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annecater
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Joined: 12 Aug 2006
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Location: Lincolnshire
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 Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 10:11 pm Post subject: Reaver's Ransom by Emily Diamand |
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This is the book I got to review for the Waterstone's Cardholders Review
Synopsis
Lily Melkun is out fishing with her sea cat when the bloodthirsty reavers come raiding - and kidnap the Prime Minister's daughter. Her village blamed, Lily sets out to find the girl. Off she sails with a ransom - an extraordinary talking jewel.
Nothing can prepare her for what happens next ....
Reaver's Ransom is set 200 years in the future, after England is almost completely flooded due to global warming made the sea levels rise. England is populated by the 'English' - mainly fisher folk who live in poverty and fear the Prime Minister. Their sworn enemies are the 'Reavers' - a pirate-like group of people who are barely civilised and not recognised by the Government. Scotland is now known as 'Greater Scotland' and is largely unaffected by the changes - having technology and a more civilised way of life.
The heroine is Lily - she is a fisher girl and lives with her Granny in a small village. Lily is lucky that she has a sea cat - an extraordinary cat with great powers who helps her when she is fishing. Lily's Granny is killed by the Reavers and they also kidnap the Prime Minister's daughter, Lexy. The story is around Lily's adventures when she sets out to find Lexy and bring her back to save her fellow villagers from the Prime Minister's anger and punishment.
Lily is joined by her sea cat and an incredible talking jewel - in fact, one of the last remaining pieces of technology left after the floods which is being searched for by the Reavers and the Scottish.
This book gives out some fantastic environmental messages - after the recent flood disastes in England, who knows if this is just fantasy - or maybe reality in the future?
Young readers will love the descriptions of the swash-buckling battles between the Reavers and the English - there is lots of mystery along the way too. It is not clear until the end just quite who is friend and who is foe.
This novel won the first Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition and Emily Diamand has been compared to JK Rowling. I'm not a Harry Potter fan but really enjoyed this story and hope that Emily does enjoy as much success as Rowling - I think she deserves it.
This is a really great read - aimed at children aged at around 9+, but enjoyed very much by a 40+ adult!
I look foward to another instalment.
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Currently reading: The Tent The Bucket and Me by Emma Kennedy and Granny The Pag by Nina Bawden
1001 Challenge Books read in 2009 - 3
1001 Challenge Books read in 2008 - 8
1001 Challenge Books read in 2007 - 13 |
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blueflower
Babbling for Britain
Joined: 29 Jul 2006
Posts: 4137
Birthday: 12th December
Location: Cumbria
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| Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 7:12 pm Post subject: |
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..and the review was published in the Waterstones Magaizine out now.
I don't usualy read children's books but I am tempted with this one. |
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annecater
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Joined: 12 Aug 2006
Posts: 1629
Location: Lincolnshire
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| Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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I was thrilled to see that they had chosen my review to be published in the magazine!
It's a great read Gwen - sorry I longer have my copy though!
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Currently reading: The Tent The Bucket and Me by Emma Kennedy and Granny The Pag by Nina Bawden
1001 Challenge Books read in 2009 - 3
1001 Challenge Books read in 2008 - 8
1001 Challenge Books read in 2007 - 13 |
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blueflower
Babbling for Britain
Joined: 29 Jul 2006
Posts: 4137
Birthday: 12th December
Location: Cumbria
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| Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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I have just joined bookmooch so I will add it to my wish list.
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