ANDROMEDA by Meg Trotter REVIEW TOUR!

Now available! Buy the ebook of ANDROMEDA for $2.99 HERE!

Title: Andromeda ~~ Author: Meg Trotter

Series: God-Haunted ~~ Release Date: 07/12/2016

Source: publicist

FTC Disclosure: I accepted this review copy free of charge and received no compensation for my fair and honest review.

From Goodreads:

For as long as she can remember, seventeen-year-old Princess Andromeda has done what was expected of her. She consented to a political marriage to a hateful older man. She became a quiet, obedient housewife. After her husband’s death, she agreed to be united in yet another political marriage for the sake of her country’s stability.

However, when the Greek goddess of the sea disrupts this second wedding ceremony, jealous of the pomp of the celebration, she places a curse on Andromeda and her home: either sacrifice the princess to a sea beast or let the creature destroy her country. A visit to the Oracle reveals that Andromeda needs four ancient weapons of the Greek gods to fight off the beast and the goddess who controls it.

Now Andromeda must find the strength and the cunning to do what she has never done before — to fight for her own life — while keeping the well-meaning “hero” Perseus out of her way.

PREFACE:

I am extremely excited to be writing this review. If you've been around this blog for a while, you've seen many mentions of my bestie Meg of Myth-illogical. This is her book! Yay! I'm so glad to be able to share with you all my love of this book. I've loved it for years, but next month (NOW! IT'S OUT NOW!) it will finally be available for all to read. Meg isn't my friend that just happened to write a book - she is a (great!) writer that became my friend (we met at a creative writing group of which we two were the youngest and instantly bonded over our love of Harry Potter and love/hate of Twilight).

So let's get to the business where I tell you how awesome Andromeda is!

WRITING:

From the get-go, information, description, dialogue, and voice are all balanced to paint a vivid picture of every scene. It felt like I had a movie playing in my head, a movie that was funny, interesting, and exciting. No dialogue or description felt extraneous, I felt the tension of the action scenes, and I simply did not want to put it down (and considering I had read many previous versions, that's saying something!).

SETTING:

There is a lot of YA involving Greek mythology out there, but I've not come across many that are set in the original time period, probably because it's hard to get right. I know how much research went in to this novel because of this, and it was 100% worth it. I was blown away by how easily I could imagine every place. 

A lot of the time, setting is something that is just in the background that I don't pay much attention to, but in Andromeda the settings almost felt alive. As I mentioned before, the amount of description was just right and made me feel like I was right there with the characters. I have a hard time picking which setting was my favorite, but it's probably between the Underworld, Medusa's island, Delphi. I also loved the scenes at the Parthenon, but I've been to the replica Parthenon in Nashville many times so I feel like it has an unfair advantage.

CHARACTERS:

Speaking of characters, I love this cast so much. Andromeda is right at the top of favorite YA heroines for me. She is stuck in a terrible situation, and once she breaks free of it, she does absolutely everything in her power to keep that freedom. She refuses to wait around on the "heroes" to save or help her. I loved every moment when she gave a man what-for because she wasn't being proper, pointing out that she had bigger things to worry about than proprieties. And while being a grade-A bad-ass, she is also caring and compassionate.

Perseus is a character made of more quiet strength than Andromeda. He tries to do what is right, is respectful and sensitive, but when someone he cares for is hurt, watch out! I loved how ready he was to jump into any fray and how, despite being doubted by everyone around him, rose to each occasion. I loved that he was both physically and morally strong without being a macho-tough-guy.

Zeth was probably the most surprising character for me. He comes across as typical of the time-period, valuing heroes and dismissive of anything a woman could offer on something like a dangerous quest. He's also a poet and his attempts at recording the trio's adventures were hilarious and so very wrong. I loved his buddy relationship with Perseus and how he and Andromeda bickered every chance they got. He also had the most growth of the characters, and that was really nice to see. 

The villain of the story, Amphitrite, is a little on the typical side for a bad guy, but considering she is a Greek goddess, she was right on par for what you'd expect of that lot. But my favorite thing about her was her physical description, which sounds weird, but it was one of the coolest ways to present a character that I've ever seen and I loved it.

Beyond the main cast, all of the other characters felt fully-formed, from Andromeda's friends and family to the various gods and goddesses and monsters. But there is one other character that I can't go without mentioning because my love for him knows no bounds: Hades. He only has a very small part in this story, but from my very first glimpse of this novel, I have loved Hades. I've literally been saying I HEART HADES for years because of this book. I cannot wait to read more of his snarky wit in future novels.

DOWNSIDE:

The only minor thing I found while reading this is that Andromeda gets hurt. A lot. Granted, a lot of the injuries happen while she is fighting or something like that, but she's also very jumpy. Thinking a bit more on it now, it could be because of her life with her first husband, which if so, is really sad and further goes to show how strong she is.

COOL STUFF:

Beyond Hades being the coolest of the cool, I absolutely loved every little wink to Greek mythology, especially when the characters would say something off-hand that referenced the original Perseus myth. Between that, the humor, and the many well-thought out actions scenes, I was giddy while reading this book. It was just so much fun while still being surprising in how it differed from the source material.

VERDICT:

If you couldn't tell by my gushing all over this review, I love this book. The great writing, fantastic settings, action aplenty, and fun twists make this a book not to miss. Andromeda is the epitome of an amazing heroine, being cunning, kind, and feisty simultaneously, and the dynamics between her, Perseus, and Zeth make them a trio I want to adventure with again and again and again.

A SPARK UNSEEN Blog Hop Day 7!

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An Interview with Sharon Cameron

Hello quirks! If you haven't heard of The Dark Unwinding series, then let this be your wake up call! Sharon Cameron is a masterful writer and her mystery-filled novels about teenage Katharine Tulman, set in Europe in the 1800s, are some of the best I've ever read. The series begins with The Dark Unwinding (my review here) and continues in the upcoming A Spark Unseen.

Sharon, who is super sweet and all-around wonderful, answered some questions about A Spark Unseen for my stop on the the blog hop!

WQ: Hey Sharon! I've had the opportunity to hear you speak about your novels in person, and you've talked about how much research went into THE DARK UNWINDING. How did your research for A SPARK UNSEEN compare?

SC: Hi back, Shalena! My research for this book was VERY different. The setting of THE DARK UNWINDING, though inspired by a real place, is truly fictional. I pulled heavily from Welbeck Abbey, but had the freedom to make that world anything I wanted it to be, as long as it was plausible and real for the time period.

For A SPARK UNSEEN, because it is set in Paris at a very particular time in that city’s history, I focused less on imagination and more on what really was there. Rue Trudon (Katharine’s Parisian address, now demolished) was a real street where Englishmen (and Americans) kept houses of the type described in the novel. Napoleon III’s ball –including the interior description of the Tuileries and the ballet dancers dressed like bees– is based on recollections from members of the Imperial Court. I used an actual floor plan of the Charenton asylum, pictures and firsthand descriptions of The Morgue, railway maps and omnibus routes, historic timelines of assassination attempts on the Emperor and the journal entries from members of the political groups that opposed him. A much more exacting process!

WQ: Uncle Tully is a fictionalized version of an actual fascinating person from history. Were any characters in this novel based on real people?

SC: Yes! Obviously Napoleon III and his empress, Eugenie, were very real, as was Charles de Morny, Napoleon’s illegitimate half brother. But perhaps one less obvious real person is Mr. DuPont. The inspiration for Mr. DuPont came from an entry in an Englishman’s journal, chronicling a conversation with a slightly deranged Frenchman on the streets of Paris. When asked if the weather was fine, the Frenchman shook his head sadly and replied, “Napoleon is dead.” When asked to describe his trade the man said, “Napoleon is dead.” When requested to explain why he was wearing no shirt beneath his jacket, the reply was, “Napoleon is dead.” All things, good or bad, were the fault of the first Napoleon according to this guy. I couldn’t resist including him the novel.

WQ: While Katharine has her own goals in this novel, none of what is happening would have come about without a certain fish toy of Uncle Tully's. What gave you the idea for the fish and could/did something like that actually exist?

SC: Absolutely it could, and did. “Whitehead’s Torpedo,” also known as a “torpedo fish” worked with a compressed gas and clockwork propulsion system, and was first conceived around 1866, perfected around 1874. One section of the blueprint is marked “secret chamber,” and it is the contents of that chamber that confounded engineers for years. Uncle Tully, of course, had that “secret” all figured out thirty years earlier. If either Britain or France had been privy to that knowledge during the 1850s, the balance of world power would have shifted dramatically!

WQ: In THE DARK UNWINDING, Katharine is far away from the social scene and gossip of the time period. When she travels to Paris in A SPARK UNSEEN, she is thrust into society in an effort to assuage suspicion about herself and keep Uncle Tully safe. What was the best or most difficult part of working this facet of Victorian life into the story?

SC: Oh, for me, this is absolutely the fun part! I have no idea why women being snarky while drinking tea gives me so much pleasure to write, but so far every novel I’ve written contains such a scene. I suppose it’s because I like sharp wit, and people who have no patience for the pretensions of little gossipy social gatherings. It’s probably why I like Jane Austen so much. She loved to have one character needling the other beneath the cover of strict politeness.

WQ: As much as I love the characters from The Dark Unwinding series, all good things must come to an end. Do you have any plans for more stories set in Katharine and Uncle Tully's world, or do you have something completely new in the works?

SC: I have all sorts of stories for Katharine and Lane and Uncle Tully swirling around in my head, but my next novel is going to be something brand new, and I’m terribly excited about it. It’s high adventure, with a cunning, sword-swinging heroine, set in a world like nothing I’ve ever written or read before. Look for an announcement coming soon!

A huge thank you to Sharon for sharing so much with us! The quote from A SPARK UNSEEN that Sharon chose for this stop is so fitting, so here's a tidbit from Uncle Tully!

And it's true! The stories from Sharon Cameron's head are splendid!

Along with getting some awesome extra content from A Spark Unseen, you can win prizes through the blog hop. Visit HERE for more details!

Below you can read a little more about A Spark Unseen and links where you can find Sharon Cameron on the web.

The thrilling sequel to Sharon Cameron’s blockbuster gothic steampunk romance, THE DARK UNWINDING, will captivate readers anew with mystery and intrigue aplenty.

When Katharine Tulman wakes in the middle of the night and accidentally foils a kidnapping attempt on her uncle, she realizes Stranwyne Keep is no longer safe for Uncle Tully and his genius inventions. She flees to Paris, where she hopes to remain undetected and also find the mysterious and handsome Lane, who is suspected to be dead.

But the search for Lane is not easy, and Katharine soon finds herself embroiled in a labyrinth of political intrigue. And with unexpected enemies and allies at every turn, Katharine will have to figure out whom she can trust–if anyone–to protect her uncle from danger once and for all.

Filled with deadly twists, whispering romance, and heart-stopping suspense, this sequel to THE DARK UNWINDING whisks readers off on another thrilling adventure.

Find Sharon Cameron at the following:

Website / Twitter / Facebook

Thanks for visiting and enjoy the rest of the blog hop!

ALL OUR YESTERDAYS Blog Tour: A Timely Interview with Cristin Terrill + GIVEAWAY

Hey quirks! I have the great pleasure of hosting Cristin Terrill on the blog today for the All Our Yesterdays Blog Tour!

Before we get to the interview and giveaway, here's a little about the author:
 

Cristin Terrill is a young adult author and aspiring grown-up. She grew up semi-nomadic and graduated from Vassar College with a degree in drama. After getting her masters in Shakespeare Studies from the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon, she lived in London, Austin, Boston, and Washington, DC, while working as a theatrical stage manager. Now she writes and leads creative writing workshops for DC-area kids and teens. All Our Yesterdays is her first novel.

You can find her at:
Author Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads


Not only does Ms. Terrill sound cool, but she has also kindly answered some time-sensitive questions for us!


WQ: What is your favorite time of day?

CT: Evening. I’m a night-owl anyway, but that time after all the work is done but before it gets really late is my favorite.

WQ: What is your favorite time of year?

CT: Fall. Still sunny but beginning to get cool, starting to buy Christmas presents, baking pumpkin cupcakes.

WQ: What is your favorite time period in history?

CT: The Renaissance. I did my master’s in Shakespeare and Renaissance England, and I’m a total Tudor fangirl.

WQ: How much time do you take to get ready in the morning?

CT: Fifteen minutes if I don’t shower, twenty if I get fancy and do.

WQ: Do you wear a watch or check time on your phone?

CT: Phone. I haven’t owned a watch in about ten years.

WQ: How much time does it usually take for you to read a book?

CT: I’m actually a relatively slow reader. If I’m really into something, I can finish in two or three days, but otherwise it’s usually a week or more.

WQ: Last question! If you could travel back in time, what would be your preferred method: a Time-Turner (from Harry Potter), the TARDIS (from Doctor Who), or the DeLorean (from Back to the Future)?

CT: TARDIS, no question! It can go anywhere, there’s a swimming pool somewhere inside, and it’s piloted by the Doctor!

A huge thank you to Cristin Terrill for her great answers! I'm right there with her on the showering, the slow reading, and the TARDIS!

If you want to ask her some of your own questions, you will have the chance on September 17th when Cristin Terrill will be part of a Twitterchat! You can find more information and submit questions HERE.

So why were my questions all about time? If you haven't guessed by now, it is because All Our Yesterdays involves time travel! Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:

"You have to kill him." Imprisoned in the heart of a secret military base, Em has nothing except the voice of the boy in the cell next door and the list of instructions she finds taped inside the drain.

Only Em can complete the final instruction. She’s tried everything to prevent the creation of a time machine that will tear the world apart. She holds the proof: a list she has never seen before, written in her own hand. Each failed attempt in the past has led her to the same terrible present—imprisoned and tortured by a sadistic man called the doctor while war rages outside.

Marina has loved her best friend James since the day he moved next door when they were children. A gorgeous, introverted science prodigy from one of America’s most famous families, James finally seems to be seeing Marina in a new way, too. But on one disastrous night, James’s life crumbles apart, and with it, Marina’s hopes for their future. Now someone is trying to kill him. Marina will protect James, no matter what. Even if it means opening her eyes to a truth so terrible that she may not survive it. At least not as the girl she once was.

Find All Our Yesterdays at:

Amazon / The Book Depository / IndieBound / Goodreads

Now for the giveaway! If you enter you will have the chance to win an ARC of All Our Yesterdays! All my regular rules apply (see them HERE) and the giveaway will end at 11:59pm on September 3rd (CST).

Just use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter! (Please note that entering the giveaway means you agree to the giveaway terms and conditions.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway   If you want to check out the other stops on the tour, you can find all the blogs and dates HERE. 

AWESOME TOUR *and* GIVEAWAY!

When I heard about this tour, featuring some fellow Tennessee authors whose books I'm desperately wanting to read, I freaked a little.  Jazz hands and jumping around and all.  Then I checked the dates and times and I am so going!!! 

These fabulous people are also hosting a ridiculous giveaway (ridiculous in a very very good way) so go check it out and if you happen to be in the area, go see them on tour!  I know from Myra McEntire's blog she is hilarious and both she and Victoria Schwab have big hearts (seeing as they helped raise money for flood victims last year with Do the Write Thing for Nasvhille) and their books are also some of the most anticipated of 2011.

Why are you still reading this???  Go check it out!  ^_^