Dead Book Darling Reviews

Interview with Rachel Vincent (If I Die Blog Tour)

2012-02-10T13:13:00.000Z

This is the third time I've had the pleasure of interviewing Rachel Vincent here on Dead Book Darling - a testament to a) her awesome blogosphere presence, and b) how much I friggin' love her work.

Readers should note that most of this Q&A deals with post-If I Die issues. That said, if you haven't read the book you won't be truly spoiled by reading this interview. But if you have read it, the answers will make a lot more sense!

Rachel Vincent

Interview with Urban Fantasy and YA author Rachel Vincent

Q. I have always been a big fan of Tod's, so If I Die was an absolute treat for me. But I can't help but wonder, did you always plan for Tod to go from being a side character to having a staring role?

A. No. Tod (much like Sabine) kind of grabbed his part and squeezed everything he could from it. Like a child born for the spotlight. He’s irrepressible, and I love finding new things out about him as I go.

Q. Nash seems to have changed a lot in the course of the series - are we seeing the "real" him now? Or is this "just the frost" that's talking?

A. At this point, I’m not sure that even Nash knows what the “real” Nash looks and feels like. I didn’t realize how complicated and tragic a path I was putting in front of Nash until I got to the end of My Soul To Keep and realized there was no turning back, without taking a copout ending (having Kaylee forgive and forget, which would have been unhealthy for her, and having Nash miraculously cured). And I don’t do copouts. So I had to admit that the only way out of this mess for Nash was the long way. The truth is that an addict is never cured. The cravings are always there, and the best you can really hope for is the strength to fight them. And to keep fighting. So there’s definitely hope for Nash, but that hope lies in continued strength, not in a miracle cure.

Q. While I am in love with what you've done to Nash, Tod, and Kaylee, I wonder if I am alone in my feelings. Have you received much positive/negative fan reaction to If I Die?

A. You know, it’s been interesting. And if anything, the reader reaction to If I Die has reiterated for me that there’s no way to please everyone with one book. Once people had read My Soul To Steal and realized that Tod had feelings for Kaylee, but that she didn’t know it, I started finding lots of reviews (many were actually comment threads) containing ultimatums. In fact, on Goodreads there was a pair of reviews only one or two apart that made me laugh out loud. Then want to cry. One said that if I put Tod and Kaylee together, she’d never read another one of my books again. Two reviews later, another reader wrote that If I didn’t put Tod and Kaylee together, she’d never read another one of my books.

Overall, I have to say I’m thrilled that people are attached to the characters enough to care that much what happens to them. I consider that a success. But sometimes it’s really hard to remember that the world is big, and every reader is different. Some are going to love a book for the very same reason others hate it, and there’s nothing I can do about that. Which is good, because I can’t possibly craft a story to please its potential audience. All I can do is write the story the way I see it, staying true to the characters, even if that means making some of the readers mad. I can’t afford to wimp out (or copout) just because someone won’t like that ending. Someone will always dislike every ending.

Q. With If I Die being such a game-changer of a book, I can only imagine that Before I Wake is going to be very different to the rest of the series. Am I right? And if so, how did that change how you went about writing the book?

A. Yes. That’s inevitable. Without giving too much away, pretty much everyone’s changed at the end of If I Die, but the most difficult transitions are for Nash and Kaylee. Before I Wake is the sloth book (My Soul To Take was vanity, My Soul To Save was greed, My Soul To Keep was gluttony, My Soul To Steal was envy, and If I Die was lust.) which presented a unique challenge from the very beginning. How can you write a sloth-themed book and keep it fast-paced and exciting?

In the end, the answer to that came from the characters’ natural personal progression. I’m illustrating sloth as depression, but the book is really about fighting depression—and fighting evil. Among other things. Both Kaylee and Nash are wrestling with things they’ve never felt before, and they’re both having trouble dealing. They both have a good support system, but they’re also kind of in the media spotlight at the moment, because the things that happened at the end of If I Die have drawn real-world attention, which is the last thing either of them needs.

On the surface, however, for a more accessible answer to your question, Before I Wake involves the consequences of what Tod did for Kaylee in If I Die. In the Netherworld, no good deed goes unpunished. ;)

Q. Finally, can you give us a few teasers about what to expect from Before I Wake?

A. Um…battling evil. Friendship. Loyalty. Growing up, even if your dad isn’t ready for that to happen. Living with consequences. And kissing. ;)

As always, thank you Rachel for answering my questions. I absolutely cannot wait for Before I Wake! Check back in tomorrow for my review of If I Die (my favourite Soul Screamers book yet).

Review - My Soul to Steal by Rachel Vincent

2012-02-09T15:19:00.000Z

My Soul to Steal (Soul Screamers #4) by Rachel Vincent
Librarything / Goodreads

Genre: Paranormal Young Adult

Rating: 3.5 stars
Pages: 352
Publisher: MIRA Books

Summary: Trying to work things out with Nash—her maybe boyfriend—is hard enough for Kaylee Cavanaugh. She can't just pretend nothing happened. But "complicated" doesn't even begin to describe their relationship when his ex-girlfriend transfers to their school, determined to take Nash back.

See, Sabine isn't just an ordinary girl. She's a mara, the living personification of a nightmare. She can read people's fears—and craft them into nightmares while her victims sleep. Feeding from human fear is how she survives.

And Sabine isn't above scaring Kaylee and the entire school to death to get whatever—and whoever—she wants

Thoughts: My Soul to Steal made me want to punch things. Punch things repeatedly. And then it made me wish that Nash were real so that I might stab him in the eyes with a fork. These eyes would preferably be the automatically regrowing type so that I could continue the stabbing over and over and over and... yes. My Soul to Steal made me an angry, angry bunny. Angry on Kaylee's behalf... hell, furious on her behalf.

I was never a big Nash fan, nor was I ever a big Nash/Kaylee fan. But this book just... gah. It really made me wish Nash dead. That said, I do think Nash is not inherently evil, he's just madly screwed up. Rachel Vincent is an absolute genius in the sense that, yes, her characters are 100% realistic. She deals with the aftermath of drug abuse and betrayal in a heart-breakingly realistic way... but that realism? It leads to my aforementioned desire to kill her characters.

But even while I am busy plotting ways to dispose of the fictional bodies, I understand her characters. The new girl, Sabine, for example... let's just say she's pretty damn horrid to Kaylee. And yet, I really do get her - she's completely open about her actions, be they good or terribly bad. Hell, half-way through this book I would have been happy if Kaylee had decided to switch sexual orientations and run off with her. And if I was choosing the main antagonist over the boyfriend? That really gives you an idea how much said boyfriend was wrong for Kaylee.

Moving away from all the interpersonal DR-A-MA, My Soul to Steal was a riot and a half. Vincent does plotty-but-serial extremely well, and this installment was just another demonstration of her ever-improving style. Had the book been more focussed on the plotty goodness, and not on all the Kaylee/Nash/Sabine business, I would be giving it 4 stars without a doubt.

Bottom line? Rachel Vincent writes the most extraordinary characters - some of them you'll love, some you'll want to kill, and others you'll want to have committed. It's great, but oh-so frustrating.

In My Mailbox (January 22nd, 2012)

2012-01-22T14:03:00.004Z

In My Mailbox is a lovely meme for book voyeurs hosted by The Story Siren.

This is my first IMM of 2012 and I actually do have quite a few books that need to be shown - but due to the nature of, well, my life, I only have one photo! They rest of my books are off in countries where I am currently not.

For review:

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand
Oliver Twisted by J. D. Sharpe - Please sir, I want some Goooore. Hehe! Sounds adorably disturbing.
Fracture by Megan Miranda
Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver - Eep! Can't wait to read this one.
Advent by James Treadwell - I had not heard a thing about this book before I received it for review... but it sounds bloody brilliant. It comes out February 2nd, so I am going to have to get to it soon!
Blood by K. J. Wignall

Bought:

Eona by Alison Goodman - I haven't actually read Eon yet, nor do I even own it. But I have heard so many fantastic things about this duology that I am convinced I will enjoy them both.

Also for review:

Crossed by Ally Condie - So glad I've started this series as it really is rather good!
Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly - I had already purchased the hardcover of this book, but I do ever so like the paperback as well!
Tiger's Voyage by Colleen Houck - I am not a fan of this series so will likely be giving it away.
Betrayal by Lee Nichols - Just realised that this is the second book in a series... huh.
Anthology - The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year Volume 6

Bought:

Angelfall by Susan Ee - Alert the media: this is a self-published novel that I purchased on my own volition. I am stunned by myself - but I read fantastic reviews of this book and am convinced that it will be brilliant.
Hana by Lauren Oliver - This Delirium novella had be quite excited when I first heard about it... but then I read quite a few disappointing reviews for it. Oh well.
Daughter of the Flames by Zoe Marriott
Genus by Jonathan Trigell
A subscription to Lightspeed Magazine - I had been reading the free Lightspeed stories online, but decided that I should just go ahead and subscribe to the Kindle version of the magazine... especially now that it contains both Fantasy and Lightspeed stories. It's a fantastic mag, and if you want to read some unexpected, unusual stories I would highly recommend it!

And.... the signed book:

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater - SQUEE! I was so epically disappointed when Maggie did her first UK tour while I was not there.... but luckily, Foyles saved me a signed copy. Because they are awesome like that.

*wipes brow* I'm pretty sure that's it - when you put off posting your IMM posts for a month, things start to pile up!

Cover Alert! Pandemonium (UK) by Lauren Oliver

2012-01-13T13:28:00.000Z

I just got an email from the lovely team over at Hodder revealing the gorgeous UK cover of Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver. Take a look!

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
Goodreads / Out on March 1st, 2012 in the UK
Love, the deadliest of all deadly things.
It kills you when you have it.
And when you don't.

Pandemonium is a poignant, explosive, recklessly romantic and utterly heartbreaking novel. Like Delirium, the first in the compelling trilogy, it will take you to the very edge. That's all you need to know. We'll let Lena do the rest of the talking...

Isn't it just stunning? I absolutely cannot wait to have it in my ickle hands. While I was originally skeptical about the changes to the cover style that both the US and UK publishers made, this cover has officially won me over! Love it.

Giveaway! Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

2012-01-11T11:00:00.000Z

Thanks to the PGUK and Quirk Books, I am happy to be hosting a giveaway of a finished copy of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. Here's some more details on the novel, in case you've somehow not heard of it:

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. And a strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children who once lived here - one of whom was his own grandfather - were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a desolate island for good reason. And somehow - impossible though it seems - they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS!

The Prize: A finished copy of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

To enter (Terms and Conditions):

fill out the form below.
entrants must be 13 years of age or older.
contest open to UK ONLY.
the winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to reply else a new winner will be chosen.
the winner's postal address will be shared with the publisher (Quirk Books), who will send out the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review - Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

2012-01-10T13:19:00.002Z

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Librarything / Goodreads

Genre: Paranormal Young Adult

Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 352
Publisher: Quirk Books

Summary: A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. And a strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children who once lived here - one of whom was his own grandfather - were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a desolate island for good reason. And somehow - impossible though it seems - they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

Thoughts: I've seen so many rave about Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children... and after reading it, I can see why so many people loved it. I, however, am not one of those people.

Miss Peregrine (as I will be calling it from here on out) has a very unique selling point: it incorporates spooky, classic photography into the main plot. So, on one page a character describes a photo he is looking at and on the next page we see the actual photograph. It's pretty neat and the photos that are incorporated into the novel tell a story by themselves. The image on the cover, for example, is of a girl actually featured in the novel. As the photo so clearly demonstrates, she'd rather peculiar.

So while I enjoyed that aspect of the novel, it was not enough to make up for the book's main problem: the writing. Miss Peregrine felt like a student exercise - perhaps an A* student exercise, but not a professional job. Had Ransom Riggs not incorporated the photography into the book, I doubt it would have gotten very far. Ransom Riggs is just trying too hard. Miss Peregrine is supposed to be a creepy, suspenseful, disturbing novel - a book à la 1800s freak-show circus. Instead it is a mildly entertaining story about a boy who starts dating his grandfather's ex-girlfriend (which was just the wrong kind of disturbing).

And yet, I probably could have enjoyed lack-luster pacing and plot, if only the characters had been at all gripping - they weren't. It was as if they had been created solely to fit with the photographs Riggs had found. This was particularly disappointing, considering the fantastic original concept that created the characters.

Despite my apathy for Miss Peregrine, I can see why so many people enjoyed it. While I didn't find the book creepy or disturbing enough to merit its reputation, I think creepiness is a rather subjective test. Also, the photography, layout, and concept behind the novel are unique enough to warrant some investigation into the second book!

Bottom line? Miss Peregrine fell flat. Decent enough, but not worth the hype.

The 2012 Short Story Challenge (Not Just For, er, Short People)

2012-01-10T08:45:00.002Z

This year I have decided to enjoy more short stories. They are an art form that just doesn't get the same appreciation that the novel does. So this year, I'm resolved to read at least 40 short stories. I am actually hoping to read 52 (one a week), but 40 is already quite a bit!

To help myself out, I set up The Short Story Challenge. To complete the challenge, you only need to read 12 short stories (which is my minimum). The stories can be featured anywhere: anthologies, magazines, newspapers or even online.

I'm going to be trying out stories from all sorts of sites/publications/books, and I will make sure to list the source of the tale as I monitor my progress. So here's what I've read so far:

How Many Miles to Babylon? by Megan Arkenberg (Lightspeed Magazine, Issue 20 - read it for free)
Mazer in Prison by Orson Scott Card (read in the Federations Anthology edited by John Joseph Adams)
Gene Wars by Paul McAuley (Lightspeed Magazine, Issue 20)
Always true to thee, in my fashion by Nancy Kress (Lightspeed Magazine, Issue 20)
Warship by George R.R. Martin and George Guthridge (read in the Federations Anthology edited by John Joseph Adams)
Different Day by K. Tempest Bradford (read in the Federations Anthology edited by John Joseph Adams)
★ A Study in Emerald by Neil Gaiman (available for free at Neil's website)
Reaper by Rachel Vincent (E-novella)
The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe

Not Just For Stormtroopers: The 2012 Science Fiction Challenge

2012-01-07T11:31:00.001Z

I love science fiction in any and every form. I am one of those people who used to schedule their lives around Star Trek's airtime. I grew up on the Animorphs series and own all 55 books plus the extras. Give me aliens and give me glory.

That said, I don't actually read that much sci-fi! And ya know what? That kinda sucks. So I've signed up for the 2012 Sci-Fi Challenge over at Curiosity Killed the Bookworm. The challenge only requires you to read one sci-fi novel a month, but I am going to try to read 20 Science Fiction novels this year.

Oh, I should also mention that the challenge includes an optional monthly book club. I'll be taking part in these whenever I can!

So here's what I've read so far (I will keep track as I go along):

Doubleblind by Ann Aguirre

I'm also participating in the 2012 Science Fiction Experience hosted by Stainless Steel Droppings. It is taking place over the next two months and encompasses every type of science fiction possible: TV, cinema, fiction, non-fiction... anything! This means that I might be posting some non-novel content on Dead Book Darling this year. If I watch something particularly good or interesting as part of the experience, I will want to share it with y'all.

In short, live long and prosper.

The End is Year (The 2011 Challenge Wrap-up Post)

2012-01-06T02:36:00.000Z

Another year, another bunch of not-so-completed challenges! 2011 will officially go down as the year that I didn't quite make it.

For starters, I only managed to read 63 books. That's eight less than last year! That just seems wrong... I feel like I should have either improved my "count" or at least stayed the same. While, yes, I know it is not about the numbers, I still feel like I missed out on a whole bunch of books this year because I just didn't have the time. This year? I will have to find the time.

In terms of challenges, I signed up to only four last year... and successfully completed one. For the second year running, I signed up for the Debut YA Author Challenge. I managed to read 9/12 debut novels - not bad! Unfortunately, quite a few of the debut books I read were duds. Not bad, per say, but not great. But, of course, some were fantastic - like Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor and Enclave by Ann Aguirre.

Then there was the A-Z Challenge, which I can't say I really participated in. Even though I updated the list with the books I'd read, I didn't go out of my way to read books that started with letters I hadn't read. I thought that the challenge might get me to read books I wouldn't have otherwise... but it didn't.

I also signed up for the Off the Shelf Challenge, in which I had to read 50 books I already owned. I didn't do too badly, reading 31 novels that had been on my shelves the year before. In fact, now that I think of that, I'm rather proud of my 31 books!

One challenge I did complete this year was the TBR Newbies Mini-Challenge. I have always enjoyed the New Author Mini Challenges held by Literary Escapism, and this one was no exception! The challenge got me to read books by Naomi Novik, Suzanne Collins and Alan Brennert - all of whom made my Top Ten list of the year. I think I might actually sign up for the New Authors challenge this year, seeing how well I've been doing with the mini-challenges...

And that's all for 2011. I'll be summing up my reading resolutions for 2012 sometime tomorrow... they should look something like this:

Read books.
Read good books.
Read excellent books.
DNF bad books.

Review - Succubus Dreams by Richelle Mead

2012-01-03T12:00:00.000Z

Succubus Dreams (Georgina Kincaid #3) by Richelle Mead
Librarything / Goodreads

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Rating: 3.5 stars
Pages: 448
Publisher: Bantam Books (Random House)

Summary: Some days, a girl just can't catch a break ... especially when the girl in question is Georgina Kincaid, a shape-shifting succubus who gets her energy from seducing men. First there's her relationship with gorgeous bestselling writer Seth Mortensen, which is unsatisfying on a number of levels. It's not just that they can't have sex in case Georgina inadvertently kills him (generally a turn-off for most guys). Lately, even spending time together is a challenge. Seth's obsessed with finishing his latest novel, and Georgina's under demonic orders to mentor the new (and surprisingly inept) succubus on the block.

Then there are the dreams. Someone, or something, is preying on Georgina at night, draining her energy, and supplying eerie visions of her future. Georgina seeks answers from Dante, a dream interpreter with ties to the underworld, but his flirtatious charm only leaves her more confused-especially as the situation with Seth reaches crisis point. Now Georgina faces a double challenge-rein in her out-of-control love life, and go toe-to-toe with an enemy capable of wreaking serious havoc among mankind. Otherwise, Georgina, and the entire mortal world, may never sleep easy again.

Thoughts: SPOILER ALERT I tried writing this review without spoilers but I just really, really need to vent. So, if you haven't read Succubus Dreams, stop now if you don't want to be spoiled!

Succubus Dreams ruined any faith I've ever had in the Y chromosome. I mean, yes, Georgina isn't perfect and I sure as hell wouldn't date her... but Seth was supposed to be the love of her life. He and Georgina were supposed to have this epic romance... instead Seth just tossed it aside without really working at it. While, yes, he made some attempts to speak with Georgina, he never really pushed the issue. Hell, Georgie was willing to make compromises but Seth? No, Seth just stabbed her in the heart. That, my friends, is something no one should be capable of doing.

So fine, he wants to end it. Okay then. But do it without cheating on Georgie with one of her best friends! Dammit. I don't care if you think that that is the only way to let her down, because it really really shouldn't be something you should be able to sleep with. Honestly Seth, with boyfriends like you, who needs villainous imps? *stabs*

*breathes* So clearly I am not over this. Even though I knew, before reading the book, that Seth would end up dating whats-her-face, I really didn't expect it to play out like this. Bastard.

END of spoilers!

Anyhow, despite the above, I did enjoy this book. Georgina starts to make some real growth. She tries to think her emotions through and she seems to be gaining greater understanding of the whole Heaven/Hell debacle. Mead also does a fantastic job foreshadowing upcoming plot lines. While I can't see where she is going yet, I am really looking forward to seeing how she deals with what she's already set up.

As usual, every appearance of Carter-the-angel was a joy. I love his character, and I love how Mead has gradually built his role in Georgie's life. I also really enjoyed the book's core plot - it gave the novel a Big Bad while also dealing with a bunch of personal issues for the characters.

My only complaint would have to be the R-rated scenes. Ok, yes, this is a book about a sex-demon but... ick. I know these scenes are key to understanding Georgina and her role in the whole good-versus-evil fight but they were just too unsavoury for me.

However, Succubus Dreams established one thing for certain: this series is not about sex. Hell, it's not even about Georgie's relationship with Seth. It is about so much more than that - it's about Georgina and her guilt; it's about the boundaries between heaven and hell; it's about the nature and torture that is existence. And that? That's what is making me stick it out despite the spoilery rant. My hope is that the next book will be even better.

Bottom line? A heart-wrenching installment to a brilliant series. Richelle Mead delivers.

2012 Debut Author Challenge

2012-01-02T13:45:00.000Z

If you haven't heard of the YA Debut Author Challenge, then you've been missing out! This is a fab challenge hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren in which you have to read 12 debut YA novels over the year.

This will be the third time I've signed up for this challenge... and hopefully I will actually succeed in completing it this year. I'm hoping the new mini-challenges will help me out, as I always seem to be better at those.

So, here's what I plan on reading this year - obviously this list is still a work in progress! Books I already own are in bold:

Cinder by Marissa Meyer (UK - January 5th, 2012) - Read!
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi (UK - February 7th, 2012)
Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood (US - February 7th, 2012)
Slide by Jill Hathaway (UK - March 1st, 2012)
Illuminate by Aimee Agresti (US - March 6th, 2012)

Review - Silver-Tongued Devil by Jaye Wells

2012-01-01T12:00:00.000Z

Silver-Tongued Devil (Sabina Kane #4) by Jaye Wells
Librarything / Goodreads

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Received for review from publishers (Netgalley)

Rating: 4.5 stars
Pages: 432
Publisher: Orbit

Summary: Spoilers for the first 3 books! Life is looking up for Sabina Kane. Now that her scheming grandmother is dead, the threat of war has passed and the rulers of the dark races are about to sign a treaty to ensure ongoing peace. Her relationship with sexy mage Adam Lazarus is strong and all her friends are around her. Even her magic training is progressing further than she ever expected. The only two dark spots in her otherwise settled life are her guilt over her sister Maisie's fragile mental state and Sabina's own sinking sense that she's got unfinished business with Cain, the mysterious cult leader she let get away months earlier.

When a string of murders rock the New York dark races community and threatens to stall the peace negotiations, Sabina finds herself helping to find the killer. Her investigation leads her down troubling paths that have her questioning everything - and everyone - she knows. And the closer she gets to the murderer, the more Sabina realises this is one foe she may not able to kill.

Thoughts: Silver-Tongued Devil was brilliant. I expected great things from Jaye Wells, but truth is that Green-Eyed Demon left me wondering where she could go with the series. Everything had ended so happily that I couldn't really work out why Wells needed two more books.

The reason? Because there is no such thing as a happy ending, not even in fiction! In real life, people don't just go from being a ruthless assassin for 50 years to being a warm-hearted softie overnight. And in real life, love and friendship aren't the only ingredients to lasting relationships. So while Sabina might want to ride into the sunset, that wasn't going to happen any time soon. And to honest, I am so very grateful for that!

Let's start with Sabina. She's one of my favourite characters in fiction, she is a take-no-prisoners woman who has a panache for violence. It's fabulous and depressing at the same time. But in the third book in the series, it felt like she was trying to be someone she wasn't. Luckily, that attempt is dealt with head-on in Silver-Tongued Devil. Not only did she deal with her own demons, she dealt with the way people around her were treating her too. *cough* Adam. *cough*

And while all the inter-character relationships were fantastically done, it was the gargantuan plot twists that made this book stand out. Jaye Wells is not afraid to "go there". She made some pretty big revaluations in this book and made her characters suffer through pretty horrific consequences because of them. What was especially gratifying was the way the plot built on existing scenes - Wells has been laying the groundwork for the events of Silver-Tongued Devil over the entire series. Now that? That's a real writer.

While the first half of the book was good, the second half was fantastic. The pace and the plot just grew more and more intriguing with each page - I found myself thinking about the book whenever I'd put it down. This book made going about my day a very frustrating venture, as all I wanted to do was read!! The only reason it isn't getting 5 stars? Well, it's not quite as funny as its predecessors. Other than that, it was perfection.

Bottom line? Silver-Tongued Devil was everything I didn't even know I wanted. It was a gripping installment to an already brilliant series. Go forth and read it!

Sign up! The 2012 Short Story Challenge

2011-12-31T12:47:00.000Z

Want to read something outside your comfort zone?

Want to try lots of new authors without reading a mountain of books?

Want to read some of the very best literature ever written?

Yes? I thought so! Then sign up for the...

This year, I've decided to dedicate more time to a wonderful way of telling tales: the short story. To do this, I thought "oh, I should sign up to a challenge" but alas, the only short story challenge I've found counts stories by anthologies (click here to sign-up for that challenge). So, I've decided to run one myself!

What is a short story?
Short stories are works of fiction, often written in prose. They tend to be more pointed, focused, and contained than novels.

Why do short stories matter?
The short story is one of the most exciting and important literary forms, and that it can, and should, reach the widest possible readership.

Where can I find short stories?
Anywhere and everywhere. Anthologies, magazines, newspapers, and even on-line.

Still interested? Then take a look at the must-read details:

The 2012 Short Story Challenge runs January 1st, 2012 to December 31st, 2012.
You can sign up at any time.
You do NOT need a blog to sign up - just somewhere online to monitor your progress (personal blog, goodreads, facebook, twitter, etc.) But please post something that shows you are participating in the challenge - it doesn't have to be a full post, a link/tweet/sidebar listing is enough!
You need to read at least 12 short stories. Ain't that easy? Easy peasy. That's one short story a month. Of course, you can choose to read more than 12. Why would you want to? Well, because short stories are brilliant.
There will a giveaways! I'll be giving away two anthologies over the course of the year for challenge participants.

Still interested? Then sign up below!

10 Best Books of 2011

2011-12-28T18:49:00.003Z

I'll be honest, 2011 wasn't the best year for me book-wise. For starters, I only managed to get through 63 books this year. While that looks like a lot, it means there a loads of books that I didn't manage to get through - mostly ARCS, sorry publishers! Out of those 63 books, I only gave five a 5 star review. In other words, only 8% of the books I read this year did I consider excellent. Now compare that to 2010, where I gave nine books 5 stars. Five vs. nine! Isn't that just depressing?

That said, there have been some truly standout novels this year. Some of them had been on my TBR pile for years while some were from brand-new authors. Here's how they break down genre-wise: 3 Dystopian YA, 2 Adult Fantasy, 2 YA Urban Fantasy, 1 Adult Urban Fantasy, 1 Literary Fiction, and 1 YA Science Fiction. They're a diverse bunch of books, but they are all worth a read! (Click on the titles to read my reviews.)

Top Ten Books of 2011

1. A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

A Game of Thrones should really count as 3 books, considering it is big enough to double as a weapon! If you've somehow missed all the buzz about the HBO series based on this book, you've obviously been hiding under a rock. It is fantastic. Read the book, watch the show, go to a convention!

2. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
Patricia Briggs writes amazing books and Cry Wolf was no exception. I absolutely loved how the novel jumped between different characters, and wow what a plot. A-MA-ZING.

3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Yep, The Hunger Games. It took me forever to get to this book but it was ludicrously amazing. I even got my mother to read it (she adored it, btw!). Catching Fire and Mokingjay were just good and OK, but they did not detract from the brilliance of this book.

4. Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

Moloka'i is unlike all the other books on this list - it's historical literary fiction! But wow, is it ever extraordinary. Even if you don't usually read this type of book, I would give it a shot.

5. Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund

Do not be fooled by the cover of Academy 7, this is YA science fiction at its very best. The only, only issue I had with this book? It was too bloody short! Moooore, Anne Osterlund. More!

6. Pure by Julianna Baggott

Pure is kinda a cheat for this list. The book doesn't come out until 2012 but I couldn't help but add it to my list. While it isn't perfect, it was one of the most terrifying YA novels I have ever read.

7. Temeraire by Naomi Novik

Temeraire! What a fantastic book! Dragons and Napoleon and magical magical writing. Read it!

8. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Daughter of Smoke and Bone was probably one of the most unique YA books I've ever read. I am so very, very glad that it has gotten the praise it deserves. Oh, and Laini? Awesome awesome pink-haired lady.

9. The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

I was afraid to read The Gathering, as I adored Kelley's Darkest Powers trilogy and everyone knows that sequels never live up to the original! The only exceptions being The Godfather II and... The Gathering! This book was every bit amazing.

10. Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Ann Aguirre's Enclave lived up to everything I expected from it. And I expected a hell of a lot. Her Sirantha Jax series is a fantastic read, so I hoped and prayed that her venture into YA would be just as great . It was - it really was!

Happy Christmas Everyone!

2011-12-25T18:22:00.001Z

Hope you're all having a wonderful Christmas holiday - and that your tree looked something like this!

E-book exclusives you need to get!

2011-12-22T11:59:00.000Z

I've recently joined the 21st century and bought myself a Kindle (read this post to find out why I finally gave in). It seems I've joined the club just in time to take advantage of some fantastic digital exclusives!

Here are a few short stories and anthologies that are only available as e-books - you'll recognise the authors as some of the very best in YA fiction. They are absolute musts for fans, even those of you who don't have an e-book reader should consider getting them!

Hana by Lauren Oliver
UK readers / US readers

This short story takes place in the Delirium verse, and tells the tale of Lena's best-friend Hana. According to the publishers, "there's a shocking twist to her tale that will leave you with your heart in your mouth". Sounds good to me! I've already got it on my Kindle and cannot wait to get to it!

Hana is only available in eBook and, for a limited time only, is just 99p! You can also make a really neat Lauren Oliver themed Christmas decoration that uses text from Hana. Check it out here!

Darkest Powers Bonus Pack by Kelley Armstrong
UK readers / US readers

Kelley is a fan's dream author. Why? Because she just keeps on giving! She's released three online novellas set in her Darkest Powers verse, and is currently in the process of writing a fourth (read it here). Unfortunately, these stories have just become non-free - but all three are available for your Kindle for just 72p! They are fantastic and well worth it - I've bought them even though I had downloaded the free pdf versions! Read my reviews of two of the stories: Divided and Dangerous.

The First Time Anthology edited by Jessica Verday
UK readers / US Readers: B&N - Amazon

The First Time Anthology is solely available as an e-book, but features a tonne of YA authors you'll recognise from printed works, including: Cyn Balog, Teri Hall, Heidi R. Kling, Saundra Mitchell, Jackson Pearce, Carrie Ryan, Kristina Springer, and Jessica Verday. In 25 stories, the authors explore firsts: first loves, first kisses, first zombie slayings, etc.

I'll admit that I am not quite running out to get this anthology, mostly because I already have so many anthologies I need to get to! Still, it sounds fab.

Virtual Advent Tour: It's not Christmas without Bing!

2011-12-20T14:05:00.000Z

Hi! Welcome to Dead Book Darling. I'm Kay, your ~~ghost~~ host for this stop of the Virtual Advent Tour of 2011. This is my first year participating in the tour and, after reading so many great posts by other bloggers, I was rather stumped as to what to post about. So, I thought I'd get back to the basics. Or rather, back to Bing.

You have heard of Bing Crosby even if you haven't heard of him. He's the crooner who sang the infamous tune "White Christmas" written by Irving Berlin. Bing's version of the song is the best-selling single of all time. No matter the decade, people dust off the track for a timeless Christmas singalong.

And while Bing is pretty much a part of everyone's Christmas tradition, he holds a special place in my mind whenever I think of the holidays. Not because of his roles in the Christmas films Holiday Inn and White Christmas; nor due to his wonderful rendition of the Hawaiian Christmas song "Mele Kalikimaka" (below).

You see, when I think Christmas, I think of the Road films.

The Road films, you ask? The Road films were a series of zany, off-ball comedy films that starred Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Dorothy Lamour. Despite being made over 50 years ago, they can still have you laughing in the aisles. The films often broke with tradition by having the actor's address the audience directly - like Bob Hope's line "[Crosby]'s gonna sing, folks. Now's the time to go out and get the popcorn." Heh! They are brilliant films if you haven't seen any of them, I'd start with Road to Morocco.

Alas, these films have nothing really to do with Christmas. In fact, except for Road to Utopia, all the films are set in rather hot, tropical climates! But these films are attached to a rather special Christmas memory of mine. When I was about 12, my mother and I spent a Christmas together. Er, that sounds weird. What I mean is we spent a Christmas together without any other friends/family/annoying strangers! It was just us and the dogs. And that Christmas we sat down and watched the Road movies.

That was the first time I'd ever seen the films, and I loved every second of them. Moreover, I loved watching them with my mother, the dogs, and the Christmas tree as company. Even though it was a very simple Christmas, it was probably one of my favourites. And now, whenever I think "Happy Holidays" I also think about being off on the road to Morocco...

So, there you have it! For me, it isn't Christmas without Bing or Bob. If you're looking for a new movie for your Christmas line-up, try the Road films! Who knows, it might start a whole new tradition...

Happy Christmas everyone!

Early Review - Pure by Julianna Baggott

2011-12-19T11:17:00.002Z

US cover

Pure (Pure #1) by Julianna Baggott
Librarything / Goodreads

Genre: Dystopian Young Adult
Received for review from publishers

Rating: 4.5 stars
Pages: 448
Publisher: Headline (UK)
Release date: February 2nd, 2012

Summary: We know you are here, our brothers and sisters... Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

Thoughts: I wanted to wait for this book to come out before I raved about it. Honest to God, I planned on waiting. Because, really, I loathe it when people rave about books that aren't available for puchase. But in this case, I just couldn't keep it all in. This book is fan-bloody-tastic, and I need to share.

Pure is quite possibly the most terrifying YA novel out there... which is saying quite a bit. The Hunger Games was terrifying, as was Blood Magic and The Replacement. But the very premise on which Pure is based is so horror-film terrifying that it has to take the cake as the scariest YA book I've ever read.

Ok, so how do I explain?

Well, Pure is set in a post-apocalyptic world. But unlike a lot of books, it isn't set 50 years after the apocalypse - this end-of-the-world is in living memory. And the people suffering hurt all the more because they can remember the time when they weren't in pain.

Pain, you ask? Well, that's an understatement. Pure is set after a nuclear explosion has decimated the world. But the problem isn't with the casualties of death, it's with the pseudo-scientific effects of the radiation. At the time of the attack, people were merged with their surroundings. By surroundings I mean objects, animals, trees, dirt, and even other people. They fused together and everyone became, well, everyone else.

To say that this event made people less-than-friendly is an understatement. While the fused survivors are to be pitied, they are also the most fearful characters I've read in a long time. I found the whole premise utterly realistic and utterly haunting. Pure held me captive.

The reason, however, that Pure isn't getting 5 stars has to do with the nitty-gritty character business. While I surprised myself by enjoying the multi-narrator style, there were things I found a bit too coincidental. Not to mention that some of the relationships in the novel felt rather... rushed. Unfortunately, these inconsistencies kept me slightly apart from the main characters. My hope is that I grow to understand them more in the next novels!

Bottom line? Pure is an original, steampunk-esque take on dystopian fiction. It's the stuff of nightmares and you're going to love it.

Cover Alert! The Calling (UK) by Kelley Armstrong

2011-12-16T15:09:00.000Z

Eep! I always get excited when a new cover comes out for Kelley Armstrong's books - but this one is especially exciting. Everyone, take a look at the UK cover of The Calling!

The Calling by Kelley Armstrong - Goodreads

Maya Delaney's paw-print birthmark is the sign of what she truly is - a skin-walker. She can run faster, climb higher, and see better than nearly anyone else. Experiencing intense connections with the animals that roam the woods outside her home, Maya knows it's only a matter of time before she's able to Shift and become one of them. And she believes there may be others in her small town with surprising talents including local bad boy Rafe, with whom she shares a dangerous, powerful secret. Now, Maya and her friends have been forced to flee from their homes during a forest fire they suspect was deliberately set. After a terrifying helicopter crash, they find themselves stranded in the Vancouver Island wilderness with nothing but their extraordinary abilities to help them get back home. But can Maya really trust her friends? And can she learn how to control the frightening new gift she has discovered before it controls her?

I adore the UK covers of the Darkness Rising series: I love how fierce the girls on the cover are; I love how the cover artists don't shy away from using a full face; I love the inclusion of the woods and wildlife. Love love love. My only issue with this cover is with the girl... she just looks a bit too Anglo. Which is odd considering how very non-Anglo the cover model of The Gathering was. Perhaps this is supposed to be a different character? Or perhaps they still plan on changing the model? This is clearly a preliminary cover (those editing lines can still be seen) so they may still make adjustments... but besides the model, I really do adore this cover!

Read my OMG-this-book-is-amazing review of The Gathering here!

In My Mailbox (December 4th, 2011)

2011-12-04T13:16:00.001Z

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren (inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie) and indulges bookish voyeurism by letting bloggers show off what books they've gotten in their mailbox.

I got one highly anticipated book from the Book Depository this week and the rest? Well, they were all surprise purchases from a surprise second-hand book sale that turned up outside my door! I do love second-hand books...

Bought:

Isle Witch by Terry Brooks
Rip Tide by Kat Falls - Rip Tide!!! I am so sad that this is the second-and-last book in the series, but I can't wait to read it!
The Loop by Nicholas Evans - This one has wolves in it! In case I haven't mentioned it, I am a die-hard wolf fan. I wrote my Masters dissertation on wolves. Wolves and I? We go way back.
Trading in Danger by Elizabeth Moon
Startide Rising by David Brin - I know this cover seems rather ridiculous, but I had to buy it. You see, this lovely man pointed at the book while I was going through the SF box at the second hand book sale and said "it's brilliant". He was so genuine as he started talking about 1980s feminism in science fiction, I knew I had to give the book a shot. Ridiculous cover or not!

And then... there's my new KINDLE!

Isn't it just gorgeous?! I waited so long to get an e-book reader but now I am so glad that I have one (read my entire post about why I finally gave in). I think I will do a review of the product (it's a Kindle Keyboard, btw) once the novelty has worn off. Oh, and the lovely Kindle cover you see? That is the lovely New Yorker cover by M-Edge. I found mine new on Ebay (international shipping on the site was a bit complicated) and it is worth every cent. It's absolutely gorgeous and seems pretty sturdy!

And what is on my Kindle, you ask? Well, other than a bunch of Law textbooks, I have taken advantage of Netgalley's send-to-your-Kindle capability (which is brilliant, btw). I also bought the lovely collection of Darkest Powers Bonus Pack by Kelley Armstrong - a must for fans of the verse!

On the Kindle:

Illuminate by Aimee Agresti (for review) - I have been looking forward to this one for an age-and-a-half.
Cinder by Marissa Meyer (for review) - Apparently this is a-mazing.
Silver-Tongued Devil by Jaye Wells (for review) - Whoot! Jaye Wells! God, I love this series.
Darkest Powers Bonus Pack by Kelley Armstrong (bought - only 86p!)

Review - My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent

2011-12-02T14:36:00.000Z

My Soul to Keep (Soul Screamers #3) by Rachel Vincent
Librarything / Goodreads

Genre: Paranormal Young Adult

Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 378
Publisher: MIRA (UK)

Summary: Kaylee has one addiction: her very hot, very popular boyfriend, Nash. A banshee like Kaylee, Nash understands her like no one else. Nothing can come between them. Until something does. Demon's breath.

No, not the toothpaste-challenged kind. The Netherworld kind. The kind that really can kill you. Somehow, the super-addictive substance has made its way to the human world. But how? Kaylee and Nash have to cut off the source and protect their friends—one of whom is already hooked. And when the epidemic hits too close to home, Kaylee will have to risk everything to save those she loves.

Thoughts: In my review of My Soul to Save, I said that the Soul Screamers series was becoming rather episodic... well, this book makes me want to retract that statement. While the novel begins like a simple "new adventure" for Kaylee, events quickly take an extremely personal turn. Instead of fighting for the lives of strangers, Kaylee is fighting for those closest to her. This change gave the series a bit more gravitas and made this book my favourite in the series so far.

There is a big twist that takes place in the middle of the book - and unfortunately I found out about it before I read the book. To those of you who have no idea what I am talking about... stay that way until you read the book! Even though I was still somewhat shocked by the big revelation, I think it would have hit a lot harder if I hadn't known about it.

Big twist, you ask? Well, let's just say it is a complete game changer and I love game changers. While I don't like it when authors randomly kill off characters just for the sake of it, I do love it when they introduce something small that escalates naturally into a whole new disaster. And that? That's what Rachel Vincent did in My Soul to Keep. It was masterfully done and gave me a whole new respect for this series. While, sure, it's terrible - the twist completely revitalises the verse.

Now, I can't end this review without talking about some of the characters. I am having trouble understanding Kaylee. She spends most of the book hiding rather important problems from her father and uncle... which considering how dedicated she is to protecting people seems completely illogical. Surely consulting with people with decades of experience would be a good idea? But no. I think part of that might be Vincent's desire to keep parents out of the adventure, but it felt rather forced.

And then there is Nash. Eh. I've never been a Nash fan, mostly because we have never gotten to know him. He's always kept Kaylee at arms-length, while she has always been completely honest with him. My Soul to Keep made me even less of a Nash fan, and now I just want Kaylee to keep away from him. Far far away. I am Team Anyone-but-Nash! This book made me just... gah! Nash is going to have to sit down for a real soul-baring conversation with Kaylee before I let him anywhere near that girl!

Bottom line? My Soul to Keep lifts the Soul Screamers series from "good but not fantastic" to "this is something to write home about".

Top Ten Books on my Winter TBR pile

2011-11-29T14:12:00.001Z

Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by The Broke and the Bookish): 10 books on my winter TBR pile. This year, I am going to finish the Debut Author Challenge. Come Hell or high water, I will succeed. That means I need to get 6 more debut books off my TBR shelves before the end of the year! And once I'm done with those I am going to get to those fabulous sequels that somehow I never have time for.

The Debut 2011 Authors:

1. Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton - I've heard nothing but brilliant things about Tessa's work, so I fully expect Blood Magic to live up to the hype it has gotten. So much so that I even bought this book in hardback!

2. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand - I've read reviews of Unearthly written by people who usually dislike YA PNR, especially the type with angels! So, I am sure I am going to love it.

3. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini - I'll be honest, I'm not that excited about Starcrossed... am I off my head for being skeptical?

4. Die for Me by Amy Plum - Oh, Paris. I am expecting Phantom of the Opera and fully expect to get it!

5. Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton - Another urban fantasy author breaks into the YA market! I love it when adult authors write for YA audiences, so I expect very good things from Kelly.

6. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs - This book is stunning and yet utterly disturbing. I simply can't imagine not adoring it.

The YA sequels I have been longing to read:

7. Muse by Rebecca Lim - I adore Rebecca's Mercy series (read my reviews of Mercy and Exile) and cannot wait to start this. If it weren't for the Debut Author priorities, I would be all over this book right now!

8. Forever by Maggie Stiefvater - I KNOW. How could I not have read this book?? I really really really adore this series, and I cannot wait to start Forever... no, really!

9. Defiance by Lili St. Crow - It makes me sad and excited to know that this series is complete - can't wait to see what violence Dru has been up to!

10. Rip Tide by Kat Falls - I absolutely adored Dark Life, which unfortunately didn't get the praise it deserved. Still, cannot wait to start on the sequel! (Btw, make sure you buy the US version of this book. The UK cover is something awful!)

Review - Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs

2011-11-22T14:01:00.000Z

Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega #1) by Patricia Briggs
Librarything / Goodreads

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Rating: 5 stars
Publisher: Orbit
Pages: 320

Summary: Anna never knew werewolves existed until the night she survived a violent attack…and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the pack, she'd learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. But Anna is that rarest kind of werewolf: an Omega. And one of the most powerful werewolves in the country will recognize her value as a pack member—and as his mate.

Thoughts: In case you haven't heard, Patricia Briggs is a brilliant author. I tend to forget her whenever I list my favourite authors, but I really really shouldn't. Every one of her books is a joy to read, and Cry Wolf is no exception. If you've never read her work... get to it!

So, Cry Wolf. First off, you should know that Anna and Charles' story begins with another tale: Alpha and Omega. It's a novella published in the On the Prowl anthology (I gave it a glowing review here), and it is well worth reading before you start Cry Wolf. That said, you can jump straight into the novel without reading the prequel - that's actually what I started off doing before I remembered Alpha and Omega. But I found that reading about Anna's back story and how she met Charles really did enhance Cry Wolf, so... it's up to you.

US Cover

There was a beautiful romantic tension between Anna and Charles - who are busy coming to terms with their new-but-intense relationship. It's a rather unique relationship; their wolves are in love, but their human counterparts are struggling to accept the bond. Instant-bonds are one of my favourite tropes, but they can very quickly turn ridiculous. Cry Wolf manages to deal with the theme seriously - it's brilliant.

There was a lot of sadness in Cry Wolf. Maybe I am a sucker for sad stories, but my heart leapt for so many of the characters in this book: Bran and Sam, in particular. Bran - the alpha of alphas - was one of my favourite characters in the Mercy Series. Getting to see things from his POV was a real thrill. And finding out his origin story? The most beautifully depressing thing I have ever read. And Sam... oh, Sam. I loved seeing him through the eyes of all new characters - he's still as charismatic as ever, but boy is that boy ever filled with angst.

Writing this review has made me want to reread Cry Wolf. Seriously, there is a reason everyone and their mother loves Patricia Briggs. Go forth and read!

Bottom line? Cry Wolf is a stunning novel. It has atmosphere, heartbreak, monsters, and a lovely romance. In short, it has everything I could possibly want from a novel.

Interview with author Rachel Vincent

2011-11-19T22:55:00.001Z

I am super excited to be introducing the brilliant Rachel Vincent. I am a big fan of both her Werecats Urban Fantasy series and her Soul Screamers YA series. The fourth in her YA series, My Soul to Steal, has recently been released in the UK. (Check out the amazing animated cover!)

So, without further ado... here's Rachel!

Q. First off, how many books are you planning for the Soul Screamers series? Do you have a particular ending in mind, or will you just stop when you run out of ideas? (Not that I want them to end, of course!)

I’m contracted for seven. I have tons of ideas for this series. The world building really leaves plenty of room for good conflict. However, whether or not I write beyond the seventh book depends on dull business factors like sales. Writing is an art. Publishing is a business.

Q. One of the things I really like about your YA series is how you don't shy away from certain issues. You deal with sex and addiction, but keep the series firmly rooted in YA. Was that a conscious choice on your part?

Yes. Sex and drugs and other such decisions and dangers are very real presences in teenage life—that much hasn’t changed since I was in high school. Ignoring that in the books just made no sense to me. It’s very important to make sure that the reality-based parts of a paranormal novel are accurate and well grounded, otherwise, it’s nearly impossible to get readers to suspend disbelief for the fantasy elements.

Q. Talk me through your creative process: do you start thinking about a particular character or about the overall plot?

With the Soul Screamers books, I start with a theme—one of the seven deadly sins. They aren’t part of an obvious structure in the story; they’re just my starting point. For instance, the theme of My Soul To Steal was envy, so I asked myself how envy might manifest in Kaylee’s world, and in her life. What would it take to make Kaylee truly envious of someone? Who might be envious of her? Enter Sabine… ;)

Q. You've published 12 books since 2007, a number which I find rather astonishing. Besides having to actually come up with ideas, how do you actually find the time to write that much? Your daily writing schedule must be packed.

My work schedule is kind of crazy, yes. But I know many writers who write faster than I do and put out more books a year. For me, it’s an issue of impatience. If my hands and mind are idle, they will start a new book, whether it’s contracted or not. My publisher has been kind enough to indulge me by publishing them as fast as I can write them, which is nice, because now they’ve stopped piling up. ;)

Q. And here's a tough final question: what are you Top 5 Desert Island books? They don't have to be YA or Fantasy, but the ones you would be happy reading over and over for the rest of life...!

The Stand by Stephen King
Swan Song by Robert R. McCammon
It by Stephen King
And at least one paranormal and one contemporary YA

But honestly, if I were stuck on a desert island and I got sick of reading my five allotted books, I’d just make up my own stories. That’s kind of what I do anyway. ;)

Thank you for answering my questions!

Hope you all enjoyed the interview.I'll be reviewing both My Soul to Keep and My Soul to Steal next week, so keep an eye out for those. In the meantime, you can read my reviews of the first two books in her YA series: My Soul to Take and My Soul to Save. Or you can check out my reviews for the first three books in her Werecats series (note: it took me 3 books to really love them!): Stray, Rogue, and Pride.

Giveaway! Crossed by Ally Condie

2011-11-17T12:29:00.001Z

Thanks to Penguin US, I am thrilled to announce that I will be giving away a wonderful finished copy of Crossed by Ally Condie. Here's the novel's synopsis (just in case you somehow missed it!):

The hotly awaited second book in the dystopian Matched trilogy

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS!

The Prize: A finished copy of Crossed by Ally Condie

To enter (Terms and Conditions):

fill out the form below
entrants must be 13 years of age or older
contest open to US ONLY
the winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to reply else a new winner will be chosen
the winner's postal address will be shared with the Penguin US team, who will send out the prize