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Publication Date: Available Now from Penguin Random House UK Childrens.

(61 pages e-book)

Source: Netgalley

Set in the months before Half Bad, Half Lies takes the form of a diary written by Michele, the sister of Gabriel, Nathan’s Black witch friend. Having fled Europe for Florida, Michele falls in love with a local White witch boy. There, she finds that the divide between the Black and White witch communities is just as dangerous as it was in the life she’s left behind.

Half Bad was one of my favourite books read this year, way back in January and I have been very excited for the sequel, Half Wild, coming in March 2015 to a bookshop near you, so when I spotted this “prequel” short story featuring Gabriel and his sister I was very pleased. As a way to wet your appetite for the new book this worked really well.

Told in Diary form, Michele talks about losing her mother, running away to Florida and attempting to settle into a new community. Even here though, the White Witch/Black Witch divide is dangerously close and when Michele meets Sam there are problems ahead for both of them.

I actually found this to be quite an emotional tale considering its short length –  Ms Green manages to pack a lot in there without making it over complicated and it flows along beautifully as we read a young girl’s thoughts as she falls in love, realises the chasm that exists between people and tries her best to make it work anyway.  The mythology of the “Half Bad” world is solidified here, a different perspective from that of Nathan as we watch Michele grow up in a world where love and loyalty can often be at odds.

The ending floored me, a real emotional tug on the heartstrings and gosh I am now VERY impatient for Half Wild – I want more from this eclectic and well imagined universe as soon as possible. This was a perfect teaser and just confirms my original feeling that this is going to be one of my favourite YA series ever. Also my love for Gabriel is complete. More Gabriel please.

Happy Reading Folks!