Our marvellous Marion team have taken over our blog today,
sharing with us reviews of some of their most loved stories.

Dragons: Riders of Berk: Tales from Berk by Simon Furman & Iwan Nazif:
Containing two action adventures starring Hiccup, Toothless and friends.
In “Dragon Down” Hookfang goes missing. In his search to find him, Hiccup encounters more danger than he bargained for.
In “Dangers of the Deep” Hiccup is left in charge of Berk while Stoick battles his way through the mysterious Veil of Mists.
As a huge fan of Dreamworks “How to Train Your Dragon” franchise, Titan comics has certainly delivered with this fun and exciting series. The stories are entertaining and the illustrations are amazing. Great for all ages!
Also check out new series “Defenders of Berk“. – Stacey

Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren:
Chloe Mills is a witty, smart and hardworking employee, who is on her way to an MBA. Chloe’s only problem is her exacting, inconsiderate, blunt and completely irresistible boss, Bennet Ryan.
Bennet Ryan has just taken a vital role in his family’s massive media empire. His new assistant is the completely infuriating, stunning and innocently provocative, Chloe Mills.
As one late-night conference turns into a night they both can’t forget, these two create a whole new meaning to the term ‘office romance’.
A great easy read for those who enjoy their romance novels with a bit of “steam”… – Hannah

Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris:
This series has it all, vampires, werewolves, maenad’s and many more. It’s set in a small town called Bon Temps and the story revolves around an innocent waitress Sookie Stackhouse who works in the popular bar called Merlottes. Sookie has a hidden talent that only her close family and friends are aware of, everyone else just thinks she’s strange. Not even she knows what she is. When she meets Bill Compton, the new local vampire, she starts to realize that she is far from normal and her world is turned upside down. These books are full of love, lust and the unknown. The series is full of surprises and leaves you wanting more. – Elise

The Messenger by Markus Zusak:
Ed Kennedy is an uninspiring taxi driver without much of a future. Until one day he accidentally stops a robbery, triggering an anonymous delivery of an ace playing card in the mail. It’s instructions, as well as the ones following take him on a variety of missions throughout town. Enthralling and heart-warming, Ed’s story turns into one of discovery as he begins to realise his own potential. I adored this book both for Zusak’s beautiful writing and ability to portray a very typical suburban scenario in a unique way. A must read for fans of Perks of Being a Wallflower or Catcher in the Rye. – Morgan

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara:
Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2015, Hanya Yanagihara’s A Little Life is a captivating emotional epic that promises to revolutionise the perspective of the reader. Spanning decades while following the lives of four unique characters, Yanagihara masterfully weaves a story of love, despair and the impact of our past. A powerful novel full of authenticity and insight, A Little Life is ideal for anyone in search of a deeply intelligent and emotionally challenging read. Its sentiment will linger within you long after your emergence from its spellbinding grasp. – Sam

This House of Grief by Helen Garner:
In this work of true crime, Australian writer, Helen Garner, tells the story of the trial of Robert Farquharson, whose three sons drowned when his car plunged into a dam in Victoria in 2005. At the heart of this work is the search for the truth: was this merely a tragic accident or an act of revenge against an ex-wife? This question is Helen Garner’s obsession and in her famous minimalist “nothing more needs to be said” voice, she strives to shed light on a complicated trial and tragedy close to the heart of many Australians. – Kate

The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson:
Categorised as an epic fantasy series, The Final Empire is just that: EPIC! Set in a world more oppressive than The Hunger Games, with an evil antagonist more indestructible than He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, a magic system like no other will keep you turning the pages until the very end. There are definitely some deeper themes at play here, but all the seriousness is intertwined with very lovable characters, humour and… honestly, this magic system is awesome! For lovers of fantasy (and even for those who don’t!) Brandon Sanderson is a must read! – Don

Palo Alto by James Franco:
A collection of linked short stories following the lives of a group of Californian teenagers. Wonderfully real and sometimes shocking, this bunch of misfits are surprisingly relatable as they struggle with all the regular troubles and angst of being a teenager, as well as a few irregular ones. Think John Green, but with way more grit. – Cassie

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss:
Full of wit, drama, humour, failure, loss and Kvothe’s unfortunate talent of digging himself into a hole- this is the perfect story for a first time fantasy reader or a lover of the genre.
Name of the Wind follows Kvothe, a child genius growing up in his parents troupe, travelling the land while being taught sympathy (magic), and longing to attend the infamous University. Kvothe is fifteen when he’s accepted into the University, making him the youngest student to be accepted in several years, but this after becoming an orphan living on the streets of a crime ridden city. Rothfuss’ writing is elegant and clever, allowing the protagonist to recount his life while maintaining an additional story in his present day. 10/10 – Holly

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness:
This novel is my all time favourite to date. It is by far the most beautiful and meaningful fantasy book I have ever read. Based on Siobhan Dowd’s concept, Patrick Ness weaves the story of a boy named Connor, struggling to come to terms with his mother’s cancer. Every night a monster visits him, wanting the truth that terrifies Conner. – Abbey

My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell:
My Family and Other Animals is an autobiographical work by world famous naturalist Gerald Durrell; it’s a wonderful account of a 10-year old boy’s unconventional childhood years in Corfu. When the Durrell family can no longer endure damp climate, they do what any sensible English family would do: sell their house and relocate to the sun with a zoological menagerie of puppies, toads, scorpions, geckoes, ladybugs, glowworms, octopuses, bats, and butterflies.
Cross between Roald Dahl’s ‘Boy‘ and an Attenborough documentary, this delightfully amusing account of an eclectic family is a fantastic read for young mischievous animal lovers and those longer in the tooth. – Sarah

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