The time it was bookish mail -- 7

I should be on my way to Arizona for the Fierce Reads tour, but I woke up feeling icky and decided not to go.  So, instead, here we are with another episode of Check Out What I Got in the Mail.  Let's look, yes?

I happened to see Sarah Crossan tweeting about a giveaway for an arc of Resist. I believe it was a giveaway of the "follow and retweet" variety and with Breathe being on my TBR list since it came out, I gave it a shot.  A day or so later, I got a tweet from Sarah saying that the winner she picked was from the UK and she really wanted a winner from the US, so did I still want a copy.  The answer was easy and the arc actually arrived on my birthday!

I had seen some authors talking about Delia's Shadow on Twitter and with so many people loving all over it, I instantly went to look it up.  I ended up getting approved for it on NetGalley and absolutely loved it as well.  After I was done, I contacted Jaime to see if she would be touring when the book released.  Unfortunately, she wasn't [at the time] and since I have little to no patience, I decided to order a copy at her launch party.  The cover is much prettier in person and I can't wait to reread the physical copy.

I got approved for The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine from Edelweiss, devoured it and loved it.  I was immediately on the lookout for a physical arc because it's one of those books that I need all of the copies of.  Thankfully, on the latest trip to the super secret back room at MGRB, I was able to secure one.  I may or may not have pushed Michelle out of the way to get to it.  *cough*

Anyhoo.  I contacted Robin and asked if she would be willing to sign my arc if I sent it to her and included a SASE.  She so delightfully said yes and mentioned that she was going to include some goodies.  When I got the book back, there was a thank you note as well as an awesome t-shirt with the book title on the front.

 

At this point in the blog, do I even need to express my undying love and devotion for Sarah J Maas? I thought not.  Of course, I had planned on going to her launch party for Crown of Midnight, however, there was a family emergency and I was unable to go.  When I called Mrs. Nelson's, I thought I was calling too late [it was right before the event started], but the ever so awesome staff assured me it was no problem.  And when I called back 20 minutes later to add another book? Yep, they didn't mind then either. 

I later found out from a few people who attended the event that Sarah had mentioned me [all of the flails] and when I got my book in the mail, I almost started crying.  She's so damn thoughtful and amazing and if you haven't read her books, put down whatever you're reading now and get them.

These have been some of my favorites to be added to my collection. What books have you gotten lately?

The time it wasn't my review

For this week's Throne of Glass Ambassador post, it was all about our reviews of Crown of Midnight.  Well, considering my reviews are usually flailing gibberish only a couple of sentences long, I asked Jaime and Erin if they would let me post their reviews. [Technically, I asked Jaime if I could use them.] I figured it would be as close to what I would say, if I was able to articulate my feels in words...
 
So, without further ado, here are their awesome reviews:
 
Jaime: 

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What did I think?

 

I finished this book days ago and I’ve been sitting here trying to figure out what to say and I keep seeing reviews that are popping up and I get all flaily because I’m like “HOW DO YOU HAVE THE WORDS FOR THIS ALREADY!!”

 

Book 2 in the Throne of Glass series is … dare I say it… even better than the first, and I loved the first. The writing has gotten tighter, more detailed and I was completely blown away. In Crown of Midnight we pick up with Celaena as the King’s Assassin and he is using her abilities and skills to his fullest advantage, sending her on quests to rid the kingdom of all those who might be in cahoots against him. (yes I said cahoots) We pick up book 2 as Celaena is on one such mission. Her return is dramatic and both Dorian and Chaol struggle to reconcile the girl they know with what she is doing.

"Is it done?"

Celaena reached a gloved hand into the sack and tossed the severed head toward him. No one spoke as it bounced, a vulgar thudding of stiff and rotting flesh on marble. It rolled to a stop at the foot of the dais, milky eyes turned towards the ornate glass chandelier overhead.

Dorian straightened, glancing away from the head. Chaol just stared at her.

"He put up a fight," Celaena said.

But she’s keeping a secret from them. One that could jeopardize everyone she cares about if it gets out. But the King is up to no good himself of course… only what exactly hasn’t quite been uncovered yet! 

So yeah… I’m being incredibly vague about all the things. That’s intentional. I don’t want to ruin anyone’s reading of this book even by accident by spilling too much detail about what is actually going on. There is so much that happens in this installment of the story that I’m afraid anything specific I might say will give too much away.

SO – let’s do this a different way – My top 5 reasons you need to read the Throne of Glass Series … NOW!

1. Chaol - From the beginning of book 1 I have had a crush on the Captain of the Guard and this book has solidified that crush for me. I mean… GAH!!!

"Believe me, Celaena," he snarled, his eyes flashing, "I know you can look after yourself. But I worry because I care. Gods help me, I know I shouldn't, but I do. So I will always tell you to be careful, because I will always care what happens."

She blinked. "Oh," was all she managed.

But Chaol struggles with his feelings for Celaena. He’s not willing to put himself out there and jeopardize his standing, so he keeps his distance… or he tries anyway.

"Dance with me Celaena," He said again, his voice rough.

When her eyes found his, she forgot about the cold, and the moon, and the glass palace looming above them. The secret library and the king's plans and Mort and Elena faded into nothing. She took his hand, and there was only the music and Chaol.

His fingers were warm, even through his gloves. He slid his other hand around her waist as she braced one of hers on his arm. She looked up at him when he began to move - a slow step, then another, and another, easing into the steady rhythm of the waltz.

He stared back at her, neither of them smiling - somehow beyond smiling at that moment. The waltz built, louder, faster, and Chaol steered her into it, never stumbling.

Her breathing turned uneven, but she couldn't look away from him, couldn't stop dancing. The moonlight and the garden and the golden glow of the ballroom blurred together, no miles away. "We'll never be a normal boy and girl, will we?' she managed to say.

"No," he breathed, eyes blazing, "we won't."

2. Celaena is just as kick-ass as she was in book 1 and yet she’s still a girl at heart! That was one of the reasons I loved her so much in Throne of Glass too. She is so badass … this cold blooded killer, yet she loves clothes, shopping, and when she’s at a ball, she doesn’t want to be part of the security, she wants to dance! I mean the dichotomy of the two people she is, is just so wonderfully done and makes her so unique as a character.

3. Dorian – yes even though he’s NOT my favorite he has a big impact on this story and we learn some pretty amazing things about him… things that he struggles to make sense of and understand. Plus the evolution of his and Celaena's relationship is done amazingly well. Even though there are things somewhat unresolved between them, they truly are friends and seeing them put any differences they might have aside and hold onto that very important thing was wonderful.

4. The amazing writing – Sarah has crafted an incredible world and story in the Throne of Glass series. I can’t even do it justice by trying to explain it here. BUT Crown of Midnight is even better than Throne of Glass (I know... you're like 'how is that possible Jaime??') … I’m not even sure how to explain it other than the writing is tighter and the story is even more engrossing than the first and you get to learn so much more about the magical world and a few big secrets are revealed. The characters jump off the page at you and you can’t help but to feel all the emotions they are.

 

5. The FEELS – Holy mother of all things, I think Sarah was trying to make me feel EVERYTHING with this one. I found myself laughing, smiling, swooning, crying, throwing things, sighing in happiness, and gasping in shock. Everything that I want and need in a book.

So there you have it… there are a million more reasons you should be reading this series but these are my top five. I know I’m not alone when I tell you that this is a must read when it arrives this summer. This was the one book I wasn’t leaving BEA without… I couldn’t put it down once I started and I know you’ll feel the same once you get reading. Sarah Maas has an incredible series on her hands, and I’m so excited to see where the next book in the series takes us. In the meantime I’ll be over here reading and rereading the first two … join me please!!

Dear Sarah Maas ...

Thank you to Bloomsbury for having enough copies at BEA and being so kind as to hand one to me.

Erin:

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 gazillion stars for this - it was so good I can't even put words together about it right now. 

So, I have done my best not to completely fangirl as well as give anything away here.  Continue reading with the idea that I had to completely hold myself back and if you have not started this series yet...what the heck are you waiting for...seriously - go do it now.

I've been waiting what feels like forever for this book and boy did Sarah Maas come through. This was the one book I had to leave BEA with and thank the lord I got my hands on a copy. If it would have any influence whatsoever, I would offer up cookies or my first born child for the next book - just putting that out there.

Crown of Midnight picks up with Celaena acting as the King's Champion. A lot happens in this book and there is also a lot revealed. I'm not going to go into any of it because I don't want to give it away but if you enjoyed Throne of Glass, you will really like book two. I felt like the pacing was well done and it was the perfect mix of action, mystery, swoon and snarky banter.

Celaena is still one of my favorite characters...ever. She is still arrogant, tough, smart and sarcastic and I love this about her. She also now has people that care about her and that she cares about. Celaena knows she is playing a dangerous game that could end badly (for her, Chaol, and/or Princess Nehemia) but she is willing to take chances and do what she feels is necessary to stand up to the King. There was also a point in the book where it was clear she is good at what she does and seeing it through Chaol's eyes made it even more impactful.

"She was a whirlwind of steel and blood. As he watched her cut through the men like they were stalks of wheat in a field, he understood how she had gotten so close to touching Endovier's wall that day. And at last - after all these months - he saw the lethal predator he'd expected to find in the mines. There was nothing human in her eyes, nothing remotely merciful. It froze his heart."

 

The love triangle still slightly exists but not in a way that overpowers the rest of the story and not in the way you would normally assume when you hear love triangle. It is key to the progression of the story and allows us to see just how much Chaol and Celaena are fighting their attraction to each other. It also shows us how their interactions are impacting Dorian and his feelings for both Celaena and Chaol.

Chaol - I love him. It is as simple as that. He truly cares for Celaena and he forces her to see things that she normally wouldn't and that is probably what I loved the most about their friendship/relationship. 
 
"Believe me, Celaena, " he snarled, his eyes flashing, "I know you can look after yourself. But I worry because I care. Gods help me, I know I shouldn't, but I do. So I will always tell you to be careful, because I will always care what happens."

She blinked. "Oh," was all she managed.

I mean...that alone is enough to make me love him. Add in the 50 other items I tagged in my book and you would probably agree with me.

I loved seeing the evolution of Celaena's relationship with Dorian. We know from ToG that Celaena has put a stop to any potential relationship with him but Dorian is still trying to get beyond that. Eventually they come to rely on each other for support during some very difficult times where both of them are questioning who they are and their purpose. Celaena's relationship with Princess Nehemia is just as strong as it was in ToG and she is her first real girl friend. When something happens that really tests Celaena, my heart was truly breaking.

Can I just say - there are so many swoony moments and parts I loved that I thought I was going to run out of sticky tabs to mark them in my book. Once you read this, you will completely agree with me and see why Chaol will be on my favorites list forever.

So there you have it. I don't think I gave away any secrets here. If you enjoy fantasy and a great story that just happens to include some of my favorite characters EVER, I highly recommend you check this out. Maas does a wonderful job of creating characters you can care about as well as a great story that just sucks you in and keeps you turning the pages until you get to the very end. I was unable to put this down and can't wait until book three comes out...that's soon, right??

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

See? What else could I possibly have to say about Crown of Midnight that Jaime and Erin didn't already say? 

Huge thanks, undying love and devotion and all of the signed books to both of them for letting me post their fantastic reviews.  Definitely go check out their blog: Fic Fare

Now.  Have you read Crown of Midnight? What was your favorite part?

The time it was bookish mail -- 5

Here we are again for another episode of Look What I Got in the Mail! Onward, yes?

We all know of my undying love for Sarah J Maas, yes? Well, once upon a time, she went on tour with Susan Dennard, Erin Bowman and Kat Zhang as part of the YA Authors Give Back tour.  Unfortunately, they weren't coming anywhere near me.  However, Jaime & Erin were going to one of the stops and awesomely let me send them some stuff.

 Now, there is a serious back story.  Once upon a time on Twitter, Sarah tweeted this article to Susan about the mantis shrimp and how it was her new favorite animal.  After reading it, I jumped into the conversation [seriously, sometimes it's soooo hard not to jump in] and said that I liked any animal that had "murder sticks".  Sarah came back and said that she liked anything that is referred to as an "undersea nightmare". 

And that leads us to an even later conversation on Twitter about me telling Sarah that at some point, I was going to ask her to sign my book as an undersea nightmare.

Which brings us to what could be the greatest inscription ever.  Not only did Sarah sign the book as my undersea nightmare, but Susan and Sarah both drew pictures of a mantis shrimp.

I don't have an amazing story for Erin Bowman, I wish I did.  But, like I said above, Jaime & Erin were awesome to take my copy of Taken to get signed. Even Erin knows they're awesome, she mentions it in the inscription!  I can't wait to meet Erin for myself one day.

I borrowed Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea from Michelle. I instantly fell in love with River and asked April for him before I got to page 50 the story and how lyrical April's writing is. I was flailing all about it to Colleen, who told me that she had just gone to an author's dinner with April.  Not only that, but she had an extra arc... and it was signed.

I read the Goddess trilogy in a day.  I loved the story [and Henry] and Kate [and Henry] and definitely wanted to include Aimee's books to the collection.  Luckily, Aimee was just about to go on tour, so I called an indie bookstore that she would be appearing at and ordered all three books.

Unfortunately, when I got the books, I didn't get the entire trilogy.  I got The Goddess Test [book 1], The Goddess Inheritance [book 3] and The Goddess Legacy [a book of novellas set in the Goddess world].  I called the store I ordered them from and they weren't open to fixing the situation.  Thankfully, I was able to find Goddess Interrupted at a different store that held a tour stop. Now I just have to meet Aimee to get it personalized.

 

Have we all determined by now that I'm the most spoiled brat in the bunch? Wheeeeeeeee!!

What books have you gotten recently?

The time it was an extra scene

For today's Throne of Glass Ambassador post, I'm sharing a portion of an extra scene that Sarah wrote! Make sure you follow along to the blogs of the other Ambassadors to get the full scene and check out the Throne of Glass Facebook page, where everything will eventually be posted.

Without further ado...

The Assassin and the Captain: Part 2

Read the previous parts from this scene here: Part 1

Chaol’s eyes flicked from her face to the head in the saddle bag, then back to her, the frown deepening. “You’re three days late.”

            She shrugged, and didn’t wait for his permission to begin walking up the sloped path to the castle itself.  No, she didn’t need any sort of permission anymore—not as King’s Champion. But Chaol stiffened nonetheless.

            She chuckled under her breath. “You try going to the foothills of the Ararat Mountains in the dead of winter and see if you make it anywhere on time. I almost lost my fingers and toes to the cold.” She wriggled the former in his face. “You don’t even want to know how I managed to keep warm.”

            Nothing. Not even a hint of a smile.

            She sighed and looked skyward. “Will it be a whipping, or the rack, or shall I just be forced to attend the Queen’s Court for an afternoon?”

            He didn’t react to that, either, but merely fell into step beside her. “I’m not the one you have to explain yourself to.”

            She gave him a sidelong glance. “Were you worried I wouldn’t come back?” When he didn’t respond, she said, “How long before you sent out your dogs to hunt me down?”

            He looked at her this time, his golden-brown eyes fierce. “A week. I’d have given you a week before I sent out my men to make inquiries. But you were lucky—news of Sir Carlin’s death reached us fairly soon after you…took care of him.”

            Killed him. Slit his throat and cut off his head. Dumped his body in the Ararat River. She watched him silently, daring him to say it, but he had already looked away.

            They were halfway up the long path before he quietly said, “Were you hurt at all?”

            She snorted. “Killing men in their beds doesn’t involve much risk.”

            His eyes narrowed.

            And though she knew she shouldn’t, she added, “Or involve much honor. That’s what you’re thinking, right?”

            A muscle feathered in his jaw. “I know what your position entails.”

            But she still wondered if he’d somehow forgotten until now—as if the Yulemas ball and the duel with Cain had made him think she was someone else, someone harmless. A wolf with no fangs.

            More silence, the castle growing ever-nearer. “I suppose His Majesty knows I’m here?”

            “He wants to meet with you immediately. And bring your…proof.”

            She made a face. “I knew he wanted the heads, but… He wants to see them in the meeting? Who will be there?”

            “What concern is it to you?”

            She shrugged again. Every detail of that meeting was a concern, especially Chaol with his too-keen eyes and ability to sniff out even the whitest of lies from her.

            “I just want to know how candid I can be.”

            “In front of the king? Do you want to wind up back in the mines?”

            She gave him a sweet smile. “And here I was, thinking he and I had become such good friends.”

            A flash of teeth. “Don’t you even think of—”

            “A month without me and you’ve returned to taking me seriously? We’re back to that already?”

            She hadn’t realized just how deep that question ran until he had stopped walking.  

Continue reading this scene tomorrow at 12:00pm on Paranormal Indulgence!



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Huge thanks to Sarah for taking the time to write these extra scenes!!

The time it was about friendship

Today's post as a Throne of Glass Ambassador focuses on friendship.  And what better way to discuss the relationships in Throne of Glass than to have two of my favorite people weigh in on the topic with me.

So, without further ado, please help me welcome Michelle and Christina to the blog!

Annnnnnnd, here we go.  First up?

Celaena/Dorian

Michelle: The friendship between Dorian and Celaena was surprisingly easy. While they both were held back by their social stature, they found commonalities that made their conversations easy. Not always in close proximity within each other, Dorian and Celaena always found humor and a laissez-faire attitude in their discussions. While Dorian was a crown prince, he never took his role too seriously when with Celaena. It reminds me of my friendships online. It’s easy to converse with many people, never including where you are from or what you do. It’s simple.

Christina: I appreciated the ease in which they fell into a playful friendship, even when there was the possibility for more between them lurking below the surface. Like Michelle said, when they were together, it was easy for both characters to forget their commitments to the crown and their obligations of their titles and just be who they wanted to be-- book lovers that came alive and closer together through their humor and snark. I feel like this is a quality that I share with Stacee and Michelle, and our friendship is strengthened because of our love for all things bookish and snarky.

Stacee: Yes.  What Michelle and Christina said.  For me, the relationship between Celaena and Dorian was a lot of fun.  They both got along so well and couple that with the flirty banter and I was sold.  My favorite scene between the two of them is the bag of candy scene.... If you've read it, you know exactly what I'm talking about.  If you haven't, you have something to look forward to.

 

Celaena/Chaol:

Michelle: Celaena and Chaol was a friendship that needed to marinate. They are both warriors, fierce in their own right. They both have similar personalities, regardless of their background. And I think this is why their relationship became so strong and passionate. There’s something to be said about a relationship between two people who are linked in such a way that it transcends what can be seen at face value. There’s a link that just can’t be described. And this is the type of friendship that I have with Christina and Stacee. We know each other well enough to support one another, no matter what it is. We all come from different backgrounds, but we all share many commonalities. It’s a friendship that will last throughout the ages. (*Christina sniffles* That was beautiful, M. I heart you.) [S: A perfect example of how amazing Michelle is. All of the hugs, M.]

Christina: I think what drew me more to Chaol and Celaena’s friendship was the fact that he pushed her to be better, stronger, faster when others who knew her real identity were happy just to rely on that, and those that didn’t, doubted her drive and competitiveness at all because of her size. Sometimes you need a good kick in the ass, and for me, I appreciate someone that isn’t going to kiss my behind and only expect minimal effort from me when I’m capable of so much more. Chaol was that motivator for Celaena and because of that and their shared bond and warrior spirit, a deeper understanding of the other character was born between them. And I know we’re talking about friendship, but... Holy. Chemistry. Batman!

Stacee: Yes.  What Michelle and Christina said.  I loved the relationship between Celaena and Chaol because it was built out of respect for each other. He only wanted the best for Celaena and it would just shine through with every interaction the two of them had.  And like Christina so eloquently pointed out, holy chemistry indeed.

Celaena/Nehemia:

Michelle: Every now and then, nothing beats a friendship of the same sex. Celaena and Nehemia are both strong women, both filled with intelligence and knowledge. But with all of this strength, they both gravitate towards the emotional pull of women companionship. Whatever their topics of conversation, it was easy for them. May it be politics, magic, or the gentlemen in their life, Celaena and Nehemia found solidarity within each other. Once again, Christina and Stacee provide this for me. We swoon over literary boys (like Chaol and Dorian) and appreciate strong women (like Celaena and Nehemia).

Christina: Exactly everything that Michelle said! When Celaena felt like too much was on her plate and her mind was riddled with secrets, she found the best confidant in Nehemia. I think she was also able to respect Nehemia’s opinion because she shared so many of the strong-willed attributes and weaknesses that she found in herself. Besides, sometimes a girl just needs another girl because we get it on a level that guys, in general, will never be able to understand. We females are compassionate when it’s necessary, but we can just as easily bring hell and badassery to support our girls. That’s what I saw between these two and something I find myself in both of my fellow confidants.

Stacee: Yes.  What Michelle and Christina said. *sits in the corner and sobs from the feels*

Dorian/Chaol:

Michelle: Dorian and Chaol’s friendship is long-standing. They grew up with each other. They know the path that the other has taken. It is friendships like these that I yearn for. There is something to be said about knowing someone throughout all of their changes in life. Dorian knows Chaol’s challenges with his family, as does Chaol know the pressure of the royal path Dorian lives. There’s a bond that is like familial blood, but is stronger because it was a chosen bond. I’ve never had this, but I imagine it to be an amazing part of a friendship.

Christina: I, too, want this type of connection with another person-- to know the ins and outs of their mind, to be able have a conversation when no words are spoken aloud, and to be able to believe that this person will always have my back no matter the circumstance. Of all the pairings, I feel like I expect and rely on this friendship the most. They may not be blood brothers, but the tie that binds them is stronger than any familial one that I can think of, be it real life or fictional.

Stacee: Yes.  What Michelle and Christina said.  The friendship between Dorian and Chaol is dynamic.  Since Chaol has known Dorian since childhood, he has the ability to push Dorian in ways that other people can't.  This particular friendship is one that I'm eager to watch as the books progress.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Huge thanks, hugs and undying love for my bitches, Michelle and Christina: for helping me out here, for all of your support, and being my sounding board on almost everything [regardless of how ridiculous it is]. Words can't express how much I flove you both. 

You should definitely start stalking them check out their blogs and GoodReads pages:

Michelle:  Dark Faerie Tales -- GoodReads

Christina: The Book Hookup -- GoodReads

All of the amazing fan art photos came from Sarah's Pinterest page. There were so many pictures that I wanted to include... Definitely go check them out!

Now tell me, which relationship in Throne of Glass is your favorite?

The time I was in the story

Hello everyone! Here we are for another Throne of Glass Ambassador post. [Yes.  I will be using that in every post.]

Today I have a really fun thing for you guys.  Ever want to actually BE in the Throne of Glass world? Well, with the story generator you can be. It's sort of like Mad Libs, but it's better.  A portion of one of my many, many attempts is listed below. [Seriously. I did this for about 15 minutes.]

After a year of slavery in the Salt Mines of Amazon, Stacee was accustomed to being escorted everywhere in shackles and at crowbar-point. Most of the thousands of slaves in Amazon received similar treatment—though an extra half-dozen guards always walked Stacee to and from the mines. That was expected by San Diego's most notorious assassin. What she did not usually expect, however, was a hooded man in black at her side—as there was now.

Click here to put yourself in the story. [You should totally do it.]

But, there's one more thing. I have Sarah's upcoming tour schedule for Crown of Midnight. Check out the dates listed below to see if she's coming near you.  And if not, be sure to order a personalized copy!!

August 27th
Mrs. Nelson's Toy & Bookshop
1030 Bonita Ave.
La Verne, CA 91750
6pm

August 28th
Kepler's Books & Magazines
1010 El Camino Real
Menlo Park, CA 94025
7pm

August 29th
Blue Willow Bookshop
14532 Memorial Dr.
Houston, TX 77079
7pm

August 30th-September 1st
DragonCon in Atlanta

September 7th
Malaprops Bookstore
55 Haywood St.
Ashville, NC 28801
*event with Susan Dennard & Erin Bowman
7pm

September 8th
Flyleaf Books
752 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
3pm

September 9th
Barnes and Noble
760 SE Maynard
Cary, NC 27511
6:30pm

September 10
Barnes and Noble
3225 W 69th St.
Edina, MN 55435
7pm

September 11th
Anderson's Bookshop
123 W. Jefferson Ave.
Naperville, IL 60540
7pm

September 12th
Joseph-Beth Bookseller
2692 Madison Rd.
Cincinnati, OH 45208
7pm

Will you be fangirling all over Sarah?

The time it was a Throne of Glass giveaway

Here we are for another post as a Throne of Glass Ambassador. [I love that title.] Today's post is a giveaway!

Up for grabs?

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilarating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another.

Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

That's right.  Bloomsbury is graciously providing five [that's right, FIVE!] paperback copies of Throne of Glass.

 

The winners will give me their mailing info and I will give it to Bloomsbury, the books will come from them.  It is US only.  Additional rules are on the Rafflecopter widget.

**Good Luck!!**

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The time I was an ambassador

We all know of my major love affair with Sarah J Maas, right?

Apparently, the people at Bloomsbury know about it as well.  Someone saw all of my flails over Sarah, Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight and they still invited me to be part of the group of bloggers who will be promoting Crown of Midnight. My head almost exploded when I got the email! I guess fangirling really does pay off!!

I am thrilled to say that I am a Throne of Glass Ambassador.  Starting today, I will be posting fun stuff every Monday through September.  There will be extra content, giveaways and all sorts of other Throne of Glass/Crown of Midnight goodies, so make sure you check back every week!

Today's post is more of an informative one.  So, while you wait for the awesome post next week, here are a few things you can right now.  You could take a look at my ridiculously flailing review of Throne of Glass.

Or watch the book trailer for Throne of Glass...

Perhaps you'd like to see the book trailer for Crown of Midnight instead...

 

You could go check out Sarah's website and find her on Twitter or Facebook.  And of course, there's always the option of hanging out and fangirling around with me for a bit because I have a feeling it's going to take some time getting used to the idea that I am part of this awesome thing.

 

 

Or, if you're completely normal, answer me this: Chaol or Dorian? Why?

 

Until next week.....

The time I had so many followers

You guys.

Today marks a pretty monumental day in my blogging adventure.  Today, I passed 500 followers on the blog via GFC and passed 1000 followers on Twitter. 

When I started this blog a year and a half ago, I never imagined that I would hit those numbers. I wasn't even sure that anyone would read this blog, let alone follow me here.  And today, I just watched the number of followers go up and up and up.

I'm stunned. Elated. Speechless. And a hot mess of flailing.

So.  In honor of this mega awesome achievement, not only do I want to jump through my laptop and hug each and every one of you, I'm going to have a giveaway of some of my favorite books by some of my favorite authors.

Up for grabs?

 

First up: a paperback copy of Unraveling and a hardcover copy of Unbreakable by Elizabeth Norris.  I will also include the bonus content booklet. Both books are signed.

Also?

 

A paperback copy of Throne of Glass and an arc of Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas.

This contest is international.  I'm setting up two different Rafflecopters, so there could be two different winners. Additional rules are on the Rafflecopter widget.

Now stand there and let me hug you.

a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway

The time it was about Daniel Sheridan

I had the delight of meeting Susan Dennard at Comic-con last year.  It was before Something Strange and Deadly was released and I was so so so happy that it was for sale before her signing.  I got my book signed, got a picture, made an ass out of myself in front of her [and Sarah J. Maas, who happens to be Susan's BFF].  You know, normal things.

So, when I saw that she didn't file a restraining order there was going to be a novella, I knew I wanted to help promote it.  I emailed Susan and asked if she would do an interview. She said yes [hooray!!] and as far as I know, still hasn't filed anything with the cops. That may change as I keep entering her arc giveaways.

Now, before we get to Susan, check out Daniel's story in A Dawn Most Wicked.

Daniel Sheridan is an engineer’s apprentice on a haunted Mississippi steamer known as the Sadie Queen. His best friend–the apprentice pilot, Cassidy Cochran–also happens to be the girl he’s pining for…and the captain’s daughter. But when it looks like the Sadie Queen might get taken off the river, Daniel and Cassidy have to do whatever they can to stop the ghosts that plague the ship.

Fortunately, there happens to be a Creole gentleman on board by the name of Joseph Boyer-–and he just might be able to help them…







Sounds good, right?

1. Where did the idea for the series come from and what prompted you to combine all of the elements you did?

 

So, as lame as it is, the idea for the series came from a dream. I dreamt my brother was missing and I would have done anything to get him back. Yet he'd been taken by supernatural forces, and I was totally NOT equipped to deal with that. For help, I turned to a ragtag team of supernatural-fighting outcasts (who had a super cool lab and skills). My dream was vague on setting, though, so I actually spent weeks and weeks just scouring history for a time period that jumped out at me as The Time and The Location for this story idea. :) As I wrote, the necromancy, ghosts, Dead, and electricity-inventions just sort poured out. It was as if the world and all its components had always been in my brain, I just had to tap into them and discover it as Eleanor did. In books 2 and 3, we get to see more of that supernatural world--other creatures, spells, and a lot more darkness. And of course, the novella shows a different side of this ghost-filled alternate 1876 too.

 

2. Let's talk Eleanor. I'm a sucker for a smart girl who gets things done and I adore her. Did writing her come easily?

 

At first, I made Eleanor way too fluffy. I always do this! I can't help it--when I sit down to write a first draft, my heroines are always too nice, too good at everything, and too happy. Usually I have to start the book a few times before I finally hit on the right balance of darkness, flaws, and likability. But once I have the voice, I have it. ;)
 

3. Daniel. He's swoony in a gruff sort of way and it absolutely works. Did he evolve on his own or in response to Eleanor?

Daniel definitely evolves throughout the series in response to Eleanor. A big part of his character is that he's volatile--he knows he's short-tempered and sometimes cruel--but he can't seem to control it. Yet he so desperately wants to be a better person, and as the series progresses... Well, I'll let you see how he does at improving his character. ;) I knew who Daniel was from the get-go. He was in my dream, actually--an angry inventor with a super shady past--so I had his character worked out from the start.

4. When you wrote the ending for Something Strange and Deadly, did you sit back and laugh, knowing all of the people you were going to drive crazy?

 

Ha! NO! Not at all! It was just the natural, appropriate ending based on who Daniel is and how the time period works. Heck, had I known how many people would be furious, I might've changed it. But I'm so glad I didn't--more often than not, people like that the ending is just so...up in the air. That said, there will be a ton of closure once readers have the novella in their hands. They'll at least understand Daniel's character a lot more.

 

5. You're killing me with the relationship between Eleanor and Daniel [Empress? *swoooon*]. Is there anything you can tell us about what happens between them in A Darkness Strange and Lovely?
 

Um....Hmmmmm. All I'll say is that it takes a bit of time for Daniel to appear (he doesn't show up until about halfway through), but once he's on the page, the sparks are FLYING. Like I said, the novella explains so much about his character, but Eleanor doesn't know all that info. So though the chemistry is high, so is her frustration. ;) I think readers will like it, though.

 

Speed [ish] Round:
 

1. What is your go-to guilty pleasure thing to eat?

 

Cookies. Any shape, flavor, size--I don't discriminate.

 

2. If you could wake up one day, just knowing how to do something, what would it be?

 

How to draw! Oh goodness, that is the one thing I wish I could do!!

 

3. What are you reading right now?
 

I'm reading (admittedly slowly thanks to deadlines) Archangel by Sharon Shinn. I adore her books.

 

4. Are there any authors that you fangirl over?

 

Omg, I made a HUGE fool of myself in front of Robin Hobb. Twice. I first met her at Comic Con and started crying. So. So. SO EMBARRASSING. Then I met her again at the Decatur book festival and flailed like an idiot. I was mortified. Fortunately, she didn't seem to hold it against me, since she invited me (and the less flail-y Sarah J. Maas) to dinner. It was amazing and insightful. Turns out my idols are just normal people too. ;) If I ever met Garth Nix or Sherwood Smith, I would probably have the same ridiculous meltdown reaction.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Huge thanks to Susan for dealing with my fangirling answering my questions!

Find her on her website, blog, and Twitter pages.  And go add all of her books on GoodReads.

Now.

Haven't read any of Susan's books? Wellllll, that's where I come in. 

To celebrate the release of A Dawn Most Wicked, I'm giving away stuff! There will be three winners. The grand prize winner will win a hardcover copy of Something Strange and Deadly, an e-book of A Dawn Most Wicked and a hardcover copy of A Darkness Strange and Lovely [when it is released on 7/23/13]. Two winners will get an e-book of A Dawn Most Wicked.

The grand prize winner will get books from The Book Depository [so make sure it ships for free to you before entering!]. Winners of the e-book copies will choose between Barnes & Noble or Amazon for delivery.

Rules for the giveaway are listed under the "terms and conditions" on the Rafflecopter widget.
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The time it was a best of list

So. Everyone is busy posting their best books of 2012 and since I'm not a reviewer, I wasn't going to contribute. At the last minute [obviously], I have decided to add my very own best of list.

In no particular order, here are my top 4 [yes, 4] authors I met in the year 2012.

Michelle Hodkin

My love for Michelle is strong. I mean, we flew to Chicago for her. The trip was fun, Michelle was amazing. And most importantly? I got Noah.

  

I may or may not be in talks with MGRB to start a campaign to get Michelle here in 2013 for Retribution.

Sarah J Maas

I met Sarah several times in 2012. Every time, I was a hot mess of fangirling. First was ALA, second time was at CC, third time was the Throne of Glass release party and the fourth time was my birthday.

Where she gave me a birthday hat to wear. And signed my birthday card.

Disregard the fact that my eyes are shut. 

Sarah is always so amazing and I may or may not have some tentative plans with her in 2013, thanks to Ava.

Elizabeth Norris

I believe, by now, everyone knows of my love for Ben and how Kassiah got him for me.  And how I got him again when I met Elizabeth in San Diego.

  

But then, somehow. I won an arc of Unbreakable when Elizabeth had a contest. And in the arc, she signed him over to me again. In case anyone was going to dispute this ownership.  :D

Stephanie Perkins

The first time I met Stephanie was at Festival of Books. Ava made me stand in line with her to see Stephanie. And when I got up there, I proceeded to have the worst case of word vomit. But, Stephanie took it all in stride and hugged me.

I saw her again a few days later, on the YA or Bust tour. In the process, Lucy blew up on the freeway. We still decided to go and when I word vomited the entire story to Stephanie, she immediately got up, came around the table and hugged me. Again. And thanked me for coming.

 

She attempted to make Kassiah share Étienne, but since his name was spelled wrong [something Stephanie and I both missed], Kassiah says its not binding.

Guess I'll have to try again when Isla comes out.

All in all, 2012 was a great year. I met a lot of awesome authors and I can't wait to see what 2013 brings.