Samantha Cook's Blog, page 8
February 8, 2018
Book Review: Number The Stars
NUMBER THE STARS by Lois Lowry
2 Stars
Verdict: Holocaust story suitable for children.
This is a young children's book set in Denmark during the second world war. It's purpose is to educate the young about the holocaust, and tells the story of a young girl's family helping to save another young girl and their family.
I'll be honest. I only read this because I was waaay behind on my reading
2 Stars
Verdict: Holocaust story suitable for children.
This is a young children's book set in Denmark during the second world war. It's purpose is to educate the young about the holocaust, and tells the story of a young girl's family helping to save another young girl and their family.
I'll be honest. I only read this because I was waaay behind on my reading
February 4, 2018
Book Review: Paris Adrift
PARIS ADRIFT by E. J. Swift
3 Stars
Verdict: Fantastically French, but I lost the plot.
Hallie defers her last year at uni to escaped to France, and now works in a bar in Paris. Portals begin opening up around her...and she experiences France's past and present...Mini adventures ensue.
Okay, that's a bad summary. It's hard to write an honest blurb about this book, because Hallie wasn't an
3 Stars
Verdict: Fantastically French, but I lost the plot.
Hallie defers her last year at uni to escaped to France, and now works in a bar in Paris. Portals begin opening up around her...and she experiences France's past and present...Mini adventures ensue.
Okay, that's a bad summary. It's hard to write an honest blurb about this book, because Hallie wasn't an
February 1, 2018
Book Review: The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly
THE HEN WHO DREAMED SHE COULD FLY by Sun-Mi Hwang
4 Stars
Verdict: It's a harsh life for a hen.
This is a Korean folk tale of a hen who, unlike the title suggests, dreams of being able to keep the egg she lays and raise it as her own. She dreams of freedom. When she is culled with the other old hens, she turns her hardship into an opportunity to seek her dreams.
Sprout goes through some
4 Stars
Verdict: It's a harsh life for a hen.
This is a Korean folk tale of a hen who, unlike the title suggests, dreams of being able to keep the egg she lays and raise it as her own. She dreams of freedom. When she is culled with the other old hens, she turns her hardship into an opportunity to seek her dreams.
Sprout goes through some
January 28, 2018
Book Review: The Girl In The Tower
THE GIRL IN THE TOWER by Katherine Arden2 StarsVerdict: Again, not for me.
After Vasya leaves her village to dispel rumours of her being a witch, she ventures through the woods, facing demons, bandits, and death itself. To survive as a lone traveller, she disguises herself as a man and unintentionally gains the attention of the Grand Prince. She must keep her true gender a secret to protect
After Vasya leaves her village to dispel rumours of her being a witch, she ventures through the woods, facing demons, bandits, and death itself. To survive as a lone traveller, she disguises herself as a man and unintentionally gains the attention of the Grand Prince. She must keep her true gender a secret to protect
January 25, 2018
Book Review: A Monster Calls
A MONSTER CALLS by Patrick Ness
4 Stars
Verdict: Where real nightmares meet imaginary ones
Every night at 12:07 a monster visits Connor, but he's not afraid. Because this isn't the monster from his terrifying dreams. It's not the monster he's afraid of.
Connor's mother is very sick, and everyone at school already knows. No one will talk to him anymore. At home, him and his mother are fine on
4 Stars
Verdict: Where real nightmares meet imaginary ones
Every night at 12:07 a monster visits Connor, but he's not afraid. Because this isn't the monster from his terrifying dreams. It's not the monster he's afraid of.
Connor's mother is very sick, and everyone at school already knows. No one will talk to him anymore. At home, him and his mother are fine on
January 21, 2018
Book Review: The Bear and the Nightingale
THE BEAR AND THE NIGHTINGALE by Katherine Arden
3 Stars
Verdict: Not for me.
Vasilisa grows up at the edge of the Russian wilderness, surrounded by the love of her siblings. She has a wild spirit that cannot be tamed for any suitor or convent, and finds she is able to see and protect the spirits that in turn protect her home. However, her stepmother fears them, and when the winter becomes
3 Stars
Verdict: Not for me.
Vasilisa grows up at the edge of the Russian wilderness, surrounded by the love of her siblings. She has a wild spirit that cannot be tamed for any suitor or convent, and finds she is able to see and protect the spirits that in turn protect her home. However, her stepmother fears them, and when the winter becomes
January 18, 2018
Book Review: A Torch Against the Night
A TORCH AGAINST THE NIGHT by Saaba Tahir
5 Stars
Verdict: An awesome sequel (and I don't say that often!)
#1 - An Ember in the Ashes
Elias and Laia are on the run, and must escape the Commandant before they can even think about saving Laias brother from torture in a Kauf prison. As the person who knows Elias best, Helene is given an ultimatum - hunt down her best friend Elias and publicly
5 Stars
Verdict: An awesome sequel (and I don't say that often!)
#1 - An Ember in the Ashes
Elias and Laia are on the run, and must escape the Commandant before they can even think about saving Laias brother from torture in a Kauf prison. As the person who knows Elias best, Helene is given an ultimatum - hunt down her best friend Elias and publicly
January 12, 2018
Writing festival 2018
Hey all,
I'm putting together another blog festival (the official name is TBC)! If you're a writer, either published or aspiring, I'd love for you to contribute. I've already got a few excellent articles lined up from past guest bloggers, but I'd love to connect with as many writers as possible.
Take a look at these great articles from last time:
How to Leave your Readers Cold, Hungry, and
I'm putting together another blog festival (the official name is TBC)! If you're a writer, either published or aspiring, I'd love for you to contribute. I've already got a few excellent articles lined up from past guest bloggers, but I'd love to connect with as many writers as possible.
Take a look at these great articles from last time:
How to Leave your Readers Cold, Hungry, and
January 11, 2018
Book Review: Coraline
CORALINE by Neil Gaiman
5 Stars
Verdict: Quirky, creepy, and quick to read!
Bored and alone, with her parents too busy to play with her, eleven year old Coraline ventures through a mysterious door in the wall. It once led to nowhere. Now it leads to an interesting 'other' place, where her 'other' neighbours are much more entertaining than the normal world, and her 'other' mother gives her all
5 Stars
Verdict: Quirky, creepy, and quick to read!
Bored and alone, with her parents too busy to play with her, eleven year old Coraline ventures through a mysterious door in the wall. It once led to nowhere. Now it leads to an interesting 'other' place, where her 'other' neighbours are much more entertaining than the normal world, and her 'other' mother gives her all
January 2, 2018
Welcome to 2018
2017 been a ride and a half, for me, anyway.
The year started with brilliant news. One of my clients emailed to say that he had managed to snag a publishing deal - check him out here. I was elated for him, and since then, he’s had success after success. His story of darkness even had honourable mentions in the Rainbow Awards. It's fantastic news for a fantastic writer.
Me on the other hand? My
The year started with brilliant news. One of my clients emailed to say that he had managed to snag a publishing deal - check him out here. I was elated for him, and since then, he’s had success after success. His story of darkness even had honourable mentions in the Rainbow Awards. It's fantastic news for a fantastic writer.
Me on the other hand? My
