Welcome to my stop on the Rook Blog Tour, hosted by the ladies of Rockstar Book Tours. I've got a review and giveaway for you, but be sure to check out the rest of the stops (schedule at the end of the post) for more awesome content, including interviews and guest posts from the author!
Title: Rook Author: Sharon Cameron Series: n/a Publisher: Scholastic Press Publication Date: April 28, 2015 Source: ARC received from publisher Purchase:Amazon | Barnes & Noble
History has a way of repeating itself. In the Sunken City that was once Paris, all who oppose the new revolution are being put to the blade. Except for those who disappear from their prison cells, a red-tipped rook feather left in their place. Is the mysterious Red Rook a savior of the innocent or a criminal?
Meanwhile, across the sea in the Commonwealth, Sophia Bellamy’s arranged marriage to the wealthy René Hasard is the last chance to save her family from ruin. But when the search for the Red Rook comes straight to her doorstep, Sophia discovers that her fiancé is not all he seems. Which is only fair, because neither is she.
As the Red Rook grows bolder and the stakes grow higher, Sophia and René find themselves locked in a tantalizing game of cat and mouse.
With every retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel I read, I'm more and more convinced that I absolutely must read the original classic. And while it's true that this is technically only the second retelling I've read, it is by far my favorite. I would give this book all the stars. Neverending, infinity stars.
But this book is not strictly a retelling; it is more of a tribute to the original story and very well done at that. I guess you could call this book post-apocalyptic in nature because of it's focus on France after the shifting of the poles, subsequent holes in the ozone and the resulting fall of technology. But it doesn't feel like your typical post-apocalyptic fare. This story is just so much goodness wrapped into one pretty package, and it's focus was more reliant on the fact that history is doomed to repeat itself and the revolution that fact seems to spark in people.
Sophia Bellamy is my favorite kind of heroine: skilled but not infallible, charming but not easily trusting, and completely and totally underestimated. René Hasard is also my favorite kind of love interest. The one who worms his way into the heroine's heart -- but not easily -- and provides me with delicious banter. Which is also why this is one of my favorite kinds of romances…I just adore the passion of a good hate-to-love romance.
The entire cast of characters endeared themselves to me practically from the beginning, though. Hasard's family charmed the pants off me, and Sophia's cohorts were no less enchanting. And the vile LeBlanc and Allemande were sufficiently evil. I've said it before, but I don't usually enjoy novels with so many third person perspectives. Though I think I may be retracting that statement in the near future with as many novels as I've enjoyed recently written in just that style. I was so engrossed in this novel that I just stopped expecting characters to act a certain way or for things to happen and simply allowed myself to enjoy the story.
It wasn't hard to do. This book just does not quit. Fast-paced from the moment I cracked the spine and it only picked up speed as I continued to read. It was intense and I was fraught with nerves the entire time, especially as one character's perspective would leave off on one train of thought, only to have another character pick up that same train of thought. It rent the novel with a sense of urgency that had me flipping pages well past my usual bedtime. I haven't found the energy to stay up into the night just to finish a novel in ages, but that's exactly what I did with Rook.
This homage to The Scarlet Pimpernel is definitely going to make it onto my list of favorites this year. It's just such a ME book and it's definitely left me curious about the author's other works. And I am just so happy to have read such an amazing fantasy novel that isn't the beginning of another trilogy. :)
GIF it to me straight:
About the author:
Sharon Cameron was awarded the 2009 Sue Alexander Most Promising New Work Award by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators for her debut novel, The Dark Unwinding. When not writing Sharon can be found thumbing dusty tomes, shooting her longbow, or indulging in her lifelong search for secret passages. She lives with her family in Nashville, Tennessee.
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week's WoW selections are...
's Pick:
Title: Written in the Stars Author: Aisha Saeed Series:n/a
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books Publication Date: May 24th, 2015
This heart-wrenching novel explores what it is like to be thrust into an unwanted marriage. Has Naila’s fate been written in the stars? Or can she still make her own destiny?
Naila’s conservative immigrant parents have always said the same thing: She may choose what to study, how to wear her hair, and what to be when she grows up—but they will choose her husband. Following their cultural tradition, they will plan an arranged marriage for her. And until then, dating—even friendship with a boy—is forbidden. When Naila breaks their rule by falling in love with Saif, her parents are livid. Convinced she has forgotten who she truly is, they travel to Pakistan to visit relatives and explore their roots. But Naila’s vacation turns into a nightmare when she learns that plans have changed—her parents have found her a husband and they want her to marry him, now! Despite her greatest efforts, Naila is aghast to find herself cut off from everything and everyone she once knew. Her only hope of escape is Saif . . . if he can find her before it’s too late.
I'll be honest. The cover reminds me of Aladdin, so that's the number one thing that drew me to this book. lol. It does sound great though. I love books that take place in other countries. :)
History has a way of repeating itself. In the Sunken City that was once Paris, all who oppose the new revolution are being put to the blade. Except for those who disappear from their prison cells, a red-tipped rook feather left in their place. Is the mysterious Red Rook a savior of the innocent or a criminal?
Meanwhile, across the sea in the Commonwealth, Sophia Bellamy’s arranged marriage to the wealthy René Hasard is the last chance to save her family from ruin. But when the search for the Red Rook comes straight to her doorstep, Sophia discovers that her fiancé is not all he seems. Which is only fair, because neither is she.
As the Red Rook grows bolder and the stakes grow higher, Sophia and René find themselves locked in a tantalizing game of cat and mouse.
Ahhh! This sounds awesome! There are sure to be daring prison escapes, harrowing ordeals, and a bit of a romance, if I'm reading that summary correctly. I didn't read Cameron's other series, but I heard relatively good things. Maybe if I like this one, I'll make time for the other. :)
What are you desperately waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comments or share a link to your own WoW post!
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!
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
{Blog Tour} Rook by Sharon Cameron: Review & Giveaway
Welcome to my stop on the Rook Blog Tour, hosted by the ladies of Rockstar Book Tours. I've got a review and giveaway for you, but be sure to check out the rest of the stops (schedule at the end of the post) for more awesome content, including interviews and guest posts from the author!
Author: Sharon Cameron
Series: n/a
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: April 28, 2015
Source: ARC received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
With every retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel I read, I'm more and more convinced that I absolutely must read the original classic. And while it's true that this is technically only the second retelling I've read, it is by far my favorite. I would give this book all the stars. Neverending, infinity stars.
But this book is not strictly a retelling; it is more of a tribute to the original story and very well done at that. I guess you could call this book post-apocalyptic in nature because of it's focus on France after the shifting of the poles, subsequent holes in the ozone and the resulting fall of technology. But it doesn't feel like your typical post-apocalyptic fare. This story is just so much goodness wrapped into one pretty package, and it's focus was more reliant on the fact that history is doomed to repeat itself and the revolution that fact seems to spark in people.
Sophia Bellamy is my favorite kind of heroine: skilled but not infallible, charming but not easily trusting, and completely and totally underestimated. René Hasard is also my favorite kind of love interest. The one who worms his way into the heroine's heart -- but not easily -- and provides me with delicious banter. Which is also why this is one of my favorite kinds of romances…I just adore the passion of a good hate-to-love romance.
The entire cast of characters endeared themselves to me practically from the beginning, though. Hasard's family charmed the pants off me, and Sophia's cohorts were no less enchanting. And the vile LeBlanc and Allemande were sufficiently evil. I've said it before, but I don't usually enjoy novels with so many third person perspectives. Though I think I may be retracting that statement in the near future with as many novels as I've enjoyed recently written in just that style. I was so engrossed in this novel that I just stopped expecting characters to act a certain way or for things to happen and simply allowed myself to enjoy the story.
It wasn't hard to do. This book just does not quit. Fast-paced from the moment I cracked the spine and it only picked up speed as I continued to read. It was intense and I was fraught with nerves the entire time, especially as one character's perspective would leave off on one train of thought, only to have another character pick up that same train of thought. It rent the novel with a sense of urgency that had me flipping pages well past my usual bedtime. I haven't found the energy to stay up into the night just to finish a novel in ages, but that's exactly what I did with Rook.
This homage to The Scarlet Pimpernel is definitely going to make it onto my list of favorites this year. It's just such a ME book and it's definitely left me curious about the author's other works. And I am just so happy to have read such an amazing fantasy novel that isn't the beginning of another trilogy. :)
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Tour Schedule:
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Waiting on Wednesday: Written in the Stars & Rook
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
This week's WoW selections are...
's Pick:
Author: Aisha Saeed
Series: n/a
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Publication Date: May 24th, 2015
I'll be honest. The cover reminds me of Aladdin, so that's the number one thing that drew me to this book. lol. It does sound great though. I love books that take place in other countries. :)
's Pick:
Author: Sharon Cameron
Series: n/a
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: April 28, 2015
Ahhh! This sounds awesome! There are sure to be daring prison escapes, harrowing ordeals, and a bit of a romance, if I'm reading that summary correctly. I didn't read Cameron's other series, but I heard relatively good things. Maybe if I like this one, I'll make time for the other. :)
What are you desperately waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comments or share a link to your own WoW post!
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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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