Novel Novice

Ariel better move over, because there’s another little mermaid shaking things up under the sea in Of Poseidon by Anna Banks.

Okay, so maybe she’s not exactly a mermaid, but Emma — the heroine of Of Poseidon – has one fishy story that will have readers swooning for more:

Galen, a Syrena prince, searches land for a girl he’s heard can communicate with fish. It’s while Emma is on vacation at the beach that she meets Galen. Although their connection is immediate and powerful, Galen’s not fully convinced that Emma’s the one he’s been looking for. That is, until a deadly encounter with a shark proves  that Emma and her Gift may be the only thing that can save his kingdom. He needs her help–no matter what the risk.

I haven’t loved a mermaid story this much since devouring L.K. Madigan’s The Mermaid’s Mirror two years ago. Of Poseidon is a thrilling new addition to the realm of paranormal romance, written with a dashing blend of humor and intrigue. It’s a true gift for an author to balance high stakes drama and intense romance with a witty sense of comedy, yet that’s exactly what Banks has pulled off. Of Poseidon is funny and seductive and page-turning all at the same time.

Paranormal romance certainly remains one of the hottest commodities in YA literature these days, but with so many titles coming out, it can be hard to stand out. Of Poseidon breaks through the white noise, with a stunning and unique story and really likeable characters. Readers will love following Emma’s journey of self discovery, laughing over friends like Rayna and Toraf, and swooning over Galen. And while Of Poseidon is heavily infused with humor and lightness, Banks doesn’t shy away from heavy subject matters like death, illness, and even a forced marriage. All delicate subject matters are woven into the story with a careful hand.

The end result is a story that is richly developed, well-conceived, and expertly executed. Of Poseidon is a stunning new addition to the young adult literature shelves, and readers (like me) will be anxiously awaiting the sequel with bated breath.

Dive into Of Poseidon when it hits store shelves on Tuesday, May 22nd. It will also be featured as our June Book of the Month next month right here at Novel Novice!

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Today, we have a very special treat for you from Masque of the Red Death author Bethany Griffin … three exclusive sneak peeks at the sequel!

Sneak Peek #1:

The soft rustling of thousands of wings, at the same time that my nose registers an acrid scent. The darkness of the roof moves restlessly, and I realize that this place is filled with bats. Enormous, bloated, disease-carrying bats.

Sneak Peek #2:

The basement walls are lined with clocks and there are tables covered with half built clocks, tables of cogs and gears.

“He wants a great clock. The biggest I’ve ever built. And he wants it soon.”

“Why?”

“Prince Prospero doesn’t deign to tell a clockmaker why he wants a clock,” the man says.

Sneak Peek #3:

He doesn’t pull me close, but the length of my body rests against his.

I can feel his heart beating. Rapidly. Unless it’s my heart.

He doesn’t move. Maybe he’s going to hold me here, against his heart, forever.

Well? What do you think? Tell us in the comments your thoughts! The sequel to Masque of the Red Death will be out next year.

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Christopher Moore’s latest book, Sacre Bleu, opens with the prologue telling us that this book is about the color blue.  How can you write a book about the color blue?  This is how. Christopher Moore pulls it off with his great gift of story and humor.

Sacre Bleu begins with the death of Vincent Van Gogh, the artist shooting himself in a corn field and then walking a mile to his doctor for help.  But was that all there was to it?  What was influencing Vincent Van Gogh to act so strangely?  What influences and inspires all of the famous artists through history?  What is the secret of the Sacre Blue?  And what is so special about this ultramarine blue, this Sacre Bleu?

Christopher Moore answers these questions with his usual hilarity.  And like his other books, Sacre Bleu does not disappoint.  It is a fun romp through art history, and while the details may not always be exactly accurate (remember Lamb?) it is still a great introduction to some famous paintings. Beautiful color prints throughout the book twill have the average person (meaning me) going, “Oh yeah, I know that painting!”

Now add Moore’s twist to the creation of the artwork, and the painting just got better.  Like an image that emerges slowly as the paint is layered onto the canvas, Christopher Moore layers his story. The plot weaves through the Impressionist period with the baker-turned-artist Lucien Lessard and Henri Toulouse-Lautrec trying to figure out what is happening to themselves and their friends.  Why do they seem to have lost whole chunks of time with no recollection of where they were and what they were doing?  And why are they afraid of the “colorman”? If only the book were true, it would be even better.  Or is it true?

And oh yeah, notice, that the book is printed in “sacre bleu” ink, not black, for those of you who are speed reading or using a black and white e-reader.  That’ll teach you not to buy the hard copy! And with a book as pretty (and hilarious) as Sacre Bleu, you definitely want a hard copy.

Sacre Bleu is in stores now. (And a note for readers, it is an adult book, so language & content is intended for older readers.)

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In honor of our May Book of the Month, we’re bringing you some exclusive desktop wallpapers featuring Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin — plus a bonus wallpaper featuring the work of Edgar Allan Poe!

Just click to view full-size, then right-click to save.

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Today, we are thrilled to be debuting the cover for The Program by Suzanne Young, a stunning new thriller set to be released in April 2013. I was lucky enough to read a very early version of this book, and all I can say is … WOW! It’s Suzanne’s best work to date and is unlike anything else out there. Definitely add this book to your reading wish list:

The Program by Suzanne Young

SLOANE KNOWS BETTER THAN TO CRY IN FRONT OF ANYONE.

With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in.

AND THE PROGRAM IS COMING FOR THEM.

And now, without further ado, here is the cover:

Stunning, right? Be sure to check out Mundie Moms to see the full jacket artwork, then stop by The Story Siren to see the case art — which is what you’ll see on the actual hardcover when you take off the jacket. So neat!

Here’s what others are saying about The Program:

“Heartbreaking and chilling, THE PROGRAM will leave you breathless.”

- Kimberly Derting, author of THE BODY FINDER series

“Suspenseful and touching, THE PROGRAM feels frighteningly real.”

- Jay Asher, author of THIRTEEN REASONS WHY.

“An alternate reality that’s as gritty and disturbing as any dystopian world, THE PROGRAM is timely and tragic, with a romance that will take your breath away.”

- Bethany Griffin, author of MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH

“Anyone searching for a fast-paced read with equal parts romance and action should get with THE PROGRAM.”

- Cat Patrick, author of FORGOTTEN

Suzanne Young currently lives in Tempe, Arizona, where she teaches high school English. When not writing obsessively, Suzanne can be found searching her own tragic memories for inspiration. She is the author of several books for teens, including THE PROGRAM, A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL, and A WANT SO WICKED. Learn more at www.suzanne-young.blogspot.com

For the comments: What do you think of the cover? Tell us below!

Filed under: Covers, Exclusive, Feature | 6 Comments »

It’s time for part 3 of our exclusive Q&A with Masque of the Red Death author Bethany Griffin, in which she answers our flash questions!

Private concert: who’s playing?

Nine Inch Nails

Pizza toppings?

Mushrooms and Canadian Bacon.

Book you can’t stop re-reading?

I used to reread Lord of the Rings every other year, but haven’t for the last couple of years. I switch around, I reread lots of fantasy last summer, including all of George R R Martin’s books, though I threw the last one up against the wall in a mad rage . There are lots of books I’ve read 2-3 times, but very few that I’ve read more than that.

Living or dead, who would you like to have dinner with?

Stephen King. I’m not that great of a conversationalist, but I don’t think you’d have to be with Stephen King!

Perfect vacation?

Anyplace with old stuff, and castles. My husband claims that we visited every castle in Germany in like three days (he’s exaggerating, half of them we just looked at from the outside). But he’s agreed to do the Dracula Tour of Eastern Europe with me summer after next (yay more castles!).

Look at your desk right now. Name five things within reach.

iPhone, Masque bookmarks, sticky notes, sharpie, green nail polish.

Thanks again to Bethany for answering all our questions! Be sure to tune in throughout May for daily features on her books & more features from Bethany herself!

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In my attempt to catch up on contests this evening, I bring you four non-writing contest winners!

Until I Die Blog Tour

As part of the official blog tour for Until I Die by Amy Plum, we offered up a signed paperback of Amy’s first book, Die For Me. The winner is:

RaeLynn Dunton

Congrats!

Bitterblue

To celebrate the release of Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore, we offered up a Seven Kingdoms tote bag & a copy of Bitterblue. The winner is:

Daisy Richeson … who says she heard about the Graceling series from “Best friend, who works at a library.”

Congrats!

The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom

To celebrate the blog tour for The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy, we offered up a free copy of the audiobook! The winner is:

Jessica McKenna, who says her favorite fairy tale prince is “The prince in Sleeping Beauty” (which was easily the most popular answer we got to this question!)

Congrats!

Vampire’s Kiss

To celebrate the release of Vampire’s Kiss by Veronica Wolff, we offered up two copies of the new book — second in a really awesome, kick-ass vampire series.

The winners are:

Candace Hawkins and Donna Simmonds

Congrats to all our winners, and look for more contest announcements soon! I’m trying very hard to get caught up quickly!

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For our February Book of the Month, we featured Darkness Becomes Her and the sequel A Beautiful Evil by Kelly Keaton. Both books feature the significant influence of Greek mythology, so for our writing contest we asked you to write your own modernized twist on a classic myth!

Our two winners will each receive a set of finished copies of Darkness Becomes Her and A Beautiful Evil courtesy of Simon & Schuster!

Here are the winners & their stories:

Amy Cheng, a story inspired by Pandora:

It is an otherwise ordinary Tuesday evening when the worst storm of the century hits London. Three hundred people are wounded, five killed, eighteen trams are derailed, and, most importantly, all communications are knocked out.

Penelope Dorian is thirty-five, a successful businesswoman, and entirely dependent on her phone. She has never been married and has no current paramour, but she has one son and, being the youngest of seven children, enough nieces and nephews to never be wanting in the company of the young. She believes in creationism on Sundays, reincarnation on Wednesdays, and evolution on the remaining days; Fridays are board meetings and pub nights, Saturdays are Oxfam volunteer hours and country club gossip, Tuesdays and Thursdays are biweekly celebrations of insomnia. Simply put, she does not have time for young Jonathan Dorian, nor for the academic emails that used to show up in her email inbox but now are redirected into the junk folder: Back to School Night? No, there’s a board meeting. Open House? Sorry, but wages must be reorganized. A-levels? Textbooks are in the study room. Graduation? Here, take a hundred quid and buy yourself a gown and cap. Birthday? What birthday?

So when authorities finally reach Penelope Dorian to tell her that little Johnny is in the hospital, she goes. What else can she do? He is dying, and she is a miracle worker. She, of course, takes her threads.

Wonder Threads are what launched Ms. Dorian into fame. There are eight: red for love, yellow for happiness, green for nature, blue for peace, purple for wealth, brown for truth, black for authority, and white for hope. All who have bought it claim that the quality of their lives has improved.

At the hospital, a sterile white monster that bleach has scrubbed clean on both inside and outside, her stilettos click and click and click through six floors until she is in her son’s room. There are ducklings prancing on the wall, as though the hospital personnel has not quite realized that her son is seventeen, not seven. Penelope Dorian is not breathing hard, which one nurse will late observe as “disturbing.” Another will call it “inhuman.”

At any rate, it is clear Penelope Dorian is here to stay. She lays her threads down on her son’s crisp, white blankets. This is not the first time these threads have been laid on her son. The first time was when he was two. Then, there had been seven threads. All of them but white.

“Wake up now,” Penelope Dorian tells her son.

A single white thread is enough to wake her son, weave the broken parts of his body together, neat and simple. Jonathan opens his eyes. They are as dark as the bruises under his eyes and the shadows carved in his cheeks. He looks at his mother with his father’s eyes.

The first time Penelope Dorian laid these threads down, she forgot hope. She left it in