Patty Blount Guest Post

I'm so excited to have Patty Blount, the author of Send (read my review here) on the blog today!

Find Patty online: Blog :: Facebook :: Twitter

Stay or Go?

Things change. For some of these changes, we’ll camp out and line up a day in advance just for the chance to say we got it (iPhone, anybody?). And others die a lonely little death and we hardly notice. Here’s my list of the things that should stay and the things I wish would just go.

Stay!

• ·       Social networking – My social activities not only planted the seed for a book idea, but connected me to many brilliant people – authors, agents, publishers, editors, celebrities, moms, PEOPLE. That’s the key – it exposed me to different opinions, different belief systems, different lifestyles and opened my mind in the process.
• ·       Flat Screen TVs – Oh, how much do I love being able to hang a TV on a wall?
• ·       The surge in popularity of YA fiction – Rowling, Meyer, Collins – It warms my heart to see adults reading young adult fiction and I hope my own book will add to the ranks.
• ·       GPS – For someone like me who gets lost in a bathtub, the GPS is the most significant technological advancement of my lifetime.
• ·       On Demand, HBO2Go, and DVR --  I work a nine or ten hour day and then come home and write novels. There is no time for TV. That’s why these VCR-less wonders that let me watch what I want when I want are the BEST.
• ·       eReaders --  Writers love books. My eReader lets me carry hundreds with me at all times. Plus, it’s a lot easier to turn pages on an eReader when you’re pedaling an elliptical machine than a real book. That encourages me to actually go to the gym.

Go!

• ·       Pants that expose boxers, pants with the crotch down by your knees, baggy pants that hang off your body instead of emphasizing it. I don’t know anybody who finds this sexy so stop. Just stop. Please. I’m begging.
• ·       Logos on butts – Juicy? Pink? Ladies, guys don’t need another reason to stare at your butt. Really.
• ·       Fake reality TV shows – please, Dear God, MAKE IT STOP.
• ·       Teens who sit low in their cars so that it looks like the car is driving itself as they go by.
• ·       Text slang in spoken conversation.
• ·       Tebowing – I get that you feel blessed and that’s great. But put it in perspective. I find it kind of insulting that God answered your prayers to score that extra point in a game but ignored the prayers of millions of other people praying for things like cures for terminal illnesses, a place to live or a meal to eat. 

What do you think? What fads are you crazy about? What fads are on your Can’t Wait Until They’re Gone list?

Send - Patty Blount

Synopsis: To keep his secrets, all he has to do is listen to the voice in his head and just walk away... 
On his first day at his new high school, Dan stops a bully from beating up a kid half his size. He didn't want to get involved. All he wants out of his senior year is to fly under the radar. But Dan knows what it's like to be terrorized by a bully-he used to be one. Now the whole school thinks he's some kind of hero, except Julie Murphy, the prettiest girl on campus. She looks at him like she knows he has a secret. Like she knows his name isn't really Daniel. (From Goodreads)

I always appreciate books that take rough topics and make them relatable without being overwhelming or overly dark. This book does a great job at helping you get lost in a story. I felt like I'd have an opinion about this going in, but the way the story is told, you forget to judge the characters for their pasts and the choices they make. Dan was partly responsible for a bullying incident that lead a 12 year old boy to commit suicide. He is punished harshly through the law, the father of the boy he bullied is threatening him, but what gets him the most is the way he tortures himself.

It's kind of horrifying to realize that you're sympathizing with someone who clearly had a hand in hurting a lot of people. But what this book does is demonstrate that not everything is so clear cut. As you find yourself making allowances - well, he was only 12, he was unfairly treated, he's suffered enough - you find yourself in a bit of an uncomfortable position. Are those really valid excuses for the crime he committed?

But the truth is, Dan does seem to have a good heart. I want to fall along the lines of - he's truly repentant and he's learned his lesson - so let the poor boy live his life. He's surrounded by an amazing family who support him so well. Then he has Kenny, his alter-ego - the boy he was at 12. Kenny came along to help Dan toughen up and come out on the winning side of numerous attacks in juvie. The Kenny/Dan living in one body, talking to each other, fighting with each other, but ultimately protecting each other was such an interesting way to tell this story. You can see this one boy fighting with himself, punishing himself, and not letting himself forget - but he's created someone outside of his identity to keep him in line.

While I loved reading this book from Dan's point of view, I really wish that I had some of Julie's point of view as well. She's such a fascinating complex character. I wondered what she was thinking all the time. I probably just relate to her better because she is a girl - but I think her side of the story would be just as much of a moral dilemma. I would be interested to see her thought process and her emotional evolution as her relationship with Dan progressed.

There's a lot to discuss in relation to this novel. I'd actually recommend this in classrooms or book groups - and not just for teens, but for those who are around teens. There are a lot of questions that are left for the reader to ponder - when do you step in and stop bullying? What can you do to stop it? How can you be there for those who are bullied? And at what point is it okay to forgive those who make mistakes? Because for all those questions that seem huge and impossible to answer, this book gives you a sense of ease that there ARE answers to these questions.

Unspoken - Sarah Rees Brennan

Synopsis: Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.
But all that changes when the Lynburns return.The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him? (From Goodreads)

Oh Sarah Rees Brennan, how I love you. I am forever indebted to my lovely friend, Blanca, for introducing me to her books. I'm an uber fan for life. I loved the Demon's Lexicon trilogy, but I am going to say that Unspoken was even better. And I kind of think that's because I felt like Brennan's personality shone through a little bit more. I met her last fall and I have to say she is one of the most hilarious and delightful persons I've met. Every time the book made me laugh, I could totally just picture her behind the scenes and pulling the strings.

I love every single thing about this book. I love where it takes place and I love that everything is named Sorrow or Sorry. I love that I can hear English accents when the characters talk. I love Kami's best friend, Angela, who exists only to nap and hate people. I love that everything is meant to be dark and creepy - and really it has it's frightening moments, but it's hard to linger in those dark places long because Kami is such a funny heroine.

When Kami starts talking about her childhood "imaginary friend" and how she hears him in her head, and is in love with him, I was slightly nervous. I'm never in the mood for love at first sight, so when they met and hated each other right away, even with their connection, I was ecstatic. I love the dynamics of their relationship. These two love one another but they're so uncomfortable with each other. It made for some really great tension and a relationship dynamic that I don't think I've read before.

To be honest, there's a million things I want to freak out about, but they all seem to put me right on the edge of the spoiler/not spoiler line. So I'm just going to play it safe and just say that I freaking love this book and everything about it. Read it. Love it. Then come back and gush with me.

Carnival of Souls - Melissa Marr

Synopsis: In a city of daimons, rigid class lines separate the powerful from the power-hungry. And at the heart of The City is the Carnival of Souls, where both murder and pleasure are offered up for sale. Once in a generation, the carnival hosts a deadly competition that allows every daimon a chance to join the ruling elite. Without the competition, Aya and Kaleb would both face bleak futures--if for different reasons. For each of them, fighting to the death is the only way to try to live.
All Mallory knows of The City is that her father--and every other witch there--fled it for a life in exile in the human world. Instead of a typical teenage life full of friends and maybe even a little romance, Mallory scans quiet streets for threats, hides herself away, and trains to be lethal. She knows it's only a matter of time until a daimon finds her and her father, so she readies herself for the inevitable. While Mallory possesses little knowledge of The City, every inhabitant of The City knows of her. There are plans for Mallory, and soon she, too, will be drawn into the decadence and danger that is the Carnival of Souls.
 (From Goodreads)

I wanted to love this book so badly - I was so excited for it - but unfortunately there were a lot of things that just felt wrong or hit me in the wrong spot. However, I have a pretty strong feeling that the reasons I don't like this book are because of my own personal inability to look past certain things. I will say that Melissa Marr is a master at creating a fantasy world and she is a wonderful story teller.

The first half of this book was great. I couldn't put it down. The introduction to the world of daimons was perfect. If you've read Sarah Rees Brennan's The Demon's Lexicon, then I think you'll find somethings in here to enjoy. I was imagining Melissa Marr's world as the flip side to Sarah Rees Brennan's. I guess a lot of books mention the world where demons - or daimons - come from, but this book actually goes there. In fact, most of the book takes place there. It's such a rich place that has different rules, different customs, but is full of corruption.

Unfortunately, somewhere along the way my little skepticisms piled up and then exploded. I began to lose the point of the killing contest or the point of bringing Mallory back to her real father. I couldn't figure out why witches and daimons hated each other so much. Suddenly, I found myself asking more questions than I was getting answers and I got a little frustrated. Here's the strange thing though - when Kaleb and Mallory were together in the human world, I wanted to grind my teeth. But when Kaleb or Aya were in the daimon world, I quite enjoyed the book.

Kaleb is my worst nightmare. He's clingy, overprotective, presumptuous, impuslive, and incredibly selfish. Pretty much every time he was on the page I struggled to keep going. It was worse when he and Mallory were together, because their romance was so melodramatic. This said, I'm practically allergic to declarations of "I will follow you anywhere" and "I need you" so my view of Kaleb is slightly tainted. He's just not the kind of boy for me. I also understand that he's from a different world and operates under a different set of rules. I get why he is the way he is, but I still had a hard time stomaching him.

What kept me going thorugh this book was Aya's story. She is so fascinating to me. I kind of wish the book had been more devoted to her. But I think I'm totally biased here. Aya is willing to sacrifice love in order to become something. I understand that impulse more than I understand the kind of relationship that Aya and Kaleb have.

So there are a few of my thoughts on Carnival of Souls. You can take what I say with a grain of salt, because a lot of my issues were probably unique to me. If you're a Melissa Marr fan, I would give it a shot, because she does have a talent for bringing you to new worlds.

Don't Turn Around - Michelle Gagnon

Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Noa has been a victim of the system ever since her parents died. Now living off the grid and trusting no one, she uses her computer-hacking skills to stay safely anonymous and alone. But when she wakes up on a table in an empty warehouse with an IV in her arm and no memory of how she got there, Noa starts to wish she had someone on her side.
Enter Peter Gregory. A rich kid and the leader of a hacker alliance, Peter needs people with Noa’s talents on his team. Especially after a shady corporation threatens his life. But what Noa and Peter don’t realize is that Noa holds the key to a terrible secret, and there are those who’d stop at nothing to silence her for good.
 (From Goodreads)

This is the kind of book that you hold your breath through without realizing you're nervous. The storytelling is so exceptional that you get caught up in it and it really doesn't let you go until you've hit the last page. It didn't take long to read, mostly because I barely put it down. This isn't the type of book I'd normally pick up, but I found myself drawn to it. I'm not a huge fan of thrillers, but I never had a chance to stop and wonder why I was reading a book in a genre I don't care for.

This book makes me want to learn how to be a hacker. Or at least how to do cool things with my computer. I've always thought I was pretty good with technology, but now I see that my skill set is laughably small. Peter and Noa are so dang impressive because they're taking on their enemies, not with special powers or super strength, but with their knowledge. They're so smart - and not just book smart - computer smart and street smart, too.

One of the reasons I don't find thrillers high on my to-read list is because I have a tendency to find the situations implausible. A super secret sect of the government that people in the government don't even know about are tracking down deceptively normal people just because a highly classified document may have fallen into their hands - yeah, I can't really get on board with that. But everything about Don't Turn Around felt believable. While the deadly disease that shows up is fictional, I feel pretty confident that if it did exist a story like this would play out somewhere. But the hacking feels incredibly current and Peter and Noa's enemies feel like they're real threats - even the reason they're after Peter and Noa seems real.

The book also does a great job at drawing attention to the treatment of orphans in our society. So many are neglected, living only to survive, and falling through the cracks. Noa is a product of this flawed system, although she's managed to find her way out of it. Still, she shows what can happen when there is such neglect. Despite everything, she's so strong and remarkably stable. She's easy to relate to and I can only hope that if I ever found myself in the same position as her that I'd have her strength and smarts to keep going. But even better, she's not just content to survive, but to ensure that everyone else survives as well.

My only small hesitation is the involvement of Amanda, Peter's girlfriend. Her only connection to everything that goes down is Peter, so I can't figure out why she has her own voice and story line. But, like I said this is a small detraction from an otherwise incredible novel. Plus, I imagine, or hope, that this sets Amanda up to be a bigger player in the next novel. I'm anxious to read the next part of Noa and Peter's story. This one went so fast, it's hard to imagine even taking the time between books in order to find out what's next.

Join the Army of Ten

I'm so excited for the upcoming release of Ten by Gretchen McNeil. Which is why I joined the Army of Ten! You can join too! Rise through the ranks and earn prizes. It's an awesome way to support an amazing author. Click on the button below to visit the Army of Ten website and find out more. 

Defiance - C. J. Redwine

Synopsis: Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.
At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared. As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making. (From Goodreads)

This book has everything that I love - strong heroine, a dreamy , a truly cringe-worthy evil villain, the tension of a world on the brink of war, a hint of politics, and a touch of fantasy. I got so lost in this book - read it so fast and hungrily that I almost feel like it was an intense dream.

C. J. Redwine did an excellent job building Rachel's world. Baalboden is one of those places that you want to visit and observe, only if your safe somewhere inside an unpoppable bubble. It has the great marketplace and interesting citizen dynamics. It's definitely not a place that is women friendly, which is kind of heartbreaking - but it also makes Rachel stand out that much more.

All the obstacles thrown at Rachel seem to revolve around the fact that she is a girl. They know she's outspoken, rebellious, and strong - so they do their best to use societal rules against her. Yet, all the dangerous traits in Rachel are also the things that save her. I just have so much respect for her and she's really a heroine you can get behind and root for.

And man alive, does Baalboden need a heroine. The Commander is something else. He's controlling, power hungry, vindictive, ruthless and heartless. There's nothing redeeming about him. He needs nothing but power and that makes him single-minded and scary. I was quaking right there with Rachel every time he came along. Even when he's not in her face on the page, he's looming in the background as a truly scary threat. There are other monsters in this book, but he's the worst.

The world is great, the characters are fabulous, but - I'm not even going to try to hide it - my favorite thing about this book is the romance. It's the best kind - slow building. Logan and Rachel have a past that they've built on and torn apart. There's a lot that's unsaid between them, a lot that their hiding from one another. But as they begin to trust each other, their tension builds. I love it when you can see relationships build as they experience things together, grow together, and make decisions together. It makes the love real and epic. Better yet, it compliments the story rather than overpowering it - so the desolate world they live in isn't just the background.

I loved this book. I'm now a complete and dedicated fan of Defiance and C. J. Redwine. There's something great and awesome that happens while you're reading this story that sticks with you. It's one I would definitely recommend to rush and find a copy as soon as you can.

Every Day - David Levithan

Synopsis: Every morning, A wakes in a different person’s body, a different person’s life. There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.
It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.
With his new novel, David Levithan has pushed himself to new creative heights. He has written a captivating story that will fascinate readers as they begin to comprehend the complexities of life and love in A’s world, as A and Rhiannon seek to discover if you can truly love someone who is destined to change every day. (From Goodreads)

Magical realism is one of my favorite genres, but I rarely come across books in the genre that I actually like. I find it fascinating since it's hard to pull off convincingly. But if it's done well, then those books are truly extraordinary. They also are some of the best books to highlight flaws in society. Every Day is one that was brilliantly executed because the magical elements serve a greater purpose, plus it was a great story.

A wakes up every day in a different body and basically keeps living out the life of that person without trying to draw too much attention. This is such an interesting concept that really makes you sit back and think. If your appearance and gender changes every day, how do identify yourself? Are you still the same person at the core? How do these different lives change the way you are? These are questions that are brought up, but David Levithan is really great about leaving the answers open for the reader to decide what to take away from A's extraordinary circumstances.

There's also a beautiful demonstration of acceptance that can be gleaned from A's story. A falls for Rhiannon, the girlfriend of one of the boys he wakes up in, and they have to figure out a way to be together. And of course, the thing standing in their way is societal convention. How can you be with someone who is physically different every day? And, while it's underplayed quite a bit, Rhiannon has some difficulties with A's changing genders. It's frustrating, because under it all, A still has the same spirit, the same soul, the same personality. It's just a wonderful representation of the core of humanity and what makes us who we are.

David Levithan has the wonderful ability to wrap up the meaning of life in short sentences or passages without undervaluing or over simplifying. I was writing down quotes left and right. There is so much substance and meaning in this book. It'll make you think, it'll make you cry, and it will sit with you for a long time. This book just feels so important and I really hope you'll pick it up.

Awkward - Marni Bates

Synopsis: Mackenzie Wellesley has spent her life avoiding the spotlight. At Smith High, she's the awkward junior people only notice when they need help with homework. Until she sends a burly football player flying with her massive backpack and makes a disastrous - not to mention unwelcome - attempt at CPR. Before the day is out, the whole fiasco explodes on YouTube. And then the strangest thing happens. Suddenly, Mackenzie is an Internet sensation, with four million hits and counting. Sucked into a whirlwind of rock stars, paparazzi, and free designer clothes, she even catches the eye of the most popular guy at school. And that's when life gets really interesting... (From Goodreads)

I love awkwardness. I think it's great. I love awkward people. And this book definitley delivers on the awkward. I mean, the YouTube video that upends Mackenzie's life is the epitome of awkwardness. But it's not just that she's an awkward person, it's that in high school EVERYONE is awkward - whether they'd care to admit it or not. I'd also like to point out the awkwardness of this paragraph that only contains one senetence without the word "awkward.")

This book is what happens when you mix Molly Ringwald and The Princess Diaries. Because, while I was picturing Mackenzie as Taylor Swift - she really had more of the social grace of Molly Ringwald in Sixteen Candles and Pretty in Pink, not to mention the knack for attracting the popular, but quiet, boys. The story itself had a Princess Diaries feel to it - with the instant fame, the transition from invisible and odd to beautiful and seen, and the paparazzi suddenly storming her school.

It's a bit of an unbelievable scenario - but totally believable at the same time. The book is written so well that everything that happens seems totally plausible. Sudden frienships with rockstars - of course! Free clothes - naturally. Landing the hottest guy in school - well, duh. These are all the things that awkward kids dream of, but it seems so out of reach. Marni Bates awesomelly takes the dream and makes it possible BECAUSE of awkardness. Genius.

Mackenzie is a wonderful and completely relatable character, who would be a great friend to help you navigate through the craziness that is high school. And the cast of characters surrounding her are equally as wonderful. Even with extraordianry circumstances - this IS high school. Awkward is definitely a delightful read and so full of nerd power. I love it.

52 Reasons to Hate My Father - Jessica Brody

Synopsis: Lexington Larrabee has never to work a day in her life. After all, she’s the heiress to the multi-billion-dollar Larrabee Media empire. And heiresses are not supposed to work. But then again, they’re not supposed to crash brand new Mercedes convertibles into convenience stores on Sunset Blvd either.
Which is why, on Lexi’s eighteen birthday, her ever-absent, tycoon father decides to take a more proactive approach to her wayward life. Every week for the next year, she will have to take on a different low-wage job if she ever wants to receive her beloved trust fund. But if there’s anything worse than working as a maid, a dishwasher, and a fast-food restaurant employee, it’s dealing with Luke, the arrogant, albeit moderately attractive, college intern her father has assigned to keep tabs on her.In a hilarious “comedy of heiress” about family, forgiveness, good intentions, and best of all, second chances, Lexi learns that love can be unconditional, money can be immaterial, and, regardless of age, everyone needs a little saving. And although she might have 52 reasons to hate her father, she only needs one reason to love him. (From Goodreads) 

I actually met Jessica Brody a couple weeks ago at The Tattered Cover in Colorado. When she was talking about writing 52 Reasons, she spoke about how reading and writing is like getting to take on other roles - to see how others live. Which is pretty much what this book does. For a few hundred pages you get to see what it's like to live the life of the rich and fabulous. And also to briefly try on the roles of those who work minimum wage jobs. Both of which, it turns out, have their fun moments.

I honestly don't know where to start talking about Lexi though. This girl is a piece of work - but, at the same time, she's really not. It's perfectly legit to blame all of her behavioral issues on her upbringing and her environment. She has unlimited resources and no supervision - yeah, I'd probably act like Paris Hilton too. She also has lost her mother, her father rarely even speaks to her, and her brothers are scattered all over. She's raised by the people her father pays. So, yeah, I'll say she has a good excuse for who she is.

I kind of wanted to hate her at the beginning, but even as a spoiled brat, she's kind of charming about it. It's almost as if she knows her diva personality is something she can turn off and on - you can see her snap in and out of it. She uses her image as a weapon, and even when it doesn't work, you have to admire he for it.

But the other fun part about this book is seeing her work all these jobs. I never watched Simple Life - but now I kind of get the appeal. Although, I highly doubt Paris and Nicole ever had the humbling experience and personal growth through their performances that Lexi has. She's not just learning about what it's like to work, but she's learning the identity that comes with being a certain kind of worker.

For the most part you can kind of see where the book is going - personal growth, family healing, etc. But it actually really surprised me. There was a bit of a revelation towards the end that I was not expecting - a revelation that pulled a few tears out of me. This was enough for me to bump this book up from good - to amazing. I definitely recommend getting lost in the life of this heiress for awhile, it's well worth it.

Authors Are Rockstars Tour - Robin LaFevers

I am way freaking excited to have Robin LaFevers on the blog today answering a few of my questions and offering an awesome giveaway as part of the Authors Are Rockstars Tour hosted by Fiktshun and Two Chicks on Books. I'm ecstatic to be a part of this tour because..well..authors ARE my rockstars. And if I ever get lucky enough to meet Robin LaFevers I'd definitely have to unleash the fangirl. I'd heard a lot of great buzz about Grave Mercy, but it wasn't until I heard someone say "assassin nun" that I knew I needed a copy of this book. Do you ever have books that you read and you know that you'll read anything that author writes? Yeah, that's Robin LaFevers for me. You can read how much I LOVED Grave Mercy here. You can also add Grave Mercy to your TBR here and the second book in the His Fair Assassin trilogy here!

So with that, I'd like to welcome Robin to the blog!

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Since you write for the young adult crowd, what were you like as a teenager? 

I was one big tangled knot of shyness and uncertainty—about pretty much everything. I had a fairly dysfunctional family growing up, complete with wicked stepmother, three stepfathers, a passel of stepbrothers, and much trauma. When I was twelve, my mother packed up me, my two brothers, and our three dogs and we left in the middle of the night, running away from a womanizing, alcoholic stepfather. Two years later I had a new stepfather who was addicted to painkillers and an all around interesting guy. At that time I also acquired a new stepbrother—who was one of the star players on the high school football team. Talk about awkward!

Suffice it to say, I was so busy adjusting to the emotional drama going on on a daily basis that I never had a chance to get my feet under me. I was terrified a lot, not in terms of physical safety but in an emotional sense. The term hypervigilant springs to mind—I was always bracing for the next disaster and wondering which direction it would come from. I was also utterly powerless with regards to the major influences in my life at the time, which is no doubt where my core theme of empowerment comes from and why I write books for kids and teens.

  I know that you’ve published middle grade novels before, but was there anything that surprised you about publishing a young adult novel? Have you found that your young adult readers are different from your middle grade readers? 

With middle grade books, so very few readers are active online or even choosing their own books! Middle grade authors rely heavily on gatekeepers—teachers, librarians, or parents—to put the books into the hands of their readers. Also, there are few adults who read middle grade books, while there are many, many adults who read and are passionate about YA. The book blogging community, for example, is a HUGE force in YA, but much less so in MG. I’m not used to having my book so visible, and while it is HUGELY exciting and wonderful, it takes a wee bit of getting used to. Especially since one of the mental games I play in order to give myself freedom to tell the most authentic story I can, is that no one is going to read it. The reception the book and blogging community gave GRAVE MERCY pretty much blew that little mind trick out of the water, but it has also been immensely heartwarming and gratifying. 

  Was it hard to convince your agent or your editor to buy this book? Can you talk a little bit about how you sold this book for publication?

No! My agent showed my editor the first 50 pages and after that she could not wait to get her hands on it, but I wanted to give it another rewrite or three. When it was finally ready, my agent felt it was a strong enough project that we could take it wide and generate a fair amount of interest, but I adore my editor and my publisher (Kate O’Sullivan at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) and luckily they were able to make a pre-emptive offer that made everyone happy.

  If you were raised as an assassin like Ismae, what would your weapon of choice be? 

I’ve always been drawn to the idea that death can be merciful or a gentle release, so I would definitely want a gentle weapon. A benevolent poison perhaps, or the misericorde.

Women suffer quite a bit in this world you created, and Ismae’s profession seems to be a rebellion against such suffering. Did you intend to send a girl-power message? What would you say is the one thing a girl can do to ensure she has control over her own life? 

I definitely intended to send a message of empowerment. In this book, it was girl power, but in my other books I have also dealt simply with kid power, realizing not every boy emerges from the chute with his own power grasped firmly in hand. 

It’s hard to narrow the advice down to just one thing! But I guess, if I had to pick only one, it would be this: Girls need to exercise their critical analysis skills and question authority. And yes, I know that sounds very radical 60’s feminist, but the thing is, when we give someone authority, we give them power over us. 

Some authorities are non-negotiable, the state, law enforcement, government, etc. But there are many areas of life where we get to choose who we give power—and authority—to. Our friends, peers, boyfriends, the media and cosmetic industry, and after we reach a certain age, even our parents. You don’t have to listen to guys or peers if what they want or tell you goes against your core truth or beliefs or desires. You don’t have to hold yourself to the ideals the fashion and cosmetic industry promote in order to convince you to spend billions of dollars to meet impossible standards. You get to choose. That also, or maybe even especially, applies to life’s Big Questions. We owe it to ourselves to wrestle with our concepts of love and faith and honor and duty. We get to decide for ourselves what those mean and do not have to swallow whole the concepts handed to us by others.

There is actually quite a bit of politics that saturate your novel, yet the political situation isn’t overwhelming or hard to understand. How much of this was made up and how much was the actual situation between France and Brittany? Also, was it hard to insert the political situation while balancing the plot of your story? 

About 90% of the politics and intrigue in Grave Mercy was factual. The tensions between France and Brittany, the twelve year old duchess who inherited a kingdom teetering on invasion, and who had been promised in marriage to at least a half a dozen suitors, if not more. Most often in exchange for promises of aid in her father’s struggle to maintain independence against France. 

All of her councilors were factual, except for one, and they all betrayed her in precisely the same way as portrayed in the book. If anything, I greatly simplified the intrigue! There were actually more of her Breton barons who rose up against her, or contested the duchy passing to her. 

The hardest part of weaving the political intrigue into the book was that all that drama and all those larger than life characters really threatened to swamp Ismae’s story. She kept getting lost. So I switched from 3^rd person POV to 1^st, which really helped her stand out from the historical background, but her own story still seemed to evaporate when others were around. As a journaling experiment, I tried writing her in a 1^st person present tense POV, and that’s when everything clicked and her story became front and center, no longer overshadowed by the other things going on in the book.

Can you dish a bit on what we can expect from Dark Assassin? How will Sybella’s story be different from Ismae’s? Will Ismae and Duval be making cameos at all?

Sybella is such a different character than Ismae! For one, she is noble born, not the daughter of a turnip farmer. But she has had a much darker and more traumatic past. And she is far angrier and more unstable than Ismae ever was, and has far more dark impulses of her own that she struggles to control. For all the bad things that had happened to her, Ismae was fairly innocent. Sybella however, has made some bad choices that have truly haunted her.

For Ismae, love was something that opened up the world and helped her see beyond the simple views she’d been exposed to. For Sybella, love will be a step away from the dark edge she teeters on and, hopefully, mover her toward healing and hope and, ultimately, forgiveness.

And yes, Ismae and Duval will make appearances in this book, as well as Book Three, Annith’s story.

Since this is a celebration of authors as rockstars, I’d love to know what authors you follow, worship, admire, or would just generally fangirl over meeting. 

Well, I am a confirmed introvert, so I would never be brave enough to fangirl over anyone.  I would probably just stand back and watch them from afar, my mouth hanging open in admiration. J But some of my favorite authors are Lois McMaster Bujold, Juliet Marillier, Mary Stewart, Jacqueline Carey, Ann Lammot, Barbara O’Neal, Sarah Addison Allen, Libba Bray, Cate Tiernan, Elizabeth Bunce, Megan Whalen Turner, and Suzanne Collins.

Find Robin LaFevers Online: Website :: Blog :: Twitter :: Facebook

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Robin has generously offered a signed copy of Grave Mercy and a Tshirt to one lucky winner!

So quick rules - you must be 13 or older. Giveaway is US only and will run until 12:01 AM EST on Monday, September 3. All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form. 

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Today is the Day!: Birthday Extravaganza Day 4

Hey everybody. It's my birthday today! Crazy pants. 

I have lots of prizes to give away today on Twitter. 

Tweet people! Tweet!

I have all kinds of fun stuff - swag for The Diviners by Libba Bray, signed chapter samplers from Jessica Brody's 52 Reasons to Hate my Father, and some My Life Next Door bookmarks! (these things are US and Canada only).

And of course the grand prize - Wildefire and a pre-order of Embers & Echoes by Karsten Knight will go to one lucky person (this prize IS INTERNATIONAL). 

Just keep tweeting all day with the hashtag #BestWorldsBirthday. The more you tweet, the more you are entered. All tweets with this hashtag from earlier in the week will be entered as well! I'll be giving away prizes randomly all day, but I'll give away the grand prize at 8 PM Central Time. So stay tuned for that. All winners will be announced on Twitter as well.

Thanks SO much for celebrating my birthday with me! 

You guys kind of rock, you know? 

Birthday Extravaganza Day 3

Welcome to Day 3 of my birthday week! Tomorrow's the big day! I have lots of fun stuff to give away tomorrow. But today I have some awesomeness, too! Today a SIGNED copy of 52 Reasons to Hate My Father is up for grabs. This book is pure delight, so I'm psyched to share it with you guys.

Today, all you have to do is fill out Rafflecopter (don't forget this one is still US and Canada only). Although, tomorrow I have swag to giveaway all day long AND my big prize this week is a copy of Wildefire and a pre-order of Embers & Echoes by Karsten Knight (Karsten Knight's books are international). For all those giveaways you just need to tweet using the hashtag #BestWorldsBirthday. Every time you tweet, you're entering to win prizes tomorrow. PLUS, you can use one of those tweets as an entry for 52 Reasons. 

This week is awesome. Hope you're having as much fun as I am! 

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Birthday Extravaganza Day 2

Welcome back to the celebration! Today, I'm giving away an ARC of Defiance by C.J. Redwine. This book is so freaking amazing, I can hardly stand it. So you're gonna want it.

All you have to do to enter is fill out the Rafflecopter form below. BUT make sure you're tweeting this week! Use the hashtag #BestWorldsBirthday! Every time you tweet using the hashtag you're entered to win both of Karsten Knight's books, some swag, and you can use one of those tweets for entries into the other contests. Defiance is US and Canada only - the Wildefire books are international!

Happy Tuesday everyone! 

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Birthday Week Extravaganza

Hey lovelies! I'm back! Caralyn did an awesome job keeping everything up and writing some great posts while I went off galavanting (in a scholarly manner, of course) in Colorado. Alas, the galavanting has come to an end and I'm back to real life. BUT I'm pretty excited because my birthday is on Thursday. Yay for getting old(ish).

This week is gonna be off the hook (can't you hear my 90's VJ coming out...off the hook, yo!) because birthdays are great. I'm going to have an awesome giveaway every day until Thursday, which is the actual day of my birth and then I think we can have some Twitter fun, with some fun Twitter prizes (chapter samplers, books, maybe some bookmarks...). 

Here's the basic schedule - I'm going to post a giveaway every day, and they'll only be open for a week so jump on this while you can! And spread the love, because that's what giving is all about! 

So today I'm giving away an ARC of False Memory by Dan Krokos - this book is crazy - and an ARC of The Waiting Sky by Laura Zielin! 

Tuesday I have an ARC of Defiance by C.J. Redwine. Trust me. You WANT this book.  

Wednesday I have a SIGNED copy of 52 Reasons to Hate My Father by Jessica Brody - I LOVE this book you guys. 

These three giveaways are for US and Canada only - sorry international friends. BUT

ON my birthday, Thursday, August 16, I will have an international giveaway. I will be giving away both Wildefire and a pre-order for Embers & Echoes by Karsten Knight. WHEEEEE. 

(So, I have to admit now, that I wrote this whole post after downing a Venti Americano. I'm a little jittery and way hyper. If you couldn't tell.)

So even with all this awesome, I think on Thursday we're going to have some Twitter fun. Every time you tweet this week, using the hashtag #BestWorldsBirthday you'll be entering to win Karsten Knight's books, plus some fun extra swag I have - including some signed chapter samplers of 52 Reasons to Hate My Father, a My Life Undecided bracelet, and some My Life Next Door bookmarks. I'll be announcing those winners on Twitter throughout the day on Thursday. You can tweet starting now, up until 6:00 PM Central time on August 16. Your tweet can say anything as long as you use the hashtag. 

For all other giveaways, all you have to do is fill out Rafflecopter. 

Have a happy week everyone!!

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Legend - Marie Lu

Synopsis: What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.


From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills. (from Goodreads)


I wasn't really sure what to expect with this book. It's dystopian, so it called to me. I also read that Marie Lu based the story loosely on Les Misérables, a musical I've always wanted to see but for whatever haven't gotten around to. Reading Legend makes me want to change that.


The story goes back and forth between the points of view of June and Day, two kids from the opposite sides of the track in post-apocalyptic Los Angeles. June has grown up in a wealthy, military family while Day comes from a more working class/slums area. He's also a criminal mastermind while June is a child prodigy at the top of her class. It was interesting to go back and forth between their two voices because they have different views on the world they live in and definitely different values, but in a way they are almost the same person. June believes in the militaristic society shes grown up in. Day, on the other hand, knows the truth behind the utopian front of the Republic. They complement each other well and when they meet, each move is calculated. It's funny because they don't know how smart each other is.


This is the second dystopian book I've read in a short time that includes a "plague" element. A horrible disease has broken out in parts of the Republic. The rich get vaccines while the poor do not. I don't know if that's becoming a trend, or already was one, but it does add a new factor...it's the driving force behind some of the characters actions. And it becomes the symbol of the Republic's secrets. It kinda serves as the link between their society and ours. Bio-terrorism is something we've definitely had to worry about in the last few decades, and is still a true threat. 


All in all, I enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it to anyone who reads dystopian, but it just didn't send me over the edge. I think it's a slightly different take on dystopia with one character being an insider and one being an outsider (kinda ambiguous who's who) which was fun to read, but it didn't leave me blown away. However, I did care about June and Day and I want to find out what happens to them next.

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's topic is: Top Ten Posts that would give the BEST picture of YOU (as a reader and a person)

I've been helping Hannah keep up her blog this summer and haven't actually made 10 blog posts altogether, so I'd actually like to share some of her blog posts that I've especially enjoyed and think really give a good picture of who she is...basically awesomeness! Ok, here goes, in alphabetical order:

1. Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

2. Brooklyn, Burning by Steve Brezenoff

       

 

                                   3. Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

4. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor 

       

5. The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

6. Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

       

7. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

8. Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

      

9. Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

10. Wildefire by Karsten Knight

      

All the book covers are linked to Hannah's post, instead of their page on Indiebound. Some of her reviews reflect my thoughts exactly, some do not. I've read some of these books, but not all. However, all of these posts will make you want to read every single one while giving a peak into Hannah's soul. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. Let me know your thoughts!

False Memory - Dan Krokos

Synopsis: Miranda wakes up alone on a park bench with no memory. In her panic, she releases a mysterious energy that incites pure terror in everyone around her. Except Peter, a boy who isn't at all surprised by Miranda's shocking ability.
Left with no choice but to trust this stranger, Miranda discovers she was trained to be a weapon and is part of an elite force of genetically-altered teens who possess flawless combat skills and powers strong enough to destroy a city. But adjusting to her old life isn't easy--especially with Noah, the boyfriend she can't remember loving. Then Miranda uncovers a dark truth that sets her team on the run. Suddenly her past doesn't seem to matter...when there may not be a future. (From Goodreads)

I finished this book a few days ago...and I'm still not quite sure what happened to me. The pace was breakneck, the concept was insane, and every five seconds I felt like the ground was pulled out from underneath me. Generally, I like to be able to establish myself within a story, and to connect with and feel like I completely understand a character. I didn't really get any of these securities with this book, but in this case - I kinda liked it. There were a lot of crazy things going on, but it was impossible to tear myself away. I needed to know what was going on, and the more Miranda started to learn about who she was the more dimensions this book held.

I have to start with the romance aspect, because, honestly, that's the only area where I felt grounded. I know who I wanted Miranda to pick. Where I didn't know who she could trust, I did know which boy was right for her. This is what kept me tethered to this story and this world. Which, the more that I think about, is so amazing. Generally, love is the great mystery, the thing that could potentially leave you confused and hurt - but without apparent effort, Dan Krokos made it the one safe and stable thing in a world where not even your own thoughts are to be trusted. Genius.

Moving on from the most girly thing I could pick out of a book that contains next to nothing that could be classified as girly - I want to talk about Miranda. Now, when we meet Miranda all she knows is her name. The opening scene in this book, by the way, was one of the best first chapters ever. There's so much confusion and chaos, yet it somehow you can read it with perfect clarity. Again, genius. But back to Miranda - I don't know how she has time, with all the missions and people trying to capture her and all, but every time she remembers something or someone tells her about who she used to be, I just completely gave myself to her and her story. She isn't a trustworthy narrator - but, when she's remembering something she's completely vulnerable - and those were my windows into the world.

Other than those moments - the love and the memories - I was floundering through the story. I kept trying to grasp who was who, who remembered what, who was thinking what, why they needed to complete certain missions at certain times - and I came out with no solid footing. This is where I'm still kind of just trying to figure out what happened to me. Because I remember reacting to the action while I was reading, but for the life of me I can't remember what my thoughts were or what actually was going on. And again, maybe that's part of relating to these characters who can lose their memory so easily.

This is a book I kind of want to read again and then talk out. But I can't say much more here without heading into spoiler territory so I'm gonna chill. Even with my uncertainty, I do know that this is a great book. It's different - with totally bad-ass characters, some crazy government stuff, some science fiction, and a whole lot of action. If you're looking for something that doesn't slow down, doesn't ever get soft or quiet, and will just move through your life like a tornado and move on - then this is the book you're looking for.

Rift - Andrea Cremer

Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Ember Morrow is promised to a group called Conatus after one of their healers saves her mother's life. Once she arrives, Ember finds joy in wielding swords, learning magic, and fighting the encroaching darkness loose in the world. She also finds herself falling in love with her mentor, the dashing, brooding, and powerful Barrow Hess. When the knights realize Eira, one of their leaders, is dabbling in dark magic, Ember and Barrow must choose whether to follow Eira into the nether realm or to pledge their lives to destroying her and her kind. (From Goodreads)

It's no secret that I love Andrea Cremer's Nightshade series. If you didn't know this then I'll say it again. I LOVE ANDREA CREMER. I love the world that she has created. This is a fantasy that is truly exceptional. We've been introduced to the modern state of the world of the watchers and the horror of the wraiths. And I actually mentioned in my review of Wolfsbane that if Andrea Cremer wrote a history book about Calla's world, I would read it. Well. Here's that history - in story form. Yeah, doesn't get better than this.

So we go back to before the wraiths, before the watchers and we get to see how this evil comes slinking into the world. And we get to watch it all happen through another incredible heroine. If it's possible, I may like Ember more than Calla. Ember is fierce and Scottish, and she's a female warrior who has to keep her role a secret. She plays with the big boys, and man are those boys something else.

For about three seconds I was a little worried that we were in for another painful (in a good way, of course) love triangle. I don't know if my heart can take another Ren-Calla-Shay. Thankfully, that fear was quelled pretty quick. It's not a love triangle, yet somehow, Ember's love life seems so much more complicated. Luckily, there's Barrow. He's one of the strong, silent types. And I think every word out of his mouth made me completely melt - even if he was just passing on a greeting. Also, if you recall Nightshade, you'll probably remember some pretty intense scenes - you know, the kind that make you blush a bit. Yeah. Well, Rift also has some serious heat. Like, whoa.

I need to stop comparing Rift to Nightshade though. Because, while it's the same world and over time Ember and Calla are linked, they stand beautifully apart. Rift is incredible unto itself and it stands by itself. If you haven't read the Nightshade series, you'll be just fine jumping into Rift. Which, if you haven't read anything Andrea has written, then you seriously need to. Anyway. There are moments where you see something coming, but it doesn't even matter because there is some great tension. It all leads up to an ending that is explosive and slightly torturous. I feel like I've gotten pretty good at being patient between books in series, but I don't know if I can handle the wait until the next book.

So I hope you at least know I love Andrea Cremer. And I hope that you'll run out and pick up the first Andrea Cremer book you can find. Hopefully, that book will be Rift on August 7. I'm so excited for this book, you guys, I kind of want to buy ten copies and just put them in strategic places in my house so I can get all happy whenever I see the cover. Overkill? Nah.

Wings of the Wicked - Courtney Allison Moulton

Synopsis: Life as the Preliator is harder than Ellie ever imagined.
Balancing real life with the responsibility of being Heaven’s warrior is a challenge for Ellie. Her relationship with Will has become all business, though they both long for each other. And now that the secret of who she really is has come out, so have Hell’s strongest reapers. Grown bold and more vicious, the demonic threaten her in the light of day and stalk her in the night.

She’s been warned.
Cadan, a demonic reaper, comes to her with information about Bastian’s new plan to destroy Ellie’s soul and use an ancient relic to wake all the souls of the damned and unleash them upon humanity. As she fights to stay ahead of Bastian’s schemes , the revelations about those closest to her awaken a dark power within Ellie that threatens to destroy everything—including herself.

She’ll be betrayed.Treachery comes even from those whom she loves, and Ellie is broken by the deaths of those who stood beside her in this Heavenly war. Still, she must find a way to save the world, herself, and her love for Will. If she fails, there will be hell to pay. (from Goodreads)

AHHH! I can't get ENOUGH of this stuff!!! I'm completely in love with this angel/demon world and all the characters in it! I don't know what it is about Courtney Allison Moulton's writing, but I'm hooked. OK, that's kind of a lie. I do know what I like about her.


We get to see Ellie in a whole new light in this installment of the Angelfire series. She's become more vulnerable and put into situations that really test her will to keep going. She still has that feisty sarcasm and dry wit that I enjoyed from the first book, but now she's dealing with heart-breaking trauma. I really didn't expect some of the twists that were thrown in, and I really felt for Ellie in this book. She's pushed to the emotional limit.


But this time she has Will, along with her other friends. They all have such a deep connection with each other that I can almost see the bond jumping out of the page. And I don't just mean Ellie and Will (although things between them move to the next level), but also Ellie and her best friend, Kate, and even Ellie and the new angelic reapers she meets in this book but has known for a long time. And lets not forget Cadan. He's created quite a following with this book! I like Cadan. He offers a different side to the reapers who care about the Preliator's well-being. But I'm not in love with him; I think there's still even more to him than we know. I'm very excited to see what becomes of him in the next book.


One of the themes that got passed around a lot in the first book and continues into this book is the line drawn between the angelic and demonic and how there is no choosing your destiny. A reaper is either good or evil. But Ellie constantly questions this, and for good reason. I think her hesitation to judge is one of her strengths, along with her humanity...another topic of interest. To me, this is what makes Ellie so powerful. Her desire to seek the through and find out who a person really is, even if she's unsure of who she is at times. 


And of course, Will is as loyal and brooding as ever. He's so good to Ellie. So patient. So selfless. His entire existence revolves around protecting her. He's the real deal. I'm totally rooting for him and Ellie all the way. Kate is also worth noting. She and Ellie can almost read each other's thoughts. In my mind, Kate is Will in woman form. She is just as devoted and caring of Ellie as he is, and we get to see a little more that side in this book. She's the bestest best friend.


The last book comes out next January. Are you all as excited as I am??