quippe | Entries tagged with walker freebie

The Blurb On The Back:

Nothing can be gained without sacrifice …

Desperate to free the shikigami, Kurara journeys deep into the mountains of Mikoshima - through villages devastated by a roaming swarm of shadowy monsters, and a country at war across land and sky. If Kurara cannot find a way to make the Star Seed bloom, the suffering she has caused will be for nothing.

But there is more to lose than she knows.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

The conclusion to Ann Sei Lin’s YA fantasy trilogy delves deeper into the mythology of her Japanese-inspired world and focuses on themes of grief, loss and guilt. However there’s too much plot here for the length of the book, which means that some storylines unfurl in too perfunctory a way and don’t have the room they need to give the emotional punch Lin wants readers to experience, which is a real shame in the case of one specific character death.

REBEL DAWN was released in the United Kingdom on 7th November 2024. Thanks to Walker Books for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

What would you kill for?
A seemingly ordinary teenager girl.
A mysterious internship.
A games designer with a dark legacy.

Arcadia ‘Dia’ Gannon has long been obsessed with Louisiana Veda, whose games company, Darkly, now lies dormant after her death. It has a cult following for its ingenious and utterly terrifying games. When an ad for an internship appears, Dia is shocked to be chosen, along with six other teenagers from around the world.

Thrust into the enigmatic heart of Darkly, Dia and her fellow interns discover hidden symbols, buried clues and a web of intrigue.

This summer will be the most twisted Darkly game of all.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

I struggled to buy into the premise of Marisha Pessl’s standalone YA thriller as very little about it actually makes sense. It’s further hampered by one-dimensional characterisation (I struggled to remember who was who in the Veda Seven), a rote love triangle between two equally blah male characters. What really threw me out was how little research Pessl had done on English law or geography, which irritated me throughout the whole book.

DARKLY was released in the United Kingdom on 28th November 2024. Thanks to Walker Books for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Ten years ago an obsessed fangirl known as Gottie set out to prove that two male actors were dating. But her online investigations uncovered far more than she bargained for.

In the ensuring frenzy, one of the Hollywood actors was killed. The other was charged with his murder.

And Gottie disappeared without a trace.

Now it’s time to crack the case wide open …

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Lauren James’s standalone YA thriller is very strong on fame, fandoms and toxic fan behaviour but the murder aspect was under-powered for me with the villain too easy to guess and a final twist that didn’t ring true. At the same time, Delilah’s backstory was too busy and a sub-plot involving her best friend Nida feeling superfluous. That said, it is a fast-paced read and James has something to say so I would check out her next book.

LAST SEEN ONLINE was released in the United Kingdom on 1st August 2024. Thanks to Walker Books for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Come to the circus.
Scream at the monster.

Beaked. Feathered. Monstrous. Avita Fortuna was born to be a star. Her show sells out nightly and every performance incites blood-curdling screams. But when a handsome young artist arrives to create posters of the performers, she’s appalled by his portrayal of her.

Avita is much more than razor-sharp teeth and ruffled feathers - and she’ll risk everything to prove it.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

I feared that Lindsay Eagar’s standalone YA historical novel was going to be bogged down with an obligatory romance element but it’s actually a much more compelling coming of age tale with a melodrama vibe. Avita is a compelling main character whose crush on Tomás makes her chafe against the public perception of her but it’s the family dynamics that held my attention as each member of the family has a reckoning with the brilliant but flawed Arturo.

THE FAMILY FORTUNA was released in the United Kingdom on 2nd May 2024. Thanks to Walker Books for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

When Jake’s stomach growls, it’s the Voice that answers.

Don’t eat that garbage!
You already ate an apple today!
You didn’t exercise enough!

But listening to the Voice isn’t good for Jake. His mom knows, his grandma knows and the staff at Whispering Pines, where Jake has been sent to heal, all know too. If Jake is going to lead the life he wants - the one he deserves - he must learn to silence the Voice and find his own.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

John Schu’s YA novel told in verse form is an incredibly moving book based on his own experiences of having an eating disorder. I felt desperately sympathetic to the vulnerable Jake whose relationship with his grandmother is clearly very important to him but more could have been made of his relationship with his parents, which is much too lightly sketched and should have been explored given his mum’s anxiety issues seem to feed into Jake’s.

LOUDER THAN HUNGER was released in the United Kingdom on 4th April 2024. Thanks to Walker Books for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Can one girl succeed against the force of an empire?

Kurara and her shipmates have escaped the clutches of the princess and set a course for the Grand Stream. There they hope to find the most powerful shikigami of all: a legendary paper phoenix. It may hold the key to releasing shikigami from their eternal bonds for good - if they can reach it before the imperial powers do.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

The second in Ann Sei Lin’s YA fantasy trilogy delves into the mythology of Lin’s world, especially the backstory for Kurara and Haru and includes some heart breaking scenes as Lin also explores the bond between shikigami and Crafter and what it really means. However Tomoe and Sayo are very much bit players here and while I enjoyed the character development for Himura, Tsukimi remains too broadly painted to be a credible antagonist.

REBEL FIRE was released in the United Kingdom on 6th July 2023. Thanks to Walker Books for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Welcome to a world of sky ships, flying cities and powerful paper sprites …

When servant girl Kurara’s trick of making paper come to life turns out to be a power treasured across the empire, she escapes her old life to become a Crafter on board a skyship. There she learns to hunt wild paper spirits called shikigami - and a whole new world begins to unfold.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Ann Sei Lin’s debut YA fantasy novel (the first in a trilogy) makes the most out of its very original concept (inspired by Japanese history and culture) and unfurls at a breakneck pace that keeps the action coming thick and fast. However, this is one of those rare books that I wished had at times slowed down to explore and explain some of the core ideas and allow the character relationships to breathe and develop more naturally than they do.

REBEL SKIES was released in the United Kingdom on 5th May 2022. Thanks to Walker Books 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:

Everything you need to know about sex and relationships in the 21st century, with words from an award-winning team.

Find out about:
Consent
The body
What is sex?
Sexual health
online life
Relationships
Reproductive health
Gender & sexuality
Body image.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

The School of Sexuality Education is a UK charity comprising doctors, teachers, activists and artists who visit UK schools to talk about sex, bodies, relationships and identity. This YA book (illustrated by Evie Karkera) aims to answer teens’ common questions and improve general sex education. There’s a lot of information and common sense here but the lack of anecdotes (especially on embarrassing topics) means it lacks a human connection.

SEX ED: AN INCLUSIVE TEENAGE GUIDE TO SEX AND RELATIONSHIPS was released in the United Kingdom on 16th September 2021. Thanks to Walker Books for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Queer, questioning or just curious?

Whether you’re part of the community or an ally looking to learn more, this book is an empowering guide to growing up LGBTQ+. Packed full of friendly answers to BIG queer questions, discover:
- advice on coming out, sex and relationships, allyship and more.
- mental health support to help you love and value yourself
- inspiring stories from people across the LGBTQ+ spectrum

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Alexis Caught is creator and co-host of the Qmmunity podcast and a qualified psychotherapist. This is a chatty, reassuring YA book (with great illustrations by Jamie Hammond) in which Caught and his contributors share personal experiences and advise about identity, coming out, love, sex, pride and being trans. It emphasises trans women more than trans men and is too brief on bi and asexuality but I wish it had been around when I was a teen.

QUEER UP: AN UPLIFTING GUIDE TO LGBTQ+ LOVE, LIFE AND MENTAL HEALTH was released in the United Kingdom on 20th January 2022. Thanks to Walker Books for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Once a year, a road appears in the woods at midnight and the ghost of Lucy Gallows beckons, inviting those who are brave enough to play her game. If you win, you escape with your life. But if you lose …

It’s almost a year since Becca went missing. Everyone else has given up searching for her, but her sister, Sara, knows she disappeared while looking for Lucy Gallows. Determined to find her, Sara and her closest friends enter the woods. But something more sinister than ghosts lurks on the road, and not everyone will survive.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Kate Alice Marshall’s YA horror novel is a haphazard, disjointed affair whose plot draws on the legend of Ys. However its connection with small-town America is never explained and neither is the narrative framing device while many of the side characters are interchangeable. That said there are some genuinely creepy moments and sinister imagery such that although the book did not work for me, I’d be interested in reading Marshall’s other work.

Thanks to Walker Books for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

”We don’t pick and choose what to be afraid of. Our fears pick us.”

Tash Carmody has been traumatised since childhood, when she witnessed her gruesome imaginary friend Sparrow lure young Mallory Fisher away from a carnival. At the time nobody believed Tash, and she has since come to accept that Sparrow wasn’t real. Now fifteen and mute, Mallory’s never spoken about the week she went missing. As disturbing memories resurface, Tash starts to see Sparrow again. And she realises Mallory is the key to unlocking the truth about a dark secret connecting them. Does Sparrow exist after all? Or is Tash more dangerous to others than she thinks?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Sarah Epstein’s debut YA thriller has a strong first half that teases a supernatural explanation for Tash’s memories of Sparrow and what happened to Mallory but Tash’s claustrophobia read as a gimmick to me and I thought the plot got a little silly once Tash starts getting the answers she wanted. That said, Tash’s relationship with her mum is well drawn and Epstein gives her a strong narrative voice so I’d definitely read Epstein’s next book.

Thanks to Walker Books for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

”We don’t see color.”
“I didn’t know Black people liked Star Wars.”

When Frederick Joseph was a Black student in a largely white high school there were many hurtful comments that he often just let go. Now he and fourteen other prominent artists and activists discuss their experiences of racism in their teenage years and beyond.

Offering himself as a friend to the reader, Joseph explores everything from cultural appropriation to “reverse racism” and white privilege.

Both a conversation starter and a tool kit, this is an essential read for committed anti-racists and newcomers to the cause of racial justice alike.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Frederick Joseph is a writer, award-winning activist, philanthropist and marketing professional. This YA book draws on Joseph’s and 14 other contributors’ teen experiences to provide teaching moments to white people about the Black experience while also offering people of colour affirmation. It’s a difficult read at times albeit a necessary one and the start of a conversation but it is short and at times I thought it needed a bit more depth.

THE BLACK FRIEND: ON BEING A BETTER WHITE PERSON was released in the United Kingdom on 1st April 2021. Thanks to Walker Books for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

WANTED: SCARLETT AND BROWNE

Scarlett McCain is a shoot-first-ask-questions-later kind of outlaw. She survives on bank heists, her wits - and never looking back.

That is until she meets Albert Browne, a boy with a dark past and an even darker talent. Thrown together in a lawless future Britain, populated by strange and savage beasts, the two must escape across the wilderness - with deadly enemies close behind.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Jonathan Stroud’s YA post-apocalyptic fantasy thriller (the first in a new series) sets up solid character and world-building against an otherwise straightforward chase plot with enough action and brutal death to hold my attention despite the twists being a little obvious and the antagonists a little two dimensional. That said the unresolved mysteries and hints at a wider arc mean that I will definitely read the sequel.

THE OUTLAWS SCARLETT & BROWNE was released in the United Kingdom on 1st April 2021. Thanks to Walker Books for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

A searing exploration of the world we live in - and the ones we don’t.

Ash is used to taking hits for his high school football team - but then those hits start pushing him through a succession of universes almost-but-not-really like his own. As small shifts in reality become significant shits in Ash’s own identity, he starts to question the world he thought he knew, as well as the ones he finds himself catapulted into.

For better or worse, the one thing Ash knows is that he’s got to find a way to put everything back.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Neal Shusterman’s YA SF novel is a high concept tale with a QUANTUM LEAP vibe about being a better person, privilege and tackling injustice while also being honest about apathy and wanting a simpler life. It’s slickly written, fast-paced and a smart way of examining current issues without being preachy while also taking traditional high school tropes and stereotypes and using them in a fresh way.

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

The Blurb On The Back:

During Frankie’s first sexual experience with the quiet and lovely Benjamin, she gets her period. It’s only blood, they agree. But soon a graphic meme goes viral, turning their fun, intimate afternoon into something disgusting, mortifying and damaging. As the online shaming takes on a horrifying life of its own, Frankie begins to wonder: is her real life over?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Lucy Cuthew’s debut YA contemporary novel cleverly uses a verse format to explore the taboos of sex and periods and expose the double standards used against girls for demonstrating their sexuality. However, while I enjoyed the girl power ending, it doesn’t reflect what would happen in reality (other than the lack of consequences for the antagonist) while Frankie and Harriet’s broken friendship is a little contrived and through the motions.

BLOOD MOON was released in the United Kingdom on 2nd July 2020. Thanks to Walker Books for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

All Nor Blackburn wants is to live an unremarkable teenage life. But as a descendant of the witch Rona Blackburn, who famously cursed her family over a century ago, Nor is no stranger to suffering. She has reason to hope, however, that she may have escaped the thornier side effects of Rona’s curse.

Then a mysterious book comes out, promising to cast any spell for the right price. The author - Nor’s own mother - is performing magic that should be far beyond her capabilities. And such magic always requires a sacrifice.

A storm is coming. It’s coming for Nor.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Leslye Walton’s YA fantasy novel has some great ideas and vivid and bleak imagery but the plot is filled with holes while characterisation beyond Nor is essentially non-existent. Although self-harm forms a major theme in the book, I didn’t buy into Nor’s psychological state and the inevitable YA love triangle between Nor, Reed and Gage is half-hearted and fails to sizzle. The book ends with the set-up for a sequel but I’m not sure I’d read on.

Thanks to Walker Books for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Heartstream: The App That Allows You To Feel Everything

Amy Becker is a star. She’s used Heartstream to broadcast every moment of her mother’s illness. It’s the realest, rawest reality TV imaginable, and it’s everywhere.

On the day of her mother’s funeral, she goes home to find a fan of hers in the kitchen. She’s rigged herself and the house with explosives – and she’s been waiting to talk to Amy for a long time.

Amy is about to discover just how far true obsession can go.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Tom Pollock’s YA tech thriller is a needle sharp study in obsession that cleverly examines the benefits and disadvantages of social media and celebrity and which builds up a great sense of tension. His observations about fandom are spot on and, as always, he’s sensitive in depicting anxiety and mental health and although some of the plot points are a little soapy and the antagonists slightly under baked, it’s a strong read that’s worth a look.

HEARTSTREAM was released in the United Kingdom on 4th July 2019. Thanks to Thanks to Walker Books for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Ancient, rich and strange, these magical and eerie tales from across Britain and Ireland have been passed down from generation to generation. At once dark and funny, lyrical yet earthy, these stories have shaped our landscape and culture. This definitive collection, retold by master storyteller and poet Kevin Crossley-Holland, opens a doorway to a lost world and shows the enduring power of language and imagination.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

The Carnegie Medal winning author and poet, Kevin Crossley-Holland has put together this lovingly collated collection of British and Irish folktales (evocatively illustrated by Frances Castle) with an excellent section at the end where he explains what the source material is and how he modified it for the book. All in all, it’s a fascinating window on storytelling from a different age and should appeal to adults and children alike.

Thanks to Walker Books for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

”I’ve got a poltergeist,” says Joe.
“What’s one of them?”
“Kind of ghost,” says Joe.
“Davie’ll know. Davie?”

Joe Quinn tells everyone about the poltergeist in his house, but no one believes him. No one, that is, except Davie.

He’s felt the inexplicable presence in the rooms and seen random objects fly through the air. And there’s something else … a memory of Davie’s beloved sister, and a feeling deep down that it might just be possible for ghosts to exist.

A haunting story of the power of hope.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

David Almond and Dave McKean’s graphic novel for children aged 9+ is, like many ghost stories, a tale of grief and faith that’s pervaded with sadness that’s inspired in part by Almond’s own life. I suspect that the lack of a definitive resolution will put off some readers but this is an emotionally mature book whose illustrations have an otherworldly melancholy that resonated with me and I suspect would do so with the target age group too.

JOE QUINN’S POLTERGEIST will be released in the United Kingdom on 7th March 2019. Thanks to Walker Books for the review copy of this book.

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January 2026

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Page Summary

Rebel Dawn by Ann Sei Lin
Darkly by Marisha Pessl
Last Seen Online by Lauren James
The Family Fortuna by Lindsay Eagar
Louder Than Hunger by John Schu
Rebel Fire by Ann Sei Lin
Rebel Skies by Ann Sei Lin
Roxy by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
Sex Ed: An Inclusive Teenage Guide To Sex And Relationships by The School of Sexuality Education
Queer Up: An Uplifting Guide to LGBTQ+ Love, Life and Mental Health by Alexis Caught
Rules For Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall
Small Spaces by Sarah Epstein
The Black Friend: On Being A Better White Person by Frederick Joseph
The Outlaws Scarlett & Browne by Jonathan Stroud
Game Changer by Neal Shusterman
Blood Moon by Lucy Cuthew
The Price Guide To The Occult by Leslye Walton
Heartstream by Tom Pollock
Between Worlds: Folktales Of Britain & Ireland by Kevin Crossley-Holland
Joe Quinn’s Poltergeist by David Almond and Dave McKean

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I Read, Therefore I Blog

A Book Review Blog Belonging to Caroline Hooton

Entries tagged with walker freebie

Rebel Dawn by Ann Sei Lin

Darkly by Marisha Pessl

Last Seen Online by Lauren James

The Family Fortuna by Lindsay Eagar

Louder Than Hunger by John Schu

Rebel Fire by Ann Sei Lin

Rebel Skies by Ann Sei Lin

Roxy by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Sex Ed: An Inclusive Teenage Guide To Sex And Relationships by The School of Sexuality Education

Queer Up: An Uplifting Guide to LGBTQ+ Love, Life and Mental Health by Alexis Caught

Rules For Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall

Small Spaces by Sarah Epstein

The Black Friend: On Being A Better White Person by Frederick Joseph

The Outlaws Scarlett & Browne by Jonathan Stroud

Game Changer by Neal Shusterman

Blood Moon by Lucy Cuthew

The Price Guide To The Occult by Leslye Walton

Heartstream by Tom Pollock

Between Worlds: Folktales Of Britain & Ireland by Kevin Crossley-Holland

Joe Quinn’s Poltergeist by David Almond and Dave McKean