The Gauntlet by Ronald Welch

Book Review: Having read one of Ronald Welch's other books "Knight Crusader" I knew what to expect from this book. I expected Boys' Own knights-in-shining-armour stuff and that is what I got.

Originally released in 1951 and now being re-published "The Gauntlet" is about "an old glove" or a gauntlet. By wearing the magical gauntlet 1950s child Peter Staunton goes back in time to the middle ages where he becomes Peter de Blois son of the owner of Welsh castle Carreg Cennen. Being Norman barons in the Welsh heartlands there is a danger that the Welsh could start an uprising and if so then young Peter is sure to be involved in the ensuing battle,

The book is quite clever in how it "teaches" the historical aspects of the situation. In the beginning during the 1950s there is the vicar character who is gives lectures on the ruins of Carreg Cennen, for example, and its history, thus getting the messages across. Then when Peter ends up in the 14th century after the gauntlet finds him, he observes everything going on through his 20th century eyes, or "with the detached eye of an observer from another age". This includes things like Peter learning the longbow and the art of falconry. You can see that the author has the passion for the subject which explains why he became a history teacher.

All-in-all then a book that is interesting for its historical teaching cleverly disguised within a piece of fiction, and the bringing to life of the real events that happened at the time (although some bits are imaginary of course), and for the adrenaline rush of the jousting and battle scenes.

Release date: 5 March 2015 (originally released in 1951)

Amazon link (available for £7.99): The Gauntlet

Nixie the Bad, Bad Fairy by Cas Lester

Book Review: I read "Nixie the Bad, Bad Fairy" with my 4-year-old and 8-year-old daughters over two bedtimes. My daughters liked it because it was a little bit like the Rainbow Magic Fairy books they are so familiar with, what with cutesy names for things like the Bewitched Forest and the Enchanted Palace for example. But the book is different to those books. For starters it features a mischievous fairy as the main character.

 

Nixie is the Bad, Bad Fairy but the trouble she gets in is not always her fault. Her wand is a bit wonky so "it didn't always do what she wanted." Her nemesis is Adorabella the Goody-goody Fairy who will do anything to appear good, even malicious things to get a little revenge on Nixie, which is what happens in this book, although Adorabella gets her comeuppance of course.

 

The book is aimed at 5-7 year-olds and all the trouble Nixie causes is innocent enough. The chapters are short and there are a few black and white illustrations along the way. The words used are not as dumbed down as the Rainbow Magic books but that is fine. So this is a decent enough book for early readers.

 

Publication date: 7 May 2015

 

Amazon UK link (£5.69): Nixie the Bad, Bad Fairy

The Out of Office Girl by Nicola Doherty

Book review: "The Out of Office Girl" follows Alice Roberts at a point in her life where she is just coming to the end of a relationship, and is feeling pretty insecure about herself because of it. She is also insecure over her job as an assistant editor in a publishing house. One of their books that she is working on is that of Hollywood-badboy Luther Carson, who is failing to deliver. "He talks a good talk, but whenever we actually sit down to do anything, which isn't very often, it's like catching quicksilver."

When Alice's boss falls ill preventing her from plane travel it is Alice that is sent to Italy to sort out Luther, despite her lowly position as the out of office girl - "the person who's named on her out of office email." Can Alice deliver the book, and is there romance along the way too?

The book has a good feel throughout. You can feel the busy social life of a young professional when in London and when in Italy you can feel the more laid-back Mediterranean lifestyle coming through, not to mention the better weather. The book is a nice jaunty one ideal for holiday reading.

Publication date: 5 July 2012

Amazon UK link (£6.99): The Out of Office Girl