Review: The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

Title: The Queen of the Tearling (The Queen of the Tearling #1)
Author: Erika Johansen
Publisher: Harper
Acquired Via: Publisher
Release Date: July 8, 2014
On her nineteenth birthday, Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn, raised in exile, sets out on a perilous journey back to the castle of her birth to ascend her rightful throne. Plain and serious, a girl who loves books and learning, Kelsea bears little resemblance to her mother, the vain and frivolous Queen Elyssa. But though she may be inexperienced and sheltered, Kelsea is not defenseless: Around her neck hangs the Tearling sapphire, a jewel of immense magical power; and accompanying her is the Queen’s Guard, a cadre of brave knights led by the enigmatic and dedicated Lazarus. Kelsea will need them all to survive a cabal of enemies who will use every weapon—from crimson-caped assassins to the darkest blood magic—to prevent her from wearing the crown.

Despite her royal blood, Kelsea feels like nothing so much as an insecure girl, a child called upon to lead a people and a kingdom about which she knows almost nothing. But what she discovers in the capital will change everything, confronting her with horrors she never imagined. An act of singular daring will throw Kelsea’s kingdom into tumult, unleashing the vengeance of the tyrannical ruler of neighboring Mortmesne: the Red Queen, a sorceress possessed of the darkest magic. Now Kelsea will begin to discover whom among the servants, aristocracy, and her own guard she can trust.

But the quest to save her kingdom and meet her destiny has only just begun—a wondrous journey of self-discovery and a trial by fire that will make her a legend…if she can survive.

My Review

You can read Kayla's review HERE.

I apparently went into The Queen of the Tearling “knowing” that I was going to hate it. I realized this when I kept getting surprised at all the things I DIDN’T hate, and once I let that go, I really enjoyed myself.

In any ambitious fantasy, there is a line to straddle between too much info dumping/world building and not enough or conflicting information given to the reader. Johansen straddled that line quite well, so well, in fact, that The Queen of the Tearling does not feel like a debut fantasy novel. She does err on the side of too little information, which I found troublesome at times. Although I realized early on that the Tearling was a land set in the future, I’m still unsure about how exactly that future came about. The entire book I tried unsuccessfully to determine exactly what “the crossing” was. For Mr. Tear to have immigrated a group of people somewhere in the current world is unbelievable to me. Therefore, I think that “the crossing” was either to another planet (which is the most unlikely as the bulk of medical supplies and doctors sunk in a ship) or another world/dimension through magic or some high-tech dimensional travel. Also, what exactly prompted “the crossing”? Was there a nuclear war? Was there an android crash on earth on the dinosaur scale? What happened?!

Top Ten Tuesday: Blogging Confessions

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Blogging Confessions
1. I am a mood reader. Mostly I read fantasies of all kind, but sometimes I get in a mood that I can't read another fantasy so I'll veer off into a contemporary or historical romance so I can read something fluffy. Which leads to the fact that...

2. I could never keep a book schedule. I may not not be in the mood for that certain book that is coming out in two months, so I just try to read the books that are coming out earliest first. Most of the time I am just jumping around all over the place reading whatever catches my fancy and reading the book that doesn't come out for months way before the book that is coming out relatively soon.

3. I have a hard time reviewing books that I absolutely love. I feel like it would just be a lot of gushing and fangirling without any substance.

Blog Tour (Guest Post): This is Sarah by Ally Malinenko

Title: This is Sarah
Author: Ally Malinenko
Publisher: BookFish Books
Release Date: July 3, 2014
When Colin Leventhal leaned out his bedroom window on the night of May 12th and said goodbye to his girlfriend, he never expected it would be forever. But when Sarah Evans goes missing that night, Colin's world unravels as he transforms from the boyfriend next door to the main police suspect. Then one year later, at her memorial service, Colin makes a phone call that could change everything. Is it possible that Sarah is still alive? And if so, how far will he go to bring her back?

As Colin struggles with this possibility, across the street, Sarah’s little sister, Claire learns how to navigate the strange new landscape of life without her sister. While her parents fall apart, Claire remains determined to keep going, even if it kills her.

This is Sarah serves as a meditation on loss, love, and what it means to say goodbye.

Guest Post

Missing Children
Ally Malinenko
I didn’t start off wanting to write about loss. Who does? I mean, honestly who gets up in the morning, turns on their laptop and says, okay let’s see how depressing this can get?

I started this book as a short story and that short story was a ghost story. And not the My-boyfriend-died-but-still-loves-me-so-much-that-he-came-back-from-the-other-side-and-now-we’re-ghosty-lovers kind.

I mean a real honest to goodness ghost story. Boo!

Trailer Reveal: Restraint by Randi Cooley Wilson

Title: Restraint (The Revelation Series #2)
Author: Randi Cooley Wilson
Trailer Reveal Organizer: Barclay Publicity
Release Date: August 1, 2014
A FORBIDDEN LOVE WILL BECOME DEEPER.
A LOYALTY WILL BE TESTED.
AND ONLY DARKNESS WILL REMAIN.

One revelation changed everything, turning Eve Collin’s world upside down. Now, she’s left to struggle with her identity and allegiance. Haunted by grief and tempted by her increasing attraction to her protector, will she ever truly be safe from enemies that refuse to give up?

Restraint is an addictively spellbinding continuation of Eve’s journey of self-discovery, love and sacrifice that will change everything. Readers captivated by Revelation will eagerly devour Restraint.

Praise

“I’ve read so many paranormal books; it’s hard to hook me sometimes. Especially with something unique that is a book hard to put down. I found that in this one. It’s the world building of the story that fascinated me more than anything else.” — Terri Thomas, My Book Boyfriend on REVELATION, book 1

“... Randi pens very believe characters as in who Asher and his brothers are, she brought them to life very well indeed and was a nice take on paranormal elements.” — Michelle, The Romance Vault (4 Stars) on REVELATION, book 1

Book Trailer




About the Author

Review: Threats of Sky and Sea by Jennifer Ellision

Title: Threats of Sky and Sea (Threats of Sky and Sea #1)
Author: Jennifer Ellision
Publisher: Self
Acquired Via: NetGalley
Release Date: May 16, 2014
Sixteen year-old Breena Perdit has spent her life as a barmaid, innocent to her father’s past and happily free from the Elemental gifts that would condemn her to a life in the Egrian King’s army. Until the day that three Elemental soldiers recognize her father as a traitor to the throne and Bree’s father is thrown in jail—along with the secrets from his last mission as the King’s assassin. Secrets that could help the King win a war. Secrets he refuses to share.

Desperate to escape before the King’s capricious whims prove her and her father’s downfall, Bree bargains with him: information for their lives. It’s a good trade. And she has faith she’ll get them both out of the King’s grasp with time.

But that was before the discovery that she’s the weapon the King’s been waiting for in his war.

Now, time is running out. To save her father’s life and understand her own, Bree must unravel the knot of her father’s past before the King takes his life– and uses her to bring a nation to its knees.

My Review

I enjoyed Threats of Sky and Sea, but there was something missing so I just could not love it. While I liked Breena’s (“Bree”) character, there were a few of the other characters I thought needed a little more work. I also thought that the writing and plot needed some tightening as well.

Early Review (Giveaway): Famous Last Words by Katie Alender

Title: Famous Last Words
Author: Katie Alender
Publisher: Scholastic
Acquired Via: Around the World ARC Tours
Release Date: September 30, 2014
Hollywood history, mystery, murder, mayhem, and delicious romance collide in this unputdownable thriller from master storyteller Katie Alender.

Willa is freaking out. It seems like she's seeing things. Like a dead body in her swimming pool. Frantic messages on her walls. A reflection that is not her own. It's almost as if someone -- or something -- is trying to send her a message.

Meanwhile, a killer is stalking Los Angeles -- a killer who reenacts famous movie murder scenes. Could Willa's strange visions have to do with these unsolved murders? Or is she going crazy? And who can she confide in? There's Marnie, her new friend who may not be totally trustworthy. And there's Reed, who's ridiculously handsome and seems to get Willa. There's also Wyatt, who's super smart but unhealthily obsessed with the Hollywood Killer.

All Willa knows is, she has to confront the possible-ghost in her house, or she just might lose her mind . . . or her life.

Acclaimed author Katie Alender puts an unforgettable twist on this spine-chilling tale of murder, mystery, mayhem -- and the movies.

My Review

Famous Last Words was weird. Really weird. I mean, I know Katie Alender's last book - Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer - was quite strange, but Famous Last Words really takes the cake. There is a touch of paranormal in a contemporary setting, and Willa, the main character who is dealing with the loss of her father two years previous and moving to L.A. from the East Coast with her mother and movie director new stepfather.

Spotlight (Excerpt & Giveaway): Then Came You by Jill Shalvis

Title: Then Came You (Animal Magnetism #5)
Author: Jill Shalvis
Publisher: Berkley (Penguin)
Release Date: July 1, 2014
From the New York Times bestselling author of Rumor Has It and the Lucky Harbor series comes the story of a woman whose world is turned upside down by one night’s torrid fling…

Veterinary intern Emily can’t believe she wound up in the small town of Sunshine, Idaho, instead of the Los Angeles clinic she had always imagined. Now she has to put her plans to move to L.A. on hold for a whole year while she fulfills the obligation of her vet school scholarship.

Then Wyatt, her gorgeous one-night stand from a Reno vet conference, introduces himself as her new boss. And Emily is just as drawn to his seductive looks and quiet strength as she was on that very steamy night. She soon learns that Wyatt isn’t just a laid-back doctor, but a delicious alpha male tempting her away from her carefully laid-out plans…

Excerpt

Emily sat on a fallen log and leaned back. When she was little, she’d loved to try to star watch. In LA, this was tricky because of all the city lights, not to mention smog. Doing it here, in the land of the big sky, was a whole new ball game. “I’m not lonely,” she said to the horse, who snorted again and swished his tail.

“Good. Cuz you’re not alone.”

Blog Tour (Guest Post & Giveaway): Murder by Misrule by Anna Castle

Title: Murder by Misrule: A Francis Bacon Mystery (Book 1)
Author: Anna Castle
Publisher: Self
Release Date: June 8, 2014
A Kirkus Indie Books of the Month Selection for July.

Francis Bacon is charged with investigating the murder of a fellow barrister at Gray’s Inn. He recruits his unwanted protégé Thomas Clarady to do the tiresome legwork. The son of a privateer, Clarady will do anything to climb the Elizabethan social ladder. Bacon’s powerful uncle Lord Burghley suspects Catholic conspirators of the crime, but other motives quickly emerge. Rival barristers contend for the murdered man’s legal honors and wealthy clients. Highly-placed courtiers are implicated as the investigation reaches from Whitehall to the London streets. Bacon does the thinking; Clarady does the fencing. Everyone has something up his pinked and padded sleeve. Even the brilliant Francis Bacon is at a loss — and in danger — until he sees through the disguises of the season of Misrule.

The Francis Bacon Mystery Series

This series of historical mysteries features the philosopher-statesman Francis Bacon as a sleuth and spymaster. Since Francis prefers the comfort of his own chambers, like his spiritual descendent Nero Wolfe, he sends his pupil, the handsome young Thomas Clarady, out to gather information. Tom loves the work, not least because he meets so many interesting people, like Lord Burghley, Sir Walter Raleigh, and Christopher Marlowe. Murder by Misrule is the first book in the series.

Praise for Murder by Misrule

“Though the plot keeps the pages turning, the characters, major and minor, and the well-wrought historical details will make readers want to linger in the 16th century. A laugh-out-loud mystery that will delight fans of the genre.” – Kirkus Starred Review

“Murder by Misrule is a delightful debut with characters that leap off the page, especially the brilliant if unwilling detective Francis Bacon and his street smart man Tom Clarady. Elizabeth Tudor rules, but Anna Castle triumphs.” – Karen Harper, author of Mistress Shakespeare

“Well-researched… Murder by Misrule is also enormously entertaining; a mystery shot through with a series of misadventures, misunderstandings, and mendacity worthy of a Shakespearean comedy.” – M. Louisa Locke, author of Bloody Lessons

“Historical mystery readers take note: Murder by Misrule is a wonderful example of Elizabethan times brought to life.” — D. Donovan, eBook Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

Guest Post

Looking at History from Inside a Writer's Brain
Anna Castle
Different writers see different stories in the same material. Here's an example of how that works.

One of the secondary characters in Murder by Misrule gets into trouble toward the end of the book and goes into hiding. I didn't bother to think where, exactly, for that book. Now I'm writing book 2 and one character asks another about him, so I want to know. Where has he been living? What's he been doing? My characters have lives outside the books and I like to check in now and then, whether they're active in the current story or not.