Reviews by Prisha

Blurb - Scorned for his unusual appearance and nature, young Josiah’s expulsion from school leads him to the grim world of rat-catching at the local orphanage. Amid new-found bonds and a simmering animosity, a longing for independence draws him towards the quiet life of a nearby village. Welcomed by kind souls, Josiah earns his keep as a skilled vermin remover and helpful stable hand. But when a rat-borne illness strikes the town, Josiah’s unique abilities bring him to the attention of the imposing Duke. Within the castle walls, caught in the strange dynamic between the Duke’s son Bergen and the formidable Helga – children and ogres in one – Josiah’s life takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of the spirited Nadia. Their shared love of poetry ignites a passionate connection, but joy is fragile, and loss leaves an indelible mark. Unbeknownst to Josiah, Helga’s deep-seated hatred of children is taking root within the Duke’s domain, setting in motion a chain of events that will irrevo...

  A fusion of folklore, adventure and resilience, this empowering and immersive novel captivates both detailed mythology and suspense. It is a must read for YA fans of intense imaginative fantasy.  The Call is a novel rich in detail and insight with a narrative that succeeds in exploring thrilling adventure, fantasy folklore and themes of resilience simultaneously. This novel is both elegant and purposeful as it follows the central character, Nessa’s exhilarating chase and exhaustive training towards her eventual and destined “Call” into the supernatural world to determine her fortune in the matter of exactly three minutes and four seconds, despite all the obstacles and obvious difficulties in her way. The element of suspense throughout is riveting and its momentum compelled me to read continuously.  In my opinion, the book’s most striking feature was the inclusion of the enchanted and historical Irish fair-folk, the Sídhe, being banished from the world and seeking hatefu...

A spectacular novel serving as a relatable and realistic mirror of young lives.  ‘Lila Mackay Is Very Misunderstood' is a mesmerizing tale that will teleport you into the world of exploring the prevailing experiences of growing up and adapting to life’s difficult complications. Reading this novel is the finest way to spend your Summer relaxing with a book-in-hand, underneath the sun as throughout the novel, we dive into the protagonist, Emily’s Summer starting off with a train ride to her impending doom with no access to technology, no social life and no entertainment except her Mum (Lila Mackay)’s diary and Uncle Tom’s snippets from the past to keep her company. No one seems to understand her despair and longing to spend a normal summer with her BFF Poppy and the stunning Toby. This spectacular novel serves as a realistic and relatable mirror of young lives. As a perfect representation of the teenage years of life along with the generational differences. My favourite part is the p...

A genuinely delightful American Mystery that is an authentic tale which carries a sense of possibility and hope! Don’t Doubt the Rainbow is truly an entrancing sequel of a compelling contemporary detective series that has inspired me to further explore the genre that is so suspenseful, mysterious, and captivating. Full of riveting twists and turns in the plot, the novel is based on a young Detective, Edie Marbles, a nationally renowned detective who averted a catastrophe. The author creates a fascinating novella that encompasses not only a storyline full of an exotic mixture of tension and excitement but revolves around mental health education and proves to be a valuable asset to the improvement of the well-being of many young readers The protagonist, Edie and her grandpa uncover a deep ancestral secret that haunts the backbone of Edie’s journey to Toronto, Washington DC, North Carolina and Dartmoor. Readers are taken through the intrinsically detailed adventure as when all cards are r...

  Falling For a Star in the City - Book Review Falling For a Star in the City is intrinsically a riveting novella, full of an exotic mixture of passion and romance. Written by the Best-selling Author Krysten Lindsay Hager, it is emotionally driven as it explores several key themes of struggling with the challenges of navigating through life to find purpose and true love. The leading character, Paige Kramar is a young actress in New York City who is flourishing in all aspects; a successful college freshman year, a job as an actress on a widely known soap opera, and a rock star boyfriend.  However, when her star role suddenly has a brief hiatus and her family continues to relent her for the instability that it causes in her career, Paige is left feeling as if she is thrown into a roller-coaster of emotions as she is forced to let her acting dreams to drift behind and a sudden break-up leads her into a turmoil of emotions. Stepping through the whirlwind of events, Paige is stunne...

 The 10pm Question strikes me to be an immensely innovative, realistic and witty novel as it thoroughly explores the ideas behind the conventional experience of one understanding or adapting to life’s complex and intricate ways. Frankie is a sensible, thoughtful and intelligent young character whose every waking second is invaded by worries about whether the batteries in the smoke alarm are working, if “The Fat Controller” has enough cat food or if the world with explode due to the rising cases of bird flu. Most of the people that Frankie’s world seems to revolve around seem to keep untroubled, whether that is his irritating sister, his adventurous brother or his fat whiskey-swilling aunts, it is only his beloved Ma that handles his never-ending persistent questions. However out of all of his 10pm questions, there is one that he is hesitant to bring himself to ask.  The protagonist of the book, Frankie Parsons is driven by control, organisation and structure as he starts the d...

Where Sleeping Girls Lie is a haunting yet compelling novel that reaches out to every thriller reader. Written by the Bestselling Author of the Ace of Spades, the book entails a plot filled with rivalry, revenge and mystery.  A compelling and addicting thriller written expertly by the author of the Bestselling Novel, Ace of Spades. The book is a spectacular follow-up full of fascinating spirals of plot twists and events that held me mesmerized for days. The mystical concept of suspense was extremely captivating for a reader. The hidden meaning behind the story was complex and was written for young girls reaching out with the message that healing from deep wounds and struggles is not impossible! Sade Hussein as a protagonist enrols in the all-known prestigious Alfred Nobel Academy home to many aspiring young students. Hussein is carrying with her the whole package of troubles, grief and misery as she steps into the fancy brick walls, polished peaks, and exclusive architecture. But a...

  Where The River Runs Gold is a tremendous book through impossibly bold adventures. Shifa and Themba are two twins coming from The Night of Hurricane Chronos, mist storms and challenges. A breath-taking new dystopia set after the bees have long disappeared. Children are being sent to Freedom Fields to pollinate crops by hand for the good of the nation because of realistic climate disasters. Shifa and Themba risk their lives to escape their fate through the entirety of this wonderfully imaginative novel.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel which carried an extremely interesting concept of the lives of the future generations when trees, flowers, rivers and natural landscapes have been wiped off the face of the Earth. The storyline was extremely engaging and full of action throughout the novel. The front cover of the book was full of colour and description which caught my attention. I believe that this dystopia is a lovely addition! If you enjoy reading adventurous dystopia...

  The Girl from Everywhere is a breath-taking book that reaches the hidden corners of your imagination. Travelling from the busiest bazaar in Calcutta, India 1774 to New York City, twentieth-century, Nixie Song is the most experienced time-traveller as she helps her father to gloriously navigate through maps on a journey through time, love and generations. Heidi Heilig is an impressive author who thoroughly explores the concept of myth, jeopardy and desire. When difficult decisions are made and even harder journeys are travelled, the crewmates and friends of Nixie Song work together to help achieve their missions. This fantastic novel is based on belief and the creative idea that if you believe about a place, century, real or imagined, you will be led to it.  Personally, I was mesmerised by the illustrative and eye-catching front cover of this book because it portrayed the depth of emotions in the novel. Reading this book was anticipating because the story line was extremely ...

The Dance of Shadows is a passionate book about the Love of Dance and Ballet. The Main Character, Vanessa has skills she never wanted, history she can’t forget and terrifying truths that she needs to figure out. When these events happen in the centre of an Elite Academy’s Stage, she is propelled to find out more about the darkest secrets of dance. This duology is a world wind of mysterious and dangerous adventures. Vanessa is taking the lead at the elite ballet school, excelling midst the attention but she can’t stop herself from investigating the answers to her sister Margaret’s sudden disappearance.  The Author has written this book so dynamically that it leaves the reader feeling absorbed in the rivalries of highly competitive dances and being thrown into the thriller aspect of all extraordinary novels. I found this book quite exhilarating finding out about how the corruption in dance was slowly hidden by lies. I would love to recommend this book to all teenagers who love readin...

 Langdimania is an impressive book that reaches to the corners of your mind. Lach is an imaginative author that truly explores every aspect of magic and the potential of dreaming. I like how this novel includes a wide variety of genres. For example, Fantasy, Teenage Mental Health, Reality vs Personal Beliefs/Experiences and many more. Langdimania is an extraordinary place where twelve-year-old, Army travels to every day. Whether that is during his after-school adventures, during Mr Dumont's TFI French Classes or Detention with Mrs Czernowski. During some extremely frustrating and different experiences, Army finds himself baffled with new abilities that seem to change everything and make it a whole lot more interesting. Langdimania is the special place that Army seems to go to in his Imagination. Or is it the reality? At the centre of all this bizarre situation, is a boy and a girl.  I particularly enjoyed reading this book because I found the different style of writing fascin...

 A fascinating novel that includes real-life experiences and something new on every page!   [Re]Start It's Never Too Late is a fantastic graphic novel full of guidance on how to become confident and resilient. In particular, it encourages to follow your dreams and think creatively or differently. This book helps you to pick up extra tips and new ideas for you to help yourself flourish better.  This spectacular novel includes the experiences of 7 characters who come from a variety of backgrounds as they overcome problems in their lives. It is organised into six large chapters which go over the stages of handling many obstacles in life. From anxiety to managing family expectations this guide is like a journal where you can scribble down your honest reflections of this world.  While studying alone in a new country, Andi struggles from grippling anxiety. Whereas others are bound from family expectations or responsibilities and often find themselves alone. ...

A useful, creative guide to be stylish and kind to the planet simultaneously!  The Fashion Fix is a stylish guide to a fashionable and sustainable wardrobe. This amazing book gives you tips for upcycling, finding your style while keeping the Earth safe! Pages full of colour so the innovative ideas stand out with detail. Some of the activities are smart jewellery like Pom-Pom earrings and designer Furoshiki Bags! Throughout this activity book, there are shocking facts and crafty ways to recycle your clothes. This book promotes sustainability which is the way of making small changes in our wardrobe in order to make larger changes in the world. If you are interested in upcycling and reusing your wardrobe, I would love to recommend this creative guide to you.   Reviewed for Lovereading4kids.co.uk 

 Blurb Young Eagle Rising Ireland 1735. Thirteen-year-old William Baxter has a grandmother with peculiar powers – so peculiar he believes she must be a witch. Taking this secret with him, he reluctantly sails with his family to the New World and the promise of a better life.  But Pennsylvania proves to be a savage, unforgiving place rife with warring tribes, slavery and dangerous animals. When William’s life suddenly takes a terrifying turn, he is thrust headlong into a battle for survival. Consumed with hatred for those responsible, he desperately wants to return to Ireland, but the coast is one hundred miles away and the trail runs through native territory. Alone and frightened, he sets out on what becomes the journey of a lifetime, determined to survive and have his revenge.  Young Eagle Rising is a coming-of-age story, a mix of fantasy, history, adventure and the enduring love of an old Irish witch. My Review Young Eagle Rising is an extremely astonishing book full of...

 What's New, Harper Drew? is an amazing book full of innovative writing skills and easy-to-read pages with some fascinating illustrative drawings. When Harper and her chaotic family find out about a missing python in the neighbourhood, her whole family goes crazily overboard. With her mum re-arranging furniture and using too many cleaning products and her father starting a whole new process of retiling the bathroom, Harper tells us the drama that goes on within her family household. While her mum SNAKEPROOFS herself, her brother spends 1 HOUR doing his nightly hair routine and her father stands outside in the pouring weather SHOWERING , Harper resumes to carefully work out different fundraising activities she and her friends 'THE TRIPLE THREAT' can continue!  Personally, I really enjoyed reading this book as it was full of humorous jokes and occasional illustrations. This book was laid in a unique and interesting way as a journal, which gave the storyline another diffe...

  A storyline full of fun and frightening facts! An eventful adventure across Babbage in the the History of all time!   ‘The Light Thieves’ is a perplexing book full of imaginative details set in the future of unbelievable  knowledge. Since an unforgettable event that led to the Earth spinning out of it’s axis, Grian and his community in Babbage have been following a world-renowned expert and tech genius, Howard Hansom, who is yet to give his opinion on this life-changing experience. He plans to save the planet from the consequences of the unfortunate tilt which will most likely lead to the doom of mankind!   However, when Grian’s sister disappears along with his Grandad, Grian sets out on a mission with his friends Jeffery and Shelli to save them, where he discovers some extremely  dark secrets and some people are in dark-hooded disguises! Things are quite mysterious and when they find out that Grian’s sister is in an area not located, they start wondering for ...

  A book with an enchanting and mesmerizing storyline. Spellstoppers is a magical book full of interesting spells and exciting twists. Max, a boy with an ordinary life, believed that he has been given an awful curse, until he meets his Grandfather who drags him away from the bustling streets of London to the deserted lanes of the village of Yowling. When a sinister castle with a dangerous keeper in Yowling is slowly shrinking to it's doom, the keepers suddenly need help and won't surrender without a fight. Max has set out on an adventure with the guidance of a helpful friend and with the help of the ability of fixing misbehaving magical items.   Reading this book, was exhilarating as I watched Max being plunged into the world of spellstopping. I loved reading this book because it is surrounded by fantasy, shapeshifting keepers, Selkies that are half-human and half-seal, ice-cream sellers that know exactly what you want and ghost captains that have been around forever! If ...

 A spectacular story full of sunshine and rainbows! 'The Secret Sunshine Project' was an amazing book full of exciting tales and adventures! When Bea and her sister, Riley visit The London Pride with their parents, everyone is all smiles, sunshine and colour. But next year, when London Pride is hosted again, everything has changed, nothing feels like it used to! Riley her joyful sister has gone inside a shell and it is now Bea's job to make everyone happy again. Reading this book, made me feel positive because I saw Bea make everyone joyful and colourful. I really enjoyed and loved reading this book as Bea and Riley went through a hard but productive adventure. There are few illustrated detailed drawings, my favourite is the one Rita Ruckus and her dog! If you are interested in colourful adventures, I would love to recommend this fascinating book to you. 

  A fantastical and mysterious book of spectacular and surprising  events!   “Yesterday Crumb and the storm in a teacup” is a fascinating book that is full of magical wonder and spells. Growing up in a circus, Yesterday had no idea of her exciting future as a wicked witch and when time comes to solve a problem, she is plunged into a world of magic! I love the way the story line is full of creativity and mystery.  Whilst reading this book, I found it very enjoyable and exhilarating  to read. This book is surrounded by fantasy, talking ravens and even flying teapots! I would love to recommend this book to anyone who loves a bit of magic and adventurous books!  Reviewed for LoveReading4Kids.co.uk

 A magical story with suspense! Tinsel is a spectacular Christmassy story with a twist. Maybe we got the Santa tale a bit wrong? Maybe Mrs. Claus played a very vital role in the magic of Christmas ever happening? From waiting for Christmas to be over, to loving it and changing Christmas for children all over the world, Blanche goes on adventures all over the world! I couldn't stop reading and was very excited to finish the book. Read along as Blanche Claus and Rinki go on a life changing journey. I loved how creative the story line was and how eye-catching of a book cover it has. I would love to recommend this book to anyone wanting to go on a Christmassy adventure! Reviewed for Lovereading4Kids.Co.UK