IVC Readers

Wolf Siren
This story was brilliant, I loved the setup and the world it was written in. The characters definitely spoke to me in this one, I thought Red's experiences felt very grounded in real life through the sensory imagery. The woods were amazing as well, and even though the settings weren't always described visually, I could really picture them in my mind.

Martha

Fia and the Last Snow Deer  
I really liked the way each page had been laid out like a poem, and the whole world was so vividly described. I really liked this piece of work, although I feel like the ending should have been sadder. I loved Wolf, he was a great character.

Martha

Ghostlines 
Kaya Balen has such a beautiful, unique voice and can create characters that feel so real, and that is part of what makes her one of my favourite authors. This book was so thoughtful, and the descriptions of the island and the hills really resonated with me. I loved the characters as well, and I thought the whole book was brilliant.

Martha

The Boy I Love
This was a beautifully written, extremely moving piece, I loved it! The ending was so bittersweet it made me cry which is always the sign of a good book. I thought the juxtaposition of the harshness of life in the trenches and the relationship between Danny and Stephen really emphasised the emotion. This has been one of my favourite books ever and is definitely a favourite to win.

Martha

Twenty Four Seconds from Now
6/10 The concept for the book was interesting (telling it in reverse) and I haven't seen this too much in books before. Additionally, it was refreshing to see an emotional book about a guy, rather than one focusing on toxic masculinity. However, the settings and key themes in the book were not particularly interesting for me - in my personal opinion there was too much of a focus on sex and relationships. I might recommend this book to older readers.

Jex

Wolf Siren
7.5/10 Wolf Siren is an amazing retelling of the common fairy tale Red Riding Hood, focusing on sexism, gender roles and social injustice. Furthermore, the subtle and careful descriptions of Red's visual impairment normalised her disability and ensured that it was just a part of her character rather than all encompassing. I would recommend it to people who enjoy modern retellings of myths, and anyone who is willing to try a different type of fairytale.

Jex

The Boy I Love
9.5/10 A heart warming historical fiction novel, set at the Battle of the Somme, which was so well written and researched. The Boy I Love was carefully crafted and told the unseen story of two soldiers who fell in love on the front line. We follow Stephen, a 19 year old soldier who is returning to the war after recovering from an injury as he grows closer with his "squire" Danny. I could not put this book of forbidden and heart wrenching love down, and was hooked immediately. This is one of my new favourite books, and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Jex

Birdie
Beautifully written, moving and tender story. So much kindness to be found. I loved Mr Duke and was very happy about the ending. Really think this has a good chance of winning the award!

Cook

Wolf Siren
Wolf Siren was a gloomy, dark, mossy read, shot through with touching moments of human connection, sisterhood and honesty. I loved the sparse yet beautiful prose, how Red’s character slowly gains confidence building up to a moment of intense courage, standing up to the infuriating cruelty of the mayor (I think a metaphor for male control of female bodies?). One thing that I was slightly confused about was finding out that Red, like the author Beth O’Brien, was visually impaired – this wasn’t mentioned clearly in the novel (I may have missed it however). Maybe its subtlety was purposeful; O’Brien makes a compelling argument that shapes a character’s experience quietly, woven into perception, atmosphere, and limitation in ways that reflect real life. Overall a great read.

Cook