Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling Harry Potter Hogwarts House Editions The sixth Harry Potter novel introduces some new characters and some new - and very dark - magical concepts. It also immerses us in the teen world of romantic attachments, jealousies and rebellion. The Ministry of Magic now knows that Lord …
Category: Science fiction and fantasy
The Midnight Palace
by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (translated by Lucia Graves) Re-post of original review Secret Societies and Ghostly Terror by Bookheathen) ‘Never mind the number of candles on your birthday cake,’ writes Zafon in his introduction to The Midnight Palace, ‘for those in the know, it’s what lies beneath them that matters’. Zafon’s first four published novels were …
Hogwarts #5#
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix By JK Rowling Harry Potter Special Hogwarts Editions Following the encounter with Voldermort in which Cedric Diggory lost his life, Harry Potter is back in Muggleland with his aunt and uncle. Now, forced to use magic to save himself and his cousin Dudley from the Dementors, he …
Hogwarts #4#
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire By JK Rowling Harry Potter Special Hogwarts Editions Readers who have progressed thus far in the series know that Harry Potter is a wizard. When he isn't attending Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry, he lives with his unpleasant aunt and uncle, the Dursleys, and their bullying spoiled …
Carry On Dreaming
Tolkien and the Future of Epic Fantasy 'Then what are You, having no Chaos found To make a World, or any such least Ground? But your Creating Fancy, thought it fit To make your World of Nothing, but pure Wit. Your Blazing-World, beyond the Stars mounts higher, Enlightens all with a Cœlestial Fier. [William, 1st …
Undiscovered Territory
The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle A Review 'Challenger smiled with weary and tolerant contempt, as a kindly man would meet the yapping of a litter of puppies.' 'Beyond was an open glade, and in this were five of the most extraordinary creatures that I had ever seen .... Even the babies were as …
The Daemon’s in all of us!
The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman A Review Like many other fans of the original trilogy - and already well into The Secret Commonwealth - I sat down three weeks ago to watch the BBC's production of His Dark Materials. At lunchtime on the following day, I discussed it with a friend. Of course, it …
The Testaments
by Margaret Atwood A Review 'Just look at Tirzah! She sits there, With her strands of vagrant hair; See her down the sidewalk stride, Head held high and full of pride. See her catch the guardian's glance, Tempt him to sinful circumstance. Never does she change her way, Never does she kneel to pray! Soon …
One Day At A Time
The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton A Review 'As with Bell, my skin prickles when I see Ravencourt in the mirror. Some part of me remembers my real face and is perplexed by this stranger staring back.' This novel was a 'left-over' from my recent holiday. Having been warned that it was …
Brave New World Postscript
Further Thoughts on Machines Like Me by Ian McEwan Sometimes you just have to read bits of a novel again. Machines Like Me is that kind of novel. (reviewed here) I mused for a long time over the title. What does it mean? Is it a reflection of the fact that we humans, just like …
Bookheathen Scribblings 