Review: Sold

Title:  Sold
Series:  None
Author:  Patricia McCormick
Genre:  YA, Realistic Fiction
Publisher:  Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date:  Septemer 15, 2006
Source:  Borrowed

Lakshmi is a thirteen-year-old girl who lives with her family in a small hut on a mountain in Nepal. Though she is desperately poor, her life is full of simple pleasures, like playing hopscotch with her best friend from school, and having her mother brush her hair by the light of an oil lamp. But when the harsh Himalayan monsoons wash away all that remains of the family’s crops, Lakshmi’s stepfather says she must leave home and take a job to support her family.
He introduces her to a glamorous stranger who tells her she will find her a job as a maid in the city. Glad to be able to help, Lakshmi journeys to India and arrives at “Happiness House” full of hope. But she soon learns the unthinkable truth: she has been sold into prostitution.
An old woman named Mumtaz rules the brothel with cruelty and cunning. She tells Lakshmi that she is trapped there until she can pay off her family’s debt—then cheats Lakshmi of her meager earnings so that she can never leave.
Lakshmi’s life becomes a nightmare from which she cannot escape. Still, she lives by her mother’s words— Simply to endure is to triumph—and gradually, she forms friendships with the other girls that enable her to survive in this terrifying new world. Then the day comes when she must make a decision—will she risk everything for a chance to reclaim her life?
Written in spare and evocative vignettes, this powerful novel renders a world that is as unimaginable as it is real, and a girl who not only survives but triumphs.

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This book was so full of strength and information and it was utterly devastating.  I had a really unique experience with this book: rather than actually read it, my professor in my college YA literature class read it to us.  At the beginning of every class period, she would read 10-15 pages aloud to us.  After, we'd all reflect on what we'd listened to by either writing or drawing about how the section made us feel.  While it sounds like something that you might have done in elementary school, it made my experience with this book totally different.  Because I wasn't reading it, I was completely transported into the story.  Also, I wasn't able to just read it all in one sitting.  I listened to this book throughout ten weeks which made it all the more engaging.  On the days I didn't have the class, I found myself thinking about it and what was happening to Lakshmi.

This book was absolutely amazing - heart breaking, brave, and honest.  From the moment I started it, I was touched and shocked by Lakshmi's story.  A thirteen year old girl with the responsibilities she had . . . it was amazing to me.  Amazing that there are places in the world today as rural as that.  It was a total reality check for me.  

Lakshmi was such a wonderful character to read about.  Her optimism and strength were astounding.  Even at her darkest times in the "Happiness House", she stayed true to her inspiring nature.  

Speaking of the "Happiness House" . . . oh my God, it was so horrible.  I was so angry and horrified for the things that were forced upon Lakshmi.  It was terrible to see the way Lakshmi slowly changed and hardened because of her experiences there.  Sex trafficking is horrible and terrifying and so rarely highlighted in the news and in media.  Reading about it from a first hand account put it into perspective in a way that I've never learned about.  Her story was so heart breaking.  I cried in class, you guys.  IN CLASS.  And I didn't even care.  Half of the college aged people listening right along with me were also in tears.  

After reading, I did some research and found that the author traveled to Nepal and talked to other women who were put into similar situations as Lakshmi while following Lakshmi's footsteps throughout her story.  Many of these women now work to educate young women in rural villages about the sex trafficking that happens so they are better able to defend themselves against it.  Learning about the things that happen to women in these places was so horrifying and it made me want to help.  Even just being aware and spreading the information about what happens is such an important step toward stopping sex trafficking.  

There's so much I could say about this story but I think the most important thing to remember is that these topics - no matter how horrifying - need to be talked about.  They can't be just brushed under the rug until they hopefully fix themselves.  That will never happen.  And it's important to people to know about what's happening - even teens.  If no one knows about it, they won't be able to recognize it.  Sold was a great way to spread information about sex trafficking through beautiful language and strong characters that stubbornly and bravely held onto hope.

“This affliction--hope--is so cruel and stubborn, I believe it will kill me” 

Five Teapots

Review: The Raven Boys

Title:  The Raven Boys 
Series:  The Raven Cycle #1
Author:  Maggie Stiefvater 
Genre:  Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance 
Publisher:  Scholastic Press 
Publication Date:  September 18, 2012
Source:  Gifted.  Thank you!

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue never sees them--until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks to her.
His name is Gansey, a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.
But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can't entirely explain. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul whose emotions range from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher who notices many things but says very little.
For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She doesn't believe in true love, and never thought this would be a problem. But as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore.

Find The Raven Boys online

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Okay, so I've been avoiding this book for years.  Years.  And I know that might sound silly but I really haven't had great experiences with Maggie Stiefvater's other books.  None of them really captured me.  But I've heard so many good things about this series and the last book just recently released . . . I decided it was about time I gave it a shot.  Guys, I'm so happy I did.  This book had the thing.  You know, the thing that just captures you.  I started reading and absolutely couldn't stop. 

Let me just say, Stiefvater's writing style is so.  Freaking.  Awesome.  It was what really drew me in.  The way to describes things, the imagery and diction she uses made it so easy to sink into the world and story.  She made normal, ordinary objects and situations feel magical.  I mean, just read this! 

“There were three boys in the doorway, backlit by the evening sun as Neeve had been so many weeks ago. Three sets of shoulders: one square, one built, one wiry."

I absolutely love those words.  Something about the way this is worded pleases me so much.  It created such a beautiful and magical tone throughout the entire novel.

Also, the relationship between Blue and the boys in this novel made me so happy.  The dynamic between them all and each other individually was so honest.  I could see me and my friends having similar conversations and interactions.  The honesty of it all was what made it amazing.  I just want more and more and more of them all together.

The overall plot was also, quite literally, magical.  The quest that Gansey is on and welcomes the others on is great and so interesting.  I loved the research that went into it and the history behind it all.  Not to mention the wonderful pace it set for the story.  

I'm so, so, so excited to jump into the rest of the series.  I have a feeling I'll have to read the books as quickly as possible, otherwise I'll go insane wondering what happens.  I can't be too mad at myself for waiting so long to read this book - it just means I won't have to wait for the rest of the series to release!

“She recognized the strange happiness that came from loving something without knowing why you did, that strange happiness that was sometimes so big that it felt like sadness.” 

    Five teapots

Review: Bad Romeo

Title:  Bad Romeo
Series:  Starcrossed #1
Author:  Leisa Rayven (Website | Twitter)
Age Group:  New Adult
Publisher:  St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date:  December 23, 2014
Source:  Bought

When Cassie Taylor met Ethan Holt at acting school, sparks flew. She was the good girl actress. He was the bad boy about campus. But one fated casting choice for Romeo and Juliet changed it all. Like the characters they were playing, Cassie and Ethan's romance seemed destined. Until he broke her heart and betrayed her trust. Now the A-list heartthrob is back in her life and turning her world around. One touch at a time.
Cast as romantic leads once again, they're forced to confront raw memories of the heartbreaking lows and pulse-pounding highs of their secret college affair. But they'll also discover that people who rub each other the wrong way often make the best sparks.

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My Review:  Oh, holy hot thespians everywhere, guys, this book killed me.  But in the best possible way.  Not like a stabby, painful kill, more like a I-just-melted-into-a-puddle kill.  If you're like me, you've heard amazing things about this book.  Well, I'm here to tell you even more amazing things!  Whoa, crazy, right?!  It was just that good.  Seriously, I want more.  I want the second book.  Quick, someone give it to me!   

I'll be honest, at first I was a little thrown off by the style in which this book was written.  It switches between two time periods - one where our main character Cassie is just getting into acting school and six years later.  I generally don't like this style when reading because it makes the story feel choppy to me but I found it done really well in this book.  The different time periods paralleled each other.  There were strings in each that wound into the other one and made them feel connected and just right together.  I saw the connections the past and the present were making and it made me appreciate the intricacy of it.

Also...the characters.  I love the characters.  Cassie and Ethan effortlessly stole pieces of my heart throughout this story.  I couldn't get enough of them.  Neither were perfect.  In fact, they were flawed a lot.  Cassie was a hard-core people pleaser and Ethan was about as cuddly as a porcupine.  However, when they came together it was magic.  Their conversations, the banter between them, and the *ahem* sexual tension was off the charts.  I ship them so hard, guys.  So.  Hard.  

But, of course, they weren't without their problems.  With so much passion between them, it was bound to blow up from time to time.  They had their fair share of fights and arguments and, let me tell you, I have never loved and been so stressed out about two characters before.  I was in a constant state of freaking out the entire time because I didn't want anything to get between them!  

The plot of this story was so cool.  I can safely say that I loved every single second of it.  It was awesome getting a taste of what it's like to go behind the scenes of a play with the actors.  Seeing them challenge themselves and struggle with their passion and fear.  Their struggles and the obstacles they had to overcome made this plot gold.  I could especially appreciate the plot because it was two separate ones woven into one with the past and present scenes.  I adored it.  I totally, completely adored it.  

I need the second book now.  Seriously, I need to know what happens next.  And I need you guys to read it, too, and bask in the gloriousness that is Bad Romeo.  I'm outrageously excited to see what's going to happen with Cassie and Ethan next.  Lisa Rayven is an author to look out for, seriously!

“So you're his new Juliet, huh? Has he ruined you yet? Run while you still can. Trust me on this. You do not want to be around when that boy self-destructs."

Five Cards

Review: The Retribution of Mara Dyer

Title:  The Retribution of Mara Dyer
Series:  Mara Dyer #3
Author:  Michelle Hodkin (Website | Twitter)
Age Group:  Young Adult
Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date:  November 2, 2014
Source:  Bought

Mara Dyer wants to believe there's more to the lies she’s been told.
There is.
She doesn’t stop to think about where her quest for the truth might lead.
She should.
She never had to imagine how far she would go for vengeance.
She will now.
Loyalties are betrayed, guilt and innocence tangle, and fate and chance collide in this shocking conclusion to Mara Dyer’s story.
Retribution has arrived.

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My Review:  It's sort of amazing to me right now that I'm actually writing a review for this novel.  It has been pushed back so many times and the wait has seemed endless but now, it's finally here.  And holy cow, guys.  The wait, I am thrilled to say, was totally worth it.  This had the same smarts, snark, romance, and mind-blowing revelations as the previous two novels and I am so happy with the way this trilogy has wrapped up.  I can safely say this in my top five favorite trilogies.  

Possibly my favorite thing about this series is the characters.  They are all gold.  Seriously, I love them so much.  Mara is a wonderfully complex character and every time I get a chance to see from her eyes, it's amazing.  As Mara struggles with right and wrong, so does the reader.  I find myself sympathizing and cheering her on, even when she does some pretty horrible things.  She has her good and bad qualities and her flaws really only make me like her more.  That, and her amazing sense of humor.  Another character I came to appreciate a lot more in this novel is Jamie.  I mean, I knew I liked him before but now I just adore him.  The way he supports Mara is great and I like his blunt way of saying things.  He's a very interesting side character.  

And, of course, there's Noah.  

This guy.  THIS GUY.  I love him.  Simple as that.  He's sort of a terrible person and he is definitely twisted but I just can't get enough of him.  He's so just....ARG!  I can't even explain the feels that I'm feeling about him.  His humor, his dedication, his loyalty, his undying and unwavering love for Mara...I can't.  I can't with any of it.  My heart is bursting with love for him.  And the fact that we were able to see from his POV in this novel basically made my entire month.  I loved being able to finally get into his head and see how he feels about these situations.  

I am completely, totally, 100% satisfied with the ending to this series.  I want more but I'll always want more just because it is so amazing.  Michelle Hodkin could write a book of just Mara and Noah bantering back and forth and I'd pay money to have it.  I'm sad this trilogy is over but I'm so excited to see what she comes up with next!

“Names?' the receptionist asked us.

“Jesus,” Jamie answered.

“Mary,” said Stella.

“Satan,” I said as I walked past her and pushed open the door to Ira Ginsberg’s office.” 

As a special treat, I've also been offered a sound clip of the audio book of The Retribution of Mara Dyer by the wonderful people over at Audible!  If you want to hear a bit of this awesome reading, go here! 

Five Cards

Review: Stone Cold Touch

Title:  Stone Cold Touch
Series:  The Dark Elements #2
Author:  Jennifer L. Armentrout (Website | Twitter)
Age Group:  Young Adult 
Publisher:  Harlequin Teen
Publication Date:  October 21, 2014
Source:  Bought

Every touch has its price
Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.
But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay… 

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My Review:  Can I just say that I adore this series?  It is one of my absolute favorite reads.  Every time I pick one up, I'm completely caught up in the romance, the humor, and the action!  This story is just so full of tension and I love it.  The thing that's awesome about this novel is that no matter how many horrible or sad things happen (and it happens guys), JLA always throws in a line or two that gets me laughing.  Also: THAT ENDING.  UGH.  

Ya'll know I have to start by talking about the boys.  Normally, I'm not a huge fan of love triangles in novels (they're way over done), but I adore this one.  It just works so well!  The fact that each boy represents a different side of Layla makes it 10x better.  The triangle helps emphasize the struggle that's happening to Layla internally.  Zayne is the long-time crush, good guy, total badass and, yeah, he's freaking amazing.  I like his support of Layla and think they would be fine together...but then there's Roth.  Guys, I'm just going to come right out and say that love Roth.  I want one of my own.  Where Zayne protects Layla, Roth pushes her to become stronger.  Where Zayne ignores the darker sides of her, Roth challenges her to embrace her whole self.  I think that is just so important in their dynamic.  Roth makes Layla stronger by giving her the experiences to test her strength and abilities.  

So....I don't know if you can tell of not but I'm firmly Team Roth.  

Besides the obviously wonderful romantic side of this story, the action and the plot development were amazing.  I felt so terribly for Layla as she began to doubt the only family she'd ever known and even herself.  I just wanted to just into the story and give her a hug because, honestly, things sucked for her for a while there.  I did really like the way she handled it though.  She stayed strong and tried to take the precautions necessary to stop what was happening.  

The end of this book killed me.  I need the third book now.  Like, right now.  Like, three seconds ago now.  JLA has done it once again with a book that had everything in it that she's famous for: romance, humor, tension, and kick ass characters.  Please, just give me the next book now.  

“You’re a pervert,” I said, fighting a grin.

Roth shrugged. “Of all the things someone could call me, that’s hardly the worst.”

“And probably the most true.” 

Five Cards

Review: Percy Jackson's Greek Gods

Title:  Percy Jackson's Greek Gods
Series:  None
Author:  Rick Riordan (Website | Twitter)
Illustrator:  John Rocco (Website) 
Age Group:  Young Adult
Publisher:  Disney Hyperion
Publication Date:  August 19, 2014
Source:  Bought

A publisher in New York asked me to write down what I know about the Greek gods, and I was like, Can we do this anonymously? Because I don't need the Olympians mad at me again. But if it helps you to know your Greek gods, and survive an encounter with them if they ever show up in your face, then I guess writing all this down will be my good deed for the week.' So begins Percy Jackson's Greek Gods, in which the son of Poseidon adds his own magic--and sarcastic asides--to the classics. He explains how the world was created, then gives readers his personal take on a who's who of ancients, from Apollo to Zeus. Percy does not hold back. 'If you like horror shows, blood baths, lying, stealing, backstabbing, and cannibalism, then read on, because it definitely was a Golden Age for all that.' Dramatic full-color illustrations throughout by Caldecott Honoree John Rocco make this volume--a must for home, library, and classroom shelves--as stunning as it is entertaining.

Find Percy Jackson's Greet Gods online

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My Review:  I adore Percy Jackson.  He is one of my all time favorite characters so whenever I am given the chance to jump back into his world, I take it.  While this book wasn't exactly a new story about Percy, it was through his eyes which was enough for me.  I loved getting more time with him!

Rick Riordan has never disappointed me when it comes to his writing style.  Every time I read something he's written, I'm 100% hooked.  He has such a light and refreshing way of story telling that really gives you the opportunity to become more in tune with the characters.  I feel like I know Percy and all of the Greek gods he told us about.  His diction might not always be the most beautiful and lofty but its beauty lies in the simplicity of it.  It's an extremely accessible style and makes it easy to feel engaged and at attention when reading.  

I so enjoyed the illustrations in this novel as well.  Oh my goodness, they were gorgeous.  I have so many favorites.  I spent a good five to ten minutes just studying the artwork before moving onto the next page.  It was amazing to see pieces of the stories brought to life by John Rocco.  He is very talented.  

While the basic story line of this novel was not original (having been about ancient myths), fresh air was breathed into it by Rick Riordan.  I tore through this book in a matter of days (hey, it was a big book) and can't wait to revisit it.  For anyone who is interested in Greek mythology or has previously read the Percy Jackson series, this one is a must.    

“Hermes played a little Mozart and some One Direction, and Apollo cried, ‘I must have it! The girls will go wild for that!” 

Five Cards

Review: Ugly Love

Title:  Ugly Love
Series:  None
Author:  Colleen Hoover (Website | Twitter)
Age Group:  New Adult
Publisher:  Atria Books
Publication Date:  August 5, 2014
Source:  Bought

When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.
Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.
They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.
Hearts get infiltrated.
Promises get broken.
Rules get shattered.
Love gets ugly.

Find Ugly Love online:

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My Review:  If I could give this book a million and one stars, I would.  But frankly, it would take so long to make a rating image with a million and one stars on it and I want to share my thoughts rightnow, so I'll have to settle for giving it five sparkly, wonderful, oh-my-gosh-it's-so-perfect stars.  Or, in this case five cards.  You get the picture.

My favorite part of every Colleen Hoover novel are the characters.  This one was no exception.  I adored Tate and Miles in this novel.  They were so easy to relate to and sympathize with.  Especially Miles.  He is definitely my newest book boyfriend.  He won me over so easily in this novel; I was a puddle whenever he was on the page.  I just want to give this dude a huge hug.  Every time he was on the page my heart went out to him.  You could just so obviously see how much emotional stress he was under by how closed off he was.  Tate was a girl that I felt I could relate to very easily.  She didn't want to be distracted from her goals and aspirations with a relationship and I respected her for that.  That sort of changed throughout the novel but it was understandable because of the way her relationship with Miles progressed.  

I really liked the plot and the development in this novel.  It was just planned out so well.  Never once did I have to skim or skip pages because I was bored.  This story and these characters just grabbed me from the beginning and didn't let go until the very last page.  I was actually in the process of packing to move the day after I began reading this and I just couldn't put it down, even though I really needed to.  

Another aspect of this novel I just loved was the writing style.  It flowed so well and it made the story easier to completely immerse myself in.  I was taken by the lyrical manner in which it was written.  And the fact that it played along with the emotions within the story was amazing.  

Read it.  Seriously, that's the biggest thing I can say about this book.  It is amazing.  It's so full of heart and struggles and real characters.  You won't regret your decision to pick it up.  This is by far my favorite Colleen Hoover novel that I've read to date.  I'm so incredibly excited to see what she comes up with next.   

“Love isn't always pretty. Sometimes you spend all your time hoping it'll eventually be something different. Something better. Then, before you know it, you're back to square one, and you lost your heart somewhere along the way.”  

Five Cards

Review: Opposition

Title:  Opposition 
Series:  Lux #5
Author:  Jennifer L. Armentrout (Website | Twitter)
Age Group:  Young Adult 
Publication Date:  August 5, 2014 by Entangled Teen
Source:  Bought

Katy knows the world changed the night the Luxen came.She can't believe Daemon welcomed his race or stood by as his kind threatened to obliterate every last human and hybrid on Earth. But the lines between good and bad have blurred, and love has become an emotion that could destroy her—could destroy them all.Daemon will do anything to save those he loves, even if it means betrayal.They must team with an unlikely enemy if there is any chance of surviving the invasion. But when it quickly becomes impossible to tell friend from foe, and the world is crumbling around them, they may lose everything— even what they cherish most—to ensure the survival of their friends…and mankind.War has come to Earth. And no matter the outcome, the future will never be the same for those left standing.

Find Opposition online

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My Review:  Oh, wow, this is a painful review to write.  I honestly can't even believe that this series is over.  I remember finding Obsidian for the first time, picking it out on a whim, and falling in love with Daemon the characters.  This series has been such a huge part of my life and it's sad to see it go.  But I'm so happy that I picked it up because it introduced me to the wonderful writing of Jennifer L. Armentrout and I have many more of her books to read, thank goodness!

The character development within this book was amazing considering how much the characters have grown already.  It seems every time we see more of Katy and Daemon and Dawson and Dee, we uncover another layer to their personalities and their thought processes.  I especially liked seeing a different dynamic between Daemon and Katy.  It was reminiscent of past books and I enjoyed seeing that again, even though it was agony.  Also, seeing them work together and the teamwork they'd developed had me flailing and giggling all over the place.       

The plot was just as fast and exciting as all of JLA's previous books.  There wasn't a single moment when I wanted to put this book down.  My mom literally had to steal the book from my hands at one point so we could go school shopping (yay college).  It was bad, guys.  But really...

Also, Jennifer did not disappoint with the wit and sarcasm in this novel.  I was laughing out loud all the time while reading.  Mix in that with all the awesome pop culture references, and I was completely in love.  It added a realistic layer to the novel that I just couldn't resist, not that I wanted to.

Opposition was a beautiful end to one of my favorite series.  I will always love these characters and know I'll be picking up these books again sometime in the future.  I don't want to leave this world but I'll comfort myself with the thought that at least I have more JLA books to look forward to!  

“It’s not like I’m going to run up and hug him.” 

His expression turned bland. “I’d sure hope not. I might get jealous.” 

“You’d get jealous if she hugged a tree,” Archer tossed out. 

“Maybe.” Daemon coasted to a stop in a parking space behind the car. “I’m needy like that.”   

Five Cards

Author Interview: Sherry Thomas

Today, I am lucky enough to have the pleasure of hosting Sherry Thomas, the author of The Burning Sky and several historical romances, here on the blog!  

Title:  The Burning Sky

Series:  The Elemental Trilogy #1

Author:  Sherry Thomas

Age Group:  Young Adult

Publication Date:  September 17, 2013

My Review

It all began with a ruined elixir and an accidental bolt of lightning…
Iolanthe Seabourne is the greatest elemental mage of her generation—or so she's being told. The one prophesied for years to be the savior of The Realm. It is her duty and destiny to face and defeat the Bane, the greatest mage tyrant the world has ever known. A suicide task for anyone let alone a sixteen-year-old girl with no training, facing a prophecy that foretells a fiery clash to the death.
Prince Titus of Elberon has sworn to protect Iolanthe at all costs but he's also a powerful mage committed to obliterating the Bane to avenge the death of his family—even if he must sacrifice both Iolanthe and himself to achieve his goal.
But Titus makes the terrifying mistake of falling in love with the girl who should have been only a means to an end. Now, with the servants of the Bane closing in, he must choose between his mission and her life.

Find The Burning Sky online

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After reading and completely falling in love with The Burning Sky, her first young adult novel, I just needed to get in touch with her and ask her all the questions I had!  So, without further ado...

Q & A

The Burning Sky is a novel full of intense action and – my favorite - tons of magic!  How did you come up with the specific forms of magic within this story? 

Whenever I am asked to describe The Burning Sky, I tell people it’s Harry Potter with cross-dressing. So obviously I enjoy magic portrayed as an ordinary component of life—i.e., everyone around you can do it, just like everyone around you can drive a car and turn on a computer.  

But I wanted to give my world some depth and history. Since elemental magic is so different from the more “tech-heavy” forms of magic like charmed objects, potionmaking, etc., I decided to actually classify it as a class of magic on its own, a more instinctual and primal power, one that has long been in decline.

I loved Titus and Iolanthe!  Seeing from both their point of views added a layer to the novel that I enjoyed immensely!  Out of the two of them, which one of their POVs did you enjoy writing from the most and why?

I might have to say I enjoyed Titus’s POV scenes a tad more, just because boyfriend is such a different person beneath that veneer of disdain and aloofness. And the stakes for him are so high.

The world within The Burning Sky is very intricate and so beautiful.  What was your process when you began to build it?  Was it always a clear picture or did you run into challenges?

I started with a very fuzzy picture—all I knew at the beginning was that there was a meteor storm on the night of the heroine’s birth, and everything else had to be filled in. Seriously, in the first draft, I came very close to having a scene of herb-gathering, which is just about the most cliched thing you can do in fantasy!

But as I went through draft after draft, it emerged that I wanted my magical world to be modern. The mage realms are urban, highly organized, with very fast travel and fairly instantaneous communication—more like the developed nations of the 21st century and not at all medieval or agrarian.

There is a very colorful cast of characters within this story!  Are any of them based off of people you know?  Did you have a favorite?

LOL. Whenever I am on a panel with authors, at least one of them will tell the audience that they should be careful what they say or do, because it might go into the next book. And then I’ll always have to clarify that not all of us do that: I have never based a character on a real person. They are constructed entirely in my head.

I do love Kashkari, who embodies exactly what a gentleman should be. But I also love Cooper, because he is so full of squeals and feels and makes for such a funny contrast to Titus’s icy majesty.  (Actually, you see more of that in The Perilous Sea.)

Oh, I forgot: While the Inquisitor is not based on a person, I wrote her looking at images of Tilda Swinton.

I absolutely loved the idea of the Crucible!  Being able to jump into any fairytale and live it would be like a dream!  If you could be in any fairytale, which would you choose?

Probably not one in which a dark forest predominates the landscape—I don’t think I’d enjoy groping my way through that. But maybe as the cat in Puss in Boots? (Wait, there is a forest in that one too, isn’t there? I just can’t get away from the woods.)

Iolanthe has control over the elements – such a cool ability!  If you could pick any element to have control over, which would it be?  Why? 

Water. You always need water. (Of course you need air too, but air is usually already there.) ☺

When you initially got the idea for this story, which came first: the characters, the world, or the plot?  Or something else entirely?  What was your inspiration?  

A sentence—On the night I was born, stars fell—dropped into my head as I was crossing the parking lot at Costco one afternoon.

The sentence never made it into the book, as I switched to third person POV fairly early on. But that was the starting point. I looked up the last great meteor storm, which was in 1866, which meant my young mages would be living in the early 1880s. I also write books for adults set in the late Victorian period, so that was more or less perfect.  

If your protagonists are sixteen, chances are they are in school.  And there is no point doing a magical school, since that has already been done to perfection. So I decided that my mages are attending a nonmage school. And the only good nonmage schools in the 1880s are boarding schools for boys. I chose Eton, since it’s one of the most famous boarding schools in the world. And that choice obliged Iolanthe to dress as a boy and pass herself off as one, which was, of course, a ton of fun for the author.

When you write, do you normally listen to music?  Did you have a specific playlist for The Burning Sky? 

I did. I listened to a lot of production music—i.e., music that is recorded for the purpose of licensing to film, television, etc. Also known as trailer music. The tracks are often composed to evoke an epic feel, which was what I wanted. And most of the tracks on my playlist came from a production company named Two Steps from Hell. 

Besides writing YA, you also write Historical Romances such as My Beautiful Enemy and The Luckiest Lady in London!  How did your writing process change going into young adult?

It didn’t change at all. When I write, I don’t think about the audience, only the story. I do have to say though, that when I revise my romances, the changes I made flow from changes to characterization, whereas when I revise my YA fantasy, I make more changes to plot. Which makes sense, since romance is character-driven and fantasy is plot-driven.

I am so excited for the second book in The Elemental Trilogy, The Perilous Sea, to release!  Only about two more months left to wait!  Can you tell us what we can expect in this next installment?  

A breakneck pace, lots of revelations, a swoony romance—and if I’m completely honest, some heartbreak along the way. So gird yourself! 

This or That

Coffee or tea? 

Tea

M&Ms or Skittles? 

Twix

Rain or shine? 

Rain

Action or romance? 

Action with a touch of romance

Sweet or Salty? 

Salty

Edward or Jacob? 

I can has Dr. Cullen?

Okay, fine, you can have Dr. Cullen!  Thank you so much for answering these questions, Sherry!  I can't wait until The Perilous Sea releases!  

If you haven't already, make sure to buy The Burning Sky, the first book in The Elemental Trilogy!  It has magic, adventure, romance, fairy tales, and cross dressing!  What more could you ask for?

About Sherry Thomas

Sherry Thomas writes both historical romance and young adult fantasy.
On the romance side, she is one of the most acclaimed authors working in the genre today, her books regularly receiving starred reviews and best-of-the-year honors from trade publications. She is also a two-time winner of Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® Award.
On the young adult fantasy side, there isn't much to say yet, as her debut book is not scheduled for publication until September 2013.
Sherry writes in her second language. She learned English by reading lots of romance and science fiction--every word Isaac Asimov ever wrote, in fact. She is proud to say that her son is her biggest fanboy--for the YA fantasy, not the romances. At least, not yet...

Find Sherry online

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Have you read The Burning Sky yet?  What did you think?