I Read, Therefore I Blog

The Blurb On The Back:

Isadora Moon is special because she is different.

Her mum is a fairy and her dad is a vampire and she is a bit of both.

Isadora has got a maths test on Monday, and she’s worried she’s not going to do very well. If only she was ill she could get out of doing the test …

But giving yourself the magic pox is never a good idea and soon everything is out of control. Can Isadora make it all better?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

The 15th in Harriet Muncaster’s self-illustrated ISADORA MOON SERIES for readers aged 6+ takes something that most children can relate to - dread of doing a maths test - and turns it into a charming story about perseverance, trying your best and telling the truth without being preachy. I liked Isadora’s naughty cousin Mirabelle (who has her own series) and enjoyed Isadora’s parents different remedies for being unwell.

ISADORA MOON GETS THE MAGIC POX was released in the United Kingdom on 3rd March 2022. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

In 1906, the revolutionary Joseph Djugashvili - who would later take the name Joseph Stalin - met with an old friend, a clerk at the Tiflis branch of the State Bank of the Russian Empire, for a glass of milk. Over talk of national pride, the spirit of the new century and Djugashvili’s poetry, they agreed the beginnings of a plan.

With the aid of the Outfit, Djugashvili’s hardened crew of “expropriators”, they would pull off the biggest, bloodiest and most daring robbery in Georgia’s history, and ruthlessly change the direction of the Bolshevik revolution forever …

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

David Tallerman’s historical novella focuses on a notorious robbery, which cemented Joseph Stalin’s status in the Bolshevik movement. The narrative sticks to the facts with Tallerman noting at the back what he’s fictionalised but it’s a weirdly detached read with Tallerman not capturing Stalin’s psyche and being more interested in the more colourful Kamo (who benefits from an epilogue). Ultimately it’s fine but didn’t grab me as much as I hoped.

THE OUTFIT by David Tallerman was released in the United Kingdom on 3rd March 2022. Thanks to Rebellion Publishing for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Russia’s relationship with its neighbours and with the West has worsened dramatically in recent years. Under Vladimir Putin’s leadership, the country has annexed Crimea, begun a way in Eastern Ukraine, used chemical weapons on the streets of the UK and created an army of internet trolls to meddle in the US presidential elections. How should we understand this apparent relapse into aggressive imperialism and militarism?

In this book, Sergei Medvedev argues that this new wave of Russian nationalism is the result of mentalities that have long been embedded within the Russian psyche. Whereas in the West, the turbulent social changes of the 1960s and a rising awareness of the legacy of colonialism have modernised attitudes, Russia has been stymied by an enduring sense of superiority over its neighbours alongside a painful nostalgia for empire. It is this infantilised and irrational world view that Putin and others have exploited, as seen most clearly in Russia’s recent foreign policy decisions, including the annexation of Crimea.

This sharp and insightful book, full of irony and humour, shows how the archaic forces of imperial revanchist have been brought back to life, shaking Russian society and threatening the outside world. It will be of great interest to anyone trying to understand the forces shaping Russian politics and society today.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Sergei Medvedev is a Professor in the Higher School of Economics in Moscow. This is a very readable book (translated from Russian by Stephen Dalziel) first published in Russia in 2017 and published in the UK in 2020 that’s scarily relevant and prescient to Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine. Through short essays, Medvedev describes what’s driving Putin’s colonialism and how it’s caused by Russia’s failure to reckon with the traumas of its past.

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

”Allow me to introduce myself.” But he needed no introduction.
“Anansi the spider!” said Anansi the boy. “The tales were true!”

Kweku has grown up hearing stories about the mischievous spider, Anansi. Kweku’s father gave him the nickname Anansi because of his similarly cheeky ways.

On a holiday to visit his beloved Nana in Ghana, Anansi the boy meets Anansi the spider who shows him a magical pot that can be filled with whatever he wants. Will he learn to share this wonderful gift?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Taiye Selasi’s first picture book (boldly and beautifully illustrated by Tinuke Fagborun) takes the traditional Akan character of Anansi and weaves him into a clever tale of family and the importance of being generous while also introducing children to the food and folklore of Ghana. It’s an entertaining read that parents will enjoy with their little ones and I particularly enjoyed the illustrations of Anansi himself, with his dapper outfit.

ANANSI AND THE GOLDEN POT was released in the United Kingdom on 6th January 2022. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Above our world is a toxic wonderland where the party has raged for centuries.

Humans know the partygoers simply as “narcotics”, “opioids”, “drugs”. But here they are malevolent gods, toying with the fates of mortals. Roxy and Addison have made a wager to see who can be lethal the quickest.

Isaac and Ivy Ramey are their targets. Ivy is understimulated and over medicated. Isaac is desperate to recover from a sports injury that jeopardises his chance of a scholarship. This is the start of a race to the bottom that will determine life and death. One Ramey will land on their feet. The other will be lost to the Party.

The only question is … Which one?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Neal and Jarrod Shusterman’s YA fantasy is a sadly misfiring affair that aims to convey how “insidious, seductive and dangerous” these drugs can be but is hampered by world building that doesn’t quite click, a competition that fails to convince and inconsistent messaging on whether drugs have an inherent morality of their own or are merely tools that humans need to beware resulting in a stilted read with a “abuse of drugs is bad, mmkay?’ vibe.

ROXY was released in the United Kingdom on 11th November 2021. Thanks to Walker Books for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Emma is beautiful.
Men stare at her.
Girls are jealous of her.

Yet Emma is trapped.

Trapped by her beauty and trapped by a lack of prospects. She sleeps on her nan’s sofa and rushes to cleaning jobs after school. She dreams that there’s more to life than just scraping by.

Then Emma is tempted by two men who promise her the world in exchange for modelling work. But there’s a dark side to their offer that she will only discover when she’s in too deep …

Can Emma break free and take control of her own life?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Shappi Khorsandi’s contemporary YA novel uses the life of Nelson’s mistress, Lady Emma Hamilton, reimagining her as a girl on a council estate. Khorsandi is strong on prejudice, the difficulties of having a low income and the low expectations of teens from these backgrounds, but the story is repetitive with a series of selfish or abusive men taking advantage and Emma not dealing with it, which I found dull, while the pacing is lop-sided.

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

For generations the Freyls have ruled Springfield, Illinois, capital of a state of Great Lakes and rivers. Now convicted killer David Marion threatens their invincibility, and he threatens it from within their own ranks.

Water: it’s blue gold, and the price on world markets is soaring. When Springfield gets a new mayor, it finds its supply under threat, not only from corporations out for the money but from a disease that appears from nowhere, that nobody can identify and nobody can treat.

None of this interests David Marion until his own past surfaces and he finds himself caught between multinational leviathans at war over America’s heartland.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Joan Brady’s thriller (the third in a trilogy) is a mixed bag. Brady’s created a clever multi-faceted plot that combines political thriller and corporate conspiracy and throws in societal collapse to sophisticated effect with anti-hero David Marion’s backstory helping to flesh him out. However with the exception of Becky and Jimmy, characterisation is thin and unconvincing and as a result the book doesn’t hang together in a satisfying way.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Joanne Walker has three days to learn to use her shamanic powers and save the world from the unleashed WILD HUNT.

No worries. No pressure. Never mind the lack of sleep, the perplexing new talent for healing herself from fatal wounds, or the cryptic, talking coyote who appears in her dreams.

And if all that’s not bad enough, in the three years Joanne’s been a cop, she’s never seen a dead body - but she’s just come across her second in three days.

It’s been a bitch of a week.

AND IT ISN’T OVER YET.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

C. E. Murphy’s debut novel (the first in an urban fantasy series) is packed with ideas and mixes Celtic and Cherokee mythology and makes interesting use of astral projection. However the plot is overly busy, with too much set up and main character backstory for it all to feel cohesive and at times it tips into being contrived. That said, I enjoyed Joanne’s relationship with Gary and there’s enough potential for me to read the next book.

The Blurb On The Back:

It’s Chinese New Year and Jack is excited to celebrate and watch the traditional lion dance. But in the Jade Kingdom the mythical New Year beast is real - and really dangerous!

Jack can’t help feeling scared to battle the creature that haunts his nightmares. Can he face his fears and save the Jade Kingdom?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

The 3rd in M. Chan’s TIGER WARRIOR fantasy series for readers aged 6+ continues to make good use of the Chinese zodiac and mythology with Alan Brown’s illustrations adding to its energy. I liked the way Chan shows Jack’s fears and his relationship with the always fearful Rabbit and although the story is a little jumpy, younger readers will enjoy it - especially the martial arts scenes - and it does convey aspects of Chinese culture.

TIGER WARRIOR: RISE OF THE LION BEAST was released in the United Kingdom on 20th January 2022. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Dying isn’t any fun …
But at least it’s a living.

Mickey7 is an Expendable: a disposable employee on a human expedition sent to colonise the ice world Niflheim. Whenever there’s a mission that’s too dangerous - even suicidal - the crew turns to Mickey. After one iteration dies, a new body is regenerated with most of his memories intact. Mickey signed on to escape from bad debts and boredom on Midgard.

After six deaths, Mickey7 understands the terms of his deal … and why it was the only colonial position unfilled when he took it.

When he goes missing and is presumed dead at the hands of deadly indigenous creatures, Mickey8 reports for duty, and their troubles really begin.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Edward Ashton’s SF novel is a breezy, entertaining read held together by Mickey7’s excellent first person narration. Ashton does well in differentiating Mickey7 from Mickey8 and setting out the background and perils of colonisation such that it isn’t until the end that you realise how thin the actual plot is and how slight the supporting cast. That said, there are a lot of ideas at play here and I can well understand the buzz surrounding it.

MICKEY7 by Edward Ashton will be released in the United States on 15th February 2022 and in the United Kingdom on 17th February 2022. Thanks to Rebellion Publishing for the review copy of this book.