C.J. Redwine's Blog, page 17
January 13, 2012
Were-llama Reviews: GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS
Recently, on the advice of this blog owner, I read this book:
The book jacket promised the following adventure:
As you might expect after reading that summary, this is a book full of grand adventures, magic, and delicious pastries. What? You didn't see "delicious pastries" in that description? Well, SPOILER ALERT. There are delicious pastries in this book. Or there were before I went in and ate them all.
All your pastries are belong to ME!
I love a thrilling adventure as much as the next llama, but this book has something more than danger, romance, and the aforementioned pastries. Something the book jacket failed to mention. Hidden in the depths of this book is a veritable love fest for camels.
Camels.
Camels: Exhibit A for "AAAHHH MY EYES!"
It's been said that camels and llamas are similar, but comparing the two is like saying geckos and Komodo dragons are both capable of ripping off your arm. The author of this book seems to need a lesson in this distinction. The only thing the camel has going for it is its ability to survive in the desert for long periods of time without water. This, apparently, is an attractive trait to those humans who like to wander around in burning sand for days on end.
Guess what? Llamas don't need much water, either. Only we manage to pull off this feat without growing an unsightly hump.
My humps! My humps! My lovely lady lumps!
Camels can carry heavy loads for humans. News flash! Llamas can do. Only we don't let humans dress us up like Lady Gaga while we do it.
Born this way? I think not.
Also, what happens if you camel-lovers have a confrontation with someone who means you harm? The llama's stare can turn even the strongest man's digestive tract into a water slide of misery.
Death. It's coming for you.
I can't feel my lower lip. Can you feel my lower lip? Maybe I don't even HAVE a lower lip.
And what if your enemy attacks? A camel shows its displeasure by sticking out its tongue. A llama can conjure up spit, air, and even stomach bile to spit in your enemy's face.
Nyah-nyah-nyah! That will show them!
The plain fact of the matter is this: having a love fest for camels instead of llamas is like saying you'd like to have Richard Simmons go to bat for you even though Chuck Norris is available.
Kicked in the hump.
Don't let the lack of pastries and the unfortunate existence of camels deter you from reading this book, however. The adventure is well worth the small sacrifice of having to replace the word "camel" with the word "llama" as you read. I suggest using a black sharpie for this purpose. One can only hope the author takes this comprehensive lesson in Llama vs. Camel facts into consideration in the sequel. GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS: Nearly as awesome as me.
SPIT-O-METER
4.5 out of 5 gallons
Interviewer extraordinaire, cover model, and super scary shape-shifter, the Were-llama now adds reviewer to his long list of awesome credentials. His views are his own. And because he can command obedience with the awesome power of his glowing red eyes, his views are also YOURS. When the Were-llama wants your opinion, he will give it to you.
The book jacket promised the following adventure:
Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.
Elisa is the chosen one.
But she is also the younger of two princesses. The one who has never done anything remarkable, and can't see how she ever will.
Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs her to be the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.
And he's not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies, seething with dark magic, are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people's savior, and he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.
Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn't die young.
Most of the chosen do.
As you might expect after reading that summary, this is a book full of grand adventures, magic, and delicious pastries. What? You didn't see "delicious pastries" in that description? Well, SPOILER ALERT. There are delicious pastries in this book. Or there were before I went in and ate them all.
All your pastries are belong to ME!I love a thrilling adventure as much as the next llama, but this book has something more than danger, romance, and the aforementioned pastries. Something the book jacket failed to mention. Hidden in the depths of this book is a veritable love fest for camels.
Camels.
Camels: Exhibit A for "AAAHHH MY EYES!"It's been said that camels and llamas are similar, but comparing the two is like saying geckos and Komodo dragons are both capable of ripping off your arm. The author of this book seems to need a lesson in this distinction. The only thing the camel has going for it is its ability to survive in the desert for long periods of time without water. This, apparently, is an attractive trait to those humans who like to wander around in burning sand for days on end.
Guess what? Llamas don't need much water, either. Only we manage to pull off this feat without growing an unsightly hump.
My humps! My humps! My lovely lady lumps!Camels can carry heavy loads for humans. News flash! Llamas can do. Only we don't let humans dress us up like Lady Gaga while we do it.
Born this way? I think not.Also, what happens if you camel-lovers have a confrontation with someone who means you harm? The llama's stare can turn even the strongest man's digestive tract into a water slide of misery.
Death. It's coming for you.
I can't feel my lower lip. Can you feel my lower lip? Maybe I don't even HAVE a lower lip.And what if your enemy attacks? A camel shows its displeasure by sticking out its tongue. A llama can conjure up spit, air, and even stomach bile to spit in your enemy's face.
Nyah-nyah-nyah! That will show them!The plain fact of the matter is this: having a love fest for camels instead of llamas is like saying you'd like to have Richard Simmons go to bat for you even though Chuck Norris is available.
Kicked in the hump. Don't let the lack of pastries and the unfortunate existence of camels deter you from reading this book, however. The adventure is well worth the small sacrifice of having to replace the word "camel" with the word "llama" as you read. I suggest using a black sharpie for this purpose. One can only hope the author takes this comprehensive lesson in Llama vs. Camel facts into consideration in the sequel. GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS: Nearly as awesome as me.
SPIT-O-METER
4.5 out of 5 gallons 
Interviewer extraordinaire, cover model, and super scary shape-shifter, the Were-llama now adds reviewer to his long list of awesome credentials. His views are his own. And because he can command obedience with the awesome power of his glowing red eyes, his views are also YOURS. When the Were-llama wants your opinion, he will give it to you.
January 11, 2012
Author Mad Libs: Anne Nesbet
Today's Author Mad Libs guest is Anne Nesbet. Without seeing today's post, Anne has provided me with a list of words to help me in my quest to describe both Anne and her book. Let the mayhem begin!
The Author:
Anne Nesbet writes the kind of __croissants__ that she wants to _caterwaul_. She claims she's younger than the average _saxophone_, but older than most _gargoyles_. She once wrote a book about _marshmallows_ who _slipped_ while they were also busy _shrieking_ like it was going out of style. That takes some _breadcrumbs_! As a child, she had big _saltshakers_ and was very _spiky_. She loves _miffed_ music and even plays the _marmot_. She has a beautiful _doorknob_ whom she likes to walk on_cobblestones_. Her special skill is that she can _fling_ while _tap-dancing_. Her first book, _An Addressbook Under Streetcars __, comes out this January from Harper Collins.
The Book:
On their first day in Paris, Maya and her little brother, James, find themselves caught up in some very old _jam_. Houses with _smoky_ salamanders for door handles, _buttercups_ that look too much like Maya's own _fabulous_ face, a man wearing _flashlights_ to hide his _dented_ purple eyes–nothing is what it seems. And what does all that _armchair__ want from Maya? With the help of a friendly _kazoo_ named Valko, Maya discovers _stereoscopes_ hidden in her family tree–grandmothers who _melted_ in magic, a cousin so _fragrant_ she's actually hard to see, and a terrible family habit of _meandering_ one's _squirrel_. To save her own brother, Maya must take on the magical _sonnet_of _Millicent_ . . . before it is too late.
Reviews:
"a-shimmer with _dumplings_" (Horn Book) . . . "charmingly _toothsome_" (Kirkus) . . . "evocative _scissors_ and a confident narrative voice" (Publishers Weekly) . . . "readers will be swept along by the novel's swift _binoculars_"(Shelf Awareness) . . . "a unique, interesting _salamander_ with just enough suspense to keep _biscuits_ turning the pages into the night" (VOYA)
Sounds fabulous, doesn't it? Thank you, Anne, for being a good sport and playing along. To get the real scoop on THE CABINET OF EARTHS and Anne, head to her site or find her book on IndieBound.
The Author:
Anne Nesbet writes the kind of __croissants__ that she wants to _caterwaul_. She claims she's younger than the average _saxophone_, but older than most _gargoyles_. She once wrote a book about _marshmallows_ who _slipped_ while they were also busy _shrieking_ like it was going out of style. That takes some _breadcrumbs_! As a child, she had big _saltshakers_ and was very _spiky_. She loves _miffed_ music and even plays the _marmot_. She has a beautiful _doorknob_ whom she likes to walk on_cobblestones_. Her special skill is that she can _fling_ while _tap-dancing_. Her first book, _An Addressbook Under Streetcars __, comes out this January from Harper Collins.
The Book:
On their first day in Paris, Maya and her little brother, James, find themselves caught up in some very old _jam_. Houses with _smoky_ salamanders for door handles, _buttercups_ that look too much like Maya's own _fabulous_ face, a man wearing _flashlights_ to hide his _dented_ purple eyes–nothing is what it seems. And what does all that _armchair__ want from Maya? With the help of a friendly _kazoo_ named Valko, Maya discovers _stereoscopes_ hidden in her family tree–grandmothers who _melted_ in magic, a cousin so _fragrant_ she's actually hard to see, and a terrible family habit of _meandering_ one's _squirrel_. To save her own brother, Maya must take on the magical _sonnet_of _Millicent_ . . . before it is too late.
Reviews:
"a-shimmer with _dumplings_" (Horn Book) . . . "charmingly _toothsome_" (Kirkus) . . . "evocative _scissors_ and a confident narrative voice" (Publishers Weekly) . . . "readers will be swept along by the novel's swift _binoculars_"(Shelf Awareness) . . . "a unique, interesting _salamander_ with just enough suspense to keep _biscuits_ turning the pages into the night" (VOYA)
Sounds fabulous, doesn't it? Thank you, Anne, for being a good sport and playing along. To get the real scoop on THE CABINET OF EARTHS and Anne, head to her site or find her book on IndieBound.
January 10, 2012
Trailers for INCARCERON & SAPPHIQUE
Today is a double dose of Trailer Tuesday as I bring you both the trailer for INCARCERON (One of the best books I read in 2010) and its sequel SAPPHIQUE (currently sitting near the top of my TBR pile.) What do you think? (The second trailer starts the same as the first ... I say this because my instant reaction was that I'd clicked on the wrong link.)
January 9, 2012
Winner of EVERNEATH!
Thank you to all who entered the contest to win a signed copy of Brodi Ashton's amazing debut EVERNEATH. As always, I used random.org to select the winner. And the winner is
Laurisa White Reyes
Congratulations, Laurisa! You will receive a confirmation email from me shortly. Thanks again for entering and happy reading!
If you missed winning Everneath, stay tuned! Debut author Jodi Meadows and best selling author Beth Revis will be on the blog in the next few weeks with more entertaining interviews and more books to win. :)
January 6, 2012
The Were-llama Reviews: Mission Impossible 4
Recently, I attended the movie theater on a Friday night to see this:
Explosions, car chases, nuclear war ... blah, blah, blah. The real question on everyone's mind is this: Where are the llamas?
I'm going to share with you a little known fact. Agent Ethan Hunt is a were-llama. Proof? He survived multiple falls, crashes, and run-ins with unsavory types who appeared bigger and stronger than him. Now, I ask you. What man can do that unless he's a were-llama?
James Bond, you say?
Also a were-llama.
Chuck Norris, you say?
Please. Every were-llama on the planet has "Chuck" as a middle name.
Sadly, the villain in this action-packed thriller was not a were-llama. If I had to guess (and we all know my guesses are gospel), I'd say his mother was a camel and his father smelt of vodka. Sure, he seemed smart enough at first. But peel back a layer or two and you discover a hump full of crazy.
Hunt and his team were smart, savvy, and sometimes funny. Their main problem, besides the camel-for-a-mama villain, was malfunctioning high-tech gadgets. This nearly led to a mission failure of epic proportions several times.
Clearly, the tech wizard on their team did not know how to fully capitalize on Agent Hunt's inner llama. For example, he could have insisted Hunt sound the llama alarm. Nothing intimidates your opponent and alerts your team members to imminent danger like the mighty clarion call of the llama.
I'm sorry, did one of you humans just say the mighty clarion call of the llama sounds like the bed springs at a cheap hotel? DID YOU?
Better rethink those words, you lesser being. Nobody wants me to get Edward involved in this.
Edward says you smell like dinner.
Also, I feel the director failed to utilize Hunt's most important weapon--llama spit. No need to disarm your opponent, get in a fist fight, or hope your high-tech gadget doesn't fail you at the last minute! Simply gather one's juices and let fly. No worries that a sexy spy will seduce the secret out of you.
Unless that sexy spy is a were-llama. Then, you are doomed to spill both your secrets and your guts. Oh, you thought the term "spill your guts" was a euphemism? Welcome to pain, son. I'll be your tour guide.
That's right. I'm bringing sexy back. And you'll take it if you know what's good for you.
However, despite these obvious failings, the movie was entertaining enough to momentarily distract me from my own incomparable reflection for two hours. Mission Impossible 4: it nearly lived up to my stunning awesomeness.
SPIT-O-METER
4 out of 5 gallons
Interviewer extraordinaire, cover model, and super scary shape-shifter, the Were-llama now adds reviewer to his long list of awesome credentials. His views are his own. And because he can command obedience with the awesome power of his glowing red eyes, his views are also YOURS. When the Were-llama wants your opinion, he will give it to you.
Explosions, car chases, nuclear war ... blah, blah, blah. The real question on everyone's mind is this: Where are the llamas?
I'm going to share with you a little known fact. Agent Ethan Hunt is a were-llama. Proof? He survived multiple falls, crashes, and run-ins with unsavory types who appeared bigger and stronger than him. Now, I ask you. What man can do that unless he's a were-llama?
James Bond, you say?
Also a were-llama.
Chuck Norris, you say?
Please. Every were-llama on the planet has "Chuck" as a middle name.
Sadly, the villain in this action-packed thriller was not a were-llama. If I had to guess (and we all know my guesses are gospel), I'd say his mother was a camel and his father smelt of vodka. Sure, he seemed smart enough at first. But peel back a layer or two and you discover a hump full of crazy.
Hunt and his team were smart, savvy, and sometimes funny. Their main problem, besides the camel-for-a-mama villain, was malfunctioning high-tech gadgets. This nearly led to a mission failure of epic proportions several times.
Clearly, the tech wizard on their team did not know how to fully capitalize on Agent Hunt's inner llama. For example, he could have insisted Hunt sound the llama alarm. Nothing intimidates your opponent and alerts your team members to imminent danger like the mighty clarion call of the llama.
I'm sorry, did one of you humans just say the mighty clarion call of the llama sounds like the bed springs at a cheap hotel? DID YOU?
Better rethink those words, you lesser being. Nobody wants me to get Edward involved in this.
Edward says you smell like dinner.Also, I feel the director failed to utilize Hunt's most important weapon--llama spit. No need to disarm your opponent, get in a fist fight, or hope your high-tech gadget doesn't fail you at the last minute! Simply gather one's juices and let fly. No worries that a sexy spy will seduce the secret out of you.
Unless that sexy spy is a were-llama. Then, you are doomed to spill both your secrets and your guts. Oh, you thought the term "spill your guts" was a euphemism? Welcome to pain, son. I'll be your tour guide.
That's right. I'm bringing sexy back. And you'll take it if you know what's good for you.However, despite these obvious failings, the movie was entertaining enough to momentarily distract me from my own incomparable reflection for two hours. Mission Impossible 4: it nearly lived up to my stunning awesomeness.
SPIT-O-METER
4 out of 5 gallons
Interviewer extraordinaire, cover model, and super scary shape-shifter, the Were-llama now adds reviewer to his long list of awesome credentials. His views are his own. And because he can command obedience with the awesome power of his glowing red eyes, his views are also YOURS. When the Were-llama wants your opinion, he will give it to you.
January 5, 2012
One Last Look
Edited to add the following: My editor has just informed me that we're done! ARCs will print after copy edits (which I already finished last month) and type set etc are finished. So ... the real title of this post is now "It's DONE." :)
DEFIANCE is just about ready be printed into ARCs. I get one more look when my editor sends me page proofs, and then that's it. It's out there. My baby is ready to leave the nest.
It's a surreal feeling to know that one last read-through is all that stands between me owning my story and me giving my story to you. Once you read it, once your imagination interacts with it, it becomes yours. You might love it. You might hate it. Either way it will be stick-a-fork-in-me done.
When that thought first hit me, my stomach pitched and rolled. What if I missed something? What if later I want to change that word to this word, but I can't? What if ....?
My stomach also pitched and rolled from excitement. Something along the lines of HOLYCOWEVERYONEWILLFINALLYREADTHISWOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
There's no way to be completely calm about this, no matter how hard I try, but I no longer feel queasy about only seeing the manuscript one more time before it's set in stone. I'm a nit picky, thorough writer who works hard. My editor is a nit picky, thorough editor who works hard. I trust her. I trust myself. Every single word in this book has been picked up, examined, and then either kept, tossed, or re-worked into something better. I can stand behind this book and say that yes, this is my best, and I'm proud of it.
So, one more look! One more read-through! And then off to be made into ARCs so readers can finally go on a dangerous, thrilling adventure of their own with my characters. You might love it. You might hate it.
Naturally, I hope for the former. :)
Hang on to your cloaks, kids, the adventure is about to begin.
DEFIANCE is just about ready be printed into ARCs. I get one more look when my editor sends me page proofs, and then that's it. It's out there. My baby is ready to leave the nest.
It's a surreal feeling to know that one last read-through is all that stands between me owning my story and me giving my story to you. Once you read it, once your imagination interacts with it, it becomes yours. You might love it. You might hate it. Either way it will be stick-a-fork-in-me done.
When that thought first hit me, my stomach pitched and rolled. What if I missed something? What if later I want to change that word to this word, but I can't? What if ....?
My stomach also pitched and rolled from excitement. Something along the lines of HOLYCOWEVERYONEWILLFINALLYREADTHISWOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
There's no way to be completely calm about this, no matter how hard I try, but I no longer feel queasy about only seeing the manuscript one more time before it's set in stone. I'm a nit picky, thorough writer who works hard. My editor is a nit picky, thorough editor who works hard. I trust her. I trust myself. Every single word in this book has been picked up, examined, and then either kept, tossed, or re-worked into something better. I can stand behind this book and say that yes, this is my best, and I'm proud of it.
So, one more look! One more read-through! And then off to be made into ARCs so readers can finally go on a dangerous, thrilling adventure of their own with my characters. You might love it. You might hate it.
Naturally, I hope for the former. :)
Hang on to your cloaks, kids, the adventure is about to begin.
January 4, 2012
Interview With Brodi Ashton
Today I'm thrilled to have Brodi Ashton, a fellow Balzer + Bray author, on the blog. I received an ARC of EVERNEATH (which hits the shelves 1/24) in the "welcome to B+B" package my editor sent. I was instantly drawn to the gorgeous and mysterious cover, so I decided to read it right away. Holy. Freaking. Cow. This book is amazing. It is beautifully written (I've never seen an author play with a timeline so successfully), the stakes are incredibly high, and it made me FEEL things. I cried, dear reader. And I also cursed Brodi's name for making me really like the villain. And the ending! *cries and screams and bribes her editor for an ARC of book two* If you don't read another book this year, you have to read this one. Trust me. Here's a peek at EVERNEATH:
Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath. Now she's returned—to her old life, her family, her boyfriend—before she's banished back to the underworld . . . this time forever. She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.I'm TeamJack all the way, baby. Except when I'm TeamCole ... *sigh* Brodi decided to take on our very own Captain Jack Sparrow, so before we get to the interview, let's meet today's guests.
Nikki longs to spend these precious months forgetting the Everneath and trying to reconnect with her boyfriend, Jack, the person most devastated by her disappearance—and the one person she loves more than anything. But there's just one problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who enticed her to the Everneath in the first place, has followed Nikki home. Cole wants to take over the throne in the underworld and is convinced Nikki is the key to making it happen. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back, this time as his queen.
As Nikki's time on the Surface draws to a close and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she is forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's queen.
Everneath is a captivating story of love, loss, and immortality from debut author Brodi Ashton.
Captain Jack Sparrow, savvy?
Brodi AshtonOf course, before we get to the interview, we get to reveal the amazing cupcake my hubby made in honor of EVERNEATH. Cole (the smouldering immortal from the book's description) plays the guitar for a band called The Dead Elvises. My hubby made Cole's guitar pick hovering over a pit of underworld smoke. Isn't it amazing? Without further ado, I give you the awesome cupcake and Brodi vs. Captain Jack Sparrow.
1. Would you classify yourself as a pirate or a member of Her Majesty's Royal navy? Why?
Well, I have to go with the pirate, mostly because the royal navy sounds a little boring, and I would hate to appear boring (she typed, as she sat in her house robe, sipping her tea, and wondering when she was going to take a shower next.)
But pirates probably don't shower much either, so I'm a pirate!
2. So, you're saying your only qualification for being a pirate is a lack of personal hygiene? *sniffs* Darling, I've met freshly bathed pirates who smelled worse than you. You'll have to do better than that. What's your favorite thing to do in Tortuga?
Oh, the usual. Pillage and plunder, and prune the hedges of many small villages.
3. I'm with you on the pillage and the plunder, but I'm rather hoping "prune the hedges" is a euphemism for something I probably shouldn't mention in polite company. I'm offering you free passage aboard my ship to anywhere in the world. Where shall we go, love?
I'm so happy you asked. We shall go to London. It is my favorite place in the world, and it's where I went to school. I'm dying to go back.
4. Right into the clutches of that fat, foppish frumpet who sits on the throne? Darling, I begin to think you are one warm shower away from being a member of His Majesty's navy. Who is the hero of your story most like: me (savvy, debonair, and unquestionably smooth with the ladies), the insufferably honorable Will Turner, or that deceptive little minx Elizabeth?
Oh man, none of the above. Is there a fourth option? Something along the lines of a girl who has lost everything because of one bad choice? Because my heroine just happens to be a girl who has lost everything because of one bad choice.
5. I once lost my dignity, my appetite, and my hat because of one bad choice. I can sympathize. Rum? Or more rum?
Rum Cake.
6. Mmm, a woman who likes to have her cake and drink it too. Skip the shower. You may prune my hedges instead. While dining on rum cake, of course. Which leads me to the age old question: Why is the rum always gone?
In my book, it would be because the rock band The Dead Elvises made it to the rum first.
7. Scurvy bilge rats. *draws sword* Touch my rum once more, and I'll make sure the name "Dead Elvises" is entirely accurate. What's the most piratish thing you've ever done?
You know that scene where they are dancing around a giant bonfire, fueled by rum? Well, when I was a girl scout, I made a fire. :)
8. As long as you don't use my rum to make the fire, we're peachy, love. Are they rules? Or more like guidelines?
Guidelines. Especially when I need them to be more like guidelines.
9. Never once have I failed to need them to be more like guidelines. I understand you're a story-teller. Any undead monkeys in your stories?
No. But there are undead in my story.
10. The Elvises, apparently, though that could change at any moment. *watches rum like a hawk* Any curses? Heartless monsters? Irritating women who insist on taking matters into their own hands?
There are definitely heartless monsters. And by that, I mean the bad guy literally doesn't have a heart.
11. Interesting. The bad guy in my world doesn't have a heart either. Or he didn't until I found it and stuffed it in a jar of dirt, but that's a rather messy tale for another day. One of my favorite words is "egregious." Care to share one of yours, love?
That's crazy, because I LOVE the word egregious! I'm also partial to "bulbous bouffant", "macadamia", and "gazebo". But my favorite word of all time is "penultimate".
12. Parlay? Or draw your sword?
Run and hide
13. Now you're talking. You've got a crowd of cursed sailors and a nasty sea monster on your trail. How do you escape?
Run and hide
14. Tried that. Didn't work. Better bring your hedge pruners with you just in case. Romantic night in? Or adventure on the high seas?
Romantic night in. And by "romantic night in", I mean vegging on the couch with only my TiVo for company.
15. As long as I get the rum, you can do whatever you like. My personal motto is: Take what you want, give nothing back. What's yours?
"Lately your low self-esteem is just good common sense."
Thank you, Brodi, for such an entertaining interview. Of course, the fun isn't over yet! Brodi is giving away a signed EVERNEATH. The giveaway is open internationally and will run until 8 p.m. central time Monday, January 9th. To enter, simply fill out the form below and be sure to leave Brodi a comment at the bottom of this post.
To find out more about Brodi, visit her site. To purchase a copy of EVERNEATH, go here.
January 3, 2012
Cold Kiss Trailer
Today's Trailer Tuesday video is for COLD KISS by Amy Garvey. I'm interested to know more! Are you?
January 2, 2012
My Favorite Books of 2011
2011 was the year of the amazing book. Really. I had such a hard time narrowing down this list. And it must be noted that I'm choosing only from books I had time to read. I still have a shelf full of gorgeous, shiny 2011 books just dying to be read, and no doubt many of those are amazing too. So, this isn't an exclusive list, this is just my way of making sure my readers know about some pretty awesome books. And in the comments, I'd love to hear your recs for your faves from 2011!
In no particular order, here are the books that stayed with me for days, inspired me, and made me cry, laugh, or stay up until 2 a.m. because I couldn't bear to stop reading.
1. Hourglass by Myra McEntire:
Summary:
My Thoughts:
I fell in love with this book because of Emerson's voice. Snarky, funny, broken, and hopeful, Emerson was the perfect narrator for this southern murder mystery meets Dr. Who story. I often laughed, I adored the romance, and I flipped the pages as fast as possible to figure out how in the world Em and Michael could possibly save the day when the day was lost months before the story even started. There are plot twists, heart-warming (and heart breaking) emotions, and surprises. I've never been a huge fan of modern time travel books, but Myra McEntire changed my mind.
2. Enclave by Ann Aguirre:
Summary:
This story is a gritty, compelling adventure from the very first page. The world building is exceptional, the characters are interesting and damaged, and the redemption each achieves by the story's end is hard won and well deserved. This isn't a book for those who want their characters to be touchy-feely from page one, but for those who enjoy a flawed, well-drawn character who slowly and painfully learns how to feel love and hope. I read this book as fast as I could, even while trying to draw it out, and I'll be snatching up the sequel as soon as it hits the shelves.
4. Lola & the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins:
Summary:
My Thoughts:
Oh, where do I start? First, I don't read contemporaries very often. I much more a dystopian or fantasy fan. I put off reading Ms. Perkins' first novel ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS for forever, even though everyone was saying it was amazing. When I finally decided to read it, I discovered I'd been an idiot for putting it off for so long. Perkins has an incredible ability to bring unique, flawed, lovable characters to vivid life on the page. LOLA showcased that talent well. I gulped this book down, and I'll re-read both Lola and Anna before the next companion novel comes out just for the sheer joy of seeing characters I love get their happily ever after. If you love romance, quirky characters, and settings that feel like you're THERE, these are the books for you.
5. Divergent by Veronica Roth:
Summary:
This is another book I put off reading because the hype was so HUGE, and I guess I start wondering if any book can really live up to that. If you're putting off reading this for the same reasons (or if you just haven't put this on your To Be Read list yet), let me assure you: It lives up to the hype. Thrilling, heart breaking, and completely fascinating, this book stayed with me for weeks after I finished reading. The emotional stakes are so high, the adventure is so edge-of-your-seat, and the journey the main characters take (both internal and external) is incredible. And have I mentioned the world building? Stellar. I will have the sequel in my hands the very day it comes out.
6. Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton:
Summary:
This is a lush, atmospheric action-packed story with some incredible surprises in store. The world Ms. Keaton creates is gritty, vivid and dangerous. Her characters are definitely not your run-of-the-mill characters, and I don't think I can fully put into words how haunting this book is. It stayed with me for days. DAYS. I don't know if this book got the buzz it deserves, but take it from me. This is worth reading.
7. Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins:
Summary:
Fans of Hex Hall were thrilled with its sequel, and I'm no exception. Full of humor, suspense, and plot twists like WHOA, this book is impossible to put down. The same cast of characters is back, new problems are on the horizon, and Sophie is torn between two guys (and between secrets and a destiny no one seems to want to explain to her). The romance in this book is perfect. And by perfect I mean ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME, HAWKINS??? Here I was all TeamArcher for life, and now I'm wondering if it's really a bad thing to be TeamEveryBoyInSophie'sLife. I can't wait to get my greedy little hands on Spellbound this spring!
8. Across the Universe by Beth Revis:
Summary:
This is a fabulous adventure with one of the most compelling opening scenes I've ever read. I was fascinated by the ship and the characters, and I desperately wanted to solve the mysteries with them. Kudos to Ms. Revis for totally surprising me in the end. :) I love surprises in books! This is an engrossing tale with romance, plot twists, and a world unlike any you've ever seen.
9. Chime by Franny Billingsley:
Summary:
Oh, this book. It's unlike any book I've ever read. Full of secrets and gorgeous prose. Lush and haunting. The characters, quirky and fascinating, come right off the page. The swamp setting is a character in its own right. The stakes are incredibly high. This is a book full of terrible beauty and unearthly things. It's pure magic. I'm going to read it again and take notes on how to write something this amazing.
10. Red Glove by Holly Black:
Summary:
I adored WHITE CAT, and the sequel is fabulous too. Who could resist a world of magic and cons and one boy caught up in both even though he really wants to be a good person? Thoroughly entertaining, fast paced, and full of emotional depths, this is one of the best books--one of the best series--I've ever read.
11. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater:
Summary:
I didn't expect to love this so much. I mean, it's Maggie, so I figured I'd enjoy it. But I fell hard for this book. It has Maggie's gorgeous prose and insightful character development, yes. But it also has something ... more. The story is bigger than the two main characters, and we feel the stakes as they affect others too. We fall in love with more than the two main characters, too. It's full of danger, suspense, courage, and two damaged people slowly and courageously finding their way toward true love and hope. Beautiful, heart breaking, and so moving, this is a book I'll be re-reading just to see how she does it.
12. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson:
Summary:
There's no such thing as a perfect book, but this comes close. The world Ms. Carson builds is flawlessly complex. The stakes are unbelievably high. And Elisa just stole my heart. One of my favorite parts of the book was seeing the subtle growth in Elisa's character. Ms. Carson reveals her in tiny movements, small choices, and little sentences that are all part of the tapestry of this rich, compelling story. I can't recommend this book highly enough.
That's my list of the best books I read this year. There are many, many other amazing books out there, and I know I missed some (or just haven't had a chance to read them). What are your recs for best books from 2011?
In no particular order, here are the books that stayed with me for days, inspired me, and made me cry, laugh, or stay up until 2 a.m. because I couldn't bear to stop reading.
1. Hourglass by Myra McEntire:
Summary:
One hour to rewrite the past . . .
For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn't there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents' death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She's tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.
So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson's willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.
Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he's around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?
Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.
My Thoughts:
I fell in love with this book because of Emerson's voice. Snarky, funny, broken, and hopeful, Emerson was the perfect narrator for this southern murder mystery meets Dr. Who story. I often laughed, I adored the romance, and I flipped the pages as fast as possible to figure out how in the world Em and Michael could possibly save the day when the day was lost months before the story even started. There are plot twists, heart-warming (and heart breaking) emotions, and surprises. I've never been a huge fan of modern time travel books, but Myra McEntire changed my mind.
2. Enclave by Ann Aguirre:
Summary:
New York City has been decimated by war and plague, and most of civilization has migrated to underground enclaves, where life expectancy is no more than the early 20's. When Deuce turns 15, she takes on her role as a Huntress, and is paired with Fade, a teenage Hunter who lived Topside as a young boy. When she and Fade discover that the neighboring enclave has been decimated by the tunnel monsters—or Freaks—who seem to be growing more organized, the elders refuse to listen to warnings. And when Deuce and Fade are exiled from the enclave, the girl born in darkness must survive in daylight, in the ruins of a city whose population has dwindled to a few dangerous gangs. As the two are guided by Fade's long-ago memories, they face dangers, and feelings, unlike any they've ever known.
This story is a gritty, compelling adventure from the very first page. The world building is exceptional, the characters are interesting and damaged, and the redemption each achieves by the story's end is hard won and well deserved. This isn't a book for those who want their characters to be touchy-feely from page one, but for those who enjoy a flawed, well-drawn character who slowly and painfully learns how to feel love and hope. I read this book as fast as I could, even while trying to draw it out, and I'll be snatching up the sequel as soon as it hits the shelves.
4. Lola & the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins:
Summary:
In this companion novel to Anna and the French Kiss, two teens discover that true love may be closer than they think
Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn't believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit - more sparkly, more fun, more wild - the better. But even though Lola's style is outrageous, she's a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.
When Cricket - a gifted inventor - steps out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.
My Thoughts:
Oh, where do I start? First, I don't read contemporaries very often. I much more a dystopian or fantasy fan. I put off reading Ms. Perkins' first novel ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS for forever, even though everyone was saying it was amazing. When I finally decided to read it, I discovered I'd been an idiot for putting it off for so long. Perkins has an incredible ability to bring unique, flawed, lovable characters to vivid life on the page. LOLA showcased that talent well. I gulped this book down, and I'll re-read both Lola and Anna before the next companion novel comes out just for the sheer joy of seeing characters I love get their happily ever after. If you love romance, quirky characters, and settings that feel like you're THERE, these are the books for you.
5. Divergent by Veronica Roth:
Summary:
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, 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.
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.
Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the YA scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.
This is another book I put off reading because the hype was so HUGE, and I guess I start wondering if any book can really live up to that. If you're putting off reading this for the same reasons (or if you just haven't put this on your To Be Read list yet), let me assure you: It lives up to the hype. Thrilling, heart breaking, and completely fascinating, this book stayed with me for weeks after I finished reading. The emotional stakes are so high, the adventure is so edge-of-your-seat, and the journey the main characters take (both internal and external) is incredible. And have I mentioned the world building? Stellar. I will have the sequel in my hands the very day it comes out.
6. Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton:
Summary:
A dark and lush paranormal romance set in a richly reimagined New Orleans—now in paperback!Ari can't help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can't be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.My Thoughts:
Her search for answers uncovers a message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it's impossible to protect herself when she doesn't know what she's running from or why she is being pursued.
She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very...different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.
Ari won't stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.
This is a lush, atmospheric action-packed story with some incredible surprises in store. The world Ms. Keaton creates is gritty, vivid and dangerous. Her characters are definitely not your run-of-the-mill characters, and I don't think I can fully put into words how haunting this book is. It stayed with me for days. DAYS. I don't know if this book got the buzz it deserves, but take it from me. This is worth reading.
7. Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins:
Summary:
Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.
That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.
Turns out, Sophie's a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What's worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a risky procedure that will either destroy her powers forever — or kill her.
But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new housemates? They're demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they're using Acher to do it. But it's not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?
Fans of Hex Hall were thrilled with its sequel, and I'm no exception. Full of humor, suspense, and plot twists like WHOA, this book is impossible to put down. The same cast of characters is back, new problems are on the horizon, and Sophie is torn between two guys (and between secrets and a destiny no one seems to want to explain to her). The romance in this book is perfect. And by perfect I mean ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME, HAWKINS??? Here I was all TeamArcher for life, and now I'm wondering if it's really a bad thing to be TeamEveryBoyInSophie'sLife. I can't wait to get my greedy little hands on Spellbound this spring!
8. Across the Universe by Beth Revis:
Summary:
Amy is a cryogenically frozen passenger aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed. She expects to awaken on a new planet, 300 years in the future. But fifty years before Godspeed's scheduled landing, Amy's cryo chamber is unplugged, and she is nearly killed.
Now, Amy is caught inside an enclosed world where nothing makes sense. Godspeed's passengers have forfeited all control to Eldest, a tyrannical and frightening leader, and Elder, his rebellious and brilliant teenage heir.
Amy desperately wants to trust Elder. But should she? All she knows is that she must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets before whoever woke her tries to kill again.
This is a fabulous adventure with one of the most compelling opening scenes I've ever read. I was fascinated by the ship and the characters, and I desperately wanted to solve the mysteries with them. Kudos to Ms. Revis for totally surprising me in the end. :) I love surprises in books! This is an engrossing tale with romance, plot twists, and a world unlike any you've ever seen.
9. Chime by Franny Billingsley:
Summary:
Before Briony's stepmother died, she made sure Briony blamed herself for all the family's hardships. Now Briony has worn her guilt for so long it's become a second skin. She often escapes to the swamp, where she tells stories to the Old Ones, the spirits who haunt the marshes. But only witches can see the Old Ones, and in her village, witches are sentenced to death. Briony lives in fear her secret will be found out, even as she believes she deserves the worst kind of punishment.
Then Eldric comes along with his golden lion eyes and mane of tawny hair. He's as natural as the sun, and treats her as if she's extraordinary. And everything starts to change. As many secrets as Briony has been holding, there are secrets even she doesn't know.
Oh, this book. It's unlike any book I've ever read. Full of secrets and gorgeous prose. Lush and haunting. The characters, quirky and fascinating, come right off the page. The swamp setting is a character in its own right. The stakes are incredibly high. This is a book full of terrible beauty and unearthly things. It's pure magic. I'm going to read it again and take notes on how to write something this amazing.
10. Red Glove by Holly Black:
Summary:
Curses and cons. Magic and the mob. In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth—he's the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else. That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she's human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila's now been cursed to love him. And if Lila's love is as phony as Cassel's made-up memories, then he can't believe anything she says or does.
When Cassel's oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help solve the crime. But the mob is after him too—they know how valuable he could be. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can't trust anyone—least of all, himself?
I adored WHITE CAT, and the sequel is fabulous too. Who could resist a world of magic and cons and one boy caught up in both even though he really wants to be a good person? Thoroughly entertaining, fast paced, and full of emotional depths, this is one of the best books--one of the best series--I've ever read.
11. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater:
Summary:
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Shiver and Linger comes a brand new, heartstopping novel.
Some race to win. Others race to survive.
It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line.
Some riders live.
Others die.
At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.
Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn't given her much of a choice. So she enters the competition - the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.
As she did in her bestselling Shiver trilogy, author Maggie Stiefvater takes us to the breaking point, where both love and life meet their greatest obstacles, and only the strong of heart can survive. The Scorpio Races is an unforgettable reading experience.
I didn't expect to love this so much. I mean, it's Maggie, so I figured I'd enjoy it. But I fell hard for this book. It has Maggie's gorgeous prose and insightful character development, yes. But it also has something ... more. The story is bigger than the two main characters, and we feel the stakes as they affect others too. We fall in love with more than the two main characters, too. It's full of danger, suspense, courage, and two damaged people slowly and courageously finding their way toward true love and hope. Beautiful, heart breaking, and so moving, this is a book I'll be re-reading just to see how she does it.
12. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson:
Summary:
Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.
Elisa is the chosen one.
But she is also the younger of two princesses. The one who has never done anything remarkable, and can't see how she ever will.
Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs her to be the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.
And he's not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies, seething with dark magic, are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people's savior, and he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.
Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn't die young.
Most of the chosen do.My Thoughts:
There's no such thing as a perfect book, but this comes close. The world Ms. Carson builds is flawlessly complex. The stakes are unbelievably high. And Elisa just stole my heart. One of my favorite parts of the book was seeing the subtle growth in Elisa's character. Ms. Carson reveals her in tiny movements, small choices, and little sentences that are all part of the tapestry of this rich, compelling story. I can't recommend this book highly enough.
That's my list of the best books I read this year. There are many, many other amazing books out there, and I know I missed some (or just haven't had a chance to read them). What are your recs for best books from 2011?
December 28, 2011
Here It Comes!
I'm excited about the things I'll be doing on this blog in 2012. Of course, I'll continue to bring you the random Monday lists that make you so very thankful this is MY life and not YOURS. But there are other fun things in the works! Here's a peek at what you can expect:
The introduction of a new interviewer for our Wednesday author interviews! Now authors can choose from Captain Jack Sparrow, the Were-llama, the Spork of Doom and ... ??? She'll be introduced soon so stay tuned. And, as is fitting, her first encounter will be with the inimitable Beth Revis. Frankly, I'm putting my money on our interviewer ...Continuing the Trailer TuesdaysFridays the Were-llama will review! What will he review? Books. Movies. T.V. shows. Broadway Shows. School Plays. Choir Rehearsals. Basically, anything he could have an opinion on. Which is pretty much everything.On the Wednesdays that aren't set aside for author interviews, I am introducing another new segment: Author Mad Libs. I'm really looking forward to this one! I will send an author a list of parts of speech so they can list some interesting words for me. Then, I will plug those words into a piece I've written about the author and her book. I expect it to often be a source of mid-week hilarity.Of course, I will still occasionally give writing project updates or post about something that just strikes a chord that day. And as I get closer to the release date for DEFIANCE, there will be cover reveals, contests, giveaways, and more!
So hang on to your book bag, dear reader. 2012 is going to be EPIC. Unless, of course, I get taken out by a Zombie Goat. Always a possibility. *puts on anti-Zombie Goat helmet and goes on about her business*
