Gemma

Ria is the manager of a women's refuge centre supporting women and their children who are in abusive relationships and helping them find a safe place to live. From the very start of the novel it gives you a harrowing insight into domestic violence: you meet the women who are affected by this crime, the perpetrators, discover the complexities of the abuse and are given statistics about how many women are affected and killed by their partners. All in all not an easy read.

Not only did the novel contain the theme of domestic violence, Ria was also suffering from threatening texts by her own stalker. This section in the book, although unsettling was more in keeping with your typical thriller genre and made it an intriguing, fast paced read. As the story continued disturbing diary extracts from Tanya were introduced which added to the tension and pace.

The novel weaves from present day to the past with alternating chapters from different characters view points, which I loved. I found Ria to be a bit needy and I got frustrated with her at times. The book was very well written with realistic characters and the themes portrayed in a profound, informative and sensitive manner.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atlantic Books for allowing me to read a copy of this book before publication and to the author Jacqueline Ward for such an insightful novel.

This is a heartwarming tale of a strong and brave princess who breaks the mould of the stereotypical princesses we normally read about in fairy tales.

The story in told through rhyme which adds pace and makes it fun to read. It is a mixture of George and the Dragon verses Cinderella, which I loved. The illustrations are bright and colourful adding depth to the story.

It begins with an almighty dragon terrorising the villagers, when the soldiers and Prince cannot defeat the beast they admit defeat. However, shortly after the dragon slinks away, the warrior responsible leaves behind their shoe. The Prince is desperate to find the owner of the shoe and in true Cinderella style holds a party. When he meets the warrior she is a girl and is wearing the matching brace. They fall in love and marry. The story doesn't stop there it continues by discussing the prejudices others have about the Prince marrying someone with a disability and in their quest to rid the dragon forever.

This book is both humbling and empowering. I love how the lead role is a strong, brave female and how the way disability and sexism are explored. What a powerful and thought-provoking message you are left with at the end. We definitely need more books that champion and are inclusive to different disabilities not only to bring about awareness but to normalise disability.

O.K so Science Fiction is not my favourite genre and I normally avoid reading books that fall into this category. However, I was rather taken with this book which surprised me. I found the writing easy to comprehend, the concepts easy to follow and not too alien or unbelievable.

The situation that Grace finds herself in is heart wrenching and then to face a further dilemma of sacrificing one person to save another is mind blowing. Who would you save? I loved the setting of the novel and enjoyed the humorous elements that weaved alongside the story line. How the author managed to think up this complex plot is beyond me. I truly applaud Rich in delivering a coherent novel, with twist upon twist, that could capture the imagination of a Sci-Fi novice like me.

If you love Sci-Fi then this is a no-brainer - you must read this book. If you are a novice like me then I can hand on heart say this novel will surprised you and even encourage you to read more of this genre in the future. Many thanks to Raquel Rich for opening my eyes to the intriguing and enjoyable world of Science Fiction.

This was such a charming book set around an elderly couple, Jack and Bet. Jack has his set routine of walking into town each day and stopping at the cafe for a drink before returning home to Bet. One morning the cafe is busy and a young woman offers him a seat at her table. Reluctantly Jack sits down and the two are brought together in the most unexpected way.

What I particularly loved about this book was it focused on three main characters: Jack, the unsung hero of the novel in my opinion; Bet, the gutsy, grumpy and glamorous one, who I adored; and Marinela, the stranger who followed her heart and lived by her morals.

For me this book was such an engaging read. I thought it was well written, it pulled on my heartstrings, the characters were well rounded and the story line was subtle but powerful. Thank you to Anne Carter for inviting me to join the Random Things Tours, to Sarah Butler and Picador Books for gifting me a copy in return for my honest review. I will definitely be shouting about this book for many months to come.

When I first read the synopsis I knew this was a book for me and it didn't disappoint. The story goes between the past and present day and is narrated by three characters; the first Ava, the second Rose and the mysterious other who pops up less frequently but obviously holds the key to the mystery of the deceased sisters.

Ava's story begins in the year 2001. She belongs to a dysfunctional family and idolises/envies her older sister. Her older brother has left and is living in Australia, her Father too has left and her mother is cold and unforgiving. Ava finds herself pregnant at the age of 17 which doesn't bode well with her mother.

Rose's story begins in present day. She receives a message from her step sister Willow, who she adores. Willow is in Cornwall looking to find clues about her birth mother, who died when she was a toddler. She sends Rose photographs of four men who she thinks could be responsible for her mother's death and asks Rose to come to Cornwall. However, when Rose arrives there is no sign of Willow apart from her jacket which is left upstairs in a bedroom. Rose continues to search for Willow and get drawn into finding the truth about Willow's birth mother.

I loved hearing Ava's story and the lead up to her sister's wedding as from the onset you know how the night ends. I was caught up in the events of Ava's life and felt sympathetic towards her. There is such a contrast between Ava and her sister and you wonder how the pair could even be related.

Rose on the other hand I found hard to have any feelings towards. She was just a vehicle for bringing the story and past events to a closure. Rose's own life was quite dysfunctional and that was the only saving grace for me.

There were lots of twists and some shocks along the way which allowed me to never drop my guard when reading. With the host of colourful characters I never quite knew who to trust and what information would turn out vital to the plot. Although I thought I had predicted a few things along the way I hadn't gauged everything accurately which added to my overall enjoyment of the novel.

The climax to the ending was a little far fetched but I forgave Amanda Brittany for this as she managed through Ava, to wrap things up neatly and allowed that element of hope I'd been clinging on to to evolve.

A very big thank you to Netgalley, HQ Digital and Amanda Brittany for this enjoyable thriller which I will definitely recommend to family and friends

Mia captures your heart in this fast pace, well written YA novel.

Mia has a hard life, living with her alcoholic mother and the many boyfriends that pass through Mia's front door. Mia has to fend for herself as well as become a carer when her mum comes home worse for wear on many occasions. Topped with the emotional abuse of unkind words spat to her by her mother Mia is in desperate need of escaping her unhappy reality. It is when Mia spots Flynn, a handsome stranger that Mia's life starts to change. Kitty weaves so many issues carefully into this novel; heartache, feeling of loss, terror, abuse, humour, body image, love, sex, alcoholism, inner strength and belonging. The story is full of action and mystery: who is the wolf and will he finally capture Mia?

Thank you to Gertrude. T. Kitty for a copy of your wonderful book, it was an absolute pleasure to read in return for my honest opinion. I will treasure my copy and urge all YA fans to grab a copy of this book.

Eithne Shortall took me straight to Pine Road, Dublin and into the lives of the residents. It was like being a fly on the wall or one of the curtain-twitching homeowners spying on her neighbours, and I loved it.

You are immediately introduced to Martha, the newest resident; Robin, who has moved back in with her parents with her son; and Edie, a lonely woman who is desperate to make friends with her neighbours and yearning to start a family; as well as a whole host of colourful characters from the Head Teacher at the local secondary school to the Chair of the Parents Association. There is definitely more than one character that you can identify with and will remind you of someone you know.

Although there are some serious issues being explored in this novel there is also a lighthearted, humorous side which I adored, especially the WhatsApp group messages. I loved how the story developed and I must confess I didn't predict any of the events that occurred which added to my enjoyment of the book. I found myself totally immersed within the lives of these women and enjoyed how the novel unfolded.

I highly recommend this book, especially if you are already a fan of Eithne Shortall, Lianne Moriarty or Jane Fallon.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atlantic Books for a copy of this e-book.

I was first attracted to Trembleath because it is set in Cornwall, written by a British author and is a paranormal thriller. The front cover is dark and sinister, which I love, very atmospheric.

Amelia Scott arrives in Creek Bay alone; she was supposed to be moving with her boyfriend. Shortly after arriving Amelia thinks she sees someone struggling in the sea and calls the emergency lifeguards. Running down to the beach to see if she can help she becomes stuck in the quick sand and needs rescuing herself. Mortified at finding herself in this predicament and her rescuer being the swimmer she thought was drowning, Amelia becomes friends with Seth and he offers her a job in his bookshop.

What seems to be a cosy village is quickly turned on its head with the disappearance and murder of a teenage girl. Soon after another teenage girl goes missing and the villagers are in lock-down over a strange beast that seems to be patrolling the area in the evenings and a murderer on the loose.

The mystery surrounding the ‘beast' and the murders that took place intrigued me and kept me wanting more. I was desperate to know what happened to the girls and was fearful for Amelia as she was no doubt the next victim. What perplexed me was the relationship between Seth and William. William on the face of it seemed a handsome, rich bachelor who was interested in Amelia, she in turn found him very attractive. Amelia also found herself drawn to Seth who constantly warned her off of William. It was not clear at first if it was because he had his sights set on Amelia or whether there was something truly sinister about William. This love triangle was not something I was expecting from the book but it added to my enjoyment. I was biased towards Seth and felt he was the ‘safer' option, regardless of what the local Detective Inspector had to say about him.

I enjoyed how the paranormal aspect built up but was expecting more horror to the novel. I think the author could have pushed for more horror without it affecting the overall plot, I would have welcomed it. I was not anticipating the book to end in quite the way it did and can see how this would hook readers to reach out for the next book in the series. I guess it did answer some of my questions but left me with more questions.

Many thanks to damppebbles blog tours for inviting me on the Trembleath blog tour and introducing me to this debut novel and author.

Although this is the second book in the Jordan Jenner Mysteries it can be easily read as a stand alone. The characters are well developed, with snippets of key information from the previous book thrown into the story line so that you fully understand their journey and don't feel like you have missed anything.

I loved the concept of the Dollys, although I didn't agree with their methodology; who wouldn't be annoyed if they felt someone had reached their fame and fortune via a shortcut or an unfair advantage? This element alone made the novel feel very realistic and I was determined to know who was behind the Dollys and how far they had gone to disrupt the lives of their targeted artists.

I also loved the complicated relationship between Jordan and his brother Ashley. The Jenner brothers made the story line all the more intriguing and I was desperate to get to the bottom of Ashley's secret for coming back to his home town. Although I did guess who was behind the murders, there were enough red-herrings along the way to make me question and re-examine my initial thoughts. I was thrown off track a few times.

I enjoyed the setting, especially as I had visited a few places mentioned in the book. The art world was another fascinating element to the novel, along with the corruption and bitterness towards the artists. I particularly liked the way Jordan was able to work alongside the police, rather than against them. There was a mutual understanding here which you don't always find in novels of this kind.

This cosy mystery allows you to get sucked in to the story line, keeps you second guessing yourself and is a brilliant easy read.

This is such a delightful book. Not only are the illustrations bright and fun the story is told through rhyme which makes reading it such an enjoyable experience. My daughter and I had lots of fun trying to predict which minibeasts Dave had found using rhyming couplets, turning this reading session into a game.

I love the premise behind the book, to encourage children and adults to get outside more. This book definitely encouraged us to get outside and go on our own minibeast exploration.

This book also gives you information about each of the minibeasts Dave finds which would be a perfect teaching tool for all you teachers out there. I would have loved to have used this book with my EYFS and KS1 classes and will definitely recommend this to my colleagues in those year groups.

We loved the Fact File in the back of the book which has prompted our own minibeast fact finding, a great opportunity to promote writing.

Overall I was extremely impressed and enraptured by this book. A book I know we will re-read over and over again, perfect for my reluctant reader with such strong educational links and opportunities to explore, whether by parents or teachers.

Penelope and Charlie first meet at University but lose contact immediately after leaving. During a serendipitous moment on a delayed train, the two find each other again, reactivating their budding friendship. Having decided to move in together as housemates they discover that the landlady has already promised one of the rooms to Zara, a young women having just moved to London. With nowhere else to go the three decide they will live together and look for one other housemate to take the last of the bedrooms.

The story follows the lives of these three individuals; their struggles and anxieties along with their moments of success and joy. Although on the face of it, Penelope is successful and confident you see her hidden anxieties of being in her late twenties and still searching for Mr Right. I loved the way she would look to her best friend, George for reassurance when it came to dating etiquette. The nights when they would stay home and dissect dates gone wrong or drunken mistakes provided a lot of humour in the book which I think a lot of readers will relate to.

Zara's journey throughout this book is immense. From being a foreigner in London, naive and lonely she finds herself becoming a regular Londoner immersed in the travelling to and from work and socialising at the weekend. Her self esteem grows throughout the book and it is wonderful to bear witness to this. I loved how the book jumped from one character to the next seamlessly. It was so refreshing not to have to wait for the next chapter to hear about one of the other characters.

One? is an enjoyable read of friendship, the throes of life and the search for finding the One! I loved the setting as I too spent my youth, twenties and early thirties living in and around London. Cahill balances the themes of romance, hope and humour beautifully. There were no soppy love scenes, which I was pleased about, just plenty of romantic gestures, the ideology of love and hope of finding a person to spend the rest of your life with. If you enjoy chic-lit and contemporary fiction then this book is definitely for you. One? has a light hearted, easy read feel about it which acts as a great escapism.

From the moment you open the book you are launched straight into the story. Romy has left her husband and is taking up residence at their weekend cottage. After a few chapters the letter is revealed and the facts of why Romy left are shared. What was really interesting was Michael's behaviour when Romy confronts him about the content, it definitely left me questioning the authenticity of the letter.

As the novel unfolds you get a deeper insight into the complexity of Romy and Michael's relationship which I loved. After being with someone for so many years and bringing up children it was hard not to empathise with Romy and see how torn she was. Where would your loyalties lie? With someone who you have loved and lived with for years or an anonymous stranger?

I really enjoyed this multilayered book: there was the cosy, romanticised setting of her small fisherman's cottage overlooking the Sussex harbour where Romy was trying to start the next chapter of her life; the mystery surrounding the letter and strong need to get to the truth; the ties Romy has with her family and the pull they have on her to support them after Michael's health goes downhill. These themes of love, trust, motherhood, deception, romance and mystery were what made the novel very unique and intriguing. Along with the fact that I couldn't put it down. I loved that it was a page-turner with strong, older characters at the forefront of the story.

I must confess I did feel sympathetic towards Michael after his life-threatening medical condition. To go from being an independent, healthy, career driven male to needing 24 hour care is heartbreaking for anyone. And the dilemma Romy finds herself in is quite a twist in itself, especially as she was just starting to get her life on track. The ending was very fitting and perfectly balanced.

All in all The Lie was a well written novel which I found myself completely absorbed in and desperate to find out the truth. A thoroughly enjoyable read and one I definitely recommend.

Firstly, let me point out what a beautiful cover this is and how addictive the story line is. The story is of a family stuck in time, with a daughter missing. Every parent's worst fear! For them life is a waiting game in the hope that she is found alive and well.

For six years her parents have struggled to carry on, but in their own way each have managed to stay afloat. Mary, her twin also struggles. She blames herself.

Each year they return to the place Lucy was last seen and every time they hope there will be news.
Reading this book evoked so many emotions; fear for Mary, anger and pity towards her parents over the way Mary is treated, and concern for the grandparents.

As the story progresses you start to feel that this family is going to implode, but there is hope. Mary feels it. If only she can find what happened to Lucy.

This is an emotional read, character driven and one that you want to devote your time into. It is definitely one you cannot rush. Chloe Openshaw's writing is both beautiful and descriptive; the imagery so vibrant it feels like you are actually there alongside the characters drinking up the setting.
And wow! What an unexpected, welcomed ending. I love how it all came together forming a complete circle and that Mary can now live the life she deserves. Such an enjoyable read.

Many thanks to Chloe Openshaw for giving me the opportunity to read Where Wisteria Falls.

This was a bit of a slow burner for me. I enjoyed the concept of the book and was intrigued to find out how it was all going to pan out but wanted a bit more to happen.

I did think something sinister was going on with her husband Nick and I loved how he became the villain in my mind, strengthening my sympathy towards Karen. I adored her neighbour Cath and the lovely friendship they formed. I do enjoy reading books where there are a whole host of colourful characters and I felt like this book captured that beautifully, from Karen's London pals, Dave and Jude, to the local people in the hamlet.

If you enjoy family dramas then this book is ideal. It was beautifully written and the ending for me was just perfect.

Many thanks for my ARC

This is a charming book set in 1945, in the Cotswolds. You get a real feel of the after effects of the war both socially and economically. Lucy, Mrs P has lost her newly wedded husband to a wartime tragedy, his body lost at sea. With no grave to visit Mrs P finds herself returning to the town of Moreton-in-Marshher where she spent most of her childhood living with her aunt and uncle who raised her. Unfortunately she is unable to stay in her old bedroom as their lodger Robert Underhill has taken residence there. The mysterious Underhill is also employed by her Uncle at the publishing business they own. Due to her aunt's poor health Lucy agrees to take on the role of tea maker and secretary in order to help out and is given the living quarters above the office space.

As the story unfolds you learn that Underhill is also suffering from his own traumas faced during the war. Together, Lucy and Robert take on the editorial role of proofs that are sent in and are soon drawn into the Ashbrook family mystery of a missing girl. Lucy finds herself wrestling with her own ghosts in the hunt to find out what happened to the orphaned girl who seems to have disappeared without a trace.

I loved the way Lorna Gray was able to combine the themes of love, loneliness, trust, hope, tragedy and grief within this novel. Although heartbreaking in places it also has an uplifting feel to it. I was swept along with the story line and felt compassion towards the characters. I loved the advent calendar that featured in the novel and the budding friendship that developed between Mrs P and Mr Underhill. The ending was an unexpected surprise which filled me with hope and joy. A delightful read which I would love to see as a sequel.

Although the novel is based in the winter months and there is snow and the mention of Christmas it is a perfect all-year read. It is lighthearted, humorous in places, romantic and picturesque.

I immediately feel in love with Jane and was routing for her to let her hair down and find love. Although the novel was predominately a love story it wasn't cheesy or contained lots of steamy love scenes which I was glad about. It was beautifully written, captivated me and was heartwarming. I loved the side story of Thomas and Marit which was an unexpected bonus especially when the truth behind their love affair and the letters came to light.

This will definitely be a book I recommend and although I enjoyed reading it now I can imagine how cosy and atmospheric it would be to read it sitting by the fire in the winter.

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a copy of this charming book.

The Blood Acre is the latest book in R.J. Mitchell's DS Thoroughgood series but can easily be read as a stand alone. This book is a great crime thriller where you get a real insight into both the world of the police and the criminals. The characters are realistic and rounded, and you can't help but invest in them. I particularity liked Emma, as well as the criminals Gregsy, Spider and McGrain. I loved the Glaswegian dialect that shone through within the novel.

The story was fast paced; brutal and shocking at times with plenty of gory details. There were a number of twists that I didn't foresee which added to my overall enjoyment.

Alfie is not the most likely protagonist, he's slightly arrogant, self absorbed and a tough nut to crack but underneath there is a softer, vulnerable side.

Alfie is eighty-six and lives in a care home. He has to share a room with someone who is messy and talkative and needs help getting out of bed in the morning. He doesn't know any of the staff's names, except for Julia and would rather not join in with any social activities apart from their weekly trip to the library. All in all you can excuse Alfie's lack of socialism and mood as he doesn't really have anything to look forward to and has no visitors. Alfie's highlights are when he sneaks out on Saturday mornings to the local park to feed the ducks and his library visits.

On Saturdays, Alfie talks to Fred, a teenage boy, who he starts to tell his life story to: from his early home life escaping the confinements of his parents, his time in the travelling circus and revealing his greatest loves and regrets. He also finds a pen pal who he starts to write to, a woman in her thirties living in America. This communication he has with Anne is heartwarming; both are lonely and open up to each other despite being strangers. Through their correspondence we see a different side to Alfie and learn more about the secrets he is hiding.

Having read and enjoyed books like A Man Called Ove and Three Things About Elsie I was delighted to read this book. The sadness of old age and deteriorating health is always an interesting topic to read about as it can hold so much emotion for the reader. Loneliness was definitely a key theme running through the book as was remorse and sorrow. I think we all look back on our lives and have some regrets or are embarrassed by some of our actions and The Inconvenient Need To Belong accentuates this brilliantly in Alfie's tale. You really feel for him during certain parts of the novel and want to comfort him. However, as well as being sympathetic towards Alfie I also felt infuriated by his actions and choices. I think this book will definitively divide readers and their feelings towards Alfie, thus promoting lots of discussions.

I loved how the book alternated between Alfie's present day to the past and how the character's had their own back story that we got to hear a bit about. I found it to be a moving, thought-provoking novel and one I will definitely put forward as a book club recommendation.

Jeff is struggling after the death of his beloved sister. His parents are indifferent to his feelings and leave him with a friend during the summer. It is hard not to form a deep sympathy towards Jeff as his pain is so raw. As he searches for the truth of his sister's death, through her journals, he acknowledges that this will be an emotional and painful journey that he will have to embark alone.

I loved the way the book alternated between Jeff and Emma. Both voices were filled with such raw emotion of their personal struggles in life. Emma's fight and determination to make it in the world of rock was admirable especially when in reality what she experienced was more of a power struggle and was submerged into a deep underworld of drugs and depression.

The musical references that were mentioned throughout the book were fun, adding not only a feeling of nostalgia in me but a deeper insight into the era that Jeff and Emma were living in. I found the characters very compelling as too were the contrasting settings of Camden Town and The Isle of Wight. I loved the references to the sea which contradicted Jeff's inner turmoil and harmonised his loneliness and feeling of isolation perfectly.

Many thanks to Guy Mankowski for sending me a copy of Dead Rock Stars. This is a powerful coming of age novel, deeply moving and utterly heartbreaking.

MacLeary paints a very vivid picture of her characters and setting which allowed me to fully immerse myself into this novel. I love the Scottish dialect that weaved throughout the pages and the colourful character of Wilma. Her feistiness and straight-forward talking made her a larger than life character who you would definitely want fighting your corner. I loved how Maggie's personal life was explored in this novel from her financial affairs to her emotional state; it felt raw, realistic and made me warm to her immediately.

At the beginning it felt like there were two story lines running parallel: the ones the police were investigating and Maggie's private investigation into the missing cat. As the two stories and characters came together the pace increased with lots of hidden twists that I didn't see coming.

Although I haven't read the other books in the Harcus & Laird series it didn't dampen my enjoyment and it was easy to get to grips with the characters. There were also brief outlines from the previous series, important events that were relevant to this novel so I didn't feel I was missing out on any key information.

Overall an enjoyable read with likeable characters and a great story line.

This is such a quirky book which will definitely appeal to both children and adults. I love the concept behind the book and the powerful message it is portraying, that there are two sides to every story and that we cannot always see things objectively. As a primary school teacher and a mother to a 7 year old this is exactly the book I want my class/child to read. Learning through books is such a powerful tool and this book encourages and promotes children to see that situations will look differently to different people. This opens up a great discussion point for the children to explore, promoting empathy, fairness, and general awareness of other people's feelings.

The book features rhyming couplets which makes reading fun and pacey. The illustrations add to the story making it accessible for younger children who can follow along with the reading by using the picture cues to support. What I particular love about the book is that the author uses everyday situations, such as brushing your teeth, walking to school and bath time which every child can relate to. This helps provoke empathy towards the characters and allows them to reflect upon their own lives.

The hardback version of this book, I'm told, actually flips over at the midpoint to explore the next narrative. This extra feature sounds divine and would add an additional air of excitement and wonder to this physical book. There are also free downloadable activities on the website: www.lollipoplodge.com.

As this is the first picture book in the Monstrous Me series I cannot wait to find out what else Natalie Reeves Billing has planned, I for one will be collecting the future releases.

I loved this book. It had a Dickensian feel to it with a mixture of culture, religion and a strong female protagonist.

Sahira Clive, born of an English father and an Indian mother, travelling to London with a pair of Tigers finds herself an orphan after her parents contract a deadly illness. With nowhere to go Sahira finds herself placed in an orphanage and separated from her tigers. The way Sahira is treated due to her mixed raced heritage was powerfully portrayed in this novel and would be a great opportunity to discuss inequalities and prejudices in society.

I adored hearing about Sahira's culture, through her stories of India, the vocabulary used (see glossary at the back of the book) and her amazing assortment of clothing. I loved how there were nods to different religions slipped into the novel too, from the tigers' names - Rama and Sita, to her mother's and father's different religions.

There is also a huge historical pull to the novel and I was fascinated to learn about the Tower Menagerie (The Tower of London), the Zoological Gardens (London Zoo) and society in London at the time. I found myself researching these aspects after I had finished reading, becoming absorbed in London's rich history.

This book definitely appealed to me as an adult and I found it both fascinating and engaging. I really feel this book would be a great class read to share with Year 5/6 as there are so many discussion opportunities and a whole unit of work could be built around this book. For independent readers this book would also provide a rich reading experience as it is beautifully written, is packed with adventure and is character driven.

The Rangoli patterns in the corners of each chapter was a nice touch to the book as too were the glossary and Menagerie poster at the front. I have so much love for this book, highly recommend.

This is a pacey children's book where a lot is squeezed into its 109 pages. The Drako family experience a gruelling power cut in the town Brilliana where they live, causing a spiral of events which in the end forces them to move to Dayton. Here they encounter the delights of the University of Arts and Engineering college where the children are educated and meet the mysterious teacher Hippolyta Scythe who seems to know more about Gallo the dragon than either child could anticipate. However, the Drako family also find themselves in conflict with the Purkisses and some city boys.

I found the story line surrounding the theatre show fascinating, along with the dragon appearances. The mystery surrounding Percy was a great addition to the book as well as the colourful character of Scythe. There was a good balance of writing to illustrations and the short chapters helped keep the pace of the story. I think Dragon River would appeal to both girls and boys from the ages of 7-10.