June Genreflecting: Giveaway of Mistwood by Leah Cypress & Review of Graceling by Kristin Cashore

I'm sorry this didn't go up on Friday like it was supposed to. Unfortunately instead of finishing up the post on Thursday night I was rushing to the vet and we had to make the extremely painful decision to put our kitten Hugo down. We were in shock & are grieving, but I managed to pull this together for you for today. Enjoy.

Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck's reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle--disguised and alone--to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past.

Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck's reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn't yet identified, holds a key to her heart.
From Goodreads
Bitterblue wasn't nearly as spellbinding for me as the first two books in the Graceling Realms "series". I enjoyed the characters & some of the action, but felt that things dragged on a bit as the story progressed. While following Bitterblue as she traveled her kingdom & adventured with Katsa & Po was quite entertaining, the second half of the book was more depressing than I was prepared for. Suffice it to say that this was not one of my favorite works by Kristin Cashore.
As far as a fantasy book goes, it hits the mark right on. Between the magical realm, the unique "Graces," and the adventuring, we've got a prime example of an epic fantasy. The battle between Bitterblue's graceful reign & her tyrannical father's oppression is about as truthful a good vs. evil situation as you can get in this world. While they aren't on a specific quest together per se, there is a large group of characters that all kind of lend themselves to being grouped into smaller clusters. While I may not have been the biggest fan of this book, I do have to respect it for what it is in the genre.
Now for what I'm sure y'all are really interested in: the giveaway! In keeping with the fantasy theme I'm giving away Leah Cypress's Mistwood. You know the rules: you must be over 13 & live in the US (or at least have a US mailing address). a Rafflecopter giveaway

June Genreflecting: Fantasy: The Details

Based on the Collins English Dictionary, a subgenre is "a category that is a subdivision of a larger genre." (Source) In the case of Fantasy, we have several subgenres that are quite commonplace. They range in setting from distant past, distant future, to alternate present reality and most commonly deal with a coming-of-age scenario for our protagonist. Here are some of the most popular selections:

• Epic fantasy- Sword fights between good and evil set in a magical land..sound familiar? This is the kind of book most people think of when they hear the word "fantasy." It encompasses the likes of Tamora Pierce, J.R.R. Tolkien, and my personal favorite Kristin Cashore. This kind of writing lends itself to many different types of readers whether they prefer group adventures or solo expeditions and magic or braun. Whether you want a long series or a simple read through, this subgenre has something for everyone.
• Faerie- While I believe this one to be self-explanatory, some folks often times confuse faeries with fairy tales. The latter is dealt with in connection with myths and legends so as not to confuse readers. Faerie books deal with the creatures themselves, sprites, nymphs, elves, gnomes, etc. These creatures are all different species of magical beings that can work their charms on, oftentimes to the detriment of, humans. Holly Black, Eoin Colfer, and Melissa Marr are very popular faeries writers in YA. They offer a nice balance between real world and alternate realm settings allowing for diversity in faerie rules.
• Mythic reality- Much like the "urban fantasy" subgenre of paranormal books, mythic reality takes place in the real world. Fantastical creatures and events take place in an otherwise mundane setting allowing the reader to believe in magic all around them. These books oftentimes lend themselves very well to a movie crossover as witnessed by Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series & Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl's Beautiful Creatures. 
• Myths, legends, and fairy tales- Personally, these are the kinds of books I think of when I hear "fantasy." My go-to thoughts are of Arthurian legends and the original Grimm's fairy tales. I'm not the biggest fan of epic fantasies or the popular faerie books. I prefer my magic ensconced in these realms. Retellings of popular stories are "in" right now, but there is also a long history of complete reworkings. Some great examples are Jackson Pearce's retellings and Stacey Jay's reworkings. In general though you can find plenty of variety from the likes of Gerald Morris, Francesca Lia Block, and Donna Jo Napoli.

I truly adore getting into writer's heads when it comes to building these worlds. There are so many options and details to think about that I get overwhelmed just contemplating it. Kristin Cashore did an amazing job in an interview with Amazon a few years back detailing how she built the seven kingdom's world. I was kind of shocked at what I perceived to be the backward nature of this process, but in fact it makes tons of sense.

Amazon.com: At what point did the world of the seven kingdoms emerge, and how did it evolve and affect the arc of the story?

KC: I went back to my book plan for this question, too, and was kind of amused to discover that the seven kingdoms emerged very specifically from the opening scene I wanted to use for the book. I wanted the book to begin with Katsa sneaking at midnight through the court of a kingdom other than her own, rescuing a stranger who’d been kidnapped from a strange land. This gave me at least three kingdoms just to start with: Katsa’s, the stranger’s strange land, and the kingdom of the kidnappers. So, from the beginning, I had a sense of a big world, and as I hammered out the plot, that world kept growing. I realized that it worked for there to be a number of kingdoms, most of which were badly run—it fit in with Katsa’s desire to sneak around from kingdom to kingdom doling out undercover justice. It also made the mystery I was building more mysterious—if there are seven kings, it takes longer for your protagonist to figure out who’s responsible for mysterious goings on.

I fleshed out the details of my world as I went along, and that includes its dramatic landscapes and weather, which turned out to be really fun tools for making my characters miserable

From http://www.omnivoracious.com/2008/09/my-grace-is-wri.html

I hope this was informative. Fantasy is such a broad subject that it really helped me find my reading niche when I starting exploring the subgenres. That doesn't mean I don't try things anyway, but it's always good to know what you like from the start. Which one(s) do you prefer? What influential writers am I missing from those very abbreviated lists? Be sure to check back next week for my review of an old fantasy book Briar Rose by Jane Yolen.

June Genreflecting: Fantasy: The Basics

I wanted to do a reading challenge for the subject of Genreflecting, but I didn't get much feedback (maybe because it asked you to read 2 books for each genre and discuss them or because it's not really a "reading challenge" per se, but more an educational experiment), so I've turned it into a monthly feature! For each month of 2013, there will be a specific genre that will be analyzed. I'm planning to have author input and at least 2 reviews of books in the genre as well.

June's genre is Fantasy! Fantasy books lead readers on trips into magical realms or worlds where our rules don't necessarily apply. There are dragons, faeries, wizards, and more. It is a genre based upon reality suspension. You don't have to puzzle through the mechanics of the inner workings, you just have to go with the flow. Magic, whether embodied in wands or nature, is a binding agent for most books in this genre as well as magical creatures. The biggest conflict of definition stems from crossover books that mix fantasy with science fiction or paranormal books. There are lots of subgenres in this category ranging from fairy tale retellings to epic adventures, so be sure to check back next week for the details post. (paraphrased from Teen Genreflecting, 2003)

A few of my favorite authors you may recognize in this genre are:

• Michelle Harrison; 13 Treasures
• Maggie Stiefvater; Lament
• Karen Marie Moning; Darkfever (adult)
• Margaret Stohl & Kami Garcia; Beautiful Creatures
• Kristin Cashore; Graceling
• Jackson Pearce; Sisters Red

I'm excited to say that I've chosen my two books, one older and one newer, to read for this challenge. The older book is Briar Rose by Jane Yolen (originally published in 1992) and I'll have a review and analysis up on Friday, June 21st. The newer book is Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore (originally published in 2012) and I'll have a review and analysis up on Friday, June 28th. I'll also be hosting a giveaway, so stay tuned!

Waiting on Wednesday: Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I am super excited about the new Seven Kingdoms book from Kristin Cashore. You may remember her smash hits Graceling or Fire. Well Bitterblue takes place a few years after Graceling ends. It's sure to be another mesmerizing tale with captivating storytelling & engrossing characters. May 1st can't get here soon enough!

Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck’s reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle—disguised and alone—to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past.

Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck’s reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn’t yet identified, holds a key to her heart.

From Goodreads

How fantastic does that sound? I may re-read Graceling just to get back into the groove of her writing & worlds. I'm sure it won't disappoint.

What are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday: Owl Keeper

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week's selection is Owl Keeper by Christine Brodien-Jones and is set to be released April 13, 2010 by Delacorte BFYR .

Maxwell Unger has always loved the night. He used to do brave things like go tramping through the forest with his gran after dark. He loved the stories she told him about the world before the Destruction—about nature, and books, and the silver owls. His favorite story, though, was about the Owl Keeper.

According to Max’s gran, in times of darkness the Owl Keeper would appear to unite owls and sages against the powers of the dark. Gran is gone now, and so are her stories of how the world used to be. Max is no longer brave. The forest is dangerous, the books Gran had saved have been destroyed, and the silver owls are extinct. At least that’s what the High Echelon says. But Max knows better.

Maxwell Unger has a secret. And when a mysterious girl comes to town, he might just have to start being brave again. The time of the Owl Keeper, Gran would say, is coming soon.

From Goodreads

How awesome does that sound?! I am in love with this idea. It sounds very Fire-esque to me, where most things are relatively "normal," but in a fantastical world. Owls are one of my favorite creatures (have you seen my tattoo?) and I am very excited to see them as a main being in this book. I'm very curious about this "mysterious girl" and I hope that she doesn't instantly fall in love with Max. Here's hoping!

So what are you waiting on?

Fire by Kristin Cashore

Everyone has known since the day Fire was born that she is a monster, but that has never stopped her from trying to conceal it. In the Dells, there are many monsters who look just like their normal counterparts, except for the fantastical colors that separate them. Fire is the last human monster who, just like all other monsters, can ensnare the mind with one look. She stands out from the regular human population due to her atypical beauty and flaming red hair.

Fire has lived a rather quiet life in the outer reaches of the Dells in a house that her father Cansrel, the borderline-evil henchman of the last King, set up for her. He taught her everything she needed to know about being a human monster and all the things she is capable of, even though she refuses to use her gifts to harm others. After years of isolated living alongside her friend and occasional bedmate Archer, so named because he is the best in the land, and his father, Fire finds herself at the center of the plan to save the Dells from complete ruination.

After an attack from a rogue poacher, Fire searches for answers at nearby Queen Roen's estate. Unfortunately, Fire encounters two people she was hoping to avoid, the Queen's sons King Nash and the commander of the King's army Brigan. Feeling that she is not safe enough, despite Archer's assurances to the contrary, they decide to bring Fire to the King's castle and use her abilities to uncover the plot to overtake the throne. Fire's abilities are strong, but they can only do so much. Can she do as she is bid, even if it means becoming like her father?

A marvelous tale, told with the same build-up of Graceling, Fire continues to mesmerize. Kristin Cashore has created a fantastic world where the ordinary becomes extraordinary with a simple tweak. Humans and creatures become monsters simply by mind control and bright colors. Children become Gracelings simply by having two different colored eyes and an aptitude for something.

While I found this story more intriguing than Graceling, it was much more complicated and in depth. That's not to say that it was boring or anything like that, it just took a little while to get started because of the history and knowledge that has to be imparted to the reader. The monsters lend a new and intriguing aspect to life in an otherwise normal kingdom. The fact that there can be human monsters is even more interesting, especially since Fire is the last of her kind (and plans to keep it that way).

The characters gave a wide and varied perspective on the kingdom. Archer is an upper middle class type citizen with a jealous streak when it comes to Fire. She is a sheltered and fearful person with large expectations of herself. Brigan is a nobleman through and through with a heart so large that he's had to close it off to many. Nash is rather rash and unwieldy in his personal affairs, but quite reliable when it comes to taking care of his kingdom. They all come together in a manner that allows for many crossings and interactions of both a personal and public sort.

Truly an exciting read that I will enjoy again and again, Fire is an enrapturing novel filled with enticing characters and more action than I hope I ever have to see in real life. Pick it up and give it a shot and I truly hope you will agree!

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Graces are supposed to be gifts. How is the ability to fight extremely well and kill anything a gift? Katsa, a young, female warrior has pondered that very question for most of her life. Her uncle, the King, uses her as an enforcer and she has caused more pain than she cares to remember. There is no hiding her abilities because not only is she incapable of just not fulfilling her grace, but her eyes give her away. All gracelings have two different colored eyes.

Her unparalleled abilities are what allow her an escape. She is given a wide berth by many in the kingdom, so she is free to do as she pleases. She chose to create an alliance of local citizens who right wrongs and injustices committed by the King. During one such mission, rescuing an old man from prison, she meets a fellow graceling. Her mission and the graceling have more in common than she first realizes and soon she finds herself, along with some trusty side-kicks, on a quest to discover the plot behind the kidnapping of the imprisoned man.

An enthralling fusion of fantasy, adventure, and love, this debut novel is sure to capture your imagination. It’s a little bumpy towards the end, but still a fabulous piece of work for a first-time author.