be Festral.  I think I spelled his name right.

While I've never read any Steampunk books that I know of, and after a rocky start I really did enjoy the story and characters.  I'm quite curious to see what will happen next for Grim.

The Book of Lies by James Moloney

Title:  The Book of Lies
Author: James Moloney
Genre:  Fantasy (Age 8-12) 
Publisher:  Angus&Robertson
Publication Date: May 2004
Stand alone or series:  Series
Book Length:  402
First lines:  'On a night when angry clouds boiled and burst overhead and the people of Fallside prayed by their fires that the storm would soon pass, four men emerged from the forest that surrounded the village.'

Synopsis:
Three children, Marcel, Nicola and Fergus, have been left mysteriously in an orphanage run by the kindly Mrs Timmins, but overseen by the fearsome wizard Lord Alwyn and his creature Termagant.
Marcel learns that the mysterious Book of Lies can tell hood from truth. But can it tell him who he really is? He is not alone in his confusion, either. When the stranger Starkey arrives, Marcel, the haughty Nicola and battle-obsessed Fergus discover that they have a vital part to play in saving the kingdom from evil.
But something′s not right. Is Starkey friend or foe? And is Lord Alwyn the evil wizard the children first thought? And will the truth really be revealed in the pages of the Book of Lies?


My Thoughts 
I come across this book while reading my Good Reading Magazine and the short synopsis that was on their caught my attention straight away.  I absolutely love this cover.  It's amazing.  The other thing I really like with books for this age group is the fact that most include a hand drawn map in the first few pages.

A sleeping boy by the name of Marcel is brought to an orphanage by four men in the dead of night.  He is taken to a room where a sorcerer uses The Book of Lies to wipe away his past and all that he knows, and gives him a new identity.  Bea (an orphan staying in the house) secretly intercepts before the book finishes.

When Marcel wakes up he thinks his name is Robert until Bea pulls him asside to tell him his real name.  They form a friendship right from the beginning and I really liked Marcel/Robert as well as Bea. 

Marcel is such a strong young boy and I really enjoyed the journey he took me on.  Bea is an awesome character too with her willingness to stick her neck out for Marcel even though she hadn't known him for very long.  Gadfly and Termagant definitely make for interesting characters.

The Book of Lies draws you in and with many twists and turns it keeps you guess what's going to happen next.  Magic and elves and flying horses will definitely keep the kids interested and left wanting more. 

I look forward to reading Book Two Master of Books.