The misadventures of Tallulah Casey… Hilarious new series from Queen of Teen – laugh your tights off at the (VERY) amateur dramatic antics of Talullah and her bonkers mates. Boys, snogging and bad acting guaranteed!
Picture the scene: Dother Hall performing arts college somewhere Up North, surrounded by rolling dales, bearded cheesemaking villagers (male and female) and wildlife of the squirrely-type.
On the whole, it’s not quite the showbiz experience Tallulah was expecting… but once her mates turn up and they start their ‘FAME! I’m gonna liiiiive foreeeeeever, I’m gonna fill my tiiiiights’ summer course things are bound to perk up.
Especially when the boys arrive. (When DO the boys arrive?)
Six weeks of parent-free freedom.
BOY freedom.
Freedom of expression…
cos it’s the THEATRE dahling, theatre!!
Oh dear God this book is insane. It could have easily killed me with its hilarity, and to be entirely honest it might just be the most hilarious, most ridiculous book I've ever read. I wish I read this when I was younger - I'd have loved it! Or well...it could have easily killed me then. It's just too funny!
Tallulah Casey is seriously insane. In a good way. She is a character so full of life it's hard to not be uplifted whenever I open the pages and read about her adventures ... or I beg your pardon, misadventures. Her voice is genuine, and really a lot like a young teen. You can sense her naivety and insecurity, and it is easy to relive your very own interesting teenage experiences with her. Or compare it with hers, and with it comes the nostalgia. I think that's one of the best things about Withering Tights - as an adult, it not only filled with the the exuberance of a teenage spirit, but also made me reminisce the many misadventures of my own teenage life!
With a cast of equally vibrant characters with Tallulah, Withering Tights blossoms to a book with a life on its own. It's easy to get into the flow of the plot; apart from Tallulah's easy narration, one can expect hilarity at every other page, indignation in between, and a lot of fun mishaps sprinkled throughout.
A little caution on the narrative's tendency to exaggerate, though. Although admittedly, it is so very hilarious, at times it's bordering on stupidity rather than naivety - it's primarily what I disliked about the book, really. I felt that Tallulah as a character with brains was somehow sacrificed just so the humour could continue. My thoughts then, at those points were dominated by - 'surely no teen could be that stupid!' But there you go.
Having said that, I'm sure Withering Tights will be a hit for kids and kids at heart alike. It's hard not to like such a vibrant, hilarious book!
So when teen pop star Eden croaks onstage and Kaylee doesn't wail, she knows something is dead wrong. She can't cry for someone who has no soul.
The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad's ironclad curfew and putting her too-hot-to-be-real boyfriend's loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls: a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld—a consequence they can't possibly understand.
Kaylee can't let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk…..
I am once again ensnared by Rachel Vincent's The Soul Screamers Series. There is just that extra oomph in this series that puts it above the many others I've read- I'm not going to deny how addicted I am to it. And in more ways than one, Kaylee Cavanaugh is my heroine of choice!
I was fascinated by the world of the bean sidhe in My Soul to Take and in its sequel Rachel Vincent does not let up in unleashing more of the horrors of the netherworld. Fortunately, I was fascinated by these too. I find it enchanting really, and Kaylee is a strong narrator who both satisfied and stirred my curiosity. I was continually surprised and horrified along with her; she's such a genuine character, one I consider as a reflection of myself in fiction. I think one of the characteristics that truly define her is what she gives the readers - the ability to see themselves in her.
Not only do we learn more about the netherworld, we also see Kaylee beginning to realise the extent and limitation of her bean sidhe abilities. Having just recently discovered her heritage, she is still set to explore it; but as always, danger is connected to exploration and she is not exempt. Thus, Kaylee takes us into action-filled adventures in both realms, dodging both raging hellions and condescending human adults alike. Spurred by her moral compass, Kaylee once again dives heads first into danger, but who wouldn't in her place? Rachel has truly and effectively conveyed her character's motives and intent behind their actions in My Soul to Save.
Apart from the fascinating mythology, the action-adventure that makes you fly through the pages, we also see more romance. But not only of Nash and Kaylee, but of the reaper's also. Tod - despite his tendency to always appear aloof - shows his one weakness in this book, and I'm sure I'm not the only reader whose heart went out to him. Although Tod messes up a a little at the end, one can understand why. Despite his ungentlemanly actions, I think the jury's still out on Tod's behaviour; for the romantics at heart like me however, he did what did for love, and that says a hell of a lot of things. I admired his assertiveness, no matter how disillusioned he ended up
Rachel's mythology, plus her fantastic set of characters has fully cemented Soul Screamers on my favourite YA series list!
Five Stars!
* Thanks to Mira Ink for my beautiful review copy. I <3 it!
Megan can't believe she's had to move 200 miles away from her home. What about her school and her friends? Not to mention her dancing and her dancing partner, Jake, who has been her best friend since for ever. In an attempt to make herself feel better Megan joins a salsa class and things start to look up. She meets new friends, and even a new exciting boy. But will she listen to the warnings about him?
Strictly Friends is an enjoyable read. I laughed an giggled all the way through. This book is adorable. I think the idea of mixing dancing and romance together is a good one and that it really turned out well for this book. Dancing is an expression of love and this book was a really romantic book.
Some the Characters are so cute, I love the way some of them acted. I would describe Megan as a nice girl, who obviously loves dancing, she loves to try out fun new things. I would love to do the same, but I know I wouldn't be able to. Also, one of the important characters in the book do not appear much in the book unlike the other characters, but that person will really have an effect on the book. I love Megan's friend Mari (which you might be familiar if you have read the previous book Star Crossed) who is a really good friend to Megan. She gave good advises to her and she is very funny in beginning. There are so many characters you would meet and like or hate.
I liked the plot of the book, it's simple but really good. You would understand Megan's life in her point of view. Strictly Friends? would be a recommended read for those who wants to read a teenage romance. This book will make you laugh and think about how she feels. So, go and read it!
An e-mail from Rosi at Random House got me very excited and I'm sure you'll be too! Calling all fans of Christopher Paolini - here's some amazing news for you!
The fourth and final book in Christopher Paolini’s global bestseller Inheritance Cycle will be published this autumn. Following the number one bestselling novels Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr, the book will be called INHERITANCE.
‘The burning questions asked by fans around the world will be finally answered in this last instalment,’ said Christopher Paolini. ‘All will be revealed!’
INHERITANCE will be published in the UK on Tuesday 8th November 2011, simultaneously with the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, priced £18.99. It will also be available in ebook and audio editions.
Philippa Dickinson, MD of RHCB in the UK says, ‘We are extremely proud and excited to be publishing INHERITANCE. Christopher Paolini's books are an incredible worldwide phenomenon and readers have been eagerly awaiting the final instalment in the cycle. RHCB are anticipating a huge amount of interest in what is sure to be one of the biggest events of the year.'
All Sunday Times bestsellers in the UK, Eragon, Eldest and Brisingr have been international publishing sensations. The first three books have sold over 25 million copies worldwide, including more than 4 million copies in the UK and Export markets.
Eragon, Eldest and Brisingr will be reissued in paperback in the UK on 7th July with new cover designs that breathe new life into John Jude Palencar’s stunning artwork.
Juliet can't help wishing she had more romance in her life. She loves her boyfriend Will, but after living together for two and a half years, she's come to realise that thirtysomething monogamy isn't all it's cracked up to be. Will used to whisk her off to candlelit restaurants. Now his idea of a perfect evening is a video and vindaloo. He used to leave post-it notes saying 'I love you' on the bathroom mirror. Now the only things she finds are his dirty socks on the bathroom floor. So, when Juliet meets a sexy, dark-eyed Adonis from a rival London advertising agency she is sorely tempted. And when he invites her away for an illicit, no-expense-spared weekend in Verona it's almost impossible to resist. Her very own Romeo.
But does she want to risk losing Will and all they have shared together? Juliet must work out what's really important in life and whether romance really is all about sexy lingerie and red roses.
I'm not certain why I somehow still read books about someone infidelity when I know that all it ends up doing is making me feel terribly agonised. It irks me to no end, but perhaps I keep looking for a book that gives an insight to both sides of the party. Well, Calling Romeo fits well, but it isn't the best read, I don't think.
I'm very torn about my response to this book. On the one hand, the trickling pace of the plot bored me. Too much narrative! I was tempted to skip through and just get to the ending. I disliked the ending; hated the message it could have easily given to the reader. On the other hand, I appreciated Juliet's hesitations because that is how it is. Unless one is unfeeling or morally apathetic, you would hesitate and reconsider to the nth degree your decision to begin an affair. I thought Juliet's thoughts and indecision - her consultations to friends even - were an accurate portrayal of that dilemma. But I'm not saying she justifies it - adultery for me is never justified, whatever the circumstance. Juliet does however, show that she isn't indifferent and has genuine reasons for her affair with Sykes. Admittedly, I believe part - a very small part - of the blame lies on Will, but as Juliet realises love is not always the happy side of the coin.
Calling Romeo is underscored by many subplots, and one can view the events from different points of view. And so when everything unravels, there is much, too much pain swivelling around the characters. I'm not exactly happy how Will handled Juliet's unfaithfulness, and how towards the end Juliet for me didn't feel as apologetic as she should be. Oh yes, there were many tears and pain but I didn't feel she was ultimately entitled to be angry at Will after her unfaithfulness, because whatever Will did or did not do, cheating surpasses that. I tell myself this though: she isn't me. She's a flawed character, and in that she is entitled to feel what she does. I don't think they resolved anything by the ending, and it was very vague, but there you go.
The plot is cliche. The characters are naive, sometimes foolish, sometimes selfish. It can be dragging. But ultimately, Calling Romeo is a book that builds on its imperfections. It made shed tears, it made me angry, it made me want to lash out at the ending, but at the end of it all it's a story of two people that isn't me. Therefore while I don't think it's the best book, plot or ending for me, it might just be for them.
Today I am very pleased to welcome Ivy Devlin, to talk about her fabulous, romantic, heart-stopping novel Low Red Moon - welcome Ivy!
1. Low Red Moon is your paranormal debut. What made you venture into paranormal YA?
Dumb luck, really--I was thinking about the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood one day (I adore fairy tales) and thought--what if? And that's how Low Red Moon got its start!
2. Can you tell us a little bit more about 'Low Red Moon' as a title?
I had originally called the book Red, but my editor wanted me to change the title. I had no ideas (NONE!) but then, when I got my revision letter, my editor had sent along a CD of songs she'd listened to when she was editing the book. And one of them was Belly's Low Red Moon--which is--well, you can see why the title ended up becoming Low Red Moon :-)
3. While writing Low Red Moon, were there any particular habits or quirks you have developed?
Not really--although I did draw a map of the town so I knew where everything was not just in my head but on paper too.
4. As I wrote in my review, Avery narrates the book with a voice with genuine grief. What was your main inspiration in channeling these emotions into your writing?
First, thank you for your amazingly kind review--it totally made my day when I read it! As for writing about Avery's grief, it was part of her story, so I felt I had to write about it. It was so true for her, so how could I not have it there, you know?
5. If you can describe Avery and Ben's relationship in one word - what would it be and why?
Explosive! These are two people who connect right away and it's scary for both of them--but they can't deny how they feel.
6. Would you rather read a book about forbidden romance, the-more-you-hate-the-more-you-love romance or a best-friend-turned-boyfriend romance?
ooooh! Forbidden, I think.
7. In retrospect, was there any part of the book you wished you have written differently?
I can't read my own writing--you know how some authors can't read reviews? I can read those, but I can't read my own book! Go figure :-)
8. Can you give us a little hint on what to expect next following Low Red Moon?
There is going to be a sequel--I've turned it in, but I haven't heard when it will be published yet. I'll let people know as soon as I find out, though!
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Thank you Ivy! To Emma also, for making this interview possible.
If you haven't read Low Red Moon yet, folks, then you should. It's one of the best paranormal YA novels out there! Not to mention its mystery and romance being just as superb :) Check out my review HERE if you need further convincing!
I can hardly wait for the sequel - pretty certain it would be worth the wait!
We asked our readers what story they would most like to see from four bestselling authors. They responded . . .
A handsome hero returns from war, battle-scarred and world-weary. But family duty calls and he must find a bride.
A young lady facing yet another season without a suitor never expects to find herself the object of his affections.
Four amazing talents - Stephanie Laurens, Mary Balogh, Jacquie D'Alessandro and Candice Hern - have come together to create one of the most unforgettable events of the year. The results are spectacular - each story is as unique as a lover's first kiss.
I usually stay away from anthologies as short stories just make me want to pull my hair out. There's more often than not little characterisation, interaction and plot development to satisfy my reading curiosity. But actually - for this anthology, none of those actually mattered! I was surprised by how interested I was, as a reader, in seeing how one plot can essentially be carved into different stories. Plus, I love the premise of the said plot!
It Happened One Season did not disappoint. Though there is effectively only one plot narrated four times, the differences that separates them from each other is what really counts. Apart from the guidelines provided for by that one plot, each writer's creativity can be seen in each of their stories. And they deliver. I found myself enjoying each one of them, and by the end of the anthology, I was not only completely engaged, I wanted more! And I thought I'd be bored by the second re-telling - I wasn't, one bit! It actually felt refreshing to read a new take on the plot and the repetitive elements only made the differences stand out. I thought was superb.
Out of the four I think my favourite is Jacquie D'Allessandro's Hope Springs Eternal. It has all the elements I look for in a short story and it certainly had me sighing and giggling. Having said that, the other three are almost as good. Very certain a lot of romance readers out there will enjoy this.
My e-copy is beautiful by the way - while the cover is nothing spectacular, the graphics on the inside pages meets the book well. If anything, it made me want to keep this one more! What a wonderful anthology - recommended!
The fairy tale courtship did not turn into a happily ever after…
Not until her husband dropped dead, that is. He had been horrible enough to Christiana during their short marriage, and she was not going to allow the traditional period of mourning to ruin her sisters’ debuts as well. So Christiana decides to put him on ice and go on as if nothing’s happened…
Until the real earl appears. Richard Fairgrave had every intention of confronting his villainous twin who robbed him of his name and title…only to discover that he’d died. Quietly assuming his identity, Richard must now deal with a maddening desire for his ravishing inherited “wife”—certainly a gold digger and possibly a murderess. And Christiana must deal with an unwanted new “husband”…and they both must figure out what to do before the ice melts!
I must admit - from what I've read of Lyndsay Sands' historical romance, I didn't expect a lot from The Countess. I was primarily drawn to the premise of its blurb (as I always am with Lyndsay Sand's novels) and, although this is certainly one of the better ones in her book list, it's not necessarily one of the good ones I've read.
Christiana is a lovely character. Oppressed by her husband Richard or "Dicky", the Earl of Fairgrave, she has lost all confidence in herself. What she did not know - is that her husband is actually George Fairgrave, twin of the real Earl of Fairgrave! When Dicky drops dead however, it seems like a blessing - until the real Richard appears at a ball. Victimised by his own twin's greed, Richard returns to claim his right, but finds instead a wife who he cannot control his lust for. With a great cast of supporting characters, there is an abundance of hilarity and affection in this novel. Christiana's lack of self-confidence takes centre-stage in the plot, as is Richard's need to trust his new-found partner.
Often times I wish for more than just a romantic plot in Lyndsay Sand books, but this one did have a murder-mystery to spice up the plot, but lacks the most fundamental element of a romance novel - the romance per se! There was a heavy focus on the murder-mystery and although the romance has its foundation on Christina and Richard getting to know each other, I was surprised at its speed. I also did not prefer the way their romance was heavily based on lust - although I suppose some might say that cannot be helped. And speaking of, The Countess is actually a really sexy novel (as compared to the rest of her historical romances) and I think this new series is definitely going to be sexier! I must admit, despite me not liking the romance angle between Christiana and Richard very much - their chemistry is superb together.
In the end, I was not wholly satisfied by how the murder-mystery turned out - but, if you're looking for a historical rom-com slash mystery to entertain, this will do its part.
Welcome to today's stop for Katherine Langrish' West of the Moon blog tour! Although delayed by a day, thankfully I can now share this with you aspiring writers out there. I'm sure you will enjoy Katherine's commandments and take away a great deal from it!
I welcome thee, Katherine!
Here are my Ten Commandments, my writing credo, my passionate ‘I Believe’. Others may have other ideas, but imho you will not get very far without signing up to these.
1. THOU SHALT READ
- A LOT of contemporary fiction. And I mean a LOT. Not just in the genre you want to write, either – be adventurous, or how will you know what else is out there? You wouldn’t expect to succeed as a doctor or scientist if your training was years out of date; and you won’t succeed as a children’s author or a fantasy author, or any other kind, if the last children’s book or YA fantasy novel you read was twenty years ago when you were twelve. It’s surprising how many people don’t believe this. Are they sustained by an inner conviction that the books they read years ago were the golden standard from which writing has since declined? Who knows? They are deluded.
2. THOU SHALT NOT WRITE TRACTS.
Of course there are many influential books in the world. But the story is king. I don’t care whether you want to save the the Amazon rainforest, or stop bullying, or prevent date rape, or merely get children to pick up after themselves and turn out the lights when they leave a room: if your reason for writing is to preach some message, no matter how important or wonderful it may be, your ulterior motive will show up like a tarantula on a slice of angel-food, as Philip Marlowe once said. Books are not ‘messages’. They are about people – your characters – and what happens to them. The only way to make us care about your message is to make us care deeply about your characters, and paradoxically that means you, the writer, must care for your characters even more than you care for your beloved cause. Only in this way will there be even a chance of you writing another ‘Black Beauty’ or ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’. In a modern idiom, of course.
3 THOU SHALT RESEARCH THY SUBJECT.
‘Write about what you know’ is a bit limiting. So do the research. You want to write about teenagers in a modern school… do you really know how they talk and behave, or are you relying on personal memories of school, long out of date? You want to set a book in America, but you’re not American… your two-week holiday in Maine or Miami is not going to cut it, no matter how many times you’ve watched the reruns of Friends. I don’t wish to sound like Donald Rumsfeld, but there is stuff you don’t know, that you don’t even know you don’t know. I read a fantastic book recently, a sci-fi time-travel novel set partly in Tudor England. The author had done masses of research into the period, most of which really paid off. But she was Californian, and so she put a full-grown, fruit-bearing orange tree into an English orchard, which bumped me right out of the story for a few pages. Her ‘normal’ was not my ‘normal’; but she didn’t know. I still loved the book, but it would have been better without the orange tree.
4. THOU SHALT USE NONE OTHER VERB THAN ‘SAID’ ...
... to indicate speech – at least 95% of the time. If I open a book at random and my eye falls upon ‘“No way!” he smirked,’ or ‘“That’s the wrong colour,” she opined,’ or ‘“I was too late,” he sighed,” – I generally close the book and put it back. It’s even worse when an adverb is tagged on: ‘“I love you,” he murmured thickly’. Yick! And while I’m on the subject of adverbs…
5. THOU SHALT HUNT DOWN AND ELIMINATE ADVERBS AND EXCLAMATION MARKS
I swear they multiply. Go after them. Get yourself down to – say – no more than two adverbs to a page and an exclamation mark only once every three pages. Leave it a few days, go back, and you’ll find more.
6. THOU SHALT SLAY THY DARLINGS.
This is the one we all try and wriggle out of, because it hurts so much and anyway surely it can’t apply to this beautiful piece of scene-painting, possibly the best descriptive writing you’ve ever done? And what about the chapter where you finally managed to work in that really hilarious anecdote you’ve wanted to use for ages? Well, unless the descriptive passage and the humorous anecdote are truly relevant, I’m afraid it does, and moreover…
7. THOU SHALT MURDER THINE UNNECESSARY CHARACTERS.
Your characters are your workforce, and you should be their ruthless capitalist boss. If they work, cherish them, but if they aren’t pulling their weight, get rid of them. If five characters are in a room but only three of them are talking, chances are you don’t need the silent two. Don’t burden yourself with more characters than you and the reader can easily distinguish. Don’t duplicate effort: don’t give a child two best friends unless the fact that he has two (different) friends is going to be significant. And finally, don’t waste energy on creating wonderfully crafted characters with no role and nothing to do.
8. THY CRAFT IS A JEALOUS CRAFT: THOU SHALT HAVE NO PEACE OF MIND EITHER BY NIGHT OR BY DAY UNTIL THY WORK IS DONE
This is more of a description than a command because seriously, writing is more than work, it’s a sort of obsession. When I’m writing a book I often feel as though I’ve become a kind of computer running a continuous programme on the virtual world that is my book. I go to bed, wake up, walk the dog, drive to the supermarket, cook, wash, etc, and all the time the programme is running, turning up small bits and pieces of information I didn’t know I knew about my characters’ lives and where the plot is heading. It’s actually exhausting. Which is why…
9. THOU SHALT CUT THYSELF SOME SLACK AND TAKE TIME OFF TO THINK.
Thinking is just as much part of creating a novel as actually setting the words down. Don’t feel pressured to start too early, and don’t feel guilty if you’re not hammering out those two thousand words a day. (Me? I sometimes don’t write more than fifty. Or I end up with fewer words at the end of the day, because I’ve been cutting and unpicking.) Often, if you get stuck, it’s a sign that you’re veering off course with the book – maybe trying to force a character to do something they wouldn’t. Give yourself time out. Go off and do something different and let your subconscious mind come up with the answers.
10. LASTLY, HAVE FAITH.
If you’re trying to be a writer (and believe me all writers are only trying to be writers; we’re all afraid that this time the flame will have departed and the deity moved on) – the odds are you’re one already. You can’t stop. Sometimes you love it, sometimes you hate it, but you can’t stop. You’re always thinking up phrases to describe things you see. Stories come to you – bits of plot and character drift into your mind and won’t go away. You get feverish if you can’t find a pen and a bit of paper to scribble it all down. All right then, keep going. Keep writing. Keep learning your craft. Get feedback. Accept criticism even if it hurts, and take praise with humility and the understanding that if you’ve done something well, you can probably still learn to do it better… and have fun!
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There you go - take note of these and you might just get to finishing your novel! Thanks so much to Katherine for being patient with me and for being here to share this today.
For more information about Katherine, the blog tour schedule and West of the Moon, click on the tour poster above!
The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found.
Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered—and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.
As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.
So I have been waiting forever for this book - since, admittedly, The Body Finder is my favourite debut of 2010 and Jay and Violet ranks as one of my favourite YA couples. The Verdict? Definitely on the good side.
Again, Kimberly Derting manages to deliver the perfect blend of mystery and romance. As in every sequel, Desires of the Dead narrates the continuation - including the repercussions - of everything that occurred in The Body Finder. Violet's abilities continues to 'haunt' her. This time, her actions lead a powerful government organisation to her (the FBI no less). Simultaneously, she endangers herself once again, the compulsion to answer to the echoes of the dead pulling her towards peril. At the same time, she and Jay becomes closer, more intimate in their relationship and as with any couple, they must face the trials and tribulations that land in their path.
I love how everything fits together in Desires of the Dead - recurring and new characters play intercolliding roles, how the new plot and mystery blossoms, and how - without neglecting the thrilling ride that is the plot - the romance is carried out. Kimberly's writing is superb and fits in just as perfectly as the rest.
Let me say this - the romance was amazing. I reveled in Jay and Violet's love - sweet, intimate and deep feelings anchor this two to each other, and it made me melt! There is a lot of adjustment to Violet in their platonic-to-romantic relationship. Although very much in love with Jay, there is a lot of adjustments made from him being Violet's BFF to boyfriend. It was very well played out. I would have been extremely happy if Desires of the Dead was only purely romance! At the same time, a new character lurking in the shadows will clearly return in succeeding books to make it even more exciting for everyone involved! Caution, to those expecting a lot of jealousy from Violety with regards to Jay's closeness with Mike - there's hardly any conflict in this. The blurb is slightly misleading here, but no worries, it'll make up for it!
Despite the slightly predictable outcome, it was still a thrill following Violet's brushes with the authorities, the new students in school, and the danger that seems to stalk her. The plot was constructed well, with hints and clues that lead you to one person while suspecting the other. And again, as with The Body Finder, we get a glimpse into the very emotional POV of the 'villain', feeding a very different aura to the book.
Although it was saddening to reach the last pages of a book I have waited a year to read, Desires of the Dead definitely lifted my spirits in that I'm pretty certain there will be more books to follow. It's once again exciting and patience-wearing to wait for the next installment in Violet and Jay's story! I am very much looking forward to what Kimberly Derting has in line for these two!
Exciting news from Bloomsbury! Alyxandra Harvey will be coming to the UK in May to promote her forthcoming book Haunting Violet! Keep checking the Facebook page, event details will be added soon: http://www.facebook.com/myloveliesbleeding
In the meantime here’s a little teaser about the new book from the author herself:
Dear Reader:
I love historical fantasy because I can lose myself in a world where Mr. Darcy might be just around the corner . . . or the ghost of a murdered girl out for revenge. It combines corsets and cravats with paranormal mysteries of every kind.
I hope you'll enjoy meeting Violet as she struggles to come to terms with her new gift for communicating with the dead . . . and as she chooses between a traditional safe life and an Irish pickpocket with a wicked grin.
In other news, Andy Mulligan's superb book TRASH is out on paperback on the 31st March! This is a brilliant book which I recommend heartily. Check out the trailer below!
From the publishers who brought you THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS and THE
CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME, comes another story that transcends reading ages and leaps literary fences. Three street boys take on the world in TRASH, a fast-paced, exciting, intensely moving story by Andy Mulligan.
Paperback is out 31st March 2011 - if you haven't read it on hardback yet, wait no longer! Trash will make you laugh, break your heart and will truly uplift your spirit. You can find my review HERE, in any case.
Hello there and welcome to the sixth stop in the Vampire Crush (AM Robinson) blog tour! It's with giddy-ness that I introduce this guest post to you readers - 'round of applause to the lovely Violet, easily my favourite character in the book!
Today Violet is on hand to help you ladies to deecide if turning the gentleman courting you into your eternal beloved, or if perhaps you should decline his offer. Welcome Violet!
Why, hello. Since A. M. has been writing quite a few of these “blog entries” to date, I
thought I might let her attend to what she says is the very pressing matter of “catching
up on Glee” and handle this stop on the Vampire Crush tour. I just know we are going
to have the most wonderful time! Perhaps afterwards you will come over for tea? Or
perhaps blood, if you are a vampire like me. Or perhaps another substance, depending
on what kind of monster you happen to be. I will tell you what, if you just leave a
comment informing me of your species and preferred drink I will . . .
Oh, but silly Violet! I am getting ahead of myself! I told A. M. that I would do my best
to keep to the subject, which is, of course, finding and turning your ideal vampire mate.
Or was it telling you a bit about her book? . . . Oh drat. Well, what is an eternity if you
cannot do both? Am I right? Yes, of course I am right. Perhaps I should just start at the
beginning.
Recently I was among the number of vampires to infiltrate Sophie McGee’s place
of education, a place where I was introduced to the most wonderful of periodicals,
Seventeen magazine. I confess, without its infinite wisdom concerning current trends
(“Are You Wearing The Wrong Jeans for Your Shape?”) and proper social behavior
(“What’s Your Kissing Style?”), I would have been completely lost. You see, up until
coming to Thomas Jefferson High, I had been living in a dusty old farmhouse that my
sire Vlad insisted we inhabit while he ran about the world researching an old vampire
legend. Exclusively between you and me, I think he is one embroidered handkerchief
short of trousseau, but when he came back and said that he knew where to find “the
girl” and that it would involve a foray into the real world, I was not about to complain.
The only problem is that coming here led to the heartbreaking loss of my former beau
and most recent boyfriend, James. He claims that it is just that he realized he made
a heinous mistake, but I have seen him making eyes at his childhood friend, Sophie
And yet because she introduced me to the aforementioned periodicals, I must count
her as a dear friend. Still, I have vowed to be far more discerning when it comes to
choosing vampire suitors in the future by designing this brief quiz. I have submitted it to
Seventeen for consideration and am awaiting their response.
Should I Turn Him? Five Questions Before You Give Away Your Eternal Gift
1. You spot a magnificent boy across the room. Would he look pleasing as a vampire? Note specifically the abs and cheekbones.
A. Yes, quite! He seems to have already adopted a dramatically black wardrobe
and penetrating stare.
B. Perhaps, with some small improvements. Eternal acne is not a cross anyone
should have to bear.
C. Well, on the bright side, it would be difficult to look worse.
2. What does your prospect choose for your first date?
A. A crypt.
B. A monster movie.
C. He does not realize you are on a date and perhaps thinks that he is
teaching you the intricacies of calculus since you appeared at his tutoring
session asking him to teach you the intricacies of calculus.
3. You and your prospect have decided to watch a motion picture that features one of the many vampire incarnations?
A. Cheers when the vampires attack.
B. Cheers when the vampires kiss.
C. Cries and/or says he is going to the washroom and never returns.
4. In your intimate moments (holding hands, speaking, filling out your dance card, exchanging locks of hair, etc.), what does he say?
A. “Man, the only thing that would make this better is if it could last forever, if you
get what I mean. *wink*”
B. “I just don’t understand why I have to sign this card in order to take you to the
homecoming dance.”
C. “What is in thi--is this HAIR?”
5. How does he respond to the blood test? The blood test is, of course, where you accidentally trip and spill the vial of blood you just happen to be holding all over his lap.
A. Smiles knowingly.
B. Laughs it off. My, you are charming!
C. Demands that you pay his dry cleaning bill and get professional help,
whatever that could mean.
Mostly As: He appears to be a perfect candidate, at least from the outside. However,
beware a boy who is too eager to become a vampire; it is possible he just wants to take
advantage of your immortality. (See my next quiz, “Is He Using You For Your Bite?”)
Mostly Bs: For all intents in purposes, this prospect appears to be a nice, normal boy
who treats your vampiric oddities like the wonderful and endearing quirks that they
are. As long as you are sure that you are in a committed relationship, I do not see any
qualms in making him your eternal boyfriend.
Mostly Cs: Let us be straight with one another; from time to time we all struggle with
the blurry line that exists between those who love you passionately and those who may
think you are insane. Trust your instincts, accept that he is not interested, and dispose
of him where no one will find the body. . . I jest of course. Dispose him from your mind
only.
There! I hope that was as helpful for you as it has been for me. Now I must run; there is
a new boy in my English class and I have every hope that he will be Mister Mostly B.
*
Now that you've been well advised on the dilemma of turning your bethrothed or not, it's time for the giveaway! Remember, it's international so don't miss out!
GRAND PRIZE:
Signed HARDCOVER copy of Vampire Crush
A pair of whale-dotted pajama pants, a la Sophie.
Bat-shaped cookie cutter
Cute vampire monster mirror
"Vampire Blood" hand gel.
TWO ALTERNATE PRIZES
Signed paperback copy of Vampire Crush
"Vampire Blood" handgel
Those who have been following the blog tour should already know about this, but to those who have just discovered this tour, A.M. Robinson will be giving away three PRIZES to three different people who follow the tour. To enter, all you have to do is:
Visit every blog on the tour (mine is the sixth stop)
At the end of the tour, your final stop will be Good Choice Reading where they will have a form for you to fill out and submit everything you have collected. It is not a requirement to follow my blog, but we would really appreciate it if you did. The secret code for you is -
"You, I"
Check out the next stop, http://www.darkreaders.com/ for your next secret code! Check out the video below for the rest of the stops:
It's just over a month to go before the long-awaited release day of Will Hill's Department 19 dawns, so because I am excited (and so should you), here are a couple of trailers I thought you might enjoy.
Will Hill talks about THE teen thriller of the new decade.
First off - this news isn't exactly hot off the press, but I've only just had the time to put this one up. None the less, the blog tour is up and running until the end of the month, so there's still a lot of time to catch up with the stops you might have missed!
Katherine Langrish’s month-long blog tour for West of the Moon kicked-off on the 25th of February, and on 21st March, will stop right here at Girls Without a Bookshelf! Katherine will be discussing about the top ten writing commandments so aspiring writers, this one's for you!
West of the Moon is available from the 3rd March 2011.
Want to find out more? Check out the blurb below!
It is a time of dark magic and fearsome creatures - a time of vikings and heroes.
When Peer is orphaned he is taken by his wicked uncles to live at their foreboding mill
in the shadow of Troll Fell. Here he meets beautiful, spirited Hilde. After a terrifying
encounter with the sinister creatures who live below the fell, the pair form an
inseparable bond. Thirsty for adventure, they decide to set sail for Vinland – a
mysterious place across the perilous sea. But are the captain and his sword‐wielding
son really honest sailors? What creatures lurk in the shadows and forests of the new
land? Will Peer and Hilde ever return? Spanning years and continents and filled with
brilliantly imagined characters and creatures, this is gripping, atmospheric antasy at its
best.
West of the Moon is an abridged collection of all three books in the original Troll
Trilogy: Troll Fell, Troll Mill and Troll Blood. Now available in one standalone book, West
of the Moon is perfect for new readers and existing fans alike.
My poor macbook is currently in intensive care fighting for its life, so this has been severely delayed. Nevertheless, let's make it quick, and random.org chose -
#92
Tiana G.
Congratulations!
I will be e-mailing you shortly for confirmation and your address. Do reply within 48 hours, otherwise I will be forced to choose another winner.
Lots of people have asked me what it’s like to be a debut author – to have my first novel on the shelves and to actually be able to call myself a published writer. Full disclosure: I have actually been published before, but those were short stories in YA urban fantasy anthologies, so it’s sort of a different thing (although no less awesome, in its own way). But to have a full-length work of fiction published… a whole book of my own… that’s pretty amazing and, quite honestly, I never entirely believed it would happen.
Before I can tell you what it’s really like – how I feel about this big change in my life – let me take you back in time to when I was a twelve-year-old girl at school. In a class filled with about 30 other children I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up (we were all being asked this, I think as some kind of class exercise):
Kaz (beaming and hopeful): A writer!
Teacher: You mean… like a journalist?
Kaz: Oh no, I mean I want to write fantasy books.
Entire class, INCLUDING TEACHER: LAUGHTER
So, you know, I can’t say I was always encouraged in my dreams to become a published author – and it’s taken me a long time to get here – but for all the hard work (and, yes, despite the times I’ve been laughed at!), I can tell you that it’s totally worth it. I wouldn’t want to do anything else with my life. Telling stories… making stuff up; writing it down and working at my craft; and then sharing those books and stories with others. That’s the kind of thing some people can only dream of and, even when I get stressed and busy (often with the business side of writing), I try hard not to complain. Well, at least not too much. ;)
Because I am really very, very lucky. Being a debut author is all the things I hoped it would be – and more. There’s more work involved than I thought there’d be, for sure (for example, with promoting your writing, both in person and online), but I don’t just mean that. I mean that it is truly an honour to have this chance to share with others the stories and worlds and characters that I create. To hear what people think about the things I write, and to touch the lives of readers all over the world, even in this very tiny way… Well, that’s pretty awesome.
I hope that you enjoy meeting Donna, Navin and Xan, and I hope you’ll return to Ironbridge when The Wood Queen comes out early next year! Thanks for having me. :)
*
Thank you, Karen! All I can say is - the pleasure is all ours. We love The Iron Witch, we love Xan (as I have told you maybe a thousand times) and I'm sure I'm not the only one who is eagerly waiting for The Wood Queen!
Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.
Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.
Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.
Out of the few dragon-themed novels that I have come across to read, none of them were connected to so much romance as Firelight did. Most of the time, dragons in fiction tend to be much associated with adventures, thrills of battle, and power - the romance in Firelight is testament to its originality, as this book certainly takes you on a wholly different ride!
Albeit already special - being a shape-shifting dragon and all - Jacinda's fire-breathing abilities puts her on a pedestal. With the suffocating protectiveness of her pack, her mother's desire for her to kill her other self and her sister's envy of her abilities, Jacinda is sooon forced to a life faraway from the comforts of her home. Most of Jacinda's narration is consequently filled with the heaviness and the bitterness of this fate - I was angered and saddened along with Jacinda. Fortunately, she was not depressing, but one finds oneself symphatetic to her plight. Jacinda voices and delivers her emotions readily, and it is easy for the readers to understand why she resents being where she was. Her loyalty is to her dragon - her other self - and to give this up and unthinkable.
With Will, Jacinda finds her dying dragon revived. This was her primary reason to constantly justify her emotional and physical responses to Will. Unlike her sister (who has been shunned by her fellow drakis as she cannot transform), Jacinda does not belong in the human world. Only Will ties her to it, and the theme of forbidden love is one of the central plots. Will and Jacinda's romance is seductive, sexy and a sure joy to read. Despite knowing that what they essentially have is veiled with deceit, dangerous and ultimately forbidden, it is as easy to ignore that as Jacinda does when they are together. However - what I cannot wait for is to see how a third party, Cassian - Jacinda's intended fiancee and the next leader of the drakis - plays in the succeeding books - because as much as I adore Will with Jacinda, I am definitely rooting for darkly seductive Cassian!
There were however, disappointments in Firelight. Minor - but they affected my reading experience quite a bit. Firstly I wanted the plot to move at a quicker pace than it did, as at some points the narrative felt very repetitive. There was also what I felt was a lack of subplots, which would have made reading the book so much better - I felt like I was looking for more while reading.
Having said that, the ending, though neat, hardly gives readers peace. You will be longing to see what happens next once you turn that last page!
Three Stars.
GIVEAWAY!
One lucky UK resident will win a fresh, beautiful new copy or Sophie Jordan's Firelight!
We are happy to accept books from authors or publishers for review. Paperbacks and hardbacks are most welcome, as are self-published books. E-book copies are also accepted. For more information, you can read our review policy here.
If you're an author or publisher and would like us to review or promote your book(s), to host an author interview, or to conduct any giveaways, e-mail us for details.
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