Showing posts with label allen and unwin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label allen and unwin. Show all posts

Saturday, 30 October 2010

Review: Museum of Theives by Lian Tanner

Museum of Thieves (The Keepers #1)
by Lian Tanner

Genre: Fantasy
Age group: 8-12
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Release Date: October 2010
Format: Hardback, 330 pages
ISBN-13: 9781742371573

RRP: $22.99 AUD
Source: The lovely Kate from Allen & Unwin, for a "Bookmark It!" review. Thank you!
Cover love? 
Left - Australian Cover, Right - US Cover.
I actually prefer the US Cover, because of the amazing, beautiful art. The AUS cover is also wonderful, and looks artfully decayed.

'You're in the Museum now - and ANYTHING can happen!'
Goldie Roth lives in the city of Jewel, where impatience is a sin and boldness is a crime. But Goldie is both bold and impatient. She runs away to the mysterious Museum of Dunt, where she meets a boy named Toadspit and discovers dangerous secrets. A monstrous brizzlehound stalks the museum's corridors, and only a thief can find the way through its strange, shifting rooms.
Goldie and Toadspit have a talent for thieving. Which is just as well, because the treacherous Fugleman has his own plans for the museum, plans that threaten the lives of everyone Goldie loves. And it will take a very bold thief to stop him.
A thrilling tale of action and adventure.






Opening The Keepers is like taking the first step on an amazing adventure into a fantasy world. Magic springs off the very first page, as the reader is drawn into an enchanting universe where children are chained to Guardians, museums come alive, characters communicate with fingertalk, and people become nothingness.

Lian Tanner weaves the city of Jewel with a pen dipped in magic, and interlaced threads of originality and imagination. Her writing takes after Diana Wynne Jones, in that a captivating storyline, fantastical universes and magical abilities are  intertwined into a story that filled my mind with wonder.

While The Keepers is aimed at a younger age group that mine, it holds appeal to older readers too. It seemed to me that every chapter brought strange and unexpected possibilities, with a cast of characters that were unique and dynamic. The concept and setting are sensationally original, making for a story that all children will love to read.

One thing that I didn't like was the casual use of capitals in dialogue and exaggerated repetition of letters in words such as "HRRRRRRRMMMMMMMMMM". While onomatopoeia is expressive in moderation, I felt that the excessive use in this book is unnecessary. Vivid use of language devices such as similes and metaphors could have been used instead to give children a better sense of proper language convention.


However, The Keeper hold much potential as a classroom text, teaching children values of compassion, bravery and justice, while exposing them to a fantasy world. There are also interactive online games and support material on the official website that are wonderful supplements to the book.

Rating:
Hearted by Tina at 2:40 pm Comments
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Saturday, 23 October 2010

Review: Demon Princess by Michelle Rowen


Demon Princess by Michelle Rowen
Genre: Paranormal > Demons
Age Group: 12+
Publishers: Allen & Unwin (AU), Bloomsbury (USA)
Release Date: February 2010
Format: Paperback B, 288 pages
ISBN-13:   9780802795342

Cover love? 
It's definitely some eye-catching chick-lit eye candy, and I heart the contrast between the two words in the title text. But the blue is too electric, and I think the model, plus her horns look too obviously photoshopped into the background.
  
 
Nikki's just found out that her long-lost father is the demon king of the Shadowlands - the world that separates and protects us from the Underworld. When she is brought there by the mysterious - and surprisingly cute - messenger Michael, she learns that her father is dying and wants her to assume the throne. To complicate matters, a war is brewing between the Shadowlands and the Underworld, her half-demon qualities are manifesting, and her growing feelings for Michael are completely forbidden. And back in 'our' world, the Winter Dance is looming... what's a teenage demon princess to do?








"That guy is staring at you."

Yep, that first line had me hooked. Reading Demon Princess is like sinking into a relaxating read that keeps a light, happy smile on your face all the way through. Michelle Rowen writes with a light, bubbly aura that radiates throughout the story. While she keeps the story moving forward with dialogue, she builds up the various settings in a way that captivates the reader's imagination.

In the beginning, some characters and parts of the plot were very clichéd and obvious, and some lines were very shallow. But by the middle of the book, I had effortlessly stepped into Nikki's shoes and enjoyed the thrill and adventure with her. Nikki's growth throughout the short time frame in the story is believable and marvelous.

I loved that while the story was within the paranormal genre, Michelle Rowen took a new direction by building a new world with a unique twist on demon mythology, placing other fantastical elements into the play as well. The plot was fast-paced, and quite predictable towards the end, but it made for a classic, enjoyable read about discovering and embracing the "demon" within. 


My fingers trembled to flip the pages faster in anticipation throughout the book, and my eyes were a blur afterwards. It's a story that will make you squeal, squirm and giggle. Demon Princess is a perfect story for those who love a light, funny read about demons, magic, royalty, hot guys and forbidden love!

Demon Princess 2: Reign Check is out now, and absolutely on my list of books to read!

Rating:

Hearted by Tina at 7:44 pm Comments
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