Title: Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer

Author: Laini Taylor

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Publication Date: June 2007
Paperback: 448 pages

Stand alone or series: Book 1 in two book series called “Faeries of Dreamdark”

Magpie Windwitch is not like other faeries, most of whom live in tranquil seclusion. When she learns that escaped devils are creeping back into the world, she travels all over with her faithful clan of crows, hunting them down. The hunt will take her to the great forest of Dreamdark, where she must unravel the mystery of the worst enemy her folk have ever known. Can one small, determined faerie defeat the forces that threaten to unmake the world?

How did we get this book: Bought

Why did we read this book: We have heard nothing but AMAZING things about Laini Taylor’s writing, and both of us were eager to finally give her books a try! What better place to start with her first novel, Blackbringer?

REVIEW:

First Impressions:

Thea: I have heard nothing but singing praise for the books of Laini Taylor, so my expectations were pretty darn high when I started Blackbringer. But holy winged fairies, Batman! This first novel of the Faeries of Dreamdark was totally awesome. I found myself falling in love with Laini Taylor’s descriptions, her characters, the cadence of each character’s speech, and the world she has created with Dreamdark. Yeah, you could say I’ll be back for more.

Ana: I am no newbie to Laini Taylor’s fantastic writing, having read the amazing Lips Touch last year. I can safely say that after reading Blackbringer this author has been cemented as an auto-buy: and how could it not be so? Great plotting, great characters, great prose combine to an altogether solid reading experience that can only make me a happy reader.

On the Plot:

Thea: The overall plot for Blackbringer is a familiar one – a great evil, a darkness, has risen and threatens to not only take over the land, but to destroy the very fabric of the world. Young Magpie Windwitch (granddaughter of an elemental wind, sister to seven crows, nomadic fairy and monster-hunter) comes across an opened bottle, fished out of the sea by men (“mannies”) and it’s magical seal broken – but this is no mere underling monster. Magpie discovers that however unwittingly, these ignorant humans have unleashed a great darkness that threatens to destroy everything. In order to prevent this hungry beast’s advance, Magpie journeys back to Dreamdark to find the oldest and most powerful of the seven Djinn that created the universe, named the Magruwen, and implore his help. Though her task seems impossible, Magpie is no ordinary young sprout – she has a destiny beyond her wildest dreams, and the world rests on her tiny, winged shoulders.

How much did I love the writing in this book? How much did I love the world Ms. Taylor creates with Dreamdark, Issrin Ev, and the Moonlit Gardens? The powers of the long-slumbering Djinn, the ever-destructive force of the Blackbringer, the ignorant Mannies, the serendipitous imps, and the forgetful faeries?

I LOVED IT ALL.

Just as the Djinn weave their magics and create a tapestry of being, so too does Ms. Taylor weave an enchanting world for her readers. I, for one, found myself completely immersed from the first page – from the descriptions to the character mannerisms. The background conflict is familiar (as is the “special” nature of protagonist Magpie), but it’s written in such a whimsical way, in such a beautifully layered and described world, that it made me feel like a little girl again, reading a fairy story for the very first time.

And speaking of fairies – in Blackbringer they are tiny, fierce, magical creatures once more! Faeries are hardly ever tiny anymore (though they certainly are ferocious and cruel) – and I dig that. Blackbringer makes me think of Peter Pan, of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, of John Anster Fitzgerald (pictured below in Additional Thoughts) and Brian Froud’s illustrations.

While I loved basically everything, there were a few tiny drawbacks. For one, I think this book was on the protracted side – I found my attention wavering eversoslightly by the last third of the book. In comparison, the final battle comes pretty quickly and is resolved without much ado. Still this is a very minor quibble – I found myself thoroughly enjoying this lovely book.

Ana: Yes, the plot is a familiar one; yes the main character is the special heroine who is destined to save the world and yes, it all seems impossible at first, seeing as how aforementioned heroine is a miniscule sized fairy. Yet, as Thea, I LOVED it and here is why:

For Laini Taylor’s grasp of familiar Fantasy tropes which she infuses with creativity and heart, making them if not necessarily new, at least charming, enchanting and engaging. And that is one the signs of a good writer to me.

And even as familiar as it was (the dark is rising!), I still was very much interested in learning about how it all came to me and the intricacies of the fairies’ and Djinn (that yes, wholly unique to me) mythology. The only drawback was the anticlimactic ending. The entire book was a huge build- up towards the face off against the Greasest!Darkest!Baddest! force of all time and when it came, it was over too easily and too fast. It was like Lord of the Rings all over again. I remember that sentiment of frustration I had when after all they went through after what felt like a millennium of suffering to fight Sauron the only casualty was…..Frodo’s finger. But I digress. My point is, there was enough plot here, enough good things to extend this fight for at least one more book. It just ended too fast.

An aside: Thea cited a few examples of miniscule-yet-fierce fairies and that reminds me of another recent example which I also loved, Knife by R.J. Anderson

On the Characters:

Thea: Just as with the storytelling, the characters of Dreamdark are a pure delight. Magpie Windwitch, our intrepid heroine, is in many ways the typical, gifted-beyond-her-wildest-dreams ragamuffin, but she’s so damn endearing, the use of the trope hardly registers. She’s wild, brave and impossibly gifted with abilities – but that’s all tied into her unique heritage. I loved her relationship with her brother/protector/friend crows, with her old nurse imp, and with her friends Poppy and Talon. ALL of the characters are varied and wonderful, my favorites being Talon (O.M.G. love Talon – as I’m sure Ana will reiterate) the prince whose father and kingdom rejects him because of his stunted wings, Poppy the kind and softspoken faerie that can talk to plants, the formidable Magruwen, and – of course! – the beautiful, legendary faery warrior Bellatrix.

Although, I will have to agree with something that Kristen of the awesome Fantasy Cafe says in her review of the book – the only quibble I have with the characters is how clearly good or evil they are. Not that it’s a bad thing, necessarily, but I love me my ambiguously (im)moral characters.

Ana: I believe that the characters Blackbringer are the added flavouring in this story. As much as Magpie (and what a GREAT name!) is wonderful if not especially complex, I completely lost my heart to her clan of Crows and to Talon. The former for their mixture of fierceness in time of need or for their mothering of Pie or for just how much FUN they were. I mean, they used to be a travelling theatre band! Crows. Who put on wigs to perform. How whimsically fun. And with dialogue pearls such as “curiosity killed the eejit”, how could I not love them?

And then there was Talon. The moment he stepped into the story, daydreaming at the top of a tower, part of a clan of warriors of which he could never be truly a part of as he couldn’t fly because of his stunted wings, I knew. I knew that he was the hero, if there was going to be one. And I fell in love with him, and he was awesome. His scenes with his wings (the lack of them) were poignant but also genius.

And the tattoos. I am easy that way.

I loved them all so much that the thought of the lack of ambiguity didn’t even cross my mind…

Final Thoughts, Observations & Rating:

Thea: Blackbringer was my first exposure to Laini Taylor, and I am one very happy camper. I loved this fabulous book, and I cannot wait to read more from this very talented author. (And, as I’m told, her books just get better – I cannot freaking wait!)

Ana: I highly recommend this to YA and Fantasy readers alike – Blackbringer is a wonderful book with a vivid characters. And I can’t wait to read the sequel either. Another joint, Thea!

Notable Quotes/Parts: You can read an official excerpt online at Amazon.com via the “Look Inside” feature HERE.

Additional Thoughts: The art! Oh the art! Blackbringer is illustrated by Laini Taylor’s husband, the very talented Jim Di Bartolo. In fact, he’s the artist for all three of Ms. Taylor’s current books. Check out his interior illustration below:

And, as mentioned earlier, Ms. Taylor’s take on fairies is reminiscent of some old favorite works of literature and art. In particular, this picture from John Anster Fitzgerald comes to mind.

Rating:

Thea: 8 – Excellent

Ana:8 – Excellent

Reading Next: Fade by Lisa McMann

Title: Rosemary and Rue

Author: Seanan McGuire

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Publisher: DAW
Publication Date: September 1, 2009
Paperback: 368 pages

Stand Alone or Series: First in the October Daye series

Why did we read the book: We first learned about the book via LurvaLaMode and added it to our respective wishlists, so when the author generously offered us a review copy, we said HELL YES (please)!

Summary: (from amazon.com)
The world of Faerie never disappeared: it merely went into hiding, continuing to exist parallel to our own. Secrecy is the key to Faerie’s survival—but no secret can be kept forever, and when the fae and mortal worlds collide, changelings are born. Half-human, half-fae, outsiders from birth, these second-class children of Faerie spend their lives fighting for the respect of their immortal relations. Or, in the case of October “Toby” Daye, rejecting it completely. After getting burned by both sides of her heritage, Toby has denied the fae world, retreating into a “normal” life. Unfortunately for her, Faerie has other ideas.

The murder of Countess Evening Winterrose, one of the secret regents of the San Francisco Bay Area, pulls Toby back into the fae world. Unable to resist Evening’s dying curse, which binds her to investigate, Toby is forced to resume her old position as knight errant to the Duke of Shadowed Hills and begin renewing old alliances that may prove her only hope of solving the mystery…before the curse catches up with her.

REVIEW:

First Impressions:

Thea: I was really looking forward to reading Rosemary and Rue (so much so that Ana and I fought over the copy we had, but of course since she lives in the UK and I am here in the US, I gave in and sent her my copy and bought another for myself), and I am happy to say that it lived up to and even surpassed my expectations. There are a lot of female sleuth Urban Fantasy novels out there, and October Daye is another supernatural creature to add to the ever-growing pantheon. Ms. McGuire, however, manages to create a very unique character in a stunningly detailed, harsh world of faerie that coexists with our own. I definitely enjoyed this book and will be back to this eerie version of San Francisco very soon.

Ana: This book had been calling to me since I first saw the cover and the title. I don’t read a lot of Urban Fantasy – it is one of the genres that I am slowly getting into – and have little basis for comparison within the genre but I thought Rosemary and Rue to be a book that stands on its own. Regardless of which genre it belongs to, Rosemary and Rue is simply a good story, with great characters and above all, a fantastically entertaining world in which to submerge myself for a few hours. I can hardly believe that this is Seanan’s McGuire’s debut work and I enjoyed it so much that am ready for more. Like, right now.

On The Plot:

Thea: In terms of world building and the urban fantasy element, Rosemary and Rue shines. My favorite aspect of this debut novel is the setting itself – Ms. McGuire juxtaposes a world of fae courts and magic, unseen by humans in the city of San Francisco. And the fae aren’t just your usual devilish pixies, winter queens or rowan men, either; Toby’s world is populated by Selkies, Undines, the Daoine Sidhe and Cait Sidhe. There are rose goblins and kelpies, doppelgangers and kitsune – and the variation is a wonderful thing to behold. Ms. McGuire clearly has done some research into the mythology of the fae from not only western Europe, but other parts of the world as well (I loved the occasional Japanese influence). But the defining characteristic of the fae in Rosemary and Rue was the dichotomy between purebloods and those with human in their lineage, aka changelings, such as Toby herself. The changelings are sneered at by their pureblood “betters” for their inferiority in magic and their shorter life spans. On the supernatural totem pole, changelings are firmly at the bottom – and this hierarchy colors the plot of this novel. As a lowly changeling, Toby is bound by a curse to solve the murder of her pureblooded friend/enemy, Evening, and she will die unless she discovers the answers the curse demands. But when Toby turns to the other fae for help, she runs into trouble on all fronts. With the Queen of her Evening’s court, Toby is rejected. And, when the attempts on her life start to roll in, Toby’s lack of powers and lack of importance as a mere changeling make things even harder for her.

While I loved the worldbuilding and the wide variation of magic and fae, as well as the power politics of blood in the novel, there were some problems in terms of writing. This is Ms. McGuire’s first novel, and at times it reads like a debut novel – there’s uneveness in the plotting, especially in terms of pacing. For the first half of the book there’s not too much action, but around the midway mark, it suddenly turns into gunshots and blood loss, with multiple attacks and near-death experiences for poor battered Toby. Also, there’s the problem of the overall mystery – that is, finding Evening’s killer before her curse kills Toby (or something else does). Toby pretty much reacts for the whole novel. She goes from scene to scene looking for clues, only to basically find nothing (other than hired guns, out to kill her). But, then miraculously by a conversation with one all-knowing character, Toby discovers the identity of the bad guy in this tale. It kinda renders all the other action as simple noise and the mystery as a vehicle for suspense without any of the real sleuthing work that goes into it. To be fair, this is a problem I have with a lot of Urban Fantasy novels of the mystery/thriller persuasion.

With that said, however, there are many unresolved plot threads that are expertly handled in Rosemary and Rue that will definitely keep me reading the series. I love that Ms. McGuire isn’t afraid to leave some questions hanging – especially with the original mystery of Toby’s transformation and just what exactly happened to her Liege Luna and her daughter Raysel. Plus, there’s the intriguing character of Tybalt and his feelings for Toby that are irresistible, but more on that in a bit…

Ana The first chapter of Rosemary and Rue sets the tone for the rest of the novel not only in terms of world building and presenting the main character but above all by showing how much is at stake and how the author is prepared to put her character through the ringer. The books opens as October Dayer suffers a horrible fate – she is transformed into a FISH. For 14 years. How seriously twisted is that? Obviously, I loved it. That transformation will change her life and change her stance to the point that 14 years later, when the curse is broken, she is a shadow of the woman she was. THAT is the most important thing for me and one that was imperative for the understanding of the character’s motivations with regards to the main storyline: that and the curse that makes her go back to the world she had been trying to avoid, only to discover who Evening’s killer is.

The curse makes it imperative for her to carry on with the investigation against her own will. I think that explains why Toby REACTS instead of doing any real sleuth work but unlike Thea, I didn’t think this was a problem, I thought it was a reasonable reaction from a character that did not want to be there. But that is just me as a reader who thinks character trumps plot (most of the time, at least). Having said that, it may well be that my interpretation is off-base and it remains to be seen in the next novels if the sleuthing work will well, be done and acted upon.

Although, the mystery is the central storyline of Rosemary and Rue, it is all the secondary threads that are woven (flawlessly in my opinion) that make the book a fascinating read. The courts’ politics, the interaction between all the species of Faeries, the showcasing of several mythologies , they were not particularly NEW to me but there was something about Seanan McGuire’s writing that MADE it feel so. It is quite possible that the conjunction of all the different beings coupled with the unique spin to the changelings (that, a refreshing and original concept by the author) is what makes the story so riveting.

I though this to be a well- crafted, well written story with hardly any bumps along the way and as Thea said the best thing was that there is a lot left to be explored without feeling like it was so merely as sequel bait.

On the Characters:

Thea: Poor, poor Toby. This is something I found myself thinking for most of the book. The prologue begins with Toby on the trail of a faerie named Simon, who has kidnapped her Liege Luna and Luna’s daughter Rayseline – and, completely outclassed in the magic department, Toby is transformed into a koi in the San Francisco Tea Gardens. For fourteen years. Things only get worse from there. Once she’s returned to her true form, Toby’s lost her human husband and now-teenage daughter, not to mention her home, her job and her life. And then when things can’t get worse, she’s bound by a dead friend via answering machine, cursed to solve the case of Eve’s murder or die in the process. Add in multiple gunshot wounds and near-fatal encounters with some nasty fae monsters, and the mental refrain of “Poor Toby!” is on solid repeat. I should clarify – none of this is bad! In fact, it’s refreshing. Toby pays bitterly for every action she takes (or doesn’t take), and for everything she goes through she’s certainly no whiney martyr – in fact, she’s an incredibly endearing character that readers sympathize with completely.

I loved that Toby was a severly UNDERpowered character – she has no significant magical skills, and she doesn’t gain any extraordinary fae powers over the course of the book. Rather, she’s very low in the magical social hierarchy and she not only knows it, but she owns it. These characters are so much more interesting than the super!mage!masters (who are inevitably beautiful and faerie princesses on top of their limitless powers) – and Toby is one of the most compelling new heroines I’ve read in a very long time because of her decision to rock out with her thinned out bloodline.

While Toby is the undeniable main draw to the book, there are a bevy of other secondary characters that are solidly written too. Some of my favorites included the tough street fae twins, Dare and Manuel, and their growing relationship with Toby from initial distrust to gradual awe. There’s of course the old flame, Devin, the master of changeling runaways with his twisted games and kingdom of Home (think a magic, better looking Fagin). Then, there’s they undine and good friend to Toby, Lily, who is beautiful and protective of the changeling. But, my favorite secondary character has to be the King of Cats, the Caith Sidhe Tybalt. According to Toby’s narrative, he hates her and it is his purpose as a pureblood to make her life miserable…but we readers know better than that. There’s something else there, on the other side of the thin line between hate and love. At least, that’s my personal hope as a reader! I loved Tybalt’s appearances in the novel, and the way he and Toby come to an agreement when she needs his help. Absolutely wonderful stuff.

Ana: Poor Toby indeed, Thea, I completely agree with you. The woman goes through so much and as a reader who enjoys character-driven books, I was a happy camper because the events shape and are shaped by her. I mostly loved that she was strong willed and courageous without being too stupid to live and knew when to ask for help. As a character she knew her limitations and was simply aware of what she could or could not do. I also quite liked her sense of humour which is subtle enough to not be an in-your-face kind a humour, instead it relies on the reader to “get” her ironic innuendoes.

The only thing I wondered about was I what I felt was a lack of true attachment to the guy who was her fiancée – although it could be easily argued that this is the point – she was what is called a Faerie Bride, someone who finds a human to get married to, to try to live as a human when they are fully aware that the attachment has to rely on lies and can never last for more than a few years. A Faerie Bride is someone who is wholly selfish and perhaps that makes Toby a little less sympathetic but perhaps more real because she is not perfect.
Thea covered most of the secondary characters and there is one that I really liked as well: her liege and friend the Duke, Sylvester. Him and his family including his son-in-law Connor ( Toby’s potential love interest. I can’t stand the guy) have a very interesting dynamics.

Lastly but not least: oh, Tybalt, let me count the ways my poor deluded hopelessly romantic heart is already shipping you with Toby. Even though you try to hide your feelings, I know, deep down you so totally love the woman. You may try to deny it and cover it up with the hatred and contempt that most purebloods feel for the changelings but you do not fool me, Tybalt. And you know why not? Because there is this one tiny, small detail that was mentioned very en passant by someone else in the book: that the Caith Sidhe have loads of lovers but once they truly love it is forevah. Yeah, I know that probably my heart is set to be broken into several million pieces because this is an UF series which showed no sign so far that it’s going to be heavy with romantic elements. But Tybalt, I remain hopeful. Yours truly, meow, Ana.

Final Thoughts, Observations and Rating:

Thea: I really, really enjoyed this wonderful debut novel from Seanan McGuire. Though it’s not without its flaws, it’s a beautiful foray into the world of the fae, where humans live side by side with unspeakable creatures of monstrous beauty and magic. October Daye is a heroine worth rooting for, and I cannot wait for the next novel in the series. Absolutely recommended, and one of my picks for notable read of 2009.

Ana: I simply loved this book. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I like it. I started the review expecting to rate it Very Good, but managed to convince myself whist writing it that this rather, a truly Excellent novel and the series has the potential to be one of the Great Ones. I devoured it, I rooted for the main character and I think this is certainly one of the best debuts I read this year.

Notable Quotes/ Parts: Official excerpt from the author’s website:

I woke up just after sundown with a pounding head and the vague, nagging feeling that something was wrong. Cagney and Lacey had somehow managed to open the bedroom door while I was sleeping, and had migrated from the couch to the warmer and hence more desirable bed. They started to wail as soon as they realized I was awake, Siamese voices vibrating my head like buzz saws. I groaned, clapping my hands over my ears. “Can’t you two be quiet?” They didn’t oblige me. Cats never listen. They’re dependable that way; when Rome burned, the Emperor’s cats still expected to be fed on time.

The fae have always lived with cats. They’re the only mortal animals that can stand to have us around, and that holds true for all of us, even half-breeds like me. Dogs bark and horses shy away, but cats can look at Kings, and a lot of the time, they do. Cats put up with us, and in exchange, we treat them with respect, and we feed them. We’re related in a way, and I don’t just mean through the Cait Sidhe. We both tend towards pointed ears, stealing cream, and getting burned alive when the wind changes. It was only natural that we’d form an alliance where both sides said “I don’t need you” and both answered “you’ll still stay.”

You can read the full excerpt online HERE.

Additional Thoughts: The next two books in the series already have covers and publication dates:  A Local Habitation comes out March 2010 and An Artificial Night comes out in September 2010:

The interesting thing is, as we recently learned via this awesome interview with the author over at Lurv that the three titles refer to Shakespeare’s plays and are “influenced to one degree or another, by the play the titles come from”. Rosemary and Rue takes its title from A Winter’s Tale, A Local Habitation from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and An Artificial Night from Romeo and Juliet. In the interview, she explains the significance of each of them to the story (very light spoilers) and we totally recommend you check it out.

Rating:

Ana: a solid 8 – Excellent

Thea: 7 Very Good – leaning towards an 8.

Reading Next: The Orphan’s Tales – In the Night Garden by Catherynne M. Valente

Lisa Mantchev is a YA debut author, writer of the recently published Eyes Like Stars – an absolutely fabulous, fun book which became one of Ana’s favorite reads this year (reviewed here). We invited Lisa to write a guest post for our YA Appreciation Month and she came up with something….different.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome Lisa Mantchev and part of the cast of Eyes Like Stars (and of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream), the fairies Moth, Cobweb, Peaseblossom and Mustardseed:

__________

(LISA sits down at the desk in Bertie’s Bedroom Set,, boots up her trusty laptop, and cracks her knuckles.)

MOTH: (Interrupting) Whatcha doin’?

(LISA jumps, nearly upsetting the cappuccino she just procured from the Patisserie Set. The rest of the fairies flit in to land atop the keyboard. MUSTARDSEED jumps repeatedly up and down atop the “Q” key, while PEASEBLOSSOM attempts to delete the extra letters.)

LISA: I’m going to write a guest blog for The Book Smugglers Young Adult Appreciation Month–

COBWEB: I appreciate YA. I appreciate it lots.

MOTH: Oh, really. (Giving him a shove) You don’t even know what YA is.

COBWEB: (Returning the shove and adding a kick to the shins) I do! We have tons of YA stuff in the theater.

MOTH: (Folding his arms) I am not YA, just because I am a fairy.

COBWEB: Not you. (Careening Stage Left and jabbing a finger at The Book.) Look in The Complete Works of the Stage. Lots of young adult material either started as plays or was produced onstage.

PEASEBLOSSOM: Peter Pan.

MUSTARDSEED: Mary Poppins.

COBWEB: Alice in Wonderland.

MOTH: Why does so much of it end up as musicals and pantomimes?

LISA: Because young audience members like singing. And jazz hands. And spirit fingers.

PEASEBLOSSOM: You really should have included more musical numbers in your novel.

LISA: Bertie was of the opinion that one musical number was one musical number too many. Where is she, anyway?

PEASEBLOSSOM: She pilfered some Wicked Green dye from the Wardrobe Department and locked herself in the Ladies’ Chorus loo.

MOTH: (He hops about for a moment, trying to vocalize his next question.) So is children’s theater mostly turn-of-the-century British material? Pip pip, cheerio!

LISA: (With a laugh.) Not just that. The Stinky Cheese Man is newer–

MUSTARDSEED: Oh, I like him!

LISA: –and tons of innovative stuff gets done with puppetry. Plus quite a lot of Neil Gaiman’s work has been produced recently, like Wolves in the Walls.

COBWEB: But why kid’s books? Why not big dreary novels?

LISA: (Leaning one elbow on Bertie’s desk and trying to pretend she doesn’t have a cupcake sequestered in the jewelry box for safekeeping.) Because of the level of imagination involved. It’s great fun to costume and build sets for imaginary lands and fantastic creatures…

MUSTARDSEED: Plus that’s what has lots of Box Office draw. (He pauses and sniffs the air.) Does anyone else smell chocolate?

(Three other fairies’ noses sniff the air.)

LISA: (Trying to distract them) The classics, too, though. Don’t you think that most of Shakespeare’s stuff can be done for kids?

MOTH: Why not? Well, maybe not the blood-and-guts bits, but Taming of the Shrew is actually way more tame than some of the Punch & Judy shows that were around a few years back.

COBWEB: I dunno when children got so precious that would couldn’t show them a good beheading. (Disdainful noise.)

PEASEBLOSSOM: And fairies are not all happy jam sandwiches, either. We are mean and vicious, I tell you!

LISA: It’s hard to take you seriously when you’re covered in that much glitter.

PEASEBLOSSOM: (Looking down) Oh, dear.

LISA: I like that children’s theater isn’t just limited to the stage. When I was teaching English, I used drama a lot in the classrooms… very effective for young students and reluctant readers when you trade books for scripts. That’s called Reader’s Theater, and it can be used for classic novels, multicultural projects, and historical studies.

MOTH: Oh-hoo, look who sounds all knowledgeable and stuff. (Jabs at her with a toothpick) I swear I smell chocolate–

MUSTARDSEED: So what would it take to bring Eyes Like Stars to the stage, you think? Besides four people small enough to play us?

LISA: A big budget and a visionary creative team, I think. Plus figuring out how to flood the auditorium without doing any actual water damage. (She laughs.) The great thing is how much YA material out there today would make spectacular plays. Instead of producing Alice in Wonderland, maybe a theater company should consider The Looking Glass Wars. Some of the realistic young adult novels published in the last few years would do really well as stage plays.

COBWEB: Lots of strong character work going on in those sorts of books, that’s for certain.

MOTH: (Managing to wrest open the jewelry box.) Hey, there’s a cupcake in here!!!

(When the others rush to investigate, LISA slams the lid closed and adds a strip of duct tape as insurance.)

LISA: You surely aren’t your mama’s pixie-dust fae. In the stage version of ELS, you four will be played by evil, sugar-high hummingbirds.

CURTAIN

Lisa Mantchev grew up in the small Northern California town of Ukiah and can pinpoint her first forays into fiction to the short stories she thumped out on an ancient typewriter. She now makes her home on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington state with her husband Angel, her daughter Amélie, and four hairy miscreant dogs. When not scribbling, she can be found on the beach, up a tree, making jam or repairing things with her trusty glue gun. Eyes Like Stars (Feiwel & Friends) is her debut novel, and the first in the Théâtre Illuminata trilogy.

A big cheerio to Lisa and Cobweb, Peaseblossom, Mustardseed and Moth (you could have left a cupcake for me, though).

Giveaway details:

We have one copy of Eyes Like Stars to giveaway. The contest is open to anyone, and will run until Saturday August 1st 11:59pm (PST). To enter, simply leave a comment here. Good luck!

Aprilynne Pike is a fresh new author, and her debut novel Wings has enchanted young and adult readers alike (just read my review). With Wings debuting on the New York Times Bestseller list then taking the #1 spot for Children’s Chapter Books during its second week on sale, and with rights sold to Disney for a movie adaptation (with tween juggernaut Miley Cyrus named as a casting choice), it’s been a pretty good year for Ms. Pike.

Today, this talented new author joins us to talk about her inspirations and influences, why she started writing Young Adult lit, and who some of her favorite YA authors are.

Ladies and gents, we give you Aprilynne Pike!

This guest post from Aprilynne Pike is the third author spotlight in our SUPERNATURAL SUMMER book feature from Harper Teen. This week we will bring you five different books by five different authors, including interviews, articles and giveaways.

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Thanks so much for having me here on The Book Smugglers!

Writing Wings was quite a journey for me. I knew I wanted to be an author back in college when I switched my major from Human Biology to Creative Writing. (Yes, I’ll wait while you laugh.) But actually discovering my niche took a lot longer. Years longer. One night—about two years after I graduated college—I was reading a really bad romance novel. I kept expecting it to get better and it just got worse! So I skimmed the end and threw the book across the room and told my husband, “I can do better than that!” So I started.

And about 100 pages in I discovered that writing was hard and took work. So I did what any sane person would do. I quit.

A couple years later, the writing itch returned and I started writing again. A high fantasy this time. I did manage to finish that one. Powered through it, actually. And that book was my first sojourn into publishing. I wracked up a lot of rejections, but while I was querying, I decided I liked writing books. So I finished the sequel to the fantasy, and even went back and completed that first romance. After a lot of edits and cutting about a million words (it felt like a million at the time!) I got an agent! Whoo-hoo!!

Except that my book didn’t sell.

But while my book was not selling, I woke up one morning with a perfectly formed first chapter in my head and a boy’s voice in my ear.

A high school boy.

So I started writing a YA. I didn’t have a plot to go with my voice and first chapter, but hey! It was fun!

When it became obvious that my first book wasn’t going to sell, I sat down and decided that I needed a new book. A better book. But I didn’t know what to write! I had an adult-level high fantasy, a Romance, a dead-ended YA, and an agent who repped almost everything. I could go anywhere! So I was trolling agent sites one day and found a blog that mentioned, almost in passing, that faeries were expected to be a new trend in YA.

I felt like I had been hit by lightning!

I have always loved faeries. For as long as I can remember. And I had been enjoying my no-plot YA so much! I don’t know why I had to get whacked over the head with the idea of putting those two together before I got it. All I know, is I sat looking at that computer screen thinking, “A YA faerie novel? I want to write a YA faerie novel!” And my next thought was, “And I have to do it right now!”

And I did. I wrote furiously for six hours a day while my husband watched the kids, and then I stole every spare moment I could to work on Wings. It had become my all-encompassing passion and I finished it in six weeks . . . I paid for it when edits came around, but I did finish the initial draft quickly.

Everything just clicked when I decided to write YA. My agent loved the idea, my husband thought it was perfect, and I was just so excited to do it. I’m not sure why it took me three books to try it, but I love it and have no intention of leaving the genre any time soon. And when I started writing YA, I started reading more YA too. And what a world I have discovered! I always loved books like The Giver by Lois Lowry and The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi, but these days there is so much depth in the YA genre! I have gotten to be all fan-girly over staples like Stephenie Meyer and J.K. Rowling, and small but amazing authors like Saundra Mitchell (Shadowed Summer) and Christine Fletcher (Ten Cents a Dance). I’ve been the last to discover old favorites like Scott Westerfield (The Uglies Trilogy, Peeps, Midnighters) and Meg Cabot (The Princess Diaries, The Mediator, Allie Finkle), and the first to unearth some amazing newcomers such as Megan Frazer (Secrets of Truth and Beauty) and Sarah Cross (Dull Boy). And don’t even get me started on the upcoming releases I am excited about! James Dashner (The Maze Runner) and Suzanne Collins (Catching Fire) and… I could go on for pages!

But I won’t, don’t worry.

But that does make me look to the future of YA and the role I hope to play in it. I am currently working on the third of four books in my Wings series. And remember that no-plot first chapter? It grew a plot and is now a standalone paranormal with a rather bratty ghost. And just being shelved between Tamora Pierce (Alanna, Beka Cooper) and Cindy Pon (Silver Phoenix) for many years to come is enough motivation to write the best I can, for as long as I can.

It’s been a pleasure!

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Aprilynne Pike has been spinning faerie stories since she was a child with a hyper-active imagination. At the age of twenty she received her BA in Creative Writing from Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. When not writing, Aprilynne can usually be found at the gym; she also enjoys singing, acting, reading, and working with pregnant moms as a childbirth educator and doula. Aprilynne recently returned to Arizona with her husband and three kids in Utah; she is enjoying the sunshine.

You can read more about Aprilynne on her website HERE, and follow her blog HERE.

Giveaway Details:

We are giving away a copy of Wings to one lucky reader! The contest is open to residents of the US and Canada, and will run until Sunday July 26 at midnight (PST). To enter, simply leave a comment here. Good luck!

Title: Wings

Author: Aprilynne Pike

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Fairies

Publisher: Harper TEEN
Publication Date: May 2009
Hardcover: 304 pages

Stand alone or series: First book in a planned series.

Why did I read this book: I had been eying Wings for a while in my local bookstore – and eagerly pounced on a copy for our Young Adult Appreciation Month. The stunning cover, the overall strong reviews, and the intriguing book summary had me at hello.

Summary: (from HarperTeen.com)
Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words.

In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.

Wings is the third title in our SUPERNATURAL SUMMER book feature from Harper Teen. This week we will bring you five different books by five different authors, including interviews, articles and giveaways.

Review:

Laurel has never had much in common with other teenagers. For one thing, she has been home-schooled for all of her life, and is something of an introvert. In her sophomore year, Laurel’s parents move and decide that it is time for her to attend a public school, and Laurel realizes how different she really is from her classmates. It’s not just her home-schooled, “hippie” background or peculiar vegan and sprite-only diet; nor is it just because of her beautiful, willowy looks or her affinity for the woods and sunlight. One day, Laurel discovers a welt on her back that simply won’t go away…and it grows, blooming into a pair of stunningly beautiful, wing-like petals. Frightened and completely alone, Laurel turns to her new friend David for help and comfort, and she learns just how different from everyone else she really is.

Aprilynne Pike’s debut novel Wings has received rave reviews from YA critics, and has garnered comparisons to Stephenie Meyer’s uber-popular Twilight saga (even scoring a cover quote from Ms. Meyer) – which is apt. Wings shares the same enchanting otherworldly feel with Twilight, as well as the awkward, pretty new girl in town premise – but that’s where the comparison ends. Why?

Because in this reviewer’s opinion, Wings outshines Twilight in every possible way.

Wings is a lush, beautifully written novel that encompasses romance, an imaginative spin on the realm of faerie, thrilling action and a strong heroine that would mop the floor with Bella Swan. Fifteen year-old Laurel sets herself part from the people she meets at school, feeling claustrophobic in the air conditioned classrooms and covered cafeterias – but instead of passively going with the flow and trying to fit in, she prefers to sit outside in the sunlight on her own. A few reviews seem to take issue with the book’s “slower” start, dealing with the day to day musings and uncertainties of Laurel – but this appeals to me, as a reader and grounds Laurel as a tangible, sympathetic character. When David talks to her, she welcomes his friendship and later confides in him when she cannot tell her adoptive parents exactly how different she is from everyone else – but she’s very careful not to lose herself in David’s comfort, or let her life become defined by their relationship. With David’s support and quiet strength, Laurel comes to grips with exactly who and what she is in a very nice twist on the faerie myth, and also a refreshing twist on the traditional ‘girl falls for supernaturally sexy boy’ story. I have to admit that I loved Laurel’s mettle and her positive attitude; despite the immense changes she is going through (and growing a giant flower out of one’s back is a pretty dramatic change!), Laurel keeps her wits about her. It is Laurel that discovers what her true parentage is; it is Laurel who recognizes the danger that threatens her family, and who saves them all from danger. As a strong, non-passive heroine, Laurel totally rocks.

As a romantic novel, Wings is completely, winsomely enchanting. There’s a love triangle, which is to be expected in line with the Twilight comparisons – but the very human and calmly dependable David juxtaposed against the emotional, supernatural charmer Tamani are much more fleshed out as characters and more desirable (in my opinion) than the tawdry Edward and Jacob. I think what I appreciate the most about this blossoming love story is that it is not founded on obsession or unrealistic premises – Laurel is cautious with her emotions, and does not recklessly pin her entire self-worth on her truest of true loves. Both characters have their very different appeals, and the triangle is far from concluded – sure to draw some intense David or Tam debates. At this point, the triangle is engaging and fresh – I just hope Ms. Pike can keep the appeal going in the next few books without slipping into contrivance (I’m always a little ary when starting into a love triangle story. Somehow I always end up rooting for the losing guy.)

So far as plotting and world-building are concerned, Wings is deftly written and freshly original. I won’t spoil the particular twist, but suffice to say that I was intrigued by Ms. Pike’s take on faerie. There’s action and danger aplenty in this novel as well, as a mysterious stranger tries to buy Laurel’s family land and threatens her family with mortal consequences. Murderous plots, death-defying escapes, magic and romance abound in Wings – what’s not to love? I finished Ms. Pike’s lovely debut in a single sitting, and cannot wait for the next installment in the series.

Notable Quotes/Parts: When Laurel discovers her petal-like wings, it’s a beautiful scene.

Taking a deep breath, she blinked away the dark spots and stepped toward the mirror.

She didn’t even have to turn to see the new development. Long, bluish-white forms rose over both shoulders. For a moment Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were beautiful — almost too beautiful for words.

She turned slowly so she could see them better. Petal-like strips sprouted from where the bump had been, making a gently curved four-pointed star on her back. The longest petals — fanning out over each shoulder and peeking around her waist — about eight or nine inches long — spiraled around the center, filling in the leftover space. There were even a few small green leaves where the enormous flower connected to her skin.

All of the petals were tinged a dark blue at the center that faded to the softest sky blue in the middle and white at the ends. The edges were ruffled and looked eerily like the African violets her mother painstakingly grew in their kitchen. There must have been twenty of the soft, petal-like strips. Maybe more.

Laurel turned her front to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.

And, as always, Harper Teen’s Browse Inside below gives a glimpse at the first third of the novel. Check it out.

Additional Thoughts: Recently, Aprilynne Pike announced that the rights to Wings have been sold to Disney for a feature film! Although I can’t say I’m pleased with the rumored Miley Cyrus as Laurel (though incredibly popular, Miley is a bit too…abrasive for my impression of the willowy yet strong Laurel), it is pretty exciting news. Congrats to Ms. Pike!

Also, make sure to stick around, as we have a guest blog and giveaway from Aprilynne Pike later today!

Verdict: A lush debut novel with a heady blend of beauty, romance and danger, I very much enjoyed Wings. Highly recommended, and I cannot wait for the upcoming sequel.

Rating: 7 Very Good

Reading Next: Evernight and Stargazer by Claudia Gray

Title: Wicked Lovely – Desert Tales, vol.1, Sanctuary

Author: Melissa Marr (writer) and Xian Nu Studio (illustrator)

Genre: Manga/Young Adult (Fantasy)

Publisher: HarperCollins
Publishing Date: April 21, 2009
Paperback: 176 pages

Stand Alone or series: Volume one of a 3 volume series

Why did I read the book:Melissa Marr is one of my favourite writers and I love her Wicked Lovely series so it was no-brainer that I would be reading this .

Summary: The desert is far away from the schemes of the Faerie Courts—and that’s how Rika likes it. Once a mortal and now a faery, Rika seeks isolation and revels in her ability to appear invisible to humans. Then, she meets him. Artistic and kind, Jayce is the last person Rika wants to hide from.

But change is coming, challenging Rika’s freedom and her new romance, as her past pursues her, even into the heart of the desert. . . .

Review:

Desert Tales – Sanctuary is the first in a 3 volume series of Manga , set in the Wicked Lovely world. It follows Rika, a former Winter Girl, now a Solitary Fey living in the desert. She is independent from any of the Courts and lives a non-eventful life. At the moment, her main interest lies in observing an artistic human boy, Jayce, who comes to the desert for walks and to paint. She carries a torch for the guy but being fey complicates matters and she remains invisible when around him.

But the desert, and the desert fey that inhabit it ,are not unconnected as Rika would hope. The story proves to be not entirely separate from the main events taking place in the main Courts – and this is evidenced when Keenan, the Summer King shows up. With the complicated politics and unstable dynamics of the Summer Court and the Winter Court , Keenan is out to offer protection (and at the same time, gain allies) to the Solitary Fey. There are hard feelings between Keenan and Rika (as it should be) and she refuses to have any connection with the guy. But merely by showing up at the desert the King attracts the attention of the desert fey towards Rika and towards Jayce. And we all know how the fey can be vicious creatures and that propels Rika to become visible in order to protect Jayce and that starts a relationship with him– at the same time that she tries to keep the fey at bay. On top of that, there is Rika’s complex bond with another fey called Sionnach, a guy who seems to have an agenda of his own.

For such a short story there is quite a lot going on here but it could not be different with a writer such as Melissa Marr – there is both what is said and shown and is left unsaid.

Like, the appropriateness of having Rika choosing to live in the desert of all places after being consumed with the winter chill as a previous Winter Girl. Or the pain of what it means to become the Winter Girl – that would only happen to someone that really loved Keenan and if you follow the series, you should know by now how that inevitably ends: in heartbreak and isolation (the bastard). And to have Rika choosing yet again on a path that is far away from being simple as it is far away from being easy. I honestly want to know what happens next and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t completely puzzled by Sionnach.

Plus, the choice alone to follow a former Winter Girl and see what happens to one of these poor girls is poignant in itself and a way of expanding the Wicked Lovely world without necessarily moving the attention from the threads of the main events.

And what better medium to experiment than Manga? I am a fan of the format and I thought the art here to be lovely– in what proved to be a perfect balance of format and content. I loved it and recommend it to fans of the series.

Notable Quotes/ Parts: Rika and Keenan’s reunion and the way he leaves – so typical, I really can’t stand the guy.

If you want to have a look at the art and the first pages, they are available with the “LOOK INSIDE” feature at the Harper Collins’ website:

Additional Thoughts: Stick around, as later today Melissa Marr will be talking about writing the Manga and giving a fantastic insight n the whole process from choosing an artist to perfecting the text. Plus, we will be offering a giveaway of the first book in the Wicked Lovely series.

Verdict: A fantastic addition to the Wicked Lovely world with stunning art and the usual engaging writing by the writer.

Rating: 7 – Very Good

Reading Next: Eternal Kiss, anthology.

Title: Eyes Like Stars

Author: Lisa Mantchev

Genre: YA (Fantasy)

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Publishing Date: July 7, 2009
Hardcover: 368 pages

Stand alone or series: Theatre Illuminata Act 1 (of 3)

Summary:All her world’s a stage.

Bertie Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater.

She’s not an orphan, but she has no parents.

She knows every part, but she has no lines of her own.

That is, until now.

Why did I read the book: I love the internets. I first saw the cover of this book at The Story Siren’s blog. I then googled it and was directed to the book’s webpage and immediately KNEW I had to read the book. I then twitted about it and lo and behold, the writer saw my twit and very generously offered a review copy.

Review:

“Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the characters of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Théâtre by The Book–an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family–and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.”

Act 1 – Open Curtain

Enter stage right

Beatrice Shakespeare Smith or Bertie, is a 17 year old girl who lives in the Theatre Illuminata ever since her mother left her there as a child. She grew up surrounded by characters from every play ever written and there were never truer words than the words “all her world is a stage”– literally speaking. In a world where any character from any play can be called upon by writing their name in the Call Board, she spends her time surrounded by people like Nate, a pirate from the Little Mermaid, the ait spirit Ariel from The Tempest and Ophelia, from Hamlet.

Bertie is high-spirited, good natured and … mischievous.

Free from most limitations that girls her age have, without parenting guidance and with the instigation of her sidekicks, the four fairies from A Midsummer’s Night Dream – Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth and Mustardseed – she constantly gets into scrapes that drives the Stage Manager insane. After the latest disturbance though, she is called to the Theatre Manager’s office and is given an ultimatum: she is to prove that she is invaluable to the Theatre or she has to leave. And she only has a few hours to do so.

At the prospect of having to leave the Theatre and everything she has ever known , Bertie sets out to prove her worth with the help of her friends. Her plan is to become a Director, a role that is pointless in a place where the characters know their parts by heart. But her ingenious idea is to shake things up by directing Hamlet….in Egypt. Needless to say, Chaos ensues. The players of Hamlet are distraught. The Stage Manager is not too happy. She is urged to use Badinage and Persiflage to convince people that she is a Director.

What she didn’t know would happen was that the changes to Hamlet cause a certain unbalance to their world. And Ariel, once he realises that if Bertie can leave the Theatre ,then she might be able to set him free, proceeds to tempt her.

Then, the Book disappears. And Bertie realises that she does need to find a role for herself or else her entire world will crumble down. She may not be a Director but there is something else she can do.

And the result is one of the most creative, fun, enjoyable books I had the pleasure to read lately. The premise is brilliant – with a bit of magic and a lot of talent, Lisa Mantchev created a world that I cared for and wished I could live in. It is the Theatre and it has Tragedy, Comedy, Drama and Romance and as I turned the pages I was engrossed by the imaginative story. I mean how could I not?

When Hamlet’s Ophelia walks around the theatre looking for puddles in which to drown; or if there is any drama, the Chorus starts to sing all around them; Or Ariel, the air spirit from The Tempest who wants nothing but his freedom and who says it is not enough to be set free every night on stage; or how in the Props department, Bertie finds Alice in the Wonderland’s DRINK ME potion and proceeds to drink it and the result is a Most Excellent Scene of the romantic variety.

There are friends, sidekicks, and of course villains: from the Stage Manager to the Sea Goddess from the Little Mermaid, every character has a role to play and a stance to take. Even Chaos and Mayhem become main characters at one point.

Except for Bertie, at least at first. Truth be told, when the book started I was surprised at how immature this 17 year old girl was. But then it hit me: of course she is. With the companions that she has and no parents or role to play , it couldn’t have been different. Which is the point after all: Eyes Like Stars is a coming of age tale for Bertie, in which she finally finds her place in life. From the truths she comes to find, choices she has to make and even the awakening of her sexuality ( there is a love triangle – Ariel x Nate. I am on Team Nate although Ariel is a glorious Bad Boy) to the realisation that this damsel has to rescue a person in distress and a heritage to discover.

Bertie IS all the things I mentioned before but she is also full of fire, vibrant and an adventurous spirit. And I simply can’t wait for Act 2.

Curtain

Standing Ovation

Notable Quotes/ Parts: I loved the interaction between Bertie and the fairies who were ever so funny:

“The only reason I’m friends with any of you is because I outgrew the von Trapps, one annoying Austrian at a time.”
“You could have joined the Lost Boys,” Moth said.
“They did nothing but whiz on trees, and I’m not properly equipped for that”.
“So you’re stuck with us because of your innate inability to pee standing up?”

“We’ve more important things to worry about right now than food”.
Mustardseed said reproachfully, “I’m certain you don’t mean that”.
“She’s under duress,” Peaseblossom said.
“I don’t care if she’s under duress, over it, or alongside it,” Moth said, “Nothing in this world supersedes cake”.
“Pie does,” Cobweb corrected.
Moth glared at him. “Are you under duress, too?”.

Verdict: Funny, creative and a wonderful coming of age story.

Rating: 8 – Excellent

Reading next: The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon