“Perfectly strange and absolutely comical and heartfelt … Jaclyn Moriarty is one of the most original writers we have.”  Markus Zusak, award winning Australian author.

When I have time to read, I tend to chose action thrillers or murder mysteries or something as far away from kids television as humanly possible. Fantasy is not my genre of choice. However, I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one in the trilogy. Read on and you can win one of three copies of A Corner of White for yourself.

Jaclyn Moriarty, author of best-selling young adult series The Ashbury/Brookfield Books, writes beautifully. Which seems to come naturally because I’ve read bits of her blog and her voice is light and humorous and warm and lovely.

Here is the blurb:

Madeleine Tully lives in Cambridge, England, the World – a city of spires, Isaac Newton and Auntie’s Tea Shop. 

Elliot Baranski lives in Bonfire, the Farms, the Kingdom of Cello – where seasons roam, the Butterfly child sleeps in a glass jar, and bells warn of attacks from dangerous Colours.

They are worlds apart – until a crack opens up between them: a corner of white – the slim seam of a letter.

Elliot begins to write to Madeleine, the Girl-in-the-World – a most dangerous thing to do for suspected cracks must be reported and closed.

But Elliot’s father has disappeared and Madeleine’s mother is sick. Can a stranger from another world help to unravel the mysteries in your own? Can Madeleine and Elliot find the missing pieces of themselves before it is too late?

A mesmerising story of two worlds; the cracks between them, the science that binds them and the colours that infuse them.

It took me a while to get into the book but I did start reading it when I was ridiculously stressed and busy and I couldn’t get my head around the new characters I was being introduced to. I put the book down until my head was in a calmer place and then started again and this time I was hooked. What I thought was a slow start was actually nothing to do with the book but everything to do with my head.

I thought the letter exchange thing might be a bit contrived,  a bit Lake House. But it wasn’t like that, it was much cooler and more magical. Much more parallel world than time travelling letter box and has potential for much more in the next two books.

I love the Kingdom of Cello where Elliot lives. I love that winter can last an hour or weeks. That summer can happen in an  afternoon and that a wave of red can have the townspeople of Bonfire declaring their love for their neighbour and getting all romantic. Then the next wave of Red can have them on a mission to complete unfinished business or start new ventures. Gym memberships would sell out like hot cakes during a fourth level grade 6(d) Red.

Some of the colour attacks are not quite as amusing and Elliot believes his Dad was abducted by a Purple that also killed his uncle.

This book is for adults instead of Moriarty’s usual younger readers but it still contains an innocence I would expect in a young adult novel.

It’s fantasy without the elves and goblins and with one foot planted in the reality of Cambridge, England. It’s light and humorous, imaginative and whimsical and just.. lovely. I really want to read the next two books right now. I’m not good at waiting.

A Corner of White, the first in the Colours of Madeleine trilogy is released on September 18th.

Win yourself a copy of the book here. Just tell me what your favourite colour is. Simple as that.
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A Corner of White, the first book in what looks to be an intriguing trilogy by much loved Australian Author, Jaclyn Moriaty will be released on September 18th 2012.

“Madeleine Tully lives in Cambridge, England, the World – a city of spires,
Isaac Newton and Auntie’s Tea Shop.

Elliot Baranski lives in Bonfire, the Farms, the Kingdom of Cello – where
seasons roam, the Butterfly Child sleeps in a glass jar, and bells warn of
attacks from dangerous Colours.

They are worlds apart – until a crack opens up between them; a corner of
white – the slim seam of a letter.

A mesmerising story of two worlds; the cracks between them, the science
that binds them and the colours that infuse them.”

Intriguing yes? Totally up my alley. I like that this is the first in a trilogy because I am one of those people that falls in love with the characters of a good book and gets a bit sad on the last page when I have to say goodbye. With a guaranteed two more books after this one is finished, I have more to look forward to and can save my goodbye’s till much later.

I’m excited to be receiving a review copy of the book and can’t wait to get lost in its pages. Reading is a luxury that I gave up after having kids, but as those kids get a little less monopolising of my time, I am again finding the space to read.

Stay tuned for my review and a giveaway  in September.