Star of Kazan

by Eva Ibbotson

Founding, Annika has been brought up in Vienna. Ellie and Sigrid, the two women who found her are wonderful, as are the professor’s they work for and of course, all her friends. She learns to love cooking, sees the legendary horse of Vienna put through their paces and enjoys listening to the tales of the old lady who used to be on the stage and received many breath-taking jewels, including the Star of Kazan.

But Annika has always dreamed of a mother of her own and when an elegant woman arrives with papers say she is Annika’s mother, Annika is swept away by the dream to her new life as an aristocrat.

Knowing nothing of her new life, Annika finds many things that confuse her. The castle they live in is falling down, there are no servants to take care of the place and when she tries to clean and cook, her mother is angry with her. Homesick, Annika begins to put together clues that will lead to shocking treachery, astonishing courage and the true meaning of family.

Part of my 100 + reading challenge

Image from amazon.com

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Book of a Thousand days

by Shannon Hale
For Dashti, the Mucker girl, life is not easy. After losing her mother, she trains to be a lady’s maid for Lady Saren, only to find the Lady has refused to marry the man her father has chosen for her and they will be locked in a tower for seven years as punishment.

But Dashti is not daunted by the turn of events. Keeping a diary she begins to record her excitement at their supplies and her hopes. But as time passes, her enthusiasm drains, as the girl’s food and candles are eaten by rats, the tower’s temperatures go from blistering hot to bone chilling cold and a terrify visit from Lady Saren’s suitor, Lord Khasar.

If the two girls are to survive inside and out of the tower they must learn to rely on each other and change from maid and mistress to family.

Presented in full cast audio, this book is a delightful and adventuresome fairy tale set in the Asian steppes.

Part of my 100 + reading challenge

Culture Kids explore Germany!

If you liked Twilight...

Then look out for one of these thrilling new books and series!

The Host: by Stephenie Meyer

Marked (House of Night, Book 1)by P. C. Cast

Evermore (The Immortals) by Alyson Noel

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, Book 1) by Richelle Mead

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

The Vampire Diaries by L. J. Smith

Glass Houses (Morganville Vampires, Book 1) by Rachel Caine

Need by Carrie Jones

Night World No. 1 by L.J. Smith

Blue Bloods (Blue Bloods, Book 1) by Melissa De La Cruz

images from amazon.com and author's websites

Stargazer by Patrick Carman

Having defeated Abaddon, the evil force threatening Elyon, and heard Roland Warvold's life story as they sailed across the lonely Sea, Alexa and Yipes are ready for a new adventure, but not disaster!

When their ship, the Warwick Beacon, destroyed by Abbadon,and the captain lost, Alexa and Yipes are rescued by the people who live on the Five Stone Pillars. But Abbadon is looking for a new home and the whole community is in danger. Some blame Alexa for bring Abbadon. Alexa must find a way to stop Abbadon but does she have the courage to withstand Abbadon a second time?

Part of 100+ Reading challenge

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Princess Ben by Catherine Murdock

When the King, her uncle, and her mother are murdered and her father either captured or dead, Princess Benevolence, now heir to the throne, is moved into the palace with her regent Aunt Sophia to learn her duties to the kingdom.  Forced to learning dancing, needlework, curb her huge appetite, and finally banished to the highest tower in the castle, Ben is staving and miserable until she stumbles upon spell book in a room hidden by magic.  With the help of a few spells, Ben learns to steal food from the kitchen, pilfer comfortable clothes, make a flame, create a sleeping double and master a flying broomstick.  She is content to use her new found skills within the palace, until her Aunt Sophia decides to throw a ball and marry Ben off to the heir of the neighbouring kingdom, the very family suspected of murdering her parents!

Using her newfound skills and dressed as a boy, Ben flies away leaving a sleeping double, only to crash land and be captured by soldiers from the neighbouring kingdom, led by the prince on their way to take her country.  Put to work as a slave, Ben begins to realize her life in the castle was not so terrible and on hearing the prince boast of a prophecy to wake the sleeping princess, Ben vows to escape, but can she get back to the castle in time to warn them and stop her double from taking her place?

Filled with magic, escape, adventure (and a dragon for good measure!), Princess Ben is a feisty new heroine in a fairytale any age will enjoy. 
 
Part of my 100+ book challenge