The Stone Guardian Book Blast/Giveaway

 

 When myth becomes reality, reality becomes a nightmare.

Today Fans of Fiction is happy to be part of a book blast/giveaway for author Theresa McClinton and her new book, The Stone Guardian. Below you can read a summary, watch the book trailer, enter the Rafflecopter giveaway, and get to know Theresa.

Like any other teenager in America, Ashley  just wants a normal life. But growing up in an orphanage for the insane is anything but normal. After endless therapy and increasing medication, her nightmares have only gotten worse.

Probably because they’re not nightmares.

When Ashley’s mysteriously abducted, she finds a reality even less normal than the orphanage. And she discovers something else—she’s no ordinary orphan. Faced with enemies thought to only exist in fairy tales, Ashley discovers she possesses a powerful Maya bloodline. She’s the daughter of an ancient Maya Guardian, whose duty is to protect the Stone of Muuk’ich, an enchanted relic blessed by the gods. But first she must get it back from Sarian, a power-hungry demigod who slaughtered the last guardian—Ashley’s mother. Without the stone, all will be lost.

When she meets Arwan, a hot Belizean time bender, his delicious olive skin and dark eyes make her feel a little less alone. But his gentle whispers and reassuring touch might not be all they seem. How can she balance love and duty when it’s up to her to prevent the rising of the underworld? Especially when the guy she loves might be its crown prince…

Check out the book trailer.  

Enter Theresa's giveaway for a chance at winning a $50 Visa giftcard and an e-copy of The Stone Guardian! You have until the 20th of December to enter (just imagine how much last-minute Christmas shopping one of those giftcards would allow you to do).

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

A little bit about the author...

A long time enthusiast of things that go bump in the night, Theresa started her writing career as a journalism intern—possibly the least creative writing field out there. After her first semester at a local newspaper, she washed her hands of press releases and features articles to delve into the whimsical world of young adult paranormal romance.

Since then, Theresa has gotten married, had three terrific kids, moved to central Ohio, and was repeatedly guilt tripped into adopting a menagerie of animals that are now members of the family. But don’t be fooled by her domesticated appearance. Her greatest love is travel. Having stepped foot on the soil of over a dozen countries, traveled to sixteen U.S. states—including an extended seven-year stay in Kodiak, Alaska—she is anything but settled down. But wherever life brings her, she will continue to weave tales of adventure and love with the hope her stories will bring joy and inspiration to her readers.

 

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My Nerd Wishes for 2013

For 2013, I wish for....

10) The S.H.I.E.L.D. series to be picked up and be awesome and Whedony.

9) The Outlander series to be picked up and be awesome and star Chris Hemsworth and an actress good enough to play Claire.

8) The Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell series to be picked up and be awesome and star David Tennant.

7) The chance to go back to NYCC.

6) The Walking Dead to not kill all of my favorite characters (I know I shouldn't have picked any, ever, but Season Three's midseason finale made me realize how much I care about Daryl, Glen and Maggie. Blast). Also, while I'm wishing for things from AMC, I'd really, really like for Jesse to survive the finale of Breaking Bad, and for the show to close on a scene ten-fifteen years later of him teaching a chemistry class.

5) David Tennant to be involved with the Doctor Who 50th anniversary special, double points if Billie Piper is involved as well, and even moooooore points if they bring back Donna Noble, K-9, and/or Captain Jack Harkness. Pretty please, Steven Moffat?

4) Actually, Moff (may I call you Moff?), if you're doling out favors, here's another wish: cast Benedict Cumberbatch as the Master on Doctor Who. Pretty please? It's a complete no-brainer- Cumberbatch could talk circles even around the Doctor, and I'm sure he could bring a chilling, biting calm to the role to replace the madcap wackiness of the last go-round, while being more menacing by far. Also, and this is perhaps the biggest factor in we wanting to him play the Master: the Internet. Would. Explode. Tumblr would SHUT DOWN and the "squees" of Whovians and Sherlockians would be heard by the Mars rover.

3) George R.R. Martin to keep on trucking. I could pretend that I mean simply "to continue writing," but, shamefully, I also mean that I am fervently wishing for his continued health. The world needs him to finish his life's work, for we shall all perish in fits of frustration and woe if Westeros is left kingless (or queenless! Go Dany!) Go for a walk, ease up on the football and maybe eat a few salads, George? <3 p="p">
2) Community to come back and be the same show we know and love. I want the absurdly obscure references, the episode long homages to tv tropes, the bizarre and easy to miss throwaway lines, the Spanish raps, the insanity that is Senor Chang, Jeff's narcissism and inspiring speeches, Abed's inability to relate to the world without the lens of television, Inspector Spacetime, the Dreamatorium, paintball, Shirley's purse, the heartwarmingness of the group, the magic of the study table, and the unabashed oddness. I don't want it to be more relatable, I want it weird and wonderful like always. Six seasons and a movie!!

1) Firefly to come back. I know it's been ten years, but you can't stop the signal, nor can you take the sky from me. We will rise again, Browncoats unite, and we're still flying. Now that Joss has had a triply awesome year, maybe, just maybe, this can happen. Even if it's only a radio play, or even better, an animated series, I just want my big damn heroes back.

*Some of these (#5) are more likely than others (#1, *sniff*). But that's why they are wishes and not "Things I Fully Expect to Have Happen."

**There's a noticeable lack of books on this list, mostly because the world of publishing is a safer, steadier world of pre-established release dates and planned series. For a book to be released, it "simply" needs to be written and approved by the publisher. There's (almost never) any issues involving who has the rights to what characters/franchise, there's no cast to bring together, no sets to build, no competing time slots, and nowhere near as many budgeting issues. Short of worrying about whether an author will run out of ideas and/or keel over at the keyboard, books seem far less precarious to me.

What nerdy things are you hoping for in the coming year?

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The Brides of Rollrock Island

The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan

On remote Rollrock Island, men go to sea to make their livings--and to catch their wives. 

The witch Misskaella knows the way of drawing a girl from the heart of a seal, of luring the beauty out of the beast. And for a price a man may buy himself a lovely sea-wife. He may have and hold and keep her. And he will tell himself that he is her master. But from his first look into those wide, questioning, liquid eyes, he will be just as transformed as she. He will be equally ensnared. And the witch will have her true payment. 

Margo Lanagan weaves an extraordinary tale of desire, despair, and transformation. With devastatingly beautiful prose, she reveals characters capable of unspeakable cruelty, but also unspoken love. -Plot summary borrowed from Goodreads

I'd been seeing the cover of Margo Lanagan's Tender Morsels all over the place and it's been on my To Read list for awhile now, but when I saw that she'd written a young adult book about selkies I had to have it immediately. Having read this, I am completely bewitched and will be seeking out her books and stories from now on. 

Getting accustomed to Lanagan's prose took several pages. I had to reread passages to see if I had missed a crucial detail, or tease out some other meaning to her words. I felt like I wasn't seeing her words from quite the right perspective, but then something shifted, everything clicked, and I was transported to Rollrock. She writes so evocatively that once you catch her rhythm, it's incredibly easy to visualize the windswept beaches strewn with seaweed, the Spartan cottages, and the pounding waves on the shore. It's unflinching in a way that reminded me of Robin McKinley's Deerskin, and offers a powerful sense of place and people like the best of Alice Hoffman's magic realism. 

Rather than being your standard linear novel, this book is broken up into stories told by various narrators at different points in time and over a few generations. One of the most intriguing is from the perspective of Misskaella, the so-called witch, but my favorite was voiced by a boy growing up on this lonely island. There was a point where I worried that the book would meander too much, that the loosely related stories would not come together, but things do come together to tell a satisfying story you won't soon forget.

Not your typical YA fare, this fantasy is strange, dark and lyrical. If you enjoyed Mermaid: a Twist on the Classic Tale by Carolyn Turgeon, or if you're a fan of Donna Jo Napoli, Neil Gaiman, or Jane Yolen, or have worn out copy of The Secret of Roan Inish, give this book a try.

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A Curse Dark as Gold

A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce

This ravishing winner of the ALA's William C. Morris YA Debut Award is a fairy tale, spun with a mystery, woven with a family story, and shot through with romance.

Charlotte Miller has always scoffed at talk of a curse on her family's woolen mill, which holds her beloved small town together. But after her father's death, the bad luck piles up: departing workers, impossible debts, an overbearing uncle. Then a stranger named Jack Spinner offers a tempting proposition: He can turn straw into gold thread, for the small price of her mother's ring. As Charlotte is drawn deeper into her bargains with Spinner-and a romance with the local banker-she must unravel the truth of the curse on the mill and save the community she's always called home. -Plot summary borrowed from Goodreads

Having just come off a historical farm recreation documentary binge (hey, it's a thing! Check out Tales from the Green Valley, Victorian Farm, Edwardian Farm, and Wartime Farm, or the similar but less agricultural Victorian Pharmacy or, maybe the best place to start, 1900 House for some entertaining but educational tv about bygone crafts and ways of life), I was thrilled to find a fairytale reimagining dealing so heavily with the intricate workings of a small mill town in the 18th century. So much of this book is spent describing the workings of the mill, the roles of the workers, and how wool goes from sheep to gown- but in an interesting way! If you're a bit odd and fancy that sort of thing, that is...

Anyway, even for those of you who don't get a bit fixated on spinning terms, period language and scenery, there's still a very compelling story of a young woman working to save her family business, protect herself and others from various machinations (worldly and otherworldly), plus some lovely and memorable characters to boot. I liked the village midwife with her herbs, eldritch knowledge, and unflappable good sense. I really liked the eccentric old dyeing master. I rooted for Charlotte's feisty sister, Rosie, and for Harte, steadfast and reliable. Most of all though, I loved the love interest, Mr Woodstone. He's a bit like a (capable/sensible) Mr. Bingley. All warmth and charm and good intentions, plus a wiser head on his shoulders. As for Charlotte herself... I respected her and admired her perseverance and heart, but she has a knack for misunderstanding the words and intentions of those around her rivaled only by Katniss Everdeen. She makes a few several decisions I didn't agree with, but even then they were (mostly) understandable from her point of view. 

As with the best fairytale retellings, Bunce fleshed out the original well, and added twists that mesh will with both the original and her version. After reading her author's note, I was even more impressed. 

For Anglophiles, history buffs and fairytale fans.

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Friends with Boys

Friends with Boys by Faith Erin Hicks

A coming-of-age tale with a spooky twist!

Maggie McKay hardly knows what to do with herself. After an idyllic childhood of homeschooling with her mother and rough-housing with her older brothers, it’s time for Maggie to face the outside world, all on her own. But that means facing high school first. And it also means solving the mystery of the melancholy ghost who has silently followed Maggie throughout her entire life. Maybe it even means making a new friend—one who isn’t one of her brothers.

Funny, surprising, and tender, Friends with Boys is a pitch perfect YA graphic novel full of spooky supernatural fun. -Plot summary borrowed from Goodreads

There are so many perfect touches in this book- the snappy dialogue, the artwork, the family and friend dynamics, Maggie squeeing over Ripley (Alien, spluh), and the genuine emotion that never slips into melodrama. Hicks perfectly captures the terror of the first day of high school, life as a tomboy, and, from what I can infer from other reviews, the experience of having several older brothers. I loved every character in this graphic novel and can't wait to read more things from this author. Actually, I'd love to see her write for TV- now that we're starting to live in a more Whedon-inspired media 'verse (yay!), I would think that her ability to write an intelligent teen ensemble (with supernatural happenings!) would be a bonus.

 

Also, this was published by :01 First Second, my new favorite publisher. Some of their other graphic novels include American Born Chinese, Anya's Ghost, Zita the Spacegirl, Robot Dreams, The Color of Earth, and Sailor Twain: Mermaid in the Hudson. WOW.

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A Bride's Story

A Bride's Story Volume One, by Kaoru Mori

Acclaimed creator Kaoru Mori (Emma, Shirley) brings the nineteenth-century Silk Road to lavish life, chronicling the story of Amir Halgal, a young woman from a nomadic tribe betrothed to a twelve-year-old boy eight years her junior. Coping with cultural differences, blossoming feelings for her new husband, and expectations from both her adoptive and birth families, Amir strives to find her role as she settles into a new life and a new home in a society quick to define that role for her. -Plot summary borrowed from Goodreads

The art, people, the art. I wanted to make that word longer for emphasis, but it would be too piratical. But seriously. THE ART. 

Oh, and story and character and plot. Those are actually really good, too. The setting is so unique- Central Asia in the early 19th century. The costumes and other tribal things are amazing, and I love Amir's character. Despite being placed in an arranged marriage with a boy 8 years her junior (more on this later), she is upbeat, pleasant, and can shoot rabbits from the back of a horse. Damn. 

The family dynamics are fascinating, too, and the pacing is perfect, allowing the reader to become familiar with the unique characters and setting while enjoying nomadic slice of life episodes and tensions when an outside force threatens. Everything in the text and pictures blend perfectly to form a truly interesting whole. I'm not surprised, Mori was the mangaka responsible for Emma, another excellent historical manga/anime series. 

Buuuuuuuut, the relationship between Amir (20) and her child-husband (12), though historically accurate, sweet and mostly chaste, is, well, slightly icky to the modern sensibilities. It's not a huge deal and it's  not the focus of the story, but it's still jarring. 

Despite that, I'm hoping that a library in my consortium adds the subsequent volumes soon.

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NaNoWriMo and Shusterman

Hey everyone! It has been quite awhile since I last posted. I've probably read 15 books and not reviewed them:( I think it's mostly a question of time. I've also participated in the National Novel Writing Month competition and made my goal of 50,000 words! Hopefully I have more time to post and review in the coming weeks (though it's also research paper grading time).

Otherwise, please excuse our little hiatus (Ashley says she's sorry too). You really just have to be in the mood to write a review!

I did meet Neal Shusterman, who came to the school where I teach! His new book, UnWholly, came out at #9 on the NY Times Bestseller list. If you haven't read Unwind or any of his other books, check them out. He's an amazing speaker with very cool inspiration for his novels.

Have a great week. Can you believe it's almost December!!!??? We've been in the 60s and 70s for the past week and I'm ready to feel like it's winter.

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