The Blood Traitor (The Prison Healer: Book 3)

The Blood Traitor (The Prison Healer: Book 3) by Lynette Noni (Penguin Books) PB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781760897543

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

The final instalment of The Prison Healer trilogy has arrived and fans of the first two books won’t be disappointed. It is a captivating mix of magic, adventure, new alliances, deadly battles, deception and a hint of romance.

Kiva finds herself back in Zalindov prison physically and emotionally defeated. She is tormented by her past mistakes, lies and betrayals and sees no future. Meanwhile, the Vallentis royals are reeling from Zuleeka’s takeover of Evalon and must do whatever it takes to save their kingdom and reclaim what they’ve lost. To add to their woes, they discover that King Navok of Mirraven is hell-bent on conquering not just Evalon, but all the kingdoms in Wenderall.

The Blood Traitor is a young adult fantasy novel highly recommended for an audience 15 years and older. 

Shalott: Dangerous Magic.

Felicity Pulman is happy to announce publication of her second book in her Shalott trilogy – Shalott: Dangerous Magic.

Five teenagers set out into the unknown to change the legend of Camelot and the fate of the Lady of Shalott. Instead, they find they are rewriting their own lives and destiny. As the Old Ways clash with the new and they become caught up in the illicit love affair between Lancelot and Guinevere, the intrigues of the court and the ambition of the magical, but deadly, Morgan le Fay, they need courage and ingenuity to survive the dangers they face, and to find their way home. What happens to Callie in Camelot will break her heart, while her quest will change all their lives forever.

Shalott: Dangerous Magic ISBN 9781922389626

Shalott: Into the Unknown   ISBN 9781922389602   

SHAKESPEARE NOW! A TRILOGY by Goldie Alexander

The anthology Shakespeare Now! contains all three novels: The Trytth Chronicles (The Tempest), Gap Year Nanny (Macbeth), and Changing History? (Romeo and Juliet)

Did you struggle with Shakespeare when you were at school? Or are you a teacher battling students’ disinterest and spending too much valuable time translating?

I taught secondary English for twenty five years, so I have experienced all this.

Here are new adaptations of three well known plays aimed at young adults 15+.

But instead of the all-male 17^th century actors and 17th century colloquial language, they have been replaced with feisty young women in recognisable contemporary settings. The concept is to show how these characters and plots still hold significance and relevance for students today. And that might lead them on to go back and read the originals.

The three novels include:
 GAP YEAR NANNY (MACBETH) set in present day Melbourne.
Alongside Merri’s slow coming of age as nanny, we follow Stuart Macbeth’s rise and fall in the corporate world from Merri's perspective as she discovers there are other ways of destroying rivals apart from murder.

THE TRYTTH CHRONICLES.  (THE TEMPEST) science fiction. After Prospero destroys a small space-ship owned by his brother Alonso, and Miranda and Ferdie fall in love, Ariel and the young couple are kidnapped by Caliban and flown to the dangerous planet of Trytth. The story continues on from the original play.

CHANGING HISTORY? (ROMEO AND JULIET) A time-warp set in 21^st Century Melbourne and 1928 Berlin. When Melbourne based Taylor, finds herself in 1928 Berlin, she befriends Juliet and Rom who can’t marry because of their differing religions. Meanwhile, knowing what the future holds, Taylor tries to stop the world heading into the second world war. But can one really change history?

The publisher is www.fivesenseseducation.com.au. They can be contacted on  0298389265

These books are available at all Readings bookshops and can be ordered from others.

Prices: RRP $16.95. Or $34.95 for ‘SHAKESPEARE NOW!’ Or as an ANTHOLOGY containing all three novels. www.goldiealexander.com

Swarm: Zeroes 2

Swarm: Zeroes 2 by Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan and Deborah Biancotti (Allen & Unwin) PB RRP $19.99

ISBN 9781925267242

Reviewed by Daniela Andrews

They are not heroes, but Zeroes – teenagers born in the year 2000, each with a special power. Swarm is the second novel in this exciting young adult trilogy. It is also the code name for a terrifying, super-powered teen intent on finding and killing other Zeroes.

Trying to put the ‘Summer of Suck’ behind them, the Zeroes have opened up an illegal nightclub together. Cleverly named the ‘Petri Dish’, it’s essentially a training arena where they can practise their powers. But their actions in the first novel didn’t go unnoticed. Two new Zeroes are in town, flaunting their sinister superpowers with little regard for civilians (‘dolls’). It turns out they are fleeing another Zero, an evil killer who will ‘chew up anyone who’s got a power’ … and they’ve deliberately diverted his attention to the club owners. Bullied as a child, Swarm is angry. His power can turn an ordinary crowd of people into a mob of zombies who will violently rip apart a victim at his will. He wants to kill every Zero bar one, whom he wants to join forces with instead.

Swarm is written by the same trio of authors who wrote Zeroes: Scott Westerfeld, (bestselling author of the Leviathan trilogies), Margo Lanagan (winner of four World Fantasy Awards), and Deborah Biancotti (Aurealis-shortlisted author).

The sequel has a far more supernatural feel than the first novel. In Zeroes, their major enemies were people. In Swarm, their enemy has a superpower. The prequel spent a lot of time exploring the characters and their powers, without moving far from the action. Swarm successfully does the same. Much has changed for the characters since the previous summer and their mental states are not ignored. (Kelsie, for example, is mourning her father and suffering from a post-traumatic stress disorder.) The connection between the two novels is strong and, as a result, the characters have grown. Their powers have grown also … the sequel allows them to explore the darker sides of their powers, how to invert their powers, and how to ‘level up’. It will be interesting to see where the authors take the story in the next book!

Shield

Shield by Rachael Craw (Walker Books) PB RRP $27.99  ISBN 9781922179647

Reviewed by Ashling Kwok

Get ready to be taken on the ride of your life in the latest instalment from New Zealand author Rachael Craw.

Shield is the final book in the popular Spark trilogy. The first part of this gripping young adult sci-fi series, Spark, was released in 2014 to rave reviews, followed by Stray in 2015.

In the latest book, the drama continues but this time Evie is out of options. She must comply with the Affinity Project in order to survive. Evie must obey their rules, play their deadly games and give up Jamie.

When Evie decides to help a small group of Shields trying to affect change, she finds herself in all sorts of trouble. Counsellor Knox is determined to reveal her secrets and tie her to the Affinity Project for life. To protect her family, Evie must betray those closest to her. The odds of success, and of Evie’s survival, are slim.

Shield is a fast paced, action-packed thriller that will grab reader’s attention from the very first page. It is an original, exciting story with underlying themes of friendship, loyalty, courage and love.  

Shield is perfect for teenagers with a passion for sc-fi and for anyone who enjoyed The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins and the Maze Runner Trilogy by James Dashner.

Rachael Craw is a prolific talent as evidenced by her latest book. She has the ability to produce brilliant work that is well-written and contains just the right amount of action and excitement to enthral readers.

A great read and highly recommended.

The Ragnor Trilogy

The Ragnor Trilogy: Irina the Wolf Queen, Irina and the White Wolf,

Irina and the Lost Book by Leah Swann (XUOM Books)

PB RRP $14.99 each

ISBNs: 9781922057112; 9781922057082; 9781922057136 respectively

Reviewed by Anne Hamilton

This fantasy trilogy begins with the abduction of Irina, firstborn child of King Harmon and Queen Chloe of Ragnor. In revenge for a taunt, Chloe once carelessly inflicted on the executioner’s son, Vilmos, he artfully (pun intended!) gains access to the queen’s chamber by posing as a portrait painter. After stealing the baby, his plans quickly go awry when he encounters a savage wolf while fleeing pursuit.

Irina is taken by the wolf and, although she is believed to be dead, she is suckled by the vixen. Growing up with the wild pack, she learns the ways of wolves. One day a bear attacks the wolf cubs and her wolf-brother, Durrel, sacrifices himself to allow Irina to escape. She comes to live with a farmer and his wife, and so at last learns the ways of humans.

Meanwhile, in the neighbouring kingdom of Pavel, Vilmos is fostering war. He’s learned a few dark spells from a sorcerer and he’s insinuated himself into the good graces of King Niklas, best friend of King Harmon. Gradually he’s feeding Seely, King Niklas’ wolf-guardian, magic-dusted meat to muddle the animal’s instincts. The wolf is slowly coming under Vilmos’ sway and bringing the allegiance of the entire wolf-clan with him.

War is imminent and only one person can intervene to stop it—Irina. If she can break the hold Vilmos has over the wolves.

Although this is classed as ‘children’s fantasy’, the storytelling style is much closer to fairytale. It has the omniscient viewpoint, the rapid-fire hopping from one character’s thoughts to another, even the split-second scene changes that are more in keeping with old-fashioned fairy story narration than with the canons of the modern fantasy genre. ‘Point of view’ and ‘show don’t tell’ are not in evidence anywhere.

For all that, this is a steadfast and charming adventure, full of clear-cut black-and-white characters. There is no ambiguity about the villains or the heroes.

The writing becomes increasingly confident in the second book in the series (which had the misfortune to feature one of my least favourite spelling mistakes. I only point it out here because I am on a personal crusade: the electrical bolt that occurs during storms is ‘lightning’ not ‘lightening’.) That irritant aside, I found the storyline in Book II to have increasing focus. It was a delight to see the development of Andor, son of King Niklas.

While Irina has grown up in these books, by contrast Andor has matured.

As the book opens, Irina has spent nearly two years alone with the wolves she is trying to save. As a result of the enchantments they suffered while in the control of Vilmos, they have forgotten how to hunt, how to wrestle and play, and how to bond as a pack. The females are barren. It’s the end of the Wolves of Ragnor.

But then Irina meets Baruch and regains hope for her wolf-kin. If she can travel across the sea to the Valley of Carmine Cliffs and persuade the white wolf, Gunda, to come to Ragnor, then there is the potential for re-building the pack.

But something Irina doesn’t know is that there is a prophecy about a child of a holy woman riding a white beast, a child who will usher in the Age of Peace and defeat the vile magicks of the Venerated Dragon.

So of course there are those who will stop at nothing to ensure Irina does not meet her destiny. These include the increasingly dark-hearted villain, Vilmos, and his masters, the sorcerer Iniko and the monstrous Venerated Dragon.

This book effectively leaves the light, charming touches of the first behind. The black-and-white characters are murkier and more realistic. Vilmos was almost a comic caricature in the first novel but now he’s moved to outright malevolence.

If this trilogy were a triptych of paintings, the first volume would be bright, folksy naïf, the second one of the moody Romanticists. And the third—different again: it’s almost got a baroque complexity to it. Swann has hit her stride in a big way with this book and it’s much more meaty and intricate than its predecessors.

The good guys are no longer lily-white. The bad guys have moments when they deserve pity rather than condemnation. Doubts start to emerge about the motivations of several major characters. The prophecy of the ‘rider on the wild beast white’ might just have been misinterpreted.

All in all, the stark black-and-white of the previous books has greyed up in a serious way. Thus there is a stirring finale to the series which is suitable for teen readers.

The Mapmaker Chronicles: Race to the End of the World

The Mapmaker Chronicles: Race to the End of the World by A.L.Tait (Lothian/Hachette)
PB RRP $14.99
ISBN 978 0 7344 1577 6
Reviewed by Hilary Smillie

The first book in a trilogy, Race to the End of the World is set in a fantasy world and yet reflects history, when sailing explorers sought to discover whether the rumour that the world is round was true and if other countries lay beyond their own horizons.

Quinn Freeman is chosen by Zain, slave to King Orel to be mapmaker on board the Libertas, one of three ships competing in a race to bring back the best map of the whole globe and make the kingdom of Verdania superior to that of neighbouring Gelyn. The king firmly believes that knowledge is power.

Quinn has already received mapmaking training, coerced into agreeing to leave his parents farm by the promise of a generous payment to learn these skills. He could not refuse, knowing that the money would make a huge difference to the prosperity of his family. Quinn, regarded as the runt of the litter compared to his muscular and tall older brothers, has a well-guarded secret: a photographic memory and the ability to learn languages quickly. However, Zain has found out, and knows the boy will prove invaluable on the expedition which he will lead.

Quinn has a friend, Aysha, who had left the area where they grew up because her mother, a healer, had been labelled a witch. Her mother died, and Aysha found work as a servant at the place where Quinn was to receive his mapmaking training. It came as a huge surprise when, five days after the Libertas set sail, Aysha, disguised as a boy, is discovered as a stowaway. But Aysha (Ash) turns out to be a vital member of the crew.

The author has produced well-rounded characters and detailed backgrounds to underpin the storyline. While it may unfold somewhat slowly in the early chapters, explaining in depth the conditions and operations on board a sailing ship, once the hair-raising adventures commence, the reader can quickly detect he is in for a good yarn. The fierce competition between the three ships increases the strength of the story.

The author's good imagination coupled with plenty of action propels this initial book of the trilogy to a satisfying end leaving a sense of longing for the second, Prisoner of the Black Hawk, to arrive. Readers will have to be patient until 2015.