the start of the book, however, again, not so great. This is, though, because one of the characters I really REALLY liked didn't appear for around the first half, which I found frustrating and annoying. This character was a main character in the first and second books and I thought they should have got much more recognition.

Ladybird, Puffin and Penguin are imprints of Penguin Random House UK. Across their extensive list, we believe there is a story for every child, everywhere. When you ask for a favor there is always a cost. The cost can be good or bad, but in "Orphans of the Tide" the cost is always bad. In "Orphans of the Tide" by Struan Murray we follow the story of Ellie, who has lost her whole family. She lives in a city that believes they are the last city in the world. The city lives in constant fear of The Enemy that is housed in The Vessel. The Branford Boase Judges said ; ‘hard to believe this is a debut’; ‘a really exciting new voice in storytelling’; ‘the world-building is perfect, so vivid’; ‘the experience was like reading His Dark Materials for the first time’; ‘distinctive, quality writing’.Personally, it takes me about two weeks to finish a book. But, because of the enticing story, I finished this one in around five days. At breaktime at school, this book has a gift for making its way into any fun conversation for its amazing storyline.

More like a 4.5, but I'm rounding up because it's the authors debut. How does someone just start writing and then write something this good straight away? I'm jealous. Ellie and Seth makes a good team...eventually. Hiding, running, trying to figure who he is, and what the enemy is.Struan Murray . . . effortlessly joins the ranks of the most skilled world-creators . . . Unpredictable, filled with plot twists and shades of moral grey, Orphans of the Tide is both gripping and original. Kitty Empire, The Observer Hello Yellow - 80 Books to Help Children Nurture Good Mental Health and Support With Anxiety and Wellbeing - Unlike everyone else, Ellie is convinced that the boy, Seth, knows nothing of the Enemy and is innocent and so begins a race against time to clear his name. The journey that will take her to all corners of the city but no amount of running will stop the dangerous Inquisitors hunting Seth down. To clear Seth’s name Ellie may have to reveal her own dark secret. In saving Seth she will be forced to condemn herself… The final instalment in the breathtaking Orphans of the Tide trilogy, which The Times calls 'Unputdownable'. The middle of the book, however, was great. Full of action, it was perfectly in sync with how I thought the book should have gone.

This activity linked to Orphans of the Tide focuses on the epilogue and planning a sequel to the story.

What a glorious conclusion to a thrilling trilogy! Struan Murray has done it again with Eternity Engine. Building upon the phenomenal world building of the previous two novels, the final instalment ramps up the excitement immensely and delivers exactly what I hoped and expected to read (given how good the others were!) Eternity Engine was filled with twists and turns and I was left guessing all the way – just how I like it. Orphans of the Tide is a truly outstanding trilogy, perfect for year 6 and beyond. I chose this cos it was MG and once in a while I try one of those. But to be honest, what made this MG and not YA? I have no idea. The age of the character? I fear I must have missed it cos I had no age for her. She could have been 12, she could have been 20. She lived alone, worked as an inventor/fixing things. She had left the orphanage. Her best friend seemed to work there. Yes I saw her more as 18. But my bad for not hearing it.