September has been a busy month at Crowvus HQ. We have lost a beloved member of the team, published two books, closed our Tenth Ghost Story Competition, and we have blogged every single (work) day. It's been an absolutely roller-coaster. Still, we would like to thank you all for sharing it with us: for your kind words on the loss of Orlando; for your support on the launch of our new author's new book; for entrusting us with your words. Whether you've been a reader, a writer, or a spectator, we're glad you've share the road with us.
"Aaru" by David Meredith 4 stars (very good!) When Rose dies, her younger sister (Koren) is angry and upset. Actually, that's an understatement. It's angry/upset on steroids! Some authors shy away from dealing with bereavement but David Meredith couldn't do this as "Aaru" wouldn't exist if there was no 'death'. It's such a tricky thing to portray fierce emotions in an imaginary character. It can be draining on both the author and the reader. But I have to say that David Meredith NAILS IT! The emotions are so raw, so real. I would be surprised if the author has never had a close bereavement. The reader really feels Koren's pain. That's not to say I sympathised with her. Alongside the emotions was a large amount of teenage angst. (What can I expect - she's 13 and 1/2 years old!) I can't say I actually liked her personality. I didn't like her attitude towards her parents. I found it chokingly inconsiderate...