Reviews

Reviews for Dark Poppy’s Demise

From the press:

From the Mail & Guardian

SA Partridge has produced a finely written page-turner that any high-school book lover would enjoy finding in her stocking.

From the Sunday Times

Partridge is a master at exploring the nuances of emotionally awkward teens, through fast-paced dialogue and detailed (but not overwrought) description, rendering Cape Town in affectionate Gothic tones that create a suitably brooding, sombre mood.

From The Citizen

This eerie tale is a realistic account of how the desperate need to be loved can be detrimental. I highly recommend this third novel by Cape Town author, SA Partridge, who won the I Am A Writer and MER Youth Prize 2008 awards for her previous work.

From Litnet

Young adult readers across the board will certainly enjoy this fine book, and many will be able to identify with the feelings of hopelessness, insecurity and anxiety that seem so definitive of the road to adulthood. Partridge’s latest is therefore a welcome addition to a burgeoning literary genre, and a work certain to entertain and inform in equal measure.

From Itch

With this book, S.A. Partridge cements her position as one of South Africa’s most brilliant writers of this generation. This is a novel that not only reaches its target audience effectively, but will also capture the minds of readers outside of the young adult population. Dark Poppy’s Demise is not a novel to be missed.

From Women 24

Sally has certainly written a book that will keep you on your toes. She has a keen insight into the psyche of teens and especially has a knack for creating damaged and broken characters.

From The Cape Times

A good read for teens who may be a bit too glued to online socialising.

From Saltwater Girl

It’ll leave you shuddering.

From the blogosphere:

From Novel Year

Dark Poppy’s Demise should be required reading in high schools across the country. I firmly believe that. What happens to Jen could happen to anyone. There were points during my reading of this novel that I was genuinely freaked out. It was all so scarily real!

From The Word Fiend

Dark Poppy’s Demise is S.A. Partridge’s third novel for young adults and firmly cements her place as an author to watch.

From It’s a Book Thing

A tumble here and a cliffhanger there Sally Partridge has me gripped from page one. I really did enjoy this read. You have a striking cover; a rather intensely set plot, a local setting and a fabulous author to sew it all together!

From Being Brazen

I was transported back to teenagerdom from page one of this book. I think this is a must-read for any young adult girl as the lesson that can be learnt from this book is definitely an invaluable one.

From Club X

Pick it up because it’s a wake-up call about the dangers lurking online.

From Ibby SA

Partridge is a talented writer, and I know teenagers will love this book!

From Goodreads:

Rudi says:

Miss Partridge imbues her climax with such viciousness that it feels like a body blow. Its a testament to her writing prowess that she makes Jenna a thorough pain of a character and yet we are still rooting for her when it counts.

Cat says:

The book is a quick read, and SA Partridge has a wonderful knack for spot-on dialogue.

Reviews for Fuse

Following the success of The Goblet Club, S.A. Partridge has penned a second novel for youth, this time focusing on the relationship between two brothers. With sequential time-line, short chapters, contemporary language and dialogue, action-filled Fuse engages as an adventure story and is an accessible read for young teens. - Joanne Hichens, Cape Argus, November 2009

Uncompromising and gritty, Fuse isn’t decorated with moralising and glitter. As with The Goblet Club, the protagonists possess dubious motivations and are driven to deal with the unintended consequences of their actions. The novel should appeal to a middle-grade readership of 12 to15, and older, delivering a dystopian view of contemporary South African youth culture that is a welcome change from saccharine youth literature. - Pretoria News

Fuse is another exciting exponent of the young adult genre. It tells the story of Justin Mullins and his adoptive brother, Kendall. Set in Cape Town and Pretoria, the novel craftily captures the atmosphere of living in the streets of the two cities. It is a gritty reality and Partridge does not spare her two characters. Fuse holds one’s attention throughout and is a moving portrayal of a friendship between two boys who are brought together by fate as relatives while love transforms them into true brothers. - Karina Magdalena Szczurek, Itch Magazine

I finished Fuse in literally one-sitting, and simply couldn’t stop until it was done. She has a way of writing that keeps you wanting more and more, and when she delivers, she delivers perfectly. This book shows huge insight into a controversial topic at the moment, as well as insight into friendships, mentors and rebellion, with a perfectly-weighted local, real-world touch, and is an absolute must-read. - Mark Marais, Kalahari.net

Fuse is a very good story, full of excitement and surprises, and may perhaps give food for thought to bullies who, it is said, have usually once been bullied themselves. The growing closeness of the two brothers as they survive their difficult and often dangerous experiences is well portrayed and contributes to the reader’s engagement with them. Young adults should find Fuse a good read, one that is engrossing and very amusing in parts. - Jane Holiday, Wordsetc

Reviews for The Goblet Club

This is a beautiful read, at times very dark and creepy, and at times poignant, haunting and magical…From the first page I was hooked and the author skillfully draws the reader into this strange, dark, yet frighteningly accessible world. – Claire Montague-Fryer from Women24

This gothic-style novella embraces magic, mystery and dark intrigue
- O Magazine, February 2008

It is a dark story which cunningly captures the tormented soul and mystery of “the teenage boy”… Her writing is so convincing one almost believes this is a true account told by Mark Llewellyn-Bryce himself.
- Cape Times, September 2008

The Goblet Club, by first-time author, SA Partridge, has all the ingredients for a great teen read – Something Wicked Magazine, May 2008

The Goblet Club is ’n heerlike boek met talle verrassings. Die spanningslyn word geleidelik snaarstyf getrek, komiese ­ele­mente vang jou onverhoeds, die dialoog is vlymskerp en die eienaardige karakters boei jou enduit.
- Die Burger, November 2007

Sally Partridge has succeeded in creating a story that is both dismal, yet strangely uplifting in ways that I find hard to define…To tell anymore of this Gorey-esque plot that would make a really good movie for the likes of Tim Burton, would be to give away too much. My only complaint is, please Miss Partridge, can I have some more please? – Nerine Dorman, Adamastor Writers Guild