Storyland - Amy Jeffs

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN MIST AND MAGIC THIS CHRISTMAS AND DISCOVER HEROES AND MONSTERS RIGHT ON YOUR DOORSTEP . . .

You will have heard of Thor, Medusa and Hercules. But what about the myths of the British landscape? The Trojan heroes who wrestled giants. The Syrian sisters who found refuge on our lands. The dragons who slept in hollow hills. And the kings who communed with the dead . . .

In this vivid and beautifully illustrated mythology of Britain, children will discover enchanting tales of magic and adventure, giants and demons, princesses and prophecies.

Travelling across the wildest of landscapes - as far north as Orkney and south as Cornwall - young readers will build Stonehenge with the young Merlin, chase hounds up the mountains of Wales, ride stags into the forests of Scotland and sail with Trojans along the rivers of Britain, discovering a land steeped in myth, monsters and heroes.

Adapted from Amy Jeffs' bestselling Storyland, this is a definitive and dynamic children's introduction to Britain's lost myths and legends, packaged in a beautifully illustrated gift hardback.

What did I think?

Storyland may be aimed at children aged 10 to 12 years old, but I absolutely loved it and I’m in my fifties.

It’s beautifully illustrated throughout and the hardback is stunning with metallic copper accents on the dustjacket and the cover beneath.  There are 19 stories of myth and legend in the book, all in bite sized chapters for less confident readers.

I had heard of some of the characters before (like Gogmagog and Merlin) but I didn’t know the stories about them so I found Storyland to be very informative and engaging.  Amy Jeffs follows each myth or legend with a little bit of history to accompany the story and it’s very well written to inform and delight the reader.

With tales of wizards, fairies, giants, goddesses, dragons and more, there’s something for everyone in Storyland.   Magical, informative and compelling, Storyland is sure to quickly become a favourite book for children (and adults) of all ages.

I chose to order a beautiful hardback via the Amazon Vine programme and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

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The Immortal Games - Annaliese Avery

 

An explosive romantasy YA, perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and Lore.

Every Lunar Eclipse signifies the beginning of The Immortal Games: an epic set of games played by the Gods of Olympus, with randomly-selected humans as their Tokens. The stakes are high; the Gods covet entertainment and glory above all else, for the Tokens, it's about survival.

17-year-old Ara wants revenge. Revenge on the Gods for allowing her older sister to die in the Games. She's determined to be selected as a Token and find a weapon powerful enough to kill a God. But when she's plucked from the clutches of death by Hades, God of the Underworld, the odds are stacked against her. Hades is the outcast of the Gods, and the only one who has never won the games. But he soon realises that Ara does not fear death, just as she does not fear him, and when a wager with Zeus and Poseidon puts both their futures at stake, the games take on a new meaning.

With each challenge, the games become more brutal. Can Ara put aside her rage and survive?

What did I think?

Oh I really enjoyed this book; it’s beautifully written and very entertaining.  

I’ve been reading more books based on Greek mythology lately so I absolutely loved the setting and Annaliese Avery’s stunning writing really brought the gods to life.  You can’t help but compare it with other YA novels of the same ilk as it even states in the blurb that this book is for fans of The Hunger Games, and whilst it does have some similarities, it’s also completely different.

I loved the main character of Ara - she is desperate to take part in The Immortal Games, not for fame and fortune but for revenge.  Her pain and torment is palpable throughout the book and I loved how her character developed as she went to war with her own feelings.

If readers of the Immortal Games aren’t already interested in Greek mythology, I think their interest will be well and truly piqued now.  I learned new things whilst reading and I wish textbooks were written with even half the passion as it really helps to retain information when it’s presented in such an enjoyable format.

It’s a wonderful YA debut and it’s as stunning inside as out.  Highly recommended.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

BLOG TOUR: God of Fire - Helen Steadman

‘LOVE WAS SURELY THE GREATEST PUNISHMENT OF ALL’

He’s a rejected immortal. But can this magical blacksmith fight against fate and overcome the darkness of his past?

Hephaestus fears he’ll never be accepted. Cast down from Olympus and raised by a powerful sea witch, he sets out on a quest to discover his unknown father’s true identity. But he struggles to be taken seriously by the other gods who only want him for his ingenious inventions.

Convinced that solving his paternity will help him earn the love he seeks, the god of fire traps his mother and refuses to free her until she reveals a name. But when he uncovers a terrifying truth, he finds himself with more enemies than allies amongst the wrathful Olympians.

Can Hephaestus unlock buried secrets and prove himself worthy?

God of Fire is an imaginative standalone historical fantasy. If you like forgotten legends, fantastic beasts, and dark tales punctuated with humour, then you’ll adore Helen Steadman’s fascinating expedition into mythology.

Buy God of Fire to unravel the mysteries of ancient Greece today!

Recommended for fans of Mythos, Song of Achilles, Circe and Pandora’s Jar.

 

What did I think?

By Ouranos, God of Fire is an absolute masterpiece of reimagined fiction!  I feel like I've had the most entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable lesson in Greek mythology as Helen Steadman brings the gods to life in her exquisite new novel.  

The amount of mythology packed into this 335 page novel is amazing and I learnt so much whilst reading God of Fire, having known very little about Greek mythology beforehand.  The way that the characteristics and individual personalities of the gods are depicted is fantastic and it made each god, gorgon, nymph or mortal completely unforgettable.

There are a lot of characters in the novel and I found that jotting down their names helped me to remember who was who, especially as some of their names get shortened as the story progresses.  I also used my list of characters to research each god myself, but found that the most important parts of their stories were already covered in God of Fire anyway.

Hephaestus (or Heph as he is fondly referred to) craves the love of his mother Hera, who threw him from Olympus as a baby as she found him to be too ugly.  Awww, doesn't your heart just go out to him from the start?  Even his wife Aphrodite doesn't love him which is such a shame as Heph has such a big heart.  

God of Fire is an extraordinary novel and I loved every single perfectly written word.  Hephaestus' story is fascinating and Helen Steadman's research is impeccable; to take so many Greek myths and weave them into a captivating and entertaining story that holds the reader's interest throughout is nothing short of awe-inspiring.

Absolutely brilliant, completely unmissable and very highly recommended.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy links: books2read.com/u/mlL0RP

About the author:

Dr Helen Steadman is a historical novelist. Her first novel, Widdershins and its sequel, Sunwise were inspired by the seventeenth-century Newcastle witch trials. Her third novel, The Running Wolf was inspired by the Shotley Bridge swordmakers, who defected from Solingen, Germany in 1687. Helen’s fourth novel is God of Fire, a Greek myth retelling about Hephaestus, possibly the least well-known of the Olympians. Helen is now working on her fifth novel.

Despite the Newcastle witch trials being one of the largest mass executions of witches on a single day in England, they are not widely known about. Helen is particularly interested in revealing hidden histories and she is a thorough researcher who goes to great lengths in pursuit of historical accuracy. To get under the skin of the cunning women in Widdershins and Sunwise, Helen trained in herbalism and learned how to identify, grow and harvest plants and then made herbal medicines from bark, seeds, flowers and berries.

The Running Wolf is the story of a group of master swordmakers who defected from Solingen, Germany and moved to Shotley Bridge, England in 1687. As well as carrying out in-depth archive research and visiting forges in Solingen to bring her story to life, Helen also undertook blacksmith training, which culminated in making her own sword. During her archive research, Helen uncovered a lot of new material and she published her findings in the Northern History journal.

Social media links:

Author website: https://helensteadman.com/

Publisher website: https://www.belljarbooks.com/

Twitter handle: @hsteadman1650

Instagram handle: @helensteadmanauthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helensteadmanauthor 

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BLOG TOUR: Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Nine Worlds - Columbkill Noonan

I am delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Nine Worlds, with many thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to take part.

Hold your flying horses!

Barnabas and Wilfred, two earnest but bumbling Victorian detectives, travel through the Nine Worlds of Norse mythology, trying to stave off the impending end of the world, an event which the locals call “Ragnarok”. This time around, however, the intrepid twosome has some help: a brave Viking seer named Brynhild and her flying horse.

Can the two plucky detectives and the fearsome Brynhild outwit those who would bring about Ragnarok? Will they survive the harsh conditions and terrifying creatures of the Norse afterlife? Will they save the world…again? 

What did I think?

I have always been intrigued by myths and legends, but I have never learned about them, and I have to say that Columbkill Noonan has created such a fun and innovative way to learn about Gods and Goddesses of various ancient religions and mythologies.  I already had a keen interest in Egyptian mythology, which drew me to the first book: Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Missing Scarab, but, having had no idea about Norse mythology, I have to say that I have learned so much by reading Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Nine Worlds.

Columbkill Noonan is definitely on to a winner with her creation of Barnabus and his trusty sidekick, Wilfred.  Think Bob Mortimer (Wilfred) trying to control Vic Reeves (Barnabas) and you will get the idea.  Barnabus is so hilarious that you have no idea what he might do next and he is one of these people who always claims to have known something before everyone else.  His favourite phrase seems to be: 'that's what I always say' when he never says anything of the sort.

In this book, Barnabas and Wilfred are tasked by Odin to find the thief of a missing bowl; a bowl that Loki's wife holds over him to protect him from the poison dripping from a serpent.  With the bowl missing, the poison is dripping onto Loki and causing him to thrash around, causing earthquakes across the nine worlds.  Will Barnabas and Wilfred be able to find the bowl before Ragnarok, the end of the world, takes place?  

The Barnabas Tew books are so accessible for all ages to learn about myths and legends, in such a fun yet informative way.  In Norse mythology, I had heard of Odin, Thor and Loki but I didn't realise that there is so much more to learn.  Having read Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Nine Worlds, I feel as if I could hold my own in a conversation about Norse mythology.  Without perhaps even realising it, Columbkill Noonan has taken it upon herself to teach us all about mythology in a way we will never forget.

Entertaining, fun, and informative, Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Nine Worlds will teach you more about Norse mythology than you could possibly learn in a lesson or a book about the subject.  Columbkill Noonan's books should definitely be part of the curriculum; making learning fun again.  I can't wait for the next adventure!

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon UK
Buy it from Amazon US



About the author:

Columbkill Noonan lives in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, where she teaches yoga and Anatomy and Physiology.  Her work has appeared in numerous anthologies and magazines. Her first novel, “Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Missing Scarab” by Crooked Cat Books, was released in 2017, and her latest work, “Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Nine Worlds”, is set to be released in September 2018.

In her spare time, Columbkill enjoys hiking, paddle boarding, aerial yoga, and riding her rescue horse, Mittens. To learn more about Columbkill please feel free to visit her website (www.columbkill.weebly.com), on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ColumbkillNoonan) or on Twitter (@ColumbkillNoon1).

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColumbkillNoonan/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/columbkillnoon1?lang=en

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BLOG BLITZ: Barnabas Tew and The Case Of The Missing Scarab - Columbkill Noonan

The mysteriously mystical cover of Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Missing Scarab, along with its Egyptian setting, made this a must read book for me.  I didn't fully appreciate what I was letting myself in for but I was most definitely not disappointed.  I am delighted to release my review as part of the Rachel's Random Resources Book Birthday Blitz. 

Barnabas Tew, a detective in Victorian London, is having a hard time making a name for himself, probably because most of his clients end up dead before he can solve their cases. His luck is about to change, though, for better or worse: Anubis, the Egyptian god of the dead, notices him and calls him to the Egyptian underworld. A terrible kidnapping has occurred; one that promises to put an end to the status quo and could perhaps even put an end to the entire world.

It is up to Barnabas (along with his trusty assistant, Wilfred) to discover the culprit and set things to right.

Can he turn his luck around and solve the most important case of his life?

What did I think?

I love Egyptian history so I was really excited to read Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Missing Scarab.  This unique and unusual book completely exceeded my expectations and, although it won’t be to everyone’s taste, I have already recommended it to one of my colleagues who enjoys reading about mythology.

I found Barnabas both exasperating and hilarious; I certainly wouldn’t have had the patience that his sidekick Wilfred has.  I couldn't help but imagine Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer playing Barnabas and Wilfred; if Reeves & Mortimer did Sherlock Holmes it would probably look something like this. Barnabas is a completely incompetent private detective and it is just his luck that the one case he did solve gets him recommended to Anubis, the jackal headed Egyptian God of the Dead.  Anubis wants Barnabas and Wilfred to solve the mystery of the missing scarab beetle, Khepre, who is responsible for rolling the sun across the sky each day.  With Khepre missing, the sun is stuck in the sky and the unbearable heat threatens to bring drought and starvation to the people of the underworld.

What follows is a veritable who’s who of the Egyptian underworld as we meet several gods and goddesses, some I had heard of and some I hadn’t.  I don’t know a great deal about Egyptian mythology, but I certainly know a little more now.  I loved how the characteristics of each deity were described; it brought the whole book to life as I visualised the snapping snout of crocodile headed Sobek and the cow headed goddess Hathor, who reminded me of Lewis Carroll’s Queen of Hearts, with Barnabas trying to be careful not to ignite her wrath.

The whole book actually does have a feel of Alice in Wonderland about it; rather than Alice falling down the rabbit hole, Barnabas and Wilfred fall into the underworld.  Although the Egyptian gods are based on real myth, Columbkill Noonan has given them a cartoon like quirkiness that had me half expecting the Mad Hatter to appear and announce that it was time for tea.  I think this book will definitely appeal to fans of Alice in Wonderland because of the almost dreamlike quality of the writing; like Alice did, I expected Barnabas to wake up at any moment and realise it was all a dream...or was it?  It’s certainly a book that readers off all ages will enjoy as I didn’t spot any naughty bits or swearing.

Quirky, original and completely enthralling; my only disappointment was that I reached the end too quickly.  I enjoyed Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Missing Scarab so much that I am already looking forward to the next book.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon



About the author:

Columbkill Noonan lives in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, where she teaches yoga and Anatomy and Physiology.  Her work has appeared in numerous anthologies and magazines. Her first novel, “Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Missing Scarab” by Crooked Cat Books, was released in 2017, and her latest work, “Barnabas Tew and the Case of the Nine Worlds”, is set to be released in September 2018.

In her spare time, Columbkill enjoys hiking, paddle boarding, aerial yoga, and riding her rescue horse, Mittens. To learn more about Columbkill please feel free to visit her website (www.columbkill.weebly.com), on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ColumbkillNoonan) or on Twitter (@ColumbkillNoon1).