4/30/2014

Waiting on Wednesday #66: Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers





Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature created by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This is where you showcase an upcoming release you're anxiously awaiting!

This week, I'm waiting on:
Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers.

His Fair Assassin #3.
Expected Publication: November 4, 2014.
by: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Goodreads Synopsis:
Annith has watched her gifted sisters at the convent come and go, carrying out their dark dealings in the name of St. Mortain, patiently awaiting her own turn to serve Death. But her worst fears are realized when she discovers she is being groomed by the abbess as a Seeress, to be forever sequestered in the rock and stone womb of the convent. Feeling sorely betrayed, Annith decides to strike out on her own.

She has spent her whole life training to be an assassin. Just because the convent has changed its mind doesn't mean she has.


Why I'm excited:
Maybe because these books are fabulous? Maybe because they're about assassin nuns in 15th century France? Maybe because these girls are fantastic characters? Maybe because I am so excited for Annith's story? Maybe because it's Robin LaFevers? Maybe because Shae has already read and loooved this one?

Try all of the above. I need it.

What are you waiting on this week?

4/29/2014

Review: Sekret by Lindsay Smith


Sekret by Lindsay Smith.

Sekret #1.
Published: April 1, 2014.
Published by: Roaring Brook Press.
Source: Requested an ARC from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank you, Macmillan!

Goodreads Synopsis:
From debut author Lindsay Smith comes an espionage thriller with a dash of both history and dystopia.

Yulia’s father always taught her that an empty mind is a safe mind. She has to hide her thoughts and control her emotions to survive in Communist Russia, especially because she seems to be able to read the minds of the people she touches. When she’s captured by the KGB and forced to work as a psychic spy with a mission to undermine the U.S. space program, she’s thrust into a world of suspicion, deceit, and horrifying power where she can trust no one. 

She certainly can’t trust Rostov, the cruel KGB operative running the psychic program. Or handsome Sergei who encourages her to cooperate with the KGB. Or brooding Valentin who tells her to rebel against them. And not the CIA, who have a psychic so powerful he can erase a person’s mind with his own thoughts. Yulia quickly learns she must rely on her own wits and power to survive in this world where no SEKRET can stay hidden for long.


My Review:

A Cold War spy thriller with psychics. Seriously. That's what Sekret is, and it's fantastic for it. It seems like such a natural connection to have spies with psychic abilities and it works so well. Bringing it into the Cold War just adds the perfect setting for that combination. Sekret has an engaging beginning and despite a slower plot pace for much of the rest of the book, it still has its exciting and tension-filled moments and works well to develop all the different elements that Smith has woven in.

Yulia is a very interesting character and is a girl who's determined beyond belief. She is taken into the KGB and forced to work for them in the psychic program in order to protect her family. Her love for them is strong and ever-present as Yulia struggles with staying and keeping them safe or trying to escape for her own good. Her will to accomplish both -- escape and save her family -- is her driving force and is so admirable. 

Yulia's "love triangle", if you can even go so far as to call it that, was very well done because it's not a typical love triangle with the girl torn between the two guys. While there is an attraction to both Sergei and Valentin on Yulia's part, one fades away and it's clear that strong feelings really only develop for one of the guys. I also appreciated the way the two of them each pulled her in different directions and it came down not only to who Yulia is more drawn to but also to who can support, not hinder, what she ultimately wants for herself.

I also really enjoyed the characterization of the other psychics in the program. The twins, Misha and Masha, as well as Ivan and Larissa round out the group of young psychics very well and bring both friendship and conflict. I really enjoyed that there was a variety of responses from the teens to having to work for the KGB. The fact that these were explored, even briefly for some, helped to really bring the historical context alive and place these characters within it while also making them more human. 

Smith does a great job of creating tension in the relations between the characters and in the missions they're sent on. The setting absolutely lends itself to that -- setting it in the USSR during the Cold War means the story is drenched in a time that was the height of fear and secrecy. Those really come through in the novel, as does the state of relations with the United States, which is a very important element of the plot. Smith has done a great job of making the historical context work as a perfect backdrop and motivator for her plot. 

Overall, Sekret is an original and mostly exciting historical thriller. It has a few moments that didn't grab my attention as much as I would have liked, but there is so much working in its favour that this is really a minor note in the grand scheme of the novel. I loved the setting and how it played in, and the psychic abilities were a fantastic element. A great read! 

4/28/2014

Guest Post: Jennifer McGowan and What Would Elizabeth Do?


I'm very excited to have Jennifer McGowan here on the blog today. She came up with a super fun guest post idea when I approached her for this feature. She's going to chat about how Queen Elizabeth I, the monarch at the centre of her novels (Maid of Secrets, out now; Maid of Deception, coming this August) would handle different issues that we all come across. Welcome, Jenn!

What Would Elizabeth Do?


Thank you, Jess, for inviting me to post on your blog!

The Maids of Honor series is a collection of stories about a unique group of spies in Queen Elizabeth I’s court. The first book, Maid of Secrets, traces the tale of the resourceful thief Meg Fellowes, who is forced to find a murderer and save the Crown. It launched in 2013, and will soon be out in paperback (June, 2014).

Book 2, Maid of Deception, focuses on a different spy. Beatrice Knowles is to all appearances rich and pampered, haughty and elitist. She is on the verge of her greatest achievement—a fabulous marriage—when the Queen changes her destiny and embroils her in the thick of the Scottish rebellion. Her book comes out in August, 2014!

Sophia Dee’s book will follow in 2015—prepare for a young woman both blessed and cursed by unique psychic skills . . .who must try to understand and develop her abilities while saving the Queen from a deadly poisoner.

But what about the woman who inspires (or forces) all of these spies to serve her?

People often think of Queen Elizabeth as an aging, white-faced monarch, watching Shakespeare’s plays and ruling armadas. But my books are set in 1559 and 1560. Shakespeare wasn’t even BORN in 1559, and Elizabeth was only 25 years old! Still, she has lessons for all of us in how she would have handled the same kind of troubles faced by young women today.

What would Elizabeth do in the face of these challenges? Read on!

1. The Cheating Friend

Elizabeth was deeply in love with one of her courtiers, Robert Dudley, for most of her life—certainly throughout her reign. When she finally passed away in her sleep, she did so with his last letter in her hand.

Unfortunately, Robert was already married when Queen Elizabeth took power, and though he later was widowed (under slightly shady circumstances), he did not ever take Elizabeth’s hand. Instead, he married the daughter of one of her best friends, which Elizabeth did NOT take well. She banished the woman from court and refused to speak to her. She made no secret of her disgust at the betrayal, but did not allow the subject to be discussed around her.

Elizabeth was not big on forgiveness in this area.

2. Pushy Guys

Elizabeth was surrounded by men who tried to control her. First, there was Parliament, who desperately wanted her to marry (and be ruled by her husband). Then there were her advisors, who just wanted her to follow their guidance. Finally, there was the Pope, who thought she should return England to Catholicism.

Elizabeth’s response? To go her own way with bravery and more than a little swagger. She believed that England needed a strong ruler, not a male one, and she was determined not to be dominated by a man. To that end, she never married throughout her entire 44-year reign. She ruled one of the greatest kingdoms in the world at that time—alone.

3. Gossip

Elizabeth knew better than to stifle the gossip in her court. Instead, she used it to her advantage. The entire idea of the Maids of Honor series was born of a contemporary account in the early 1560s, where a foreign diplomat observed that the Queen’s advisors were quite put out because Elizabeth seemed to know far more than she should about current matters of state. It was clear to this diplomat that Elizabeth had secret sources of information. That got me thinking: who would Elizabeth trust to hear what shouldn’t be spoken, and learn what shouldn’t be known? It wouldn’t be men, I decided, it would be women. First, because men tended to ignore women; and second, because women could be downright ingenious when it comes to learning others’ secrets. And if those women were unmarried—mere maids in the castle? They were even more invisible. And thus the Maids of Honor were born!

Queen Elizabeth ruled with her heart as much as her head, but she made great sacrifices in her personal life to ensure that England would regain its strength and stay stable in a time of great international unrest. It’s why she’s one of my favorite people in history, and why she remains a great example of “Girl Power” even more than 450 years after her reign!

Thank you, Jenn! What an awesome post! Queen Elizabeth was undoubtedly a strong and intelligent woman, but it sounds like she also had a bit of a jealous streak when it came to Robert Dudley! Interesting how times change but the problems we face don't.

About Jenn's upcoming release:
Maid of Deception by Jennifer McGowan.

To be published August 26, 2014 by Simon & Schuster.

Synopsis:
Beatrice Knowles is a Maid of Honor, one of Queen Elizabeth I’s secret protectors. Known for her uncanny ability to manipulate men’s hearts, Beatrice has proven herself to be a valuable asset in the Queen’s court—or so she thinks. It has been three weeks since the Maids thwarted a plot to overthrow the Queen, and Beatrice is preparing to wed her betrothed, Lord Cavanaugh. However, her plans come to a crashing halt as rumors of a brewing Scottish rebellion spread among the court.

Beatrice’s new assignment is to infiltrate the visiting Scottish delegation using her subtle arts in persuasion. The mission seems simple enough, until the Queen pairs Beatrice with the worst of the lot—Alasdair MacLeod. Beatrice cannot help but think that the Queen is purposefully setting her up for failure. But Alasdair could be the key to unlocking the truth about the rebellion….and her own heart. Caught in a web of ever-more-twisting lies, Beatrice must rise up among the Maids of Honor and prove what she’s known all along: In a court filled with deception and danger, love may be the deadliest weapon of all.


What do you think of Jenn's guest post? Queen Elizabeth I was quite the character, was she not?

4/25/2014

Review: The Inventor's Secret by Andrea Cremer


The Inventor's Secret by Andrea Cremer.

The Inventor's Secret #1.
Published: April 22, 2014.
Published by: Philomel.
Source: Requested an ARC from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank you, Penguin Canada!

Goodreads Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Charlotte and her fellow refugees have scraped out an existence on the edge of Britain’s industrial empire. Though they live by the skin of their teeth they have their health (at least when they can find enough food and avoid the Imperial Labor Gatherers) and each other. When a new exile with no memory of his escape from the coastal cities or even his own name seeks shelter in their camp he brings new dangers with him and secrets about the terrible future that awaits all those who have struggled has to live free of the bonds of the empire’s Machineworks.

The Inventor’s Secret is the first book of a YA steampunk series set in an alternate nineteenth-century North America where the Revolutionary War never took place and the British Empire has expanded into a global juggernaut propelled by marvelous and horrible machinery.


My Review:

The Inventor's Secret, while not a perfect book for me, is still very much a fun and imaginative romp through a steampunk world. It is one that I enjoyed but not one that I found to be without its faults.

Set in a reimagined 1800s North America where the USA failed at revolution and is thus still under British rule, this was a very interesting look at a potential alternate history. I absolutely loved the premise - alternate history steampunk about refugees living on the fringe of the now massive British empire? Very cool. And I'm happy to say that on this, The Inventor's Secret totally delivered. It has the alternate history aspect with a decent explanation laid out for how it got that way, it has the steampunk crazy creations and mad science/mechanics, and it has the refugee element, which I think was very well done.

The novel begins with Charlotte returning to her home in the catacombs, where everyone living there is under eighteen. They are primarily the children of the resistance (adults fighting covertly against the empire), plus various other children they've found with nowhere else to go. They remain there until they're eighteen, when they go to join their parents in the resistance. That part was a little foggy for me; it could have used a better explanation. But overall, the structure of the novel, especially at the beginning, was strong, and the potential was great. For the first novel in the series, it had a great handle on these aspects.

Charlotte's brother, Ash, -- who is nearing his eighteenth birthday -- and their friend Jack are tasked with attending a very important mission for the resistance and Charlotte, being the curious and headstrong girl that she is, manages to include herself in it and make her way out of the catacombs to the empire. This is where most of the story takes place and is really the most exciting and intriguing in terms of world building and plot. Not only does it give a glimpse at what the high class life in the empire is like (rather Capitol-esque, full of excesses), it also adds some more lively action, helps begin to solve the mystery of the amnesiac exile, and introduces some new likeable characters. However, it is also, unfortunately, where the romance aspect of the story lost me completely.

Charlotte's romance storyline left a little to be desired for me. I liked that there was back story with Jack and their banter was, for the most part, quite fun. The introduction to their potential as a couple was well set up and believable. However, there was a lot of secret-keeping going on, which I'm not a big fan of to being with. Then Jack starts acting more like a child than like a man you want to swoon over, and his whole refusal "because secrets; I'm not who you think I am" [obviously paraphrasing] arc felt kind of cliche and disappointing. I think this happened to set up romantic conflict with the introduction of a potential love triangle, but this is by no means a love triangle I am going to get behind. I flat out do not like these kinds of triangles and I don't think I'll be pleased if it continues on the way it's suggested to be heading. A strong start to Charlotte's romantic endeavours quickly took an unfortunate bad turn.

Early on I noticed that there seemed to be some minor inconsistencies that pulled me out of the story a bit. It's possible these will be caught and fixed in the finished copy (I hope so), but in the ARC they were a little distracting. Also, part of the world building included constant references to the Greek gods Hephaestus and Athena by the characters (used in a few different ways - for example, they use their names kind of as a reference to god or in place of swearing and the characters also visit a temple to "Athene") and while this is kind of explained later on in the novel, I spent too long confused by it. I simply could not see where the anicent Greek gods came in during a transition from 1700s Britain to the failed attempt at revolution in the US to alternate 1800s North America (still under Britain). I just don't see it at all; it made no sense to me that they would worship these two Greek gods. So, by the time the explanation did come, it was too late for me to really accept it and it also wasn't really strong enough, in my opinion.

There were definitely elements of this novel that I enjoyed. The steampunk elements were very interesting and it was a fun change in genre and style. The action and adventure aspect of the story was strong and entertaining, the world building was mostly impressive and I enjoyed the majority of the characters. However, with a romance that I had to stop rooting for and some major issues that just left me confused, this wasn't quite all it could have been. Thus, The Inventor's Secret is kind of in the middle for me.

4/24/2014

Guest Post: Jessica Spotswood's Top 10 Historical Fiction Heroines + Giveaway


I am thrilled today to welcome Jessica Spotswood, author of the Cahill Witch Chronicles. She's here to share her favourite heroines from YA historical fiction (and don't worry, she has excellent taste). Welcome, Jess!

Top 10 Historical YA Heroines

I don't just love writing historical fiction - I love reading it, too. And one of my favorite things about it - as with any book, really - is finding clever, strong, independent girls to cheer for. Here are ten (okay, technically 16 - I cheated a little) of my favorites, along with some reasons why I think they're amazing:

1. Rose from ROSE UNDER FIRE by Elizabeth Wein. Rose is an incredibly winsome character. An American pilot who's captured and imprisoned in a women's concentration camp during WWII, she writes poetry to keep herself and her fellow prisoners sane. 

2. Maddie & Verity from CODE NAME VERITY by Elizabeth Wein. The friendship between Maddie and Verity is incredible. Both of these girls are such brave and compelling characters! I won't say more for fear of spoilers.

3. Josie Moraine from OUT OF THE EASY by Ruta Sepetys. Josie's grown up in the sordid French Quarter of the 1950s, full of mobsters and prostitutes, but she dreams of something better for herself. I absolutely identified with her yearning for more than the life that she's grown up with, even as she stumbles about how to achieve it. 

4. Sophronia from ETIQUETTE & ESPIONAGE by Gail Carriger. In the first book of the Finishing School series, Sophronia is sent off to a most unusual ladies' school aboard an airship to learn espionage and she takes to it amazingly well. She's hilarious and incredibly resourceful. 

5. Deryn from the LEVIATHAN series by Scott Westerfeld. Speaking of resourceful, Deryn Sharp is an intrepid English girl who disguises herself as a boy to serve aboard a giant living airship. She's clever and brave and determined not to let anyone discover her secret so she can keep doing what she loves best.

6. Kitty Tylney from GILT by Katy Longshore. Kitty is brought to the court of Henry VIII when her childhood friend Catherine Howard is made Queen. Kitty's an incredibly loyal friend, even when her spoiled, selfish BFF doesn't deserve it, and even when the price could be her own head. 

7. Cecily and Gwenhwyfar from THE WICKED AND THE JUST by J. Anderson Coats. Cecily is a spoiled English girl whose father has just moved them to the heathen outpost of 1290s Wales; Gwenhwyfar is the Welsh girl who works as her maidservant. Neither of them are very nice - but they're both remarkably sympathetic and fascinating, especially when the Welsh revolt and the power dynamic's flipped upside down.

8. Maggie from RELIC by Renee Collins. Maggie's a spunky orphan girl determined to care for her little sister by working dangerous relic magic - while fighting ghost coyotes and dealing with duplicitous Haciendos and sexy cowboys! I totally want to visit Maggie's world because it's so cool, unlike anything else I've ever read. 

9. Queen Elizabeth's Maids of Honor from MAID OF SECRETS by Jenn McGowan. I've only read the first book in this series so far, which stars mimic, pickpocket, and spy Meg Fellowes - but I love the premise that all five Maids of Honor have different talents (the mimic, the heartbreaker, the scholar, the seer, the warrior). I love the loyalty they show their young queen and each other. 

10. Zara from THE SPRINGSWEET by Saundra Mitchell. After the death of her fiance, Zara goes West to the Oklahoma prairie to stay with her aunt and discovers a remarkable gift for divining water. Zara is incredibly strong as she opens herself up to an entirely new life and falls in love again. 

Thank you, Jessica! I love your picks. There are some heroines there that I'm really excited to meet!

About Jessica's books:

Born Wicked, Star Cursed, and the upcoming Sisters' Fate.

To avoid spoilers for the series, here's Born Wicked's synopsis:
Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word... especially after she finds her mother’s diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family’s destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren’t safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.


Jessica has very kindly offered a giveaway for US/Can residents of one copy of a paperback of either Born Wicked or Star Cursed, whichever the winner would like!

Some Rules (aka the not so fun but important part):
~ This giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada only.
~ No P.O. boxes.
~ Must be 13 or older to enter.
~ Winner will be chosen randomly and contacted via email. The winner has 48 hours to respond to my email, otherwise they forfeit their prize and I will choose another winner, who must abide by the same rules.
~ Neither Jess nor I are not responsible for lost or damaged packages.
No cheating! In this case, I have the right to disqualify entries as I see fit.
~ By entering the giveaway, you are agreeing to these rules.

Best of luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

4/23/2014

Waiting on Wednesday #65: Dead to Me by Mary McCoy





Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature created by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This is where you showcase an upcoming release you're anxiously awaiting!

This week, I'm waiting on:
Dead to Me by Mary McCoy.

Expected Publication: February 2015.
by: Disney-Hyperion.

Goodreads Synopsis:
A YA mystery set in the glamorous, treacherous world of 1940s Hollywood.

"Don't believe anything they say."

Those were the last words that Annie spoke to Alice before turning her back on their family and vanishing without a trace. Alice spent four years waiting and wondering when the impossibly glamorous sister she idolized would return to her - and what their Hollywood-insider parents had done to drive her away.

When Annie does turn up, the blond, broken stranger lying in a coma has no answers for her. But Alice isn’t a kid anymore, and this time she won’t let anything stand between her and the truth, no matter how ugly.

The search for those who beat Annie and left her for dead leads Alice into a treacherous world of tough-talking private eyes, psychopathic movie stars, and troubled starlets — and onto the trail of a young runaway who is the sole witness to an unspeakable crime. What this girl knows could shut down a criminal syndicate and put Annie’s attacker behind bars — if Alice can find her first. And she isn’t the only one looking...

Evoking classic film noir, debut novelist Mary McCoy brings the dangerous glamour of Hollywood’s Golden Age to life, where the most decadent parties can be the deadliest, and no drive into the sunset can erase the crimes of past.


Why I'm excited:
Um, if you really need me to explain, you clearly haven't read that synopsis. Golden Age 1940s Hollywood. Murder. Mystery. "Psychopathic movie stars, and troubled starlets"!!! Holy. Smokes. You. Guys. I had a desperate need for this book from the moment I read what it was about and then they released that cover and I was a goner. I wonder... if I send Disney a love letter, do you think they'll whip up an ARC for me?

What are you waiting on this week?

4/22/2014

Guest Post: Sharon Biggs Waller on Writing Real People into Historical Fiction


Today I'm very happy to have Sharon Biggs Waller on the blog. I absolutely adored her debut from earlier this year, A Mad, Wicked Folly (my review), so I'm always excited when she takes the time to stop by. Today she's chatting about incorporating real people from history into her historical fiction novel and I want to say a big thank you to her for stopping by! So without further ado, welcome, Sharon!

I’m so thrilled that Jessica is celebrating historical fiction this month. Historical fiction doesn’t always get the attention it deserves, which is sad because there is so much story to be found in the past (not to mention really amazing clothes. I mean, those hats!). I think hist fic falls flat sometimes because the name is a little off-putting. The word history often conjures up memories of boring classes spent reciting the Preamble and memorizing dates to foreign wars. Imagine having a genre called geometrical fiction or social studies fiction? I think science fiction gets away with it because science class had its drawbacks (breeding fruit flies and dissecting frogs, for example) but lab days were often fraught with drama. I remember our freshman class clown nearly burning the classroom down because he mixed the wrong chemicals together. I mean, that’s a fabulous scene, right? Not at the time for our chem teacher, Mr. Huntsberger, who had to evacuate the classroom, but later on it must have made a good story.

When Jessica asked me to appear on the blog today, we had a long think about topics, and I have to say that she came up with some fabulous ideas. One I honed in right away: writing real people in historical fiction. This topic is especially dear to me because I included the Pankhurst family in my debut novel, A MAD, WICKED FOLLY. If you’re not familiar with them, the Pankhursts were an Edwardian British family who were on the vanguard of women’s suffrage. Emmeline Pankhurst was the matriarch, followed by daughters Christabel, Sylvia, and the lesser known daughter, Adela, and son, Harry. Suffragettes feature heavily in my story so I knew I wanted the Pankhursts to appear, but I wasn’t sure how much. There are decedents of the Pankhurst family living and I really wanted to be respectful and accurate when portraying their relatives. Also, a writer has to have a solid reason for incorporating real people into the story. Having your character run into historic people left and right can feel a bit deliberate and phony and cause a reader roll their eyes. The inclusion of tons of historic characters worked for Forrest Gump, but they were an important part of that story, and really added to its charm.

So I chose to keep the other Pankhursts in the background, using them in actual historic events, such as the riot in front of Parliament, and include only Sylvia Pankhurst. Sylvia was a beautiful artist, and she was responsible for providing much of the illustration of the Women’s Social and Political Union, which was the organized arm of the suffrage movement. Because my protagonist, Vicky, is trying to apply for art school, she learns about Sylvia’s studio and her mural project and goes there to help in hopes to gain a reference from Sylvia. It made sense for Sylvia to be part of the story.

I wanted to make sure that Sylvia’s dialogue and personality were accurate. Of course I had to fictionalize the dialogue between her and Vicky, but I knew what she would have said and how she would have reacted to Vicky’s request based on her experience at art school and how she felt about her own art ambitions, which was written about in her biography, SYLVIA PANKHURST: A MAVERICK LIFE by Shirley Harrison.

But nothing would have freaked me out more if Sylvia’s living family disapproved of what I wrote. So I went in search of her family. Good old Facebook. A few clicks of the mouse and I found Dr. Helen Pankhurst’s Facebook page. Helen is Sylvia Pankhurst’s granddaughter. (You may have caught a glimpse of her at the London Olympics open ceremonies. She was in the group of suffragettes.) I contacted Helen and she very kindly looked over my author’s notes. She even had her father, Sylvia’s son, look at the notes, too. I’m happy to say that she also loved the book. Phew.

I also included King Edward VII in the story and had a little scene with him and Vicky. Edward wasn’t as fussy and proper as his mother, Victoria, so I took a little license and figured he would probably speak to Vicky and laugh at something she did. He also loved a pretty girl (the old letch). I did not, however, contact Edward’s descendants. Not sure Queen Elizabeth would have been as accommodating as Dr. Pankhurst. However, I did (sort of) meet the queen once and she was very nice, so you never know.

About her book:
Published January 23, 2014
Published by Viking Juvenile

Synopsis:
Welcome to the world of the fabulously wealthy in London, 1909, where dresses and houses are overwhelmingly opulent, social class means everything, and women are taught to be nothing more than wives and mothers. Into this world comes seventeen-year-old Victoria Darling, who wants only to be an artist—a nearly impossible dream for a girl.
            
After Vicky poses nude for her illicit art class, she is expelled from her French finishing school. Shamed and scandalized, her parents try to marry her off to the wealthy Edmund Carrick-Humphrey. But Vicky has other things on her mind: her clandestine application to the Royal College of Art; her participation in the suffragette movement; and her growing attraction to a working-class boy who may be her muse—or may be the love of her life. As the world of debutante balls, corsets, and high society obligations closes in around her, Vicky must figure out: just how much is she willing to sacrifice to pursue her dreams?


"At equal turns humorous and heartbreaking" ~ School Library Journal starred review. 
"A new YA voice to watch." ~ Booklist starred review 
"An enjoyable historical romp." ~ Kirkus Reviews 
"A compelling coming-of-age tale" ~ Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 
Nominated for the ALA Amelia Bloomer Project, recommended feminist literature 
Booklist Top Ten Historical Fiction for Youth

4/21/2014

Review: Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman


Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman.

Prisoner of Night and Fog #1.
Published: April 22, 2014.
Published by: Balzer + Bray.
Source: Requested an ARC from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank you, HarperCollins Canada!
More from the publisher here.

Goodreads Synopsis:
In 1930s Munich, danger lurks behind dark corners, and secrets are buried deep within the city. But Gretchen Müller, who grew up in the National Socialist Party under the wing of her "uncle" Dolf, has been shielded from that side of society ever since her father traded his life for Dolf's, and Gretchen is his favorite, his pet.

Uncle Dolf is none other than Adolf Hitler.

And Gretchen follows his every command.

Until she meets a fearless and handsome young Jewish reporter named Daniel Cohen. Gretchen should despise Daniel, yet she can't stop herself from listening to his story: that her father, the adored Nazi martyr, was actually murdered by an unknown comrade. She also can't help the fierce attraction brewing between them, despite everything she's been taught to believe about Jews.

As Gretchen investigates the very people she's always considered friends, she must decide where her loyalties lie. Will she choose the safety of her former life as a Nazi darling, or will she dare to dig up the truth—even if it could get her and Daniel killed?

From debut author Anne Blankman comes this harrowing and evocative story about an ordinary girl faced with the extraordinary decision to give up everything she's ever believed . . . and to trust her own heart instead.


My Review:

Anyone who knows me can tell you that I love history. I am especially fascinated by the Second World War, so I love getting my hands on fiction set during that time. Needless to say I was excited for Prisoner of Night and Fog. I got so excited that I was worried my expectations would be too high. I needn't have been worried. This novel is a fascinating and intriguing look at the boiling tension in Germany and the people standing on either side of this rising conflict.

The first thing I have to comment on is the way this novel absolutely oozes history from its pores. It is undeniable that Blankman has done an incredible amount of research into the history here, especially into Hitler and those in his inner circle. There are so many notable Third Reich figures incorporated into the story who, on the page, truly feel like they could be honest representations of their real-life counterparts. I was especially thrilled by the inclusion of real young women from Hitler's circle, like Eva Braun and Hitler's niece Geli, as Gretchen's friends. It was another excellent touch, I thought. 1930s Germany just came alive, to my utter delight. While this novel should be a true gift to anyone fascinated by Hitler and the early stages of his Germany because the history is undoubtedly there, it also isn't a story that is completely overwhelmed by historical details so that a casual reader couldn't enjoy its plot and characters. While there were occasional moments where the plot lagged, there were also many exciting moments, especially in the second half of the novel. I wasn't bothered by the slower parts because I was relishing in the history, but I can understand some readers wanting it to move a bit quicker. But, while having an appreciation for history will absolutely help to appreciate this novel, it's certainly not a must.

The main character, Gretchen, begins the novel as a very naive, sheltered young girl who believes strongly in her Uncle Dolf, the man who has acted as a father figure to her since her own father apparently died protecting him. She is clearly blissfully unaware of his politics and doesn't seem to truly register his cold side. However, when she begins to learn that her father's death was not all it appeared to be, she is determined to stop at nothing until she finds all the answers. Her determination and curiosity get her into some trouble but also make for a very interesting read as she explores all the possibilities in trying to uncover the truth. Aside from the practically pulled from real life Nazis who pose problems for her, one large obstacle in her way is her older brother, Reinhard. He is, quite frankly, a rather terrifying figure to have as a brother as he is completely unemotional but fully dedicated to Hitler's cause. He brings a lot of tension to the story but also serves to draw some interesting parallels with another important, real-life character, so while I felt so much anger towards him, I appreciate what he adds to the story. 

Gretchen's romance with Daniel, a Jewish reporter with information about her father's death, was a component of the story I appreciated for its slow blossoming in itself, but also for how it helped Gretchen's growth. Despite the fact that she is uncomfortable with the way she sees Jews treated, she has been taught almost all her life that they are subhuman. The way meeting Daniel and getting to know how utterly human and good at heart he truly is combines with Gretchen's conscience and short encounters with a couple of persecuted Jews comes to reveal how wrong it is to treat anyone like they're less than anyone else. This is a very important step for Gretchen to make to break out of her sheltered life and begin to understand what is right and I enjoyed the way it played out. Not to mention that Daniel himself is quite the cautious and smart but passionate boy who I came to like quite quickly. The way he encourages Gretchen and the honesty and trust that develops between them despite all their differences is very sweet.

To be quite frank, this novel appealed to me in such a way that it felt like Blankman has been digging around in my brain to find out just what fascinates me. I loved the time period, I loved the history, I loved the perspective. The romance was enjoyable but not overwhelming to the plot, which kept me interested and looking forward to what came next. To say I liked Prisoner of Night and Fog would be an understatement. To say I am excited for the sequel would be another.

4/16/2014

Waiting on Wednesday #64: Maid of Deception by Jennifer McGowan





Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature created by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This is where you showcase an upcoming release you're anxiously awaiting!

This week, I'm waiting on:
Maid of Deception by Jennifer McGowan.

Expected Publication: August 25, 2014.
by: Simon & Schuster BYR.

Goodreads Synopsis:
Beatrice Knowles is a Maid of Honor, one of Queen Elizabeth I’s secret protectors. Known for her uncanny ability to manipulate men’s hearts, Beatrice has proven herself to be a valuable asset in the Queen’s court—or so she thinks. It has been three weeks since the Maids thwarted a plot to overthrow the Queen, and Beatrice is preparing to wed her betrothed, Lord Cavanaugh. However, her plans come to a crashing halt as rumors of a brewing Scottish rebellion spread among the court.

Beatrice’s new assignment is to infiltrate the visiting Scottish delegation using her subtle arts in persuasion. The mission seems simple enough, until the Queen pairs Beatrice with the worst of the lot—Alasdair MacLeod. Beatrice cannot help but think that the Queen is purposefully setting her up for failure. But Alasdair could be the key to unlocking the truth about the rebellion….and her own heart. Caught in a web of ever-more-twisting lies, Beatrice must rise up among the Maids of Honor and prove what she’s known all along: In a court filled with deception and danger, love may be the deadliest weapon of all.


Why I'm excited:
I really enjoyed the first book, Maid of Secrets, and I love the fact that each book in the series will focus on a different Maid of Honor! I'm looking forward to reading Beatrice's story and seeing how she uses her charms to get through what seems like it'll be a set of sticky situations! Ah, drama at court. I really can't ever get enough.

What are you waiting on this week?

4/10/2014

Historical TV to Books


One of the things I've noticed when it comes to stories set in the past is that a lot of people seem to love to watch them on TV, but not as many love to read about them in books. So today I'm looking at two current, popular historic fictional TV shows and giving suggestions of some fairly recent historical fiction books to try for the people who love them.

First up, Downton Abbey.

If you watch for the upstairs/downstairs contrast and drama:

Manor of Secrets by Katherine Longshore

If you watch for the ladies doing as ladies did (or refusing to act like ladies) during this time period:

Summerset Abbey series by T.J. Brown

If you're interested in the women's rights movement of the time:

A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller


Next, Reign.

If you watch for the drama & romance set in the past:

The Luxe series by Anna Godbersen

If you watch for the history (yeah, right, but I went in hoping for interesting 1500s drama and got... drama, at least. So I'll say if you originally went in for the history):

The Royal Circle Series by Katherine Longshore

If you watch for the mystery and intrigue:

Maid of Secrets by Jennifer McGowan

If you watch for fiery Mary:

The Wild Queen by Carolyn Meyer

Bonus: The Americans.

If you watch for the Cold War intrigue, the spying, and the political tension:

Sekret by Lindsay Smith

Hopefully this will give lovers of these shows some YA historical fiction suggestions to help tide them over for the wait between seasons and maybe expand some horizons! If there are any I missed that you think would be a great match, let me know! Or, do you know of a YA historical fiction novel great for fans of a different historical show? I want to know that too!

4/09/2014

Waiting on Wednesday #63: Curses and Smoke by Vicky Alvear Schecter





Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature created by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This is where you showcase an upcoming release you're anxiously awaiting!

This week, I'm waiting on:
Curses and Smoke by Vicky Alvear Schecter.

Expected Publication: May 27, 2014.
by: Arthur A. Levine Books (Scholastic).

Goodreads Synopsis:
When your world blows apart, what will you hold onto?

TAG is a medical slave, doomed to spend his life healing his master's injured gladiators. But his warrior's heart yearns to fight in the gladiator ring himself and earn enough money to win his freedom.

LUCIA is the daughter of Tag's owner, doomed by her father's greed to marry a much older Roman man. But she loves studying the natural world around her home in Pompeii, and lately she's been noticing some odd occurrences in the landscape: small lakes disappearing; a sulfurous smell in the air. . . .

When the two childhood friends reconnect, each with their own longings, they fall passionately in love. But as they plot their escape from the city, a patrician fighter reveals his own plans for them -- to Lucia's father, who imprisons Tag as punishment. Then an earthquake shakes Pompeii, in the first sign of the chaos to come. Will they be able to find each other again before the volcano destroys their whole world?


Why I'm excited:
ANCIENT ROME!!! I am always looking for more YA that focuses on ancient societies and Rome is one that has so many potential stories in it. Pompeii is certainly great conflict fodder so I'm very excited to see how this plays out, especially with a seemingly meant-to-be (but possibly doomed) love story at its heart.

What are you waiting on this week?

4/08/2014

Review: Going Over by Beth Kephart


Going Over by Beth Kephart.

Published: April 1, 2014.
Published by: Chronicle Books.
Source: Requested an ARC from the Canadian distributor in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank you, Raincoast Books!

Goodreads Synopsis:
In the early 1980s Ada and Stefan are young, would-be lovers living on opposite sides of the Berlin Wall--Ada lives with her mother and grandmother and paints graffiti on the Wall, and Stefan lives with his grandmother in the East and dreams of escaping to the West.


My Review:

Going Over is many things. It is set in a fascinating time period, in a fascinating place. It is a story of lovers separated. It is a story told with words chosen selectively and fine-tuned so that each serves a purpose. It tells of the many struggles people faced living in Cold War Berlin. 

Ada and Stefan's love story has already begun when we meet them. Ada has been visiting Stefan in East Berlin a few times a year and writing to him in between. At this point she is beginning to get tired of waiting for him to cross the wall so they can be together, while he is struggling with all the potential outcomes of making the illegal jump from East to West. These two really are just kids in love and there are certainly moments where they seem like the kids they are, but there is a maturity that I think must have come from the situation they've had to grow up in that comes through in their relationship. 

One of the things I found most interesting about the novel is the changing writing style. While Ada's sections are written in first person, Stefan's are written in second person. It felt like a strange choice at first but I ended up really liking the distinction it made between the two voices as well as the way it made Stefan's story feel more personal in a way. I think I felt the impact of the inner struggle he faced very strongly because of the way it was presented. As for Ada's storytelling, I felt it really integrated the mature/immature dichotomy of her character through her sentiments and her language. There were moments she came across as the young girl she is and there were many others where she felt weighed down by troubles that should be far beyond her years. They both came across very well in her passages and I believe Kephart worked hard on getting Ada's balance right.

While Ada and Stefan are the focus of this story, their struggle is not the only one brought to life here. The storylines of Turkish immigrants and the trouble they are faced with, the previous wall-jumpers' successes and failures, and the family members who have disappeared on both sides of the wall are all interwoven with the central love story to bring forward the true turmoil of this tense time for everyone, not just those separated by the wall. This helps to broaden the scope of the novel beyond just the issue faced by the two teens, yet the way these are brought in - through Ada and Stefan's grandmothers, Ada's mother, Ada's job - keeps them from becoming overwhelming. I also enjoyed the way Ada expressed her frustrations, her desires, and the stories that keep her going through her graffiti. I almost wish this aspect had been expanded on more because I liked that it reflected what was on her mind. From the descriptions of the graffiti I couldn't quite picture what the art looked like, which I wish I could have.

All in all, Going Over is a moving story about struggle and how we deal with it, and about humans at the core and what we will do for love or the promise of it.

4/03/2014

Guest Post: Anne Blankman's Top 5 Historical Badasses


I'm so excited today to welcome Anne Blankman, author of the upcoming Prisoner of Night and Fog to Archives April to talk about her favourite Historical Badasses!

Anne Blankman's Top 5 Historical Badasses

I'm going to confess something to you guys--sometimes I was bored in social studies class. *hangs head in shame* I know, it's an awful thing for a YA historical fiction author to admit! But some lessons were so dry that the only way I kept myself awake was by doodling in my notebook until the margins looked like they'd been decorated by Picasso's far less talented kid sister.
Then there were the days when my teachers taught us about historical figures so fascinating, so brave and tough and breathtaking real, that I would listen to every word, transfixed. Those people and their amazing stories are the reasons why I wanted to write historical fiction. So today I wanted to share my top five historical badasses with you--people who overcome tremendous obstacles...or didn't, but faced them with grace and determination.

5. Jean Moulin, 1895-1943. This French civil servant is now legendary for his work with the French Resistance during World War Two. Moulin helped form the Maquis, the French guerrilla forces that fought the Germans, and was instrumental in developing the National Council of the Resistance, which coordinated many resistance groups throughout France. Eventually he was arrested by the Nazis. He endured horrific torture in various prisons. Eventually, he died from his extensive injuries--without having revealed a single piece of information to the Nazis. One of the most quietly heroic people I've ever read about.

4. Saladin, 1137/8-1193. This famous military leader led Islamic forces during the Crusades. His victory in the Battle of Hattin in 1187 brought Jerusalem back under Muslim control, after it had been in Christian Crusaders' hands for nine decades. When Saladin's soldiers entered the city, he forbade them from killing and looting. A magnanimous victor? Seriously badass, my friends. Plus, under his firm but fair leadership, he managed to unite various rival Islamic territories, and became the sultan of Egypt, Syria, Yemen, and Palestine.

3. Joan of Arc, c. 1412-1431. Okay, I know there's some controversy about whether or not she actually fought in battle or just waved a banner from the sidelines to give the soldiers emotional support. And some modern psychopaths have speculated that the fact that she heard voices might mean that was schizophrenic. I don't care. Her story's still inspiring. When she was seventeen, she convinced the French dauphin (the eldest son of the French king), to provide her with troops to battle the English. While fighting, Joan was shot through the neck with an arrow. After getting stitched up, she immediately returned to the battlefield. In 1430, she fell into enemy hands and was burned at the stake. A peasant who successfully led her countrymen in battle back in the Middle Ages when the status of females fell somewhere between cows and cow dung? Seriously badass.

2. Galileo, 1564-1642. This mathematician and scientist got himself into serious trouble with the Holy Catholic Church when his discoveries contradicted their teachings. Galileo's sunspot theories proved that the earth revolved around the sun--a big no-no, according to the Church in Rome. Galileo had to appear before the Italian Inquisition, who found him guilty of heresy and sentenced him to house arrest for the remainder of his life. He still continued writing and experimenting--while going blind. You've got to respect someone who won't give up even while his world slowly fades to darkness.

1. Eleanor of Aquitaine, 1122-1204. Eleanor was a triple threat: smart, gorgeous, and rich. While married to her first husband, Louis VII of France, she accompanied him on the Second Crusade. After they started having marital problems, they secured an annulment from the Pope and she married a much younger man, Henry II of England. Not only did they have eight children together, but she'd had two daughters from her first marriage for a total of ten. Just thinking about that many pregnancies makes me tired. She participated actively in the administration of her realm and oversaw the court's artistic and social life. When her sons were grown up, she helped them plan a revolt against their father. After it failed, Henry had Eleanor imprisoned for about a decade. Eleanor outlived him, though, and his death signaled her release. Although she was an old woman by then, she remained active in politics. While her son Richard I, aka the Lionheart, was fighting in the Crusades, she worked hard to keep the kingdom out of her younger son John's greedy hands. When Richard was captured by the duke of Austria, Eleanor collected his ransom and personally brought him back to England. She was over eighty when she died, a ripe old age by today's standards but practically unheard of in medieval Europe. I love a woman who can be smart, tough, devious, and successful in a time when she was merely expected to be a glittering ornament. It's hard to get more badass than that.


Thank you so much, Anne! I love your choices! Bringing the incredible circumstances (and people) of the past alive is something I absolutely adore about historical fiction. What do you think of Anne's choices? Such interesting people, right? Who else would you add to the list of historical badasses?

About Prisoner of Night and Fog:
To be published April 22nd by Balzer + Bray.

In 1930s Munich, danger lurks behind dark corners, and secrets are buried deep within the city. But Gretchen Müller, who grew up in the National Socialist Party under the wing of her "uncle" Dolf, has been shielded from that side of society ever since her father traded his life for Dolf's, and Gretchen is his favorite, his pet.

Uncle Dolf is none other than Adolf Hitler.

And Gretchen follows his every command.

Until she meets a fearless and handsome young Jewish reporter named Daniel Cohen. Gretchen should despise Daniel, yet she can't stop herself from listening to his story: that her father, the adored Nazi martyr, was actually murdered by an unknown comrade. She also can't help the fierce attraction brewing between them, despite everything she's been taught to believe about Jews.

As Gretchen investigates the very people she's always considered friends, she must decide where her loyalties lie. Will she choose the safety of her former life as a Nazi darling, or will she dare to dig up the truth—even if it could get her and Daniel killed?

From debut author Anne Blankman comes this harrowing and evocative story about an ordinary girl faced with the extraordinary decision to give up everything she's ever believed . . . and to trust her own heart instead.