Strangemore

Review for Insurgent by Veronica Roth

2012-04-22T03:58:00.001-07:00

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Strangemore Rating: 5 Stars

All right. Start it up "We Will Rock You" style, now.

Clap, clap, stomp. Clap, clap, stomp. Clap, clap, stomp. Clap, clap, stomp.

We are, we are DAUNTLESS
We are, we are DAUNTLESS

Beatrice, Now called Tris, Made a big change
Playing on the trains, She became a Dauntless one day
She's got mud on her face
A parental disgrace
Now she'll be kickin your ass all over the place

Singin'
We are, we are DIVERGENT
We are, we are DIVERGENT

Tobias is a Dauntless, Divergent
Shoutin' to them all, We can take on the world today
Erudite got blood on their face
We'll put them in their place
Into the past, out of our Fear Landscapes

Singin'
We are, we are INSURGENT
We are, we are INSURGENT

Come on!

We are, we are INSURGENT
We are, we are INSURGENT

The Rundown

Okay, I'm sorry but I am NOT going to give you a summary of this book. I knew nothing going in and I loved it that way. Everything was a surprise and I think maybe that's how it should be. Plus, you know you want to read it anyway.

And if you haven't read Divergent yet... WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! Shoo! Go read it NOW.

The Plot and World-Building

This world in Insurgent is darker and even more exciting than Divergent. Each chapter raises the stakes until you're all in. The characters in this book are so much more alive than in any other book I've read recently. They have such fascinating layers and depth that I feel I could never uncover all he secrets they hold. Luckily, Veronica Roth is amazing at helping us do just that. The characters are masterfully unraveled before our very eyes. Insights unlocked that I'd have never seen coming.

The same goes for the storyline. There are things happening in this book that I wouldn't have once guessed. And I consider myself pretty adept at figuring out storylines. Every new plot twist is a welcome surprise. Every new bit of info is an exciting reveal.

I was very pleasantly surprised that the romance storyline DID NOT overwhelm the majority of the plot. This was a book about society and about war and about dealing with everything that comes with both of those. That's what dystopian fiction is supposed to be about.

The plot expands greatly upon what we know about the society and it's background, which in the first was mostly nil. I was thrilled with the way the information was revealed and what it means for the future of the series.

The Characters

Tris really FEELS the emotions brought on by the deaths that she believes herself to be responsible for, even when she had no other choice. In fact, she feels her feelings almost too much. A lot like the way people really do in even less dire real life situations. She's just an ordinary girl in an extraordinary situation. At least, that's how she sees herself. She doesn't at all realize how strong and extraordinary she really is.

As much as I love Katniss from The Hunger Games, I never really felt her inner turmoil the way I do with Tris. My stomach clenches when I think of what she's gone through so far. If I think about it too much, I'll get nauseous.

On another note, I have a tiny gripe about the passages involving Four's looks, like this one: "Some girls might focus on the way his ears stick out, or the way his nose hooks at the end." Plus, many other little ones about his spindly long fingers and gaunt face.

Wow, move over Fabio! Lemme at him!! GOOD LORD, this woman really does not want us to find Ol' Toby attractive, does she? I appreciate that he isn't your typical "hero" type, because let's face it - not every guy has long blonde waves and gleaming teeth. But not every girl finds that kind of guy attractive either. It doesn't have to be one or the other. I would like a bit sexier description of him from time to time. You know, something that doesn't make it sound as though he looks like Beetlejuice.

For example, most people wouldn't call Edward Scissorhands himself a classically handsome man. If you tried to, you could make some of Johnny Depp's characters sound pretty hideous in a text description, but he somehow manages to transcend the gloomy and unique nature of those characters and bring them to life in a way that makes them sexy and intriguing. I just would like a little something like that in the description of Four in the future.

The Romance

First off, yes, I still call him Four. Tris switches off between calling him Four and Tobias in the book. Lately, I've found myself calling him Tobias in my head but when I write it, it usually ends up being Four. I mean, that's what he was called throughout almost the entire first novel... but the name Tobias is starting to grow on me.

To be honest, I was afraid that Tris and Four's relationship would go down the cookie cutter route. I couldn't be more thrilled with the direction their romance has taken. They have real issues that they work through. There is no angst purely for the sake angst. It's all based on their present and past situations. If you're looking for a lovey dovey, pink fluffy unicorns dancing on rainbows kind of relationship, then sorry but you won't find that here. Sorry to burst your cotton candy bubble gum bubble. And yes, I know I'm evil. *sly grin*

There's angst and arguing but NO love triangle with the main character. At least not one that was discernible to me. If there was one, it was a ninja assassin love triangle.

The Verdict

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in this series. Insurgent was an incredibly delicious, exciting, and emotional read! But mostly, it just flat out made an impact on me.

The other night I was watching Merlin, which has newly been added to my list of all-time favorite TV shows, and there was one particular moment where a character shows a redonkulous amount of bravery in a certain heartbreaking scene which cannot be named, and I literally thought to myself "That's so Dauntless." That's the power of the world that Veronica Roth has created. When a story becomes part of pop culture, when it is so unique and recognizable that it can be spoofed or merchandised, and when it's terminology works its way into your everyday life - that's when you see the true power of literature. I believe that this is one of those stories.

Oh and by the way, I want a T-Shirt with the Dauntless faction symbol, so... someone get started on that ASAP. *snap, snap*

Now go forth and win a copy of Insurgent. But wait there's more! A signed copy of Divergent to go along with it!

Insurgent and Divergent Giveaway

2012-04-02T03:53:00.001-07:00

Well, I had a super exciting weekend - I played some Mass Effect 3 and caught space hamster. But more importantly, I got an ARC of INSURGENT! Eeeeheeheehee!! (That's the noise an excited space hamster makes. Just thought I'd enlighten you.)

This gorgeous box showed up on my doorstep with Insurgent all over the cover.

So I open it my box and what do I see? One big ole' eyeball, a looking' at me!

It tells me what I've always suspected to be true. I am ERUDITE. It's no surprise to me that I am a member of the Erudite Faction. Not because I'm evil and want to take over the world. Although.... Well, maybe a little bit for that reason. But mostly because I'm far too curious for my own good.

I know what you're thinking. Well, good for you, Lyndsey, but what's in it for me? Or maybe you weren't thinking that, and I'm just far too skeptical. (Ooh, there's another good ole' Erudite trait.) But anyway, if you weren't thinking it before, I bet you are now! (See I have mind control powers, too.)

So here's what's in it for you! I have a brand new copy of Divergent signed by the author herself, Veronia Roth, as well as a lovely pre-ordered hardcover copy of Insurgent. I'm giving the set away to one lucky winner. Here's how it works:

You must be a follower of Strangemore to enter.
You can earn extra entries for liking Strangemore on Facebook, following @StrangemoreBlog, and daily tweets.
You will earn 10 extra entries for pre-ordering a copy of Insurgent. If you are selected as the winner, I will contact you with plenty of time to cancel your pre-order. I assume most of you will be buying the book anyway, so by pre-ordering, you'll get the extra contest entries, PLUS if you don't win, you'll still get the discounted pre-order price, which is usually a good amount cheaper than if you wait until it's already out.
The contest will end a week before Insurgent's release to allow time to arrange for shipping to the winner!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review for Masque of the Red Death

2012-02-29T15:31:00.000-08:00

Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

Strangemore Rating: 4.5 Stars

Masque of the Red Death is oh so deliciously dark and twisty!

4.5 stars!

I adore dark, fantastical and overly dramatic stories. Who's with me? Let's go kick some flying monkeys, everyone! Kidding, kidding. Please guys, treat your flying monkeys with respect. Oz just wouldn't be as much fun without them.

The Rundown

Araby Worth lives in a chilling death-ridden world, where every day is a struggle to keep from contracting a deadly plague. Dead bodies litter the streets and air-filtering masks are necessary to keep the plague at bay. A villanous Prince rules the area but lives outside the threats that exist within the more poulated areas. Araby spends most of her time out in a club named Debauchery and encounters two sexy and mysterious boys. Yet even more mysterious is what's going on in the city. Rumors of an uprising threaten the safety of those within the city and then the attacks begin. Annnnnnd, love triangles and villainy ensue. Whoohoo! Damn, this is a difficult book to summarize.

The Cover

I really appreciate when the publishers put so much love into even the advance copy of the book. The cover looks beautiful in the photo but in real life it is outstandfendupulosus! Don't even ask me what that means but, I kid you not, it's exactly the word I think of when I look at this cover. Because a "real" word just wouldn't do it justice.

Lately, a lot of books with gorgeous covers haven't been quite as beauteous on the inside. So I was expecting to not like this one. When I would look at it on my shelf, I could picture myself reading it in the future and clearly see the disappointed look on future me's face when it turned out to be less-than-outstandfendupulosus. (Also, I think that if Richard Simmons was a dinosaur, outstandfendupulosus would totally be his scientific name.)

The Characters

This book reads like a crazy twisted dark cartoon version of dystopian gothic fiction. The characters are over-the-top and full of dramatic intrigue.

I fell for every one of the characters. They all have a delightful mix of good and evil. Except for the villians who are so fantastically evil, almost cartoonishly evil, that it makes you want to yell "Prepare for trouble! Make it double!" As for the other characters, glorious shades of gray and questionable actions fill the pages of this book. Moral ambiguity, yay!!

I am enamored with Araby. I don't love that she seems committed to remaining chaste at the start, but I do love her reason. It's not based on religion or peer pressure but a real complex emotional stance, and that is all I'll say for now.

The love triangle is my absolute favorite of recent books. Like Araby, I had a hard time choosing where my loyalties are and jumped back and forth between the two. Neither guy is exactly the hero type, not the kind you'd take home to your mom, but that's what I loved about them. She truly cares for both of the boys and doesn't lead either of them on just for the heck of it.

Who loves bad boys? Lyndsey loves bad boys! I do, I do, I do-OO. If you like bad boys, you'll love the two love interests in this book. If you like love triangles, you'll love to hate making a decision between these two guys.

The Pacing and World-Building

This isn't heavy on the steampunk or the dystopia, but there are lights elements of both weaved throughout the world. If anything, I'd consider this "gothic" instead of "steampunk." It's definitely a colorful and dramatic tale.

In the beginning, I was luh-huuuuurving the pace. I was thinking that there was no way way this wouldn't end up being a favorite. Then in the middle it began to lull a bit. Still a constant forward motion, just a little more slow going than in the beginning. I started to have some doubts, but it kicked into high gear toward the end. What a thrill ride!

I've been itching to reread this ever since I finished and that doesn't happen to me often! Don't they have a lotion for this? It's driving me crazy! MUST. REREAD.

The Verdict

I haven't been this excited about a first book in a series since Divergent. The world-building is extravagant and consuming. The pacing is even and exciting. It's such a compulsive read. I felt compelled to keep reading and compelled to reread. I still do.

I've been trying to write this review for a while. Trying to make sure I properly express my excitement over this book. I haven't been able to get it out of my mind since I finished and have had a hard time with other books because I want them to be as much fun as this one!

Masque of the Red Death is a stunningly dark novel by Bethany Griffin. It's a whimsical mix of gothic dystopia, brought together with gorgeous prose and intriguing characters.

In short, I LOVED it. Wheeeeeee! Fun fun fun.

Review for Partials by Dan Wells

2012-02-11T17:02:00.000-08:00

Partials by Dan Wells

Strangemore Rating: 4 Stars

A Partials-themed Acrostic!

Pregnancy obligations for the young like in Bumped.

Amateur military of Falling Skies.

Rioters and mercenaries threaten way of life like in The Survivors.

The MC is a bad-ass female scientist like in Bones.

Infertility woes of the women on the Lost island.

Artificially created humans similar to Cylons from Battlestar Galactica.

Lots of myths being busted.

SCIENCE!!!

The Rundown

The world has been decimated by an airborne virus that killed 99.9% of the population. The virus was released by beings called Partials, genetically engineered soldiers that look just like us but with 10 times the strength and stamina.

The Partials have let the few remaining humans live in peace as long as they don't cross the border into Partials territory. Every female of age is required to be pregnant as often and as soon as possible. The current reigning government, the Senate, figures that if the citizens have enough babies, some of them will eventually be born with a natural immunity to the airborne virus that fills the air around them and decimates their newborn population. After a decade of births, this still has not happened. Every baby dies within mere hours.

Our main character, Kira, has this brilliant idea that the scientists should focus on discovering how the immunity really works and figure out why the remaining adults and the Partials are immune.

And now for an intermission of Lyndsey Thoughts:

Me: Wait a tic - Kira thinks of this?! No one else in a decade, not even the Senate, has thought of that?

Other Me: Duh, Lyndsey. She's the main character. Of course, she thought of it!

Me: Right. I guess she's pretty smart then.

Other Me: Also, the Senate is full of bozos.

Me: Okay, thanks for clearing that up, Self.

In order to investigate the Partials immunity, they need to find one that will help them and the chances of that are pretty much zero. So they have get a hold of one somehow. Here's where it gets interesting! Veddy, veddy interesting!!

The Enevitable BSG Comparison

At first, I expected to be comparing this to Battlestar Galactic as I read. And sure, the storyline and background of the two share a lot of similarities, but Partials and BSG are two completely different beasts. I was completely caught up in the science and the questions of this book. Battlestar Galactica is so epicly character based, and I can't imagine it any other way. Characterization was not a strong point of Partials. I never heavily connected to the characters, but I was SO captivated by their surroundings and their story.

The tone of this book felt more like a science-based procedural crime show set in a post-apocalyptic world populated by cyborgs and a few remaining humans. This is Battlestar Galactica if Battlestar Galatica had been written by the writers of Bones.

Characterization and Romance

The weak link in Partial's chain was it's characterization. It's written in third person and I found it difficult to truly hear the voices of the characters. In fact, the only one I ever emotional connected to was the one that wasn't even human: the Partial that we meet later on, Samm. But considering that I am actually a cylon, you could say we share a certain kinship and all.

The Senate, Kira's arch nemesis, is full of people who are delusional and one-dimensional, seeming to be so set in their ways that they don't care if it destroys them.

Romance does not play much of a part AT ALL in this novel. It's an extra, meandering about in the background, sipping it's vente chai soy latte and speaking in a fake British accent. In fact, I couldn't have been less interested in the so-called "romantic" storyline between Kira and Marcus. But even so, this book and it's story managed to transcend it's characters.

Does this put the SCI in SCI-FI?

This is pretty hard science fiction... for YA. Don't get me wrong, I've definitely seen harder.

Did you know that robots now play ping pong? And have ROCK HARD ABS?! Humina humina.

But that's usually in adult fiction, so this is a welcome move into the realm of young adult novels. Partials is an excellent choice for fans of "sciencey" science fiction. (That's me!) Kira spends time actually asking questions and analyzing data. And I loved every minute of it. Amazingly and most importantly, I felt like I understood it all.

I don't really know anything about how viruses work. But when reading this book, I am operating on the assumption that the author writing about viruses knows at least more than I do. That being said, I felt Dan Wells did an amazing job at breaking down the science, especially toward the end.

I had a lot of questions while reading. Why do the babies get sick only after they are born? If the virus is airborne, why couldn't the babies survive in a filtered clean room? Conveniently enough, Kira had a lot of the same questions and managed to answer many of my concerns.

I've recently come to the realization that my obsession with literature stems from a quest for knowledge. I constantly feel the need to learn and grow and change. To see and imagine new things. I feel like this is one of those novels. One of those novels that attempts to push thinking forward, that focuses on the questions of life, as opposed to the problems in it.

Many post-apocalyptic novels are problem based, not question based. They encounter a problem and they push through. In Partials, Kira encounters a question and she answers it. A problem is just something that you have to work through and solve. You either solve it or you don't. A question is something that opens up a whole new realm of possibilities. Questions are often accompanied by their own problems, however. This is a story about solutions. Solutions to the questions asked and to the problems that come along with it.

The mark of a great science fiction author is having the ability to make the reader believe that they are a freaking rocket scientist. Or in the case of this book... A virologist. Write it so well that the reader is sciencing that science right along with the main characters. Dan Wells certainly excelled at doing just that.

The Pacing

I started this book with a straight face. Twenty five percent in, I was pursing my lips in question. Fifty percent in, I was nodding my head in agreement. Seventy five percent in, I was grinning with excitement. At the end, I was passed out from exhaustion and amazement.The story moves along consistently, but not at a breakneck pace either. It has quite a bit of action and a constant crawl of information.

The Verdict

Partials is a dense post-apocalyptic delicious dessert, swirled with dystopian undertones, and topped off with dark military themes. Who wouldn't want a piece of that?

Well, what do you know? There's actually a BOOK for that!

I worry that it may have a hard time finding an audience as a young adult book because it is so heavily grounded in science. Sci-fi in YA excites me, and this book was a great start to what is hopefully a new trend in the young adult world.

The story is not character or romance based, but it is high in concept, plot and science. It is also not a standalone as I previously assumed, seeing as it ends on a semi-cliffhanger. It is questioning, yet not too philosophical. Light cerebral sci-fi.

If you're looking at experimenting with science fiction (And, come on, science fiction and experimentation go GREAT together!), Partials would be an excellent place to start.

Responsible Social Networking - A Guide for Authors about Using Social Media

2012-01-06T16:25:00.001-08:00

Let's get the formalities out of the way. I'm a reader and a (gasp!) non-professional reviewer. I write fiction in my free time, and I've never considered non-fiction to be a strong point of mine. I'm certainly no journalist, but I review on my blog and on Goodreads because I love books and love sharing conversations about them with my friends online.

There's been a lot of talk in the author community lately about the lack of critical reviews on sites like Goodreads. I'd like to point out that Goodreads is NOT full of critical and professional reviewers. It is full of people of all ages and from all walks of life. Many are working mothers who read every spare moment they get and many are teenagers. Some reviewers are as young as twelve or thirteen years old! Some positive, some negative, but most a mixture of both. To me, this is a marvelous and beautiful thing. This says that fiction is high on the priority list of so many people. This is a good thing for authors. It means more and more books to be bought and read!

When you become a published author, you instantly become a professional. Therefore you must act like one. Your readers are your customers. What is it they say in the business world? The customer is always right. Even when they aren't. Yes, it feels different, because your books are a part of you. But even when you're hurt by something negative you've read about your book, you must remain professional and maintain a professional stance on the situation, or risk alienating and insulting your readers and other potential readers.

This means:
Do not comment on a less-than-favorable review of your own book.
Do not comment on a less-than-favorable review of your friend's book.
Do not ask your friends or fans to comment on a less-than-favorable review of your book.
Do not link or even refer to a specific less-than-favorable review on your profile, website, facebook or twitter feed.

Recently, several authors have berated, belittled, and even gone so far as to publicly bully online reviewers for their opinions about books. Most online reviewers, even higher profile ones, can hardly compete with the level of of exposure or the legions of fans that some popular authors have. When an author, as a professional, comments on OR about (either on the review itself or on their own website) a specific non-professional reviewers words, there is a tremendous imbalance of power which becomes a form of bullying. Singling out a reviewer who reviews on their own blog, Amazon, or Goodreads is in NO way acceptable behavior for an author in any genre, especially in the young adult world where many reviewers are young adults themselves.

Maybe it would be different if a professional reviewer publicly ripped your book to shreds, because in that situation, it would be a more level playing field. Professional reviewers get paid to be critical. It is their job. Most online reviewers do not get anything out of posting their reviews, financially speaking. Most (if not all) review for fun and are not trained in critical evaluation of literature.

Should we really have to remind authors that these are not professional reviewers? They are teens and pre-teens! They are working men and women! They are stay-at-home moms! They are book lovers!! All who have more important matters to attend to than being publicly harassed about their opinions and statements on a review that they posted for their friends and followers to read.

About Negative Reviews on Goodreads

Per Goodreads policies, all reviewers are entitled to review however they see fit and say what they will about the book and the characters within it, as long as they don't personally attack the author in the review. That kind of review would be removed by the Goodreads staff. (The staff does not do the same for comments however. Comment moderating is left up to the user who started the forum. Some choose to use this ability and some do not.)

Yes, many members of Goodreads -- present company included -- write both positive and negative reviews where they curse occasionally, make inappropriate jokes, and just generally have a grand ole' time amongst friends. But that's what Goodreads is for. Is profanity and book, book cover, or character bashing on a review unprofessional? Perhaps. But it's also a perfectly legimate review as far as the Goodreads staff is concerned.

Responding to Negative Reviews

If someone says something in a review that you absolutely feel is a misunderstanding or misinterpretation of your book that needs to be cleared up, maybe write a calm and respectful article on your own website explaining your work. Do it with grace and dignity, without naming names or specifying specifics. Focus on what you believe are the merits of your book, it's characters, and their story.

But under NO circumstances should you comment on that person's review. Do not call out a specific reviewer. Don't pretend it's your prerogative to ruin a reviewer's reputation, even if you feel they attacked your own. Do not resort to name calling. Do not even imply that there is a singular review that you are responding to, because someone will go looking for it, someone will get their feelings hurt, and you will without a doubt lose potential readers because of it.

Also, try not to insult the online reviewing community at large, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Be careful of what you say and how you say it when referring to reviewers.

Of course, you certainly can do any of these things, but I would highly recommend that you don't, especially if you care at all about your reputation and your readership.

The Effect of Negative Reviews

A lot of authors, even mega-hyped ones who've already sold tons of books or received huge advances, seem to think that a severely negative review will somehow cripple the sale of all present and future copies of their book, but let me clear this up. It won't.

Even if readers find a negative review interesting, it will hardly dictate whether or not they buy the book. Sometimes, a negative, mocking, or even harsh review can intrigue individuals enough that they purchase the book based on that alone.

In most cases, a negative review will not stop readers from researching your book. If anything, a disproportionate review (whether it's overwhelmingly negative or ravingly positive) will lead people to seek out a balanced review so they can more accurately weigh the merits and failings of the book. Readers know that a fair and balanced review is exponentially more likely to truly help them decide whether or not they want to read the book.

Despite the attention and comments negative reviews on sites like Goodreads might get, if someone wants to read your book, they will. Furthermore, an author who responds to a non-professional negative review will lose readers, not gain them.

In Conclusion

All hope is not lost if you receive a negative review. Everyone gets them, even the greatest writers throughout history. The good news is that you'll also receive positive reviews! Many will grow to love your book and characters as much as you do. Especially if you are gracious to those who invest time and money into your books!

I'm not at all saying not to interact with readers. We love discussions about books with authors, and many authors maintain active accounts on Twitter and Goodreads, even becoming close friends with the people they meet. By all means, continue doing your thing! Just do it respectfully and all in the name of fun and for the love of fiction.

Regardless of how it might look to you based on some negative reviews, reviewers LOVE books and authors tremendously. We are all greatly disheartened and disappointed when we see authors we respect behaving immaturely and, most importantly, unprofessionally.

Please authors... Social Network Responsibly!

And if I could, let me direct you to some posts from a few authors who do it best:

Julie Kagawa's Blog Post - Authors and Negative Reviews

Courtney Summers' Blog Post - How to Deal with Writing for Public Consumption

Hannah Moskowitz's Open Letter to Those who Review on Goodreads

Also, here's a fantastic article about the effect of online negative reviews:

Fiction Writer's Review - When are you Big Enough to Handle the Bad Review?

Review for A Monster Calls

2012-01-05T15:12:00.000-08:00

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Strangemore Rating: 5 Stars

I don't believe that you can ever learn everything from a single story.

Many tales and many lessons contribute to an individual's personal truth. However, if you're looking for something that comes close to being a one-stop-shop for all your personal emotional needs, this would be it.

A Monster Calls contains breathtaking art by Jim Kay and is paired with a story of heartbreaking artistry from Patrick Ness.

Do I recommend this book? A million times yes and a million times no. How can I recommend something that will will break the heart of every single person who reads it? Yet... How can I not?

What is this book about, you ask? It's about life and, of course, it's about death.

Well. It's about a lot of things.

It's about the small things like making cereal for yourself in the morning and feeling the crunch of leaves under your feet. It's about the big things like losing battles, gaining friendships, getting lost in imagination, and finding yourself in the world. It's about the bigger things like the disappointed look in the eyes of someone you've hurt or the loving look in the eyes of the person who loves you more than anything else. It's about the biggest things like the hopes and fears you have for yourself and, more importantly, for those you love most in all the world.

It's about learning to open up and shed tears over the best and the worst moments of this life, whether you're laughing so hard that you cry or crying so hard that you shake. But mostly. Mostly it's about truth.

If any book ever came close to being everything, it's THIS one.

Guest Post by Nansi Kunze

2011-11-08T00:03:00.000-08:00

Nansi Kunze, the author of Dangerously Placed, graciously agreed to write a guest post for Strangemore! Below is what she has to say about why science fiction is so compelling. Thanks, Nansi!!

Check out her site at www.nansikunze.com!

Guest post written by Nansi Kunze: Why I Love Sci Fi

As a writer, I’m often confronted with readers’ strange ideas about Science Fiction. Like any genre, there are those who love it, those who despise it and even those who’ve never read any of it (poor deprived souls). But more than most genres, I think, Science Fiction is a hazy concept to many. Some people hear the word ‘science’ and immediately prepare for near-terminal boredom … because science is all incomprehensible technical jargon and lab-coated dudes with no sense of humour, isn’t it? To others, Science Fiction is all like the B grade movies of the 1950s: hideous aliens, guys with ray-guns and female characters whose main use for cutting-edge technology seems to be in the realms of corsetry.

Well, while I’m not averse to stern guys in lab coats and actually wouldn’t mind owning a silver jumpsuit with built-in anti-grav body-sculpting, to me Sci Fi is something quite different. It’s all about technology. And before any of you decide that first group was right about science, let me assure you that I don’t mean the detailed inner workings of time machines or spacecraft propulsion specs. I’m talking about the technology we have all around us: phones, gaming systems, the internet. Technology we enjoy.

Although Sci Fi is hard to define, one simple definition that’s been used a fair bit over the years is that it involves technology that doesn’t yet exist. This means that what I write is just barely Science Fiction. It wasn’t that much of a stretch for me to imagine how Virk – the virtual workplace system in Dangerously Placed – would function, because we already interact online, use avatars in games and communicate audio-visually over vast distances. Sure, it counts as Sci Fi, because as far as I know there are no virtual offices, or Virk Suits that can make you see and feel a colleague’s handshake as if she were right in front of you instead of on the other side of the world … but there could be.

That’s what I love about Sci Fi: the way it could be real. Authors sometimes use Sci Fi to explore what could go wrong in our world. So do I, occasionally, but I much prefer to envisage some of the awesome things we could do with technology. Sci Fi author Neal Stephenson recently wrote an essay about how important it is for authors to write about what we want to do with our future, because our stories inspire scientists and engineers. The great Isaac Asimov was thrilled to discover that his Science Fiction stories had actually inspired the invention and production of the first-ever industrial robots. I love that one day someone might be inspired to make the technology in my books real too (okay, maybe not things like Alex’s virtual-jeans-trying-on system, but then again – who knows?).

Sci Fi is like Fantasy: it gives the writer – and the reader – the opportunity to experience a world that’s very different to the one we live in. But unlike Fantasy, Science Fiction has the capacity to become reality. Magic may not be real, but technology is. Sci Fi shows us the potential we have to make our future as weird and wonderful as we want it to be.

Review for Dangerously Placed

2011-11-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

Dangerously Placed by Nansi Kunze

Strangemore Rating: 4 Stars

Reality is individual. We all have different tools with which to perceive it.

The Aussies have done it again! Aussie author Nansi Kunze has created a thrilling virtual world within one thriller of a book.

I don't know what it is about virtual reality that gets my motor running. The world of gaming calls to me like a bird feeder calls to a squirrel. Then it spins me round and round until I'm too dizzy to walk straight and all I can think about is how long until I can hop back on.

You've heard of the Holodeck, right? If not, do yourself a favor and go watch some Star Trek: The Next Generation. It also has a nice piece of android named Data. Rawr.

The key technology featured in this book is basically the predecessor to something like The Holodeck or The Matrix. The tech is also close to what could potentially be achieved in our lifetimes, making it all the more intriguing.

The Rundown

Dangerously Placed centers around a young girl named Alex, who is beginning her work experience at a company called Simulcorp. But this isn't your everyday paper pushing office. It's all virtual. Using something called a Virk suit in a specially designed Virk Room, people from all over the world can sign in and meet up in a virtual work environment.

Things are going well until... dun, dun, dun... someone gets murdered. Of course, in true young adult style, our main character tasks herself with discovering the identity of the killer. It's an especially important task, considering she is one the main suspects.

The World-building and Pacing

When I first started, it reminded me of a cartoonish cross between Nancy Drew and The Matrix. I don't know why, but I imagined this book in CGI. It would make an amazing Pixar film, but it would, of course, need a much cheesier name. Something like... The Virkuals!

I give this an A++ for concept and I am a concept kind of girl. In fact, if the book has a stellar premise involving speculative fiction, I am usually a pretty happy campy-camper. Of course characterization is important as well, and I quite enjoyed the characters in Dangerously Placed, in spite of their Disney Channel Original tendencies (which the cheeseball monster inside of me happens to love). Though the science may not have been perfect, it was the most believable young adult sci-fi I have read in quite some time.

It was fast and thrilling with a hint of scandal. It had about as many twists as an episode of Lost... but without the side-character eating smoke monster. There may or may not be a dragon, though!

The evolution of the romantic storyline was unforeseen and unexpected, as well as very, very welcome. You aren't bombarded with instalove right from the beginning, which is a rare find in the current YA market. The relationship developed sincerely and unfolded realistically, or as realistically as possible considering the preposterous situation these teens find themselves in.

The Verdict

I'm giving this one high marks for keeping me thoroughly involved and addicted throughout. It reads a bit younger than I typically gravitate toward, although I think this could open it up to a wider audience. It was entertaining none the less.

Nansi is a fresh science fiction voice in the world of YA. I will definitely be on the lookout for more titles from her!

Kindle Ebook Deals from Amazon

2011-10-13T10:20:00.000-07:00

EBOOK DEAL UPDATE! These deals sometimes only last for a day or so. Get them while you can!

Jenny Pox (The Paranormals, Book 1) is currently FREE on Amazon. Click HERE to download!

The Color of Magic with Bonus Material: A Discworld Novel by Terry Pratchett is the first book in the Discworld series. Get it for just 99 cents HERE.

Shades of Gray: A Jude Magdalyn Novel (The Jude Magdalyn Series) is just 99 cents on Amazon. Get it HERE.

Goddess With a Blade by Lauren Dane is just 3.82 on Amazon. Download HERE.

The following books are just $3.99 each on Amazon.

Click the pictures or titles to go to the deal.

Dead on the Delta by Stacey Jay.

Zombies vs. Unicorns

How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper.

Pathfinder (Pathfinder Trilogy) by Orson Scott Card.

Unwind by Neal Shusterman.

In My Mailbox

2011-10-11T08:23:00.000-07:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly book meme hosted by Kristy at The Story Siren.

I have received quite a few goodies in the mail recently. Here are the books:

Hades

This is the second book in Alexandra Adornetto's series. Admittedly, I haven't read the first one Halo yet, but thanks so much to MacMillan for sending me the sequel.

See Alexandra Adornetto on tour this Fall: http://www.facebook.com/penfataletour
Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/AlexandraAdornetto
Macmillan page for the book & author: http://us.macmillan.com/hades

Lockdown: Escape from Furnace 1

This one is next up on my list of books to read. It looks interesting... and terrifying. Sounds perfect.

Website: www.alexandergordonsmith.com
Become a Facebook fan: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lockdown/126095974414
Macmillan page for the book & author: http://us.macmillan.com/author/alexandergordonsmith

Both Hades and Lockdown are thanks to MacMillan.

A Beautiful Friendship

Thanks to Baen books for this one! www.baen.com

And last but not least is:

Dangerously Placed

A YA dystopian by Aussie author Nansi Kunze. Nansi will be here at STRANGEMORE in November for a guest post about why she loves science fiction! Thanks Nansi!

Review for The Scorpio Races

2011-09-30T08:31:00.000-07:00

The Scorpio Races

by Maggie Stiefvater

Published October 18 2011

Published by Scholastic

Strangemore Rating: 2 stars

From Amazon: From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Shiver and Linger comes a brand new, heart-stopping novel.
With her trademark lyricism, Maggie Stiefvater turns to a new world, where a pair are swept up in a daring, dangerous race across a cliff--with more than just their lives at stake should they lose.

This is basically the paranormal version of Misty of Chincatigue with (gasp!) romance!

Like Hidalgo, on the beach instead of the desert with (gasp!) kissing! Between two riders! NOT between the horse and it's rider though. Well... sometimes between the horse and it's rider. Just a little.

When this book started, it felt like a breath of fresh sea air, not rife with the smell of YA cliche. That was mainly because I thought this book was told from the alternating perspective of two boys, Sean and Puck, which would have been a nice change for Steifvater. Maybe I was in the mood for a buddy story or a brother story, instead of the usual stereotypical romance. But it wasn't meant to be, you see, because Puck is a SHE and not a he. (Sorry, my inner Dr Suess came out for a second.)

Not that this is a spoiler or anything, as it it mentioned fairly quickly. It was just something my mind was set against. I wanted Puck to be a boy. I'm tired of the "here's a girl who does this and here's a boy who does that, hmmmm, I wonder when and how they'll meet and, gee, wouldn't it be weird if they fell in love, because, oh boy, we've never seen THAT happen before."

The Rundown

I understand now why the blurb is so impossibly vague. This is a difficult book to sum up.

Two individuals, Sean and Puck, are preparing separately for the annual Scorpio Races (where the dangerous water horses of Thisby face off against each other with their riders and generally lots of bloodshed) until their lives eventually collide into each other. Sean is the typical Thisby teen boy who just so happens to compete every year in the races. Puck is a young girl having some family issues, in particular with her brother's desire to leave the family home and the island that they live on, and she thinks that competing in the Races will force her brother to stick around. But Puck decides to race her regular horse against the blood-thirsty water horses, which cause quite a stir and tons of problems. And that's just the beginning.

The Writing and World-Building

If there was one word to describe this book, it would definitely be "atmospheric." The descriptions were gorgeous, but the location for the book is more than a little mind boggling. It seems to be a created fantasy island located in Ireland? I think. The term they use for the water horses is a Gaelic term but it takes place on a fictional island, I guess? The specifics are never really laid out about where or what or when this "Thisby" is.

Many reviewers raised concerns about the lack of world-building in the Maggie's Wolves of Mercy Falls series. That being said, I feel like she almost went in the opposite direction with way too much world-building, including tiny details about minor characters, and it honestly wasn't very interesting to me. The characters all had their own quirks and backgrounds, but we were told too much and too often about them. More than was necessary.

However, the world that she built around The Scorpio Races was much better than the world of Mercy Falls. The prose isn't quite as purple and the romance isn't nearly as cheddar. I'd say it's more like a magenta colby jack. It was just a very bland and tasteless magenta colby jack.

The Pacing

Pacing was my biggest problem with The Scorpio Races. It takes at least 100 pages or so before anything remotely interesting happens. Usually by then, I would have put a book down not knowing whether or not I would pick it back up, but because this is an upcoming release, I felt like I needed to keep going. In addition, because of the way the environments are described and the action builds slowly, a certain intrigue simmers in your mind and drives you forward regardless of the slow start. But I'm not entirely sure that the pay-off was worth the anticipation.

Around page 380, the seemingly fabled races begin. Now that would have been a great place to start the book! Because up until that point almost NOTHING had happened. It was all setup. I'm sorry, but I do not need three hundred and eighty pages of setup. Even if it has pretty words and HORSES!!!

Because by the time that part finally came around and I thought, "Now this could be interesting," -- it was much too late. I was looooong past mentally checked out and had become disinvested and disinterested.

This might come off rude, but this is the best way I know how too explain what it seems like has happened.

You know when a little girl first discovers the way her skirt twirls when she spins? It's cute, right?! You're like, "Oh, isn't that precious. She's twirling." But then it's two weeks later and she's STILL twirling like the world won't be able to turn itself if she stops, you're like "Okay, we get it! You can twirl" But you can't say that because then you're just being an asshole for ruining a little girl's "twirl time."

Well, Maggie Steifvater can twirl... and whirl... and swirl... and canter... and whinny. It just seems like the author discovered for the first time "Wow, I can write pretty prose. Let's throw some more of that in there."

Don't get me wrong: It is pretty. But holy well of words, do we need SO much of it?

The Scorpio Races don't actually happen until the last 20 or 30 pages of the book, and even then, the actual Races only last about 12 pages, the rest is aftermath. For a book that's 410 pages long, that is not a good chunk of the content. Only about 3 percent of it, in fact. Maybe it should have been titled "The 380 pages leading up to the Scorpio races".

I mean, sure, Hunger Games had some setup as well. But it would have been an entirely different book had the Games only lasted 12 pages.

Who Should or Should Not Read It

I wouldn't read this book again. And I wouldn't recommend it for a lot of people. But I think a lot of people will read it anyway.

Here's why:
1) It is written by Maggie Stiefvater.
2) It is a paranormal written by Maggie Stiefvater.
3) It is a paranormal written by Maggie Stiefvater about HORSES! HORSES! HORSES! HORSES! HORSES! HORSES!
254) It is a standalone. (Finally!)

If you hated Shiver, then you'll probably hate this one as well. If you loved Shiver, then you might love this one.

Right around the time that the Black Beauty movie with Chris O'Donnell came out, I went through horse phase like many young girls probably do. But I got over it and I think I'm still over it, which might be why I didn't love this book. I also went through a dog phase, Old Yeller, Rin Tin Tin, Turner and Hooch, except that I never grew out of it and never will.

I think Horse People will love this book. Keep in mind that there is a big difference between liking horses and being a Horse Person. I like horses. They are pretty and I like to imagine them with horns or wings or gills, but my thoughts don't revolve around them. I am a Dog Person.

I've heard people say that horses are like really big dogs, but I think that those people are just Horse People trying to convince you to be a Horse Person. When really, it's like comparing Chihuahuas to Labradors. Some people say that small dogs and big dogs are the same. They aren't. Not even close. Usually, those who say that are Small Dog People trying to convince you to be a Small Dog Person. This isn't to say that any of them are better or worse than the other, they are just different. I am a Big Dog person, not a Horse Person, not a Small Dog Person.

If this had been about magical sea-faring German Shepherds, I would have LOVED it.... probably.

Other Thoughts

The one thing I really like about what Maggie did with this book, though the same may not be said for Shiver, is that she didn't follow the pack with The Scorpio Races. After the vampire-werewolf craze hit and SMeyer announced on her website that she was writing a mermaid book, strangely, we saw a surge in the number of mermaid based books on the market, many of a questionable quality due to the fact that they were most likely rushed onto the shelves. Maggie didn't go with the surge but she didn't go against it either. She went along side it by creating her own mythology similar to many ocean based tales. It wouldn't be surprising if we see a rise in ocean based mythology books after The Scorpio Races.

Although the pacing is slower and the story not quite as involving as Shiver, this book still seems to be a step in a better direction (albeit almost too far a step) for Maggie. The world-building is much more fully realized and detailed than that of Shiver and the storyline isn't purely romance based, which leads me to think that maybe, just maybe, authors do pay attention to reviewers complaints. Maybe she just decided to put more time into her world-building on her own, or maybe, hopefully, we are having some minuscule effect on how the book world evolves. And that makes me very VERY happy.

The Verdict

The Wolves of Mercy Falls was just a little too soft for me and the Scorpio Races was just a little too hard, so maybe by the time the next book comes around from Ms Stiefavter, that one will be juuuuust right for this little goldilocks.

I'm giving it two stars because it was written well, just badly paced and plotted, in my opinion. The pretty words weren't enough to make up for the boredom. And unfortunately, I never connected to the characters or the romance between them.

The thing that frustrates me the most about books is when feel like I didn't learn anything. I don't really mind not being entertained if I take something away from it that I had never thought about before. But I at least want one or the other.

If you aren't going to entertain me, then teach me something. If you aren't going to teach me something, then by George Washington, at least ENTERTAIN me!! I'm very sorry to say that this book did neither. But that isn't to say that you will feel the same.

Personally, I didn't love it. I don't think I even liked it, but it wasn't terribly written; it wasn't too terribly involving either.

Meh. That's my word for this book. Or rather more like -

MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAH.

Yeah, I just whinnied. Whatcha gonna do about it, huh?

Review for Anna and the French Kiss

2011-09-21T13:49:00.000-07:00

Anna and the French Kiss

by Stephanie Perkins

Published December 2nd 2010

Published by Dutton

Strangemore Rating: 5 stars

Anna is not happy about spending senior year at a Paris boarding school, away from her Atlanta home, best friend Bridgette, and crush Toph. Adapting isn’t easy, but she soon finds friends and starts enjoying French life, especially its many cinemas; she is an aspiring film critic. Complications arise, though, when she develops feelings for cute—and taken—classmate Etienne, even though she remains interested in Toph. Her return home for the holidays brings both surprises, betrayals, unexpected support, and a new perspective on what matters in life—and love. Featuring vivid descriptions of Parisian culture and places, and a cast of diverse, multifaceted characters, including adults, this lively title incorporates plenty of issues that will resonate with teens, from mean girls to the quest for confidence and the complexities of relationships in all their forms. Despite its length and predictable crossed-signal plot twists, Perkins’ debut, narrated in Anna’s likable, introspective voice, is an absorbing and enjoyable read that highlights how home can refer to someone, not just somewhere. Grades 9-12. --Shelle Rosenfeld

Holy St Clair, hypothetical Batman!

This book put me in a whole new state of consciousness. It put me in the life of Anna. It took me straight to Paris and I never looked back.

When I get desperately into the groove of a book, I literally (okay, fine, figuratively) transform into a hermit crab.

I curl up so tight in the shell of my blanket in that special nook carved out in my chair, so tight that everything else melts away. It's just me and the blanket and the book. Just me and my shell. The world blurs and every word on the page comes more into focus than anything around me. It is the ultimate escape. The ultimate getaway. However, I have to make sure that I have everything I might need somewhere close by, because if I can't reach it while I'm in my shell, then I don't get it.

This is exactly the kind of book that I would consider peeing in a cup for (not that I did that or anything, just sayin'). It's really THAT addictive.

The Rundown

The synopsis of this book is fairly straight forward. Girl goes to boarding school in the City of Love and falls for a charming guy and he just so happens to be the last guy she should have fallen for. Dramarama and hilarity ensue.

While this is a fairly PG or PG-13 book, the tension between the two main characters is palpable. I used to think that true tension, capable of thickening the air around you, required a book series to develop properly. I didn't think it could be done within a standalone book. I was so, so wrong.

The Writing

This book is..... Cutesy. Everything Anna does and says is adorable. If that kind of thing bothers you, then it might not be for you. While I can often be Captain Sarcastic, I am also the cornball capital of America. So the cheese in this book didn't bother me at all.

Really, it's a total cheesefest. Oh, and it's also very ANGSTY with a capital everything. But in the best way.

This woman completely nails EVERY aspect of having a teenage crush. How the littlest detail can spark an intense puppy love. The awkwardness of being so close to someone you want to JUMP but can't. They way your heart races at the slightest touch, be it the brush of a hand or the nudge of a foot.

Pretty much: she's amazing. I would read the Bible, Book of Mormon and the Quran all in one day if they were written by Stephanie Perkins.

PS, Stephanie - Callipygian is my favorite new word.

The Characters

Don't EVEN get me started on our love interest, Etienne St Clair. Sigh.

But Anna, oh Anna. With your raisin-sized tooth gap and your skunk-striped hair. Wait a tic... Oh my GOD. I'm freaking out. Anna from Anna and the French Kiss is totally ROGUE. Wow.

Let's see:
The gap between the front teeth? Check.
Brunette with a white streak? Check.
Can't hook up with the guy she wants to hook up with? Check. Granted it's for different reasons than the fact that she might kill him. Still.

And guess what the name of the actress who plays Rogue is. That's right. AN-freaking-NA! Rogue is played by Anna Paquin! Holy shiz!! What a coinkydink. (Woooohoooo my autopredict knows the word coinkydink. That's a hell of an accomplishment right there.)

The Verdict

This is one of those kinds of books, one that I can groove with. I grooved so hard with this book that at some point near the middle, for a split second, I actually considered calling my poor poor better-half on his cell phone and asking him to bring me a glass of water, even though I knew he was asleep in the other room. I KNOW!! But I only considered it for a teeny tiny split second and then thought "Damn, this book is making me crazy."

To be honest, I hadn't had that experience in a loooooong time. I hadn't felt this in way too long. By "this", I mean that desperate need to consume every inch of a book in one sitting. Your eyes blink with sleep, but you will not let them close. You can't imagine being in a state of NOT reading the book. You inhale it feverishly like a starved animal, and when it's over, you can't believe it. Full and content with happiness yet you still crave more, even though there isn't any.

So, let's see now... It's an entirely addictive romance in Paris starring a non-celibate Rogue and a hot guy with a British accent. Do you really need me to say it? FIVER.

Review for Heist Society

2011-09-12T13:47:00.000-07:00

Heist Society

by Ally Carter

Published February 9th 2010

Published by Hyperion Book CH

Strangemore Rating: 3 stars

From Booklist: After a childhood spent assisting her father, one of the world’s most talented art thieves, Katarina Bishop tries to leave the family business behind when she forges her way into a New England boarding school. She quickly discovers, though, that her past is inescapable. Her father has been accused of stealing already stolen masterpieces from a dangerous Italian billionaire. Certain that her father is innocent, Kat resolves to find the missing paintings and return them to their unsavory owner, who has given her a two-week deadline. Carter, the author of the Gallagher Girls series, skillfully maintains suspense as Kat assembles a team of teen accomplices, travels across Europe, and plots an impossible art heist to save her dad. This is a thoroughly enjoyable, cinema-ready adventure, and the details of thieving tools and techniques, lavish settings, and cast of eccentric characters, including possible spies and love interests, all add texture and depth to the action. Readers will hope for a sequel to answer the book’s central mystery: if Kat’s father isn’t guilty, then who is? Grades 6-10. --Gillian Engberg

Who is in the Heist Society?

    * One of them is a mini Sydney-Bristow-in-training, whose family has been falsely accused, and she's armed with a big attitude and huge problems.

    * Then there is the handsome and debonair millionaire thief who compares dancing to navigating through a laser grid.

    * There is also the beauty who is literally electrifying in high heels and a skirt. At least, when she gets too close to priceless works of art.

    * Two of them are the ones who've been blacklisted for stealing from a nun. Because whoever you are, that's just wrong.

    * Another is a pickpocket and a newbie, with a British accent and mysterious eyes.

These are the people who make jokes about the time so-and-so ransomed The Queen's prized pooch. They are the teeny-bopper versions of Ocean's Eleven, but with less crew members and an even bigger job.

They are also the ones who take on the biggest heist job in the world. Their story isn't heart-wrenching or gut-churning, but it's fast, fun, and full of intrigue.

I feel like I should tell you more, but the first rule of Heist Society is that you don't... Well, if you don't already know, then I probably shouldn't tell you.

Review for Angel by James Patterson

2011-09-09T18:49:00.000-07:00

Angel: A Maximum Ride Novel
by James Patterson
Published February 14th 2011

Published by Pageturners
Strangemore Rating: 4 stars

From Amazon: In the seventh book in the bestselling series, evil scientists are still trying to convince Max that she needs to save the world, this time by providing the genetic link in speeding up the pace of evolution. Worse, they're trying to convince her that her perfect mate is Dylan, the newest addition to the flock. The problem is that, despite herself, Max is starting to believe it.

Fang travels the country collecting his own gang of evolved humans, but the two separate flocks must unite to defeat a frightening doomsday cult whose motto is "Save the planet: kill the humans." And this time, the true heroine, for once, might just be little Angel.

Oh schnikes.

James Patterson is now using the word "imprint" now. God help us all.

Well, considering the imprinting in this book is from one teenager to another and that they are actually BIRD mutants (the term imprint originated from the act of a baby bird bonding with it's mother), it isn't quite as icky as a wolf imprinting on and falling in instatruelove with a newborn baby. Because we all know that bestiality combined with pedophilia is totally romantic, right? But still, Patterson. WTF?

Other than the obvious blatant attempt to appeal to the Twilight generation with the onset of a love triangle between a blond Adonis-type mutant and the rugged dark-haired broody mutant, I had a lot of fun reading this book and the series in general.

I probably should be ashamed to say that I read the Maximum Ride series, but who am I kidding? I have no shame. It's a guilty pleasure. I started reading them before I matured literaturicly, and no, I'm not sure that I'm proving my point by using a made up word like literaturicly but "So what? Who cares?" *multiple exaggerated shoulder shrugs*

The Rundown

For you sci-fi gurus, you may notice similarities with James Cameron's masterpiece television series Dark Angel, which if you haven't watched... what the hell is wrong with you? Let me break it down: Jessica Alba, as a mutant, kicking ass while wearing leather - Do you need more convincing than that? REALLY?!

Some facts about the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson:

Girl named Max, short for Maximum.
She kicks ass and doesn't stop to take names.
She is a mutant with special abilities because of her recombinant DNA.
She has a "flock" of other friends with special abilities.
Her love interest is part of her group but it seems they are destined to NOT be together.
Her main job is saving the world, but she mostly ends up just doing a few odd jobs here and there.

While this may not be Dawson's Creek with mutant teens who have a ridiculously large vocabulary, it IS a lot like Dark Angel, complete with angst, wangst, and a love triangle but specifically with recombinant DNA bird kids! WOOOOOO!

These books are by no means "brain food." In fact, most would consider them juvenile, which is one thing I love about them. They don't use complex or lyrical language. They can be melodramatic at times, but mostly they are just unadulterated fun, not to mention entirely addictive.

The Tone and Pacing

The Maximum Ride books usually fly at a breakneck speed and don't often slow down. The flock is always on the move, always performing ridiculous feats of awesomeness, and always making stupid jokes. Regardless of the camp in these books, they have a lot of heart also, as well as great messages for younger teens or pre-teens.

"There's nothing more dangerous than someone trying to act for the greater good."

Which is so true in lots of ways. Many horrific things have been done in the name of the greater good. Hitler thought the Holocaust would create a superior master race. Religious extremist think that ridding the world of all religious opposition is for the greater good. People who think they have the best intentions can often be the most ruthless.

Apart from messages about saving the world and being the best version of yourself, there are also not-so-complex undertones about doing what's right and taking care of the planet. It did get a little preachy for my taste in one or two of the books, but overall, the series is still worthwhile and hella fun to read. And there is only ONE more after this book. *cries like a little baby, like a little baby in it's crib*

The Verdict

I'm so ridiculously attached to these books and these characters that I just can't give this one any less than 4 stars.

There are not very many articulate reviews of these books (I mean one review actually calls a main character "butt poop") and unfortunately the books themselves are not highly intelligent. There aren't really any prerequisites here. No thinking required.

The Scarecrow could read these books. *sings* "If I only had intelligent conversational techniques."

These books are FUN, FUN, FUN! And mainly just that, which is exactly what I needed.

Fever Series picked up by Dreamworks

2011-08-20T11:32:00.000-07:00

Did you hear about this yet?!

The rights to the Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning have been acquired by Dreamworks!!

Apparently, they are hoping to develop it into a live action film series. Read the article from Variety.

Personally, I was hoping it would be developed it as a live action TELEVISION series. It has all the marks of a good long running show. It has drawn out, potential series long story arcs, shorter subplots, and the potential for a freak-of-the-week type storytelling similar to that of Buffy or Supernatural.

But, either way, I'm happy because we will get to see Barrons and Mac on the screen!!

FREEBIE ALERT for Kindle - Frost Moon

2011-08-18T01:35:00.000-07:00

Major Freebie Alert! *salute*

You can currently download the Urban Fantasy book, Frost Moon by Anthony Francis, for FREE on Amazon. GET IT HERE!

Here's the official description from Amazon:

In an alternate Atlanta where magic is practiced openly, where witches sip coffee at local cafes, shapeshifters party at urban clubs, vampires rule the southern night like gangsters, and mysterious creatures command dark caverns beneath the city, Dakota Frost's talents are coveted by all. She's the best magical tattooist in the southeast, a Skindancer, able to bring her amazing tats to life. When a serial killer begins stalking Atlanta's tattooed elite, the police and the Feds seek Dakota's help. Can she find the killer on the dark fringe of the city's Edgeworld? Among its powerful outcasts and tortured loners, what kind of enemies and allies will she attract? Will they see her as an invader, as a seducer, as an unexpected champion ... or as delicious prey? FROST MOON is Book One of the SKINDANCER fantasy series by debut author Anthony Francis. Filled with unforgettable characters, spine-tingling action, kinky rebellion and edgy love, FROST MOON is classic storytelling at its best, and Dakota Frost is an irresistible new star of fantasy fiction. Anthony Francis is a computer scientist who works at the 'Search Engine That Starts With A G'. By day he studies human and other minds to design intelligent machines and emotional robots; by night he writes fiction and draws comic books. He received his Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence from Georgia Tech. He lives in San Jose with his wife and cats but his heart will always belong in Atlanta.

This probably will not last long, so if you're interested, get Frost Moon while you can!

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My Book Boyfriend Marcus Flutie

2011-08-09T22:19:00.000-07:00

My Book Boyfriend #2

Marcus
Flutie

from

Sloppy Firsts
by

Megan McCafferty

My Book Boyfriend is a weekly meme where we talk about a literary crush who makes us swoon hosted by Missie from The Unread Reader.

This Book Boyfriend is from The Jessica Darling series and my review of the first book, Sloppy Firsts, should be up soon.

Marcus Flutie is the rocker, drug-reformed poet and love interest of Jessica "Not-So" Darling. In Jessica's words: "His lips are usually curled into a semi-smile, like he’s in on a big joke that’s being played on you but you don’t know it yet." This guy is complicated and he knows it.

I'm not sure anyone can come close to capturing the pure mystery that is Marcus Flutie, but Garrett Hedlund was who came to mind for me. He is a little old for the part, but hey, if Ian Somerhalder can play a teenager: why can't this guy?

Stats:

tease extraordinaire
poet, songwriter, musician
six foot tall with long limbs
rusty red mess of hair
nicknamed Krispy Kreme

Directly below is a poem that Marcus wrote:

"We are Adam and Eve
born out of chaos called creation
Ribbing me gave you life
yet you forget
there will always be
a part of me in you
yes I taunted and tempted
you with my forbidden fruit
does that make me
the serpent too?
Believe what you will
but if I am exiled alone
I know we will be
together again someday
naked without shame in paradise
My thanks to you
for being in on my sin"

And this is part of a song written by Marcus:

You, yes, you, linger inside my heart
The same you who stopped us before we could start
I didn't want to leave, but you began to believe
Your own crocodile lies.

Marcus is the ultimate bad boy. He's philosophical and broody and loves to be a bit of a puzzle. I mean, come one, he wears Backstreet Boys T-shirts just to mess with other people's heads. How can you not love that?

Winner of The Scorpio Races ARC

2011-08-03T13:20:00.000-07:00

Announcement of the Winner!

The Scorpio Races

by Maggie Steifvater

The winner of the random drawing for the ARC is....

Darkfallen of Paranormal Wastelands

The book is on the way!

Congrats!

Everyone else - Don't despair!
Another winner is just around the corner.
Enter to win an ARC copy of

Shut Out
by Kody Keplinger

Win ARC of Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

2011-08-03T13:15:00.000-07:00

Enter to WIN

Shut Out

by Kody Keplinger

Contest Ends on August 31st. Open Internationally!

Extra entries for Goodreads and Facebook Friends, Likes, Tweets, and blog posts. Here are some links to help you get the maximum number of entries!

Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part,Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention.

Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming.

What is the difference between dystopia and utopia?

2011-07-29T00:57:00.000-07:00

How do you define dystopia? What about utopia?

Many people don't know the difference between the two, because the line can be very thin. Hopefully, this article will help you discover the specifics of each. The key differences between dystopian and utopian fiction can be found in how the story is constructed and told.

Dystopia usually presents a story told out of despair. Utopia presents the "prime directive", so to speak, of a message of hope and occasionally, overwhelming so. Dystopia normally has an overwhelming message of warning.

Dystopia, more often than, makes use of "big government" and military, using tactics of intimidation and sometimes mind control; often a sole evil head of government is responsible or a representative of the oppression. Usually, there is a hierarchy that works to the advantage of government loyalists, especially those who never question it's ultimate control. Those outside of the government are seen as lower on the totem pole. Utopia usually has a sort of Council or more of a communal society, where decisions are made based on the "greater good."

Utopian societies are generally based on the so-called equality of all humankind. Meanwhile, dystopia presents societies based on segregation, inequality, and oppression. Many times the equality of the society in utopian fiction is an illusion.

While it's true that most utopia masquerades under the guise of dystopia, the difference is sometimes only in perspective. Is the story told from a perspective of despair or of hope?

If the ending presents hope as an option, then the story more than likely has more utopian qualities. If the message is without hope or full of distress and pain, then it would more likely lean toward dystopia.

The truth is that the line is very thin and both genres can have aspects of the other.

Here are some general guidelines for making the distinction:

Dystopia
Big government and military, evil government leader
Inequality
Segregated and oppressed society
Underlying message of despair and warning

Utopia
Council (or similar) whose members who work for the "greater good"
Equality
Integrated and communal society
Underlying message of hope

Using these guidelines, 1984 is a clear dystopian tale and The Giver would fit well with utopian fiction. For newer titles, The Hunger Games would lean closer to dystopian, as would a book I recently reviewed, Divergent. So far, a few of my other recently reviewed titles, Burn Bright and Incarnate, would be hovering closer to the side of utopian.

Utopia is often grouped together with dystopia and, in some cases, the terms have seemingly become interchangeable. Generally speaking, most utopic books can be considered dystopic, but dystopic books cannot all be considered utopic.

Both sub-genres have their individual merits and both carry important messages for society. Personally, I love utopia and dystopia; I really don't think I could choose one. They are both WAY TOO MUCH FUN. If you haven't given either a chance, I suggest that you give them a try!

Review for Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

2011-07-28T20:50:00.000-07:00

A gorgeous YA utopian tale! Nope, not dystopian. Do you know the difference?

This book blew me away with... a Masquerade Ball, reincarnation, slyph, dragons, music, souls, butterfly, slow burn romance, tension, laser pistols, massive library, war stories, dragon battles. Need I go on? I mean - Wow.

I read this in a flurry of addiction. I just couldn't get enough of the world and it's goings-ons. Completely entrancing.

The Rundown

Ana was born into a society of a million souls. A million souls who have known each other in various forms for thousands of years. They reincarnate into a new body every time they die. Except for when Ana was born. When Ana was born, they were expecting one of their own, someone named Ciana, who was now lost forever. Ana's mother hates her for taking the place of Ciana and is ashamed, so she moves her new baby outside the city and locks her away from all the others. Now, Ana is eighteen and on a quest to the city of Heart to find out about her birth and Ciana's disappearance. Will she find the answers she seeks?

The Writing

The author's prose has a very subtle lyricism, and the underlying message of this book seemed to be one of peace and hope for the future, which is a happy change from bleak and desolate outcomes of some recent dystopian fiction.

The main character, Ana, gets things done. The questions Ana posed to herself in her head were realistic and it was refreshing to have a character who asks questions and goes against the grain instead of settling for everyone-else-knows-best. The love interest, Sam, was complex, intriguing and a hottie!

The romance developed at a (GASP!) realistic pace, more so than most paranormal YA. It wasn't all "You looked at me like you LIKE me, so LETSBETOGETHERFOREVER!" I was afraid that it would feel cardboard or manufactured like some recent YA romances have. But it didn't. It felt natural and ended up being higher tension and surprisingly steamier than I had imagined for such a PG book.

Although few and far between, there were some unobtrusive religious, or possibly even anti-religious, undertones. The thing was that I couldn't tell. I couldn't see an agenda hidden behind the words and I appreciate that. These undertones were woven in delicately and did not overwhelm the world or the characters. It seemed to be more about raising the questions, instead of forcing an answer on you.

Should you believe in something you can't see? That's one of the questions it raises. Novels should be able to raise questions without imposing the author's answers onto on unsuspecting readers. Books should make you think and learn and discover the answers for yourselves. I felt this one did that pitch perfectly.

One complaint I do have, however, is the lack of dialog tags; oftentimes, it was necessary to reread passages over and over to figure out who was saying what. But that might just be my ADD talking. *sings* It's the FINAL COUNTDOWN. Doodoodoo. Wait, what was I saying...

The World-Building

A fresh and unique twist on the mythology of reincarnation. Finally! It is handled beautifully and seems intensely creative. But I want more! I'm so excited to learn more from the next books in the series.

In actuality, there are SO many interesting things you could do with this society. What if the same couple had been together for ten lifetimes but in the next, one just isn't attracted at ALL to the other. Oh, the scandal!

Even though I love the reincarnation concept used by Jodi Meadows, it still weirds me out a bit. Statistically someone who had been your lover in a past life could end up being your parent in the next....or vice versa. *shudder*

In general, I still have so many questions about the world-building. It was exciting and unique, but I wanted more details. More answers.

But I guess we don't know everything about even our favorite mythologies. Like what the hell are midichlorians (besides "bacteria") and how do they work? And WHY can't Darth Vader teleport? I mean, if the Weasley Twins can do it, why can't the original Dark Lord do it?

Regardless, I LOVED Incarnate. I inhaled it. This is definitely more of a 4.5, but it could have been a 5 if the ending had been more dynamic.

I was expecting something more emotionally heart-wrenching. Break my heart into pieces and then put them back together just in time for the last sentence. Give us a huge reveal, more answers, something epic, something shocking, something weep-worthy! However, it just didn't quite do that for me, but I'm hoping that the next books in the series will.

I CANNOT WAIT to read the sequels.

Just look at this word cloud. How can a book with this word cloud NOT be awesome?

There's only one thing it needs: NINJAS! Because if I had lived for over 5000 years already, I would definitely have learned to be a ninja by now.

Review for Divergent by Veronica Roth

2011-07-20T08:54:00.000-07:00

Divergent (Divergent Trilogy)

by Veronica Roth
Published May 3rd 2011
Published by Katherine Tegen Books

From Amazon: In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

Everything that rises must Diverge.

Or so seems to be the philosophy of this book. Divergent poses that as a society progresses, it becomes more segregated, as opposed to more integrated. Likely? NO. Fun? HELL YES.

Does it smell like Hunger Games in here to you?

Check out the video for this

Hunger Games parody

at the end of the article:

Part Two of The Best YouTube Book Trailers.

Imagine a culture where everyone is separated into groups based on their one key defining character trait.

One of these five traits: Honesty. Selflessness. Intelligence. Bravery. Peacefulness.

We all know that honesty is the best policy and that money is the root... YAWN!! We want to know about those dystopian shenanigans!

Some of the Dystopian Shenanigans in Divergent

Jumping off moving things.
Jumping off tall things.
Climbing tall things.
Shoot em up, shoot em up dystopian style.
Making out with a ~~camp counselor~~, I mean, another member of Dauntless. Haha, whoops, just got, um, confused there for a second. *clears throat* I wouldn't know anything about making out with a camp counselor. Because, yeah, who does that?

Beatrice Prior is a member of Abnegation, the selfless, but she dreams of another life. One where she can look at her own reflection without being scolded or dress in something other than a gray potato sack (Fine, they don't actually wear potato sacks, but it sounds like they might as well have). So she chooses to join Dauntless, the fearless and brave, and her life, as well as her disappointed family's, is forever altered. Now known as Tris, she gets thrown into a world of speeding trains, speeding bullets, and unusual looking lead male characters.

You want to know about our Dauntless hottie?

Here are a few snippets of description: The corners of his mouth turn down naturally. He has very long thin fingers, a scar on his chin, and eye sockets that are so deep they sound like a deformity when described by Tris, with eyes so dark blue they're almost black... and a light blue patch in those eyes.

So basically, he looks like.....this?

My Beatrisssssssssssss.

Regardless of the less than stellar description of our love interest, named Four, I still managed to imagine him as a hottie toward the end. However, I just wasn't all that interested in him, which seems to be a common occurrence for me lately. Color me blinded by Barrons, I guess. Nearly every love interest I have read since, just doesn't live up to my expectations.

Now, a love interest who would have been intriguing and a major shock: Peter. This douchebag was the Dauntless nemesis of both Tris and Four; however, he was way more interesting to me than Four. If he had turned out to be the other Divergent and had been just acting like a jerk the entire time, it could have been different for me. There was an instant where I thought, "Maybe?" But alas, no. He was still just being a douche.

I have to say that, although the world itself doesn't make much sense, since when does any oppressive society make SENSE? At least to those of us who have common sense. Horrible and ridiculous things happen all the time and there have been many ages of oppression throughout history. None of them make a hell of a lot of sense. Slavery? The holocaust? Genocide? Nope, I don't get it. But that doesn't mean it can't and won't happen.

If you are one for analyzing the politics and economics of the world you are reading about, then this one may fall short for you. If you are someone who can easily suspend your disbelief in favor of action and new experiences, then you just might love this. Me? Well, I fall somewhere in between, but definitely more toward LOVING it.

For nay-sayers who claim that dystopian fiction is unrealistic because those kinds of societies would never work:

I think that is the point these books are trying to make, isn't it? It doesn't work. That's why those types of government either self-destruct or are deconstructed by others, and those who initiate those governments either fall apart or are taken apart. That's one reason that I think books like this are so important; they exist to remind us what humans are capable of: the good and the bad.

Humans can kill and be killed, give life and have it taken from them, love or hate, help others or help destroy them.

Even though this book concentrates on just 5 important characteristics, there are so many more traits that are important. So, what character trait is your strongest? Are you brave? Helpful? Funny? Creative? A good listener? What trait can you use to help transform others? Or the world? That's a question that can be found in between the lines of this book, and it's an important one. One that we should all ask ourselves.

Divergent was one of those books that just consumed every corner of my mind while I was reading it. As much as I love The Hunger Games, the subsequent deterioration of my interest in the sequels still weighs heavy on my mind. Here's to hoping that this is a series that only gets better with age.

And now a bit of Bonus Material:

Check out how I really pictured Four in this My Book Boyfriend segment!

Here is a fan made trailer that is pretty fantastic:

Below is the official trailer, which I didn't care for too much. It seemed underwhelming and awfully vague.

My Book Boyfriend Four Divergent

2011-07-20T08:51:00.000-07:00

My Book Boyfriend #1

Four

from Divergent

by Veronica Roth

My Book Boyfriend is a weekly meme where we talk about a literary crush who makes us swoon hosted by Missie from The Unread Reader.

Check out my review of Divergent!

Stats:

eighteen years old
member of the Faction called Dauntless
extremely deep set, very dark blue eyes
long and slender fingers
several tattoos that aren't easily visible

Four is brave, strong, sensitive when he needs to be and ruthless when he has to be. Although, I don't think that Veronica Roth did the hero in Divergent, named Four, justice in her descriptions, he still managed to make me swoon a couple times. I tried to block out the picture her words painted and paint one all my own. The actor Max Irons was a perfect match...

"My first instinct is to push you until you break, just to see how hard I have to press." he says, his fingers squeezing at the word break. My body tenses at the edge in his voice, so I am coiled as tight as a spring, and I forget to breathe.

His dark eyes lifting to mine, he adds, "But I resist it."

"Why..." I swallow hard. "Why is that your first instinct?"

"Fear doesn't shut you down; it wakes you up. I've seen it. It's fascinating." He releases me but doesn't pull away, his hand grazing my jaw, my neck. "Sometimes I just want to see it again. Want to see you awake."

""What do you want?" Then his face tightens "Me?" Slowly I nod. He nods too, and takes my hand in his gently. He guides my palms to his stomach. His eyes lowered, he pushes my hands up, over his neck. My palms tingle with the feel of his skin, smooth, warm. My face is hot, but I shiver anyway."

These last three are all fantastic fanart from DefynGravity

I completely agree with the choice of Saoirse Ronan as Tris. She was actually the actress I pictured after seeing her in the fantastic movie Hanna.

Also, check out Nic's version of Four at Irresistible Reads.

Grand Opening Giveaway Winner

2011-07-18T12:49:00.000-07:00

Announcement of the Winner!

Strangemore's Grand Opening

Choice of one of the following books:

Behemoth (Leviathan #2)

Linger (Wolves of Mercy Falls #2)
Delirium (Delirium #1)
The Candidates (Delacroix Acadmey #1)
Inside Out (Inside Out #1)

The winner of the random drawing is....

Hayden of The Teen Bookworm

who chose a copy of Delirium by Lauren Oliver.

Congrats!

Everyone else - Don't despair!
Another winner is just around the corner.
Enter to win an ARC copy of
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Steifvater:

Author Interview with Marianne de Pierres and Campaign for Burn Bright in the US

2011-07-14T06:37:00.000-07:00

Before we get to the interview with Marianne de Pierres, the author of Burn Bright, I just wanted to say that she couldn't have been more wonderful and was everything we all hope for in a YA author. I thought Burn Bright was an outstanding start to a series that I can't wait to read more about. It's fully immersive and addictive. If you haven't already, take a few minutes to read my review of Burn Bright.

I also would love to get a campaign going to have this book published in the US, because it is currently only available in Australia. Please check out the info at the bottom of the interview, if you are also interested in seeing Burn Bright come to the US.

Thus, without further ado... the interview:

A lot of us want to know about the covers of The Night Creatures series: Did you have any input into the cover designs for these books and how did they come about?

My publisher was beginning to put together a cover concept and their designer, Astred Hicks, suggested Jaroslaw Kubicki's artwork among others. We all knew instantly that it was a match made in gothic heaven. It then remained for Astred to contact him and get permission to use the artwork. You can read Astred's account of it at her blog. I was in the happy position to be able to just say, ‘Yes, I love it!’

Which character is portrayed on the cover of Burn Bright? Also, who is portrayed on Angel Arias?

My publisher likes to think of the Angel Arias portraying Ruzalia, and I like to think of Burn Bright as Naif. But really they can be who you want them to be.

Do you have any idea who will be on the cover of Blaze Dark? When can we expect to see it?

I have a sneaking suspicion, but it hasn’t been confirmed yet, so I’d better not say. However, it will fit with the same tone as the previous covers.

I love the texture of the book. Did you have any idea how unique it would be? And what did you think when you held it in your hands for the first time?

I think that was my publisher. She talked about how she wanted a certain texture and lettering on the cover. I really wasn’t exactly sure what she meant until I held it in my hand and went … WOW!

I have already been inspired by the hugely creative world in your book, Burn Bright, and I'm sure that many young people will be as well; what were your biggest influences growing up?

Thank you Lyndsey, that’s a great compliment. Most of my influences growing up came from books and television, and to a much lesser extent film. Older generation writers like D.H. Lawrence and Victoria Holt (historical murder/mystery/romance). TV series like the original Avengers and Callan inspired that sense of danger in my writing.

Where did the inspiration for the world of Ixion come from?

It was an intersection of various interests I had at the time I began writing it; nocturnal lifestyles, gothic architecture, sleep and our need for it, islands (I’ve lived on one). I also wanted to write something with strong fantasy imagery to have a change from straight SF.

Will The Night Creatures series be published in the US? When might it be available?

We’re in talk with publishers now and I hope I’ll have some news soon. The publishing industry moves quite slowly, so, fingers crossed, maybe next year.

Let's talk love interests. It seems there are so many choices for our heroine. I would ask you who you think Retra/Naif should end up with, but that may lead to a spoiler. So, does she end up with who you think she should or does she have a mind of her own on that matter?

Oh yes, I couldn’t tell you where the love thing goes - that would spoil everything. I will say though, that it depends very much on what Naif wants and at the moment she’s very new to the whole experience. I’ve given her permission to be confused and change her mind, because we’ve all done that.

People have said that Retra's interest in Markes is entirely unfounded, but I found that as a teenager, I often became infatuated with boys I didn't know anything about. It was a very realistic way to portray her. Are Retra's experiences and characteristics in any way based on your own?

Well, I’m with you. I had secret crushes on lots of different boys when I was a teen. In book 2 , though, Naif begins to learn much more about Markes, which adds weight to her feelings for him, but it gets quite complicated.

Are you currently working on any other projects besides The Night Creatures? Can you tell us about them?

I’m currently writing my humourous crime series (www.tarasharp.com) and my SF/Western comic (www.mariannedepierres.com/peacemaker) but the ideas for my next teen series are simmering as well. It will be called Emo Trader and is literally about being able to trade your emotions with other people, or check them in to the Emo Bank. But of course that comes at a cost.

What is your writing style?

I’m a write first, revise later person to a degree. I’ve schooled myself to be that way, otherwise I would agonize too long over passages and never get the story written. I’ve also found that good story flow produces better work for me. The emotion needs to be strong, which is much harder to achieve when you are stop/start editing all the time.

Do you have any writing tips for unpublished writers?

My best tips are here – they’re simple but the best advice I can give, other than to say don’t give up and good luck! http://www.mariannedepierres.com/extras/writing-tips/

Thanks for having me, Lyndsey! Burn Bright!

Thanks, Marianne! You were absolutely fantastic and I really hope we get to see The Night Creatures series here in the US... and SOON!!

We want Burn Bright in the US!

Join the Campaign

If you would be interested in seeing Burn Bright and it's sequels published in the States, do any or all of the following:

1) Visit the Facebook page for Burn Bright and LIKE it. Also, visit and LIKE this page and vote for your country to let publishers know that you want to see this series there!

2) Send a tweet to the publishers. You can use the one I have included below or compose your own with the hashtag #WeWantBurnBrightInTheUS and tweet to @harperteen @randomhouse @littlebrown @simonkidsya

<----Click here to share your interest in Burn Bright.