Mundie Moms

Monday, April 30, 2018

ISLE OF BLOOD AND STONE By Makiia Lucier / Book Review #IsleOfBloodAndStone


By: Makiia Lucier
Published by: HMH Books for Young Readers
Released on: April 10th, 2018
Series: Isle of Blood & Stone #1 
Ages: 12 & Up
Purchase fromPublisherAmazon | B&N
Add it to Goodreads
Rating: 4 Stars - I Enjoyed It!
Thank you to HMH for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review


Nineteen-year-old Elias is a royal explorer, a skilled mapmaker, and the new king of del Mar’s oldest friend. Soon he will embark on the adventure of a lifetime, an expedition past the Strait of Cain and into uncharted waters. Nothing stands in his way…until a long-ago tragedy creeps back into the light, threatening all he holds dear.
The people of St. John del Mar have never recovered from the loss of their boy princes, kidnapped eighteen years ago, both presumed dead. But when two maps surface, each bearing the same hidden riddle, troubling questions arise. What really happened to the young heirs? And why do the maps appear to be drawn by Lord Antoni, Elias’s father, who vanished on that same fateful day? With the king’s beautiful cousin by his side-whether he wants her there or not-Elias will race to solve the riddle of the princes. He will have to use his wits and guard his back. Because some truths are better left buried…and an unknown enemy stalks his every turn.
Isle of Blood and Stone, the first in a duology, is a sweeping historical fantasy full of intrigue and schemes, romance and friendship, and fearless explorers searching for the truth.
A really good YA historical fantasy with plenty of mystery, the right amount of romance, and mixed with a bit of action/adventure. This book was a fun read, and one that definitely has lived up to it's Indiana Jones references. The 'who done it' was so well written, it kept me thrown off until the very end. 

While slow in the beginning, I ended up enjoying the story's pacing. A lot of this story is set up in the beginning, which makes for a slower pace, but once it's done the story really picks up the pace. I loved the historical elements in this story. They were a much bigger part of the story than the fantasy elements are. There are a lot of court politics, high society, spies, plenty of intrigue, and family dynamics that play a huge role in this story. 

The richly detailed island setting will make you feel as though you have stepped back in time. I loved how this played a big part of the story, including the legends that are told. When you read that part, which is a big spoilery, you'll know what I'm talking about. My favorite part of this story is the diverse cast of characters. They were are so well written, and developed. 

I really enjoyed, and appreciated the way family and friendships played a role with each of the characters. Especially with Elias, and Mercedes. I absolutely loved watching their relationship slowly, and naturally grow into something more. Their banter was hilarious. I loved what transpires between them. It made sense, and the slow build up definitely allowed their relationship to grown naturally vs feeling rushed or forced. Their relationship was one favorite part of this story. It wasn't hard falling for these two.  

This was a fun read. I really enjoyed the rewards of sticking with this book through the slow pacing in the beginning. There's so much more to this story, and I appreciated the way Lucier carefully unravels this story, and some of the characters' true motives, and their role in the 'whodunit' part of this story. It was surprising, well paced, and perfectly written. I can hardly wait to pick up this book's sequel! 

. @CassieClare Shares An Exclusive Excerpt from Queen of Air and Darkness / #QoAAD #MundaneMonday #Shadowhunters


Happy Mundane Monday Shadowhunters! If you're signed up to receive Cassandra Clare's emails, be sure to check your inbox. On Friday she sent out an email packed with all sorts of goodies, including this exclusive excerpt from Queen of Air and Darkness. This is a great excerpt too! 

NEWSLETTER EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT 

Something struck Cristina’s back; she screamed as her feet left the ground. A harpy had sunk its claws into the back of her gear jacket and was lifting her into the air. She thought of stories about how eagles flew high into the sky with their prey and then released them, letting their bodies smash open on the earth below. The ground was already receding below her with terrifying speed.

With a scream of fear and anger, she slashed up and backward with her sword, slicing the harpy’s claws off at the joint. The demon shrieked and Cristina tumbled through the air, her sword falling out of her hand, reaching out as if she could catch on to something to slow her fall — she saw Mark’s pale, terrified face turned up toward her harpies surrounding him in a dark cloud —

Something reached out to seize her out of the sky.

She gasped as a hand caught her elbow, and she was yanked sideways to land awkwardly atop something warm and alive. A flying horse.

Saturday, April 28, 2018

SHADOWHUNTERS TV Series, S3E6; A WINDOW INTO AN EMPTY ROOM / Review #shadowhunters


Screen capture from Freeform's Shadowhunters S3E6 episode

* * *  S  P  O  I  L  E  R  S    A  H  E  A  D  * * *

UGH. The episode starts off with another Heidi moment. This time she's deciding on her lip gloss color -- maybe something sparkly -- yes, she says that, and it plays into the entire ripping-off-another-franchise bit that the powers that be insist on doing. Where's a real sparklepyre when you need him? In Forks, no doubt.

 We find out that Kyle is a surfer. Whyyyyyy? It's details like this that serve little no purpose whatsoever, that can easily be left out. Kyle tries to see how the Mark of Cain is activated while Simon tries to set up a date where Kyle can meet Maia. He actually uses the phrase, "I'll bring you back a doggie bag." when Kyle excuses himself from the meet up. The eyerolls are already adding up, and we're less than 3 minutes into the show.

Superfan Heidi, in full stalking mode, confronts her sire, Simon, at his apartment. Again, whyyyyyy is she even in the show? To show that Super-vamp Simon has the ability to create a sire? To show his vulnerability? I'm not sure, and I think the powers that be aren't either.

Screen capture from Freeform's Shadowhunters S3E6 episode
Our favorite Downworlder-Shadowhunter couple is having issues. Darn it. Again? Whyyyy? But, this part is at least from the books. Alec is jealous of Magnus' vast experience in the area of romance, and the scene is sweet and frustrating as it should be. Izzy assures Alec that what he and Magnus have is "real". I know I speak for the fandom when I say, we want to reassure Alec as well.

In a bizzaro moment Maryse arrives at the Institute only to find out she is banned from it, because she is ex-communicated. Honestly, not sure why she in the episode, but there we have it.

Meanwhile in Lillith's lair, we find out the math behind the resurrection of Jonathan -- there are 32 disciples and Mommy Dearest needs only one more. Our boy, Jace, volunteers as tribute. A genuinely scary-awesome moments occurs where Lillith warns Jace ("I know you're in there Jace Herondale") that when she's done with him, he will find his friends dead and the world on fire. Awesome way to foreshadow. Go ahead, join me in the Eyeroll Seen from Space.  And we, also, have the Ewww Moment we apparently need to have in each episode -- the Soul Sucking Kiss.  It's just plain uncomfortable.

Screen capture from Freeform's Shadowhunters S3E6 episode
Cut to the next scene, Maia and Simon are walking along discussing sires as one does with their girlfriend. Maia reminds Simon that he had a support system and that it's hard when the person who made you abandons you. Dun-dun-dun-dun. Oh, the foreshadowing is killing me.

Izzy has apparently turned into a therapist for Maryse. Again, an unnecessary scene unfolds where we see Maryse inspecting her reflection unsure of who she has become. Welcome to Mundie Moms, Maryse. Oy. Izzy reminds her that she has four kids who love her and want to take her out. Maryse insists that Izzy bring along Mundie Doc.  Another unnecessary scene.

Jace lies to Alec about completing his treatment in the Silent City. We get an awkward bro hug. And Jace is back at the Institute and ready for duty. Clary senses somethings awry with him.

Simon, on a mission to get Sire Training tips from Raphy comes across Heidi instead. She confesses that Raphy experimented on her to see if she can become a Daylighter. Simon is, well, Simon. Remorseful. And when Heidi tries to kiss him, Simon, ever faithful, tells Heidi that he has a girlfriend. Uh-oh. Stalker-vamp is not impressed.

Clary goes to Magnus to figure out the Shape-of-Water Owl. Magnus concludes from the "energy signature" that it's the same creature who corrupted the ley lines. Magnus sends a message to "an old contact" to see if they can help. It's Brother Z! I'm excited. Mildly.

And as Mundie Doc walks into the family dinner, Jace's menacing "I can't wait to meet him" resonates loudly. Foreshadowing, once again, I suppose. Alec is refilling his drink when that Shadowhunter, who awkwardly came out to him, starts to chat him up. At least, we now know the purpose of that weird convo in the past.  Apparently, everyone's at this bar. Luke, Simon, Maia. Luke and Maryse bond over being ex-Shadowhunters. "It is a new beginning," Maryse says. And the whole thing is so awkward and weird.

Brother Z with a non-Megatron voice, looking kinda like my precious Jemmy, delivers an info-dump. "Any friend of Will Herondale is a friend of mine." Indeed. Clary also finds out that Jace never received any treatment from the Silent Brothers. Yeah. Dun dun dun dun.

Heidi catches Izzy and Simon in a uniquely Sizzy moments and she, whoa, misinterprets it BIG TIME. Hissy Heidi and Izzy have the fight of the episode. There has to be at least one, right? Simon interrupts the fight and explains their complicated relationship. Ah, to be a fledgling under Simon.

Jace asks Mundie doc to, literally, step outside, but Izzy distracts the two of them. Alec, now sloppily drunk, explains his worries to the anon-Shadowhunter dude (I will never remember his name) who came out to Alec.  AnonShadowhunter reminds him that he is Nephelim and that they fall in love once (how does Robert Lightwood exists, then?). OY.

Luke's partner comes in with more ShapeofWaterOwl info. And just like that Jace has found his new victim.

In a cozy moment, Heidi, now alone with Simon, proclaims that they can start a clan of their own. But, Simon introduces the Praeter Lupus, and Heidi is taken away. If only the books moved this fast there would be, like, two books total.

Magnus puts two and two together and realizes the woman that came to visit him for the elixir was a Demon and that Jace was given the elixir. And we have fight scene #2. Owl vs. cop as Jace tries to kill Luke's partner. Clary and Magnus show up just in time. ShapeofWaterOwl is revealed. In the blandest delivery ever, CaptainObviousClary declares, "Oh my God, Jace it's you."

Captain Obvious gif found here
Oh my God, I can see the end.

Thoughts, Mundie Moms?

Aside: If the show is not updating its tumblr and its website, is that an indication of anything? Sorry about the screen shots, I usually copy them from the Shadowhunters tumblr, but there were no updates with this week's episode. And none on the official website either. Foreshadowing? Perhaps. 

FINAL COUNTS
Total Eyerolls: 17 million
Cute Malec Moments: 1
Entirely Adorable Bromance Moment: 1
Ewww Moments: 1
Dun Dun Dun Dun Moments; too many to even dun dun dun dun
Stealing Another Shows Feels: 1

Thursday, April 26, 2018

SKY IN THE DEEP by Adrienne Young / Blog Tour: Book Review #SkyInTheDeep



Welcome to the next stop in the SKY IN THE DEEP blog tour, hosted by Wednesday Books. I am so thrilled to celebrate the recent release of Adrienne's debut. This book is SO good! I absolutely loved it. Before I share my 5 star review with you, here's a bit about the book. 

ABOUT THE BOOK



By: Adrienne Young
Published by: Wednesday Books
Released on: April 24th, 2018
Purchase from: Amazon | B&N
Add it to Goodreads
Rating: 5 Stars - I LOVED IT!
Source: book & e-arc from the publisher in exchange for my honest review

A 2018 Most Anticipated Young Adult book that is part Wonder Woman, part Vikings—and all heart.

OND ELDR. BREATHE FIRE.

Raised to be a warrior, seventeen-year-old Eelyn fights alongside her Aska clansmen in an ancient, rivalry against the Riki clan. Her life is brutal but simple: fight and survive. Until the day she sees the impossible on the battlefield—her brother, fighting with the enemy—the brother she watched die five years ago.

Faced with her brother's betrayal, she must survive the winter in the mountains with the Riki, in a village where every neighbor is an enemy, every battle scar possibly one she delivered. But when the Riki village is raided by a ruthless clan thought to be a legend, Eelyn is even more desperate to get back to her beloved family.

She is given no choice but to trust Fiske, her brother’s friend, who sees her as a threat. They must do the impossible: unite the clans to fight together, or risk being slaughtered one by one. Driven by a love for her clan and her growing love for Fiske, Eelyn must confront her own definition of loyalty and family while daring to put her faith in the people she’s spent her life hating.

MY REVIEW

A stunning debut that is so richly detailed, you feel as though you've become apart of this brutal, beautiful world. It emotionally broke me, and put me back together.  It's an addicting read that you want to re-immerse yourself if after you read it. I absolutely loved it!  

VIKINGS! I can't tell you how long I have waited to read this book. I was hooked the moment I first heard about it. This book far exceeded my exceptions, and what I thought it would be. This debut is more than Vikings, epic battles, a fierce warrior, and clan loyalty. At the heart of this story is love and friendship, and not just the romance kind of love. It's a love of family, love for friends, love of traditions, and the love of your clan. All of which you'd lay your life down for.  

Evelyn is my kind of character. I absolutely loved her. She is a warrior. She's a survivor, a fighter, and a character whom I was surprised at how quickly, and deeply I connected with her. She's such an incredibly strong, fierce and loyal person. Her vulnerable scenes really resonated with me. I felt like I emotionally connected to all she was battling, both emotionally and physically through out this story. I understood what she was going, though I have never experienced what she had. I love the way Young wrote her character. She wasn't an untouchable character. She was a larger than life character who is broken down, and rediscovers who she is, and so much of that makes her this incredibly realistic character. The YA book world needs more characters like her. 

I loved the journey Evelyn goes on, and those she meets. There is so much more to who these other characters are in the story, and I loved getting to know them. They were three dimensional characters who I felt like I connected with on some level. I couldn't help but loving these characters almost as much as I loved Evenly. I loved the emotional connections they had with each other as families, friendships, and battle mates. Even the ones Evelyn wanted to hate, were hard to hate, because you see them as similar to Evelyn's own clan, and can't help but love them. 

Fiske was definitely a character I came to love. What transpires between he and Evelyn is a delicate, deeply rooted line rich in customs, and traditions of two opposing clans. There's a lot of tensions, and learning to trust. Their way of life is brutal. There's also this soft side to them too. I really appreciated the fact that Young stays authentic to the trust issues through out the story. She doesn't rush what doesn't need to be rushed, and instead allows the readers to see the struggles of breaking the stereotype between Evelyn an Fiske's clans, while still having to stay true to their customs. I loved the trust that they learn to have, and what it develops into. The enemies to possibly something more is one of my favorite tropes when it comes to stories like this. 

The fight scenes are awesome. I felt like I was watching Vikings as I was reading this. These scenes are brutal! Young makes you feel like you're right there on the battle field, or trying to protect the village during the raid of an opposing Clan. Young definitely doesn't sugar coat the brutal life as a Viking. There are some things that happen to Evelyn that were even hard to read. I love that Evelyn and some of the girls are just as fierce as the men are, and they're treated equally in that regard. I really liked seeing the transformation from Evelyn's side from seeing the rival Viking clan as enemies, and having this pure hatred for them, to realizing that they're not so different from her own clan. It wasn't an easy thing, and it was so well crafted in this story. 

The world building is absolutely amazing! I loved the world in which this book is set. I felt like I was getting a peak into the past. Not only that, the way Young details everything, from the mountains, to the woods, their villages, and all the places that make up their home, are easy to visualize. At times you feel like you can also smell the smoke coming from a camp fire, or feel the cold against your cheek, or the way the woods smell. I love the way Young wrote this book. It's so beautifully done, and the pacing is perfect! This book is everything I love in a YA book. I'm blown away this is a debut. I look forward to reading many more books from Adrienne Young. 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Adrienne Young is a born and bred Texan turned California girl. She is a foodie with a deep love of history and travel and a shameless addiction to coffee. When she’s not writing, you can find her on her yoga mat, scouring antique fairs for old books, sipping wine over long dinners, or disappearing into her favorite art museums. She lives with her documentary filmmaker husband and their four little wildlings beneath the West Coast sun. Website/Twitter/Facebook

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

OUT TODAY! 4/24/18 New YA Releases


 HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY to today's newest YA releases! There are a lot of fantastic reads out today. Here's what you'll find out on bookstore shelves now:



Which new releases will you be picking up today? 

Shadowhunters TV Series, S3E5; STRONGER THAN HEAVEN / Review #shadowhunters

From Freeform's Shadowhunter's tumblr

                                           * * * *  S P O I L E R S   A H E A D * * * * 

Oh, Magnus and the Mother of Dragons Demons! Dang, what a scene to start this epi. Can Lillith ever weave a LIE as she asks Magnus for an Erasing Love potion for her ex-boyfriend who's a distracted soldier. The catch? Mamacita needs to add a "tiny sliver of her soul". OY.

Okay, back to Jace and Clary figuring out his mental illness. Jace decides to go to the Silent Brothers. This may be a good thing. Instead, Clary convinces Jace that maybe poor Ithuriel can help. Whyyyyyy? Another plot point gone wrong.

The very idea of Alec and Magnus living together, on the other hand, is all sorts of adorable. The way Alec asks Magnus if he could move in is so darn cute. Except, Magnus rejects the idea and reminds him that they have been living together for only two months. Oh Magnus. you are two wise. Such a bookworthy moment, too.

Time for Simon and Jace's bromance moment of the show. OMGOSH. In a bar, where Simon is arguing with the manager about a canceled gig, Simon tells Jace about the Mark of Cain and how it force-pushes everyone who tries to hurt him to which Jace replies, "So, you're saying as much as I like you, I probably shouldn't deck you right now?" I'll admit, I laughed out loud. Literally. Can someone give me a fan edit of just their scenes?

Clary asks Luke about seeing his sister, he tells her to tell him why. Clary confesses the entire Raziel-bringing-Jace-back and in a moment of really bad acting, she word vomits to Luke that "there is something seriously wrong" with Jace. Umm, yeah.  I know, I really try not to mention the acting, but the rushed delivery of this was, er, weird and bad and yeah. Wait, I've seen this level of acting somewhere before, oh yeah -

image found here
Mother of Demons raises a demon to bring back a "sliver" of Clary's soul aaaaaaaand, we cut away to Simon, his roommate and Jace. Jace and Simon, again. so cute. But, don't get used to it, because now we cut to Alec, at Magnus' place, looking through a box he saw Magnus close earlier in the episode. He finds pictures in there of Magnus' past lovers.

But wait, Jace and Simon are fixing a bike and yeah, Jace starts snooping through Kyle's room. When, he spies a plant, which Simon thinks may be something else, but Jace knows it's wolfsbane. Kyle returns and Jace is full of questions. We find out about the Praeter Lupus and how Kyle has been sent in to assist with Simon. Poor Simon. He realizes that he's being protected by Kyle, and he's angry. THIS SCENE IS ALL SORTS OF AWESOME. It's, also, almost directly from CoFA. 

Alec has a run in with a fellow Shadowhunter, who comes out to him. Yeah, it's a great scene. But honestly, it only serves as a pause button to the plot. Luke portals Clary through to his old farm to speak with Cleo, and we're reminded that she's an ex-Silent Sister with the ability to speak with angels. Cleo tells Luke and Clary that her "ties to the Heavens" have been severed. She reminds Clary that Ithuriel's blood runs through her. And all of a sudden - 

Gif found here. 
Awkward first date moments with Izzy and Mundie Dr. Charlie (I just remembered his name and yes, she lied to him telling him she was a jewelry maker along with her brothers. Why even bother? Conveniently, her demon-tracking bracelet goes off. She's attacked by the demon-dog creature that's looking for Clary. Izzy dispatches the creature, and Mama of Demons realizes she will have to be the one to find Clary. Doc Charlie finds Izzy, all bloodied post-fight and decides to take her to the hospital. And we get the best piece of dialogue so far:

Dr. Charlie: Alright, come on. 
Izzy: Okay. 

They could've just cut the scene showing the two of them walking away. But, no, why when they can throw in some useless dialogue. 

We are now thrown into the angel raising moment. Clary has to face them alone. "May the Angel be with you." Indeed. 

Simon plays his guitar on the street and Jace throws money into his case - "I'm just trying to help the homeless." And again, I laughed out loud because it's so very Simon and Jace. Jace tells Simon "that if someone is offering you help, you'd be a fool not to take it."

Magnus confronts Alec for rummaging through the box. Apology offered and accepted. All I wanted was a kiss, but the moment was so adorable and it ended with Magnus whipping up cocktails and seeing that Alec may be jealous.  Oh you guys, the realization that Magnus' box of memories is just that. His entire history of friends and lovers. And their argument is so perfect and well acted. 

Dear me, I may just be liking this episode. 

Ithuriel and Clary's convo is straight out of some high fantasy. Kinda cool. Kinda cheesy. His accent is weird, however. Clary is warned that the "owl has a master" and we have the Ewww scene of the moment a Ithuriel, literally, self-combusts. Lilith, in the form of a giant bird,  swoops in and takes a piece of Clary's soul and flies off squawking like a pterodactyl.  

Jurassic World image found here. 
Back in the wolf den, Simon and Kyle argue over how the Praetors will protect him if he insists on still doing shows. Kinda makes me want to force-push this entire subplot.

They cut to my fave parabatai duo, Jace and Alec. And the adorable quotient goes sky high as they awkwardly try to talk about their feelings (and Jace's mental illness). Jace admits he wants to go to the Silent City for treatment. It's so cute. This scene. I just wanted to self-combust, too, when Alec volunteers to go with him. But, ever the hero, Jace says he has to do this alone. He calls Clary and leaves her a message letting him know of his decision.

Meanwhile back at Simon's show, we have a weird concert where Ed Simon Sheerhan sings a song while Mother of Demons asks Jace to buy her a drink. While his back is turned, she pours the potion into Jace's beer. Not the Corona of his dreams. Jace gets a weird look and Lillith utters, "Now nothing can come between us" and bam, credits roll.

While I could've edited out a bunch of minutes and the episode had a choppy unevenness that I've grown used to, I think overall, this wasn't too bad. The Bromance Moments made it all worthwhile.


FINAL COUNTS
Total Eyerolls: 2
Cute Malec Moments: 3
Entirely Adorable Bromance Moment: sooooo many!
Ewww Moments: 1, but it's a biggie
Stealing Another Shows Feels: 1

Monday, April 23, 2018

ARU SHAH by Roshani Chokshi / Author Interview #AruShah #RickRiordanPresents


Today I am so thrilled to share my interview with Aru Shah author, Roshani Chokshi. I recently sat down with Roshani to talk about her MG debut. I am a huge fan of her YA series, and I'm thrilled she has a middle grade book out. She is one of my favorite writers. This book is FANTASTIC! I highly recommend picking it up! You can read my 5 star review for it here

AUTHOR INTERVIEW


Aru is so well written. I love that you made her this character that we can all relate to, whether you're a pre-teen reading her story or an adult. We've all gone through those stages or are going through of wanting to fit in. I love her journey teaches her it she doesn't need to fit. Something she desperately wants to do in the beginning of this story. She was so realistic. 

Aru was how I was in middle school. We have a lot of similarities. Middle school is so rough. You cry the most, but you also laugh the most. There's so much you go through. 

There are a lot of fun elements to this story. Which element to Aru's story surprised you the most?

I was most surprised with the emotionally journey of writing Aru. I genuinely felt like I knew her, because there are so many aspects of myself and my friends in her story. I knew exactly what she would do. She's self confident, and overly self aware all at the same time. The experience of writing her, and so many parts of this story genuinely made me cry. There are many things stitched with memory. At this stage you feel as though if something happens or you don't get it, you're going to die. 

Friendship is a huge part of this book, that I really enjoyed. What inspired it? 

Aru is dedicated to my best friends. While they are my best friends they aren't all necessarily best friends with each other, but with each of my best friends I get to share a different aspect of myself with each one of them. With Aru, and her sisters, that is their relationship. This book is totally inspired by Sailor Moon. I totally love this group of despaired girls bonding together, being magical, and loving one another. 

This story is such a good mix of an emotional journey that makes you laugh out loud, cry, sigh, and just enjoy the full on journey. It was so good. I loved getting to know Aru. How long has her story been in transition for you? 

This story has been in my head for eons. Literally. I think a large part of that is because when I was younger I wrote a lot of Sailor Moon fan fiction, and I also wrote a lot of fantasy stories, and wrote my friends, and myself in those stories. That is where the heart of Aru's story came from. It's been there for ages and ages. I did not come up with the plot until, any of it, until I actually heard about Rick Riordan Presents. There was just something that just cliched. I wrote three chapters and sent it to my agent, who is awesome. We went back and a forth a bit, and I had to figure out how to be true to myself, and my voice. Once I did, it clicked, and we sent it off to Rick. 

What came first when you created Boo? Was it his role in helping Aru on her journey or his own surprising story? 

His story came first. The great thing about ancient mythology and the very condiluted layered thing about it, is that everyone gets reborn. Everyone is reincarnated. Everyone's past life is, "I did this, and that's why x, y, z happened". I wanted to explore the consequences of someone's previous actions and what it meant if you had to remember what you did wrong. 

One of the major things I wanted to with this series was I really wanted to play with the idea of just telling your story. What makes you good, or bad, or a villain or what makes you heroic even.

That is one of the things I love about layered mythology. There is so much to the all the characters. I love that with mythology, you can take realism, and make it your own. I absolutely the Hinduism mythology. I'm beginning to see a lot of my Hinduism in books, and I love it.

It's a treasure trove of a story. That has been needed to come to light for a long time. I think the difficult thing with Hindu mythology, that because it's so closely intertwined with the religion, is that you never want to feel as though you are exoticizing your own heritage. So for me, that was the hardest thing about writing this was trying to be delicate about it, but also sharing the stories I grew up with, and hopefully making them coming to life in a new way. For me, these myths are alive, and deserved to be re-contextualized for a modern audience, and for every kid to still see themselves in every reincarnation in the story. 

I loved being immersed into this beautiful world you created. It was fascinating. What was your favorite part of creating your mythology for Aru's journey? 

There was a lot. Rick is the one who helped the most to organize the story structurally. He helped edit Aru. He was so supportive, and so helpful. He was most helpful in telling me that you have to give readers a road map of 'where we're going, why we're going here, and remind them what's the urgency with do this at this time'. Which is something I hadn't really done before. 

I am really excited about the diversity with the Rick Riordan Presents. I'm really looking forward to getting to know more of Aru's sisters. I'm so glad there's going to be a lot more of this story.

I can't wait for you to meet the next sister. 

I love that this series is about the sisters. 

It's sisters, and than Aidan. Who you meet at the end of book 1. 

YES! That meeting and the every end had me laughing, and wanting the next book. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series. 

Thank you to Roshani, and Disney for making this interview possible. Thank you especially to Roshani for taking the time to sit down with me to talk about Aru, and her story.

** This interview was transcribed from the audio portion of my in-person interview with Roshani. If there are any errors that is the fault of myself, and not of the author or publisher. 

ABOUT THE BOOK 


By: Roshani Chokshi
Published by: Disney Hyperion / Rick Rioridan Presents
Released on: March 27th, 2018
Series: A Pandava Novel #1
Ages: 8 & up
Add it to Goodreads

Best-selling author Rick Riordan introduces this adventure by Roshani Chokshi about twelve-year-old Aru Shah, who has a tendency to stretch the truth in order to fit in at school.


While her classmates are jetting off to family vacations in exotic locales, she’ll be spending her autumn break at home, in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture, waiting for her mom to return from her latest archeological trip. Is it any wonder that Aru makes up stories about being royalty, traveling to Paris, and having a chauffeur?

One day, three schoolmates show up at Aru’s doorstep to catch her in a lie. They don’t believe her claim that the museum’s Lamp of Bharata is cursed, and they dare Aru to prove it. Just a quick light, Aru thinks. Then she can get herself out of this mess and never ever fib again.

But lighting the lamp has dire consequences. She unwittingly frees the Sleeper, an ancient demon whose duty it is to awaken the God of Destruction. Her classmates and beloved mother are frozen in time, and it’s up to Aru to save them.

The only way to stop the demon is to find the reincarnations of the five legendary Pandava brothers, protagonists of the Hindu epic poem, the Mahabharata, and journey through the Kingdom of Death. But how is one girl in Spider-Man pajamas supposed to do all that?



ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Roshani Chokshi (www.roshanichokshi.com) is the author of the instant New York Times bestselling novel, The Star-Touched Queen, and its companion, A Crown of Wishes. She studied fairy tales in college, and she has a pet luck dragon that looks suspiciously like a Great Pyrenees dog. Aru Shah and the End of Time, her middle grade debut, was inspired by the stories her grandmother told her as well as Roshani's all-consuming love for Sailor Moon. She lives in Georgia and says "y'all," but she doesn't really have a Southern accent. Her Twitter handle is @Roshani_Chokshi.


ABOUT RICK RIORDAN PRESENTS 

The Rick Riordan Presents imprint from Disney-Hyperion is dedicated to providing entertaining middle-grade fiction based on various world mythologies. Rick Riordan is involved in the selection, editing, and promotion of these books, working with great authors to tell exciting stories inspired by the mythologies of their own heritages.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Follow @DisneyBooks, @ReadRiordan, and @RoshaniChokshi on Instagram
Learn more about the book on the official Rick Riordan Presents site

. @CassieClare Shares CAST LONG SHADOWS Snippet / #Shadowhunters #MundaneMonday


Happy Mundane Monday Shadowhunters! This weekend while at North Texas Teen Book Festival, Cassie shared a snippet from CAST LONG SHADOWS, which she co-wrote with Sarah Rees Brennan, who was also at NTTBF. This ebook will be out on May 8th, and is part of the Ghosts of Shadow Market anthology. Below is the snippet, which Cassie originally shared here

Matthew understood that Alastair had sent Thomas away for a purpose. He bit his lip, resigned to a scuffle.
Instead Alastair said: “Who are you to play the moralist, talking about tricks and papas, considering the circumstances of your birth?”
Matthew frowned. “What on earth are you driveling about, Carstairs?”
“Everyone talks about your mama and her unwomanly pursuits,” said awful, unthinkable worm Alastair Carstairs. Matthew scoffed but Alastair raised his voice, persisting. “A woman cannot be a good Consul. Nevertheless your mother can continue her career, of course, since she has such strong support from the powerful Lightwoods.”
“Certainly our families are friends,” said Matthew. “Are you unfamiliar with the concept of friendship, Carstairs? How tragic for you, though understandable on the part of everyone else in the universe.”
Alastair raised his eyebrows. “Oh, great friends, no doubt. Your mama must require friends, since your papa is unable to play a man’s part.”
“I beg your pardon?” said Matthew.
“Odd that you were born so long after your papa’s terrible accident,” Alastair said, all but twirling an imaginary moustache. “Strange that your papa’s family will have nothing to do with you, to the extent of demanding that your mother renounce her married name. Remarkable that you bear no resemblance to your papa, and your coloring is so like Gideon Lightwood’s.”
His mama said his papa had such a dear, friendly, freckled face. Matthew had always wished he looked like him.
But he didn’t.
Matthew said, his voice strange in his own ears: “I do not understand what you mean.”
“Henry Branwell is not your father,” spat Alastair. “You are Gideon Lightwood’s bastard. Everybody knows it but you.”
CAST LONG SHADOWS comes out May 8!

WOW! I was not excepting that...... though I shouldn't except there not to be surprises when it comes to Cassie and Sarah's collaboration. It's one of the things I love about their writing. It was wonderful to see both Cassie & Sarah this past weekend. I've got video and pictures posted on our social media accounts. I'll be doing a recap and sharing the pictures and videos from NTTBF here on Mundie Moms later this week. 

Shadowhunters TV Series, S3E4; THY SOUL INSTRUCTED / Review #shadowhunters

From Freeform's Shadowhunters tumblr

                                            * * * *  S P O I L E R S   A H E A D * * * * 
Lillith tells Jace how Valentine came to her and asked for her blood to make a child. Jace stands perfectly still and you know, bravo, to Dominic for playing the perfect soldier and not flinching while Lillith's talons circle his neck.

Awesome moment of slo-mo as Jace re-enters the Institute and ignores people as they approach him until he hears Clary's voice. He tells her he has no idea where he has been.

*start playing "This is the Hunt" intro*

Clary tells Jace that she wasn't burned when she fought Jonathan, so he can't be the ShapeofWaterOwl. But, she also tells him that she knows there is something wrong with him. We have a repeat of what happened with Raziel because we may have forgotten that Big Ol' Plot Point. Eye roll time.

Heidi/Maureen tries to feed on a human in the subway. Ew, gross.

From Freeform's Shadowhunters tumblr
Simon literally runs into Kyle, and just like that they're going to be roommates. Yes, yes, eye roll time.

Jace in owl-hunting mode, is tired or at least that's what Clary's still blaming it on in front of everyone. But, Alec, keeps fixating on the fact his parabatai rune disappeared and presses Clary for more information. In fact, Alec goes on to confront Jace and reminds Jace of how his mother had a history of mental illness. Now, Izzy talks with Clary about Jace's tiredness. It seems everyone's onto the fact that THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH JACE. But, they are all distracted looking for the wayward vampire and using that stupid tracking rune. UGH.

From Freeform's Shadowhunters tumblr
Jace, now reminded of the hereditary mental illness, goes to talk to Luke about his Mom, and guess what, her symptoms match Jace's. Are you eye rolling along with me?

Psycho Heidi/Maureen is going through all of Simon's things as one does when one is psychotic. Raphael tries to stop her, but she drugs him with the vamp tranq and yeah, our boy is down for the count.

Meanwhile Alec is feeling helpless with his inability to help Jace, and he and Magnus are just so darn cute. So, yay, cute Malec moment. Malec volunteers to help Alec solve the mundane murders. There's also a strange preoccupation with making sure Alec is fed. Ahem, is it time for another round of -

Sadly, no.

Izzy and Clary have a moment where they discuss the Raphael issue, basically how he can't keep his fangs off of her. Does anyone miss Edward? I know, I do.

Gif found on giphy.
When whoa, Heidi/Maureen, explains to Raphael, who is not only tied up in chains but also in boxer briefs (ahem, no reason given for that strip-that-down moment, but oooookay), that it's "almost time for the fun. She is waiting for sunrise and it's deadly effect on our second favorite vamp. We get her back story of going to a bleeder den to "escape her miserable life" and then she found herself wanting to have the strength and power of being a vamp. She tells Raphy that she felt lucky when he tried to resurrect her from the hospital morgue. What was Raphy Boy up to?

From Freeform's Shadowhunters tumbl
The Mother of Dragons, I mean, Demons, appears in front of Jace and puts him in a trance that allows her to control him. She wants to know what broke him free of her orders. SleepyJace confesses that Clary's love breaks him free from Lillith's spell.

More Raphy and Heidi/Maureen, where we find out that our Raphy Boy has been experimenting with creating more Daylighters.

And in the EWWW scene of the epi (there's now at least one per episode), Clary and Izzy fight a vampire and it's disgusting. Honestly. I get the idea that the powers that be wanted gore, but this is more ewwwwww than gory. Raphael is screaming while being burned alive, and our dynamic duo saves him. The girls realized Heidi is out there and Raphy LIES that he has no idea who she is.

Gif found here.
Our favorite Creature from the Lake Lyn Lagoon, I mean Jace (dressed in his owl finery) uses his best Decepticon voice to kill the possessed mundie girl prisoner in the Institute. But, no worries she's not dead and she's no longer possessed. Go ahead, eye roll along with me.

From Freeform's Shadowhunter's tumblr
But, guess who's busted? Raphy! Izzy figures out what he's been doing, and he confesses that he is trying to tap into the Daylighter trend. Props to the actor, because he delivers the dialogue with such passion and a reference to wanting to spend some daylight hours with his sister. Izzy promises to not report this to the Shadowhunters, but advises him to leave the city. We all know that this will end badly. Tiny eyeroll (it still counts).

The epi ends with Jace and Clary and he tells her that he thinks he's losing his mind. Honestly, this scene is so bookworthy.

BUT, the best part? Guess who's coming to get Magnus' help? THE MOTHER OF FREAKIN' DRAGONS DEMONS!

Ah, even I have to admit that it's a good ending.


FINAL COUNTS
Total Eyerolls 8
Cute Malec Moment 1
Shirtless and Pantsless Raphael Moments 1
Stupid Use of Tracking Rune 1
Ewww Moments 2
Parabatai Cuteness Even When Angry at Each Other 1
Mentions of the "owl case" 2
Stealing Another Shows Feels 4

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