Review of The Outcasts by John Flanagan

We have done superbly well with a series of YA fantasy aimed at younger readers from approx 9 upwards, but in reality read by adults too. John Flanagan is a NZ based fantasy author who started writing to amuse his grandkids and well, it went global. The 'Ranger's apprentice' series of twelve books are a mix between Tolkien and Robin Hood and we sold literally 500 when we opened. Now he as continued the series on for older readers and has a new continuation with Brotherband and the Outcasts, we had loads of kids read the books but one has been brave enough to do a review!

Tomas Porter has penned the following...read it and then read the series

The Outcasts (Brotherband Chronicles) – by John Flanagan

A Review by Thomas Porter

I found ‘The Outcasts’ to be a thrilling read, and has similar qualities to John Flanagan’s ‘Rangers Apprentice’. Although it took me a few chapters to really get stuck into ‘The Outcasts’, the action and tension heightened and I was soon immersed in the story.

The story features Hal, a half Araluen-half Skandian boy and is subsequently considered as an outsider. In Hal’s village, it is customary for a boy to go through brother-band training, once he reaches the age of sixteen.

Brother-band training is intense. The boys are split into teams in which they acquire the skills that will see them become team mates, sailors and warriors.

Hal’s father is killed in a fierce battle which has a profound effect on Hal, compounded when his father’s friend Thorn loses his hand in an accident. These tragedies motivate Hal to become the leader of the Brother-band.

I would strongly recommend this book to all my friends as an exciting and emotional read. I found that I was quickly transfixed by the events and I would promote it as an excellent read.

You can see more at www.rangersapprentice.co.uk

If you would like to to order copies of any of John's Books goto www.formbybooks.co.uk
It is quite easy..you just type Flanagan and John in and a list appears!

Darth Vader went to see the Cool Coast

Just a few weeks back I heard of an event that sounded and looked amazing, a bookshop had all sorts of characters dressed up and the actual legendary actor and now author Dave Prowse attend and had hundreds of 'Star Wars' fans come along. This was right up my street, after all I am the exact age of the biggest 'Star Wars' fan ever, as we went to see it when it first came out and still love it. This is really the point, after 35 odd years it is still the most amazing experience we have ever had at the cinema and beyond. There are conventions and re-showings and as we found out fans in the hundreds of all ages.

I emailed 'Darth/Dave' and he actually rang me the next day!

We seemed to persuade him that Formby (we did drop Liverpool as we are near, into the pitch) was a worthwhile location and that we would have fans and make a special effort to make his trip worth doing.

He did point out that he has just had an op on his knee and couldn't drive so I offered to collect and ferry him and he was ok with this, so we progressed...He also said why do one day when it was a bit of a trip so we decided to do a weekender!

Plan now....go get..hit the hotspot of 'Sith' and 'Force' followers that is Formby, Dave dropped in that he has 'helpers', the awesome warriors/bodyguards that are the 'Stomtroopers' and they have a Garrison near us!

So now things were hotting up along with the weather at last.

I persuaded Vicky (deputy manager extraordinaire) and Holly (dark haired ( you will see) Saturday super server) to enter into the spirit and glam up for the occasion.

There was a minor issue of what to do on the Sunday as we don't usually open...errmmm
Then Patrick from our media helpline www.southportreporter.com said...why not go to the 'Southport Flower Show', they have loads of customers and plenty of space to send the 'Stormtroopers' out to rally the fans, so that was sorted.
 Then he also said, well why not do a little evening event in a real 'Underground bar/restaurant'. He is pals with Eric Clarke the self titled 'Extreme Chef' as he does cook the most unusual and delicious treats to eat for all and includes many Hollywood stars in his previous exploits when over the pond.

So, all set...now we hit the hyperspace mode..contact the press, send emails, design and print posters (Holly/Vicky), use Facebook and Twitter and do my little spot on BBC Radio Merseyside.
We started to feel like this was a great idea and would be a fun filled weekend.

I drove down to get Dave and sat as he did a superb live interview with Sean Styles and we drove slowly up to Southport. Booked in and went for a nice steak and mussels dinner and chatted about his incredible life and met some lovely staff at Roberto's on the Ocean Plaza.

Saturday we were met by Trooper Ken and went to the Conference room at 'Formby Pool' to meet loads of fans of all ages and Dave was kept busy for three hours!
We popped and grabbed a lovely bite with Cathy in the 'Tea Rooms in Derbyshires' and then after Vicky had adorned the shop, loaded up videos to show and set the 'Star Wars' music rolling we were met by about 100 fans and had a real good time.

Dave and I had a nice Chinese and arranged to meet for the Flower Show on the Sunday, we now had Colin and Grant from the 'Stormtroopers' and Holly back as 'Leia' and joined Julie from Broadhursts at the Book Tent, bar torrential rain we had a superb time and again Dave had hours of fans of all ages meeting him and getting decidedly incredible photos of 'Star Wars' scenes and his autobiography 'Straight From the Force's Mouth' signed, we went to see the 'Iron Men' of Antony Gormley grabbed a quick drink and butty and then got ready for 'The Cellar'.

 We had real fans travel from as far as Rotherham to come and listen to Dave tell all for nearly two hours and enjoyed the most awesome food. Patrick took loads of images and videoed the event which will be up on Friday 24th August on www.southportreporter.com

I would wholeheartedly recommend any bookshop to book Dave for an event, he is a real star and a legend and can draw a crowd. His Stormtroopers are superb professionals and if you get a few staff dressed up you get a real 'wow' for the pictures. If you can sort an evening out I hear Dave has a real eyeopening 'Darth Does' show with unseen images and stories to really shed light on the 'Dark Lord of the Sith'.

I also was treated to a superb homemade meal by his wonderful wife Norma when we hit London and cannot wait to have another visit from the huge star that is Dave Prowse. Ok now we have images a plenty! 

Bodies galore for the Cadaver Games in Formby

Kate Ellis is a very good and very under rated author, she has written 16 superb books featuring the enigmatic and clever 'tec with taste Wesley Peterson. He is also as far as I am aware the first black detective in British Crime Fiction and yet no TV despite taught plots and a nice line in genuinely interesting history/archaeology that makes the plot race along with plenty of twists and turns. 

She also has started being a bit more gritty as time has gone by, her earlier works were great and deserve a major repackaging to bring her look into line with her latest offerings. 'Jackal Man' and 'Flesh Tailor' are particularly good recent works but her latest Wesley Peterson mystery 'The Cadaver Game' really shows how good she is and we hope may soon make her a bigger name and even win her a 'Dagger' maybe.

She takes a twist of Napoleonic man hunting the 'Bloody Hunt' and updates it to an on line gaming experience and soon the bodies pile up...can  DI Wesley and Neil Watson his archaeologist co-cracker of crimes sort the skeletons from the warm ones and solve the case.

Kate also writes about 'Ebory' a reworked York with her darker and more atmospheric series featuring DI Joe Plantagenet (she does like her historical references eh!). She has just issued the 4th in hardback (sorry we sold out )

Why not pop over to www.kateellis.co.uk for all the news

and catch up with Kate on twitter @kateellisauthor 

We still have a few signed copies of Kate's new book and literally one or two backlist signed by her but they do go quickly..so get in touch.
We happily post books to UK addresses for free when a paperback so you only pay for the book and we do offer discount online at www.formbybooks.co.uk

We had a great turnout for Kate despite the very hot weather and the Olympics, one of her fans on twitter another crime author @maryearnshaw popped by and shared African tales with Kate and the blogger @puzzledoctor was with us too!



 and @bryonypearce
also appeared with her two little ones
 on the way to the beach, whilst we were selling...

                                  Vicky was printing masks for

Star Wars Fans before the Darth Vader signing next week..she is now Darth Vicky but next week will do her hair and be Princess Leia!

Star Wars comes to Formby

Dave Prowse the legendary actor who immortalised Darth Vader in the original Star Wars films is with us Sat 18th August so come to Formby and meet him and his Storm Troopers and Darth Vicky and Princess Leia and others

He will be at Formby Pool Cafe, Elbow Lane
10am 'til 1pm
Then in store with us at Formby Books, Chapel Lane
2-4pm

Sunday he storms the Southport Flower Show 11-2pm
Lastly a real exclusive treat
An 'Evening with..'
Dave will be at The Cellar, Lord St Boulevards, Southport
The underground bar right by the Tourist Information Office
This is a ticketed adults only event 
Only £8 inc food c/o Eric the extreme chef
www.merseyreporter.com/shop
Or ring us 01704 830130 to book

If you would like to book a copy of his autobiography to be signed then please get in touch or click to be taken to the link on our trade website
It is a superb hardback packed with stories and images at just £20
\order YOUR Copy

FAB things in Formby

As we seem to succumb to a TV enhanced Olympic Frenzy..it is also about time to plan what we do afterwards...SO.......why not make a special trip to Formby, it is a lovely place a RED Squirrel sanctuary and lovely dunes with seals in the bay and cooling pine woods. And obviously a book haven too.

Saturday 11th August we have one of the countries finest exponents of historical detection when Kate Ellis visits, she will talk to fans and sign copies of 'Cadaver Game' the 17th Wesley Peterson crime novel. He is a superb  character and the first black detective in British Crime Fiction. Kate let's the tension rise and grips the reader like a tourniquet.
So pop to Formby Books 12-1pm and join us having a criminally good time and then go and relax and read!
she also has the 4th installment in her Yorkshire based DI Joe Plantagenet series just out too. If you miss the event get in touch and check if we have any signed copies left.

Saturday 18th August we have a real legend visiting Formby.


Dave Prowse the 6ft 7inch actor who immortalised 'Darth Vader' in the original 'Star Wars' Trilogy. He will have 'Stormtroopers' in attendance and will be signing copies of 'Straight from the Force's Mouth', so bring your 'light sabre' and camera and meet him 10-1 at Formby Pool and then 2-5 in my shop (we are within Derbyshires opposite Costa and next to Iceland)

Then we have a Canadian lady who 'went to bed with a Beatle (and his wife)'
Gail Renard is over to go to the 50th Anniversary Beatles event in Liverpool and is popping to Formby books on Friday 24th august 4-5pm to meet fans and sign her superb account of the infamous 'Bed in for Peace'

May 1969. As a sixteen-year-old, Gail Renard joined John Lennon and Yoko Ono in their week-long bed-in for peace in a hotel in Montreal, Canada. She looked after Yoko’s five-year-old daughter, helped to find tambourines and joined in the first recording of "Give Peace a Chance" with Timothy Leary, the Smothers Brothers and various other celebs. John looked after her – sending her home every night to her mother who had spoken to him on the phone and insisted that there were to be no drugs or sex while her daughter was around. It was John’s faith in Gail's ability which directly lead to her later success as a writer, and he helped her to secure her first paid submission – an interview with him for the Beatles' magazine.

A Dark Place to Die by Ed Chatterton

Well what a weird experience...I once worked with a lovely guy from Southport called Martin and he wrote fast and funny kids books called Bad Dog and was a 'WBD' author and we went to my wife's old school Daleacre in Netherton and had great fun, he also wrote edgy teen thrillers and then upped sticks and emigrated to Oz. We found each other as you do on Facebook and he kept saying he would return and had met my mate Garth Nix and all was going great.


I was given a dark and gruesome looking 'Proof' by Random House/Cornerstone and it was by ed chatteron all lower case and funky looking and then on the author is page it said he was also Martin and had written all those 20 odd kids books and well here we go...


Starting with a cremation alongside my mates @IronMenCrosby we get a real roller coaster read with so much frenetic energy ripping into your mind it is like a 'coke bomb' off a read. As it goes 'Coke' is a big part of the book and the brutality and blase-ness of the lords of Liverpool that dominate the streets and live up the life style. The good guys are DS Frank Keane and his 'uber cool' oppo Em Harris, they are well aware of who might have torched the 101st Iron Man but are somewhat beleaguered. Down Under we meet bohemain Koop and his lady Zoe and her lady Mel and do they have frolics!

Koop it turns out has just retired from the Liverpool MIT and was the DCI of the team here. He now has to fly all the way back from Southport, NSW and starts sniffing around the city as he discovers the identity of the body due to a tattoo. There is loads of back story in this great book and the amount of detail into which we are led to read is superb, you are certainly never bored here.


Enter the ice cool killer Declan North a man with an IRA pedigree and a penchant for masochism and sadism too, he is a real cookie with a definite artistic bent.


In fact the art and culture are woven into this book with references to Hirst and Gormley and more making it feel quite cosmopolitan and yet it really rocks. There is a LOT of gratuitous sex and violence and it really works, this is definitively NOT for the squeamish or anyone not broad minded there is sodomy,rape and threesomes galore.


All the while you sort of get 'jet lagged' as the action cleverly flies from Liverpool to Australia and back and there again really smoothly. You are shocked by the instant brutality and yet it is so believable.


The body count is awesome and the plotting seriously superb and the characters on all fronts are well defined and used, there is twists and a stunning gruesome arty payoff after a coke fuelled drive across Oz to the 'Other Gormley's- Inside Australia', all in all a real breakthrough crime novel that takes travel,art and wisecracking and makes your eyes and mind explode in a daze of death.

 A mega read worthy of a 9/10 and 'ed' or 'Martin' as I know him is meant to be over here in DEC we plan a dark signing with the Iron Men and expect you all to read this book in September and be amazed.