The Moneylender’s Daughter – V A Richardson
Allen & Unwin Bloomsbury, 2006
382 pages
RRP: AU$15.95
ISBN: 9780747578192

Reviewed by Nicolee Baxter

It is 1637. The moneylender’s daughter seeks the admiration of her father who wishes he had a son instead of a daughter. His rejection of her leads her to swing between betraying him to, and protecting him from, his various enemies. One of his enemies is Adam Windjammer whose family fortune was lost, thanks to the manipulations of the moneylender. Adam struggles to recover his family’s livelihood as the moneylender seeks to take it from him.

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Living Hell – Catherine Jinks
Allen & Unwin, 2007
281 pages
RRP: AU$16.95
ISBN: 978-1-74114-828-2

Reviewed by Nicolee Baxter

Travelling through space in search of a habitable planet, 1400 humans alternate between stasis and active duty on the ship. When the ship passes through a strange emission wave, it mutates into an organic lifeform. The ship’s non-organic systems suddenly begin to behave in a manner similar to the human immune system. These systems identify the human crew as foreign invaders and begin to attack them.

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The Comical Tragedy or Tragical Comedy of Mr Punch – Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean
Allen & Unwin Bloomsbury, 2006
96 pages
RRP: AU$22.95
ISBN: 9780747588443

Reviewed by Nicolee Baxter

The Comical Tragedy or Tragical Comedy of Mr Punch is a moody, mental walk through a man’s memories of himself as a seven year old boy. Recalling visits to his grandparents, the boy regards the conversations and behaviour of the adults around him with simple acceptance. However, recalling those conversations and behaviour with his adult perspective, he begins to question them. The memories insinuate disturbing family secrets.

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Lilith – Paul Kidd
Kitsune Press, 2007
312 pages
RRP: US$22.50
ISBN: 978-1-84753-166-7

Reviewed by Nicolee Baxter

The first couple of chapters of this novel hint at a deliciously, dark little plot. There is attempted murder, drug overdose, and suicide. The reader can only helplessly observe as the characters slip towards destruction. Disappointingly, by the third chapter the story starts to lose its gritty blackness and becomes more of a melodrama.

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Dragon Ball Volume 16 – Akira Toriyama
Hachette Livre Gollancz Manga, 2007
208 pages
RRP: AU$12.95
ISBN: 13-9-780-57508-008-9

Review by Nicolee Baxter

It is the final of the 23rd strongest-under-the-heavens martial arts tournament. Goku prepares to face his last opponent – the great demon king, Piccolo. But it is not just the title of the tournament that is in contention. If Goku loses, his life and the freedom of the world are also at stake. Goku will need all his extraordinary fighting abilities just to survive.

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