The Wolf Letters by Will Schaefer

Title: The Wolf Letters
Author: Will Schaefer

Release Date: 1st May 2011

Genre: Adult Historical Thriller

My Rating: 4/5

Blurb:

Southern England, August 1936. An artefact from the dark ages – a wolf carved in jet – is stolen from the archaeology department of St Matthew’s College. A man is murdered in an antique store.

Historian George Haye translates two eighth-century documents for the investigating police, and is very soon nearly murdered himself. What is it about the documents? Aren’t they just letters from one Englishman to another? And why does the wolf from St Matthew’s seem to be at the black heart of all the evil that unfolds around him?

Haye is desperate. He must find the letters which lead him to the wolf, or he will die.

But Haye will find something else. Something he could never have imagined – something long forgotten, something terrifying …

My Review:
As you can probably already tell, The Wolf Letters is very different to what I usually review. Aside from YA, I love a good thriller and when I was presented with The Wolf Letters, I couldn't pass up the chance of reading it, especially since it comes from a debut Perth author.

Now I am not much for historical reads. The book is set in both the 8th century and also England in 1936, and so you may think my reading it is a little strange, but despite its time period, I found myself ploughing through the novel. While I did find the first couple of chapters a little slow, I think this may have been due to getting my head around the time period and that the story was only just beginning.

And what a mystery it is. Our hero, George Haye is pulled into a chilling, century old mystery that involves 8th century letters, a jet wolf, unexplainable murders committed by unlikely suspects and a connection to the occult that he never would have believed a day earlier.

Haye is a genuinely nice guy, who is 'recruited' by Detective Sergeant Aage Nielsen to translate letters between Ohthere, an 8th century solider-priest, and Bishop Ecgwulf, detailing Ohthere's exile from England and his subsequent journey through Europe and the mysterious jet wolf which is causing so much trouble in 1936. As more letters surface and strange events continue to arise, Haye and Nielsen travel to Wales in search of answers, unsure of who to trust, with shocking and devastating consequences.

The biggest compliment I can probably pay The Wolf Letters is that I am someone who does not read historical fiction, and have never really been a fan of learning about it in the first place. But, I read this book in less than two days and thoroughly enjoyed it.

While I haven't read Dan Brown's books (my act of rebellion on the book industry), I have seen the films and in my opinion, if you liked his books, you will like this.

So if historical is not your thing but suspense, mystery and intrigue is, this may still be one of you. And if historical fiction is your cup of tea, then you have found a gem.

A fantastic debut.

For more information or to purchase a copy, head to the website.

Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

Title: Prom and Prejudice
Author: Elizabeth Eulberg

Release Date: 1st March 2011

My Rating: 4/5

Blurb:

Everyone is obsessed with the prom. Everyone except scholarship student Lizzie Bennett, who isn't interested in designer dresses or expensive shoes, even if her best friend Jane is - especially now that hottie Charles Bingley is back from London.

Will Darcy, on the other hand, is a pompous jerk. Lizzie assumes he dislikes her because she is a scholarship student - so why is she drawn to him anyway? Will Lizzie's pride and Will's prejudice keep them apart, or will there be a prom date after all?

My Review:
I love reading Elizabeth Eulberg. Her books make me happy. Prom and Prejudice has proved she wasn't a one-hit-wonder with her awesome debut The Lonely Hearts Club.

Prom and Prejudice is funny, witty, and sometimes fluffy, with great characters who react honestly and how you can imagine you might have in the same situation. There is the age-old class/status war between Lizzie and the snobby rich kids at Longbourn and Pemberley Academy and the consequences of assumptions, misunderstandings, misinterpretation that occur in the teenage world of love and lust. But it's not all sunshine and rainbows. There is danger from an unexpected source, anger, pain, distress, lies and the ever present risk of being emotionally hurt.

While Prom and Prejudice is a modern retelling of Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice, you in no way have to read the original as this one is a story in it's own right. I haven't read Pride and Prejudice because I am not a fan of historical fiction (don't try and talk me into it, I'm not budging). I know a lot of people who have read both versions- some loving them both and some only loving the original or the retelling. From my point of view, reading it without bias, or influence, I loved it.

Bernard Beckett Give-Away Winners!

Congratulations to the two winners of my Bernard Beckett Give-Away! Using random.org, the winners are...

Nic from Irresistible Reads has won a signed copy of August

Mummazappa from The Book Nerd Club has won a signed copy of Genesis

Both have been contacted by email.

Thankyou to everyone who entered and don't forget you can still enter the Aussie Fiction Give-Away to win one of three signed books by Perth authors. It's international so anyone can enter. Click on the image below to enter.

Bits and Pieces

Firstly, The Tales Compendium has reached 100 followers! Thankyou to everyone old and new who checks in here, and an extra big thankyou to those who leave comments. Your interest is much appreciated and I hope I continue to keep you wanting to come back in the future.


If you haven't already become acquainted with Inside A Dog, I suggest you do. It is a website where teenagers (or people in general) can create a profile, post their reviews, participate in a book club and keep up to date with what is going in YA via the Inside A Dog blog. Each month there is a different 'Writer In Residence' who posts three times a week about whatever they feel like. March was Brian Falkner, April will be Gayle Forman! The site is run by the Centre for Youth Literature at the State Library of Victoria and is being taken care of by Adele, who you may know from her blog Persnickety Snark, who is the new program coordinator.


I would like to say a massive CONGRATULATIONS to Aussie Shaun Tan! He has just won the biggest children's literature prize in the world, the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, in Sweden. As most of you probably know, he also won an Academy Award last month in the category of Best Animated Short Film for The Lost Thing, his picture book released in 2000. He is also known for his picture books The Red Tree, The Arrival, The Rabbits and Tales From Outer Suburbia. Looks like 2011 is his year!



For those of you who missed my post the other day, I will be interviewing Rachel Caine when she comes to Perth next month. So I ask you, what would you like to ask Rachel? Send me your questions via email (found on my About Me page) or leave a comment.



Don't forget this is your last chance to enter the signed Bernard Beckett give-away, which I will draw on April 1st. Visit this post to enter.

Rachel Caine in Perth!

I have some very exciting news to share with you today. As I'm sure most of you already know, Rachel Caine, author of the Morganville Vampire series, is touring Australia in May for the release of Bite Club, book ten in the series. As recently announced, aside from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, she will be stopping by Perth, which is where I live.

Rachel will be signing books in Perth on May 2nd at Target in the Hay St. Mall and will later being doing an author talk and signing at The Astor Theatre in Mount Lawley (which is where I'll be). For more information on these events and the others around Australia, visit Penguin's Events page.

Now for the really exciting bit...I have been given the awesome opportunity to interview Rachel when she is in Perth! Yes, everyone do happy dances for me!

My question to all of you is... Have you got something you would like me to ask Rachel? It can be about the series itself, general writing questions or just something you have been dying to know.

You can leave you questions below as a comment or email me through my About Me page.


Read my review of book one, Glass Houses

Genesis by Bernard Beckett

Title: Genesis
Author: Bernard Beckett

Release Date: 1st August 2006. Republished 1st January 2011

My Rating: 4/5

Blurb:
It’s the year 2075.

The island Republic has emerged from a ruined world. Its citizens are safe but not free. They live in complete isolation from the outside world. Approaching planes are gunned down, refugees shot on sight. Until a man named Adam Forde rescues a girl from the sea.

Anaximander, a young Academy student, is put through a gruelling exam. Her special subject: the life of Adam Forde, her long-dead hero. What secrets has she discovered and what is her own surprising link to Adam? She is forced to confront the horrifying truth about her totalitarian world.

Genesis is a thriller that asks the big questions. What is it to be human? What makes a soul?

My Review:
Genesis is a deep, philosophical science fiction novel that leaves your brain churning over the concepts well after you have finished reading it.

As Anax answers questions about her hero Adam Forde, the story unfolds through her answers. We learn the history of The Republic through her knowledge and the holograms she has created about Art, the artificial intelligence that became Adam's companion after his imprisonment for rescuing an outsider. We witness the development of Art, as he watches, learns, and argues with Adam over what differentiates man from machine. Is it the ability to think, to create ideas? Is it the physical aspects? A conscience? A soul? It questions morals, ethics and humanity, and as Anax comes to the end of Adam and Art's story, she has a realisation that blows her world apart.

There were two surprises that I did not see coming and I was completely thrown by the ending. Genesis is a thought-provoking, original read that will bring out the philosopher in all of us. This novel would make for fabulous discussions and would make a great school reading text. Teachers notes are available here, Reading Group notes here.


Genesis has been published in more than 22 countries and has won the 2010 Young Adult Category of the Prix Sorcieres (France), the 2007 Esther Glen Award, and the 2007 NZ Post Book Award. In 2005, Bernard was awarded a fellowship where he worked on a project examining DNA mutations. This led to the writing of Genesis.

Author Interview: Jana Oliver

I am extremely excited to feature Jana Oliver on The Tales Compendium today!

Jana is the author of the very cool, and totally kick-ass, The Demon Trapper's Daughter (also published under Forsaken in the UK and Australia). You can read my review here.

What inspired you to write The Demon Trapper's Daughter?

As I was reading various young adult paranormal novels the one thing I missed was a take-charge heroine. There are some out there (Dru from Lili St. Crow’s Strange Angels Series comes to mind) but most heroines were pretty (dare I saw it?) wimpy. So I figured I’d write a book I’d like to read. I wanted a heroine who got into scrapes, used her head and lived to tell the tale. Not all of her decisions would be smart, but at least she was in the middle of it all, trying her best. That’s how Riley Blackthorne was “born”.

Can you tell us a little about our heroine Riley?
Riley is a fairly average seventeen-year-old who is having a rough life. Her mom died from cancer several years back, her family’s condo burned and now she and her dad are living in a tiny apartment trying to pay off her mom’s humongous medical bills. At the beginning of Demon Trapper’s Daughter, Riley can’t get a break. Unfortunately, that doesn’t change much over the course of the book. At the heart of the story is a girl trying to keep her head above water, fighting back against nearly impossible odds.

One thing is clear––she is a daddy’s girl and is keen to make her father (Paul) proud of her. That drive often gets her into situations she is ill-equipped to handle, but I really admire Riley’s guts. She just doesn’t back down even when that’s the smart thing to do.

Where did your ideas come from for all those pesky demons?
I had great fun dreaming up the Hellspawn. I decided rather than having them all be the same, there were be different types ranging from the annoying to really deadly. Can’t find your earrings or your watch? Probably a Klepto-Fiend stole it because they’re really into bling. Something tearing up your library? Blame a Biblio-Fiend. The bigger and nastier fiends come in different varieties as well. Most of those will give you nightmares. Sometimes I spook myself wondering exactly how my brain comes up with this stuff.

Can you tell us anything about what we can expect in Soul Thief, the sequel to TDTD?
Soul Thief opens up the overall story considerably. We learn more about the history of the Demon Trappers and about the Demon Hunters (the Vatican’s crack team). On the personal side, Riley and Beck go through some really rough times courtesy of their poor decisions. And we learn about Ori’s agenda. The book is a game changer for almost all of the characters and wasn’t easy to write, but I’m very proud of the final result.

Did you have playlist while writing TDTD?
I do use playlists and the one for the book is here. Once you listen to Steve Earle’s “Copperhead Road”, you’ll know Beck even better. As for Riley, Kelly Clarkson’s “Breakaway” is pretty much her theme song for me.

If it was made into a film, who do you see as the perfect Riley?
Depending on the day, I veer back and forth between Emma Roberts and Alexandra Daddario . Either of those ladies would do a fine Riley.

Your first series, The Time Rovers, was first published in 2006 and has won twelve out of the fifteen nominations it has received. Do you plan on adding any more titles to the three already released?
I hope to add more to the series down the line. The Rovers books are a mix of time travel, fantasy, historical mystery and romance. The first three are set in 1888 London which required a LOT of research to get the details correct. Because of that and my crazy schedule for the Demon Trappers Series, it’ll be a while before I can get back to write another Rovers book. I will eventually. I love that series.

Do you have any must-haves while writing?
A comfy chair, a window and good music. Most everything else is optional. As long as the work doesn’t feel like a “job” I’m good. And I know the next question: “What are you listening to at this moment?” Right now it’s "Corryvreckan" by William Jackson (Land of Light album). Before that it was Alter Bridge and Simon & Garfunkel. I’m an omnivore when it comes to tunes.

Who are your favourite young adult authors?
Though he’s more of a Middle Grade author, I love Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series. I just started reading Andrew Lane’s Young Sherlock Holmes Series and I’m quite enjoying it. And I’m fond of dark dystopian tales like Paolo Bacigalupi’s Ship Breaker. One thing in common here, these all have male protagonists. Apparently I like reading about guys (LOL).

Which fictional character would you like to trade places with?
Wow, that is NOT an easy question. It would be tempting to say Professor Moriarty because he’s a diabolic super villain matching wits with Sherlock Holmes. But then, that would be a lot of work and I’d get tossed in jail first time out. No, I’m thinking it would be better to putter around like Mrs. Hudson. Clearly out of the danger (providing you don’t count Sherlock’s habit of shooting up his parlor), but still around the genius and his doctor buddy.

In my own books? I’d like to be Carmela Wilson, the doctor for the Demon Trappers. I suspect she could be a lot of fun when she’s not patching up one of the guys.

A massive thankyou to Jana Oliver for taking time out of her busy schedule to answer these questions. Soul Thief/Forbidden will be released 1st September 2011!

*happy dance*

Jana's website

The Wait Is Almost Over...

Inheritance, the final book in Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Cycle series has been revealed and the release date announced!

Inheritance will be released 8th November 2011 worldwide.
It is the fourth book in the epic fantasy series following on from Eragon, Eldest and Brisingr and fans have been waiting three years for this info.

While, personally I am not a fan, I am very familiar (due to my time working in a book store) with the amount of hype surrounding this long-awaited title and the eagerness of fans to get their hands on a copy.

From Random House:

"Not so very long ago, Eragon—Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider—was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now the fate of an entire civilisation rests on their shoulders.

Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chances.

The Rider and his dragon have come further than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaësia? And if so, at what cost?

This is the much-anticipated, astonishing conclusion to the worldwide bestselling Inheritance cycle."

The Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter

I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You (#1)
Released: August 2008

Cammie Morgan is a second-generation Gallagher Girl, and by her sophomore year she’s already fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways (three of which involve a piece of uncooked spaghetti). But the one thing the Gallagher Academy hasn’t prepared her for is what to do when she falls for an ordinary boy who thinks she’s an ordinary girl.

Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, and track him through a mall without his ever being the wiser, but can she have a regular relationship with a boy who can never know the truth about her?

Cammie may be an elite spy in training, but in her sophomore year, she’s beginning her most dangerous mission yet!

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy (#2)
Released: November 2008

Cammie Morgan may have a genius IQ and attend the best school in the country, but as she starts the spring semester of her sophomore year there are a lot of things she doesn't know. Like will her ex-boyfriend even remember she exists? And how much trouble did she really get in last semester? And, most of all, exactly why is her mother acting so strangely?

All Cammie wants is a nice, normal semester, but she's about to learn her greatest lesson yet—that when you go to a school for spies, nothing is ever as it seems.




Don't Judge A Girl By Her Cover (#3)
Released: May 2009

Cammie Morgan has a cover for every occasion. Being a spy-in-training, aliases, phony passports and fake ID's are a means of survival. But what happens when the ghosts of her past see through her flawless façade?

This semester, Cammie continues to flirt with danger at Gallagher Academy. When a national political convention turns into a trap, Cammie is forced to lose her cover to save her best friend, Macey – a major political target – from being kidnapped.

But are the kidnappers’ political extremists or something more sinister? And why has Zach, Cammie’s mysterious (and totally h ot) crush, suddenly returned?

With the help of a glamorous ex-Gallagher Girl, Cammie and her friends are determined to hunt down the group that threatens to tear their secret sisterhood apart.

This time it's personal.

Only The Good Spy Young (#4)
Released: June 2010

When Cammie Morgan enrolled at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, she knew she was preparing for the dangerous life of a spy. She just didn’t know that life would start during her junior year of high school. But that’s exactly what happened two months ago when Cammie faced off against a mysterious organisation called the Circle of Cavan. Now even Cammie 'The Chameleon' can’t hide.

Danger has followed her to London where she discovers one of her most trusted allies has been labelled a double agent. The Gallagher Girls quickly realise that the Circle’s agents are closer than they’d feared -- maybe even within the Gallagher Academy’s own walls. Cammie and her room-mates must call upon old friends if they want to find the traitor at their beloved school before it's too late...

Book 5 in the Gallagher Girls series is as yet, currently untitled but will be released early 2012.


My Review:
The Gallagher Girls is a fun series about a girls boarding school that is actually a spy school. While it is written for ages eleven and up, I find, being in my twenties, that it is one of my guilty pleasures. The girls have their normal teenage problems but what I think makes a big difference in the series is that it is based on friendship.

Cammie and her three best friends always stick by each other and tackle whatever problem they come across together, whether it be boys, sneaking out of their school, a kidnapping plot or a secret ops mission. They are brave, likeable characters that have their weaknesses; even if they super-spies, it's nice to know they aren't invincible, and that the girls know this and are down-to-earth. The spy school is a great way to have the girls tackling normal teenage problems and while the stories are written light-heartedly, the girls are always faced with serious issues and consequences.

All the titles are lots of fun and entertaining and have up to date pop culture references. I personally feel that each title gets better than its predecessor.

Also by Ally Carter: Heist Society

Outspoken by James Vachowski

Title: Outspoken
Author: James Vachowski

Release Date: 8th February 2011

My Rating: 4/5

Blurb:

Abraham Lincoln Jenkins is a teenage vandal, social activist, and aspiring revolutionary, but with only four months left until his high school graduation Abraham’s lifelong dream of attending Harvard College is put in jeopardy when he learns that he is still in need of two core credit hours in Physical Education. Unfortunately for Abraham, the only available spaces in a P.E. class are as a cadet in the Army’s JROTC program!

Told almost exclusively through Abraham’s one-sided complaint letters, OUTSPOKEN is the natural result when the War on Terror collides with the War on Christmas.

My Review:
Outspoken is a hilarious collection of an obnoxious, articulate and self-serving letters written by Abraham Lincoln Jenkins to a variety of people who hold 'power'. His letters poke fun at snobby rich people, incompetent police, the school system, the craziness of the Black Friday sales (which I discovered last year while holidaying in America) and provides us with a particular social commentary of America.

You will find yourself laughing at his wit, audacity and all-around "smart alec-ness". Abraham Lincoln Jenkins is the kind of person who would have annoyed the stuffing out of you if you had been the one on the receiving end of his rants but on paper, he is hilariously opinionated and believes whole-heatedly in what he is saying. He would make a fantastic lawyer (which is what he hopes to study if he ever makes it to Harvard).

Outspoken is a 'comedy novelette'. A relatively fast read with letters and quotes making up the 112 pages.

“America is not at war.
The Marine Corps is at war;
America is at the mall.”
— Unknown Marine in Iraq

Outspoken is available at all major digital book retailers, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and OmniLit, as well as on the Vagabondage Press website.