Author Q&A: Chitra Soundar

Chitra Soundar is the author of over 30 books worldwide. Many of her books her inspired by Indian myths and legends.

Her latest book, You’re Safe With Me, tells the story of a group of animals who are afraid of a thunderstorm. A wise elephant shares her knowledge of the weather and reassures the little animals that they are safe under her watch. 

I was able to ask Chitra some questions about the story, and I am delighted to share her answers.

What was the starting point for your story?

The story came to me as an image – a mother elephant rocking little animals in her trunk. And I wanted to find out what her story was.

 

What were the main influences?

This story is drenched (the pun is fully intended) in my experiences of the thunderstorm. The crash of thunder, flashes of lightning and the relentless downpour is etched in my deep subconscious. And of course the image of a gentle elephant has stayed with me from my childhood.

 

How do you see Mama Elephant’s role?

This story began with my experience as a storyteller. I wanted the main character Mama Elephant to be a storyteller who would explain scary things in a poetic way.

She plays the role of my grandmother in my life – reassuring, poetic and imaginative.

 

Why did you choose to include a refrain?

In the first version of the story, I didn’t have a refrain. And the title was different too.

Then as the story found its rhythm, and as I found the voice of Mama Elephant, I knew she had to reassure them that she’d be there no matter what. She not only explains the fearful elements and makes them less scary, but she acknowledges their fears and makes them feel safe.

 

Your story offers children scientific explanations in a very poetic way. What role do you think art has in helping children learn about the natural world?

Albert Einstein said, “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”

Children identify with animals and nature – whether it’s Goodnight Moon or baby owls. They want to know how animals do bedtime, eat their food and go to school.

Children put themselves in the character’s place – like the little animals in You’re Safe With Me and they mirror the fears of the characters and they empathize with the characters.

Whether it was thousands of years ago around the fire, to teach children the dangers of predators or today we tell stories about thunderstorms, the purpose of stories is to give us a frame of reference to relate to this world. Through stories we learn about our natural world and our place in it. We learn to respect and live in harmony with the world around us.

 

I love the personification of the natural world. Why did you use personification?

I don’t think it was a conscious decision. I grew up thinking of nature as living beings. Like the Greeks we have gods associated with each element and we respect them, fear them and acknowledge their place in the natural world.

For this story, the underlying theme was empathy and alternate perspectives. I wanted the little animals to understand the working of the elements and not fear them.

 

Many thanks to Chitra Soundar for your time. You’re Safe With Me is available now from Lantana Publishing.

Blog Tour: Nothing Is As It Was [short story anthology]

A child is inspired into action by watching their hero. A mother is forced to choose between goats and cattle when the water runs out. From seas to wildfire, Nothing Is As It Was brings together short stories and flash fiction on the theme of environmental damage.

I love the range of stories this anthology offers. New and upcoming authors. Flash fiction and short story. Voices from around the world. Given the global nature of environmental crisis, it is good to have as wide a range of voices as possible.  

Issues explored range from overfished seas to flooding, wildfire to plastic pollution. One message which recurred across the anthology was there is only a finite amount of time in which we can make a difference, and that time is running out. The anthology doesn’t take an upbeat approach to environmentalism. Instead, it asks people to imagine different possible scenarios. By showing possible futures it invites the reader to change the present.     

One of my favourite stories was Mirror Image by Anna Orridge. Mirror Image is about the point of no return and has a really interesting structure. It is split into two sections, offering two possible realities. In the first section, a soft-play centre has been repurposed to grow plants. In the second section we follow the same family to the same soft-play area, but this time they are looting for any remaining food. The world is decimated. The familiarity of a day at a play-centre will give this story particular resonance with many readers.

Another favourite was The Goodluck Camera by Kimberley Christensen. A Westerner claims her archeology will bring good luck to an area of poverty. It explores Western attitudes towards third-world countries, and I loved the idea of a camera which could take pictures of what is buried beneath the soil.

Cli-Fi is not a genre I have read widely, but I would be interested to explore it further. There are some strong voices working in this area, and the message of this anthology got under my skin.

 

Thanks to Anne Cater for organising the blog tour, and for my ebook of Nothing Is As It Was. Opinions my own. Check out the other stops on the blog tour:

Book Haul – Late April 2018

Whatever happened to April?

This month has gone by in a daze of birthday cakes and Easter-eggs. I figure some exercise is on the agenda for May, and some lengthy writing sessions. Even so, it has been a good month. During the recent spell of good weather, I logged off the computer and took over Mum’s new summer house. What could be better than nesting on the sofa and being outdoors at the same time? We live in an area which isn’t exactly famed for good weather, but the wide skies and the views across the fields make up for that. I hope we have some more garden-friendly days.

I took a break from my blog for the first time in a year. When I started blogging, I thought breaks were a kind of myth – either there is content, or there isn’t – but now I think it is important to take a bit of time away occasionally. It isn’t just about the content, but also the way I read, and choose books. Taking a week out to read what I like when I like has pulled me right out of a reading slump. I am back and I am ready to tackle my overflowing TBR. 

Here is what I have added over the past fortnight. Three books from our family trip to Manchester Trafford Centre (go two hundred miles to a shopping centre, shelter in the bookshop) and seven books sent to me by publishers. 

As always, a big thank you to everyone who has sent or offered book post. It means the world, guys. 

Bought: 

The House With Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson

Marinka dreams of a normal life, where her house stays in place long enough for her to make friends. Marinka’s home has chicken legs. Her Grandmother is Baba Yaga, who guides spirits between this world and the next. Marinka longs for a different life, but her house has other ideas.

I adore folklore and love modern stories influenced by traditional folktales. Marinka sounds like many young protagonists – determined to forge her own identity and choose her own life. I am interested to see how she bonds with her Grandmother over the course of the story.

 

The State Of Sorrow by Melinda Salisbury 

By day, Sorrow governs the Court of Tears, covering for her grief-maddened father. By night, she seeks solace in the arms of the boy she has loved since childhood. One ghost won’t stop haunting her. When enemies old and new close ranks against her, Sorrow must decide how far she’s willing to go to win.

Melinda Salisbury is the author of The Sin Eater’s Daughter trilogy, an exceptionally intelligent fairytale which blends politics with fantasy like tales of old. I have been desperate to read Sorrow since reading my friend Charlotte’s review, where she talks about the conflict between elitist and people-centered politics.

Naondel by Maria Turtschaninoff 

In the palace of Ohaddin, women have one purpose – to obey. But the women have powers too. One who is a healer. One who can control dreams. One who is a warrior. One who can see the future. When the moon glows red, they will have their revenge.

Maresi was one of the most intriguing books I read in 2017. It was set in an island-convent, where women and girls shelter from a patriarchal society. There was lots of reference in Maresi to the founding Mothers of the community. Naondel is the prequel, the story of those founding women.

The world might just have to go on hold. I’ve left this long enough.

Sent:

What Lexie Did by Emma Shevah

Chicken House Books

Lexie comes from a big Greek Cypriot family. She has always been best friends with her cousin Eleni, who has had a heart condition since birth. The two girls have always been inseparable. Then Lexie tells a lie. A big lie.

I read this on a beautifully sunny day. Think My Big Fat Greek Wedding – warm and witty and character-driven. Lexie’s voice is particularly strong. She is naive and funny and very much like a realistic ten-year-old.

Across The Divide by Anne Booth

Catnip Publishing 

When her Mum is imprisoned for leading a pacifist protest, Olivia must stay with her Dad on the remote island of Lindisfarne. There she meets William. A novel about family and friendship and finding the courage to fight for what you believe in.

I visited Lindisfarne in childhood, and think it makes a great setting. Think of the kind of island the Famous Five visited, with beaches and castles and ruins, then situate it in the North Sea instead of the English Channel. I am particularly hoping this involves time-slip.

Secrets Of The Mountain by Libby Walden And Richard Jones

Little Tiger Press

A day in the life of one mountain. Watch day turn to night, and discover the mountain life.

Richard Jones is one of my new favourites. His pictures prove that you don’t need to be photorealistic to capture the nature of animals, and he uses soft and calming palettes. This book is a masterpiece. It becomes an I-Spy game, with a guide at the back naming all the animals featured in the book.

 

 

Aru Shah And The End Of Time by Roshani Chokshi

Scholastic UK

Desperate to impress her snobby schoolmates, and embarrassed to be living in the museum where her Mum works, Aru Shah lights the cursed Lamp of Bharata. After accidentally freeing an ancient demon, and trapping her mother in time, Aru must fix things before the ancient

God of Destruction is awoken.

Think Percy Jackson, think Hindu mythology, and you’re part way to understanding Aru Shah. Which is why I was so excited to get my hands on a copy because I love Percy Jackson.

Here’s to an epic adventure.

Rose’s Dress Of Dreams by Katherine Woodfine and Kate Pankhurst

Barrington Stoke (Little Gems)

Rose dreams of dresses. In those dreams, she sews the most fabulous gowns for the ladies of the French Royal Court, but Rose’s gowns are too unusual. Can an unexpected meeting offer Rose the chance to make her dreams come true?

I’m a mega-fan of Katherine Woodfine’s Sinclair’s series and love her descriptions of an Edwardian department store. I hope she has indulged her interest in historical fashions in this little book. The format and illustrations add extra fairy-dust.

McTavish Goes Wild by Meg Rosoff and Grace Easton

Barrington Stoke

The Peachy family is in crisis. Where will they go for their summer holiday? Pa Peachy reckons the outdoors is a terrible and dangerous place. Ollie and Ava would rather do things indoors. It is up to rescue dog McTavish to figure out how to get the Peachys to enjoy their holiday.

It is lovely to see books about discovering the outdoors. Meg Rosoff is a master of YA, and I am interested to read her younger fiction.

Charmcaster by Sebastien De Castell 

Hot Key Books

On the run from mages and bounty hunters, Kellen’s life as an outlaw spellslinger is about to get a lot worse.

Spellslinger is my new favourite YA fantasy series. The series begins with Kellen, an aspiring Mage whose spellwork leaves something to be desired. It is like the Wild West with spells. And sassy squirrel-cats. I read books one and two compulsively, and I’m delighted to have book three to hand.

 

Many thanks to all the publishers and publicists who had sent book post.

What is on your TBR? Have you bought anything reccently? Let me know in the comments below.

Louise Nettleton

Review: What Lexie Did by Emma Shevah

Extract:

… there are all these layers and categories when it comes to lies. Fibbing is a nicer word, but means the same thing as lying as far as I can tell. Then there are white lies and black lies, lies you need to tell so people don’t get offended, and lies that stop people panicking. It’s all so confusing.

(What Lexie Did by Emma Shevah. P33.)Synopsis:

Lexie comes from a big Greek Cypriot family. She reckons ‘cousin’ isn’t a big enough word to describe her relationship with Eleni. They’re practically twins. When Eleni was born, she nearly died because of her heart condition. Everyone says it was baby Lexie who saved Eleni’s life, by lying alongside her in the hospital cot. They’ve been close all their lives.

Lexie thought nothing could come between her and Eleni. That was before the picnic and the whole truth-and-lies saga. When Lexie tells the truth at a family picnic, everyone calls her a tell-tale. Next time she is asked an awkward question, she tells a lie. A big, fat lie which splits her family apart.

Can Lexie find a way to put things right?Review:

Think My Big Fat Greek Wedding from the perspective of a ten-year-old. A fib about a family heirloom splits a family apart in the run-up to a wedding.

Emma Shevah is brilliant at showing the interactions between children. Think games and routines and giggles. Think sibling-squabbles and looking out for your family. Lexie and Eleni have a close relationship until new-girl Anastasia arrives. A friendship triangle ensues, with lots of tension and drama. This novel has a strong voice. Lexie is funny and philosophical and loves lexicography. She is always trying to think of new words and phrases for her notebook.

The main theme is integrity. Younger children are taught to tell the truth as if it is a golden rule. As they reach adolescence they learn that it isn’t that simple. The truth can upset people, other people get away with blatant lies, and there will be times when two people’s differing truths are equally valid. The novel’s message is realistic. It encourages children to think of truth as a guiding principle rather than a golden-rule.  

A note at the back of the book explains how much research Shevah did to write a Greek Cypriot family. This really shines through. From food to family to Grandparents overly-obsessed with tradition, the book is like a window into an authentic life.

Warm-hearted, relatable and laugh-out-loud funny. Thumb-up for Lexie and her ginormous family.  

 

Huge thanks to Chicken House Books for my copy of What Lexie Did. Opinions my own.

Guest Review: Make More Noise! short story anthology.

If you missed out on  #Vote100, where have you been?

1918 was the first time women in the UK had the right to vote. Although voting rights were still not equal with their male counterparts, this was a crucial step in the battle for female suffrage in the UK.

Make More Noise! is an anthology of short stories written to mark this centenary. It focuses on gender equality and the importance of political rights. 

I have teamed up with Amy from GoldenBooksGirl to read and review the book. Amy has reviewed half the stories, and my reviews will be appearing shortly on her blog. 

Huge thanks Amy for your contribution. 

On Your Bike by Jeanne Willis- I really struggled with the narrative voice of this, and overall didn’t like it despite the super interesting concept of a woman traveling the world by bike. It felt fairly repetitive and dull, and I think it could have been so much better. 

The Tuesday Afternoon Ghost by Ella Risbridger- I loved this. It was an atmospheric, not quite ghost story about two girls who experience an unusual accident. Some moments sent a shiver down my spine, and I enjoyed the exploration of friendship) I’ve been a fan of Ella Risbridger’s columns for years, and my first experience of her fiction writing was just as wonderful. Let me tell you, if she releases a children’s or YA book, I will be ALL over that.

The Otter Path by Emma Carroll- another story I adored. This one is about saving otters and celebrating land girls, and it’s full of Emma Carroll’s trademark excellence. It’s so well written, full of heart and there was even a bit where I cried. It was interesting to learn more about land girls, and I also enjoyed the message that you shouldn’t judge people based on the way they seem alone.

The Race by Ally Kennen- this is the story of Faith, as she goes to stay with her aunt and uncle on their farm and takes part in the titular race. I liked the dynamics of the big family, especially the humour, and I thought it was a nice story. I have an Ally Kennen book on my TBR, and this has made it more of a priority!

Discuss, Decide, Do by Catherine Johnson- This is the story of Claudette, a Jewish girl facing personal problems,  who witnesses a fascist protest against Jews just after World War Two. I thought the characters, particularly Claudette and Rita, and I found it fascinating to read at the end that it had been based on true events.

Review: Spark by Alice Broadway

Extract:

‘Tell her – and tell her clearly – that if you are not for us, you are against us. She will go to Featherstone, and she will do what she is told, or her friends here will suffer’

(Spark by Alice Broadway. P24.)

 

Synopsis:

The events of Ink left Leora questioning everything she thought she knew about herself and her community. As someone who is half-marked/half-blank, can she continue to live in the Marked community of Saintstone?

Leora is sent by Mayor Longsight to gather information on the Blanks. This takes her outside of Saintstone and puts her in touch with the community her birth-mother belonged to. Leora learns a new set of rituals and stories while she searches for information about her birth-mother.

Will she find safety there? As events unfold, Leora must work out where the threat is coming from.
Review:

Spark continues the story where Ink left off and takes us into the wider world and the blank community. For those of you who are not familiar with the series, it is set in a world where some people’s bodies are covered with tattoo-like marks. These marks detail a person’s history: their age and occupation and rites of passage. In Saintstone, people are deeply suspicious of anyone without marks. This fear is exacerbated by religious stories and a corrupt political regime.

In Ink we learned the stories of Saintstone. The Blank community has a contrasting set of stories. The same characters and events take place, but the stories have different themes and outcomes. I love this exploration of storytelling. How theme begins with the storyteller’s opinions. As much as I loved Spark itself, my favourite part was the way it reshaped what we thought we knew.

Leora’s issues are so relatable. She is trying to figure out where she belongs, and she has also realised that one person’s truth may be nothing like another’s. Young people try to form their own opinions, but they are surrounded by adults who sincerely believe their own version of events. Leora has a lot of internal conflicts, which demonstrates that brave heroines don’t have to be full of action.

I also love the theme of political corruption. Even in a community where truth is the watch-word, it turns out that ‘truth’ has a smaller voice than ‘power’. This is a bitter-truth which many of us learn the hard way. It can also be liberating to understand this – that just because someone has the status to come out on top, it doesn’t mean they were correct or even honest. In a climate of misinformation and prejudice, these themes have never been more relevant.

The ending is explosive. I’m counting down for the next installment. Alice Broadway is a major-talent and she has created a fascinating world.

 

Huge thanks to Scholastic UK for my copy of Spark. Opinions my own.

Bath, Book, Bed – why adults need downtime too.

Booktrust came up with this slogan, and I think adults could learn from it. 

When I was a small child, my mum read to me religiously. Every night, my sister and I picked a couple of books each. I credit those evening readathons for my lifelong love of books.

Bath, Book, Bed is a campaign run by Booktrust, which promotes reading as part of a bedtime routine. Parents are encouraged to develop a pre-bedtime routine to help their little ‘uns embrace the world of sleep.

It is a great campaign and a great slogan.

My question is – can we extend bath, book, bed into our adult lives? Having adopted these routines in childhood, many of us lose sight of winding down time as we get older. We live in a 24/7 world where me time can feel like a luxury. Actually, it is a necessity. While we may not need a daily routine to keep us under the covers, downtime and regularity can be our ticket to a better night’s sleep.

Reading is a great way to take quiet, reflective time. 

I would like to hear from bloggers and influencers about their bath, book, bed. I’m going to invite bloggers to talk about their bath, book, bed. As well as supporting Booktrust in their campaign, I hope it will encourage adults to wind down and look after themselves. 

Bath

Bath bombs and bubble mountains and scented candles. Day-to-day, I’m a shower person. When I have a bath, I’m in it for the experience. 

I like the kind of bath bombs which turn the water multiple colours. Intergalactic and The Experimenter by Lush are brilliant for turning the bath technicolor. 

Soap has to be freshly made. Forget that supermarket stuff. There’s a brilliant shop in Keswick called The Soap Company Keswick. They sell soaps which look practically edible and have uniquely Cumbrian names. (Image from The Soap Company Keswick.) 

Scented candles are my new favourite thing thanks to Rebecca from Taken Moons. Brave Of Heart smells of coffee and log fire and is named for Gryffindor house. 

Book 

Do I read? Do I ever. 

Reading has been part of my bedtime routine since the year dot. I give a good evening over to reading, splitting my time between my nest in the study, and my bedroom. Guilty confession – a good book will keep me up past midnight. Booktrust forgot to mention that after children are fully initiated in bath, book, bed, they discover the joys of one last chapter.

I’ve just finished What Lexie Did, a warm and witty Middle-Grade novel about truth, lies, and family. Lexie is from a huge Greek-Cypriot family. Think My Big Fat Greek Wedding from the perspective of a ten-year-old, and throw in some additional drama. 

Bed

Bedtime is downtime. I leave my phone out of the bedroom otherwise I find myself flicking through Twitter. Nothing comes between me and sleep like social media. 

I adore PJs and recently discovered nightshirts. That sounds like the kind of thing your great-granny wears, but actually, this shirt is exactly like the kind I would wear in the day except it is softer and slouchier. Comfortable nightwear is essential to good sleep. 

My Mummy is a knitter, a crocheter, and general wool-wizard. She swears by pure wool, which means her blankets are the softest, cosiest things around. I always have one on the bed. My favourite is the ice-cream blanket, so named because its colours remind me of a cone with sprinkles. 

 

Want to tell me about your Bath, Book, Bed? Drop a note in the comments below with your Twitter handle. Bath, Book, Bed is a BookTrust slogan. This article was inspired by their campaign. Please check out their work here.

Louise Nettleton

Review: How To Bee by Bren McDibble

Extract:

I don’t know what honey tastes like. Gramps knows. He says ‘sweet like honey,’ sometimes. When the real bees flew from flower to flower, they did this job. One tiny bee could do the work of twenty kid bees every day.

(How To Bee by Bren McDibble.)  Synopsis:

Imagine a world without bees. Children are employed to pollinate the fruit trees by hand. Peony wants to be a Bee. She wants to help provide for her grandfather and sister Mags.

Peony is taken from her home and forced to work as a domestic maid in the city. There she encounters people who have more than she does, including Esmerelda, a girl who is afraid of the outdoors.

Peony needs to get home to the countryside. Will her mother ever understand that a simple live in the country is better than a life of servitude?

Review:

Environmental crisis, poverty and a girl who longs for a simple life. How To Bee gave me the same tingles as Skellig. It is brilliantly crafted and will stick with me long after I have finished reading.

I was instantly drawn into Peony’s world. The children on the farm take on roles which were once integral to the natural world, pollinating the plants and removing pests from the crops. Peony’s mixed definitions – Bees are children who pollinate the plants, but they used to be living things – brings to life the generation brought up in a decimated world.

This is not a dystopia about overthrowing a regime. Like all good dystopias, it explores how we can make a positive change to our world, but there is no war. No corrupt-government. The novel manages to explore some huge themes – environmental crisis, social inequality and the impact of urbanisation – without the familiar story of rebellion. Instead, there is a girl who knows her own mind and a message of small-change-big-difference.  

Peony is a great heroine. She’s hardworking and caring, but also smart-mouthed and feisty.

Esmerelda has a phobia of going outdoors and could be described as agoraphobic. I loved how this was handled. Peony bonds with Esmerelda before we learn about her phobia. I thought this was a great way of building empathy. We care about the character before her issues are raised, and as such, she is never treated as something other.

The other main story is about Peony’s mother, who wants to start a new family in the city. Peony’s relationship with her mother is a key part of the plot. Her mother’s decisions keep Peony from her own goals. Peony’s mother is vulnerable. There is never any sense of the story condemning her, and Peony’s emotions are explored with sensitivity.

Peony’s voice will stay with you long after the last chapter. This has the potential to be a future classic. Read it ASAP, preferably outdoors with the sound of bees in the background.

 

Big thanks to Liz Scott PR and Old Barn Books for my ARC. Opinions my own.

Review: She Persisted Around The World by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger

13 women from around the world who changed history. Their stories are collected in this picture book to motivate young readers. 

Anthologies of inspirational women are having a ‘moment’. There is certainly interest in the topic, but there is also heavy competition. She Persisted Around The World is a little different from the other anthologies I have seen. Its features are shorter (two or three paragraphs long) making it friendly to slightly younger readers. 

I like the layout. Most entries have a single page illustration and a smaller illustration alongside the text. A couple of entries have a single illustration spread across two pages. This variety makes the book visually interesting. I liked the calm colour palette and the fact that the illustrations showed the girls in action (rather than resembling posed portraits.) 

There are some inspirational stories here, and it was lovely to see stories from around the world in one anthology. She Persisted becomes a refrain used in every story, and the reader is encouraged to adopt this attitude into their own life. 

Without dates or context, it was hard to situate the stories in history. Perhaps that was the author’s intention – that the girls should be united by their attitude and not differentiated by time or place – but I felt that there could have been more context. 

It is nice to see an anthology of life stories suitable for infants school readers. This would make a lovely addition to a book corner, to encourage even the youngest of children to hold their head up and be persistent in their ambitions. 

 

Thanks to Nina Douglas and Penguin Random House for my review copy. Opinions my own.

Review: Storm Wake by Lucy Christopher

Extract:

‘The flowers work!’ he said. ‘I don’t know how, but they …’ the wind caught his words as he spun and spun, ‘ … they make things change, make things beautiful that were swirling-dark before.’ 

(Storm Wake by Lucy Christopher. P23.) Synopsis:

Moss has lived on the island with Pa and Cal for as long as she can remember. Pa says the island is a safe place. A place of stories and dreams. He says the rest of the world vanished during a flood, and that the island is the only place to have survived.

 When something strange is swept up during a storm, Moss is forced to question what she knows about herself and the island.  A lyrical reworking of The Tempest which will hold you in its dream.

Review:

When the twist comes, it hits you with the force of a tempest.

The first part of the story swept me into the same dream as Moss and Pa. Everything was hazy. Peaceful. It was almost possible to believe that Moss and Pa were safe and well on their beautiful island. Except that’s not how stories work. When you are disabused of this notion, you are disabused well and hard. The island no longer looks like such a paradise.

At the end of The Tempest, dream fades into reality. Lucy Christopher has reworked this idea to give it additional depth. The story hinges around Pa, a counterpart to Prospero. Pa is manipulative, but he is also vulnerable. Desperate. Loving. As Moss reaches adolescence, she is no longer content to listen to Pa’s stories. Many young readers will relate to the moment of discovering that their guardians do not hold the definitive answers.

The second half of the book is about internal conflict. It is a battle of wills, and a story of discovery. 

The writing held my attention as much as the plot. The words themselves are lyrical. Storm and Cal use unusual phrases, such as storm-woke, which reflect their isolated upbringing on the island. I was also held by the description. I could imagine the world with all my senses – the crashing of the waves and the heady scent of flowers.

A dreamy book which will make you rethink escape and isolation.

 

Louise Nettleton

Do you have a favourite retelling? Have you read The Tempest? Let me know in the comments below. 

Thanks to Chicken House Books for my copy of Storm Wake. Opinions my own.