Owl King

Ilsette has always been protected by her sister, Lyla. Being half-human, half-faery would make her an outcast if anyone in the Realm of Never Moon found out and Lyla would do anything for her sister. However, summoned by the dark, dangerous Owl King to his court, they, along with everyone else, are compelled to obey and when Ilsette’s beautiful singing voice attracts his attention, Lyla seeks to distract him and finds herself being chosen as his next wife. Horrified to learn that the Owl King takes feathers from his brides, draining them of their magic, Ilsette pledges to find a feather which will save her sister’s life. Meanwhile, Lyla seeks to save herself by telling the Owl King stories, giving them time to become close and changing the relationship between them.

Rich in folklore and fantasy, ‘Owl King’ is a beautifully told tale. The strength of love between the two sisters is at the heart of story as each tries to protect and support the other in the face great peril and self-sacrifice.

Islette adores her sister. Without the nurture and protection Lyra has offered her all her life, Islette knows that she would never have survived the cruelty of the fae who hate humans, but their bond goes far deeper than gratitude. Lyra is her ‘companion…comfort…compass’ and yet as Islette spreads her wings and sets out on her own to save her sister, she longs to learn who she truly is, not what she has had to become, hiding her true self and staying in the shadows. Courageous and resourceful, she finds her own way, forming new friendships, but never forgetting her sister.

The story draws on ‘Swan Lake’ and ‘One Thousand and One Nights’, mingled with the darker side of the Fae. Atmospheric and compelling, it intertwines the stories of the two sisters with tales told of the other faeries.

Owl King

Bex Hogan

Zephyr ISBN: 978-1035912681

Ask Me Anything

Mary-Elizabeth Baxter is a girl brimming with confidence. Agony aunt for the university’s magazine, she offers up-beat advice to her fellow students and, having set her sights on Felix Balfour, she is looking forward to a year of fun- sex with no strings attached. When she meets grumpy Laurie, who works on the uni newspaper, Mary- Elizabeth is convinced that he is behind the sudden appearance of a rival problem page which offers far harsher advice. However, when things with Felix start to go wrong and Mary- Elizabeth finds her confidence shaken, Laurie proves he is not the bad guy after all.

Lively and engaging, ‘Ask Me Anything’ is a fun read about university life which offers plenty to think about.

I have to confess that initially I found Mary-Elizabeth intensely irritating! Her personal brand of chirpy optimism and self-assurance felt over-blown and false. However, she quickly became more endearing as the cracks in her armour developed and she became more rounded and plausible. In her pursuit of Felix and her determination to stick to her rules, she ignores her true feelings and the warning signs which she would be sure to have plenty of advice to offer to others in the same situation. There is an element of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ in her relationships with Laurie who she quickly takes against, and Felix, the Wickham of the piece, and like Lizzie Bennet, she emerges stronger, wiser and more self-aware by the end of the story.

Mary-Elizabeth’s relationship with her parents also gives an interesting twist to the tale. Never quite at ease with her mother, events lead to greater understanding between the two whilst her father seems to feel that financial support can replace in person contact and interest.

University life makes an appealing background to the story with plenty of friendships and fun and empathetic, supportive staff offering guidance when needed. The problem letters which Mary-Elizabeth answers give some sound advice which may well support readers - of any age!- experiencing similar issues.

Written in a very easy-to-read style, ‘Ask Me Anything’ is thoroughly enjoyable.

Ask Me Anything

Bethany Rutter

Hot Key Books ISBN: 978-1471419362

Out on 6.11.2025

Livia in Rome

Due to her grandmother -Nina- having an accident, sixteen-year-old Livia is delighted to be spending the summer in Rome, working in the family bar. Being Scottish-Italian, she hopes she will find the place she really belongs in Italy. However, it seems that local boy, Giulio, has stolen her place in Nina’s affections and working at the bar and he quickly becomes Livia’s nemesis. But as time passes and Livia makes new friends and discovers family secrets, she comes to realise that maybe Giulio is not the enemy she thought he was…

Bursting with the flavours of Rome, teen romance, family and friendship, ‘Livia in Rome’ is the perfect summer read- for anyone! It is beautifully written, completely engaging and is guaranteed to make you want to visit Rome.

Livia is such a brilliant character. Told from her perspective, the book is rich in her humorous observations as she navigates being both Scottish and Italian and tries to work out where she fits, encouraging empathy with her situation, one which many children are familiar with. The simmering tension between her and Giulio is so well captured as she tries to remain immune to his charms and discover what he is up to whilst the reader is cheering them on every step of the way until the very satisfying conclusion is reached!

Evocative descriptions bring Rome to life- not just the ‘touristy’ Rome, but the real Rome and its people- in a way which is sure to encourage readers to want to discover more and explore this fascinating city for themselves.

The book is absolutely perfect for younger teens as well as older ones. It is quite simply an excellent read, showing the joys of friendship, developing relationships , working as a community and finding your place in the world. It should be at the top of everyone’s TBR piles - a perfect summer read!

Livia in Rome

Bruna De Luca

Chicken House ISBN: 978-1917171113