quippe | Entries tagged with janina ramirez

The Blurb On The Back:

Alva clings to her sleeping wolf as the Viking longship pitches and rolls over the North Sea’s crashing waves. Soon she will reveal herself as a secret stowaway, but only when there’s no chance of turning back. This is her opportunity to put her shield maiden spirit to the test - exploring strange new ands, solving mysteries, and most importantly finding her father …

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

The second in Janina Ramirez’s historical mystery series for children aged 9+ (atmospherically illustrated by David Wyatt) uses real people from the early 10th century but Alva’s reason for going to England makes little sense and undermines the first book, the plot meanders with the mystery not arriving until the final quarter and being solved too quickly and the writing clunks with modern day expressions such that I don’t think I’ll read on.

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

The Blurb On The Back:

Alva rushes through the trees in the dead of night with her sniffer wolf, Fen. Being out alone when there’s a kidnapper on the loose is reckless, but if she ever wants to be an investigator like her Uncle Magnus, she’ll need to be first to the crime scene.

But what Alva discovers raises more questions than it answers, drawing her into a dangerous search for truth, and for treasure …

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Janina Ramirez’s first novel for children aged 9+ is a sturdy historical adventure set in Viking times with a determined and rebellious female main character and featuring moody and evocative illustrations by David Wyatt. However, the writing is stiff in places, the mystery elements rely on backstory that wasn’t previously mentioned and there are a couple of anachronisms that threw me out (although children probably won’t notice).

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