Ghosts of the Forest
by Steve Backshall
This is the second in The Falcon Chronicles series (the first one was the excellent Tiger Wars - check out my review). There wasn't as much action in this one as there was the first, (saying that Sinter and Saker still get themselves caught up in many dangerous situations!) but it's still a great read. Steve really conveys his passion for every species on the planet - animal and plant - and his love for the conservation of both shines through strongly. In this story, Sinter and Saker battle to save the Borneo rainforests and the orangutan that struggle to survive in them as big tree felling companies cut down the trees for the palm oil that can be extracted and sold on. We are taken through Vietnam and Borneo with Steve's brilliant descriptive prose that brings everything and everyone to life, and makes you want to visit every single place mentioned. You'll definitely want to research the plights brought to your attention in his books, and Steve handily suggests some websites to check out.
The Falcon Chronicles: Tiger Wars
by Steve Backshall
This was brilliant! The precis on the inside cover doesn't do it justice. The storyline revolves around animals and places Steve knows much about, and his love for them shines through in his wonderfully descriptive writing.
Set in India, Saker is part of 'The Clan', a group of boys who have been unwittingly brought up being trained as hunter warriors, of both men and animals. If they show signs of wavering from their duty or questioning the reasoning, they are either drugged or they simply 'disappear'. Saker was on a mission to supply live tigers for a big client, who would then make millions out of the pelts and body parts. He escapes during the mission, but unavoidably has to take Sinter, the daughter of a wealthy tea plantation owner, as hostage. However, the two soon realise they have a lot in common when it comes to the protection of endangered wild animals, and they follow the trail of two tiger cubs to track down the evil mastermind. Their journey takes them through India, across the border to China and through the Himalayas to Tibet, with a surprise awaiting Sinter.
