, and the story has just gotten better with each installment. On my stop, I have an interview with the woman of the hour herself, author Rae Carson. But first, a little bit about the final book in this epic trilogy:
You can find my reviews of all the books in this series below, with the exception of
the Fire & Thorns series
Jen: Welcome to the blog, Rae! For those who haven’t started the series yet, how would you describe The Fire and Thorns trilogy to them?
Rae: It's like Game of Thrones, with political intrigue, shocking deaths, and lots of bad weather. Except instead of Jon Snow, the hero is more like Ugly Betty.
Jen: Oh, that is a great comparison! You’ve created a very relatable character in Elisa, much like Ugly Betty. She’s self-deprecating and battles her own insecurities as an overweight princess in the beginning but grows to be a very strong and independent ruler. Where did you get your inspiration for this character, and why did you choose to make her so realistic amidst all the other fantasy elements of your novels?
Rae: I was inspired by hundreds of teen girls I worked with as a volunteer. Teen girls can be brutal to themselves in a way that's shocking and heartbreaking. You'll occasionally see the self-loathing girl in fiction, but only if it's an "issue" book about cutting or drugs or whatever. I wanted to validate the existence of the non-cutting, non-drug-taking, non-promiscuous self-loather. She exists, therefore she should be represented in fiction.
Jen: I agree completely...we need more protagonists like this in young adult literature, and not just because certain circumstances warrant a character like that.
Some authors write out very detailed outlines and others write by the seat of their pants. Which kind of author are you? Has it always been that way?
Rae: I have touchstone moments in my head, a sort of mini-outline, that I write to. But all the filler stuff is very seat-of-my-pantsy. I've tried writing to a detailed outline, and I can do it if I have to, but it's about as fun as sticking pencils in my eyeballs. I love to discover a story as it happens!
Jen: I'm sure this story, in particular, was very fun to discover along the way. When you started writing this series, did you already know how it would all end and who was going to make it to the finish line?
Rae: Yes, I knew how it would end, and I *almost* knew who would live and who would die. There were a couple of characters I wasn't sure about at first. I don't believe in character murder just for the sake of shock value. Neither do I believe that surviving characters should endure great trials without some kind of loss. So I had to think hard about what I wanted to accomplish, character- and plot-wise, with each death or survival.
Jen: Speaking of, how hard is it for you to kill off a beloved character? You’re so very good at it – some might even say you’re the George R.R. Martin of YA fantasy – and I was wondering if it pained you to do so. And of all those who meet their demise in The Fire and Thorns trilogy, who was the hardest to let go of?
Rae: The hardest death came in book 1. I bet you can guess who! I really liked him, but it was important to let him go. On the other hand, there was a death at the end of The Bitter Kingdom that I spent three books actually looking forward to!
Jen: Aaaah! I felt the same way while reading...I miss he-who-shall-not-be-named, but his absence was necessary in order for other characters to make their move. And that character you looked forward to killing? Assuming we're talking about the same person, I didn't necessarily wish death for them, but I remember wishing some bodily harm to them in book two because of all their meddling. ;0)
With the plethora of fantasy novels available to young adults these days, what do you think sets your series apart from the rest?
Rae: It's a golden age for young adult fiction, and the diversity is astounding. I think you can find just about anything!
When I first started writing, books about teen girls who could fight like men were starting to take off, and I gobbled them up. I guess you could call it a first wave of feminism in young adult fantasy fiction, and it was so refreshing. But a second wave of YA feminism has arrived, and I think my books are part of it. In this wave, young women have lots of different ways to be considered "strong," and not all of them are "acting like a man." Elisa definitely grows in physical power throughout the series, but it's her other qualities—intelligence, determination, love for her people—that make her truly strong.
Jen: Fantasy has really found a following in YA literature, where contemporary and supernatural stories seem to have reigned supreme for so long, and I'm so glad to see so many "strong" female characters. What are some of your favorite fantasy novels or series?
Rae: I love anything by Tamora Pierce, Robin McKinley, or George R.R. Martin. Some recent fantasy favorites have been Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst and Dark Triumph by R.L. LaFevers.
Jen: Oh, I
loved Dark Triumph, but I haven't read any of the others. Name a novel that you wish you had written yourself, that you could take credit for.
Rae: Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl is brilliant. I aspire to write something that thought-provoking and emotionally dense someday.
Jen: I haven't read that one either! But from the sound of it, I need to. Since writing/finishing The Fire and Thorns trilogy, how has life changed for you?
Rae: I take way fewer showers now, and I wear mostly yoga pants. I pretend elaborately for a living. In short, my life is awesome.
Jen: Haha, that does sound awesome! Now that the final book in the series is about to be released to the world, what’s next for you? Can you share any details on your next project?
Rae: Sure! I'm working on a new trilogy for Greenwillow. It's about a sixteen-year-old girl with the magical ability to find gold, who flees west in 1849 during the California Gold Rush to escape a greedy, dangerous uncle and make a life for herself. The first book is a wagons west story like
Little House on the Prairie, except jacked up on meth.
Jen: Thank you so much for visiting with us today, Rae! I can't wait to read your Gold Rush story...that time period in our history fascinates me!
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Walk on Earth a Stranger Release Day Blitz
You guys! I am SO excited to help celebrate the release of Rae Carson's Walk on Earth a Stranger today! I read this beautiful, poignant book over the summer, and it is just absolutely incredible. You can read my full review here, but be sure to check out the rest of this post for an opportunity to win your own copy, as well as a chance to read the first chapter of the book!
I had visions of playing Oregon Trail dancing in my head while reading this novel, and if you know what I'm talking about, then you'll likely enjoy this novel, too! :D
About the book:
Author: Rae Carson
Series: The Gold Seer Trilogy, book #1
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: September 22, 2015
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
One winner will receive a set of the three Girl of Fire and Thorns books (in paperback format). US only. Ends on September 30th at Midnight EST!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
If you've read Walk on Earth a Stranger, what did you think? If not, what excites you most about this story?
Monday, August 31, 2015
{Review} Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson
Author: Rae Carson
Series: The Gold Seer Trilogy, book #1
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: September 22, 2015
Source: ARC received for review from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
You guys, I didn't think I could love Rae Carson's writing any more than I did after finishing the Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy, but then I read Walk on Earth a Stranger. Admittedly, the last time I read a summary for this book was back in May 2013 when I added it to my TBR on Goodreads. All I remembered was that it was historical fiction focusing on the California Gold Rush. Not necessarily my kind of story, but Rae Carson penned it so I knew I'd at least be giving it the old college try. But it was so amazing and brilliant and brought back memories of playing Oregon Trail in elementary and middle school. So, of course, while I was searching for the game online, I had to take a break from writing this review and play for a bit. =)
Lee is the exact opposite of Elisa from Carson's first series, at least in the beginning, and yet I loved her tremendously. Whereas Elisa initially shrunk away from her future and duties, Lee embraces what she has to do when her world is turned upside-down. Still, there are a lot of similarities between the two protagonists, too, because when push comes to shove, both of these girls let the fire burning within them reign supreme and they get the job done. And both are harboring secrets that could mean the difference between life and death.
When I said that this story reminded me of playing Oregon Trail while reading, I wasn't kidding. There are covered wagons. Yokes of oxen to pull them. Hunting and trading and river crossings that can turn disastrous. And disease that can take out a wagon train lickety-split like. (I'm still playing the game in another tab while I'm writing this, so I can vouch for all those things. :P) But while the game was fun and somewhat entertaining, this story was sad and heartfelt and a little bit hopeful. It tugged at my heartstrings and kept me on the edge of my seat because just like with that game, you never knew what the trail would throw at you next.
Walk on Earth a Stranger isn't just about what happens on the trail, though. We get to see a little of Lee's home life before she sets out on her own -- and what put her on that course -- and there's a smidge of a romance thrown in, too. I honestly wasn't expecting much on that front, since Lee has to dress as a boy the minute she decides on this quest of hers, but it worked and it was rather sweet. But the hard-earned friendships and trials and tribulations of the trail were definitely the driving force of the story.
The book also goes a long way toward encouraging acceptance in a time where there was little to be had: of African Americans, of gays, of foreigners...even of women as equals. I loved every aspect and found it entirely too difficult to put this book aside for any length of time. Lee's story just kept calling to me, the way the Oregon Trail is calling to me as we speak, and even though I have a multitude of other things to do right now. I never once found Manifest Destiny as intriguing while learning about it in school as I did while reading this story. It's well-researched, and it felt like reading the gritty journal of one who actually traveled across the continent to get to California.
Like I mentioned, I hadn't read the summary prior to picking this one up, and I was actually kind of hoping for a stand-alone, what with all of the other series I have yet to finish. But once I got to the end, I was pretty stoked to realize that there was more of the story to come. I can't imagine the hardships Lee and her wagon train faced, but I also can't get enough of them. Also, I want so badly to see some of the characters get the comeuppance they so richly deserve.
I highly recommend this story for my fellow thirty-somethings who got to play this game while waiting for others to finish up their tests or for anyone who just loves a good historical fiction that's not afraid to get its hands dirty. I will definitely be in line for the next book in this saga.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
{Short Story Sunday} Review: The King's Guard by Rae Carson
And so, every Sunday for the foreseeable future, I would like to highlight short stories and novellas set in worlds I've already come to love and learn a little more about some of the secondary characters in my favorite novels. I'll be underscoring some of my favorite aspects of these short works of fiction, in addition to offering up a mini review of each work.
This week I'm featuring a prequel story from the Fire and Thorns world:
Author: Rae Carson
Series: Fire and Thorns, book #0.7
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: July 30, 2013
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
But Alejandro needs Hector for a secret mission, one that gives him the chance to prove to everyone—including himself—that he is worthy to be a Royal Guard. Hector must break into the ancient Fortress of Wind to retrieve something so important that the kingdom's future depends on it. What Hector finds in the fortress will stretch his bond of friendship with his king near to breaking. And it will prepare him to become the fearsome warrior and lord commander Elisa will never let go.
A riveting prequel to Rae Carson's epic and acclaimed Fire and Thorns series.
HECTOR!!!!!! Hectorhectorhectorhectorhector!!!!! Okay, I'm done.
Admittedly, I was hesitant to read this novel because I knew the Elisa/Hector swoons would be non-existent since this is Hector's POV prior to Elisa's reign in Joya d'Arena. But then all I had to remember was how I love Hector and that he's quite possibly one of my favorite love interests ever, and I was convinced this novella needed to be read, despite the fact that I've already finished reading the full-length novels in the series.
And I'm really glad I did. Not only do you get a peak at Hector as a young man, vying for his spot as a member of the Royal Guard, but you get to see Alejandro with his first wife, Rosaura. Oh, and how Hector is instrumental in Rosario's birth. It's quite priceless. I never would have guessed...
Also, Fernando. I had to double-check the name, but as soon as he was described as a superior archer, I knew it had to be that Fernando. Not that he was given much mention in the books, but the fact that I remember him is significant. But I do have a fondness for archery. =)
I've loved all of the novellas in this series, but I think this is my favorite because even though we know Hector as the honorable man he is now, it was nice to see that he was the same at the tender age of 15.
Rating:
I write books about teens who must do brave things. I'm originally from California, but I moved to Ohio to marry my husband, who is the smartest and therefore sexiest man I know. We live in Columbus with my teenaged stepsons, who are awesome. My books tend to contain lots of adventure, a little magic and romance, and smart girls who make (mostly) smart choices. I especially love to write about questions I don't know the answers to.
Find Rae:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Friday, August 23, 2013
{Blog Tour} The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson: Interview + Giveaway
Guys, I am sooooo excited to be hosting a stop on The Bitter Kingdom Blog Tour, courtesy of the fantastic ladies over at Rockstar Book Tours! I have loved this series from page one of The Girl of Fire and Thorns, and the story has just gotten better with each installment. On my stop, I have an interview with the woman of the hour herself, author Rae Carson. But first, a little bit about the final book in this epic trilogy:
Author: Rae Carson
Series: Fire and Thorns, book #3
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: August 27, 2013
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Elisa is a fugitive in her own country. Her enemies have stolen the man she loves in order to lure her to the gate of darkness. As she and her daring companions take one last quest into unknown enemy territory to save Hector, Elisa will face hardships she's never imagined. And she will discover secrets about herself and her world that could change the course of history. She must rise up as champion-a champion to those who have hated her most.
Riveting, surprising, and achingly romantic, Rae Carson has spun a bold and powerful conclusion to her extraordinary trilogy.
You can find my reviews of all the books in this series below, with the exception of The King's Guard, which will post on Sunday:
Rae Carson is the award-winning author of The Girl of Fire and Thorns Trilogy. She was named a Publishers Weekly Flying Start author for Fall 2011 and was a finalist for the Morris, Cybils, and Andre Norton Awards. Her first novel was named to ALA's Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults list.
Rae lives in Ohio with her husband, novelist C.C. Finlay, two stepsons, and two very naughty kitties. She is hard at work on her next trilogy.
Find Rae:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Friday, August 16, 2013
Review: The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson
Author: Rae Carson
Series: Fire and Thorns, book #3
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: August 27, 2013
Source: received from publisher via Edelweiss
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Elisa is a fugitive in her own country. Her enemies have stolen the man she loves in order to lure her to the gate of darkness. As she and her daring companions take one last quest into unknown enemy territory to save Hector, Elisa will face hardships she's never imagined. And she will discover secrets about herself and her world that could change the course of history. She must rise up as champion-a champion to those who have hated her most. Riveting, surprising, and achingly romantic, Rae Carson has spun a bold and powerful conclusion to her extraordinary trilogy.
I had to go grab my reviewer hat for this one, otherwise I'd just be a fangirling mess all over this review, and nobody wants to see that. I've been a major fan of Rae Carson's Fire and Thorns trilogy since I picked up the audiobook for The Girl of Fire and Thorns last fall. And then I immediately inhaled Crown of Embers, which will forever remain my favorite in this series.
And then comes along The Bitter Kingdom, to further shake things up and break my heart a little more. I shall try to keep this review spoiler free, but I make no promises because of the aforementioned fangirling mess I am liable to become at any moment. Let's just kick it off with my favorite aspect of this series:
If I had to pick a male character from any book I've read to spend the rest of my life with, this guy would be it. He's loyal, honest, caring, strong, clever, and cunning, and about a billion other wonderful adjectives that all equate to his being pretty effing awesome. I love how he's stood by Elisa from the beginning. Watching this relationship develop was like watching one of those flowers that only blooms at night: magical.
I wouldn't say Elisa's had her pick of suitors, but of all those that she has been romantically linked with throughout the series, this guy's my favorite. I saw him back before Elisa ever did. So, he's pretty much just been waiting for her to see him. Well, that, and a bunch of other people to die. Which brings me to my next point, since this review isn't (all) about Hector...
There's been a whole lot of all of that in this series. Some caused by magic, some caused by Elisa herself, and some caused by other powers that be. I'm going to blame all of the death on the author, though. She's been compared to George R.R. Martin and aptly so. Just remember this, kids, don't get too attached to anyone, and you'll be okay. That is no less true in this final installment...just a fair warning.
The more obstacles these characters were faced with, the stronger they become, and the more excited I got. I thrive on all of the fight scenes and the running for your life scenes, and yes, even the "Elisa's butt is tired from riding on a horse so long" scenes. Even when there's no action, there's still always something going on in this story.
These books are a quest for the source of magic in this world and a search to bring peace to the kingdoms. But they are also a journey of self-discovery for Elisa. She has matured so much over the course of these books. From an overweight princess, married off to a king she's never met, to joining a revolutionary movement, to becoming a strong ruler and making the really tough decisions that office dictates...oh, yes, she has definitely come a long way. But she's not so grown that she could come up with a better name for her mare than Horse. :0) Though, that might have something to do with her fear of the gentle beasts.
I love how the Spanish influence encompasses nearly every facet of this series. From the setting to the foods prepared and the importance of religion, it's everywhere. Religion is VERY important in these books, but it's not off-putting, as it might be in other stories, because it has a place in this world and in character motivations. Anyway, I'm glad I listened to the first book because it helped with a lot of pronunciations in the other books. I just hate when I've been saying/reading something wrong the whole time!
I'll never be able to fully convey how much I love these books, and I'm sure I'm forgetting to tell you plenty. I think it's always hardest to write reviews for the books you absolutely loved, and this was one of the hardest because I'm saying goodbye to one of my favorite series. So, I'm just going to let my inner-fangirl sum it up for me: Epic finale! Epic! Aaaaaahhhhh! I want to crawl inside Rae Carson's head and live there. I want more from this world. I want more books from Rae Carson. IwantIwantIwantIwantIwant!!!
Be sure to stop by next Friday for my interview with Rae Carson as part of The Bitter Kingdom Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours!
Rating:
I write books about teens who must do brave things. I'm originally from California, but I moved to Ohio to marry my husband, who is the smartest and therefore sexiest man I know. We live in Columbus with my teenaged stepsons, who are awesome. My books tend to contain lots of adventure, a little magic and romance, and smart girls who make (mostly) smart choices. I especially love to write about questions I don't know the answers to.
Find Rae:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
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starryeyedjen
- I work with numbers by day, and I'm a mommy and avid reader by night. I'm a self-proclaimed Spreadsheet Queen, and I'll read anything you put in front of me. I seriously love all the books! And I adore audiobooks, too!
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