Mundie Moms

Thursday, September 10, 2015

SERPENTINE by Cindy Pon / Blog Tour : Book Review / Giveaway




Hello and welcome to today's SERPENTINE blog tour stop! I'm so thrilled to share my review for Cindy Pon's newest release. Be sure to check out the giveaway at the end of the blog post and enter to win!


By: Cindy Pon
Published by: Month9Books
Released on: 9.8.15
Series: Kingdom of Xia #1
Source: arc gifted from publisher at ALA
Rating: 4 Stars - I enjoyed it!
Purchase from: Amazon | B&N | BAM | Chapters | Indiebound | Kobo | TBD | iBooks | Google Play
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SERPENTINE is a sweeping fantasy set in the ancient Kingdom of Xia and inspired by the rich history of Chinese mythology.
Lush with details from Chinese folklore, SERPENTINE tells the coming of age story of Skybright, a young girl who worries about her growing otherness. As she turns sixteen, Skybright notices troubling changes. By day, she is a companion and handmaid to the youngest daughter of a very wealthy family. But nighttime brings with it a darkness that not even daybreak can quell.
When her plight can no longer be denied, Skybright learns that despite a dark destiny, she must struggle to retain her sense of self – even as she falls in love for the first time.
Cindy Pon has given her readers something utterly unique and exciting with Serpentine. Filled with Chinese mythology, fantasy, romance, heart pounding action, and characters whom I enjoyed getting to know, and want to read more about, this book hooked me! 

I love it when I read a book that tells a unique story. Cindy Pon has done just that with Serpentine. This is unlike any story I've read before, and it's definitely one that will stand out. It's not just it's diversity that makes this book one I'd recommend reading, it's the writing itself. Pon has a talent for storytelling. While this book lacks pictures, readers will effortlessly be able to visualize the the characters, their world, the mythology, and everything in between, as they read the story.

Serpentine's world sprang to life. I got so swept up into the beautifully detailed world Cindy created, and her rich mythology. It's unlike anything I've read before, and I loved that. It's unique, and captivating, as are the book's characters. 

The characters are ones that I won't soon forget. Skybright is a character I was immediately drawn to. She has a strength to her I loved, and I liked that she's all around good character. Though she's a handmaid, she's also a character who thinks for herself. Her journey is a unique one. It's rich with Chinese mythology, action packed, and has the right amount of romance that leaves you wanting more.

The secondary characters are just as important to Skybright's story, as she is. My favorite of the characters is Kai Sen. Yes, I may be a sucker for a well written romance, and these two definitely have a romance. I wanted more! Cindy Pon teased readers just enough with her romance to hook us, and then delivered the brutal twist of fate that all authors love to do with their romances. Now we're left impatiently waiting to find out what will happen next with these two. I NEED TO KNOW!

As always, Cindy Pon delivers a beautifully written book rich with mythology, romance, and a longing for more of her stories. Serpentine is a beautifully written, diverse book with a unique mythology that isn't common place in YA books, which is sad to say. We need more books like this one.

Praise for Serpentine
“Vivid worldbuilding, incendiary romance, heart-pounding action, and characters that will win you over–I highly recommend Serpentine.” - Cinda Williams Chima, best-selling author of the Seven Realms and Heir Chronicles fantasy novels
“Serpentine is unique and surprising, with a beautifully-drawn fantasy world that sucked me right in! I love Skybright’s transformative power, and how she learns to take charge of it.” ~Kristin Cashore, NYT Bestseller of the Graceling Realm Series
“Serpentine’s world oozes with lush details and rich lore, and the characters crackle with life. This is one story that you’ll want to lose yourself in.” ~ Marie Lu, New York Times bestselling author of Legend and The Young Elites


About The Author

Cindy Pon is the author of Silver Phoenix (Greenwillow, 2009), which was named one of the Top Ten Fantasy and Science Fiction Books for Youth by the American Library Association's Booklist, and one of 2009′s best Fantasy, Science Fiction and Horror by VOYA. The sequel to Silver Phoenix, titled Fury of the Phoenix, was released in April 2011. Serpentine, the first title in her next Xia duology, will be published by Month9Books in September 2015. She is the co-founder of Diversity in YA with Malinda Lo and on the advisory board of We Need Diverse Books. Cindy is also a Chinese brush painting student of over a decade. Visit her website at www.cindypon.com.


ENTER TO WIN
1 winner will receive a signed hardcover of SERPENTINE and brush art painting card. US Only.
3 winners will receive a signed paperback of SERPENTINE and brush art painting card. US Only.
 a Rafflecopter giveaway 


Follow The Tour


Week 1:
8/31/2015- Good Choice ReadingGuest Post
9/1/2015- Dark Faerie Tales- Interview
9/2/2015- FiktshunGuest Post
9/3/2015- Two Chicks on BooksGuest Post
9/4/2015- Novel NoviceInterview
Week 2:
9/7/2015- Once Upon A TwilightGuest Post
9/8/2015- Chapter by ChapterInterview
9/9/2015- Magical Urban Fantasy ReadsGuest Post
9/10/2015- Mundie MomsReview
9/11/2015- Page Turners- Interview

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