Reviews & Praise
A Sequence of Cosmic Accidents
This thrilling debut rattles along at an exhilarating pace, largely fuelled by the unstoppable force that is Madlock. Readers will enjoy the humour of the back-and-forth banter and her wonderfully colourful and archaic turns of phrase. Along with the laughs and action, this book touches on themes of grief and identity, and Arian has an upper limb difference which is referenced sensitively and incidentally in the storyline. The book is lightly illustrated throughout and well suited to fans of fast-paced, funny adventures. SEE MORE...
By Diana Barnes: Madlock is a terrific character, annoying, but vulnerable... other characters and places are brought to life very effectively. S.A. Reyhani is half Iranian and half Scottish herself and uses her memories of Iranian stories her mother told her, and of a childhood friend for Arian’s upper limb difference. This her debut novel is a tremendously exciting story, and it is planned as the first of a trilogy: this reviewer will be eagerly looking out for the next instalment. SEE MORE...
Taking Arian and Pete along as unwilling adventurers, Madlock and the boys battle monsters, traverse a new world and learn some valuable lessons about grief, friendship and fate along the way. This is an exciting page-turner that any adventure-loving 10-12-year-old will love. Madlock's world gives power to this age group and shows what a world governed by magic rather than technology could look like. Featuring magic, mystery and mayhem, the world-building is well thought out, with just enough familiarity to make the Silky Whey navigable. This is a really enjoyable and exciting read.
By Hannah Rials: A kooky, hilarious imaginative Sci-fi adventure with lots of gentle diversity - body diversity, family diversity, racial diversity.' 'Cosmic Accidents' is one of the Mr B's Bookseller's Dozen, and will be sent out for their 'April Kids Reading Subscription choice' in the middle of the month. SEE MORE...
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A Sequence of Cosmic Accidents is a debut sci-fi fantasy that fizzes brightly with excitement, humour and darkness, an adventure that completely gripped me and took me on an incredible journey to a parallel world I didn’t want to leave… This is an action-packed, edge-of-your-seat adventure that kept me eagerly turning pages as I was gripped by the danger, intrigue and darker edge as secrets are revealed and unexpected occurrences made me gasp out loud. There is also plenty of humour in this story... This really is a brilliantly realised, fascinating and complex world that I loved travelling to... An exhilarating, magical adventure brimming with danger, darkness and humour that is guaranteed to captivate readers of 9+. SEE MORE...
The first in a new intergalactic MG triology, A Sequence of Cosmic Accidents @SA_REYHANI is a thrilling sci-fi portal adventure. Publishing this week from @RocktheBoatNews, it's perfect entertainment for the school holidays. https://t.co/TQwq50Suci" / X]review: 'a thrilling sci-fi portal adventure. Publishing this week from @RocktheBoatNews, it's perfect entertainment for the school holidays. SEE MORE...
Thank you to the publishers for this review copy, this is the start of a new trilogy by a debut author. Firstly, I totally and utterly loved it! I was laughing out loud from the first few pages and it was simply fabulous. Loved the characters, brilliant storyline full of laughter, danger and adventure. There is only one downside – how long am I expected to wait for the next two books? Perfect for all children aged 7 to well over 100 years old. Pick it up and relax – a great book!
Unlike their adult counterparts sometimes do, children's fantasy and science fiction reads very rarely take themselves too seriously and this glorious debut from author S. A. Reyhani is very much a case in point. Huge fun, it is the first in a fabulous new middle grade trilogy full of action, magic and twists and turns that most definitely make it one to watch out for in 2025. Inclusive and influenced by the author's dual Persian and Scottish heritage, this is story unlike any other - one that transports the reader to a brilliantly-imagined parallel world filled with mystery and characters that jump off the page at you. SEE MORE...
