Hit the Ground Running by Mark Burley

Hit the Ground Running is the first in a mystery and action series with a touch of fantasy and is suitable for YA and up.

Eric feels abandoned. After being sent off to a new school in a different country with no good explanation, he feels cast aside. One morning he receives a video text from his brother saying that his parents have been abducted. The footage also reveals his brother under attack by an unknown assailant. Eric is thrown into a state of panic as his brother has said to trust no one. Can he go off and find his family on his own though? Luckily help arrives in the form of drama student Tess and her quirky twin friends who are fearless and are willing to dive in head first to help out. They soon find that they have landed in an adventure that is way bigger than they anticipated and the danger may prove to be just too much to handle. Along the way Eric discovers secrets about his family and a shock about himself. The clock is ticking however, and the enemy lies just around the corner...

This was a fantastic YA book. I loved the twins whacky characters and their attitude to life. The relationship between Tess and Eric is an interesting one and I hope it gets resolved in later books. The parkour aspect as well as some information on its history was a welcome learning experience and the addition of myths and legends and creatures coming back from the dead was a good solid base for the story. One or two small editing mistakes cropped up but not enough to deter from the thrilling action.

I highly recommend this book for YA and up and loved the way it leads into the next one. Buckle up because a fast paced adventure awaits you!

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of the book. 

Waking Gods by Sylvain Neuvel

Waking Gods is the second in the Themis Files series and is an urban fantasy novel with a touch of sci-fi, suitable for YA and up.

Eva Reyes suffers from debilitating night and day mares. Visions of dead people, everywhere she looks. She knows the images are important and not to be ignored like the doctors suggest. In the meantime another robot has appeared in London. Similar in appearance to Themis, it seems to have been made by the same people who made the first female robot the EDC has taken control of. When the robot just sits there day after day with no movement, the world is divided as to whether to leave it alone or attack it before it attacks the world. When the robot does reveal what it can do, the world reels with the destructive power on show. Terrifyingly more robots have appeared throughout the world, all in major cities. Can Vincent and Kara, together with Rose and the rest of the team find a way to use Themis to save humanity?

This was a great sequel to Sleeping Giants and answered a lot of questions (especially about our interviewer), but raised quite a few more. You get to the last sentence and then BAM - you just know there is sequel waiting to happen. For the most part I like that the book is written as a dialogue or conversation and sometimes as a letter, even though it can be a little trying to read it like that sometimes. I liked the introduction of new characters and how they related to the established ones. The concept of why the robots were there was very thought provoking and even in our current times makes you regard history and the bigger picture in a different way.

Some of the scientific explanations became a bit tedious to read and I found myself skipping over sections. I also found certain parts of the dialogue unnecessary or drawn out, like some of the arguments in parliament as to whether to approach the robot or not. Certain parts pushed belief a little too far for me, but I guess if the first novel starts with someone falling onto a giant hand, then learning that not all people are as they seem in the second one doesn't seem too far-fetched.

Overall I enjoyed the storyline, the characters and the good editing. Sometimes when writing in dialogue some of the world building gets left out but at least now I know I need to try Kung Pao Chicken!

Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review the novel.

The Second Twin (The Legend of Rhyme series #4) by Jaime Lee Mann

This is the 4th in the Rhyme series and is a fantasy adventure aimed at middle grade children.

Grindlerod has taken Asher and Ariana to a time when Elora and Calla are much the same age as they are. Now that they know what Elora became, how can they possible trust her? A stranger then enters their lives with the promise of help. After all they have been through is it wise to trust him? Meanwhile Teagan is learning what it's like to become a mermaid, but will she be happy enough to make it permanent?

Again the storylines moved in interesting directions but a cliff-hanger smacks you in the face at the end. Many timeframes and scenes are covered in this book, and the jump between them as well as the length of the chapters made it confusing to read at times. I do like the path that the story has taken, and the way that Starla alerts her future self to a memory is very clever. The main themes of family, friendship, loyalty, love and being the hero are beautifully explored in the series. A very entertaining read, rich with interesting characters (although I found the pixies VERY annoying) and an adventure-filled plotline.

Thanks to NetGalley and Blue Moon Publishers for the chance to review the book.

Teagan of Tomorrow (The Legend of Rhyme series #3) by Jaime Lee Mann

This is the third in the fantasy adventure series suitable for middle grade children.

The twins have been thrust into the future - one where magic no longer exists but where people know the history of magic. Teagan is from this timeline, but has never felt as though she belongs there. Grindlerod has bided his time waiting for magic to reappear so that his deepest desire can be fulfilled. Asgall is gone but his spell is still intact. Will the twins make their way back to undo Asgall's spell with the help of one who was once a toad? And will Teagan find out where in the world she is actually meant to be?

Another great instalment in the series. The pace of the action in this is a lot quicker and there is more of a sense of urgency in correcting the evil that has fallen. You find yourself reading as fast as possible to see what happens, only to realise that you HAVE to get your hands on the next one in the series. I'm looking forward to the conclusion as I feel I have walked every step of the adventure with all the amazing characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and Blue Moon Publishers for the chance to review the book.

Into Coraira (The Legend of Rhyme series #2) by Jaime Lee Mann

This is the second in the fantasy adventure series suitable for middle grade children.

Now that the evil that threatened to envelop Rhyme has been banished, the twins are ready to find out just how powerful they really are. Unfortunately things are never quiet in their realm  as it comes to light that Asgall, the eldest of the Ancients, is back in Rhyme and bringing all manner of evil with him.

The series continues and answers many questions left by the first book, but of course new ones emerge. More creatures like unicorns and mermaids join the cast of characters which creates a fantastic new dimension. I found the story a little slower than the first but I think it's a build-up to what promises to be faster paced action in the third. Will Asgall succeed in his quest? Will the missing twins be found? Will Asher and Ariana find their powers? Will Grindlerod's wish be answered? So many questions!

This is a fantastic read and I can't wait to see what happens next. Thanks to NetGalley and Blue Moon Publishers for the chance to review the book.

Elora of Stone (The Legend of Rhyme series #1) by Jaime Lee Mann

This is a fantasy adventure suitable for middle-grade children.

Grindlerod the goblin is tasked with collecting one part of every set of twins born in Falmoor for the evil sorcerer Larque. Gwendolyn and Lochlan Caine have a set of twins and are very careful to keep them close by as they grow up. But even with all their magic and care Grindlerod still manages to steal Asher away. Years go by as the family mourn until Ariana learns that her brother is still alive, and sets off to rescue him. Larque must be stopped at all costs. Can Ariana get to her brother in time and work their magic to defeat the spread of evil?

This is a really fun book for the ages specified, even if a little simple at times. The questions at the end of the book are great for discussions and they get the reader thinking. The idea of goblins, fairies, pixies and magic as well as the age-old tale of good vs evil is always a great recipe for a story. I loved the pictures that were thrown in every now and then -  they added a beautiful quality to the book. The only thing I found difficult to read was the third person singular simple present tense, but I guess for the age group it's easier to put themselves into the context. Fun characters and a good start to a series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Blue Moon Publishers for the chance to review the book.

There'll be Hell to Pay: Hellcat#6 by Sharon Hannaford

Gabi and Julius are co-leading the Special Investigations dept and still hunting for the betrayer vampire Caspian and his pregnant Dark Magus partner Mariska. An uneasy feeling of dread has fallen over the city as more demons seem intent on crossing the barrier, and the newly formed alliances placed in positions of security might not be ready to handle them yet. The degree of action and danger jump up a notch when someone very near to Gabi is compromised. It's now up to Gabi and those closest to her to deal with the situation, truces, alliances, secrets and traitors for once and all.

It is an absolute shame to see this series come to an end. I feel as though I have been with the characters through their successes and heartaches, their newfound confidence and their rejections; and loved every minute of it. I will miss our heroine, but perhaps now she can take some time off from saving the world and spend some quality time with Julius and Razor. I liked that we got a bit more of a glimpse into Gabi's family and how they have faced all that has happened. Many questions from the series were tied up, but true to Ms. Hannaford's style she leaves us with a little something, and we leave her with a cry of " and then?" The characters have stayed true to personality but grown in substance, and the plot has followed a logical progression. The writing is fluid and has matured throughout the series, and good editing makes it comfortable to read.

While some may feel that the book was tied up too neatly or quickly I thoroughly enjoyed it, and can't wait for the next series to make its appearance.