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Issue Four Launch Night

We are so excited to launch our fourth issue this Thursday March 25th at 7pm!

We would be thrilled if you joined us to celebrate the amazing new work that we have coming up this issue. Our launch will be held virtually on our YouTube channel here.

We will be joined by some of our contributors who will be reading some of their work and talking about their pieces. We will also be chatting about submissions for issue five and our new book club! It’s gearing up to be a fantastic night. To make sure you don’t miss out, you can even set a reminder on our YouTube channel so that you’re notified when the launch premieres! Click here to check it out.

And don’t forget, you can pre-order issue four now!

We’re really looking forward to the launch and hope you can join us!

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Review: A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer

A Vow So Bold And Deadly
Brigid Kemmerer
Bloomsbury YA, January 2021
Paperback, 416 pages, $18.99
ISBN 9781547602582

A Vow so Bold and Deadly is the last book in a trilogy. It is a ‘Beauty and the Beast’ retelling set in the world of Emberfall. This book starts us off with the kingdom of Emberfall and the kingdom of Syhl Shallow. They are fighting over which one of their rulers is the true heir to the throne.

The story is told from four of the characters’ perspectives, Rhen, Harper, Lia Mara and Grey. One character, Harper, has cerebral palsy and I feel like that representation is very good, because not many authors write about it as a characteristic of a main character. The characters are very well-developed, and each perspective made me feel like I was them and I had to make the decisions they were making. The plot was really fast-moving and no part of the book felt slow to read.

A good bit of the book was only leading up to the main action. This might not be a bad thing for some, as I really enjoyed reading about every one of the characters and how they spent their day-to-day life. It gave me an insight into how they think, feel, and how they react in situations. Brigid Kemmerer knows how to write her characters to be enjoyable. Another thing that Kemmerer does very well is writing relationships, for example brotherhood. I loved how Rhen and Grey’s relationship develops over time. The end action was a tiny bit rushed for me and I would have liked more detail about what happened after all of it came to an end. The ending, when you find out about a plot twist and everything starts connecting, was very satisfying and very well-written. This was a very beautiful book and it gripped me from the start. I definitely recommend reading it.

Maya Silasi, teen reviewer

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Review: The Ravenmaster’s Boy by Mary Hoffman

The Ravenmaster’s Boy
Mary Hoffman
The Greystones Press, 2017
Paperback, 224 pages, £8.99
ISBN 9781911122135

The Ravenmaster’s Boy is a nuanced and dark tale, and Hoffman casts a new perspective on the Tudor legacy. The
book centres on Kit Wagstaffe and his ability to communicate with the Ravens. When we are first introduced to Kit, he
is trapped beneath the bodies of his mother and father on the plague cart. He is rescued and adopted by the Ravenmaster at the Tower of London. As Kit grows up, he learns the language of the Ravens and becomes highly skilled in his communication with them. As he attempts to save Queen Anne Boleyn from prosecution, Kit’s relationship with the Ravens is imperative.

This is a majestic book in many ways. Hoffman’s anthropomorphic Ravens are deeply symbolic as they represent prophecy and insight. Their ability to be all-knowing deepens our interaction with the characters and the inevitable downfall of Anne Boleyn. Kit’s increasing anxiety and dismay is quite poignant as a reader — given the contextual knowledge of the Boleyn-Tudor events, we know that Kit will be unsuccessful despite his best efforts. However,Cover of The Ravenmaster's Boy Hoffman frames the scenes with beautifully descriptive images that are evocative and appealing. There is a darkness that echoes under the watchful eyes of Kit’s Ravens, a haunting quality that lingers throughout the narrative.

Overall, this is an enchanting read that embraces history in a fresh and nuanced manner.

Jade Dillon

(This book may be difficult to purchase, so if you have difficulty we encourage
you to check your local library.)

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Review: This Can Never Not Be Real by Sera Milano

This Can Never Not Be Real
Sera Milano
Electric Monkey, April 2021
Paperback, 352 pages, £7.99
ISBN 9780755500338

CW: Suicide, terrorism
This Can Never Not Be Real is as fast-paced as a book can be. If you’re looking for something to completely immerse
yourself into, then this YA thriller is the one for you. Sera Milano’s YA debut follows a group of teenagers from a village where nothing really ever happens — until at their local festival, it’s tormented by a terrorist attack. It’s written in a great style, told through interview style questions for each of the characters as they recount the events of
that horrible day.

I love the way it unfolded because you were always ready to turn to the next page, I am always on the edge of my seat. It’s certainly a novel that grips your attention from the first page, and one with characters that burst from the pages with their personalities and discussions about such important topics.

The pace started off a bit slow, but once the story really began there was no turning back. Milano writes with such purpose and ease, and it was quite admirable how well she crafted these scenes with such tense atmospheres, I really felt like I was within the story myself as a reader. I would definitely recommend this book for fans of the storytelling
technique in Daisy Jones and the Six, as well as the infamous Breakfast Club.

Ross Kelly

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Review: Animal Farm by George Orwell

Animal Farm
George Orwell
Cover artwork by David Wardle
Barrington Stoke, January 2021
Paperback, 256 pages, £7.99
ISBN 9781781129692

Animal Farm is a satirical classic that focuses on the rise and fall of Communism. I enjoyed reading the book as both a
History and English student, as Orwell successfully combines both in a horrifying tale of treachery and intellect. The story follows a group of farm animals, led by Napoleon the pig, as they form their own ‘civilisation’ on their farm after driving all the humans away from it.

The story takes a dark turn when the pigs begin their crusade to consolidate their power and the other animals make the daunting realisation that “some animals are more equal than others.” Orwell uses his story as a powerful andCover of Animal Farm striking allegory for the harsh reality behind Communism. However, throughout the book powerful insights are made about the truth behind various forms of political power, including capitalism, and imperialism. One aspect I liked about the book was the accessible language. Orwell is able to break these very complex ideas down into simple English so that a wide audience can understand the points he is trying to make.

I genuinely enjoyed this book and I think it’s a must-read for those who enjoy history and politics, or who want an introduction into Orwell’s writings. This book isn’t for the faint-hearted or animal lovers, as there are some brutal scenes in the book that can be hard to swallow, but I would highly recommend it otherwise.

Shauna Dalton, teen reviewer

Shop Paper Lanterns issues – YA short stories, art, features and book reviews

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Review: The Cousins by Karen M. McManus

The Cousins
Karen M. McManus
Penguin Random House Children’s UK, 2020
Paperback, 321 pages, £7.99
ISBN 9780241376942

The book I’m reviewing is called The Cousins. It’s an epic tale of family, inheritance and lies. The storyline is straightforward: Mildred Story disinherited her children with no cause except a letter saying “You know what you did.” Twenty four years later she invites cousins Jonah, Aubrey and Milly Story to Gull Cove Island where nothing is as it seems.

The plot is very engaging and unpredictable. The author has a way of throwing you a curveball each time but eventually you catch it in the end. The characters are easy to relate to and also believable. The story is told from the viewpoint of three cousins; Aubrey, Milly and Jonah. We also have a few flashbacks from the life of Milly’s mum, Allison Story. You get to see the way they think and an in-depth insight into their personalities.

The author’s idea was to show the importance of family and friends, and how acts of betrayal can affect the family. The author brings us on a rollercoaster of a journey filled with twists and turns and leaves you teetering at the edge of your seat. It is a tremendous book. However, at the beginning she starts too abruptly without any background information, leaving the reader to piece the puzzle together until the middle of the book. I would definitely recommend this to people who love a juicy mystery and thriller, and I can’t wait to read her next book.

Daniel Akande, teen reviewer

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Review: How The King Of Elfhame Learned To Hate Stories by Holly Black

How The King Of Elfhame
Learned To Hate Stories
Holly Black
Illustrated by Rovina Cai
Hot Key Books, 2020
Hardback, 192 pages, £14.99
ISBN 9781471409981

How The King Of Elfhame Learned To Hate Stories is an addition to Holly Black’s Folk of the Air series. It follows Carden
through his childhood and how he develops as a person. In the beginning, he is just a young boy looking for someone
to love him and as he grows up he feels he isn’t able to give any love just as he hadn’t received any in his childhood. So he becomes consumed by hate.

Though this story is written in third person, Holly Black has a way of making you feel all the emotions her characters betray. The way the story is told reminds me of the classic fairy tales. The amazing illustrations by Rovina Cai only add to how beautiful the book is.

I would give this book an eight out of ten and definitely recommend it to anyone who has read the Folk of the Air series. However it could be confusing if you have little backstory or have not read the Folk of the Air series.


Aoibhe O’Dwyer, teen reviewer

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Review: The Camelot Betrayal by Kiersten White

The Camelot Betrayal
Kiersten White
Delacorte Press, 2020
Paperback, 384 pages, €9.70
ISBN 9780593305485

The Camelot Betrayal is, in my opinion, a very good book. It successfully tugs at the reader’s heartstrings at practically every second page, and brings thrill, adventure, and a pinch of romance to the table.

I cannot compare this book to the first in the series, as I have admittedly never read it, but from my research into the
beginning of this magical universe, I believe it holds up well as a sequel. The plot is captivating. Guinevere, the protagonist, is the queen of Camelot — with the added spice that she took on the role after the real Guinevere died in a convent. She is settled in Camelot by the time this novel begins, and the greatest danger soon reveals itself to be Guinevere’s own sister. Or at least, the real Guinevere’s sister.

The characters are all well-rounded, with believable motivations and good personalities to boot. The plot is exciting, and the consequences for failure dire. The pacing is the only issue for me, as it often reads strangely. It’s not book-ruining, just vaguely distracting. The strange timing of certain chapters and scenes allows the plot to do its thing, so allowances can be made for the pace. I would recommend this book to anyone who has read the first in the series (obviously), and also to those who enjoy fairy tales with a twist.

Rachel O’Gara, teen reviewer

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Review: House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

House of Hollow
Krystal Sutherland
Hot Key Books, April 2021
Paperback, 204 pages, £7.99
ISBN 9781471409899

CW: Suicide


House of Hollow is a horrifyingly beautiful story that will stick with you. This fairy tale turned horror is written by Krystal Sutherland, and is gorgeously written and enchantingly creepy. I was sucked into this beautifully terrifying world from the first page and each word kept me tumbling deeper into the creepily twisted fairy tale that is the Hollow sisters’ lives.


We follow the perspective of Iris, the youngest of the three sisters, as she deals with the strange occurrences that seem to happen around her sisters Vivi and Grey. These sisters vanished when they were toddlers, and reappeared on the streets with no recollection of where they went. Iris wishes for a simple life, but when her older sister Grey disappears
she knows she has to unravel the web of secrets that her sister has left behind in order to find her.

Every page seemed to wrap around me and drag me further into this alluring tale. The only issue I had with this novel was that I could predict a lot of what was going to happen, but that was compensated by the well-written story line and well-thought-out characters, as well as having some major twists I did not expect, but enjoyed. I highly recommend this book for ages thirteen plus, as some topics may be unsuitable for younger readers. A perfect story for those who enjoy haunting, thought provoking and unique books. This was a beautiful novel that will definitely stay with me.


Halle O’Loughnan, teen reviewer

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Review: Bone Music: The Legend of Genghis Khan by Katherine Roberts

Bone Music: The Legend of Genghis Khan
Katherine Roberts
Greystones Press, 2018
Paperback, 420 pages, £9.99
ISBN 9781911122210

Katherine Roberts has established herself as the premier writer of Young Adult Historical Fantasy. She has previously tackled Alexander the Great, King Arthur, and Cleopatra, as well as writing fantasy books for younger readers featuring mermaids and unicorns. Bone Music is told in three parts, narrated by the three different main characters: Temujin, his blood brother Jamukha, and Borta, Temujin’s bride, a girl with a powerful shamanic vision. Temujin grows into manhood vowing revenge on his father’s rivals and swearing he will one day reunite the Mongol tribes and lead them. Jamukha vows to help him achieve this, but Borta’s visions are of a bitter and blood-soaked future. When Temujin returns to his camp and finds his bride and his blood brother missing, the scene is set for a war that will tear the tribes, and the friends, apart.

This is an emotional page-turning tale about the passions of youth and friendship and the bitter disappointments of betrayal. Roberts is a powerful storyteller with incredible imagination bringing to life a period of history steeped in myth and fable. The reader will get lost in this fascinating tale which the author has created weaving the scraps of surviving poetry with her own powerful vision. Perfect for fans of Celine Kiernan, Finbar Hawkins and V. E. Schwab.

Lisa Redmond

This book may be difficult to purchase, so if you have difficulty we encourage you to check your local library.