Mundie Moms

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Blog Tour With Henry H. Neff, author of The Fiend And The Forge


Today we have the pleasure of having author, Henry H. Neff on our blog. His newest release, The Fiend and the Forge hit book store shelves on November 23rd, 2010.

Teaching and The Tapestry

In The Tapestry, Max McDaniels has a recurring dream in which he’s confronted by a monstrous wolfhound. “What are you about?” the creature demands. “Answer quick, or I’ll gobble you up!”

As a former teacher, I know many of my students can relate. Like Max, they wrestle with hard questions similar to that posed by the wolfhound. In their lives, however, the inquisitors are not storybook creatures, but parents, teachers, coaches, and even themselves. In many ways, The Tapestry is as much a quest for identity and purpose as it is an epic adventure.

I doubt I could have created such a series without my years in the classroom. It was no coincidence that I began writing The Tapestryduring my first year at a San Francisco high school. Teaching courses in U.S. history and studio art rekindled all sorts of creative impulses that had gone dormant during my years in corporate America. The energy, enthusiasm, and openness of my students were contagious and empowering.

As I sat down to write the first book, The Hound of Rowan, I did so with an updated sense of youth perspectives, aspirations, vulnerabilities, and voice. I didn’t need to guess how kids might act in class, anguish over crushes, or interact with their parents - I’ve seen it firsthand. Hopefully, these insights make their way into the characters, scenes, and dialogue so that they have an authenticity that resonates with readers.

Class discussions were another aspect of teaching that shaped The Tapestry. In the classroom, I often employed the Socratic method and tried to spark lively sessions in which students discussed and debated really hard questions. To what degree was the American Revolution inevitable? What, if anything, differentiates a religion from a cult or mythology? Is the use of preemptive force morally reprehensible or a pragmatic necessity? There are no “correct” answers to these questions; they are designed to task our knowledge, stretch our intellects, and force us to examine our own assumptions and values.

I’ve tried to populate The Tapestry with some of these same issues and inquiries. I’m not interested in creating one-dimensional characters or concocting scenarios where the right answer is easy or self-evident. Max McDaniels has noble impulses and nearly limitless potential, but he can be temperamental and his own worst enemy (sound like any students you know?). The villain Astaroth is a demon, but he is also truthful and even chivalrous. Astaroth doesn’t even consider himself “evil”, but rather a visionary whose end justifies the means. Rowan Academy might be engaged in a heroic struggle, but it – like most countries or institutions – has some dirty little secrets in its past and present. The Tapestry is filled with complex characters and because it’s a reflection of the world we live in. It may be fantasy, but there’s no reason why it can’t enrich our sense of the world and ourselves.

In The Tapestry’s latest installment, The Fiend and the Forge, I get to play with some of these questions on a grander scale. At this stage of the series, the world has been transformed and humans no longer occupy the top spot in the food chain. While pivotal inventions are plucked out of mankind’s past, new kingdoms have emerged along with new economies, political intrigues, and evolving cultures. For a history geek like me, it’s endless fun to explore the possibilities. But no matter how the story’s scale and scope might grow, Max and my readers are still wrestling with the same fundamental question – What are you about?

Aren’t we all?

For more information about Henry H. Neff and The Tapestry, please visit www.henryhneff.com


To read more about The Fiend and The Forge, be sure to visit these links here:

Henry’s post on 11/29: http://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com/

Henry’s post on 12/1: http://randomactsofreading.wordpress.com/

Henry’s website: www.HenryNeff.com

Series Website: www.RowanAcademy.com


Thank you Henry H Neff for being apart of our blog today and to Random House for allowing us to be apart of the blog tour.

Book Blurb- The Iron Queen

By Julia Kagawa
Published by Harlequin Teen
To Be Released on February 1st, 2011
Source- Harlequin Teen
5 Stars- Phenomenal Book!

My name is Meaghan Chase.

I thought it was over.That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stay by my side. Drag me into the core of a conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.

This time, there will be no turning back.

With electrifying romance, action packed and heart wrenching scenes, Julie Kagawa's The Iron Fey series continues to engage me emotionally and leaves me breathless at the end. Her richly developed characters become more vivid, real and stronger as they never falter on their journeys. The Iron Queen deserves more than just 5 stars! This is a phenomenal book with incredible writing and I enjoyed every moment of being wrapped up in this story.

This is one book I highly recommend pre-ordering!! I can't wait for The Iron Knight. If you haven't picked up Julie's The Iron Fey series yet, you are missing out! This series has quickly become my favorite fey series. With the holidays fast approaching, these books will make the perfect gift (cough, cough). The Iron Queen is our book of the month for February, and we're looking forward to our live chat we will be having with Julie then. We'll post more details when it gets closer to Feb. I'll be sharing my full review for The Iron Queen later this month.

Happy Release Day To MATCHED!

Happy Book Birthday to Ally Condie's MATCHED! Be sure to pick up your copy today and then join us on December 14th when we chat LIVE with Ally Condie!! Be sure to leave a comment for Ally here http://tinyurl.com/2a9gu4c

Twitter Tuesday - Lisa McMann

I just realized that Cryer's Cross, Lisa McMann's standalone novel will be coming out on February 8th. That's in just about two months!

I remember reading the synopsis months ago and getting so excited that I pre-ordered it right away because if anyone can write a creepy, exciting mystery, it's Lisa:
The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it's crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating...and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.
And then look at these wonderful blurbs from Alyson Noel and Heather Brewer:
“CRYER’S CROSS is an eerie, gripping, totally addictive, breathtaking whirl of a book with an ending that left me haunted for days. Lisa McMann has done it again—this book is unputdownable!”—Alyson Noël, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of THE IMMORTALS series.  

"A brilliant, engaging, scary piece of fiction. Every word had me sliding closer to the edge of my seat and gripping the cover tighter and tighter. There are books in the world that make you question your reality and the things that go bump in the night - this is one of them." --Heather Brewer, New York Times Bestselling Author of THE CHRONICLES OF VLADIMIR TOD Series
Remember to follow Lisa on twitter and also check her website for new updates as we get closer to Cryer's Cross release date.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Book Review- Tempetuous

By Lesley Livingston
Published by Harper Teen
To Be Released on December 22nd, 2010
Source- Harper Teen
4.5 stars

"I don't love Sonny Flannery."

That's the lie Kelley Winslow told to protect the boy she loves from a power he doesn't know he possesses. Devastated, Sonny retreats—to a haven for Lost Fae that's hidden deep underneath New York City.

But Kelley's not about to let things end in heartbreak. To get Sonny back, she's got to find out who's after his magick—and how to use her own. She's got to uncover who's recruiting Janus Guards to murderously hunt innocent Faerie. She's got to help rebuild the shattered theater company she called family. And she's got to do it all without getting dangerously distracted by the Fennrys Wolf, whose legendary heart of stone seems to melt whenever he's around Kelley.

The intrigue and romance that began with Wondrous strange and Darklight come to a stormy head in Tempestuous, the breathtaking conclusion to Lesley Livingston's ravishing urban Faerie trilogy (quoted from Harper Teen's site).

Tempestuous is an exciting, action packed ending to Lesley's Wondrous Strange series. With all the plot twists, the "who done it" mystery finally revealed, and Kelley and Sonny finally realizing their powers full potentials, I couldn't have asked for a better ending. The faerie courts are at war, allies are broken, new ones made, new characters are introduced, other character's end their journeys and some make choices that completely surprised me. Tempestuous is non stop action and one that reveals little bits to what's been going on in the series twisted plots leading right up to the war.

I really liked the turn of events that takes place amongst the faerie courts. I didn't see that one coming, as Lesley does a fantastic job at keeping me guessing through the whole series on who's behind the attacks and the chaos. Where Kelley and Sonny annoyed me just a little bit with choices they both make, though I understand why they made their decisions, I liked that Fennrys and Maddox became their voice of reason. I also liked seeing the reasoning behind choices some of the characters make like Puck. It helped me understand their characters more and it made me respect them a bit more.

Tempestuous has romance, heart ache, betrayal and plenty of action. Like Wondrous Strange and Darklight, Tempestuous is a quick, engaging read and one I recommend picking up when it's released on December 22nd, 2010.

You can find out more about Tempestuous and the series by visiting Harper Teen's site here http://tinyurl.com/2c46nyj and Lesley's site here http://www.lesleylivingston.com/

Mundane Monday #61

Happy Monday! Here's to having more Jace & Simon interactions. I don't know about you guys, but I absolutely love Simon in City of Glass.


In some distant corners of his mind he was aware that his lips were drawn back, the tips of his fangs grazing his lower lip. "I'm glad you think all this funny."

"You're not happy to see me, then?" Jace said. "I have to say, I'm surprised. I've always been told my presence brightened up any room. One might think that went doubly for dank underground cells."

"You knew what would happen, didn't you?" 'They'll send you right back to New York,' you said. No problem. But they never had any intention of doing that."

"I didn't know." Jace met his eyes through the bars, and his gaze was clear and steady. "I know you won't believe me, but I thought I was telling you the truth."

"You're either lying or stupid-"

"Then I'm stupid."

"-- or both," Simon finished. "I'm inclined to think both."

"I don't have a reason to lie to you. Not now." Jace's gaze remained steady. "And quit bar your fangs at me. It's making me nervous."

- City of Glass, page 150

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Book Review- Shadow Of The Sun

By Laura Kreitzer
Published by Obsidian Mountain Publishing
Released on February 22nd, 2010
Source- The Publisher
4.5 Stars

Gabriella's past is a mystery, but that never stopped her from achieving her goals. As a supernatural specialist, and far more intelligent than anyone her age, she has always been ignored by her peers. Because of the isolation she has always felt, she put her life and soul into her job. Being a supernatural specialist hasn't given her the divine intervention she always longed for, until one day a shipment arrives from Italy containing three dead bodies with an uncanny ability to regenerate. Gabriella is frightened and intrigued, but not as scared as she becomes when a dark creature attacks her.

As the bodies come back to life, the plot takes an unexpected twist that you won't see coming. The supernatural world only begins to unfold before her as angels appear, her dreams start to haunt her, and the very past she has forgotten comes back with startling clarity. Romance blooms, escape plans are made, an assassin is out to kill her, and death is only around the corner. But what is more terrifying than all of it is the fact she is the chosen one, the Illuminator, the one who will save them all (quoted from goodreads).

Shadow Of The Sun is a uniquely woven story about Angels, Guardians and Shadows and Soul Catchers. It's vivid and richly detailed history is something I've never read before, and I found myself so taken away with the story, that when I finished it I wanted more. This is far from your typical angel book. There is so many elements, surprises and bits of realism that I really surprised myself and finished this 500+ page book within a few hours.

Aside from some wonderful characters, the story itself has the perfect blend of romance, action, lore, magic and prophecies. Laura has done a brilliant job at keeping the flow of the story evenly paced throughout the book, and she knows when to throw in the element of surprise. Not to mention she has some wonderful characters whom I looking forwarding to learning more about in her sequel.

I really liked Gabriella, the main character, as she is gifted and very bright. At 19 she graduated from yale, and now at twenty four she's working in a lab as a supernatural specialist. It's her normal "human" feelings and tendencies that make her relatable. She's strong, driven and independent, and goes from being some what of a loner to being surrounded by her guardian angel, other angels and a family she didn't know she had.

I really enjoyed Laura's angels. As I said before, I've not read any other book with angels as unique as hers. Laura's characters stand out as they aren't typical angels, and each of them has a strong, rich heritage and I enjoyed getting to know a little more about their back story, which was also well written. The bond that three angels Andrew, Lucia and Ehno have is simply refreshing. They've been through a lot and have a lot more to accomplish together. Where I would normally be a little bothered by how intense the chemistry and connection is between Gabriella and her hot Guardian Angel Andrew, I loved it as it fit the story perfectly.

Shadow of The Sun is a fantastic read, with an underlying story of unconditional love, plenty of action, a lot of powerful emotions and a book that will leave you both thinking about it and wanting more of it when you're done. It's a book who's pages I couldn't turn fast enough as there's so much to discover as Gabriella learns more about herself and the destiny that awaits her. This is definitely my favorite adult book I've read this year, and one I'd recommend to older YA readers. It's fresh, unique, clean and I can't wait to read Soul Stalker.

Be sure to visit visit Laura's site to learn more about her writing and her journey to being self published here http://laurakreitzer.com/

In My Mailbox #51

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It's a post where we share thebooks we've received this past week for review, borrowed from friends or the library, received as a gift, bought, or received to giveaway.

For Review:
* Unearthly by Cynthia Hand, published & received by Harper Teen, to be released on January 4th, 2011.
* Human Blend by Lori Pescatore, published & received by Lori Pescatore, released on June 12th, 2010, signed.
* Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann, published by Simon Pulse, received by Simon and Schuster, to be released on February 8th, 2011.

Bought:
*not pictured* I bought a few collectible books and an awesome collectible version of David McMCullough's 1776. I usually only mention the YA books I buy, but I do have a book addiction and I love a wide range of genres.

Thank you to Harper Teen, Lori Pescatore and Simon and Schuster for this week's fantastic reads!

What goodies did you receive this week?

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Book Review- Darklight


By Lesley Livingston
Published by HarperTeen
Released on December 22nd, 2009
Source- Bought
4.5 Stars

Much has changed since autumn, when Kelley Winslow learned she was a Faerie princess, fell in love with changeling guard Sonny Flannery, and saved the mortal realm from the ravages of the Wild Hunt.

Now Kelley is stuck in New York City, rehearsing Romeo and Juliet and missing Sonny more with every stage kiss, while Sonny has been forced back to the Otherworld and into a deadly game of cat and mouse with the remaining Hunters and Queen Mabh herself.

When a terrifying encounter sends Kelley tumbling into the Otherworld, her reunion with Sonny is joyful but destined to be cut short. An ancient, hidden magick is stirring, and a dangerous new enemy is willing to risk everything to claim that power.
Caught in a web of Faerie deception and shifting allegiances, Kelley and Sonny must tread carefully, for each next step could topple a kingdom . . . or tear them apart.

With breathtakingly high stakes, the talented Lesley Livingston delivers soaring romance and vividly magical characters in Darklight, the second novel in the trilogy that began with Wondrous Strange (quoted from Goodreads).

I really enjoyed Wondrous Strange and as soon as I finished it I picked up Darklight and read it in a couple hours. I really liked this sequel. Darklight starts right were Wondrous Strange ends. I liked that I got to know more about the characters, including Fennrys, who was one of my favorite characters. As the plot twists continued answers I had hoped to receive from Wondrous Strange were revealed.

The story starts with Sonny, the Janus warrior is back in the faerie realm completing a task for his King, and Kelley being left behind in the mortal world. Not only is Kelley in danger, but her dark dreams continue to plague her, as she sees Sonny's darker sider and what his power can do. Unsure of what to believe, and feeling more alone Kelley desperately wishes she was with him. Lucky for her, Fennrys has become her personal protector until Sonny returns. This doesn't go unnoticed from Sonny or a member of one of the courts. A turn of unfortunate events leads Kelley and Fennrys in the same relam as Sonny, but danger continues to follow them. What I admire most about Kelley's character is the more danger that follows her, the tougher she becomes. This also puts Sonny at risk, as he wants nothing more than to protect her.

Darklight is a little darker than Wondrous Strange, but held me captivated with it's story as there's more action, a lot more deceit and of course it wouldn't be complete with out some heartache. Each of the faerie courts have something to hid from their pasts and someone is out for Kelley, Sonny and the courts. What I enjoyed the most was Kelley's discovery of who she really is and finding her own inner strength. I of course enjoyed the scenes with Sonny and Kelley as they have a powerful connection that I'm looking forward to finding out more about in the next book. Just enough is revealed that together they would pose a powerful threat to the faerie courts, but exactly what they can do hasn't been revealed yet.

With ogres and killer leprechauns added to the cast of great characters, Darklight is a sequel that continues to engage me with the story, the plot twists and the alternating points of view between Kelley and Sonny, and has me anxiously awaiting the release of the next book, Tempestuous.

You can read Heather's 4 star review of Darklight here http://tinyurl.com/ylx5qcx
I'll be sharing my review of Tempestuous soon.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Book Review- Wondrous Strange

By Lesley Livingston
Published by Harper Teen
Released on December 23rd 2008
Source- Bought
4 stars- I Liked It

Since the dawn of time, the Faerie have taken. . . .

For seventeen-year-old actress Kelley Winslow, faeries are just something from childhood stories. Then she meets Sonny Flannery, whose steel-gray eyes mask an equally steely determination to protect her.

Sonny guards the Samhain Gate, which connects the mortal realm with the Faerie's enchanted, dangerous Otherworld. Usually kept shut by order of icy King Auberon, the Gate stands open but once a year.

This year, as the time approaches when the Samhain Gate will swing wide and nightmarish Fae will fight their way into an unsuspecting human world, something different is happening . . . something wondrous and strange. And Kelley's eyes are opening not just to the Faerie that surround her but to the heritage that awaits her.

Now Kelley must navigate deadly Faerie treachery—and her growing feelings for Sonny—in this dazzling page-turner filled with luminous romance.

Wondrous Strange is a richly layered tale of love between faerie and mortal, betrayal between kings and queens, and magic . . . between author and reader (quoted from goodreads).

How did I miss picking up Wondrous Strange when it was first released? I'm shocked this was Lindsey's debut book. Her writing is great, and made for fun, enjoyable read, and I liked that while she used A Midsummer Night's Dream within her story, she still gave the story an engaging, unique spin with her folklore, history, and a cast of great characters from faeries, humans, sirens, kelpies, wolves, changelings and more.

The characters are great, including the secondary characters. There wasn't a character I didn't love, which I know is a little cliche to say. From the Kings and Queens of the Faerie Courts, to the other paranormal characters, I enjoyed reading and getting to know the various characters. The plot twists kept my interest and as soon I finished Wondrous Strange, I immediately picked up it's sequel, Darklight and quickly finished it.

My favorite character is the story's protagonist, Kelley. She's such a realistic, honest, character. She's an aspiring actress in NYC, and will be playing Titana in Midsummer Night's Dream. Thinking faeries aren't real, even when a hot faerie tells her other wise, she still doesn't believe him. Things start to happen that make her second guess what she's believed. The one thing that bugged me the most about Kelly and the story is when she finds out what she is. I had expected her to not be so accepting of it. I felt like the story was missing something for me when the big secret is revealed.

I also really enjoyed both Sonny, the hot changeling who's also a member of the Junas, an elite guard of faeries sent by King Auberon to protect the only remaining faerie gate that faeries enter the mortal world through and Bob, aka Robin Goodfellow, aka Puck. Both of them protect Kelley, but what I liked most about Sonny is he is a fierce faerie killer while at the same time he can be so patient and loving with Kelley.

I loved that the setting for the story and the faerie realm are in NYC's Central Park. The descriptions are vivid, beautiful and it's a place I would definitely want to visit. Wondrous Strange is an enchanting read, with wonderful, dark twists, mixed in with a combination of characters who's rich personalities capture your attention and invite you to get to know them more in the sequel, Darklight.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thoughtful Thursday- Thanksgiving & Giving Thanks

With today being Thanksgiving, I thought it would be fun to share a little history- "In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states. It wasn't until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November." (quoted from http://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving)

For many of us, today is a day we get together with family and friends to eat delicious food, enjoy one another's company and reflect upon the many wonderful things we've been blessed with. Here's a few things we feel grateful for: our families, our various faiths, our freedoms, our friends, getting to know so many of you either from meeting you at some amazing book signings or getting to know you through our blog and forum, having the chance to meet some amazing authors and books. We have read so many amazing books this year, and we've enjoyed sharing our thoughts on them with you.

Thank you to the support you have given us. Thank you to the all the wonderful authors who have been on our blog this year, for the friendships we've made and the support you've given us. Thank you to the wonderful publishers who have been so supportive of us. Thank you for being apart of our Mundie Moms community

To show our appreciation to all of our MM's, we've got some AWESOME giveaways planned for next month, many of which will be taking place during our BIR2010 giveaways. Mark your calendars for Dec 6th, when 8 other blogger friends and us get together to talk about our favorite reads and give LOTS and LOTS of books away each day for an entire week!!

To all of our forum and blog followers, we hope you have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Book Review- Endless Summer

By Jennifer Echols
Published by Simon Pulse
Released On May 25th, 2010
Source- Jennifer Echols
3.5 stars- It's A Good Read

Two irresistible boys. One unforgettable summer.

Lori can’t wait for her summer at the lake. She loves wakeboarding and hanging with her friends--including the two hotties next door. With the Vader brothers, she's always been just one of the guys. Now that she’s turning sixteen, she wants to be seen as one of the girls, especially in the eyes of Sean, the older brother. But that’s not going to happen--not if the younger brother, Adam, can help it.

Lori plans to make Sean jealous by spending time with Adam. Adam has plans of his own for Lori. As the air heats up, so does this love triangle. Will Lori’s romantic summer melt into one hot mess?

This edition of Endless Summer includes both The Boys Next Door and Endless Summer. As I mentioned in my previous review, I really enjoyed The Boys Next Door, the sequel, Endless Summer picks up right where The Boys Next Door leaves off, which I really liked.

In my attempt to keep this spoiler free, I will say I enjoyed reading more about Sean and Lori, though at times I became very irritated at Lori due to her lack of thoughtful planning. This stems from Lori's father, who becomes completely overbearing when Adam and Lori fell asleep together and ended up coming home at sun rise. I can understand the worry and frustration from her father, but he ends up going over board and I felt so bad for Adam and Lori, as no one believes them that nothing happened.

I felt the worse for Adam, as Lori's plan always seem to back fire and she doesn't always take his best interest to heart, and no one believes him about the night he and Lori fell asleep. While some of the story irritated me, others parts were very enjoyable, as Lori and Adam are such a cute, inner nerdy couple who are learning to be together and transition from close childhood friends to being in a romantic relationship.

I enjoyed the alternating points of view from Lori to Adam. I was able to understand some of Lori's thought process, as she really does love Adam and why Adam made some of the decisions he does. I liked seeing more of his relationships with his brothers. One of my favorite scenes are when he and his brothers are having a heart to heart brotherly talk. Underneath all the jabs and teasing, they truly are there for each other. Through all the things that Adam has to deal with, he really makes a surprising move that earns him the respect he's always deserved.

If you're looking for a fun, summer read on cold fall day or to take to a warm beach, I recommend picking Endless Summer. You can find out more about these romantic-comedy books and Jennifer Echols by visiting her site here http://jennifer-echols.com/

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