First of all we want to pay our respects to Jackie Avery, long time blogger, friend, and friend to us all. Jackie's passing came as a terrible shock to us – to everyone, and I think she will be universally missed.
Our deepest sympathy goes to Ivor, her husband and forever companion. The world truly has lost a light that shone so very bright, cheered so many lives, and garnered so much friendship through her own travel blog as well as Eric and Flynn's adventures. Till we meet again, Jackie, have a good and wonderful rebirth.
Thank you Ann Adamus for this wonderful badge for Jackie
This week's selfie is subdued and how we feel and have felt for a while. But curling up is not the answer to everything, that we know. But it does help when it comes to a good nap.....
Content warning: As this is a YA adventure, it has some scenes that show vampire actions, as well as vampire and Viking violence, threat, and the results there of. Given the nature of such things, we would not recommend this for younger readers, or those that dislike such themed books.
SPOILER ALERT
Some as to plot direction and characters.
Thank you to...
We are exceedingly grateful to the Publishers FOX & INK BOOKS and Graeme Williams Publicity for offering us a chance to Read & Review this AMAZING 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
The place is the island of Unst, part of the Shetland Isles. The year is 900 AD.
On Unst, the once fierce Viking warrior 'shieldmaiden', Frida Blackheart, is now the Jarl (a status like an earl, and a king's representative) of the island. The Vikings and Picts now live in harmony and relative peace together as farmers. Frida's daughter, Hilde, who has just become a woman after fifteen winters, is much like her mother: proud, strong for her age and sex, and not above a fight if provoked. And she often is, by the butcher's son, Aidan, the biggest boy in the village. It is after one such fight, goaded by Aidan, that Hilde lets rip and, in a red mist of rage, nearly kills the lad. At a village gathering for a feast in the Jarl's lodge later that day, in front of her mother, Hilde is forced to apologise.
But Hilde has a friend in Cormac, the blacksmith's son. He is of her age, and whilst a pict like Aidan, he does not hold Aiden or Aidan's father's dislike for Vikings.
It is at that very same feast that a man appears and seeks to reintroduce himself to Frida. His name is Hydyr; later, we'll see him revealed as Hydyr the Hungry. It is an appearance and conversation that leaves Frida cold and unusually scared in her own house. And rightly so, as he is a former Viking crew member when she, as the crew's captain, sailed the oceans, fighting and pillaging as they went. It was a time she turned her back on, and for a very good reason. They had raided a sacred treasure trove and killed all the guardians thereof. And before he was slain, the priest there cursed them to a non-life; never dying or able to be killed. They quickly discover that eating normal humans was the best way to get the sustenance they need to quell the thirst. They all, including Frida, became the Harrowed Men.
But wanting a better life for her yet unborn child, she abandoned them and arrived at Unst. And that she thought was the end of it. Until now.
Hydyr wasn't just passing by and there peacefully just to say hello as he claims. He has come for something very special that was taken from him, and to reclaim his partner and one-time captain. He now captains the Harrowed Men, but he has ceased to be like them. He has been bitten by Hastur, King of the Vampires, and in turn has become one. To survive, he just needs blood and to stay out of the light.
Soon after his arrival, the village is sacked and the inhabitants slain, or worse, taken captive to be treated as livestock – food for the men on the journey home.
Cormac, who was not at the feast, was spared the worst of the fight, as were Aidan and Hilde, but for different reasons and circumstances. In the aftermath, Cormac finds himself on board the Harrowed Men's ship, a captive, but not yet food as Hydyr says he has skills and worth to him. Just so long as he behaves....
With Frida held captive on the boat also, weakened by injuries but not taking the flesh or blood she prefers to food to help herself heal, her fate is one she hopes will be of her own making. Going back to the blood lust of the old days is not now an option for her.
Hilde, Aidan, and an elderly hermit boat maker have survived the sacking of the village, but only just. And as all good heroes-in-the-making must, they start a journey to rescue Frida as well as Cormac. As well as seek justice along the way.
With the initially unwilling talking head of one of the Harrowed Men as a guide – his body having been left in the sacking of the village, they set off on the first half of an adventure that has seen the best, most dramatic and pacy, heart-racing set of scenes we can recall for a long time.
What and who they come across, the delightful twists and nuances along the way, we have deliberately left out, as that is essentially what drives their half of the story.
Which means it is time to say that is where I must leave the review. Rest assured, I have not given too much away.
So, what did we think? Spoilers here!
This is the second book by Curtis Jobling that Mrs H and I have read together for review, and neither has let us down. The author has written many more books, all to good reviews, so we are encouraged to read on through upcoming new releases without fear of being let down.
It is fair to say that Mr Jobling has very much his own voice and an undoubted talent for world-building like the very best and well-known storytellers. And he can do it across genres and for different audiences. Please see our review HERE of WYRDWOOD by Curtis Jobling, or use the link below to find out more about his other literary works, and background in writing, movies and television.
Vampire stories have, since watching the movie Salem's Lot (by Stephen King and featuring David Soul), given me a gross dislike for horror movies in general, and the vampire genre specifically, be it in the movies, on television, or in book form.
Comparing movies to books is, some would say, foolhardy or impossible, as the film usually bears scant resemblance to the book. So, taking the book as the true form and intent of the writer, we rely on dipping our toes in to check things out.
This tale works for us because of the different backgrounds and imperatives for the three protagonists, four if you include Frida. Then there is the partly factual historical background, and the true setting. Of course, these are crucial to any good read, but especially if it is for a younger, more demanding audience.
Without going overboard, this has a sensually stunning yet subtle backdrop that feels as redolent of the period as any period drama, without burdening the reader with facts, figures and fashions. For instance, the sacrifice at the very beginning is bold, yet completed with a reverence relevant to the act and what it meant. A stark contrast to what will come, and undoubtedly a way to provide a reference point for time and place. For info on names and meanings, there is an appendix, and very handy it is too for those who want a little more depth.
Splitting our protagonists up from early on and assigning/titling each chapter to a character was a stroke of genius. I thought this might spoil the flow, segment it up too much, but it actually added to the tension as the multiple threads to the first half draw closer together in one way or another, come the closing chapters.
The reader isn't short of action or adventure to enjoy along the way, and twists and turns come regularly as the timelines develop.
This is not a teen-only based adventure, far from it. The three main protagonists may be teens, but from the start, we inhabit a world of adults. Indeed, we must remember that the line between child and adult at this time was so blurred, and childhood and innocence a luxury. All adds to making the story even more compelling.
Finally, there are undercurrents in this book about friendships and acceptance, about loyalty to old ways and new, gods and demons– both within and without.
All interesting things if you care to dig deeper yourself, and or have the conversation with readers old and young. But that is pleasingly left below the surface and not the overriding reason for this adventure.
To say we are keen to read the sequel and the concluding part is an understatement. 2028 is slated for the release, and it really will take too long to arrive, but we both feel it will be satisfying when it does.
And to slake our own literary hunger in the meantime, and for those of you who enjoyed 'Wyrdwood', the sequel entitled 'Greenteeth' will be released in 2027! That is one we are very keen to Read and Review!
So . . . .
Crunch time.
The author has created an enthralling story that immerses the reader in the everyday and sometimes bloody world of Vikings and Pictish Britain from the off. It is penned with passion, creating drama and adventure that is sure to enthral the upper YA reader and adult alike.
This week there has been nothing wonderful here weather wise, just a cycle of wind, rain, hail, sun, then repeat.
One of the bright spots of the week has been our latest 'Read and Review' book: RED TIDE. This is by the wonderfully creative author, Curtis Jobling. We reviewed his recent middle grade horror story, WYRDWOOD, last October. And my what a fabulous read it was too, one worthy of Stephen King. And just look at that cover which features the three teenage protagonists.
This new read is about Vikings, Picts, and . . . vampires.
I won't spoil our upcoming review, but let me say this is a fantastically creative read, with modicum of humour too. It hasn't given us any nightmares, and is the first half of a mini series that has us now nicely poised and desperate for the grand and gripping conclusion.
So whilst Mrs H and I haven't got much editing work done, we have been happy to let the weather and world pass on by.
Moving on, this week's selfie is a picture Mrs H snapped on Thursday. I think I was dreaming of catnip toys and a plate full of nice tasty chicken. . . neither of which I got!
Oh well, maybe I will in my dreams. Hopefully your week has been better than ours, food wise if nothing else. And please do share what books you are reading, and if you would recommend.
In a week full of bad news, anything positive, seems a real rarity.
And when Mrs H accidentally dropped a spanner across the battery terminals of our Vauxhall 30/98 E type tourer, things were far too positive. There was a shower of sparks and the spanner jumped a few feet into the air. Fortunately, no body, be it spanner, feline or human were any the worse. The battery is likely toast now, so Mrs H has bought a new one to be on the safe side.
As the weather and Mrs H's tooth hole have shown some improvement, Mrs H, feeling a lot jollier, has tried to start on book 4 of our adventure series. But as I dictate the post for today, the dark clouds once more march across the sky, and it looks like more rain will spoil what is left of the weekend. I suspect it will be (another) Sunday spent laying on the bed grooming, napping and thinking of warmer, happier, peaceful days.
On the subject of work, here is my selfie. It was taken on Friday, and shows me at MY desk. I told Mrs H that great things happen at this desk and on this chair, and my naps are power thinking naps, rather than an opportunity to shed some hair on the chair's stiff fabric. To which Mrs H rolled her eyes and went to get the vacuum and lint roller . . . .
Whatever fluff your day finds you in, be it good, bad, or self inflicted, we hope you find some joy and warmth in knowing there is a lot of good out there. And if all that joy gets united, it can change the badness into goodness. And not just in stories.
With mainly wet, wet, wet (not the boy band) performing this week with wind as the backing band, I have been spending my time, you guessed it, examining the weave of this cotton bed spread.
Not much else to do these days of mid winter, so likely you'll get to see more of such similarly posed shots in the coming weeks.
Hopefully you all will be faring better weather wise, and activity wise?
Let us know what weather is like where you are, and if sunny and warm/hot, where the nearest airport is, MOL
Hello, and welcome to my latest Book Review featuring this week an Adventure in Middle Grade Fiction.
Without further ado, and as my trusty housekeeper, Mrs H, always says, "Time stands nor sits for no man, so the wise plan and fill their days with work, rest and play."
This week's review maybe turns that adage a little on its head, as our lead character goes travelling in time. So without further ado, lets drift on over to baking hot Crete, then and now . . .
We are exceedingly grateful to Graeme Williams Publicity and UCLan Publishers for offering us a chance to Read & Review this 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
Netta Becker is eleven, a brilliant swimmer and, much to her annoyance, on holiday with her younger, book-mad brother, Remy. It was his turn to pick where the family went for their holidays, and as he loves Cretan history, he chose Crete and a cheap villa holiday near King Minos's palace. Not the cool sort of place Netta wants to go to, not cool in any sense of the word. She is missing a big swimming gala back home and can't even go for a swim at the villa as the pool has green algae and cracked tiles.
But soon after arriving at their somewhat rickety resort, she starts seeing people. Not just the other families staying there, but people from a past age, adults and children.
Very soon her visions take more serious form by way of her zoning out and having dreams far realer than they ought to be. In fact, she is being dragged back four thousand years to the palace of King Minos. Here she, on each visit, sees and hears different people and events. One time she is seen by Princess Ariadne, Ari for short. Ari thinks she is a spirit, a 'tricksy muse,' come at her behest.
As events move on, Netta, much to her brothers upset, gets to see more than just the ancient ruins of modern Crete. She is seeing the buildings and people in their prime. It is soon clear that she has arrived just before the unveiling of King Minos's fabled labyrinth. There are festivities, offerings, and a white bull is to be sacrificed to the labyrinth to appease what lies within. Ari and Netta, who are about the same age, bond and talk about how history records what happens to Ari. Netta gets to see around the palace and learns of the children to also be sacrificed to the labyrinth.
This galvanises her into action, and with Ari she plans to free the children and help them escape Crete. Minos has decreed none may leave the island, so things will be difficult, possibly fatal if Netta and the children are caught in the attempt. Maybe this is why Netta is being drawn back in time? Certainly, whatever is pulling her back is getting stronger, and each time she is drawn back she ends up spending long and longer in Crete and less in the villa. Back in the here and now, Remy acts to not only try to advise Netta of historical facts and outcomes, but to fend off enquiries as to why Netta is absent. But even he is getting worried by what the increasingly prolonged absences are doing to Netta’s body.
When Netta starts to gain a corporeal form in ancient Crete, the race is on to save the children and to hopefully put a stop to what is drawing her there. There is also the pressing matter of getting her back into her own body and time before she is stuck in the past.
So, what did we think?
Growing up I was enthralled by the movies that featured characters from Greek mythology. But I was less enthralled when it came to reading dry textbooks on the matter.
This story deftly brings together old Cretan and Greek mythology with the modern world by allowing our protagonist to pass back and forwards in time. More accurately we find that she is being drawn back and forth in time by compelling forces: something in ancient Crete and her brother and family life in the present. So unlike the TV series Quantum Leap, we find ourselves with two stories that are set to converge rather dramatically.
The action is compelling and doesn't rely on high tech gadgetry. The peril is tangible and grows as the pace escalates and had us turning the pages as quickly as Netta jumps to and fro.
The ending, which I shall not spoil, was awesome. I did not see it coming.
So, Crunch time.
Very impressive creative story telling with a delightful twist that breathes new life and enjoyment into the core and gaps in mythology, by combining past and present. I found this engaging, thrilling and very hard to put down, and much like Netta, we were sucked in and happily, avidly insisted on stayed till the very last page.
And now for my Sunday Selfie . . . .
Here is little me just giving last minute instructions for my tea to Mrs H. With the air con on over this particular bed in the guest room, it has been the perfect place to be during our heatwave.
We are joining the Sunday Selfies, hosted by the wonderful Kitties Blue and their mum, Janet Blue, from the Cat on My Head blog in America.CLICK THIS LINK to visit their site and to get the code to add to your own blog . . .
