Long Tall Annie It just kept getting better... January 13, 2014 Format : Kindle Edition I bought this book expecting a quirky, humorous tale with supernatural elements; it was all of this & much more. I love the warm , sometimes laugh-out-loud funny descriptions of family life & how Stella & her parents react to her unusual powers, but then the story develops into a much darker tale, challenging Stella to use her gifts to help others despite great risks to herself. It's a really absorbing read, combining so many genres - fantasy, coming-of-age, comedy - in a unique way. I too am looking forward to many sequels!

SJHigbee A fabulous read - one of my outstanding books of the year... June 20, 2020 Format : Kindle Edition As in Witch Dust, it is the strong first-person narrative voice that beguiled me from the first line and held me throughout. It doesn’t hurt that Messik also had the pacing nailed and took us through the very conventional timeline of her infancy, youth and into her early adulthood with a mixture of anecdotes, scenes and humorous asides that pulled me right into her world. This story could have been presented with the emotional tone dialled up to the max, full of angst and pain – Stella has plenty of scary moments that had the capacity to knock her endways, after all. But that gutsy, determined toughness that characterised her grandmother and her great-aunts and their eccentricities has given her resilience and a self-belief nourished by her parents. I completely believed that her family successfully managed to keep her abilities shielded from prying eyes, while persuading her to keep them hidden, without overly daunting her. The unfolding story of how she discovers that there are those who are far too interested into her and her abilities kept me turning the pages. Stella is a baby-boomer, born in the 1950s, and I completely believed the worldbuilding and historical era – and I’d have known if there had been any false notes, as I was also born just a few years later. The other characters who people this gripping adventure are vividly drawn. And although there are some shocking events, Stella’s narrative voice both manages to effectively depict the seriousness of what happens, yet offer a sense of hope – which I really need in my reading matter, these days. I also like her trick of producing a number of plot twists that change up the stakes and pull Stella into a rescue mission that will place her in danger to the extent that she is exposed to a fate worse than death. And no – we’re not talking about any kind of sexual encounter – we’re talking about a real fate that would be worse than dying… Hamlet the dog is also awesome, by the way. I’m conscious that in my determination not to provide any kind of Spoiler, I have sold this book short, but the pacing, narrative voice and twisty plot provided one of the most satisfying reads of the year to date – and I’m delighted that I have two more books in this series waiting for me on my Kindle. Highly recommended. 10/10.

Cake Obsessed Relatively strange, totally dark, often hugely funny. Read it! December 12, 2013 Format : Kindle Edition | Verified Purchase I am not quite sure how to explain this fantastic book suffice to say that once I picked it up I couldn't put it down. Written in the first person, it is about a young girl coming to terms with her 'gifts' (flight, telepathy, telekinesis, and more). One moment you'll be laughing out loud and the next you'll be plunging head first into a mich darker world. Its touching, moving, funny and shocking all at the same time. Love Sci Fi, then you'll love this. Love strong character-lead drama, then look no further. Want something fresh and new, it's right here. I love this book. 5 stars from me!