Kia Garriques

And so, we have entered into the realm of autumn and the countdown to Halloween has begun! To get you all in the mood for the month of magic and mysticism that is upon us, I have selected three of my current favourite supernatural reads. If you find yourself desperate to escape into another world on these dark, cold nights, crack open one of these wonderful stories and prepare to be whisked away into another dimension…..

1)      Raven’s Gate by Anthony Horowitz

Raven’s Gate is the first instalment in Anthony Horowitz’s mystical ‘Power of Five’ series. It tells the story of Matt Freeman, a fourteen year-old boy, who discovers that not only does he have supernatural powers, but also a very important destiny. After being sent away to the obscure town of Lesser Malling under the L.E.A.F (Liberty and Education Achieved through Fostering) Project, specifically designed for ‘troubled’ children, Matt quickly finds out that all is not right. He knows the odds of his survival are stacked against him as he uncovers the true evil nature of his foster guardian, Mrs Deverill, and the sinister secret being kept by the town. As the story unfolds in a melee of mystery, magic, and witchcraft, Matt must uncover the truth about his destiny as a Gatekeeper to save his own life and the world.

2)      I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

I Am Number Four is the first instalment in Pittacus Lore’s ‘Lorien Legacies’ series. It follows the story of John Smith, a fifteen year-old boy from the planet Lorien, one of nine gifted teenagers who form the planet’s Garde. The Garde’s destiny is to protect their race from the Mogadorians, an evil alien race who invaded their planet, by using special powers called ‘legacies’. Each member of the Garde is addressed by their number, and according to a charm cast over them, can only be killed in sequence order. When we meet John, he is on the move to another new town with his guardian, Henri. Once there, he quickly develops a particular fondness for Sarah, a shy girl with a love of photography, as well as a rivalry with the school jock, Mark. For a while, John thinks his biggest struggle lies in trying to balance normal teen issues like first love, friendship and school bullies with harnessing his new-found powers. However, as Number Three is killed and the Mogadorians begin a fresh hunt for his successor, John realises the biggest test of his life is still ahead of him.

3)      City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

City of Bones is the first in Cassandra Clare’s ‘The Mortal Instruments’ series. After witnessing a brutal murder in a Brooklyn club, Clary Fray is shocked and confused to learn that she was the only person with the ability to see the murderer. When the murderer (named Jace) informs Clary that the murder victim was, in fact, a demon, he recommends that she come and speak with his ‘tutor’ in the hope of finding out more about her gift. After a chance encounter with a terrifying creature, Clary knows that all is not as it seems, and she must delve deeper into the world of Jace and his fellow Shadowhunters to find out exactly what is going on. It is a fateful journey to the City of Bones which reveals the truth, and a series of secrets hidden in Clary’s family’s past that will change her life forever.