a Rafflecopter giveaway
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WOOING THE WITCH QUEEN by Stephanie Burgis – Review
19 hours ago
Monday, 31 March 2014
Fool For Books Giveaway Hop
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Check out all these other blogs taking part for more chances to win, thanks for entering and good luck!
Blog Tour & Giveaway - Daughter of Chaos by Jenn McConnel
 |
| Follow the Tour |
Daughter of Chaos (Red Magic #1) - Jenn McConnel
ISBN -
Publisher - Month9Books
Release date -
Find - Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | IndieBound | Amazon UK
Review
It's been a long time since I read anything involving witches, they haven't been in vogue for a long time - overshadowed by sparkly vampires, werewolves and other assorted creatures - but I'm hoping that Daughter of Chaos, along with several other 'witchy' books being published, will help put them back in the limelight again.
Darlena lives in a world where witchcraft is the norm, her parents are witches and the high school she attends is for witches too. All witches follow a path, White, Green or Black but Darlena is having trouble declaring. Her parents are Green, the boy she may be in love with has declared White and her best friend Rochelle is hurtling towards the Black Path. Things come to a head when Hecate, Queen of witches, shows up in Darlena's house forcing her to choose there and then. Without knowing what she's in for Lena declares Red and her life is never the same again. All of a sudden, goddesses are showing up all over the place - Persephone, Aphrodite and Pele all make appearances, and when they do Lena realizes that Red Magic is Chaos Magic, something she doesn't think she's capable of.
Daughters of Chaos is Lena's journey to accepting the path she has chosen, growing up and her relationship with Justin, the ex-boyfriend, and her parents, neither of whom even want to entertain the idea that Lena is Red. I loved that the setting was present day, not a regular occurrence with witchy tales and I love that McConnel tied in perfectly the Hades & Persephone myth with Lena spending time in the Underworld. All the characters were well written, there wasn't a single weak one amongst them - Rochelle was suitably dark and I really liked her part of the story, I'm still not sure whether I was expecting that particular plot or not. Justin was lovely, only considered an ex at the beginning because he refused to sleep with Darlena, part of his strong feelings as a White witch. I loved how their relationship started to really turn into something real throughout the book and by how accepting he was willing to be of her involvement with Chaos.
Daughters of Chaos involved some of my favorite things - mythology, witches, goddesses, a hint of Shakespeare - and that's what kept me turning the pages. The writing was strong and the world-building was fantastic, the premise of Black, White & Green paths in magic was a new take on the witchy novel (at least for me) and I can't wait to learn more about it all in the sequel which is hopefully not too many months away!
Jen McConnel first began
writing poetry as a child. Since then, her words have appeared in a
variety of magazines and journals, including Sagewoman, PanGaia, and The
Storyteller (where she won the people’s choice 3rd place award for her
poem, “Luna”).
She is also a former reviewer for Voices of Youth Advocates (VOYA), and proud member of SCBWI, NCWN, and SCWW.
A
Michigander by birth, she now lives and writes in the beautiful state
of North Carolina. A graduate of Western Michigan University, she
also holds a MS in Library Science from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. When she isn't crafting worlds of fiction, she
teaches college writing composition and yoga.
Once upon a time, she was a middle school teacher, a librarian, and a bookseller, but those are stories for another time.
- See more at: http://www.jenmcconnel.com/p/about-author.html#sthash.I6FQ1o13.dpufOnce upon a time, she was a middle school teacher, a librarian, and a bookseller, but those are stories for another time.
Jen McConnel first began
writing poetry as a child. Since then, her words have appeared in a
variety of magazines and journals, including Sagewoman, PanGaia, and The
Storyteller (where she won the people’s choice 3rd place award for her
poem, “Luna”).
She is also a former reviewer for Voices of Youth Advocates (VOYA), and proud member of SCBWI, NCWN, and SCWW.
A
Michigander by birth, she now lives and writes in the beautiful state
of North Carolina. A graduate of Western Michigan University, she
also holds a MS in Library Science from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. When she isn't crafting worlds of fiction, she
teaches college writing composition and yoga.
Once upon a time, she was a middle school teacher, a librarian, and a bookseller, but those are stories for another time.
- See more at: http://www.jenmcconnel.com/p/about-author.html#sthash.I6FQ1o13.dpufOnce upon a time, she was a middle school teacher, a librarian, and a bookseller, but those are stories for another time.
Jen McConnel first began writing poetry as a child. Since then, her words have appeared in a variety of magazines and journals, including Sagewoman, PanGaia, and The Storyteller (where she won the people’s choice 3rd place award for her poem, “Luna”).
She is also a former reviewer for Voices of Youth Advocates (VOYA), and a proud member of SCBWI, NCWN, and SCWW.
A Michigander by birth, she now lives and writes in the beautiful state of North Carolina. She’s a graduate of Western Michigan University, and she also earned her MS in Library Science at Clarion University of Pennsylvania. When she isn’t crafting worlds of fiction, she teaches writing composition at a community college. Once upon a time, she was a middle school teacher, a librarian, and a bookseller, but those are stories for another time.
Four (4) winners will receive an ebook copy of Daughter of Chaos by Jen McConnel (INT)
One (1) winner will receive an ebook copy of Daughter of Chaos by Jen McConnel AND a $10 Amazon Gift Card or B&N Gift Card – Winner’s Choice (INT)
Sunday, 30 March 2014
Review - Stolen Songbird by Danielle L Jensen
ISBN - 9781908844958
Publisher - Strange Chemistry
Release date - April 2014
Find - Goodreads/Book Depository
For those who have loved Seraphina and Graceling comes another truly fabulous fantasy...
'For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the ruins of Forsaken Mountain. Time enough for their dark and nefarious magic to fade from human memory and into myth. But a prophesy has been spoken of a union with the power to set the trolls free, and when Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she learns there is far more to the myth of the trolls than she could have imagined.
Cécile has only one thing on her mind after she is brought to Trollus: escape. Only the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time, wait for the perfect opportunity.
But something unexpected happens while she’s waiting – she begins to fall for the enigmatic troll prince to whom she has been bonded and married. She begins to make friends. And she begins to see that she may be the only hope for the half-bloods – part troll, part human creatures who are slaves to the full-blooded trolls. There is a rebellion brewing. And her prince, Tristan, the future king, is its secret leader.
As Cécile becomes involved in the intricate political games of Trollus, she becomes more than a farmer’s daughter. She becomes a princess, the hope of a people, and a witch with magic powerful enough to change Trollus forever.' - Goodreads
It's not often you come across a book that is a little bit different to all the other fantasy books out there but Stolen Songbird is definitely one of them. I can't remember reading a book featuring trolls not only as main characters but as the love interest and as soon as I started reading I was hooked.
Cécile is kidnapped by someone she considered a friend and taken deep under the mountain to Trollus where she learns she is to marry the troll prince, Tristan. Bonded together and married, proven by strange filigree markings on both their hands/wrists, Cécile doesn't stop trying to escape even when it becomes obvious that she is falling for Tristan and being seen as a beacon of hope by the half-blood trolls that make up most of the population of Trollus who treated with nearly as much contempt as the few humans that are in the troll city. When we first meet Cécile you think she's going to be another pretty but empty-headed main character, this turned out to be the exact opposite. Throughout the book Cécile meets every challenge thrown at her with strength, courage and bravado and by putting on a mask - especially when it comes to Tristan who it turns out is doing the very same thing. I love how the relationship between them develops over time, no case of insta-love here, their feelings seem real and deep. Tristan doesn't want to fall in love with Cécile as he is terrified that his father, the troll king, will use this against him whilst his aunt - the Duchesse, seems to be encouraging both of them. They are both fantastic characters, as are most of the supporting characters in Songbird. I particularly liked Vincent & Victoria, twin trolls and firm supporters of Cécile, they bring a some light relief to the story and are amongst Cécile's first friends while she is in Trollus. Another favorite is Marc, from his description he appears to be more like the trolls that we are used to, a very dark character due to the pain of losing his bonded wife (trolls are not meant to survive this),
The two sides of his face, so flawless on their own, were like halves of a fractured sculpture put back together askew.The lack of symmetry was more than unsettling – it was shocking, gruesome even. One eye higher than the other. One ear lower than the other. A mouth marred by a permanently sardonic twist.
The world-building in Stolen Songbird is wonderful, not what you would expect from a debut novel but when the city of Trollus was being described I could see it, every dark corner and every rose in the Glass Gardens, the ferocious underground river & waterfall and the small opening miles above the city where the moonlight comes in during their bonding ceremony. All the usual myths we've heard about trolls are turned on their head too. They aren't ugly, far from it in some cases such as Tristan with his beautiful silver eyes. They aren't stupid, some are sly & calculating, some are out to outsmart anyone who gets in their way but there is a troll who is completely insane, violent and delusional (staying spoiler-free I can't tell you who it is!) And the one myth we probably know best? trolls turn to stone when exposed to sunlight? Definitely not true as Cécile finds out to her humiliation when she thinks she is saving Tristan! She also makes some important discoveries about herself, thanks to a troll librarian called Martin and this brings into play a whole new set of possibilities.
Stolen Songbird has it all really. Love, intrigue, action, secret plots and magic... I couldn't put it down once I started reading it and at over four hundred pages I was left looking a little bleary-eyed after finishing it at 4am in the morning but I would do it all over again. The only thing I didn't like? The ending... I was speechless and actually flicking back pages to make sure I hadn't missed something. I hadn't, it really ends the way it does. I can't believe that we now have what may be quite a wait to find out what happens next to our songbird & troll prince but you can be sure I will be snatching up a copy of the second book as soon as humanly possible. If you like your fantasy with a fresh new twist and wonderful writing then you need to read Stolen Songbird now.
Winner chosen - Christina F!!!
Saturday, 29 March 2014
Book Haul #70
This week has been a great week! Lots of new books but I only bought three! I'm so proud of myself :) It was library week and blog tour week and review copy week all rolled into one so still a few books in but I only bought three... I'll keep repeating that as I can't believe it! Before I get to the books I'd just like to say thanks to the lovely folks at Hodder who, after seeing my WoW post on Wednesday for Smiler's Fair, offered to send me a copy and I have it in my covetous little hands now.
Bought
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| The Armageddon Rag | Fevre Dream | Tuf Voyaging |
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| Once | Rise | Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle | Traitor's Blade |
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| The Never List | Mila 2.0 | The Silvered | Frost Hollow Hall |
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| Adaptation | Essence |
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| Chantress Alchemy | My Last Kiss |
From Hodder
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| Smiler's Fair | Nunslinger |
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| Noah: Ila's Story |
Friday, 28 March 2014
Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Fingers in the Mist - O'Dell Hutchison
Welcome to the Cover Reveal for
Fingers in the Mist by O’Dell Hutchison
presented by Month9Books!
Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!
Sixteen-year-old Caitlyn Foster never believed in the legend of the Redeemers. That was before the trees started to whisper her name. Before a murder of crows attacked the town. Before she and her family came home to find a bloody handprint on their front door, marking one of them as a sacrifice. As Caitlyn’s friends are ripped from their homes, she knows it’s only a matter of time before the Redeemers come for her. Caitlyn has the power to stop the terror, but she’ll have to decide if she’s willing to sacrifice herself to save those she loves.
Fingers in the Mist by O’Dell HutchisonPublisher: Month9Books
O’Dell was born in a small rural town in Idaho. There were no Redeemers living there (that he knows of). After attending college in the Pacific Northwest, he found his way to the Houston area. By day, he is a Business Systems Analyst and at night you can either find him sitting at home, dreaming of random super powers he wishes he had, or directing plays and musicals at various theaters around Houston.
Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!
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| Join Month9Books Friday Reveal Team! |
Thursday, 27 March 2014
An Interview With Marianne de Pierres
I'm so excited about today's post as I have read just about everything by Marianne de Pierres and I jumped at the chance to interview her! Angry Robot are hosting this blog tour to celebrate the launch of Marianne's latest book, Peacemaker, which is released on May 1st! Peacemaker has an amazing cover, courtesy of Joey Hifi and a fantastic plot. Read on to find out a little bit more about Marianne :)
1. What comes first - the story or the characters?
It
varies from project to project, but I would say, more often than not,
it’s the setting. I become enamoured with these exciting, strange places
I’ve created, and then I have to start thinking about the kind of
people who live in them. That was certainly the case with my Glitter Rose themed short story collection, the Night Creatures series and the Parrish Plessis novels. With my Sentients of Orion
space opera, the character came first but it then took a few rewrites
to really understand the protagonist, Mira Fedor, properly.
2. How do you pick your character's names?
Sometimes,
they roll up and introduce themselves, but at other times, I literally
scan lists and lists baby names and surnames on the Internet. Over at Shadowhawk’s
blog, I recently wrote about how I select names of places and objects,
and a little bit about characters at well. Names are SO important.
3. Describe Peacemaker in five words
[a] pacy, magic-realism, crime, pulp Western
4. I'm really glad to hear there will be a sequel to Peacemaker next year, can you tell us anything about it?
 |
| Peacemaker |
The supernatural element is developed more deeply in book 2, as Virgin and Nate learn the true nature and power of the Korax.
Virgin grows through her experiences, and she begins to see Nate through a different lens. I’d describe book 2 as Gods and mayhem.
5. You write both adult and YA fiction, which do you prefer?
I
feel like I need them both in my life. Ideally, I’d like to alternate
writing YA with Adult fic, but things never quite work to your plan in
the publishing industry! Young adult readers are such a passionate,
enthusiastic audience and I love writing for them. Sometimes though, the
story I want to tell turns out to be darker than I’m prepared to go in a
YA novel.
6. What do you like about writing science fiction?
So.
Much. Freedom. For the imagination. I can let my mind go wild as long
as it’s anchored by logic. I get to play the creator of worlds. That’s a
heady drink, in my opinion. Also, I’m a futurist, I think. Everything
about what will come, fascinates me.
7. Do you listen to music whilst writing? Does Peacemaker (or any of your other books) have a soundtrack?
Not any more. I find it hard to concentrate with music on. However, I’m always listening to music in-between writing sessions.
My dad was a huge Marty Robbins fan and I listened to him growing up. The Peacemaker soundtrack became a weird collision of classic western songs like Big Iron and pop beats like Timbr by Pitbull, ft. Kesha, and of course The Wild, Wild West by The Escape Club.
Peacemaker does indeed have a soundtrack which you can find more information about here.
Peacemaker does indeed have a soundtrack which you can find more information about here.
8. Are any of your friends/family recognizable as characters in any of your books?
Well, aspects of them at least. But you know that all fiction … is fiction, or so the disclaimer says!
9. What books are currently on your reading pile?
The Little Brown Handbook (I’m teaching writing at the moment), New York Cult Recipes, The Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison and White Shotgun by Attilio Bolzoni.
10. What's the last book you read?
The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connolly
11. What do you do when you're not writing?
Blog,
read, watch TV series (I could talk about my favourite TV all day and
all night), play sport, coach sport. I find that exercise and sport are
an essential antidote to my writing life. Balance is the key to avoiding
writers block. It’s a tough industry, you have to be resilient to
survive it. If all you do is write, then when the knockbacks come, they
are almost intolerable.
12. What authors inspired you to write?
A.
C Clarke, Octavia Butler, D.H. Lawrence and Carlos Castaneda. But they
are just a few of many. I’ve been influenced by everything from Mills
and Boon romances through to Existentialist writers like de Beauvoir and
Albert Camus. I sometimes think I’m too much of a sponge. Maybe that’s
why genre blending attracts me.
13. You've written science fiction, crime and a picture book. Are there any other genres you'd like to write?
Marianne is an active supporter of genre fiction and has mentored many writers. She lives in Brisbane, Australia, with her husband and three galahs. Marianne writes award-winning crime under the pseudonym Marianne Delacourt. Visit her websites at www.mariannedepierres.com and www.tarasharp.com.au and www.burnbright.com.au
A huge thank you to Marianne for answering my questions and look out for a review of Peacemaker next week!
Wednesday, 26 March 2014
Waiting On Wednesday #69 - Smiler's Fair
This week's choice is -
ISBN - 9781444753684
Publisher - Hodder & Stoughton
Expected release date - July 31st 2014
Find - Goodreads/Book Depository
'Yron the moon god died, but now he's reborn in the false king's son. His human father wanted to kill him, but his mother sacrificed her life to save him. He'll return one day to claim his birthright. He'll change your life.
He'll change everything.
Smiler's Fair: the great moving carnival where any pleasure can be had, if you're willing to pay the price. They say all paths cross at Smiler's Fair. They say it'll change your life. For five people, Smiler's Fair will change everything.
In a land where unimaginable horror lurks in the shadows, where the very sun and moon are at war, five people - Nethmi, the orphaned daughter of a murdered nobleman, who in desperation commits an act that will haunt her forever. Dae Hyo, the skilled warrior, who discovers that a lifetime of bravery cannot make up for a single mistake. Eric, who follows his heart only to find that love exacts a terrible price. Marvan, the master swordsman, who takes more pleasure from killing than he should. And Krish, the humble goatherd, with a destiny he hardly understands and can never accept - will discover just how much Smiler's Fair changes everything.' - Goodreads
I'd like this now please! It has a moving carnival, I'm sold - I love books with menacing carnivals or circuses so can't wait to get my hands on a copy of Smiler's Fair, in fact who do I need to menace to do so? Just kidding...
Tuesday, 25 March 2014
Top Ten Tuesday #46 - My Bookish Bucket List
Top Ten Things On My Bookish Bucket List
This was fun! Some of them will probably never happen but everyone has to have dreams!
Saturday, 22 March 2014
Book Haul #69
I'm definitely getting better at this not buying too many books lark, and the ones I did buy this week? One was an absolute bargain thanks to Gollancz and a special promotion on new kindle releases, the others were books from my wishlist that had mostly been on there a couple of years! And *drum roll please* I got approved for Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge!!!!! But I sadly haven't been able to start it yet as I've been working my way through a huge stack of library books which are all due back at the same time and can't be renewed :(
Bought
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| Hellbent | Wings To The Kingdom | The Sound |
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| The Boy With The Porcelain Blade |
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| Cuckoo Song |
Wednesday, 19 March 2014
Waiting On Wednesday #68 - The Blasted Lands
This week's choice is -
ISBN - 9780857663924 (US) 9780857663917 (UK)
Publisher - Angry Robot
Expected release date - June 24th (US) July 3rd 2014 (UK)
Find - Goodreads/Book Depository
'The Empire of Fellein is in mourning. The Emperor is dead, and the armies of the empire have grown soft. Merros Dulver, their newly-appointed – and somewhat reluctant – commander, has been tasked with preparing them to fight the most savage enemy the world has yet seen.
Meanwhile, a perpetual storm ravages the Blasted Lands, and a new threat is about to arise – the Broken are coming, and with them only Death.' - Goodreads
I read the first book in this series, Seven Forges, last year and loved it! I even said in my review that there absolutely had to be a sequel, and here it is. I can't wait to get my hands on The Blasted Lands as Seven Forges ended with a huge cliffhanger and I have to know what happens next. If you like a good fantasy novel then try Seven Forges soon!
Tuesday, 18 March 2014
Stolen Songbird Blog Tour - An Interview With Danielle L Jensen
Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for the lovely Danielle Jensen, the author of Strange Chemistry's new fantasy title, Stolen Songbird!
For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the ruins of Forsaken Mountain. Time enough for their dark and nefarious magic to fade from human memory and into myth. But a prophesy has been spoken of a union with the power to set the trolls free, and when Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she learns there is far more to the myth of the trolls than she could have imagined.
Cécile has only one thing on her mind after she is brought to Trollus: escape. Only the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time, wait for the perfect opportunity.
But something unexpected happens while she’s waiting – she begins to fall for the enigmatic troll prince to whom she has been bonded and married. She begins to make friends. And she begins to see that she may be the only hope for the half-bloods – part troll, part human creatures who are slaves to the full-blooded trolls. There is a rebellion brewing. And her prince, Tristan, the future king, is its secret leader.
As Cécile becomes involved in the intricate political games of Trollus, she becomes more than a farmer’s daughter. She becomes a princess, the hope of a people, and a witch with magic powerful enough to change Trollus forever.
Hi Danielle, welcome to the Bookish Outsider and thanks for talking about your debut novel, Stolen Songbird!
1. Describe Stolen
Songbird in ten words or less.
Trolls,
witches, curses, magic, intrigue, revolution, adventure, friendship, mystery,
and romance.
2. What inspired you to write Stolen Songbird? And why trolls?
I was
inspired to write Stolen Songbird by
a dream I had about a city buried by rubble. The trolls came into being when I
started thinking about who would populate my city and why, and they sort of
created themselves as I wrote the story.
3. What comes first when you're writing, the story
idea or the character?
Usually,
story idea. In the case of this novel, I was inspired by the setting.
4. How do you pick your character's names?
I’ve
always liked the name Cécile, and I was taking a Arthurian Romance class at
university when I started writing it, so that’s how Tristan got his name. Otherwise, I have some websites with lists of
French names that I use.
5. How did you celebrate when you heard Songbird
was going to be published by Strange Chemistry?
I was in
shock for a few days, but eventually I pulled myself together and went for
dinner with my family. A lot of champagne was consumed.
6. What's the best thing about being a writer?
Wearing
pajamas to work.
7. Stolen Songbird is the first book in the
Malediction trilogy, do you already know how it's all going to end?
Yes, yes
I do *evil laugh*
8. Which character was the easiest to write, and
which character was the hardest?
Marc and
Tristan were the easiest to write. Cécile was the hardest.
9. Any other books in the pipeline? No pun intended
regarding the gas & oil industry!
I love
puns! Especially troll puns!
I’m
pretty busy working on The Malediction
Trilogy, but I do have another fantasy project that is about half finished.
I’m not sure when I’m going to get back to working on it.
10. Do you listen to music whilst writing? Does
Stolen Songbird have a soundtrack?
I listen
to classical music when I write, and I particularly like soundtracks to movies.
Stolen Songbird’s theme song is Lux
Aeterna from the Requiem for a Dream soundtrack.
11. What's your favorite place for writing?
My office
in my house, but I can write anywhere as long as I am alone.
12. What books are currently on your reading pile?
I’m just
about finished A Mad, Wicked Folly,
and after that I’m going to read Defy.
13. What's the last book you read?
The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare, by MG Buehrlen. Everyone should
read it.
14. What authors inspired you to write?
I’d say
my love of fantasy novels stems from reading David Eddings when I was a kid.
That was where it all started.
 |
| Pawn of Prophecy |
15. What's the worst thing you could do in front of
a troll?
Get
caught lying.Well, should I ever meet a troll I shall remember not to lie to him... Thank you so much for answering my questions Danielle, and for reminding me of a beautiful piece of music from one of my favorite films! Ah, Jared Leto... If you should want to watch Requiem for a Dream please remember it is an R rated movie (18 certificate in the UK) because of the intense depiction of drug addiction, graphic sexuality, strong language and some violence. Only watch if you're old enough :) Look out for my review at the end of the week and I'll be giving away one copy of Stolen Songbird, open internationally as it will come via the Book Depository!
Top Ten Tuesday #45 - Books On My Spring TBR List
Top Ten Books On My Spring 2014 TBR List
I saw this topic and thought it would be an easy one. But then I started thinking and I realized I haven't even thought about what I'll be reading in the near future! For me this is unusual as I do like to have a vague idea of what's coming up and what I have to look forward to. I'm sure once I see other people's lists I'll be kicking myself for not thinking of most of the books listed.
 |
| Cuckoo Song | Dreams of Gods & Monsters |
 |
| First Fifteen Lives of Harry North | Dark Days | Feather Bound |
 |
| The King | A Love Like Blood |
 |
| Banished | Half Bad | Red Rising |
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