The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell

Wolf wilders are almost impossible to spot.

A wolf wilder is not like a lion tamer nor a circus ringmaster: wolf wilders can go their whole lives without laying eyes on a sequin. They look, more or less, like ordinary people. 

Published in September 2015 by Bloomsbury Books

Pages - 317

Summary

Feodora and her mother live in the snowbound woods of Russia, in a house full of food and fireplaces. Ten minutes away, in a ruined chapel, lives a pack of wolves. Feodora's mother is a wolf wilder, and Feo is a wolf wilder in training. A wolf wilder is the opposite of an animal tamer: it is a person who teaches tamed animals to fend for themselves, and to fight and to run, and to be wary of humans.

When the murderous hostility of the Russian Army threatens her very existence, Feo is left with no option but to go on the run. What follows is a story of revolution and adventure, about standing up for the things you love and fighting back. And, of course, wolves.

******

Reviewed by Vivienne Dacosta

This book is astoundingly beautiful. From the characters through to the story, not forgetting the magical setting. It's the type of book that you will want to keep and reread on a yearly basis.

From the first chapter, I held my heart in my hands and I couldn't let it go until the very end of the book. Such an emotional journey. No one has made me cry as much as this, since Patrick Ness's Manchee in The Knife of Never Letting Go. 

I really enjoyed the Russian setting. I love reading about other countries and cultures and Rundell really brings it too life. I'd never head of a wolf wilder before and now I find myself wanting to learn more about them.

I loved Feo like she was one of my own. She was strong and feisty. There were elements within her that I could see in myself. Just like Feo, I like the quietness, the space and time alone and I felt Feo's happiness when she was with the animals she loved best. 

But Feo's life isn't happy for long and it felt like life was continually shooting bullets for her to dodge.

The setting for this book is written in such detail, you can almost feel the ice and snow under your fingertips. 

I loved Rundell's writing style. There is a magical quality to her voice. It is brimming with passion and fire as Feo strives to save her mother and her beloved wolves. 

A passionate book that shows you how strong the love of an animal can truly be. Definitely one I will be recommending widely. 

Sun Kissed by Jenny McLachlan

I'm hiding in my bedroom wardrobe with my sister's ex-boyfriend. This might be the worst decision I've ever made in my life. 

Published by Bloomsbury in August 2015

Pages - 312

Summary

Kat can't believe her family are sending her to Sweden for the summer. But without her friends, or even a phone signal, can Kat make it on her own?

In a land of saunas, nudity and summer sun, Kat soon realises she has nowhere to hide. It's time to embrace who she really is, underneath what she's been thinking people want her to be. Especially if she's going to win the heart of mega fit Swede Leo! Can Kat find her inner strength and prove she's got what it takes?

Kat soon finds that when you're surrounded by phosphorescence and wonder it's easy to sparkle. Or maybe that's what happens when you fall in love . Or maybe you only shine when you're true to yourself. 

******

Reviewed by Vivienne Dacosta

Jenny McLachlin is fast becoming one of my favourite writers. This is only the second book in the Ladybirds series that I've read and I already love the characters dearly. I can hear you shouting at me, saying 'Even Pearl???' And yes! Yes! Even Pearl. I'm not sure how Pearl behaves in Love Bomb but in Sun Kissed we really see a different side to her. She shows that when needed she can be a true friend, albeit a little snarky, but she doesn't let Kat down.

In this book, Kat is shipped off to her aunt's house in Sweden after being caught with her sister's boyfriend in her wardrobe, which was a really stonking opening scene. Kat is as miserable as you would expect, especially when she discovers her aunt is taking her further afield to an island with no WIFI!!! I can see the teenagers reading the book and holding their breath at the very thought of that. Definitely every teenager's worst nightmare.

However the island does strange things to Kat. She realises there is more to life than Snapchatting her friends or updating her status. This is all helped by the attention of Leo. Only it seems that Leo has more than one admirer.

The island setting is simply gorgeous. Serene and simplistic, it is definitely a place I would love to visit. The author really brings it to life in her descriptions. 

The characters in the book are awesome. I loved Otto! I thought the banter between Otto and Pearl was hilarious. 

The book is extremely well paced and I was completely absorbed in the story from beginning to end. It even had me humming Abba songs to myself. A brilliant addition to the Ladybirdy series. I can't wait to read Pearl's story Star Struck in Spring next year.

Setting the Scene with Jenny McLachlan

Jenny Mclachlan is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. If you haven't read one of her books, you are seriously missing out. So I am so pleased she agreed to come on the blog today, to talk about the setting for her new book, Sunkissed, which is published today!!

Sunkissed, the third book in my Ladybird series for teens, is set on an idyllic Swedish island called Stråla. Fifteen-year-old Kat is sent there - kicking and screaming - to spend the summer with her auntie Frida. Stråla is based very closely on Grinda, a real and very beautiful island in the Stockholm archipelago. I visited Grinda with my mum and everything Kat hates about the island, I loved: it’s tiny, isolated and uncommercial. As Kat says in a letter to her friend: This island I’m staying on is smaller than Bluewater…also it has 299 fewer shops than Bluewater. Let me make this clear: it has ONE shop. 

Here is a picture of Grinda’s one shop. It sold amazing cinnamon buns, something Kat does appreciate about the island: 

Kat loves three things: her friends, shopping and technology. She is taken away from all these things on Stråla. This is why she writes a letter to her friends, (a letter…what’s that??) I decided to make the island wi-fi and phone-reception free. From a writer’s point of view this is great - instant communication really ruins plotlines - but for Kat it is torture. Luckily for Kat, occasional reception is available on a tiny rock out in the sea. 

When I went on my research trip, I swam out to a rock to see what it felt like to sit alone in the middle of the ocean. Mainly it felt warm and crusty - there was a lot of lichen and bird poo on the rock - but it also made me feel very small in the universe. When this picture was taken I was on my way back and I’m pulling a funny face because an enormous fish had brushed against me. It’s fair to say I freaked out. It may look like I’m about three yards from the shore, but Mum’s camera has a powerful zoom (honest!) 

Luckily, Kat meets other teenagers on the island and they spend a lot of time hanging out at a café sitting around a rock (there are a lot of important rocks in Sunkissed). The café is based on Grinda’s café where the rocks that stick up through the deck are used as impractical tables. When this photo was taken the café was closed, but they had left all the scatter cushions out. How very Swedish. 

In my favourite chapter of Sunkissed, Kat kayaks to a deserted island with a boy called Leo. This chapter was inspired by a visit I made to Sweden in my twenties with my brother and sister. We stayed with a friend, Jakob and he took us out for the day on his boat. We had a picnic on an island and I was absolutely thrilled by the thought that we were the only people there. Jakob swam out to a cliff and leapt off it, and if you look closely at the picture you can see him flying through the air. Teenagers in the UK seem to have very little freedom; parents know where they are every minute of the day and there aren’t many opportunities for climbing cliffs and jumping off them. Kat has the chance to take the plunge and it’s a life-changing moment for her. 

I like giving my narrators hobbies and Kat runs. She runs all over Stråla on soft pine-scented paths through flashes of sunlight. Stråla is essentially Moomin valley without the large-nosed creatures. 

Like Grinda, Stråla is car-free and can only be reached by boat. Here’s a photo I took as I left Grinda. Skin salty from swimming in the sea and nails chipped from scrambling over rocks, I watched the island disappear in a flash of sunlight. It’s a magical place and I can’t wait to share it with my readers in Sunkissed. 

What a gorgeous post. Thank you Jenny! I'm sure everyone will definitely want to read Sunkissed now.

Sunkissed is published by Bloomsbury and available to buy today!!!!

Summary

Kat can't believe her family are sending her to Sweden for the summer. But without her friends, or even a phone signal, can Kat make it on her own?

In a land of saunas, nudity and summer sun, Kat soon realises she has nowhere to hide. It's time to embrace who she really is, underneath what she's been thinking people want her to be. Especially if she's going to win the heart of mega fit Swede Leo! Can Kat find her inner strength and prove she's got what it takes?

Kat soon finds that when you're surrounded by phosphorescence and wonder it's easy to sparkle. Or maybe that's what happens when you fall in love . Or maybe you only shine when you're true to yourself. 

To find out more about Jenny Maclachlan: 

Website / Twitter / Goodreads

The Movie Maker with Lucy Saxon

Today I am pleased to welcome author, Lucy Saxon onto the blog to tell us who she would love to cast as her lead characters in her latest YA novel, The Almost King, published this month with Bloomsbury.

Movies are great. Movies based on books are even better; they allow you to imagine the story in a whole new way, bringing characters to life and allowing for a different level of depth to be explored. 

I spend far more time than I probably should imagining what my books would be like as movies — one of my favourite things to do when I have writers block is to spend hours on the internet trying to find the perfect actors and actresses for my characters. It’s hard — obviously there’s no telling how they’d take to the role in real life — but going on looks and what I’ve seen them in before, a girl can dream, right? I’m not saying these actors would be perfect, but short of plucking the characters directly out of my head and into corporeal existence, they’re pretty close.

Nicholas Hoult is top of my list to play Aleks, my main character in The Almost King. He’s got the right sort of look, and is still about young-looking enough to convincingly play a seventeen year-old! With his older brothers played by Harry Lloyd (Grigori), Colin Morgan (Torell) and Andrew Lee Potts (Maxim), I’m sure the family resemblance could work well enough, and Nicholas Hoult is a truly stellar actor who could easily carry off Aleks’ many adventures.

The pair of risk-taking brothers, Drazan and Zhora, would be played by Ben Barnes and Sebastian Stan respectively. I love both these actors separately, and could imagine them having the same sort of camaraderie together that Drazan and Zhora have. 

As for my leading lady, I would love for Saria to be played by Lily James; her character in Downton Abbey actually reminds me a fair bit of Saria in a lot of ways, and she’s really coming into her own as an actress with Cinderella. 

The role of Luka, my mad mechanic, goes to the one and only Sir Ian McKellen. Because, well, obviously. 

Over at the Compass, I’d have Bodan played by Sean Bean, with Helen McCrory as his wife Ksenia. Sean Bean has the sort of rough charm I imagine from my friendly landlord, and Helen McCrory, like Ksenia, is a woman who is not to be messed with. 

Georgie Henley is my pick for Raina, Aleks’ no-nonsense best friend and pseudo-sister in his new home. Mostly because I’m of the firm opinion that Georgie Henley should be in most things. I think she could do wonders with bringing Raina’s character to the big screen.

I always imagined Jarek, Aleks’ barracks-mate, as Tom Felton. I live a Draco Malfoy Appreciation Lifestyle, and sometimes that creeps into my writing. Just a little bit. 

The villain of the hour goes to Tom Hiddleston, because as we’ve all seen he can play evil superbly. Shulga is cold, cruel and power-hungry; all of which are no problem for Hiddleston. Plus, he can pull off a blond moustache remarkably well.

Last but not least is Kara, who would be portrayed by Naomie Harris. After seeing her as Moneypenny, I’m pretty confident she could have the right sort of attitude for the Captain. 

That’s about where I stopped myself on the casting, in order to actually finish writing the book, but I’d say that’s enough to give any hopeful production company something to think about. My books becoming movies would be an absolute dream come true, though sadly by the time that happens, if it ever does, most of my dream cast will have likely aged out of their roles. Clearly I’ll just have to do the whole thing again in a few year’s time! For productivity’s sake, of course.

The Almost King by Lucy Saxon 

Sequel to Take Back The Skies. Published this week by Bloomsbury Books.

Summary 

In the second book in this sprawling saga, Aleks is the youngest of four brothers, each with his future predictably mapped out. But Aleks wants more than a life in his father’s shop. So when he hears his parents worrying about money, he decides to save them the cost of his keep by running away.

Aleks joins the army—but when that doesn't answer his problems, he breaks the law and deserts. Wanted and alone, he heads north, where he stumbles into love, adventure, and a skyship he might be able to call home . . . if he can evade the soldiers pursuing him.

Prepare for another sweeping adventure by nineteen-year-old Lucy Saxon in a series that seamlessly blends genre elements and a compelling contemporary voice. 

To find out more about Lucy Saxon:

Website / Facebook / Twitter

Hidden Blog Tour

As part of the blog tour for Hidden, author Marianne tells us a little about the sequel. Hidden is published by Bloomsbury Books in March.

What can we expect from book 2?

Drama! Passion! Conflict! Jealousy! Broken promises, stunning revelations, and much, much more!

Oh, you mean a couple of paragraphs, right? This will be hard because I don’t want to give anything away. I suppose I can tell you that things don’t go well for Ebony, or Jordan, or Nathaneal.  Ebony is in conflict. Jordan is hurt and angry. And our angel prince, well, Nathaneal is in big trouble.

Sorry! That’s all I can say right now.

But I have written Book 2 and I’m already working on the editorial revisions. As soon as I have a release date, I will put it up on my Blog - Old Magic Mountain. You can get to my Blog through the News Page on my website. Or:  http://oldmagicmountain.tumblr.com/

I have really enjoyed the Blog Tour. Thanks for checking in.

To find out more about Marianne Curley:

Website:

Facebook

Novel Newsflash - Neil Gaiman Introduces Fortunately, The Milk.

Not one, not two, but three books for the legendary author Neil Gaiman, all coming out in 2013! I can't wait and had to share this information that arrived in my inbox about his children's book, Fortunately, the Milk.

Fortunately, the Milk will be a time-travelling adventure for young readers featuring aliens, dinosaurs, volcano gods and a pint of milk that saves the universe! The book will be illustrated throughout by Chris Riddell, and will be the third Neil Gaiman project that Chris Riddell has worked on. Chris has previously illustrated the tenth anniversary edition of Coraline and The Graveyard Book, for which he was Kate Greenaway Medal shortlisted.

 2013 is set to be the year of Neil Gaiman. In addition to publication of Fortunately, the Milk Bloomsbury Children’s Books will also publish a new picture book Chu’s Day and Unnatural Creatures, a collection of beastly stories chosen, introduced and featuring a short story by Neil. Headline Publishing Group will publish The Ocean at the End of the Lane for adult readers, and Neil is also scripting a new episode of Doctor Who to be screened this year.

 Fortunately, the Milk will be published in hardback in September 2013

The Big Break with Yelena Black

As part of the Dance of Shadows international blog tour, I am really pleased to welcome Yelena Black on to the blog to discuss her debut into the publishing world.

 

 Did you always want to be a writer?

When I was younger, I thought I wanted to be a dancer—and trained for years. In high school I fell in love with literature, and in college I decided that I wanted to be a writer. I received my M.F.A. and then began this incredible journey!

How long did it take you to write your debut novel ‘Dance of Shadows’?

It took a while for the idea to formulate and make sense. I would say the actual writing of the first draft was done in approximately six months, and then I spent another six-eight months revising.

Tell us about your inspiration for writing ‘Dance of Shadows’?

I’ve always loved the beauty of Lincoln Center, and I thought that a story about the world of ballet would be incredibly interesting. Ballerinas are so disciplined, the training is so strict, and I had personal experience to draw from, so it seemed to make sense to me to write about this world. After I completed my M.F.A, I knew that I wanted to write for teens. I decided to combine my literary loves (I’ve always been drawn to “edgier” stories and mysteries) with my performance loves and before I knew it, Dance of Shadows was born.

What was your first reaction when you found out that your book was to be published?    

I jumped up and down, freaked out, and called my parents!

How long did it take for your book to reach publication after the initial agreement? 

Approximately a year and a half.

What was happening to your manuscript during this time?

Lots. Of. Revision. I had a fabulous editor—two actually!—who helped me to make the novel what it is today.

How are you keeping yourself occupied as you waited for publication day?

I will be going on tour around the publication date, and right now I am consumed with revising the sequel. It’s keeping me pretty busy!

How will you celebrate on publication day?

Probably a quiet dinner with some friends and family. Perhaps a nice glass of champagne!

The cover for ‘Dance of Shadows’ is stunning, what was your reaction when you saw it first?

Thank you! It’s pretty unbelievable how beautiful it is. I think my jaw actually dropped on the floor and I had to reach down and pick it back up again. I couldn’t be more pleased with how the cover came out.

Can you tell us anything about the next book you have planned?

Well—it’s currently being revised and I can’t say too much about it. But I can say that the story continues to follow Vanessa on her search for her missing older sister, Margaret, and that the book takes place mainly in London. There is also a large amount of dancing and of romance—two of my favorite things!

Do you write full time now?

Yes! I try to write every day.

Tell us what a typical writing day would be like?

A typical day involves a nice breakfast, a large coffee, and then a bit of re-reading what I wrote the day before. Then I sit down and begin new material. I’ll break for lunch and maybe go to the gym, and write until dinner time. Then I’ll take the night off, relax, and get back to it the next day! If I’m on a tight deadline or really in the “zone,” though, I might write all evening.

What advice would you give to aspiring and unpublished authors?

My advice would be to always write. Never take “No” for answer and keep on believing in yourself. You’ll also need a great support system of friends and family. Oh, and read a lot!

 

To find out more:

www.facebook.com/DanceofShadows

www.twitter.com/TheYelenaBlack

www.yelenablackbooks.com

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZhiZZgkO8o

Extract: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dance-Shadows-Chapters-1-3-ebook/dp/B00APXZI6I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359563370&sr=8-1

Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black

 

Published by Bloomsbury in February 2013

Book kindly sent by publisher for review.

Pages: 389

In the harsh glare of the lights, Chloe's shadow stretched across the stage. Her toes pointed and taut, her arms fluttering like wings, she arched her neck and watched as her own silhouette seemed to move without her...

Goodreads Summary

Dancing with someone is an act of trust. Elegant and intimate; you're close enough to kiss, close enough to feel your partner's heartbeat. But for Vanessa, dance is deadly - and she must be very careful who she trusts . . .
Vanessa Adler attends an elite ballet school - the same one her older sister, Margaret, attended before she disappeared. Vanessa feels she can never live up to her sister's shining reputation. But Vanessa, with her glorious red hair and fair skin, has a kind of power when she dances - she loses herself in the music, breathes different air, and the world around her turns to flames . . .
Soon she attracts the attention of three men: gorgeous Zep, mysterious Justin, and the great, enigmatic choreographer Josef Zhalkovsky. When Josef asks Vanessa to dance the lead in the Firebird, she has little idea of the danger that lies ahead - and the burning forces about to be unleashed .

********

I feel like I ‘m in a minority with this book because I really enjoyed it. From the first few pages I was sucked into the excitement and anticipation at the prospect of studying in New York. Yet as I progressed with the story it was obvious that darkness was enveloping the new students and my stomach began to get squeamish. I could feel myself being drawn into this compelling tale.

I loved the fact it centred on ballet. I haven’t read any other dance orientated books before so that was quite refreshing.  The author obviously knows a lot about ballet, because her descriptions were very detailed and believable.

I loved the paranormal element to it, though I was surprised it didn’t appear earlier in the story. The beginning of the book portrays a contemporary thriller when really it is more paranormal as the story progresses. The author adds lots of unexpected twists and turns to the story which kept me on the edge of my seat. It was quite obvious by the end that another book would be following to finish the story.

Most of the characters were believable. I only struggled with Zep, who I found annoying. The quick change from aloof popular boy to quiet, contemplative new girl’s boyfriend was difficult to believe at times. Out of all my characters Blaine was my favourite. The conversations that occurred between the girls and him were hilarious at times.  I was a bit concerned how quickly friendships were made. Some characters were talking as though they had known each other longer than they really had and the relationship between Zep and Vanessa seemed a little instantaneous. However I did read an ARC copy so these things may have been picked up before the final copy was printed.

On the whole I really enjoyed this book and I was completely gripped by the story. I read the book in two days as I just had to find out what happened!

 

Hysteria by Megan Miranda

 

Pages - 272

Published by Bloomsbury Books in February 2013

Goodreads Summary

Mallory's life is falling apart.
Her boyfriend was stabbed. He bled to death in her kitchen. Mallory was the one who stabbed him. But she can't remember what happened that night. She only remembers the fear...
When Mallory's parents send her away to a boarding school, she thinks she can escape the gossip and the threats. But someone, or something, has followed her. There's the hand that touches her shoulder when she's drifting off to sleep. A voice whispering her name. And everyone knows what happened. So when a pupil is found dead, Mallory's name is on their lips.
Her past can be forgotten but it's never gone. Can Mallory live with that?

********

It is so lovely to see how a writer progresses on their journey from debut to established author. None are more obvious and pleasing that reading Megan Miranda’s second book Hysteria. As much as I enjoyed her first book Fracture, I really feel this is so much stronger both within the writing and the plot. The plot is fast paced and thrilling. Plenty of page turning moments as I became desperate to find out what really happened. The truth is kept extremely well hidden until the final chapters.

This book deals with strong themes of loyalty and friendship. Mallory and Colleen have one of the strongest friendships I have ever seen in a novel and believe me; the author really puts their loyalties to the test. Nothing can break these two up and it was extremely wonderful to read that. High school friendships can be so fragile, just a whiff of a rumour or a hasty spoken word of jealousy and the bond often comes crumbling down, but with these two even murder can’t break them apart. Nor can Mallory’s enforced stay in a boarding school. I bonded with these two immediately, their ‘us against the world’ mentality appealed to me. I found myself sticking my fingers in my ears, not wanting to listen to the rumours that spread concerning the murder of Mallory’s boyfriend. There is a mean streak among many of the secondary characters. Jason has a touch of cruel intentions about him and Krista could give the mean girls a run for their money.  The nasty lengths they all go to in order to get what they want leads to horrific events.

I do like a book that teaches me something new and this one most definitely ticked that box. I learnt more about hysteria and the effects it can have on the body. Memory loss and memory blockages due to extreme stress play a major part in the plot in this book. Mallory has hidden from her thoughts what really happened because it is all too tragic to remember, but you find that memory issues occur throughout the book dealing with different characters who have suffered too.

I was impressed with how the author got around the instant love craze that has besieged the YA market. Within this book, Mallory has known Reid since she was a child. Their parents were close and she had spent time during her childhood with him which made it easier for them to become close quickly.

This is an excellent thriller which reminded me of Michelle Jaffe’s style of writing.  I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to the next thriller from this author. She has obviously found her niche and she creating some spectacular stories to fill it with.

Letterbox Love (16)

Britain at it's best, bringing you it's own version of IMM! All the books that came through my letterbox thanks to publishers and Royal Mail!  Also all the books I have bought this week - as if I didn't have enough. 

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Review Books

The lovely peeps at Piatkus Entice have been teasing me with books this week. Miranda's Mount by Philippa Ashley ( which won best E-book at the Festival of Romance awards this week) and A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas are two of their digital titles which have both been released in November. To find out what other delights Piatkus Entice have, please click here. 

Also from Piatkus, I received Storm's Heart by Thea Harrison, which is the second book in the Dragon Bound series. This will be published on the 27th November. 

Forbidden by Jacqueline Frank - this will be my first Jacqueline Frank book as it is the start of a new spin off book, from her popular Nightwalkers series. Published on the 27th November.

Jane Eyrotica can only be described as Fifty Shades of Grey meets Jane Eyre! Published on the 29th of November.

Rogue Rider by Larissa Ione is the fourth book in the Lord of the Deliverance series. Published on the 20th November. 

Thank you ever so much to Piatkus for such an abundance of books!

How to Fall by Jane Casey is the first YA crime thriller from the best selling author Jane Casey and will be published in January 2013. Thank you Corgi.
Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher has been on my wish list since I first heard about it last year. Annabel brought us My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece, which so far has been nominated for 24 awards. This new book will be published in January 2013. Thank you Orion Children's Books
Hidden by P.C and Kristen Cast is the tenth book in the House of Night series and was published in October. The series is presently having a cover makeover so look out for the new look in stores now. Thank you Atom Books.
Lexiland by Suzi Moore is a heartwarming debut novel about coping with grief and loss. It will be published by Simon and Schuster at the end of January 2013.

Netgalley Review

I received this book to review via Netgalley from Bloomsbury. Hysteria is the second book from Megan Miranda who brought us Fractured last year. This will be published on February 14th. Thank you Bloomsbury.

Books Bought

I had a little splurge this week. Especially for my Kindle...

A Winter Flame by Milly Johnson

Dream Little Dream by Sue Moorcroft - this was published last week by ChocLit and will be my first book by this author.

A 1980's Childhood by Michael R Johnson.

Yours Truly by Kirsty Greenwood. Kirsty is well known as the editor of the lovely blog Novelicious and has worked hard to get this book published. This is a self published book and I look forward to reading it. 

At the moment I am exploring the New Adult genre. I couldn't resist these two books.

Slammed by Colleen Hoover

Easy by Tammara Webber

So these are all the lovely goodies to come into my house this week. Which one shall I read first?

The Assassin and The Underworld by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass 0.3 Novella
Published in May 2012 by Bloomsbury USA.

The cavernous entrance hall of the Assassin's Keep was silent as Celaena Sardothian stalked across the marble floor, a letter clutched between her fingers. No one had greeted her at the towering oak doors save the housekeeper, who'd taken her rain-sodden cloak - and , after getting a look at the wicked grin on Celaena's face, opted not to say anything.


Goodreads Summary
When the King of the Assassins gives Celaena Sardothien a special assignment that will help fight slavery in the kingdom, she jumps at the chance to strike a blow against an evil practice. The misson is a dark and deadly affair which takes Celaena from the rooftops of the city to the bottom of the sewer—and she doesn’t like what she finds there.

********

Firstly I have to admit my  personal act of stupidity here. I downloaded and read this, convinced it was the second prequal novella to Throne of Glass and only realised on writing this review that it was the third. So I have missed one out and I need to go back and read it. However, on reading this I didn't feel like I was missing something as the story gives details of the previous tale.

These little novellas are pure magic! They have worked me up into a frenzy and I can't wait to read Throne of Glass now. I adore the relationship between Sam and Celaena, he really is the calm before her storm. She can be such a head strong, vicious little sniper, who often appears her age, showing her naivety and vulnerability, that you only really begin to love her when Sam thaws her ice cold heart. Sam is utterly gorgeous! 

The uneasy and almost indescribable relationship between Arobynn and Celaena will have you running around in circles. Seriously, Celaena really doesn't know where she stands with him, as he swings up and down the kindness chart in a nano second. She doesn't know whether to worship him or stab him. He really is the most mysterious character I have come across in a long time; a real threatening presence that  often appears soft and lovable.

By the end of this book, you realise just where Celaena is heading and I almost whooped with excitement at the developments.

This series is definitely one I would recommend. I would happily stand in Waterstones giving out copies of these books! Sarah J. Maas is about to put her stamp on the world of YA fantasy.

Burn Mark by Laura Powell

Review by Caroline Hodges

Pages - 416 

Published by Bloomsbury in June 2012

Goodreads Summary

Glory is from a family of witches and lives beyond the law. She is desperate to develop her powers and become a witch herself. Lucas is the son of the Chief Prosecutor for the Inquisition—the witches’ mortal enemy—and his privileged life is very different to the forbidden world that he lives alongside.
And then on the same day, it hits them both. Glory and Lucas develop the Fae—the mark of the witch. In one fell stroke, their lives are inextricably bound together, whether they like it or not . . .

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I was really excited about this book. Covens living in modern day council estates? The medieval inquisition still alive and well and operating as a bona fide government agency? The concept was brilliant, in actuality; the book fails to deliver on it.
I think the main problem with Burn Mark is the number of characters in it that actually have very little importance and just make getting into the book extremely difficult - at the start we are introduced to the wasters of Glory’s coven, Lucas’ school mates and people at parties. Names come and go, you worry you’re going to forget who they are if they crop up later and end up being important.
Ironically, the hero and heroine who do get the adequate attention in terms of character build up ultimately don’t have much input or control over the action at the end of the book. It’s like they’re the coach that take us to the theme park then the main attraction kicks in with a whole load of people we’ve barely met.
Having said that, I did like the book. I didn’t feel the need to read it alongside something else - I generally looked forward to picking it back up at lunchtime or in the evening. It didn’t fall in the ‘can’t put it down’ category but that doesn’t often happen to me so I wasn’t expecting this. I think the saving grace of the book is the hero Lucas. Despite the ‘well to do’ upbringing and slightly snotty attitude, he is also embedded with a fantastic moral fibre right from the start. Even as a child, he knows right from wrong and is against any form of cruelty, against witches or anyone else. He’s a true hero in every sense.
I grudgingly liked Glory by the end of the book, but until about two thirds of the way through I mostly wanted to slap her. But it was kind of refreshing to have a ‘bad-girl’ heroine and small scenes, such as those with her father, give her character more depth of feeling. I think the main disappointment for me was that the connection between the dream Glory experiences every night and the disappearance of her mother was never resolved. Perhaps there will be a follow-up, but the ending could equally point at a stand-alone novel.
The other aspect of the book which sets it apart from others in the genre is the way in which witchcraft is portrayed. The clue is in the name (‘craft’) and Burn Mark returns witchery to its roots. There is no waving of wands and instant action here. Spells take time and materials to complete, and as such, the reader knows that the witches are not guaranteed to win just by virtue of their powers.
I’ve seen a few reviews stating the change in point of view is confusing. I’m wondering if this is because so much YA fiction is written in the first person. I didn’t find the change in perspective hindered the story in any way. It is too complex a tale not to be told from the point of view of multiple main characters and I feel a young adult audience is more than capable of handling this method of storytelling. The novel does however, need a high degree of attention to keep up with, so not one for those looking for a light story they can easily dip in and out of.
All in all, a worthwhile read with some innovative themes and likable characters.

Burn Mark Blog Tour - Laura Powell - The Movie Maker

As part of the Burn Mark blog tour, I am really happy to have Laura Powell on the blog discussing possible actors and actresses for the roles in the book, if it were made into either a film or a TV programme. 

When I pitched the idea for Burn Mark to my agent, I described it as “Spooks meets The Sopranos plus witchcraft”. So in some ways I find it easier to imagine as a TV series than a film. Either way, I’ve got plenty of ideas about who I’d like to put in it!

My hero, Lucas, is quite posh. He comes from a grand family of witch-hunters and at the beginning of the story is really quite pleased with himself. Skander Keynes, who played Edmund in the Chronicles of Narnia films, might be a bit old now, but he’d convey the right mix of arrogance, charm and vulnerability.

A young Billie Piper would be great as my heroine Glory, the trailer-trash witch girl with criminal ambitions.

Lucas’s dad, the formidable Chief Prosecutor for the Inquisition, would have to be Jason Isaacs, partly because I’ve got a crush on him. Plus he’s got the right icy blue stare.

Speaking of cold stares … I’d cast Eddie Redmayne as Lucas’s nemesis, Gideon Hale, a zealous young inquisitor. Eddie’s good-looking but I also think he’s got what it takes to play a convincing psychopath.

And I’d pick Keeley Hawes for Lady Serena Merle, the neurotic high-society beauty who’s also a witch.

Ray Winstone would be a natural choice for the charming yet brutal mob boss Charlie Morgan. I’m not so sure about casting for his son Troy. It’s important that the Tory actor would have good chemistry with whoever played Glory - the character’s intimidating, and you don’t know his motivations, but he needs to be sexy too.

Burn Mark isn’t a traditional fantasy so I’d want a director whose style is gritty and modern. The Inquisition scenes could be filmed somewhere old and grand like the chambers of law in Middle Temple, or possibly an Oxford college, but a lot of the action takes place in run-down East End housing estates.
Finally, I’d demand a cameo role. I just can’t decide what part I’d like to play the most - witch, inquisitor, or gangster’s moll…

Now this is a series I really want to see. Thank you Laura for writing this. I am sure I am not the only one drooling about this series.
Want to see the book trailer???


If that hasn't teased you enough about the book, please click here to read an extract. 
To find out more about Laura Powell:
Twitter: @l_r_powell
Website: http://www.laurapowellauthor.com/