Rishu Sharma Sharma itibaren Espiet, France itibaren Espiet, France

Wish I could give a 3.5. or even 3.75, good but doesn't quite reach the standard of some of the books I've read recently. I didn't realise it was actually a children (teenager?) book, just picked it up as previous books by author. But it fits with the recent push for teenagers/children's books that are so readable that us adults want to read them too. It's more of a sci-fi bent than her previous books but it all flows nicely and is an entertaining read without taxing my brain. The first half of the book really pulled me in, introducing characters and lots happening in a "what's going on kind of way" but the second half didn't keep the pace up. I feel it should have built to a soaring crescendo but while good did not live up to the scene setting. Maybe the twist was appropriate for a younger audience but seen a mile off by a jaded fantasty/sci fi reader such as myself. I'm reading a lot of books that I can't quite put my finger on what I liked/disliked at the moment and to a certain extent this is true here. 3/5 but I will be reading the second instalment and still have high hopes for it! It's also the kind of book I'd be happy to have my daughter read when she's left the picture book stage way behind!

I preferred The Rock Orchard. But even so, what a fun read. A true storyteller with a gift for turning a phrase.