I’ve been catching up with some reading. I know these have been reviewed recently here, but I thought I’d give my view on them anyway.

Firstly, Scream Street Book 1 – Fang of the Vampire. What a great read! Quick-witted, fast-paced, with just enough scares to leave the reader satisfied on all counts, this is a great book for younger readers who want to start venturing into the scary realms of horror, but don’t want to tread too deeply, or be scared too much. The balance of thrills and laughs is perfect for its intended audience. I thoroughly enjoyed this book … as did my 9 year old daughter, who emailed me recently and ordered me to read it! She loved the characters, and the way the adventure scoots along at such a fast pace.

I also read Baz’s Invisible Fiends book, Mr Mumbles, this week.

I think this book should come with several health warnings:

1. Do not read in bed after sundown.
2. Do not read in the bath.
3. Do not read during a storm.

I inadvertantly did all of these things. Strangely enough, I found myself switching on more and more lights around the house, drawing the curtains to try to block out the sound of the wind and rain … and as for the bath, well I didn’t stay in there very long at all!

The best word I can use to describe this book is: relentless. From the moment you start on the first page, the action leaps out at you … but it doesn’t stop. It just keeps going and going and going.

Mr Mumbles is relentless. The words ‘Time to die’ are still echoing in my mind as I type. He’s rather like the Terminator. No amount of physical damage appears to slow him down. In short – he’s terrifying! The suspense is relentless and the tension … yes, that is relentless, too. In fact, by the time I reached the chilling conclusion my muscles felt stretched and taut like guitar strings. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so exhausted after reading a book.

If Invisible Fiends isn’t an instant smash hit next year, I’ll be gobsmacked. Mr Mumbles is one of the most intense reading experiences I think I’ve had in a very long time. And if they ever make the film … oh my word! I hardly want to think about what that would be like.