The Local Lit Scene

celebrating South African Literature beyond our past

The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens a review

This is my second book for children that I have read this year and am adding it in for my Kidlit Read and Review Challenge over at Lost in books.

THE EMERALD ATLAS – John Stephens

This is a first novel of a children’s fantasy series called ‘The Books of Beginning’ and aimed at 8 – 12 year olds. I guess I must have a 12 year old self in this thirty year old body somewhere as I loved this book! I have been going through a reading slump and just COULD NOT get into any book that I picked up and I have about 5 next to my bed, which are half read (MUST finish them at some point) and when I found this at the library – I often read children’s books when I have too much going on inside my head- and I picked it up on the Friday evening and was finished it by Sunday morning. It is readable, full of interesting characters, likable character and the world between worlds which I have always been fond of.

So, what is it about you may be wondering, let me tell you…

Kate, Emma and Michael have been passed from orphanage to orphanage for 10 years but still believe that their parents are alive and will find them someday. Finally they are shipped off to another orphanage up in the mountains and what feels like in the middle of nowhere with some rather strange characters to contend with.

They find a book, through a doorway which wasn’t there before and there starts the story of two worlds and how they may not feel remarkable in this one, but in the other, they are remarkable and have great destinies which they are not even aware off.

Throughout the story more and more information is revealed, with a host of characters which really bring the story alive. The descriptions of the worlds really draw you in and beg the reader to ‘read just one more page’.

What I like about this book is that it really is fantasy and in this first book there is no real ‘death. No body dies and I know that is a little unrealistic, but I really liked that aspect. There is a second book – The Fire Chronicle – which I plan to get my hands on as soon as I can and carry on reading about Kate, Emma and Michael. And I will let you know when I do!

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The Last Dragonslayer – Jasper Fforde

As most of you know, I received this book through The Book Blogger Holiday Swop and was seriously looking forward to getting stuck in.

It only took me  a couple of days to read, due to it being a smaller book than his usual fare. It probably would of taken less time to read if I had had uninterrupted reading time, but alas, that was not to be.

I really enjoyed this, it was short, sweet and had the characteristic Jasper Fforde characters. If you haven’t read him before, this is not a bad one to start off with.

The storyline:

‘Jennifer Strange runs Kazam, an employment agency for soothsayers and sorcerers, but work is drying up. Drain cleaner is cheaper than a spell, and even magic carpets are reduced to pizza delivery.

So, it’s a surprise when the visions start.Not only do the predict the death of the Last Dragon at the hands of a Dragonslayer, they also point to Jennifer, and say something is coming. Big Magic…’

This is an easy to read book, with a twist and a turn that isn’t expected. It has the greedy power mongers vs the caring dragonslayer, and it doesn’t fail to deliver.

I enjoyed this book immensely, and I think it would make a great gift for Christmas especially a young adult, or someone who enjoys a bit of fantasy (but not too much and more tongue in cheek, than the usual fantasy fare0.

Go on, give it a go and then let me know what you think…

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Book Review – The Dragon Whisperer by Lucinda Hare

This review was submitted by my eldest daughter (12) who is a complete bookworm and has already made her way through the Inheart Trilogy as well as the Eragon Trilogy.

dragonwhisperer

‘Imagine you could talk to dragons ……’

This book is about a young girl, aged 11, called Quenelda.  She is the daughter of the Earl Rufus De Winter, Commander of the Stealth Dragon Services (SDS).  Quenelda has been riding dragons since she was 3 and her dream is to join the SDS and fight alongside her father in the war against the hobgoblins.

This is a story about danger, tragedy, hope and making sacrifices for others.

It is a truly remarkable book and anyone who enjoys losing themselves in a fantasy novel will love this book.

Thanks Daniella, for your review!

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