Tales From Frewyn: Short Stories from the Haanta Series Vol. 1, by Michelle Franklin

From Goodreads: The Haanta Series is the longest, ongoing, online romantic fantasy series. Thousands of readers visit the world of the Two Continents to enjoy the daily short stories featuring all their favorite characters from the Haanta Series novels. In between the business of the books, the commander, Rautu, Otenohi, Unghaahi, Leraa, Kai Linaa and Alasdair enjoy some time together in Diras Castle, but as the stories portray, mischief lies in every corner of the keep where spiders, chocolate pies, petulant giants, and grouchy cooks abound.

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These were some very interesting short stories compiled into a novel shedding light on the Haanta Series.  As I have only yet read the first book in the series (currently 21 total), I did find that, though the stories are interesting and very well written, I didn’t know all the characters within the short stories, which somewhat confused me on occasion.  I know the Commander and the Den Asaan very well, but do not know the other characters because they have not yet been introduced into the series, so while I knew of a few of them, they remained somewhat flat characters because there was little development of them, as there should be in short stories.  While I liked the stories a lot, I think the characters and surroundings will make more sense once I’ve read the second and third books in the series, as the Den Asaan’s brothers and other characters will be revealed in these novels.  If you’ve read the first two/three books in the series, then I highly suggest reading this book of short stories—it’s very well done.  Otherwise, you should read the first few books in the series first.  To read my review of book one, The Commander and the Den Asaan Rautu, click here.  Three stars!

The Commander and the Den Asaan Rautu, by Michelle Franklin (Book I in the Haanta Series)

From Goodreads: The Kingdom of Frewyn is being invaded by the Galleisian infantry and at the forefront of the battle is Boudicca MacDaede, a First Captain in the Frewyn armed forces. Her regiment is charged with defending the borders between the two nations, but when Frewyn’s last line of defense falls, Captain MacDaede enlists the assistance of a Haanta, one of giants from the islands to the far north. Promising to free him from his imprisonment in exchange for his help, she gains his trust long enough for them to win the battle and save the Frewyn border from being breached. The giant’s freedom is granted, but Rautu cannot return home unless he redeems himself in the eyes of his people for his past transgressions. He is offered a place by the captain’s side, and together, they defeat the Galleisian forces and become the saviors of Frewyn.

One year later, King Alasdair Brennin takes the Frewyn throne, Boudicca is made commander, Gallei and Frewyn reach an accord, and Rautu is granted an invitation home. He is eager to return and see his brothers but finds it difficult to leave Frewyn without Boudicca at his side. He has become accustomed to her company and the idea of being made to live without her begins to distress him. Rautu invites the commander to the islands in hopes of finding a way for them to remain together, but when they arrive at the white shores of Sanhedhran, not everything goes as planned: one of the dangerous Haanta magi is freed, Rautu’s three brothers are strangely missing, and the neighboring nation of Thellis leads an attack on the islands.

Together, the commander and the Den Asaan Rautu must find a way to unite their two nations and defend against the Thellisian fleets, but can they do so successfully when outside forces are attempting to keep them apart?

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Franklin has done a phenomenal job creating this alternate world in which giants and humans unite.  I was drawn in by the story and Franklin’s prose, which flows beautifully off the page and into the imagination.  I love fantasy books, and this series (currently 21 books long) has something for everyone!  This novel alone has war, bloodshed, magic, romance… a feast for the book connoisseur (ages 18+). 

I really enjoyed the two main characters, the Commander and Den Asaan, as they embark on their many adventures throughout the novel.  I was pulled into the story from the very beginning as the Commander meets the giant, Den Asaan, and enlists his help in the ongoing war.  Watching the two characters banter back and forth, attempting to hide their feelings for each other, was intriguing and I enjoyed the realness of the characters and their plights.  While Den Asaan is a bit of a male chauvinist, underneath his burley manner he is really quite caring at heart.  His character is a wonderful juxtaposition of the Commander, a strong willed, sarcastic, funny female lead.  Together they help create a well rounded couple that will remain in your mind long after the completion of book one.  Three and a half stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Recently Released: Feast: Harvest of Dreams, by Merrie Destefano

From Goodreads: Madeline MacFadden (“Mad Mac” to fans of her bestselling magical stories) spent blissful childhood summers in Ticonderoga Falls. And this is where she wants to be now that her adult life is falling apart. The dense surrounding forest holds many memories, some joyous, some tantalizingly only half-remembered. And she’s always believed there was something living in these wooded hills.

But Maddie doesn’t remember the dark parts — and knows nothing of the mountain legend that holds the area’s terrified residents captive. She has no recollection of Ash, the strange and magnificent creature who once saved her life as a child, even though it is the destiny of his kind to prey upon humanity. And soon it will be the Harvest. . . the time to feast.

Once again Maddie’s dreams — and her soul — are in grave danger. But magic runs deep during Harvest. Even a spinner of enchanted tales has wondrous powers of her own.

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HarperCollins has been extremely gracious to allow me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release yesterday, and I must say, I’m in LOVE!  This was a beautifully written novel and I was captivated the entire way through.  One of my favorite aspects of the novel is the multiple points of view, which is turn creates very short chapters.  There are many characters within the novel, both good and evil, and having their perspective of events is such a great aide to the story, allowing the reader to see deep inside their souls as events unfold around them.  I also liked that, though Destefano uses multiple points of view, she doesn’t rehash the exact same stories repeatedly.  One chapter may be Maddie’s point of view in terms of coming across a dead body, and the next chapter could be Ash reminiscing about a past harvest.  While there does seem to be some sort of connection between the events of each chapter, the fact that they don’t simply rehash the same event from a new perspective is refreshing.  I really enjoyed the way this novel was written and I was enamored the entire way through. 

I also loved the idea that our dreams are feasted upon by unknown entities—huge winged creatures that harvest our dreams and possess the power to kill us in our sleep if they aren’t careful.  This was really intriguing, especially since most of us cannot remember our dreams upon awaking… I highly suggest everyone read this novel—it will keep you enthralled and in suspense from the very first page.  Four and a half stars!   

Announcing the Winner of the Jason Beymer eBook Giveaway!

The contest for Jason Beymer giveaway has just concluded, and I’m excited to say that our winner has been chosen using Random.org.

 

And the winner is…

 

Heykiddego

 

Book Choice:

 

Nether

 

 

Emails and tweets have been sent out to the winner. If I don’t hear from him/her within 48 hours, I will select a new winner using Random.org. Thanks to everyone who participated, and congratulations to the winner… but don’t despair if you didn’t win this round!

 

Enter to win my other great giveaways:

 

Recently Released Giveaway Goodness ENDS 6/30. Three winners will be chosen.

 

Toonopolis Giveaway: Three winners will be chosen.

 

U.S. ONLY: 1 Winner will be selected for a hardcopy of Zombies Don’t Cry

Releasing Today: Legacy, by Cayla Kluver (Legacy #1)

From Goodreads: The first boy disappeared on the day of his birth, on a night when the pale yellow moon of the nighttime sky turned red and bathed the heavens in the ghastly color of blood, on the same night the Kingdom of Cokyri abruptly ceased its merciless attack.

Across the land of Hytanica, under the shadow of the crimson moon, infant boys continued to vanish. Not until the blood had faded from the sky did the disappearances stop and the bodies of the murdered infants were found outside the gates of the city, a final word from the greatest enemy Hytanica had ever known. For the next sixteen years, peace reigned, but one mystery remained unsolved. The Cokyrians had abducted forty-nine newborns, but returned only forty-eight bodies.

Now, as seventeen-year-old Princess Alera of Hytanica is besieged from all sides by suitors vying for the Throne, a teenage Cokyrian boy, Narian, is encountered within the walls of her Kingdom, a boy who will show Alera a world where women serve a purpose and not just a husband. As Narian helps Alera find her voice, she struggles against an arranged marriage that will shatter the life she has scarcely begun to live. And when Narian’s shocking past is uncovered, and war with Cokyri looms once more, he must fight to defy a fate ordained at his birth.

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Harlequin has been extremely gracious to allow me to read a copy of this novel, via Netgalley, and I must say I was intrigued.  I was pulled into the novel by both the synopsis and the first few pages of the novel, as it begins by talking about the disappearance and murder of 48 infant males.  With a beginning like that, I just had to know what it was all about, and I dove headfirst into the novel.  I did enjoy the novel, but I must state that the ending completely ruined the book for me.  Kluver does a great job maintaining reader interest, and while there are a lot of feminist undertones within the novel, speaking out about the treatment of women, I did thoroughly enjoy it—until a key character disappears from the plot altogether and… things do not end well.  I think that I’m one of those readers who wants to see good befall good characters, and this novel doesn’t deliver that.  Instead, I see more evil befalling the good characters, while the evil ones get their hearts desire, and that, in and of itself, makes me dislike the novel.  Don’t get me wrong, the writing is magnificent and Kluver has a great idea for this series, but the way the story pans out really turns me off.  I’ll probably read the beginning of the next book in the series, just to see if things get better for the good characters, but, unfortunately, it’s not high on my list of things to do.  I wouldn’t be able to stand it if more bad things happened… Three stars. 

Solid by Shelley Workinger

From Goodreads: Teens who discover they were secretly genetically altered before birth are brought together at a classified site where they forge new friendships, find love, develop “super-abilities,” and even unearth a conspiracy.

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This was a fantastic read—I loved every minute of it!  I started reading this novel right before bedtime in order to get a feel for what the novel was about, and I ended up forgoing sleep in order to stay up and finish it.  It was well worth the read, and well worth a sluggish day at the office due to lack of sleep—I couldn’t have put this novel down even if I had wanted to; it was just that good! 

Normally, I don’t give background information about a novel, but as I feel like the synopsis doesn’t do it justice, I think just this once will be okay:  Eighteen years ago a military doctor, greedy for world fame, created chromosomal drugs that he then prescribed to 100 pregnant military wives through prenatal vitamins, unbeknownst to them.  His goal was to alter the G9 chromosome in the unborn children and create a superior race of superhumans, capable of immense strength, invisibility, and even the power to create force fields.  Then, he died, and all knowledge of his experiments died with him… until recently.  Clio, along with 100 other young adults have just been invited to a top-secret camplike facility in NY to study their mutations… and this is where our story begins.

I love superhuman novels, and Solid did not disappoint.  This was a quick, enticing read, and while I was reminded a little of Heroes and X-men, Solid takes on a life of its own and sets itself apart from any other novel I’ve ever read (or movie, or TV show, I’ve ever seen).  I really enjoyed getting to know all the characters and Clio is my absolute favorite—she’s a lot like me, so the connection was instantaneous, save the superhuman powers, I sadly don’t have any of those. 

While I feel like there wasn’t much action in the novel, and the characters didn’t really utilize their powers very often (they’re still figuring them out), Workinger’s beautiful storytelling captivates the reader and everything else becomes obsolete.  Just reading the prose itself will mesmerize the reader, no small feat for an author!  I am extremely excited about the sequel, Settling, which comes out July 4!  I highly recommend reading this novel, and then picking up the sequel!  Five stars!   

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

The Accidental Lover, by T.L. Peters

From Goodreads: Freddy Sevchek is a congenial but rather slow twenty five year old copy room clerk with a penchant for petty larceny who has a crush on a beautiful fifty-something receptionist. When Freddy finally plucks up the courage to ask her out, she reluctantly agrees to see him, but only for one hour. Freddy decides to spend the precious time serenading her on a Stradivarius violin that he has unwittingly stolen but is loathe to return to what he regards as an unhappy fate as a museum exhibit. To keep himself out of jail Freddy negotiates with an unethical violin repairman who offers to disguise the Strad as an inferior instrument, but a series of jealous rivals, one of whom Freddy decides to kill, and a fastidious violin instructor who nonetheless has Freddy’s best interests at heart keep getting in the way of his plans. After he botches the murder Freddy is despondent until a mysterious and sometimes daffy co-worker points him toward his true bliss and helps cook up a scheme to rescue his beloved violin as well.

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This was a fun read.  I enjoyed getting to know Freddy and his accidental lover, Jill (the Stradivarius).  Freddy is a quirky character with some issues, and I thought he was hilarious, especially when it comes to his love for his stolen violin.  While on the outside, this is a quirky novel about Freddy’s love affair with a violin, the novel actually takes a deeper look into the human psyche and how far one will go to hold on to that which we love—inanimate object or not. 

All of the characters in The Accidental Lover were very well written and the many twists and turns within the novel kept my attention as I read.  It is fast paced, and Freddy goes from one crazy incident to the next: stealing a violin, attempted murder, being “mugged,” being hounded by the police… there was never a dull moment and I liked the novel a lot.  Music lovers will especially enjoy this novel!  Check it out and let me know what you think!  Three stars!

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

ARC Review: Sharks and Boys, by Kristen Tracy

From Goodreads: When 15-year-old Enid Calhoun follows her boyfriend Wick to Maryland for a party, fearful that he might be intending to cheat on her, she finds herself sneaking on board a houseboat where Wick and his friends plan to have a wild night. But before the boys discover their stowaway, a hurricane strikes, and the teenagers are carried miles from the shore and shipwrecked. What follows is a harrowing, yet heartwarming, story of survival, as the teens battle hypothermia, dehydration, man-eating sharks–and along the way, confront their own deepest secrets, including their catalytic roles in the disaster.
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Disney-Hyperion has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel prior to its release on June 28^th, 2011.  I found the synopsis of this novel very interesting and was excited to pick it up, especially since I’m deathly afraid of sharks and being shipwrecked is one of my biggest nightmares—a reason I haven’t ever been on a cruise and rarely visit the ocean.

Tracy does a phenomenal job keeping the story afloat (no pun intended) through the dialogue between the eight teens lost at sea.  I will admit that I was filled with trepidation since “lost at sea” novels can be quite boring, balancing the entire story on description, and I am thankful that Tracy didn’t do that in this story.  There was a lot of dialogue and I think that it was quite accurate.  If I was lost at sea on a raft with seven other people, I can see it panning out very similarly.  I’d want to know how many people have been rescued in the past, what we should do to stay alive, how often sharks attack humans, project when we’d be found and, of course, argue.  With eight people in a tightly enclosed space, that arguing is probably going to start sooner rather than later (and I’d probably be a huge proponent of it), and I think Tracy did a great job keeping reader interest.

Now, that being said, I also have to admit that I didn’t necessarily care for any of the characters within the story.  While I did have a sense of foreboding and wished them all well, I never had a deep connection with them in which I really felt there pain, and I think part of the problem is that Enid, the main protagonist, drove me crazy.  Her extreme insecurity was quite obnoxious and, if I were Wick, I would have dumped her too.  I realize that she has a lot going on in her life and her parents’ relationship has a lot to do with her insecurities, but I had a hard time getting past her rash responses to the different situations she finds herself enduring.  It’s almost as if she lacks common sense, and that portion of the novel wasn’t my favorite, which is why, overall, I give this novel three and a half stars.

Into the Shadows, by Karly Kirkpatrick

From Goodreads: Paivi Anderson has it all: friends, a spot on the varsity basketball team, wonderful parents, and quite possibly, her first boyfriend. It was everything a freshman in high school could ask for. Her perfect life begins to crumble when she discovers her name on a list distributed by a power-hungry presidential candidate. How could anyone think of Paivi as an Enemy of the State? Could it be because of her special powers? No one was supposed to know about them, but the mysterious messages in her tater tots say otherwise. In INTO THE SHADOWS, Paivi quickly learns who her friends are and is forced into a reality she didn’t see coming.

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Wow!  And I do mean, WOW!  This was a fabulous novel that sucked me in and made it impossible for me to set down until I’d read every word.  Kirkpatrick is a phenomenal writer and she blew me away with her debut novel Into the Shadows!  I was on pins and needles throughout most of the book, worried about Paivi and her family—the similarities between this novel and the Red Scare were chilling.  Part of the reason I love this novel so much is because it has aspects of our history intermingled within it.  As it’s a YA novel, it helps remind young people about the atrocities our own country, and many others, have committed when scared—such as stripping people of their human rights, arresting them without providence, ruining careers/lives due to paranoia, and forcing people to wear badges identifying themselves as enemies of the state.  This is a very real offence that has happened in many countries, and Kirkpatrick does a phenomenal job showing the reader the errors of our past through this fictitious novel, while also making it very clear that human panic and the mob mentality can easily overtake a nation; it could easily happen again if we aren’t careful. 

What happens to Paivi and her family is atrocious, but so captivating that you will not be able to put the novel down.  Instead of looking at communism or ethnicity, this novel looks at the war on terror, rounding up those believed to be aiding terrorists and blacklisting them as the country runs scared—stripping them of all their human rights, though no evidence if available to convict.  But, in actuality, it seems those blacklisted by fictional Senator Stevens have been declared enemies of the state solely because they have special abilities, such as being able to see the future, like Paivi and her parents, or being able to read minds, like Christian. 

This novel drudged up many feelings for me, in terms of the atrocities of the Holocaust, which started off with Jews being forced to wear badges (like Paivi, her family, and everyone else blacklisted as enemies of the state).  This made me nervous, and angry, as I read, especially since we all know that the Holocaust rapidly became much worse than only having to wear badges.  As the story progresses, Into the Shadows begins to show how much worse it can get, and though it does end abruptly, leaving the reader antsy for more, I can only imagine that the sequel, hopefully releasing late this summer, will go further into its scary similarities of the Holocaust and the Red Scare.  It can only get much, much worse for Paivi and her family before it begins to get better.  I LOVE this story, and cannot wait for the sequel.  I highly suggest picking up this novel!  Five stars!

Guest Post and GIVEAWAY with Rusty Fischer–Author of Zombies Don’t Cry

The Blockbuster Effect: Where Have All Our Choices Gone?

A Guest Post by Rusty Fischer, author of Zombies Don’t Cry

I was staring up at the movie times in front of our local theater the other day and I couldn’t believe how few choices I had. Okay, sure, I already knew I was going to see Kung Fu Panda 2 (yeah, I said it) but, it was only mid-afternoon. What if I wanted to stick around for something a little more “adult” afterward, like a murder mystery, thriller, or drama?

Forget it; even with over 20 movie theaters there were still only eight or nine actual movies to choose from. That’s because of the “Blockbuster Effect”; i.e. every new blockbuster chews up three to four theaters, and even more of it’s in 3-D.  Don’t get me wrong; I’m really looking forward to a few of this summer’s potential blockbusters, but… really? Do they all have to be about superheroes, sequels, robots, or remakes? Where are my choices? Where’s a good murder mystery the wife and I can go enjoy on a casual weeknight before or after dinner? How about something with some actual suspense, intrigue, or, you know, stimulating dialogue (remember that)?

Don’t get me wrong; I’m no art house movie snob and I love big, giant special effects movies as much as the next guy but… I’ve been supporting Hollywood for the last 20 or 30 years of regular, weekly, and loyal attendance. Shouldn’t they throw me a bone every now and again? Okay, so what do blockbusters have to do with bookselling or, for that matter, YA? Well, I kind of feel the same way when I walk into the bookstore these days. I have “x” amount of choices and very, very few of them are what I really want. In YA, you definitely have the same kind of “blockbuster effect” where certain series or tie-ins or commercial authors literally dominate the shelves, crowding out single titles, first-time authors, mainstream fiction, coming of age or pretty much anything/everything else. Again, I love a good YA vampire, zombie, werewolf, or dystopian book/series as much as the next guy, but… lately the YA bookstore shelves are starting to seem more and more like my local movie theater: more screens (books) and fewer choices.

I mention this not because I’m trying to sound like an old man screaming “Get off my lawn” to successful movies and book series, but because I’m genuinely trying – like most YA authors these days, I think – to understand why so many stories of late keep touting the “EBooks outselling print book” headline. I never thought I’d reflect that kind of statistic but I have to say, MOST of the books I’ve bought this year have been EBooks. And most of them are probably books you’ve never heard of before: The Monster’s Daughter. Jump. Origins. Hand Puppet Horror. DFF: Dead Friends Forever.  And they all rock; sincerely, legitimately and objectively rock. I enjoyed them all as much, if not more, than any mainstream paperback I’ve bought at the local bookstore in the last few years, and nearly every new EBook I read leads me to one, two, or three more.

And I’m not doing it because it’s trendy; I’m doing it because buying an EBook reflects my current reading interests and where I’m spending most of my time lately – online. To a one, each of the EBooks listed above has been written by a connection I’ve made in social media, either by a Facebook friend or someone I follow on Twitter or maybe a respected blogger’s review on Goodreads.com.  What’s more, they’re books I wanted to read, when I wanted to read them. They’re also books that should be available at my local bookstore, to say nothing of Wal-Mart and Target, but aren’t. Why? Because they’re not considered “blockbusters”; at least, not yet. I get it; I get that bookselling is a business and that Target can only afford to stock so many books, and that the books they do stock have to be (very) commercially viable. And nothing is more commercially viable than a brand-name author, “brand” or series that everybody already knows. And there’s a place for that; absolutely Stephanie Meyers and R. L. Stine and Rachel Caine have earned their blockbuster status and rightfully so; the books they write are practically guaranteed to satisfy a HUGE segment of the reading public – ME included!

But what if I want to read something other than Vampire Diaries or Hunger Games this weekend? What if I’m in the mood for something new, exciting, and creative by someone I’ve never heard of before? Where can I find that? Not at the summer movies anymore, and increasingly, not at my local bookstore either. And I’m okay with that. I’m okay with seeing something big and bloated and entertaining at the regular movie theater AND renting some creepy foreign movie on Netflix of Pay-per-view. I can appreciate, and enjoy, both; and pay for both. The same way I’m just as happy to pick up the new Morganville Vampires installment at Target or Beastly at Books-A-Million AND download The Monster’s Daughter or Origins to my Kindle for PC; and pay for both. But if movie theaters and bookstores want to keep complaining about why people aren’t coming in droves anymore, stop blaming the customers – or Netflix or Amazon or EBooks – and start looking internally. It’s easier to blame a trend than the steps they might not have taken to actually, you know, respond to that trend. I’m tired of going to the movies in spite of the movies that are offered and buying books in spite of the lack of variety on the shelves.

It’s my money, my time, and I’ll spend it the way I want. If movie theaters and bookstores only want to stock the blockbuster titles, the bestselling authors and the “coolest” genres (according to someone other than myself), good for them. I’ll still wander in while I’m killing time waiting to see another movie that’s only sure to disappoint, but they won’t be first on my list to rush out and shop there. I don’t think EBooks are trending because they’re a fad or we’re all sheep; I think they’re trending because of a much simpler, more basic reason: people want more choices. And yet, increasingly, we are being offered less and less. Every superhero movie that takes up five theaters and leaves less room for a smart, slick, adult thriller is just one more reason for me to stay home and rent something instead. (You know, after I’ve seen said superhero movie, of course!) Likewise, every time I go to the bookstore and find the same old titles on the same old shelves and walk away empty-handed, it’s one more reason for me to go back home and spend my money online instead.

At the end of the day, I think (and this isn’t very scientific, I know) change isn’t about technology or timing or habits or politics; it’s about choices. I go to the movies less and less each year because there are more blockbusters and fewer choices; I go to the bookstore less and less each year for the same reason: more (blockbuster) books and fewer choices.

As an avid moviegoer AND book buyer, I’m not proud of it; but I’m no longer ashamed of it either.

How about you?

Yours in YA,

Rusty Fischer

About the author: Rusty Fischer is the author of Zombies Don’t Cry, out now in print from Medallion Press. He also has a new EBook coming out from Decadent Publishing called Ushers, Inc. Visit his blog, www.zombiesdontblog.blogspot.com, for news, reviews, cover leaks, YA writing and publishing advice, book excerpts and more!

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Thank you Rusty!!! I love this guest post… it’s so true!  

This Giveaway is now CLOSED.

Winner: ANGIE

Zombies Don’t Cry, by Rusty Fischer

From Goodreads: In the sleepy small town of Barracuda Bay, Maddy Swift leads the life of a fairly typical teenager, but while attending a party one night, Maddy is struck by lightning and awakens to realize she has been reanimated and turned into a zombie. While becoming acquainted with her new “lifestyle,” Maddy stumbles upon two unexpected undead chaperones, fellow students Dane and Chloe, who begin to teach her the ways of zombie life, including defending the populace from Zerkers—the bad zombies. Together, on prom night, the three teens must ultimately defend Barracuda Bay High from an all-out zombie Armageddon.

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Wow!  I. Love. This. Book.  You need to drop everything and read it right now!  Fischer is a very talented writer and I loved his zombie explanations!  He’s taken this genre and really made it come alive (no pun intended).  Most zombie books are about killing off zombies, but Fischer has created a novel in which the reader obtains an up front view of what it is like to be a zombie, and this was a very refreshing look at such a popular genre! 

I feel like in movies, and books, we never really get the token “bad guy’s” side of the story; he’s/she’s just an evil character, and traditionally, that’s what zombies have always been: evil.  However, Fischer has created a novel in which not all zombies are bad—there are two types: Zombies (good) and Zerkers (bad).  I loved it!   The fact that zombies have conscious thought is really original, and I enjoyed Maddy’s point of view and her sense of humor throughout the novel.  Although she has to deal with many changes, such as becoming a zombie, finding makeup and a new look to go with her sunken in eyes and sickly looking skin, covering a hole in her head, and avoiding the Zerkers that want to eat her brains, she remains as positive as possible and even jokes about her situation.  I loved Maddy’s outlook on her “new” life, which caused much snorting on my part as I read.  Fischer has a wonderful sense of humor that aides his enticing plotline, and this book was, overall, just a fabulous read!   

I liked all the characters, but especially Maddy and Stamp.  Fischer has created lifelike characters and dialogue, and I enjoyed every minute of it.  I also liked the many twists and turns in the novel; I was really surprised by many of the events happening within the novel, and it’s obvious that Fischer spent a lot of time developing his plotline and characters.  Fischer is a wonderful writer and I’m hoping that there is a sequel to Zombies Don’t Cry in the works!  I highly suggest reading both his novel and short stories; you won’t be disappointed! Four stars!

Releasing Today: Spellbound, by Cara Lynn Shultz

From Goodreads: Life hasn’t been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Conner, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she’s irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can’t stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma’s been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.

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I thought this novel started out a little slow.  I was nervous because I wasn’t interested in what was going on and I began to struggle through it.  Emma is starting over in a new town, phased by a near-death accident.  As she’s been shunned by all her former friends and her self-esteem is lower than most teens her age, I was worried that this novel would turn into a “woe is me” story.  It didn’t.  In fact, it picked up rather quickly and I really got into the story.  Yes, it’s the traditional boy meets girl novel, and yes, I did notice elements within the novel that reminded me of both Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight saga and Lauren Kate’s Fallen series, but overall I think Shultz did a great job with her novel, creating an interesting background legend that held me captive.

Shultz is an amazing writer, and I think her in-depth characterization is great.  As I stated before, in the beginning I wasn’t sure about the novel, or the characters, but Emma and Brendan quickly won me over through their well-rounded dispositions.  I love Emma’s fiery, no holds barrier attitude.  The fact that she can hold her own and becomes exceptionally independent endears her to my heart.  Not only does she take on anyone out to hurt her or her loved ones, but she also comes back for more—in a realistic sense.  She’s not a crazy taekwondo master or even a fighter, but a regular girl willing to go toe to toe with others, even when she knows she’ll lose.  I have a lot of respect for her and her plights throughout the novel.

Brendan is a little dreamy.  I think I sort of have a crush on him.  He’s cute, sweet, strong, sensible… and he, like Emma, doesn’t back down from a fight for his loved ones.  Together they make a wonderful couple and Shultz has created an extremely interesting story that I think all will enjoy.  Four stars.

Harlequin has been extremly gracious to allow me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release today.

Releasing Today: Long Gone, by Alafair Burke

From Goodreads: After a layoff and months of struggling, Alice Humphrey finally lands her dream job managing a new art gallery in Manhattan’s trendy Meatpacking District.  According to Drew Campbell, the well-suited corporate representative who hires her, the gallery is a passion project for its anonymous, wealthy, and eccentric owner. Drew assures Alice that the owner will be hands off, allowing her to run the gallery on her own. Her friends think it sounds too good to be true, but Alice sees a perfect opportunity to make a name for herself beyond the shadow of her famous father, an award-winning and controversial film maker.
Everything is perfect until the morning Alice arrives at work to find the gallery gone, the space stripped bare as if it had never existed and Drew Campbell’s dead body on the floor. Overnight, Alice’s dream job has vanished, and she finds herself at the center of police attention with nothing to prove her innocence. The phone number Drew gave her links back to a disposable phone. The artist whose work she displayed doesn’t seem to exist. And the dead man she claims is Drew has been identified as someone else.  When police discover ties between the gallery and a missing girl, Alice knows she’s been set up. Now she has to prove it in a dangerous search for answers that will entangle her in a dark, high-tech criminal conspiracy and force her to unearth long-hidden secrets involving her own family . . . secrets that could cost Alice her life.

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HarperCollins has been extremely gracious to allow me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release today.  I must say that, overall, I enjoyed the novel, but I did struggle with it a little as well.  I think that, for me, there were just too many characters and the jump between them all made the novel a little difficult for me to follow.  By the end, of course, I was following it pretty well, but the beginning was difficult for me.  If you’re anything like me, I suggest sticking with the novel because, though the beginning may be confusing, Burke does a wonderful job putting together the murder mystery and I was flabbergasted in the end.  I think Burke does a phenomenal job with the suspense in her novel and I never saw the ending coming.  Multiple times I thought I’d pinpointed the murdered who’d set Alice up, but I was wrong time and time again.  I really enjoy the guessing game that suspense novels evoke, and I recommend this novel to those who love a great mystery.  Three stars.

November in Salem: Bargain of Witches, by L.C. Russell

From Goodreads: Abandoned, neglected, and sitting atop Hathorne Hill, Danvers Asylum for the Insane towers above modern-day Danvers, Massachusetts. When November Atwood and her twin cousins, Jeff and wheelchair-bound Hawk, discover a strangely-marked wooden box long-buried in the asylum’s shadows, they unwittingly set in motion events leading to the culmination of a diabolical pact signed more than three hundred years ago-when Danvers was Salem Village and witchcraft was a hanging offense.

The cryptic clues on an old vellum document, along with a curious gold coin found inside the box, prompt the trio to venture into the tunnels beneath the asylum, where Jeff is struck by elf-shot, abducted, and replaced by a changeling.

With the aid of a gnome called Dynnis, the pair embark on a journey through the treacherous tunnels and into the Hill of Hathorne. They encounter Hob, the keeper of the Room of Rings, an enormous portal that carries them back in time to Salem Village, current date 1701. Can November summon the courage to bargain her soul to spare the souls of those hanged for witchcraft in 1692? For she is the only one who holds the key in November in Salem: The Bargain of Witches.

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I am always amazed when authors come up with such intricate, original stories, leaving no stone unturned and answering every possible question a reader could have.  That takes talent, and talent is exactly what Russell showcases in her novel, November in Salem!  I really enjoyed this novel as November and her friends battle against evil throughout this novel, piecing together the past in order to set free the hundreds of souls trapped by the bargain.

While this novel is fictitious, the use of real places and events in history show Russell’s research and the care she put into her novel as she wrote, an aspect that will please any interested in the history of Salem.  Russell’s characterization is also superb as the young tweens begin coming-of-age, and though this novel fits into the YA genre, it easily lends itself to MG and adult—completely appropriate and captivating for all ages.  Russell’s writing is immaculate and her prose draws the reader in from the very beginning. 

The flow of the novel is magnificent, and Russell’s dialogue easily switches between archaic and modern language where appropriate, creating a very real feel to the novel and adding to the intrigue.  Many writers struggle when archaic dialogue is utilized, but Russell gracefully writes her dialogue, maintaining sound transitions between the 1700s and the present, which made reading the novel extremely fun for me. 

Though there is a well-rounded conclusion to the novel, Russell hints at a sequel through many of the events, and I do hope that a sequel is in fact in the works!  Four stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Interview and GIVEAWAY with Jeremy Rodden–Author of Toonopolis: Gemini

I’m extremely excited to have Jeremy Rodden with us today on the blog, answering some of my questions in regards to his debut Toonopolis: Gemini!  So, without further ado:

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Your debut novel, Toonopolis: Gemini, is a completely original, unique piece.  What led you to write this novel?  What were your inspirations, if any?

Two of my favorite authors are Lewis Carroll and CS Lewis.  Both of them were able to create unique fantasy worlds that were linked with the “Real World” and appeal to readers of all ages.  One of my biggest goals in writing a novel was to write something that could share that classification.  I pulled pieces of my world-building from tons of sources: cartoons, comics, movies, books, and video games.  I’m a big geek.

As a former high school English teacher, one of the things I always tried to do with my students was link new material with prior knowledge.  I hope that anyone who reads this book will find a sense of familiarity and connect their own forms of nostalgia to the story that would make them connect to my world in their own way.

The idea of a cartoon world based on human thoughts, in juxtaposition with the human world, was a really ingenious idea!  Was it difficult to create the cartoon world? Is there any particular reason you chose to portray cartoons as your main characters?

I wouldn’t say that it was ‘difficult’ per se.  I have had ideas floating in my head about Toonopolis since I was 18.  I created it originally as an interactive fiction game with some friends.  The game only lasted a few years, but I continued growing and building the world in my head and in my trusty black-and-white copybook whenever I had new ideas.  I also have had some great friends who would ask me questions, “What would happen if…?”  “Does this work in the Tooniverse?” etc.  They helped me question rules just by having to come up with answers to their questions.

I chose cartoons because it is a universe that has no real limitations other than those within one’s imagination.  I really enjoyed the human-cartoon interactions in movies like Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and Cool World but didn’t like that the cartoon worlds existed independent of humans.  Combining these ideas with a concept from The NeverEnding Story (Fantasia being a metaphorical representation of the hopes and dreams of humans) led to the more direct linking of the Tooniverse and the Universe.

Is there a specific character that you identify with in your novel?  Who/Why?

Jimbob the Talking Eggplant is the one that would probably most often be the character to “say what I would say,” so to speak, in any given situation.  Much to the chagrin of friends and family, I am known for snarky one-liners and snappy responses that are sometimes funny/sometimes annoying/sometimes painful.

Are any of your characters or stories based on aspects of your own life (explain)?

In a way.  Some of Gemini’s teen angst and father issues stem from my own.  Having been raised by a single mother, I identify a lot with Gemini’s father abandonment problems that are brought up early in the book.

Is there anything specific you hope readers take away from your novel?

I just hope that they have a few laughs and enjoy themselves.  Unlike The Chronicles of Narnia or His Dark Materials, two wonderful series, Toonopolis Files do not have any underlying agenda or religious allegory to them.  In the vein of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, I wrote this book as entertainment, pure and simple.  Many people try to read into Lewis Carroll’s writings for hidden meanings and other such nonsense, not realizing that the entire point of Alice was simply that: nonsense.

There is a lot of humor in Toonopolis: Gemini that caused me to laugh aloud.  Was writing the humor into the novel difficult, or just something that comes natural for you?

I write what I think is funny.  I would say it comes natural, I suppose, but I don’t want to sound haughty.  I think explaining the humor in the story the way my wife explains it to people is probably best.  When they compliment the humor of Toonopolis to her, she often responds, “Yeah, to you it’s original and funny.  To me, it’s the same stuff I’ve been hearing for twelve years!”  There’s a reason the dedication to the book refers to my wife as “the unfortunate test subject of many bad jokes.”

What’s the writing process like for you?  Do you have a special place that you like to write, or any special rituals that you go through before/during the writing process?

As a stay-at-home dad to two boys (6 and 1), I write when I find time.  Ideally, I like to be in a comfortable place with my boys asleep.  The most important to me is having my writing playlist going while writing.  I can’t write in silence.  My writing playlist consists of mostly instrumental stuff: movie scores, video game soundtracks, instrumental rock, classical, or non-English lyrics.  The only music on my playlist that has lyrics is music to awaken the nostalgia in me that I try to awaken in others (primarily rock music from my teens).

Do you have a playlist in mind for your novels?  If so,what music would you recommend a reader listen to while reading?

Video Game music is one of the best soundtracks.  Heavy on the Mega Man and Final Fantasy, predominantly.  There is one band that I want to tap if I ever decide to have music commissioned specifically for Toonopolis, such as in an animated show or film: The Coconut Monkeyrocket. It’s a single guy who layers music in a kind of a progressive/silly jam style that really captures the essence of Toonopolis.  Martinibomb is another similar type of artist.

How did you decide to become a writer?  Did you always want to write, or did it just happen?

I have wanted to be a writer since grade school.  I was very engrossed with Beverly Cleary as a kid and one of my favorite books was Dear Mr. Hensaw.  It was an epistolary novel about a kid writing to his favorite author.  If I had to pick one book that inspired me to become an author, I’d have to go with that one.

Do you have a favorite author or novel that you recommend your fans read?  What are you reading right now?

Well, I am on Goodreads if anyone wants to compare reading lists.  Right now I am finishing up the latest Artemis Fowl book and also reading a non-fiction book called Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change The World by Jane McGonigal.  I have a lot of reading to catch up on since I spent the last few months editing and publishing Toonopolis: Gemini.  It’s hard to read for enjoyment when in “editor/publisher” mode.  Upcoming books on the shelf: Rick Riordan’s The Lost Hero and the two Kane Chronicles books, a few Neil Gaimain books that have been begging for me to read them, and some independent author works, like Doodling by Jonathan Gould.

How many more novels do you foresee in the Toonopolis series?  What can readers expect as they read this series?

There are two already announced to follow up to Gemini.  Chi Lin should be out in the late fall of this year.  Zephyr will be out, hopefully, early summer of 2012.  These three books will act as a trilogy, tying together one over-arching storyline involving Special Agent Mimic being heavily involved.  Each book has a different main character, but there will be a lot of overlapping with characters and locales that people will, I think, enjoy.  Minor characters in one book will be major characters in another.

What can readers expect?  More of what they got in Gemini. Plenty of laughs (or at least pained groans), silliness, and slapstickiness.  Lots of new sections of Toonopolis.  More exploration into the rules that govern the Tooniverse and how it is linked to beings in the universe-proper.

I also have a number of Toonopolis Shorts that will be short stories about some of the minor characters seen in the three books.  I am planning on releasing them in eBook form as I complete them and compiling them into a collection for print once I have several complete.

The last currently planned series is a new dual-trilogy that will be co-authored by a friend.  This will be a new trilogy that will bring back a lot of characters from the first three books and introduce a world of new ones.  I won’t explain right now what I mean by a dual-trilogy, but it’s a work-in-progress concept that my friend and I are developing that I think will be very cool and unique if we pull it off.

-Jeremy Rodden
Author of the Toonopolis Files: www.toonopolis.com

Facebook Fanpage: www.facebook.com/toonopolisfiles/

On Twitter: @toonopolis

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Thank you Jeremy!!! I really enjoyed having you on the blog today and cannot wait for the next book in the Toonopolis Series!  

This contest is now closed:

Winners:

Harpreet Singh from Books for Teens

Z (A Voracious Reader)

Heysoulsister