In which I celebrate the paperback release of The Near Witch

Today some cool book things are happening for one of my favorite 2011 releases. First, today is the release day for the paperback of The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab. Second, to celebrate its release, “The Ash-Born Boy” is posted over at Disney*Hyperion’s website!

What, you might ask, is “The Ash-Born Boy”?

It’s a free story Victoria wrote as a thank-you to her fans to answer a simple question: “Who was Cole before he came to Near?”

Now, if you’ve already read The Near Witch, “The Ash-Born Boy” is guaranteed to change the way you see Cole.

And if you haven’t read The Near Witch yet, don’t worry, “The Ash-Born Boy” won’t spoil anything!

So basically, either way, you should go read Cole’s story ;)

And if you want to wait and read The Near Witch first, don’t worry! Cole’s story will stay up on Disney*Hyperion’s website, and if it ever comes down, Victoria will carve out a space for it on her own site. It will always be available somewhere, and it will always be free.

There’s more!

Cole’s story isn’t the only goodie to go along with the paperback release. In the back of the paperback you’ll find the first chapter of Victoria’s new book, The Archived, which doesn’t come out until January 2013.

So what are you waiting for?

Help Victoria celebrate today by taking a look at “The Ash-Born Boy,” and don’t forget to buy/order/pick up your own paperback copy of The Near Witch!

Want to know more?

Read my review of The Near Witch.

Check out my interview with Victoria Schwab.

Author Interview: Jessica Spotswood

Jessica Spotswoods‘s debut novel Born Wicked came out earlier this year. This stunning alternate history is filled with witches and unexpected twists and feminist ideas to boot. The ending broke my heart a little bit and made me desperate for book two, but Born Wicked remains a favorite 2012 read and I can’t wait to see the rest of the trilogy. Ms. Spotswood is here today to talk about her debut novel and answer some of my questions.

Miss Print (MP): Can you tell us a bit about your path as a writer? How did you get to this point?

Jessica Spotswood (JS): I loved writing in high school, but got absorbed in theatre in college. After grad school, in 2007, I realized that I didn’t love theatre enough to make a career out of it. It was a scary thing to admit, but I coped by rereading my favorite books from childhood like L.M. Montgomery and Louisa May Alcott. That led me to reading some of the YA that was out at the time, like Vampire Academy, Wicked Lovely, and Twilight. I started writing my own YA fantasy, about a portrait-painting girl who discovers her family’s link to a world where artists are considered enemies of the state. I queried in 2009 with that manuscript, which earned me representation from my awesome agent, Jim McCarthy. While I was on submission, I wrote Born Wicked. That first manuscript never sold, but BW did, in a week!

MP: What was the inspiration for Born Wicked?

JS: I had a dream about three sisters who were fighting over a magical locket. There’s no magical locket in BW, but the idea stuck of writing about three sisters with a complicated magical inheritance.

MP: Born Wicked focuses on the three Cahill sisters, all witches and all extremely different. Did you identify with one sister more than the others? How did you go about giving each of the Cahill sisters their own unique personality?

JS: I identify with Cate the most; since the books are from her point of view, I spend the most time in her head. Like Cate, I’m the oldest of three sisters. Also like Cate, I’m a worrier and I’m super-stubborn (I think you have to be, in publishing)! As for how I gave them each their own personalities, I tend to think of each sister in terms of what she wants most and what she fears most, as well as her strengths and weaknesses. For instance: Cate’s best and worst qualities would be selflessness & overprotectiveness; Maura’s are ambition & jealousy; Tess’s are perceptiveness & impulsiveness.

MP: Although your book is set in an alternate history, Born Wicked is still grounded in pre-twentieth century clothing and social behaviors. Did research play into your writing process?

JS: Yes! One of my favorite notes from my editor was to “ruffle my corsets” more, so I read up on Victorian fashion and home décor and social customs. Since BW is an alternate history, I was able to take some liberties, but I hope all of those little details contribute to a rich portrait of the Cahills’ world.

MP: Before writing you studied and worked in the theater. Did your theater background affect how you set about writing each scene or setting up the plot Born Wicked?

JS: I’m not sure if it contributes to how I plot, but I do tend to write dialogue first and then add in description and Cate’s observations and thoughts. I read plays pretty exclusively for several years, so I think (hope?) I have a good ear for dialogue. I also tend to think in three-act structure, which may be why the Cahill Witch Chronicles is a trilogy!

MP: Can you tell us anything about your next project? Or when to start looking for the second book in the Cahill Witch Chronicles?

JS: Right now I’m working on revisions for Star Cursed, the second book. It will be out February 7, 2013! On the Breathless Reads tour, I liked to say that Star Cursed will be brutal & awesome, with kissing. A longer teaser: The Cahill sisters will get to learn more about their magical heritage and what’s expected of them in the coming war between the Brotherhood and the witches. As usual, they’ll be divided about how to handle the responsibilities they’re faced with. They’ll finally get to meet their godmother, Zara Roth. There will be scandalous romantic trysts, new friends, political uprisings, and heartbreaking betrayals!

[MP: OMG that sounds awesome!]

MP: Do you have any advice to offer aspiring authors?

JS: Find people to read your work and give you honest feedback. Other writers are great, but so are friends who read a lot. It is incredibly helpful to have objective opinions on what works well, what they love, as well as what they have questions about or what might not quite make sense to them. My critique partners are invaluable!

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Thanks again to Jessica Spotswood for taking the time to answer my questions.

If you want to read more about Born Wicked check out my review!

Born Wicked: A Chick Lit Wednesday Review

Cate Cahill and her sisters are witches. Unfortunately they don’t hide it as well as their mother did. Too educated and far too clever, the Cahill sisters are already known throughout town for being eccentric and reclusive. Cate doesn’t mind their poor reputations, though, not if it can keep her younger sisters Maura and Tess safe.

And all three of the Cahill sisters do need to be kept safe. If the Brotherhood finds out about their magic, the girls could be sent to a prison ship. Or an asylum. Or they could disappear altogether never to be heard from again.

Cate’s efforts to keep the family beneath the Brotherhood’s notice begin to unravel as her Intention Ceremony approaches. With six months to choose between marriage or a life of service to the Brotherhood, Cate finds herself thrust into the heart of town society where she has to contend with tea parties, securing a suitable proposal, and the completely unsuitable but fascinating Finn Belastra.

Cate promised her mother she would keep her sisters safe. But as Cate learns more about the nature of her family’s magic and the risks they all face, Cate wonders if she is up to the task. Being a woman in New England during the late 19th century is bad enough. Being a witch could prove deadly in Born Wicked (2012) by Jessica Spotswood.

Born Wicked is Spotswood’s first novel. It is also the first book in the Cahill Witch Chronicles trilogy.

Set at the end of the 19th century, Spotswood creates an alternate history where witches are very real and women are seen as a threat. With historical details, some familiar and some not, Spotswood brings Cate’s New England to life with lushly described settings and brilliant characters that all but jump off the page.

Cate is a witty, realistic heroine torn between her own wants and her desire to protect her sisters at all costs. Cate’s siblings Maura and Tess have less page time but are equally individual and add another layer to the story. Finn Belastra, in addition to having a very cool surname, is an excellent foil for Cate throughout the story.

Born Wicked is a fast-paced, exciting read that will keep you guessing. The novel is well-plotted and keeps up the tension until the shocking conclusion. With so many delightful characters and so many unexpected turns, Born Wicked is a splendid start to a series that gives readers a lot to look forward to in book two.

Possible Pairings: White Cat by Holly Black, The Selection by Kiera Cass, Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel, Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough, The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Sorcery and Cecelia by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer, The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

You can also read my exclusive interview with Jessica Spotswood starting May 7, 2012!
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Sound good? Find it on Amazon: Born Wicked

Author Interview: Victoria Schwab

Victoria Schwab‘s debut novel The Near Witch came out last year. Though I read it last November, I find myself returning to it often remembering the beautiful writing and dramatic story. Ms. Schwab is here today to answer some questions and talk about her atmospheric story of witches and strangers.

Miss Print (MP): Can you tell us a bit about your path as a writer? How did you get to this point?

Victoria Schwab (VS): I grew up writing poetry, and then about a year into university, decided to try my hand at short fiction. A year after that, I wrote my first novel, which was sent out to agents, and promptly rejected (and very rightly so). I sat with the book for a year, figuring out what was broken, then revised, and sent it out again, and signed with my first agent a week later.

That book broke my heart, because it went on sub and got to acquisitions three or four times over the course of eight months, but never sold. Finally, for my own sanity more than anything, I sat down to write a new book. I was a second-semester senior with a killer course load, and I could only spare two hours in the evening at a coffee shop. But I did. I went every night, and that’s how The Near Witch was born. It sold the summer after I graduated university, to one of my dream houses, and I’ve been writing since.

MP: What was the inspiration for The Near Witch?

VS: I’ve always loved fairy tales, but at university, I became fascinated by their structure and their archetypes. As I expanded my studies into folklore and the nature of narrative, the way stories are told, the way culture spreads, I wanted to write my own.

Something that had always fascinated me was fairy tale’s lack of setting. The fact that place was so sparsely sketched helped keep the stories timeless, but I wanted to build a new fairy tale in which the setting was a character, in which it was vital to the narrative. I loved the challenge of it, and the challenge of building not only a story, but a world, a village of people with their own myths and legends and fears.

And I wanted it to be about witches, because of all the supernatural types out there, witches are not only the most flexible in the forms they take, but they have an inherent tie to nature, and I knew if I was going to make the natural world a part of the story, then witches would be the world’s living counterpart.

So it was really a tangle of things that led to The Near Witch. But I’ve discovered that’s how I work. A dozen threads that interest me, and somewhere in their midst, a knot.

MP: In your biography on your website you mention your love of fairy tale and folklore. Do you have any favorite stories? Did any stories influence The Near Witch?

VS: No specific story influenced The Near Witch, actually. I was driven on by the nature of fairy tale itself, its structure more than any actual tale.

MP: The Near Witch has a very strong atmosphere in the town of Near. Did any real locations help you conjure the landscape Lexi calls home?

VS: Near is based largely on the moors of northern England. If anything, I took that classic green and gray setting, and distorted it to fit the fairy tale, compressed the hills and stretched the woods, and made it mine.

MP: One of the interesting aspects of this book is that is has a story within the story. The book begins with Lexi reading the story of the Near Witch to her younger sister Wren. This structure begs the question, which story came first during your writing: Lexi’s story or the tale of the Near Witch?

VS: The story of the Near Witch herself actually came first. In keeping with the tangled nature of this story’s evolution, NEAR as a town is actually the part that came first. I sat down to build the world. And then I wrote the stories that filled that world, and then I wrote the people who told those stories. It was a bit backwards, I know, but it helped me figure out why the inhabitants of Near were the way they were.

MP: A big part of this novel is the mystery surrounding the actual Near Witch and the disappearances in town. Readers discover clues and put pieces together along with Lexi throughout the novel. As a writer, how did you go about pacing this aspect of the story and deciding what to reveal when?

VS: IT IS HARD. It’s hard because I KNOW all the secrets, so it’s hard for me to tell when the reader should know them. This is why, in every round of revision, I pick a beta reader who’s never read a draft before. Fresh eyes become KEY. But I will also say that over the course of writing and revising the book I learned more and more the FEEL of the reveal. So much of it is feel, not formula. And when I sat down to write THE ARCHIVED, which also has an element of mystery, I had a better notion of what to do. Fresh eyes are still invaluable, though. I’m lucky because my editor has the gift of voluntary short term memory, so she can look at every draft with much, much fresher eyes than I do.

MP: Since your book features witches, I’m obligated to ask your opinion on the age-old debate: Witches vs. Vampires.

VS: BOTH. Seriously though, that’s a mean question, because witches and vampires are my two favorite paranormal entities. The reason I chose to WRITE the former, however, was their flexibility. Vampires have a pretty set mythology, but witches can take so many shapes, and in the case of The Near Witch, I was able to really build my own variety of witch from scratch. So I will have to go with WITCHES.

MP: Your next book The Archived is set to come out from Disney Hyperion in 2013. Can you tell us anything about it?

VS: Ahhhhh I cannot wait until I’m able to talk more about this book! It has lived in me for so long now, and just the thought that soon people will be able to read it is absolutely thrilling. It comes out in January, so every time we reach a new month, I do a little dance because we’re getting closer. I think the only thing I can really say about it right now is that it’s got a little Buffy, and a little The Shining. In a library.

MP: Do you have any advice to offer aspiring authors?

VS: The best advice I can possibly give is to be brave. The road to publication is scary and filled with rejection, but at every step your want has to outweigh your fear. Not indignation, mind you, or entitlement, but WANT. If it doesn’t, you’re not ready yet. Be very honest with yourself. And be brave.

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Thanks again to Victoria Schwab for taking the time to answer my questions!

If you want to read more about The Near Witch check out my review!

The Near Witch: A Chick Lit Wednesday Review

There are certain truths in Near: The Near Witch is an old story to frighten children, nothing more. The wind is lonely and always looking for company. There are no strangers in the town Near.

For all of her life, sixteen-year-old Lexi has known those three things to be true from the town, from her life, and from the stories her father told her.

What happens when two of those truths turn out to be wrong?

Soon after a stranger arrives in Near, children begin to disappear. Lexi knows they can’t be connected–even though the boy seems to fade like smoke–not when she feels so sure of him.

But someone is taking the children. And Near wants someone to blame. They do not need to be the same person, especially when the most likely culprit is more legend than person.

Time is running out and Lexi isn’t sure if she’ll be able to find the children while keeping the stranger safe in The Near Witch (2011) by Victoria Schwab.

The Near Witch is Schwab’s first novel.

Schwab’s writing is lyrical and immediately brings to mind traditional fairy tales with all of their charm and danger. The story expertly builds tension as Lexi searches both for the missing children and the truth about Near and its infamous witch. With so much mystery surrounding Near and so much suspense, the story fast becomes a page turner urging readers from one haunting scene to the next.

Although there is (a tiny bit of) a love story amidst the talk of witches and missing children, Lexi remains a strong heroine with her own resolve and a whole lot of spunk. With the combination of lots of paranormal elements and not too much romance, The Near Witch fills a need for spooky, exciting stories that don’t start and stop with the main character’s romance.

The Near Witch is an atmospheric blend of folktale conventions and spooky details. Although the novel takes place on the sparse moor landscape, the story is filled with distinctive characters and memorable moments. The resulting novel is a satisfying choice for readers looking for both fairy tale magic and ghost story chills.

Possible Pairings: Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Plain Kate by Erin Bow, Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones, Clockwork by Philip Pullman, Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Be sure to check out my interview with Victoria Schwab!
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Sound good? Find it on Amazon: The Near Witch

The Demon’s Surrender: A Chick Lit Wednesday Review

Just one year ago Cynthia Davies thought her place at the Goblin Market was assured. The darling of Market’s leader, a talented dancer, Sin Davies is Market royalty in every possible way. Sin had thought that made her the obvious choice as the heir to the Goblin Market. Sin actually thought it made her the only choice.

Then Mae Crawford showed up and usurped Sin’s rightful place, forcing Sin to fight desperately for her place as the Market’s heir.

Good thing Sin is used to fighting for what she wants. Every day she struggles to keep her younger siblings Lydie and Toby safe. Lately she has also had to wrangle her feelings for the infuriating Alan Ryves. Once little more than a tall, irritatingly smart, thorn in her side Sin now owes Alan a debt that can never be repaid. And Sin doesn’t like owing anything to anyone.

As time runs out for Sin to stake her claim to the Market, outside threats are also closing in. Mae’s own brother has joined the magician’s that want to kill them all and destroy the market. While the loyalties of Alan’s brother remain perilously uncertain. Nick, Sin’s favorite dance partner and a dangerous demon, might still have an allegiance to his brother Alan. Or he might destroy them all.

Victory will come at a cost for all of them. Will the price be more than Sin can pay in The Demon’s Surrender (2011) by Sarah Rees Brennan.

The Demon’s Surrender is the conclusion of Rees Brennan’s Demon’s Lexicon Trilogy. It is preceeded by The Demon’s Lexicon and The Demon’s Covenant–the first and second books respectively.

In the first book readers met Nick Ryves and learned the startling truth of his past. In book two readers learned more about Mae, her brother Jamie, and the dangers of dealing with magicians. Throughout both books Sin appeared as an attractive, athletic and integral part of the Goblin Market.

Readers did not learn much more about this often aloof heroine until this final book which is told from Sin’s point of view. Lacking a frame of reference for Sin’s personality–it was a little worrisome to know an entire book, not to mention the conclusion of the trilogy, would be told from her point of view.

Turns out there was absolutely nothing to worry about.

Reading about Sin in The Demon’s Surrender was a revelation as Rees Brennan reveals more and more facets of Sin’s personality. An athletic dancer, Sin plays many roles. Some things don’t come easily to her and often she struggles with her responsibilities. She is multi-layered, tough and so much fun to follow throughout the story. As events unfold it is soon obvious that Sin really is the perfect character to wrap up this stunning trilogy.

While Mae and Jamie take a back seat in this installment (after featuring heavily in books one and two), Nick and Alan remain major characters. In fact, having a Sin book turned out to be the next best thing to an actual Alan book.

It’s hard to review the conclusion of a trilogy without revealing too much or explaining too much of the first books. All you really need to know is Rees Brennan’s writing remains taut and seamless as she works out twists, turns and lots of action.

The Demon’s Surrender is a perfect conclusion to a beloved trilogy wrapping up events appropriately and giving the characters some kind of closure while showing that Rees Brennan still has a lot of tricks up her sleeve. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for readers in her next series.

Possible Pairings: White Cat by Holly Black, City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud, The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner, Peeps by Scott Westerfeld
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Sound good? Find it on Amazon: The Demon’s Surrender

Author Interview: Carolyn MacCullough

As some of you already know, I have much love for Carolyn MacCullough and her amazing books. After meeting her a while back I knew she was an author worth talking to when I started doing interviews. Having been excited for Always a Witch since January I also knew its pending release made for a great time to discuss it and its predecessor Once a Witch with Carolyn who was kind enough to take the time to talk to me for a bit about both books.

Miss Print (MP): Can you tell us a bit about your path as a writer? How did you get to this point?

Carolyn MacCullough (CM): I always wanted to be a writer, but a few other things got in the way first.  I attempted to be an actress–which meant waiting tables while going to a few auditions here and there before I realized that stage fright was just going to do me in anyway!  But, I was always telling stories, imagining stories, writing down snippets of stories until one day I applied to the MFA program in Creative Writing at The New School.  And that’s what got me to take writing more seriously…

MP: Always a Witch is your second novel about Tamsin and her Talented family. What was your inspiration for these books?

CM: Running.  Or my desire to be a runner (which I’m sadly not cut out for).  My then boyfriend (and now my husband) taught Kung Fu and in an effort to appear more athletic (because when you’re newly in love you want to impress the person you’re in love with) I decided to take up running.  I ran through brownstone Brooklyn–a truly beautiful place to go running (if you have to go running at all) and everyday I would pass this little stone gargoyle.  He seemed to be grinning at me–I think he understand I was just a poseur of a runner.  And I always wanted to know what stories he would tell if he could only talk.  Then  I started thinking about a character who had the power to make stone statues talk.  Then I started thinking about this character’s sister who didn’t have any power at all, but who had the misfortune to be born into a family of characters who all had some power or other.  And then I went home and started typing.  And I stopped running after that.

MP: Speaking of inspiration, Tamsin is a really unique name. How did you pick it? 

CM: I love picking character names!  The names (along with the characters themselves) just come to me and I think “of course.  That’s who you are,” when I hear them.

MP: Before Once a Witch (and now Always a Witch) you wrote three YA novels (Falling Through Darkness, Stealing Henry, and Drawing the Ocean) that are not fantasies. What was it like writing in a new genre? What was your favorite part of writing a fantasy?

CM: I loved reading fantasies when I was a kid (and still do) so I’m not sure why it took me so long to start writing in this genre.  I spent my whole childhood looking/wishing/hoping for magic in some way to happen to me so my favorite part of writing a fantasy is that you get to bend the rules of the ordinary.

MP: New York City plays an important role in both books with several real locations appearing in the story including Jefferson Market Library, Grand Central Terminal and Madison Square Park. How did you decide what locations to include?

CM: They were mostly the locations that I spent time in/around and know pretty well.  I also think they’re iconic and deserve places in as many books as possible.

MP: Tamsin spends a good part of Always a Witch back in 1887. Did you need to do a lot of research to get details right? 

CM: Yes and that was hard.  I agonized over what to include/not include/too much/too little.

MP: If you could have a Talent like the Greenes what would it be? (I’m partial to Gabriel’s Talent for finding things.) 

CM: I love Gabriel’s Talent, too since it seems really useful especially when you’re running late and can’t find your keys.  But I think I would choose the Talent of being able to control time–to freeze it and/or rewind it.  I need do-overs in life.

MP: Can you tell us anything about your next project? Will we be seeing more of Tamsin and her family?

CM: Sadly, no.  Not at the moment anyway.  I’m working on another YA paranormal set in an ocean village.  And yes, it’s a romance, too!

MP: Do you have any advice to offer aspiring authors?

CM: Read.  Read, read, read everything you can.  It’s the best education out there.  And it’s free!

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Thanks again to Carolyn for this great interview and remember Always a Witch will be released August 1st so watch for it! (While you’re waiting for the release date, why not read my review?)

Always a Witch: A Chick Lit Wednesday Review

The Greene family has always been very talented–magically Talented, that is. Except for Tamsin. Instead of a Talent she had a cryptic prophecy from her grandmother declaring that Tamsin would one day be a beacon for her entire family.

At least, that’s what she thought for the first seventeen years of her life.

Now she knows the truth about her Talent and her family’s past. Unfortunately so does Alistair Knight and he’s gone back to Victorian era New York to share what he knows with his ancestors and possibly destroy the Greene family forever.

With Alistair Traveling to the past, time is running out and Tamsin realizes she has no choice but to follow.  Alone in 1895 New York Tamsin soon finds herself disguised as a lady’s maid in the Knight mansion. She still has a crucial role to play in her family’s struggle with the Knights even if she isn’t sure what that role is yet. All she knows for sure is that it will involve a terrible sacrifice and, in the end, she may not have any choice at all in Always a Witch (2011) by Carolyn MacCullough.

Always a Witch is the sequel to MacCullough’s delightful novel Once a Witch.

As some regular readers might already know, Carolyn MacCullough is one of my favorite authors of all time and also an author I was lucky enough to meet a while back which remains one of the high points of . . . my life. All sounds like tangential information unless you got to see a galley of Always a Witch.

On the covers of the advanced reader copies (and in the image attached to this post) part of my review of Once a Witch was quoted. There are a lot of reasons for any reader to love this book but for me a lot of that love is wrapped up in MacCullough being one of my favorite authors and also my excitement at being quoted on the galleys* and being so fond of these characters.

In other words, I’m delighted my words got to endorse this book, however briefly. (The quote didn’t make it to the final cover but I’ll always have the galleys.)

Once a Witch was a clever urban fantasy with an original take on magic as well as a fast-paced, funny and entertaining story. It was a delightful introduction to Tamsin and her world. Always a Witch is just as good as the first–maybe even better. Definitely good enough that I finished it in one day.

Family is still a central element of this book, as it should be when the family is as splendid as the Greenes, but there is a lot more to this story with the extended time travel and Tamsin’s choice looming throughout the narrative.

As a sequel there is always the risk of summarizing too little or explaining too much. MacCullough strikes a perfect balance of summary and new material here. The inimitable Gabriel also returns along with other favorite characters. Tamsin’s same fierce love for her family permeates these pages.

Always a Witch is a great fantasy with a well-realized look at old New York besides. Tamsin is one of my favorite heroines with her strength, resilience and general charm. Like Once a Witch before it, this book is a wonderful story about family and love and, yes, about magic too.

*I’ve had to sit on this information since December because the pub date was so far away. I also wasn’t sure if the cover was finalized yet–I first saw it on a galley when a colleague pointed it out–and it’s been absolute torture waiting to share this big news with you, dear readers. The news is slightly less big since the quote isn’t on the final cover but I decided to mention it anyway because the quote was such a big part of my experience with this book.

You can also read my exclusive interview with Carolyn MacCullough!

Possible Pairings: White Cat by Holly Black, Heist Society by Ally Carter, Clarity by Kim Harrington, Hourglass by Myra McEntire, The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan

Exclusive Bonus Content: Let’s take a moment to consider the titles together. See where I’m going here?

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Sound good? Find it on Amazon: Always a Witch

Demonglass: A Chick Lit Wednesday Review

**This review (and the book itself) contains MAJOR spoilers for Hex Hall. You have been warned.**

Sophie Mercer’s first year at Hex Hall is almost over and in those months everything she thought she knew was turned upside down. Now Sophie knows the truth about herself (turns out she isn’t a dark witch but a demon), her crush (undercover agent of The Eye–a group determined to kill all Prodigium including witches, shifters, fairies, and definitely demons), and the dangerous nature of her powers (being a demon could lead to, well, killing people).

All of which just convinces Sophie that she needs to go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that can strip Sophie of her powers–if it doesn’t kill her.

Traveling to London with her estranged father (and head of the Council in charge of all things magic including the Removal) Sophie finally realizes knowing the truth doesn’t mean she knows everything. Turns out there’s a lot more to her family and her powers than she thought.

As if Sophie’s plate isn’t full enough she also discovers other demons in London, learns more about her crush (the one that might want to kill her), and discovers there might be more to Hex Hall’s stoic caretaker Cal than she gave him credit for. With or without the Removal Sophie’s summer is sure to be exciting (but hopefully not deadly) in Demonglass (2011) by Rachel Hawkins.

Demonglass is the sequel to Hawkin’s first novel Hex Hall.

If Hex Hall was a funny, exciting, fantasy with strong heroine then Demonglass is all of that but more.

Readers will find the same breezy narration and action-packed story along with the characters they loved from Sophie’s first adventure. At the same time Hawkins does a wonderful job expanding Sophie’s world and building on the events of the first book to create a new and original plot here. Sophie’s relationship with her father is also handled in a realistic way helping to make him a well-realized character who adds a lot to the story. Speaking of great characters, as a fan of Cal from the very beginning, I am also happy to report that he features more prominently in this installment to great effect.*

Sophie continues to be a great heroine with her sharp blend of sarcastic humor, bravery and a basic authenticity about her. Really, my only regret about this book is that it ends with the most epic cliffhanger I’ve seen since Catching Fire. Luckily the final installment in Sophie’s trilogy is slated for a 2012 release.

*Cal is now officially a part of the very exclusive Literary Guys I Wish Were Real Club.

Possible Pairings: The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan, Unearthly by Cynthia Hand, Hourglass by Myra McEntire, Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
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Sound good? Find it on Amazon: Demonglass

Plain Kate: A Chick Lit Wednesday Review

A long time ago, in a market town by a looping river, there lived an orphan girl called Plain Kate. Plain Kate, Kate the Carver. No one’s friend and no one’s daughter. Little Kate might meet her fate whittling sticks till it’s too late.

Kate’s shadow is long and her talents with a knife are great. Taught by her father, Plain Kate can draw the truth out of any piece of wood with skill and her knife, not with magic.

But in a town looking for someone to blame for the bad times, a little skill can start to look a lot like magic. And in a town where witches are feared and burned, working magic with a knife–even if that magic isn’t really magic–can be a very dangerous thing.

As things go from bad to worse in her small market town, Kate knows she has to leave. But you need money and food to go anywhere. So Kate makes a deal with the mysterious stranger passing through town.

In exchange for her shadow he can give her what she needs, and grant her heart’s wish. All Kate really wants is to get away, so she agrees. But as Kate sets out with her provisions and her cat, Taggle, she soon realizes she can’t live without her shadow for long. But Kate isn’t a witch and her only magic is a talent for carving. Will that be enough to help Kate change the course of things and get her shadow back in Plain Kate (2010) by Erin Bow?

Plain Kate is Erin Bow’s first novel.

Bow blends element of traditional folk tales with her own lore to create a unique world for this dark fantasy. Kate is a carver through and through, a fact that the writing returns to again and again as Kate works on her carvings and views her surroundings through a carver’s eyes.

The writing here is lyrical and evocative, making up for a story that became somewhat scattered in the second half of the book. Plain Kate will easily appeal to anyone looking for a traditional fantasy but be warned: this is a story that is very grim even in the midst of its flights of fancy.

I loved the book trailer for Plain Kate but I hesitate to mention it because I think it’s misleading in terms of how very, very dark this book really is. Now might also be a good time to mention that I really enjoyed the cover art for this title by Juliana Kolesova even though it (again) suggested a much more whimsical story than this really was.

This dichotomy between the cover/trailer and the actual story also makes it hard to determine my own feelings about the book. I can see the merits of the writing and the premise. The world Bow created is wonderfully developed. All the same,  I found the contrast between the story I was expecting and the story I got to be so jarring that I cannot love it as wholeheartedly as I thought I would.

I see great things in this book’s future, but part of me still wishes it had been the lighter-toned, more whimsical book I had initially expected.

Possible Pairings: White Cat by Holly Black, Fire by Kristin Cashore, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier, The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner, A Well-Timed Enchantment by Vivian Vande Velde

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Sound good? Find it on Amazon: Plain Kate