Book

Spartacus returns home after serving with the Roman Legions for a decade to discover that his father has been murdered!

He falls out with the king who sells him and Adiadne
a Dionysias priestess to a slave trader.

One of the main reasons I enjoyed this book is
the meticulous historical detail.I was fascinated by gladiatorial combat and the way they were trained each gladiator had at least two weapons which were used for different tactics to kill their opponent in a most horrifying way.

The story follows Betty Dean, a girl who has grown up on Guernsey, latterly caring for her Grandmother Arlette. After the death of Arlette an unknown beneficiary is mentioned in her will and wanting to leave the island to start a new life Betty offers to track down Clara Pickle. All she has to go on is a book inscribed to her and the last known address from many years before.

Once you're dead that's it, right? Not if you live in Claysville. Here the dead can walk unless they are guarded and tended to by the Graveminder - a woman whose sole job is to keep the dead in the ground where they belong, and seek out those who do wonder and return them to their rightful place. In turn she is protected by the Undertaker - a man whose role is to protect the Graveminder and help her escort the dead to their place of safety. This is the way it has been since the town made a pact with the keeper of the city of the dead, a curious fellow known as Charles, or 'Mr D.'

Cassel is from a family of curseworkers - people who have special talents or gifts for magic. They can change your emotions, cause pain, make gook luck, or in extreme cases, make you change form. The problem is, everyone has a gift, except him. All Cassel has are dreams that haunt him and the terrifying memories of killing the girl he loved, but he has no idea why. After spending time with his family after being kicked out of school, he slowly starts to expect that all isn't as it seems, and he isn't wrong.

With a new book comes new challenges for Chess. With Lex now taking over Slowbags' part of Downside, he isn't prepared to sit back and let things go. He has big plans for Downside, and that means trouble for Chess' boss Bump. Only one thing stands between Lex and taking over Bumps' territory - Terrible, and if he wont work for him, then Lex will do what it takes to get him out of the way, despite knowing how much it will hurt Chess (and using that to his advantage). ..read more

Guy Booth's first foray into literature takes us into a society which has lost its sense of purpose and its moral compass, allowing mad-cap scientists who should have long ago been locked in the asylum, the power over life and death.
Booth's background in the fashion industry is clear from the first page, but his ornate description at times grates and at times stops the flow of the novel.

David Ashe is a ghost hunter and parapsycholist who is employed by a wealthy company to investigate the cause of paranormal activity at Cromaich castle on the western coast of Scotland. As David learns more about the castle and the inhabitants he becomes more aware that this is not just a ghost hunting problem.

Oooh, where to start with this book, Florentine and Pig Have a Very Lovely Picnic. Well, as a Nanny, I've had the pleasure of reading very many children's books and have learned which ones kids love and have you read 5 times in a row (aaarrgh!!), and which ones they'll listen to once, then walk away from. This falls into the latter! Oh dear!! The story, written by Eva Katzler, is pretentious and clunky. There are lovely moments when the story flows sweetly, but for the most part, it has no rhythm... BUT on the other hand, Jess Mikhail.. Oh wow... ..read more

I had to giggle at Oh No, George!! Chris Haughton has written a book for the little ankle biters, that adults can get their silly voices on, with. It's 4 parts cute, 2 parts daft and 5 parts lovable. The story is simple. Can George the dog, listen to his owner and do what was asked? It's been written in a plain and unfussy way that allows YOU the adult to interact with your child, asking them about what he's seeing, what she thinks might happen next, what they might do etc. So simple. I love it. Now, here comes the tough part... dissin' those illustrations.... ..read more

I am a fan of The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings films, I know.. I know.. how very lazy and uncultured of me, hey? Philistine!!! I hear some of you shouting at your laptops.. he he... This is purely because I find the books very difficult to read, despite loving the stories within. And here I am reviewing one of Tolkien' little pieces, Bilbo's Last Song. It's a poem, full of sorrow and longing and wistfulness and just plain emotive. This poem is sweet and short and not at all childlike, not that Tolkien' writings are such, at all. Bilbo's Last Song is a companion piece, I guess. ..read more