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This Dark Descent by Kalyn Josephson: Review

This Dark Descent is an incredible fantasy novel that surrounds a violent and magical horse race – the Illinir – that has the ability to change lives with its astonishing prize money. Desperate to save her family’s ranch, one of our protagonists, Mikira Rusel, must enter this deadly race and surround herself with some even deadlier people. Our other protagonist, Arielle, is an unregistered enchanter, who has been enlisted to help Mikira win the Illinir, in the hopes she can finally obtain an enchanter licence.

Alongside the high stakes cross-country horse race, Josephson has also managed to seamlessly weave in a beautiful friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romance worth swooning over. This novel truly has everything you could want in a good fantasy. Josephson includes queer representation and refugee representation in an intricate world that is steeped in Jewish folklore. A world where danger lies around every corner, and there’s no telling what may happen next.

Josephson leaves us with a rather mysterious ending, which I have no doubt will have readers desperate for book two! This Dark Descent is the perfect book to be reading right now, one worthy of a cosy evening by the fire.

Nik Scully

This Dark Descent
Kalyn Josephson
Macmillan Children’s Books, 2023
Paperback, £8.99
ISBN 9781035027910

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All The Hidden Monsters by Amie Jordan: Review

All The Hidden Monsters by Amie Jordan cover

Have you ever been genuinely scared to turn the first page of a book? What if that book came with an envelope full of victim profiles of murdered werewolves, a newspaper clipping about a serial killer and the book itself was wrapped in an ominous black ribbon? Neither had I. Until I received Amie Jordan’s modern murder mystery fantasy novel All The Hidden Monsters. Welcome to the Downside, a hidden world of werewolves, warlocks, poltergeists and other supernatural creatures.

When her supernatural friend, Lucy, is found dead in the Upside (human world), werewolf Sage joins Oren, the unfeeling, powerful warlock to avenge her friend’s murder. This is not a ghost story and it’s not going to keep you lying awake at night terrified of the shadows on your wall. It will keep you up because you won’t be able to put it down, because maybe the next page will hold the final clue. Instead it twists, turns and throws your detective work into disarray so you keep turning every page of this perfect mix of supernatural thriller, humour and romance until it’s over.

Lola-Mae McCormack, 14

All The Hidden Monsters
Amie Jordan
Chicken House Books, May 2024
Paperback, £8.99
ISBN 9781915026118

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Play by Luke Palmer: Review

Male teenage relationships are at the forefront of this contemporary coming-of-age story. Unlike a lot of multiple narrative novels, the characters in Play read as genuine and relatable with distinct voices and personalities. Some of the characters even have their own fonts to further distinguish their personalities.

This is by no means a kid’s book, even though the title might suggest otherwise. Rather, it is a mature and captivating depiction of the peer and parental pressures young adults, and especially young men, face.

This book isn’t the first to feature a cast of disenfranchised youths trying to find their place in the world and it won’t be the last, but the trying scenarios the boys face in this book never feel manufactured for the sake of teaching a lesson. Each boy’s circumstance feels authentic; it could easily have been you or I who got involved with the wrong crowd or who grew up neglected.

Play is about how each of us is dealt a different hand and it is only through dealing with our unique set of adversities that we grow as young adults. Themes such as drug dependency, alcohol abuse and learning to accept your sexuality are dealt with openly and honestly. I’m sure many young readers will be able to identify and connect with the themes highlighted in this superbly written book.

Mark Jackson

Play
Luke Palmer
Firefly Press, 2023
Paperback, £8.99
ISBN 9781915444318

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After You Vanished by E.A. Neeves: Review

At her summer job at Bottomrock Lake, Teddy meets the new lifeguard, Toby – the last person to see her twin sister, Izzy, alive before she disappeared the year before. Izzy’s body has never been found and her passport has disappeared. Teddy has a lot of questions about what happened that night. How could an aspiring Olympic swimmer disappear during a lake swim? Could Toby be lying about what happened that night? Teddy is determined to find out. Toby is the only one who can help her unravel the truth.

Written solely from Teddy’s point of view we journey through her grief and confusion as she realises her twin hasn’t shared some of the most important parts of her life with her. Guilt and anger give way to doubt and acceptance. Teddy sometimes speaks to Izzy, addressing her in the first person, which feels both intimate and jarring in patches. The pacing suffers slightly from being slow at the start to switching to a gallop in the last third of the book.

While this is a mystery story, it is also a story of grief and self discovery. Teddy, her parents and friends are all trying to rebuild their lives, their relationships and themselves. Neeves handles the topics of loss, mental health and death sensitively and subtly. The characters are well rounded and keep the reader interested. After You Vanished is a satisfying, quiet mystery about grief and navigating through it.

Patricia Hayes

After You Vanished
E.A. Neeves
Hyperion, 2023
Hardback, £16.99
ISBN 9781368092708

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Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah ÀbíkéÍyímídé: Review

Where Sleeping Girls Lie is a treat for people who grew up reading bookssuch as The School for Good and Evil and other dark academia fiction. We follow the story of Sade Hussein as she starts fresh at Alfred Nobel Academy, a place filled with secrets.

I really enjoyed this book, as it tells a story that is engaging and mysterious, yet in many ways I found it relatable and realistic as a girl who has been through a high school experience herself.

I loved the diverse range of characters. The various personalities created realistic dynamics that you can become invested in – or inversely, look forward to their downfall. While I loved Sade’s character, I have to say my favourite character was Baz.

I also have to admire the way that more serious topics are handled. For example, this book contains the theme of sexual assault and the author handles this with the gravity it deserves, and also portrays the aftermath in a way that accurately reflects the tragic reality that many victims have to experience. I look forward to reading more literature written by Faridah ÀbíkéÍyímídé.

Hanna-Rose Sullivan

Where Sleeping Girls Lie
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Usborne Publishing, March 2024
Paperback, £8.99
ISBN 9781474967549

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The Bad Ones by Melissa Albert: Review

In the small town of Palmetto, four people vanish with no explanation in the dead of night. One of them is Nora’s best friend Becca, whom Nora has not spoken to since they fell out months before. Nora is at a loss as to where Becca could have gone. Only Becca seemed to know she’d vanish before she did. She’s left clues for Nora, sending a message only Nora can decipher. Every clue leads Nora back to the one game she never wanted to play again: the goddess game.

The experience of reading this novel is akin to hearing a mystery told at a campfire. The writing is cinematic, creating a gothic atmosphere that perfectly complements the strange goings-on. The majority of the novel is narrated by Nora, who feels like a real teenager: flawed, scared, but fiercely loyal. It is Nora’s love for Becca that pushes her to solve the mystery, and you cannot help but root for her.

The ending was abrupt, but since the story had good pacing before this and all loose ends were tied up, it still felt like a satisfying conclusion. Albert pokes at elements of small-town life and the teenage experience in this novel – from the spreading of rumours to high school drama – which adds a needed level of realism to the supernatural plot. At its core, however, The Bad Ones explores what people are willing to do to protect those they love. For that exploration alone, it is a worthwhile read.

Tara O’Malley

The Bad Ones
Melissa Albert
Penguin Books, February 2024
Paperback, £8.99
ISBN 9780241662038

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I Loved You In Another Life by David Arnold: Review

I Loved You In Another Life sings to the very thing that makes us human: the need to love and be loved. Indeed, Evan and Shosh’s love is one that transcends time itself, and what could be more romantic than that?

Their connections are fantastical and aspirational, they inspire us to dream big and love fully and honestly. In a world where there is so much anger and hate, it gives us something to hope for, because even in the dark, there is someone there to reach out and hold our hands. Arnold shows us that no matter how alone we feel, there is someone out there for us.

These characters are beautifully, almost lyrically written and at their core just wonderfully human. They are not perfect, but flawed in a way that speaks to the very truth of being alive. We love them not despite their imperfections but because of them. Arnold writes the main characters with a raw honesty that demands to be respected and loved. Every part of you wants to root for these characters and their musically linked love story.

There’s a warmth and familiarity about this story. The tale is expertly woven through time and perspectives with a lilting and lyrical style. It’s sad and funny and in many ways a classic tale without feeling stale.

Clíona Hornibrook

I Loved You In Another Life
David Arnold
Bonnier Books, 2023
Paperback, £8.99
ISBN 9781471414329

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Ride or Die by Gail-Agnes Musikavanhu: Review

Ride or Die 
Gail-Agnes Musikavanhu 
Soho Teen, 2023 
Hardback, €25.19 
ISBN 9781641294201

The best way I would describe this book would be a breath of fresh air while simultaneously being a breath holding experience.  

This thrilling YA novel Ride or Die explores the character Loli Crawford, who is always unapologetically herself, something you can both admire and hate. While plotting an elaborate heist, a mysterious stranger, X, interrupts her plans and proposes an offer she cannot refuse. While hoping to fulfil her adrenaline rushed fantasies, we see Loli juggle the act of self-discovery, school and relationships. The author puts an exciting twist on regular clichés so you never truly know where you’re going to end up.  

I’m a sucker for an interesting character with plenty of depth and this book had quite a few. The protagonist Loli is humorous, unpredictable and frustrating in all the right ways. Although I enjoy these attributes, I understand characters like this aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. I find it boring when a book has a set of characters who are essentially all copied and pasted, but each character in Ride or Die had their own unique traits, antics and flaws. So much so, you’d struggle trying not to find someone you relate to. While the characters aren’t particularly complex, I think that the story speaks for itself and is a light and funny read.  

My most read genres would include thrillers and mysteries, so I thoroughly enjoyed those elements in this novel. It was a perfect combination of classic chick flicks like Gossip Girl and famous stories like Bonnie and Clyde. With each chapter based off a song, you’re always kept entertained while reading. If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush this is the book for you.  

Colene O’ Callaghan, 16 

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When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill: Review

When Women Were Dragons 

Kelly Barnhill 

Hot Key Books, 2023 

Paperback £8.99 

ISBN 9781471412226 

 When Women Were Dragons is a highly interesting book about transformation and feminine rage. It follows a girl named Alex as she grows up in 1950’s Wisconsin. Women turn into dragons, seemingly out of nowhere. The government is suppressing media and research, even though across America women are turning into dragons in a process called dragoning. There was a mass dragoning in 1955. Alex grows up wondering why some women dragon and what the phenomenon means for her family and her future. 

Most of the plot involves her struggles to care for her sister and to get to college despite a complete lack of familial support. She also must deal with trauma caused by emotional abuse from her father. The story is filled with loss, struggle, frustration, heartbreak, and rage. This book features a variety of different characters apart from Alex. Her mom, a math genius, a lesbian aunt who is a car mechanic, a badass librarian, and a determined scientist. 

This was a book I could not stop reading because of the amazing storytelling and complex characters. 

Máire Daly, 16 

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Queen of Gods by Katherine & Elizabeth Corr: Review

Queen of Gods 

Katherine & Elizabeth Corr 

Hot Key Books, 2023 

Paperback, £8.99 

ISBN 9781471411281 

Queen of Gods is a thrilling adventure filled with captivating characters, intricate world-building, and an engaging plot. The authors do a fantastic job of immersing readers in a rich and imaginative realm, filled with gods, magic, and intricate mythology. The vivid descriptions and attention to detail bring the setting to life, making it easy to get lost in the story. 

The story follows Deina, a relatable and compelling protagonist, as she discovers her hidden powers and navigates a world filled with gods, mythical creatures, and ancient prophecies. The authors’ descriptive writing style brings the settings and action to life, making it easy to get lost in the pages. 

One of the standout aspects of Queen of Gods is the depth and complexity of the well-developed characters. Deina’s journey of self-discovery is not only about her powers but also about her relationships with other characters. Each character possesses their own unique strengths, flaws, and motivations, making them feel incredibly real and relatable. As the story unfolds, we witness their growth, internal struggles, and the choices they make in the face of daunting challenges. It’s fascinating to see how their relationships and interactions shape the course of the plot. The interactions and dynamics between the characters are well-developed and add layers of depth to the story. 

Overall, Queen of Gods is a mesmerizing must-read for fans of fantasy and adventure. It’s a book that will keep you hooked from beginning to end, with its blend of magic, mythology, and a strong, relatable protagonist. 

Charlie O’ Keeffe, 16