Michael Wombat said he wanted to write one book that was bonkers, and although some might say it is, for me it was the perfect amalgamation of several genres in one. It covered many my favourites: science fiction, space and aliens, plus horror, giant flesh-eating spider crabs, mixed with zombies. There's a touch of historical fiction with the encroaching second world war and nazi's, and the author modelled characters and speech patterns from that period.
The author brings such wonderful characters alive, even ones that aren't human. I laughed, I cried and I was thoroughly gripped throughout this fast paced book. Personally it had it all.
1937. When Mythily's plane suddenly loses all power and crashes into the jungle of a mysterious uncharted island, she and her companion Barry are faced with a kaleidoscope of horrors. They discover they are not alone. Initially they think the giant flesh eating spider-crabs are their biggest threat, until they uncover a far bigger secret that threatens the entire world.
A survivor's tale of a lost island, alien visitation and giant flesh eating spider-crabs.
"A wild read, full of suspense, great characters, and a plot that keeps you guessing. If you like unusual and slightly barmy (in the best way)…
Even though this book is marketed to children, if you are a lover of stories like The Borrowers or Terry Pratchett's Bromeliad series or Nome Series (Truckers, Diggers, Wings), you will enjoy this too. It follows the plite of a microscopic creature, Rein, as he ventures out of 'Haven' (a houseplant) into the world outside (the garden) in an attempt to find water, and he gets caught up in a big political 'war' of sorts. He is a 'rambler', and they tame ants, and ladybirds, and come up against various other insects.
J R Bee clearly loves insects and knows a lot about them and it comes through in this story, which I enjoyed. It had a good pace, and I found it light and funny. The characters are well developed, and I'm hoping it will turn into a series.
Journey into a world that's right under your feet to find rideable ants, battles with centipedes, insect wranglers, and a good old mystery to unravel!
Drought has struck and Rein’s Mamma, May, has gone missing on her quest for water.
To try and find her, young and sheltered Rein must brave the full force of the summer heat and face The Wilds – a place where all the creatures that would gobble up a young rambler lurk!
But something more sinister than drought is unfolding in the outside world and, to save his Mamma May from these dastardly forces, Rein…
Seen through the main character's eyes, the author absorbs the reader in the Turkish culture through not just description of location, but conversation, food and archeology. It's almost like we, the reader, are actually there. And the more the main characters discover, the faster the pace, and we get to visit Morocco and Egypt along the way. It ends in a dark confrontation, which for a horror lover like me is the pièce de résistance, and very well executed. And though I had hoped for a happy ending, we are left with a twist, and an opening.
It's a compelling read that takes the reader on a quest of sorts. I really liked the characters and would love to experience their adventures again.
It’s Seb’s last day working in Turkey, but his friend Oz has been cursed. Superstition turns to terror as the effects of the ancient malediction spill over and the lives of Oz and his family hang in the balance. Can Seb find the answers to remove the hex before it’s too late?
From Kev Harrison, author of The Balance and Below, journey with Seb, Oz and Deniz across ancient North African cities as they seek to banish the Shadow of the Hidden.
Booby trapped bunkers. A recording on a gemstone. Creating a time labyrinth. Will Tricky be able to trap her would-be assassin before he catches her?
Cracked glass balls! Tricky didn’t think anything could top the risk of being killed by the network, but she was wrong.
Tricky has managed to escape the network but she needs to reach the palace in Chestwick. She has to play a recording to The Baron; a recording Lucien Dufray discovered on her obsidian. It cost Lucien his life, and what it reveals might cost Tricky hers.
On her way, the trees show Tricky a greater threat in the bunkers, not just to her but to the entire landmass. Destroying the network is imperative, and Tricky realises getting rid of Gandalf, aka Douglas Bottle, is the key. But Tricky’s no murderer (only an inadvertent one) and devises a plan, one which, with the help of the fickle fae collective, The Rabble, she hopes will work.
Will The Baron support Tricky or blame her? Can Tricky trap Gandalf before he catches her? And is she really considering settling down if she saves the landmass? The only thing Tricky knows for sure is she faces another journey, one that will take her out of the landmass and out of time – she only hopes she can get back.
Tricky’s Tales are a series of dark paranormal fantasy novels set a few hundred years from now in a post-apocalyptic world. After a massive shift of the tectonic plates decimates the world and its population, life on the remaining landmass has returned to simple living, with money, rulers and religion no longer tolerated.
