Book Review: Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

FOREVER is the third book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series, so if you haven't read the first two (SHIVER and LINGER), look away! Also, it comes out in two weeks (July 12), so this is a tad early (but just a tad).

I just finished FOREVER like .5 seconds ago, so you're getting my uncensored, immediate thoughts about it.

Back when I read SHIVER, I wrote in my review that Sam and Grace were one of my favorite literary couples, and I recall liking them in LINGER too, though I don't mention it specifically in my review of that one.  But for most of this installment, the once bright spark of their relationship was rather dull.  It could be because Sam was more mopey than usual and Grace more distant than usual, or it could be that the emerging relationship between Cole and Isabel just burned brighter on the page.

And I dare say FOREVER is Cole's book - he matures so much as a character and steals the show with his science experiments, his rock star grin and his growing realization that maybe life doesn't completely suck after all.  (Can we get a Cole spin-off series please?!)

I don't want to spoil any plot details, but generally I'm left scratching my head a bit.  The driving action of the book is Isabel's father's plan to arrange a helicopter hunt of the wolves - many of whom we've come to know and love during the course of the series.  While this part unfolded fine (if slowly) leading up to a fast and furious climax, there were other threads that I would liked to have seen resolved that weren't.

Anyway, on the whole, I enjoyed it.  And if you're a fan of the series already, I'm betting you will too.

Buffalo Release Day (and obligatory cat picture)

Today you can finally find TEACH YOUR BUFFALO TO PLAY DRUMS by Audrey Vernick, illustrated by my husband Daniel Jennewein out in the wild!

You can order the book on amazon.

And like his drumming page on Facebook.

And add him to your to-read list on GoodReads.

Since today is Tuesday, you also get a cat picture.  But not of my cats - just a wild Argentine cat who hopped on my lap in the botanical garden in Buenos Aires earlier this month.  Enjoy!

Book Review: Dead Rules by Randy Russell

In this inventive tragicomedy, Jana Webster dies in an apparent bowling accident and lands in Dead School, an afterlife way station for teen risers (those on their way up) and sliders (those on their way down).  Jana needs to figure out the Dead Rules to facilitate her plan of bringing her boyfriend Michael Haynes to the same plane as her so that they can be together forever.

Jana is the very definition of the smothering girlfriend.  Her identity is so completely tied up in being part of Webster & Haynes, she can’t fathom an existence without Michael.   She’s so single minded in her plan to kill Michael that she doesn’t care what happens to her – or that her skin gets all tingly when sexy slider Mars touches her.

On the surface, this is a wickedly funny story of Jana’s obsession interspersed with anecdotes of the other students about their deaths (all very bizarre – involving lawn darts, birds and drunken uncles).  But there is so much tragedy underneath the hijinks as Jana is revealed as a terminally lonely soul who doesn’t understand her own worth.  What Debut Author Russell set up and executed here blows me away and I desperately want to discuss this novel with others.  Get in touch!!

DEAD RULES is out now.  Find out more about it at the author’s website.

How I Got My Agent

I posted my agent story today over at Brave New Words for those of you who are interested.

Presenting my new author photo!

Three weeks I posted the nine finalists and asked for your opinions on which author photo to choose.  Your comments (over 130 of them - wow!) were incredibly helpful - thank you!

While a lot of you liked #9, it's true that glasses can quickly date a picture.  #4 was another favorite, but didn't seem quite right for the tone of my novel (maybe if I were writing romantic comedies).  Finally, after a lot of debate, I choose #1 (the one that Sab H. commented makes me look the most "bad-ass").

Thanks again to Vania / VLC Productions. She takes great pictures!

Argentina Recap 1: Iguazu Falls

The definite highlight of our recent trip to Argentina was visiting Iguazu Falls, one of the biggest waterfalls in the world (actually a conglomeration of 275 smaller waterfalls).  Our first stop was the U-shaped Devil's Throat section - where about half the water of the Iguazu river tumbles off a 82 m high cliff.  It's very wet! Here you can see Daniel's back as he views the massive flow.

A pic of both of us at Devil's Throat.

A view of Devil's Throat from afar.

A view of the rest of the falls from the vantage point of the lower trail.

Posing at the lower falls.

View from atop the falls.

We didn't go on a helicopter tour like we did at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe (view my recap) because they don't offer them on the Argentine side of the falls and I didn't have a visa to go to the Brazilian side.  So we never got a true panoramic view.  But the area was so lush and lovely.  Truly a world wonder!

Book Review and Giveaway: Forgotten by Cat Patrick

London has a strange affliction - all her memories come from her future instead of her past.  So when she meets Luke and has no memory of him, she sadly surmises that he's not part of her future.  However, day after day, she meets Luke "for the first time" again.  So why can't she remember him?

FORGOTTEN has a great premise but it is one that is extremely tricky to pull off. Author Patrick does an admirable job of it, though the mechanics of London's affliction are somewhat hazy (especially as they relate to Luke).  Memories are so important to our understanding of who we are, and it made sense that London would be more confident than a typical teen because she remembers her future self.  Because of this confidence, her relationships with her friends and mother were both refreshingly free of unnecessary angst, though London came off as pretty manipulative at times (for example, in the situation involving her best friend). London's sweet romance with Luke was a highlight here - I love good guys in YA.

FORGOTTEN is available in hardcover now.  Find out more about it at the book website and watch two of London's video diaries here!

Thanks to Big Honcho Media, I have two copies of FORGOTTEN to give away.  If you live in the US and would like a copy, fill out this form by August 2nd.

Return of Cat Tuesday (36)

Beware of Cat  (Kaia)

Advance Buzz Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Goblin Fruit, the first story in Laini Taylor's LIPS TOUCH: THREE TIMES collection, is one of my favorite bits of writing ever.  Still, when I heard the premise of DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE - an angel and a demon once fell it in love and it did not end well - I thought it might be too high fantasy for my taste.

Fast forward to the YA Buzz Panel at BEA.  Laini's editor praised it with words like "best book ever" and I was intrigued enough to fight a crowd at the back of the room after the panel for a copy (the only book I can really say I made an effort - beyond line-standing - to get).

DAUGHTER starts out by introducing us to 17 year old Karou, a blue haired art student in Prague with a broken heart and a strange "family" of chimaera who run a magical shop that deals mysteriously in wishes and teeth.  Thanks to Laini's intoxicating writing and attention to detail, I was not only enthralled by Karou and the earthly locations she inhabits, but also by the stranger creatures and the "elsewhere" world they come from.  And this is no small feat - as the mere description of a monster or fantasy world usually makes me yawn and wish I were reading another book.

I don't want to talk too much about plot beyond the fact that Karou gets caught up in a war between angels and demons - except to say that I was surprised by where the book ended up (and yes, it's the first book in a series).  But I do want to give you a taste of some of the writing.  Here's a passage about Karou (and note that this quote is taken from a galley so may be different in the finished novel):

"Karou wished she could be the kind of girl who was complete unto herself, comfortable in solitude, serene. But she wasn't. She was lonely, and she feared the missingness within her as if it might expand and ... cancel her.  She craved a presence beside her, solid. Fingertips light at the nape of her neck and a voice meeting hers in the dark. Someone who would wait with an umbrella to walk her home in the rain, and smile like sunshine when he saw her coming. Who would dance with her on her balcony, keep his promises and know her secrets, and make a tiny world wherever he was, with just her and his arms and his whisper and her trust." (p. 71)

And so it is that I can end this review with a satisfied smile and tell you I fully expect this amazing novel to appear on my year end best list.  Be sure to get it when it comes out on September 27th.

LEVEL TWO News!

If you follow me on twitter or on Facebook, you may know some or all of the following, but I thought it would be good to collect it all in one place, just in case you missed something.

LEVEL TWO sold in its first foreign territory - Brazil!  How exciting is that?  It has also sold in a few other territories so far, but I'm not allowed to announce yet.  So stay tuned.

Old news for some, but you can add LEVEL TWO to your to-read list on GoodReads.  I'm closing in on 400 people adding it ... way cool!

Do you know The Apocalypsies?  It's a group open to all middle-grade and YA authors debuting their book in 2012, and it's a great way for you to get a sneak peek at all the awesome debut books that are due out next year.  Follow us on twitter too - especially if you want to be the first to see our cover reveals!  Oh and check out my Apocalypsies bio page.

I'm also part of a new group blog dedicated to sci-fi YA 2012 debuts: Brave New Words.  In true YA publishing fashion, we are fifteen women and one 6'7 man.  We'll be sharing stories about our paths to publication as well as other cool stuff.  Stop by!

The finished LEVEL TWO manuscript is currently with my editor, so while I'm waiting for her feedback, I'm spinning ideas for the possible sequel (LEVEL THREE?) as well as mapping out other projects such as picture books and a super secret fab novel idea.  I'm also trying to catch up on my reading and get a head start on Dystopian August - which is just around the corner.

If only my cats wouldn't be so clingy and always want to lay on my hands ...