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Review: Wildlord by Philip Womack

Wildlord
Philip Womack
Little Island Books, October 2021
Paperback, €9.99
ISBN 9781912417971

We’ve all had that moment; passing through an ancient graveyard or the dappled sunlight of a forest when suddenly the lines between worlds feel just a little too thin for comfort. And out of the corner of your eye, a twitch of movement, a flash of something you can’t quite put your finger on, something … unsettling.

Philip Womack’s first YA novel, Wildlord, is exactly that — an exploration of the ethereal worlds of which we only catch brief glimpses. Parentless teenager Tom is to spend a summer with an uncle he’s never heard of, let alone met. But when he arrives at the isolated farmhouse, strange things begin to happen in the shimmering heat of the summer. … Womack meditates on the laws of time and space — and the chaos and knowledge that come with breaking them — in this startling YA debut. Concepts of time travel and otherworldly entities collide in this original and unusual take on faerie folklore.

The prose is kept simple, largely because the concepts can be complex at times, so we’re left a little uncertain of the rules of this universe. However, this seems to be Womack encouraging us to think of the endless possibilities of this boundless power, and what control and the lack of it can mean when meddling in matters of dark magic.

Fans of Sarah Maria Griffin’s Other Words for Smoke will enjoy this darkly glittering and malevolently magical tale of found family, betrayal and power.

Fiona Murphy

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Review: This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron

This Poison Heart
Kalynn Bayron
Bloomsbury YA, June 2021
Paperback, £7.99
ISBN 9781526632791

This Poison Heart is an amazing novel. You find yourself sucked in as soon as you start reading and relating to the characters and the situations. The use of suspense and drama is captivating, and magic and mystery is woven into the book.

Briseis’s magic is something she has always hidden for fear of being judged, but when she moves into the middle of nowhere, she starts to let herself be open. The more Briseis learns about her birth family, the more she starts to understand herself. As you read on, more and more mysteries start to unfurl and Briseis begins to doubt herself.

The diversity in this book is handled deftly, written well but included in a way that makes it seem like it’s not the most important thing. This is great because I’ve read plenty of books where LGBTQIA+ and POC representation is handled gingerly.

The writing in this book is incredible, and the use of imagery means that you can see the story appear around you as you read. It’s one of my new favourite books!

Sarah O’Gara, 13

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Review: The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth

The Falling in Love Montage
Ciara Smyth
Andersen Press, June 2020
Paperback, £7.99

Saoirse has no desire to get into another relationship but when she meets super-cute, rom-com lover Ruby, she decides to break her number one rule: no relationships. They agree to have a summer of fun together, following all the clichés of the falling in love montages in Ruby’s favourite films. However, they both forget that at the end of every montage, the characters fall in love.

Ciara Smyth cleverly includes every ingredient of your classic rom-com while incorporating Saoirse’s family issues. Saoirse’s mother lives in a care home with dementia and, at times, it was hard to read about the reality of her illness and how it affected Saoirse. Saoirse and her father also have an interesting dynamic owing to his new relationship and the impact of her mother’s illness.

In parts, the book is serious but you’ll find yourself grinning at Saoirse’s sass and the utter adorableness of Ruby and Saoirse’s relationship. The characters were quirky in their own way but all had flaws to make them seem even more human. Saoirse was the perfect narrator with her witty and sarcastic tone, making her sound like a real teenager. She was easily likable and relatable, even when she made mistakes. It was hard not to love the heartwarming Ruby, who was such an optimistic character and wasn’t afraid to call Saoirse out. Overall, great representation, writing and characters. The book left me smiling bitter-sweetly at the end and wishing for more.

Rowan Beddows, 16

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Review: This Is My Truth by Yasmin Rahman

This Is My Truth
Yasmin Rahman
Hot Key Books, July 2021
Paperback, £7.99
ISBN 9781471410529

TW: Domestic abuse

Everyone in Amani’s life thinks that her family is perfect, but they don’t know that she has been keeping a secret about her father for years. Even her best friend Huda doesn’t know about the “bad nights” when her father’s temper rages and Amani has to comfort and look after her younger brother. But the confident and independent Huda has secrets too — her loving foster parents are expecting a baby and she’s worried that they will forget about her. Both friends keep their worries hidden until a prank blog starts revealing people’s secrets at school. This Is My Truth is a heartwarming and inspiring story about the power of using your voice.

Our protagonist, Amani, may seem quiet and shy but she is also intelligent and brave. Amani and Huda’s friendship is one of the best aspects of the book. Their dynamic is written so realistically — they fight and have their differences, but ultimately, they wish the best for each other and, as friends, they lift each other up and help each other through their struggles. Both characters are wise beyond their years and it was a pleasure to read their story.

This book deals with the difficult subject of domestic abuse which could be hard to read at times. However, the author has clearly taken a lot of time and care in order to depict this in a realistic way. The story is also full of hope, and the compassion of others is a big feature.

At times funny and always filled with drama, This Is My Truth packs a lot into a short book. If you think you will enjoy a story about friendship, secrets, finishing school and starting a new life, and if you enjoy good twists, then you’ll love this book!

Joyce Dignam

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Review: Rapids by Anna Bowles

Rapids
Anna Bowles
ZunTold, May 2021
Paperback, £9.99
ISBN 9781916204232

A valuable lesson was learned while reading Rapids: never judge a book by the first few pages. This was my mistake, and I now wholeheartedly apologise to the wonderful protagonist Yan Harris, because she did not deserve my rash judgement. Yan is a beautiful character who you are championing before you know it. The author’s portrayal of Yan’s hyper-manic state is exceptional, eye-opening and educational. Bowles gives us a character with an undiagnosed mental illness and all the while makes her an extremely lovable protagonist.

While it is a little slow to start, this book soon races along, aided by Bowles’s use of language. As the book progresses, so does Yan’s euphoria, and this is mirrored beautifully by her internal thoughts, expressed through the swift and creative language. There were aspects of the novel I previously knew nothing about, namely fandoms and online queer culture. At first, I didn’t understand that these things could be important, but I now see they are crucial. They offer Yan an alternative dynamic to her exciting life, while also educating this reader.

I had this book read in a couple of hours because of Yan. Her perspective is raw and fast: she thinks, she overthinks, she’s impulsive, and as the reader you get the joy of feeling impulsive with her. I tried to turn the pages rapidly, because Yan Harris made me! This is a novel which makes you feel euphoric and terrified all at once.

Lorna O’Dea

More information on bipolar disorder in young people can be found at www.youngminds.org and adults can find information at www.bipolaruk.org

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Review: From Little Tokyo, With Love by Sarah Kuhn

From Little Tokyo, With Love
Sarah Kuhn
Viking, May 2021
Paperback, £8.99
ISBN 9780593403082

From Little Tokyo, With Love is an intoxicating romance which takes readers into the heart of a vibrant Japanese-American district in LA. Rika is a biracial 17-year-old who feels like an outsider in her community and within her own family. In addition to not looking like anyone around her, Rika’s fiery temper often gets her into trouble, making her feel even more conspicuous. Raised by aunts after her mother died in childbirth, the identity of Rika’s father is a mystery, and she knows very little about either parent. Feeling unwanted, angry and frustrated, a chance encounter with actor Hank Chen sets Rika on a journey of self-discovery while finding clues about her mother too.

Infused with Japanese folklore and food, this story is enjoyed with all of the senses. It defies gender stereotypes and subverts the traditional fairy tale, while demonstrating how everyone deserves a happily ever after. I loved all the descriptions of Little Tokyo and LA and how both places are imbued with magical qualities.

Rika is an amazing character; she is strong and passionate, determined and tough. She refuses to change in order to feel more accepted, but instead reaches a better understanding and a greater appreciation of herself. Although this book is about falling in love, it doesn’t just concern romance. Rika must learn to love who she is and, just as importantly, realise how much she is loved by her family, friends and neighbours. A moving and uplifting story with a fascinating setting and magnificent, memorable characters.

Ciara O’Hara

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Review: Know My Place by Eve Ainsworth

Know My Place
Eve Ainsworth
Barrington Stoke, July 2021
Paperback, £7.99
ISBN 9781781129807

Amy is moving to another new “placement”. That’s the term they use: “placement”, not home or family. This will be her sixth placement since her nan died seven years ago. She was six then. Her last placement, with the Gibsons, lasted three years. It started off well. Amy liked Mum Mary, and baking with her in the kitchen. But the experience taught Amy to be cautious. Don’t let your guard down or let yourself feel at home.

The narrative shifts between the past and present, from Amy’s previous placement to her recent move to the Dawson’s, with their minimalist décor and massive TV. It is an effective device, slowly revealing Amy’s story as we progress. It enables us to better understand the protagonist, where she finds herself today, and the sore twisty feeling that fills her stomach.

Know My Place has a dyslexia-friendly layout, typeface and paperstock, and has been edited to a reading age of eight, which makes it a more accessible reading experience. It is a gentle tale, told with nuance; the characters are not trolls and witches, princesses and fairies, but humans in all their complexities. Amy is kind, and she is angry and she is hurting. In a world where we all seek to belong, Eve Ainsworth’s novel is a wonderful book about finding your place.

Brigid O’Dea

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Review: Skulduggery Pleasant: Dead or Alive

Skulduggery Pleasant: Dead or Alive
Derek Landy
HarperCollins Children’s Books,
Hardback, April 2021
ISBN 9780008386290

Derek Landy’s cast of characters return for their latest adventure in Skulduggery Pleasant: Dead or Alive, the fourteenth novel in the Skulduggery Pleasant series. Skulduggery Pleasant and Valerie Cain pursue their last remaining option to prevent the return of the Faceless Ones — to assassinate Damocles Creed. Landy’s duo, with their usual wittiness and, at times, genuine tenderness, must decide if murder is acceptable if it will save the rest of the world. The book revisits characters from previous instalments in the series, including Auger and Omen Darkly. We see Omen’s new partnership with Crepuscular develop into an intriguing and certainly entertaining dynamic.

Although this is the fourteenth novel in a series, this story is accessible independently. The narrative is rich with action and excitement, albeit with vividly violent descriptions, and gives adequate context for new readers without slowing the story down with too much information. The text also accesses and explores characters’ emotions. The story is told in different times using the present tense, and the frequency of these time hops could prove challenging for younger or less experienced readers.

The narrative feels chaotic and violent, but also sensitive and attuned to characters’ emotions. It is quick-witted, quick-paced, and will be quickly loved by fans of the series and new readers alike. The penultimate novel of the series, it leaves many questions unanswered and is sure to have fans eagerly awaiting the final book.

Grace Kelly

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Review: Blackout

Blackout
Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson,
Nic Stone, Angie Thomas,
Ashley Woodfolk and Nicola Yoon
Electric Monkey, June 2021
Paperback, £7.99
ISBN 9780755503063

When there is a blackout in New York City, six young city dwellers still manage to find a little light in their lives.

From six of the biggest names in young adult fiction comes a collection of intertwining stories celebrating family, connection and, above all, love. From the very opening page, you’ll be hook-line-and-sinkered!

The entire collection takes place over the course of an evening in various corners of the city. It’s Tammi’s first day in her summer internship; Nella is visiting her grandfather in a nursing home; Lana is saying goodbye to her best friend; two schoolmates are stuck on the subway; Kayla is caught in a love triangle on a bus; and Grace is distracted in an awkward taxi journey. They are all heading to the same destination: a block party in Brooklyn.

Every story is told by a different author, each bringing their own unique style to the table in a way that is refreshing and fitting to the characters they explore. For me, Tiffany D. Jackson and Nicola Yoon steal the show, but each story offers romance and charm in equal measures. My heart felt light as I raced through the pages.

Blackout revels in Black joy and teen love. The outcome is moving, thrilling and impossible to put down. This is the perfect YA summer romance, but would also brighten anyone’s evening as the colder months settle in — a must-read!

Sinéad Creedon

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Review: Love Me Not by Holly Smale

Love Me Not
Holly Smale
HarperCollins, May 2021
Paperback, £7.99
ISBN 9780008393526

The Valentines are a glamorous showbiz family who, to the outside world, seem to have it all. However, living in the spotlight isn’t always as it seems. Mercy Valentine, party girl and actress, is the eldest of the Valentine siblings and is not a nice character. She’s sarcastic, sharp and deliberately destructive. She herself says in the opening lines, “You’re not going to like me. I’m not nice, I’m not relatable, you’ll find it difficult to empathise with the snarky daughter of Hollywood royalty …”

Love Me Not is the third book in the Valentines series by Holly Smale. If, like me, you have not read the first two books, do not worry. Mercy’s story stands alone, and it does not matter at all if you haven’t read the previous novels.

While Mercy Valentine is not very likable, I still loved her. I found that the first-person narrative really helped me to empathise with Mercy. It helped me to understand her complex emotions of guilt, self-loathing, anger and grief. Her character is written so well and I found myself empathising with her even after she had crossed the line numerous times with her bratty behaviour. The plot was so engaging and I found myself constantly wondering what was going to happen next. This moving story thoughtfully explores sibling relationships, parental separation, teenage romance, addiction and bereavement.

If you enjoyed reading the first two books in the Valentines series – Happy Girl Lucky and Far From Perfect, I would definitely recommend reading the final instalment. Alternatively, if, like me, you read Love Me Not first, I would definitely recommend going back and reading the first two books in the series, they are well worth the read!

Laura Aylward, 16