Castle of Sighs || It’s Release Day!

Hello Readers!

Apologies on my absence on the blog as of late. Life is CRAZY and I’m drowning in assignments these last few weeks haha. I may not get a writing post up Wednesday but I will try to get it up sometime this week 😀 But for now….It’s time for a release day celebration!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Castle of Sighs
(Forest of Whispers #2)
Author: Jennifer Murgia
Release Date: September 15th, 2015
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

SYNOPSIS:

In this sequel to FOREST OF WHISPERS, Some secrets cannot be kept—in life or in death. Months have passed since Rune has heard a single whisper from her long-dead mother, the great witch of Bavaria. But the absence of one evil has only made room for another.
After rightfully inheriting her ancestral home, Pyrmont Castle, Rune settles into a quiet life taking care of two orphans left in the wake of the terrible witch hunt that claimed dozens of lives in the nearby village. As the days grow colder, the castle’s secrets beckon and Rune finds herself roaming where no one has set foot in a long time. In the bowels of the fortress is a locked room full of memories that hang like cobwebs—shelves stacked with jars, strange specimens, putrid liquids, and scrolls of spells. Rune is undeniably drawn to what she finds there, and she begins to dabble in the possibilities of magic, hoping to find a cure for the strangeness overwhelming the castle.
As secrets unspool, the delicate thread of Rune’s world is threatened when she realizes the key may lie in the dark forest she once called home and the boy she thought she knew

BOOK LINKS

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

PRAISE FOR FOREST OF WHISPERS

“FOREST OF WHISPERS drew me in from the very first page! Rune is a capable and empathetic heroine who had me rooting for her from the start. Fans of witch and rune-lore will enjoy this darkly woven tale.” ~Amalie Howard, author of critically acclaimed Waterfell, The Almost Girl, and Alpha Goddess, a Spring 2014 Kids’ INDIE NEXT title.

 

“NOT your average teenage witch! Jennifer Murgia’s FOREST OF WHISPERS is a dark, brooding mystery/thriller that captures the paranoid, plague-driven frenzy of 17th Century Europe with the speed and power of a galloping stallion. Rune, a 16-year old with formidable abilities that she herself can barely understand, must fight her own inner demons as well as what seems to be a whole world gone awry with bloodlust for her kind. This is a thrilling read.” ~ Molly Cochran, author of LEGACY & POISON

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jennifer Murgia writes moody fiction for teens—from paranormal fantasy (Angel Star, Lemniscate, The Bliss), to contemporary gut-punchers (Between These Lines). Her latest, Forest of Whispers, a 17th century historical mystery (about witches!) was a School Library Journal Fall 2014 HOT TITLE, and a 2014 Moonbeam Children’s Literature Award Winner. Look for the sequel,​Castle of Sighs, to hit shelves 9.15.15 from Spencer Hill Press. In 2012, Jennifer Co-Founded YA FEST with YA author/friend, Cyn Balog. She coordinates this unique annual festival, bringing teens and fellow Young Adult authors together at her hometown library in Easton, PA.

WEBSITE | EMAIL | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST

Publicity inquiries: brooke@spencerhillpress.com

GIVEAWAY

1 Winner will get a key necklace and special spell kit (US Only)

 

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Release Day Celebration and ARC Review|| The Sound of Diamonds

Hello Readers!

As I told you a while ago, I’m back with a review of such a wonderful book that releases today! YAY! And, because of that, before I start the review I must say this: HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY, RACHELLE REA!

 

Cake for everyone to enjoy while you read the review!

 

So, remember a while ago, I mentioned how Heather Manning’s first book got me hooked on historical novels? Well, this book did something even better than get me hooked on a certain genre of books. The Sound of Diamonds fed my newfound addiction and I am very much okay with that!

 

The Sound of Diamonds is an AMAZING book, you guys! Like, you NEED this in your life.I just cannot deal! It’s too amazing!

 

*excuse me while I go cry over the beauty of this book*

In Reformation-era England, a converted rogue wants to restore his honor at whatever cost. Running from a tortured past, Dirk Godfrey knows he has only one chance at redemption.
An independent Catholic maiden seeking refuge in the Low Countries finds herself at the center of the Iconoclastic Fury. Jaded by tragedy, Gwyneth’s only hope of getting home is to trust the man she hates, and she soon discovers her poor vision is not the only thing that has been blinding her.
But the home Gwyneth knew is not what she once thought. When a dark secret and a twisted plot for power collide in a castle masquerading as a haven, will the saint and the sinner hold to hope…or be overcome?

*takes a deep breath so I can control my fangirling somewhat so this all makes sense*

Anyways. This book was absolutely amazing. I was instantly hooked and dragged right into the beautiful and amazing story.

What I loved most of all was how well Rachelle wrote Gwyneth’s struggle and the fight that went on in her mind as the journey went on. We were really shown how Gwyneth’s feelings towards the situation she finds herself in and towards other characters in the story and it all came out to be realistic and I really felt Gwyneth’s pain and her struggles. It was perfectly done.

While I’m here kind of tlaking about the characters, I must say that I LOVED them. Each character was unique and important and some were totally worthy of being fangirled over…I’m just sayin. (Oh how I want to give you all exact examples but it would ruin everything.)

As you might have gathered from the description, The Sound of Diamonds is set in the 1500s. At a time where, not only was the Reformation in full swing in Europe, but modern-day Holland was launching the Dutch Revolution because they no longer wanted to be ruled by Spain. The Sound of Diamonds starts right there in the turmoil of religious upheaval and political intrigue. The setting was amazing and I loved how within opening the book I was pulled right into the action of the story without fail. It is very rare I get into a story that quickly. Usually it takes me the first chapter to be completely hooked…but not with The Sound of Diamonds. With this book I was hooked within the first page.

Now, I can’t say I’ve been reading Historical Fiction for long..but I can say The Sound of Diamonds is my favourite Historical novel so far. I can also say that you also need a copy of this book right now.

And obviously, instead of stars, I must rate this book with Diamonds…I mean it’s fitting, is it not?

The Sound of Diamonds Blog Tour || Author Interview

Hello Readers!

Today I am SO happy to be apart of The Sound of Diamonds Blog Tour in which I will be interviewing author Rachelle Rea about her upcoming novel, The Sound of Diamonds, and ask her about her writing process and tons of other wonderful things! What better way to celebrate ones birthday than by interviewing such an amazing author? (Seriously guys, you will want to buy Rachelle’s book.)

 

*Note: Book Review Will Be Coming To The Librarian Files on Monday, June 15th*

Hello Rachelle, and welcome to The Librarian Files! To start this off, could you tell us a bit about you?

Hi Adriana! Thank you so much for having me! Let’s see, I’m a debut author with an addiction to Oreos. I drive a pick-up and play country music—Rascal Flatts is my favorite. My curly hair is natural, and I coach gymnastics as well as work at my church. Oh, yeah, and I’m barely five feet tall. 🙂

 

High Five for Rascal Flatts! So, when did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

In middle school, after a friend and I wrote a short story together about twin sisters who rode horses. I thought that was fun so I kept writing stories, which kept getting suspiciously longer and longer.

 

 

That is great! Now, I must ask, can you tell us a bit about your upcoming novel?

The Sound of Diamonds is set in the 1500s. At that time, not only was the Reformation in full swing in Europe, but modern-day Holland was launching the Dutch Revolution because they no longer wanted to be ruled by Spain. My novel plops right there in the turmoil of religious upheaval and political intrigue. And, oh yeah, there’s a guy who wants to save a girl who doesn’t want to be saved. They’re my favorites, even though the history first drew me.

 

 

Where and when did you get the idea for this novel?

I was driving down Central Avenue in my little town on the way to a college class, when I heard a song on the radio. I forget the song but I remember thinking, oh, wow, that sounds like diamonds. Which, of course, is a really strange thought. So I spent that summer writing a book to figure out what The Sound of Diamonds is about.

 

 

Sounds fascinating!…And here I just get my story ideas while leaning over a sink of dirty dishes…*cough cough* Moving on. Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Yes! I hate to give it away, but I will hint that there’s a lot about hope in this story. Through tragedy and heartbreak and the craziness that is life, Gwyneth and Dirk both learn a lot about how to have hope—and where to safely store that hope…

 

 

Is there a way you can relate to your main character?

She’s tall, so not there, LOL. 🙂 Gwyneth actually shares my near-sightedness. I wear contacts—I detest how I look in glasses; but Gwyneth wears glasses all the time. Well, until a certain chapter that I won’t spoil. 🙂 Anyway…yes, there were glasses back then. They were expensive, but they existed. And Gwyneth has a pair without which she can’t see well.

 

 

What is one thing you found particularly challenging when writing this novel?

Gwyneth. She’s sort of a spoiled brat at the beginning of the book. She’s definitely little like me in a lot of ways. I didn’t struggle liking or relating to her, which is good since I’ve spent so much time with her over the last three years! But she was definitely a challenge at times. She knows what she wants and what she doesn’t and that can sometimes get her into trouble.

 

 

She sounds like such a fun character!

Okay, So I myself am a plotter. Did you have an outline for your novel?

Yes and no. I know, terrible answer. 🙂  I did not outline Diamonds. I just sat down and wrote a story that summer. Which caused me headaches when it came time to revise and edit. With Book Two in the series, The Sound of Silver, I created more of an outline up front. With Book Three, The Sound of Emeralds, I outlined even more. Each book happened differently. I’d like to think I’ve settled into a happy place of loose outlining. 🙂 Ask me again after the next book!

 

 

Did you learn anything from writing The Sound of Diamonds? What was it?

I learned a lot of things: that you can have hope when life is hard, that I can finish a whole novel, that Historical Romance is my favorite genre to write in, and that finishing a novel made a world of difference to this heart. I felt like a real writer, and that motivated me to keep with it, invest in the story more, and look into publishing it.

 

 

Besides family and friends, what is one entity you feel supported you through this writing process? 

Without hesitation, I can think of one community of writers who were an amazing support to me. Led by Stephanie Morrill, Go Teen Writers is a group of writers who are both teens and older; I found and joined the GTW community when I was on the cusp of entering my twenty-somethings, but it is still my favorite writing blog to follow. I highly recommend Stephanie’s blog (which she now co-authors with other writers) to any newbie and growing writer, regardless of age.

 

 

Do you have any advice for other writers/authors?

Read. I can’t say that enough. You can’t learn how to fly a plane by watching one glide across the sky, but you learn a lot by watching a sentence soar. So read in your chosen genre—and out of it.

 

 

Do you have anywhere where we, as readers, can stalk-er…I mean find you online?

Fun question. 🙂 I blog and love social media, especially Instagram now that I have a smartphone!

Website: http://rachellerea.com

Blog: http://rachellerea.com/blog/

Instagram: @RachelleDianeRea

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/inspiringdaring/

Twitter: @RachelleRea

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8144149.Rachelle_Rea

 

Thanks so much for having me, Adriana! It’s been fun!

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, Rachelle!

 

 

Rachelle Rea plots her novels while driving around the little town she’s lived in all her life in her dream car, a pick-up truck. As a freelance editor, she enjoys mentoring fellow authors in the craft. A homeschool graduate and retired gymnast, she wrote the Sound of Diamonds the summer after her sophomore year of college.

Happy Bookish Birthday to Sam Maggs || Fangirls Guide to the Galaxy Book Review

Hello Readers!

My book review is finally here! Today, I’m going to be reviewing Sam Maggs ‘The Fangirl’s Guide To The Galaxy’ since this lovely book released yesterday! I was going to post the review yesterday but didn’t finish by the time my family and I watched ‘The Flash’ cause homework took so long. (Sorry people but ‘The Flash’ is my favourite and I cannot miss a single episode!)

So, I must show you the book trailer for this wonderful book before we get started because it’s awesome.

Okay. Now that you’ve seen the book trailer, it’s time to review!

Fanfic, cosplay, cons, books, memes, podcasts, vlogs, OTPs and RPGs and MMOs and more—it’s never been a better time to be a girl geek. The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy is the ultimate handbook for ladies living the nerdy life, a fun and feminist take on the often male-dominated world of geekdom. With delightful illustrations and an unabashed love for all the in(ternet)s and outs of geek culture, this book is packed with tips, playthroughs, and cheat codes for everything from starting an online fan community to planning a convention visit to supporting fellow female geeks in the wild.

 

This book was…not what I expected. BUT I LOVED IT.

So, at first, I was worried it was going to have a very strong feminist view throughout the whole book. Now, before you all come charging at me with your pitchforks and torches and taking things the wrong way, let me explain. The reason I was worried about that was because there are just so many different points of view, opinions, and approaches to feminism that I really wasn’t sure what to think. But my worries were soon put to rest. Because….

THIS BOOK WAS SUPER FANTASTIC! Like so fantastic I underlined and highlighted the crap out of that book. Never once have I done that to a book but this book, there are highlights, underlines and sticky note bookmarked pages. (That’s how awesome it was people. So awesome that I actually UNDERLINED things in a book) Tons of quotable stuff or things I wanted to remember.

Want to know some awesome reasons that this book was so fantastic? Alright. Here is a list of why.

1. SOMEONE FINALLY SAID IT.

I was so happy that someone brought up the topic of how the media protrays women and/or relationships in a bad way that so clearly hint at the relationships being abusive and the girls themselves being abused. (Twilight and 50 Shades of Grey were a couple examples given.)

 

2. Con Survival

This book provided lists of Comic Convention survival and all the things you will need and should take with you as well as rules for conventions, things you must check out at a con and cosplay tips.

 

3. Comic Convention List

Basically, this book is like the ultimate fangirl checklist. This book had a whole chapter on different kinds of conventions! You like Anime? Its got a list. YA Books? Its got a list. Comics and Videogames? Another list of conventions

 

 

4. How To Meet Fellow Nerds/Geeks

Not only have I found many awesome authors or actresses who are fellow fangirls to follow on Social Media BUT I was also provided with tips (for my anti-social little self) on where to find other fangirls/geeks like myself! Fun stuff right? ….Though. I didn’t see Go Teen Writers on the list for the writers category…Hmmm.

 

5. Tips for FanFic Writing

…or just writing in general.

This awesome list had different options for the feel of a story, setting and characters. It’s almost like a mix and match generator and I shall be using it for my writing.

 

Who Here Loves Strong Heroines?

I do! Thats for sure. Another awesome thing about this wonderful book is that there is a long list of many different heroines from anime, video games, comics, and movies. And get this. All these heroines are strong, kick-butt characters who are just plain old awesome.

 

So basically, this book is awesome. Think no one understands you as a Fangirl? Yeah. THINK AGAIN.

 

Book Review + Giveaway- Seeing Through Stones by Rajdeep Paulus

Hello everyone!

Today I am here to share a review of Seeing Through Stones by Rajdeep Paulus, the sequel to Swimming Through Clouds.

From Award-Winning, Young Adult author Rajdeep Paulus comes the sequel to Swimming Through Clouds, a powerful reminder that life is a battle you don’t fight alone. 

“I live in the in between. Between yesterday and forever. The way forward haunts me. The gap I must cover daunts me. And hope beckons, ‘Run to me,’ but I just learned to walk.” 

After a lifetime of abuse, the Vanderbilt siblings flee their home, finally free to pursue new dreams while running from yesterday’s nightmares. Once bed-ridden Jesse navigates the Chicago streets, concealing his identity and planning revenge. A chance encounter in the rain introduces a girl who offers Jesse a glimpse of a sunnier future, but how will he weather the growing storm inside himself?

Separated from her Post-it note prince, Talia hides at a safe house for survivors of domestic violence while her father turns the city upside-down to find her. Surrounded by women fighting their own demons, Talia faces her past at every turn.

Alright! Time to jump into this review! YAY! *throws confetti*

So I’m gonna start adding a little section (along with Characters, Setting, Genre etc etc.) about the covers because I ALWAYS comment on the covers anyways so why not make it a thing? 😛

So here we go!

Cover:

This cover is absolutely beautiful! I love the colours of the cover and just the simplicity of it as well. Super pretty! (100 points for Rajdeep’s cover designer)

Plot:

The plot was amazing. I loved it. It was really well written, very engaging, and very well done.

The plot also just helped drag me into this story. (People. I read this book in the span of 3-4 hours.)

I know this isn’t much on the plot but I seriously loved this book and everything about the plot that I cannot form the words to explain it. Just trust me. It’s amazing.

Characters:

*sigh* Characters. I LOVE characters. One of my favourite parts of a novel is the characters and their unique-ness and their stories.

I love all the characters in this story. (Except for those characters you are supposed to absolutely hate… *cough* I won’t say any names in case you haven’t read the first book but if you have then you know who I’m talking about.)

I loved how in this book we got Jesse’s side of the story as well as Talia’s. It was nice to see that switch.

Okay and Lagan… Lagan needs a fan club. (Raise your hand if you think we should make this a thing *raises hand*)  I seriously love Lagan’s character SO much. ( So even if he doesn’t have a Fan Club there is a Fan Girl sitting right here. *points to self* )

There were a bunch of other characters I loved but if I went on to list them all and why I loved them we would be here quite a while but I LOVED all the characters so much! (Except for certain character we’re supposed to hate like I mentioned before 😛 )

Overall:

5 star rating! Overall I LOVED this book. Finished it in a day, people. (Well if you want to get technical it was in a few hours but spread out throughout the day) It was such a beautiful and well written story and I loved it so much. So yeah, Overall? LOVED IT SO MUCH!

What I didn’t like:

There was nothing in this novel I didn’t like. I loved everything about this novel.

Where to buy this book:

Buy it on iTunes for iBooks

Buy it on Amazon (kindle and paperback available)

You can also buy book one, ‘Swimming Through Clouds’, on Amazon  (Paperback and Kindle)

Find Rajdeep on her blog, the Playlist Fiction Blog and Goodreads

Well this was my review for ‘Seeing Through Stones’ I hope you all liked it and seriously. If you haven’t read this or Swimming Through Clouds I totally suggest you read them. (Though keep the kleenex nearby you might need it. 😉 )

Oh my goodness! How could I forget! The giveaway! Everyone loves a giveaway! So follow this LINK for an awesome giveaway where you could win some awesome Seeing Through Stones Swag!

Did I just… say swag?…umm  okay then. ‘Stuff’ you could win some REALLY cool stuff.

So yeah, check it out, read this book and maybe even support Rajdeep by posting your own review once you’ve read this book 😀

Until next time!