Nightspell Tour: Leah Cypess Interview

This is Stop #7 on Ms. Cypess's currently ongoing Nightspell tour, Stop #7. Please check your overhead luggage rack for any personal belongings before exiting the train.*

I was lucky enough to score an interview with Ms. Cypess, and I hope you will enjoy the following lines and lines of text you undoubtedly see under this short paragraph. Remember: comment on this post to be entered for a set of signed Mistwood and Nightspell bookmarks (US only). Also, don't forget to visit all the other stops on this tour (see HERE) and check out the details on entering the random drawing for an annotated edition of Mistwood.

So, without further ado...

What made you decide to write Nightspell as a companion novel to Mistwood instead of a sequel?
LC: Nightspell was originally intended as a completely different novel that happened to be set in the same world as Mistwood. When I finished the first draft of Nightspell, I hadn't sold Mistwood yet and didn't know if I ever would, so it wouldn't have made sense to write a sequel to it yet. It was only after Mistwood sold that I thought to connect the events in Mistwood and Nightspell.

Clarisse is the only cross-over character, yes? Was there a particular reason you chose her to be the character to appear once again in Nightspell?
LC: Mostly because I love her. ;) Clarisse is an incredibly fun character to write, and it also made sense, given the events at the end of Mistwood, for her to show up in another country.

This might be a bit premature, but will we be expecting a third book in the series?
LC: I do have an idea for a third book that, while being about a different character in a different situation, would tie together some of the characters in Mistwood and Nightspell. But it's on the back burner for now while I work on other projects, so I don't know for sure whether it will ever be finished and published.

From shifters to ghosts, you've covered two very different supernatural creatures. Why did you happen to select these from the plethora of mythical creatures out there?
LC: I love all mythical creatures, and my previous (unpublished) manuscripts have featured witches, vampires, elves, and goblins. So it's not so much a "selection" as "which ones happened to get published first." My secret goal (well, I guess it's not so secret anymore) is to write a book about every mythical creature in standard fantasy lore.

Now for one last very random question: do you prefer deading, planking, owling, koalaing, toweling, or none of the above?
(Pictorial explanation HERE)
LC: Ha! Well, that was unexpected. Let's see... I used to take gymnastics, so I know from experience that any of those positions would be really difficult to hold for an extended period of time. If it was a momentary thing, I'd probably like to try planking - I used to like positions that required full extensions.

Aaand, that's all for today, folks. Remember to scroll back up and re-read the underlined "remember" above. Yes, I used the word "remember" twice in that sentence.

*Apologies for the cheesy opening. I couldn't resist inserting the faux-train conductor line in once I typed out the phrase "Stop #7." I'm sure all of you understand exactly what I mean. Stop staring at me like I've lost my mind, goodness.

**I further apologize for the blog hiatus. I will probably be pasting sporadically for the entirety of this school year. If you want to listen to me complain about how much homework and studying I currently have to do to get into a decent college (AKA be a whiny teenager), feel free to tweet/email me.

It's Monday! What'cha Readin'? (4)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila over at Book Journey as a way to share what we read this past week with the lovely people of the interwebs. This will also be my designated random life rant meme.

Life: I haven't done this in a while, mostly because school is gnawing away at my existence. Plus, I've only read a measly eight books this month. Eight. That is so below my normal reading rate it's not even funny...

In September I ate:

[4★] Babe in Boyland by Jody Gehrman

• So. Freaking. Cute. Very similar to Hana Kimi, actually (if you're familiar with that).

[4★] Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

• Creepy central. I was scared out of my pants for quite a big chunk of the book, but I couldn't put it down. There's going to be a sequel.

[3.5★] Fateful by Claudia Gray

• It's about werewolves on the Titanic! See my review.

[3★] On the Bright Side, I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God by Louise Rennison

• If you haven't read the Confessions of Georgia Nicolson series, you should get on it. The writing is informal and rambly at times but Georgia's life is quite hilarious.

[3★] Good Oil by Laura Buzo

• This is probably the first Aussie book that made me go "meh." It's cute, but lacks substance.

[5★] Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

• Easily my favorite book of September. It is just so... different and quirky. See my review!

[3.5★] Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik

• This book is adorbs. It makes me want to go out on the street and hug random people. I'm probably reviewing this one, too, since Racquel (coughcough) threatened to end our friendship if I didn't.

[4★] Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore

• A very fairy tale-esque and good steampunk novel. Good steampunk is hard to find.

Well, right now, I'm munching on:

Intrinsical by Lani Woodland

A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley

What have you been chewing on?

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Publication: September 27th 2011 by Little, Brown
420 pages
Series: Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1
Source: Purchased
Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository

I love Karou: her eccentricities and her secrets, her bright blue hair and her drawings of monsters. She is the exact opposite of those spineless heroines who act like doll-puppet hybrids and follow whatever the guy counterparts tell them to do. Karou instead attacks her guy counterpart with Chinese crescent-moon blades. The difference is obvious, yes?

Then there is the fact that the book centers around Prague. Prague! Some place that is not the US or England or France. Do you have any idea how refreshing that is? Although Karou zooms in and out of this city -- this reality, even -- throughout the novel, we still get to catch glimpses of lovely Prague and its “ghost tours” and cathedrals.

And of course, the plot is deliciously twisted and full of so many weird elements that they all somehow come together and successfully contribute to the novel’s uniqueness. There are rooms filled with nothing but jars and jars of teeth. There are scuppy necklaces that give you teeny, tiny wishes. There are puppet masters and dressed like the reflection of moonlight across the water. Really, I have never read anything quite like Daughter of Smoke and Bone. It’s just so strange.

I love its strangeness.

This novel also features a wonderfully done star-crossed romance. Who knew that was even possible in YA? It’s a dark romance, too, full of sacrifices and misplaced trust. But it was also sweet and oh so satisfying.

Although the ending of Daughter of Smoke and Bone is not a cliffhanger, per se, I still want more. Now all I can do is shake my fists in the air and implore Ms. Taylor to publish the sequel as soon as possible. Or maybe I’ll take the less violent route and just read this book again. And again. And again.

Rating: 5

incomprehensibly awesome

Contest Craze Giveaway

~ This giveaway is now CLOSED ~

This giveaway is part of Princess Bookie's Contest Craze.

In honor of the impending October 25th release of The Iron Knight, the last book in The Iron Fey saga, I am giving away a copy of the third book, The Iron Queen (see my review). Yes, the one with the very, very pink cover.

Not that there's anything wrong with pink, of course.

So... Who's excited for The Iron Knight? I actually have a galley of it sitting comfortably in my Kindle right now but have yet to actually read it. No idea why I'm putting it off. Perhaps I'm sad to see this fun series come to an end.

Onto the contest. To win The Iron Queen, answer the following question:

You are now one of the fey, delighting in kidnapping the poor humans from their beds and bringing them into the faery realm. If you could kidnap anyone (fictional or otherwise), who would you kidnap, and what would you make them do for/to you?

Sidenote: I would really appreciate it if you could keep your answers PG13. I'm sure you know what I mean by that...

Comment on this post with your answer, and then fill out the Rafflecopter widget below accordingly. There are extra entry opportunities, too! Following via GFC is not required but is highly appreciated.

Some leftover details of the giveaway:

• There will be 1 winner notified via email
• Open to US residents 13 years of age or older only

Fateful by Claudia Gray

Publication: September 13th 2011 by HarperTeen
336 pages
Source: ARC via Flamingnet Teen Book Reviews
Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository

Tess finally has the chance to leave the Lisles she has served since childhood. Spoiled, demanding, and utterly obnoxious, the head of the Lisles family has decided to relocate her children, Tess, and two other servants to America via the Titanic. Tess is happy to oblige and plans on resigning the second she sets her foot down on American soil. But there are mysteries aboard the majestic vessel, mysteries that are somehow tied to the unknowing Lisles. It all started with a wolf in a dark alley and a handsome protector. And now, it is so much more.

Fateful’s synopsis alone will draw tons of interested potential readers. Werewolves on the Titanic? Now that is something that will either turn out mind-blowing and original or simply a sad little carbon copy of standard PNR. Fateful lands somewhere between these two extremes.

Although the novel did not make me restructure my existence or reevaluate my values or anything, it was addicting. I just can’t help but want to know more about what happens to our heroine. Fun and fluffy. If I had to write this book review in three words, they would be fun and fluffy.

However, I shall conclude with three warnings to possible future readers:

1) Fateful is afflicted with an extreme case of unexplainable attraction. Love at first sight, as some would say. I know this bothers a lot of people -- myself included. This portion of the plot made me frown.

2) While Tess is a heroine that fights savagely for her own safety, she basically swoons whenever the love interest is near. Said love interest -- named Alec, if you’re curious -- also repeatedly asks Tess to stay away from his for her own safety. Of course, Tess does not heed the warning. Déjà vu? My frown deepened noticeably.

3) Lastly, the Titanic setting felt more like a crutch than an actual component of the story. The ship was mentioned when it was needed, and pretty much ignored when it was not.

Even with all this frowning, the irrational part of my mind enjoyed reading Fateful immensely. The rational part, however, is a lot pickier, as you have hopefully noticed. Anyone looking for a fun and fluffy novel with a slight edge will be more than satisfied with Fateful.

Rating: 3

fairly intriguing

In My Lap (4)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren. I'm calling mine In My Lap because 1) I do not have a mailbox, just a small cubby, 2) I do in fact have a lap, and most importantly, 3) clueless individuals will think this is really sketchy, and I like confusing people.

I thought doing a biweekly IMM would have been a good idea, but as you can see from the incredibly long list of books below, it was not. I am a serial eBook-obtainer. Yes. Yes, I am.

This week I received for review:

Fateful by Claudia Gray

And for my lovely Kindle, I got:

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

The Curse of Wendigo by Rick Yancey

Abarat by Clive Barker

Corsets & Clockwork by multiple authors

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Entangled by Cat Clarke

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Possess by Gretchen McNeil

Luminous by Dawn Metcalf

Cascade by Lisa Tawn Bergren

The Warlock by Michael Scott

Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys

She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

Good Oil by Laura Buzo

Blood Song by Rhiannon Hart

This is Shyness by Leanne Hall

Shut Out by Kody Kiplinger

I'm especially excited about

• The Monstrumologist trilogy (I have a galley of the third book not listed here)
• Good Oil, Blood Song, and This is Shyness because they're all Aussie
• and Shut Out because I liked the author's debut, The DUFF

I just recently finished Anna Dressed in Blood, too, and really enjoyed it. Some of the more gory parts succeeded in making me wince a few times, actually. But that only made me want to read more of it. Morbid curiosity much?

So, what landed in your lap this week?

The Star Shard by Frederic S. Durbin

Publication: February 27th 2012 by HMH
320 pages
Source: ARC via VOYA
Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository

I am not much of a Middle Grade reader. You could say that I sort of skipped a step in my reading repertoire while growing up, jumping directly from children’s books like Magic Tree House to YA like The Hunger Games. Maybe I should go back and fill in that gaping MG hole now, because The Star Shard exceeded expectations.

I was waiting for simplicity and frankly, not much depth. This is a MG faerie fantasy after all. Plus, I admit that my opinion of MG is not terribly high (very hypocritical, I know, since I haven’t read a lot of MG). I was, however, not prepared to be bombarded by the deliciousness that is this slightly rustic high fantasy world and a 12-year-old heroine that displays a lot more common sense than the average hormonal-driven and air-headed YA protagonist.

Our darling main character Cybril is a slave on the Thunder Rake. Sold into this giant wheeled city at an early age, Cybril survives, as per Master Rombol’s orders, by singing for crowds during market days. There are snippets of lyrics spread throughout The Star Shard and even complete sheet music for two of the songs. Is that not the coolest supplementary material you’ve ever seen? And then of course, we have Loric, the faerie lad with the silver eyes and enigmatic smile -- as much as young boys’ smiles can be enigmatic, I suppose. Cybril and Loric develop an awkward fascination with each other that later fleshes out into an adorable friendship and maybe even a relationship-to-be.

With a plot fraught with twists and turns, skeleton keys and potion-induced beauty, The Star Shard reads like a clear well of water. It’s refreshing and free of angst or love triangles. Just pure adventure. And two little children desperately sprinting together toward their shared finish line, hand-in-hand.

Rating: 4

delightfully scrumptious

Back to the Books Giveaway Hop Winners!

309 entries. 309. Can you believe it? That number is mind-boggling, and the fact that it's divisible by 3 is quite amazing, too. I'm sure you're all eager to know who won and have already scrolled down to look at the names by now, so kudos to the people who're still reading this post intro.

So, the lucky winners of Touch of Frost, Fairy Bad Day, The Dark City, Personal Demons, or 2 Twilight posters are the following:

1. Antane Amstrong
2. Erin Baker
3. Christina @ A Reader of Fictions

It's going to work like this: Antane (since she's winner #1) will get to choose 2 books or the posters. Erin will choose second, and Christina will get the last set.

Emails will be arriving at your mailboxes soon.

And hopefully some of my new followers would like to stick around and actually, you know, read my site content in the future. Hopefully...? Regardless, thank you for participating and making this giveaway such a success!

Ashfall by Mike Mullin

Publication: October 11th 2011 by Tanglewood Press
466 pages
Series: Ashfall #1
Source: ARC from Tanglewood via NetGalley

To adopt the slang of the stereotypical blonde, blue-eyed SoCal surfer dude: “Ashfall was hella legit, man!” It features an epic adventure of survival in the face of natural adversity, adaptation amidst chaos, and a frantic love that is equal parts desperation and need. Ashfall is going to appeal to a wide variety of readers, as it has something to offer every single one of you out there.

I would have liked Ashfall a lot more, too, if not for the beginning. We are dumped right into the middle of a volcanic eruption and the series of unfortunate events -- you see what I did there? -- that follows, and yet, the novel seems to drag on and on. It literally took me 7 days to read the first 1/4 of Ashfall and 1 day to read the rest. So yes, pacing was a problem.

Besides that, I enjoyed the novel. There was a good balance of gore, fighting, starvation, and discovery. Our protagonist Alex is brave and foolish and horny (like most teenage boys), and the love interest Darla is the definition of kickass. She’s the one stitching up axe wounds and smushing liquefied rabbit brain on animal hides -- don't ask -- while Alex struggles not to puke in the background.

Ashfall is an intense new post-apocalyptic novel that falters a bit in pacing but is otherwise a very engrossing read. It’s a great way to heighten your chances of surviving the next supervolcanic eruption, too!

Wait, looks like Californian surfer dude is back with a bit of reassurance: “Since no supervolcanoes will erupt for probably another few million years, you can chillax, OK? Here, have a beer.”

Rating: 3.5

between fairly intriguing and delightfully scrumptious

Labor Day Weekend Read-A-Thon

You know those books you've always wanted to read, but you keep getting distracted by new and shiny ARCs or school or homework or life? I am normally lazy and have never set up a list of books to read. When I finish a book, I go through my review pile and just pick up another one at random. That's where Katie's Book Blog's Labor Day Weekend Read-a-Thon comes in!

Right, so here are some I'd like to read while I have a chance. I've tried one other read-a-thon before without success, since that happened during a school week. (Yeah, I don't know what I was thinking when I signed up for it, either...) The list is as follows:

1. Babe in Boyland by Jody Gehrman
2. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
3. A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley
4. The Folk Keeper by Franny Billingsley
5. Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John
6. Abarat by Clive Barker

I'll be updating on Twitter (@AznCinnamonRoll) and will do a Read-a-Thon Conclusion Post on the blog.

Have a happy Labor Day weekend!