Category Archives: fantasy
Fantasy Five Friday: Interview with Anna Banks
I am super excited to have Anna Banks by the blog today for another Fantasy Five Friday! Welcome Anna!
Anna Banks is the author of Of Poseidon. She lives with her husband and daughter in the Florida Panhandle. You can find her on the web at her website, Goodreads, and Twitter.
Could you give us the one sentence pitch of your book?
A merman prince has to convince a human girl that her gift will save his kingdom—oh, and he’s got to do it without falling for her, since she’s supposed to marry his brother and all…
Since you have a fantasy novel coming out, the next question I obviously have to ask is: If you were a fantastical creature, which would you be?
I bet you expect me to say mermaid, huh? Nope. I’d rather be a sasquatch. Tall, dark, handsome, smelly, hairy, and mysterious. Yep. That’s the life. :)
Do you have a favorite fantasy read?
Why yes, yes I do: FIRE by Kristen Cashore.
Generally speaking, which comes first: the world, the characters, or the plot?
The characters. Who they are, what they know, how they feel, what their habits, their secrets, their hopes are. Then how they’ll react to the plot twists you throw at them. From there, you build your world around them and house them firmly in the center.
They are always coming out with new editions of board games. If your book could be a special edition of any board game, which would you choose?
Oh Em Gee these are fabulous questions! I would say Operation, because it scares the shizzle out of you when it buzzes, and it’d be fun to act like Dr. Milligan and learn about Syrena “parts”.
Thanks for stopping by Anna!
Make sure to like the Fierce Reads facebook page. Anna Banks is going on tour with several other authors, and all the details can be found there! I will be at the stop at Anderson’s in Chicago (so if you are going LET ME KNOW!)
About Of Poseidon:
Emma and her friend Chloe are spending vacation in Florida. When Emma (literally) runs into a hot guy named Galen on the beach, little does she know he’s a prince of the Syrena. Galen and Emma both feel something strange – is it attraction? – and Galen suspects that Emma might well be the girl he’s heard of – a human who can communicate with fish.
What follows is a deadly scene with a shark in which Galen witnesses Emma’s gifts. He must know more about her, and follows her back to New Jersey, and high school, to find out for sure if she’s the key to saving his kingdom. Soon, Emma can’t deny her feelings for him, but can’t explain them, either – and both she and Galen must learn more about where she comes from and what her powers are before they can trust one another and their feelings.
Buy Of Poseidon: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Endure by Carrie Jones Blog Tour
Endure (Need #4)
Carrie Jones
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books
Release Date: May 8, 2012
Pages: 272
Rating: 4.5 stars
It’s all-out war (and no-holds-barred romance) in the climactic conclusion to Carrie Jones’s bestselling series.
Zara is at the center of an impending apocalypse. True, she’s successfully rescued Nick from Valhalla, but it simply isn’t enough. Evil pixies are ravaging Bedford, and they need much more than one great warrior; they need an army. Zara isn’t sure what her role is anymore. She’s not just fighting for her friends; she’s also a pixie queen. And to align her team of pixies with the humans she loves will be one of her greatest battles yet. Especially since she can’t even reconcile her growing feelings for her pixie king . . .
Since the day I finished Entice, I have been dying to know how Carrie Jones would wrap up this series that I have come to love. Endure was nothing like I was expecting and was the perfect ending to the series!
Endure has landed itself the spot of my second favorite book in the series. Need is still my favorite, but Endure comes in a very close second. The stakes are high in Endure and Carrie Jones has pulled out all the stops. The plot was completely unpredictably and I was on the edge of my seat for basically the whole book. The opening pages of Endure had me a bit worried that it would be very angsty but that was not the case at all.
I love how easily Carrie Jones weaves in different mythologies into this series – it is just fascinating to see how they will be incorporated and how things will pan out. Carrie Jones always adds a little extra narrative to the chapter beginnings, and in Endure, it is little news snippets or police reports. I just love those short and sweet start to all the chapters.
One of the awesome things about this series is its focus on great bonds of friendship and that is really highlighted in Endure. Zara has some of the best friends anyone can wish for, and I love all the scenes that are her and her friends sitting around planning.
The characters really just make this series – they all are so great. I just love both Issie and Cassidy- they are both such wonderful characters. Zara has really grown as a character throughout the series, but she makes the most growth through Endure.
Endure by Carrie Jones was a really great read. I was a bit nervous to see how the story would end, especially since Entice was not my favorite book of the series. Everything is tied up, there’s a ton of action, and all the characters I loved from the previous books in the series were back in action.
The Rock of Ivanore by Laurisa White Reyes Book Review
The Rock of Ivanore
Laurisa White Reyes
Publisher: Tanglewood Press
Release Date: May 15, 2012
Pages: 356
Challenges: 2012 Debut Author Challenge, 2012 YA/MG Fantasy Challenge
Rating: 3 stars
The annual Great Quest is about to be announced in Quendel, a task that will determine the future of Marcus and the other boys from the village who are coming of age. The wizard Zyll commands them to find the Rock of Ivanore, but he doesn’t tell them what the Rock is exactly or where it can be found. Marcus must reach deep within himself to develop new powers of magic and find the strength to survive the wild lands and fierce enemies he encounters as he searches for the illusive Rock. If he succeeds, he will live a life of honor; if he fails, he will live a life of menial labor in shame. With more twists and turns than a labyrinth, and a story in which nothing is at it seems, this tale of deception and discovery keeps readers in suspense until the end.
The Rock of Ivanore by Laurisa White Reyes was a cute coming of age fantasy. It had a charming cast of characters and a rather simplistic plot.
The beginning was a bit confusing to me – there were two points of view, but the way the other was integrated was a bit confusing. I didn’t feel like the voices were different enough, and it was very jarring because I was confused as to who this other random person was. The story did come together, and then the story made a lot more sense.
The plot is a ton of fun – the happy go lucky, questish type. There were a lot of instances where I felt things were too simple. Everything seemed to simply fall into the characters paths, and given the nature of their quest, that seemed a bit unrealistic. I did like how there was an element of mystery that followed the entire plot – you weren’t ever completely sure where the plot would take you next.
The characters were a ton of fun. Xerxes was a hoot. I loved his snarky comments he threw in everywhere they went. Jayson was another favorite character of mine – I loved that you never could quite figure him out. I really liked Bryn’s transformation of character throughout the book. A lot of the more minor characters are what made the book for me, like Vos was in such a small part of the book but he was awesome!
Fans of middle grade fantasy will definitely enjoy this one. I had a little trouble getting into it, but once I did the pages just flew by. I wasn’t completely content with the plot, but for me, the characters forgave that.
The Ash-Born Boy by Victoria Schwab
It’s May 15th!
Not only does THE NEAR WITCH by Victoria Schwab come out in paperback TODAY, but, to celebrate its release, “The Ash-Born Boy” is finally up over at Disney*Hyperion’s website!
So, what IS “The Ash-Born Boy”?
It’s a free story Victoria wrote as a thank-you to her fans, and she wrote it to answer ONE question: “Who was Cole before he came to Near?”
Now, if you’ve already read THE NEAR WITCH, “The Ash-Born Boy” is guaranteed to change the way you see Cole.
And if you haven’t read THE NEAR WITCH yet, don’t worry, “The Ash-Born Boy” won’t spoil anything!
So basically, either way, you should go read Cole’s story ;)
And if you want to wait and read THE NEAR WITCH first, don’t worry! Cole’s story will stay up on Disney*Hyperion’s website, and if it ever comes down, Victoria will carve out a space for it on her own site. It will always be available somewhere, and it will always be free.
And!
Cole’s story isn’t the only goodie to go along with the paperback release. In the back of the paperback itself, you’ll find the first chapter of Victoria’s new book, THE ARCHIVED, which doesn’t come out until January.
So what are you waiting for – go check it out :)
And if you haven’t already read The Near Witch, feel free to check out my review.
Buy The Near Witch: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
My thoughts on The Ash-Born Boy by Victoria Schwab:
With a story just as haunting as The Near Witch, Victoria Schwab delivered another winner with The Ash-Born Boy. Her lyrical, beautiful prose is once again present in this one. As I finished the last pages of this one, I had this overwhelming urge to go read The Near Witch again, to discover the magic of The Near Witch! I just loved hearing more about Cole and his past, as he was such a wonderfully complex character in The Near Witch. The story was chilling and haunting and invoked so many emotions. A must read for those who are a fan of The Near Witch, and a good read for everyone!
Fantasy Five Friday: Author Interview with Laurisa White Reyes
I am very excited to have Laurisa White Reyes here by The Book Cellar for another Fantasy Five Friday :)
Laurisa White Reyes has been writing since the age of 5 when she wrote her first poem on scrap of poster board. After earning a degree in English at· California State University at Northridge, she spent thirteen years writing for various magazines and newspapers, working as a book editor, and teaching creative writing. She gave up all that six years ago to follow her lifelong dream of writing novels. Her first book, The Rock of Ivanore, will be released in May 2012. You can find her on the web at her website and blog.
Here’s a bit about the book:
The annual Great Quest is about to be announced in Quendel, a task that will determine the future of Marcus and the other boys from the village who are coming of age. The wizard Zyll commands them to find the Rock of Ivanore, but he doesn’t tell them what the Rock is exactly or where it can be found. Marcus must reach deep within himself to develop new powers of magic and find the strength to survive the wild lands and fierce enemies he encounters as he searches for the illusive Rock. If he succeeds, he will live a life of honor; if he fails, he will live a life of menial labor in shame. With more twists and turns than a labyrinth, and a story in which nothing is as it seems, this tale of deception and discovery keeps readers in suspense until the end.
Could you give us the one sentence pitch of your book?
When Marcus is sent on a quest to find the illusive Rock of Ivanore, he must reach deep within himself to develop new powers of magic and find the strength to survive the dangers and secrets he encounters.
Since you have a fantasy novel coming out, the next question I obviously have to ask is: If you were a fantastical creature, which would you be?
I would be a Hobbit, which is ironic since I mention The Hobbit in the next question. I am a peaceful creature who enjoys quiet activities such as reading, digital scrapbooking and sleeping. Unlike Bilbo Baggins, however, I’m not much of an adventurer. I prefer to stay home where it’s safe and warm.
Do you have a favorite fantasy read?
I read The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein when I was twelve and the story has stuck with me ever since. But I am also a HUGE Harry Potter 
fan. HP is simply brilliant.
Generally speaking, which comes first: the world, the characters, or the plot?
The Rock of Ivanore began with a character—Marcus, an enchanter’s apprentice who bungles his magic spells. What started off as a series of bedtime stories for my son eventually grew into a book. But with most of my other writing projects, the plot has always come first. I prefer to work out the plot from beginning to end before adding in the other elements.
They are always coming out with new editions of board games. If your book could be a special edition of any board game, which would you choose?
My favorite board game hands down is RISK. And I happen to have a Lord of the Rings version, which I treasure (but I can’t get anyone to play it with me.) I would love to see a Rock of Ivanore version of RISK where the goal is to conquer all of Hestoria.
Thanks so much for stopping by Laurisa!
Buy The Rock of Ivanore: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Underworld by Meg Cabot Book Review
Underworld (Abandon #2)
Meg Cabot
Publisher: Point
Release Date: May 8, 2012
Pages: 336
Challenges: 2012 YA/MG Fantasy Challenge
Rating: 5 stars
Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.
Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera isn’t dead.
Not this time.
But she is being held against her will in the dim, twilit world between heaven and hell, where the spirits of the deceased wait before embarking upon their final journey.
Her captor, John Hayden, claims it’s for her own safety. Because not all the departed are dear. Some are so unhappy with where they ended up after leaving the Underworld, they’ve come back as Furies, intent on vengeance…on the one who sent them there and on the one whom he loves.
But while Pierce might be safe from the Furies in the Underworld, far worse dangers could be lurking for her there…and they might have more to do with its ruler than with his enemies.
And unless Pierce is careful, this time there’ll be no escape.
After reading Abandon, I simply could not wait to read Underworld. I am happy to share that Underworld was basically everything I was looking for in a sequel. It was enticing, quick paced, and one heck of a read. I cannot wait for Awaken, book 3, after the awesome that was Underworld.
Quite literally, by about page 3 I was completely sucked in and didn’t put Underworld down until I had finished. Meg Cabot has taken the myth of Persephone and Hades and modernized and changed it, which makes this series so much fun to read. Everything is new and exciting, since I never know what changes Meg Cabot is going to have made. The plot is always intense, and the scenes between Pierce and John are just adorable. I love the banter between them.
I love John. He is such a complex character and has such charm – I can’t help but to love him. Readers learn so much more about his character and background in Underworld, which was neat. Pierce really grows as a character in Underworld, which made me like her even more. She is just such a great main character. In Underworld, a lot of new characters are introduced, and I really loved them all. They all brought something different to the story.
The ending was an absolute killer! The wait for Awaken is going to be intense indeed. The way Meg Cabot has built the story, Awaken is going to just blow the tops off of both Abandon and Underworld, which I am super excited about. Is it next year yet?
This series is one of my favorites. I just love how Meg Cabot has really made the myth her own and went with it. It is so wonderful, and I could just reread it over and over. Underworld by Meg Cabot is a book you will be sad to have missed.
And Underworld‘s cover is just as gorgeous as Abandon‘s – these are some of my all time favorite covers!
Giveaway: Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
Earlier this week I had the chance to go to Kristin Cashore’s signing here in Boston, and I was thrilled. I love Kristin Cashore’s writing and her books are just brilliant. I am a bit of a Kristin Cashore fangirl. I have a Kristin Cashore/Maria V Snyder shelf on my fantasy bookshelf, since I love their books so much. I didn’t bring all of my copies, but I did bring 7 then bought 2 Bitterblues.
Kristin Cashore did a little presentation about Bitterblue and her writing process. I found it interesting that the first draft Bitterblue was originally something like 776 pages long. A lot of editing and such happened since then obviously, but it was just interesting. Then I asked a question, which I never do, but I just had to ask what she was writing next and if she would write anymore fantasy. She said she doesn’t want to only write fantasy, and she’s working on a contemporary, but said she would like to write more fantasy and didn’t specify beyond that. I can hope that she comes back to fantasy soon :)
Now, because I’m such a huge fan, I picked up an extra signed hardcover of Bitterblue for one of you lovelies because I just adored it :) I’m sorry but this one will be US only, I’m kind of broke lately. Ends May 20. And feel free to check out my review of Bitterblue which went up earlier this week.
About Bitterblue: Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck’s reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle—disguised and alone—to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past.
Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck’s reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn’t yet identified, holds a key to her heart.
(If you join YA Books Central you should add me as a friend, my username is Erica. It’s a totally awesome site to get your blog out there!)
2012 YA/MG Fantasy Challenge: May
The prize pack below is open to participants of the 2012 YA/MG Fantasy Reading Challenge only (make sure to sign up on that page or else you are not eligible to enter in the monthly giveaways). Link to your fantasy reviews that were posted in May below – each one will gain you an entry in this month’s prize pack! Please post your reviews in the format of Title by Author (Blog Name), and make sure to use a direct link, not simply a link to your blog.
*Note* If you are NOT a member of the YA/MG Fantasy Challenge PLEASE DO NOT POST YOUR REVIEWS BELOW. Especially if they are not even fantasy reviews. You will not be picked to win. Every month lately people are posting paranormal reviews, dystopian reviews, etc.
April’s winner is Alyssa from Books Take You Places! Email me your mailing info and I will get that you after finals :)
May’s Prize Pack includes:
Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood ARC
Abandon by Meg Cabot PB
Clockwork Prince Chapter Sampler
Bookmarks:
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs
Breath of Angel by Karyn Henley
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Sirenz by Charlotte Bennardo and Natalie Zaman
Fins Are Forever by Tera Lynn Childs
( Submissions will close in 11d 9h 54m )
Link tool by Inlinkz
Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore Book Review
Bitterblue
Kristin Cashore
Publisher: Dial
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Pages: 576
Rating: 5 stars
Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck’s reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle—disguised and alone—to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past. Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck’s reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn’t yet identified, holds a key to her heart.
I liked Graceling a lot, but didn’t love it. I loved Fire and thought it was amazing. Neither of these prepared me for the absolutely mindblowing book Kristin Cashore delivered with Bitterblue. This book stole my heart on page one and even after I turned the last page, it didn’t let go. Everything Cashore builds in this novel was so intricately done. I sat there in awe after I finished the book, and it lingered on my mind for many days to come. This is her best book to date.
The writing in Bitterblue is absolutely gorgeous. That has always been one of my favorite things about her books – her beautiful prose and her detailed world. The world that was established in Graceling has been built upon, and I just loved it. It’s a world that I could happily read book after book in, and never tire of it. The concept of it Graces just fascinates me.
Bitterblue was a character that I liked in Graceling, and I loved seeing how she’d changed since we last saw her. Bitterblue was strong, had spunk, and an curiosity that couldn’t be smothered. I loved the other characters met in Graceling who make appearances in Bitterblue have really grown as well. My biggest issue with Graceling was some characteristics about Katsa, but by this point in the story, she has matured and moved on. Kristin Cashore always has an amazing boy in her books, and while I don’t know if Saf has quite lived up to my love for Brigan and Po, he comes pretty darn close. Saf was such a complex character and he was not going to let anyone tell him what to do.
Bitterblue weaves a tale that was so complicated and intense. There was this constant sense of intrigue as I was reading. The plot was ever-building, and the different storylines of the book began to intersect. I never knew what Kristin Cashore was going to throw at readers next. Yet, there were also so many moments when I had to step back and just admire the little things going on, like the compassion between characters. The relationships between the characters are all so deep and learning all their back was one of the best parts of the book. The ending was phenomenal – the thought had crossed my mind at several points throughout the book, but I was not sure what Cashore would do about that event. I loved how she tied up the story, it was perfect: full of hope.
I did not want this book to end. Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore was simply a masterpiece, and was everything I had hoped for and more in the years of waiting since Fire. Kristin Cashore is simply a master of fantasy, and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.
Novella Mini Reviews: Tortured and Fallen From Grace
Tortured (Birthmarked #1.5) by Caragh M O’Brien
Rating: 5 stars
“But what about Leon?” Now, in this new story that bridges the gap between Birthmarked and Prized, Caragh M. O’Brien answers her readers’ most common question with a tale of suffering and determination from Leon’s perspective. Be warned. The story is a spoiler for the first book in the award-winning trilogy. This promotional e-book includes this exclusive bridge story, as well as a teaser chapter for Prized, book two in the Birthmarked trilogy, available wherever e-books are sold November 2011.
I really loved this one. Since I first read Birthmarked, I just loved Leon and still think he is one of the greatest YA boys. Tortured by Caragh M. O’brien was such a treat, as it was a look into what happened to Leon and answered a lot of questions I had after reading Prized. It’s the tide over between Birthmarked and Prized, and just so much fun to read. If you are a fan of these books, you have to read this one! This series is one of the best dystopians out there, which I don’t say lightly, as I’m not a huge dystopian fan.
Fallen From Grace (Dark Mirror #0.5) by MJ Putney
Rating: 4.5 stars
Fallen From Grace A Bonus Dark Mirror Short Story
Allarde, a gorgeous, wealthy noble has hidden his true nature. Discover his diary and witness his sudden fall from grace.
What a fun look in Allarde’s mind! He is one of my favorite characters of the series and I just loved getting into his head and finding out a little more about him and his past. The pages breezed past til I was done reading all too soon.
(If you want to read both of these novellas, they are free. I linked to Amazon in case you are interested)
