Three mini reviews: The Dream Thieves, The Pirate's Wish, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase

The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater 
Release date: 5th September 2013
Publisher: Scholastic 

Goodreads synopsis:

Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. 

Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. 

Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after...

My thoughts:

The Dream Thieves was everything I could have hoped for in a sequel to The Raven Boys, one of my favourite Maggie Stiefvater books. Brimming full of character development, plot development and Maggie’s characteristically lovely prose, The Dream Thieves was an absolute delight to read. Whilst I was drawn to Gansey, I do have a soft spot for Ronan so I loved the focus on his story in this book, which revealed things about him that had previously been very well hidden and which totally tugged at my heartstrings. I loved to see the development of the Gansey/Blue element, and was unnerved yet intrigued by the emergence of a darker side to sweet boy Adam. The Dream Thieves is a book that invokes every emotion along the spectrum and left me desperate for more. 

---

The Pirate's Wish (The Assassin's Curse #2) by Cassandra Rose Clarke 

Release date: 18th June 2013

Publisher: Strange Chemistry

Goodreads synopsis:

After setting out to break the curse that binds them together, the pirate Ananna and the assassin Naji find themselves stranded on an enchanted island in the north with nothing but a sword and their wits. But Naji has unseen enemies, and Ananna must face the wrath of the Pirate Confederation.

Together, they must travel afar, defeat their foes and break the mother of all curses. With all this going on, falling in love would be such a bad idea... All of this and much, much more await, in the swashbuckling sequel to The Assassin's Curse.

My thoughts:

I waited a very long time to read The Pirate’s Wish, despite really enjoying The Assassin’s Curse. Mostly because I couldn’t find it in any bookshop anywhere! Then I saw it in my library one day, and I ran over and snatched it up (no, I literally did) and I read it that day. It was exactly what I’d hoped for. I love how Ananna and Naji are real people: they get moody and sulky and have little bursts of anger and jealousy and all those other messy emotions. I loved what happened with the three impossible tasks and how the ended was so normal, despite this being a fantasy world of pirates and assassins and kingdoms. I liked how it wasn’t fairy-tale, it was real life. Also big shout out to the manticore, who totally stole the show.

--- 

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (The Wolves Chronicles #1) by Joan Aiken

Release date: (this edition) 2nd August 2013

Publisher: (this edition) Vintage Children's Classics

Goodreads synopsis:

Long ago, at a time in history that never happened, England was overrun with wolves. But as Bonnie and her cousin Sylvia discover, real danger often lies closer to home. Their new governess, Miss Slighcarp, doesn't seem at all nice. She shuts Bonnie in a cupboard, fires the faithful servants and sends the cousins far away from Willoughby Chase to a place they will never be found. Can Bonnie and Sylvia outwit the wicked Miss Slighcarp and her network of criminals, forgers and snitches?

My thoughts:

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase felt very Dahl-esque even though (I’m pretty sure) it was published before Dahl. Full of brave, intrepid and determined kids and with the adults split into kind and helpful, or dastardly and villainous, and that slightly whimsically old-fashioned narrative style, I was completely charmed. The beautiful cover totally helped with that. Full of peril, misfortune and down-right injustice but with a blissfully lovely ending, The Wolves off Willoughby Chase is a perfect children’s book. 

Three mini middle grade reviews: The Graveyard Book, The House of Hades and Skulduggery Pleasant

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman 
Release date: 20th October 200
Publisher: Bloomsbury

Goodreads synopsis:

Nobody Owens, know to his friends as Bod, is a perfectly normal boy. Well, he would be perfectly normal if he didn't live in a graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor the world of the dead.

There are danger and adventures for Bod in the graveyard: The strange and terrible menace of The Sleer; a gravestone entrance to a desert that leads to the city of ghouls; friendship with a witch, and so much more.

But it is in the land of the living that real danger lurks, for it is there that the man Jack lives and he has already killed Bod's family.

A fascinating story of love and friendship realized in the most unlikely of place. 

My thoughts:

I never expected to love The Graveyard Book as much as I did. I bought it when it was the Kindle Daily Deal and then read it, probably about a year later, completely on a whim. I love how whimsical and unusual it is; how Bod growing up in a graveyard has made him both so unlike yet so like other kids his age. The whole cast of ghostly (and otherwise) characters were really brought to life (ha) by Gaiman’s writing: the characterisation was perfect and different enough that it was easy to distinguish. I loved the little asides of what was written on each of their gravestones.  The plot was clever; revealing enough of itself to allow you an idea what was going on and keeping enough back to retain your interest. Gaiman’s writing is completely different to anything I’ve experienced before and while it took a little getting used to I found myself really enjoying his unique way with words. I got a little choked up when reading the ending which, embarrassingly, was while I was on the tube. 

---

The House of Hades (Heroes of Olympus #5) by Rick Riordan

Release date: 8th October 2013

Publisher: Puffin

Goodreads synopsis:

The stakes have never been higher. If Percy Jackson and Annabeth fail in their quest, there'll be hell on Earth. Literally.

Wandering the deadly realm of Tartarus, every step leads them further into danger. And, if by some miracle they do make it to the Doors of Death, there's a legion of bloodthirsty monsters waiting for them.

Meanwhile, Hazel and the crew of the Argo II have a choice: to stop a war or save their friends. Whichever road they take one thing is certain - in the Underworld, evil is inescapable.

My thoughts:

It took me a little while to get into House of Hades; partly because there were a lot of initial Leo chapters and he is my least favourite character and partly because I was reading it in dribs and drabs which is not how this book deserves to be read. Once I finally got into it, I loved it. I enjoyed the contrast between those still on the ship and Percy and Annabeth in Tartarus. It was so interesting to see more of Tartarus and how it and those in it operate. I loved seeing Bob. Whilst not my favourite book of the Heroes of Olympus series, House of Hades builds on already strong characters with an equally strong plotline that was extremely well paced. One of my favourite things about Rick Riordan’s writing is how inclusive it is: he is always keen to show that everyone, no matter what they think of themselves, has something to offer and is a valuable person to those around them. Anyone can be a hero. As far as messages in stories go, it’s a pretty good one. The main thing that came out  of this book for me was my love, my empathy, and my desire to see a happy ending, for Nico.

---

Skulduggery Pleasant (Skulduggery Pleasant #1) by Derek Landy

Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books

Release date: 30th September 2007

Goodreads synopsis:

Meet Skulduggery Pleasant - ace detective, snappy dresser, razor–tongued wit, crackerjack sorcerer and walking, talking, fire-throwing skeleton — as well as ally, protector, and mentor of Stephanie Edgley, a very unusual and darkly talented twelve-year-old.

These two alone must defeat an all-consuming ancient evil.

The end of the world?

Over his dead body.

My thoughts:

Skulduggery Pleasant is a book I have been aware of for a long time, but never had the particular desire to pick up and read. Since becoming a blogger and hearing more about it, I've wanted to read it more and just never gotten around to it until now. I was pleasantly surprised by Skulduggery Pleasant. Skulduggery and Valkyrie are both strong characters full of personality. I especially liked Valkyrie, who took everything that happened around her in her stride and is resilient, independent and yet very, very human. A fantastic role model. The dialogue is that snappy, humorous time that, while slightly unrealistic, is always enjoyable to read and I loved the clever and unusual names everyone gave themselves. There wasn't an overabundance of world-building or focus on details and the plot was engaging and well-paced, with a surprising amount of violence for a middle grade book. I enjoyed Skulduggery Pleasant enough to want to read the second one.