Monthly Archives: March 2021

Panenka

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Ronan Hession. Bluemoose Books. (180p) ISBN 9781910422670

Panenka

Panenka

After such a great debut I was really looking forward to reading Rónán’s follow up and was lucky enough to get sent a copy from Bluemoose Books to read and review.

During a year where we are all just feeling raw, as though our nerve endings feel exposed to the world there is a great need for gentle books that explore emotions and the human condition in a non-traumatic way and Panenka does this beautifully.

This is a book of ordinary circumstances in an ordinary world happening to ordinary people but it is delivered and explored in such an extraordinary fashion with compassion and warmth that encourages you to empathise greatly with the characters and their plight without shredding your own emotional equilibrium.

It is such a fine tightrope to walk and get done perfectly but Rónán achieves it so well once more.

It follows a few months in the life of Panenka and the people that orbit around him. Their traumas, relationships and emotional connections are then revealed and it is in these revelations that Rónán excels in opening up the human condition but it is in such a non-voyeuristic manner that you never feel uncomfortable with it.

I loved every single word of this and it will be staying on my bookshelf for rereading and enjoying forever.

Panenka is due for release in May 2021 and I would advise you preorder this to get it in your hands as soon as possible.

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The Hollow Gods

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A.J. Vrana. The Parliament House. (430p) ISBN 9781733386807

The Hollow Gods

The Hollow Gods

Based in current day North America, it follows Kai, Miya, and Mason as they uncover and unravel the mythology of the Dreamwalker and the cycle of missing girls.

The main characters are introduced early on and motivations are made clear from the start though as the weaving of the characters and story progresses these motivations become more unclear and tangled.

A lot of good world building to support the mythology that is being developed as this is the first of a duology, but by no means does this feel unfinished an waiting for the second book.

A play on some of the usual fantasy/horror tropes that has worked well. Wolves, ravens, dream states, all wind together and build to a great conclusion.

Well-paced and gripping for most of the book, it took me a day and a half to finish.

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.

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Elizabeth & Zenobia

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Jessica Miller. Faber & Faber. (240p) ISBN 9780571335732

Elizabeth & Zenobia

Elizabeth & Zenobia

It’s actually been a while since I read Elizabeth and Zenobia and it still stands strong in my mind.

A wonderful mystery with imaginary (?) friends, loss, obsession and certain Victorian sensibilities.

Elizabeth moves to a big house in the countryside with forbidden areas and strange happenings, her father is distant but her imaginary friend Zenobia is intrigued by the happenings in the house (well for most of the time if she doesn’t get bored that is).

Elizabeth and Zenobia have to solve the mystery of the house to save another and themselves.

There is a lot of creepy humour and adventure throughout the book, I love Witheringe House. The intrigue interwoven with their father’s past and his plant obsession is fascinating, and the friendship between Elizabeth and Zenobia is wonderfully portrayed.

Quite looking forward to The Republic of Birds which comes out this October.

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.

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Jungledrop

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Abi Elphinstone. Simon & Schuster. (288p) ISBN 9781471173684

Jungledrop

Jungledrop

I’ve got to admit that this is the first in the series that I’ve read and was a bit worried that I wouldn’t be able to follow the story and miss out on the full experience.

I’m so glad to say that Jungledrop stands alone as a wonderful adventure in a stunningly magical world.

We follow the adventures of Fox and Fibber Petty-Squabble who’ve been brought up to believe that stomping on people and not thinking of others was the way to success and success equals monetary wealth and power over others.

They are unceremoniously brought to Jungledrop, the source of rain in our world, where Morg the Harpy has been draining the world of its magic which will eventually spell the end of both worlds.

Strong themes of trust, growth, friendship, kindness, and family are dealt with throughout this exciting adventure and what seems impossible at first becomes easier with friends and family.

Jungledrop is an imaginative and beautiful world, lots of strong supporting characters and Morg is a great baddie.

Looking forward to reading the preceding book and what’s still to come.

Another Elphinstone cracker!

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.

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The Maker of Monsters

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Lorraine Gregory. Oxford University Press. (256p) ISBN 9780192768834

The Maker of Monsters

The Maker of Monsters

Another of a collection of books I was given by Oxford University Press Children for review, all of which have been great.

We find ourselves in a world ravaged my magical wars where to live outside the City is meant to be a death sentence.

However Brat and his master do, his master is consumed by the thought of revenge for a perceived slight from the ruler of the City and is using necromancy to build an army of monsters.

Brat has to save the world from these monsters once they are unleashed.

A great adventure full of peril and necromancy, did I mention necromancy, and sewn together beasts, some of them are even Brat’s best friends.

The books themes are of trust, family, friendship, fear of outsiders/others, but most of all bravery and sacrifice.

Loved The Maker of Monsters and consumed it in a day!

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.

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A Winter’s Promise

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Christelle Dabos. Europa Editions (UK) Ltd. (492p) ISBN 9781787701809
A Winter's Promise

A Winter’s Promise

The cover image along with the brief blurb in the Bookseller already had me intrigued about A Winter’s Promise and when it came available to read I jumped at the chance.

Set in a distant past the world has been shattered in a cataclysm called the Rupture and the world now consists of floating islands (called Arks) with different families and and their skills.

The main protagonist, Ophelia is a strongly written character with intelligence and curiosity. These traits are so needed in this intriguing and complex book.

The landscapes that are described are rich in detail, history and make you want to delve into them more (luckily this is the first of four books set in this world).

The fantastical and magical elements of the story are so tied to each other and all other parts of the world which makes it all so believable.

This is an extremely successful book in France already and I see it doing really well here as well.

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.

If you can’t support with a monthly subscription a tip at my Ko-Fi is always appreciated, as is buying things from my Ko-Fi Shop.

You can always email me on contact@bigbeardedbookseller.com with any suggestions.

Night Speakers: Sleepless

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Ali Sparkes. Oxford University Press. (272p) ISBN 9780192749956

Night Speakers: Sleepless

Night Speakers: Sleepless

This is the first Ali Sparkes book I’ve read and after this I will definitely be looking for more.

In Sleepless three children from different backgrounds are waking up at the same time each night, 1:34am, with no knowledge of what’s causing it, and eventually discover each other.

This is not the only thing they discover, superpowers, a mysterious stranger, ancient evils to fight and friendships to make. Though none of this is easy as they have so many differences to overcome before they can overcome the antagonist of the story.

Fast-paced and well written I read this book in a long afternoon and enjoyed it thoroughly and am so looking forward to the series continuing.

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.

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You can always email me on contact@bigbeardedbookseller.com with any suggestions.

Return to Wonderland

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various. Pan Macmillan. (240p) ISBN 9781529006858

Return to Wonderland

Return to Wonderland

Return to Wonderland sees some of my favourite childrens authors take their look at C.S. Lewis’ Wonderland and add their twist.

The collection is strong throughout, not one weak story in here. From Peter Bunzl’s story of a shapeshifter baby, through to Amy Wilson’s dreamy and quite threatening story about the Caterpillar I enjoyed them all.

Though one stands out for me in the fact that I will never forgive Patrice Lawrence for using a whole story about feuding families of Hedgehogs and Flamingoes to set up one of the corniest punchlines ever in the history of short story telling.

I enjoyed reading this collection so much I lost track of time in the same way as I did when I first read the Alice books; funny, a wee bit frightening in places, and definitely so well written.

I was gifted this collection as an advance reader copy but bought the finished product as soon as I was able (and another copy for my niece).

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.

If you can’t support with a monthly subscription a tip at my Ko-Fi is always appreciated, as is buying things from my Ko-Fi Shop.

You can always email me on contact@bigbeardedbookseller.com with any suggestions.