Bite Risk: Cold Blood

S.J. Wills. Simon & Schuster, (288p) ISBN: 9781398521001. Young Adult, read 17/04/25, Paperback ★★★★☆

Bite Risk: Cold Blood

Bite Risk: Cold Blood

This just sort of snuck up on me and I had to do a lot of chasing as soon as I saw it was coming up soon.

One of my favourite YA series of the last few years, Cold Blood is the finale of the Ripper series. Werewolves, evil mega-corporations, splintered society, and teens trying to figure their way through all of it with a doozy of a metaphor for puberty.

In this episode we see Sel and friends having to deal with a lot of the aftermath of Book 2 and their new abilities all while the Immutable groups grow stronger, throw a new problem in the mix and we get a brilliant adventure taking us deeper into the mythology of where Rippers came from through this is just hinted at by a passing phrase late in the book.

Sel has to come to grips with new powers from the bite of the Revenant and at times worries those around him with how little control he is showing and how much he likes the abilities he’s gained.

All the while the company that took over the research is now looking at a cure, what could go wrong? Well this is the core of what Sel has to deal with all the while dodging everyone who sees him as the greatest threat to the world there is.

Fast-paced and full of tense adventure this was a great finale to the series and the ending leaves the world of Rippers, Frozen Fever, megacorps, and a lot of what was hinted at the end of Book 1 wide open for a return.

I’d love to see some more of the world explored as there was so much more hinted at if you caught the references.

I received this from Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review.

Share this:

Another Couple of Picture Books

A couple of picture books

A couple of picture books

It’s been a while but I’m starting to enjoy reading children’s books again, I know they aren’t aimed at me and that was the reason I walked away for a while as I was being to critical and not just enjoying the stories for what they were.

I’ve read a few middle grade books recently that I’ve really enjoyed and thought I could dive back into picture flats once more for the innocence, fun, and hopefully rhyming along with the fun/gorgeous/inspiring illustrations.

Aliens Love Underpants, Claire Freedman and Ben Cort, Simon and Schuster, (32p) ISBN: 9781529517804. Children’s, read 27/02/25, Picture Book ★★★★☆

Being reissued this year, this picture book is full of fun illustrations and silly rhymes, all about underpants loving aliens.

This is the first in the hilarious series about various underpants loving entities and it all started 18 years ago!

These books do their best to explain the real reason why underpants can go missing and get all knotted up!

The Biggest Breakfast, Richard Jones, Simon & Schuster, (32p) ISBN: 9781398523036. Children’s, read 27/02/25, Picture Book ★★★★☆

Published on 13/03/25, this is a beautifully illustrated tale of an ever growing breakfast group, and how sometimes even the nicest things can be overwhelming.

and when this happens it is nice that others can pick up and help.

All the animals are so gently and beautifully illustrated, especially the kind-eyed wolves!

A lovely little read.

I received this from Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review.

Share this:

Sisters of Sword and Shadow

Laura Bates. Simon and Schuster. (400p) ISBN: 9781398520042
Sisters of Sword and Shadow

Sisters of Sword and Shadow

Cass is thrown into an adventure almost from the very start and grabs it with one outstretched hand, taking her away from the domesticity of her family home.

Set in the era of the Arthurian court we are introduced to an alternative court where women run the castle they are in and truly believe in equality and honour, but have to hide it due to the patriarchal powers around them and some of the deeds that they’ve committed to get to where they are and to keep them there.

I really enjoyed the various training montages throughout that concentrated on the martial training of the young women, and the physical and mental development of the main character which is well described.

This is not a book for someone who wants a nice gentle read as it is full of peril/revelation/battle which really ramps up in the last quarter of the book, especially when the Big Bad is finally let loose upon the world these women have nurtured.

A great twist on the Knight genre, with old British myths woven throughout, and the ending leaves so much open for a revisit to this world.

I received this from NetGalley and Simon Schuster in exchange for an honest review.


Bottom Ko-Fi

Share this:

Bight Risk: Caught Dead

SJ Wills. Simon & Schuster. (320p) ISBN: 9781398520974
Bight Risk: Caught Dead

Bight Risk: Caught Dead

I really enjoyed Bite Risk, the first in this series by SJ Wills and was desperate for book 2 in the series to be released.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster I was able to read an advance copy in exchange for a review.

We pick up the story a little later in Tremorglade and Sel and Ingrid now change into Rippers, Pedro and Elena have left town and the world has started to descend into chaos now that the Ripper virus is out there.

Factions arise, Ripper cults and Immutable look at what is happening from opposite sides of the spectrum, and both have come to Tremorglade.

And on top of this a new terror has been unleashed, a gigantic rotting monster that wants to feed on Rippers and take control of them.

This continues the story from the first book and develops some of the characters a bit more whilst throwing in surprises all over. We also see new characters arrive that flesh out the cast, and Mika gets a much stronger part in this tale.

Fast paced and slightly more tense than the first book as there were a couple of places I wanted to know what was going to happen next but had to put the book down, over all another satisfying horror story for the younger readers.

The twists and turns are great fun, and the ending!


Bottom Ko-Fi

Share this:

Bite Risk

S.J. Wills. Simon & Schuster. (104p) ISBN: 9781398520943
Bite Risk

Bite Risk

As soon as I saw this previewed in The Bookseller I knew I wanted to have a read, and I was so pleased when I got approved for it on NetGalley.

This is the start of a new teen horror series, set in the town of Tremorglade in a post-disaster world where everyone ‘Turns’ at about the age of 14.

This is puberty on steroids, lots of hair and muscle mass, oh and teeth and claws, very sharp teeth and claws.

I was gripped from the start and as the twists and turns came throughout the book it was with reluctance that I had to put it down at the end of breaks to work I was that desperate to find out what was going to happen and whether or not my conjectures were right.

Even though most of them were right the book still didn’t disappoint but it did come to a bit of a rushed conclusion for my tastes.

A great start to a promising series and I’m looking forward to the others, sharp writing, humour, and tense action made this a great book.


Bottom Ko-Fi

Share this:

The Princess with the Blazing Bottom

Beach. Simon & Schuster. (32p) ISBN: 9781471197284
The Princess with the Blazing Bottom

The Princess with the Blazing Bottom

The latest in the “A Very Fiery Fairy Tale” series from Beach and I always feel so privileged when I get sent a copy to read and talk about, especially such fun books.

This continues the adventures of Sir Wayne and Dragon, brave and fearless and full of parp!

This sees Sir Wayne and Dragon going to the rescue of a princess in a tower, Sir Wayne with his sword of Dragon with his bottom of flame and they both think they are the perfect hero and will be. the one to rescue the princess.

Who will be right, who will do the rescuing, why has the monster three eyes, all these questions will be answered in this fun and colourful addition to the series.

Beach’s illustrations once again really bring the story to life with lots to explore on the page and the pace perfectly set between words and images.

Another book I’ll be using for storytimes at the shop as who doesn’t like blazing bottoms?


Bottom Ko-Fi

Share this:
1 2