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Amanda White's 24 reviews

The Feathered Man by Jeremy de Quidt

In a German town, long ago, lives a tooth-puller's boy called Klaus. It isn't Klaus's fault that he sees his master steal a diamond from the mouth of a dead man in Frau Drecht's lodging house, or that Frau Drecht and her murderous son want it for themselves.He has nothing to do with the Jesuit priest and his Aztec companio...

9.2/10

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Ash by James Herbert

David Ash - detective of the paranormal is sent to the mysterious Comraich Castle, secluded deep in the Scottish countryside, to investigate a strange, high-profile case: a man has been found crucified - in a room that was locked. The reports suggest that the cliff-top castle is being haunted…Who - or what - is the reclusive hooded...

8.0/10

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The Runaway Troll by Matt Haig (Shadow Forest series)

The Runaway Troll continues the story of Samuel Blink, his sister Martha and his Aunt Eda. Uncle Henrik is now safely home after their adventures in Shadow Forest, and a certain Troll-son has decided to pay them a visit, causing untold headaches for everyone. Little do Samuel and his family realise that Troll-son is not the only visitor abo...

8.8/10

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Shadow Forest by Matt Haig (Shadow Forest series)

Shadow Forest tells the story of Samuel Blink and his sister Martha. They have recently been made orphans by a freak accident and shipped off to live with their only living relative in Norway, Aunt Eda, who feeds them brown smelly cheese and forbids them to enter the forest outside her lodge. Within a matter of days of ar...

8.8/10

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Return To Allapatria by Shelley E Parker

Return To Allapatria tells the story of Daniel, an ordinary 12 year old at the start of his school holidays. With his father away on business, as usual, and his mum’s attention fully on the local gardening competition, Daniel has nothing but good weather and his computer game to look forward to filling his days; just the way he likes it. H...

8.7/10

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The Ladies of Grace Adieu by Susanna Clarke

A book of short stories from the Author of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell may seem a departure of sorts after writing what is after all a tome (and a half), however, there has been no compromise here in Clarke's lyrical writing style or her talent for storytelling, instead we find a book of eight very grown up fairy tales that act as a de...

8.1/10

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Last Argument Of Kings by Joe Abercrombie (The First Law)

In this much anticipated and last instalment of the First Law trilogy from Joe Abercrombie we find the answers to all our questions and some we didn’t even realise existed!The campaign in the North against Bethod and his men continues with the odds ever against Colem West, the Army of the Union and of course Dogman and his band of m...

9.0/10

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Lord of the Silver Bow by David Gemmell (Trojan War Trilogy)

Lord of the Silver Bow is the first story in Gemmell's Troy trilogy and it was a joy to read. Although this is the first Gemmell book that I have read, I know that he is often heralded as the King of writing Heroic Fantasy. His skill in this field mixed with a story incorporating some of the greatest mythological heroes of all time seems to ...

8.5/10

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Abhorsen by Garth Nix (The Abhorsen Chronicles)

Lirael and Sameth have reached the safety of the Abhorsens House after fleeing from Necromancer Hedge and his dead minions. Now trapped by his agent Chlorr and many Dead Hands, Lirael and Sam must find a way to warn the King and Abhorsen of the mounting danger their subjects face in the Old Kingdom and the real threat this new evil 'The Dest...

9.5/10

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Lirael by Garth Nix (The Abhorsen Chronicles)

It has been 18 years since Sabriel and Touchstone defeated the Great Undead, Kerrigor and they now reign together, man and wife, as Abhorsen and King of the Old Kingdom. Lirael is a daughter of the Clayr who has yet to be gifted with the 'sight', the means to look into the future and all possible futures, a gift peculiar to the Clayr and...

9.0/10

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Sabriel by Garth Nix (The Abhorsen Chronicles)

Sabriel is the first book in the Abhorsen Trilogy, and tells the story of Sabriel, daughter to Abhorsen and student of Wyverley College. Sabriel is coming to the end of her studies and is anxious to speak with her father about her choices for life after school. But when your father is the Abhorsen, necromancer, binder of the dead to death, what ...

8.5/10

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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling (Harry Potter)

Voldemort has returned with his sycophantic sidekick Peter Pettygrew, who escaped in the last book, and are plotting the death of Harry Potter when they are disturbed by elderly caretaker Frank Bryce. Elsewhere, Harry is awoken by his scar burning and the remnants of a dream of Voldermort murdering an old man. Harry is now 14 and is stumbling he...

9.0/10

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling (Harry Potter)

Harry has left Hogwarts to dedicate himself to the quest for final Horcruxes, together with his friends Ron and Hermione. Harry is also searching for the answers he feels Dumbledore has left unanswered and his feelings for his beloved old headmaster veer from anger and bitterness to painful loss. Voldemort continues his rise and nowhere seems to...

9.5/10

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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling (Harry Potter)

Voldemort is and growing stronger as is his following and dangerous times are ahead for our hero and his friends. Dumbledore enlists Harry’s help, to convince his old friend and retired professor Horace Slughorn to return to his old teaching post at Hogwarts. He succeeds and Professor Slughorn begins the term at Hogwarts teaching potions, ...

9.5/10

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling (Harry Potter)

The fifth installment in the Harry Potter series sees Harry in his fifth year of Hogwarts; his hardest year yet. It's the end of the summer holidays and after a confrontation with Dudley Dursley and his little gang both Dudley and Harry are attacked by a Dementor, forcing Harry to use a Patronus charm. The Ministry of Magic are quick to char...

9.0/10

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The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman (His Dark Materials)

The final installment in the 'His Dark Material' trilogy brings together religion: original sin, the afterlife, God; and science: quantum physics, chaos theory; together with theology: man is the maker of his own destiny and ultimately therefore his destruction, in a cataclysmic finale that is as gripping as it is heart-wrenching. Lyra m...

9.5/10

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The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman (His Dark Materials)

The sequel to Northern Lights, this is the second book in the 'His Dark Materials' Trilogy and introduces the character of Will Parry, a young boy who lives in Oxford (our world) with his ailing and increasingly confused mother and now on the run from a number of 'men in black' who seem to be searching for some letters sent from ...

9.0/10

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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling (Harry Potter)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the third book of the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling.Harry is spending another dreadful summer at home with the Dursley's when an unfortunate run in with Aunt Marge ends in her sudden balloon like inflation. Harry runs away and fears expulsion from Hogwarts for his use of magic outside of...

9.0/10

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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling (Harry Potter)

J.K. Rowling’s series began with the Philosopher’s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets continues the adventures of the young wizard Harry and his friends at Hogwarts.The Chamber of Secrets begins, as did the Philosopher’s Stone, with Harry once again at home with the dreadful Dursleys. The Dursleys are, to put it mildly, un...

9.0/10

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Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by JK Rowling (Harry Potter)

The Philosopher’s Stone is the first in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series of seven novels that have made her the most successful literary author of all time, selling in excess of 400 million copies world-wide. The books are read and enjoyed by children and adults alike and have also been made into hugely popular films.Do the ...

8.5/10

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Northern Lights by Philip Pullman (His Dark Materials)

Northern Lights is the first part of Philip Pullman's acclaimed Dark Materials trilogy. The book was first published in 1995, a year in which the book also claimed the Carnegie Award.Imagine a world that is as alike as it is disimilar to our own. Where huge zeppelins litter the skyline and a persons' soul is a living breathing ani...

9.0/10

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Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

The year is 1806 and the country is England. The Napoleonic wars are raging in France and magic, an academic subject only, is no longer practised. A street peddler foretells of a prophesy of the return of magic to England, which has been dead since the disappearance of the Raven King some three hundred years ago.Enter Mr Norrell, his magi...

9.7/10

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Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie (The First Law)

"We should forgive our enemies, but not before they are hanged" - Heinrich HeineBefore They Are Hanged is Abercrombie's second entry into the twisted and grim world of The First Law. It follows on from the three story arcs that The Blade itself stylishly led towards. Bayaz, the first of the Magi is venturing to the end of th...

8.9/10

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The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie (The First Law)

I was up until half five yesterday morning reading intensely to finish off this story. I didn’t write the review then as it would have been a tired, mumbled mess with little to no eloquence and it wouldn’t have included any cool sounding words. Let’s see how I get on now after a good night's sleep…Prior to rea...

8.5/10

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