Below are some recent book reviews from our dedicated crew of readers. What have you read lately? If you want to submit a review please send it to info@writtendimension.com.au. Keep it brief though, just a quick outline of the plot, what makes it good and tell us why you think other people should read it.
Fateful by Claudia Gray
Review by Madison Dearnaley
It is 1912. Tess has served the Lisle family since she was young, and one day hopes to escape from service to begin a new life. The Lisle family, in a bid to recover their diminishing wealth and social standing, are travelling to America, and Tess sees the opportunity to make her dreams a reality. The family will be travelling by ship, and Tess will travel with them before making her own way in America. The journey will be exciting, glamorous and filled with opportunity. What could be more wondrous than travelling aboard the Titanic?
This is a well-timed (the centenary of the great ship’s sinking is April next year) and beautifully told story that is both heart warming and heart breaking, as to be expected in a romantic story that ends in a night of tragedy. However, don’t think this is just a retelling of the well-known movie. Claudia Gray gives this tale her own spin by adding the supernatural: werewolves, of course.
If you love stories of history and the supernatural, you will love this book. Gray mixes truth with fantasy beautifully and respectfully, and it makes for a wonderful read.
The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore
Review by Madison Dearnaley
The Power of Six is the brilliant sequel to I am Number Four. You will definitely want to read book one in this series before taking on this one. This book starts in Marina’s point of view, Number Seven, who has been hiding at a Spanish convent with her Cêpan for the past eleven years. Marina is terrified that they have allowed far too much time for the Mogadorians to catch up with them.
When I first started reading I was hesitant. What about John, Six and Sam? I wanted to keep reading their story. Madly flicking through the pages, I was relieved to find that The Power of Six is told by both Marina and John, which provides a fairly continuous amount of action throughout the book, whether it’s in Spain or the US, and you soon come to love Marina and her story as much as John and his (though I have to admit Six is still in her own level of awesome).
I really love this series, and the ending reveals a lot about the nine, their powers and their mission that still needs to be explored, leaving you desperate for book three. This is a great series and you certainly don’t have to be a fan of traditional sci-fi (or aliens) to love it.
The Demon’s Surrender by Sarah Rees Brennan
Review by Madison Dearnaley
It’s here. The conclusion in the Demon’s Lexicon series has definitely been worth the wait and is a great finish to a wonderful series. In a YA market that is flooded with demon tales, this is a refreshingly original trilogy that is highly addictive and supernatural. Each book is told from a different character’s point of view, and Sin takes the reins in The Demon’s Surrender. While the changing perspective may put off some people, it shouldn’t as it really allows the reader to view the characters and events in new ways, while still retaining all the closeness and intimate scenes you are waiting for. The ending is fitting and fans of the series will be happy to learn how the story of unlikely brothers Nick and Alan ends (well, I am at least). And if you’re not already a fan, why not? Start with Nick’s story in The Demon’s Lexicon, quickly gulp down Mae’s in The Demon’s Covenant and finish up here. You won’t regret it.
Dragonborn by Toby Forward
Reviewed by Jessica
Dragonborn was an excellent fantasy fiction, and I thoroughly enjoyed this on-the-edge-of-your-seat story. I couldn't put it down for more than a few moments and even then it would be calling to me to pick it up and read, read, read. The only fault that I could find was the editing.
Just when you thought you were figuring out what was going on in the story, you would spot a stray comma, a spelling mistake, a quote from a character that wasn't finished off with a quotation mark. This was an excellent piece of work, but seemingly unedited at all. (This applies to the published edition as well.) I would still highly recommend this story full of wizards, good, evil and spells to all magic lovers.
Reviewed by Jessica
Dragonborn was an excellent fantasy fiction, and I thoroughly enjoyed this on-the-edge-of-your-seat story. I couldn't put it down for more than a few moments and even then it would be calling to me to pick it up and read, read, read. The only fault that I could find was the editing.
Just when you thought you were figuring out what was going on in the story, you would spot a stray comma, a spelling mistake, a quote from a character that wasn't finished off with a quotation mark. This was an excellent piece of work, but seemingly unedited at all. (This applies to the published edition as well.) I would still highly recommend this story full of wizards, good, evil and spells to all magic lovers.
Raven’s Mountain by Wendy Orr
Reviewed by Jessica
Raven's Mountain was a very slow. Even though it was written by the author of Nim's Island I still think it had almost no story. Summing it up in one sentence: A girl hikes up a mountain with her family and gets separated from them by a rockfall, she then has to get help. I think, even though it has a lovely family message, it is a little slow. Perhaps that is because I am fifteen, though.
Careful What You Wish for by Maureen McCarthy
Reviewed by Jessica
Careful What You Wish For was an interesting enough book... but I didn't like the concept
of a magical rat??! Also, McCarthy was very prejudiced in her opinion of Catholicism going so far as to call one Nun 'Thunder Gut'! I'm sure if I published a book calling Muslim leaders names I would get some kind of radical response. Apart from this, I suppose I liked the concept that Ruth has to experiance three different lives before she realizes that her life is what she appreciates the most, snotty brothers, weird parents and all.
A good read for children eleven and under.
No Safe Place by Deborah Ellis
Reviewed by Jessica
No Safe Place was definitely not for the age rating suggested. The themes of sex, aggression and survival, plus the language used were NOT appropriate for the suggested age group.
11 to 14 years?! More like 13 to 16 years!! The story itself is definitely a stark eye-opener. It helped me to see how refugee children struggle, and how strong they become through all their struggles. It also helped me to see how soft, and spoilt Australian children are becoming. And how very, very privileged we are to have education, literature access, and freedom of speech. No Safe Place was good in it's own way, however, even though it was a story with children as the main characters, I believe the book needs to target a more mature audience.
The Clockwork Three by J. Kirby
Reviewed by Jessica
Just A Girl by Jane CaroThe Clockwork Three had my attention right from the beginning. I was reallly getting into
the story and loving it. Like the title suggests, each character's story is intertwined with the
other main characters. One thing that I didn't like though, was the fact that J. Kirby made
a 'spiritualist crackpot' or in other words, a lady who could commune with the dead, (witchcraft) a GOOD character. How does that work? In my mind you cannot mix good with evil.. so a witch shouldn't be a good character!!! Perhaps it doesn't bother other people, but to me it as if Sauron out of Lord of the Rings were a good character... It just doesn't work... y'know? All in all, I was disappointed with this book. If it hadn't been for that, I would have loved it!
Just A Girl by Jane CaroThe Clockwork Three had my attention right from the beginning. I was reallly getting into
the story and loving it. Like the title suggests, each character's story is intertwined with the
other main characters. One thing that I didn't like though, was the fact that J. Kirby made
a 'spiritualist crackpot' or in other words, a lady who could commune with the dead, (witchcraft) a GOOD character. How does that work? In my mind you cannot mix good with evil.. so a witch shouldn't be a good character!!! Perhaps it doesn't bother other people, but to me it as if Sauron out of Lord of the Rings were a good character... It just doesn't work... y'know? All in all, I was disappointed with this book. If it hadn't been for that, I would have loved it!
Reviewed by Jessica
Just a Girl was an interesting historical book, but I think it's for a much older age group. QUC needs to re-define the age group: it's not suitable for 12-14 year-olds. My mother very much enjoyed this, so I think the book should be for uni-students studying Elizabethan history, or 20+.
Just a Girl was an interesting historical book, but I think it's for a much older age group. QUC needs to re-define the age group: it's not suitable for 12-14 year-olds. My mother very much enjoyed this, so I think the book should be for uni-students studying Elizabethan history, or 20+.
Reviewed by Mitch
Many books are set with the background of the Holocaust, but never before have I come across a book set in the Cold War, let alone in young adult fiction. The book is sad at times but the coming-of-age aspects of the novel were uplifting overall. The main characters of this book are Clem and Frankie and the story centres on their unique love. Clem is a strong protagonist, living with his parents and grandparents in a claustrophobic little house together with Frankie, the daughter of a rich farmer. Clem and Frankie's journey is truly inspiring and easy to relate to. I enjoyed the character's back-stories which are told through flashbacks.
As the book is written through memories, it switches from first person to third person. The book is written in a beautiful way with lovely word choices creating a gorgeous atmosphere. My overall thoughts on this book are that it is a unique young adult historical fiction novel that is totally captivating from the first chapter. It's one of the best I've read. I really enjoyed the character's stories and their way of life. The plot was unique and the writing was beautiful. It is one of the best books I've read this year.
rating: 4.5/5 stars.
