Virals - Kathy Reichs

Kathry Reichs unleashes her forensic sleuthing style on a teen audience with the start of a new series, featuring teen sleuth Tory Brennan. Tory has a famous Aunt, the forensic scientist Temperance Brennan - and she models herself on her style. Virals is a mixture of sci-fi adventure and crime fiction. Not 100% sure that this works. A slow start, but action becomes more fast paced in the second half of the book. The characters are likeable, if not overly believable. Good junior readers will cope with the content and the scientific 'jargon'.

The lost art - Simon Morden

I had read a couple of reviews of Morden's first novel, and was looking forward to reading it. There are not many books that I just don't get into - but unfortunately this was one!

I found the plot overly complicated and it just took too long to actually work out what was going on and for the two threads of the plot to weave together.

I'm a fan of dystopic, post apocalyptic fiction - but the lost world of the 'Users' didn't capture my imagination very well at all. I think the average teen reader would find it a very challenging read.

Infernal devices (Clockwork Angel) - Cassandra Clare

Clare is obviously onto another winning series here!

Infernal devices is the prequel series to the very successful trilogy Mortal Instruments.

Set in the Victorian era (1800s), the magical world of 'shadowhunters' and 'downworlders' co-exist, but only just.

The main character, Tessa, has yet to realise that she is not just an ordinary young woman looking for her brother, but that she has magical powers unmatched by any other inhabitants of this 'other world'.

If you enjoyed the Mortal Instruments series you will be equally enthralled by this new one.

Check out the website here - it is fantastic!!

Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex - Eion Colfer

My kids love these books - but I found this one a little weaker than the previous installments.

Artemis' exposure to too much fairy magic has left him susceptible to the 'Atlantis Complex' - basically a nice alter ego appears - Orion.

The usual attack from evil forces is combined with some pro action wrestling, a bit of romance for Artemis and series of new inventions.

I think 'die hard' young fans will still enjoy the story line.

hush, hush - Bekka Fitzgerald

I have looked at this book on library shelves so many times - the cover really intrigued me - and finally got round to getting it out this week.
Unfortunately it was a little disappointing - a variation of the Twilight theme - instead of a vampire and a human the forbidden love is between a 'fallen angel (who wanted to be human) and a half human (who has no idea of her ancestry).
Nora meets Patch (definitely didn't like the names), feels an instant (but scary attraction). Other angels and dark forces stalk Nora and Patch must protect her (sound familiar?).
I'm sure this will be popular with teenage girls, as will the sequel due out soon (and the sequel and the sequel......)
Read more about the series here ....

Triskellion – Will Peterson

Rachel and Adam are sent to their Mother’s home village in rural England – the first time they have ever been there from their home in NY. The village is quiet and unsettling and has a dark history going back 1000s of years. The villagers have a strange way of dealing with mysterious issues that arise. Mysteries and a history that the kids are inextricably linked to.
The novel pulls together threads of medieval history and mysticism - the druids and pagan rites and is a little 'dark' in places.

The first in trilogy.

For the mature junior reader.

Free fall - Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams

First of all - apologies for being so slack on the blog front over the last 8 months - I am now right back into it!!

Starting off with the 3rd book in the Tunnels series, Freefall is an action packed continuation of the amazing journey of Will, his Dad and Chester in the 'Deeps' - the world that exists in the depths below our very own world. The Styx twins continue to plague Will and his father and the very survival of the 'upper world' is threatened.

If you have been waiting for this you won't be disappointed - and what's even better is that the ending suggests that a 4th installment is on the way!

Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series

Wow - I can see why this series has really captured the imaginationof teenage girls ! I found the first book Twilight, hard to put down. Fantastic descriptive passages and a classic boy meets girl love story - with complications. 

Like many series I found that the second and third installments weren't quite up to the first, but the final part of the series Breaking Dawn certainly provided a fairly nail biting conclusion. 

If you want to find out more about Stephanie Meyer - have a look here ......

The Wizard of Rondo - Emily Rodda

Leo and Mimi re-enter the world of Rondo via the musical jewellery box. The adventures begin as they attempt to evade the clutches of the Blue Queen AND solve the mystery of the disappearance of the missing wizard. 

If you enjoyed  The Keys to Rondo the sequel will keep you as riveted and entertained as the first book did.

Find out more about Emily Rodda here 

Tunnels and Deeper by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams

I have recently read both of these - and was very impressed with the both the fast paced action of the novels and the unusual storyline of the set. The third book in the series Falling is yet to be released.

Will Burrows, main character, is drawn into the fantastic world that exists deep beneath the streets of London in an attempt to locate hos step-father. He soon discovers that the underground world he stumbles upon is both very sinister and very familiar. As he ventures deeper into the abyss he encounters many strange creatures and exiles from the world above.

This set is best suited to the more mature junior reader. I really enjoyed them - but I do enjoy science fiction!

Artemis Fowl and the Time Paradox - Eoin Colfer

For those of you who have been waiting for the latest in the series, you won't be disappointed! It is fast paced, action packed story...

Artemis must face his toughest opponent yet - a younger version of himself, as he travels back in time to find a cure for his mother.

Check out the fantastic Artemis Fowl website here...

Gool - Maurice Gee

The sequel to Salt, Gool follows the story of Hari and Pearl 16 years after they have defeated Ottmar and destroyed the Company's control. However a new and fearsome creature threatens the land. Hari's children race against time to save not only his life but their whole existence.

Once again Gee's powerful story telling will suit the more mature junior reader.

To read more about the story and the author click here Gee

Heaven's Net is Wide - Lian Hearn

The prequel to the rest of the series, this book creates the background to the life of Takeo and the rest of the 'Hidden'. A definite must if you have read the rest of the series...

(P.S. our copy has a different cover!!)

Let me know what you think...

The Key to Rondo - Emily Rodda

A music box, a mysterious family history, a set of precise instructions.....and a doorway to another world - created by Emily Rodda.

Rodda's detailed descriptions and wonderful characterisation will ensure that this will be a very popular new book in the library!

Check out Emily Rodda's website here - http://www.emilyrodda.com/index.html

Salt - Maurice Gee

For more senior readers, Gee's latest is a look at a future which is grim indeed.

Society has fallen into chaos and the 'Company' controls all apects of life. Company families live in heavily protected compounds and inter-marry to maintain their superiority. The rest of the population tries to survive amidst the ruins and rubbish of the now destroyed cities, many living like animals and in fear of their lives. The 'Company' maintains its dominance by enforced slave labour in the mines - few ever return.

What happens when the system is challenged? A riveting tale.

If you want to find out more about Maurice Gee have a look at this link
http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/writers/geem.html

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - JK Rowling

Well I guess I really had to start the library blog with this one!! This book is in our collection, but you will have to wait for Mrs Kraushaar to return before it can be borrowed.

Was it the most 'waited for' book ever to be published?

For really really keen fans the wait will have been worth it. That's not to say that the book is perfect! There are lots of parts where phrases like 'two months later...' pop up. But there is lots of action, a few surprises and the ending .......I'll leave that for you to discover.

Make sure you add your thoughts after you have read the book.....