Written by KEL MENTON
 |
| © Chrissy Curtin artist |
An Adventure Book Review by Erin the Literary Cat©, International Book Reviewer.
Hello, and welcome to my latest Book Review, featuring this week a Adventure in YA Fantasy Romantic Fiction.
Without further ado, and with my trusty housekeeper, Mrs H, ready with the tissues, lets get on with the show!
AUTHOR: Kel Menton
Illustrations by: Chrissy Curtin
Published by: Little Island
Publication date Paperback:
Paperback 13 digit ISBN: 978 191 507 1743
UK Cover price for Paperback: £8.99
US Cover price for paperback: $12.99
Amazon KINDLE price: N/A
Pages: 271
Age range: YA
WARNINGS: Yes. This book contains references to self-harm, suicide, and references to symptoms of borderline personality disorder. There is also homophobic and transphobic speech, and reference to past sexual abuse.
The book contains a list of helplines for those needing help/advice on or if affected by any of the book's content.
The book seeks to raise awareness of the issues covered, and as such is written appropriately for the target YA and older audience.
SPOILER ALERT
Yes. Some as to plot direction and characters.
Thank you to...
We are exceedingly grateful to Graeme Williams and Little Island Publishers for offering us the chance to Read & Review this excellent story.
As ever, our views are our own, and we only share reviews of books we have bought, received as gifts, or received in exchange for an impartial review.
First and foremost, the books we review are those we select to read, like, and feel our global readers deserve to know about and that we hope they, their family, friends and students will enjoy.
The plot
Our book opens with a prologue, and us discovering a boy has taken himself off to a large and forgotten wood with the intent of taking his own life. Having done the deed, he lets the blood flow and asks that they let him rest there in peace.
Hanan is our protagonist, and we catch up with him as he is poised to enter a local cafe in a seaside town not far from Cork, Ireland, called Skenashogue. He is the boy in the wood.
How he came to survive the incident, he does not know, but the experience has left him with something he cannot quite fathom or control. When Hanan is sad, things around him darken. The greater the depth of the despair, the worse things happen. Angry wasps physically attack the windows of his mother's cottage where he lives. Flowers wilt and die. Even the shadows draw in, wishing to attack and overwhelm him and the area he is in. But, when he is happy, flowers bloom brighter, the sun shines more, and clouds just disappear. Others haven't caught onto the connection between Hanan and the happenings.
After he is scalded and cut during an accident in the cafe, he falls for a boy who caused the event and takes him home when he collapses. As the boy's hands touch Hanan, he feels the darkness of the world he lives in and is tormented by, lift. His heart brightened and he felt once more alive. It is such an intense sensation, one he does not wish to lose and craves more of.
Pax is that boy, and he has his own tale to tell. He has undergone surgery to become the outward boy he always knew he should have been. His father, however, sees him as a monster and freakish daughter, and Pax has suffered viciously at the hands of his drunken and bigoted parent. So much so that he now lives in the village with his aunt May, who reads tarot cards and such.
Their adventure begins when the two boys stumble into each other late one evening at Hanan's favourite spot to be alone, a secret cove. The two boys start to see more of each other. But twists and turns and derailments hinder their progress. Doubts on each boy's part as to what the other wants, if they like them, or as in Hanan's case, whether he will only bring trouble and hurt on Pax (and drive him away) and himself, define the story.
With each boy having a past, demons if you will, something that hurts or haunts them, it was never going to be easy. Given the potential Hanan has to cause damage and pain, he thinks he is acting for the best when he runs away from an impromptu kiss with Pax.
Pax, though, is left confused and frustrated. Is this just another person who has raised his hopes only to break his already fragile heart? Both can be seen by the reader to be in love, yet caught up in very real emotional, physical and cognitive dilemmas that keep them apart, willingly or not. When demons, both physical and fay start to come home to roost, this tale shows its strength and shines.
Which is where I really must stop this review for fear of giving away the drama.
So, what did we think?
I was utterly captivated by this tale. Never have the characters felt more personal, their plight and situation so real, so very human and of this age.
Beautifully crafted, it is at times brutal, brutally frank, and savage. And at other times it is heartbreaking, magical, then bouncing to joyous. The writer has crafted something so deeply personal, so emotional, and yet it is not about them.
It is as delicately spun as gossamer threads and yet also so very strong, cohesive and as intricately woven. What drives this tale is the essence of love and friendship, of making errors on the road. Overcoming adversity in the face of so much pressure and undeniable evil that lurks in some minds and expressed by those that are all too prevalent in the news, creates the darker side of this story.
The fantasy element comes from as much of who our two lead characters are deep within, their essence, as the fay and magic that they encounter. It was not overplayed and slipped easily into the story once revealed and plays delicately through to the end.
It was a delight to see Hanan and Pax come into their own, separately and then finally, together. The journey they each have is unique and spellbinding. Because of the way the story unfolds, which is delightful, the truth of each player's life and background is released and realised slowly. The pace is never slow but gathers speed towards a dramatic conclusion that really has the reader turning the page.
I happily state that, like all great books, and this is an amazing story, the end of this book is clearly not the end of the adventure. But life, love and the highs and lows along the way are just like that, too.
I have necessarily skipped lots of the twists and turns, the nuances of which there are many. Hopefully, we have whetted your appetite nonetheless and will give this a read.
Crunch time.
A joyous, delicious, emotional ride that had us on tenterhooks. It will tear you apart, patch you together only to be torn apart in another way. And, I wouldn't have had this story any other way, and so glad that I was offered it to review.
Make no mistake, this is far more than the 'trans romance' as described by the publishers. It is different, in a very good way, and fuller-bodied and something very special.
A highly recommended YA read.
KEL MENTON Can be found on Instagram & Twitter
LITTLE ISLAND BOOKS web page can be found HERE or type this: https://www.littleisland.ie/
CHRISSY CURTIN'S web page web page can be found HERE or type this: https://www.chrissycurtin.com/
I hope you enjoyed that adventure Review.
OK, for those that have come for little young me, and as it's Sunday, let's get on with a selfie!
Here I can be seen completing clue 9 Down. 3,3 letters. Any ideas what the answer was?
Till Laters!
ERin
Love this selfie of Erin sleeping on her 'homework'! ;D Hugs!
ReplyDeleteShhh, don't tell Mrs H! 😉
DeleteERin
That's a lovely selfie, ERin - and no, We haven't a clue what the answer was (or the clue either - mol).
ReplyDeleteWell, the clue was what I was doing, so the answer was ' Cat Nap'.
DeleteERin
ERin what a nice review and OMCs after this long cold dreary winter we all need a "Fix of Light".
ReplyDeleteWell done on your selfie
Hugs cecilia
Yes, in every sense the title was appropriate. Thank you. It was a great book, and one that will last in the memory for all the best reasons.
DeleteERin
Princess ERin, as usual Mrs. H picks wonderful books with messages that we can all learn from. Thank her with purrs from us. And you do a great crossword puzzle!
ReplyDeleteThank you. We need such books to lift the spirit as well as learn from. May your week be as uplifting and fun as ours.
DeleteERin
ERin S"Ears ewe bee lookin my tee gorgeouz two day mite eye say and eye hope mizzuz H apurreciatez yur help with de crozz werd puzzle ;) ♥♥♥♥ =^..^=
ReplyDeleteShhh, dont tell her I help. She needs to think she did it all herself, MOL
DeleteStay well and happy.
ERin
Such a lovely photo of Erin. Merci. This is Loulou writing and we wanted you to know because we did not want to fill in the Anonymous blanks haha. So it's the Loulou you have known for a long time. Thanks for your reviews.
ReplyDeleteA pleasure as always to receive your comment, Loulou. May you week, both literary and mundane, be filled with light, health and joy.
DeleteERin
Great review guys! Mom says she will pass on reading this particular book right now. She's awfully bummed out still about the leg. We have enjoyed having her as a piece of furniture to lay on all day! Now that she is more mobile (she escaped the house yesterday!) we know that she will be out and about! Keep being awesome! Marvelous Marv
ReplyDeleteThanks. Such well written and informative as well as sensitive books deserve a place to inform our younger readers.
DeleteNooo, she needs to be back indoors making more treats and writing. Hopefully both will come next week.
ERin
That sounds like a very good book and well worth reading. Thanks for the review. Your cat nap selfie is lovely.
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely a needed book. Kids have the same feelings, and struggles as many adults too. A brave, lovely book. Thank you, Cat Nap was an easy to complete clue.
DeleteERin
Little young me...I love that! Adorable selfie.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteERin
Another great review of a good sounding book sweet Princess. That's a lovely selfie too. I think the word is NAP!
ReplyDeleteThank you. Yes the answer, 3,3 was Cat Nap. Nap will do though which is what I did 🙂.
DeleteERin
This sure sounds like a good book, ERin. Such a clever plot! We love your selfie. Might that word be "N-A-P"?
ReplyDeleteYes, it certainly is a perfect harmony of all aspects. Brave, bold and deeply touching. And an excellent ending.
DeleteERin
Sweet selfie!
ReplyDeleteI love your selfie, NAP-ping is the best way to spend a quiet Sunday!
ReplyDeleteMarjorie and Toulouse
Half right. Cat Nap was the answer 🙂.
DeleteERin
It sounds like an amazing read and you look like one amazingly beautiful literary cat.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Yes, a very good read that I think all would enjoy.
DeleteERin
You look as if the crossword wasa so hard you had to rest your whole being! Maybe that's what our petcreary doesn't do those, LOL!
ReplyDeleteIt sure was hard, and certainly wasn't as comfy as the duvet ;)
DeleteERin