Author: Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

A lifelong reader of all things YA and books with heartfelt moments that punch you with all the feels. Currently expanding my reading interests to encompass anything that makes me feel deep and resonate with the characters
musings

Meeting Lesley Livingston, Elly Blake, Kristen Ciccarelli

Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

This year must be a good one for me ’cause I didn’t just get to meet one great author (see post on Jenny Han), but now I’ve met 3 more!

img_7992

My Canadian pride is shining through as I had this past weekend to meet Lesley Livingston (again), author of The Valiant, and Elly Blake, author of Frostblood. In the sweltering heat that is VERY much unlike the typical weather found around here in our fall season, these amazing authors trekked out to greet their fans and do some fun readings from their latest novels.

First up, Lesley Livingston

What is my personal take from meeting her?

I met her once a long, long time ago back in 2010 when her first series was hitting the shelves. But upon re-meeting her, I was delightfully pleased to see that no matter how many books she’s published since, and the amount of her success, she’s still so down-to-earth. I find myself sometimes nervous around famous people as who am I compared to them? But she made me feel like I could say whatever nervous ramblings that fell out of my mouth without harsh judgment, and for that I love her even more.

But oh, she’s also delightfully hilarious. Her reading of The Valiant was quick-paced and it wasn’t hard for me to keep up as it never lost my attention (and that happens often so audiobooks are pretty much a no for me). She has a wonderful sense of humour, and this translates to her novels. Honestly.

Next, Elly Blake

What is my personal take from meeting her?

She’s easily one of the sweetest ladies I’ve ever met, and certainly talented. We were lucky enough to get a reading of her sequel Fireblood that just hit stores last week (do I get a whoop-whoop for that?) and I can’t wait to get my hands on it. Even though I haven’t known her work as long, I’m already a fan from her debut novel.

What I loved was hearing about the process in which she wrote. I’ve dipped my hands for years into writing (no success so far, but hey, that’s why I’m a blogger) and hearing how someone as successful as her with the trilogy she’s writing was amazing.

“I love the interactions between people the most in any story,” she said, “so world building comes on later after the first draft to create layers on top.”

As someone who easily gets frustrated with the intense effort to create well-thought out worlds while still having a solid plot with emotionally real characters, this may come as helpful advice for any fledgling writers out there.

Last but not least, Kristen Ciccarelli

What is my personal take from meeting her?

I will be honest, I haven’t read her debut book before meeting her (unfortunately, I didn’t get my hands on the ARC), but her reading of The Last Namsara BLEW me away. It’s deeply imaginative with forbidden stories told within the book that felt like I was being transported to storytellings from the greats, like J.R.R. Tolkien (who I absolutely love).

I will also admit that I came to the event solely intent on meeting the other two authors whom I already adore, but I think just from hearing her read her novel and understanding a bit more about the inspirations that shaped it, I became a fan in the span of 20 minutes. Hands down, I’m overall very impressed and I hope her first book does amazing when it hits stores on October 3, 2017.

So, have you heard of these lovely ladies before?

Let me tell you. If you haven’t, you should jump on board one of their novels and see what they’re all about in the beautiful worlds they have crafted with their words. From heavily researched historical fantasies about female gladiators to crafty worldbuilding and magical powers to a tale as old as time with forbidden stories, there really is something for everyone from these 3 ladies.

Last thoughts

I regret not being bold enough and drawing up the courage to ask for a photo with each of these amazing ladies while I had the chance, but I sure hope that this isn’t the last time that I’ll get to see them in person.

Here’s to a photo of the 3 authors (with Lesley signing one of my books!) bravely facing the heat just so they could come to this event with us.

img_7994

So, any book signings you’ve been to lately? And what do you think about these wonderful authors?

YA

Review: Seven Black Diamonds by Melissa Marr

Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

Series: Seven Black Diamonds #1

seven black diamonds -melissa marrLilywhite Abernathy is a criminal. Her father’s “unconventional” business has meant a life of tightly held secrets, concealed weaponry, and a strict code. But Lily’s crime isn’t being the daughter of a powerful mob boss. Her guilt lies in the other half of her DNA—the part that can coax ancient rumors from stones and summon fire with a thought. Lily is part fae, which is a crime in her world.

From the time before she was born, a war has been raging between humanity and fae. The Queen of Blood and Rage, ruler of both the Seelie and Unseelie courts, wants to avenge the tragic death of her heir—a death that was the fault of reckless humans.

Lily’s father has shielded her from the repercussions of her ancestry…until she is sent to the prestigious St. Columba’s school, straight into the arms of the Black Diamonds.

Mysterious, glamorous, and bound together in their mission but constantly at odds, Zephyr, Creed, Will, Roan, Violet, and Alkamy are a Sleeper cell of fae, planted in the human world to help destroy it from within. With covers as rock stars and celebrity children, the Black Diamonds carry out the queen’s war against humanity. And unbeknownst to Lilywhite, she’s been chosen to join them.

Now more than ever, Lily’s heritage puts her in peril, and even the romantic attention of the fae singer Creed Morrison isn’t enough to keep Lily from wanting to run back to the safer world of organized crime.

Melissa Marr returns to faery in a dramatic story of the precarious space between two worlds and the people who must thrive there.

1 Drink Me Potion

DNF at ~25%

Sigh. I haven’t DNF’ed a book in a long while, but oh, Melissa Marr, how I’m disappointed.

Let me start off by disclosing that I wavered on her popular Wicked Lovely series after we hit the middle books. There were just too many and I was tired of the plot. That being said, I came into this book and series with an open mind and hoped to God that I would love it.

Why this didn’t happen:

A) Too many POVs and characters popping up.

Sometimes it just got downright confusing and I found it hard to connect or care about any of these people.

B) Lilywhite.

Dang, that girl just made me cringe. Clearly she’s being set up as someone special but I just couldn’t take it anymore. She wasn’t particularly nice to anyone and didn’t seem to need good opinions from others. At least that was my impression of her.

C) The writing.

It was repetitive as other reviewers have noted and it made the book drag a little. Maybe it prevented me from connecting with the characters too. Who knows. But something about it bugged me.

D) The romances.

I JUST DON’T LIKE CREED. He doesn’t seem quite like a lovable bad boy or a very nice guy to play the love interest. I’d rather Lily pick anyone else (though I probably shouldn’t care ’cause I don’t even like her).

And then there’s Zephyr who seems cool enough but I don’t particularly think that’s happening. Plus, he seems to be denying himself from feelings for another girl and it’s just a bit much to me.

While I get these things aren’t the be all, end all of a story and other books may feature these flaws too, put together it just rubbed me wrong in this book. The only element I found myself liking was Eilidh (pronounced AY-LEIGH) and her POV. I empathized with her situation a bit and the potential budding romance, but she features so rarely here that it didn’t seem worthwhile to continue.

Maybe it’s just me but I tried to love this book and I couldn’t. It may not be so bad for others but it didn’t work for me. Marr may be a great fantasy author for some, but for now; her works on faeries just don’t captivate my heart.

Overall Recommendation:

Seven Black Diamonds could’ve been a great novel on friendships, romances and political intrigue with the fae. However, with too many POVs and characters to understand – not to mention the kinda writing that just bored me too easily – this book just couldn’t execute what I had hoped for it. It may just be me, but I don’t think this book is for everyone.

Fan or foe? Do you think faerie stories are getting overrated?

YA

Review: The Valiant by Lesley Livingston

Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

Series: The Valiant #1

the valiant -lesley livingstonPrincess. Captive. Gladiator.

Fallon is the daughter of a proud Celtic king, the sister of the legendary warrior Sorcha, and the sworn enemy of Julius Caesar.

When Fallon was a child, Caesar’s armies invaded her homeland, and her beloved sister was killed in battle.

Now, on the eve of her seventeenth birthday, Fallon is eager to follow in her sister’s footsteps and earn her place in the fearsome Cantii war band. She never gets the chance.

Fallon is captured and sold to an elite training school for female gladiators—owned by none other than Julius Caesar. In a cruel twist of fate, the man who destroyed Fallon’s family might be her only hope of survival.

Now Fallon must overcome vicious rivalries and deadly fights—in and out of the arena. And perhaps the most dangerous threat of all: her forbidden yet irresistible feelings for Cai, a young Roman soldier.

4 Drink Me Potions

I’ve loved this author since day 1 with her first published YA work on fairies and Shakespearean works. Likewise, Lesley Livingston’s latest series starting with The Valiant is a sight to behold with kickass female characters and an intriguing plot set in historical times.

Gladiators. What’s more to love about that? Well. Other than the fact that this book features FEMALE gladiators. Strong. Cunning. And lethal.

I liked Fallon. She kinda fell into this after the chaos that happened in her home land. But she gave it her all and trained herself as no princess would’ve been expected to know. For that, I admire Livingston’s ability to always write female protagonists that are funny, relatable and easy to like.

But the other thing to absolutely rave about is the wonderful research (with a pinch of imagination) that went into creating the beautiful setting of Julius Caesar’s Roman Empire. I liked how it featured as much Roman accuracy as the author’s imagination for the time period. It felt real enough while still being in the realm of fantasy and mysticism for how much of this really could’ve happened this way. For history buffs, I think you’d be pleased.

HOWEVER. The romance with a Roman soldier working under Caesar really helped tie it together. It wasn’t so much a forbidden love trope (although it still is) but it featured lovely conversations throughout the story that were both fun and added to the level of suspense and intrigue.

The Valiant continues strongly with what Lesley Livingston does best with her stories. Any fan of hers won’t be disappointed with this latest addition to her YA works, and new fans would be in the making as well. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next in this series, and from her.

Overall Recommendation:

The Valiant features a cast of strong females who may fight in the ring, but redefines the bonds of loyalty. Mysterious and full of intrigue, Lesley Livingston brings another fantasy reimagining set in the historical Roman Empire of action, love and war. Fallon’s discovery of who she can be and the family she can make for herself was a wondrous journey to behold. I hope many others would come to realize just how phenomenal Livingston’s writing can be. This book does not disappoint.