Metronome, by Tom Watson

Exiled to a remote island for 12 years, Aina and Whitney are tethered to a croft by the pills they need to take in order to breathe safely since the air in the north has become polluted by toxic bacteria from melting tundra in Siberia. The warden has stopped delivering their annual supply drops, and shipwrecks have been washing up on their shore in his wake. 

Whitney is convinced that the Warden will arrive soon as they are due for parole, but Aina is convinced that there is something wrong. In the opening pages the arrival of a sheep starts her wondering whether their island might actually be a peninsular, and she starts to calculate the ways in which she might escape.

Tom Watson is a Creative Writing graduate (rather than the former Labour Deputy Leader) and this is an incredible first novel. Comparisons to Emily St John Mandel and Megan Hunter, and praise from Naomi Ishiguro and Emma Stonex set the bar very high, but every sentence is perfect, and the bar is met. Even from the blurb there are so many questions raised and the gradual reveal of the answers to those questions is sublimely done.

I’m always drawn to apocalyptic and dystopian novels; books set in an unspecified future where the protagonists are dealing with only slight exaggerations of our present, but Metronome isn’t really about the future: it’s about a relationship in exile, and Aina and Whitney are so well drawn. I don’t want to say too much more – any plot detail above is in the blurb or the opening pages and I enjoyed the reading so much that I wouldn’t want to spoil any of it for anybody. 

What I would like is to hear from any other readers once you’ve finished it – pop in on a Wednesday, ask for Paul and tell me what you thought as I’d love to talk about it!

- Paul

Hardback, £16.99. Find it in the sci-fi section!

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Andreina Cordani's 5 Upcoming Young Adult Titles to Look Forward to This Year!

Local author of "Dead Lucky," Andreina Cordani previews some hotly anticipated fiction for young adults.

Since my first book was published last year, I’ve probably spent every penny I’ve earned from sales buying young adult fiction. I’m completely hooked – YA books are provocative, diverse, imaginative, and the stories often shift the way you see the world. I also love watching the characters grow and figure out who they are and what they want from life – often while fighting monsters, solving crimes, or dealing with horrendous family issues. I’ve been lucky enough to get an early glimpse at some of the releases lined up for Summer and Autumn 2022 and there’s some amazing stories coming our way – time to get your pre-orders in!

1. Twice Hexed, by Julia Tuffs 

In this sequel to Hexed, newbie witch Jessie Jones is feeling hopeful – she’s settled on the Isle of Wight, made friends, and challenged the toxic masculinity culture in her class – but then a new witchy pupil joins her school, and stirs up trouble. The blend of supernatural strangeness and teenage reality (exams, annoying boys, periods) is spot-on. The story is fast-paced, and the comic timing is impeccable.
(Orion Children’s Books – out 23rd June)

2. The King Is Dead, by Benjamin Dean 

What better way to celebrate this Jubilee year than with this twisty tale of royal intrigue? When Prince James’ father dies suddenly, he becomes the first Black king at 17 years old, with all the privilege and problems that entails. Then his boyfriend goes missing, and when royal gossip is leaked to the public, James starts to suspect he can’t trust anyone around him…

(Simon & Schuster – out 7th July)

3. Tag, You’re Dead, by Kathryn Foxfield 

A teen celebrity challenges his followers to an overnight city-wide game of tag – the prize is instant fame as one of his live-in crew. Fans rush out into the night to track each other down – some are in it for the fun, but a few are driven by something darker: obsession and revenge… Chilling, gripping, full of creepy moments and jump-scares, this is one of those up-all-night reads.
(Scholastic – out 7th July)

4. Infamous, by Lex Croucher 

Take Bridgerton and add in a big dash of Sex Education and you’ll have Lex Croucher’s irresistible Regency story. Edith ‘Eddie’ Miller and her friend Rose are both debutantes – Rose is set on finding an eligible husband, but all Eddie wants to do is blossom as a writer. And a trip to a debauched poet’s country house could provide the inspiration she needs… A great reminder that the process of growing up, making mistakes, and figuring out who we are really hasn’t changed much over the centuries.

(Zaffre – out 21st July)

5. Big Bad Me, by Aislinn O’Loughlinn (Cover in progress!)

Evie thinks life is pretty dull, living with her mum and sister Kate, taking home-made medication for her ‘rare form of diabetes.’ But then her mother vanishes, and Evie discovers that her diabetes is actually a more lunar-related, wolf-based condition. Plunged into the supernatural world Evie tries to track down her mum while hiding at a small-town B&B – where the owners have secrets of their own. This book is so much fun – the author twists the supernatural tropes we all know and love, creating tense action and laugh-out-loud moments.
(Little Island Books – out 13th October)

Andreina Cordani's YA novel is a thriller set in the world of influencers.
A gripping and shocking read! Order it now!

Pre-order any of these books through us!

Old Rage, by Sheila Hancock

Try as I might, I could not warm to this book.  I had expected to do so as I admire Sheila Hancock’s skill and versatility as an actress, and often appreciate her forthright way of speaking out – even when I don’t agree with her. But this hotchpotch of a book did not engage me.

Her writings about being in lockdown during the height of the pandemic, about her family, and her anxiety and fear of the effects of lockdown on all young people, is clearly deeply felt, and her despair is real and. Her writing conveys her emotions well! But for me, it was too “bitty”.  It was a bit of a diary... bit of a memoir... bit of raging against everything. But the bits did not make a satisfactory whole.

I am sure others will (loudly) disagree, so maybe it is just me…

- Christine

Christine read the proof edition of "Old Rage."

Publication day was... yesterday! 

Hardback, £18.99. Find it in the Biography section!

Girls of Fire and Paper, by Natasha Ngan

Girls of Paper and Fire follows a girl called Lei, who lives in Ikhara. In this land, there are different levels of class: Lei lives in the lowest class, called Paper Castle. However, Ikhara has a tradition where every year, eight girls are chosen to serve the King. This year, the eight have been chosen, but the King has heard a rumour of Lei’s extreme beauty, and his interest has been peaked. She is forced to leave her home and family to live in the King’s castle, where the now nine girls will learn skills and charm that will benefit the king.

Then Lei falls in love with someone she is not supposed to. And now all she wants is justice and revenge for what has happened to her.

The cover of this book is definitely what sold me. Reading the blurb, it looked like something I would really enjoy. And I did like it, but there weren't any amazing or mind-blowing plot points to this story. But I did like Lei's character: I found her to be inspirational and comforting, as she stood up for what she thought was right, and she didn't let anyone tell her what to do.  In terms of writing, I found the beginning and the end to be quite fast pasted, however the middle was a bit slow. Overall, liked it enough to want to continue the series.

- Julia

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