Good Morning everyone and welcome to another Music Monday. Today I’m featuring State Of The Art which is the debut single from Colinski.

Colinski is a singer songwriter from Switzerland who always entertains on twitch with his great song selection and funny stories. He’s also currently doing a degree in English Literature so of course I liked him instantly! I managed to work in a book question to my normal questions below too, as I was very interested to know the answer.

You can follow Collinski on social media or twitch by clicking on the links below.

How To Listen:

State Of The Art is Collinski’s first single and hopefully the start of many more! It’s only available to listen to on Spotify and YouTube at the moment or you can buy it from Bandcamp.

I have included the audio video for State Of The Art below as well his cover of Skinny Love as it’s one of my favourites by him.

Interview:

Tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Colinski, I’m a singer songwriter from Switzerland, and i currently am also finishing my bachelors degree in literary studies.

What first got you into music?

Growing up music was all around me, my mom and dad are both musicians and they encouraged me to take piano lessons quite early on, so i think its safe to say i was never not into music. I have early memories of rocking out to various CDs in our living room, pretending i was shredding air-guitar in front of imaginary crowds.

Who inspired you to make music?

It’s really funny looking back, originally i was quite sure that if i got into music, it would be as a rapper, i was very into Eminem and Linkin Park, and i think They really sparked my dream of pursuing music properly.

How would you describe the music you typically create?

I would describe my music as acoustic indie-folk/singer songwriter, but i’m planning on branching into more indie-rock/pop oriented sounds as i keep learning and creating.

Who would most like to collaborate with?

It’s really hard to chose a name, there are so many songwriters and producers out there who i look up to and respect, but if i had to give one name probably Mike Shinoda would be at the top of my list.

What is you creative process like?

My creative Process is really slow, most of the time, perhaps because i don’t force myself to write concrete songs enough even if they end up being terrible. I’ve sort of been riding on bursts of inspiration and doing as much as i can with them while they last, but i’m working on becoming more consistently creative.

What is the most useless talent you have?

I can curl my tongue into that weird flower shape, not sure if that makes sense but its definitely pretty useless aside from being able to make unique selfies.

Do you sing in the shower? What songs?

If i sing in the shower its usually songs that are really uncomfortable for my vocal capabilities, something about the acoustics in the shower make almost anything sound better(but that still doesn’t mean its good haha).

What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?

If i wasn’t working on Music i’d probably be focusing more on academics. If i’m interested in a topic i tend to rabbit hole myself, so i could really see myself diving into academic research. alternatively i might have invested more time in acting, although its also a performing art its a different focus than music, but it’s also something I’ve always been interested in to an extent.

I know you’re a fellow book lover so, what are you top 5 books of all time?

The Lord of the Rings
The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy
The Wise Mans Fear (Kingkiller Chronicle)
The Great Gatsby
To Kill A Mockingbird

Thanks for answering my questions Collinski, good luck with State Of The Art!

Music Monday Playlist:

You can now listen to Collinski and all other previous featured Music Monday artists on a special playlist I’ve created on Spotify.

Thanks for reading and happy listening!

“This story saved my life” – CHRIS WHITAKER WINS

THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2021 WITH ‘WE BEGIN AT THE END’

Harrogate, Thursday 22 July, 9.15pm: Chris Whitaker’s We Begin at the End has been crowned Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2021 at the opening night ceremony for Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival – presented by Harrogate International Festivals at the Old Swan Hotel.

A powerful story of crime, punishment, love and redemption set in coastal California, We Begin at The End is credited by Whitaker as saving his life after being brutally mugged and stabbed as a teenager.

Whitaker has clinched the title on his very first nomination after being chosen by a public vote, the prize Academy and a panel of expert judges, receiving £3,000 and an engraved oak beer cask, hand-carved by one of Britain’s last coopers from Theakstons Brewery.

An unprecedented decision has been taken to recognise Northern Irish author Brian McGilloway’s exceptional political thriller The Last Crossing as Highly Commended. McGilloway will also receive a handmade, engraved beer barrel provided by Theakston Old Peculier for his novel which explores The Troubles from the perspective of former operatives who like to think they have moved on.

Executive director of T&R Theakston, Simon Theakston, said: “The contest for this year’s Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year award has been fiercely fought – a reflection of the outstanding quality of all the longlisted and shortlisted crime fiction published within the last year. I offer Chris Whitaker my hearty congratulations for clinching the title on his first ever nomination for his powerful and insightful We Begin at the End.”

Gary Jones, Express Editor-in-Chief, said: “It’s a great pleasure to be associated with the world’s most famous celebration of crime writing and we’re thrilled the Theakston Old Peculier Festival is back this year in the flesh and better than ever. Congratulations to all the shortlisted authors for crime book of the year and especially to winner Chris Whitaker.”

Special presentations were also made to Ian Rankin OBE and Mark Billingham, the winners of the Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award for 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Simon Theakston added: “It was an absolute pleasure to award crime fiction legends Ian Rankin and Mark Billingham with the Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award 2021 and 2020 respectively. They are two titans of crime fiction and richly deserving of this latest recognition of their mastery of the genre.”

Ian Rankin OBE, recipient of Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award 2021, said: “It’s such a privilege and an honour to receive this award, and especially to be in Harrogate to receive it in person. I’ve been a published writer for over thirty years but this past year has been uniquely challenging – for writers, readers and booksellers. It’s heartening to see the Theakston Festival rise like a phoenix. Books continue to provide us with that wonderful mix of food for thought and escapism. I couldn’t be prouder to be a crime writer.”

Mark Billingham, recipient of Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award 2020, said: “It goes without saying that – presuming it’s not some sort of administrative error – this is an enormous honour. I’m as gobsmacked as I am grateful to be joining a list containing the likes of Ruth Rendell, PD James and Lee Child and while there are many individuals to whom I’m hugely indebted, first and foremost I want to say ‘thank you’ to the readers. Without them, there’s no point to any of it.”

This year’s Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival continues until Sunday at the Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate. Special Guests this year include Mark Billingham, Ann Cleeves, Elly Griffiths, Mick Herron, Clare Mackintosh, Val Mcdermid and Richard Osman, curated by Festival Programming Chair Ian Rankin OBE.

The award is run by Harrogate International Festivals sponsored by T&R Theakston Ltd, in partnership with WHSmith and the Express, and is open to full length crime novels published in paperback 1 May 2020 to 30 April 2021 by UK and Irish authors. The longlist was selected by an academy of crime writing authors, agents, editors, reviewers, members of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival Programming Committee, and representatives from T&R Theakston Ltd, the Express, and WHSmith.

The Books:

We Begin At The End by Chris Whitaker

For fans of Jane Harper’s The Dry comes a powerful novel about the lengths we will go to keep our family safe. This is a story about good and evil and how life is lived somewhere in between.

Thirty years ago, Vincent King became a killer.

Now, he’s been released from prison and is back in his hometown of Cape Haven, California. Not everyone is pleased to see him. Like Star Radley, his ex-girlfriend, and sister of the girl he killed.

Duchess Radley, Star’s thirteen-year-old daughter, is part-carer, part-protector to her younger brother, Robin – and to her deeply troubled mother. But in trying to protect Star, Duchess inadvertently sets off a chain of events that will have tragic consequences not only for her family, but also the whole town.

Murder, revenge, retribution.

How far can we run from the past, when the past seems doomed to repeat itself?

About The Author:

Chris Whitaker lives in the United Kingdom with his wife and three young children. When not writing he works part-time at a local library, where he gets to surround himself with books. His own authored books include Tall Oaks and All the Wicked Girls.

The Last Crossing by Brian McGilloway

Tony, Hugh and Karen thought they’d seen the last of each other thirty years ago. Half a lifetime has passed and memories have been buried. But when they are asked to reunite – to lay ghosts to rest for the good of the future – they all have their own reasons to agree. As they take the ferry from Northern Ireland to Scotland the past is brought into terrible focus – some things are impossible to leave behind.

In The Last Crossing memory is unreliable, truth shifts and slips and the lingering legacy of the Troubles threatens the present once again.

About The Author:

Brian McGilloway is the New York Times Bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Inspector Benedict Devlin and DS Lucy Black series. He was born in Derry, Northern Ireland in 1974. After studying English at Queen’s University, Belfast, he took up a teaching position in St Columb’s College in Derry, where he was Head of English until 2013. He currently teaches in Holy Cross College, Strabane. His first novel, Borderlands, published by Macmillan New Writing, was shortlisted for the CWA New Blood Dagger 2007 and was hailed by The Times as “one of (2007’s) most impressive debuts”. In 2014, Brian won BBC NI’s Tony Doyle Award for his screenplay Little Emperors, an award which saw him become Writer In Residence with BBC NI. Little Emperors is currently in development with Two Cities Television and BBC NI. Brian lives near the Irish borderlands with his wife, daughter and three sons.

Book Synopsis:

At first, Detective Chief Superintendent Frankie Sheehan believes the murder mystery game sent to her office is a birthday gift from one of her colleagues. But when Frankie studies the game’s contents, she notices a striking resemblance between the ‘murder victim’ and missing twenty-two-year-old Lydia Callin.

As Frankie and her team investigate, a series of grisly crimes connected to the game are discovered across Dublin city and Lydia’s involvement with a shadowy network of murder mystery players becomes clear.

On the hunt for Lydia’s murderer, Frankie is drawn more deeply into the game. Every successful move brings her closer to the killer. But the real question is not what happens should she lose — but what happens if she wins.

The Murder Box is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

My Review:

The Murder Box is another thrilling, addictive and original thriller from one of my favourite crime writers.

Firstly I thought the concept of the murder box was very clever and I was instantly intrigued. Having read a few crime books I was very keen to find out what the true meaning behind the box was. I didn’t have long to wait as the case soon kicks off at a great pace which made it hard to stop reading at times. I kept promising myself just one more chapter but then started another and then another as I had to find out what happens next.

It was great fun to be back with Frankie and her team. One of the things I most like about this author is her ability to take the reader along for the journey so that you feel you are really there solving the case alongside them. The reader is taken on every part of the investigation, every false lead and every breakthrough which was fantastic to follow.

Overall I absolutely loved this book which helped distract me from the heatwave in the UK at the moment. The investigation flows at a great pace and I liked how realistic it was with no great leaps or tenuous links. It was very fast paced with lots of twist which kept me guessing until the end. There are some dark moments which might not be to everyone’s taste but I felt these weren’t overdone. I can’t wait to read more from this talented author.

Huge thanks to Milly Reid from Quercus for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Quercus for my copy of this book via netgalley. If you are a crime fiction fan you need to read this book, definitely her best so far!

About The Author:

Olivia Kiernan is an Irish writer living in the UK. She was born and raised in County Meath, near the famed heritage town of Kells and holds an MA in Creative Writing awarded by the University of Sussex. The Murder Box is the fourth book in the acclaimed Frankie Sheehan series.

Book Synopsis:

The world is at war. And time is running out…

London, 1940. Britain is gripped by the terror of the Blitz, forcing Nell Spelman to flee the capital with her young daughter – leaving behind her husband, Arthur, the clockmaker who keeps Big Ben chiming. 

When Arthur disappears, Nell is desperate to find him. But her search will lead her into far darker places than she ever imagined… 

New York, Present Day. When Ellie discovers a beautiful watch that had once belonged to a grandmother she never knew, she becomes determined to find out what happened to her. But as she pieces together the fragments of her grandmother’s life, she begins to wonder if the past is better left forgotten… 

A powerful and unforgettable tale of fierce love, impossible choices and a moment that changes the world forever, perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy and Suzanne Kelman.

The Clockmaker’s Wife is available in ebook now and in paperback on the 5th of August. You can purchase or pre-order your copy by clicking on the links below.

My Review:

The Clockmaker’s Wife is a beautiful and moving dual timeline story which I really enjoyed.

As I might have mentioned once or twice I’m a huge fan of dual timeline historical fiction so this book instantly appealed. I especially enjoy it when the book teaches me something new and this book was no exception as I loved learning more about Arthur’s job maintaining Big Ben. I was also fascinated to learn a bit more about the fascist groups and supporters of Hitler that were in the country at that time.

Nell was a fantastic main character and one I really enjoyed following throughout the book. She really shows what she’s made of when she discovers Arthur is missing and sets off back to London to find out what happened. Her story there is truly amazing and I was in total awe of her bravery as she searched. I found myself completely absorbed in what was happening and found it hard to put the book down as I had to find out what happens.

The story moves seamlessly between the two timelines and while I did prefer following Nell’s story I thought Ellie’s story was very interesting especially the strong themes of family and how important it is to maintain memories.

This is I believe the author’s debut novel and I can’t wait to read more from her in the future. Huge thanks to Ellie from Avon for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book via netgalley. If you love dual timeline stories you need to read this!

About The Author:

Daisy Wood worked in publishing for some years before leaving to concentrate on her own writing. She has had several children’s books published, both historical and contemporary, and is happiest rooting about in the London Library on the pretext of research. She lives in south London and when not locked away in her study can be seen in various city parks, running after a rescue Pointer with a Basset Hound in tow.

Book Synopsis:

1665. It is five years since King Charles II returned from exile, the scars of the English Civil Wars are yet to heal and now the Great Plague engulfs the land. Alethea Hawthorne is safe inside the walls of the Calverton household as a lady’s companion waiting in anticipation of the day she can return to her ancestral home of Measham Hall.But when Alethea suddenly finds herself cast out on the plague-ridden streets of London, a long road to Derbyshire lies ahead. Militias have closed their boroughs off to outsiders for fear of contamination.Fortune smiles on her when Jack appears, an unlikely travelling companion who helps this determined girl to navigate a perilous new world of religious dissenters, charlatans and a pestilence that afflicts peasants and lords alike.The Master of Measham Hall is the first book in a page-turning historical series. In lyrical prose, Anna Abney portrays the religious divides at the heart of Restoration England in a timeless novel about survival, love, and family loyalty.

The Master Of Measham Hall is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

My Review:

Overall I really enjoyed this book which I found very absorbing and therefore very difficult to put down. The ending felt a bit abrupt but gave me hope that there might be a possible sequel.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Duckworth books for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Anna Abney is among the last descendants of the Abney family, former residents of Measham Hall, a lost house of Derbyshire. The Measham Hall series is a fictionalised account of her ancestors’ lives. An academic in the English and Creative Writing department at the Open University, she wrote her PhD on the seventeenth century writer, Margaret Cavendish, the first English woman to be published in her own name, under the supervision of Lisa Jardine at Queen Mary, University of London. Her writing also includes fiction, journalism and drama. Anna was born and raised in London and lived in Ireland, North and South, for thirteen years before returning to the Big Smoke. She now lives in rural Kent with her husband, a playwright and screenwriter, and their border-collie.

Book Synopsis:

EVERYONE IN THE WORLD KNOWS HIS NAME . . .BUT IT’S YOU HE WANTS.

To the media, Hayes Campbell is the enigmatic front-man of a record-breaking boyband.

To his fans, he’s the man of their dreams.

To Solène Marchand, he’s just the pretty face that’s plastered over her teenage daughter’s bedroom wall.

Until a chance meeting throws them together . . .

The attraction is instant. The chemistry is electric. The affair is Solène’s secret.

But how long can it stay that way?

The Idea Of You is available in ebook and paperback now. The ebook is currently only 99p. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

My Review:

The Idea Of You is a romantic, steamy read which is perfect for escaping reality and reading in the sun.

Firstly I must admit this isn’t my normal genre but I’d heard lots about this book so was naturally very intrigued. The love affair between Solene and Harry was great fun to follow and I enjoyed watching it progress. It was interesting to see the discussion about the age difference and societies reaction to them being a couple though. It sadly happens in reality but society doesn’t seem to like older woman with younger men where as they think the reverse is absolutely fine which seems hypercritical.

Solene was an interesting character for me and one I wasn’t completely sure I liked. She’s a strong women who has a successful career in the art world but she did annoy me at times with her constant wobbles about the age difference and her continual brand name dropping. Hayes was adorable and someone I can see a lot of people falling in love with. He’s based on Harry Styles so it was fun to read the book with him in mind. Some of the scenes between Hayes and Solene get really steamy which might not be to everyone’s taste.

This book takes you to some beautiful locations throughout the world and it was fun to follow the characters in these locations and live precariously through them. Some of the properties they visit sound stunning and made me wish I was able to visit them myself. It was quite eye opening to see how the other half live with live in chiefs and people catering to their every whim.

The ending was an interesting one for me. I didn’t mind it ending the way it did but was confused by the reasons that it ended that way as to me I felt they had been worked through or could have been easily resolved.

Overall I’m a bit on the fence about this book to be honest. There were parts I really enjoyed but other parts that I wasn’t sure about. I did find it an addictive read at the beginning and read the first half of the book quite fast but I felt it slowed down a bit in the middle and I must admit I found it a bit hard to finish sadly. As I said at the beginning though this isn’t more normal genre and I can well imagine it appealing to lots of other people this summer.

Huge thanks to Jen Harlow from Michael St Joseph for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book which I received in exchange for an honest review.

About The Author:

A graduate of Yale University and Columbia Law School, Robinne was born and raised in Westchester County, New York. As the daughter of Jamaican parents of African, Chinese, and British descent, Robinne has long had an affinity for travel and the arts. Her past endeavors include working as an Editorial Assistant for ELLE Magazine, both in New York and Paris, writing celebrity profiles for the now defunct youth culture magazine, TELL, and running a music management company. Robinne has numerous acting credits in both television and film, has served as a producer on various independent films and regularly speaks on panels and writes for trade magazines regarding the roles of women and actors of color in the industry. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two children.

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to another Music Monday. Today I’m featuring the fabulous Zoë Wren and her recent album Reckless River.

Zoë is originally from London, where she used to busk on the London underground but she now lives in Switzerland. She is one half of folk duo Roswell but releases solo music too. I first discovered Zoë (you guessed it) through twitch and was immediately blown away by her beautiful voice which is just stunning. Zoe is one of the nicest streamers on twitch as she’s always very welcoming despite having a fast moving chat.

You can follow Zoë on twitch and social media by clicking on the links below.

Reckless River:

Zoë has written some truly wonderful music which is perfect for relaxing to. Her music is mainly folk songs which have some lovely melodies in them. Zoe says her music was influenced by the unorthodox harmonies of Joni Mitchell and the honest storytelling of Tracy Chapman.

I have included the music videos for two of my favourite songs from this album, Smoky Sunrise and Elephant and Drum. These videos were both shot in Zoe’s new home town in Switzerland and contain some absolutely beautiful scenery in them. I’ve also included Don’t Touch My Guitar as it always makes me smile.

You can listen to Zoe’s music on the main streaming platforms or you can purchase it from Bandcamp.

Music Monday Playlist:

You can now listen to Zoë and all other previously featured Music Monday artists on a special playlist I’ve created on Spotify.

Thanks for reading and happy listening!

Book Synopsis:

When a depressed, alcoholic single mother disappears, everything suggests suicide, but when her body is found, Icelandic Detective Elma and her team are thrust into a perplexing, chilling investigation.

When single mother Maríanna disappears from her home, leaving an apologetic note on the kitchen table, everyone assumes that she’s taken her own life … until her body is found on the Grábrók lava fields seven months later, clearly the victim of murder. Her neglected fifteen-year-old daughter Hekla has been placed in foster care, but is her perfect new life hiding something sinister?

Fifteen years earlier, a desperate new mother lies in a maternity ward, unable to look at her own child, the start of an odd and broken relationship that leads to a shocking tragedy.

Police officer Elma and her colleagues take on the case, which becomes increasingly complex, as the number of suspects grows and new light is shed on Maríanna’s past – and the childhood of a girl who never was like the others…

Breathtakingly chilling and tantalisingly twisty, Girls Who Lie is at once a startling, tense psychological thriller and a sophisticated police procedural, marking Eva Björg Ægisdottir as one of the most exciting new names in crime fiction.

Girls Who Lie is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

Advert/ Advanced Praise:

‘Chilling and addictive, with a twist you won’t see coming. I loved it!’ Shari Lapena

‘An exciting and harrowing tale’ Ragnar Jónasson

‘Eerie and chilling. I loved every word!’ Lesley Kara

Giveaway:

Im lucky enough to have a paperback copy of Girls Who Lie to giveaway today. This giveaway is for UK people only but do look out for international giveaways soon.

To enter all you have to do is like and share my post, then tag some bookish friends.

This giveaway will end at 9am (BST) on Monday 19th July 2021. Good luck!

About The Author:

Born in Akranes in 1988, Eva Björg Ægisdóttir studied for an MSc in Globalisation in Norway before returning to Iceland and deciding to write a novel – something she had wanted to do since she won a short-story competition at the age of fifteen. After nine months combining her writing with work as a stewardess and caring for her children, Eva finished The Creak on the Stairs. It was published in
2018, and became a bestseller in Iceland. It also went on to win the Blackbird Award, a prize set up by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir and Ragnar Jónasson to encourage new Icelandic crime writers. It was published in English by Orenda Books in 2020. Eva lives in Reykjavík with her husband and three children and is currently working on the third book in the Forbidden Iceland series.

Book Synopsis:

Fish friends Dab and Blenny are upset by the plastic that washes into their lovely rockpool home. Crab, on the other hand, just LOVES the shiny bright colours… But when Blenny gets caught in plastic twine, Crab finally understands the danger of plastics in the ocean.’Crab, Dab & Blenny’ is a fun, rhyming picture book with an important environmental message. Perfect for 4 to 8-year-olds.

Crab, Dab & Blenny is available in paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

My Review:

Crab, Dab & Blenny is a beautifully illustrated book with fabulous characters and an important message at its heart.

My kids love books so a new book arriving at our house is always cause for great excitement. I had to read this book as soon as I opened the parcel and had read it multiple times before bedtime. The story is told in rhyme which makes it easy to read and my kids loved the funny characters in it, especially their names which my eldest said were very creative.

There is an important message behind the fun story about pollution and the effect it can have on animals. I must admit I did think this would go over my kids heads but both my five and eight year old mentioned it in their comments about the book so the message obviously did go in. My five year old said that her favourite part of the story was the children getting the rubbish out of the sea so they can help the animals.

The illustrations in this book are simply beautiful and both my kids enjoyed pouring over them looking for the little details they might have missed before. They cover the whole page and I felt really helped add to my kids enjoyment of the story.

Overall my kids and I really enjoyed this story, which I will definitely be recommending to others. I’d say the age range from the publishers of 4-8 was perfect as my 5 and 8 year old really enjoyed the book but it was a bit too long for my three year old even though he did like the pictures.

Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and to the author for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Peta writes and illustrates her funny picture books on the Isle of Wight, where she lives with her husband, daughter, and hairy jack russell, Archie. In normal times, Peta loves going into schools to share her books and inspire children in their writing and art. She has appeared at a number of festivals and other events, including: Barnes Children’s Literature Festival, Isle of Wight Literary Festival, Exmoor Dark Skies Festival and Ventnor Fringe. She is one of the organisers of the IW Story Festival, for children and families, which takes place every February half term.

Book Synopsis:

PREPARE FOR PUZZLES, PERIL, AND PLENTY OF CAKE IN THE SECOND THRILLING ADVENTURE FOR ALEJA AND THE CREW OF THE LEGENDARY SHIP OF SHADOWS

Aleja and her fellow pirates are eager to embark on a new adventure to find the second piece of the missing magical map. But they soon find themselves panicking, bewildered by a series of confusing clues. And time is running out – fast.

When she starts experiencing strange visions, Aleja realizes that someone is trying to tell her something. But can this new knowledge be trusted? And what will it cost her to find out?

With the crew’s loyalties tested and more secrets to unlock than ever, Aleja must find a way to beat the clock and prove herself truly worthy of her place on the ship’s crew . . .

Secrets Of The Stars is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the links below.

My Review:

Secrets Of The Stars was an thrilling pirate adventure story that I enjoyed reading with my son for a bedtime story.

Firstly I loved that this book contained an all female pirate crew, though my eight year old didn’t really register this fact as we read. Our favourite character was definitely Aleja as we both admired her bravery and her cleverness at solving puzzles. Each of the crew had different skills to bring into the story which I thought was very clever and helped them work together well as a team. I enjoyed getting to know them and watch their relationship with each other develop throughout the book.

We both loved the vivid descriptions in this book which made us feel like we were actually visiting all the places alongside the characters. I felt like I could see everything they did and even smell the same things that they could. It has definitely made my eight year old want to travel to those places so he can experience them for himself.

I thought this story had a great pace to it and there was always something happening to make the book hard to put down after our planned chapter per day. I ended up having to let my son read it first as he was so eager to keep reading.

This is actually the second book in the series but can easily be read as a standalone like we did. We will look forward to reading more from this author on the future.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to the publisher for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Maria Kuzniar spent six years living in Spain, teaching English and travelling the world, which inspired her debut novel The Ship of Shadows. Now she lives in Nottingham with her husband, where she reads and writes as much as she can and bookstagrams at @cosyreads. She is always planning her next adventure and you can visit her at https://www.mariakuzniar.co.uk/ (watch out for the pirates!).