Waiting on Wednesday (17) Review of ARC Prophecy by Ellen Oh

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

So I'm cheating again this week because I just read another great ARC that I want to share with you all.

Goodreads Book Description: The greatest warrior in all of the Seven Kingdoms... is a girl with yellow eyes.

Kira’s the only female in the king’s army, and the prince’s bodyguard. She’s a demon slayer and an outcast, hated by nearly everyone in her home city of Hansong. And, she’s their only hope...

Murdered kings and discovered traitors point to a demon invasion, sending Kira on the run with the young prince. He may be the savior predicted in the Dragon King Prophecy, but the missing treasure of myth may be the true key. With only the guidance of the cryptic prophecy, Kira must battle demon soldiers, evil shaman, and the Demon Lord himself to find what was once lost and raise a prince into a king.

Intrigue and mystery, ancient lore and action-packed fantasy come together in this heart-stopping first book in a trilogy.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Review:  I received this ARC from HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review.

Prophecy by Ellen Oh focuses on an unusual protagonist, Kira, the Demon Slayer. She is of royal heritage and has yellow eyes, which makes people shun her. At the same time, she is the only one that can see demons who are disguised in human form, and this makes her perfect to be the guardian of her cousin, the Prince. War breaks out in their land, and there are murmurings of a prophecy of the One that will save them all. Kira is determined to play her part in freeing her country and land from demon oppression.

There is so much to like about this book. Set in a Korean fantasy land-- the best way for me to describe it is a Mulan meets Graceling type of scenario. That said, Oh has created a brand new world for her characters to live and breathe in. I would say that the world building is the most impressive aspect of this book, and sets the stage nicely for the books to come. Kira is a very likeable protagonist, and I am intrigued to see what will become of her and the possible love triangle that has been hinted at.

That said, there are a couple of things that need to be worked out in future books. I feel like there is a little too much build up just for future adventures in this book and the middle drags a bit. However, the book does feel complete in the end. Also, the big "twist" in the book, didn't really feel like a twist, so I'm looking forward to more developments as the series continues.

Overall, a deliberate and intriguing start to a trilogy with gorgeous world building. Oh is just getting started, and I have a feeling she'll just get better with each book.

What are you looking forward to this week?

Also, tune in for an interview and Giveaway with Ellen Oh, going to be scheduled soon! :-)

Enter my dystopian Giveaway!
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Also, stop by and enter an international giveaway of a signed copy of IF I LIE by Corrine Jackson!
http://cahreviews.blogspot.com/2012/10/part-i-corrine-jackson-interview-and.html 

Dystopian Giveaway Hop

Win one of the books from the Birthmarked Trilogy by Caragh O'Brien!  The book will be shipped by either Book Depository (if the winner is international) or Amazon (if the winner lives in the US). As long as TBD ships to your country, you are eligible for this giveaway!
Which countries does The Book Depository ship to? Click here.

Caragh O'Brien was gracious enough to give an interview at my blog, so click on these links to take a look!

Part I Caragh O'Brien Interview

Part II Caragh O'Brien Interview

dys·to·pi·a

noun

a society characterized by human misery, as squalor, oppression, disease,
and overcrowding.

Announcing the Dystopian Giveaway Hop

November 1st to 7th

Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & My Shelf Confessions

Birthmarked was probably one of the first novels I read after the whole Hunger Games hype. I'm so glad I did!

Goodreads description of Birthmarked: In the future, in a world baked dry by the harsh sun, there are those who live inside the walled Enclave and those, like sixteen-year-old Gaia Stone, who live outside. Following in her mother’s footsteps Gaia has become a midwife, delivering babies in the world outside the wall and handing a quota over to be "advanced" into the privileged society of the Enclave. Gaia has always believed this is her duty, until the night her mother and father are arrested by the very people they so loyally serve Now Gaia is forced to question everything she has been taught, but her choice is simple: enter the world of the Enclave to rescue her parents, or die trying.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Amazon review: Birthmarked review

Goodreads description of Prized: Striking out into the wasteland with nothing but her baby sister, a handful of supplies, and a rumor to guide her, sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone survives only to be captured by the people of Sylum, a dystopian society where women rule the men who drastically outnumber them, and a kiss is a crime. In order to see her sister again, Gaia must submit to their strict social code, but how can she deny her sense of justice, her curiosity, and everything in her heart that makes her whole?

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Amazon review: Prized Review

Goodreads description of Promised: After defying the ruthless Enclave, surviving the wasteland, and upending the rigid matriarchy of Sylum, Gaia Stone now faces her biggest challenge ever.  She must lead the people of Sylum back to the Enclave and persuade the Protectorat to grant them refuge from the wasteland.  In Gaia's absence, the Enclave has grown more cruel, more desperate to experiment on mothers from outside the wall, and now the stakes of cooperating or rebelling have never been higher.  Is Gaia ready, as a leader, to sacrifice what--or whom--she loves most?

Get crackin' and sign up for this giveaway! :-)
 
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Happy Birthday, VENOM! Welcome Luca, "The Other Guy"

 

VENOM by Fiona Paul
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads review: Venom Review

Blurb about Fiona:  Fiona Paul lives in St. Louis, Missouri where she's managed to persuade prestigious universities to award her degrees in psychology and nursing. Between her studies, she traveled around five continents and spent time living in Thailand and South Korea (which is probably why she finds the idea of wearing shoes in the house a little weird.)

In addition to writing, Fiona is somewhat obsessive about coffee, music, and adventure sports. Her future goals include swimming with great white sharks and writing a whole truckload of novels, not necessarily in that order.

I am thrilled to have to opportunity to re-post this awesome interview between Luca (who I think is the hotter of the two love interests!) and Fiona Paul. This was first posted by the awesome Rachel at her terrific blog, Fiktshun. Here is the link to the original post:

Fiktshun's post with Fiona Paul

Getting to know Luca: A Q & A session with the other guy from VENOM.

Dressed in full Renaissance attire—yes, including those chest-crushing, skinny-making whalebone stays—Fiona Paul lifts her skirts as she alights from her magical time-traveling gondola onto the private dock of Palazzo da Peraga, the family home of Casandra Caravello’s fiancé, Luca.

The butler opens the door and ushers her into the dining room where Luca awaits. Luca is about 6’3” with close-cropped blond hair and just a hint of beard. He’s wearing black velvet breeches and a dark green doublet that is stretched tight across his broad shoulders. He stands and bows, and then pulls out Fiona’s chair for her. 

Fiona: Signor da Peraga, Thank you so much for inviting me to your palazzo for dinner.

Luca: The pleasure is all mine. And Signor da Peraga was my father. You may call me Luca. He hands Fiona a lily. For you.

Fiona: It’s gorgeous. Thank you.

Luca: My fiancée, Cassandra, loves lilies.

Fiona: That’s exactly who I wanted to talk to you about. Can you tell me a little bit about the day you first met Cass?

Luca: He blushes slightly. When I first met her, we were both children. Her parents were always bringing her over to the palazzo when they came to visit my parents. Somehow, I was the one tasked with the job of entertaining her. She never wanted to just play quietly or read books. She was always digging in the garden dirt or chasing after the kitchen cats, making her maidservant half-crazy. He smiles to himself. She would find the strangest little trinkets: buttons, scraps of lace, perfectly shaped leaves, and insist on keeping them.

Fiona: Would you say it was love at first sight?

Luca: Er, no, since I was ten and she was only six and that would have been a little odd. I didn’t fall in love with her until—He stops, suddenly fascinated with the fraying edge of his cloth napkin.

Fiona: Until when?

Luca: Our visits dwindled after her parents died. They had arranged our betrothal shortly before their demise, but once Cass moved to San Domenico to live with her aunt I saw her less. It was difficult watching her grieve. I remembered how taken she’d been with random little treasures so occasionally when I visited I would hide things for her and mark the hiding places with a lily. But in my head she continued to be that rambunctious little girl I knew when I was younger. Before I left for university, I went to see her one last time. He blushes again. I found her in the library reading Michel de Montaigne. The way her graceful form bent over the book, the glow from the fireplace backlighting her slender frame and thick wavy hair—suddenly I saw her for the enchanting and intelligent woman she had become. It was that day I realized exactly how fortunate I am.

Fiona: What a beautiful story. What is it that you study?

Luca: I study law at the renowned Montpellier University, in France.

Fiona: So then what brings you back to Venice?

Luca: His eyes flick down toward his napkin again. Family business.

Fiona: I see. Have you thought anything about your wedding to Cass? Where you want to have the celebration? What sort of foods you’d like to eat?

Luca: Honestly, I still can’t believe I’m to marry a woman who is as kind and beautiful as she is smart. All I want is for her to be happy. I will marry her anywhere she desires and eat anything she wishes to eat.

Fiona: Whoa. It sounds like someone has got it bad. Aren’t you worried about Falco?

Luca: Who is Falco?

Fiona: She coughs. Um, hey look, the food is arriving. Yum, it smells delicious.
Three kitchen servants enter carrying tarnished silver platters heaping with food. They set the platters down on the table. Fiona eyes the one nearest to her. It looks suspiciously like a…

Fiona: Is that a porcupine?

Luca: He smiles broadly. It has been roasting on the spit for three hours! We’re also having eyeballs of veal and guinea pigs with French mustard. I had the cook prepare only the finest Venetian delicacies for you.

Fiona: She turns a little green. Oh, I think I completely forgot to tell you I was a vegetarian.

Luca: What’s a vegetarian?
Another platter arrives holding a steaming three-foot wide pie. The pastry’s fluted edges are adorned with gold leaf. The servant cuts into the hard crust of the pie and a wet, soggy blackbird wriggles free from the filling and begins hopping about the table.

Fiona: Her eyes go saucer-wide. I actually just remembered somewhere I need to be. Curtseying quickly, she abruptly flees the dining room, takes the stairs two at a time, and throws herself over the side of her magical time-traveling gondola.

Author's Note: The gondola is just a means for me to travel to and from Renaissance Venice. VENOM does not contain magical time-traveling gondolas, though in retrospect, I kinda wish it did. The bird baked into a pie, though? I have it on good authority that stuff like that actually happened!

Don't forget to pick up your copy of Venom by Fiona Paul today! It's an awesome book!
Venom (Secrets of the Eternal Rose)

Check out these giveaways!
1. International Giveaway of signed copy of If I Lie by Corrine Jackson OR Three swag packs!
IF I LIE giveaway

2. Spooktacular Giveaway Hop- $10 Amazon gift card/$10 towards a book from Book Depository (winner's choice)- INT
Spooktacular Giveaway hop
 

Part II Caragh O'Brien Interview

Welcome back, everyone for the conclusion of this awesome interview with Caragh O'Brien, author of the bestselling Birthmarked trilogy!

Photo credit: © Tomy O’Brien

Author Blurb: Caragh M. O’Brien is the writer of the award-winning Birthmarked trilogy. She has trouble resisting chocolate chips, loves hanging with her family, and sings in a local chorus.  Most days, she’s on her brown couch completely lost in one writing world or another.

1) Gaia is a terrific heroine, but I found myself liking most of the characters. Did any character in particular surprise you? Which one was your favorite to write about and why?

Gaia’s my favorite character, and she frequently surprised me.  I liked writing her because she was learning who she was, and choosing who she could become.  At heart, she was strong.  She could make courageous choices to save others, but she also had to figure out how to survive and how to stay true to herself.  That’s not always simple, and I liked how she made miserable mistakes along the way.  Leon’s a favorite of mine, too.  He’s very uncooperative and difficult to work with.

2) For our aspiring writers, tell us the most important lesson you've learned in writing this trilogy.

Oh, my gosh.  I’ve learned so much.  So many times I wondered what on earth I’d gotten myself into.  It was hard to have faith that early drafts which were so messy and sprawling would ever be any good.  I had to learn to trust that the revision process would reveal things to me as I went along, and it helped to have an editor who asked brilliant questions. The messy process can be very hard to accept when you pressure yourself for answers and perfection right away.  

3) I love how puzzles play a large role in this trilogy. Are solving puzzles a hobby of yours and more generally, how do your personal experiences play a role in your writing?

I enjoy puzzles and the intricate way patterns overlap, from jigsaws to quilting. We played with codes a lot when I was a kid, so those experiences informed the codes in the series. Mostly, though, I don’t consciously draw from personal experiences for scenes or characters. That’s too limiting. I think rather my experiences have formed who I am, and I’m writing from the present, about what matters to me now.

4) Tell us a little about the last book in this trilogy without giving too much away!

I tried to write a train wreck. You know, when you can see horrible things coming and there’s no way to stop them. I was also deeply interested in where Gaia’s relationships with people she loves and people she despises could go in Promised. I loved seeing her in action as an imperfect leader. Does that help?

Thanks, Christina, for inviting me by! It’s lovely to have questions from someone who clearly cares about the novels, and you’ve certainly made me think. All best, Caragh

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Until then, enter these giveaways!
1. International Giveaway of signed copy of If I Lie by Corrine Jackson OR Three swag packs!
IF I LIE giveaway

2. Spooktacular Giveaway Hop- $10 Amazon gift card/$10 towards a book from Book Depository (winner's choice)- INT
Spooktacular Giveaway hop

Part I Caragh O'Brien Interview

Welcome back, everyone! Here's my Monday post a little early as usual. I'm totally thrilled to be able to introduce Caragh O'Brien, who you may already know from her bestselling trilogy, Birthmarked.

Birthmarked was probably one of the first novels I read after the whole Hunger Games hype. I'm so glad I did!

Goodreads description of Birthmarked: In the future, in a world baked dry by the harsh sun, there are those who live inside the walled Enclave and those, like sixteen-year-old Gaia Stone, who live outside. Following in her mother’s footsteps Gaia has become a midwife, delivering babies in the world outside the wall and handing a quota over to be "advanced" into the privileged society of the Enclave. Gaia has always believed this is her duty, until the night her mother and father are arrested by the very people they so loyally serve Now Gaia is forced to question everything she has been taught, but her choice is simple: enter the world of the Enclave to rescue her parents, or die trying.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Amazon review: Birthmarked review

Goodreads description of Prized: Striking out into the wasteland with nothing but her baby sister, a handful of supplies, and a rumor to guide her, sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone survives only to be captured by the people of Sylum, a dystopian society where women rule the men who drastically outnumber them, and a kiss is a crime. In order to see her sister again, Gaia must submit to their strict social code, but how can she deny her sense of justice, her curiosity, and everything in her heart that makes her whole?

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Amazon review: Prized Review

Goodreads description of Promised: After defying the ruthless Enclave, surviving the wasteland, and upending the rigid matriarchy of Sylum, Gaia Stone now faces her biggest challenge ever.  She must lead the people of Sylum back to the Enclave and persuade the Protectorat to grant them refuge from the wasteland.  In Gaia's absence, the Enclave has grown more cruel, more desperate to experiment on mothers from outside the wall, and now the stakes of cooperating or rebelling have never been higher.  Is Gaia ready, as a leader, to sacrifice what--or whom--she loves most?

Photo credit: © Tomy O’Brien

Author Blurb: Caragh M. O’Brien is the writer of the award-winning Birthmarked trilogy. She has trouble resisting chocolate chips, loves hanging with her family, and sings in a local chorus.  Most days, she’s on her brown couch completely lost in one writing world or another.

Author Interview Part I.

1) Having spent a lot of time in the labor and delivery unit during my medical residency, I was fascinated by the back story of Birthmarked. Can you talk a little about how you got this particular idea and your process of brainstorming in general?

I wanted to give Gaia a job that was vitally important, and I knew making her a midwife would put her in dramatic situations. That was central to her character right from the start, though beyond that, I don’t recall how I came up with the idea.  My brainstorming happens while I’m writing, when I’m in a scene with a character and living it through her eyes and mind.  If I get stuck, sometimes I can take a walk and come up with a fresh idea, but normally I depend on what comes to me while I’m writing.

2) Birthmarked and Prized are two very different books and indeed take place in two very different societies. If you could remark on what writing a second book in a trilogy is like and what kind of pitfalls you were hoping to avoid? (I think you quite deftly sidestepped middle book syndrome.)

Thanks!  Writing the second book was super hard, but then, every book is super hard for me.  I didn’t originally plan to write a trilogy when I started, so without an over-arching master plan, I looked at where the first book ended and realized I could go with a journey pattern from that point on, with a return in Book 3.  I really felt each book had to be its own complete story.  Tackling a new society where women were in charge for Prized let me see how Gaia would develop in new ways, and I liked how the second book’s power structure was an inversion of the first book’s, especially in terms of Gaia’s roll.  It was a challenge, but that’s what I like about writing.

Tune in tomorrow for Part II of this awesome interview.

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Until then, enter these giveaways!
1. International Giveaway of signed copy of If I Lie by Corrine Jackson OR Three swag packs!
IF I LIE giveaway

2. Spooktacular Giveaway Hop- $10 Amazon gift card/$10 towards a book from Book Depository (winner's choice)- INT
Spooktacular Giveaway hop

Winner of Incarnate giveaway and Updates

Congrats to Teralee, who is our grand winner of the Incarnate giveaway, and Will and Lucinda who are recipients of a signed bookplate from Jodi Meadows! I think this was one of my most popular giveaways so I thank everyone who entered!

Updates
1. First of all, I am thrilled and humbled by the fact that I have reached 1000 followers in such a short period of time. Thank you all so much for your support!

2. Next giveaway is the Dystopian Giveaway, where I'll spotlight Caragh O'Brien and her Birthmarked Trilogy. Stay tuned-- it starts right after the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop ends.

3. I have added a ton of new interviews/giveaways, so be sure to stop by my giveaway page to stay updated! I'm excited about all of them, but most recently, I was floored by Splintered, a novel by A.G. Howard. She will help me host the very first character interview I'll do on my blog in February as well as a great giveaway of her book. Stay posted!

4. I have just added a new tab this week to my blog of my writing. I've been so honored by the kind feedback I've received so far. I hope you will all take a look.
http://cahreviews.blogspot.com/p/writing.html

I hope you all have a great Sunday!

Writer's Cramp: The Cave

I love people checking out my Writer's Cramp entries, so I'm going to make it a regular part of my blog! Again, I highly recommend for people interested in writing to check out www.writing.com. It's free, you get to meet a lot of people, and it's tons of fun. The Writer's Cramp is a contest held every 24 hours, and you get immediate feedback from the judges. Plus, other people comment as well! Just keep your entry under 1000 words!

PROMPT: Write a story or poem containing the following words and phrases:

whitewater rafting
glue
barbecue grill
a dead tree
lawn chairs

I have never disobeyed the Elders before. But I know they must be hiding something. There are too many inconsistencies, too many whispered conversations.

I make my way through the tunnels, feeling my hands against the cool earth, occasionally stepping over large, decaying roots of a dead tree, wiping grimy fingers on my face to pull back pieces of hair. I try not to remember how Katy, my sister, disappeared. She was the glue that held my family together, the sweet imp that always broke the rules but somehow always avoided punishment. Even the Elders loved her.

I know the cave must be close. I have been trained as a Tracker; I hunt animals that burrow the earth and bring them back to the Den where they are cooked and eaten greedily by the rest of the Clan. These animals are becoming rarer, so when I do find them, it almost starts a war among the community. Even I have trouble sometimes bringing the game back and not keeping it for myself. Before, I had my family and Katy to think about. Not as much now.

I wish I had just followed her that night. She told me that she had found something wonderful, and that she wanted me to come with her. She told me the Elders were lying, and that she was never coming back. I laughed at her, patted her head, and just figured I would find out what kind of mischief she had gotten herself into when I returned from my daily hunt.

There was something different in her eyes that day, and she just shook her head as if she knew I would never believe her. When I got back from the hunt that day, my parents were frantic, the Elders were arguing, and Katy was gone with many supplies from the different houses missing. It wouldn’t matter if we found her; she would likely be sentenced to death for what she had done.

My family fell apart after that and things were never the same. I don’t know when, but at some point, I decided it was time to find her, regardless of the consequences. The Elders had strictly forbade any search parties for her, and said that she was to be designated as a Disowned. Which meant that we all had to act like she had never existed.

I take a left and feel a small opening that is almost hidden by the curvature in the wall. I’m amazed that Katy could have found this place—she could have been a Tracker too. I push my way through, and it widens into a large open space. I feel against the wall to get a better sense of the magnitude, and there is a small rectangular piece that is protruding from the wall. I try to get better dimensions, when it tilts downward and suddenly light floods the room. I gasp. We have fires at the Den, but nothing like this. The whole cave is illuminated and is filled with items that I have never seen before.

Most people in the Clan have never been taught to read or write, but my family was different. My mother served as the librarian for the rare books that came from the surface—mostly containing how-to books foir hunting, gathering, and how to read and write. The Elders taught us over the years that mankind had angered the gods and banished us to live down below.

As I gaze around me, I am starting to realize that they have omitted a lot from their teachings. There are books upon books. One called Skyscrapers, and shows silver, gleaming buildings that reach far into the blueness of the sky. Sky that I have never seen in my 15 years. There is a book on something called whitewater rafting, which shows people in orange vests flying through torrents of water. I immediately feel jealous. We only have deep pools of water—a resource that is heavily guarded by the Elders.

In the corner, I see a red rectangular container sitting on four black legs. I finger the letters on the surface. It reads Freeman’s barbecue grill, and next to it, an odd looking pair of chairs that recline with stripes of different color- white and green (I’ve never seen colors in this bright light before), that read Thigpen Lawn Chairs, Inc. whatever that means.

Then I see a sheaf of paper sitting on top of one of the stack of books. I take a closer look and realize that it’s a letter to me from Katy. I never realized Katy had paid so much attention to lessons with Mama. I can only write a handful of words, but it is clear she knows more than that.

Dear Leah, I’m sorry I left without you, but I knew you wouldn’t believe me until you discovered the truth by yourself. You always did follow the rules. But I hope you find this place, and then find me. I will be waiting for you. Here is a map of where I am going, and you won’t believe the wonders that the Elders have been keeping from us. They have been stealing from us, and it’s time that we take back what is ours. I miss you terribly already and cannot wait to see you again. Katy.

I unfold a map. Wow. She is a talented artist as well. I realize there is a lot I don’t know about my sister. The map is a path to the Surface. My eyes widen in shock. She made it out there. The Elders have taught us from birth there is nothing up there, just devastation. But the books and items in the cave as well as the words from my sister suggest otherwise. I’m glad I took enough water and food to last me a while. I’m going to need it. I head out of the cave, one step closer to my sister.

Would love to hear your feedback!

Enter these great giveaways!
1. International Giveaway of either Incarnate or pre-order of Asunder by Jodi Meadows and a signed bookplate by the author. Two runner ups get signed bookplates by Jodi!
Incarnate Giveaway

2. International Giveaway of signed copy of If I Lie by Corrine Jackson OR Three swag packs!
IF I LIE giveaway

3. Spooktacular Giveaway Hop- $10 Amazon gift card/$10 towards a book from Book Depository (winner's choice)- INT
Spooktacular Giveaway hop

Feature and Follow (17)

 
My first weekend off in a long time, whoohoo! Plus, I just had dinner with Antony John and Fiona Paul, so still riding high from that. Great food and wonderful conversation about YA books!

Feature and Follow Friday is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

Here are the rules to the blog hop!
To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

• (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
• (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers

• Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
• Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say “hi” in your comments and that they are now following you.
• If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn’t have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
• Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don’t just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don’t say “HI”
• If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love…and the followers
• If you’re new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Q: What writing device or trick most irritates you when reading a book? For example, if an author employs an omnipotent narrator that is sometimes considered bad form.

Oh geez, where do I even start! I could just direct you to my Curmudgeon's Corner!

1) POV is really huge for me. I hate multiple points of view for the most part. I maybe can tolerate two different points of view, but there has to be a good reason for having two.

2) Not enough world building (just giving vague suggestions to why there is a dystopian world). Article 5. Nuff Said.

3) Too much world building. We don't want the whole book to be build up just to get to a sequel. Why would we want to read it?

4) An evil character that is evil just to propel the plot. Three dimensional villains are so sexy.

5) Trilogies that exist just to make more money.

OK maybe some of these don't actually count as "writing devices" but you get the point :-)

Enter these great giveaways!
1. International Giveaway of either Incarnate or pre-order of Asunder by Jodi Meadows and a signed bookplate by the author. Two runner ups get signed bookplates by Jodi!
Incarnate Giveaway

2. International Giveaway of signed copy of If I Lie by Corrine Jackson OR Three swag packs!
IF I LIE giveaway

3. Spooktacular Giveaway Hop- $10 Amazon gift card/$10 towards a book from Book Depository (winner's choice)- INT
Spooktacular Giveaway hop

Curmudgeon's Corner: Marketing or False Advertising?

Welcome back Shawn Keenan, the author of both The Intern's Tale and The Buried Covenant. If you haven't read these books, you should. He has graciously agreed to guest post on Curmudgeon's Corner-- something I hope I'll badger him into doing again in the future. Don't forget to stop by his great blog, Errant Author at http://errantauthor.blogspot.com

I’m not really sure what the laws on the books are about false advertising.  As a rule of thumb, I don’t think companies are allowed to make claims that aren’t factually true to induce you to buy a product.  But what about just out-and-out lying?  Politicians do it all the time, and we elect (or buy) them to run our country and spend our tax dollars.  So I guess there’s a fine line.

I watched the movie Five Year Engagement last night staring that guy from the Muppet movie and that British chick from lots of stuff who may have dated Matt Damon at one time.  The movie was good and I recommend it.  This was the movie that ran that commercial so frequently with the little girl pulling the crossbow, shooting the British chick in the leg, and yelling “I’m Katniss”.  We all chuckled, because it was morbidly humorous and wonderfully topical, considering the popularity of The Hunger Games.  I actually preferred the slapstick humor of Muppet guy jumping into a pile of snow and landing on a fire hydrant.  But I digress.

Imagine my surprise when we get to that over-played moment in the movie when the girl pulls the crossbow and yells, “I’m Pocahontas!”  You heard me right, she didn’t say Katniss.  Why?  What was the purpose of changing that?  When did the change happen?  Based on my rudimentary understanding of copyright laws, etc., I don’t think there is an issue with using a fictional character’s name in a movie.  It happens all the time, and we know they ran that commercial ad nausea without a cease and desist order.  So what happened?

My theory is this.  The movie was shot with the Pocahontas scene.  When it came time to promote it, the marketing team said, “Hey, you know what’s hot right now?  Hunger Games!  Let’s have that brat kid yell Katniss in the preview.  We’ll dub it in and sell lots more tickets.”

So, who has two thumbs and feels manipulated?  *Imagine me with my two thumbs pointing at myself.*

I’d like to say I’m furious and will be writing letters to the studio promoting this movie until I receive satisfaction and a return of the $1.29 I spent renting this deceptive movie.  But, in this case, I still loved the movie.  And I didn’t care what the kid said, the point was that Muppet guy had been irresponsible and left the crossbow on the kitchen table.  That was the point of that scene anyway.

‘Wow, this is a long and pointless rant as it relates to books’ you’re rightfully thinking.  But it made me think about how books are marketed, and a big component of that is the covers.  You know, those things you aren’t supposed to judge with but inevitably do.  Two books came to mind.  One that I feel misled me and one that I think took strange artistic liberties that had no connection with the content of the book.

Gone is a novel about middle school kids who are left behind when something happens to all the adults, blah, blah, blah, Lord of the Flies.  The cover showed young adults – high school age for sure.  The novel was about twelve-year-olds, if I remember correctly.  Anyway, big difference in how a story plays out when you are expecting an older, more intense story.  I just felt misled by the cover.  Due to the age of the characters, everything felt less serious and less intense.  I kept flipping back to the cover, thinking, ‘They can’t look like this.  They too young!’

So on to my second example.  The book Fallen has a picture of a girl in a beautiful flowing dress on the cover.  No, this isn’t why I bought it, but after reading the book and being largely disappointed, I looked at the cover again and realized nowhere in the story is the main character dressed anything like that.  It doesn’t fit any scene in the story.  So what was the thinking here?  Obviously, a marketing team and  focus group session run amok!

So when is bending the truth, dimming the lights a little, and twisting the facts a reasonable tactic to promote a story and when is it a betrayal of the sacred trust between storyteller and audience?  I think in the end, you’ll know by how you react to it.  I brushed off the Katniss thing and recommended the movie to others. 

I didn’t buy the sequel to Gone.

What do you think of marketing/false advertising?

Enter these great giveaways!
1. International Giveaway of signed copy of If I Lie by Corrine Jackson OR Three swag packs!
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Waiting On Wednesday (16)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

So I'm cheating a little bit today because I just finished reading an amazing ARC that I can't resist putting in a plug for.

Goodreads Book Description: This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.


My rating: 5 out of 5

My Review: I requested this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Splintered by A.G. Howard joins the ranks in recent YA lit in taking a beloved classic children's tale and bringing it into a more contemporary setting. Many others have failed. Howard does not. Splintered is a darkly inventive, Tim Burtonesque Wonderland adventure that introduces us to a wonderful protagonist, Alyssa, a descendent of Alice Liddell who inspired Carroll to write Alice in Wonderland. A mental illness seems to afflict all the female descendants of Alice, and Alyssa herself starts hearing insects and plants speak, something that her own mother is currently in a mental institution for. Along with her best friend, Jeb, she realizes the world is not what it seems and will travel far and do the unthinkable to save her mother's life.

I don't want to give away any secrets from this novel because it's a marvelous adventure from start to finish. I absolutely adored the protagonist. She is young and malleable, properly so for her age, but she learns and grows as the book progresses. The pacing is very well done as secrets are revealed at the right time and place. Jeb is a wonderful love interest-- a guy that anyone would be lucky to be with. Morpheus, on the other hand, is a great foil and counterpart to Jeb. We can see how he entices Alyssa, but at the same time, frightens her. I love how Howard doesn't slip into the usual mistake of making him two dimensional-- he is very well developed and we can see how he has become what he is, and how he is not beyond redemption. I also want to mention how terrific each detail of Wonderland is-- Howard knows the story well and inserts delightful detail to all of her twisted creations.

Overall, I was extremely impressed by this novel-- a darkly enticing tale that turns Wonderland on its head-- in a way that only respects and amplifies the original. Howard is definitely an author to watch. 

This should be on everyone's to read list. It's fantastic.

Just so you all know, I am going to host an interview with Morpheus, arguably the most fascinating character in the book in February with a kick butt giveaway of the book. Stay posted!

Until then, enter these giveaways!

1. International Giveaway of signed copy of If I Lie by Corrine Jackson OR Three swag packs!
IF I LIE giveaway

2. Spooktacular Giveaway Hop- $10 Amazon gift card/$10 towards a book from Book Depository (winner's choice)- INT
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ARC review of Asunder by Jodi Meadows.

Goodreads Book Description:

DARKSOULS
Ana has always been the only one. Asunder. Apart. But after Templedark, when many residents of Heart were lost forever, some hold Ana responsible for the darksouls–and the newsouls who may be born in their place.

SHADOWS
Many are afraid of Ana’s presence, a constant reminder of unstoppable changes and the unknown. When sylph begin behaving differently toward her and people turn violent, Ana must learn to stand up not only for herself but for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

LOVE
Ana was told that nosouls can’t love. But newsouls? More than anything, she wants to live and love as an equal among the citizens of Heart, but even when Sam professes his deepest feelings, it seems impossible to overcome a lifetime of rejection.

In this second book in the Incarnate trilogy, Ana discovers the truth about reincarnation and will have to find a way to embrace love and make her young life meaningful. Once again, Jodi Meadows explores the extraordinary beauty and shadowed depths of the soul in a story equal parts epic romance and captivating fantasy.

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

My Review:
Wow. WOW. I just finished my ARC of Asunder and boy, was it good. I was lucky enough to receive this copy from HarperCollins.

If you read my blog and my reviews, you may recall that my issue with the first book, Incarnate (though I really did love it), was the pacing. The beginning was too slow, and the end was a jumble, while the middle was absolutely terrific. Asunder has none of those issues. As I predicted, Meadows has only ripened her craft and improved with time.

Asunder by Jodi Meadows continues where Incarnate has left off. Ana, the NewSoul, is still an outsider in Heart. Havoc and destruction have come down on the city, and because of this, soon Ana will not be the only NewSoul. There will be more born. Ana makes it her mission to prevent NewSouls from having the same awful childhood that she had. Along with Sam, the OldSoul who loves her, and a few other close friends, Ana learns more about herself and what she truly believes in.

The pacing was terrific. It starts off strong and ends even stronger. This book definitely does not suffer from middle book syndrome. If you loved Sam in the first book (I did!), you'll love him even more in the second. At first, I was worried he would be portrayed as too perfect, but then he would do something silly, and I would be relieved. I love all the descriptions of music and how this plays such an important role in their relationship. The plot kept me interested the whole way through, and secrets are revealed at the right time and place. We get to see more character development of some side characters, which I enjoyed. And we get to learn more about sylph and the mysteries of the Temple. Now, I'm dying for the finale.

Overall, an amazing followup to Incarnate, a complete novel in its own right, with beautifully written prose and terrific characters. I can't wait to get my hands on the last book.

Update: I have a new section on my blog, labeled "Writing." Here, I am putting up my fun Writer's Cramp entries, and if you comment, you can earn mad entries into my giveaways! The stories are only 1000 words so they are short and sweet! 

Don't forget to enter these great giveaways!

1. International Giveaway of either Incarnate or pre-order of Asunder by Jodi Meadows and a signed bookplate by the author. Two runner ups get signed bookplates by Jodi!
Incarnate Giveaway

2. International Giveaway of signed copy of If I Lie by Corrine Jackson OR Three swag packs!
IF I LIE giveaway

3. Spooktacular Giveaway Hop- $10 Amazon gift card/$10 towards a book from Book Depository (winner's choice)- INT
Spooktacular Giveaway hop

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop

Welcome back, everyone! I'm doing another giveaway hop just in time for Halloween! It's really simple. All you do is enter to win and then move on to the next blog on the linky list. I get more followers and YOU get tons of chances to win. It's a win-win situation! 

I feel bad that I haven't included my international friends in any of these giveaway hops yet. That's going to change! I am going to give away a $10 Amazon gift card/$10 towards a book from Book Depository (winner's choice). I recommend trying a spooky book like Anna Dressed in Blood to spice up your Halloween!

As long as TBD ships to your country, you are eligible for this giveaway!
Which countries does The Book Depository ship to? Click here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to enter this other giveaway!

1. International Giveaway of signed copy of If I Lie by Corrine Jackson OR Three swag packs!
IF I LIE giveaway

 
 

Writer's Cramp: The Exam

Happy Sunday!
It's been a while since I've done a Writer's Cramp post, so I'm doing a reprise. Again, I highly recommend for people interested in writing to check out www.writing.com. It's free, you get to meet a lot of people, and it's tons of fun. The Writer's Cramp is a contest held every 24 hours, and you get immediate feedback from the judges. Plus, other people comment as well! Just keep your entry under 1000 words!

The prompt for this story was the following:
Write a story where a puzzle is the key to the plot.

FYI: I got last place in this contest because the judge didn't understand my medical jargon :-)

I place the corner piece of the puzzle as close to the edge of the table as possible. Sky and part of a cloud. I bite my dry lips as I glance through the rest of the pieces and taste blood. I know I should have remembered to bring chapstick. I twist my dirty blond hair into a tight bun and weave in a hair tie. My scrub bottoms are too big but the tops and bottoms come as a pair. I cinch the waistband tighter.I should be studying for my final exam or updating the signout.

There wasn’t always a final exam for intern year in residency. But the hospital administration realized after the work hour restrictions, we were less prepared, less trained, and less confident as senior residents. So here we are.

Puzzles always help me focus. I suppose this exam is going to be like the standardized exams I’m used to. In that case, I’m screwed. My one strength is that I can always see how small details fit into the bigger picture. Ooh, another corner piece.

Brenda, my senior resident, who oversees everything I do, comes in with a slightly greenish tinge to her face. “Krista, I don’t feel too—“ Her eyes bulge, and she runs to the bathroom connected to our nurses workstation. The sound of retching, then a splash. One of the great things about this floor is that someone always has gastroenteritis. Then we all catch it. I immediately find alcohol foam and start rubbing my hands with it. Julie, the charge nurse, quickly starts cleaning all of the keyboards and desks with disinfectant wipes.

Brenda is phoning in sick to the chief residents. I guess I am going to get a replacement senior tonight. After she hangs up, Brenda looks at me. “Krista, there’s no way I can stick around right now. I’ll just get everyone sick. My replacement is on her way—it’s Joan, and she’s awesome. I haven’t heard of anyone being admitted so do you think you can handle things for half an hour?”

“Sure,” I say. Things are unusually quiet on the floor.

Brenda leaves with well wishes from the rest of the staff. I’ve never been alone on a floor before, but I’ll be a senior resident in a few weeks so I guess I’d better get used to it. I look at all the patient’s vitals on the computer. I almost relax. Maybe I’ll pass this year after all.

My pager goes off. It’s the ER. “I knew it was too good to be true,” I mutter. This general pediatrics floor is notorious for too many admissions.

“Hey sorry, you’re getting an admission,” the ER resident begins. Yeah, I figured.  “We have a 15 year old male with no significant past medical history who presents with two months of fever and 20 pounds of weight loss. He has some really bad ulcers in his mouth. Came in from an outside hospital who thinks he has cancer. I think maybe they are right. But he doesn’t have an elevated white count, and his NP came back positive for paraflu so he can’t go on the Heme/Onc floor.”

I’m flabbergasted. This kid is going to be sent to my floor? He doesn’t even sound that stable. “Are you sure he’s okay for the floor?” I wipe sweaty palms on my scrub pants.

“His vitals have been fine down here,” he says. “Sorry, I know it’s a mess, but we don’t know exactly what’s wrong with him.”

I close my eyes. Sometimes the ER can be so ridiculous. You’d think they could take a history. “Fine,” I say. “Send him up when he’s ready.”

Something doesn’t click with this story.  I sit down again and connect two pieces on the bottom half of the puzzle. So the white count is normal. Doesn’t sound like leukemia. I need to ask the family more questions.

His name is Peter, and he is accompanied by at least four family members, all who look completely freaked out. Guess the ER didn’t do a good job reassuring them. I don a yellow gown and blue gloves and enter the room. He speaks with a hot potato voice, and there are large red lumps swelling on his lower legs. A thought starts in my head, and I run with it. “Peter, have you been having diarrhea?”

He looks surprised. No one has asked him this question before. “Yes,”he says. “Actually, it’s been getting worse over the past month. I think it looked kind of red when I was in the ER earlier.”

He looks at me with scared eyes. Eyes that have a red tinge to the sclera.

It’s like my puzzles. One piece at a time. Fever for 2 months. Twenty pounds of weight loss. Oral ulcers. Uveitis. Chronic diarrhea that is now bloody. Erythema nodosum on his legs. I glance down on my sheet for his blood count. He has an iron deficiency anemia too. I step back and see the whole picture.

“Have you ever heard of Crohn’s disease?” I ask.

From that point on, I gain my momentum. I’m not sure what happened to Joan, but I don’t need her. I call a rapid response on a mottled infant who needs a ventilator, and I get a chest X-ray on a patient that has an increasing oxygen requirement. Peter gets tachycardic from loss of blood, and I order packed red blood cells.

It’s a long night, but I make it through.  I finish updating the signout and pass out on the now sterilized desk.

I feel a tap on my shoulder. It’s Brenda. She doesn’t look sick at all. “Krista, congrats,” she said.

“Huh?” I am dazed.

“Looks like someone finished your puzzle for you.”

I rub bleary eyes and look over at the puzzle. It’s a beach landscape and over the top is written “You Pass.”

Don't forget to enter these great giveaways!

1. International Giveaway of signed copy of If I Lie by Corrine Jackson OR Three swag packs!
IF I LIE giveaway