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Embers in a Dark Frost By Kelly Keaton Review and Giveaway
Kelly Keaton, author of the Gods & Monsters series, has branched out into self-publishing with her New Adult Fantasy debut Embers in a Dark Frost. It’s my first experience with Keaton’s writing, and the book kept my interest with its likeable heroine and good mix of action, mythology and romance.
The Fire Breathers have come. The Underworld calls. A choice must be made…
With her feared half blood and flame-colored hair, DEIRA D’ANU is a constant reminder of human betrayal and the war that claimed the light from Innis Fail. Now, darkness and frost creep across the land, strengthening the Lord of the Underworld. War is imminent—an allegiance with the Fire Breathers is vital. When their champion, Balen, sees Deira, he believes she is the key to finding the light and stopping the dark frost.
But the Underworld calls to Deira, tempting her to turn her back on a world that never cared and betray the champion willing to sacrifice everything to keep her safe and save his world from darkness.
Embers in a Dark Frost has roots in Celtic mythology, and features a heroine who has always been a bit of an outcast. She is a half blood and her crimson hair makes that fact very obvious to others around her. She covers it with a veil so she doesn’t draw attention to herself. Deira leads a solitary life, and never felt worthy. She finds her purpose though and realizes she is part of a prophecy that could help bring light back into the dark land.
Deira embarks on a journey to follow her path. She’s scared but resolute and comes to realize that she may be valuable after all. She wants to champion the light, but the Underworld also entices her, and that intrigued me. Accompanying Deira on her journey is the strong, handsome and brave Balen. His faith in Deira gives her strength and he becomes an ally and a romantic interest. They have chemistry and some steamy new-adult style love scenes. Their connection fits in well with Deira’s personal growth- and the romance doesn’t detract from the mythology of the story, but rather enhances it.
The book is a quick read and I finished it in just a few hours. It kept my interest, where sometimes I struggle with mythology reads where they are overly descriptive or bogged down by the details. There was just enough detail to fill in the blanks for me about the character’s back-story and the conflict. There is one more book in the series, and I’m okay with where the book leaves off to set-up the sequel.
The book made me interested in reading Keaton’s other series, and has opened my mind to reading more new adult fantasy. This full-length novel is available in e-book format only now for only $3.99, and there are plans to release a paperback version in the future.
Find out more about the book here:
Author website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon
Make sure to enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for your chance to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!
Crewel by Gennifer Albin Audiobook Review
Book: Crewel (Crewel World #1) by Gennifer Albin, AudioGO, Oct. 16, 2012
Book Info: YA Fantasy/Dystopia, Audiobook received for review from Audiobook Jukebox and AudioGO. Running time: 9 hrs, 14 mins. Read by: Amanda Dolan
Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars
More Info: Goodreads | Audible | Amazon | IndieBound
I like the cool concept of Crewel, a dystopia where Spinsters weave time with matter. As someone who is starting to get bored with dystopia, I appreciated Gennifer Albin’s creative spin (so to speak) on the genre. In Crewel, Adelice lives in the land of Arras, and has a gift for weaving but hides it from the Guild so she can stay with her family. She slips up and lets her talent show and now the Guild has her in their grasp. The story felt fresh to me, and even though I felt pieces of the puzzle were missing at times, I was enthralled.
One of the most interesting parts of Crewel to me is the role of the Spinsters. In Crewel, Albin turns the word Spinster on its head. The women spin for their occupation in the book, so technically they are spinsters, but I think more often spinster is used as a negative term for someone who doesn’t marry. And I like that the spinsters in Crewel are talented and highly regarded, and forbidden to marry in fact. Gender politics comes up in the book, as it’s wondered why men hold all the government positions, and why don’t they share the work as spinsters.
Spinsters power the world with their loom, and can “rip” people out of society, or reweave to alter memories. Disturbing stuff! When they are not spinning, they are expected to attend lavish parties and dress up and socialize. But, they must always adhere to the purity standards set by the Guild, so that their work as spinsters doesn’t suffer.
Adelice is sassy and questioning of the Guild, and butts heads with several characters in the book. I wasn’t crazy about the love triangle (yes) in the book, and don’t really have a preference over either guy. In a way, I felt the love triangle cheapened the story a bit, and it felt unnecessary. The other relationships and other aspects of the story were more interesting to me.
Amanda Dolan reads the audiobook and she does a good job with the material. She reads with a steady pace and tries to make the story come alive by using different voices and accents. Her voices of both genders are realistic and not overdone. She puts a lot of personality into the reading and kept it interesting to me even when the world building went over my head at times. The nine-hour audiobook flew by and I finished it over a weekend.
Crewel is the first book in the Crewel World trilogy. The world building was a little confusing for me, but I know the middle book in trilogies usually answers a lot of outstanding questions. The ending does set up some interesting stories for the sequel and I’m curious to see where it goes.
You can listen to a sample of the Crewel audiobook at AudioGO.
Check out the book trailer:
Cover Reveal: Embers in a Dark Frost by Kelly Keaton
I am excited to share the cover of Embers in a Dark Frost, a New Adult Fantasy book by Kelly Keaton!
The Fire Breathers have come. The Underworld calls. A choice must be made…
With her feared half blood and flame-colored hair, DEIRA D’ANU is a constant reminder of human betrayal and the war that claimed the light from Innis Fail. Now, darkness and frost creep across the land, strengthening the Lord of the Underworld. War is imminent—an allegiance with the Fire Breathers is vital. When their champion, Balen, sees Deira, he believes she is the key to finding the light and stopping the dark frost.
But the Underworld calls to Deira, tempting her to turn her back on a world that never cared and betray the champion willing to sacrifice everything to keep her safe and save his world from darkness.
About the Cover:
Designed by Claudia McKinney at Phat Puppy Creations (and Hot Damn Designs did the typography).
Find out more about the book here:
Author website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
About the Author: Kelly Keaton is the author of the YA series Gods & Monsters, and is also the author of the Charlie Madigan series under the name Kelly Gay. Embers in a Dark Frost is her first self-pubbed title.
The cover makes me want to pick up the book and learn more about it. I like the red hair with the smoky grey background, and it looks very mysterious. You can tell that there are romance elements from the cover, but I like that the girl appears alone. What are your thoughts on the cover?
Look for Embers in a Dark Frost on November 15th at your favorite e-retailer.
Professor Gargoyle: Tales From Lovecraft Middle School #1 By Charles Gilman: Book Review and Giveaway
Book: Professor Gargoyle: Tales From Lovecraft Middle School #1 by Charles Gilman, Illustrations by Eugene Smith, Quirk Books, Middle Grade series, provided for review from Quirk, Hardcover 175 pages, On Sale Now
More Info and Reviews: Goodreads | Amazon | Lovecraft Middle School official site | FB page
Professor Gargoyle is the first book in Quirk’s (Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children) new middle grade series by Charles Gilman. The lenticular cover of the book is eye-catching, isn’t it? I think it should grab the attention of reluctant readers. Professor Gargoyle provides spine-tingling chills for the middle grade set, and is perfect for fans of R.L. Stine. I think this is a fast, fun read that all ages can enjoy this spooky time of year.
The book begins with 7th grader Robert Arthur starting his first day at Lovecraft Middle School. He’s really uneasy because due to redistricting he’s the only one of his friends attending this school. To make matters worse, he spots his old elementary school nemesis Glenn at Lovecraft. Glenn has no intentions to stop bullying Robert so his first day is off to a bad start. And, even though Lovecraft is a brand-new state-of-the-art school, why do things feel a little off there? Finding a rat in your locker certainly seems like a bad omen. Hey, was this school built on top of the Hellmouth? The school does get its name from H.P. Lovecraft, after all.
Robert loves to read so he is in for a treat with the massive and modern school library. But Robert finds a secret, dusty attic above the library that doesn’t fit in at all with the school’s contemporary aesthetic. He comes away with a two-headed rat hitch-hiking in his backpack that becomes his constant companion.
There are strange happenings going on at Lovecraft. Besides finding rats in the lockers, students are going missing. And Robert’s Science teacher Professor Goyle is acting quite bizarre and mysterious. He keeps all manner of strange animals in his classroom and has eccentric teaching methods. Robert just wants to fly under the radar at his new school but is getting pulled into these mysteries whether he likes it or not.
The book has a lot of creepy goings on and Gilman’s descriptive language of all the spiders and goo should appeal to the target audience. There are also illustrations of all the key moments to give you the full scary effect.
Even though I’m not the intended audience for this book I had a lot of fun reading it and it got me into the Halloween mood. The book should appeal to kids starting a new school or middle school, and addresses relevant topics to the age group such as bullying, gaining confidence and making friends. I’m interested in checking out the next book in the series, The Slither Sisters, in January.
The Giveaway has ended: Congrats to Mary who has won a copy of Professor Gargoyle!
The Pledge by Kimberly Derting
Book: The Pledge by Kimberly Derting, Margaret K. McElderry, November 15, 2011
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian / Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of the Pledge trilogy
Format/pages: eGalley provided by Simon & Schuster GalleyGrab, available in Hardcover (320 pages)
Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars
More Reviews: Goodreads
Buy the Book: Amazon
Synopsis from Goodreads:
In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she’s spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It’s there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she’s never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.
Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can’t be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country’s only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.
The Pledge is the first book in a new dystopian series by Kimberly Derting (The Body Finder). The concept is interesting and fast paced enough that I read it in one sitting, and the story’s fantasy elements set it apart from other YA dystopian books. The imaginative story is entertaining and full of adventure, which made for a pleasant fast read even though some of the character insight and dystopian world building details were sometimes lacking. I did enjoy it as much as The Body Finder series though, and especially the royalty / fantasy parts of the story.
The series opener introduces a cool concept in which the citizens of Ludania are separated by a language barrier according to class. Learning another class’s language or even looking another class member in the eye in acknowledgement of their language is a crime punishable by death. The ruler, Evil Queen Sabara, uses some fancy magic that keeps her around forever to continue to torment the citizens of Ludania. The heroine Charlaina (Charlie) is born with the talent to understand all languages. Her parents have asked to keep her talent under wraps to keep her safe and to keep a watchful eye over her gifted younger sis Angelina. Her secret is exposed when she meets Max and he recognizes she can understand his unusual language. This starts a sequence of events that cause Charlie’s world to turn upside down.
There are multiple character POV’s in the book, with Max and another character Xander sharing the spotlight with Charlie. Several other side characters are introduced, including a couple other potential love interests for Charlie, which made it hard to buy into the Max and Charlie romance completely. The side characters are somewhat lost in the shuffle of the fast moving plot. With so much action in the book, I hoped for a breather that would allow more focus on the magical origins and Queen Sabara.
The series has a lot of potential, and I’ll be interested to see where it goes, though it seems a bit twisted considering the epilogue. I would recommend this book to fans of the author’s writing, and those looking for something different in the dystopian category. The Pledge is available in stores today. You can read an excerpt of the book on the Simon & Schuster book page here.
Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver
Book: Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver, Illustrated by Kei Acedera, HarperCollins, October 4, 2011
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Format/pages: eGalley provided by NetGalley, available in Hardcover (307 pages)
Rating: 5 / 5 Stars
More Reviews: Goodreads
Liesl & Po is Lauren Oliver’s charming middle-grade debut. I have greatly loved this author’s YA books, and though each book is vastly different, her wonderful storytelling is consistent. Ms. Oliver always manages to surprise and impress me with the emotional depth of her characters. Liesl & Po is no different and I enjoyed the dark, magical ghost story feel to it and all the whimsical characters. This deeply personal story is inspired by the death of the author’s best friend, and is something that haunted the pages as I read the book. I think many will be able to relate to the subject matter, and will enjoy the fantasy elements involved as well. To use Liesl’s favorite word, I enjoyed the story ineffably much.
Like a fairy tale, the story begins with Liesl, a young girl who has been locked in an attic by her evil stepmother. Her father has recently died, and now she’s on her own, drawing pictures in the attic. One night a ghost named Po and his ghostly pet Bundle pop in and she asks for Po’s help to find her father on the Other Side. Meanwhile, a young alchemist’s apprentice named Will is sent on an errand to deliver a powerful box of magic, but mistakenly delivers the wrong box. This mix up sets off a sequence of events that brings the story full circle for this eccentric group of characters, and they must go on a journey to make things right.
The story takes place in a bleak, undetermined place where food and money are scarce. The mood is dark, and the setting is literally dark, as the sun hasn’t shone for years. But there is a ray of hope in the characters as they work together to help each other along the way. Liesl is courageous, determined and hopeful, even though she has suffered so much in her young life. Po is a ghost of few words, and is someone who needs Liesl as much as she needs him. The ghostly cat/dog Bundle is adorable too and always there to chime in with a “Mwark”. And young Will is sweet in his obvious affection for Liesl. There are many lighthearted moments between the characters that keep the story from ever being too heavy.
The story is magical and endearing, and the fantasy elements make it easy to imagine it as a movie. Though the subject matter is dark, the touching alliance of the characters brings a ray of hope. The illustrations by Kei Acedara are gorgeous and complement the story perfectly. Recommended for fans of Lauren Oliver’s writing and those that enjoy middle grade and fantasy books. An enchanting read.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Book: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, Little, Brown & Company, September 27, 2011
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Format/pages: Hardcover 432 pages
Format read/Source: ARC received at Comic-Con, read August 2011
Rating: 5 / 5 Stars
Preorder the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
More Info: Goodreads | Follow the characters on Twitter: Karou and Zuzana | Official Book page – read an excerpt
17-year-old Karou’s life is a mystery. As a baby, the Wishmonger Brimstone took her in, and she was cared for by the other chimaeras in his shop and trained to be a messenger. Brimstone and the other chimaeras have been her surrogate family for as long as she can remember. Karou is taught a little about their magic, but mainly serves as a messenger for dangerous tooth-collecting missions for Brimstone. In Karou’s dual life, she is also a gifted art student whose drawings of chimaeras are legendary, though her fellow art students in Prague don’t realize the portraits are real. Karou feels empty and like an outsider at times and doesn’t know where she fits in. She would like to earn Brimstone’s confidence, or at least earn more of his priceless wishes. However, he warns her that every wish comes with a price. Chaos begins with the sudden appearance of black handprints on doorways, and Brimstone becomes more desperate than usual for teeth. When Karou is in Marrakesh on a mission, she is spotted by the beautiful stranger Akiva, and they feel an intense and immediate connection. At the same time, Karou gets caught in the middle of a deeply personal and fierce war between angels and demons.
Laini Taylor’s writing is sublime and gorgeously detailed so that Karou’s world comes alive for the reader. I could envision the Prague setting very well through the author’s descriptive language, and the beautiful setting had me yearning to visit. The story enfolds at a leisurely pace while always managing to be entertaining, and I purposely read it slowly to savor the details. The world building is particularly well done and satisfyingly combines fantasy elements in a contemporary setting. Though this fantasy does deal with the familiar topic of angels and demons, it is done in an intriguing way that I haven’t seen before.
The characters are colorful and interesting, from Karou’s human best friend Zuzana to the chimaeras, or monsters, she encounters. I could imagine all of these creative characters hanging around Prague from their detailed descriptions. The protagonist Karou is beautiful, fascinating, strong yet vulnerable, and cunning. Since Karou’s past is unknown to her it is interesting to fill in the blanks along with the character. The mythology of the seraphim and chimaera piqued my interest and left me eager for more answers in future books. I loved the romance between Karou and Akiva and their scorching chemistry leapt off the page.
All the time spent on the story set-up leads to a thrilling and satisfying conclusion. The pace really picks up in the last third of the book, and the tension, angst and excitement left me breathless. Once answers are revealed toward the end of the story the book is unputdownable. This book is a must read for Fantasy fans, and is a good crossover for both YA and Adult readers. It has magic wishes, action, romance, gorgeous writing, exotic locales, a blue haired heroine, and an epic war in which the lines are blurred between good and evil. Daughter of Smoke and Bone is the first book in a new series, and I can’t wait to read the next installment.
Related articles
- Book: Daughter of Smoke and Bone (bookchelle.com)
- Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (booktopia.com.au)
- Daughter Of Smoke And Bone – Spotlight (sidhevicious.wordpress.com)
