Tag: Fantasy

Double Review | Withering-By-Sea & Wormwood Mire by Judith Rossell

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Withering-y-Sea Paige's PagesAUTHOR: Judith Rossell
SERIES: A Stella Montgomery Intrigue
PUBLISHER: ABC Books
RELEASE DATE: November, 2014 & October, 2016
GENRE: Middle-Grade Historical Fiction; Victorian Mystery; Fantasy
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Orphan and adventurer-at-heart, Stella is tragically misunderstood by her three horrible aunts. When a mysterious villain brings death and destruction to the Hotel Majestic, Stella is flung headfirst into a perilous adventure that makes her question everything she thought she knew about magic and her past.

Wormwood Mire Book Review Paige's Pages

I believe this series gets stronger as it progresses! From the first pages of Withering-By-Sea, I surrendered to the heady atmosphere of the Victorian era. I love that there is a fantasy element, but it’s subtle enough that the historical setting is the shining feature. All the fantasy touches are so creative and original, which I appreciated since so many books simply reimagine the same old tropes over and over. As I await the third and final installation of the series, I have so many questions I need answered.

Two things got on my nerves, however. Firstly, I noticed that Judith Rossell repeatedly uses short sentences without much variation. This made both books feel like they had a young reading age, that contradicted the vocabulary she uses. Secondly, we get very little insight into what goes through Stella’s mind. Even after reading two books, I feel like I hardly know what makes her point of view unique. That said, the series so far is entertaining and fascinating.

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My 2018 Top Winter Reads

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When I think of winter reading, I picture snuggling up with a cup of tea and a cosy book. But this is not a cosy book reading list! Some of my favourite winter reads are books that are best enjoyed with the weather outside is grizzly and inhospitable. Sure, some of them are snuggly books, but others aren’t so friendly. What are your favourite books to read in winter?

My 2018 Top Winter Reads

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3 Mini Reviews of Recent YA Reads

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I’ve read a lot of thought-provoking books recently, so I decided to sum up my thoughts quickly for you! If you’ve read any of these titles I would love to hear your opinion in the comments. 

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Take Three Girls

Take Three Girls Review Paige's PagesAUTHORS: Cath Crowley, Fiona Wood, Simmone Howell
PUBLISHER: Pan Australia
RELEASE DATE: August 29, 2017
GENRE: Contemporary Young Adult Fiction
PAGE COUNT: 439
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Told from the alternating points of view of three Melbourne private school girls – each written by a different author – this book looks at the impacts of cyber bullying and the true meaning of friendship. Although cyber bullying is a dark topic, the overall vibe of this book is shiningly positive. I love how each of our narrators, Clem, Ady, and Kate, has a distinct voice and their own emotional journey. Continue reading →

Book Review | Sea (The Huntress #1) by Sarah Driver

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The Huntress Sea Review Paige's PagesAUTHOR: Sarah Driver
PUBLISHER: Egmont
RELEASE DATE: April 6, 2017
GENRE: Junior Fantasy, Adventure
PAGE COUNT: 336
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Goodreads blurb: In the sky, the fire spirits dance and ripple. Grandma says they showed our Tribe that I’d be a captain, before I was even born.

Ever since Ma died, Mouse has looked after her little brother, Sparrow, dreaming of her destiny as captain of the Huntress. But now Da’s missing, Sparrow is in danger, and a deathly cold is creeping across Trianukka . . .

Sea-churning, beast-chattering, dream-dancing, whale-riding, terrodyl-flying, world-saving adventure.  Continue reading →

Why I Love Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

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Nevermoor Book Review Paige's Pages.pngPUBLISHER: Hachette Australia
RELEASE DATE: October 10, 2017
GENRE: Junior Fantasy
PAGE COUNT: 451
MY RATING: ★★★★☆
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Blurb: Morrigan Crow is cursed. Born on an unlucky day, she is blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks – and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on Eventide.  But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away to a secret, magical city called Nevermoor.  To stay in the safety of Nevermoor for good, Morrigan will need to pass four difficult and dangerous trials – or she’ll have to leave the city to confront her deadly fate. Continue reading →

Book Review | Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

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hex-book-review-paiges-pagesTITLE: Hex
AUTHOR: Thomas Olde Heuvelt (translated from the Dutch by Nancy Forest-Flier
PUBLISHER: Hodder & Stoughton
RELEASE DATE: April 26, 2016
GENRE: Thriller, Paranormal Horror
PAGE COUNT: 384

Hex is terrifying for reasons you wouldn’t expect.  Chronicling a small town’s descent into a hell of their own making, it brings humanity’s deeply buried darkness to the surface.  

Present day Black Spring is under the curse of a 17th century witch with eyes and mouth sewn shut.  To ward off Kathryn’s wrath, the town hides the haunting from outsiders, masquerading fear as folksy tradition.  While most of the townspeople play their part for the greater good, a gang of teen fundamentalists takes a joke too far and incites Kathryn’s revenge.  Soon Black Spring’s fragile façade of law and order is shattered forever. Continue reading →

Book Review | The Call by Peadar Ó Guilín

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the-call-book-review-paiges-pagesTITLE: The Call
AUTHOR: Peadar Ó Guilín
PUBLISHER: David Fickling Books
RELEASE DATE: August 30, 2016
GENRE: Young Adult, Fantasy, Dystopia
PAGE COUNT: 312

Despite its chilling premise – fusing ancient Irish mythology with the contemporary dystopian genre – this debut horror story by young adult author Peadar Ó Guilín fell flat.  Clichés, shallow characters, and its predictable plot made me cringe from cover to cover.

Until her 10th birthday, Nessa was sheltered from the horrific fate of Irish teenagers – at some point during her teen years, she will be “Called” from her world to be hunted and mutilated by the Sídhe, a fairy race banished to the Grey Lands by an ancient treaty.  Despite her crippled legs, Nessa is a strong competitor at her survival school.  However, even in her own world, danger lurks in the form of her distracting love interest Anto and the jealous brute Conor.   Continue reading →

Book Review | Elizabeth and Zenobia by Jessica Miller

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elizabeth-and-zenobia-book-review-paiges-pagesTITLE: Elizabeth and Zenobia
AUTHOR: Jessia Miller
PUBLISHER: Text Publishing
RELEASE DATE: August 29, 2016
GENRE: Junior Fiction, Fantasy
PAGE COUNT: 232

Elizabeth and Zenobia is Aussie author, Jessica Miller’s wickedly clever debut.  Although it nods to familiar fantasy tropes, it forges its own unique vision.

Elizabeth and her imaginary friend Zenobia are moving to Witheringe Green, her father’s childhood home.  But there is much more to this old house than meets the eye.  When family secrets lead to even stranger mysteries, Elizabeth must face her fears and save her family from otherworldly danger.

Elizabeth is our first person narrator.  Unlike the fearless Zenobia, she is scared of almost everything, including but not limited to Continue reading →

Book Review | When Marnie Was There by Joan G. Robinson

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When Marnie Was There Review Paige's PagesTITLE: When Marnie Was There
AUTHOR: Joan G. Robinson
PUBLISHER: Harper Collins
RELEASE DATE: 1967
GENRE: Junior Fiction, Fantasy
PAGE COUNT: 286

For a children’s book first published in 1967, When Marnie Was There still feels fresh and magical.  For some readers, this was the book they grew up with.  For me, this is a book to grow old with.  

12-year-old Anna lives with her foster parents in London.  She is sent away for her health to a seaside village where she meets a mysterious girl.  Marnie is Anna’s first real friend – someone who accepts her for who she is.  But Marnie’s life in the beautiful Marsh House is not as perfect as it seems.

Straight away, the mental health aspect surprised me. Continue reading →

Book Review | This Census-Taker by China Miéville

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This Census-Taker Review Paige's PagesTITLE: This Census-Taker
AUTHOR: China Miéville
PUBLISHER: Del Ray
RELEASE DATE: January 12, 2016
GENRE: Magical Realism, Adult Fiction
PAGE COUNT: 210

China Miéville’s brand new novella boasts contemporary style as well as the grace of an old classic.  It uses the power of silence and suggestion to make a lasting emotional impact.  

Isolated on a mountaintop with his parents, a seven-year-old boy believes his key-maker father is a murderer.  Lacking proof, he has no option but to live under a shadow of fear. Continue reading →