Farah Cook's Blog, page 2
March 19, 2017
Love is in the air - Don't miss out on this special love affair! Part one
The theme is love…. because, love is everywhere, everywhere if we truly open our eyes and look for it, we will find it. So – in the name of love, I’d like to talk about two books that made my heart oh-so warm.
Everything, Everything swept me away. When I first picked up the book I didn’t know what to expect. The cute little drawings helped me understand Maddy’s world and the frustrations she feels. Then she meets Olly and the story really gets interesting!!!
Olly+Maddy = Sparkles, Cute, Romantic
Something about Yoon – the way she writes connects with the heart – and so I couldn’t get a copy fast enough of “the sun is also a star” another romantic infliction by Yoon.
Natasha & Daniel in The Sun Is Also a Star are just so SUPER CUTE!!! They’re so different – a poet, hopeless romantic and a scientist, slightly pessimistic – she’s Beautiful and Black, and he’s Asian Adonis.
Have any of you read Yoon’s books? What do you think? Are they not ah-mazing?
There’s that za za zoom to it that reminds me of “faults in our stars” and just two people connecting in an endless universe….
Here’s a quote – can you guess from which of Yoon’s two books it is from?
“Why am I thinking about romance with a boy I’ll never see again?”
Have you ever met someone and felt like Maddy, Olly, Tasha and Daniel?
Lots of love and happiness.
Farah
Everything, Everything swept me away. When I first picked up the book I didn’t know what to expect. The cute little drawings helped me understand Maddy’s world and the frustrations she feels. Then she meets Olly and the story really gets interesting!!!
Olly+Maddy = Sparkles, Cute, Romantic
Something about Yoon – the way she writes connects with the heart – and so I couldn’t get a copy fast enough of “the sun is also a star” another romantic infliction by Yoon.
Natasha & Daniel in The Sun Is Also a Star are just so SUPER CUTE!!! They’re so different – a poet, hopeless romantic and a scientist, slightly pessimistic – she’s Beautiful and Black, and he’s Asian Adonis.
Have any of you read Yoon’s books? What do you think? Are they not ah-mazing?
There’s that za za zoom to it that reminds me of “faults in our stars” and just two people connecting in an endless universe….
Here’s a quote – can you guess from which of Yoon’s two books it is from?
“Why am I thinking about romance with a boy I’ll never see again?”
Have you ever met someone and felt like Maddy, Olly, Tasha and Daniel?
Lots of love and happiness.
Farah
March 18, 2017
City of Skies
Nora Hunt grows up in the East following virtues of a world where she feels she does not belong. She’s extremely competitive and strong-minded and keeps her true powers concealed. Deep inside herself, she feels an urge to cut lose and embrace the powers she’s gifted with, but is restricted from her beliefs as, a Judith - a practice rooted in equality and undermining anything that raises anyone above others. When she gets selected to join an elite society, in the West and to become a Raider, Nora’s world begins to change dramatically. The West is a modern sci-fi division that is ruled by dark lords, a corrupt republic and a passive monarchy. The virtues of the West follow Lumini law where competition, wealth and greed are common practices. Nora doesn’t connect with the West the way she’d hoped, and retrieves even more to her roots, as a Judith – keeping her powers hidden.
Slowly she adapts to her new life, and is determined to become Elite Raider. Raiders seek the deadly quest of nine hidden Shadowislands - an ancient Viking legend that Nora’s father was on a mission to discover. But he’s been missing for fourteen years, and Nora sees her only opportunity to join the Jarl Raider Dynasty that could lead to her father’s disappearance. During her Raider training, Nora meets the eccentric Frederick Dahl. She’s at once drawn to him because he’s hiding, secrets she’s set out to discover. These secrets are the beginning of their complex friendship, and all though Nora’s feelings toward Frederick are strong, she keeps them buried. She’s not the emotional type, and finds it difficult to trust Frederick as his personality is split and convoluted. He’s also the son of lord Willhelm - a powerful dark lord whom Nora has premonitions about.
Novels about powerful female protagonists are fast becoming a genre on their own, and the Danish author Farah Cook’s City of Skies, is a very persuasive read that stands out from the rest because of Farah’s in-depth descriptive and engaging style. Farah creates a very vivid world that will have you turning the pages. Nora is the narrator of her own story, and she quickly engages and hangs onto the readers attentions. In this novel, something interrupts Nora’s quest, her mission. Frederick Dahl, the mysterious boy with extraordinary powers. Nora becomes obsessed with him, because he is the ultimate bad boy that stands out from the crowd and doesn’t bend to any of the rules. With some turbulence Nora and Frederick become friends, and an unspoken romance delves between them. Soon it is clear that they are rivals compelled to join different Dynasties.
It is hard not to get caught up by Farah Cook’s tale of doomed love. The story unfolds with plenty of action, quests and mystery that will go deeper in book two it seems. The plot takes a big turn when some secrets are revealed and will have the readers groaning. City of Skies, part of the Shadowislands Saga, is a captivating novel with romance only just unraveling that fans of the genre of science-fi, fantasy, dystopia and romance will devour in a single sit.
Slowly she adapts to her new life, and is determined to become Elite Raider. Raiders seek the deadly quest of nine hidden Shadowislands - an ancient Viking legend that Nora’s father was on a mission to discover. But he’s been missing for fourteen years, and Nora sees her only opportunity to join the Jarl Raider Dynasty that could lead to her father’s disappearance. During her Raider training, Nora meets the eccentric Frederick Dahl. She’s at once drawn to him because he’s hiding, secrets she’s set out to discover. These secrets are the beginning of their complex friendship, and all though Nora’s feelings toward Frederick are strong, she keeps them buried. She’s not the emotional type, and finds it difficult to trust Frederick as his personality is split and convoluted. He’s also the son of lord Willhelm - a powerful dark lord whom Nora has premonitions about.
Novels about powerful female protagonists are fast becoming a genre on their own, and the Danish author Farah Cook’s City of Skies, is a very persuasive read that stands out from the rest because of Farah’s in-depth descriptive and engaging style. Farah creates a very vivid world that will have you turning the pages. Nora is the narrator of her own story, and she quickly engages and hangs onto the readers attentions. In this novel, something interrupts Nora’s quest, her mission. Frederick Dahl, the mysterious boy with extraordinary powers. Nora becomes obsessed with him, because he is the ultimate bad boy that stands out from the crowd and doesn’t bend to any of the rules. With some turbulence Nora and Frederick become friends, and an unspoken romance delves between them. Soon it is clear that they are rivals compelled to join different Dynasties.
It is hard not to get caught up by Farah Cook’s tale of doomed love. The story unfolds with plenty of action, quests and mystery that will go deeper in book two it seems. The plot takes a big turn when some secrets are revealed and will have the readers groaning. City of Skies, part of the Shadowislands Saga, is a captivating novel with romance only just unraveling that fans of the genre of science-fi, fantasy, dystopia and romance will devour in a single sit.
March 17, 2017
Hurry - City of Skies Kindle Version
Lovely friends and followers
Just wanted to let you know that my book City of Skies is on promotion right now (99c at Amazon) but the offer ends tonight so if you are interested, get a copy before the price goes up ;-)
Have a lovely weekend
Farah x
Just wanted to let you know that my book City of Skies is on promotion right now (99c at Amazon) but the offer ends tonight so if you are interested, get a copy before the price goes up ;-)
Have a lovely weekend
Farah x
March 9, 2017
What I wrote in the train...
Clarice Adams and the Secret Tower
CHAPTER ONE
Clarice corrected the collar of her trench coat, and swung back her flat brown hair. The mild summer breeze felt heavy against her pale skin – thick London smog. She walked toward a tall building, taking fast uneven steps and merged into the foam of fast moving mob. Through the swing door, her warm hands pressed the glass and painted a misty imprint.
“This is it.” She inhaled and let the heavy breath drop to the pitch of her stomach. My “12 weeks summer internship.”
Why she'd gotten it in the first place, was still not clear. Clarice had no interest in working for a corporate conglomerate. She wasn't elegant- like most of the women in the city. Tight knee high dresses. High heels, fresh make-up smudged against their skin. Red lipstick marks on their lattes and oversized expensive bags.
No, Clarice was wearing an old vintage trench coat she'd picked up at a bargain the weekend before in any other market than Camden Market. The shoes, with a three inch heal she'd borrowed from her best friend Mare, and the medi-dress with pleats pressed against her limbs was maybe from 1920 or so. A fashion comeback from her granny's dusty wardrobe. Thinking of her gran momentarily gave Clarice the shivers. So she shifted her thoughts back. Meekly she approached the glossy reception. A woman with a sharp wolf-like smile looked at her.
"How can I help you today?" Her fake high-pitched voice was not the issue. It was the condemned look hidden behind the receptionist's square blue frames that made Clarice feel smaller than what she already felt. Small, she was in the big city of London, and away from home – the dock pond as she liked to call it.
"I'm the new Intern at Dukhan…" In one quick motion the receptionist tossed up a badge and motioned Clarice towards the lifts. Her hand straight and firm like an arrow, and her smile wide revealing her Sharp teeth.
"22nd floor please." Clarice placed her index finger on the badge and slid it against the glossy desk, making a light a scrappy noise. The heavy mob walking in and out of the building squished her into one of the lifts. Her face was inches from touching the cold metal wall. As the lift stopped before reaching the top floor, it off loaded people shuffling the marble floor like tiny ants. She peeled away from the wall and made some room to wiggle and straightened her spine. Clarice felt boneless like a soft toy and shot out pockets of air from her lungs to empty the heaviness in her chest.
"Are you getting out here?"
"Yes." She took a deep breath-"I am thank you," and glanced at the boy staring at her his eyes hard in question.
"My name is Damien..." a thumb and Clarice had landed on her face. The heel of her shoe caught in the elevator rim. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, thank you." She quickly rose to her feet, dusted herself off and realized her left foot was bare against the cold marble. She'd broken off the heel of Mare's shoe. Great! She's going to kill me, now. Clarice tried not to play the record where Mare had said. "Please C, it's my favorite pair. Look well after them okay?" The boy was holding Mare's shoe in his hand. The heel dangling like a dead limb of a body. He cleared his throat.
"Your shoe." He said politely. No. This wasn't a Cinderella moment she thought to herself. It's too cheesy. He's just well-mannered, the English kind of way and of course happens to be incredible cute too. Soft ginger-blond hair and glassy green eyes. "Most of the girls here keep an impressive collection in their bottom drawers. I'm sure no one will notice. They usually get in at half nine. I won't tell anyone." He gave Clarice a mischievous smile, and motioned at the empty desk across the lobby behind the glass door. He then pushed it open and disappeared. She saw him move elegantly, his navy blue suit tailor made to suit his athletic frame and his white shirt left a trial of a lemony scent. Clarice felt warm, and placed her cold hands against her boiling face. She halted to the reception, and repeated the mantra in the lowest possible voice.
“Clarice Adams. New. Intern.” A quick glare into a tiny camera and minutes later Clarice was holding her new work pass.
"All the other 'younglings' will be in the boardroom Sparta, from 10am." Said
the receptionist and pressed back a laugh. 'Younglings' Clarice shrugged. She suddenly felt like an apprentice in master Yoda's class. And this, Dukhan Investments, felt like a new edition of Star Wars. The music rang in her ears momentarily "I'll show you your desk."
"Can I just go to the ladies first please?"
"It's down the corridor to your left." Clarice's heart was racing. She took a quick right swing into the wide open planned office floor, duck into the empty desk, Damien had guided her to and grabbed the first pair of shoes she could see, and scooted off, slow paced without drawing too much attention to herself. Inside the ladies Clarice shoved Mare's shoes into her bag and pressed into the black leather heels. Only trouble was- they were one size too big. 'Dammit!!!'
She tucked in tissues at the back of the shoe to make them fit- 'definitely Cinderella moment. Except I'm not her... Cinderella had it good. She had a new dress and shoes, nothing like Clarice, second hand vintage attire and borrowed now broken shoes. Sigh!
Clarice stared at her reflection in the mirror. Small summer freckles against her marble skin, her brown hair a shade lighter from the sun. She pinched her sallow cheeks. 'Younglings...I'm sixteen thank you very much.' She twisted her nose slightly to the right, and made her way out. She was entering the real world – a cut-throat world.
CHAPTER ONE
Clarice corrected the collar of her trench coat, and swung back her flat brown hair. The mild summer breeze felt heavy against her pale skin – thick London smog. She walked toward a tall building, taking fast uneven steps and merged into the foam of fast moving mob. Through the swing door, her warm hands pressed the glass and painted a misty imprint.
“This is it.” She inhaled and let the heavy breath drop to the pitch of her stomach. My “12 weeks summer internship.”
Why she'd gotten it in the first place, was still not clear. Clarice had no interest in working for a corporate conglomerate. She wasn't elegant- like most of the women in the city. Tight knee high dresses. High heels, fresh make-up smudged against their skin. Red lipstick marks on their lattes and oversized expensive bags.
No, Clarice was wearing an old vintage trench coat she'd picked up at a bargain the weekend before in any other market than Camden Market. The shoes, with a three inch heal she'd borrowed from her best friend Mare, and the medi-dress with pleats pressed against her limbs was maybe from 1920 or so. A fashion comeback from her granny's dusty wardrobe. Thinking of her gran momentarily gave Clarice the shivers. So she shifted her thoughts back. Meekly she approached the glossy reception. A woman with a sharp wolf-like smile looked at her.
"How can I help you today?" Her fake high-pitched voice was not the issue. It was the condemned look hidden behind the receptionist's square blue frames that made Clarice feel smaller than what she already felt. Small, she was in the big city of London, and away from home – the dock pond as she liked to call it.
"I'm the new Intern at Dukhan…" In one quick motion the receptionist tossed up a badge and motioned Clarice towards the lifts. Her hand straight and firm like an arrow, and her smile wide revealing her Sharp teeth.
"22nd floor please." Clarice placed her index finger on the badge and slid it against the glossy desk, making a light a scrappy noise. The heavy mob walking in and out of the building squished her into one of the lifts. Her face was inches from touching the cold metal wall. As the lift stopped before reaching the top floor, it off loaded people shuffling the marble floor like tiny ants. She peeled away from the wall and made some room to wiggle and straightened her spine. Clarice felt boneless like a soft toy and shot out pockets of air from her lungs to empty the heaviness in her chest.
"Are you getting out here?"
"Yes." She took a deep breath-"I am thank you," and glanced at the boy staring at her his eyes hard in question.
"My name is Damien..." a thumb and Clarice had landed on her face. The heel of her shoe caught in the elevator rim. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, thank you." She quickly rose to her feet, dusted herself off and realized her left foot was bare against the cold marble. She'd broken off the heel of Mare's shoe. Great! She's going to kill me, now. Clarice tried not to play the record where Mare had said. "Please C, it's my favorite pair. Look well after them okay?" The boy was holding Mare's shoe in his hand. The heel dangling like a dead limb of a body. He cleared his throat.
"Your shoe." He said politely. No. This wasn't a Cinderella moment she thought to herself. It's too cheesy. He's just well-mannered, the English kind of way and of course happens to be incredible cute too. Soft ginger-blond hair and glassy green eyes. "Most of the girls here keep an impressive collection in their bottom drawers. I'm sure no one will notice. They usually get in at half nine. I won't tell anyone." He gave Clarice a mischievous smile, and motioned at the empty desk across the lobby behind the glass door. He then pushed it open and disappeared. She saw him move elegantly, his navy blue suit tailor made to suit his athletic frame and his white shirt left a trial of a lemony scent. Clarice felt warm, and placed her cold hands against her boiling face. She halted to the reception, and repeated the mantra in the lowest possible voice.
“Clarice Adams. New. Intern.” A quick glare into a tiny camera and minutes later Clarice was holding her new work pass.
"All the other 'younglings' will be in the boardroom Sparta, from 10am." Said
the receptionist and pressed back a laugh. 'Younglings' Clarice shrugged. She suddenly felt like an apprentice in master Yoda's class. And this, Dukhan Investments, felt like a new edition of Star Wars. The music rang in her ears momentarily "I'll show you your desk."
"Can I just go to the ladies first please?"
"It's down the corridor to your left." Clarice's heart was racing. She took a quick right swing into the wide open planned office floor, duck into the empty desk, Damien had guided her to and grabbed the first pair of shoes she could see, and scooted off, slow paced without drawing too much attention to herself. Inside the ladies Clarice shoved Mare's shoes into her bag and pressed into the black leather heels. Only trouble was- they were one size too big. 'Dammit!!!'
She tucked in tissues at the back of the shoe to make them fit- 'definitely Cinderella moment. Except I'm not her... Cinderella had it good. She had a new dress and shoes, nothing like Clarice, second hand vintage attire and borrowed now broken shoes. Sigh!
Clarice stared at her reflection in the mirror. Small summer freckles against her marble skin, her brown hair a shade lighter from the sun. She pinched her sallow cheeks. 'Younglings...I'm sixteen thank you very much.' She twisted her nose slightly to the right, and made her way out. She was entering the real world – a cut-throat world.
