Darktraders by Rosemary Edghill writing as Eluki bes Shahar

This is the second volume in the Hellflower omnibus I got through Inter-library Loan a few weeks back. It was not quite as good as Hellflower, but still it was very good indeed. The plot made twists and turns that I didn't at all expect. I am eager to see what happens in the third book (which I must finish by January 4th). I have already ordered Hellflower through paperbackswap. Once I have read all three books, I will decide whether I need the omnibus as well. I really wish there were more than three books. Four stars.

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart and Carson Ellis

The Mysterious Benedict Society was recommended in one of the many Life After Potter reading lists I have recently perused. It follows the exploits of four unusual children as they take a strange test, meet a reclusive benefactor, and undertake together a dangerous mission uniquely suited to their skills and talents. This book is not fantasy. There are no magical spells or mystical beings to be found. You could call it a sort of science fiction - the villain uses a diabolical invention to bring the world almost to its knees. Fans of Roald Dahl will enjoy the illustrations, the eccentric characters, the wickedness of the villains, and the resourcefulness of the heroes. Fans of Rowling might miss the magic, while enjoying the young people working together in the face of peril. Myself, I'm happy to give it four stars, and I look forward to the sequel, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey, due out in May 2008.