Blog Tour Review with Giveaway: Courting Darkness by Robin LaFevers

Book info:

Title:  Courting Darkness
Author:  Robin LaFevers
Series:  Courting Darkness duology #1 (sequel to His Fair Assassin trilogy)
Genre: YA historical fantasy
Release Date:  February 5th, 2019
Publisher:  HMH Books for Young Readers
Source:  ARC received from publisher which did not influence my opinion
My rating:  5 stars

Synopsis:
Death wasn’t the end, it was only the beginning…

Sybella has always been the darkest of Death’s daughters, trained at the convent of Saint Mortain to serve as his justice. But she has a new mission now. In a desperate bid to keep her two youngest sisters safe from the family that nearly destroyed them all, she agrees to accompany the duchess to France, where they quickly find themselves surrounded by enemies. Their one ray of hope is Sybella’s fellow novitiates, disguised and hidden deep in the French court years ago by the convent—provided Sybella can find them.

Genevieve has been undercover for so many years, she struggles to remember who she is or what she’s supposed to be fighting for. Her only solace is a hidden prisoner who appears all but forgotten by his guards. When tragedy strikes, she has no choice but to take matters into her own hands—even if it means ignoring the long awaited orders from the convent.

As Sybella and Gen’s paths draw ever closer, the fate of everything they hold sacred rests on a knife’s edge. Will they find each other in time, or will their worlds collide, destroying everything they care about?

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Audible, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, TBD

See where it all began! Grab the His Fair Assassin Trilogy now! You don’t need to read these to read Courting Darkness but they’re amazing!

Grave Mercy- Amazon, Audible, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, TBD,   My Review

Dark Triumph- Amazon, Audible, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, TBD,  My Review

Mortal Heart- Amazon, Audible, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, TBD,   My Review

My Review:
Delving back into the world of the assassins of Saint Mortain was something I'd been looking forward to ever since I heard about this book.  I was worried I'd be unsure of who was who, but it wasn't hard to join with the characters at the stage they were in.  Truly, Sybella had been my favorite, even if her book wasn't my favorite.  The other main character in this book, Genevieve, took me a little bit to come around to. But once I did, I was rooting for her, and hoping that she could have a romance herself, with Maraud, the prisoner she'd rescued from the dungeon, even if the rescue was only to serve her own purposes.  Now when something happened in the book, I kind of assumed it was going to be the prisoner, I won't say what happened, so maybe you won't expect what I did.  So when we did find out who he was, well, all the little puzzle pieces started to fall into place.

The author is great about keeping certain details from coming out until moments that will have the reader gasping in surprise!  The other thing I love is all the history that is interwoven throughout the plot.  The author has a note at the end that does clear up what is actually true and what she had to adjust and tweak to fit her story.  Not only is there an afterward talking about the history of the story, but there is a letter at the beginning to the readers, talking about what motivated her to write further in this world.  It was a touching note, with some deep topics and worth reading. 

The ending of the book left me on the edge of my seat, satisfied with this reunion of some of my favorite characters, but sad that I'll be waiting until 2020 to see what will happen with where we left off.



About the Author:

Robin LaFevers was raised on a steady diet of fairy tales, Bulfinch’s mythology, and 19th century poetry. It is not surprising she grew up to be a hopeless romantic.

Though she has never trained as an assassin or joined a convent, she did attend Catholic school for three years, which instilled in her a deep fascination with sacred rituals and the concept of the Divine. She has been on a search for answers to life’s mysteries ever since.

While many of those answers still elude her, she was lucky enough to find her one true love, and is living happily ever after with him in the foothills of southern California.

In addition to writing about teen assassin nuns in medieval Brittany, she writes books for middle grade readers, including the Theodosia books and the Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist series. You can learn more about those books at www.rllafevers.com.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Tumblr | Goodreads


Giveaway:

• 20 winners will receive His Fair Assassin character card sets, US Only.

   a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

1/21/2018- The Pages In-Between- Review

1/22/2018- Fiction Fare- Review

1/23/2018- YA Books Central- Excerpt

1/24/2018- Two Chicks on Books- Excerpt

1/25/2018- Tales of the Ravenous Reader- Review

Week Two:

1/28/2019- Colorimetry- Review

1/29/2019- Here's to Happy Endings- Review

1/30/2019- A Gingerly Review- Review

1/31/2019- Moonlight Rendezvous- Review

2/1/2019- Novel Novice- Excerpt

Week Three:

2/4/2019- Lisa Loves Literature- Review

2/5/2019- Flyleaf Chronicles- Review

2/6/2019- Smada's Book Smack- Review

2/7/2019- A Backwards Story- Review

2/8/2019- Jena Brown Writes- Review

Week Four:

2/11/2019- Nerdophiles- Review

2/12/2019- Book-Keeping- Review

2/13/2019- Eli to the nth- Review

2/14/2019- Do You Dog-ear?- Review

2/15/2019- Book Briefs- Review

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Blog Tour - Author Interview with Giveaway: The Hanging Tree by Eileen Cook

Book info:

Title:  The Hanging Girl
Author:  Eileen Cook
Genre:  YA Thriller
Release Date:  October 3rd, 2017
Publisher:  HMH Books for Young Readers

Synopsis:

Skye Thorn has given tarot card readings for years, and now her psychic visions are helping the police find the town’s missing golden girl. It’s no challenge—her readings have always been faked, but this time she has some insider knowledge. The kidnapping was supposed to be easy—no one would get hurt and she’d get the money she needs to start a new life. But a seemingly harmless prank has turned dark, and Skye realizes the people she’s involved with are willing to kill to get what they want and she must discover their true identity before it’s too late. 

AMAZON | BARNES and NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

Praise for THE HANGING GIRL

"...[The Hanging Girl] is fast-paced; features a very relatable, down-on-herluck protagonist; and boasts a surprise twist that will leave readers arguing long after the book is over. Perfect for fans of psychological thrillers." ―Booklist

"A surprisingly dark thriller that will find a home in libraries where there is a need for strong female protagonists and engrossing mysteries." ―SLJ
"...The multiple twists in the ending pack several hefty wallops of surprise and reward the reader with a more than satisfactory payout." ―Bulletin

Author Interview:

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1.  What does your writing process look like? Do you know the whole story when you start?  Or do you just start writing and go with it (seat of the pants writing)?  If you plan it out, how do you do that?  Outline, notecards, post-it-notes, etc.?

When I started writing it took me a long time to realize that what works for one writer might not work for another. I always encourage people to try different processes and see what fits their style.

I spend time plotting and planning before starting to write. Sometimes this includes writing diary entries from different character’s point of view, making timelines, and endless lists.  I used to jump in as soon as I had an idea, but I’ve learned it’s better to let an idea ferment for a while.  Like wine, it gets more complex and interesting if it sits for some time.

I usually get up early and walk the dogs or go to the gym before settling in with a cup of tea and getting to work.  I’m not creative before 8am or after 10pm. I usually have three or four hours of writing/creative time before my brain gives up.  I spend the rest of my day doing more business things, marketing, teaching, research etc.  Of course, there’s also plenty of looking at random things on the Internet, yelling at my dogs to stop digging in the yard, or plotting to buy more shoes.

2.  How do you come up with your ideas for your stories?

I have no idea.  They pop into my head, a snippet of overheard conversation, something in the news, a discussion with a friend, an old photograph- you name it- they show up and slowly begin to morph into their own thing. I believe there are millions of ideas out there all the time. The trick is to pause long enough to hear them.  Then, when you do get one, spend some time trying to figure out if it is a good idea. Is it worth months (or years) of your time, hundreds of pages, and a reader’s attention?

It took me a long time to become more patient with ideas. I used to get them and then run to my computer to start writing as if I was afraid it was going to get away from me.  Now I slow down, turn the idea over in my head, ask a lot of “what if” questions. What would make this situation worse? What if this character didn’t know X or Y? What if this new thing suddenly happened? If I give ideas a bit of a chance to grow they evolve into much more interesting concepts.

3.  How long have you been writing?

I always loved books and stories. My parents have a homework assignment I did in second grade where we were supposed to practice writing sentences and instead I strung mine together to make a story. 

The first time I can remember thinking that writing books was something I wanted to do was when I was eleven or twelve.  I’d gone to the library and picked up a book by Stephen King, Salem’s Lot.  The librarian tried to discourage me from reading it- declaring it too scary.  I remember being offended because I was a very mature kid and I understood the difference between make believe and real. I figured how scary could it be?  Turns out- really scary!  I slept with the light on for weeks. I thought it was amazing that this writer had made something up, something I knew was fiction, and yet it felt so real that I had a real emotional reaction.  That’s when I knew that is what I wanted to do.

4.  What tips do you have for aspiring writers?

Read and write a lot. Books, both those you love and even those you dislike, are great teachers. Give yourself permission to read as many as you can! As you start to read as a writer you realize all the choices the author makes- whose point of view, when the story starts, what backstory you know etc. If you like a character try and figure out why. If you find yourself flipping pages like crazy or becoming bored, try and dissect what’s happening that is causing you to feel that way.

The second half of my advice is to write a lot- writing is a craft.  You get better the more you do it. It can be discouraging at first because the idea in your head is perfect and shiny and wonderful and your first draft is not. The secret is to push through that process. 

About the Author:

Eileen Cook grew up in a small town in Michigan, but would go on to live in Boston and Belgium before settling in Vancouver, Canada with her husband and two very naughty dogs.

In second grade Eileen’s teacher wrote on a homework assignment “I am sure someday you will be an author” which is a tribute to the psychic abilities of elementary school teachers, as well as Eileen penchant for making things up. While she would go on to fill endless notebooks with really bad poetry, short stories, and the occasional start to a novel, she would first go on to pursue a career as a counsellor working with individuals with catastrophic injuries and illness.

Eileen quickly discovered that the challenge of working with real people is that they have real problems and she returned to writing where she could make her characters do what she wanted. Her first novel was published in 2008. Entertainment Weekly called her novel WITH MALICE a “seriously creepy thriller” which pretty much made her entire year.

When not planning murder and mayhem on the computer, Eileen enjoys reading, knitting, yelling at her dogs to stop digging holes and watching hockey (which she is required to do as a new Canadian.)

Eileen is a popular speaker at conferences both in the US and in Canada, provides writing/editorial coaching, and is a mentor/instructor for the Simon Fraser University The Writer’s Studio.

Eileen lives in Vancouver with her husband and two very naughty dogs and no longer wishes to be anyone or anywhere else.

Photo Content from Eileen Cook

WEBSITE: https://www.eileencook.com/
TWITTER: @Eileenwriter
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1049315.Eileen_Cook
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/EileenCook.author

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/eileencookwriter

Giveaway:

--Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

- 1 Winner will receive a Signed Copy of THE HANGING GIRL by Eileen Cook.  

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out the rest of the tour schedule HERE. 

Sunday Post #64 and Stacking the Shelves July 17th, 2016

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted  @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news ~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.  Still doing lots of reading, but got a bit behind this week on my goal of writing reviews.  But still working on it.  

Last week on the blog:

• Cover Characteristic:  Balconies
• Reviews:  Rowdy (Marked Men #5) by Jay Crownover (audiobook), Losing It by Emma Rathbone, The Killer in Me by Margot Harrison (Blog tour and giveaway)
• Waiting on Wednesday:  Blacksouls (Blackhearts #2) by Nicole Castroman
• Swoon Thursday:  Play (Stage Dive #2) by Kylie Scott
• Blog Tour and Author Interview:  Knight's Apprentice - Knights of the Immortals by Catrina Taylor

I seem to be having a lot of books I'm reading that fit the Swoon Thursday meme these days. So you should look forward to more of those in the future.  Still had a crazy busy week and didn't get as much as I wanted done.  But I did get some things done.  While I had planned to try to get to the gym four times to make up for only getting there twice last week, I only got three in, but since that is my weekly goal, I'm okay with that.  If you remember my baseball game ticket fiasco from last week, my assistant principal made up for it this week by giving me tickets to next Monday, or tomorrow's game.  Hours at the bookstore changed this week.  It has been weird closing at 9 pm instead of 8 pm, but still very nice!  I'm really looking forward to it once the school year starts.

Coming up this week on the blog:

• Reviews:  Sojourn by Tara Dawn, Fall From India Place (On Dublin Street #4) by Samantha Young (audiobook), And I Darken by Kiersten White
• Waiting on Wednesday
• Cover Characteristic -  Eggs
• Blog tours and blitzes:  invisible-i-am by Gregg Davis, The Carver by Jacob Devlin
• Possible Discussion Post

At the moment I'm not quite sure of what I'm going to do for a discussion post this month, or if it will fit in this week or next.  As you can see another busy week on the blog. Plus, I'll be going back in to work in the library this week.  Plan to meet with my new co-librarian on Monday.  Monday night is also the baseball game.  I've got my three days of walking planned.  Hoping to get as much done as possible!

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.  It is a way for us to share the new books we have collected.  I did better with not getting physical books this week, only got a few.  But I did get a lot of free ebooks this week.  And I got some cool book swag stuff that I bought this week!  Let me show that off first.

I had to get this tank top for when I get to meet Jay Crownover in September.  It says "Love and Ink", and is for the Marked Men series.  You can get your own Crownover swag HERE.   

And my cool new iphone case!  I got this from Evie Seo's shop on Society 6.  I've been wanting one of her cases for awhile, and there wer so many to choose from it was hard!  But I went with this one.  You can check out the rest of her shop HERE.

Physical Books:

A cool new bookmark!  Then the first two books, Finding It and Play, I recently listened to on audiobook.  Play has my new book boyfriend Mal Erikson.  I love him.  I keep picking the book up and reading it.  He's a tie with Nate Sawyer from Before Jamaica Lane, and Daemon from the Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout.  I didn't think I'd ever find anyone I loved as much as Daemon, but Nate came around, and now Mal.  And then the final book you see is the one that I'm currently listening to on audiobook, since I'm done listening to all the Marked Men series, and have to go on to Crownover's new series, Saints of Denver.  

Got this awesome ARC from HMH Kids this week.  I assume it was from being a part of the tour through Rock Star tours.  I started it the day I got it, and I'm loving it!  It's been awhile since I've read a book by Gina Damico, and I'm remembering how much I love her characters!

E-galleys:

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So excited to have Stealing Snow, since I wasn't able to get an ARC of it. And the 2nd one I got for a tour from Xpresso Book tours, it may not actually be an egalley.

Free or Cheap E-books:

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I know, I know, I really need to stop.  :-)  So, what books did you add to your shelves, digital or real, this week?  Have you bought any cool book swag/items lately?