June sees the American release of Moonshadow: Eye of the Beast under the equally cool US title of Moonshadow: Rise of the Ninja. Published by the brilliant Little, Brown of New York, who brought the world the hugely successful Twilight saga, Rise of the Ninja comes in hardback with this awesome dust jacket, and as a Kindle e-book. To order, visit Amazon (links below) or any good bookstore in the US or Canada!

ISBN: 978-0-316-05531-4

First US Reviews

‘Combining details about Japan’s early Tokugawa era and its warrior culture with action-packed, fantastical storytelling, Higgins crafts a thrilling tale of honor and friendship…move over, Alex Rider.’

Kirkus

‘…good old-fashioned adventure set in medieval Japan…exhilarating opening sequence…nonstop action…the pacing is so intense…the language is modern, but the setting, clothing, tactics and tools are well placed in their time period…once drawn in by the opening words, “for glory or destruction,” readers will be satisfied by the length and polished writing and will look forward to forthcoming sequels.’

Booklist

‘Higgins…is in top form when detailing personal combat, but also excels at portraying Moonshadow as a young man on the verge of doing great things while still plagued by fears and self-doubt. Though action is at the core of this tale, Higgins also brings to it history, brains and heart.’

Publishers Weekly

‘The swordplay is fast and furious, and Japanese terms and places are integrated in a manner that reluctant readers will find accessible. This adventure is part spy novel, part magic, and all fun.’

School Library Journal

Order Moonshadow: Rise of the Ninja (hardback) on Amazon

Order Moonshadow: Rise of the Ninja (Kindle) on Amazon

AVAILABLE October 2009

at all good book shops and on-line!

The much-anticipated

Moonshadow:

The Wrath of Silver Wolf

Both a sequel to Moonshadow: Eye of the Beast and a  stand-alone adventure, Moonshadow: The Wrath of Silver Wolf promises to satisfy existing fans of the unfolding ninja saga and to snare even more!

Moonshadow: The Wrath of Silver Wolf is   published by Random House Australia and again features brilliant anime artwork by Ari Gibson and The People’s  Republic of Animation. The novel has been nominated for an Aurealis Fantasy Award.

Author Simon Higgins says ’this outing promises yet more cunning shinobi spycraft, accurate traditional swordplay, and a nail-biting plunge into the supernatural world of the ancient Japanese yokai!’

Download your free TEACHER’S NOTES here! Teachers outside Australia & New Zealand please note; the US title of Moonshadow: The Wrath of Silver Wolf will be Moonshadow: The Nightmare Ninja (publication 2011).

First Review

‘…delivers the thrilling, stylish fight sequences that today’s young anime-literate readers demand…its foundation in authentic Japanese mythology, history and culture…Moonshadow is a terrific hero…a perfect formula for boys and girls aged 12 plus, mixing the best elements of anime, fantasy, spy thrillers and medieval action.’

Australian Bookseller + Publisher, October 2009

Meanwhile, Moonshadow: Eye of the Beast, which was short-listed for an Aurealis Fantasy Award, has become the Number 3 book on Angus & Robertson’s national Australian Top 5 for 10 Years & Over chart. Eye of the Beast has also just been published in Germany, the US edition with Twilight publisher Little, Brown is only months away, and the Indonesian translation is set to appear shortly…

German Edition

‘Moonshadow-Das Schwert Des Grauen Lichts’ (Sword of the Grey Light) cbt / Random House Germany

Indonesian Translation

‘The Young Ninja: Dia Yang Tak Tersentuh Maut’ (Eye of the Beast) Bentang Pustaka

A Busy Twelve Months!

Moonshadow’s author enjoyed a busy year including literature festivals, residencies and school visits all over Australia, travel for research (and an international Iadio contest!) to Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia, teaching creative writing in an international school in Singapore, training for a national competition and Black Belt grading before visiting masters from the All Japan Iaido Federation, planning and charting Moonshadow 3 and beyond, and finally, having fun ‘teaching’ Iaido to the fabulous Shae Brewster on Saturday Disney! For more on that, including pix, please see the Author page, and to view the actual SD segment, please visit the Cinema page.

Saturday Disney TV shoot

Published by Random House Australia at the start of August 2008 with a double-sized print run, Moonshadow: Eye of the Beast  has already gone into reprint. Excited readership feedback and rave reviews have been universal, Viewpoint Magazine declaring the book  ‘a thrilling and engaging novel’.

Moonshadow  is also shortlisted for a 2008 Aurealis Award, Australia’s premier speculative fiction prize. 

Translation rights have sold to Germany and a two-book deal has been signed for the novel and its sequel with major US publisher Little, Brown who are now part of the mighty Hachette group. 

Moonshadow: Eye of the Beast

Random House ISBN 978-1-74166-283-2

Fragile peace dawns in the land of the samurai.

Any death, man or beast, must be accounted for.

Moonshadow is the youngest agent of the Grey Light Order. As spies for the Shogun, the order must stop fanatical lords re-igniting civil war.

Moon’s first mission: use his unusual powers to steal the plans for a foreign secret weapon that could forever change the way battles are fought. His lurking enemies: a legendary assassin, rogue samurai and perhaps most dangerous of all…a mysterious, beautiful girl.

Secret allies. Advanced sword skills. Unique powers. And courage. Will it be enough to save a world?

Download your free TEACHER’S NOTES here:

Teachers outside Australia and New Zealand please note that Moonshadow: Eye of the Beast is titled Moonshadow: Rise of the Ninja in the US, and The Young Ninja in Indonesia.

Moonshadow 1 Teacher’s Notes (PDF format)

Reviews:

‘Lightning-fast action and gripping intrigue. Higgins’s grasp of Japanese sword skills and spy craft is masterful!’

John Flanagan, Author of Ranger’s Apprentice

‘Moonshadow is the perfect ninja…honourable, brave, and deadly. Higgins has populated his world with all the exotic locations and ice-hearted villains you could possibly desire…an adventure you’ll never forget! Moonshadow is a terrific read, and deserves to be a smash!’

Sean Williams, Author of The Changeling and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

‘This is a thrilling and engaging novel that will excite young fantasy readers.’

Viewpoint Magazine, Spring 2008

(Paradise Photo by Wayne Jones)