Sage Nestler's Blog, page 66
June 23, 2016
Author Interview – Ash Krafton
Today’s featured author is the wonderful Ash Krafton! Her novel, The Heartbeat Thief, is a gorgeous gothic fantasy and it completely blew me away. I originally met Ash at the Brain to Books Con this past April on Goodreads, and I am so glad that I did! She is very talented, and I hope you enjoy the interview I had with her, as well as her novel itself!
Author Interview
What is the first memory you have of writing?
In third grade, I asked my mom why I had a bump on my right middle finger. She said it was a writer’s callous. Still have it.
I was an early reader. I have always felt like a writer, even long before I actually put the pen to paper. My first clips are poetry in the local newspaper when I was in middle school.
I think of teen novelists today and am just blown away because I wasn’t that organized myself. Most of my writing was done in notebooks while I was high up in a maple tree in my backyard! Even my first novel project was written in marble composition notebooks in 2004 (while my computer was turned off.) I still carry a notebook, even though it’s in my purse along with my Surface and my Windows phone. I know, I’m super old school.
Which authors inspire you, and why?
Laurell K. Hamilton, because that lady knows how to chapter…Stephen King, because he ruined me at an early age (and I love books that I can’t get out of my head)…Melanie Rawn and Mercedes Lackey, because their world-building was just craft—it truly was world building…
I also enjoy Jane Austen, because of the inherent eloquence of her literature… Edgar Allan Poe, because he wasn’t afraid of the dark…and the ad writers who come up with those ridiculous commercials and deodorant labels.
What is your favorite genre to read, and why?
I’m a fantasy girl! There is something about the limitless potential of fantasy and all its shades that absolutely enthralls me. I am always the one to ask “What if…?” and take some perfectly normal realistic situation and ship it right off to fantasy land.
I especially love to read magic realism with well-developed magic systems and intense world building. My favorite books are the ones that I pretend to walk around in long after I put the book down.
Visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios wasn’t just an amusement park for me—it was like a part of me came home. All these little kids running around with their wands and their robes and there I am, nodding sagely at them like a proud parent. (Plus, the butterbeer was A-May-Zing!) And to think—all that was because of a book…
What is your favorite genre to write, and why?
I write in various shades of speculative fiction; I’ve never pinned myself down to a single vein of storytelling. My writing ranges from paranormal romance novels to urban fantasy series to sci fi poetry, from YA to general adult audiences. As a blogger for QueryTracker, I also write a lot of non-fiction articles about the craft and business of writing.
I know a lot of writers will stick to a certain style or form but I’m happy writing, anything, for any reason. I simply love language. Most of the time, however, I simply call myself a speculative fiction author, trusting in the enormity of the word “speculative” to cover any and every mood I might be in when I pick up a pen.
What are you currently working on?
Currently, I’m writing a new urban fantasy series about an exorcist mage in Baltimore. The first book, CHARM CITY, is up on Wattpad.com where you can read it free! https://www.wattpad.com/story/56172477-charm-city-the-demon-whisperer-1
Currently I’m finishing the second book, MURDER THE LIGHT. The series has angels and demons and the man who stands between them both. Simon Alliant will always have a trick up his sleeve. Then again, most mages do.
There are three other books planned in this series, called “The Demon Whisperer”. I don’t have them all written, but I have the cover art somewhere on my blog. (Images and words go hand in hand for me and, when I’m not writing, I’m usually looking at art to see what kind of inspiration I can glean from it. Often, I get distracted and start designing covers. Go figure!)
*.*.*
HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY to The Heartbeat Thief! Let this Victorian dark fantasy surround you in shadows and embrace you in the arms of eternity…
“Krafton not only tells you a story, she makes you experience it with your senses. You can feel the fog moistening your skin as Senza wanders around London. You can smell the city’s decay. You can hear the clatter of horses against the cobblestones. And your own heart will anguish along with Senza as she despairs about life–and death–in an era when a woman’s beauty guaranteed her a well-matched marriage, even more than her wealth…” –Ronesa Aveela, author of the Mystical Emona series
The Heartbeat Thief by AJ Krafton
The Heartbeat Thief
is on special through June 26, 2016…
Snatch up your copy for 99 cents!
(List price $3.99)
Find it at any of these retailers:
Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK
Amazon FR | Amazon DE
Kobo Apple Smashwords Barnes and Noble
Haunted by a crushing fear of death, a young Victorian woman discovers the secret of eternal youth–she must surrender her life to attain it, and steal heartbeats to keep it.
In 1860 Surrey, a young woman has only one occupation: to marry. Senza Fyne is beautiful, intelligent, and lacks neither wealth nor connections. Finding a husband shouldn’t be difficult, not when she has her entire life before her. But it’s not life that preoccupies her thoughts. It’s death–and that shadowy spectre haunts her every step.
So does Mr. Knell. Heart-thumpingly attractive, obviously eligible–he’d be her perfect match if only he wasn’t so macabre. All his talk about death, all that teasing about knowing how to avoid it…
When her mother arranges a courtship with another man, Senza is desperate for escape from a dull prescripted destiny. Impulsively, she takes Knell up on his offer. He casts a spell that frees her from the cruelty of time and the threat of death–but at a steep price. In order to maintain eternal youth, she must feed on the heartbeats of others.
From the posh London season to the back alleys of Whitechapel, across the Channel, across the Pond, across the seas of Time…
How far will Senza Fyne go to avoid Death?
THE HEARTBEAT THIEF
The latest in dark fantasy from Ash Krafton…It’s a little bit Jane Austen, a little bit Edgar Allen Poe, and a whole lot of stealing heartbeats in order to stay young and beautiful forever…
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:.
“One of the best stories I’ve ever read…”
“I highly recommend this novel to readers of all ages.”
“A beautifully enchanting story that will steal your heart one beat at a time.”
SEE MORE REVIEWS AT AMAZON and GOODREADS!
About the author: Ash Krafton
Ash Krafton writes New Adult speculative fiction under the pen name AJ Krafton. In addition to THE HEARTBEAT THIEF, Ash is also the author of a growing list of poetry, short stories, and urban fantasy novels.
Currently, she’s working on a new series, THE DEMON WHISPERER. First book, CHARM CITY, can be found on Wattpad.com where you can read it free. Find it here: CHARM CITY on Wattpad.com
Find more to love at http://www.ashkrafton.com
Follow Ash at:
Goodreads
June 22, 2016
The Heartbeat Thief by Ash Krafton
Title: The Heartbeat Thief
Author: Ash Krafton
Rating: 5/5
Synopsis:
Haunted by a crushing fear of death, a young Victorian woman discovers the secret of eternal youth–she must surrender her life to attain it, and steal heartbeats to keep it.
In 1860 Surrey, a young woman has only one occupation: to marry. Senza Fyne is beautiful, intelligent, and lacks neither wealth nor connections. Finding a husband shouldn’t be difficult, not when she has her entire life before her. But it’s not life that preoccupies her thoughts. It’s death–and that shadowy spectre haunts her every step.
So does Mr. Knell. Heart-thumpingly attractive, obviously eligible–he’d be her perfect match if only he wasn’t so macabre. All his talk about death, all that teasing about knowing how to avoid it…
When her mother arranges a courtship with another man, Senza is desperate for escape from a dull prescripted destiny. Impulsively, she takes Knell up on his offer. He casts a spell that frees her from the cruelty of time and the threat of death–but at a steep price. In order to maintain eternal youth, she must feed on the heartbeats of others.
From the posh London season to the back alleys of Whitechapel, across the Channel, across the Pond, across the seas of Time…
How far will Senza Fyne go to avoid Death?
Review:
In my honest opinion, I feel like The Heartbeat Thief was written for me. It is right down my alley – a dark, historical fantasy – and it couldn’t have been more brilliantly done. The originality was outstanding, and Ash Krafton’s style added a perfect poetic feel to this novel – very reminiscent of Edgar Allen Poe.
First of all, the play on vanity in this novel is something that always fascinates me. Senza is a character perfect for today’s times. She is obsessed with staying young and beautiful forever, and her fear of growing old and dying is a widespread fear for almost anyone. Krafton did a wonderful job of forcing the reader to face their fears, while adding fantasy elements that are extremely believable. Her novel didn’t seem like it was worlds away; instead, it made me believe that the situations presented could happen to anyone. One of my favorite examples of Krafton’s poetic writing style is seen below, and it is one of the best sentences I have ever read in a piece of literature:
“Moonlight spilled down its silvery veil upon the passengers in the Fyne family carriage, adding another sheen of splendor to their finery.”
I also found that the novel’s historical elements were accurate and realistic as well, which is always important when it comes to historical fiction. Every aspect of this novel amazed me, and it opened me up to a story much different than anything I have read recently, which was refreshing. I also fell in love with the cover of this book, and I felt that it complimented the story well.
Krafton is one of those rare authors who possesses the techniques of some of our world’s great authors, and reading her novel was like reading a classic. If you are looking for a novel featuring elements of the great authors of our time, such as Jane Austen, then The Heartbeat Thief is perfect for you.
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June 21, 2016
So You Want to Be an Author? Then Be One – Making Publishing Easy
Hello Lovelies,
There is one major difference between an author and a writer, and that difference is that one is published and one isn’t. Publishing used to be a very scary concept, and it wasn’t something that writers could count on. But in today’s widespread self-publish and indie market, publishing is fairly easy. The only thing is that there are many things you know to publish a successful novel, and I am here to help. Below are my crucial requirements for a self-published work to look and read official:
Proper Editing
Proper Cover
Professional Formatting of Manuscript
A Well Written Back Cover Blurb
Established Author Website/Media Links
Luckily, I was first published by a small indie publisher and was able to learn these specifics, but when I self -published my second novel, the first edition was a disaster. I didn’t follow any of the proper rules that I have listed above, and it took me three times to put out a version of that novel that looks and feels professional. This is why I am here to help you, and guide you to make the first published novel of your dreams and to not fall in the trap that I did.
PROPER EDITING
Now, let’s be realistic here. Professional editors are EXPENSIVE. Usually they charge by the word count, and many times those budgets are nowhere near the budget that a starving writer has on hand. That is why I am going to present to you the wonderful internet land called Upwork.com! This site has thousands upon thousands of freelancers available, and you can put in your budget to bring up freelancers whose pricing is best for you. Also, I am a freelancer on this site! I am available for editing, formatting, and constructive criticism of entire manuscripts, and I am even available for marketing assistance. Therefore, if you are interested in any of these services please check out Upwork.com or reach out to me! My Freelancer Profile
This is particularly crucial if you are looking to have your book included in a bookstore near you. Bookstore owners are very picky about editing, and if your novel isn’t fully edited they will usually not accept your book to be sold in their store.
PROPER BOOK COVER
I know, I know. Usually, book covers are insanely expensive, especially if you try to have one designed specifically for you. But you know what? Purchasing a cover doesn’t have to be expensive! That is why I have for you the beautiful site http://www.selfpubbookcovers.com/. One of the authors I have worked with before, Marie Silk, pointed this site out to me and I have since bought a few covers of my own. Most covers are $70 and are never sold again once you purchase them. They are all made by freelance graphic artists, and they have covers for just about every genre. I find that their covers are the most professional covers I have found, especially for the wonderful price, and your readers will love them as well. You are also able to edit the text on the covers over and over again for free if your title or name changes.
PROFESSIONAL FORMATTING
Formatting of a manuscript for print is EVERYTHING. It won’t take long for readers to distinguish a poorly formatted manuscript compared to a professional one, and this is one of the most important things that you need to understand. You can’t just submit your manuscript as is to a self – publishing website. You need to add such things as a title page, copyright page/ISBN page, acknowledgements page, dedication page, table of contents, proper spacing between chapters, appropriate spacing and font of the manuscript itself, an author bio, and any bonus content that you would like to add. The formatting of this entire manuscript can be daunting, but if you are too unsure about how to do it yourself you can again go to Upwork.com and look for those who can help you format your book! ( I am also a freelancer who can help you format your book, and I add extra artistic touches to make the reading experience that much better) You want your readers to have a pleasant reading experience, and the way you format your book will determine what their reading experience will be like.
A WELL WRITTEN BACK COVER BLURB
What is the first thing a reader looks at next to a book’s cover? THE BACK COVER BLURB. Therefore, it is crucial that your blurb is well written and highlights the best aspects of your novel, while not being too long. What you can do is ask your beta readers (if you have them) to tell you how they would summarize your novel. You can them use these summaries to compose the best back cover blurb. Or, if you are completely at a loss, you can again ask a freelancer at Upwork.com to help you out. (If you hire me as a freelancer for any of my other services, I will do a back cover blurb for free)
It is also helpful if you reference popular books that are related to your novel, such as “with excitement and terror reminiscent of The Hunger Games Series, _____________ is a must read!”
ESTABLISHED AUTHOR WEBSITE/MEDIA LINKS
In your book, it will be helpful for readers to know where to find you! Usually your media links will go next to your author bio on the back of your book, or in the beginning or end of your manuscript, and you will want to post links to your Facebook page, Twitter account, Instagram account, Pinterest, Email, Website, Blog, etc. I highly suggest you set yourself up with a Twitter, Facebook and Instagram if nothing else NOW, because those are the best ways to gain publicity. (Instagram is currently the best way. The bookstagram community is huge and so accepting of all new authors and readers.)
I hope my tips have helped you, and please feel free to email me if you have any questions or comments! I am here to help and have you benefit from my own mistakes. Self-publishing shouldn’t be hard, and if you want to do it all you have to do is get working! There are so many resources out there, and if you check out Brain to Books (created by fellow author Angela B. Chrysler) she has listed multiple resources for new authors (under which I am listed!) Her philosophy is “writing is hard, publishing shouldn’t be” and I couldn’t agree more.
Much love,
Ashley
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June 20, 2016
Weekly Update – 06/20/2016 – 06/26/2016
Hello Everyone!
This week I will be reviewing:
The Making of Gabriel Davenport by Beverley Lee
Yetunde: An Ode to My Mother by Segilola Salami
Enrule by Holly Sparks
Also, all June Go Indie Now! Boxes have been shipped out, and ordering is now open for the July Indie Pride Box! This is a reminder that our July box will have TWO of my favorite indie novels that I have reviewed this year to celebrate Indie Pride Day on July 1. We have also solidified the “bibliotherapy” theme that I have been grappling with for the box. Being a sufferer of panic disorder and clinical depression, I have found that reading is the only thing that I have been able to do to soothe myself when I am having an episode. That being said, I have transformed the Go Indie Now! Box into a monthly bibliotherapy session, and we will no longer be listing the genre of the month. Instead, we will be advertising a statement that explains what that month’s box is for. For example, our June box’s bibliotherapy session is for “when you want to escape reality and go back to a simpler time”. This allows you to “blindly” try new genres and books you might not have picked up before, because that is how I have found many of my recent favorite books! We also have made the box completely inclusive of all five of your senses, and it is now a truly 4-D bookish adventure! So be sure to sign up for the July box before July 1, which is the deadline, or email me with your email to pre-order a box and you will be charged on July 10 instead. Remember that we also have a coupon code for 10% off of your first box! Just use “GIMMENOW” at checkout.
For those who don’t know, we are also offering a LGBTQ+ Pride Box in our one time shop, and 100% of all proceeds will be donated to Free2Be, a non-profit down south that supports the LGBTQ+ community there. This box will feature one indie LGBTQ+ themed novel, multiple pride items, and guest author swag. We created this box in light of the horrible tragedy in Florida, and want to help any way that we can. Each box will be different and made to order, so no two boxes will be the same! Also, if you are already a subscriber and want to buy one of these boxes for charity, use the code “PRIDEFUND” to received free shipping. This way I can combine your LGBTQ+ box with your next monthly box.
A NOTE ABOUT THE GO INDIE NOW! LITERARY AWARD
May was the first month where I awarded our first book the Go Indie Now! Excellence in Literature Award. May’s winner was Give It Back by Danielle Esplin, and soon I will have her interview up as well as all of the information on her beautiful novel!
Each month I will be giving out an award to a different indie book that I have reviewed, and the winner will be posted on this blog, given a certificate of achievement, and a medal to display on their novel. Also, at the end of the year, we will be offering a big Go Indie Now! Box that will include all winning novels and bonus content. Author interviews will also be printed up and sent out in the next Go Indie Now! monthly box to announce their winning. If you have already asked me to review your book, you are already qualified to be considered for the award; but if you haven’t, please fill out my review request form!
I hope everyone has a great week, and that it is filled with many bookish adventures!
Much love,
Ashley
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June 19, 2016
Still Alice by Lisa Genova – 5/5
Title: Still Alice
Author: Lisa Genova
Rating: 5/5
Synopsis:
In Lisa Genova’s extraordinary New York Times bestselling novel, an accomplished professor diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease learns that her worth is comprised of more than her ability to remember. Now a major motion picture from Sony Pictures Classics starring Julianne Moore, Alec Baldwin, Kate Bosworth, and Kristen Stewart! Look for Lisa Genova’s next novel Inside the O’Briens. Alice Howland is proud of the life she worked so hard to build. At fifty years old, she’s a cognitive psychology professor at Harvard and a world-renowned expert in linguistics with a successful husband and three grown children. When she becomes increasingly disoriented and forgetful, a tragic diagnosis changes her life-and her relationship with her family and the world-forever. At once beautiful and terrifying, Still Alice is a moving and vivid depiction of life with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease that is as compelling as A Beautiful Mind and as unforgettable as Ordinary People.
Review:
Still Alice is the most beautiful literary rendition of a person with a mental disorder that I have ever read. At no point when reading it did I feel that the author was out of their element or producing information that was not accurate. Every aspect of this novel was flawless, and Lisa Genova’s way of incorporating Alice’s own thoughts with those around her was ingenious. Through each chapter the reader was able to witness Alice’s declining mental state, while still receiving a firm perspective on those around her. Genova allowed the reader inside of Alice’s head, and helped the reader realize what dementia patients go through. They aren’t mindless human beings like many outlets would want you to believe, and they can hear you talking about them even if they don’t full comprehend their surroundings. While dementia patients do end up needing excess help, they are not children and need to be respected as much as any other adult. Having been a caregiver for dementia patients myself I know the full extent to what these patients go through, and Still Alice is an excellent way for the wider public to understand this disease and the population it affects. Her novel also allows for compassion and understanding not just for caregivers of these patients, but for the patients themselves. I found it particularly appalling that there weren’t any support groups for early onset dementia patients in this novel, and only support groups for their caregivers. This made me think that perhaps our society equates dementia patients with mindless beings, and doesn’t think that they do need extra emotional support – particularly for those who are still aware that they are worsening, but still have a firm grip on reality.
Now, I know that many people are conflicted about this novel. Some say that the story is not at all accurate to their experiences, while others say that it is very accurate. The issue with this is that everyone’s story is different, and Still Alice by no means describes every dementia experience. Saying that would be like saying that every teen novel describes every teen experience perfectly. I know that this novel won’t be relatable to everyone who has or knows someone who has dementia, and that should be understood by anyone who reads this novel; but in my personal opinion, this novel is very accurate to my own personal knowledge and experience.
Many times in medical literature such as Still Alice, the reader becomes lost in the medical talk and has a hard time being interested in the work or following along. But this wasn’t the case with this novel. Genova clearly wanted her readers to understand is as a story first, and as an informative work of fiction last. She made learning fun, and this book was hard to put down. Being able to follow Alice over many of her first months being diagnosed was both heartbreaking and intriguing, and I am happy to say that this work of fiction is understandable enough to even be enjoyed by the upper young adult crowd. Genova’s work is a true treasure, and I plan on reading her other works. Her take on mental illness is beautiful, and I admire her knowledge and compassion towards so many people in this category. She has done them, and those who take care of them, proud.
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June 18, 2016
Updrift by Errin Stevens – 4/5
Title: Updrift
Author: Errin Stevens
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
Since her father died, Kate Sweeting’s home life has been in the pits, her well-being on life support. Her future looks desolate until she and her mother, Cara, make another plan: abandon their shriveled existence for more promising prospects on the coast, where Cara can play small-town librarian-bachelorette and Kate can figure out what’s up with that secretive Blake family from the beach.
Everyone is eerily captivated with Kate and her mother, and Cara is the first to figure out why when the man of her dreams arrives all dripping and devoted and closed-mouthed about what he intends. Kate is willing to go along with their subterfuge for a while, but eventually makes a charge for the water to learn what her mother is hiding. Gabe Blake is there waiting for her…and so is someone considerably less friendly. By the time Kate navigates her way home, everything will have changed for her—what she feels, what she wants, and what she’ll risk to be with the man she loves.
Updrift is a beautifully crafted romance novel that involves fantasy and a wider scope of events. One of my favorite things about this romance was that it wasn’t just merely a romance; instead, it was a fantasy adventure as well as a mystery, and that added tantalizing substance to the story.
It is not often that I read a book that captures such a beautiful perspective of a child, and this novel achieved that perspective from the beginning. Errin Stevens also made Kate’s growth appear so effortless, and I felt like a mother not wanting to let go of my growing child as the novel went on; however, I loved watching her come into confidence as she became a young woman and I even felt proud. Through love she was able to grow, and I admired the love and care she had for her mother. That mother/daughter bond is very important, and I enjoyed seeing it so clearly presented in this contemporary literature. Stevens knows how to create a story that is not one – dimensional, while also satisfying that need for romance that many readers hold high. Her writing was believable but outlandish at the same time, and I couldn’t help but believe every word that she wrote. Watching a young woman come into love and find out secrets that change the way she views those around her was breath taking, and so relatable to contemporary life.
Now, I have read multiple mermaid themed novels, but this one stood out to me more than anything else I have read. This is because Stevens averted from all stereotypes surrounding mermaid based literature, and wrote her own rules. I didn’t feel like I had read this story before and I didn’t think that it was just a redo of an exhausted story line. Her characters were vibrant and flawed, just as human as we are, and even now I have a hard time admitting that they were fictional. Stevens knows how to make myth real, and I am desperately waiting for Fall 2016 to come so that I can grab the sequel and continue this beautiful story. Updrift is a novel for multiple age groups, and I feel better off emotionally and mentally now that I have read it. That is not something I can say about a lot of literature, and Stevens is a treasure to be found in today’s cluttered literary market.
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June 17, 2016
The Portal Prophecies: A Keeper’s Destiny by C.A. King – 3/5
Title: The Portal Prophecies: A Keeper’s Destiny
Author: C. A. King
Rating: 3/5
Synopsis:
Book one of the Portal Prophecies Series, A Keeper’s Destiny, follows a group of ancient races who join together with some unlikely teenage heroes.The only clues they have to help them are hidden within predictions contained in a book written long ago.
Can they unravel the mysteries of their past and over come the deceptions of their leaders? Will they be able to decipher the prophecies in time to stop invading armies?
Join Willow and her friends in this fast paced adventure.
Review:
Keeper’s Destiny is the first book in The Portal Prophecies, a young adult fantasy series. The originality of this book amazed me, and I immediately wanted to read the rest of the series upon finishing it; however, C. A. King’s writing style is not one that I am particularly fond of. Her descriptions were overbearing and borsome at times, but her plot and characters made this book worth reading.
One of the things I enjoyed most about this novel was the power that King gave to her teenage characters. It is always nice to see young people in books validated and not underestimated, and I loved how fast paced the writing was. Willow is a brilliant protagonist, and I can never get enough of strong female characters in young adult novels. Willow was a character with a lot of substance, and she was well developed and continued to grow as the novel went on. The characters and story were a big part of this novel, but if it were to be redone with less unnecessary descriptions, it would have been more enjoyable. A reader needs to be able to fill in gaps with their own imagination, and this story line would have been perfect for that interaction on the reader’s part. Instead, the writing was rather dry, and I wasn’t able to see the full extent of C.A. King’s writing talents based on this novel alone. Her writing felt forced, and I didn’t feel that she was passionate about her story or characters based solely on her tone.
That being said, I am positive that the younger young adult crowd would eat this novel up. I plan on reading the rest of the series myself and look forward to continuing the story that C.A. King has created. I would just like to see this story and series excel with less fluff and more substance as the series grow. The setting she has created is very unique, and one that I want to visit again.
Scorecard
Editing = 3/5
Originality = 4/5
Artistic Style = 2/5
Plot Development = 4/5
Character Development = 4/5
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June 16, 2016
Tangled Web by L.W. Tichy – 4/5
Title: Tangled Web
Author: L.W. Tichy
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
When fifteen year old foster kid and diagnosed schizophrenic, Ryne, bumps into a strange man only she can see, the carefully constructed pretenses of her life start to crumble, forcing Ryne to choose between the safe, mundane, mortal world that’s labeled her crazy, or the magickal world of nightmares she has spent her life pretending doesn’t exist.
The truth will set you free. Not. At least, not for Arrynna Doe. The only thing the truth will bring Ryne is a straight jacket and a room at the local, state funded institution, again. So she lies- to her doctors, to her foster parents, to her best friend. Because, really, who’s going to believe there is a whole world filled with terrifying magickal creatures only she can see- faeries, witches, vampires, and werewolves, even dragons? That’s right, nobody!
Ryne has her routine mastered- pretend you’re normal, lie to everyone you know, ignore supernatural beings. And the routine works, until the day she acquires stalkers. Faerie stalkers.
As Ryne struggles to keep her days normal, she finds herself questioning the tenets’ of her life. Why can she see things that no one else can and why are these creatures suddenly interested in her? Because maybe there is more to it all than she ever dreamed.
Will she discover the truth? Or is she just as crazy as the doctors have always said? Either way, Ryne is facing a crossroads, and pretty soon she’s going to have to make a choice.
Review:
Tangled Web is a perfect young adult novel. Not only does it follow a well developed young adult character, but it also introduces this audience to the paranormal/fantasy genres in a mature, but age appropriate way. I enjoyed this novel now as much as I would have when I was a part of this audience, and that is very important. Young adult novels should be able to be enjoyed by adults as much as young adults, and this novel didn’t talk down to its audience at all; instead, the audience was an active part of this novel, and that shows great talent in the author.
L.W. Tichy grasped the conflicting emotions of adolescents perfectly in her protagonist, Ryne. Even though Ryne was dealing with people not believing what she was seeing, this perfectly mirrored the struggles that teens face when trying to come to terms with who and what they want to become. She was seen as an outcast in this novel, but she was special and her quirks made her interesting. I am a big fan of the paranormal genre, and this novel incorporated Ryne’s paranormal abilities beautifully. It was wonderful watching her become a young woman and become more sure of herself. I also found the message in this novel to be beautiful: don’t pretend to be someone else and just be who you really are. It was also endearing to see the close relationship that Ryne had with her parents. The positive view on family was special and not one that I see very often in literature anymore.
Even though the writing was a bit whiny at times, the story was well developed and thought out. I didn’t see a lot of artistry in Tichy’s writing, but their dry writing style allowed the reader to fill in the blanks and create the world of Tangled Web in their own way. Tichy clearly understood her characters and let them tell the story themselves. Tangled Web is a perfect novel for readers of all ages, but I am positive that it will be a great book for young adults to bond with, because it will make anyone feel that they are not alone.
Scorecard
Editing = 4/5
Originality = 5/5
Artistic Style = 3/5
Plot Development = 5/5
Character Development = 5/5
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June 15, 2016
The Roar by A.M. White – 4/5
Title: The Roar
Author: A.M.White
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
Our world is gone, it ceased the day the roar came. It enslaved those it could reach. I was one of those taken, used, and marked as property.
Hope is a luxury I don’t allow anymore. The roar is harvesting us down to nothing. The roar always wants something more. Always.
Review:
The Roar is one of those rare Dystopian novels that doesn’t make you feel like you have already read the story somewhere before. I found the main idea of this novel to be completely original, and I couldn’t put the book down. The protagonist, Alex, was fierce and I enjoyed how rough the setting of this novel was. It wasn’t a glamorous setting, and showed what would happen if the world was taken over by this mysterious force called The Roar. I felt that the Earth in this novel was fighting back against the human race, and that is something that we all need to think about in today’s times. A.M. White’s writing style is also extremely poetic, and reading her novel was a literary treat. One of my favorite examples of her styles from The Roar is as follows:
“With each ram of the shovel, puffs of my breath escaped and floated away. My eyes watched my breath drift from the ditch and get lost in the sky above. I wondered if that is how our soul leaves the body.”
This quote alone showed me how deep of a thinker and author she is, to put so much meaning into small things such as puffs of breath. Her style reminds me of classic authors such as F. Scott Fitzgerald.
But the only problem I had with this novel was the ending. It was too abrupt for my tastes, and the cliffhanger made the novel seem almost incomplete. I always try to tell authors to steer clear from the cliffhanger ending, due to the fact that many times it can turn the reader off and make them feel that the author is forcing them to buy the sequel. If this ending were more complete and made the novel appear as a standalone, I would have given it an astounding 5/5.
But overall, I loved this novel. I loved how gritty the plot and characters were, and I loved the originality of it. The editing was also perfect, and the interior layout of the book was very professional. I will gladly pick up the rest of the books in this series when they are released, and I do think that this book is perfect for readers who want dystopian novels that aren’t similar to anything else in the current market. White is a master of her words, description, and plot and I completely lost myself in this novel. The main character of Alex rings with the same tough personality as Katniss from The Hunger Games, but in my opinion Alex is an even better developed character, and I can proudly say that she is now one of my favorite characters of all time.
Scorecard
Editing: 5/5
Originality: 5/5
Artistic Style: 5/5
Plot Development: 4/5 – due to incomplete ending
Character Development: 5/5
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June 14, 2016
Wolf By Wolf by Ryan Graudin – 4/5
Title: Wolf By Wolf
Author: Ryan Graudin
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
Her story begins on a train.
The year is 1956, and the Axis powers of the Third Reich and Imperial Japan rule. To commemorate their Great Victory, they host the Axis Tour: an annual motorcycle race across their conjoined continents. The prize? An audience with the highly reclusive Adolf Hitler at the Victor’s ball in Tokyo.
Yael, a former death camp prisoner, has witnessed too much suffering, and the five wolves tattooed on her arm are a constant reminder of the loved ones she lost. The resistance has given Yael one goal: Win the race and kill Hitler. A survivor of painful human experimentation, Yael has the power to skinshift and must complete her mission by impersonating last year’s only female racer, Adele Wolfe. This deception becomes more difficult when Felix, Adele’s twin brother, and Luka, her former love interest, enter the race and watch Yael’s every move.
But as Yael grows closer to the other competitors, can she be as ruthless as she needs to be to avoid discovery and stay true to her mission?
Review:
I always enjoy a book that re-imagines history, and Wolf By Wolf is by far the most haunting but beautiful history makeover that I have read. I was very intrigued by the story, considering that the plot revolved around an idea that might have happened if Hitler had taken over the world. I felt that Ryan Graudin did a fantastic job with portraying the world as it might have been, with both historical elements and science fiction elements, and I enjoyed the flashbacks that were presented to show the motive of the protagonist.
But the problem that I had with this novel was that I felt it moved too slowly for my taste. The elements of the plot tried to move it along, but it still took me three months to finish the book because it didn’t grasp me as much as I would have liked. I also am not a fan of cliffhangers, because I feel that they are a cheap trick to get readers to buy more sequels, and this book left too many questions open; however, in terms of editing, originality, and artistic style, this novel passed with flying colors. It was just that the plot line was too slow, and the characters ended up being flat. I didn’t feel close to many of the characters, and while I will pick up the sequel because I am a fan of Graudin’s artistic style, I felt that this book was lacking in terms of adequate information necessary for the story line, and I felt that the characters were unrelateable at times. If this book had been shorter and the motorcycle race hadn’t been so drawn out, I think that it would have earned a well deserved 5/5. But despite my critiques, I am confident that this book will be a great book to introduce teens to World War 2. Any books that make history fun are winners in my book.
SCORECARD
EDITING = 5/5
ORIGINALITY = 5/5
ARTISTIC STYLE = 5/5
PLOT DEVELOPMENT = 4/5
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT -= 4/5
