Sunday, February 16, 2020

Blog Tour & Book Sketch: Night Spinner by Addie Thorley



Night Spinner
By: Addie Thorley
Published By: Page Street Kids
Release Date: February 11, 2020
Series: Night Spinner #1
Pages: 400
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Publisher
Buy the Book: Amazon


Goodreads Summary: A must-read for fans of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse, transforming The Hunchback of Notre Dame into a powerful tundra-inspired epic.

Before the massacre at Nariin, Enebish was one of the greatest warriors in the Sky King’s Imperial Army: a rare and dangerous Night Spinner, blessed with the ability to control the threads of darkness. Now, she is known as Enebish the Destroyer―a monster and murderer, banished to a monastery for losing control of her power and annihilating a merchant caravan.

Guilt stricken and scarred, Enebish tries to be grateful for her sanctuary, until her adoptive sister, Imperial Army commander Ghoa, returns from the war front with a tantalizing offer. If Enebish can capture the notorious criminal, Temujin, whose band of rebels has been seizing army supply wagons, not only will her crimes be pardoned, she will be reinstated as a warrior.

Enebish eagerly accepts. But as she hunts Temujin across the tundra, she discovers the tides of war have shifted, and the supplies he’s stealing are the only thing keeping thousands of shepherds from starving. Torn between duty and conscience, Enebish must decide whether to put her trust in the charismatic rebel or her beloved sister. No matter who she chooses, an even greater enemy is advancing, ready to bring the empire to its knees.



FTAF: I need the next book now, please!

Addie Thorley’s An Affair of Poisons was very popular around Bookstagram. So when I saw that she had a new fantasy book coming out, I knew it had to be on my TBR list.

Enebish used to be a great warrior. Now, she is reduced to a shell of her former self, banished to a monastery to atone for her crimes. When her adopted sister, Ghoa, the commander of the Sky King’s army, arrives at the monastery unexpectedly, Enebish learns that she will finally have a chance to redeem herself and get her old life back. Only the mission does not turn out to be as simple as she expects. She should have been eager to turn over traitors to her sister and restore her name, but she finds herself conflicted. The deeper undercover she goes, the more imperative it is that she decide where her loyalty lies—with her family or with her country.

From the beginning of this book, I was completely enamored with the beautiful prose. In this retelling of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the original story is gender-swapped and subtly woven into a lush fantasy narrative. Although Enebish is disfigured, it is a result of her crimes, and that is also why she is hidden away. Still, she wants to do right by her family and even her jailers. Throughout the book, she is constantly at war with herself, truly wanting to follow the right course of action but almost always unsure of what that is. It is this debate that also makes the book so engaging for the reader. Should Enebish trust Ghoa? Serik? Temujin? Or only herself? Half-truths and secrets are rampant in this story.

The world-building is so rich, and yet I found myself wanting even more. Kalima powers are bestowed upon the lucky individuals, and they can control different elements like ice, the sun, the wind, and the night. I’d love to know more about this system in the second book. Beyond this, the scenery is so well-described that I was transported to each setting, from the beautiful to the appalling squalor. Everything about the writing is captivating and had me wanting to read faster yet savor the story at the same time.

The ideas of religious freedom and unity despite cultural and ethnic differences also play heavily into this book despite the fantasy setting. Warriors and rebels come from all countries, families are (forcibly) broken and (by choice) reformed, and almost everyone is accepting of this. The love of friendship and family is tangibly felt in every chapter, and it made the villains and the struggles that much more complicated. In many ways, this book showcased the triumph of the human spirit and showed how resilient and powerful people can be.

Although I haven’t read Addie Thorley’s first book, I will definitely be moving it up on my TBR. I’ll also be waiting impatiently for the sequel to find out how this story concludes!

Most Memorable Aspect: The detailed yet elegant writing style.





~ ~ ~ ABOUT THE AUTHOR ~ ~ ~


Addie Thorley is the author of An Affair of Poisons, a YA historical fantasy, which was chosen as a Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers selection and is a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults nominee. Her forthcoming novel, Night Spinner, will be released on February 11, 2020.

She spent her childhood playing soccer, riding horses, and scribbling stories. After graduating from the University of Utah with a degree in journalism, Addie decided “hard news” didn’t contain enough magic and kissing, so she flung herself into the land of fiction and never looked back. She now lives in Princeton, New Jersey with her husband, daughter, and wolf dog. When she’s not writing she can be found gallivanting in the woods or galloping around the barn where she works as a horse trainer and exercise rider.

Find her online:
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads


~SEE THE FULL TOUR SCHEDULE HERE~


~ ~ ~ DON'T MISS THIS GIVEAWAY! ~ ~ ~


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Monday, February 10, 2020

Blog Tour & Book Sketch: Ink in the Blood by Kim Smejkal



Ink in the Blood
By: Kim Smejkal
Published By: HMH Books for Young Readers
Release Date: February 11, 2020
Series: Ink in the Blood #1
Pages: 448
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Publisher
Buy the Book: Amazon


Goodreads Summary: A lush, dark YA fantasy debut that weaves together tattoo magic, faith, and eccentric theater in a world where lies are currency and ink is a weapon, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Kendare Blake.

Celia Sand and her best friend, Anya Burtoni, are inklings for the esteemed religion of Profeta. Using magic, they tattoo followers with beautiful images that represent the Divine’s will and guide the actions of the recipients. It’s considered a noble calling, but ten years into their servitude Celia and Anya know the truth: Profeta is built on lies, the tattooed orders strip away freedom, and the revered temple is actually a brutal, torturous prison.

Their opportunity to escape arrives with the Rabble Mob, a traveling theater troupe. Using their inkling abilities for performance instead of propaganda, Celia and Anya are content for the first time . . . until they realize who followed them. The Divine they never believed in is very real, very angry, and determined to use Celia, Anya, and the Rabble Mob’s now-infamous stage to spread her deceitful influence even further.

To protect their new family from the wrath of a malicious deity and the zealots who work in her name, Celia and Anya must unmask the biggest lie of all—Profeta itself.



First Thought After Finishing: *insert stammering then* Well then!

A fantasy book with tatoo magic? Yes please! Add in a traveling theater troupe, a hint of romance, and a dash or religious debate, and I was hooked.

Celia is an Inkling—a child specially chosen by the Divine to share her will and messages through tattoos. From the time she was six, she knew what the rest of her life would be. She and her best friend, Anya, passed every test and followed every Divine bidding. Only they don’t quite believe in the Divine, despite growing up in the temple. When an opportunity to escape presents itself, Celia and Anya know they must take it. But life outside the temple might prove to be just as dangerous as life on the inside. Celia and Anya soon discover that they must give the performance of a lifetime if they have any hope of staying alive—or changing the world.

Most books about revolution show the protagonist trying to dethrone an evil despot, but Ink in the Blood takes it one step further. Instead of a corrupt ruler, an entire religion has become corrupt, but it will take extraordinary means to expose the corruption and pave a pathway forward. I am fascinated by all things religion, particularly the similarities and differences between denominations, so I enjoyed this twist on YA fantasy. The religious system comes complete with its own myths and lore, which made the world feel that much more possible and real.

It’s rare to see a book that highlights friends as soulmates, but this story does just that. The bond between Celia and Anya was unbreakable, and with Galentine’s day fast approaching, I couldn’t help but love this aspect of the story. Celia and Anya may have their flaws—some real, some created by the powers that be—but their devotion to each other was never in question, even in the darkest times.

The side characters, particularly those of the Rabble Mob, are no less important. One couldn’t help but love the little children who looked to Celia as a pseudo-mother. But the real stars of the show were Kitty Kay and the Plague Doctor. Both of these characters are shrouded in mystery, particularly the Plague Doctor. Over time, Kitty Kay becomes the mother that the Inklings never have, but the Plague Doctor remains an enigma to understand. The chemistry between him and Celia sizzled off the page, and though their romance was not the main facet of the story, it made for a delightful diversion in the midst of so much tension.

I will admit that it took some time for me to get into this story. As much as I support queer representation, within the first fifty pages of this book, the pains to show inclusivity took me out of the story rather than being integrated naturally. This lessened as the book went on, however, and once the story picked up, it was nearly impossible to put down. The last fifty pages definitely made up for the first fifty, as twist after twist kept me guessing until the end. I thought that this was a standalone, but there will be a sequel forthcoming. Although many loose ends are tied up, I look forward to seeing how Celia’s story continues in the next book! Ink in the Blood is a debut that is not to be missed!

Most Memorable Aspect: The tattoo magic system.





~ ~ ~ ABOUT THE AUTHOR ~ ~ ~


Kim Smejkal lives with her family on muse-satiating Vancouver Island, which means she’s often lost in the woods or wandering a beach. She writes dark fantasy for young adults and not-so-young adults, always with a touch of magic. Her debut novel, INK IN THE BLOOD, will release from HMH in early 2020, with a sequel to follow in 2021. She is represented by Daniel Lazar of Writers House.

Find her online:
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads


~SEE THE FULL TOUR SCHEDULE HERE~


~ ~ ~ DON'T MISS THIS GIVEAWAY! ~ ~ ~


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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