“Inspiration and Influences” is a new series of articles in which we invite authors to write guest posts talking about their…well, Inspiration and Influences. The cool thing is that the writers are given free reign so they can go wild and write about anything they want. It can be about their new book, series or about their career as a whole.

Today our guest is Paranormal Romance writer Nalini Singh. Nalini Singh is the creator of the hugely popular and consistently good Psy-Changeling series, as well as the new Guild Hunter series. Her newest book, Branded by Fire , the sixth in the Psy- Changeling world, will be released on July 7th. She is also one of Ana’s favourite authors and Ana loves Nalini Singh’s books so much she has become a Nalinisingh-a-holic.

Without further ado, please give the floor to Nalini Singh:

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Inspiration & Influences
a.k.a. In which Nalini rambles…

I once saw a little girl walking along the street with her mother. She was bouncing in that way kids do and her dress, a pink dress with a ruffle around the edge, lifted up with each bounce. Her shoes were white lace ups and she had on ankle socks. And her smile, it said she adored her mother more than anyone or anything else in the world.

One day, I’m going to write a story about that little girl.

For me, inspiration comes from everywhere, from pieces seen, life lived, and thoughts had. With my changelings, I remember being unhappy that in all the shapeshifter books I was reading at the time, all the movies I’d seen, being able to change shape into an animal was considered a bad thing, a thing to be fought.

Why??

Wouldn’t it be completely AWESOME to turn into a leopard and go prowling through the jungle? Imagine what you’d be able to smell, how fast you’d be able to run, the way the wind would ripple through your fur.

(Original Image from Wikipedia )

So my changelings adore both halves of their selves. And it doesn’t hurt for them to change—because they are both.

As for the way they move…I did a lot of research on big cats, but I also remember watching a neighbor’s cat prowl really, really slowly through the grass, stalking imaginary prey. I didn’t move myself until the cat pounced. A miniature predator not so far from his bigger cousins.

In Branded By Fire, you’ll get to meet some winged changelings. I think they’re completely cool. Flying’s probably the super power I would most like to have. So it was kind of inevitable I would one day write about angels. Thinking back – the first story I ever won a contest with, was a short story titled “Angel.”

I’ve grown and developed as a writer since then, but that passion for worlds beyond our ken has always remained. I think, for me, inspiration is not something you ever put limits on – it’s present all around us, every day, in different forms. Yesterday, I saw another neighbor’s cat racing down the road like a streak of white lightning…only to come to a stop for a man who appeared to be a stranger. She even let him pick her up. Who was this man? Do you think he can talk to cats?
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Nalini Singh is the NY Times Bestseller author of the Psy-Changeling series. Born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand, Nalini has been writing as long as she can remember. Her stories always held a thread of romance (even when she was writing about a prince who could shoot lasers out of his eyes). She loves creating unique characters, loves giving them happy endings and she even loves the voices in her head. There’s no other job she would rather be doing.

You can read more about Nalini Singh on her website here

A HUGE thank you to Nalini for the article!

Giveaway Details:

We have one copy of Branded by Fire to giveaway to one lucky winner. The contest is open to residents of the US and Canada, and will run for 48 hours only – as we know how anxious you all are to read it! To enter, leave a comment on this post by 11:59 pm on Thursday July 2. Winner will be randomly picked and announced on this post on Friday morning.

Good luck!!

ETA: Thanks to all that commented!

The contest is now closed!

Title: Branded by Fire

Author: Nalini Singh

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Berkley
Publishing Date: July 7, 2009
Paperback:368 pages

Stand Alone or Series: Psy-Changeling book 6 – can not (should not) be read as a stand alone.

Summary:Though DarkRiver sentinel Mercy is feeling the pressure to mate, she savagely resists when Riley Kincaid, a lieutenant from the SnowDancer pack, tries to possess her. The problem is not simply that he pushes her buttons; the problem is that he’s a wolf, she’s a cat, and they’re both used to being on top.

But when a brilliant changeling researcher is kidnapped from DarkRiver territory, Mercy and Riley must work together to track the young man—before his shadowy captors decide he’s no longer useful. Along the way, the two dominants may find that submitting to one another uncovers not just a deadly conspiracy, but a passion so raw that it’ll leave them both branded by fire

Why did I read the book: Hello, my name is Ana and I am a nalinisingh-a-holic

Review:

Change can kill. But it can also save.
Take the Psy for example: the Silence Protocol was implemented in an attempt to thwart the madness typical to their race, wiping their emotions to save their existence. This change saved them and set them apart and above all the other races – or so they thought. Now , the changeling and the humans are beginning to rise and for better or for worse, the Psy need to face their destiny and once more accept change – or die.
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In this sixth entry in the series, the romance plot follows Mercy and Riley, characters that have appeared before in the series. Mercy is a sentinel for the leopard pack, DarkRiver whereas Riley is second in command for the wolf pack – SnowDance. Since the two packs have allied in the upcoming war against the Psy, Mercy and Riley have worked as the liaison for their respective packs. They are very strong people : both physically and in personality and have huge responsibilities in their packs. And when they get together – whoa – sparks fly as you would expect from two dominants. Mercy and Riley have been dancing around each other, getting on each other’s nerves for a while now (which in romance means “Meant for Each Other”). Contrary to the previous books in the series, Mercy and Riley start their (very.hot) sexual dance very early in the book (chapter one to be exact) which is very apropos to their personalities and conforming to the characteristic of the world Nalini Singh has created. Because this is the first full-blown changeling couple in the series and it is only appropriate that their sensual nature is centre stage. At least at first.

Because one of the main features in the Psy-Changeling series is how the animal in each of the changelings is juxtaposed to the human part.
All changelings are BOTH animal and human. The animal will be all instinct (to protect, to couple, to mate) and usually the instinct will be cause for actions and feelings that the human will follow. But not without thinking. This is what is so great about this series: even though there is the underlying Fated to Mate aspect that the animal half acknowledges , the human half still needs to think things through and accept it as well for it to work. The tension between Riley and Mercy comes from their human half having to accept the change (the “theme” of this book) that their relationship can bring to their live: if they are mated, will their kids be able to change since they are wolf and leopard? What will happen to their allegiance to their packs – will they still be connected to their Alphas or will one of them have to sever the contact? For Mercy there is also the question of how dominant she is and if she would even be able to accept someone in her life. The answer is of course, yes but the fun part is to follow the development of the story and the scorching hot interactions between Riley and Mercy.

But as much as the sexual tension is important for this couple, the strength of the novel is in the emotional bonding that slowly builds between them. As much as the two are strong characters (Riley is called the “Wall” by his alpha Hawke for his cold head for negotiating, for example) , one half of the couple has an emotional frailty coming from losses or near losses, and I thought it was great that it was the male character – Riley. There is a huge insight on his character that comes from his brother Andrew when he says to Mercy that Riley would sacrifice himself for the ones he loves but he doesn’t believe that anyone would do the same for him. He suffers from nightmares since his sister Brenna was tortured by a Psy in a previous book (book 1 ) and he is unable to let it go. And Mercy, the dominant female needs to learn a bit about nurturing to be able to be with Riley and that is absolutely great to see.

The juxtaposition of human-animal is not the only one in the series because the romance is equally juxtaposed to the world-building of the Psy-Changeling tension. And the tension builds even more in this book as The Human Alliance become a pain for both Psy and Changeling. There is danger , and the nerve-wrecking build-up to something huge. It is so clear to me that there is an end-game and that this is truly a well-planned, well-thought out series if ever there was one. Nalini Singh introduces a new kind of Psy in this one, as well as new characters and a lot of old ones have important roles. This is another great aspect about the series: characters from previous books make appearances but not just as a “hey-I am here, look at me, am I not cute” appearance but because their story is not done and they need to still accomplish something or develop their story arcs. I am thinking about Sascha, the female character from the first book, Slave to Sensation who is still dealing with her defection from the PsyNet and still needs to have closure with her mother.

Speaking of secondary characters, and because I am such a tease: there is a lot of Hawke , the wolf alpha on this one. And I mean, A LOT. And a lot of Sienna. Nalini Singh is building their relationship very nicely indeed and when their time comes to shine (but I think it will take some time though) , it will be absolutely great.

Branded by Fire is a superb addition to a winning series coming second only to Caressed by Ice (book 3) which is still my favourite in the series. And can I just say this: Nalini Singh astonishes me. Simple as that: this is the second book she wrote this year (the first was Angels’ Blood) and both will most probably make my top 10 of 2009. AND she has a third one coming out later in the year – Blaze of Memory, another entry in the Psy-Changeling series and I have no doubt it will be another winner.

So, yeah. My name is Ana and it is no wonder that I am a nalinisingh-a-holic.

Notable Quotes/ Parts: Just about every single interaction between Riley and Mercy. Also, between Mercy and her pack members. Actually, make that all the scenes between Riley and his alpha, Hawke and between Hawke and Sienna. Crap. the whole book is freaking notable.

Additional Thoughts: Tomorrow, Nalini Singh will be blogging with us about her Inspiration and Infuences and we will have a copy of Branded by Fire to giveaway.

Verdict: another worthy addition to the Psy-Changeling series. Nalini Singh is an expert at writing Paranormal Romance,always delivering GOOD stories with fantastically balanced romance and world building.

Rating: 9

Reading Next: Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

Ana here, to wish you all a Happy Sunday! What are you doing today? Me, I am fulfilling a childhood dream: I am going to see Bruce Springsteen today at Hyde Park! Hooray! I simply can not wait!

Before I leave though, a few bits and bobs to take care of:

Giveaways:

The 5 winners of the Namaah’s Kiss giveaway are:

Sarah M
Sarah Kay
Carol
Danielle
Kristen

The winner of the Don’t Tempt Me giveaway is:

Roxy!

Congratulations!!You know the drill: Please send your snail mail address to: contact AT thebooksmugglers DOT com, and we will send you the books ASAP.

This week on The Book Smugglers:

On Monday, I will be reviewing Branded by Fire by Nalini Singh, her new exciting installment in the most excellent Psy/Changeling series.

On Tuesday Nalini Singh is our guest for the day, talking about Inspiration and Influences. This is when you get a chance to win a copy of Branded by Fire in a Flash Giveaway (because we just know how anxious you all are to read it – as you should be!)

On Wednesday, it’s Novella Day when Thea reviews two stories in the Strange Brew anthology: Seeing Eye by Patricia Briggs and Death Warmed Over by Rachel Caine

On Thursday , it’s Thea’s turn again with the review of Darkness Calls by Marjorie Liu. Word on the Book Smugglers’ grapevine is that it’s even better than the first in the series The Iron Hunt (which Thea really loved!)

Finally,on Friday I will be reviewing a book that first caught my attention because of its beautiful cover and after reading it, became one of my favorites of the year so far. It is the YA novel Eyes Like Stars by debut author Lisa Mantchev. While you wait for our review, just have a look at the book’s awesome website: Theatre Illuminata

Upcoming:

We have a Very Special Event upcoming! Our very own Young Adult Appreciation Month – from July 19th to August 16th, we will be talking about this genre that we love. This is a teaser of some of the books we will review:

Plus, a lot of interviews with authors such as Kelley Armstrong, Diana Peterfreund, Karen Mahoney, Lisa Mantchev and others plus guest posts by YA bloggers and YA editors, and of course, giveaways. We are super excited – what about you?

Other news:

Joel Sutherland , writer of Frozen Blood (reviewed by Thea here) is running a cool contest with loads of possible prizes on his blog to celebrate his nomination for the Bram Stoker award.

Kaaron Warren, author of Slights, the horror novel that Thea considers one of the best of the year, is doing a countdown for the release of the book. In Slights, a character writes a story within a story, in the margins of library books. Kaaron is counting down to the release by writing a bit about each book the character writes in (because of course, each book was not picked at random!) . Check it out here: Kaaron Warren’s Livejournal

And that’s it from us today,folks!

~Your Friendly Neighborhood Book Smugglers

Welcome to yet another Guest Dare – the June edition. For those new to the feature, our Guest Dare is a monthly endeavor in which we invite an unsuspecting victim to read a book totally outside of their comfort zone.

This month’s victim – er, guest – is the fabulous Tia from Fantasy Debut. Tia revealed that her most dreaded genres were Horror and Paranormal Romance, and we gave her a tough selection of books to pick from. Finally, she settled on one of Thea’s personal favorites, the classic horror novel Ghost Story by Peter Straub.

Without further ado, we give the floor up to Tia!

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Title: Ghost Story

Author: Peter Straub

Genre: Horror

Publisher: Coward, McCann and Geoghegan
Publication Date: 1979
Paperback: 560 pages

Stand alone or series: Stand alone novel

Why did we RECOMMEND this book: It’s one of Thea’s nostalgic favorites (both the book and the film, starring Fred Astaire) – one of those books she read as a young teen that got her into the horror genre in the first place!

Summary: (from amazon.com)
In life, not every sin goes unpunished.

Peter Straub’s classic bestseller is a work of “superb horror” (The Washington Post Book World) that, like any good ghost story, stands the test of time — and conjures our darkest fears and nightmares.

TIA’S REVIEW:

Ana, Thea–forgive me. I have failed.

When Ana and Thea challenged me to this Dare, choosing a horror novel was an obvious choice. In all the time I’ve run Fantasy Debut, the only horror novel I covered was Calling Mr. Lonely Hearts by the awesome and incredibly sweet Laura Benedict. She’s so sweet, you wonder how she can write such about such awful things.

Anyway, Ana and Thea gave me a selection of titles to choose from.

Ghost Story by Peter Straub
The Damnation Game by Clive Barker
At the Mountains of Madness by H.P. Lovecraft
Angels’ Blood by Nalini Singh

I probably should have selected the Lovecraft novel for its sheer brevity, but I’ve tried to read Lovecraft before. I much prefer the Cliff Note’s versions of his novels! The Barker and Singh novels put me off too much for various reasons. I selected Ghost Story because it seemed to be the most readable and–to be frank–the least repugnant (sorry!).

It starts with a twenty-plus page prologue. In the prologue, a guy named Wanderley has apparently kidnapped a little girl and is headed south. As they head south, you find that there is something strange about the little girl. Toward the end of the prologue, I wondered if she was even a little girl at all. My interest was piqued.

Then, I started chapter one. The narrative jumped back an unspecified period of time. Four old men, Ricky, Sears, Lewis and John meet on a regular basis, apparently to exchange ghost stories. This started after a fifth member of their society–Wanderley’s uncle–died last year. Turns out there’s a deeper reason they’re exchanging ghost stories. Turns out they were all involved in the death of a young woman years before.

They decide to bring Wanderley in under the dubious–or desperate–credentials that he’s a novelist. He might understand what they’re experiencing.

Part of the reason I don’t read horror is because very often, the protagonists are such unpleasant people that I feel no attachment to them. I didn’t care about any of the old men, and I figured that they probably all deserved their fates. It is a plot-driven story when I’m attracted to character-driven ones. I found the writing too opaque, with long descriptions of such things like what one of the old men experiences as he takes his daily run (he’s a fit old guy, and the youngest of them). And the ghost stories that they men were exchanging weren’t especially scary. At least, they had not gotten scary at the point where I stopped, about 120 pages in.

There was a bit of interest when a mysterious young woman appears on the scene. She is related to the murdered girl of years before, but ultimately it didn’t interest me enough to carry me through.

So, I took up the dare, but I failed. I can’t blame other books, because while the other books I’m reading are interesting, none of them are can’t-put-it-down kinds of books. Do I get points for trying? Will Ana and Thea even want to post this? I do feel bad about not finishing, but at this point, I would have been forcing myself to go on. I hate that. Since Ana and Thea have posted Did Not Finish reviews in the past, I decided to write one for them.

Straub is unquestionably a master writer. But unfortunately, I don’t have any interest in the types of novels he writes. The book is due back to the library tomorrow. My daughter spilled water on it, so they might make me buy it. If they do, I may finish it eventually, but it would probably be too eventual to be any use to Ana or Thea.

Rating: Did Not Finish
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Well, shucks. We feel awful that Tia didn’t end up finishing this novel, but we can of course understand where she’s coming from, and we thank her for the heroic effort!

Speaking of Dares, Tia had the gall to counter-Dare us to read one of her favorite novels, The Once and Future King by T.H. White! We’ll be over at her blog with our review of the first book in the series, “The Sword in the Stone,” so make sure to stop by.

Next Month on The Guest Dare: Liz from My Favourite Books is our next guest up on the Dare. Liz revealed that she would be interested in reading something in the SciFi category – and has selected Hyperion by Dan Simmons.

Until next time!

Title: What Happens in London

Author: Julia Quinn

Genre: Historical Romance

Publisher: Avon
Publishing Date: June 30, 2008
Paperback: 384 Pages

Stand Alone or Series: It is a stand alone but main female character is the best friend of the heroine from The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever.

Summary: Rumors and Gossip . . . The lifeblood of London

When Olivia Bevelstoke is told that her new neighbor may have killed his fiancÉe, she doesn’t believe it for a second, but, still, how can she help spying on him, just to be sure? So she stakes out a spot near her bedroom window, cleverly concealed by curtains, watches, and waits . . . and discovers a most intriguing man, who is definitely up to something.

Sir Harry Valentine works for the boring branch of the War Office, translating documents vital to national security. He’s not a spy, but he’s had all the training, and when a gorgeous blonde begins to watch him from her window, he is instantly suspicious. But just when he decides that she’s nothing more than an annoyingly nosy debutante, he discovers that she might be engaged to a foreign prince, who might be plotting against England. And when Harry is roped into spying on Olivia, he discovers that he might be falling for her himself . .

Why did I read the book: Because it is a Julia Quinn book. Simple as that.

Review:

This is what happens in London: gossip mongers say that Sir Harry Valentine killed his fiancée. His next door neighbour, the curious and beautiful Olivia Bevelstoke decides to investigate and proceeds to observe Harry as he works in his office, from her bedroom window. She thinks she is being subtle but Harry knows his nosy neighbour is there watching him.

This is what happens when they first meet, officially: they do not like each other. Olivia thinks Harry is arrogant and annoying and a number of other things but

“Synonym retrieval required a far clearer head than she could achieve in his presence”

especially when he dared to refer to seeing her watching him! Harry on the other hand is equally unimpressed with Olivia – he thinks she is just another mindless, pretty young girl, unintelligent and cold.

But then, Harry – who works for the War Office as a translator – is told to keep an eye on Olivia because one of her suitors is a Prince Alexei from Russian who is suspected of being a spy. Next step is to pay Olivia a visit and it’s then that these first impressions are revised – Harry realises that the person she is in public is only what she is supposed to be. What people expect from her – to be pretty and nothing else because that was enough. But behind the lady- like façade, she is smart, witty, unusual. Unlike many of her contemporaries she likes to read the newspapers, for example.

When Olivia is direct and sincere about what she thinks and Harry is equally direct and sincere, one my favorite things in romance happens: they become friends. They have that sense of communion, of things in common, they share laughter. How I love to see a couple laughing of things only they understand. There is laughter in their talks, in their teasing, when they kiss. There is one word that I don’t use a lot in my reviews but I have to use it here because it is the most appropriate one: what happens between Olivia and Harry is cute. Like when they talk to each other from their windows – or how they discuss the gothic novel Miss Butterworth and the Mad Baron. Or Olivia’s mental lists – or epigraphic oddities – like the one “ How I Would Like To Kill My Brother version 16”.

I just adore when the “falling in love” process is shown in such a positive way, with so much joy – there is no other word to describe what Harry and Olivia feel when they realise they are in love with each other: a sense of pure, unmitigated joy – like in this moment:

“(…) he could not resist one last look at her face.
And in that moment he finally understood what people meant when they said someone’s eyes lit up.
Because when he told her to be at her window at six, she smiled. And when he looked into her eyes, it was as if the whole world was bathed in a soft, happy glow, and all of it, every little bit of good and fun and happiness – it all came from her. From this one woman, standing next to him at her front door in Mayfar.
And that was when he knew. It has happened. It has happened right here, in London.
Harry Valentine had fallen in love.”

Altogether now please: hand to your hearts and awwww.

They go from animosity to friends and from there to falling in love. Their story is easy, smooth (well, except for the few pages toward the end when there is a secondary plot with the Russians and then all of a sudden , we are reading a suspense novel and that really could have been entirely left out), light and extremely funny and romantic. This is not to say that they lack depth: Harry for example has had a seriously sad childhood (he can tell you how many times, exactly, he has cleaned his drunk father’s vomit – what kind of childhood is this when a child keeps tabs of things such as cleaning a parent’s vomit?) but he does not brood for it has shaped the man that he is , in the way that he does not drink alcohol for example. He behaves like an adult who knows his family’s shortcomings but it not overly traumatised by it. His relationship with his brother is one that is not explored in depth but the small amount of time dedicated to them is significant (Harry left as soon as he was able to, to join the army and left his brother alone with his parents) and I would not mind reading about Edward at a later book.

In fact, I wouldn’t mind reading about several of the characters that appear in the book, specially Harry’s cousin Sebastian who is a Reprobate Rake – normally I would scream “sequel bait” about most of them (well expect for Sebastian, but really who would NOT want to read about Sebastian? You tell me, when you read the book) but they are so interesting you do wish they had their own book. Even the infamous Smythe-Smith Musicale (old timers would remember them from the Bridgerton novels) makes an appearance and do you know that one cousin that KNOWS that they are appallingly bad? If there is one heroine that deserves a book is her and I don’t even know her name – maybe she will be paired off with Sebastian or maybe with Winston, Olivia’s identical twin.

I just know I will be there. Because this is what happens every time I read a Julia Quinn novel: I laugh, I sigh. I feel content and end up hugging the book . Every.single.time. If you don’t do the same when you finish reading this one? After the amazing proposal scene? I will eat a Russian hat.

Notable Quotes/Parts: Throughout the book the characters read and discuss one of those infamous Gothic Novels. Harry presents Olivia with a copy of “Miss Butterworth and the Mad Baron” and they have hilarious discussions as Olivia reads the book and is part repulsed by the clear commercialism of it all and part attracted to the wonderful exaggeration. Rings a bell?

Anyways: there is this one scene where Prince Alexei from Russia asks Harry to read a part of the book, then Harry’s reprobate cousin Sebastian arrives and starts reading (quite dramatically) from the book and next thing you know, the entire household is there and I was laughing so much, like a lunatic. Behold part of it:

“It was a dark and windy night,” Sebastian began, and Harry had to admit he did bring a great deal of drama to it. Even Vladimir was leaning forward to listen, and he didn’t speak English.
“- Miss Priscilla Butterworth was certain that at any moment the rain would begin, pouring down from the heavens in sheets and streams, dousing all that lay within her purview”
Dear God, it almost sounded like a sermon. Sebastian had clearly missed his calling.
“’Purview’ is not used correctly” Prince Alexei said.
Sebastian looked up, his eyes flashing with irritation, “Of course it is”
Alexei jabbed a finger in Harry’s direction. “He said it is not”
“It’s not”, Harry said with a shrug.
“What’s wrong with it?” Sebastian demanded.
“It implies that what she sees is under her power or control”
“How do you know it’s not?”
“I don’t”, Harry admitted, “but she doesn’t seem in control of anything else”. He looked over at the prince. “Her mother was pecked to death by pigeons”
“That happens,” Alexei said with a nod.
Both Harry and Sebastian looked at him in shock.
“It is not accidental”, Alexei demurred.
“I may need to revisit my desire to see Russia, “ Sebastian said.
“Swift justice” Alexei stated. “It is the only way”.
Harry couldn’t believe he was asking, but it had to be said
“Pigeons are swift?”

Verdict: What Happens in London is vintage Julia Quinn: quirky, light, funny and very, very romantic.

Rating: 8 – Excellent

Reading Next: Branded by Fire by Nalini Singh

“Inspirations and Influences” is a new series of articles in which we invite authors to write guest posts talking about their…well, Inspirations and Influences. The cool thing is that the writers are given free reign so they can go wild and write about anything they want. It can be about their new book, series or about their career as a whole.

Today we have fantasy author extraordinaire, the unparalleled Jacqueline Carey! Jacqueline Carey is the author of the bestselling Kushiel’s Legacy series, the “post-punk desert bordertown fable”/contemporary fantasy Santa Olivia, and the newest book in her Kushiel universe, Naamah’s Kiss. She also happens to be one of Thea’s all time favorite authors. Please give it up, ladies and gents, for Ms. Carey!

Jacqueline Carey’s Inspirations & Influences:

“Where do you get your ideas?”

For many authors, this is a most-asked and least-loved question, because the truth is… we don’t always know. Inspiration can be a ridiculously tough thing to pinpoint. The Kushiel’s Legacy series is a vast, sprawling tale that unfolds over six volumes and encompasses intrigue, adventure, romance, epic battle, feats of self-sacrifice, dire magic and complex mythology; and I’m kicking off another trilogy of more of the same with Naamah’s Kiss. So when people ask where these ideas come from, I tend to get that blank deer-in-the-headlights stare, not having the faintest idea where to begin.

One of my favorite examples of the nebulous nature of inspiration comes from Ursula K. LeGuin in a preface to The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas, a short story centered around a moral dilemma that blew my youthful mind when I first read it; as well as cheering my heart by virtue of being the one work of science fiction/fantasy in my Norton Anthology of Short Fiction, suggesting that the genre I loved was worthy of literary consideration after all.

At any rate, LeGuin’s inspiration for this seminal story began with a single word, “Omelas.” A word that came from reading a road sign for Salem, Oregon backward. Oh, there was far more to it in the end… but that was the initial spark of genesis. A road sign, read backward.

Such is the ephemeral nature of inspiration, which comes from anywhere and everywhere. Some sources are easy to identify. An idyllic vacation in the south of France inspired the setting of Terre d’Ange; that’s simple enough. Others are harder to track. Research into pseudepigrapha like “The Book of Enoch,” with its tales of fallen angels and divine retribution, inspired the framework of the mythology – but my central deity, Blessed Elua, came about in part through my misremembering an entry in “The Dictionary of Angels,” and in part through remembering Holy Blood, Holy Grail, a nonfiction book on which the premise of The DaVinci Code was based.

There’s a lot of esoteric information rattling around in my head, and a lot of unconscious associations formed in there.

Santa Olivia, released last month was obviously influenced by politics and current events; less obviously, by Love and Rockets, the series of graphic novels by Los Bros Hernandez; not obviously at all, by my secret long-standing desire to write a book set in a conflicted bordertown and my covert affinity for the sport of boxing. But at the heart of the novel is the concept of a young woman genetically incapable of feeling fear, and I haven’t the slightest notion where that came from.

In Naamah’s Kiss, the divine bear worshipped by my heroine Moirin and her mother’s folk doubtless has roots in Richard Adams’ Shardik, while the sequence set in my alternate China owes a debt to sumptuous films like Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Zhang Yimou’s Hero and House of Flying Daggers; although I would never have been able to bring aspects of my vision to life if it weren’t for a trip to China, where the splendid landscape itself served as inspiration.

Ultimately, I find inspiration is a matter of being observant and keeping my mind open to new ideas from any source. Just the other month, I was at the Art Institute of Chicago, and in the Antiquities gallery, came across a beautifully detailed model of a boat meant to ferry the souls of the dead to the afterlife. Something clicked with my not-yet-fully-articulated plan for the final volume of the new trilogy, and I thought, “Hmm, I might just need such a boat.”

And if I use it, I’ll have one more concrete answer to the question, “Where do you get your ideas?” The Art Institute of Chicago, of course!

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Jacqueline Carey is the bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Kushiel’s Legacy series of historical fantasy novels and The Sundering epic fantasy duology.

She currently lives in west Michigan, where she is a member of the oldest Mardi Gras krewe in the state. Although often asked by inquiring fans, she does not, in fact, have any tattoos.

You can read more about Jacqueline Carey on her website HERE.

A huge thank you to Jacqueline for the article! I’ll have to check out some of the mentioned influences now.

Giveaway Information:

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CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED!!!

Title: Naamah’s Kiss

Author: Jacqueline Carey

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: June 24, 2009
Hardcover: 656 pages

Stand alone or series: Book one of a new series set in the same world as the Kushiel’s Legacy books, though following a completely new heroine. Naamah’s Kiss stands on its own, but fans of the two prior trilogies will feel at home with Ms. Carey’s new series.

Why did I read this book: All cards on the table: Jacqueline Carey is one of my favorite authors. Period. The Phedre trilogy is my second all-time favorite series. I don’t think there’s any force that could have stopped me from reading Naamah’s Kiss.

Summary: (from amazon.com)
Once there were great magicians born to the Maghuin Dhonn; the folk of the Brown Bear, the oldest tribe in Alba. But generations ago, the greatest of them all broke a sacred oath sworn in the name of all his people. Now, only small gifts remain to them. Through her lineage, Moirin possesses such gifts – the ability to summon the twilight and conceal herself, and the skill to coax plants to grow.

Moirin has a secret, too. From childhood onward, she senses the presence of unfamiliar gods in her life; the bright lady, and the man with a seedling cupped in his palm. Raised in the wilderness by her reclusive mother, it isn’t until she comes of age that Moirin learns how illustrious, if mixed, her heritage is. The great granddaughter of Alais the Wise, child of the Maghuin Donn, and a cousin of the Cruarch of Alba, Moirin learns her father was a D’Angeline priest dedicated to serving Naamah, goddess of desire.

After Moirin undergoes the rites of adulthood, she finds divine acceptance…on the condition that she fulfill an unknown destiny that lies somewhere beyond the ocean. Or perhaps oceans. Beyond Terre d’Ange where she finds her father, in the far reaches of distant Ch’in, Moirin’s skills are a true gift when facing the vengeful plans of an ambitious mage, a noble warrior princess desperate to save her father’s throne, and the spirit of a celestial dragon.

Review:

Moirin mac Fainche is of the royal bloodline of Alais de la Courcel, but lives in the wild woods of Alba as one of the few remaining Maghuin Dhonn, inheriting her knowledge and small gifts of magic from her mother. Moirin’s father, however, is a D’Angeline priest, descended from the godly lines of Anael and Naamah herself. And so, Moirin is a child of two worlds, touched by two sets of Gods, each with important purposes for her. When she becomes old enough to be tested by the Maghuin Dhonn, the great mother bear reveals herself to Moirin, but shows her that Moirin’s destiny lies not in Alba with her people, but across the Straits to the land of her father, and beyond to lands further than she ever could have imagined.

Moirin leaves the open woods and is welcomed with open arms into Terre D’Ange. In a twist of fate, Moirin finds herself in the home of Raphael de Mereliot – charming courtier, lover of the Queen of Terre D’Ange, and magic-dabbling physician. Soon, Moirin – welcomed as an exotic distraction – is embroiled in D’Angeline court politics, caught up in the schemes between Raphael’s dreams of power and Queen Jehanne’s mercurial moods.

Following her diadh-anam, the spark of spirit within guided by the Maghuin Dhonn, Moirin travels from Terre D’Ange to the strange and far land of Ch’in with Master Lo Feng and his magpie Bao, to save a young warrior princess under a horrible curse, and to stop impending war.

Naamah’s Kiss is Jacqueline Carey writing in her element – her writing is as luscious, beautiful and captivating as ever. This is fantasy on an epic scale, encompassing magic, romance, heartache, war, and destiny. As a huge fan of the first two trilogies, I have to admit I was a little nervous as Moirin’s tale is set a hundred years after Imriel’s last book. Though there are references to Phedre and Imriel with a few easter eggs sprinkled throughout, I ultimately loved Ms. Carey’s decision to focus this new trilogy on an entirely new character as a fresh start, leaving Phedre and Imriel’s happy endings gloriously preserved.

As a new heroine, Moirin is exquisite. Ms. Carey excels at creating distinct characters; though I feared that Moirin would be too similar to Phedre, she most certainly stands apart as a heroine in her own right. While Phedre is D’Angelline down to the scarlet mote in her eye, polished, sultry and smoothly navigates troubled political waters, Moirin is raw, headstrong, and passionate. Unrefined in the realms of the political (or the realms of Naamah’s arts, for that matter), Moirin relies less on her savvy and more on her heart, believing in her Alban and D’Angeline gods and the spark of her diadh-anam to guide her. While Phedre’s destiny was sealed by a prick in her left eye and Imriel’s by his parentage, Moirin grapples with her fate – she knows not what her purpose is, only that she has a destiny, and she trusts blindly in that knowledge. Also, unlike her D’Angeline successors, Moirin brings a new perspective to the world of Terre D’Ange; through her eyes, readers see the glimmering beauty of the court, but also see its excesses and pettiness (something Phedre would never admit to). There is intrigue and scheming, but Moirin is not an active, maneuvering player in these games. Her gift from Naamah is desire, in her ability to give and to crave this passion, and this leads Moirin true throughout her adventures.

The plot of Naamah’s Kiss is decidedly less reliant on political intrigue than Phedre or Imriel’s adventures, and, reflecting Moirin as a narrator, is more driven by relationships and passion. The story is complex and sprawling, spanning across three vastly different lands – from the serene woods of Alba to the glitter of the D’Angeline court, and finally the mystical yet troubled land of the Ch’in. Alba and Terre D’Ange we already know, but the journey to Ch’in is completely, stunningly new. In Ms. Carey’s alternate China, Ch’in is an exotic new world, with magic and spirits of its own, and it is portrayed lovingly here. An imprisoned dragon, a cursed princess, family betrayal – it is all here in Naamah’s Kiss.

Finally, one cannot write a review for Jacqueline Carey’s books without mentioning her lush, rich prose. Naamah’s Kiss is no exception.

The stone doorway stood behind me.

But beyond it lay the sea. It sparkled in the bright sunlight, waves rippling and churning, stretching all the way to the horizon. Overhead, gulls wheeled in teh blue sky uttering raucous cries.

I looked back.

The Maghuin Dhonn Herself regarded me with infinite compassion. I took a deep breath, my body trembling. I didn’t understand, not really. And yet the spark inside me knew. “I have a very long way to go, don’t I?” I asked softly.

She didn’t answer.

I wiped my eyes. “May I at least keep this memory?”

Her great head dipped in consent.

“Thank you,” I whispered. “I don’t know where it is I’m meant to go or what it is I’m meant to do, but ‘ll try to make You proud.”

Brightness shimmered and the expression on Her face changed. It was a look like my mother’s embrace, hard and fierce. And it said without words that whatever came to pass, I was Hers. Her joy and Her pride, now and always and forever. My heart too ful for words, I nodded in silent acknowledgment. It was a gift of grace I would cary with me always.

She left and did not look back.

I’ve said before that Ms. Carey is one of those writers whose words make me fall in love, break my heart and leave me filled with a sense of wonder and longing – and such is Naamah’s Kiss. Like her gods, Ms. Carey uses her characters hard, but it is worth every ache and pain along the way.

I loved Naamah’s Kiss, and cannot wait to return to Moirin’s story.

Notable Quotes/Parts: The heartbreaking last climactic chapters are riveting and bittersweet. But to say more, I run the risk of spoiling.

You can read an excerpt from the first chapter of this book on Jacqueline Carey’s website, HERE.

Additional Thoughts: Ms. Carey’s alternate fantasy universe is now seven books strong; two completed trilogies, with Naamah’s Kiss marking the beginning of a third.

If you haven’t yet been introduced to the world of Terre D’Ange and beyond, I strongly urge you to hurry up already! Phedre’s trilogy (beginning with Kushiel’s Dart) is still my favorite, but for new readers with no knowledge of the prior books Naamah’s Kiss is a fine place to start.

Verdict: Naamah’s Kiss is everything I have come to expect from a Jacqueline Carey novel: decadent prose, passionate characters, and high fantasy adventure. Easily my favorite read of the year, thus far – and I cannot wait to read more. Bravo.

Rating: 9 Damn Near Perfection – Narrowly missing a 10 because, being fair, Naamah’s Kiss isn’t quite as good as Kushiel’s Dart or Kushiel’s Avatar…but I have an inkling that the next installment quite possibly will break that threshold.

Reading Next: Darkness Calls by Marjorie M. Liu

Tomorrow, Jacqueline Carey guest blogs about her inspirations and influences for Naamah’s Kiss! Make sure to stick around to read her thoughts, and also for a chance to win 1 of 5 copies of this book…

Title: Bound By Your Touch

Author: Meredith Duran

Genre: Historical Romance

I need to get this off my chest. I detest this cover. It does a disservice to such a brilliant, sophisticated novel. It screams of unoriginality, it reeks of cheap thrills when what is inside is NOT that at all.

Publisher: Pocket
Publishing Date: June 30, 2009
Paperback: 368 pages

Stand Alone or series: Stand Alone (but there is a secondary character who is getting a book of his own)

Why did I read the book: Meredith Duran’s first book, The Duke of Shadows was on my top 10 of 2008 and I was waiting for her second book with not a small amount of anxiety.

Summary: Silver-tongued Viscount Sanburne is London’s favorite scapegrace. Alas, Lydia Boyce has no interest in being charmed. When his latest escapade exposes a plot to ruin her family, she vows to handle it herself, as she always has done. Certainly she requires no help from a too-handsome dilettante whose main achievement is being scandalous. But Sanburne’s golden charisma masks a sharper mind and darker history than she realizes. He shocks Lydia by breaking past her prim facade to the woman beneath…and the hidden fire no man has ever recognized. But as she follows him into a world of intrigue, she will learn that the greatest danger lies within — in the shadowy, secret motives of his heart

Review:

Meredith Duran’s debut work, The Duke of Shadows was one of my favourite reads of 2008: it had an unfamiliar setting (India circa 1857) and an unusual pair of protagonists with a very nurturing hero and a heroine suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Those, coupled with Meredith Duran’s beautiful writing are the reason why The Duke of Shadows is such a memorable book.

Bound by Your Touch is the author’s sophomore effort and I am glad to report, equally as good and memorable – but in different ways. If The Duke of Shadows took the story and reader to uncharted waters, Bound by Your Touch sits firmly within familiar territory. The story takes place in London and the two main characters are Household Romantic figures: the Rake and the Bluestocking Reformer. But this is as far as convention – if we can call it convention, the characters NEED to be something – goes. Because the writing is utterly, amazingly sophisticated and quite frankly, spectacular so that what would be otherwise ordinary, becomes extraordinary.

Lydia Boyce is the plain, stiff, spinster daughter of a famous Egyptian scholar. In the prologue we learn that Lydia was once in love with her now brother-in-law and mistakenly thought he was love with her as well – but he had been in fact wooing her beautiful sister all along. The sense of betrayal is something that Lydia still carries inside and is a wench in the two sister’s relationship. Now, years later, Lydia sense of self-worth in a society where women are married or not, comes from working for her father in England, looking for financial support for his expeditions and organising the import of his findings. She does some scholarly work as well and can tell a fake piece from a genuine. Which is exactly what she does when she first meets James Durham.

The disreputable rake, son of the Earl of Moreland bursts into one of her lectures to tease his father with what he thinks is a genuine stela (he will do anything in his power to make his father’s life miserable) only to be proven wrong by Lydia and in public. This first encounters sets the story nicely as James then decides to investigate further and finds out that the fake has been brought to England by Lydia’s own father. Lydia is adamant that her father is innocent and asks for James’ help (because he has nothing better to do with his time) in proving this.

And their relationship obviously expands from there – at first they are both very accusing. James thinks she is stiff. Lydia points to him that his life is all about being bored, being useless by choice and being fuelled by his worthless aristocratic consequence. Lydia’s speech is imbued with a sense of unfairness that leaps from the page: she had no place in society because she is a single woman (who was expected to live off one of her sister’s charity and become the auntie) , he is respected simply because he was a man. Regardless of the fact that what she perceives about James t is not entirely true as we learn later in the book , it is still all about perception when they first meet. As they carry on, their perception change.

And that perception starts to change in what I think is one of the best scenes I read this year ,when James and Lydia are in the a rooftop and Lydia observes:

“How had he acquired such confidence? His birth had given him privileges, of course, and so had his sex. But there was more to it than that. Eyes were always on him. The newspapers dissected his smallest shenanigan. Yet he bore such attentions as though they hardly concerned him. She could not imagine him hesitating on the threshold of a room for fear he’d be judged and found wanting. If someone tried to cut him, he would only laugh. To live a life of such bold assurance, never caring what others thought….why, it must be another species of living, entirely. No uncertainty. Invulnerable to jibes and slanders. What could one not do, when so free?”

And in that rooftop, she decides to experience a moment of abandon and freedom. Even if she is “always afraid of something” because she is a woman. Unbeknownst to her, the same urge affects James: so if she feels the freedom to experience sensations he has a freedom of speech. They both say to each other things that they wouldn’t say – they are both unguarded. She admits fear. He admits he plays a role. It is an incredibly poignant, touching scene, where the characters are first deeply revealed to the reader and to each other.

I find it ironic that the title of the book carries the word “bound” when the feel I got from reading it, is quite the opposite. They are, at first bound, yes. By the roles they play in society for example. She is bound by her blind devotion to her father. He is bound by his utter contempt by his. In fact, her admiration to her father is directly opposite to his utter revolt against his own. Her faith is freely given and he doesn’t understand that although he does understand devotion for his sister (which is what moves and directs his rage against his father). It is the need to be free from these bounds that allows for them falling in love with each other and making concessions by doing so.

What I think is fascinating though –is how the two don’t undergo a change of character, it is first their perception of each other that changes and then Lydia becomes a little less stiff and James a little less lax. What changes is their choice of role to play in society – and the freedom of finally leaving the roles they play behind. At least (and always) with each other.

There are quite a few, incredibly romantic scenes in Bound by Your Touch – including their first kiss and the final scene. Or how James is completely undone by the realisation that all that devotion that Lydia feels for her father can and will be directed at him as well.

In short: the romance itself and the writing are superb – and to me, Meredith Duran has joined that pantheon of Romance Goddesses and sits right up there with the likes of Loretta Chase and Julia Quinn.

Notable Quotes/Parts :

“Every person was his own country she thought, governed by a private language, a personal reason and custom. She was still discovering herself but she thought she might use him as a guide, Whatever passed through his mind, whatever drove him to kiss her like this he kissed her as earnestly as a prayer – it was right and good. And all of it, the complex curious intricacies of James Durham, were here, bound by muscle and warm flesh, in the span of her hands”

Verdict:Sophisticated, beautifully written and utterly romantic.

Rating: 8 excellent and one of my top reads so far, this year

Reading Next: What Happens in London by Julia Quinn

Title: Consorts of Heaven

Author: Jaine Fenn

Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy

Publisher: Gollancz
Publication Date: June 2009
Paperback: 336 pages

Stand Alone or Series: Can be read as a stand alone novel, though it is set in the same universe as Ms. Fenn’s prior novel, Principles of Angels. A third novel, titled Guardians of Paradise is in the works, and will unite characters and loose ends from the first two books.

Why Did I Read This Book: I had heard about this title on a number of blogs and my interest was piqued. So, when we were offered a review copy of Consorts of Heaven, I eagerly accepted.

Summary: (from Amazon.com)
The book is SF, but the first three-quarters take place in an almost fantasy setting. It is not a sequel to PRINCIPLES OF ANGELS, but it is set in the same universe and share the same villains, the Sidhe.

Kerin and the stranger, nicknamed Sais, accompany Damaru to the City, in the company of a priest who’s helping Sais to get back his missing past – but as Sais recovers his memory, he realises that the world does not work the way he assumed – and everyone believes – it does. Worse still, the hierarchy which has kept society stable for thousands of years is rotten to the core. Then Kerin and Sais uncover the true nature of the world, and the unimaginable fate of the Consorts – a fate Kerin will do anything to stop her son sharing.

Review:

While searching for her wayward “skyfool” son Damaru in the bogs surrounding her village, Karin stumbles across a naked unconscious man. He’s near death, and Karin takes it upon herself to save him, dragging the stranger to her hut and administering what simple care she can for him. When the strange man awakens, however, he remembers nothing – not who he is, or where he has come from. What’s even more strange to Karin and to the people of her village is that while the man speaks the same tongue and recognizes objects for what they are, he remembers nothing of their world’s traditions, or even the most basic tenets of their deeply religious society. Sais, the name the stranger takes for himself, finds himself terrified and alone in a world that makes absolutely no sense to him with only Karin’s kindness and companionship to sustain him. When the village blames Sais for the most recent outbreak of the “Falling Fire” (a deadly disease) and attempts to put him to death, Karin is able to argue for his life and manages to convince the village that Sais most likely is a nobleman from the lowlands near the City of Light. She also manages to convince the village council to allow her to travel with the convoy to accompany not only Sais, but also her son. As an autistic boy, or skyfool (one touched by their gods, the Skymothers), 15-year old Damaru must make the trek to the City to be presented for testing as a consort to the gods. Since women have practically no status in this highly patriarchal society, Karin’s presence on the journey is unprecedented – but as a loving mother and a friend to Sais, she stubbornly refuses to be intimidated.

As the convoy makes it closer to the City, Sais recovers his lost memory – and makes a horrifying realization. Karin’s world, its backwards society built around supposedly benevolent Skymothers is a grotesque facade…and it now rests on Sais and Karin to save Damaru, and reveal the truth.

I should mention that I haven’t read Principles of Angels, Ms. Fenn’s first novel, set in the same world as Consorts of Heaven – and this may or may not have limited my enjoyment of this novel. Though marketed as a stand alone novel, and it doesn’t seem that reading Principles of Angels is necessary to Consorts of Heaven, I had the distinct feeling that some aspects of the story – especially in the later chapters as Sais reveals to Karin the truth of the Skymothers – would not have seemed so abrupt and out of place had I read the other book first.

As a novel that stands alone, Consorts of Heaven is a good, if predictable, read. The plot itself is nothing new: Consorts of Heaven takes place in a familiar type of dystopian, low-tech future on a backwater planet with Dark Age-era technology, home to a race that seems suspiciously human and ruled by cruel and distant gods. Indeed, a number of cliches abound in Consorts of Heaven – the brilliant autistic boy child, the amnesiac stranger, the strong (and shunned) mother figure, the bullheaded (and sexist) male society, and the purely malevolent villains.

And yet, it is testament to Ms. Fenn’s skill as a writer that this novel is eminently readable, despite the simplicity of the story.

At first glance, Consorts of Heaven seems much more of a traditional fantasy novel of the quest/journey variety, as Karin battles prejudice and bravely provides for her son and for Sais. As Sais has the epiphanous revelation of his past, however, it becomes clear that this is indeed a science fiction novel. Unfortunately, the nature of the big revelation is one that readers should easily be able to piece together from the opening chapters (if not from the blurb itself), and furthermore is poorly executed in a rushed info-dump, telling instead of showing. This is a shame, especially considering that the bulk of the book is nicely paced and well-written. (Then again, perhaps the big twist would have felt more congruous with the story had I read Ms. Fenn’s first novel)

With these gripes about lack of originality and the rushed, predictable reveal aside, Consorts of Heaven remains a good, solid read. Ms. Fenn’s gift for storytelling is undeniable, and her main characters are sympathetic and well-written. Karin is the star of Consorts, believable as a strong woman who refuses to submit to the cruelty of others so far as her child is concerned. Her quiet resolve as a mother is admirable and rings as completely genuine. Sais is a similarly well-written character, believable and likable enough. The relationships between Karin, Sais and Damaru are also wonderfully realized, especially Karin’s mix of frustration and love with her autistic child and the bond of friendship and trust that blooms between Karin and the mysterious Sais. Thankfully, Ms. Fenn veers away from the boring and predictable with regard to Karin and Sais, refraining from a run-of-the-mill romance storyline. It is the strength of these characters, and of Ms. Fenn’s writing, that make Consorts of Heaven an enjoyable novel despite its flaws, and I am eager to see what this author does with her next novel.

Notable Quotes/Parts: An excerpt of Consorts of Heaven’s first chapter is available online HERE. Check it out!

Additional Thoughts: Consorts of Heaven joins the ranks of science fiction-science fantasy stories, blending low-tech (or pre-tech, or even no-tech) societies with high-tech elements. Some other books that span this science-fantasy gap are Anne McCaffrey’s Pern books, the Samaria books by Sharon Shinn, and the Darkover series by Marion Zimmer Bradley.

Any other suggestions or favorites in the science-fantasy novel genre?

Verdict: Though not without its missteps, Jaine Fenn’s second novel is an entertaining read. Consorts of Heaven features strong writing and nicely realized characters, making Ms. Fenn a voice to look out for in the science fiction genre.

Rating: 6 – Good, Recommended

Reading Next: Namaah’s Kiss by Jacqueline Carey

Flash giveaway winner:

The winner of the Historical Flash giveaway is: Raina

Congratulations! Please send your snail mail address to contact AT thebooksmugglers DOT com, and we will send you the books ASAP.

Don’t Forget…

…to read the amazing interview with Loretta Chase and to enter the contest for Don’t Tempt Me which runs till next Saturday.

This Week on The Book Smugglers:

On Monday Thea reviews sci-fi title Consorts of Heaven by Jaine Fenn.

Tuesday, Ana reviews Bound by Your Touch by Meredith Duran.

On Wednesday, Thea reviews Naamah’s Kiss by one of her very favorite authors, Jacqueline Carey! Namaah’s Kiss is the start of a new trilogy set in the the same fantasy universe as the Kushiel’s Legacy series, but following an entirely new protagonist. (Thea has already placed this new title on the shortlist for her Best Books of 2009 list!)

We’ve invited Jacqueline Carey to write a piece for our Inspirations and Influences feature, to which she has graciously accepted! The article will be posted on Thursday, when you will also have a chance to win one of FIVE copies of Naamah’s Kiss! So stay tuned…

On Friday, Ana reviews What Happens in London by one of her favorite authors, Julia Quinn.

AND finally, on Saturday, we will be bringing you the latest victim in our Dare feature, as Tia from the fabulous Fantasy Debut gives us her review to horror novel Ghost Story by Peter Straub.

We’ll also be over at Tia’s, serving up our joint review of her counter-dared novel, the classic fantasy title The Once and Future King by T.H. White.

Phew. It’s a busy week, and we hope you enjoy!