The Dark and Dangerous Gifts of Delores MacKenzie

 by YVONNE BANHAM;  

An Adventure Book Review and Sunday Selfie by Erin the Literary Cat©, International Book Reviewer.

 

Hello, and welcome to my weekend Book Review featuring Adventures in Middle-Grade Fiction! 

 

But first, let's head on over to see what Erin & Mrs H are up to . . .

 

"Mrs H, can people actually talk to the dead?" Erin had just finished reviewing this week's book, which had left her puzzled. 

 

"Well, talking to the dead or to give it a proper name, necromancy, is something that has been argued over for centuries. It was frowned upon by the church and punishable by death. If you'll pardon the pun, the practice and punishment have long since died out. Some say it is nonsense, and the practice was merely a con to part the bereaved from their money." 

 

"I think the vicar may have been doing it for years, Mrs H. I mean the front row of the congregation at St. Scrumpin's church hasnt moved since Easter!"

"Now, now, I don't think the vicar would appreciate that remark, Erin." Mrs H gave the now infamous raised eyebrow look. Erin often spoke what she thought, and at the most inappropriate of times. But not out of malice. At least this time, she had put her right before the vicar came for afternoon tea. "The front pews are for the old and frail as they are near the heating pipe. And after they service they go into the church hall. It happens to be one of the cosiest places in the village, and many of the eldest in the village stay warm there. Mrs Singh lays on free hot meals and drinks for those in need. It is a sorry state we find ourselves in."

 

"Sorry, Mrs H, I didn't realize. Maybe we could open our doors, too. We have a warm place by the stove, and you make wonderful cakes." Erin said with a sudden twinkle in her eye, which meant she had a bright, possibly not-so-practical suggestion brewing.

 

"That is a great idea, Erin. Certainly, one we can suggest at the next parish meeting. Failing that, in the meantime, we could make a CCT run – a cake, coffee and tea run, to the most vulnerable?"

 

"On the Brough?" Erin asked. It had been a long time since Mrs H had gotten out her highly polished, chromed SS100 Brough Superior motorcycle. She loved riding in its sidecar, or pillion in the special carrier on the back. 

 

"An excellent idea. I can mount the hot water urn in the sidecar —"

 

"And I can be in charge of the creamcakes!" Interupted Erin, with a mischievous grin and a drop of saliva on her lips.

 

"Hmm. Why do I feel I've just been had. As long as you don't go checking the cream content like you did at the parish fete!" Mrs H winced at the memory of having to quickly make a fresh batch of cakes to replace those Erin had 'Certified' met UMM cream standards.

 

"We could start now, Mrs H. I can just go and check the stock, then we could be off."

 

"No, I think it best you give the book review. I'll check the cream and load up the Brough."

 

Erin sighed, returned to the book review, and punched the send button that would send it around the globe. This week's book is ........

 

 

The Dark and Dangerous Gifts of Delores MacKenzie

 

Image Copyrighted ©

AUTHOR: YVONNE BANHAM

 

Cover art by: NATHAN COLLINS

 

Published by: FIREFLY PRESS

Publication date: 6 April 2023

Paperback ISBN: 978 - 1 - 915444 - 07 - 3

 

Cover price for Paperback is: £ 7.99

 

Pages: 252.

 

Age range: Middle Grade (11 AND upwards)

Any dogs or cats? No, but a really interesting and grumpy stone goblin!

 

 

SPOILER ALERT

YES. Some as to plot, direction and characters. 

 

 

Thank you to... 

 

We are exceedingly grateful to Firefly Press for pre-approving us on NetGalley to Read & Review this brilliant Gothic Fantasy Horror. 

 

As ever, our views are our own, and we only share reviews of books we like and feel our readers deserve to know about and that we hope they will enjoy. 

 

 

The plot

Delores MacKenzie is a troubled teen. But not in the way you may think. Sure, she has few friends at school, but then, with what she brings, is it any wonder?

 

You see, Delores has necromantic abilities. Her whole family do. But for Delores, they are not in control. Wherever she goes, she attracts the spirits. She has since birth. When young, she used to have one as a friend, and they played together. But now things are getting out of control. The spirits, the Bòcan as they are called in Scottish Gaelic, are trying to drag her back to their realm.

 

The book opens dramatically as Delores races across a causeway from Crammed Island to the mainland (Scotland), where she has spent the afternoon. She is late, and the tide is lapping at her feet as she gains pace. Every stride brings the water higher. Things suddenly turn nasty when one Bòcan grabs at her and tries to pull her under the water. It is a struggle Delores wins. Just. Racing to her parent's cottage, Delores makes it through the door and seemingly to safety. However, the Bòcan follows her and tries to batter the door down. With the help of her sister, Delilah, they stave off the attack. 

How long the enchanted marking, the troll cross outside the cottage, will last, the girls don't know. And with their parents vanished, gone in the night without explanation or trace, there is little chance Delores or Delilah can replenish the enchantment to make things better.

The only option, Delilah says, is for Delores to go and see the Uncles. These are mysterious teachers who help those with supernatural gifts control their talents, so they stay under the radar of the more earthly authorities. The Uncles are a removed part of The Council, the governing body of this other, twilight world. They have rules and guidelines about the paranormal and its control. Delores, unchecked, would break all those rules. Dire consequences will ensue if she refuses to seek the Uncle's help.

There is little Delores can do. Ultimately she knows, as much as she hates the idea of being controlled by the Uncles or her own otherworldy community, she has to go. Delilah had been, and now it was her turn.  

The school, for want of another name, is actually the Tollbooth Bookshop in the darker, older parts of the city of Edinburgh. It is, at face value, a shop like any other. But here, customers buy a book, and it is suggested subliminally that they don't return. They also never get the book they choose.

With only her rucksack of clothes, bits and bobs and a book stolen from her former high school library as company, Delores heads into a very unexpected adventure. An adventure where the undead make it far more deadly. 

The teachers, the Uncles as they are called, are older than is natural. They hark back to the gothic vampiresque shapeshifters of the old movies. Delores is untrusting and scared of being sent to a prison for those with uncontrollable dangerous talents like hers. It is worse when a fellow student is, pardon the pun, hell-bent on making her life, well, hell! It leaves Delores struggling to come to terms with what she must do.

 

When a bòcan starts to plague Delores, starts to break into this world and recover its once mortal form, Delores and everyone in the school are in grave danger. 

That, I am afraid, is where I must leave this review. Possibly it is too much, but it is undoubtedly a bountiful taste of the intricate spider web of suitably MG horror, suspense and adventure that awaits all who enter the world of Delores MacKenzie and the dangerous gifts that she possesses.

 

So, what did we think?

 

There is so much to enjoy in this story. The action starts on a high and then races to shore, adrenalin pumping. Mellowing for the following few chapters as Delores and we find our feet, we enter a world of characters/situations that would not be out of place in a junior Rivers of London novel. 

 

Yes, at first glance, some may say there are hints of magical schools or reflections of one of many Netflix series. But this is not my overriding feeling. It stands, or maybe I should say floats, on its own merit. I wouldn't have enjoyed it half as much if this had been just another JKRowling-type adventure. It isn't. What it is, is a delightfully dark fantasy/horror/gothic race against otherworldly menaces. Being set in modern times but neatly nestling in the dark menacing corners of old town Edinburgh and a graveyard gives it a palpable chill. It ably brings together everything I liked about the older TV and movie horror shows, without any of the kitch. 

So . . . . 

Crunch time. 

Absolutely do buy this. A highly enjoyable and refreshingly different, horrorsome, must-read fireside or bedtime tale. Age group 11+ is accurate, and it is a great adult read too. 

Want to buy a copy?

 

To get a copy, please do think of your local independent, possibly, probably ghost-free bookshop. There are plenty out there, and each is just waiting to serve up a treasure of literal magical resources, fun and adventure with a personal touch.

You can follow YVONNE BANHAM on Twitter @Eviewriter or on Instagram at

https://www.instagram.com/yvonnebanham/

 

FIREFLY PRESS'S web page can be found HERE. or type this https://fireflypress.co.uk/

 

To see more of NATHAN COLLINS, follow this link https://linktr.ee/nathanclns or type     https://linktr.ee/nathanclns

 

 

I shall leave you with a picture of me taking the lead in Mrs H's yoga class. Whilst I can do the poses, Mrs H could not, and the foot you see is the only piece of her not covered in that nasty smelling muscle soothing cream. 🙂

 

 And if one wasn't enough, here's a fresh one for Sunday!

Till laters!

ERin