The Puffin Portal Vashti Hardy illustrated by Natalie Smillie

You may have guessed that I’m a huge fan of Vashti Hardy’s writing and she’s a wonderful person too ! The Puffin Portal is the sequel to her first collaboration with Barrington Stoke The Griffin Gate, a tale that blends the Hardy-verse of STEM steeped societies and steam punkery into it in accessible form for …

Midnight Magic- Michelle Harrison and Elissa Elwick

Black cats and magic for early readers? Midnight Magic by Michelle Harrison and Elissa Elwick is the PERFECT book for any little one with the call of wonder in their soul. Midnight Magic is such a joyful and positive depiction of magic and wonder with a twinkling dose of mischief to keep the giggles.  I …

His Royal Hopeless – Chloë Perrin

If I could only say one thing about His Royal Hopeless I would say imagine a Disney- Pixar movie but in book form- it has all the magic, the layered storytelling and jokes and growth of those animated movies imagine Onward with a dash of Luca and a frosting of Frozen meets a dollop of …

Sindhu and Jeet’s Detective Agency by Chitra Soundar illustrated by Amberin Huq

You may have realised if you have read my blog before that I do love a mystery: historical, contemporary, fantastical- I’m in my happy place when I can play in the world of a mystery.  And so are my daughters, which is why I’m absolutely loving the current wave of young illustrated mysteries, and even …

The Secret Detectives- Ella Risbridger

In a word, Magnificent. Another one of those books I wobbled with finding the words to sum up how incredible it is. The Secret Detectives is perfect for those who miss the books of Robin Stevens where Wells & Wong team up with The Pinkertons and yet, it is its own microcosm of perfection and mystery. …

#20BooksOfSummer 4: The Tzar’s Curious Runaways by Robin Scott Elliot

#20BooksOfSummer is an annual event hosted by Cathy Brown of 746 Books and runs from 1st June until 1st September With the aim to clearing a target of 5, 10 or 20 books from your TBR but with very relaxed and fun rules. Here is my joining post & List! The Tzar's Curious Runaways by Robin Scott Elliot …

Mission Taylor & Rose. Nightfall in New York by Katherine Woodfine

In case you missed my mission statement post, I’m undertaking a reading marathon to enjoy all four mysteries in the Taylor & Rose Secret Agents series leading up to the blog tour celebrating the publication of the finale Nightfall in New York! Read my previous Missions for Peril in Paris, Spies in St. Petersburg and Villains in Venice here! Mission …