September releases I can't wait to read...

My budget for books is small! I always overspend but, this month, it's well and truly been BLOWN! September sees the release of new books from some of my favourite authors that I just can't wait to get my hands on...

The Wizards of Once: Knock Three Times by Cressida Cowell (MG)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43879165-the-wizards-of-once

I have to confess that I had never read Cressida Cowell before The Wizards of Once. The How to Train Your Dragon series has shamefully passed me by, maybe because, due to being so busy, I am reluctant to find myself drawn into a lengthy series that I don't want to emerge from. However, this trio of middle grade books, written by the current Waterstones Children's Laureate, offers us mind-blowing imagination and a unique adventure into a world of Magic and Iron.

Xar is the son of a powerful enchanter and Wish is the daughter of an Iron Warrior Queen. The two worlds are divided but, when Xar and Wish meet, they collide with startling force. But they are not alone, for rumours say that the Witches are rising again.

Both The Wizards of Once and Twice Magic blew me away, firstly because of the fantastically gripping and atmospheric plot, but, secondly, because of the way the story is told. Cressida Cowell  allows a mysterious narrator to tell this story. This gives it a wonderfully unique voice that speaks right into the hearts and minds of the readers. There is a wonderful air of respect and inclusion for the reader, which I think children will really respond to. They are given advice and wisdom with out any hint of being patronised. I love Cowell's ability to sum up life's mysteries and complexities in single sentences, which ring out as clear as a bell.

Knock the Times, the third Wizard of Once book, is out on September 19th.

Dracula Spectacular by Lucy Rowland and Ben Mantle

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dracula-Spectacular-Lucy-Rowland/dp/1509845976/ref=sr_1_11?keywords=lucy+rowland&qid=1568190908&s=books&sr=1-11

I would have bought this book purely on the cover art alone but the fact that it is a new picture book by Lucy Rowland and Ben Mantle means we are counting the days until it's release on September 19th. Lucy Rowland and Ben Mantle won us over with Little Red Reading Hood, a firm favourite that comes out on pretty much every car journey. Have you seen my blankie? is another of Lucy's charming rhyming tales as well as Catch that Egg, Jake Bakes a Monster Cake and Gecko Echo.

Our favourite Lucy Rowland tales are the ones with echoes of fairytales. However, a Halloween themed book that includes a rainbow Dracula is bound to get families excited. I doubt Lucy'srhyming talent will disappoint- I think we are in for a treat.

The Girl who Speaks Bear by Sophie Anderson

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33832945-the-house-with-chicken-legs

I can't speak about The Girl who Speaks Bear without first talking about Sophie Anderson's debut novel, The House with Chicken Legs. In my first blog post, I talked about finding those breadcrumb books that speak to your soul and leave an imprint on the rest of your life. This book is one of those books. 

For the first time in a long time I was tempted to hide under the covers and read through the night (and if it had been the weekend, I certainly would have).

The story of Marinka is beautiful and haunting. Based on the Slavic folklore and Russian fairytales about Baba Yaga, it centres around a house with chicken legs which guides the dead to the next life. Death is not an easy subject but Marinka's tale is moving and compelling. Just stunning!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43893965-the-girl-who-speaks-bear?ac=1&from_search=true

Released on September 5th 2019, The Girl who Speaks Bear is an entirely new story also inspired by Slavic folklore. Yanka's story is interspersed with traditional takes, giving it the promise of a truly magical read. 

                                       

The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43453718-the-deathless-girls?from_search=true

This is Kiran Millwood Hargrave's first foray into the YA market. Telling the story of Dracula's brides, it looks like the perfect Halloween read for older readers.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of Kiran Millwood Hargrave's middle grade books but it was The Island at the end of Everything that placed her amongst my new favourite authors. In the same ilk as Anderson's The House with Chicken Legs, this read was soulful and moving. It beautifully portrays the strength of a parental bond and explores how beauty can mask discrimination, prejudice and

 ugliness. 

These are only a few of the brilliant books available this month-the ones I have eagerly awaited and pre-ordered. I'm certainly like a kid in a sweetshop this September and can't wait for the packages to start hitting the doormat. Happy reading!

The Girl who Speaks Bear by Sophie Anderson

https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/43893965-the-girl-who-speaks-bear
👍👍👍👍👍
Published by Usborne Books

Yesterday, on a rainy Sunday afternoon, I managed to take a sneaky hour to curl up on the sofa and finish The Girl who Speaks Bear. This is a book I was incredibly excited about after being swept away by Sophie's debut novel The House with Chicken Legs...and it most certainly didn't disappoint.
There are strong echoes of The House with Chicken Legs in this novel. Both are based on Sophie's love of Russian and Slavic folktales and, to my delight, a Yaga house (not Marinka's but another one that links directly to The House with Chicken Legs) features heavily in the plot. This instantly gave the book a familiar and nostalgic feel, as I wasn't ready to say goodbye to the Yaga houses at the end of Sophie's first novel. It also carves out Sophie Anderson's identity as an exceptionally talented re-teller of the folktales she has always adored. The world she writes about is all intrinsically linked by magical tendrils and Sophie's passion.
In this tale, Yanka is comparable to Marinka. Both have a mysterious past which they must discover in order to make choices about their future. Yanka feels she doesn't fit in to the human world, whereas Marinka is desperate to belong to it (rather than being destined to guide the dead). Both stories explore the coming of age, when a teenager draws away from their family in order to experience a wider world and find out who they really are.
The Girl who Speaks Bear couldn't be more magical if it tried. The snow and ice landscape, alongside a menagerie of talking animals, re-conjured echoes of Narnia for me and then took the magic further-to fiery volcanoes, a three-headed dragon, bears and long-forgotten curses. Throughout the main story, characters re-tell some of the most beautiful folktales and legends I have ever heard. They crackle with magic and imagination to the point where they are, undoubtedly, the best storytelling I have ever read. These short tales feed into Yanka's story perfectly and, very cleverly, allow us to find out about her past in a non-linear way. They also add to the mystery of the story. Which parts of these tales are true? How do they all connect together to reveal the full tale of Yanka's ancestry.
Yanka is not alone in her journey. Throughout the novel she is joined by an eclectic mix of both animal and human friends, all of which have their own strengths and struggles. The theme of 'being a herd' is prominent and I love how Sophie Anderson highlights how everyone, big or small, has something invaluable to contribute to a group or community. Community versus isolation is another recurring theme.
In summary, Sophie incorporates all the magical things we love- from flying ships to dragons to plucky princesses with icy, stardust arrows-and weaves them into a tale that is wholly unique, captivating and memorable. If you are looking to be transported into an ultimate fairytale, then this is the book for you!

This blog takes no credit for the images used. Please follow the link to 'Goodreads' which provides further reviews and lists all available retailers.

Marvellous New Middle-grade: A round-up of some fantastic spring releases

The kids are back at school, there's sunshine and warmth in the air and it's been a relaxing two weeks of reading. So what better way to get going again than to round-up all the brilliant new middle-grade novels I devoured in the holidays. Middle-grade is on fire at the moment and with my fondness for fantasy, I really have been spoilt with the selection below:

The Thief Who Sang Storms by Sophie Anderson, illustrated by Joanna Lisowiec

Link to publisher

Published by: Usborne, March 2022

👍👍👍👍

The Thief who Sang Storms is the fourth book from Sophie Anderson, author of The House With Chicken Legs, and is as beautiful and lyrical as her other stories. Based on Slavic folklore, this tells the tale of Linnet and her battle for unity on her island home. 

The island of Morovia is shaped like a broken heart, with humans living on one side and alkonosts -bird-people-on the other. Linnet is desperate to reunite the two halves - if only she had her singing magic! But when her father is captured, Linnet realises she must emerge from her banishment in the swamps and find another way to heal the hurts and right the wrongs of her homeland.

This is a gently told tale with a hard-hitting message. The themes of division and persecution that run through the book have, sadly, never felt more relevant and yet echo throughout history. The setting and characters are extraordinary, the world-building is exquisite and the storytelling will make you smile, cry and, most importantly, think.

Although there is a magical element to the novel, which adds an extra sparkle to the story, I found the exploration of the actual magic interesting. Linnet is desperate to get her singing magic and yet magic becomes a source of manipulation in the novel. I love how Sophie Anderson explores the viewpoints of both the alkonosts and the humans in the story, culminating in a resolution that we would surely all hope for in the real world. 

Despite the serious nature of the novel, there are some wonderful moments woven throughout. Lumpy and Whiskers are a particular highlight as are the friendships between the characters. There are several stories within the story, which adds an extra beauty and depth to the narrative, and the setting is both unique and memorable. There's a lovely appearance from a familiar character and I was left with a similar haunting feeling to when I read The House With Chicken Legs, which still remains one of the best novels I've ever read.

The Sky Over Rebecca by Matthew Fox

Link to publisher

Published by: Hachette, April 2022

👍👍👍👍👍

The themes of division and persecution are as vivid in this novel as in The Thief Who Sang Songs, and yet, this time, are firmly based on actual events. Winner of the Bath Children's Novel Award 2019, The Sky Over Rebecca explores the consequences that World War II has on two young children, told through a time-travelling story that will give you goose pimples.

When ten-year-old Kara from Stockholm spots mysterious footprints in the snow, she sets out to discover who made them. But when they lead her to Rebecca and Samuel, two refugees from another time and place, she becomes desperate to help them stay safe and find their way home. 

This is a simply told, hauntingly brilliant novel with an utterly compelling voice. It had me so hooked from the first page that I couldn't stop reading until I'd finished it. Told in a fresh and original way, it tells the tale of both Kara, a girl from Sweden who gets caught up in a timeslip, and Rebecca and Samuel, a brother and sister who are in hiding in World War II. I have since questioned whether Rebecca and Samuel's story alone would have been just as powerful a novel. Yet weaving together the two stories has allowed Matthew Fox to create something truly special, poignant and unique with both a heart-breaking and heart-melting resolution. 

Despite Kara being 10, steering this towards the younger end of middle grade, the challenging content of the novel feels more suited to the older end of middle grade, but obviously depends on the individual. The hard-hitting truth of history combined with to-and-fro leaps through time and place is beautifully portrayed but uncomfortable at times. Balancing this out is Kara's heart-warming relationship with her grandad and the sprinkling of magic which dusts the story like snow. And, with the current state of the world and the sense of history repeating itself, this novels feels like a well-timed warning - one that is relevant to readers of all ages in the here and now. 

Dreadwood by Jennifer Killick

Link to publisher

Published by: Farshore, March 2022

👍👍👍👍👍

Offering a bit of light relief and a fear-factor of a very different kind, Dreadwood, the first book in a new series by Jennifer Killick, is full of chills, thrills and laugh-out-loud gags. Following the movements of a group of four secondary pupils trapped in a school on a Saturday, you really wouldn't want to be one of them. 

When Angelo, Hallie, Naira and Gustav are summoned to school detention on a Saturday, things take a terrifying turn when their teacher is dragged underground. Coupled with the creepy caretakers humming the tunes to 'Incy Wincy Spider' , it's not long before they realise that something is out to get them. Something big, something scary and something that isn't going to let them escape...

Perfect for fans of Stranger Things and Jennifer's previous novels Crater Lake and Crater Lake: Evolution, this is not for the faint-hearted reader. Yet again, though, Jennifer Killick provides the perfect balance of fear and humour, making me snort with laughter of one page and then making me pull the blanket over my head on the next. The creepy use of a popular nursery rhyme is a genius twist and, judging by the sneak preview of the second book which you can find at the back, is something which is going to run throughout the entire series. 

Not only does the book offer a spine-tingling, edge of your seat plot, the characters (as in Crater Lake) are brilliant. Each one has their own internal struggles to overcome, their own backstory and their own distinct personality and yet, together, they make such a great team, you just want to spend time hanging out with them. Their banter is edgy, hilarious and spot-on the age-group and highlights the fact that you don't necessarily have to have things in common to form connections with others...apart from the obvious fact that something wants you all dead.

This novel plays on our natural fears to bring us a nail-biting, page-turner of a story. Thank goodness for the light nights because you may not want to read this in the dark...

The Eternity Engine by Struan Murray, illustrated by Manuel Sumberac

Link to publisher
Published by: Penguin, March 2022

👍👍👍👍👍

Previous reviews: Orphans of the Tide, Shipwreck Island

Easily one of the most gripping trilogies I've read in children's fiction, the final instalment of the Orphans of the Tide series doesn't disappoint. Winner of the Bath Children's Novel Award and the Branford Boase, The Eternity Engine brings about the climax of Anna's battle with the enemy in a deliciously dark tale of strength and betrayal. 

After forcing Seth to part the seas, Kate and her army are marching northwards towards the Enemy's City. Now it's up to Ellie Lancaster and her friends to stop the brewing war. 

But the parting of the seas has also uncovered The Eternity Engine - a machine with the power to destroy or remake the world. But who will be able to control it and can the enemy ever be defeated?

This is fantasy at its best; dark, gritty and utterly absorbing. Struan Murray's plotting and world-building is 'singularly brilliant', as it states on the cover, and also highly original. There's a great synergy in this book as the characters from book one and book two merge together, each of them getting their chance to shine, and of course Ellie's battle with the enemy continues - the enemy again, for me, stealing centre stage in every scene it appears in. 

Again, this isn't a novel for the faint-hearted. The themes are challenging and as with The Thief who Sang Songs and The Sky Over Rebecca there are echoes of our history written across the pages. I was particularly moved (and distressed) by the young boys being made to fight in the war and yet the difficult exploration of rich versus poor, good versus evil and the abuse of power are balanced with the warmth of unity, friendship and loyalty. I don't want to give away any spoilers so I'll stop here but it's epic, ambitious and I absolutely loved it!

Yesterday Crumb and the Storm in a Teacup by Andy Sagar

 

Link to publisher

Published by: Hachette, 17th March 2022

👍👍👍👍👍

Boiling the kettle and settling down with a cosy cuppa to read felt particularly apt as I began the first book in this new fantasy MG series. For, just when you think you've read everything to do with witches, here comes Yesterday Crumb - a tea witch in the making - with a story that will blow you away but which also feels like a 'hug in a mug'.

Yesterday Crumb has grown up in a circus cage, ridiculed for her fox ears with no idea who she is. But when a witch's familiar breaks her out, Yesterday discovers not only that she's a strangeling, but that the evil Mr. Weep wants to destroy her new life. 

Taken in by a magical tea witch Miss. Dumpling, Yesterday starts to explore her powers. But with Mr. Weep's hold over her growing stronger and her witch's license in danger of being refused, Yesterday must summon a storm and fight for her life. 

This is magical fantasy at its best and a wonderful new take on a witch story. Andy Sagar's imagination is second to none, the characters are gorgeous and the tea and cake is...well, simply sublime! For me, the plot combined a nod to some of the best stories in children's literature - The Snow Queen, The Wizard of Oz, The House with Chicken Legs and even Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy - with something truly fresh and orginal. Dwimmerly End feels like a cosy, safe version of Hansel and Gretel's gingerbread house and Miss. Dumpling is possibly my new favourite character of all time. 

The story is charm personified but not too sugary sweet. Like a lot of Yesterday's brews, it has a bitter edge to it which makes the plot compelling and addictive. Yesterday is endearing and timid but, as she comes to the boil (in Miss. Dumpling's words), she unleashes a daring dark side with a tornado of power. The word building is wonderful and again mixes cosy fluffiness with shadow and shade, heartbreak and grief. In my personal opinion, though, it is the magical tea brewing which is the star of the show and the USP that will make me first in the queue to refill my teacup the moment the sequel comes out. 

So if you're looking for a marvellous, magical tale that balances comforting charm with danger and adventure, then this is the book for you. Brew the tea, cut the cake and snuggle down for a real treat!

Yesterday Crumb is released in the UK tomorrow, March 17th 2022. A huge thanks to Netgalley and Hachette for allowing me a review copy. 

MIDDLE GRADE NOVELS FOR AUTUMN...

Autumn has started with a bang this year. Following on from a whole summer of reading, these novels have prevented me from getting the back-to-routine blues. From a theatrical ghost story to a fantastical, world-jumping adventure to the finale of a thrilling spy series, there's something for everyone in this array of new releases...

Spooked: The Theatre Ghosts by Steven Butler, illustrated by Claire Powell

Link to publisher

Published by: Simon and Schuster, 1st September 2022

👍👍👍👍

Following on from The Nothing to See Here Hotel series - an hilarious collection of books for 7-9 years olds - Steven Butler has released a middle grade novel, Spooked: The Theatre Ghosts. Set in a run-down seaside village, it focuses on the discoveries made by Ella as she settles into her new home...

Moving to Cod's Bottom is NOT what Ella Griffin had planned for her life. Having to leave behind her theatre group friends in London was bad enough but her new home seems to have nothing to offer except cantankerous neighbours and spiteful residents. But when Ella discovers an old,abandoned theatre everything changes. For this beautiful, historic building is anything but empty...

This is a cosy, uplifting character-led novel, full of quirky personalities and a crumbling, memorable setting. Perfect to read around Halloween or at any time of the year, it offers the fun-factor rather than the fear-factor. As Ella makes friends with the theatre ghosts, so does the reader and it's great news to hear that this is going to become a series, as it will feel like revisiting a whole host of lovable family relations. I particularly loved the three poodles and watch out for the elusive pair of legs!

Although the pace and the plot potters along, Steven Butler evokes a strong feeling of both fun and nostalgia within the pages of this book. There's the hint of a mystery, some hilarious antics and a not-unusual-but-particular-nasty villainous pair to thwart. Convinced that I'd predicted the plot, there was a shock-gasp twist at the end that had my heart in my mouth and which leaves the series wide open. What will happen next? I can't wait to find out. This story, to me, feels like a pair of cosy pyjamas as the weather turns colder, a bakewell tart and a hug in a mug...all the good things! 

A big thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for allowing me a review copy. 

Which Way to Anywhere by Cressida Cowell

Link to publisher

Published by: Hachette, 15th September 2022

👍👍👍👍👍

According to Cressida Cowell, the former Children's Laureate, this story has been 25 years in the making and, boy, are you in for a treat. Which Way To Anywhere, as with all of Cressida Cowell's books, shows off the true depths of her creativity and imagination and will whisk readers away to an unparalleled world on an unrivalled adventure...

K2 is widely considered as being hopeless, especially by his annoying step-siblings, Theo and Mabel. Yet K2 and his sister, Izzabird, are hiding the secret that they are from a magical family and that K2 actually has the gift of drawing maps of worlds that are REAL!

When their baby sister, Annipeck, is kidnapped, the warring step-siblings must use K2's gift to travel to a dangerous world to rescue her. But do they have the power to defeat an abhorrent monster and a robot assassin? And can they unite their family before it's too late?

Aside from being an epic fantasy novel packed jam full of maps, monsters, robots, predator plants, walking trees and potions, Cressida Cowell also uses this story to explore two major themes. Many readers will surely relate to K2's awkwardly blended family and their journey towards finding common ground and also to the subtle but cleverly constructed eco-message regarding the impact humans can have on a planet. Both of these elements drive the story forwards with impact and heart, allowing readers to think. 

As, again, with all Cressida Cowell's novels, all the above is mixed up with a huge dollop of humour and bags of quirkiness. There's some great characters to watch out for and some awesome dynamics. I particularly loved Annipeck and her total command of Cyril Sidewinder and K2 is a lovable, hapless hero. There were some strong similarities to Cressida Cowell's Wizards of Once series, although providing a total different adventure and, for me, it also evoked some echoes of the film, Labyrinth.

With her fabulous language and unique storytelling style this is a treat for all fantasy lovers and adventurers. And, with more books to come (I hope!), the adventure is far from over...

A big thanks to NetGalley and Hachette for allowing me a review copy. 

Vi Spy: The Girl with the Golden Gran by Maz Evans

Link to publisher

Published by: Chicken House, August 2022

👍👍👍👍

It's back, it's brilliant and it's the final battle for Vi Spy in The Girl with the Golden Gran. Spoofy and utterly hilarious but with more heart than any Valentines Day, this is the spy series of the century...

Valentine Day is facing the mission of a life-time. With Umbra laughing at her family from space and set on world domination (and destruction), time is running out to save the planet. But when Vi faces the devastating news that her gran's clock is also counting down, her own world begins to crumble. Can she find a way to save everything and everyone, especially the gran she loves?

This series is action-fuelled adventure mixed with comical capers mixed with family. Maz Evans is not only a master at humour but also at capturing the heart-breaking and heart-warming emotions of divorcing parents and blended families. Being shut up in space together quickly brings things to a head for Vi's warring relations, allowing the kids to show the parents how its done. 

The plot brings a whole host of surprises in book three. Without giving away two many spoilers, prepare for some extra-terrestrial encounters and a dramatic space rescue. Then there's the show-down with the dastardly Umbra and a highly emotional, poignant but fitting twist at the end. Everything is, consequently, wrapped up as neatly a Christmas present and I can't quite believe it's the end of such a fabulous series - I can't recommend it enough!

Fear Ground by Jennifer Killick

Link to publisher

Published by: Farshore, 1st September 2022

Following on from her Alex Sparrow series and Crater Lake and Crater Lake Evolution, Jennifer Killick brings us the second of her Dread Wood books, Fear Ground. Unlike Spooked: The Theatre Ghosts, this very much brings the fear factor from the start so grab a blanket, or a friend, turn the lights on (or off if you're brave enough) and prepare some some hair-raising, spine-chilling action. 

When creepy game, Flinch, becomes the new craze at Dread Wood High, everyone is keen to join in the fun, including Angelo and his gang. But soon the fun turns to fear when everyone starts acting strangely. Who are the faces behind the clown masks and what is going to happen at the fair? Things might be about to come to a head...

For me, Jennifer Killick raises the game, and the goosebumps, with every book. Already familiar with the characters and setting, this one hooked me in from page one. It's everything you want in a horror novel; fast-paced, chilling and yet perfectly balanced with teen friendship and banter. 

The set-up works really well. Set in the same school with the same characters as book one, the plot is completely different and yet there is a follow-on, which any new readers could latch on to fairly quickly. The fair adds a new dimension and definitely ups the fear-factor making it a brilliant read for Halloween. The writing and dialogue is addictive as always, also making it the perfect for binge reading in one sitting. 

A big thanks to NetGalley and Farshore for allowing me a review copy. 

Valentine Crow and Mr. Death by Jenni Spangler

Link to publisher
 

Published by: Simon and Schuster, 19th January 2023

👍👍👍👍👍

As an aspiring writer in an competitive industry, you hear lots of advice about creating "a standout concept" - something which will make the industry gatekeepers stand to attention. This is understandable as surely readers want exactly the same thing...a book that will grab them from the opening pages and make them forget everything beyond the story. 

For me, and hopefully for middle-grade readers too, this is one of those books. Fabulously different, wickedly funny with a daring concept, Valentine Crow and Mr. Death is a book I'm going to be raving about for the forseeable future...

Valentine Crow is finally old enough to leave the Foundling Hospital and start an apprenticeship. But he definitely isn't his expecting his new boss to be Mr. Death. As Death teaches him how to reap souls, Valentine begins to get used to his new life. That is, until he finds out the next on his list of souls to collect is his best friend, Philomena Sparrow. Is there any way he can save his only friend?

With wonderfully unique world-building and sharp, witty writing, this book lives up to its spectacular front cover, weaving an enthralling story that is funny and heartfelt rather than scary. Yes, there are creepy moments and tackling the topic of death is certainly not an easy subject - meaning this story will not be for everyone. But underneath the humour is a story of friendship, love and loss, a beautifully thought-provoking and insightful view of death...and a pain in the backside boss called Linda, because, of course, even Death has a boss. 

Valentine is a gorgeously created character - raised in the Foundling Hospital, he is eager-to-please, eager to see the world and extra eager to belong. I love the dynamics between him and Death and how Death endeavours to learn how to look after him. Although Jenni Spangler's representation of what happens after we die is very different to other books, such as The House With Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson, and may also be very different to what young readers believe or have been taught, I did find some true beauty in Spangler's portrayal. Certainly, tackling a subject which can be considered taboo, it's a great way of initiating discussion and I found myself soothed as well as entertained by this novel, with the fear of Death seeping away. 

But, if you're worried this novel is going to be too deep, fear not. The cast of hilarious and endearing characters provides laughs aplenty. With two very chatty ghosts, an adorable dog, mysterious librarians and The Never, this is a rollercoaster of entertainment and action which gently tackles the ultimate question: Can we cheat Death? The format of the book is easily accessible and I loved the unusual way the text was broken up with illustrated thoughts and explanations - the kindred spirits page being my favourite. Full of truth and hope, this tale reassured me that our loved ones are never too far away. 

A big thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for allowing me a review copy. Valentine Crow and Mr. Death is available to buy from today, 19th January 2023.