REVIEW: Butterfly Grave by Anne Cassidy (Murder Notebooks, #3)

I absolutely adore the Murder Notebooks series! Butterfly Grave by Anne Cassidy is the third book in this series and just as we were able to explore more about Rose and her past in the previous book, in Butterfly Grave not only do we get some very crucial information regarding Rose's mum and Joshua's dad and the things they have been involved in, but we also learn a bit more about Joshua and Skeggsie's life prior to the start of the series.  I found it all very interesting and I thought Butterfly Grave, while slightly slower in pace, was a fab addition to the series.  I am now eagerly anticipating the fourth and final book, Dead and Buried, which is being published in March. 

Butterfly Grave begins just before Christmas and Joshua has invited Rose to come spend the holidays up in Newcastle with him and Skeggsie following Joshua's uncle's fall from a cliff.  It is thought that Joshua's uncle may have fallen whilst walking his dog but when Joshua and Rose start poking around, it is found that things are much complicated than they first appear and that Joshua's uncle may be more involved with things.  I think one of things I love the best about this series is how well written the mystery is. I can never guess as I'm going along what will happen next or who will be responsible for all that is going wrong around these three teenagers. 

But of course, being surrounded by murder and dead bodies has taken its toll on Joshua in this book.  He's constantly on edge with worry and paranoia, obsessively checking the license plates of those he believes to be following him and making sure that Rose is vigilant as well. It's not all for nothing as this book does answer quite a few questions about the disappearance of Rose and Joshua's parents, about the butterfly tattoos and the beginning of the murder notebooks.  But these answers also come at a very steep price.

I still love Rose and Joshua.  Their relationship has just been really heartbreaking up to now, with Rose being so unsure about revealing her feelings for him. Every time we meet someone new and one or the other introduces Rose or Joshua as the other's sort of step-sibling and my heart ached just that little bit more. Despite the unconventionality of it, I really want to see where this thing between them will lead. 

I really love this series. I love the murder mystery of it and how each book solves one particular murder but also offer more clues to the overall mystery of the disappearance of Rose's mum and Joshua's dad.  I love the excitement and thrill that comes with uncovering these secrets but I also really love the characters and how much their relationships pull at my heart strings. The Murder Notebooks series is such a wonderful set of books! I highly recommend that you pick them up to read if you haven't already done so!

REVIEW: Red Ink by Julie Mayhew

Guest review by Kulsuma

The synopsis for Red Ink by Julie Mayhew is great. Fifteen year old Melon’s mother is killed when she is run over by a bus and Melon now has no family to speak of. I picked up this book to see what Melon would find out about herself after her mother’s death, what family she might find and how she would deal with having a name like Melon. The story is told in a non-linear fashion; showing flashbacks to when Melon’s mother was still alive. Also, time and again, we are told ‘The Story’; the story of how Melon got her unusual name. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy this story as much as I wanted to.

From the beginning, we know that Melon’s relationship with her mother wasn’t the most loving. However, I wanted to see if any explanation would be offered through the flashbacks as to why that was. In truth I didn’t enjoy Red Ink because it was a story about the relationship between a mother and a daughter but Melon’s mother never redeemed herself in my eyes.

They simply didn’t understand each other. There were too many lies between them. Melon herself didn’t seem to forgive her. One scene which really stuck with me was when Melon asks her mother once again why she called her Melon and her mother simply laughs at her, asking if she was being teased at school because of it. I couldn’t understand this puzzling behaviour; why would a mother find her child being teased about her name so amusing?

When the ‘true story’ comes out, it is shocking and sad, but not unexpected. However, Melon’s reaction to it was over the top. Furthermore, the ending left much to be desired. I didn’t think it was a ‘happy ending’ at all. What had Melon learnt on her journey? What had she learnt from her mother’s story? Nothing, it seemed. I didn’t enjoy Red Ink because I didn’t understand Melon’s motives for some of the decisions she makes, particularly at the end.

Overall, while I didn’t enjoy this story, I believe there are many people who will. The writing was beautiful and vivid but on the whole, I didn’t love the story.

Thank you for that, Kulsuma!

Mini-review Monday (Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly, Silent Saturday by Helen Grant, All the Truth That's In Me by Julie Berry)

It's getting towards the end of the year and as I've been looking through all the books I've read this year and compiling the lists of my favourites of the year  .... I'm also looking at the book I haven't yet reviewed this year and that's making me feel sad.  There are so many books I've read and loved this year that I haven't yet reviewed or raved about. I really wanted to redress that balance slightly by giving you three mini-reviews in a vlog-format today.

Here are my reviews of Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly, Silent Saturday by Helen Grant and All the Truth That's In Me by Julie Berry. Enjoy.



Have you read any of these books? What did you think? Are there any books you've read this year that you loved but haven't yet reviewed that you'd like to? Let me know!

REVIEW: Dusk by Eve Edwards

Guest review by Kulsuma

I really enjoyed Dusk by Eve Edwards. It is the first in a two part series. It takes place during the First World War and follows our two main characters, Helen and Sebastian, from 1914 to 1916. Written in a non-linear fashion, we are immersed in horrific battlefield scenes and the grim reality of nursing near the front line. Helen is a young, independent girl who doesn’t really believe in her own strength, courage and beauty because of her abusive father. Sebastian is the charming, dashing young artist who falls for her. The time they have together is short before they are ripped apart by fate.

While the non-linear narrative might not appeal to everyone, I thought it was fantastic as it showed a contrast between ‘then’ and ‘now.’ It aided in showing how quickly times changed. Though Helen and Sebastian’s first meeting is somewhat awkward, their second meeting is the start of a beautiful relationship. Helen was a great character; she was down-to-earth, level-headed and a hard worker. Sebastian loves art, but when his brother is killed in the war, it is the catalyst that makes him sign up.

Interspersed with scenes of Helen attending to patients with ghastly injuries and Sebastian advancing the line excruciatingly slowly and with heavy losses, are flashbacks to how their relationship developed. As the story continues, there is increasingly more about social classes and family heritage; it is not just the physical distance that separates Helen from Sebastian. Furthermore, I enjoyed reading Helen’s sister’s story. Flora is a young, confident and beautiful girl, but when she falls in love with an officer from the navy, events quickly take a turn for the worse.

Dusk was a well-researched, well-written historical book. It presented what was happening in the trenches during the War realistically; futile, grim and desperate. I liked Helen and Sebastian. I would have liked to have seen more of the development of their relationship. Other than that, Dusk was a wonderful story and I look forward to reading the sequel, Dawn.

Wonderful review! Thank you so much, Kulsuma! 

Top 5 Surprising Reads in 2013

Tis the season for all of the top lists of 2013 ... and here is a video that I did for Bookish Brits this previous Monday on my wedding anniversary. It was quite a fun video to film (wearing my actual wedding veil that I wore 13 years ago!) I wish I'd done an outtakes video for this one as I came up with some great lines ... 'These books were all surprising to me because I'd never read them before' was a good one. I actually meant that I hadn't read any of the AUTHORS previous to these books but I did have to hang my head in shame during the editing process.

What are your most surprising reads in 2013? 

UKYA in November

A little bit late with this blog post... but better late than never, right? There are lots of amazing UKYA books out this month! I enjoyed After Eden and I have Dark Satanic Mills, Butterfly Grave, and Tinder on my TBR pile.

I don't have any guest posts or interviews lined up this month but hopefully you'll see some reviews up on the blog this month.  Let us know which books you are most looking forward to reading?

Butterfly Grave by Anne Cassidy (7th November, Bloomsbury)

Joshua’s uncle has survived a near fatal accident and Rose and Joshua drive to Newcastle to visit him, along with their friend Skeggsie.

Joshua is convinced they are being followed. Can it be true, or is it just his paranoia? Rose and Joshua do not know who to trust – even Joshua’s uncle has a dark past, touched by murder. And then the precious murder notebooks are stolen and it is Skeggsie who pays the price for Rose and Joshua’s so-called meddling. Somebody out there really does not want Rose and Joshua to find their parents. But who? And why?

A taut and pacy thriller, perfect for teens.

After Eden by Helen Douglas (7th November, Bloomsbury)

When mysterious new boy Ryan Westland shows up at her school Eden Anfield is intrigued. On the face of it, he's a typical American teenager. So how come he doesn't recognise pizza and hasn't heard of Hitler? What puzzles Eden most, however, is the interest he's taking in her.

As Eden falls in love with Ryan, she stumbles across a book in Ryan's bedroom - a biography of her best friend - written fifty years in the future. Unravelling Ryan's secret, she discovers he has one unbelievably important purpose ... and she might just have destroyed his only chance of success.

Tinder by Sally Gardner (7th November, Indigo)

Otto Hundebiss is tired of war, but when he defies Death he walks a dangerous path. A half beast half man gives him shoes and dice which will lead him deep into a web of dark magic and mystery. He meets the beautiful Safire - pure of heart and spirit, the scheming Mistress Jabber and the terrifying Lady of the Nail. He learns the powers of the tinderbox and the wolves whose master he becomes. But will all the riches in the world bring him the thing he most desires?

Fairy tales are often the cruellest stories of all; in this exquisite novel Sally Gardner writes about great love and great loss.

Katya's War by Jonathan L. Howard (7th November, Strange Chemistry)

The battle lines have been drawn. The people of Russalka turn upon one another in a ruthless and unwavering civil war even while their world sickens and the deep black ocean is stained red with their blood. As the young civilisation weakens, its vitality fuelling the opposing militaries at the cost of all else, the war drums beat louder and louder. Katya Kuriakova knows it cannot last. Both sides are exhausted - it can only be a matter of days or weeks before they finally call a truce and negotiate. But the days and weeks pass, the death toll mounts, and still the enemy will not talk. Then a figure from the tainted past returns to make her an offer she cannot lightly refuse - a plan to stop the war. But to do it she will have to turn her back on everything she has believed in, everything she has ever fought for, to make sacrifices greater even than laying down her own life. To save Russalka, she must become its greatest enemy.

Roses by G.R. Mannering (6th November, Sky Pony Press)

A dark rendition of the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast!

'As the gates clicked shut behind them, she heard the distant roar of a beast.'

She bears no name. Her silvery appearance is freakish to the numerous inhabitants of Sago, the cosmopolitan capital of Pevorocco in a fantasy realm. With her mother vanishing at the instance of her birth, she is sent to live with the cruel, rich Ma Dane, where she is punished daily for something, though she knows not what. Tauntingly named Beauty, she flees Sago in a violent uprising that sets out to massacre all Magics and journeys to the furthest point of the country.

But Beauty cannot hide in the grassy Hillands forever. Before long, the State officials find her and threaten to take her back to war-torn Sago where death surely awaits. In a midnight blizzard she escapes them, running into a deep, enchanted forest to a great and terrible beast who will bargain for her life.

But can Beauty accept Beast? Eternity is a long time.

Close Your Pretty Eyes by Sally Nicholls (7th November, Marion Lloyd Books)

A gripping psychological thriller from the author of the bestselling WAYS TO LIVE FOREVER.

Eleven-year-old Olivia has been in care since she was five, and is just beginning her sixteenth placement. Her new home is a secluded farmhouse, centuries old, where she slowly bonds with her foster family. But the house holds dark secrets. Olivia discovers that it was once a notorious baby farm, where unwanted children were left to die. She becomes convinced that the place is haunted. She is desperate to save her new family from the ghosts. The danger is real - but does it come from the twisted mind of a very disturbed child? A powerful and thrilling story from one of today's most exciting young writers.

Dark Satanic Mills by Marcus and Julian Sedgwick (7th November, Walker Books)

Set in a near-future Britain, Dark Satanic Mills tracks a young girl's journey from the flooded landmarks of London to the vast, scorched and abandoned hills of the north. Framed for a murder she did not commit, the innocent and beautiful Christie has no other choice but to run for her life. Both a cautionary tale and a rip-roaring road trip, Dark Satanic Mills is altogether an intelligent, captivating and thrilling ride – The Wizard of Oz for a new generation, told in exhilarating shades of light and dark.

Which UKYA books are you most looking forward to reading in November?

Sita Brahmachari (Celebrating British Authors)

Today and (hopefully!) every Sunday until the end of the year, I'm hoping to tell you a little bit about some of the amazing UKYA authors that I've discovered this year. They aren't all 2013 debuts but they are all authors that I've read for the first time this year. I hope that you'll become just as excited about them and their stories as I have been! Today the author I've chosen is Sita Brahmachari... 

Sita Brahmachari is the author of three books for teens: Artichoke Hearts, Jasmine Skies and Kite Spirit. I've heard amazing things about all three but it wasn't until this year that I picked up one of her books. It just happened to be Kite Spirit which I found incredibly lovely.

All three of her books are published by Macmillan and have very fun, colourful covers.

After I read (and loved!) Kite Spirit, I did write a blog post about suicide which is a topic that is covered in Kite Spirit. Kite, the main character, is suffering a great loss as her best friend, Dawn, has committed suicide. Her family make the decision to send Kite to the Lake District over the summer in order for her to grieve and help her to move forwards.

There are many things that I loved about this book.

1) I loved how such a tough subject as suicide or the loss of your best friend is told in such a gentle and comforting way. Things like depression and the suicide are discussed but in such a way that it never felt like it was in your face like other gritty or issues-based books are. I felt like I was in a safe environment when I was reading this book.

2) But at the same time, Kite is left to feel everything from anger to confusion to sadness to guilt and frustration over Dawn's choices. And as the reader, we experience those things alongside her. It is still a very emotionally impactful novel. And I thought it was written really beautifully.

3) Part of the comforting nature of this book is how much support Kite receives from her friends and family and from her community.  That's really special and I wish that for every teenager whether or not they are going through a crisis.  Also, there are some fantastic hobbies going on in Kite Spirit. From actual kites to acrobatics,  family history, owls, and the oboe. I felt almost inspired myself to take up some strange hobby alongside Kite and her artistic family...

4) I really loved the Lake District setting. I could picture the countryside that she visits and walking through it and soaking up some of that beauty and wide open space to heal some of what is broken inside of Kite. I'm a big fan of any story that brings in an English setting and especially in Kite Spirit where the location of the story - outside of London and away from certain pressures - is instrumental in Kite's recovery.

5) And finally, I loved seeing the memories and flashbacks of Dawn and Kite's friendship. I could tell quite clearly that they shared something special. This entire story is a celebration of their relationship. And at the same time, I really enjoyed the sweet nature of Kite's friendship with local boy, Garth. She needed someone outside of her normal circle to confide in and share her feelings with and how wonderful it was for her to have found that person in Garth.

I really enjoyed Kite Spirit. I loved the gentle tone of the story, the beautiful and evocative writing style, the Lake District setting and the amazing cast of characters.

And here is the book trailer for Kite Spirit.  I quite like the oboe music that accompanies it.

 I have no idea whatsoever why I haven't yet read Sita Brahmachari's previous two books. Especially as both Artichoke Hearts and Jasmine Skies have had such good praise and have been shortlisted and/or won awards.  After falling in love so wholeheartedly with Kite Spirit, I went out and bought myself a copy of Artichoke Hearts. It will not be sitting on my to be read pile for long, I'll make sure of it!

I really love the fact that after reading Sita's latest novel, I can now go to her backlist to enjoy as I wait for something else by her to come along... 

 To find out more about Sita Brahmachari or her books, please do visit the following websites:

Sita Brahmachari ... Sita on Twitter ... Add Sita's books to your Goodreads

Have you read anything by Sita Brahmachari as yet?

Sharon Jones (Celebrating British authors)

Today and (hopefully!) every Sunday until the end of the year, I'm hoping to tell you a little bit about some of the amazing UKYA authors that I've discovered this year. They aren't all 2013 debbuts but they are all authors that I've read for the first time this year. I hope that you'll become just as excited about them and their stories as I have been! First up, is Sharon Jones...

I don't remember how I heard of Sharon Jones before her debut book, Dead Jealous, was published (in July of this year by Orchard Books). But I know I've been following her on Twitter for ages... Sharon's absolutely lovely and I was always very excited to read her stories.

There's just something about YA psychological thrillers that has captured my attention of late. Those two words 'psychological thriller' send a little thrill through me.  And especially books like Dead Jealous, which I think was done incredibly well.  There's so many elements of Dead Jealous that I utterly adored. Let me count the ways...

1) I love that this book is about an atheist at a Pagan festival. A Pagan festival! I've never come across anything else like it in YA and it feels wonderfully different and refreshing to come across something original like that. I also enjoyed seeing how Poppy deals with and questions her (and those around her's) beliefs. Religion and spirituality are themes in YA books that I find particularly interesting to read about and again, I love that we're introduced to belief systems that myself and other readers may not know much about.

2) I've written before how much I like love stories involving best friends. I fell in love with my best friend so I'm drawn to similar stories. In this though while Poppy is in love with her best friend, Michael, he has a girlfriend who is not Poppy. Ah, unrequited love hurts like a bitch and all of those painful, jealous feelings are present in this book.

3) I loved the mystery element to this book. I loved trying to puzzle together what happened to Beth, this girl that Poppy meets and bonds over the fact that they're both in love with people who don't return the feeling, and then Beth ends up dead the following morning. There's an entire festival of people available as suspects in what Poppy feels is murder. And while the local police are ready to call it a day on the investigation, Poppy won't let it go. She goes out of her way to ask questions and place herself in some tricky situations. I'd love to have Poppy as a friend, I think that'd be ace. And I wasn't anywhere close to guessing beforehand what had happened to Beth. I had my suspicions and they were of course, all wrong. This book had great twists and reveals and I was on the edge of my seat!

4) In fact, all of the characters in this book are wonderful. I loved seeing all the complexity to each of the characters. This story is told with a dual-perspective between both Poppy and Michael and I kind of fell in love with them both. But so many of the other characters stole a bit of my heart too, especially Bob, Tariq and Kane.

5) And I think the final and most wonderful thing about this book is that it is the first in a series about Poppy Sinclair! The next book, Dead Silent, is being published in February of 2014 and I couldn't be looking forward to it any more than I already am! Even though *bites nails* I'm worried about what might happen to some of my favourite characters...

So, Sharon Jones and Dead Jealous. Definitely an author and book that I'm THRILLED to have discovered this year. Have you discovered Poppy Sinclair as yet?!

If you're interested in finding out more about Sharon Jones or Dead Jealous, please do visit the following websites:

Sharon Jones ... Sharon's Blog ... Sharon on Twitter ... Sharon on Facebook ... Dead Jealous on Amazon ... Dead Jealous on Goodreads

You can also read my review of Dead Jealous and read an interview with Sharon Jones on the Author Allsorts. 

And! Don't forget to watch the fab book trailer, which I've only just found:

UKYA in October

Ooh, I haven't done one of these posts in awhile. Life sort of got in the way there. But I'm back now and October UKYA titles look quite good, don't they? I'm excited.

I have copies of Fearsome Dreamer, She Is Not Invisible and That Burning Summer so hopefully there will be reviews up on the blog soon. You should have already read my review of The Killing Woods and Lucy Christopher's fab guest post concerning PTSD. Unfortunately I haven't lined up any guest posts or interviews with any of the other authors featured on this list (or other UKYA in 2013 authors) for this month but hey ho. Another time.  Please do let me know in comments if you know of a UKYA title published this month that I've missed and also which of these books you are most looking forward to reading!

Fearsome Dreamer by Laure Eve (3rd October, Hot Key Books)

There is a world where gods you’ve never heard of have wound themselves into hearts, and choice has led its history down a different path.

This is a world where France made a small, downtrodden island called England part of its vast and bloated empire.

There are people here who can cross a thousand miles with their minds. There are rarer people still who can move between continents in the blink of an eye.

These people are dangerous.

And wanted. Desperately wanted.

Apprentice hedgewitch Vela Rue knows that she is destined for more. She knows being whisked off from a dull country life to a city full of mystery and intrigue is meant to be. She knows she has something her government wants, a talent so rare and precious and new that they will do anything to train her in it.

But she doesn’t know that she is being lied to. She doesn’t know that the man teaching her about her talent is becoming obsessed by her, and considered by some to be the most dangerous man alive ...

Resist by Sarah Crossan (10th October, Bloomsbury)

The sequel—and conclusion—to Sarah Crossan's Breathe. Three teen outlaws must survive on their own in a world without air, exiled outside the glass dome that protects what's left of human civilization. Gripping action, provocative ideas, and shocking revelations in a dystopian novel that fans of Patrick Ness and Veronica Roth will devour.

Bea, Alina, and Quinn are on the run. They started a rebellion and were thrown out of the pod, the only place where there's enough oxygen to breathe. Bea has lost her family. Alina has lost her home. And Quinn has lost his privileged life. Can they survive in the perilous Outlands? Can they finish the revolution they began? Especially when a young operative from the pod's Special Forces is sent after them. Their only chance is to stand together, even when terrible circumstances force them apart. When the future of human society is in danger, these four teens must decide where their allegiances lie. Sarah Crossan has created a dangerous, and shattered society in this wrenching, thought-provoking, and unforgettable post-apocalyptic novel.

That Burning Summer by Lydia Syson (3rd October, Hot Key Books)

Romney Marsh, July 1940. When invasion threatens, you have to grow up quickly. Sixteen-year-old Peggy has been putting on a brave face since the fall of France, but now the enemy is overhead, and the rules are changing all the time. Staying on the right side of the law proves harder than she expects when a plane crash-lands in the Marsh: it's Peggy who finds its pathetic, broken pilot; a young Polish man, Henryk, who stays hidden in a remote church, secretly cared for by Peggy. As something more blossoms between the two, Peggy's brother Ernest's curiosity peaks and other secrets come to light, forcing Peggy and Henryk to question all the loyalties and beliefs they thought they held dear.

In one extraordinary summer the lives of two young people will change forever, in a tense and gripping historical drama from Lydia Syson, the author of the acclaimed A WORLD BETWEEN US.

The Waking World by Tom Huddleston (3rd October, David Fickling Books)

The Island is in peril. For years, bloodthirsty Marauder pirates have raided along the coast, carrying off goods and cattle. Now they're growing bolder, striking further inland, even taking slaves to man their black ships. An invasion is underway.

As the son of a wealthy Law, young Aran should be safe. The underground farmstead of Hawk's Cross lies miles from the sea, and even the killing winds that sweep down from the moors can't penetrate those solid steel gates. But Aran doesn't want to be safe, he wants to be a warrior: to fight for his friends, his family and his home.

Many tales have been told of the boy who became our greatest King. Very few have spoken of the future . . .

The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher (3rd October, Chicken House)

Emily’s dad is accused of murdering a teenage girl. Emily is sure he is innocent, but what happened that night in the woods behind their house where she used to play as a child? Determined to find out, she seeks out Damon Hillary the enigmatic boyfriend of the murdered girl. He also knows these woods. Maybe they could help each other. But he’s got secrets of his own about games that are played in the dark.

A new psychological thriller from the award-winning and bestselling author of STOLEN and FLYAWAY.

She Is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick (3rd October, Indigo)

Laureth Peak's father is a writer. For years he's been trying, and failing, to write a novel about coincidence. His wife thinks he's obsessed, Laureth thinks he's on the verge of a breakdown.He's supposed to be doing research in Austria, so when his notebook shows up in New York, Laureth knows something is wrong.

On impulse she steals her mother's credit card and heads for the States, taking her strange little brother Benjamin with her. Reunited with the notebook, they begin to follow clues inside, trying to find their wayward father. Ahead lie challenges and threats, all of which are that much tougher for Laureth than they would be for any other 16-year old. Because Laureth Peak is blind.

Skulk by Rosie Best (3rd October, Strange Chemistry) 

When Meg witnesses the dying moments of a shapeshifting fox and is given a beautiful and powerful stone, her life changes forever. She is plunged into the dark world of the Skulk, a group of shapeshifting foxes.

As she learns about the other groups of shapeshifters that lurk around London – the Rabble, the Horde, the Cluster and the Conspiracy – she becomes aware of a deadly threat against all the shapeshifters. They must put aside all their enmity and hostility and fight together to defeat it.

Which UKYA book are you most looking forward to reading in October?

PTSD in The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher (Blog Tour)

I'm hugely excited to be today's stop for The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher blog tour! The Killing Woods is an incredible book, one that had me on the edge of my seat throughout. I highly recommend that you do find yourself a copy of the book and dive into the mysterious, atmospheric and beautiful writing of Lucy Christopher. 

The topic for Lucy's guest post today has personal meaning to me. My father is a war veteran and I witnessed the effects of his PTSD throughout my childhood. I'm glad that PTSD is something that is being talked about and

If you'd like to know more about Lucy Christopher or The Killing Woods, please do visit the following websites:

Lucy Christopher ... Lucy on Twitter ... Lucy on Facebook ... Add The Killing Woods to Goodreads

PTSD in The Killing Woods

by Lucy Christopher

Lucy Christopher (c) Rolf Marriot

PTSD, or post traumatic stress disorder, is a medical condition that may develop after a person has experienced something traumatic. This could come in the form of a sexual assault, an injury, the witnessing of something horrific, or an experience that was life threatening.

In my novel, The Killing Woods, Emily’s father is suffering from PTSD as a result of the disturbing things he witnessed as a combat soldier.  During the novel Emily recounts how her father, Jon Shepherd, experienced some of the most common symptoms of this disorder: recurring flashbacks, a blanking out of the event itself, a retreat into himself and a high level of anxiety. Jon Shepherd spends more and more time in the abandoned World War Two bunker in the woods behind their house, drawing dark, twisted images of death and the woods on its walls in an attempt to work through the pain inside of him. Emily and her mother do not know how to help him return to the strong capable father he once was, and there has not been enough general support since Jon was dismissed from combat. When Jon Shepherd begins the narrative of The Killing Woods by arriving out of the woods with the body of a dead girl and with no idea how it happened, it is assumed he murdered her. Jon has a reoccurring flashback of the last event he experienced in combat: where he accidently killed a civilian who was running to him for help. It is assumed that due to a flashback brought on by a thunderstorm, Jon Shepherd has done it all again.

Only Emily doesn’t believe it.  She remembers her dad as the kind, storytelling figure that existed before his last Tour of Duty. She knows he could never murder an innocent girl, even while in a flashback. 

This novel is about uncovering and acknowledging the dark cracks that exist within everyone.  It is about the blurring between different states of reality – whether that be while suffering a flashback, or a blackout from drinking too much – and what could be committed while in one of these states. It is about uncovering the truth through acknowledging dark urges.

I became interested in PTSD because I was fascinated by how a person’s personality can change completely as a result of an experience they’ve had. For combat soldiers particularly, the change often seems most extreme: fighters moving from being previously proud and capable protectors to being crumbling, scared and defenceless.  As a writer I am always interested in extremes and in how people move between them. I am also interested in different states of reality that mental disorders, as well as substance abuse, may provide. And I am interested in uncovering a more fuller understanding of why people may do the things they do. I researched PTSD through talking to retired combat soldiers and through reading articles and books about the disorder. My account of the disorder is not based on any one true experience and is a work of fiction. I tried to get across the fear of what it may be like to live with a family member suffering from this debilitating disorder, but I admit it may not always be entirely accurate to any individual’s experience.

For further research into PTSD, and into how mental ill-health affects ex-Service men and women of all ages, check out the wonderful and crucial work of the charity Combat Stress – www.combatstress.org.uk

REVIEW: The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher

I absolutely loved The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher. I loved the characters and how conflicted they feel. I loved pulling apart the mystery of this novel. I loved the urgency of the novel and also the atmosphere. Those woods feel like one of the main characters of the book alongside Emily and Damon! And while I felt like there was a lot going on with this book I thought that all the different strands of the story were weaved together and written with beauty and emotion.

This story begins incredibly dramatically. We have Emily's dad returning from the woods, holding the body of a teenage girl. Because he's a veteran suffering from PTSD it is assumed by him as well as police that he killed this girl while living out a flashback.  Emily doesn't believe this for a minute and sets out to find answers about what her dad was doing out in the woods and what reason this girl, Ashlee Parker, had to be out there as well. 

At the same time, Damon, the murdered girl's boyfriend is waking up after a crazy night and he cannot recall the details of how he got to where he is. All of his memories are a bit fuzzy of the night before. The night when his girlfriend, Ashlee, has been killed. So Damon and Emily need to work together to fit the pieces of what happened together including a World War II bunker, a dog collar, and a dangerous game played in the woods...

As the story goes on, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what's been happening in these woods and of the characters that populate the story. And then another secret is revealed, another layer of the story unfolds and I found myself completely at the mercy of Lucy Christopher as she gives us new twists and a very unpredictable outcome. I was a bit breathless with anticipation throughout this book because of the amazing pace and the slow-but-steady build-up to the finale.

I thought Emily and Damon were brilliant characters. Emily is very determined and has very strong opinions on what she believes her dad capable of and it does not in any way include murder. Her stubborness to see that possibility was heart-breaking to read about, especially as some doubt does trickle in as she learns more of her father's mindset at the time.  And Damon's doubt and uncertainty over what may or may not have happened made me feel a bit helpless on his behalf. Both of these characters are hoping for the best but are left staring into the possibility of darker things and at the same time I wanted the best for them both but it just doesn't seem likely... I was very emotionally invested in this story right from the start. The Killing Woods is an addictive and emotional story with a brilliant cast of characters and an unpredictable mystery. I highly recommend it!

Do come back tomorrow for a fab guest post by Lucy Christopher as part of her The Killing Woods Blog Tour!

GIVEAWAY: Amber by Julie Sykes (signed) + Beautiful Amber Butterfly Paperweight! (UK)

Recently, I was contacted by a very lovely publicist, Georgia, who had an idea for a really fun giveaway to celebrate the publication day of this great new YA book coming out, Amber by Julie Sykes. 
 
Here is the cover and the product description.  I can't get over just how pretty that cover really is.  Isn't it gorgeous?! And something that I very much enjoy are books involving memory. I'm studying for my Psychology degree at the moment, things to do with the memory absolutely fascinate me. 

 How do you live by the rules if you don’t know what they are?

Amber’s lost her memory. She doesn’t even know her real name. The only clues to her identity are a beautiful amber necklace and a broken mobile phone. She’s determined to learn the truth about her past life, and the secrets she’s hiding, but how many rules will she break along the way?

Julie Sykes ... Curious Fox ... Add Amber on Goodreads

What do you think it all means? I'm intrigued!

Back to the giveaway! On offer today is a copy of Amber signed by the author. But that's not where it ends.  Georgia has also offered one lucky reader this beautiful Amber(ish) butterfly paperweight!  I love it.

I love how fitting it is to be giving away something amber like the character's necklace in the book. But it's an amber BUTTERFLY. *whispers* You may not know this about me, but I love butterflies.

So there you go! I'm very exciting to be giving you the chance to win both the book AND the paperweight.

Here are the rules of the giveaway:

Leave a 'pick me' comment below together with an email address.

This is a UK only giveaway. 

You don't have to be a follower of this blog to enter, though that is always appreciated.

Tweeting about or otherwise sharing this giveaway earns you smiles and virtual hugs.

I'll be picking a winner in a week's time and will notify the winner by email.

Good luck!

REVIEW: Raining Fire by Alan Gibbons

Guest review by Kulsuma

Raining Fire by Alan Gibbons was a fantastic book. I read it in a matter of hours as it was extremely fastpaced, well-researched and featured a cast of realistic characters. The story centres around Ethan and Alex, two brothers who live on an estate run by a gang called The Tribe. Relations between The Tribe and the neighbouring gang called the North Side Crew are tense at best. As Alex is pulled into the conflict, Ethan must decide just what he will sacrifice in order to protect his brother and how far he is willing to go to protect those that he loves.

This is the first book that I read by Alan Gibbons. He is a brilliant writer as he quickly immersed me in Ethan and Alex’s world. The pages are full of action. Though the story takes place over two years, so much happened that before I knew it, I was finished. Gibbons perfectly captured the essence of gang life, culture and warfare that many of us know about but have never had direct contact with. Our main character Ethan knows gang members and is even friendly with them, but he has higher aspirations than to be in a gang. He wants to be a footballer, and luckily for him, he has the skills to go along with the dream.

Ethan was a great main character. Though he has his own dreams, he is always looking out for his loved ones. It’s because he cares that he has to enter a world he would much rather avoid. Gibbons shows that it is all too easy to become a part of a gang. For many, they feel as though they have no other option.

However, I’m not going to excuse crimes committed by gangs and Gibbons doesn’t either. He shows that gangs are downward spirals that lead to destruction as they live by a motto akin to ‘an eye for an eye.’ I felt for Ethan and hoped he could leave the vicious cycle.

Overall, I would recommend Raining Fire to teenagers. It’s highly relevant to our society. I look forward to reading more from Alan Gibbons.

Very glad you liked it! Thanks for the great review, Kulsuma!

My Favourite Places to Read by Jonathan Stroud

Hello! Today I have the great pleasure of introducing Jonathan Stoud to the blog! I absolutely adore the books by Jonathan that I've read and the new book, The Screaming Staircase in his new series, Lockwood and Co was published by Random House on the 29th of August. You really must get your hands on a copy of this one, folks.

 And to find out more information about Jonathan Stroud or Lockwood and Co, please do visit the following websites:

Jonathan Stroud ... Jonathan on Twitter ... Jonathan Stroud Fan Page on Facebook

My Favourite Places to Read

by Jonathan Stroud

Since I was knee-high to an imp, reading has been my number one pastime. More than that, it’s been a sort of compulsion. Anything, but anything, was ammunition for my eager eyes. As a child I scoured the back of the cereal packets as I wolfed my breakfast; in the street my head rotated like an owl’s as I digested the interesting logos on the sides of passing lorries. Damp newspapers on roadsides, building regulations tied on lampposts: it was all fair game.

But these were the aperitifs, the snacks between the nourishing main meals that were my books. And I read my books whenever I got the chance. Sometimes, it’s true, I read them conventionally, sitting in a chair (my first true ‘reading memory’: demolishing Enid Blyton’s Five on a Treasure Island one afternoon, when I was six, happily cocooned in a big high-sided armchair), but more often than not I tried other locations. My life was busy, after all, and I had a lot of books to cram in.



1. Walking along

    I had a 20 minute walk home from school, along a somewhat dreary expanse of suburban street. Potentially a tedious waste of time, but not if I held a paperback in front of my face and read it as I strolled nonchalantly along. I relied for my survival on intuitively remembering where every street edge came. Miraculously I was never (to my knowledge) seriously run over, and the number of street-lamps I hit can be counted on the remaining fingers of one hand.


2. On the lavatory

    Looking back from an adult perspective, my childhood existence must have been a lot less hectic than my current one, judging by the merry hours I was able to spend reading in the bathroom. Some people would head to the toilet with a rolled up newspaper under their arm. I’d stroll in with Anna Karenina or War and Peace, and not emerge until I’d made fairly decent headway. What physical or psychological harm this did to me (or to the family members waiting outside) is yet to be fully determined.


3. In the bath
  
    Again, just how languorous an existence did I have in those days? I once read an entire book (it was Doctor Who and the Power of Kroll, fact fans) from beginning to end while lounging in the bath. The water got cold, and I came out all grey and shrivelled and not unlike something from Doctor Who myself, but that didn’t seem to bother me.


4. While doing my teeth/washing etc

     I confess I still quite often read while brushing my teeth, which probably explains why I only have six left. But in my youth, I quite often continued reading even while doing the full ablution. I even had a particular technique for washing both armpits while maintaining unbroken view of the page; if writing fails me, I could probably find employment doing this at a circus.


5. In Bed

    I still do this too, of course, but there’s a difference. As a boy I could quite contentedly stay awake until the early hours, devouring the latest epic novel. Now, I tend to manage a maximum of three pages before subsiding grotesquely into middle-aged slumber. Which makes me ask: where’s the panache, where’s the energy gone?!*

* Answer: children.

Thank you, Jonathan! Where is YOUR favourite place to read?

Night School Fracture by CJ Daugherty Blog Tour

AHHHH! It's finally here, the *final* section of the exclusive story from Carter's POV.  How excited are you?!  Let's get right to it:


‘Listen, Jules …’ He faltered and she looked at him with concern.

‘What’s the matter? Did something happen?’

‘I just think …’ He reached for her hand, threading his fingers through hers. ‘We need to be careful. You matter to me. And I couldn’t bear to lose you. After Allie, I’m afraid that …’ He shook his head then and just said it simply. ‘I’m afraid.’

‘Shhh.’

Reaching up, she rested her palm gently against his face. His eyes drifted shut as he leaned in to her touch.

He’d been so lonely for so long it hurt not to be alone.

‘Listen to me, Carter West,’ she said with soft determination. ‘You will never lose me. Whatever happens tonight or tomorrow night or all the tomorrows after, I will always be there for you. Do you understand me? Always.’

As she said the words he’d always wanted Allie to say his eyes flew open. He saw nothing in her dark blue gaze but love and honesty.

He so wanted to believe she was right. Maybe, all this time, he’d been looking

in the wrong place. Trying to make something happen with Allie when Jules was right here. Waiting for him.

‘Jules …’ With a sigh of surrender he lowered his lips to hers.

##

Twenty minutes later Carter and Jules walked down a side staircase to the ground floor, hand-in-hand. He could still feel the touch of her lips against his. Smell her scent on his clothes. They moved with easy synchronisation.

He felt happy for the first time in weeks. His thoughts were clear of the haze that had hung over them since he and Allie broke up. He felt focussed. Alive.

As they neared the great hall, Carter noticed the crowds seemed to have thinned. Jules looked around with a puzzled frown.

‘I hope we haven’t missed the speeches.’ She dropped his hand and hurried her pace. ‘Isabelle will kill me.’

Before he could reply they both heard the pounding of footsteps. A Night School student shot by them, loosening his tie as he ran. He was heading for the basement staircase.

Someone called their names.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion as they turned in unison. Zelazny was sprinting down the wide hallway towards them.

 ‘Training Room One,’ the instructor said without breaking stride. ‘Now.’

Carter and Jules exchanged a tense look.

‘I guess the party’s over,’ she said.

Then they ran.

REVIEW: Fracture (Night School 3) by CJ Daugherty

I love the Night School series so much. It really is my favourite recent series and I really loved Fracture, the third book in the Night School series.  In this, Allie is grieving and angry over the events of the previous book, she's trying to work out who she can trust and she's a bit frustrated with the lack of options when it comes to working out who the traitor in the midst and how to proceed after the loss of her friend. 

I do love a girl with anger issues and that is exactly who Allie is at the start of Fracture. Thankfully, over time she is able to see that she wasn't the only person affected by Jo's death and everyone at the Academy and within Night School is working towards the same goals. Throughout, I've loved Allie for her humour and wit, her big heart, her braveness and her strength and determination.

The other students at Cimmeria are also wonderful, I loved the ongoing friendships between Allie and Rachel and Zoe.  Lucinda and Isabelle are both fascinating characters that bring interesting things to the story.  But of course, it is the relationships between Allie and both Carter and Sylvain that makes my heart beat faster.  I loved the realisations that Allie makes in this book in terms of her romantic dealings and how she was able to talk through her confusion and make some decisions.  I'm sure not everyone will be happy with the outcome, but I definitely am!

I love the fast pace of both this novel and the entire series. Everything felt like it was on full-throttle and there's never a dull moment at Cimmeria Academy!  While there are many things revealed to Allie and to us the readers about Night School history and their importance globally as well as what part Nathaniel and Isabelle play into Night School, there are still many questions left unanswered... which can feel slightly frustrating as the next book will not be published until next year!

Fracture was a wonderful blend of mystery, action, romance and friendship. I'm dying to return to these characters and story, the fabulously creepy boarding school and to see where this series will go next!

Interview with Liz Bankes, author of Undeniable

Hello! Today - as part of the Undeniable Blog Tour - I have an interview with the lovely author, Liz Bankes. I've really loved both books by Liz Bankes that I've read - Irresistible and Undeniable. I love the humour and romance in her books, but also the amazing friendships too.  

If you'd like to know more about Undeniable or Liz Bankes, do visit the following websites:

Liz Bankes on Twitter ... Liz Bankes on Facebook ... add Undeniable to your Goodreads shelf

Hello and welcome to Fluttering Butterflies! Could you please tell me a little about yourself and your book, Undeniable.

Hello! And thank you very much for having me. I am Liz and I’m part-writer of teen romance books, part-assistant editor of children’s books and part-lover of cats.* UNDENIABLE is the follow up to my first book, IRRESISTIBLE, but the books can be read as stand-alones too. IRRESISTIBLE was the story of Mia and a summer of romantic entanglements. In UNDENIABLE it’s Mia’s best friend Gabi’s turn – she’s off to London to intern on her favourite teen drama for the summer and she meets a fun-loving extra called Spencer. It would seem the perfect opportunity for summer romance, but Gabi is reeling from a break up. And so trusting someone new is a huge deal. 

*I meant that I am a fan of cats, not that I am a person who has affairs with them. Just to be clear.

How different was writing Undeniable than writing Irresistible?

On one hand I felt more confident, because I learnt a lot from the editing process for IRRESISTIBLE. The first book felt like a real leap into the unknown – I’d never written anything that long before and I just went for it and thought ‘well I hope that counts as a book’. Everything my editor said was wise and good, so I kept it in mind for the second one. On the other hand it was hard writing as a different character – Mia’s voice in book one was pretty much the same as mine! Also, Gabi is my favourite character, so I wanted to do her justice!

What were you like at Gabi's age?

A female version of Will from the Inbetweeners. I spent a lot of time not getting into pubs and daydreaming about being cool. And stalking boys.*

*Just in the usual manner of lurking near them at parties and changing my route to school so I could walk past them, not the kind that gets you arrested.

Was there any particular scene in the book that you found really hard to write and had to keep returning to?

There’s a scene where Gabi phones her best friend Mia from the bathroom in Spencer’s house, after she’s had a lovely time with him, but isn’t sure what is going on. At first it was just played for comedy, with Gabi drunk and falling asleep on the loo, but I rewrote it quite a few times because I really wanted to get across that Gabi, who is usually very confident, is suddenly feeling unsure and insecure, but is covering it up. And that she needs Mia to be there for her, like Gabi was for Mia in book one. * Spoiler * She still falls asleep on the loo.

Which soap or television programme which you like to intern with?

It would definitely be a comedy. I’d go back in time and intern on Spaced or The Office – I irritate people by quoting from them a lot and it would be brilliant to have been there the first time those lines were said. I’d try and wangle a cameo as ‘short girl who walks past’ but would probably ruin it by laughing. Either that or I’d intern on Dawson’s Creek and make Pacey be my boyfriend.

Who is your fictional crush or favourite literary couple?

Well this is easy as my fictional crush is also one part of my favourite couple! It’s Dave the Laugh and Georgia from the Georgia Nicolson books. I’ve loved them since I started reading the series at the age of 12 and then spent years desperate for Georgia to sack off the silly Sex Gods and pick Dave! I think they show that the most important thing when it comes to love is having someone you get on with and who makes you laugh.

Gabi has a great circle of friends - if you could choose another fictional best friend for yourself and one for Gabi, who would you choose?

I am going to be repetitive and pick Georgia Nicolson as mine. She’d be full of wise boy advice, such drawing a face on a melon so that you have something to practise kissing on when your boyfriend’s not around. And that would mean I’d be part of the ace gang. It was something I really wanted to get across in this book – the focus is the romance, but it is important not to forget that your friends will be the ones who are there no matter what. I’ll give Gabi Jane Eyre – she has a bit of a miserable time of it and I think Gabi would take her out for some crazy dancing and cheer her up!

Which UKYA book have you most been looking forward to reading this year?

I was very much looking forward to the second Geekhood book from Andy Robb (Geekhood 2: Mission Improbable) coming out and it more than lived up to it! And it’s not YA, but it is difficult to explain how so very excited I am about Bridget Jones 3 coming out. It’s the kind of excited where you want to do a little dance when you think about it. Bridget is one of my absolute favourites and my inspiration for wanting to write romantic comedy.

Finally, what's next for you?

I am writing book three at the moment. It’s going to be a two-hander, featuring Cleo from book one and Rosie from book two. Cleo was Jamie’s quite terrifying girlfriend from book one. She’s very different to Mia and Gabi – (seemingly) very confident, as well as blunt and a bit mean, so it has definitely been fun writing as her. Rosie is one of those people who is nice to everyone and hates conflict, so it has been interesting to explore what she’s really like under the surface.


Ooh! I *love* the sound of a Cleo/Rosie book!  Thank you so much Liz for your fabulous interview! Be sure to check out the rest of the stops on the Undeniable Blog Tour too!