Children's Fiction

In this instance magic is spells, potions and artifacts in a modern day London where magicians are in charge - in public life, in industry and the arts, and in the government. Nathaniel is a precocious young trainee magician who calls a demon to help him get revenge on a senior magician who has humiliated him. Bartimaeus, the ancient demon, proves to be an irreverent and unruly servant.

This, their first adventure together, is to disgrace the said senior magician by stealing the powerful Amulet of Samarkand he has hidden away for treasonable purposes.

Amy Tree's charmseeker story The Queen's Bracelet is not only beautifully written but charmingly read by Kate O'Sullivan. You are very quickly drawn into the world Sesame Brown and her friend Maddy and their efforts to find the charms that have been lost from the stolen Bracelet and will they overcome the Zorgan the evil magician.

Ghost Hunter is the 6th and final book in the 6 book arc by Michelle Paver of The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness, set around 6ooo years ago. She has given us a roller coaster of a ride with our trio, Torak, Renn and Wolf as  they fight to overcome the evil of Eostra the wicked Mage.

I just loved this book and the writings of Michelle Paver; she has a way with words that are exciting and unusual, that make you want to turn the page over as fast as you can to find out what happens - will Torak live even as it has been prophesized that he will die - no matter what.

Reading The Puzzle Ring by Kate Forsyth is like meeting up with an old friend and carrying on from where you left off the last time you met.

This is a brilliant story set in Scotland with history and magic melded together in such a way as to keep you gripped the whole way through the book.

There are many twists, turns and time frames to keep any reader very happy and it goes without saying that I loved the book which gave me a very satisfying read.

I very much look forward to her next one.

Atticus the Storyteller's 100 Greek Myths read by Simon Russell Beale, is an excellent way for both children and adults to hear about the most popular and also some unknown Greek Myths in short sharps doses. Each story is no more than 4 minutes with most being just over 2 minutes.

Flood and Fang is a brilliant story by Marcus Sedgwick that is brought to life by the excellent rendition by Martin Jarvis. He had me hooked right from the first sentence with this quite a gothic story about the Otherhand family at the Otherhand Castle and a certain mystery creature and a flood that fills the house!

Now I have to say that I'm always hooked when there's a dragon story to hear and Dan Stevens' rendition of The Dragon's Eye made a very long journey to Bournemouth much easier to bare! Our supposed two hour journey had slowly became a four hour one and all you want to do it get out of the car and stretch  - but Dan kept me glued to my seat as I wanted to find out what happened to our heroes - did they overcome the efforts of evil Ignatus Crook to steal the Dragon's Eye?

I didn't know quite what to expect when I started to read The Silver Pool, but I have to say, that Amy Tree is an excellent writer of the Charmseekers series. She gives Sesame and Maddy  quite an adventure to find the horseshoe charm that will keep the 6-10 year olds quite occupied both with listening to Kate O'Sullivan's rendition and reading at the same time.

Definitely one to  recommend.

The Dragon's REvenge is book 3 in the Charmseekers series by Amy Tree and what a delight it is. I thoroughly enjoying both reading and listening to Sesame and Maddy's new adventures - this time to find the shell charm. But the journey this time is a bit more hectic because the girls are having to face Morbrecia - Queen Charms older wicked sister while trying to find the charm.

This is a brilliant book and audio cd with Miranda Richardson's rendition captivating. There are special effects galore and the 40 minutes shoots by in what seems only seconds with Horrid Henry up to his usual tricks of causing mayhem at every given opportunity.

Although it is an early reader for the 3-6 year olds - I have to say that I would recommend it for an ault as a way of just taking time out and relaxing the mind from the stresses of the world!