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'My Swordhand is singing'-a gripping winter read

2/10/2014

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Feeling a bit wintery but no snow here as opposed to the snowy scenes in  Marcus Sedgwick's 'My swordhand is singing'.  You can probably tell from the front cover tha t snowy scenes are not giving the book a cosy feel but rather a chilling, gripping tone set in early 17th century Eastern Europe. The tale is based around legends of vampires around that time but is properly related back to folk lore rather than Buffy/Twilight type vampires.

This makes it somewhat more chilling-suspense is built up as a son gradually finds out who his father really is and why they live on an island in the middle of a wood. 


"In the bitter cold of winter Tomas and his song, Peter, arrive in Chust and settle there as woodcutters.   But Tomas is a man with a past; a past that is tracking him with deadly intent. As surely as the snow falls softly in the forest of one hundred thousand silver birch trees, father and son must face a soul less enemy and a terrifying destiny."


It is a gripping, pretty scary read....I've just finished it - in the daylight! 


Would probably say 12+ - vampires in this story rise from the dead and is that idea that is particularly 'bone chilling' in a gothic horror way so readers of a nervous disposition avoid this book and younger readers - wait a bit. There are other books that are the right level 'scary' for you guys too (like a previous Ipswich Book group visitor-Jonathan Stroud + his 'Screaming Staircase.'


Marcus Sedgwick is coming to Ipswich on 26th March to talk about his latest adult book (see above) so come and hear him speak at this joint event via Ipswich Children's book group and Suffolk Book League. It's lovely to have read the author you're going to hear but I do think it's just generally worth hearing authors speak ' full stop'-it's interesting to hear how they write, how their own ideas are formed etc so make sure you book your self in.

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    Sarah Gallagher

    Avid reader, sometimes a headteacher AND founder of Story shack. A place where  you can release your imagination and see where it takes you....
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