The Lucky Drinker Cocktail Book by Ciprian Zsraga

Today I am joining a blog tour celebrating all the different types of books from Clink Street Publishing. I've got a slightly unusual cocktail book which actually started out it's life as a blog!

Book Summary

This book represents a journey in the world of cocktails from a historic point of view and in addition, treats deeply various aspects: from basic bar techniques to advanced innovative ideas that can be used to create impressive drinks: pressure infusion, clarification, smoking, ageing, fermentation and even spherification!

The Lucky Drinker Cocktail Book covers everything from bar equipment to bar personalities and how they influence the world of drinking, what are the elements and what is the approach to create an outstanding cocktail, food and beverage pairing, alcohol intake but also how to calculate the cost of a cocktail: very important aspect that will help you to have a profitable cocktail menu.

It starts with the usual information such as bar equipment but also has sections on sustainability, bar personalities, and food and drink pairings. It's great to see a whole chapter dedicated to ice as it really is such an important element!

The cocktail recipes are split by base spirit and this little book includes lots of classic favourites as well as some lesser known cocktails. I love the bit of history of each of the cocktails and there are tips to try different versions of the traditional recipes. My only complaint is that I would have liked to see more pictures of all the cocktails.

One of my favourites is the Aviation and I couldn't resist mixing one up. 20ml lemon juice, 5ml violette liqueur, 10ml maraschino, 45ml gin. shake with ice and strain into a glass.

Another one I'd like to mention is the Alaska. It's actually one I haven't heard of before and it sounds so good! 2 dashes orange bitters, 20ml yellow chartreuse, 50ml gin. Stir in mixing glass with ice and then pour into glass. Garnish with twist of lemon peel.

Fledgling by Lucy Hope

Book Summary

A dark, gothic adventure set in the Bavarian forest, with angels and owls and magic and a boy who isn’t all that he seems to be…

A cherub is blown into Cassie Engel’s bedroom during a thunderstorm, triggering a series of terrifying events. Cassie must discover if its arrival was an accident or part of something more sinister.

With a self-obsessed opera singer for a mother, a strange taxidermist father, and a best friend who isn’t quite what he seems, Cassie is forced to unearth the secrets of her family’s past. As the dark forces gather around them, can Cassie protect all that she holds dear?

I knew I was off to a good start with this book when I read that the grandfather built an annex onto his house, just for books! This was definitely my kind of house, with so many interesting rooms, a roof that opens up and a steam-powered lift built in the middle. The house was a big part of the book too, playing a real part in the adventure.

I really felt for poor Cassie. Living with a horribly selfish mother who only cares for herself, a very absent, distant father and a grandmother on her deathbed. At least she has a wonderful friend in Raphael, you can tell he really cares about her and tries to protect her.

There are so many mysteries running through. How did Cassie's parents become like this? What's Raphael's story. And of course, why is the cherub there? The book was fast paced and really gripping, it kept surprising me.

My only problem with the book is I still don't understand why Cassie's mother was so horrible. It is kind of rationalised but I didn't really feel that explained it properly.

If you want to try out the book, the author reads the first few chapters on YouTube which is a lovely way to start. You can find chapter one here.

I made this delicious Cherryberry Cherub cocktail to drink with the book. Muddle a few raspberries in a cocktail shaker, then add 1&1/2 shots vanilla vodka, 3/4 shot each of triple sec and lemon juice, 1/2 shot of cherry brandy liqueur. Shake with ice and strain into an glass filled with ice.

 The Haunting of Lindy Pennyworth - S.M. Pope

Just in time for Halloween, I am closing off the Lindy Pennyworth blog tour and I have a wonderful author interview for you!

Book Summary

I am writing this in an old notebook that I found in the common room. Every word is true. I can speak to the dead. And they can speak to me...

Nobody believes Lindy when she says she doesn’t pull her hair out on purpose. Nobody believes Lindy when she says she hears voices in the night. Nobody believes Lindy when she says that her dead ancestors are haunting her dreams. Nobody believes Lindy.

After the death of her father, Lindy falls headlong into a state of grief and no longer understands her place in the world. Through paranormal rituals, Ouija boards and spiritualist churches, Lindy attempts to speak to her father beyond the grave – but to no avail. That is until she receives a ‘visit’ from Esme, her Victorian ancestor, who reveals that her family is under a curse that separates them in the afterlife.

Determined to break it, Lindy sacrifices her grip on reality. But not everyone wants her to succeed. There are still secrets that fight to remain buried...

This book has such a fantastic start - "I am sane. I can speak to the dead. And they can speak to me." It really sets it up well and gets you hooked on what's to come. Lindy's story is so fantastical that almost no one believes her, least of all her mum. But can she trust the one person who actually does seem to believe? And can she trust the ghosts? Even as the reader, you find yourself wondering what is true. This was a perfect book for this time of year with all the creepy ghosts and the ending actually left me gasping! Now read on for the interview, as I'm sure that's what you're really waiting for.

Interview

What attracted you to ghost stories, have you always been interested in ghosts and psychic abilities?

I can't remember the first time I became fascinated in ghosts and the supernatural, but I was always desperate to look around any and every graveyard I encountered when I visited my grandparents on holiday here in the UK, when I was still living in Canada. We didn't have such old cemeteries and I found it incredible that you could stand in front of something so old and read about the person buried beneath. In my teens, I visited a medium with my mother - we went as a kind of a dare, a bit of fun, but we both came away absolutely shocked by how much she said about both of us without knowing anything about us. She told me things I'd never said to anyone before about myself - stuff that surpassed the usual 'you will pass your GCSEs' ,'you will fall in love' etc. A couple of not very nice predictions also came true which was scary for me and unsettling. She said I was an 'old soul' and had psychic abilities if I ever wished to develop them. (I haven't, though I am curious!)

I am not saying I believe in all mediums and clairvoyants, though. I had a five-minute, three-card Tarot reading with a bored-looking woman in Covent Garden, who apparently had read Richard Gere's future, and everything she said was absolute garbage! 

Are any of the characters drawn from people you know?

No, not entirely. All authors say that their characters are composites of people they know and I agree that this can happen. I think that Lindy has characteristics of myself, but so does her mother - because I am a daughter and a mother! Writing Lindy was the hardest thing I have ever had to do, to be honest. I think that in early drafts I saw her as an extension of myself and therefore I could not settle on how to portray her. Would she be downtrodden or feisty? Acquiescent or stubborn? Early readers of my first drafts (including the author Melvin Burgess, who gave me a masterclass as part of my MA!) picked up on this hesitancy. It took a couple of years and many revisions to settle on this version of her.

Did you have to do a lot of research into the 1800s and the cholera epidemic? Is that a period of history that always interested you?

I don't know why but I have always been drawn to the Victorian era. I love the literature from that time, especially the Romantic poets, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen (she just about squeezes into it!), Henry James, Mary Shelley, the Gothic, etc. For me, what is so appealing is the stark juxtaposition of those who were trying to rationalise everything into scientific explanations, and those who were clamouring to protect the natural world and insist that mankind could not dominate it. This is seen most clearly in Shelley's Frankenstein - the Dr is so determined to go against the laws of nature and produce something incredible - but it eventually turns against him because you can't mess with nature. So, you've got a lot of fascinating developments in science going on alongside writers, like MR James, who are trying to scare people silly with stories that defy all reason. 

The idea for my story came about after reading about the Victorian art of making mourning jewellery out of a deceased person's hair. It disgusted me somewhat but it was fascinating, too. I then started wondering about what would happen if this memento mori would act as a conduit for the dead to communicate with the living, and I decided to explore that through a link between a girl in the present day and one in the past. I did lots of research on Victorian Oxford - the cholera plagues, how and where they started and what happened, newspaper articles from that time. I also visited the two graveyards mentioned in the book - they were created to help deal with the increasing number of dead people due to cholera outbreaks. The hardest thing is ensuring that the parts in which the Victorians speak sound genuine and not too stilted and of course not too modern! 

I'm trying to stay spoiler free here, but that ending!!! Did you always plan to have that epilogue? And will there be a sequel?

At first I had a different ending - it's hard to explain without giving it all away! And then the current one came to me and I thought it would be a better fit. As for a sequel, I'd quite like to develop the story but it depends on how well this sells!

Finally, what is your all-time favourite cocktail?

It should be a Bloody Mary but I absolutely love a well-made Margarita.

Well, fingers crossed we get a sequel and here is a recipe for what I think is a very well-made Margarita! Since it's Halloween I've decided to try out a Blood Orange Margarita. Take a shaker and fill with ice. Add a shot of tequila, 1/2 shots of Cointreau, blood orange juice and lime juice, dash of Campari and dash of sugar syrup. Shake well and pour into a glass with a salt rim.

 Mix & Match 11

I am currently enjoying a really delicious Champagne Cocktail. I know I've made this before but I just had a craving today and it's such a simple one so here you go! Soak a sugar cube with drops of angostura bitters and drop into a glass of champagne. This time I've used a lovely, elegant flute. Once you've sorted your drink, pick one of the amazing books below to fall into.

Vulture - Bex Hogan

After the devastating cliffhanger at the end of book 2, I could not wait to get my hands on the final book of the Isles of Storm and Sorrow trilogy. It has taken me quite a while to be able to get my thoughts straight after! Bex Hogan is such an amazing writer, this book hooked me right from the start and had me craving more whenever I had to (very reluctantly) stop reading. I am very happy to finally have the conclusion but at the same time kind of sad that it's all over! 

City of Spells - Alexandra Christo

I love that there was a recap of Into the Crooked Place at the start of the book, it was so useful! All books should do the same.

Loads of adventure and excitement, and some twists I really didn't see coming. The descriptions of the places and all the different types of magic were fascinating and I loved being back in this world again. The love/hate relationships between all the main characters was so much fun to read. This was a fantastic end to the duology.

The House with Chicken Legs - Sophie Anderson

I loved this book so much! The writing was so comforting and I didn't want to stop reading at all.

Though Marinka could be a little selfish and annoying at times, her heart was in the right place and she was really just so desperate to be free. How will she be able to reconcile her desire for freedom and friendship with her expected destiny of being the next Yaga? 

The Yaga houses are the best, caring, sweet and so playful, but also capable of getting in a sulk!

A Crown of Talons - Katharine Corr & Elizabeth Corr

Shocking events and betrayals, some expected and most not so much! This was really gripping and so hard to let go of. Aderyn's character is so well formed. Brave and strong, still self-doubting, but despite everything still wanting to be able to trust people. The descriptions of all the places and of the the freedom of flying were really vivid.

A Shiver of Snow and Sky - Lisa Lueddecke

This is set in such a harsh, scary and unforgiving setting, I found it hard to understand why anyone would want to live there. On top of that, there is the double threat of the plague warning and the sudden attacks from the Or, who want a war with Skane. As well as the Or there are so many other monsters that Osa discovers too.

A really gripping story, despite the sheer foreignness and strangeness of the world, I could relate to Osa and her wish to save her village. Her family, on the other hand, were so awful I would have happily thrown them to the giants! 

Shadowghast - Thomas Taylor

A very creepy start sets this book up very nicely. Here Herbie and Violet face the scariest creature yet, the Shadowghast which steals people's shadows and leaves them confused and lost. People are going missing and a new arrival has her sights set on Herbie. Somehow Herbie and his past seem to be caught up in all that is happening, but what could the Shadowghast really have to do with him? Of course they wouldn't get anywhere without Erwin, the mysterious talking cat that is never actually seen to talk. 

The adventure races along and you can't help getting caught up in it and gripped till the very end!

 The Book Snob Book Tag

I am so behind in my blog posts that I now realise I was tagged twice for this! First of all on Lili's Blissful Pages (@lilikmarcus), you can read her excellent answers over on her blog here. And more recently on Shelves of Starlight (@shelvesofstarl1) with more wonderful answers here. Answering these questions has made me realise I probably am quite a book snob! 😉

I tag @theartsyreader1, @mybookishbliss, @Biblio_fi, @amysbookishlife

ADAPTATION SNOB: Do you always read the book before watching the film/TV show?

I haven't actually watched all that many adaptations where I hadn't already read the book before it was made. I would generally prefer to read first if I could.

 

FORMAT SNOB: You can only choose 1 format in which to read books for the rest of your life. Which one do you choose: physical books, eBooks, or audiobooks?

Definitely physical books! I much prefer the feel of them. Being able to see where I am up to and also the ability to easily flick back to check on something I've forgotten or am unsure of.

SHIP SNOB: Would you date or marry a non-reader?

Yes, but what would we talk about???

GENRE SNOB: You have to ditch one genre – never to be read again for the rest of your life. Which one do you ditch?

Romance, I just find it boring to read and usually skip those bits in books.

UBER GENRE SNOB: You can only choose to read from one genre for the rest of your life. Which genre do you choose?

This is a very easy one for me. It has to be Fantasy, I need all that magic in my life!

COMMUNITY SNOB: Which genre do you think receives the most snobbery from the bookish community?

Probably romance, though everyone seems to say they love it. I don't think there is anything easy about it, it's probably one of the hardest things to write realistically!

 May Day - Josie Jaffrey
Spotlight Tour

I am highlighting another of the wonderful books in round 2 of BBNYA 2021. If you still have not heard of this competition, scroll down to the end of this post to learn more.

Book Summary

If the murderer you’re tracking is a vampire, then you want a vampire detective. Just maybe not this one. It’s not that Jack Valentine is bad at her job. The youngest member of Oxford’s Seekers has an impressive track record, but she also has an impressive grudge against the local baron, Killian Drake.

When a human turns up dead on May Morning, she’s determined to pin the murder on Drake. The problem is that none of the evidence points to him. Instead, it leads Jack into a web of conspiracy involving the most powerful people in the country, people to whom Jack has no access. But she knows someone who does.

To get to the truth, Jack will have to partner up with her worst enemy. As long as she can keep her cool, Drake will point her to the ringleaders, she’ll find the murderer and no one else will have to die.

Body bags on standby. May Day is the first book in Josie Jaffrey’s Seekers series, an urban fantasy series set in Oxford, England.

Author Bio

Josie is the author of multiple novels and short stories. Most of those are set in the Silverse, a pre- and post-apocalyptic world filled with vampires and zombies.

She is currently working on a range of fantasy and historical fiction projects (both adult and YA). Ultimately, she hopes to be a hybrid author, both traditionally- and self-published.

After finishing her degree in Literae Humaniores (Classics) at the University of Oxford, Josie wasn't sure what to do with her life.

She slogged through a brief stint working for an investment bank in London during the 2008 credit crunch, then converted to law and qualified as a solicitor specialising in intellectual property. She worked at a law firm for five years before moving to a UK-based international publisher in 2016. Whilst she loved law, in the end she didn't love it quite as much as writing, which she now does almost full time.

Josie lives in Oxford with her husband and two cats (Sparky and Gussie), who graciously permit human cohabitation in return for regular feeding and cuddles. The resulting cat fluff makes it difficult for Josie to wear black, which is largely why she gave up being a goth. Although the cats are definitely worth it, she still misses her old wardrobe.

This year, the Book Bloggers' Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the 65 books that made it into Round Two with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title. BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 10 finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

 Secret Legacy - Carissa Andrews
Spotlight Tour

Today I get to highlight another of the great books from BBNYA 2021 round 2. If you haven’t yet heard about this competition, scroll down to the end of this post for more details.

Book Summary

A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES meets LOCKE & KEY in this completed new adult series! 

I always wanted supernatural powers. 

The day I got my acceptance letter from the Windhaven Academy, I knew my life was about to change - BIG TIME. I expected to find out I could phase through walls or control people with my mind. But what I became was far more complicated than I ever imagined. 

You see, I come from a long line of witches with incredible power that spans centuries. 

I just didn’t know it. 

But unleashing my powers is just the beginning. There are forces bigger than anything I ever imagined… and they’re coming for me. 

Sure, Windhaven Academy is a school for supernaturals. 

But what I am will provoke an ancient curse that will pit me against fate. 

And now, no one is safe.

Author Bio

"An author emerges from the depths of Minnesotan waters. Sci-fi/Fantasy is my pen of choice." 

Carissa Andrews is an internationally bestselling author from central Minnesota who writes a combination of science fiction, fantasy, paranormal romance, supernatural thriller, and dystopia. Her plans for 2021 include the continuation of the Diana Hawthorne Psychic Thrillers. 

She keeps sane by chilling with her husband and five kids, playing with art in its various forms, seeking out mysteries, and being an occasional meditation and reiki badass. 

You can learn more about Carissa and her upcoming books by visiting her website: www.carissaandrews.com

This year, the Book Bloggers' Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the 65 books that made it into Round Two with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title. BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 10 finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

 Danny Weston Author Interview
A Hunter's Moon

For the last day of the blog tour, I have been lucky enough to get an interview with the author of A Hunter's Moon, Danny Weston, and he had some very interesting answers! But first, here are some details about the book! It was released just over a week ago so once I've piqued your interest I'm sure you'll want to go out there and get your own copy!

Book summary

The forest belongs to the walkers … Enter at your peril.

A fearsome beast lurks deep in the Forest of Tay. Under cover of darkness it emerges to feed on the local farmer’s sheep—and sometimes the farmers themselves.

Fraser McCloud believes it’s a wolf but some whisper that it’s the Cù Sìth, a creature summoned by the mysterious ‘Walkers in the Woods.’

Callum is Fraser’s young apprentice. He’s understandably apprehensive when Fraser insists that he must help hunt down and kill the beast.

In the local village, Callum meets Mhairi, the innkeeper’s daughter, who knows more about the Walkers than she really should.

As time passes, the killings become ever more audacious - and Callum realises he has every reason to be afraid.

Interview

The cover of A Hunter's Moon is very cool and menacing. As an author, do you get a chance to be involved much in the cover designs for your books?

I have quite a bit of say, which is good. I trained as a graphic designer back in the day, so I like to think I have ‘a good eye.’ 

Usually, the artist prepares a series of rough sketches and I indicate which idea I like the most. The artist takes that idea and works up several versions of the same theme. This time I took against the colour the Cu Sith was originally rendered in and it was changed for the final image, which I think looks splendid. 

People always say you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, but of course, we all do. So, getting the right look is very important.

My heart broke for Callum at the start of the book, how did you come up with this character? Is there any of yourself in him?

Authors like to say that there’s a bit of them in every character they write, which sounds suspiciously like multiple personality disorder! 

Callum is typical of my young heroes. He’s been treated badly in life and he blows through the various creepy encounters in this book like a hapless leaf on the wind… so perhaps he is like me! I think creating empathy in characters is so important. If readers about the the characters they’ll want to see if things work out them in the end.

How did you get interested in mythology? Have you always liked horror and scary books?

I've been interested in mythology since I first started reading. While still at school I loved reading all those brilliant Greek myths - and around the same time, at the cinema, I watched those exciting Ray Harryhausen movies featuring Jason and Sinbad and so forth. 

Thrilling stuff! 

Then, a little later on, I discovered the ghost stories of Saki (H H Munro) and M R James - and I read countless volumes of the Pan Books of Horror Stories. I noticed the books were edited by somebody called Herbert Van Thal, so I stuck one of my early stories into an envelope, addressed it to HERBERT VAN THAL, LONDON and confidently posted it off. Strangely, I didn't hear back from him...

Since moving to Edinburgh a few years ago, I've discovered that Scotland has its own collection of folktales and mythologies and I've been exploring them with glee. What I particularly liked about the Cu Sith is that it's a relatively little-known creature and I spotted an opportunity to reintroduce it to a whole new readership. 

I was also struck by the creepiness of The Washer at the Ford and as soon as I read about her, I wanted to put her in the story too!

What made you decide to make the move into writing for younger readers? Which do you find more challenging, adult or children's?

I wrote my first children’s book for my daughter. She was ten and wanted to read something I’d written but nothing was appropriate! So I wrote Sebastian Darke - Prince of Fools for her. It went on to become a series of books that sold all over the world. So I thought I’d better write a few more books for the same audience...

And in answer to your question, I see little difference in writing for adults and for younger readers. There are just some subjects you steer clear of when writing for the latter. 

Otherwise, all the rules are pretty much the same.

Finally (and most importantly) what is your favourite cocktail?

My favourite cocktail is The Amber Symphony. 

1. Take one good quality lager.

2. Pour it into a pint glass. 

3. Drink. 

(I’m not really a cocktail sort of guy, but, if pushed, I guess I’d settle for a really cold margarita!)

 Lies Like Wildfire - Jennifer Lynn Alvarez

Book Summary

In Gap Mountain, California, everyone knows about fire season. And no one is more vigilant than 18-year-old Hannah Warner, the sheriff’s daughter and aspiring FBI agent. That is until this summer. When Hannah and her best friends accidentally spark an enormous and deadly wildfire, their instinct is to lie to the police and the fire investigators.

But as the blaze roars through their rural town and towards Yosemite National Park, Hannah’s friends begin to crack and she finds herself going to extreme lengths to protect their secret. Because sometimes good people do bad things. And if there’s one thing people hate, it’s liars.

The book starts on a very mysterious note and then goes back 5 weeks. The five friends, the Monsters as they call themselves, inadvertently start a forest fire on a day out at Gap Lake and this very quickly spirals out of control. They know how much trouble they will be in if anyone finds out it was them so once they make sure the fire department know about it, they decide to pretend they were never there.

Throughout the book we are waiting to find out if the truth about the fire will come out, but I think the real mystery is what has happened to Violet. It seems that even though Hannah doesn’t know what happened to one of her 4 best friends, she clearly does have some suspicions!

The book definitely kept me guessing throughout, I had no idea what the outcome would be even when the main character expressed her feelings and speculations. It was quite a page turner and I read it all in 2 days. Hannah is a very interesting main character. She’s fiercely protective of her friends and I really do feel she does what she does to protect them as much as herself. She also has a huge crush on Drummer which doesn't help matters at all, particularly her objectivity.

I read this in Greece where the news was full of wild fires, both there and in so many other countries at that time. Add to that everyone having to wear masks due to the smoke, and all the talk of 'new normal' so it felt a bit too close to home for me!

The cocktail I’ve made for this book is the Flaming Dr Pepper, but it can be made as a shot, short, or long cocktail. I wasn’t able to get a good photo of the flaming cocktail so I’ve pictured it below as a long drink over ice. Despite having no Dr Pepper, it really does taste like an alcoholic version! To make my version, get a tall glass with lots of ice, add 1 shot of amaretto and then fill the glass with half coke and half beer. This does give quite a frothy drink so pour the beer gently if you don’t like too many bubbles.

 

The Twelfth Ring - Sam Clarke
Spotlight Tour

 

I'm so pleased to have the opportunity to highlight one of the great books which are competing in the BBNYA 2021. If you haven’t yet heard about this competition, scroll down to the end of this post for more details.

 

Book Summary

Fifteen-year-old Noah Larsson is shipped off to the Bahamas to spend time with a man he barely knows: his father Magnus. To his surprise, supposedly penniless Magnus runs an archaeological consultancy from an incredible yacht equipped with military-grade security. Desperate to connect with his father, Noah asks to be included in the consultancy’s next assignment.

He joins Magnus’s unlikely associates - fellow archaeologist Miguel, his haughty teenage daughter Isabelle, ex-Special Forces agent Ariel and young university-drop-out Viggo – in their search for a mysterious medieval ring. But someone else is after it. Someone who will stop at nothing to get his hands on it.

As Noah risks his life to delve into the ring’s mystery, he finally comes face-to-face with the truth about his father. And it’s a revelation that will change his life forever.

 

 

Author Bio

Sam Clarke wanted to be a pirate, but her literacy skills were too advanced and she had to settle for writing instead. She is addicted to rock music, coffee and Japanese manga. Her gardening skills are abysmal and she is rumoured to have killed a potted cactus. She currently lives in London next to a very noisy bar. This is her first book.

 

 This year, the Book Bloggers' Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the 65 books that made it into Round Two with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title. BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 10 finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

 The Raven Heir - Stephanie Burgis

Book Summary

Triplets. One of them is heir to the throne. But which one?

Cordelia and her triplets Rosalind and Giles have lived safely in the castle at the centre of the forest all their lives, protected by the spells their mother has woven. The only time Cordelia feels truly free is when she turns into a dragonfly or a blackbird and can fly beyond the great stone walls. But then one day the outside world comes to them. Two rival dukes and their soldiers have come for the triplets - because whoever is the eldest is the heir to the throne. 

But their mother knows that since the Raven Crown was broken, no one has been able to rule the kingdom of Corvenne and live, and she will not give up any of her children to that death sentence. When she refuses to reveal which child is the eldest, she is taken prisoner, and Cordelia and her brother and sister find themselves on the run in a dangerous new world. And as they set out across Corvenne to rescue their mother, Cordelia begins to see that there is a deep magic at work, driving her towards a destiny that could tear her family apart, take away her freedom forever or, just maybe, heal a kingdom devastated by a war that has raged for generations.

Cordelia can change into any animal she wants, she can be as huge as a bear and as small as a worm. But this still doesn't give her the freedom she longs for. When she gives in to this craving she accidentally sets off a chain of reactions, separating her from half her family. She is fiercely protective and all her instincts are driving her to rescue them but she realises that the whole land is at stake, not just her family and she has to make some difficult decisions.

From the start of the book you are thrown straight into the action and it doesn't let up for a minute. I loved that despite all their magic and the way they were brought up with this huge destiny, they are still normal siblings, bickering over the slightest thing while at the same time trying to protect each other from the bad guys.

The book is full of mystery and secrets, I really couldn't guess what was going to happen. There is a wonderfully fulfilling ending but I am still extremely happy to hear that there is a book 2 on the way.

To make a Raven cocktail, shake 1 shot each of rum, vodka and blue curacao with ice. Strain into a tall glass over fresh ice, then gently pour a shot of Chambord over the top of a spoon so it doesn't mix with the other ingredients. This will give a lovely layered appearance to the drink.

 Fireborn - Aisling Fowler 

Book Summary

Ember is full of monsters.

Twelve gave up her name and identity to train in the art of hunting them--so she says. The truth is much more deadly: she trains to take revenge on those who took her family from her.

But when Twelve's new home is attacked, she'll find herself on an unexpected journey, where her hidden past is inescapably intertwined with her destiny--and the very fate of her world.

Twelve always feels out of place and a bit of a misfit, even amongst the huntlings. Mostly orphans like her, all of them have given up their families, names and clans to pledge their lives to the Hunting Lodge. The hunters have to take a pledge forsaking everything in their former lives, so that they can be completely impartial and neutral, ensuring that all the clans will trust them.

From the start I really sympathised with Twelve, though I did start to wonder how much of her lonely situation was her own doing! She is clearly a very strong and independent character, but her one weakness is trusting and working with others. Widge the squirrel has to be the best character though, he's so cute and clever, extremely helpful time and time again.

Despite telling herself that she has a plan of her own and doesn't care about anyone else, when a girl is kidnapped, Twelve realises she can't just wait around for the elders to decide to do something. It's up to her to mount the rescue. 

With her squirrel and some very unexpected companions, Twelve battles more and more terrifying creatures, Ygrex, cliffcrawlers, goblins. But the villains turn out to be even worse than the monsters.

This book had me glued to the page and I finished it in 2 days. I was immersed in the world and gripped by the adventure. Gratifyingly, it has such a satisfying ending, fulfilling and not rushed at all.

Mix yourself a Hunter's Verdict cocktail but be warned this is a strong one! 2 shots rum, 3/4 shot Amaro, 1/4 shot ginger liqueur, dash orange bitters, dash Angostura bitters. Stir well with ice and strain into a short ice-filled glass.

 Kate on the Case - Hannah Peck

Book Summary

Young reporter-in-training Kate and her mouse-accomplice Rupert are on board a train, to visit Kate's mum in the Arctic.

But as soon as the train departs, mysterious things start happening.

A packet of ginger nuts goes missing . . .

A collection of gymnastics trophies are stolen . . .

And some ancient scrolls disappear . . .

Fellow passenger Madame Maude seems the most likely culprit, until a surprising - and delicious - twist turns the whole investigation on its head.

I loved the sound of this book but when it actually arrived it was so adorable I couldn't wait to read it. The illustrations at the start are charming, introducing all the characters and then mapping out the train, which even has a library! I would definitely love to travel on this train.

With the help of her Special Correspondent Manual and her pet mouse, no mystery is too big for Kate and she is committed to finding out who the thief on the train is. She definitely has her eye on the very suspicious looking Madame Maude, but sometimes appearances can be deceiving. Kate is a smart and determined main character and Roo is a lovely companion, very good at distractions! I don't know if this is going to be a series but I do hope so, I'd love more from Kate and Roo.

For any budding artists out there, follow this link for instructions on how to draw Roo the mouse. Here's my extremely impressive attempt!

I'm drinking a Blue Train cocktail which also happens to match the text of the book title perfectly!

Shake and strain the following with lots of ice: 1 shot gin, 1/2 shot each triple sec and lemon juice, 1/4 shot blue curacao.

 Edie and the Box of Flits - Kate Wilkinson

Illustrations - Joe Berger

Book Summary

When eleven-year-old Edie Winter finds a mysterious box on the London Underground she's amazed to discover that it's home to a family of Flits - tiny winged people. But Impy, Speckle and Nid need Edie's help. Not only do they need supplies (rice crispies, sugar sprinkles, digestive biscuits and raisins) and someone to look after them, but their brother Jot has run away and they need Edie's help to find him.

First of all, I love books about lost things. Lost property offices always sound fascinating, I'd love to rummage through the rooms of the London Underground office like Edie does. The Flits are marvellous, tiny little thumb sized people with wings, whose personalities are definitely not miniature! I loved reading how they forage and use everything in different ways. The start of the book is actually quite harrowing but the story is lovely, I really enjoyed reading it. Edie feels lonely since starting secondary school but she ends up with loads of friends. The cover is so gorgeous too, it made me want to read it right away.

To make a FlitBox cocktail*: first shake without ice, 1.5 shots gin, 1/2 shot triple sec, 1/2 shot lemon juice, dash of grenadine, dash of sugar syrup, 1/2 shot egg white. Then add ice and shake again. Strain into a cocktail glass.

*adapted from Boxcar cocktail

 Mix & Match 10

I've just restocked my bar with Chambord so this was the perfect excuse to make a French Martini! 2 shots vodka, 1/2 shot Chambord and 1.5 shots pineapple juice, shake with lots of ice and strain into a martini glass. Once your cocktail is ready, pick one of these great books to relax with.

Shadows of Winterspell - Amy Wilson

Winterspell is full of magic right from the start which I loved. Stella's grandmother who brought her up is a ghost and they have an imp guarding the house. There is a mystery of how Stella ended up living with her Nan and why the forest is full of shadows. The book was quite fast paced and I liked that there were actually some answers early on as well as so much mystery.

I must say that while the cover is really beautiful, it gave me a totally incorrect vision of the forest which actually sounds so dark, creepy and absolutely terrifying. I really enjoyed the book but did feel like the ending felt a bit unfinished, I wanted more. I read this with the Middle Grade Marvels book club and we all agreed we want a sequel!

Nightbooks - J.A. White

Alex is on his way to the basement of his building when he gets lured into a magic apartment and trapped by a witch. In order to keep her happy he must read her the scary stories he wrote, but what will happen if he runs out of ideas?

I really enjoyed all of Alex's own stories within the book, they were so deliciously creepy and it made me want to watch and read some more horror. There are quite a few intriguing mysteries running through the book, is the apartment alive, what are those creepy figurines and why exactly was Alex trying to destroy his books? I loved every page of the book and will be looking out for more by this author.

House of Hollow - Krystal Sutherland 

This book is so mysterious, with one mystery layered on another, each clue just adding to the confusion. It was intriguing and gripping, I really couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen.

The descriptions were so vivid, the sights and smells and feelings. Some details were really gory and disgusting, mixing beauty and darkness together. It was actually pretty disgusting in a lot of places and a bit too much for me sometimes.

I would have loved to get the other 2 sisters' points of view too. Are they as confident and sure of themselves as they first seem?

I really didn't see that twist coming, though in hindsight maybe I should have.

The Bewitching of Aveline Jones - Phil Hickes

In Aveline's second adventure, she and her mum are on holiday in a tiny quiet village. However, just at the end of the garden is an ancient stone circle. Perfect for investigation! The Witch Stones aren't all Aveline finds and she makes a new friend, a mysterious girl called Hazel who seems to have some kind of connection with the stones. Unexplained things start happening but luckily Harold is on his way with a huge pile of books covering all eventualities.

I really liked Alice, the village vicar, who reminded me a lot of Geraldine from The Vicar of Dibley. Though I thought she could possibly have been a little bit more helpful to Aveline.

This was every bit as good as the first book, just as scary and thrilling. I loved the suspense and eerieness. I'll definitely be buying myself a physical copy as soon as it is released and already I can't wait for the third book in the series.

The Crackle Dawn Dragon - Abi Elphinstone

The conclusion to the Unmapped Chronicles is superb, just as wonderful as the other books. Full of adventure, suspense, magical places and fantastic characters. 

The descriptions really brought the places to life and I loved all the whimsical names and creatures. I absolutely adored it just as much as the previous books, I've been trying to think of some more original emotions but I can't do any better! The narrator is delightful, giving it an amazing storytelling quality, like listening to a bedtime story.

My only criticism is that I'm sad it's over and I want more books in the Unmapped Kingdoms!