Book Reviews and More: Mandy Lamb and the Full Moon - Corinna Turner

Wednesday, 9 September 2020

Mandy Lamb and the Full Moon - Corinna Turner - Mandy Lamb Book 1

Mandy Lamb and the Full Moon

Mandy Lamb Book 1

Corinna Turner
Unseen Books
ISBN 9781910806524

eISBN 9781910806517

ASIN B07D8ZTTRX

I have greatly enjoyed all the books by Corinna Turner that I have read. I picked this one up when it was released but did not get around to reading it. The original cover just did not do it for me, and it sat in my ‘To Be Read’ pile for a long time. Then it was rebranded, and the new cover intrigued me, and I picked up the book and devoured it in a single sitting. I just could not put it down. And I eagerly await the next story: The Wolf, The Lamb and the Air Balloon. The description of this volume is:

“Mandy Lamb is the world's only half-sheep girl, thanks to a spot of well-meant but ill-advised genetic tinkering. She's grown up happily in the Valley of Worth with friends both ovine and human—and one who is neither.

Now she's off to senior school in the nearby town. And she's about to meet James, a rather strange orphan who smells, to Mandy, distinctly like a dog, and who has a bad habit of running off at the full moon.

With danger on the way, will James prove friend or foe?”

This book took me completely by surprise. Set in a valley on the border of Wales and England this story has a few twists. Some great surprises. And Breaks a lot of stereotypes. First, I never expected a story with a half lamb half human. And one that is a little uncomfortable in the human world and school, and very comfortable on the fields and in the woods and with the animals. Or at least most of them. Our first encounter with her she takes on a dog and protects a lamb and her ewe. There is a vampire hermit, who is fond of crosses, and has a deep devotion to Jesus. And a new boy at school. James. And James has more secrets and surprises in store. Mandy seems to keep ending up in trouble, eating the head’s garden, sneaking out to warn James of trouble. Standing up for James after he saves her from three bullies.

This is a story about friendships, faith, and hope. The friendships are both old and new. And the dangers come from expected sources and some not so much. This is not your typical coming of age story. The pace of the story is excellent. But what makes it a truly great story are the characters. You cannot help but want to know more about Mandy, James, and Vincent. And fortunately there is at least one more story that has been announced.

A fantastic read and great beginning to a new series by award winning author Corinna Turner. Mandy Lab really did surprise me. I should have just read it because of the author. It is an excellent read and yet another series by Turner that I am completely hooked on!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2020 Catholic Reading Plan!