Stories & Sweeties

Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibañez {review}

noreply@blogger.com (Little Miss Becky) — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 08:40:00 +0000

Woven in Moonlight
by Isabel Ibañez
♦publisher: Page Street Books
♦release date: January 7th, 2020
♦hardcover, 384 pages
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦series: Woven in Moonlight, book 1

A lush tapestry of magic, romance, and revolución, drawing inspiration from Bolivian politics and history.

Ximena is the decoy Condesa, a stand-in for the last remaining Illustrian royal. Her people lost everything when the usurper, Atoc, used an ancient relic to summon ghosts and drive the Illustrians from La Ciudad. Now Ximena’s motivated by her insatiable thirst for revenge, and her rare ability to spin thread from moonlight.

When Atoc demands the real Condesa’s hand in marriage, it’s Ximena’s duty to go in her stead. She relishes the chance, as Illustrian spies have reported that Atoc’s no longer carrying his deadly relic. If Ximena can find it, she can return the true aristócrata to their rightful place.

She hunts for the relic, using her weaving ability to hide messages in tapestries for the resistance. But when a masked vigilante, a warm-hearted princess, and a thoughtful healer challenge Ximena, her mission becomes more complicated. There could be a way to overthrow the usurper without starting another war, but only if Ximena turns her back on revenge—and her Condesa.

{Review}

Step into Ximena's world of two warring lands, two peoples willing to fight for their convictions, where her role as the Condesa's decoy will challenger her to her limits. I so enjoyed this story. So action-packed and full of emotion, danger, magic, romance, mystery, and most memorably, culture and food. Ooooh, the descriptions of the food,(seriously Page Street---we need a Woven in Moonlight cookbook immediately) the bright colors and textures of the clothing, the sights and sounds of a bustling and lively city. The story itself was really beautifully written, but I found myself absolutely enchanted with the south american-inspired worldbuilding.

Ximena is immediately a character to root for. While there is much love and loyalty to the true Condesa that she serves to protect, she is clearly a frustrated girl feeling stuck in the life of pretending to be someone else. When she is wisked far from her familiar life, her loneliness and lost sense of self is palpable. Still, she fights, putting up a determined and fierce front. The story takes off in a shot, settles into a bit of a lull, and then picks up again as things get more and more complicated for Ximena. Her feisty will, strong beliefs, and grounding in the Illustrian history are all tested as she discovers the truth behind the people she has always known as the enemy. The magic, while intriguing and original, was lacking a little in explanation. I felt a need to know more about why this magic existed, why it was forbidden, and why different people had different abilities, and why her magic suddenly changed the way it did. The change was fun and added an quirky twist to parts of the story, but I still felt the need to know more details.

There's no shortage of thrilling fight scenes, the mystery and romantic tension between the masked vigilante is swoon-worthy without taking over the story, and there's a hearty lesson intertwined in the adventure that there is always more than one side to any struggle. The ending leaves you with a perfect blend of heartbreak and triumph. A great debut, and I'll definitely be looking forward to more from this author!

{About The Author}

Isabel Ibañez was born in Boca Raton, Florida, and is the proud daughter of two Bolivian immigrants. A true word nerd, she received her degree in creative writing and has been a Pitch Wars mentor for three years. Isabel is an avid movie goer and loves hosting family and friends around the dinner table. She currently lives in Winter Park, Florida, with her husband, their adorable dog, and a serious collection of books.

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source: book provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

Beyond the Shadowed Earth by Joanne Ruth Meyer {review}

noreply@blogger.com (Little Miss Becky) — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 19:07:00 +0000

Beyond the Shadowed Earth
by Joanna Ruth Meyer
♦publisher: Page Street Kids
♦release date: January 14, 2020
♦hardcover, 400 pages
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦stand-alone

It has always been Eda’s dream to become empress, no matter the cost. Haunted by her ambition and selfishness, she’s convinced that the only way to achieve her goal is to barter with the gods. But all requests come with a price and Eda bargains away the soul of her best friend in exchange for the crown.

Years later, her hold on the empire begins to crumble and her best friend unexpectedly grows sick and dies. Gnawed by guilt and betrayal, Eda embarks on a harrowing journey to confront the very god who gave her the kingdom in the first place. However, she soon discovers that he’s trapped at the center of an otherworldly labyrinth and that her bargain with him is more complex than she ever could have imagined.

Set in the same universe as Joanna’s debut, Beneath the Haunting Sea, Beyond the Shadowed Earth combines her incredible world building and lush prose with a new, villainous lead.

{REVIEW}

As the second book that I've read by this author, Beyond a Shadowed Earth didn't fail to astound me with the beauty of Joanne Ruth Meyer's writing. There's something about her method of spinning tales that make them feel like they are ancient and epic and all consuming.

While I admittedly took a while to really sink into this one, it was more because I personally tend to need someone to root for and for the first long while, there was really not one likeable character---but you start to see that that is the whole point of the story. To see if Eda can improve upon and overcome her horridness, her selfishness, her despicable disregard for life if it stands in the way of what she wants. There's just no rooting for a character who willingly offers up the life of her best friend to be handed power until that comes back at her in a harsh lesson. BUT, the story itself and it's strange and at times surprising turns of events still entrapped me, I was constantly pushed on to find out where Eda's actions would take her, in some cases, just to see if Eda's character would grow---and thankfully she did.

At it's heart this story turned out to be about finding worth and meaning in life, in love, in belief, and that what makes that up isn't always the most obvious choice. Though the push-through to the payoff may not be everyone cup of tea, I really enjoyed the experience of Eda's journey and hope that other readers will, too. I'll reach for this author's epic stories again and again!

{About The Author}

Joanna Ruth Meyer hails from Mesa, Arizona, where she lives with her dear family, a rascally feline, and an enormous grand piano. When she’s not writing, she’s trying to convince her students that Bach is actually awesome, or plotting her escape from the desert. She loves good music, thick books, looseleaf tea, rainstorms, and staring out of windows. One day, she aspires to own an old Victorian house with creaky wooden floors and a tower (for writing in, of course!).

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source: book provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

Guest Post: Creating the World of THE WINTER DUKE

noreply@blogger.com (Little Miss Becky) — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 08:00:00 +0000

Hello, dear readers! Today I have a spectucular bit of insight into one of my most anticipated reads of 2020! Claire Eliza Bartlett is back with her sophomore title, THE WINTER DUKE. If you followed along my reading adventures last year, you know I was a huge fan of her debut We Rule The Night. Well, Claire just keeps on taking ispiration from the moments in history that fascinate us most and weaving magical fantasy twist into them to capture our imaginations! First it was the Night Witches, and now in The Winter Duke, she takes us on a Romanov-inspired royal adventure with a little Sleeping Beauty magic woven in. Doesn't that sound amazing?? Below, Claire shares how she built this magical and romantic ice-laced world, with a little peek into the Pinterest Boards she created to draw inspiration from!

CREATING THE WORLD OF THE WINTER DUKE

Worldbuilding isn't usually the first thing I think about when I have a great idea for a story. Most my story ideas come with characters, or plots, or the confluence of the two. But I always want to do something special with my settings - whether that means going out of my way to create a strange world, or giving us a world that's similar to our own with a few striking differences.

Some aspects of Worldbuilding come from necessity. In the case of THE WINTER DUKE, these were things like: why is this tiny city state considered important by larger countries? How does the magic work in a way that will serve the plot without taking it over? How do people walk without constantly slipping in a palace made of ice (and HOW WOULD YOU FLUSH THE TOILET? I solved that problem by forgetting to invent plumbing.)? But some aspects of worldbuilding were put in because I thought they were cool. What? If I don't think I'm writing something cool, how will I convince you? Also, sorry for the winter related puns.

THE WINTER DUKE has two big set pieces. The main story takes place above ground in a palace made of ice - in fact, a city made of ice! But part of THE WINTER DUKE happens in the lake beneath, which holds an entire underwater kingdom that lives in synergy with the duchy Above. Here were my favorite parts about worldbuilding:

A palace made of ice

I got hit with this idea when I saw the ice hotels of Sweden. Being a winter girl who never gets enough snow, I rather romanticize cold weather at this time of my life. I was also fascinated by the idea of not just living, but living comfortably in such a place. I had the chance to carve ice reliefs into my palace walls and imagine thick, opulent clothing for my princess, while piling beds and chairs high with blankets and sheepskins.

A fantasy without horses

Well, not entirely without horses. The main villain rides a horse, which is just adding animal cruelty to his general douchebaggery. I actually had horses in initial drafts for some scenes, but quickly replaced them with dog sleds. Horses don't do so well in arctic conditions, and aren't made for long treks across snow and ice. And of course, anything that involves doggos is going to make me happy. Sometimes the logistics of building a world lead to fun changes!

Magic as a physical resource

Lots of novels have magic that comes from an outside source, but it was a lot of fun trying to figure out where, exactly, the magic came from - how one could unlock its power, and how it could guide international policy as a valuable resource.

The Duchy is so small

I really wanted to make my protagonist Ekata feel crowded in, surrounded by strangers and adrift in her own ignorance. I had a great time surrounding her with people she couldn't remember and didn't care about, and making her more and more uncomfortable as she had to pretend to know everything. Keeping the setting small and claustrophobic also helped to give a feeling of freedom when she could escape to Below.

And speaking of Below...

The Duchy Below

I really loved creating a world below the ice that somewhat mirrors the kingdom Above. I had to ask myself a lot of really interesting practical questions. What did my fish people look like, how did they talk, and how connected were they physiologically to people on land? How could everyone see at the bottom of a lake? The underwater buildings couldn't be made of ice, so what were they made of? Don't worry, I answer all these questions in the novel!

And the Relationship between the duchies Below and Above

I wanted two worlds that relied on each other, and I had to figure out how that was going to work. What did the fishmen Below need from the people Above, and what did Ekata and her family need from Below? What political machinations would they put in play to get these things? Ekata's father was a despot prone to temper tantrums, so we enter the book on a back foot where negotiations are concerned...

Worldbuilding might not be the first thing I think of when I'm generating story ideas, but it's one of my favorite things to expand on. Sometimes a simple practical question opens up an entire part of the world that I'd never considered before. And finding ways to layer it into my story is one of the big joys of writing for me. I hope my little dual world has piqued your interests. THE WINTER DUKE comes out March 3rd, and you can check it out below!

* * * * * *

{About The Author}

Claire Eliza Bartlett grew up in Colorado. She studied history and archaeology and spent time in Switzerland and Wales before settling in Denmark for good. When not at her computer telling mostly fictional stories, she works as a tour guide in Copenhagen, telling stories that are (mostly) true.

WEBSITE • TWITTER • INSTAGRAM

{About The Book}

An enchanted tale of intrigue where a duke's daughter is the only survivor of a magical curse.

When Ekata's brother is finally named heir, there will be nothing to keep her at home in Kylma Above with her murderous family. Not her books or science experiments, not her family's icy castle atop a frozen lake, not even the tantalizingly close Kylma Below, a mesmerizing underwater kingdom that provides her family with magic. But just as escape is within reach, her parents and twelve siblings fall under a strange sleeping sickness.

In the space of a single night, Ekata inherits the title of duke, her brother's warrior bride, and ever-encroaching challengers from without—and within—her own ministry. Nothing has prepared Ekata for diplomacy, for war, for love...or for a crown she has never wanted. If Kylma Above is to survive, Ekata must seize her family's power. And if Ekata is to survive, she must quickly decide how she will wield it.

Part Sleeping Beauty, part Anastasia, with a thrilling political mystery, The Winter Duke is a spellbinding story about choosing what's right in the face of danger.

Add THE WINTER DUKE on Goodreads

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Ink in the Blood by Kim Smejkal {review}

noreply@blogger.com (Little Miss Becky) — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 08:30:00 +0000

Ink in the Blood
by Kim Smejkal
♦publisher: HMH Teen
♦release date: February 11th, 2020
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦hardcover, 411 pages
♦series: Ink in the Blood, book 1
♦source: ARC from publisher for honest review

Celia Sand and her best friend, Anya Burtoni, are inklings for the esteemed religion of Profeta. Using magic, they tattoo followers with beautiful images that represent the Divine’s will and guide the actions of the recipients. It’s considered a noble calling, but ten years into their servitude Celia and Anya know the truth: Profeta is built on lies, the tattooed orders strip away freedom, and the revered temple is actually a brutal, torturous prison.

Their opportunity to escape arrives with the Rabble Mob, a traveling theater troupe. Using their inkling abilities for performance instead of propaganda, Celia and Anya are content for the first time . . . until they realize who followed them. The Divine they never believed in is very real, very angry, and determined to use Celia, Anya, and the Rabble Mob’s now-infamous stage to spread her deceitful influence even further.

To protect their new family from the wrath of a malicious deity and the zealots who work in her name, Celia and Anya must unmask the biggest lie of all—Profeta itself.

{REVIEW}

So I ended this one with some very mixed feelings. On one hand, the concept is just so unique and magical---under the religion of Profeta, inklings send prophetic messages to people through magical tattoos that they ink onto their own skin and then "release". It then transfers the tattoo to the one who it's meant for. Celia Sand, an inkling since she was 6, is our feisty and high spirited protagonist, whose eyes begin to open and she starts to doubt the true legitimacy and faith behind the tattoos they deliver. Is it truly about faith and altruistic intentions or is it about manipulation and control?

Such an interesting tale, and the writing at first was beautiful, but as we got deeper into the story, I felt at times it just got a little overdramatic and muddled. It just wasn't staying with me, wasn't keeping me engaged. I did love the strong friendship and love between Anya and Celia, if anyone seemed capable of bringing down a corrupt religion it was the two of them, both clever and passionate and able to lean on each other infallibly. There was a very light romance but I found the Plague doctor to be a little too broody and cryptic to keep me invested and hoping for a connection between him and Celia. There are so many side characters and many of them are interesting, but we don't learn much about them and at times it was hard to keep them straight.

Though I struggled through much of it, I did make it to end and was glad I did---the resolution was bloody and hard-won, thrilling and tragic. I'll likely pick up book two to see if this beautiful and unique world can fully draw me in next time.

{About The Author}

Kim Smejkal writes dark fantasy for young adults and not-so-young adults, always with a touch of magic. Her debut novel, INK IN THE BLOOD, will release from HMH in early 2020.

When she’s not writing, she’s homeschooling her kids, tutoring other people’s kids, and voraciously hoarding any precious alone time. Though she grew up on the Canadian prairies, she now lives with her family on beautiful, muse-satiating Vancouver Island. She is represented by Daniel Lazar of Writers House.

WEBSITE • TWITTER • INSTAGRAM

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Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim {review}

noreply@blogger.com (Little Miss Becky) — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 03:21:00 +0000

Spin the Dawn

by Elizabeth Lim

publisher: Knopf BYR

release date: July 9th, 2019

hardcover, 392 pages

intended audience: Young adult

series: The Blood of Stars, book 1

Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia poses as a boy and takes his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she'll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. There's just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors vying for the job.

Backstabbing and lies run rampant as the tailors compete in challenges to prove their artistry and skill. Maia's task is further complicated when she draws the attention of the court magician, Edan, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise.

And nothing could have prepared her for the final challenge: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor's reluctant bride-to-be, from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of stars. With this impossible task before her, she embarks on a journey to the far reaches of the kingdom, seeking the sun, the moon, and the stars, and finding more than she ever could have imagined.

{Review}

This book. The Asian mythology, the Mulan inspiration, the adventure and romance, all of that was wonderful, but nothing fascinated me like the descriptions of gorgeous fashion design and sewing!! What a beautiful tale!

Maia immediately drew me in with her dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land, and having the heart, bravery, and sheer determination to reach for it, even when it meant putting her life on the line. She knew she had what it took and she pushed aside any and all backward thinking to prove herself. The story is basically split into two parts, a contest and quest. The contest itself was high stakes and very cut-throat, and I loved all the vivid descriptions of the clothing. The quest was so unique and adventurous with such imaginative world building, as Maia and the enigmatic Edan set off to aquire the ultimate magical materials held by the sun, the moon and the stars. Together the two parts of this fantastic and fashionable tale made quite an epic story!

{About The Author}

Elizabeth Lim grew up on a hearty staple of fairy tales, myths, and songs. Her passion for storytelling began around age 10, when she started writing fanfics for Sailor Moon, Sweet Valley, and Star Wars, and posted them online to discover, "Wow, people actually read my stuff. And that's kinda cool!" But after one of her teachers told her she had "too much voice" in her essays, Elizabeth took a break from creative writing to focus on not flunking English.
Over the years, Elizabeth became a film and video game composer, and even went so far as to get a doctorate in music composition. But she always missed writing, and turned to penning stories when she needed a breather from grad school. One day, she decided to write and finish a novel -- for kicks, at first, then things became serious -- and she hasn't looked back since.
Elizabeth loves classic film scores, books with a good romance, food (she currently has a soft spot for arepas and Ethiopian food), the color turquoise, overcast skies, English muffins, cycling, and baking. She lives in New York City with her husband.

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The Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett {review}

noreply@blogger.com (Little Miss Becky) — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 02:39:00 +0000

The Lady Rogue
by Jenn Bennett
♦publisher: Simon Pulse
♦release date: September 3rd, 2019
♦hardcover, 372 pages
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦stand-alone (currently)
♦source: ARC from publisher for honest review

Some legends never die…

Traveling with her treasure-hunting father has always been a dream for Theodora. She’s read every book in his library, has an impressive knowledge of the world’s most sought-after relics, and has all the ambition in the world. What she doesn’t have is her father’s permission. That honor goes to her father’s nineteen-year-old protégé—and once-upon-a-time love of Theodora’s life—Huck Gallagher, while Theodora is left to sit alone in her hotel in Istanbul.

Until Huck returns from an expedition without her father and enlists Theodora’s help in rescuing him. Armed with her father’s travel journal, the reluctant duo learns that her father had been digging up information on a legendary and magical ring that once belonged to Vlad the Impaler—more widely known as Dracula—and that it just might be the key to finding him.

Journeying into Romania, Theodora and Huck embark on a captivating adventure through Gothic villages and dark castles in the misty Carpathian Mountains to recover the notorious ring. But they aren’t the only ones who are searching for it. A secretive and dangerous occult society with a powerful link to Vlad the Impaler himself is hunting for it, too. And they will go to any lengths—including murder—to possess it.

{Review}

This was SO FUN. The adventure is nearly non-stop, virtually starting from the get-go as we find Theo already in hot water at a Turkish market on the very first page! I haven't read this author before but I do love the writing style in this book, the plot was tightly woven and I absolutely adored the bouncy dialogue that captured the 30s era setting perfectly.

Being the daughter of a well-known archeologist definitely gave this a very Indiana Jones feel to it as well, which I really enjoyed. And with the historical twist of Vlad the Impaler's legacy at the heart of this story, Theo and Huck's quest takes a dark turn. The story unfolds as the two race to track down Theo's father, Richard whose short journal entries interject the story with little hints that propel the plot. From Turkey to Hungary to her mother's homeland in Romania, each clue drives them closer to the truth...and further into danger as the quest becomes about much more than finding her missing father. Theo and Huck were such fun characters, their banter was spot on and funny, but also showed a hurt in both of them that you know they would have to come to terms with eventually. It was a love story with history---my favorite kind. ♥ I'm not sure you could pack many more characters into one story and have nearly all of them be so intriguing in their own way. And what a conclusion---quite surprising and darkly satisfying. Really, really enjoyed this one!

•ABOUT THE AUTHOR•

Jenn Bennett is an award-winning author of young adult books, including: ALEX, APPROXIMATELY; STARRY EYES; SERIOUS MOONLIGHT; and THE LADY ROGUE. She also writes romance and fantasy for adults. Her books have earned multiple starred reviews, won Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award, and been included on Publishers Weekly Best Books annual list. She lives near Atlanta with one husband and two dogs.

WEBSITE • TWITTER • INSTAGRAM

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Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw {review}

noreply@blogger.com (Little Miss Becky) — Sun, 22 Dec 2019 07:11:00 +0000

Winterwood
by Shea Ernshaw
publisher: Simon Pulse
release date: November 5th, 2019
hardcover, 336 pages
intended audience: Young adult
stand-alone
source: received ARC for review at author event

Be careful of the dark, dark wood…

Especially the woods surrounding the town of Fir Haven. Some say these woods are magical. Haunted, even.

Rumored to be a witch, only Nora Walker knows the truth. She and the Walker women before her have always shared a special connection with the woods. And it’s this special connection that leads Nora to Oliver Huntsman—the same boy who disappeared from the Camp for Wayward Boys weeks ago—and in the middle of the worst snowstorm in years. He should be dead, but here he is alive, and left in the woods with no memory of the time he’d been missing.

But Nora can feel an uneasy shift in the woods at Oliver’s presence. And it’s not too long after that Nora realizes she has no choice but to unearth the truth behind how the boy she has come to care so deeply about survived his time in the forest, and what led him there in the first place. What Nora doesn’t know, though, is that Oliver has secrets of his own—secrets he’ll do anything to keep buried, because as it turns out, he wasn’t the only one to have gone missing on that fateful night all those weeks ago.

For as long as there have been fairy tales, we have been warned to fear what lies within the dark, dark woods and in Winterwood, New York Times bestselling author Shea Ernshaw, shows us why.

From New York Times bestselling author of The Wicked Deep comes a haunting romance perfect for fans of Practical Magic, where dark fairy tales and enchanted folklore collide after a boy, believed to be missing, emerges from the magical woods—and falls in love with the witch determined to unravel his secrets.

{Review}

What can I even say about this? The writing was absolutely gorgeous. Though after Ernshaw's debut, The Wicked Deep quickly and easily became one of my favorites last year I was not the least bit surprised. In her second standalone YA novel, Shea Ernshaw once again brings all the spookiness and atmospheric writing that I love. In Winterwood, we are introduced to the legacy of the Walker women of Fir Haven and the dark magic hiding in the surrounding woods. Nora Walker is floundering, feeling uncertain about not having really found a magic in herself to connect her to the long line of women in her family. Her mother has left her alone in more ways than one---always trying to distance herself from their family's legacy. When a winter storm leaves the Fir Haven residence snowed in, Nora finds Oliver Huntsman in the woods and the mystery begins.

This story is such an interesting balance of being steeped in ancient magical atmosphere and modern social ways. Nora, being mostly raised by her grandmother, feels so out of a different time, but she can certainly handle herself in tough interactions with the boys from the reform camp across the lake. Her solitude does put her in a vulnerable position when it comes to the possibility of making friends or even falling in love. I adored every moment in the woods---the weird ways of the magic there were just so strange and lovely. The mystery unfold beautifully, and although there was one major twist that readers will likely see coming a mile away, watching it all unravel was so enjoyable.

If you haven't experienced Ernshaw's unique and haunting storytelling yet, I highly recommend both of these for your winter TBRs. Both are so enchanting.

•ABOUT THE AUTHOR•

Shea Ernshaw is an Oregon native and YA author. She often writes late, late, late into the night, enjoys dark woods, scary stories and moonlight on lakes. She drinks loads of tea and believes sunrises are where unicorns hide. She lives with her two cats, a dog, a husband, and a stack of books beside her bed she still needs to read. Her debut THE WICKED DEEP will be published by Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse in 2018. She currently calls Boston home, where she manages an independent bookstore, drinks too much Diet Coke, and pets every dog she meets.

WEBSITE • TWITTER • INSTAGRAM

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Review: Light at the Bottom of the Earth by London Shah

noreply@blogger.com (Little Miss Becky) — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 12:00:00 +0000

The Light at the Bottom of the World
by London Shah
♦publisher: Disney Press
♦release date: October 29th, 2019
♦hardcover, 320 pages
♦ intended audience: Young adult
♦series: Light at the Bottom of the World, book 1
♦source: ARC from publisher for honest review
♦reviewer: Amy

Hope had abandoned them to the wrath of all the waters.

At the end of the twenty-first century, the world has changed dramatically, but life continues one thousand feet below the ocean's surface. In Great Britain, sea creatures swim among the ruins of Big Ben and the Tower of London, and citizens waver between fear and hope; fear of what lurks in the abyss, and hope that humanity will soon discover a way to reclaim the Earth.

Meanwhile, sixteen-year-old Leyla McQueen has her own problems to deal with. Her father's been arrested, accused of taking advantage of victims of the Seasickness-a debilitating malaise that consumes people,often claiming their lives. But Leyla knows he's innocent, and all she's interested in is getting him back so that their lives can return to normal.

When she's picked to race in the action-packed London Submersible Marathon, Leyla gets the chance to secure his freedom; the Prime Minister promises the champion whatever their heart desires. The race takes an unexpected turn, though, and presents her with an opportunity she never wanted: Leyla must venture outside of London for the first time in her life, to find and rescue her father herself.

Now, she'll have to brave the unfathomable waters and defy a corrupt government determined to keep its secrets, all the while dealing with a secretive, hotheaded companion she never asked for in the first place. If she fails, or falls prey to her own fears, she risks capture–and her father might be lost forever.

{Review}

Wild and unforgiving like the sea, The Light at the Bottom of the World is one of this year's most exciting reads. A story of fascinating survival, overcoming impossible odds, and proving that the survival nature of humankind will always rise above. London Shah creates a timeless world all of her own, with unsurmountable beauty and realism encapsulating the highest level of intrigue and adventure. Shah's beautiful imagery of a world encapsulated by the sea, where whales can be seen swimming by a living room window and the fear of predators takes on a whole new meaning, is one to behold.

While readers might feel the urge to race through this spectacular read, they will still take time to notice all the subtle Old World touches. With vintage 1950's notable fashion, an Elvis announcer, and just enough Oscar Wilde quotes to give literary dreamers all the right ingredients to fall in love.

A fast, intense read from the very first page this story doesn't leave a moment's pause for readers to surface and catch their breath. London Shah's writing is like the mighty ocean. She gives and takes as she pleases while showing readers that you can't drown perseverance, determination, or the desire to do what's right at any cost. Breaking barriers and stereotypes, Shah delivers a world that is vastly different than ours but still operates under similarly projected fears and prejudices. Written with surreal description and deep emotion, London Shah highlights the need for desire, acceptance, adaptation in any circumstance, and most of all hope.

You can find more of Amy's reviews, giveaways and a body painting of this book cover on her incredible Instagram page!

{About The Author}

London Shah is a British-born Muslim of Pashtun ethnicity. She has lived in Britain's capital city for most of her life via England's beautiful North. When she's not busy re-imagining the past, plotting an alternate present or dreaming up a surreal future, then she's most likely drinking copious amounts of tea, eating all the sweets and cakes, strolling through Richmond Park or along the Thames, getting lost on an evening in the city's older, darker alleyways—preferably just after it's rained—listening to punk rock, or losing herself in a fab SFF book or film. If she could have only one super power, it would be to breathe underwater. THE LIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WORLD is her debut novel.

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Gravemaidens Blog Tour: Interview with Kelly Coon!

noreply@blogger.com (Little Miss Becky) — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 08:00:00 +0000

Welcome, Readers!! So excited today to be part of the blog tour for

GRAVEMAIDENS

Have you plunged into this gorgeous fantasy yet?? Well now's the perfect time!! Full of danger, deathly ritual, sisterhood, and romance, this is a world you can easily get lost in.

Today I'm so pleased to have a fun interview with author Kelly Coon for you all!

Interview with Kelly Coon, author of Gravemaidens

•Describe Gravemaidens in 5 words:
Fierce females, friendship, perseverance, and hope! =)

•Who was your favorite Gravemaidens character to write---and who gave you the most trouble?

Iltani was absolutely my favorite to write. I wrote whatever popped into my head, whether it was sarcastic, mean, challenging, or witty. In real life, I have to bite my tongue a lot, but Iltani never has to. Haha! Sometimes, it’s fun to let loose, behave badly, and say exactly what you want to say, consequences or not.

It was tough for me to write Nanaea. She’s a little bit difficult to root for at first, because she’s so interested in the glamor and honor of being a Sacred Maiden, but once you get to know her (and pay attention to the clues), you’ll see why she really wants the honor and it might not be what you think. =)

• Where is your favorite writing spot? Coffee shop? Kitchen table? In the park surrounded by people?

I write the best in my home office with all my notes and stuff around me. But, I can write anywhere. I’ve written in the car on a road trip—not driving, of course—in planes, at coffee shops, in restaurants, in the car while my sons are at different sports practices, and even on the treadmill, sweating onto my phone. haha

•What kind of books did you read as a teen?

I read anything I could get my hands on, but I read a TON of murder mysteries. My mom and grandpa, both of whom kind of inspired by love of reading, used to be into James Patterson, John Sanford, Jonathan Kellerman, and John D. McDonald. (That is a heck of a lot of Johns). I read every murder mystery in the library I could, and when I finished, my mom and grandpa and I would discuss.

In middle school, I read Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, and the occasional romance novel I’d sneak in when my mom wasn’t paying attention. 😉

• Is there anyone special, a teacher or mentor, who inspired you on your path to becoming a writer?

I had two teachers specifically who believed that I would be published, and I held onto their belief with both of my hands.

In high school, I wrote a piece for a teacher named Dawn Wheeler to try to get on the yearbook staff. She pulled me out of another teacher’s class and was laughing so hard in the hallway I thought she was going to choke. She said, “You wrote a political satire. And it’s good!” She told me I’d made the yearbook staff with flying colors and that she was keeping that sheet of paper in case I ever became published. She made me feel like maybe I could be successful at this little hobby of mine.

In college, a professor named Dr. Jacob Blumner read one of my essays and kept me after class. He looked at me really thoughtfully and said, “You know, you’re gonna be published one day. I can already tell. Probably before you’re thirty.” Then he told me to stick with it because I had a gift. I didn’t get published before thirty—he was off by four years—but his belief in me really pulled me through some tough times.

Thank you so much, Kelly!

{About The Author}

YA author Kelly Coon is an editor for Blue Ocean Brain, a member of the Washington Post Talent Network, a former high school English teacher, ACT test prep book author, and a wicked karaoke singer in training. She adores giving female characters the chance to flex their muscles and use their brains, and wishes every story got the happy ending she's living near Tampa with her three sons, brilliant husband, and a rescue pup who will steal your sandwich.

WEBSITE • TWITTER • INSTAGRAM

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Review: Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

noreply@blogger.com (Little Miss Becky) — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 20:40:00 +0000

Ten Thousand Doors of January
by Alix E. Harrow
♦publisher: Redhook Books
♦release date: September 10th, 2019
♦hardcover, 384 pages
♦intended audience: Adult
♦stand alone, historical fantasy
♦source: ARC from publisher for honest review
In the summer of 1901, at the age of seven, January Scaller found a Door. You know the kind of door–they lead to Faerie, to Valhalla, to Atlantis, to all the places never found on a map.

Years later, January has forgotten her brief glimpse of Elsewhere. Her life is quiet and lonely but safe on her guardian’s estate, until one day she stumbles across a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds in its pages, and tells a tale of secret doors, of love, adventure, and danger. A book that might lead her back to the half-remembered door of her childhood.

But, as January gets answers to questions she never imagined, shadows creep closer. There are truths about the world that should never be revealed.

{REVIEW}

With any cover as breathtakingly lovely the one bestowed upon Ten Thousand Doors of January, I tend to romanticize that the story within will be just as breathtakingly lovely. It builds up in my mind until I realize what I'm doing, talk myself back down, preparing to be let down, telling myself that few books could get so lucky as to have it all, inside and out. But with Ten Thousand Doors of January, there was no let-down in sight! It was, in fact, a gorgeous book, inside and out!

The first thing you realize straight away from nearly page one is that the writing is absolutely gorgeous, the imagery is stunning, and the prose are (quite literally in some parts) a veritable love letter to language and the written word. It's the imaginative portal fantasy it promises to be, but has so many more complex layers to it, its almost easy to forget that it's a fantasy at all while untangling the threads of January and Ade's tales and how they collide. It's a story rich with history, racial tensions, power-hungry secret societies, and a brave girl trying to find her place in the world after discovering she's been trusting the wrong people her entire life. It's literally told as a book within a book, and there are so many fascinating characters woven into the story, my favorites being two courageous women, Jane (January's friend) and Adelaide (a bold adventurous woman in a book that January will find even more connection with that she could ever imagine). We really only get a full look at a few of the worlds behind the elusive doors, though even the smallest glimpses were fascinating. The few we do get a good look at are awe-inspiring---worlds crafted with endless creativity and detail.

I truly enjoyed January's story. While it wasn't always quick paced, the unraveling of her story and how it's so gracefully woven into Ade's and Julian''s, Jane's and Sam's and Mr. Locke's, all with her loving and faithful Bad (a big lovable dog by the name of Sinbad) by her side, it was still constantly enchanting and I relished every moment.

{About The Author}

Alix E. Harrow is a part-time history adjunct and full-time reader, with stories published in Shimmer and Strange Horizons. In her spare time she writes, gardens, herds pets, and works on her gloriously dilapidated house. She lives in Berea, Kentucky with her husband and son.

WEBSITE • TWITTER • INSTAGRAM

Purchase the book: Indiebound • BookDepository • Amazon

The Kingdom by Jess Rotherberg {blog tour review}

noreply@blogger.com (Little Miss Becky) — Sun, 26 May 2019 10:13:00 +0000

Today I'm helping to kick off the tour for

THE KINGDOM

by Jess Rothenberg!!

UK cover

US cover

{My Review}

Short review: I. Loved. This. Book.

A little longer review: The Kingdom is not to be missed. No matter if you "don't usually like sci fi. Or you "don't normally go for dystopia". This latter one is me, actually. The Kingdom takes science fiction a little deeper in taking an imaginative look at what it means to be human. Told in a fast-paced unique format that includes, interviews, trial transcipts, security footage, and more, this mind-blowing novel is Westworld meets a crazy exaggerated DisneyWorld.

Ana and her "sisters" are hybrid A.I. theme park princesses, called Fantasists, created to help visitors to the park fill their everywhere fantasy adventure. The story captured my attention from the very beginning by making one thing clear---Ana has been accused of murder. And as the story unfolds, it poses the questions, not only did she do it? But as an A.I., can she be held responsible if she did? In any given situation, she is programmed to react a certain way---does that make her ultimately innocent? All of this spins off in a wild tale as Ana seems to grow a consciousness that isn't in her programming, meets and is baffled by her growing fascination with Owen, a park maintenance worker, and starts to feel unrest among her sisters and in her own role as a fantacist.

They are led to believe that they world has gotten so bad outside their gates that people flock to the park to escape their misery. Even most animal life has gone extinct so the park scientists have recreated them for the visitor's experience. The line starts to blur when other aspects of the park prove not to be all she thought they were and Ana's trust in the people closest to her starts to unravel. It smartly touches on potent subjects such as human rights, humane treatment of animals, artificial creation of life, self-harm, and most of all, the objectification of women, whether they be A.I. or not.

Completely compelling, thought provoking, beautifully diverse, and just all-around wonderfully done. The ending manages to be just as completely jaw-dropping as it is hopeful. This is definitely one that I'll be adding to my shelf of favorites and recommending every chance I get.

{Book details}

♦published by Henry Holt & Company

♦release date: May 28th, 2019

♦hardcover, 352 pages

♦intended audience: Young adult

♦stand-alone

{About The Author}

JESS ROTHENBERG is a writer and freelance editor who grew up in Charleston, South Carolina. A former editor of books for young readers, including the #1 International Bestselling Vampire Academy series, Jess lives in New York City with her husband, son, and cat-who-thinks-he’s-a-dog, Charlie. Her debut novel for teens, The Catastrophic History of You & Me, has been translated into more than a dozen languages.

WEBSITE • TWITTER • INSTAGRAM

Purchase the book: Indiebound • BookDepository • Amazon

The Lovely War by Julie Berry {audiobook review}

noreply@blogger.com (Little Miss Becky) — Thu, 23 May 2019 21:06:00 +0000

The Lovely War
by Julie Berry
♦publisher: Viking Books for Your Readers
♦release date: March 5th, 2019
♦hardcover, 480 pages
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦stand-alone

A sweeping, multi-layered romance with a divine twist, by the Printz Honor-winning author of The Passion of Dolssa, set in the perilous days of World Wars I and II.

It's 1917, and World War I is at its zenith when Hazel and James first catch sight of each other at a London party. She's a shy and talented pianist; he's a newly minted soldier with dreams of becoming an architect. When they fall in love, it's immediate and deep—and cut short when James is shipped off to the killing fields.

Aubrey Edwards is also headed toward the trenches. A gifted musician who's played Carnegie Hall, he's a member of the 15th New York Infantry, an all-African-American regiment being sent to Europe to help end the Great War. Love is the last thing on his mind. But that's before he meets Colette Fournier, a Belgian chanteuse who's already survived unspeakable tragedy at the hands of the Germans.

Thirty years after these four lovers' fates collide, the Greek goddess Aphrodite tells their stories to her husband, Hephaestus, and her lover, Ares, in a luxe Manhattan hotel room at the height of World War II. She seeks to answer the age-old question: Why are Love and War eternally drawn to one another? But her quest for a conclusion that will satisfy her jealous husband uncovers a multi-threaded tale of prejudice, trauma, and music and reveals that War is no match for the power of Love.

{My thoughts}

What an outstanding reading experience! The story is lovely, to begin with, but with an excellent full cast narration on the audiobook, complete with musical interludes, this was something special.

The tale told in The Lovely War is so compelling---the goddess Aprhodite relays the love story of two couples to prove a point to her husband and her lover, Hephaestus and Aries. It's the tale of Hazel and James, and of Colette and Aubrey---four young people caught up in the Great War. It's a glaring look at the ugliness of war, the effect it can have on family and love and growing up, and a heartbreaking look at the how African American soldiers were treated, even by their own countrymen. The romance was sweet, made all the more charming by Aphrodite's telling of how she had a hand in nudging them all in the right direction and her own sheer delight at watching it all unfold.

Despite the serious subject matter and the moments it has it's readers bawling their eyes out ...The Lovely War was such a beautiful tale of bravery and kindness, music and passion, friendship and most of all, love.

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{About The Author}

Julie Berry is the author of the 2017 Printz Honor and Los Angeles Times Book Prize shortlisted novel The Passion of Dolssa, the Carnegie and Edgar shortlisted All the Truth That’s in Me, and many other acclaimed middle grade novels and picture books. She holds a BS from Rensselaer in communication and an MFA from Vermont College. She lives in Southern California with her family.

WEBSITE • TWITTER • INSTAGRAM

Purchase the book: Indiebound • BookDepository • Amazon

The Things She's Seen by Ambelin & Ezekiel Kwaymullina {review}

noreply@blogger.com (Little Miss Becky) — Wed, 15 May 2019 12:00:00 +0000

The Things She's Seen
by Ambelin & Ezekiel Kwaymullina
♦publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
♦release date: May 14th, 2019
♦hardcover, 224 pages
♦Intended audience: Young adult
♦stand-alone
♦arc from publisher for honest review

Nothing's been the same for Beth Teller since the day she died.

Her dad is drowning in grief. He's also the only one who has been able to see and hear her since the accident. But now she's got a mystery to solve, a mystery that will hopefully remind her detective father that he is still alive, that there is a life after Beth that is still worth living.

Who is Isobel Catching, and why is she able to see Beth, too? What is her connection to the crime Beth's father has been sent to investigate--a gruesome fire at a home for troubled youth that left an unidentifiable body behind? What happened to the people who haven't been seen since the fire?

As Beth and her father unravel the mystery, they find a shocking and heartbreaking story lurking beneath the surface of a small town, and a friendship that lasts beyond one life and into another...

{My Review}

Small but mighty! The Things She's Seen looks like a little slip of a book, but inside the story is a wondrous tale, a ghostly mystery full of scandal and sharp turns, a touching father-daughter relationship that has proven itself stronger than death, and a glimpse of aboriginal mythology and history.

The story is told in two perspectives. Beth is a recently deceased teen who hasn't left the side of her living father and now helps him in his job as a detective. He's the only one who can see her and sometimes it's just like she never left, other times he is consumed with the sadness and guilt that comes with grief. Their path crosses with that of Isobel Catching, a supposed witness to a crime they are investigating and she lends her voice to the story with a curious tale of her capture by strange creatures told in verse. Through it all we get a dark and magical look at both ancient and modern aboriginal culture, community, and legend. The history of the Stolen Generation is woven in in such a personal way and I love how it showed the characters finding strength in her ancestry. Meanwhile, Beth coming to terms with her ghostly existence and trying to help her father reconnect with the world was incredibly poignant. Though I do feel the darkly enchanting and courageous chapters in verse overshadowed the murder mystery plot just a bit, it all converged into a horrifying and satisfying end. I hope that this brother/sister author team write more like this.

{ABOUT THE AUTHORS}

Ambelin and Ezekiel Kwaymullina are a brother-sister team of Aboriginal writers who come from the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. They've worked together on a number of short novels and picture books. Catching Teller Crow (original AU title of Things She's Seen) is their first joint YA novel. They believe in the power of storytelling to create a more just world.
(source: www.curtisbrown.co.uk)

Purchase the book: Indiebound • BookDepository • Amazon

Spectacle by Jodie Lynn Zrdok

noreply@blogger.com (Little Miss Becky) — Mon, 06 May 2019 04:27:00 +0000

Spectacle
by Jodie Lynn Zdrok
♦publisher: Tor Teen
♦release date: February 12th, 2019
♦hardcover, 368 pages
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦standalone (currently)
♦source: received from publisher for honest review

Paris, 1887.

Sixteen-year-old Nathalie Baudin writes the daily morgue column for Le Petit Journal. Her job is to summarize each day's new arrivals, a task she finds both fascinating and routine. That is, until the day she has a vision of the newest body, a young woman, being murdered--from the perspective of the murderer himself.

When the body of another woman is retrieved from the Seine days later, Paris begins to buzz with rumors that this victim may not be the last. Nathalie's search for answers sends her down a long, twisty road involving her mentally ill aunt, a brilliant but deluded scientist, and eventually into the Parisian Catacombs. As the killer continues to haunt the streets of Paris, it becomes clear that Nathalie's strange new ability may make her the only one who can discover the killer's identity--and she'll have to do it before she becomes a target herself.

{My thoughts}

This was quite a gripping mystery! With the bleek atmosphere of Paris 1800, when folks used to consider a little morgue-visit quite the amusement, Natalie finds herself a person of interest to the Paris's newest serial killer trying to make a name for himself. I would recommend a strong stomach and a taste for the macabre to take this one on. There's twists and gruesomeness and I dare you not to gasp at least once in this dark and gritty tale.

Natalie is a smart, level-headed character. During a murderous rampage by a killer known as the Dark Artist, she's been assigned as a fill-in morgue reporter and is determined to prove herself but frustrated that the social norms require her to disguise herself as a boy to do so. She longs to make her way with her own identity. When her most recent morgue visit results in a overwhelming vision of the victim's murder, followed by a strange memory loss, she begins to dig around to find out why this could be happening---why she seems connected to these murders, and how it seems to tie in to her Aunt's mental health issues as well.

The story is expertly told, jutting off into little pockets of plot that all circle around to weave themselves together eventually. I felt a quick little disconnect somewhere in the middle, but it had me well in it's grasp again before too long. Natalie really struggles to find reason to put herself through this dangerous situation, but is pulled to find answers when it becomes personal on several levels.

It is, in turn, grotesque, intriguing, heartbreaking, and completely enthralling. Definitely worth checking out if you can take a bit of gut-churning blood and death!

{About The Author}

Jodie Lynn Zdrok holds two MAs in European History and an MBA. In addition to being an author, she's a marketing professional, a freelancer, and an unapologetic Boston sports fan. She enjoys traveling, being a foodie, doing sprint triathlons, and enabling cats. Spectacle is her debut.

WEBSITE • TWITTER • INSTAGRAM

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The Raven's Tale by Cat Winters {review}

noreply@blogger.com (Little Miss Becky) — Wed, 17 Apr 2019 20:42:00 +0000

The Raven's Tale
by Cat Winters
♦publisher: Amulet Books
♦release date: April 16, 2019
♦hardcover, 368 pages
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦stand-alone, historical fantasy
♦source: arc from publisher for honest review
Seventeen-year-old Edgar Poe counts down the days until he can escape his foster family—the wealthy Allans of Richmond, Virginia. He hungers for his upcoming life as a student at the prestigious new university, almost as much as he longs to marry his beloved Elmira Royster. However, on the brink of his departure, all his plans go awry when a macabre Muse named Lenore appears to him. Muses are frightful creatures that lead Artists down a path of ruin and disgrace, and no respectable person could possibly understand or accept them. But Lenore steps out of the shadows with one request: “Let them see me!”

{My review}

This was spectacular! Just beautiful and moody and dark and perfect. Granted, Cat Winters was already of favorite of mine, and her taking on the early life of Edgar Allen Poe was nothing short of a dream pairing for me---but this still blew me away. Winters has so perfectly captured what I would imagine Poe being like as a teen.The fictional story she has lovingly intertwined with what is obviously hours upon hours of detailed historical research culminates into a wonderfully rich, eerie, and heart-wrenching fantasy. I took my time with this one, savored every beautiful word and just enjoyed every moment.

As with many of Cat Winters works, I feel that this book won't be for everyone. It's not fast-paced or action packed, and it certainly isn't lacking in it's peculiarity. I felt completely immersed in Poe's world..his troubled home life, his hopeful romance, his triumphs and failures at school. As an enchantingly dark and bizarre twist, Poe's muse becomes a physical being with needs and emotions and hopes. Lenore is a shining character, even in her grotesqueness, and all she wants is to be seen and acknowledged and made whole. The story manages to have almost no actual romance but still be completely romantic.

Those new to Poe's work will hopefully get a taste enough that they're left with the desire to seek out more. And fans of Poe are sure to adore every easter egg of his many works, every insight to his dark genius, every carefully Poe-stylized phrase, and (my personal favorite moments) the imaginative take on his creative process, with him wildly spinning tales and gushing out poetry line by painstaking line, with Lenore at this side setting his mind ablaze with dark images. This whole story was such a cool concept and I absolutely loved it!

{About The Author}

Cat Winters is an award-winning, critically acclaimed author of fiction that blends history with the supernatural. Her young adult works include IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS, THE CURE FOR DREAMING, THE STEEP AND THORNY WAY, ODD & TRUE, and a forthcoming novel about Edgar Allan Poe's teen years, THE RAVEN'S TALE (available April 16, 2019). She is also the author of two adult novels, THE UNINVITED and YESTERNIGHT. She has been named a Morris Award finalist, a Bram Stoker Award nominee, and an Oregon Spirit Book Award winner, and her books have appeared on numerous state and "best of" lists.

Winters was born and raised in Southern California, just a short drive down the freeway from Disneyland, which may explain her love of haunted mansions, bygone eras, and fantasylands. She currently lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and two kids.

WEBSITE • TWITTER • INSTAGRAM

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We Rule the Night by Claire Eliza Bartlett {book birthday review & interview!}

noreply@blogger.com (Little Miss Becky) — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 12:00:00 +0000

Dear Readers---listen up!!

Today a fantastic debut hits the shelves,
full of fierce flying, historical influence,
powerful magic, and a hefty dose of girl power!!

Happy Birthday to

WE RULE THE NIGHT!

Seventeen-year-old Revna is a factory worker, manufacturing war machines for the Union of the North. When she’s caught using illegal magic, she fears being branded a traitor and imprisoned. Meanwhile, on the front lines, Linné defied her father, a Union general, and disguised herself as a boy to join the army. They’re both offered a reprieve from punishment if they use their magic in a special women’s military flight unit and undertake terrifying, deadly missions under cover of darkness. Revna and Linné can hardly stand to be in the same cockpit, but if they can’t fly together, and if they can’t find a way to fly well, the enemy’s superior firepower will destroy them–if they don’t destroy each other first.

We Rule the Night is a powerful story about sacrifice, complicated friendships, and survival despite impossible odds.

First a quick mini-review:

I really enjoyed this one, from the moment we meet Revna and Linné, we know we are going to be in for an interesting friendship. They are so different, and so fierce and complicated each in their own way. When they are both brought on to a secret military force of young women who have shown the needed skills to mount a surprise attack on the enemy using a magical force called The Thread, their two worlds are thrown together and they find themselves with their lives in each others hands. Their friendship is a rocky one and hard won, but it's quite the adventurous ride getting there. The legacy of the Night Witches heavily inspires this story of feminine strength and determination, what hardships and mistreatment these women who put their lives on the line just as much as any of the male soldiers endured and it is just as inspiring as it is frustrating to imagine how that felt. The worldbuilding and magical system are so creative, vivid descriptions of the aircrafts give this a slightly steampunk feel, and the family conflict and realistic interactions of a group of young women from many different backgrounds all being thrown together all felt genuine. A wonderful debut and one I highly recommend!

* * * * * *

I was honored to be able to ask Claire Eliza Bartlett a few things about her amazing book:

•Linné and Revna--wildly different personalities. Both great characters. Do you feel you're most like Linne or Revna?

I am more like Revna. Practically thinking, second-guessing myself, not too intent on rocking the boat - at least, not the way Linné does it! Though Linné's sarcasm is allll me.

•We Rule the Night has lots of beautiful steampunk fantasy elements, but is also very grounded in history. What most drew you to tell a story inspired by the WWII Night Witches?

After learning about the Night Witches in a rather roundabout fashion involving a power metal song, what drew me most to their story was this sense of strength in the face of unrelenting tribulations. The Night Witches faced certain death every time they got in their planes - and when they got out of their planes, they were often met with sexism and derision from their own side. Some of the women who flew were even considered traitors, for the simple reason that they'd been shot down and captured or killed in enemy territory. But these women kept going, and they relied on each other to keep going. Something spoke to me about fighting so hard for a country that cares about you so little. And as with much of history, I found a lot of parallels for that feeling today.

•Speaking of steampunk fantasy, what was the inspiration for your mechanical dragons, serpents, and other machinery flown in the story?

The machinery is inspired by fantasy and art deco design. Think the swooping lines of a Bugatti. There are a fair few mechanical dragons in fantasy literature, and a big visual aesthetic for mine came from Havemercy by Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett (though the dragons in WRTN are very much machines!). Art deco pins and insects served as a design standpoint for war beetles and palanquins - then I added a dash of tank in there, because it's war time. Pinterest has a lot of great dieselpunk and steampunk spiders, horses and so on, but I had to do a little extra thinking to make them practical additions to the world.

•Every character held such distinct threads of the story, was there any character that was especially hard to write? Any that was your favorite to write?

Probably the hardest was Revna, which makes sense to me. She's my main main character, at least in my head! Her character arc is also less...explosive than Linné's. The other characters were built up over time, in layers, so it was just a matter of thinking hard enough about them that they felt like individuals, not copies of each other. My favorite character is Magdalena. She hopped into my head pretty much fully formed, and she's been a cheerful presence there since the novel's first draft!

•The magical system is such a unique one, a bit like telekinetic energy, but more interwoven into the world...what is one thing you would use it to do in today's world if you could?

Ooohh, that's a tricky one! If I could use the Weave well, I'd probably use it to give my bicycle a push in the mornings! I ride my bike to work, and Copenhagen can get pretty windy, which is no fun for a lazy girl like myself.

•What is one thing you hope readers take away from Linné and Revna's story?

That sometimes you fight for something, and you lose. But that doesn't mean it wasn't worth fighting for, and it doesn't mean you didn't gain something else in the process. I hope that doesn't sound too dismal.

Thank you so much Claire, for giving us even more insight into your story!!

* * * * * *

{About The Author}

WEBSITE • TWITTER • INSTAGRAM

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To Best The Boys by Mary Weber {review}

noreply@blogger.com (Little Miss Becky) — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 23:46:00 +0000

To Best The Boys
by Mary Weber
♦publisher: Thomas Nelson Books
♦release date: March 19th, 2019
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦stand alone, fantasy
♦source: from publisher for honest review

Every year for the past fifty-four years, the residents of Pinsbury Port receive a mysterious letter inviting all eligible-aged boys to compete for an esteemed scholarship to the all-male Stemwick University. Every year, the poorer residents look to see that their names are on the list. The wealthier look to see how likely their sons are to survive. And Rhen Tellur opens it to see if she can derive which substances the ink and parchment are created from, using her father’s microscope.

In the province of Caldon, where women are trained in wifely duties and men are encouraged into collegiate education, sixteen-year-old Rhen Tellur wants nothing more than to become a scientist. As the poor of her seaside town fall prey to a deadly disease, she and her father work desperately to find a cure. But when her Mum succumbs to it as well? Rhen decides to take the future into her own hands—through the annual all-male scholarship competition.

With her cousin, Seleni, by her side, the girls don disguises and enter Mr. Holm’s labyrinth, to best the boys and claim the scholarship prize. Except not everyone’s ready for a girl who doesn’t know her place. And not everyone survives the maze.

{My review}

Ah, this book. It easily takes its place among my favorites shelf. And as a longtime fan of author Mary Weber, I can also say it's become my new favorite of her works. It's a feminist tale, for sure, as Rhen fights her way to what she wants and needs in a world that seems only geared toward the success of young men, but the author spins a tale that gracefully shows that feminism doesn't have to be about showing all men as monsters, but about empowering women and putting men who think women deserve to be thought of as powerless in their place. She's created an enchantingly rich fantasy world full of sirens and ghouls and a terrifying and magical labyrinth competition, and a group of fun characters to carry each other through it all.

I loved the lighter and humorous tone at the beginning, drew me right into the story and put even me at ease with the fact that they were, in fact, cutting into corpses in the very first scene. You quickly get to know Rhen through her snarky interactions and inner dialogue. But further in, the story also puts her through quite a heart-wrenching and time-sensitive challenge---one that becomes her motivation and strength behind her brave decision to sneak into the labyrinth competition.

The plot is so engaging, every twist and turn through the labyrinth is sure to keep readers enticed, thinking through mysterious clues right along with the characters and holding your breath as Rhen, Lute and the others face each puzzle and run a treacherous race to the finish. The subtle romance that grows between Rhen and Lute is perfection---and I love that she makes clear from the beginning that she doesn't have time for any drama and nonsense. I also love how she doesn't back down from Vincent, her childhood friend who seemed to think his declaration of courtship meant he owned her. Grrr. Did not like him. The way things ended with Lute and Rhen---wow. I absolutely loved how everything turned out and the direction it was going, the support and assurance that poured from him. Read it, you'll see. :) I know this is a stand-alone, but I would absolutely love more of Rhen and Lute and Seleni and goofy Beryll. Another absolutely stunning story from Mary Weber that just leaves you wondering in awe at what she will come up with next. ♥

{About The Author}

Mary Weber is the bestselling HarperCollins author of six books, including the Storm Siren Trilogy, The Evaporation of Sofi Snow series, and this year’s highly-acclaimed To Best the Boys. When not writing, Mary sings 80’s hairband songs to her three muggle children, and ogles her husband who looks strikingly like Wolverine. They live in California which is perfect for stalking aging superstars while wearing sweatpants and fannypacks.

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source: book provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Deepest Blue book birthday! Interview with Sarah Beth Durst

noreply@blogger.com (Little Miss Becky) — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 13:00:00 +0000

Let's all venture back to Sarah Beth Durst's beautiful and dangerous

world of Renthia, visit another of it's stunning lands, and say

HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY TO

THE DEEPEST BLUE!!!

Life is precious and precarious on the islands of Belene. Besieged by a capricious ocean full of malicious spirits, the people of the islands seek joy where they can. Mayara, one of the island’s fearless oyster divers, has found happiness in love. But on the day of her wedding to the artist Kelo, a spirit-driven storm hits the island with deadly force.

To save her loved ones, Mayara reveals a dangerous secret: she has the power to control the spirits. When the storm ends, she is taken into custody by the queen’s soldiers and imprisoned with other women like her.

They vary in age and social status, but to many they are heroes who will aide the country or witches that will sacrifice themselves trying. No matter who they are, the women are sent to a terrifying place—an island filled with bloodthirsty nature spirits, and left without food, water, shelter, or any tools except their own instincts and magic. Whoever survives the Island of Testing will be declared heirs to the queen. But no matter if she wins or loses, Mayara knows that the life she dreamed of is gone.

In the final book of The Queen of Renthia trilogy, I was made so curious by the short glimpse we had of the ocean-side land of Belene. I was so excited when I learned that we'd get to explore it so much more in this newest book!! Today I have the honor of interviewing Sarah so she can tell us a bit more about herself and what awaits us in The Deepest Blue!!

* * * * * *

• Tell us a little about The Deepest Blue and how it relates to The Queens of Renthia series?

I loved writing this book! So many sea monsters!

THE DEEPEST BLUE is a standalone epic fantasy set in Belene, a string of islands besieged by an ocean full of malicious spirits. Mayara, one of Belene's fearless oyster divers, is about to marry the love of her life when an unnatural storm hits her island, and wild spirits from the sea ravage her village.

To save her loved ones, Mayara reveals a dangerous secret: she has the power to control the spirits. When the storm ends, she is taken into custody by the queen's soldiers and imprisoned with other women like her. They are sent to an island filled with bloodthirsty nature spirits, and left without food, water, shelter, or any tools except their own instincts and magic. Whoever survives the Island of Testing will be declared heirs to the queen. But no matter if she wins or loses, Mayara knows that the life she dreamed of is gone.

THE DEEPEST BLUE is set in the same world as my Queens of Renthia trilogy, but you don't have to have read the trilogy first -- it's a new story with new characters. (If you have read the trilogy, though, there will be one familiar face.....)

• What character in The Deepest Blue are you most excited for readers to meet and why?

I always fall in love with all my characters. For me, that's an essential step to bringing the characters to life. Once they feel real to me, I know I can write them.

With THE DEEPEST BLUE, I fell in love with the main character, Mayara, when I wrote the very first sentence of the book:

"On the dawn of her wedding day, Mayara knotted her diving belt around her waist and climbed the skull of a long-dead sea monster."

After I wrote that sentence, I knew her voice, her dreams, and her determination.

One of the things that I've been exploring in my writing lately is different ways for people, especially girls and women, to be strong. Mayara is strong because of the love in her life -- her family, her friends, her husband. All her choices are fueled by that.

I can't wait for readers to meet her!

• You've written 18 amazing books for readers of all ages. Do you have an age group that you enjoy writing for the most?

There's something wonderful about each age group. When you write for kids, for instance, you're writing about firsts -- first adventure, first friendship, first taste of independence -- and I love that first brush with wonder. When you write for older readers, you get to build on the rich, wonderful history of the genre. More experienced readers bring a wealth of expectations with them, and it's so much fun to play with that -- either by fulfilling expectations or subverting them.

THE DEEPEST BLUE is my 18th book. I write for kids, teens, and adults, and the common thread in all of them is fantasy.

I spent my childhood in the woods behind my house, searching for a dragon's egg. Every night before bed, I'd check the back of my closet for a way in to Narnia. And every morning, I'd memorize where I left my stuffed animals so I'd know if they came to life and moved around while I was at school. So it was kind of inevitable that I'd grow up to write about magic and adventure and deadly sea monsters.

Some stories lend themselves better to a young protagonist; some work better with older characters. I let the story dictate what kind of book it will be. So long as it has some element of the impossible, I'm happy.

• Where is your favorite writing spot? Coffee shop? Kitchen table? In the park surrounded by people?

I own a laptop because I cling to the image of a writer on the top of a mountain, on the beach, in a cafe, in a beautiful library... But the truth is that I write best just at my desk, in easy reach of my stash of chocolate. This laptop rarely ever moves.

• With so much experience under your author belt, what is one thing you wish you could tell every writer who is just starting out?

Be kind to yourself.

A writer's greatest enemy is self-doubt, and a writer's greatest strength is perseverance. You need to quite that little voice inside you that is always criticizing everything and instead give your story a chance to grow. Trust your instinct. Trust your sense of story. And just keep writing!

Thanks so much for interviewing me!

*     *     *     *     *     *

{About The Author}

Sarah Beth Durst is the award-winning author of seventeen fantasy books for adults, teens, and kids, including The Queens of Renthia series, Drink Slay Love, and The Girl Who Could Not Dream. She won an ALA Alex Award and a Mythopoeic Fantasy Award, and has been a finalist for SFWA's Andre Norton Award three times. She is a graduate of Princeton University, where she spent four years studying English, writing about dragons, and wondering what the campus gargoyles would say if they could talk. Sarah lives in Stony Brook, New York, with her husband, her children, and her ill-mannered cat.

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Waiting on Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Little Miss Becky) — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 09:47:00 +0000

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme created by Jill at Breaking the Spine. A spin-off of the meme called "Can't Wait Wednesday" is now hosted at Wishful Endings. It lets us all gush about what soon-to-be released books we are jumping-up-and-down excited for.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January

by Alix E. Harrow

hitting shelves September 12th, 2019

from Orbit

In the early 1900s, a young woman searches for her place in the world and the mystery behind a magical door in this captivating literary debut.

In the summer of 1901, at the age of seven, January Scaller found a Door. You know the kind of door–they lead to Faerie, to Valhalla, to Atlantis, to all the places never found on a map.

Years later, January has forgotten her brief glimpse of Elsewhere. Her life is quiet and lonely but safe on her guardian’s estate, until one day she stumbles across a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds in its pages, and tells a tale of secret doors, of love, adventure, and danger. A book that might lead her back to the half-remembered door of her childhood.

But, as January gets answers to questions she never imagined, shadows creep closer. There are truths about the world that should never be revealed.

My thoughts: This sounds stunning and magical and nostalgic and trippy and I can't freaking wait.

What book are you eagerly anticipating this week?

The Revenge of Magic by James Riley

noreply@blogger.com (Little Miss Becky) — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 15:00:00 +0000

Today on it's book birthday, I'd like to shine a spotlight on...

The Revenge of Magic

by James Riley

published by Aladdin

Thirteen years ago, books of magic were discovered in various sites around the world alongside the bones of dragons. Only those born after “Discovery Day” have the power to use the magic.

Now, on a vacation to Washington, DC, Fort Fitzgerald’s father is lost when a giant creature bursts through the earth, attacking the city. Fort is devastated, until an opportunity for justice arrives six months later, when a man named Dr. Opps invites Fort to a government run school, the Oppenheimer School, to learn magic from those same books.

But life’s no easier at the school, where secrets abound. What does Jia, Fort’s tutor, know about the attacks? Why does Rachel, master of destructive magic, think Fort is out to destroy the school? And why is Fort seeing memories of an expelled girl every time he goes to sleep? If Fort doesn’t find out what’s hiding within the Oppenheimer School, more attacks will come, and this time, nothing will stop them!

{About The Author}

James Riley is the New York Times bestelling author of the HALF UPON A TIME series, the STORY THIEVES series, and the REVENGE OF MAGIC series. Contrary to what previous biographies have stated, he is a) real and b) not the character Nobody from his STORY THIEVES books. Where would people even get that idea? (Spoiler: From him. He totally made it sound like he really was Nobody. He thought it’d be funny. We’re sorry.)

He was born in Connecticut, where he lived for only a short time before moving to … well, quite a few states. He currently lives in Northern Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C., because that’s where his cats are. He has four of them. Other people think that’s a bit much.

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Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer {review}

noreply@blogger.com (Little Miss Becky) — Sat, 09 Feb 2019 00:37:00 +0000

Echo North
by Joanna Ruth Meyer
♦publisher: Page Street Kids
♦release date: January 15th, 2019
♦hardcover, 389 pages
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦stand-alone

Echo Alkaev’s safe and carefully structured world falls apart after her father leaves for the city and mysteriously disappears. Believing he is lost forever, Echo is shocked to find him half-frozen in the winter forest six months later, guarded by a strange talking wolf—the same creature who attacked her as a child. The wolf presents Echo with an offer: for her to come and live with him for a year. But there is more to the wolf than Echo realizes.

In his enchanted house beneath a mountain, Echo discovers centuries-old secrets, a magical library full of books-turned-mirrors, and a young man named Hal who is trapped inside of them. As the year ticks by, Echo must solve the mystery of the wolf’s enchantment before her time is up—otherwise Echo, the wolf, and Hal will be lost forever.

{My Thoughts}

Beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous writing and storytelling. From the moment I started this, I was lured in and completely enchanted until the final page. Echo North definitely exuded the feel of fairy tales of old. Grimm, Anderson,...you'll expect to find this one tucked in among these collections. The language, the atmosphere, the determination of the heroine. It all melds together to unfold this special story of redemption and love.

In this retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon, Echo Alkaev finds herself fleeing her home and tricked into living with the mysterious wolf who seems to have followed her through life since he scarred her as a child. What she finds is an enchanted house containing dangerous rooms that must be bound by a magical thread. Toward the middle the story ambles a bit, but I never felt bored. Echo's bond with the wolf is in constant flux as she works to both uncover his secrets and save him from his own imprisonment in the house. each door reveals a new secret, and her world opens up even wider with the discovery of the mysterious library of mirrors. The second part takes on a wildly unexpected turn---the whole feel and direction of the story shoots off in an expected direction. It was a little jarring but surprising and exciting as well!

Such a great story and I definitely plan on reaching for more from this author in the future, and possible checking out her debut, Beneath the Haunting Sea, as well!

{About The Author}

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source: book provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

Waiting on Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Little Miss Becky) — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 08:22:00 +0000

WINTERWOOD

by Shea Enrshaw

hitting shelves November 5th, 2019

from Simon Pulse

Be careful of the dark, dark wood . . .

Especially the woods surrounding the town of Fir Haven. Some say these woods are magical. Haunted, even.

Rumored to be a witch, only Nora Walker knows the truth. She and the Walker women before her have always shared a special connection with the woods. And it’s this special connection that leads Nora to Oliver Huntsman—the same boy who disappeared from the Camp for Wayward Boys weeks ago—and in the middle of the worst snowstorm in years. He should be dead, but here he is alive, and left in the woods with no memory of the time he’d been missing.

But Nora can feel an uneasy shift in the woods at Oliver’s presence. And it’s not too long after that Nora realizes she has no choice but to unearth the truth behind how the boy she has come to care so deeply about survived his time in the forest, and what led him there in the first place. What Nora doesn’t know, though, is that Oliver has secrets of his own—secrets he’ll do anything to keep buried, because as it turns out, he wasn’t the only one to have gone missing on that fateful night all those weeks ago.

My thoughts: I have been waiting on the edge of my seat for a cover and more details on this book---and it's finally here!! Guys, The Wicked Deep was my favorite book of last year, hands down. Glorious writing, super eerie storytelling and I can't wait to drown myself in more of Shea's beautiful words.

What book are you eagerly anticipating this week?

Grim Lovelies by Megan Shephard {review}

noreply@blogger.com (Little Miss Becky) — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Grim Lovelies
by Megan Shephard
♦publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
♦release date: October 2nd, 2018
♦hardcover, 376 pages
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦series: Grim Lovelies, book 1
♦source: from publisher for honest review
Seventeen-year-old Anouk envies the human world, where people known as Pretties lavish themselves in fast cars, high fashion, and have the freedom to fall in love. But Anouk can never have those things, because she is not really human. Enchanted from animal to human girl and forbidden to venture beyond her familiar Parisian prison, Anouk is a Beastie: destined for a life surrounded by dust bunnies and cinders serving Mada Vittora, the evil witch who spelled her into existence. That is, until one day she finds her mistress murdered in a pool of blood—and Anouk is accused of the crime.

Now, the world she always dreamed of is rife with danger. Pursued through Paris by the underground magical society known as the Haute, Anouk and her fellow Beasties only have three days to find the real killer before the spell keeping them human fades away. If they fail, they will lose the only lives they’ve ever known…but if they succeed, they could be more powerful than anyone ever bargained for.

From New York Times bestselling author Megan Shepherd, Grim Lovelies is an epic and glittering YA fantasy. Prepare to be spellbound by the world of Grim Lovelies, where secrets have been long buried, friends can become enemies, and everything—especially humanity—comes at a price.

{My Thoughts}

This one was a charmer, but also a little lighter than I expected? There were parts of Grim Lovelies that I really loved, and parts that I thought were just so-so. The Paris setting is enchanting; I loved Anouk's curiosity in the new world she discovers outside her life of servitude--our world but new to her eyes. Throw in the magical and dangerous touches that regular humans don't see and you get the darkly glamorous setting for Anouk's adventure to free herself and her friends.

Anouk starts out a bit meek. Though she is curious about what goes on outside the house she was made in, she is quite comfortable to stay where she thinks she is safe, serving a witch who is quite cruel to her with a kind of love-hungry gratitude. Then a mysterious run-in with the prince of the Haute forces to her wonder about her place in the magical world, and when the Witch turns up dead, her entire world is upended. She'll be forced to lean on her friends and fellow beasties to find a little fierceness inside herself and keep them all from turning back into animals.

The story unfolds at a fast pace---it helps that the plot is a literal countdown to midnight! You can feel the intensity as the dreaded hour closes in. I really enjoyed getting to know the array of characters and all their wildly different personalities. From witches to goblins to topiary bears, this one keeps the excitement high until the very end. There are also quite a few good laughs in this story, usually provided by my favorite snarky character, Cricket, and most definitely with a funny turn of events with the ever egotistical Viggo.

Where it faltered for me was the love story. I felt the direction of the romance was at first a little misleading, and then the awkward feelings between her and Beau started up, but it was definitely missing any amount of chemistry. The story didn't really need it, and in the end it felt a little out of place and forced.

Still a wonderful entertaining story and, with the way it ended, I am definitely looking forward to the follow-up, Midnight Beauties, and hoping for some sort of miraculous magical turnaround on the fate of a few of these characters!

{About The Author}

New York Times bestselling author Megan Shepherd grew up in her family’s independent bookstore in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She is the author of several young adult and middle grade novels. She now lives and writes on a 125-year-old farm outside Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband, two cats, and an especially scruffy dog.

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Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa {audiobook review}

noreply@blogger.com (Little Miss Becky) — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 06:19:00 +0000

Shadow of the Fox

by Julie Kagawa

♦publisher: Inkyard Press/Harlequin Teen

♦release date: October 2nd, 2018

♦hardcover, 409 pages

♦intended audience: Young adult

♦series: Shadow of the Fox, book 1
♦source: received from publisher for honest review

One thousand years ago, the great Kami Dragon was summoned to grant a single terrible wish—and the land of Iwagoto was plunged into an age of darkness and chaos.

Now, for whoever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers, a new wish will be granted. A new age is about to dawn.

Raised by monks in the isolated Silent Winds temple, Yumeko has trained all her life to hide her yokai nature. Half kitsune, half human, her skill with illusion is matched only by her penchant for mischief. Until the day her home is burned to the ground, her adoptive family is brutally slain and she is forced to flee for her life with the temple’s greatest treasure—one part of the ancient scroll.

There are many who would claim the dragon’s wish for their own. Kage Tatsumi, a mysterious samurai of the Shadow Clan, is one such hunter, under orders to retrieve the scroll…at any cost. Fate brings Kage and Yumeko together. With a promise to lead him to the scroll, an uneasy alliance is formed, offering Yumeko her best hope for survival. But he seeks what she has hidden away, and her deception could ultimately tear them both apart.

With an army of demons at her heels and the unlikeliest of allies at her side, Yumeko’s secrets are more than a matter of life or death. They are the key to the fate of the world itself.

{My Thoughts}

Can you believe in all her years of writing YA books, and all my years of reviewing YA books---I'd never read a Julie Kagawa book before?? Where have I been on these?? Well, reading Shadow of the Fox has made me feel like I've missed out all these years! It was excellent---excellent writing, storytelling, character and world building. I'll definitely be seeking out more of her work.

As I like to do with most books that have Asian characters, setting, mythology, etc., I decided to listen to Shadow of the Fox on audiobook. The language and names are just too beautiful and I want to hear them exactly as they are meant to be. This rich story is chock full of Japanese legends, mythological creatures and customs and they are all enchantingly brought to life with Kagawa's vivid descriptions. I was familiar with the kitsune, so it was fascinating to read Yumiko's story. I loved that her character, having been raised in isolation within a temple, she was kind and innocent and a little naïve without coming across as ignorant or weak. She was kind and clever and understandably a little fearful, but also fierce when she needed to be. Her story collides with that of Tatsumi's---a notorious samurai because of the sword he wields. His character is plagued by demons, both actual and emotional as he struggles with his role in doing the deeds set upon him by his masters and with his role in retrieving the dragon scroll. The two have such an interesting dynamic because of how different they are and how they see the world around them. They both clashed and worked together beautifully.

I love how the story wove itself like a traditional fairy tale, as the two strike out on this adventure, meeting an array of challenges and characters along their chosen path, defeating some, inviting others to join their journey, some leaving them questioning their purpose and others strengthening their group as a whole.

Such a well done adventure, I found myself riveted until the very end. I can't wait for book two! The audiobook was excellent (although, the voice characterizations are just a bit overdone at times)---anyway you'd prefer to take this story on, I highly recommend you do!

{About The Author}

Born in Sacramento, CA, Julie Kagawa moved to Hawaii at the age of nine. There she learned many things; how to bodyboard, that teachers scream when you put centipedes in their desks, and that writing stories in math class is a great way to kill time. Her teachers were glad to see her graduate.

Julie now lives is Louisville, KY with her husband and furkids. She is the international and NYT bestselling author of The Iron Fey series.

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The Mystery Continues! Truly Devious & The Vanishing Stairs

noreply@blogger.com (Little Miss Becky) — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 15:00:00 +0000

Were you, like us, completely flabbergasted by that one heck of a cliffhanger in Maureen Johnson's Truly Devious? Well, fear not---the mystery continues soon with The Vanishing Stairs, hitting shelves January 22nd, 2019!! For now, go out and pick up the paperback of Truly Devious so you can see what we mean! It's out today! And be sure to check out Amy's full review here if you need more convincing! :D

Be sure to keep an eye on my Instragram as I'll be hosting a fabulous giveaway for a copy of Truly Devious and a pre-order of The Vanishing Stairs very soon!!

Also, Maureen Johnson will be seeking you out on her upcoming tour!

Epic Reads announced all the stops today. Will you mysteriously appear??

Keep an eye on EpicReads.com for more details!!