March in Hindsight

BOOKS READ

33. Scarlett Fever - Maureen Johnson
34. Vampire Academy - Richelle Mead
35. Frostbite - Richelle Mead
36. Shadow Kiss - Richelle Mead
37. Poetry Speaks Who I Am - Elise Paschen (editor)
38. Blood Promise - Richelle Mead
39. Fantasy In Death - J.D. Robb
40. City of Night - Michelle West
41. Burn - Ted Dekker and Erin Healy
42. Inside Out - Maria V. Snyder
43. Poison Study - Maria V. Snyder (reread)
44. Everlasting - Angie Frazier
45. Silver Borne - Patricia Briggs

AWARDS

Chrissie @ Chrissie's Corner was kind enough to pass along  the Lovely Blog Award.  Thanks Chrissie!

Miriam @ Backchat Girl Reviews gave me the Beautiful Blogger Award.  Aw, thanks, Miriam!  I'm blushing...

Teaser Tuesday: Poetry Speaks Who I Am

Today's teaser is from Poetry Speaks Who I Am, a poetry anthology for middle graders, edited by Elise Paschen.

"What your mother tells you now

in time

you will come to know"

-Mitsuye Yamada

I love that.  Those who know me know that I don't really "do" poetry, but I am loving this book.  Perhaps I just work at a middle grade level?  Or maybe I've just matured to a point where I can get poetry at all.  Either way, look out for my review and an interview with Elise Paschen, coming up soon.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Review: Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson

Acquire it: Scarlett Fever

While not precisely spoiler-filled, this review will make more sense to you if you have read Suite Scarlett.

Summary: School's about to start, but books and calculators are the last thing on Scarlett Martin's mind.  She's too busy helping babysit Mrs. Amberson's latest talent, finally spending a little time with her friends, and of course, nursing her broken heart.  Could she still have a chance with Eric?  Does she even want one?

My thoughts:  Well, I wasn't the hugest fan of Suite Scarlett, but I had hoped that Scarlett Fever might be better.  Sadly, it isn't.

Actually, this book manages to largely cut out one of the best characters from Suite Scarlett, Mrs. Amberson.  Mrs. Amberson is a walking punchline!  Why on earth would you cut out one of the most entertaining characters?

I really wanted to enjoy this book, but it just seemed to meander all over the place.  I'm sorry, but I just can't recommend it.

About Maureen Johnson:  "Even though I am not Catholic, I attended an all-girl Catholic prep high school. (This is the kind of thing that passes for a joke in my family.) Despite slightly gulag-like conditions, total lack of contact with the male sex, and minor mental scarring, high school was a pretty good experience for me, as I met several of my best friends there. Captivity can breed this kind of warm feeling. However, the experience caused me to develop a lifelong aversion to polyester and knee socks." (borrowed from the bio on her website, which is awesome)


Second opinions:
Bookshelves of Doom - enjoyed it a lot more than I did.
Have you reviewed this book?  Leave me a link and I'll be happy to include you in the list.

Cream of the Crop (6)

Cream of the Crop is a weekly feature in which I take some of my favorite posts from other blogs and websites and share them with you. This is what caught my attention this week:

Jo over at Once Upon a Bookcase is hosting a themed month in July.  Last year Jo did Sex in Teen Lit month.  This year the topic is going to be Body Image and Self Perception.  For more information, and to let Jo know if you'd like to participate, be sure to hop over to the announcement post linked above.

I really need to stop featuring The First Novels Club in every issue of Cream of the Crop.  You guys are going to think I'm playing favorites.  But really, it's a great blog!  Why aren't you a follower yet?  This week, Sara posts about Doritos, Lady Gaga, and the Art of the Hook.  Donna also put up a great post about how to choose your next writing project using househunting as a metaphor. 

Jennifer @ Reading with Tequila posts on the books that casual readers into book lovers.  Was there a particular book or series that turned that corner for you?  I think I've always been a book lover.  As I told Jennifer, my mother used to punish me by suspending my library privilages.  Darn my clever mom!  I would much rather have been grounded- more time to read.

Chelsea from The Page Flipper posted a great review of Elizabeth Scott's The Unwritten Rule.  I've seen so many 5-star reviews for this book, but I'm holding off because the premise just doesn't sit well with me.  I guess the unwritten rule is written (in stone) for me.

Beth Revis from Writing It Out announces her BOOK DEAL!!  SQUEEEEEE!  Congratulations, Beth!  I'm so excited for you.  Oh, hey!  There's also a contest to celebrate.

Tara of 25-Hour Books did a guest post over at The Book Rat.  Do you suffer from PABD?

Heather over at Word Trix posted some scary statistics about reading and literacy. "50 percent of American adults are unable to read an eighth grade level book."  Now that is frightening.  Excuse me while I go read to my children...


Angieville let me know that Elizabeth Bunce has a new book coming out.  I absolutely loved her first, A Curse Dark As Gold, which was a retelling of Rumplestilkin.  The new book, Star Crossed, sounds like more of a pure fantasy.  You can check out the Goodreads page here.
 
Lous_Pages doubts that James Patterson can really write.  I have wondered about this myself from time to time.  What is up with all the co-authoring and churning out a dozen novels in a year?
 
The Secret Adventures of Writergirl posted about Rick Riordan's new Egyptian series.  I've been wonder what Riordan would be doing post-Percy Jackson.  Thanks, Heather!
 
And that's it for this week's edition of Cream of the Crop. Got a great post you think I should have included this week? I want to check it out! Please leave a link in the comments.

Review: City of Night by Michelle West

Rated: 3 gutsy street urchins out of 5

Acquire It: City of Night

Summary: Demonic activity has escalated in both the Undercity and the mortal surface level city as the worshipers and servants of the Lord of the Hells strive to complete the rituals that will return their god to the mortal realm. As Rath joins with mages and the Twin Kings' agents to wage a secret battle against this nearly unstoppable foe, he gives Jewel Markess and her den of orphans the opportunity to escape the chaos by providing them with a note of introduction to the head of House Terafin, where Jewel will discover her destiny.  (Goodreads)

Opening Line: "Water lapped against the curved sides of the ships that lined the docks in the harbor overseen by the Port Authority."

My thoughts: I've got a mixed bag of comments here.  Let's go with the good stuff first.

This book had a great cast of characters.  I loved Jewel and Angel and the rest of the orphan crew, they all felt alive and real to me.  It's tricky when you're creating a group like that to give each character their own personality and motivations.  A trick that has been handily pulled off here.  The adult characters in the book are also lots of fun.  I really enjoyed the relationship dynamics between Rath and Jewel.  The whole gang is presented with a subtle wittiness that is just perfect.

Also loved the world-building here.  West has created a universe out of nothing, complete with rich traditions and history for all the cultures within it.  This almost got to the point of being too much for me, but true fans of high fantasy will approve wholeheartedly.

Which brings me to my not-so-good comment.  Read that description up there!  Doesn't it sound exciting?  Don't you just want to jump in and get swept off on a wild adventure?  So did I.  But it just didn't quite materialize.  I found the writing style was confusing, and the story moved too slowly to hold my attention.  The prologue was so long I forgot it was a prologue, and got all wrapped up in the story.  Then the prologue was over and there was an abrupt change in time and writing style that really threw me off.

I did like this book.  But I warn you to come equipped with some patience and a good ability to focus.

Content warnings:  Lots of swords and sorcery-style violence.

About Michelle West: She lives in Toronto with her long-suffering husband and her two children, and to her regret has no dogs. (from the bio on her website)

Second opinions:
I can't find any!  If you've reviewed this book, send me the review URL at gypsyrover21(at)yahoo(dot)ca and I would be happy to link to your review.

Interview: Michelle Sagara West

Today I'm talking with author Michelle West (she also writes under the name Michelle Sagara). This superwoman is a bookseller/wife/mother by day, and a writer/genius by night.  But I'll let her tell you about herself (my words in bold):

First, let's play three truths and a lie. Tell me four facts about yourself, one of which is completely fictional. (Readers, I will let you know which is the lie at the end of the interview.)

1. I live in Toronto with my long-suffering husband and my two sons.  I've pretty much lived in Toronto all my life.

2. I don't have, and have never had, a driver's license. This causes people to look at me strangely when they've asked for ID, because apparently ID consists of either a driver's license or a passport, the latter of which I don't generally carry around while I'm in the city.

3. I have butterflies about any public appearance. At all. I'm frequently terrified when I have to meet strangers. For some reason, almost nobody believes this.

4. In order to get anything done, I have to be very well organized.

Describe yourself in three words.

pragmatic, opinionated, straightforward.

short, fat, stupid.

honest, sentimental, private.

You write several different series, resulting in a cast of characters that I have no idea how you manage to keep organized. Is there one character in particular that you absolutely love writing? Or maybe one who always gives you a hard time?

This should have been an easy question (the first two were hard!), but the truth is I both love writing all of my characters, and they are all, at one time or another, very difficult. I tend to write very much immersed in a viewpoint, and that viewpoint sees the world in a particular way.

One of my characters in the BROKEN CROWN, Sendari, is actively loathed by a wide variety of people (my mother among them but certainly not alone) -- but I didn't loath him when I wrote him, and it honestly didn't occur to me that he would be loathed; he's very much the type of man he is.

But possibly Alesso di'Marente from the SUN SWORD was the most difficult to write over-all, because he would do things that would leave me screaming at the computer in frustration or confusion. There's one particular scene in BROKEN CROWN, in which he pretty much insists on fighting a demon in single combat when his allies are -right there-.  The demon could kill him; it is -not- an entirely even match; his allies are mages, and they could turn the tide of that battle. He'd been so smart and practical in the book up to that point. I pulled all my hair out, and then fretted, like authors often do, that this would suddenly make everyone think he was as much of an idiot as I did at that moment.

But my editor, when I asked her, said, "You don't understand, Michelle -- that is almost the *defining* Alesso scene."

And I didn't understand that, at the time. I did, however, understand that it was very much in character -- I just didn't understand why.

Do you have any writing rituals?

Not really. But I do have writing goals on a daily basis. If I didn't, I wouldn't get anything done.

I tend to work late at night and sleep in (now that the kids are older); I find it easier in some ways not to have to answer either the door or the phone.

I try to do my writing before I do anything else, and sometimes I barely get the writing done, which means I really don't manage to do simple things like answer email in a timely fashion =/. But I can get so caught up in email or on-line things; I can spend four hours posting replies on bulletin boards, at the end of which there's no -time- to write.

That, and I feel vaguely guilty.

I loved reading your interview with Jim C. Hines about your experiences as a bookseller. Has your career as a bookseller influenced the way you conduct your career as an author?

Yes. Absolutely yes.

I started working part-time in a chain when I was sixteen, which was long before I attempted to write a novel. So I understood how returns worked; I understood the immediate difference between various displays; I could evaluate book covers entirely as marketing tools. Bookstores don't see a lot of the publicity that occurs around any given book -- but I was aware that fiction doesn't get very much in the way of column space or television. Non-fiction does, but that's not what I write.

I've seen books with extensive publicity campaigns die. I don't think that sales are dependent entirely on publicity -- and that's not the accepted wisdom. I can point out any number of titles that got a big push and disappeared, whereas it's easier to point to the ones that got a big push and sold.

Working at Bakka eventually put me in the buyer's chair. It's not a chain, so the buying meetings won't ever be as onerous, but it meant I could meet sales reps. This taught me something important. I think you're always going to get higher orders from reps who arrive in person than you will from catalogues, and it's in part because the reps build a long-term relationship with the buyer.

This means I understand why sales reps can't shove a particular book into every store they cover in their territories. Frankly, that would have only irritated the crap out of me. They *can* put forward books that I might have missed because of catalogue placement; they *can* point out that pre-pub buzz for a book has been high, or that it's already sold to several international markets. But if they hardsell, the implication is that I don't actually know my own store's customers.

It's entirely possible that my approach to career is too bookstore-centric, because that's what I know.  But what it does is take the personal out of things when they go wrong.

Not naming any names, have you had any bizarre experiences with fans of your books coming into your place of work?

Let me knock wood before I say this: No.

I've had funny things, and surprising things (one man came into the store and asked if I was Michelle Sagara; he's Australian and his wife had asked him to visit the store just in case I was actually there on a day he could make it in). I had one woman come in and ask if, as a surprise for her daughter who was in University in the UK, she might ask me to talk to her on the phone (it was the woman's phone, and it was a cell phone) if I had the time.

I've also had customers come into the store and describe the plot of a book for which they don't have an author or title (this is quite common, and I kind of like the challenge of attempting to figure out what the book actually was), and it's a bit surreal when I realize, with a slowing growing certainly, that the book they're looking for or speaking about is one that I wrote.

It's also a little bit awkward, because they often don't realize that I write at all, so I have to say that I do recognize the book they're describing, and I wrote it. This sometimes embarrasses them, and it shouldn't :).

More recently, though, I've had a couple of customers come back to the store to gently berate me for not recommending my own books to them.  I've worked in the store since 1986; the best part of the job for me, hands-down, is the ability to match readers with the books they'll love. It's sometimes a slow process because it's not always clear what will work for any specific reader, but: I've become reasonably good at it over the decades.

However... One can't always be objective about one's own work, and if you are asking me for a recommendation in, say, SF vs Fantasy, I'm not actually going to then tell you to read a book that is *entirely* fantasy, and no, I don't care who wrote it. So I'm not going to give you my book when you've asked for something entirely different because that is not, in fact, doing my bookstore-related job, and in *most* cases, customers will feel slightly pressured (because one does when the author is standing in front of you with their book in their hands) and slightly annoyed (because they've told you they want SF, and you're waving Fantasy under their nose, implying that you weren't listening at all).

I will say that one of the three people who did do this stopped, thought about the question he'd just asked, and then grinned and said, "I guess that would be a bit much." And yes, it would.

Just for my own curiosity, why do you write under three different variations of your name?

Michelle Sagara is my legal name. When I left my bookstore job, it was because I was expecting my first child. (Well, truthfully, I'd planned to work until 2 weeks before the due date, and he arrived 3 weeks early, so I technically left work because I had had my first child). I expected to be able to write, and for a variety of reasons, I wanted to be at DAW, but I was also still under contract to Del Rey.

So I suggested that I write as Michelle West.

Michelle West worked for me because it's my married name, and is what most people who don't know me call me regardless (my children's teachers, for instance). I go to (small) a number of SF conventions every year. I'm sometimes accused of being over-focused, and this means I'm perfectly capable of walking past people I know without actually *noticing* they're there if I'm engrossed in thought or conversation (If I'm reading, I won't notice an earthquake, sadly).   So...if someone is calling me by a name that I don't recognize on any visceral level as mine, I'd be likely to filter it out entirely, and I thought this might be... bad.

Realizing that I do have this weakness, I planned for it by choosing a name that I'd recognize if it were shouted at me across a hall or function room.

Michelle Sagara West?

That came about because my publisher wanted, hopefully, to signal to both the West readers and the Sagara readers that I wrote the books he was reprinting. I don't think I've ever consciously made the choice, and I did tell him before it was decided that he could use whichever name he wanted, although the books were originally published under the Sagara name.

And finally, what was the last book you read that you absolutely loved?

This, and the first two questions, were the -hardest- for me to answer, honestly.

I adored CONSPIRACY OF KINGS by Megan Whalan Turner, but it's not out yet; I read the ARC. I think the book I most recommend in the store at the moment is still NAME OF THE WIND, by Patrick Rothfuss, which I did adore without reservation. But: I also really liked GALILLEO'S DREAM by Kim Stanley Robinson, and that one I'm still chewing over.

As to which of Michelle's answers was a lie, she says:

[The obvious lie would be 4 in this particular case. Although technically I am the world's worst liar.]

 

Thank you, Michelle, for agreeing to this interview!

 

As a special treat to make all my readers lives easier, I have some links for you:

Michelle West's blog.

Bakka Phoenix Books in Toronto, where Michelle works.

My review of Michelle's book Cast in Shadows.  My review of her latest novel, City of Night, will be posting tomorrow.

Review: The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

Acquire it: The Adoration of Jenna Fox

Long story short: Who is Jenna Fox?  Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a year-long coma, and she's still recovering from the terrible accident that caused it. Her parents show her home movies of her life, her memories, but she has no recollection. Is she really the same girl she sees on the screen?   Little by little, Jenna begins to remember. Along with the memories come questions—questions no one wants to answer for her. What really happened after the accident? (Description from Goodreads)

My thoughts:  Does that description remind you a little bit of Meg Cabot's Airhead?  Don't get the two confused, because it's just a surface resemblance.  The Adoration of Jenna Fox deals with a lot of the same issues, but it's much more serious story.

I had really high hopes for this book, and it almost lived up to them.  I was a little bit disappointed in the world-building- it seemed a little disjointed and hard to believe from time to time.  Why are they so technologically advanced in some areas (for instance, creating human beings almost from scratch) and so regressed in others?  The inconsistency was distracting.  The storytelling is also deliberately choppy, which really fits in with Jenna and her state of mind, but is not my favorite style of writing.

While this book did not quite live up to my expectations, it's still a really good book.  It touches on so many issues you could spend months discussing them all.  There are the obvious questions regarding Jenna's humanity or lack thereof.  But the book also takes a look at free will, parental attachment, medical ethics and more.  Each subject is worked into the story in an organic way, but at the end I found my head was packed with questions to ponder.  That's a very good thing for me.

This is definitely a book with appeal beyond the usual YA market.  Readers from tweens right on through to adults will enjoy it. 

About Mary Pearson:  "I suppose I have always been enamored with story and character. My mother tells me I could be the most annoying little kid, waking up each day as a new character. Every morning she would have to ask me "who" I was for that day, because unless properly addressed I refused to answer anyone."  (borrowed from the bio on her website.)



Second opinions:
Presenting Lenore
Karin's Book Nook
Devourer of Books
One Librarian's Book Reviews
Have you reviewed this book?  Leave me a link and I'll be happy to add you to the list.

Teaser Tuesday 3/23/2010

Today's teaser is from The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson.

I'm afraid she will have a last-minute change of heart, will control me in that way she does and force me back into the car juest by saying my name.  It is like we are both fighting for control of Jenna Fox.

I am loving this book so far.  Dystopian fiction that, if it continues to live up to the promise of the first few chapters, is going to rank up there with The Hunger Games and The Giver among my favorites.

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Mini-reviews (11)

Fantasy in Death - J.D. Robb (3/5)

Summary:  This time around, Eve Dallas and crew are investigating the gruesome death of a video game designer.  He died in a locked gaming room, alone- by decapitation.  Suspects abound, from competing designers to the deceased's partners, but unless Eve can figure out how the crime was committed, finding the killer is going to be impossible.

My thoughts: Is Eve Dallas getting soft in her old age?  I noticed definite signs that she's developing a tender side... possibly even considering children.  I almost don't recognize her as the tough you-know-what I've become accustomed to.  This book definitely showcased Eve's lighter side, with lots of banter between characters providing a welcome distraction from the bloody crime.  Lots of fun to be had for fans of the series.

Burn - Ted Dekker and Erin Healy (2/5)

Summary:  The gypsy kumpania Janeal Mikkado lived in was completely destroyed, burned to the ground by a vicious drug dealer.  Everyone was killed.  But it didn't have to be that way. The night of the fire, Janeal had a choice: try to save her best friend's life, or escape the fire with a million dollars that belonged to the drug lord.  She chose the money.  15 years later, Janeal has completely recreated her life.  But her choices are coming back to haunt her.

My thoughts:  This book had me at hello... and then lost me a few pleasantries later.  I was really enjoying the storyline, right up until the moralizing started coming along.  I GET that Janeal is making an ethical decision that's going to change who she is as a person.  I don't need to be pounded over the head with it.  A little subtlety would have been appreciated. 

Not that the book is all bad.  Fans of Christian fiction thrillers are going to love it.  I think I might just have to give up on the genre... it's not for me.

Crystal Ball: Dead in the Family

On May 4, just a little over six weeks from now, Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris will be hitting the shelves. I know many readers of this blog are rabid fans of the series, so I thought it might be fun to have a little competition.

So, dust off your crystal ball and tell me your official predictions for what will happen in the book. Be as silly or as earnest as you like, but step up and put your rep on the line. Your prize for correct predictions? Virtual cookies and eternal bragging rights. Not to mention my undying respect.

No cheating! If you have ways of knowing what really happens in the book, I ask you to please not participate. Other than that, have at it!

To those who have not read the series so far, obviously there will be spoilers in the predictions, so consider youself warned. But, you have over a month to catch up on the series.  Get cracking!

 

My predictions:

 

1.  Sookie's cousin's telepathic son comes for an extended visit, or possibly to live with Sookie long term.  He is able to read vampire minds.

 

2.  Vampire-human marriages will be legalized and Eric will propose to Sookie.  Bill will have a (manly-style) hissy fit.

 
3. The new king of Alabama will attempt to steal Sookie again.  She's just too darn useful, not to mention that fact that she seems to bathe in supernatural male-attracting pheromones every morning.

Cream of the Crop (5)

Cream of the Crop is a weekly feature in which I take some of my favorite posts from other blogs and websites and share them with you. This is what caught my attention this week:

Maggie Stiefvater posted a brilliant rant in defense of YA literature.  You need to read it.  And then you need to print out copies to give to all your friends who mock you for reading YA.  Also, leave a comment and tell Maggie about her general, all-around awesomeness.

Actually, it seems like the tides of public opinion might be swinging in favor of adults who read YA lit.  Guess what?  We might actually be recognized as intelligent people!  Check out this article from the LA Times.

Shalonda @ Shalonda's Blog weighs in on Hillary Duff's book deal and celebrity authors in general.

My Maria V. Snyder e-newsletter brought me part five of the short story ICE STUDY this time around.  Make sure you click this link to get to her website and subscribe.  You'll notice several other short stories while you're there.

the1stdaughter posted a great story on her blog, There's A Book, about her son's struggle with a form of autism and some of the ways they helped him work through it.  A fantastic, inspirational post, with some great ideas for parents.

Joy Preble weighs in with her reflections on the first six months of being a published author and shares some lessons learned.

The Little Reader asks "Are memes a waste of time?"  This is something I've been wondering about myself... opinions?

Prophecygirl @ Wondrous Reads reports on a Charlaine Harris book signing.  Is it just me, or does Charlaine Harris look completely unlike what you would expect her to look like? 

Heather Zundel @ The Secret Adventures of Writergirl posted a hilarious video entitled "How Twilight Should Have Ended."  If you, like me, have a weird and twisted sense of humor, you might just fall out of your chair laughing.  So be sure to brace yourself.

And that's it for this week's edition of Cream of the Crop.  Got a great post you think I should have included this week?  I want to check it out!  Please leave a link in the comments.

Read. Think. Discuss.

A couple of weeks ago, I read a review for The Hollow by Jessica Verday in my local paper, The Ottawa Citizen.  You can read the review here.  Entitled "Better Than Bella," this review recommends The Hollow largely because the main character is less annoying than Bella Swan from the Twilight series.  I haven't read The Hollow, but I hope the book has more going for it than that.

But that's not what I want to talk to you about.  Read this quote from the review:

Reading teen fiction these days makes me feel old. Not because I can't identify with the hormone-induced angst that is high school (it's all too near), but because I find myself thinking in sentences that begin with, "In my day ... "

As in, "In my day, a book stood up on its own. You didn't pay $22 for a book that's a setup to a trilogy. And you didn't have a whole whack of merchandise already packaged and waiting to be sold even as the book hits shelves!" I guess I yearn for the good old days when a book was more about story than stuff.

OK, I'll grant you the point about first novels that are solely the set-up for a trilogy.  They annoy me too.  But as for the rest, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?  I think this author is once again maybe a little too caught up in the Twilight or Harry Potter craze.  When the young adult sections of many bookstores are in fact half-full of these two series and their merchandise, I guess it might be an easy mistake to make.  To the best of my knowledge, the average YA novel does not have "a whole whack of merchandise."  Or even a half-whack.  If there is merchandise, it is usually T-shirts and the like, available through the author for promotional purposes.

I could be wrong.  I know it's happened before, and this is definitely not my area of expertise.  So, readers, let's talk.  Do you think YA novels, or even books in general, are over-merchandised?  Does this offend you, or do you think it's a legitimate attempt to make a tricky industry more profitable?

Mini-reviews (12) The Vampire Academy Edition

This post contains spoilers for those who have not read VAMPIRE ACADEMY (Book One).  The spoilers are all in the summaries, the "My thoughts" section is spoiler free.

Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Summary: Rose loves Dimitri, Tasha wants Dimitri, Dimitri might want Tasha, and Mason is completely gaga over Rose.  Fun times!  What could possibly improve this situation?  Let's throw the entire cast of characters together in a small space.  A Strigoi attack sends the Moroi world into high alert, and for winter break, the entire student body of St. Vlad's Academy is on a ski trip together.  But that might be exactly what the Strigoi were hoping for...

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

Summary:  After the terrible events of winter break, Rose is struggling to cope. Even with graduation and freedom approaching, dark thoughts are threatening to overwhelm her.  That's not even the biggest secret she's trying to conceal... her crush on Dimitri is not getting any easier to deal with.  But nothing can ever happen between them while Rose is committed to Lissa.  Torn between her best friend and the man she loves, Rose feels like she's going to go insane.  Unfortunately, a huge Strigoi attack might just take the matter out of her hands.

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Summary:  Even though she's THIS close to graduation, Rose drops out of St. Vlad's and sets out to fulfill her last promise to Dimitri, who is now living the undead life as a Strigoi.  Assuming she can find him, will Rose have the strength to end his existence, or will she join him in (unspeakably evil) immortality?

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...er, Academy, something strange is happening to Lissa. 

My thoughts: Love. This. Series.

The plotting here is a beautiful thing.  Each book manages to up the stakes for Rose and the others, and to build on the events of the previous book, but each book still has enough of a plot to stand alone.  The book endings leave you wanting more without being so cliffhanger-y as to render you unable to cope with daily life. (Don't laugh!  This is a big problem for me.  I was completely useless for a week after I read Catching Fire.) I have some concern that the plot may become so melodramaticly out of control as to be unreadable in the final two books of the series, but I am holding faith that Richelle Mead will not fail me.

The characters continue to be fantastic.  Mead has a talent for thowing new characters into the mix in a way that keeps things interesting, whether they stay for several books or only a few pages.  I heart Dimitri.  A lot.  If Rose ends up with Adrian there is going to be an ugly hissy fit happening in the NotNessie household. 

I think it's so great the way Mead consistently gives you enough detail that the story feels immediate and compelling, but not so much that she ever writes herself into a corner.  This series is an all-around example of how to write a series.  I'm so, so impressed.

That said, these books aren't for everyone.  You'll need to have a high tolerance level for adolescent drama, violence, and sexual tension.  And if you don't like paranormal, don't even bother.  But everyone else should READ THIS SERIES!

Mead is definitely a talented writer and I can't wait to see where this series ends up. There are two books to go in Rose's story.  Book 5, Spirit Bound, is due out May 18th and Book 6 is expected near the end of the year. 

Website for Richelle Mead

Interview: Maria V. Snyder (+Giveaway)

Today I am thrilled to be posting this interview with fantasy author Maria V. Snyder.  Maria is the brain behind one of my favorite series, the STUDY books.  Her current project is a YA novel entitled INSIDE OUT, which is being released in April.  Now, on to the interview:

First off, let's play three truths and a lie. Tell us four facts about yourself, one of which is fictional. (Readers, scroll to the end of the interview to discover the lie!)

1. My books have won six awards.
2. I have a Storm Goblin made out of a gourd.
3. I won a silver medal for gymnastics in 11th grade in the PA state tournament.
4. I have multiple weapons in my office so I can act out my fight scenes.

What does a typical day in your life look like?

A typical day for me is I wake up about 6:45 a.m. to make sure my kids get on the school bus. Then I go back to bed and sleep until noon . After my breakfast, I go to my office and check my email and answer any time sensitive ones. I try and limit my time spent emailing etc to an hour but it never works :) I also do any business type stuff and if I have time write. Then my kids are home and I do the mom thing--dinner, homework, taxi driver. After the kids go to bed (around 10 p.m.), I write. I work until about 3:30 a.m. then go to bed.

You've written so many great characters! I love Yelena for her general butt-kicking-ness, but which character did you most enjoy writing?

I must admit I love writing about Janco. He's fun and has a very unique perspective. I had a blast writing Power Study, a short story from Ari and Janco's point of view – Janco's chapters were my favorite (the story is up on my website if anyone wants to read it).

Do you do a lot of research for your books, and, if so, do you enjoy it?

Yes, I do research for all my books. Hands on research is my favorite - it helps me to translate an experience--the sights, smells, feelings, and how things taste or what they feel like--for the reader. If I experience it myself, then I can draw a better picture for the reader.

Some of the research I've done is learned how to ride a horse, taken glassblowing classes, and recently spent a day at a maximum security prison.

Although The Study and Glass series have been re-marketed as YA, my understanding is that you didn't originally write them with that intention. Did you approach INSIDE OUT any differently with a YA audience in mind?

No – I wrote the book the same as the others. The only difference is INSIDE OUT is shorter. The interesting thing about my books is they appeal to all ages. I've had emails from readers as young as 9 years old and as old as 81 years old. I wrote with adults in mind at first, but when my niece read Poison Study in one weekend (she was 14 at the time and before I found a publisher), I realized that maybe young adults would enjoy my stories as well.

Since you teach fiction writing, what is your single best piece advice for an aspiring author?

Persistence. And I agree with Stephen King in his book, On Writing in order to improve as a writer you must do “two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” I do have a whole page of writing advice on my website – aspiring authors are welcome to go to the page at: http://www.mariavsnyder.com/advice.php

What is the last book you read that you absolutely loved?

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Thank you so much for doing this interview with me, Maria!  It's been a pleasure.  Just so you all know, Maria's lie was #3 - she was not a silver medal-winning gymnast.

Maria has graciously offered up a copy of INSIDE OUT to one lucky blog reader.  For your chance to win, please fill out the form below:

Teaser Tuesday: Fantasy In Death

Today's teaser is from Fantasy In Death by J.D. Robb.

"Listen. Listen to me."  Suave vanished in sober.  " I make a living sleeping with people who can afford to slip me some cash, buy me nice things.  I make more selling information when I've got it.  I don't hurt people."

Oh really?  Forgive me if I'm ever so slightly unconvinced.

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at Should Be Reading.  Anyone can play along!