Blog Tour: Emblaze by Jessica Shirvington :: Interview

I'm so excited to have Jessica Shirvington on the blog today answering my questions. I'm totally embarrassed about my first question, because I asked it before I knew that there are more books in this series. But ultimately, it's great news so it's okay! I love Violet and Lincoln so much, I'm ecstatic there are two more books still coming. Now for the interview:

In the Best Worlds: It's so exciting and bittersweet to read the end of Violet's story. What was the hardest part about ending this amazing trilogy?
Jessica Shirvington: Actually, it isn't a trilogy - There will be five books in the series in total. But I can totally understand how you thought it was going to be a trilogy - there were a lot of early descriptions that outlined the series as a trilogy even though it was never intended to be one.
Endless, book 4, will be out in October and book 5 will follow shortly after!

ItBW: Lincoln is an amazing hero and definitely a character worth crushing over. Who is your number one book boy crush?

JS: I'm not really sure. Though I always took a shine to Valek from Maria V. Snyder's Poison Study series.

ItBW: What is the main idea/theme/character/etc. you hope translates perfectly into the Embrace TV series? 

JS: Violet. It has to be her because everything is built around her, around her emotions, around the choices she makes and how she deals with the consequences. Phoenix and Lincoln are very important too.

ItBW: Since you are writing books for teens - what were you like as a teenager?

JS: Lost, mostly. And complicated. And probably not too dissimilar to most teens out there now. But I also fell in love when I was 17 and that changed my life and my future. That is part of the reason I love to write YA, why I feel it is so important what happens to our hearts in those precious years.

ItBW: Finish these sentences: 

The weirdest thing on my desk is...currently, a My Little Pony figurine. There is always something my daughters leave behind on their visits!

The last dream I remember was...actually not a good dream. I can't remember it perfectly but I know I woke up very unhappy and worried.

We could be best friends if...you could forgive me for being constantly preoccupied with my fictional character's lives.

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About Emblaze: Once again Violet Eden faces an impossible choice....and the consequences are unimaginable.

Violet has come to terms with the fact that being part angel, part human, means her life will never be as it was. 

Now Violet has something Phoenix - the exiled angel who betrayed her - will do anything for, and she has no intention of letting it fall into his hands. The only problem is that he has something she needs too. 

Not afraid to raise the stakes, Phoenix seemingly holds all the power, always one step ahead. And when he puts the final pieces of the prophecy together, it doesn't take him long to realize exactly who he needs in order to open the gates of Hell.

With the help of  surprising new allies, ancient prophecies are deciphered, a destination set and, after a shattering confrontation with her father, Violet leaves for the islands of Greece without knowing if she will have a home to return to... 

For Darkness Shows the Stars - Diana Peterfreund

Synopsis: It's been several generations since a genetic experiment gone wrong caused the Reduction, decimating humanity and giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.
Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family's estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot's estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth--an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go.
But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret--one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she's faced with a choice: cling to what she's been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she's ever loved, even if she's lost him forever.
Inspired by Jane Austen's Persuasion, For Darkness Shows the Stars is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it.

I'm so mad at myself for not reading this book sooner. It was one of my most anticipated releases last year and I had it on pre-order for months, but for some reason I kept putting other books ahead of it. I'm to say that it has something to do with the serendipity of things that come to you when you need them, and I think at this time I really needed this book. It's so beautifully and brillantly written, I hardly noticed when reality faded and I was brought to this incredibly world that's so bleak and lovely at the same time. A couple weeks after reading it, I still feel as though I'm being lit up from the inside from all the hope, strength and wisdom that came from reading Elliot and Kai's story.

Persuasion is actually my favorite Jane Austen, probably because it's her most cynical - while still being completely heartwarming. It wasn't just the characters and the general plot that Peterfreund adopted, but she managed to capture that same tone and feeling I got when I read Persuasion. I also love the way she worked in the navy and twisted it to fit this dystopian world she's created. The navy in this case are actually shipbuilders who are all about innovation and exploration.

Which brings me to the dystopian world. The dystopian twist was the part I was most nervous about, but it's pulled of spectacularly. It's this fabulous mixture of a future world that has come to view technology and progression as a sin, so it resembles a few different versions of our past. It kind of envisioned it as a colonial Haiti, with a mixture of the new world exploration feeling of naval exploration from Christopher Columbus's time. It took a little bit to figure out all the terminolgy but the social hierarchy is very familiar. But utlitmately I am just amazed by it because it has that romantic feeling of the past, while still containing horrors like slavery.

Then there's Elliot and Kai. Their relationship is so complicated. It's complicated by their history and by their separation in class. They're raised with a different view of the world - Elliot is part of the elite ruling class, even though she works so hard to keep her estate running. Kai is from a lower class, but he goes out and makes something of himself. Their past relationship is wonderfully told through letters, which bothered me at first and then I realized how Jane Austen that was to tell part of the story though letters, and as their story progresses in the present it gets richer and more intense as you learn more about their past. Everything about these two is so intense because they're so right for each other, they're clearly not communicating properly, and they're both so stubborn that I really did find myself tensed up, anticipating their interactions.

This book went straight to my heart and it's not going anywhere. I love this book like a Jane Austen novel, it's one you go back to when you need a little bit of faith or reason to hope, or you need the feeling of loving someone so much it almost hurts. I can't stress enough how beautiful this book is and I have high hopes that Across a Star-Swept Sea will be just as fabulous.

Blog Tour: Moonset by Scott Tracey :: Review + Giveaway

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Moonset, a coven of such promise...Until they turned to the darkness. After the terrorist witch coven known as Moonset was destroyed fifteen years ago - during a secret war against the witch Congress - five children were left behind, saddled with a legacy of darkness. Sixteen-year-old Justin Daggett, son of a powerful Moonset warlock, has been raised alongside the other orphans by the witch Congress, who fear the children will one day continue the destruction their parents started.
A deadly assault by a wraith, claiming to work for Moonset's most dangerous disciple, Cullen Bridger, forces the five teens to be evacuated to Carrow Mill. But when dark magic wreaks havoc in their new hometown, Justin and his siblings are immediately suspected. Justin sets out to discover if someone is trying to frame the Moonset orphans...or if Bridger has finally come out of hiding to reclaim the legacy of Moonset. He learns there are secrets in Carrow Mill connected to Moonset's origins, and keeping the orphans safe isn't the only reason the Congress relocated them...

Goodreads :: Amazon :: Barnes & Noble :: Flux

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This book reminds me a bit of The Secret Circle, which made it an automatic love for me. Scott Tracey works magic, history and politics into his book so well, he brings a really fascinating world to life. Beyond just being a great story complete with power struggles, family loyalty, a hero who's slightly tortured, a bit of love and of course, witches, it really feels like this book is saying something and serving a purpose greater than itself.

It seems that every teenager, at some point, has to deal with who their parents were, or the choices they made. A large part of this book is the fact that these five teenagers are living with the consequences of their parent's mistakes. They're punished and restricted, even though they are innocent (for the most part...). They have to fight for their own rights and freedoms, but they are often held back or shut down. I love the (often sneaky) ways they manage to hold onto or claim their own power and to claim themselves as individuals.

Individuality is also a struggle these characters are facing. At one point Justin mentions that the crimes of an individual are the crimes of the entire coven. The other four witches in Justin's coven are like family to him, but almost involuntarily, as they can never be too far apart. They're all treated the same, even though each one is an individual. I think this is what made Jenna, Justin's "twin" the most interesting character to me. She just seems to be doing her best to hold on to herself, to hold on to her power, and it just comes off as her being difficult and kind of mean. She's also the one who fights the most for her rights, especially her right to learn about her powers and defend herself.

It's also about repression. There's a great debate that happens in the middle of the book, where Justin is kind of forced to stick up for his evil ancestors, even though he doesn't really believe in what his parents did. The debate though, takes on the form of any debate in which a minority group is fighting for their rights. It comes down to - who has the right to decide what is best for another group of people and why can't we seem to separate an individual from a label?

I've talked about all these issues that seem to surface in the novel, but these are all the things I see that give this book depth. I loved Justin and I loved the way the "family" dynamics played out. With five important characters to keep track of, I was really happy that everyone got page time and I felt like I came to understand the way everyone worked. I think I actually channeled Justin's character in the respect that I didn't trust anyone who wasn't in his coven. Everyone else was lying until they proved themselves.

I really loved this book and just kind of fell for the characters and for the magic. There's a really rich history that goes with the Moonset world and I'm really looking forward to finding out where that background propels them in the next book. I'm looking forward to more from Justin and I actually want to get into Jenna's head a bit more, just to find out what she's thinking. But if you like witches, and if you're like me and think there just aren't enough books about witches, then definitely pick this one up!

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About Scott Tracey: Scott Tracey is a YA author who lived on a Greyhound for a month, wrote his illustrated autobiography at the age of six, and barely survived Catholic school (and definitely not for the reasons you might think.)

He is the author of WITCH EYES, chosen as one of Amazon's Best LGBT Books of 2011, as well as an ALA Popular Paperback in the Forbidden Romance category. The final book in the WITCH EYES trilogy, PHANTOM EYES, will be released in the fall of 2013.

He is also the author of MOONSET, a new series which will be released April 8, 2013, as well as a contributor to the SHADOWHUNTERS & DOWNWORLDERS anthology, edited by Cassandra Clare. 

His career highlights include: accidentally tripping a panic alarm which led to nearly being shot by the police; attacked in a drive-thru window by a woman wielding a baked potato, and once moving cross country for a job only to quit on the second day. 

His gifts can be used for good or evil, but rather than picking a side, he strives for BOTH (in alternating capacity) for his own amusement.

Website :: Twitter :: Facebook :: Goodreads :: Tumblr

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Check out the other stops on this tour this week:

Mar. 25th - Me, My Shelf and I - Guest Post
Mar. 26th - Book Brats - Interview
Mar. 26th - In the Best Worlds - Review
Mar. 27th - Once Upon a Twilight - Guest Post
Mar. 28th - BookHounds YA - Interview
Mar. 29th - WinterHaven Books - Review
Mar. 30th - The Book Cellar - Guest Post
Mar. 31st - Magical Urban Fantasy Reads - Review

See the entire tour schedule!

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Giveaway: There are FIVE copies of Moonset up for grabs for five winners! Giveaway is US only, must be 13 or older to enter. Giveaway ends on April 20, 2013.  

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Blog Tour: My Life After Now by Jessica Verdi :: Guest Post + Review

I'm SO excited to have Jessica Verdi on the blog today with a guest post for the My Life After Now tour. After you read Jessica's post, check out my own thoughts on this amazing novel.

Now Jessica on the musical theater in her novel:

Thank you so much for the opportunity to write a guest post for your blog! I’m superpsyched to get to talk a little bit about my new book My Life After Now.

To say I love musical theater is an understatement. I blast show tunes at all hours of
the day and night, singing along at the top of my lungs—my neighbors must hate me. The bulk of my pre-writing years were spent on stage (and in NYC audition rooms). I’d always been into music (I sang and danced and played the violin from a pretty young age), but the moment I joined my high school drama club, I don’t know, something just clicked for me. Musical theater isn’t just about singing and dancing. It’s about emotion. It’s about telling a story that’s so big, so real, that words alone can’t contain it. No matter if it’s a drama or a comedy, the songs, belted out by a thirty-person chorus or a single actor under a spotlight, bring it all to another level.

When I set out to write My Life After Now, I knew I didn’t want my main character, Lucy, to be just a walking statistic. Like, she has HIV so that’s all we need to know about her. No, she needed to be a real person, with a very full life. And I also wanted to make sure I balanced out the darker moments of the story with lightness and joy. What better way to do that than to submerge Lucy in the world of theater? Throughout the book, Lucy is on stage, at auditions, studying her script, listening to show tunes, quoting plays, and so much more. The chapter titles are all titles of songs from musicals (“What I Did for Love, “It’s a Hard-Knock Life,” and so on) because I felt like if Lucy were describing the chapters in her life, well, that’s how she would do it.

Thanks so much for reading, and I hope you enjoy Lucy’s story!

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My Review: 

Synopsis: Lucy just had the worst week ever. Seriously, mega bad. And suddenly, it's all too much—she wants out. Out of her house, out of her head, out of her life. She wants to be a whole new Lucy. So she does something the old Lucy would never dream of.
And now her life will never be the same. Now, how will she be able to have a boyfriend? What will she tell her friends? How will she face her family?
Now her life is completely different...every moment is a gift. Because now she might not have many moments left. (From Goodreads)

I started reading this book when I really didn't have time to read a book. I was about 50 pages in before I knew everything would take a back seat until I'd finished reading this. I read straight through and finished at about 12:30 in the morning and had to actually restrain myself from texting all my thoughts to my poor friend in the middle of the night. This book is absolutely amazing and consuming. I don't know the last time I ever cried so much in a book, but put it down feeling so happy and uplifted. 

Lucy is a strong, beautiful heroine. I know embarrassingly little about HIV, but I do know that Lucy handles it with grace. She has her moments of freaking out and she does make some poor judgement calls, but ultimately she's so inspiring. As amazing as she is, she'd be so much worse with out the people in her life who care for her. Her dads were the source of 90% of the tears I shed in this novel. Their reactions, their rise to action, their love and support just make them the best characters ever. They are flawed, but exactly the kind of parents any child would be lucky to have. 

There's no doubt that this book has a heavy subject matter, but Verdi does such a wonderful job of balancing the HIV part with the happier parts of life. Lucy has a life before and after she's infected and that life is wonderful. I love the theater parts and I love how something like that is there for her to come back to even after she has such a hard time. I also appreciated the authenticity in the conclusion where not everything is wrapped up and not everyone ends up happily ever after. I just strongly recommend this book because I know I walked away understanding more about people who have HIV and I felt a little bit like I made a new friend in Lucy.

Impostor - Jill Hathaway

Synopsis: What if a killer took control of you?
Vee Bell's gift (or curse) of "sliding" - slipping into the mind of another person and experiencing life, briefly, through his or her eyes - has been someone under control since she unwillingly witnessed the horrific deaths of her classmates six months ago. 
But just as things are getting back to normal, Vee has a very bizarre experience: she loses consciousness and finds herself in a deserted area, at the edge of a cliff, with the broken body of the boy who took advantage of her on the rocks below.
As Vee finds herself in stranger and stranger situations with no memory of getting there, she begins to suspect that someone she knows has the ability to slide - and that this "slider" is using Vee to exact revenge on his or her enemies. (From Goodreads) 

It takes something special for me to pick up books in the mystery genre. They're just not my thing. But I picked up Slide last year and totally fell in love with the characters. So I was excited to get my hands on a copy of Imposter and it was just as great as the first book. Vee is amazing and Rollins is perfect, and I really just felt like I was able to fall back into their world as if no time had passed.

Of course, time has passed in real life and in Vee's world. The story picks up six months after the crazy conclusion to Slide. There was so much I wanted resolved and I feel like this book was the perfect follow up to the first. It was completely satisfying without feeling forced or fake. I like that there's a lot of forgiveness and shifting relationships happening in this book.

Samantha, Vee's ex-best friend comes back into play and I actually ended up kind of liking her - which unfortunately comes about through some terrible circumstances. But I think her character actually brings a lot of issues that face teens today into the light and kind of make you think about the way society is built to support some pretty awful behavior. Also, I love Vee's relationship with her little sister, Mattie, that stays really strong through everything. It's great to see siblings in a YA novel that have a healthy relationship.

Now, I have to admit, a big reason I came back to this series was Rollins. I know, this is probably sad, but sometimes I just need to gush on the boys. And I want to gush about him. He would have been my dream in high school. He's a good person, and he's understanding, he listens, he has an edge, and a lip ring. I just have such a clear image of who he is in my head and I just think he's wonderful. That's not to say I didn't want to smack him upside the head a few times for being dumb, but hey, he is a teenager and he's pretty much bound to make some bad decisions here and there.

In fact all of these characters are completely teenagers - there's no false wisdom or adult qualities about them. They aren't forced to grow up too early - or at least not as much as a lot of YA characters are. They get to accidentally stay out all night, make plans for prom, and come up with completely destructable revenge ideas while still thinking it's the perfect plan. I just absolutely love the way that Jill Hathaway stays true to her character's ages and creates a genuine reading experience.

Notice I haven't said much about the actual mystery. I liked it, it kept me on my toes, but like I said - mystery isn't really my thing. I acknowledge that it was the plot in this book, but I'm just so attached to these characters, I kind of feel like they could do nothing but shop, eat and go to class and I think I'd still love them.

Blog Tour: Give Me Something by Elizabeth Lee :: Interview + Giveaway

I'm SO stoked to be a part of the Give Me Something tour and to have the fabulous Elizabeth lee on the blog today answering my questions! I loved Give Me Something (I'll have a review up next week) so you should definitely check it out. If you stick around through the interview, you can find out more about Elizabeth's second novel (her first novel, Shattered, is also worth checking out) and enter into a great giveaway. *Please note that Give Me Something is a new adult novel and does contain mature situations.*

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Interview with Elizabeth Lee

In the Best Worlds: How would you describe yourself in a sentence?

Elizabeth Lee: This question is my worst nightmare. :-) Haha! I'm so bad at describing myself. I'll say...I'm just a girl from the country with a big imagination!

ItBW: Your books fall into the new adult category What drew you to the genre? What is your favorite thing about new adult books?

EL: What's not to love about NA?! The NA category features characters who are just starting out in their adult lives. It's such a fun age to write because you get to create characters who are trying to figure out how to be "grown ups" -- new relationships, college, living on their own for the first time, new jobs, etc... I love the way New Adult books appeal to such a wide audience. Some readers are experiencing the same things as the characters, while others are reading to relive a time in their lives before work, marriage and babies took over. 

ItBW: You're from the Midwest, which is also the setting for your first book. Will you talk about how your background influences you and your writing? 

EL: I've always heard, "write what you know," and believe me...I know the Midwest. I know about cournfields, cow tipping, small town gossip and country boys. 

ItBW: Congrats on your second novel! What did you learn from publishing your first book? What has changed in releasing your second?

EL:  Releasing my first book was a pretty overwhelming experience. I had this story that I loved and I really wanted people to read it. So, I put in the time, did the research and figured out what worked for me. I was fortunate enough to chat with some great indie writers that offered up some wise words. One thing that I did differently this time around was reaching out to the wonderful world of book bloggers prior to the release of Give Me Something. It's such a wonderful community and I can't thank them enough for all of their support and kind words -- you included, Hannah!

ItBW: What can we expect from your newest book?

EL: Love, lies, manipulation, two super cute guys and one sassy leading lady! This book was so much fun to write and I hope everyone has fun reading it!

ItBW: What are you working on now? 

EL: I don't want to give anything away, but I've got a word document open on my computer right now that features one of the characters from Give Me Something. :-)

ItBW: Do you have any writing rituals or habits?

EL: Nothing too exciting. It's just me, my computer and whatever playlist I've devised to inspire. Oh! And, Vanilla Mt. Dews!

ItBW: If you could pick one song to represent Give Me Something what would it be?

EL: This may be a big surprise, but it's actually "You Give Me Something" by James Morrison. This song has been out for awhile, but every time I heard it I knew there was a great story in my head to go with it.

ItBW: If Give Me Something was turned into a movie, what actors do you think would best represent Lila, Nick and Tucker?

EL: Let's see... 

ItBW: Finish these sentences:

1. We could be best friends if... you speak sarcasm.

2. The best thing a guy could do to win my heart is... make me laugh.

3. You should read my book if.... you are looking for a book that's a little different from the rest, but still has the romance that you love!

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About Give Me Something: Here's the deal...I learned a long time ago that sometimes you have to use what you've got to make things happen. What I happen to have is a pretty smile, long legs and the ability to make men believe anything I say. Before you get on your high horse and start judging me, can you honestly say you've never batted your lashes at some guy for a free drink at the bar? That's what I thought. 
Keep that in mind as I tell you my story of how I took it one step further. My story of lies, deceit, manipulation and love. Yeah, love. Believe me, it fits. Especially, when you factor in Nick and Tucker - one had my heart and the other wanted it all for himself. Which one? Well, I can't tell you that. It would defeat the purpose of the story. If I'm going to fill you in about me, Lila Garrison, and my life as a con artist you're going to need to know all the facts, including the ones about the two guys who made me want to give up the life of fancy clothes, expensive jewelry, fast cars and easy money. Because sometimes, one person can give you something that's more valuable than all of that. 
If you're still interested, stick around. Just remember, I'm pretty good at convincing people to do what I want, so if by the end of this whole thing you feel worked over, don't say I didn't warn you. 

Book Links: Amazon :: B&N :: Smashwords :: Goodreads 

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About Elizabeth:

Born and raised in the middle of a Midwestern cornfield (not literally, that would be weird), I've spent my entire life imagining stories. Stories were the right guy always gets the right girl, first kisses are as magical as they are on the big screen and anything is completely possible if you believe. 

Although this journey began years ago, it recently took on a whole new life. After years of devouring hundreds of Romance, YA and New Adult novels, I had an epiphany...I should write a book. And I did it! My first YA/New Adult novel is out now!

If I'm not reading, writing, enjoying drinks with my amazing group of girlfriends or chasing around a sarcastically funny one-year old, I'm probably watching television shows that were created for teenagers, while my husband teases that I'm too old to watch them. 

Connect with Elizabeth: Facebook :: Blog :: Goodreads :: Twitter

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Giveaway

Up for grabs is a signed paperback copy of both Give Me Something and Shattered. The winner will be chosen and notified on Monday, March 25. Use the Rafflecopter form to enter. 

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Check out the other stops on this tour!

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The Sweetest Dark - Shana Abe

Synopsis: Lora Jones has always known that she’s different. On the outside, she appears to be an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl. Yet Lora’s been keeping a heartful of secrets: She hears songs that no one else can hear, dreams vividly of smoke and flight, and lives with a mysterious voice inside her that insists she’s far more than what she seems.
England, 1915. Raised in an orphanage in a rough corner of London, Lora quickly learns to hide her unique abilities and avoid attention. Then, much to her surprise, she is selected as the new charity student at Iverson, an elite boarding school on England’s southern coast. Iverson’s eerie, gothic castle is like nothing Lora has ever seen. And the two boys she meets there will open her eyes and forever change her destiny.
Jesse is the school’s groundskeeper—a beautiful boy who recognizes Lora for who and what she truly is. Armand is a darkly handsome and arrogant aristocrat who harbors a few closely guarded secrets of his own. Both hold the answers to her past. One is the key to her future. And both will aim to win her heart. As danger descends upon Iverson, Lora must harness the powers she’s only just begun to understand, or else lose everything she dearly loves. (From Goodreads)

I knew I had to read this book when I saw that it was recommended for fans of Libba Bray and Lauren Kate. Then I got so excited when I relalized we were dealing with dragons (or drakons). I've finally begun watching Game of Thrones and Khaleesi is my favorite, so I was pretty psyched about this. It got even better when it was 1914 England and a super gothic boarding school. I think by the time I was 100 pages in, I was so hyped up that the rest was ultimately disappointing.

The reason I couldn't quite get on board were the characters. The setting is perfect, the history is awesome, and the paranormal aspect is so cool. But I had no idea who Lora really was. One minute she's a passive woman in accordance with her time peroid and then the next minute she's sassing a duke and threatening high born girls. She ahs this bizarre confidence that doesn't really seem to come from any where, especially when the rest of her character feels uncolored - her witty moments felt too scripted. There are two love interests as well (kind of) and neither are appealing. One's instalove, the other is (kind of - I guess it's more that he's attracted to her) insalust and both boys are cookie-cutter. Jessie is mysterious to the point where you know nothing about him and the other is a bored rich boy with a bit of an edge. The connections between them feel forced and flimsy.

It's just such a bummer, because everything else is beautiful. This book is exactly what I think of when I think of purple prose, which I actually found kind of funny since it seems that the only color she metions in the book is purple - her eyes, the sky, etc. It's flowery and could easily be excessive, but it works quite well. It's just that with out solid characters to latch on to I felt a bit like I was wandering through a dream of a world that looks like this, rather than being completely transported.

So here's my thing I hestiate to recommend or to not recommend this book. I'm firmly in the middle. Because there are a lot of awesome things happening and other readers will probably connect to the characters in a way I just couldn't. So take my thoughts with a grain of salt, and if it sounds like this book is up your alley then give it a shot. I mean it's dragons, England, 1941, boarding school - the worst that's going to happen is you feel like you're in a dreamland for a little while.