Book Reviews – Page 20 – Everything Is Better With Dragons

Review: Santa’s Christmas Countdown, by Kath Jewitt and Sebastien Braun

Information about the Book

Title: Santa’s Christmas Countdown
Author: Kath Jewitt
Illustrator: Sebastien Braun
Publisher: Townhouse Publishing Ltd
Release Date: 1^st October 2022
Genre: Board Book (Touch & Feel)

Summary

Santa is getting ready for Christmas Eve, but he’s lost his list of jobs to do! This large format board book tells a fun rhyming tale of Santa who is getting ready to deliver presents around the world. Toddlers will love the large touch and feels, especially his curly beard and velvet hat.

Illustrator Socials

Website: https://www.sebastienbraun.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/braunsebastien
Instagram: http://instagram.com/braunsebastien

TBR Pile Review: August Kitko and the Mechas from Space, by Alex White

When an army of giant robot AIs threatens to devastate Earth, a virtuoso pianist becomes humanity’s last hope in this bold, lightning-paced, technicolor new space opera series from the author of A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe.

Jazz pianist Gus Kitko expected to spend his final moments on Earth playing piano at the greatest goodbye party of all time, and maybe kissing rockstar Ardent Violet, before the last of humanity is wiped out forever by the Vanguards–ultra-powerful robots from the dark heart of space, hell-bent on destroying humanity for reasons none can divine.

But when the Vanguards arrive, the unthinkable happens–the mecha that should be killing Gus instead saves him. Suddenly, Gus’s swan song becomes humanity’s encore, as he is chosen to join a small group of traitorous Vanguards and their pilots dedicated to saving humanity.

Review: Belly Woman, by Benjamin Black

May 2014. Sierra Leone is ranked the country with the highest death rate of pregnant women in the world. The same month, Ebola crosses in from neighbouring Guinea. Arriving a few weeks later, Dr Benjamin Black finds himself at the centre of an exponential Ebola outbreak.

From impossible decisions on the maternity ward to moral dilemmas at the Ebola Treatment Centres. One mistake, one error of judgment, could spell disaster.

Promo Post: Does Snow Turn A Person White Inside?, by Max Lobe

Publication date: 25th August 2022
Category: Fiction
Print RRP: £11.99
Print ISBN: 978-1-913109-90-5
Paperback: 198 x 129 mm
E-book RRP: £6.99
E-book ISBN: 978-1-913109-96-7

Blurb

The narrator, Mwana, is a young man from Bantuland, living in Geneva. A
graduate from a Swiss university, we first encounter Mwana waiting for a bus in the hills of Lugano gazing at a poster calling for “black sheep” to be sent home. Mwana’s efforts to find work are fruitless until he lands an internship in an NGO campaigning against racial discrimination. The team is busy organising a demonstration against the black sheep poster.

Mwana has one foot in each culture. He sees Swiss society through African eyes, with all its contradictions: its moderation, stunning landscapes and its eccentricities, but also its intolerance and inflexibility. He also casts a critical eye on his native Africa, the weight of its traditions and beliefs. Is belonging nowhere the price Mwana has to pay for these insights?

Sad and playful Does Snow Turn a Person White Inside? is a moving
reflection on the immigrant experience.

Rosemarie’s Note: This was going to be a review, but the book didn’t arrive in time, so promo post instead. The book arrived on Monday, I’m reading it and will review it as soon as possible. I’m about 23% of the way through the book.

I’m disappointed, I was looking forward to sharing this book with you. It’s not the fault of the blog tour organiser, but probably a delay at the publisher’s end. These things happen, unfortunately.

Author Biography:

Max Lobe was born in Douala, Cameroon. At eighteen he moved to Switzerland, where he earned a BA in communication and journalism
and a master’s in public policy and administration. In 2017, his novel Confidences won the Ahmadou Kourouma Prize. Other books by the
author include 39 Rue de Berne and A Long Way From Douala published by Small Axes in 2021. Max Lobe lives in Geneva.

Book Review: Witchstorm by Tim Tilley

**Information about the Book**
**Title:** Witchstorm
**Authors:** Tim Tilley
**Publisher:** Usborne
**Release Date:** 29^th September 2022
**Genre:** MG (8 – 12 year olds)

Summary

Join a hunt for lost witch treasure, in an enchanting adventure story of storms, spells, and the magic of the natural world, from bestselling and award-winning Tim Tilley.

Will believes in witches and the stories he’s grown up with – of mythical storm-lions, disappearing villages, and secret songs. Most of all, he believes the tales of magical treasure hidden in the Fens centuries ago. Treasure that he has to find, to solve the mystery of his Ma’s disappearance.

Then, in the eye of a storm, a witch arrives. She holds the key to finding the lost treasure – a powerful magical object that can summon storms. But someone else is searching for it too. If it falls into the wrong hands, Will’s beloved home could be destroyed, and with it, his chances of ever finding his ma.
Join Will on an epic quest filled with riddles, ruined towers, cloud cities and broomstick chases, on a journey to save everything he loves before time runs out.

Extract Post: The Adventure of Ozchickychop and his White Teapot, by Jane Aistrop

**Information about the Book**
**Title:** The Adventures of Ozchickychop and his White Teapot
**Authors:** Jane Aistrop
**Publisher:** Clink Street Publishing
**Release Date:** 6^th October 2022
**Genre:** MG (5 – 8 year olds)

Summary

Children, open up this book and you will find a magical tale about two brothers who discover a magical world.

This story is about the brothers embarking on rescue missions and learning just how important words are, not just in story books but also in real life too.

Kindness, caring and love shines throughout this story to save Ozchickychop and the land of Nede.

Read on to become part of their adventures.

Review: Salamati, by Hamed Allahyari, with Dani Valent

Title Details
ISBN:9781911668565 | Murdoch Books
Hardcover | Embargo 13 October 2022
RRP £25.00

A heart-warming story of resilience and Persian culinary culture with mouth-watering recipes that are simple, flexible and full of flavour.

In Iran Hamed was a chef and restaurateur but he was also frequently in trouble with the religious police. When a crisis of faith imperilled his life, Hamed was forced to flee to Australia by boat with his pregnant girlfriend for his own safety. They travelled to Indonesia and then to Australia where they were detained for five months, shortly after their release their daughter was born.

It was natural for Hamed to gravitate towards food after his perilous escape and journey to Australia. His first dream was to find work: without English or local experience, that was hard enough. His next ambition was to open a business: his heartfelt cafe and restaurant SalamaTea launched in 2019. As soon as he could, Hamed employed fellow refugees and asylum seekers at SalamaTea, giving them the work experience that he found so hard to come by himself.

In Salamati Hamed melds Persian culinary culture and an understanding of
different flavours to create recipes that are truly his – and now ours – to share. Hamed’s food is anchored in tradition but with recipes which are accessible to all, celebratory and appealing. With every swipe of warm lavash through herbed adami dip, every bite of braised lamb with dried lime and saffron rice, Hamed shines a light on his Persian past as he continues to build an optimistic future.

Packed with beautiful recipes and gorgeous photography throughout, Salamati is full of authentic and accessible dishes:
• Ghahve Khunee Omelette (Street Food Tomato Omelette)
• Halim Bademjan (Lamb, Lentil and Eggplant Casserole)
• Fesenjun (Walnut and Pomegranate Chicken Stew)
• Sabzi Polow Ba Mahi (Fish with Herb Pilaf)
• Khoresh Bamieh (Slow-cooked Beef and Okra)
• Lubia Polow (Green Bean Pilaf)
• Persian Love cake
• Bastani Sonnati (Persian Ice Cream)
Wherever you live and whatever your background, you are invited to join the feast.

Non-Fiction TBR Pile Review: A Short History of Fantasy, by Farah Mendlesohn & Edward James

296 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2009 by
Middlesex University Press
ISBN 9781904750680 (ISBN10: 1904750680)

Blurb

A history of the fantasy form, this work traces the genre from the earliest years with The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey through to the origins of modern fantasy in the 20th century with such acclaimed writers as Terry Pratchett and J. K. Rowling. An exploration of the great variety of fiction published under the heading “fantasy,” this engaging study seeks to explain its continuing and ever-growing popularity.

My Review

I bought myself this book because I am interested in fantasy as a genre. I have been reading fantasy seriously for almost thirty years, and I have joked that I learnt to be human by reading fantasy. I’ve learnt a lot about why people do what they do by reading fantasy. I am interested in the history and theory of the genre because I want to know why it is so popular, yet so disdained by the literary establishment*.

This book covers the development of fantasy as a genre up to 2008. It goes into detail in some areas but not in others. They cover Pratchett and Tolkien, of course, but also children’s fantasy and the cross-over between fantasy and sci fi. It is a comfortable balance between the popular and the academic.

I have only one problem with this book: I keep buying books. Oh, and it needs updating to 2022. Lots has happened in the last 14 years.

*Snobbery, the answer is snobbery.

Review: Anisha, Accidental Detective Fright Night, by Serena Patel, Illustrated by Emma McCann

**Information about the Book**
**Title:** Anisha, Accidental Detective: Fright Night
**Authors:** Serena Patel
**Illustrator:** Emma McCann
**Publisher:** Usborne
**Release Date:** 15^th September 2022
**Genre:** MG (7-11 year olds)

Summary

There’s a spooky mystery at school, in the sixth hilarious case in the award-winning Anisha, Accidental Detective series!

It’s Halloween and everyone is excited about the school disco. It’s a bit much for me – all that dressing-up and dancing. I’d rather cosy up with a good book, but Milo, Mindy and Manny are all super excited.

Or at least, they were excited, until all these strange things started happening – messages appearing on the whiteboard, lights flickering on and off, books flying off the library shelves… Some of the other kids have been whispering that the school is haunted, but Mr Graft says that if the spooky mischief doesn’t stop, then the disco will be cancelled.

Looks like a mission for me, Anisha, accidental ghost detective!

Review: I Don’t Talk To Dead Bodies, by Dr Rhona Morrison

ISBN: 9781912300785
Price: £12.99
Publication Date: 28th July 2022
Print Book, eBook and
Audiobook

Synopsis
Prepare to be intrigued, amazed and astonished as you join Dr Rhona Morrison on an often funny, and at times downright bizarre, thought-provoking and eye-opening rollercoaster ride through some of the most curious encounters of her career as a leading forensic psychiatrist.

Delve into the minds of real people, whose actions may shock and stun you, but whose stories have the power to challenge your assumptions and the stigma that surrounds mental illness.

Travel directly into their living rooms and see behind the closed doors of
hospitals, prisons and court rooms. Lift the lid on Dr Morrison’s jaw-dropping experiences with murderers, stalkers and other dangerous offenders as she attempts to make sense of some highly unusual situations.

Discover the true stories of the inspiring human beings who are bravely learning to live with major mental illness. I Don’t Talk to Dead Bodies shines a powerful, emotional and surprisingly moving spotlight on the fascinating life of a forensic psychiatrist and the people she works with. It goes beyond the sensationalist headlines to show you just what happens in a world where mental illness occasionally makes good people do bad things.