Allen & Unwin, 2024. ISBN: 9781761069833. (Age:7+) Highly Recommended.
Forest Secrets, the sixth book in the Pow Pow Pig series by Anh Do and illustrated by Peter Cheong, brings another action-packed adventure to its fans. Pow Pow Pig and his Z Team - comprised of Kung Fu Duck, Cha Cha Chicken and Barry the Goat - are still on their mission to reach the year 2030 and save the world. However, their journey takes another unexpected turn, landing them in the middle of a peculiar conflict in Ancient Japan.
Caught in a chaotic fruit fight between two rival groups, the foxes and the monkeys, the once-peaceful forest is now divided. As the Z Team investigates the cause of the conflict, they uncover that someone has been stealing jewellery, leaving both the monkeys and the foxes without money to survive. This theft has fuelled the animosity between the two groups, each blaming the other for their misfortunes.
Determined to restore peace and harmony, Pow Pow Pig and his friends take on the task of finding the thief. The challenge, however, is not just locating the robber but also getting the foxes and monkeys to work together. The forest dwellers have long kept to themselves and bridging the gap between these divided communities proves to be a daunting task.
Discovering the criminal, they all head deep into the treacherous forest, and the Z team try to teach the value of teamwork and friendship. Can the monkey and fox groups realise that unity is the best strategy, or will they continue to live separate lives with further unrest?
Anh Do's engaging and entertaining storytelling, combined with Peter Cheong's lively illustrations, makes Forest Secrets a delightful read for audiences of all ages. The book blends humour, adventure and valuable life lessons, making it an excellent addition to the Pow Pow Pig series. A fun and easy read, that will engage even those reluctant readers.
Unity, cooperation and the true power of friendship; the Z team never disappoint!
Themes Acceptance, Kindness, Bravery, Humour, Adventure, Problem solving, Friendship.
Another in the series of ‘oi’ books will be well received, children recalling the humour in the story, the hilarious illustrations and the inherent silliness of the whole. I for one, love them.
Dog asks the frog and the cat what dinosaurs sat on. But the frog imperiously tells them that sitting was not invented then. Dog is stunned, imagine having such a huge bottom and not be able to sit. But says dog, dinosaurs could not imagine anything because of the smallness of their brains. After this discussion the book begins the pattern followers of the ‘oi’ books are familiar with. Rhyming pairs of lines introduce the name of a dinosaur and something which rhymes with it. Children willl laugh out loud at the resulting humour, not only with the words, but the hilarious illustrations by Jim Field, depicting several dinosaurs in the most precarious of positions, sitting down. Pterosaurs didn’t sit on bendy straws, tricerotopses didn’t sit on lollipopses and diplodocus didn’t sit on crocus. Children will love predicting the rhyming words and find lots of humour in the wonderful illustrations.
The discussion between the three animals becomes more and more involved as they ponder on when animals did know how to sit and what they sat on. Their discussion flows on to prehistoric animals, the animals of the modern era, leading to when they learnt to sit. All is great fun, and the last couple of pages turns the discussion neatly around to a hilarious comment by the dog.
Anything about dinosaurs captures readers’ attention, and this one full of humour will tickle their imaginations. Not only does it reinforce the names of the dinosaurs, but the end papers also show images of many of them, which kids will use to test each other. I love the sabre tooth sitting on his stone age mat, and the titan boas on a ride on mowers. Every page is full of lively funny words, captured beautifully by the illustrations. Children and adults alike will have lots of fun with this book.
Themes Read aloud, Humour, Dinosaurs.
Fran Knight
Dragon folding by Christopher Cheng. Illus. by Lucia Masciullo
A beautiful study of loneliness and friendship awaits all who open this captivating book. We are taken to a street where a Dragon Tree fills the front yard. Children in the street loved to play near it, recognising the place dragons have in the house called Dragon Hall. When his wife was still there, the house was full of warmth as Mrs Singer painted dragons and Mr Singer baked cakes for the children, but since she has gone, the place looks derelict and the dragons in the windowsill have lost their oomph. The people in the street are concerned. Evan knocks on Mr Singer’s door. He has brought a piece of paper and asks Mr Singer to help him fold a dragon.
Mr Singer says no as his finger no longer work and sends Evan off to try folding by himself. He tries and tries, his pieces of paper ending up as discarded balls of paper on the floor and table. Mr Singer gets up to help, and with Evan’s quick fingers and Mr SInger’s guidance the dragons come together. The very next day, Mr Singer decides to make a Dragon Forest Cake and he hums for the first time in a long time. And things in the street have changed. Children play under the Dragon Tree again and eat Mr Singer’s cakes. Dragon Hall looks just like it once did and the folded dragons hang in the tree. The neighbourhood is helping Mr Singer and he is happy; the community is strong and resilient.
A wonderful tale of the power of one small child, and the support of a community shows that people do not have to be alone. Mr Singer opts to take himself out of the friendship the community offers and Evan beguilingly sees a way back.
Lucia Masciullo’s illustrations are inviting. They are redolent of the closeness of a strong community aware that one of their number is not as happy as he was. They are concerned and helpful, but it takes a small boy to get him opening his doors once again. The images of the street, with its cottages and picket fences tell of an inner-city suburb where a mix of people live. Everyone is concerned at the deterioration of the house and Mr Singer and wish to help him back into the friendship and support offered.
The beautiful pencil and watercolour illustrations create a feeling of a life lived with friends next door, where children played in the streets and everyone knew each other. The beginning and end of the book pictures this warmth, easily lost when one person is removed from the group, and the illustrations show the effects it has on everyone.
I typed 'origami dragon' into Google and found several sets of instructions of how to make an origami dragon, but it is far more complex than a crane.
Lauren James’ latest book is a bit of a departure from her usual science-fiction / dystopian / supernatural themes, see Green rising (2021) , The reckless life of Harriet Stoker (2020), The quiet at the end of the world (2019). Last seen online is still a mystery novel, but the focus is most definitely on the online world of social media, fanfiction and chats, beginning with a situation at school that leads to a round of memes and gifs that amount to cyberbullying. It sets the stage for showing how much images and video can be manipulated. However Delilah, the object of all this attention, soon finds herself drawn into a different online scenario. Her obsession with true crime podcasts finds her exploring a decades-old case, the murder of an actor in a cult paranormal TV show, which starred the mother of her new romantic crush, Sawyer. Sawyer doesn’t believe his convicted godfather, Rob Hennings, is guilty.
James’s novel becomes a collection of messages, scene scripts, blog posts and comments sections. Key information comes from retrieved posts from missing blogger ‘gottiewrites’, but are her posts real or fake? The comments below her posts argue amongst themselves about her credibility. Delilah prides herself on tracking down hidden information, but the deeper she goes, the more it seems that she and Sawyer may be putting their lives at risk. The world of fake personas is dangerous territory, and it’s possible there is a murderer still at large.
I like how Lauren James keeps the reader engaged with the murder mystery, but at the same time, demonstrates just how easily one can be sucked in by masked identities, and shows the viciousness of online commenters who feel free to express their dislike and hatred without thinking of the feelings of people on the receiving end. This is truly a novel for present times and is relevant to every teenage reader.
The other interesting thing about this book is the way Delilah’s family is portrayed. She has two mothers, but they are not what you might think. Delilah’s father has transitioned to become ‘Mama’. This is mentioned quite naturally in passing and is not a focal issue. There is no fuss. Her parents, Mom and Mama, are going through a difficult time in their relationship but it has nothing to do with their sexuality, but more about acceptance of personality differences. Like any child of separating parents, Delilah hopes that they will reunite. It is their shared concern for Delilah that brings them together again.
For the mystery addict there is so much fun to be had with this book, there are ‘all these layers of what the reader knew, what the fan knew, what the fan’s readers knew, what the actors knew, and what they all wanted people to believe had happened’ (Lauren James Q&A). It’s a twisty plot, and one I’m sure that YA readers will enjoy.
Themes Mystery, Social media, Obsession, Stalking, Fanfiction, Catfishing, Corruption.
Helen Eddy
Brielle and Bear by Salomey Doku
Harper Fire Books, 2024. ISBN: 9780008617561. (Age:12-17) Recommended.
Brielle is a fairytale expert and first year student at Once Upon a Time University, after having moved away for four years. She has a part time job in the campus bookshop where she literally bumps into Atohi 'Bear' Yonas, the handsome rugby player from the ‘Princes’ rugby team and it seems she has met her Prince Charming. Scattered through the story are bubbles reminding us of the rules of fairytales and rule number two is that ‘ordinary people fall into adventures when they least expect it’ and the two shyly get to know each other. Rule number four is that ‘a fairytale is not complete without a ‘good’ villain’, in this case Pavao Castelo, the most popular society boy on campus who seems to have some relationship history with Brielle that she prefers to forget. Bear is confused about Pavao's relationship with her and Brielle sees Bear chatting to another girl, so they must respond to fairytale rule number five, ‘that obstacles are overcome by hard work, courage, friendship and love. And sometimes magic’.
Packed with beautiful characters, in a colourful fantasy world full of energy, flowers, hearts and butterflies this is pure unapologetic romantic escapism. Every page is packed with wonderful illustrations, consistent characterization and a creative visual language. At the end of the book Salomey reveals her process in creating the book with early character designs that reflect the diversity of a modern university experience as well as drawing inspiration from Disney characters. The pages at the end give an insight into the step-by-step work and thought that has gone into creating something that looks fresh, fun and effortless, a real achievement. Readers hungry for more can access the webtoon of the story on Salomey Doku’s website and other online platforms.
Brock the Croc is an entertaining, fast-paced adventure written by Adrian Beck, with dynamic black-and-white illustrations by Dean Rankine. This short novel, cleverly combining text and graphic elements, takes readers on a wild ride through the lively Saltbush Swamp, a place where the animals live happily and have fun, all under the watchful eye of their legendary crocodile friend, Brock.
Brock is admired by all the swamp's inhabitants, hailed as a hero and the epitome of bravery, but the story takes a dramatic turn when Grunter and the humans arrives on the scene. Grunter is the quintessential villain - a greedy, selfish property developer with plans to transform the world into a concrete jungle, beginning with beautiful Saltbush Swamp. This powerful and putrid character brings a wave of anxiety and fear to the otherwise peaceful community, threatening their idyllic way of life. The fate of Saltbush Swamp hangs in the balance, and it's up to Brock to prove if he's truly the legend everyone believes him to be or just a pretender basking in unwarranted glory.
Packed with humour and gags galore, Brock the Croc will appeal to readers who enjoy a good laugh, along with action and adventure. The vivid illustrations by Dean Rankine perfectly complement Beck’s lively storytelling, bringing the characters and setting to life with energy and charisma. The book is ideal for young readers who are drawn to fast-paced narratives and visual storytelling, making it a great choice for those transitioning from picture books to chapter books.
Beneath the humour and action, Brock the Croc delivers a heartfelt message about courage, friendship, and standing up to protect what matters most. With an underlying message of environmental protection and avoiding overdevelopment, this book packs a punch and will have you eagerly awaiting the next instalment.
Themes Conservation, Wildlife, Perseverance, Teamwork, Friendship, Causation, Problem Solving.
Michelle O'Connell
G.O.A.T. by Kate Temple and Jol Temple. Illus. by Rebel Challenger
Goat maintains that he is the best. When challenged he points out that GOAT means ‘greatest of all times’ although the duck says that he thought it meant ‘gobbles oats and tyres.’ We have a lovely tale of opposites, as the animals all make use of their initials to make another series of words. Thus, Cow becomes ‘coolest overalls wearer,’ even though she does not wear overalls. Donkey is saddled with ‘devourer of nice kind easter yams,’ and termites ‘terrible eaters really must investigate the exploding sausages’. Any of the animals are intrigued with Goat’s view of himself and offer different versions of using the four letters to produce a different phrase. G.O.A.T. is also, ‘grunts often at termites,’ and 'glorious octopus arms twister,’ while the starting point ‘greatest of all time’ keeps popping up as other animals take it as their own. The animals spar with each other as the talk about the meaning of the four letters, finally coming to the consensus of everyone becoming a G.O.A.T.
This very funny picture book will delight younger readers as they see the animals discussing the acronym, GOAT. They will have a great deal of fun working out acronyms of the words for the animals, and brainstorm acronyms they have seen used as well.
Challenger’s illustrations will enthuse the readers with a deeper understanding of the fun to be had with acronyms, while portraying the animals with human qualities. They debate the term greatest, thinking they all deserve this adjective. Kids will love seeing the animals’ expressions and stances change as they challenge the donkey, and children will be able to talk Nobu the body language seen in the book.
I love the endpapers, the first showing sausages being thrown while on the last endpaper, we see all the animals shown through the book.
The last page of the book gives another level of humour, as the octopus is not sure whether he can be included. More about the illustrator, Rebel Challenger can be found here. And the authors, Kate and Jo Temple can be found here.
Themes Acronyms, Humour, Animals.
Fran Knight
Your head’s not the place to store problems by Josh Pike. Illus. by S.M.K.
In verses, Pyke leads the reader to gain some initial understanding of what their brain is for. The mind is a storage unit and can hold loads of things, sometimes so much that you may feel like it will explode.
Sometimes the problems seem heavy, sometimes so loud, and sometimes it feels full to the brim. But the mind is not the place to store problems.
Some thoughts are enormous, others seem small, and there is a friend who seems able to store lots of things. But not problems. A shift from the brain to life occurs as Pyke ignites the idea that life is not the place to store problems in. And the idea is postulated, asking where are the storage place for the problems and stresses of life. There is no place for them to be stored. They should be shared and set free, not kept, but let out. Once that is done there is much more space for kinder thoughts, so even though the brain seems full to the brim, there is no need for these to be problems.
A wonderful entreaty for kids not to be overwhelmed by problems, or dark thoughts, or stress. With this humorous play with words and ideas a teacher, care giver or active reader is enabled to discuss the problems that do exists and give children a path to walk down and share what troubles them. The text reinforces the idea that storing problems is not the province of their brain. Certainly, sometimes there are deep dark thoughts, but the text encourages them to let them out, talk about them, share them and not hold them to themselves.
Stephen Michael King’s whimsical illustrations will entertain the readers as they see the words reflected in the images on each page. From dogs to dinosaurs, dragons and snakes, umbrellas and cupboards and lots of hats, each page will delight the imaginations of the readers as they follow the journey made by the little dog. The squiggles and shapes on the endpapers are repeated throughout the story, prompting thoughts about their presence, what they might mean and why they are there. Lots of cogs and wheels, shapes and solids, lines and squiggles will entrance the reader, coming to grips with the idea of sharing their down times.
Mental health is a focus in all households and classrooms, and here is an inviting book which underlies the place of stresses or worries. Kids are encouraged to share, let out, see them off as the book through an enticing text and wonderful illustrations stress the idea that the brain is not the place for problems, and gives them a roadmap of how to part with them.
Writing the true account of an abusive childhood must be so difficult, in this case a retelling by the the author of her mother Debbie’s life growing up emotionally rejected and neglected by her single parent Stella. However with this book Taylor-Johnson has not only enabled a cathartic release of memories, but has managed to balance the appalling recounts with an uplifting tribute to Debbie’s resilience and sense of humour. Debbie may have been a ‘Little bit’ but she comes across as an incredibly resourceful and optimistic character who manages to break the cycle of abuse.
Taylor-Johnson’s approach is a prudent one; she breaks down the story into alternating chapters from three different voices, her own as Heather writing the book, her mother Debbie, and her grandmother ‘Stella’. Heather leaves her family at home in Australia to undertake a writer’s residency in America, and undertakes the task of working through Debbie’s recordings of her childhood memories. This strategy of including her own voice as writer provides an opportunity for reflections on her mother’s experience and also to consider episodes that don’t actually make it into Debbie’s memoir. It’s an interesting insight into the dilemmas that a writer encounters about what to include and what not to include, and even how to end the book.
Then there is Stella’s voice. This is a fictionalised representation as Stella is dead, she can’t speak for herself. And while there is no good side, no happy memories that Debbie is able to contribute for these parts of the book, Taylor-Johnson does manage to invoke, if not empathy, at least some insight into what may have contributed to Stella’s behaviour. Without the alternating voices of Heather and Stella, the account of Debbie’s childhood could well have been too disturbing to countenance for the duration of the novel. The chapters are short, and move quickly between the voices, so it is easy to keep reading.
There are episodes that will stay in your mind: the little girl left alone in an apartment for a week, a tray of lasagne meant to last her for that time, and then the image of her trekking through the dark and cold to check on her mother in hospital. But the bleakness is countered by the irrepressible spirit of a child who is incredibly resourceful; she smiles and laughs and sees the funny side of things. She is popular at school, she loves music, she’s clever and makes a life for herself, and she eventually finds the love she deserves. She may have been a ‘little bit’ but she was the little bit that Stella couldn’t have lived without.
Taylor-Johnson’s book is a loving tribute to a woman who has endured, survived and succeeded. While Debbie never had the love and care she wanted from her mother, clearly her relationship with her daughter is one to be proud of.
How to break a world record and survive grade five by Carla Fitzgerald
University of Queensland Press, 2024. ISBN: 9780702268717. (Age:9+) Highly recommended.
How to Break a World Record and Survive Grade 5 by Carla Fitzgerald is a heart-warming and humorous story that captures the trials and tribulations of an eleven-year-old with big dreams and even bigger challenges.
The protagonist, Sam, is fascinated with world records and is determined to set one himself. When given a school project, to talk about your proudest moment, he feels even more overshadowed by those around him and becomes obsessed with having a standout moment of his own. Feeling that he doesn’t have anything worthy to get a good mark or be ridiculed by his class peers about, Sam becomes obsessed with setting a world record.
His fixation takes over and he loses all perspective on everything that he is already doing in life. With his mum stretched thin working two jobs to keep the household running, his sister to keep an eye on, a fridge that doesn’t keep things cold and a grumpy old neighbour, Sam endeavours to still keep the world record at the top of his priorities.
But when he is eventually forbidden to continue his record attempts, after a particularly wasteful challenge, and he has already lost his only friendship, Sam is left devastated. Determined to make things right, and still win the awards that he dreams of, Sam sets out with a new plan. But is a world record what will make him the proudest, or are there other things that mean so much more?
Fitzgerald writes another amusing yet thought provoking story to beautifully highlight themes of self-acceptance, family bonds, and the importance of looking beyond accolades to find true worth. The narrative is not only relatable for young readers but also imparts valuable life lessons about resilience, the power of perspective and most of all thoughtfulness.
How to Break a World Record and Survive Grade 5 is a touching and insightful read, perfect for middle-grade readers who enjoy relatable characters and a little humour. This would also make a great read aloud for primary years classes.
Themes World Records, Resilience, Family, Friendship, Problem solving, Creativity.
Michelle O'Connell
I'm not really here by Gary Lonesborough
Allen & Unwin, 2024. ISBN: 9781761180767. (Age:13+) Highly recommended.
Starting out in a new school is never easy, but even more difficult for Jonah, the fat gay Aboriginal kid who has never had a real friendship group, and who is choked with grief over the death of his mother. His father has finally gathered himself together and moved Jonah and his younger twin brothers to a new home in the town of Patience, closer to old friends and family. Jonah takes tentative steps to overcome the ‘New Kid’ label in school by starting a conversation with the edgy girl with purple hair, and signing up for the football team to be closer to Harley the athletic guy he has a crush on.
Lonesborough’s writing style is plain and matter-of-fact, almost like it is being written by a teenager, with word by word conversations and interior thoughts. But somehow it is incredibly powerful in capturing the loneliness and self-doubt of a boy who is struggling but determined to make a go of it.
This is not a story of ‘coming out’: Jonah, his family and new classmates know and are accepting of him as gay. Nor is it overtly about being Aboriginal. It is more a portrayal of the difficulties a lonely teenager faces, ashamed of his fat body and ‘man boobs’, wary and unsure of how to make new friends, and unable to verbalise his grief at losing the mother he loved so much.
This third book by award-winning author Lonesborough is a more gentle story than his last one We didn’t think it through (2023) with its themes of racism and police antagonism, and shares more with the earlier teenage love story The boy from the Mish (2021). All of Lonesborough’s books provide authentic depictions of teenage issues, they are engaging and easy to read, and will undoubtedly find a ready audience with YA readers.
Themes Grief, Body image, Loneliness, LGBQTI+, Friendship.
Monitor lizards, Zeke and Daniel have been selected to be school Hall Monitors by Principal Wombat who insists it is a coincidence that they and Alicia, the only other monitor lizard, have been chosen for the role. They each are given a sash and must make sure any student in the hallways out of break times has a hall pass. This proves quite difficult as the other students generally tend to ignore the lizards who are bused in from the poorer part of town, part of a program to encourage diversity at the school. When the school bully Pelicarnassus taunts the monitors in the hallway (he didn’t have a pass) Zeke punches him in the beak. The bully’s mother is a supervillain who had attacked Canada with robots, just for the sake of it and transported the White House to the moon, so when Pelicarnassus says he will tell his mother, it is a big deal. Zeke is demoted from Hall Monitor and he has to apologise to the pelican and his sidekicks but he has made an enemy of the powerful bully. When Zeke, Daniel and Alicia befriend a blind red-tailed hawk named Miel the friends are able to work together, combining their strengths to combat the threats to their school and to support each other through personal difficulties. Ranging from dealing with Ms Pfister, the terrifying pony who runs the school supplies room, to the invasion of France (which is located on Zeke’s knee), the story surprises at every turn. The friends accommodate each other’s differences and provide sensitive support to Zeke whose mother is crippled with depression.
The strong lines of Tim Miller’s illustrations complement Patrick Ness’s writing which is not shy of stepping outside the story, inserting asides and poking fun at the typical storylines usual in this genre. Even though Principal Wombat says “we don’t tolerate violence at this school” there is a fair bit of violence, including the school being torn apart that might not sit well with Australian readers, however, the take home message about use of power and choosing not to be a tyrant is universal, as is the point that we can all contribute no matter what or who we are.
Themes Friendship, Humour, Diversity.
Sue Speck
Walking the rock country in Kakadu: Karrire kundenge karribolknan kunwarddehwardde by Diane Lucas, Ben Tyler and Emma Long
Allen & Unwin, 2024. ISBN: 9781761067860. (Age:5+) Highly recommended.
A magnificent sweep of the rock country of the Kakadu National Park, from the creators of Walking in Gagudju Country: Exploring the Monsoon Forest. Kakadu is a beautiful part of the Northern Territory, made national park generations ago and held as a highly esteemed part of the panorama of Australia. Using Kundjeyhmi language, one of the Bininj Kunwok languages of Kakadu and western Arnhem Land, grounds the story within the communities of Kakadu, giving the readers the opportunity of seeing these words in print and an encouraging prod to try them out for themselves. A stunning glossary at the end of the book gives the meanings of the words used, along with an illustration.
The book opens with an invitation to walk with the authors through the Kakadu, in yekke, the early dry season. The title page has a bird’s eye view of Kakadu with the names of the five language groups who live there while the verso has a map of where Kakadu is. A great way of aligning the reader with two views of the area. From then on fabulous views of Kakadu and its environs, flora and fauna are given. Loads of information is told as we walk through the landscape, with small pictures given where language is used. Along the way, stories from the Elders are included, giving a sense of the ancient nature of the area.
The sweep of the book is incredible as the family sees a pool where the karliki (native fish) are being replaced by the cane toad, and then to the rock shelters where they can see for miles over the landscape, spotting smoke rising in the distance and then to a cave where images on the walls show stories from the past, a history book there for all to read, including an image of a thylacine, long vanished from Australia.
Ben Tyler and Diane Lucas share stories, knowledge, and an all-embracing love of the land on this walk through one of Australia's most ancient and beautiful ecosystems, introducing good things to eat and how to catch then cook them. Hints on being a good tourist are included, where the children clean up their campsite and make sure nothing is left to show where they were. Each part of their journey shows another aspect of Aboriginal life here: the seasonal gathering of food, the knowledge of when to burn off the grasses, what the flowers tell them, and a host of things that tell us all about protecting this wonderful environment, brought to the page by Emma Long and her illustrations. Here is a vast horizon of seasons, landscapes, animals, birds and fish, caves, and paintings. Each double page is breathtaking in its coverage, as each page has a host of things to look for, to seek out and discuss. Each page offers far more than seems possible, so detailed are the illustrations. I loved looking closely at places I had heard about, then was wowed over again at the endpapers.
A stunning book which encourages all of us to walk together and engender a greater understanding of Kakadu.
Following the award winning In the blink of an eye by Jo Callaghan, comes another thriller starring DCS Kat Frank and AIDE Lock. This time they are called to the gruesome scene of a man crucified on top of a hill. They begin to investigate trying to work out how the body got there and who was involved when another body is found. It is a race to find the killer. With a media frenzy covering the murders and her Chief pressing for a conclusion to the case, Kat and Lock must prove that a combination of human experience and AI logic will uncover the killer’s motive and expose them.
Kat and Lock have been working on cold cases and Kat is eager to try to solve a current murder case. She combines with Aide Lock, as well as Professor Okenado, the creator of the AI detective and DI Hassan and DS Browne to follow clues to the mystery. The characters are well developed and relatable and add depth to the police procedural. There are twists and turns that keep the reader glued to the page and the final denouement is breathtaking.
I really enjoyed the idea of an AI detective doing work in minutes that would take detectives hours to do, while Kat still triumphs with her understanding of human behaviour and the necessity to put human life first. I look forward to more in this unique series.
Fans of romantasies will be thrilled with The dagger and the flame and are sure to eagerly await the next in the series. The kingdom of Fantome is a strange wondrous place where Shade-magic is used by two enemy guilds, The Cloaks and the Daggers, the thieves and the assassins. After the murder of her mother, 17-year-old Seraphine leaves her farm and runs for her life to the home of the Cloaks, an order of thieves, and the place her mother told her she would find shelter. She is pursued by a dark-haired boy, Ransom, who has been ordered to assassinate her. Will he succeed in his wicked quest? Will Seraphine survive and avenge her mother’s murder?
Told in the voice of Sera and Ransom, the reader gets to know the motivation and skills of these two protagonists. The reader is dragged into the story right from the first chapter as Sera flees the scene of her mother’s murder. From then on, the tension is high as Ransom attempts to kill her, and she uses all her skill and magical power to repulse him. Gradually they begin to understand each other, with a slow burn enemies to lovers romance that will delight people who enjoy this trope.
The world of Fantome is unique. Shade-magic is fascinating and the idea of two guilds using it for nefarious purposes is engrossing. It is easy to overlook the morality of what is done as the action and tension of monsters and assassins stalking the streets is ramped so high by the author that the reader gets carried along. And then there is that cliff-hanger ending!
Fans of Leigh Bardugo, MA Carrick, and Lili Wilkinson, as well as readers of the romantasy genre are likely to enjoy this fast-paced story, although a spicy scene in the middle of a battle may make it more appropriate for older teens.
