Cover for The Ghostfaces by John Flanagan

He he he...two days after I do the post on my bookish discovery and, wow, would you look at that! There's a cover! I'm certain that it was just waiting for me to do the post before it appeared...Plus, I also found it before the 'official cover reveal' thingy, which is just fun... :)

So here it is:

Ooo, it looks so cool...I can already picture it on my bookshelf... :)

I think I said everything already on my last post so I can't think of anything else to write. Except for the fact that I want to read it even more, 'cause the cover looks pretty interesting. 

I always enjoy hearing more about the Herons' adventures and this one sounds new and different and exciting. Have you read any of John Flanagan's Brotherband or Ranger's Apprentice series?

Fare Thee Well!

Brotherband Book Six: The Ghostfaces

Okaaay, so this post has taken a while in coming because I've been slack on my 'Ranger's Apprentice and Brotherband new books Watch' so I only recently (as in, about half a month ago) found out more than slight rumors.

Here is the cover...

Meh, no cover yet, but I'm sure it'll turn up soon enough (and quite possibly I'll do another blog post on it). 

But here is the synopsis. This'll probably change and be refined slightly before the release date but it's all I've got so far.

(Wait for it...)

When the Brotherband crew are caught in a massive storm at sea, they’re blown far off course and wash up on the shores of a land so far west that Hal can’t recognize it from any of his maps. Eerily, the locals are nowhere in sight, yet the Herons have a creeping feeling they are being watched.

Suddenly the silence is broken when a massive, marauding bear appears, advancing on two children. The crew springs into action and rescues the children from the bear’s clutches, which earns them the gratitude and friendship of the local Mawagansett tribe, who finally reveal themselves. But the peace is short-lived. The Ghostfaces, a ruthless, warlike tribe who shave their heads and paint their faces white, are on the warpath once more. It’s been ten years since they raided the Mawagansett village, but they’re coming back to pillage and reap destruction. As the enemy approaches, the Herons gear up to help their new friends repel an invasion.

In this sixth book in the action-packed Brotherband Chronicles, the Herons find themselves in unfamiliar lands and prepare for battle with a ruthless, unknown enemy.

It sounds kinda interesting and strange at the same time. Also sounds just slightly similar to stories about Leif Erikson discovering America...Hmmm, I wonder...

I'm really looking forward to reading it though. But wait! I haven't told you the release date! There are slight conflicting resources on this point. Random House Australia says that it's in May but other places say June...I'll just go with the May one 'cause Random House is the publisher so if they don't know I'll start getting worried. (Also, the June one might be American but I really dunno.)

16/05/2016

That is the hopefully, maybe release date of Brotherband Six - The Ghostfaces!!!

Read this series everyone, I'm telling you for the...er...somethingth time, but you really should. 

I also discovered here that apparently there's going to be another book about Will and Maddie and at least one more prequel. I reckon there should be something about Gillan's apprenticeship, because that sounds extremely amusing...

Anyway, I'm keeping a half-watch for the cover and will hopefully do a post to show you all what it looks like. Anyone else dying (not literally) to read it? And, if not dying, really looking forward to it?

Fare Thee Well!

The Bedtime Book Tag

I'd like to thank my dear sister Clare for tagging me for the 'Bedtime Book Tag'. I haven't done one of these tag things since September, so I guess it was time for another to come around again. At least this one's about books. So, as far as I know all I have to do is answer questions! Sounds easy, I'll give it my best shot.

Yup, thanks for the cool picture, Clare. :D

1. A book that kept you up all night.
I've never done all night. The latest I've got was 2 in the morning I think. That was when I was reading 'The Emperor of Nihon-Ja' (Book ten in the Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan). I believe I've stayed up fairly late for some other books...

2. A book that made you scared to sleep.
Umm, I really don't know that I've ever really been scared to sleep. Except maybe if it's ten pm and I don't want to go to bed because the world's about to explode...but then I just finish the book or something.

3. A book that made you go to sleep.
Once I listened to an audio book of 'Dragon Keeper' by Carole Wilkinson. It didn't literally make me go to sleep but it got rather annoying because the main character was sooooo, er, let's say...silly. It was a rather predictable story.

4. A book that left you tossing and turning all night in anticipation of its release.
Well, I was pretty excited about 'A Wish Made of Glass by Ashlee Willis being released. Same with The Ranger's Apprentice Prequel - The Tournament at Gorlan. Oh, let's not forget the Brotherband books...

5. A book that has your favourite boy/girl relationship.
The Billabong series is definitely high on that list. I really love Norah and Wally and how Wally never actually (well, he kinda forgot about it for a while) asked her to marry him, it just got supposed it was happening. :D Also, both 'Heartless' and 'Starflower' by Anne Elisabeth Stengl had that kind of thing in them, and they were pretty cool.

6. A book that would be your worst nightmare to live in.
A book where dreams come true. Okay, maybe that was too random an answer. I don't think I'd like to live in Divergent (I'd most likely die), or A Time To Die (I'd most likely die), or...I can't think of any others really...

7. A book that reminds you of night-time.
'Draven's Light' by Anne Elisabeth Stengl. It's an amazing book. I cried at the end. But it really good. You should seriously read it.

8. A book that had a nightmareish cliffhanger.
Er...I don't know, I try not to read books that Clare has read and says have horrible cliffhanger endings. But, mostly all the 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' and 'The Heroes of Olympus' have ended with a cliffhanger of sorts, and they're really annoying, because I've been borrowing the books from a friend I see every Monday night at band. So I have a whole week to wait after finishing the book on Tuesday or Wednesday. And she doesn't necessarily remember to bring the next one...horrible sometimes.

9. A book you actually dreamed about.
Actually, I dream about a lot of books. Strange, I know. If I fall asleep thinking about the book I generally have something in my dreams about it, and sometimes that can be pretty cool. I've had dreams about Lord Of The Rings/ The Hobbit, Ranger's Apprentice/Brotherband, and other thing like that. I also dream about movies...Once I was was a Time Lord. That was cool.

10. A book monster you wouldn't want to find under your bed. 
Right, can someone tell me someone who actually wants a monster under their bed? Well, I don't really know. Personally I'd rather not wake up and find Smaug hiding under my bed...or any monster actually. I don't know of any monster I would want to find under my bed. (I have a bunk-bed so I could fit some pretty scary things under there quite easily.)

So there we are. That wasn't really, really easy, but I survived! Now...who shall I tag? Aha! I can think of two people, and one of them quite possibly won't do anything about it but I'll tag Zach from Zach's Abode, and while I'm at it I'll tag my cousin Jessica from Inspiration too.
All you have to do is answer the above questions and post 'em on your blog. It ain't hard to do. And I'll be waiting... ;D

Fare Thee Well!

Ranger's Apprentice the Early Years: The Tournament at Gorlan ~ Review

Here it is! The first Ranger's Apprentice Prequel is published! Actually it was published on the 16th and I even got my copy that day too (Which was awesome) but I've only just got around to doing this post.

I had great fun reading this, Halt and Crowley are so funny. :D I was actually brave enough to attempt another multiple-paragraphed review, but first I thought I'd let you watch the book trailer thingy:

And here's the review:

I really, really liked this book. It was cool to find out about Halt and Crowley's history and everything that happened before The Ruins of Gorlan. I found it quite fun to hear about 'young baron Arald' and other 'young' people who are older in other books.

Halt's character is really well brought out and his humour is hilarious! I give him the Favourite Character award for this book. He and Crowley are so funny together. Halt is a very real person and his character is intriguing and mysterious. I loved finding out more about him. Plus, when Halt meets Mistress DuLacy for the first time it's so, so funny. And when he gets his horse...

The story line, although, since I've read the Ranger's Apprentice books, I knew some of it, was well planned out and page turning. The ending was a little sad but it just added to Halt's character, and I know there's more to come.

The Tournament at Gorlan really shows Morgarath's evil side in clearer light, and his villainousness is well done. He's a decidedly unlikeable person. His arrogance and just plain evilness adds to the tension in the story, showing that he wouldn't shy from killing to get his way.

I'd say this book is better to read after all the other Ranger's Apprentice series, but it would work either way. All in all this book is definitely as good as John Flanagan's other ones and I can hardly wait for book 2 of Ranger's Apprentice, The Early Years.



I can't get over how funny a gloomy Halt can be. Crowley's almost as funny but not quite. I now have a new supply of quotes to quote at random intervals in general conversation... For example:


"Are you always so insufferably cheerful?" Halt asked.

"I suppose I am," Crowley admitted. "Do you always travel around as if there's a big, black thundercloud over your head?"


When I finished reading the book, my sister Clare started it and then, when she finished, Alice started (but hasn't finished as of yet) to and then I have three other friends that I'm loaning it to afterwards. So my copy of The Tournament at Gorlan is going to be well read! Oh, that's not mentioning that I'll probably reread it after everyone else's finished... :)

Another cool thing is that I have a signed copy, and that just adds to the awesomeness (I bought it from Booktopia). I'm now going to have to keep waiting until I can discover when the next prequel is coming out...

Just after I got the book someone wise told me that I was acting like an idiot fangirl but I don't care! That's normal. You ask who the wise person was? My sister? No. I think it was me actually. I can be very wise at times. (That was a quote by the way...and also true.)

A few years ago I'd never heard of Ranger's Apprentice. Back then I was reasonably sensible. Now? No way! Ask anyone who knows me and they'll agree. I never used to be crazy about weapons and the such, but then I read Ranger's Apprentice...And now I am. And proud of it too.

If you haven't read any Ranger's Apprentice, Brotherband or Early Years books then you seriously need to go do it. Now. I mean it.

Fare Thee Well!

Ranger's Apprentice Prequel: The Tournament at Gorlan

Everyone celebrate!(Here is the sounds of great cheering and clapping and celebrations in general) There is a Ranger's Apprentice Prequel! The publish date is the 6th of October this year. And there is (finally) an Australian cover, although no doubt it in still under going several changes before the actual publishing...And here it is! I reveal to you, The Tournament at Gorlan, Book one of the Ranger's Apprentice The Early Years series.

"Before they became the most famous Ranger in the land and the hard-working Ranger Commandant, Halt and Crowley were young friends determined to change the world. 

The scheming Baron Morgarath is drawing other power-hungry knights and barons to his banner. King Oswald is wasting away and, if gossip can be believed, Prince Duncan is causing havoc in the north. 

Halt and Crowley set out to find the prince, uncover the truth, and re-form the weakened Ranger Corps. Once-loyal Rangers are scattered across the country, and it will take determination, skill, and leadership if they're to come together as one. Can the Rangers regain the trust of the Kingdom, or will the cunning Morgarath outwit them at every turn?"

I found the cover at the 'Random House Australia' site....I must say I'm quite pleased with myself for actually finding it! The web master must be a sneaky kind of person...(But I'm even sneakier!)

I've heard that there is going to be at least two books in the series. What's more I heard from a reliable source: the back of Scorpion Mountain, the latest Brotherband book.

I've been watching this since...umm..about early March...And now my waiting pays off. (I really should stop finding these things so early on, it would require less waiting then, but...I just can't help myself.)

The American cover has been out for a while but now the Aussie's is out! And I reckon it looks much cooler, although I am wondering who it is, he must be one of Baron Morgarath's men because he's got the lightning insignia on the shield. I guess it could even be Morgarath himself...(Dramatic and evil music plays here.)

If you're as excited as I am you'll be wanting to read some...and you can, you'll find an exert Here. Clare did already link to that in Her blog post, but you can always read it again! Who wouldn't want to read about Halt being gloomy?!

I really enjoy these books. They're not hard to understand or anything and the random bits of humour are quite...well...humorous. I really recommend them to anyone who hasn't read them. Warning: These are the books that made me like I am now, crazy in some people's view. But just forget about that, who cares anyway?!

Only 91 days left....

Fare Thee Well! (I actually got that from a Ranger's Apprentice book, from a song...About Greybeard Halt)

Brotherband Book Five

   Brotherband book 5 officially has a name (well, it has for a while but now it has other things too) It is called....drum roll...Scorpion Mountain!

It has a cover (as you can see) and a synopsis now, I got this from the Random House Australia site (for those who don't know they are the people who publish the books).

"When the worlds of Ranger's Apprentice and Brotherband cross over, action and adventure are guaranteed! 

King Duncan of Araluen has an urgent mission for Hal and the Heron Brotherband. One assassination attempt on Princess Cassandra was foiled. But the killers won't be satisfied until they have fulfilled their honour-bound duty. 

The Herons, along with Ranger Gilan, set off for Arrida. There they must track the cult of killers across the desert, and infiltrate the cult's mountain lair to find their leader – and stop him. 

But the giant assassin isn't the only threat they will face. There is a seaside battle looming, and the Herons are called upon to help an old friend of Araluen in his fight. 

Trapped in an unfamiliar land, their forces split between searing hot land and treacherous seas, can the Herons complete their mission – before the killers find their royal target?"

I'm really looking forward to reading this book. I enjoy reading John Flanagan's books and I have all the Ranger's Apprentice series and all the current Brotherband books. I've been watching this one to see when it got a name, information and a cover.(I found out the name when I randomly clicked on the page I'd found about it (with pretty much no information) and it said, 'Buy Scorpion Mountain' and I'm like, 'Whoa, it has a name?!') And now, after watching it for ages, well, only 2 or so months, it finally does. Now I'm just waiting to be able to read it!

~ Jane, Misty Maiden

The Liebster Award

   I have been nominated for the liebster award. So thank you Clare. I'm afraid to say, but I don't see what's so rewarding about these awards, but any way. Here are the rules. 

1. Post the award on your blog. (I don't see the use of leaving this post as a draft, no one would be able to read it.)
2. Thank the blogger who presented this award and link back to their blog. (preferably their Liebster post)
3. Write 11 random facts about yourself (Well, if they're about me they're going to be random). 
4. Nominate 11 bloggers who you feel deserve this award and who have less than 200 followers. (and if you don't know of that many bloggers nominate less.)
5. Answer 11 questions posted by the presenter and ask your nominees 11 questions.

And here is my own private rule.
6. Post your post some time other than 11:00 o'clock, just to mess up the pattern.

So, first I'll answer Clare's questions....

1.What series of books did you used to like but now realize is pretty terrible? 
That would be the Pony Pals. I mean, how can they always be ten? How can it always be the summer holidays?

2.Who's your favourite Villain/Baddie?
I thought you weren't supposed to have a favourite/good bad guy, I thought they were supposed to be bad. But I suppose I like Chauvelin from the Scarlet Pimpernel.

3.What is your favourite place to be? (In bed is not allowed) 
Home. Where is my favourite place to be at home? In a tree, reading a book or doing something interesting like that.

4.What is your favorite memory? 
Well, I only have one memory...it remembers lots of things but I only have one so...that is my favourite.

5.Can you solve a rubix cube? 
Umm...yes....is that supposed to be a trick question or is it just that I can't think of a funny answer?

6.Can you dance, if not do you want to learn? 
I don't think I can dance; and if I had to dance, yes, I would want to learn, because I wouldn't want to look silly.'Well I'm not dancing, I don't know how.'

7.Have you ever played a practical joke on anyone, and if so what was it? 
I'm not sure if I have or not, there was that time when I....

8.Flat tire or airplane? 
Airplane. I don't think flat tires would fly very well. In case you wondered, 'airplane' is usually used in America, in Australia generally it is 'aeroplane'.

9.If you could ask your future self one question what would it be?
Are you alive?

10.When playing naughts and crosses which do you pick? 
Naughts. Why is it called 'naughts and crosses' any way? Why not O's and X's? Or something like that?

11.Whats the last thing you drew a picture of? 
No. 'Whats' not the last thing I drew a picture of. It was a picture of a flower. I don't know what 'whats' look like so I can't draw them. 'What?' 'What?' 'That's what I want to know, what?'
Now I have to write 11 random facts about me, so here goes...

1. I like reading books (Especially Ranger's Apprentice and Brotherband).
2. I have a fringe, wel1 I think I do, my sister Clare is always telling me so.
3. I like climbing trees.
4. I spelled something wrong (purposely) in one of the other facts.
5. I like having funny answers to questions.
6. I have 5 siblings.
7. This is my blog.
8. That last fact was more about my blog than me.
9. I am writing a novel (hopefully) using 'One Year Adventure Novel.'
10. I know how 10 is spelled.
l l. I did something sneaky in my spelling again.
12. I think I've done too many facts.
13. I know I've done too many facts.
14. I should stop but I need just one more to make an nice number.
15. Why do I think that 15 is a nice number? Don't ask, just don't ask.

Now I nominate... Alice from Hope in our Saviour.

And here are your questions:

1. Did you know that you are the equivalent of 11 people? (well you must be because I only nominated you.)
2. How many views have you had on your 'oh-so-awful-first-blog-post'? (On your old blog)
3. Do you like having everything neat, or are you messy?
4. What would you say if I asked you this question?
5.Did you notice my sneaky spelling in the 15 facts I wrote about myself?
6. Have you ever looked up lots of random blog addresses?
7. Power-poles or fish and chips?
8. Which would you rather have smeared all over your face, peanut-butter or fish guts? (Neither isn't allowed.)
9. Can you read backwards and upside-down?
10. Do you enjoy memorizing scripture?
11. Why have I just asked you all these questions that I (mostly) know the answers of?

So there we go, that was the liebster award, I hope you enjoyed my answers.

~ Jane, Misty Maiden

Favicons and Ranger's Apprentice/Brotherband

   Has anyone noticed my new favicon? Clare designed it and I told her what I liked. It is a bit hard to see because it is so small, so I thought I would do a blog post on it.

This is my favicon...

   How do you like it? I have been doing a bit of experimenting with colours lately on my blog, just to annoy you Zach, you had just made your blog radar and my blog was blue at that stage, I just had to change it...

'Temptation got too strong, I decided to join you'~John Flanagan, Ranger's Apprentice 10, The Emperor of Nihnon-Ja 

  I have been wondering; does anyone know what Sarah's favicon is supposed to be? I have no idea what it is. I was thinking of changing my blog's background to look more misty-like. What do you think?

   Now off the topic of favicons...and into one of my favourite subjects...I really like John Flanagan's two series, Ranger's Apprentice and Brotherband. I have lately taken to 'liberating' (and returning) Daddy's iPhone from his pocket, without him noticing,  and  sneaking around, like Jesper in Brotherband. It is very fun... Tonight Clare told me that if she doesn't know where I am she expects that I am up every tree, or following her, or just watching her from somewhere... it sounds sneaky...but the thing is that I am sometimes watching her, from up a tree or round a corner...or somewhere else. But I'm not so sure about me being up every tree and if not there everywhere else, sadly I haven't mastered the art of being in more than one place at a time yet. If you haven't read the  Ranger's Apprentice or Brotherband series, I really recommend them. They are the sort of book that, after you pick it up you can't put it down until you are finished, and they are packed full of humour in the most unlikely places. They are also very quotable, my sister Alice and I quote them multiple times a day, a quote for every conversation...I have the books and I've read each one about...hmm let's see...about 10 times, at least...Ok maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration...but only a little bit.J

~ Jane, Misty Maiden

My Life Right Now

   I've been trying to think of another blog post that I could do, when I saw that Clare had done a 'Life Right Now' post, I thought that maybe I should try do one as well, so here goes.

Seeing... the laptop screen, the trees outside the window, the birds in the trees... and that's about it.

Hearing..the annoying humming/groaning noise that the laptop makes, the washing-machine, birds and my brothers.

Smelling... the fresh air wafting in the window.

Tasting...ummm, not much really...

Wanting...to be able to get up to the first branch of a really, Really tall tree, (and really wide as well) so I can climb it.

Feeling...the cool breeze, and the inclination to go outside and climb trees.

Wishing... that it was lunchtime.

Thinking...What?! Thinking? I never do that, much too dangerous a pastime.

Laughing...at myself, I don't know why though...

Dreaming... nothing, well I appear to be awake, if I was asleep I wouldn't be typing this now.

Reading... Brotherband book four, Slaves of Socorro. Well actually I can't read it because Daddy is reading it to my sisters and me as a read aloud...oh, what a let-down.

Recovering...from not being allowed to read Brotherband, but it might take a while to fully recover.

Singing... well, I'm not singing anything, until Clare comes along and starts singing the dreaded song that is probably still stuck in her head. I can hear my 4 month old sister 'singing' though. It sounds so cute.

Wearing...as Clare said, I'm wearing clothes... a dark red velvet skirt and a pink shirt, and no I do not like the colour pink.

Preparing...for being starved, or famished, or something of the sort
   
   Horace said, 'Let's get on with it, Halt, I'm famished.' 
   'Are you ever not famished?; Halt asked, but Horace was already heading for the inn.
~ John Flanagan, Ranger's Apprentice 8, The Kings of Clonmel
   
   'Let's get something to eat. I'm starved,' Ulf said. 'You're always starved,' Wulf replied. 'That's because I'm older than you. I've been waiting longer for my dinner.'
~ John Flanagan, Brotherband 3, The Hunters 

Remembering...that I had forgotten something.

Trying...to work out what I had forgotten.

Questioning...Why, in the name Thomas, the TH isn't pronounced.

Fearing...that Clare will try and get 'Let it Go' stuck in my head.

Watching on YouTube... an El Cid video for school.

Hurting... does that mean am I hurting, or am I hurting something? Either way, no I'm not hurting, myself or anything else.

Calling...no one, I'm hopeless at phone calls, I can never think of things to say.

Working...on finishing my school work, except that I already have, so I can't really...

Emailing... my sister Alice. Usually I don't email, but she sent me a random one so I sent her a random one...it included a funny Olaf video.

Gluing...nothing

Cracking...my big chocolate Easter egg that I haven't eaten yet because I don't like chocolate.

Thanking...God for lovely sunny days, a wonderful family and good books.

Turning...my head,  my eyes, myself...

Realizing...that it is nearly 1 o'clock and I haven't had lunch yet...

Checking...that I saw the time right.

Organizing...myself to go get lunch.

Moving...myself.

Reckoning...that I am really starved now.

Needing...to eat lunch.

Anticipating...lunch...and reading more Slaves of Socorro. 

Regretting...that I didn't eat lunch before.

Loving...the look on your face as you read this.

Googling...the Random House Australia site so I can link to it and 
you can read the beginning of Slaves of Socorro if you want to.

Choosing...to write this.

Smiling...I am, because you are, and smiling is contagious.

~ Jane, Misty Maiden