By: aquafortis,
on 4/30/2012
I really enjoyed reading Philip Reeve's 2010 novel (and Cybils SFF Finalist) Fever Crumb, with its post-apocalyptic feel and its enigmatic main character. Little did I know that Fever Crumb was actually a prequel to Reeve's first novel, Mortal... Read the rest of this post
By: Julie,
on 4/19/2012
Cover Shot! is a regular feature here at the Café. I love discovering new covers, and when I find them, I like to share. More than anything else, I am consumed with the mystery that each new discovery represents. There is an allure to a beautiful cover. Will the story contained under the pages live up to promise of the gorgeous cover art?
This cover made me stop and say “Holy CRAP!! What a pretty cover!” Then I saw that Incarnation by Emma Cornwall is steampunk, and I wanted to read it even more. Isn’t the cover breathtaking? I love the burst of color from the coat and the woman’s hair. Just commands that you look at it again and again!
| In the steampunk world of Victorian London, Lucy Weston, a character in Dracula, seeks out Bram Stoker to discover why he deliberately lied about her in his popular novel. With Stoker’s reluctant help, she tracks the creature who transformed her from the sensual underworld where humans vie to become vampires to a hidden cell beneath a temple to madness and finally into the glittering Crystal Palace where death reigns supreme. Haunted by fragmentary memories of her lost life and love, Lucy battles her thirst for blood as she struggles to stop a catastrophic war that will doom vampires and humans alike. Ultimately, she makes a choice that illuminates for her–and for us–the true nature of what it means to be human. |
In stores September 2012
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By: Julie,
on 3/26/2012
Delilah Dawson is the author of Wicked As They Come, a dark magical steampunk romance. Delilah very graciously agreed to drop by the virtual offices to chat up her book and her writing influences.
[Manga Maniac Café] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.
[Delilah Dawson] Writer, geek, goof, artist, synesthete, progenitor, cake guru, boot junkie, steampunk/cephalopod/ninja/vampire/narwhal/silly hat enthusiast.
[Manga Maniac Café] Can you tell us a little about Wicked As They Come?
[Delilah Dawson] Wicked as They Come is about a woman named Tish fleeing a bad relationship who inadvertently steals a locket and is whisked away to a magical steampunk Victorian world called Sang. Not everyone there is human, and the spell that called her was cast by a rakish magician named Criminy Stain. He runs a traveling carnival and is a Bludman, which is a blood drinker without all the garlic/nocturnal/cross business. Adventures ensue, including corsets, ghosts, submarines, bloodthirsty rabbits, and a kraken. I basically just threw all my favorite things into one story. Except cake. I somehow completely forgot to include cake.
[Manga Maniac Café] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the book?
[Delilah Dawson] It was an enormously lucky coincidence, sort of like when the person holding the peanut butter ran into the person holding the chocolate. I found the band The Hush Sound on Pandora.com and purchased their album, Like Vines. After listening to it all day and watching several episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I had a dream that I woke up naked on a rock in the forest. I thought I was alone, but then I looked up and saw this gorgeous guy in a cravat who looked like a very naughty version of Mr. Darcy and talked a lot like Buffy’s Spike. He became Criminy Stain, and the rest of the story just happened. You can detect several hints from Like Vines in the story, such as Criminy comparing Tish to a sweet tangerine or the magnolia mentioned in one character’s garden.
[Manga Maniac Café] What was the most challenging aspect of writing the story?
[Delilah Dawson] Going through the edit process with my agent. The last book we worked on together was middle grade, and it was *very* different writing a romance. We had to have a phone conversation to work through the kinks, and I had to cut a scene that we both loved. In the end, I agreed with every change recommended by my agent and, later, my editor. The work is infinitely stronger thanks to their savvy direction. I also had to be forced into writing the sex scenes, which were originally all black-outs. My beta readers protested loudly!
[Manga Maniac Café] What are three things Criminy would never have in his jacket pockets?
[Delilah Dawson] Good gravy, that man’s pockets are similar to Mary Poppins’ carpet bag! I suppose he wouldn’t have cyanote or sea water in there, since they could actually harm him. And probably not a live bludrat, either. Anything else would be fair game.
[Manga Maniac Café] What are your greatest creative influences?
[Delilah Dawson] I’m a big geek, so I love well-crafted and original stories. This book was a little bit influenced by Buffy, and the book I’m working on now, a clockpunk Robin Hood, smacks a bit of Mal Reynolds and Firefly. Joss Whedon perfectly marries smart writing, humor, and unique storytelling, to me. I read constantly, with a different book in the car, at the kitchen table, on my bedside table. And every book I write has a playlist that I listen to obsessively while writing.
[Manga Maniac Café] Name three things do you need in order to write?
[Delilah Dawson] Cof
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By: Evil Editor,
on 2/27/2012
Guess the Plot
An Airship Named Desire
1. Swelled to the point of inevitable rupture, the mighty dirigible Penoid Incarnate pierces the slashed flaps of reality, carrying mankind's hopes and dreams as semen into the most nebulous of unknowns.
2. The real reason for the Hindenburg disaster, and other fiery results of Mae West's hot radio broadcasts.
3. It's the maiden outing of Captain Hendricks's impressive dirigible. And all Miss Maisie has to do to help him get it up is blow here.
4. A disastrous culture clash is in the air when airship captain Stan "Steam" Kowalski reluctantly adds his cyborg sister-in-law Blanche to his crew.
5. Hired to steal a mysterious box, the crew of the airship Desire must defeat the British military, hordes of orcs, and armed mercenaries. Is it worth the trouble? Or will the box contain a case of Cocoa Puffs?
6. Blanca La Blanca leaves her family plantation after some vague unpleasantness. She takes an airship to her sister’s home where all the family’s secrets and vices are revealed.
7. On the Pacific island of Dr. Moreau, Blanche must find and kill her nemesis, Stanley. But she will have to avoid his abominations, and befriend a kangamoo (kangaroo-cow) who will lead her to her only means of escape: An Airship Named Desire.
Original Version
Bea, the first mate, and her crewmates on the airship Desire barely have enough coppers to afford fuel, so when a gentleman from Old Germany hires them to steal a box off a British Merchant ship, she leaps on board. [Literally?] However, their employer conveniently forgot to mention the military and hordes of guards protecting this cargo. [One horde is probably enough to give the impression you want.] [However, if the guards are orcs, you do want to mention that.]
The Brits are pissed, aggressive cannon fire kind of pissed, but once Bea and the crew exchange the box, they’ll sail the skies with enough money to gamble at the resorts by the Reno shores. [Wait, you're talking like they already have the box. What about the military and the hordes of orcs?] At least, until a crewmember [The Brit crew or Bea's crew?] makes off with their meal ticket and murders her captain. Bea and a couple crewmates race to the drop off site, only to find the traitor and their employer’s mercenaries waiting with loaded guns directed towards them. [I thought Bea's crew were the employer's mercenaries. He hires mercenaries to steal a box, and then he hires another set of mercenaries to take the box from the first set of mercenaries, even though they're delivering it to him?] [Is the traitor also in the employ of the employer, or is he just freelancing?] The traitor escapes leaving her with the box the captain died over. [Wait, you're talking like Bea's crew suddenly has the box. What about the mercenaries with loaded guns?] [Is the traitor escaping from Bea or the mercenaries? I had the impression
By: Greg Leitich Smith,
on 2/10/2012
By: Greg Leitich Smith,
on 11/18/2011
By: aquafortis,
on 11/21/2011
This book is a 2010 (yep, last year, because I can never quite catch up on the TBR pile) Cybils nominee for teen sci-fi/fantasy.Reader Gut Reaction: The second installment of the steampunk alternate history trilogy by Scott Westerfeld (the first... Read the rest of this post
By: Casey (The Bookish Type),
on 12/10/2011
Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?
Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18B. Hadley's in 18A.
Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.
15 Comments on In My Mailbox: December 5 - 11, 2011, last added: 12/13/2011Display Comments Add a Comment
Posted on 12/23/2011
Posted on 12/26/2011
Number 4 on my top five videos from (the ones I first saw in 2011) stars comedian, Ronnie Corbett, who was a household name on British TV for as long as I can remember. It's called 'My Blackberry Is Not Working.'
(Read more ...)
Posted on 12/28/2011
Posted on 12/30/2011
By: Julie,
on 1/23/2012
Cover Shot! is a regular feature here at the Café. I love discovering new covers, and when I find them, I like to share. More than anything else, I am consumed with the mystery that each new discovery represents. There is an allure to a beautiful cover. Will the story contained under the pages live up to promise of the gorgeous cover art?
This cover for The Iron Wyrm Affair by Lilith Saintcrow is not final, but I think it looks incredible just the way it is. I am looking forward to getting my hands on this, because the premise looks as good as the cover.
| Emma Bannon, Prime sorceress in the service of the Empire, has a mission: to protect Archibald Clare, a failed, unregistered mentath. His skills of deduction are legendary, and her own sorcery is not inconsiderable. It doesn’t much help that they dislike each other, or that Bannon’s Shield, Mikal, might just be a traitor himself. Or that the conspiracy killing registered mentaths and sorcerers alike will just as likely kill them as seduce them into treachery toward their Queen. In an alternate London where illogical magic has turned the Industrial Revolution on its head, Bannon and Clare now face hostility, treason, cannon fire, black sorcery, and the problem of reliably finding hansom cabs. The game is afoot… |
In stores August 2012
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By: Julie,
on 1/25/2012
Trisha Wolfe is the author of Destiny’s Fire, an steam punk novel with shape-shifters, airships, and cute guys. Trisha dropped by the virtual offices to tell us more about her book.
[Manga Maniac Café] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.
[Trisha Wolfe] Extremely trivial and dramatic with moments of sheer clarity that results in determination and madness.
[Manga Maniac Café] Can you tell us a little about your book, Destiny’s Fire?
[Trisha Wolfe] It’s really hard for me to sum it up. I’ve tried…many times lol. So how about the blurb? I worked on that for a long time:
It’s the year 2040, and sixteen-year-old Dez Harkly is one of the last of her kind—part of a nearly extinct race of shape-shifters descended from guardians to the Egyptian pharaohs. Her home and her secret are threatened when the Council lowers the barrier, allowing the enemy race to enter the Shythe haven.
As the Narcolym airships approach, Dez and her friends rebel against their Council and secretly train for battle. Not only is Dez wary of war and her growing affection for her best friend Jace, but she fears the change her birthday will bring. When Dez’s newfound power rockets out of control, it’s a Narcolym who could change her fate… if she can trust him.
Dez’s guarded world crumbles when she discovers why the Narcos have really come to Haven Falls, and she’s forced to choose between the race who raised her and the enemy she’s feared her whole life.
[Manga Maniac Café] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?
[Trisha Wolfe] For me, the characters always come first. They just pop into my head, like I’ve known them my whole life, and then I start building the world around them. When Dez came to me, she came packaged with secrets and powers, and I had to find a way to implement that into a story. I made a list of things I loved, and ancient Egypt was at the top. I did some research, and then started the story.
[Manga Maniac Café] What was the most challenging aspect of writing the book?
[Trisha Wolfe] Dez and Jace’s relationship. I believe I struggled with it as much if not more than Dez. I love Jace, and there were some very difficult scenes that I wrote, that almost got cut or changed, but I decided to be true to the character and to people in general in the end. No one is perfect. We all make mistakes, and that’s a big part of learning and growing. It’s a part of life, and I felt that both Dez and Jace needed to go through some things to discover the truth. If it had been avoided, I feel it would have made a weaker relationship between them.
[Manga Maniac Café] Name three things Dez would never have in her pockets.
[Trisha Wolfe] Anything. She carries all her stuff in a belt bag 
[Manga Maniac Café] What are your greatest creative influences?
[Trisha Wolfe] Anne Rice and Voltaire’s Candide.
[Manga Maniac Café] What three things do you need in order to write?
My bed. Reese’s Sticks. Coke.
[Manga Maniac Café] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?
[Trisha Wolfe] Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice.
[Manga Maniac Café] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?
[Trisha Wolfe] I listen to a lot of music, and if I can fit it in, TV and movies. Once a year I mus
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By: jkerr,
on 2/7/2012
Cinderella goes steampunk. It’s a sexy concept, and from the cover you might expect some kind of femme fatale Cinderella who can punch out baddies in a single blow without missing a step in the waltz. Marissa Meyer’s imagining, however, is far more human.
Cinder is a cyborg in a futuristic Earth where the human race is served by machines and cyborgs are feared and revolted. Cinder is entirely the legal property of her stepmother, Linh Adri. She is also the best mechanic in New Beijing – so much so that Prince Kai, royal heart-throb, seeks her services. As she is drawn further into Prince Kai’s world Cinder is desperate to keep her “deformity” hidden.
Prince Kai’s problems are far greater – he is struggling to maintain peace with the race of Lunars that inhabit the Moon, and to find a cure for letumosis, the plague-like disease ravaging Earth.
Sound complicated? Cinder does feel overloaded with plot at times and sophisticated readers will see, like a cyborg’s parts, the mechanics at work.
What saves Cinder is the strength of its characters. Cinder’s struggle to accept herself and her efforts to carve a space in the world for the people (and androids) she loves is easily relatable. Iko, the WALL-E-esque sidekick, provides heart as well as comic relief. And it’s a pleasure to see Adri given more depth and nuance than most stepmother tropes.
Cinder is an easy and enjoyable read. It’s Meyer’s debut novel and the first in The Lunar Chronicles – with three subsequent titles already slated for release, the future looks promising.
By: Jennie,
on 7/29/2011
No one's entirely sure what Alexia's about to give birth to, but the supernatural set fear it. The only solution to stop the vampires from killing it (and as it hasn't been born yet, Alexia) is for Lord Akeldama to adopt it. Meanwhile, a threat has been made against the Queen. Alexia's investigating (despite her enormous size) but the clues keep pointing to a dark time in pack history and the werewolves aren't happy about where she's headed. Meanwhile, something odd is going on with Madame Lefoux and something even odder is happening with Alexia's sister-- she's wearing knitwear.
This one started a bit slowly for me. I had a hard time getting into it, but about halfway though something turned for me and it ended up being my favorite in the series (so far). I really enjoy the backstory of Woolsey pack history and things that have only been hinted at are finally explained. There wasn't a lot of Ivy in this one, but when she was around, she had more than a few surprises up her sleeve, not just for the reader but for Alexia as well. I continue to enjoy her more and more. This one's a bit different in that we also occasionally get first person narration by a ghost. Lots of little things come together in this one to solve the mystery, and lots of twists and turns kept me on my toes. Like I said, it started a bit rough-- I was actually rather disappointed and bored (!) with it, but it drew me in and held me-- I never saw where it was going. Like I said, it's my favorite so far.
Book Provided by... my wallet
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By: Rebecca Ryals Russell,
on 9/1/2011
I'm at Dragoncon this weekend! And the best part is that my oldest daughter, Erin, my Tuesday movie date, came with me! Another author who lives here in Florida, Marsha Moore, suggested we go while sitting in a writer's convention last year. And all year we've been preparing to go. For the past several weeks I've been working on a couple of costumes to wear since everyone Larps. I came up with ones that I thought suited the stories I write. Continue reading
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By: Casey (The Bookish Type),
on 9/18/2011
Ariadne is destined to become a goddess of the moon. She leads a lonely life, filled with hours of rigorous training by stern priestesses. Her former friends no longer dare to look at her, much less speak to her. All that she has left are her mother and her beloved, misshapen brother Asterion, who must be held captive below the palace for his own safety.
So when a ship arrives one spring day, bearing a tribute of slaves from Athens, Ariadne sneaks out to meet it. These newcomers don’t know the ways of Krete; perhaps they won’t be afraid of a girl who will someday be a powerful goddess. And indeed she meets Theseus, the son of the king of Athens. Ariadne finds herself drawn to the newcomer, and soon they form a friendship—one that could perhaps become something more.
Yet Theseus is doomed to die as an offering to the Minotaur, that monster beneath the palace—unless he can kill the beast first. And that "monster" is Ariadne’s brother . . .
2 Comments on New Release Roundup: September 18 - 24, 2011, last added: 9/18/2011.jpg?picon=590)
By: Lorie Ann Grover,
on 9/20/2011
You know we love steampunk at readergirlz. We had a blast with Scott Westerfeld, right? Well, how about a collection of steampunk short stories by some more of our favorite, favorite YA authors? You'll recognize many from our rgz Circle of Stars, past guests and contributors. Grab your goggles, because this collection by Kelly Link and Gavin J. Grant delivers!
So, what will you find in Steampunk: An Anthology of Fantastically Rich and Strange Stories? How about mystery, murders, and machines? Worlds of gears and steam in amazing new locations from the minds of 14 writers: M. T. Anderson, Holly Black, Libba Bray, Shawn Cheng, Cassandra Clare, Cory Doctorow, Dylan Horrocks, Kathleen Jennings, Elizabeth Knox, Kelly Link, Garth Nix, Christopher Rowe, Delia Sherman, and Ysabeau S. Wilce.
How fun to find new authors I hadn't discovered before among old friends, all writing speculative fiction which often left me with chills. This quote from Cory's short story "Clockwork Fagin" really captures the collective atmosphere of Steampunk!:
"For machines may be balky and they may destroy us with their terrible appetite for oil, blood, and flesh, but they behave according to fixed rules and can be understood by anyone with the cunning to look upon them and winkle out their secrets. Children are ever so much more complicated."
Perfect, right? With three starred reviews already, look for this release October 11th!
Steampunk!: An Anthology of Fantastically Rich and Strange Stories
edited by Kelly Link and Gary J. Gavin
Candlewick Press, 2011
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Scott Westerfeld is going to have to start writing another gargantuan book series pretty soon. I just finished Goliath, the third book in the Leviathan series, and I am going to go into Westerfeld withdrawal by November. Also, between this series and Cassandra Clare's Infernal Devices series, I've become a tad crazy for the steampunk stuff. Someone pointed out to me that the Leviathan books are not technically steampunk, as the engines described in the book don't run on steam. I don't care. So, don't tell me again that I'm mislabeling the series. At Powell's Books, they put Behemoth on the shelf in their steampunk display, so hah!
Goliath begins right where Behemoth left off: World War I rages on across Europe and Asia. It's Clankers vs. Darwinists in this revisionist version of the Great War. Aleksander, the heir to the Austrian throne, has just helped lead a revolution in Turkey and is back on the British airship Leviathan with his best pal, Dylan Sharp. By now, Dylan's secret- that he is, in fact, Deryn Sharp, a girl in disguise- is no longer quite so secret. People seem to be finding out or figuring it out left and right. But as long as the crew of the Leviathan doesn't know, Deryn is fairly certain she can stay on and continue to fly, which has always been her dream. It's when Alek finds out she's not who she says she is and worse, that she's in love with him, that things get a bit wonky.
In the meantime, the Leviathan is on a mission to Siberia to rescue the brilliant scientist Nicolas Tesla, who claims to have built a weapon so powerful that merely showing it to the world will stop the war. Anxious for peace, Alek falls in beside Mr. Tesla, against the better judgement of his advisors and friends. Alek feels that ending this war is his destiny, his great legacy, and no one can talk him out of going along with Tesla's plans. What Alek refuses to acknowledge is that Tesla is a bit of a madman, and his motives may not be as peaceful as Alek thinks.
As the Leviathan crisscrosses the world from Tokyo to Mexico to New York, Alek and Deryn meet a host of historical figures: Tesla, William Randolph Hearst, even Pancho Villa. How far will Tesla go with his weapon Goliath? Is he, and in turn, is Alek, willing to raze an entire city to show the weapon's power? And how can Alek, a royal heir fall for Deryn, a commoner?
Goliath is a fit ending to Westerfeld's action-packed series.The plot zooms along, as was the case with the first two books, though the characters take more time for quie
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By: Mark Miller,
on 10/4/2011
Over the next several months, you are going to see me talking a lot about some other authors I am affiliated with through Trestle Press.
These authors come from many different genres, but they all have one thing in common: We want you to read and enjoy what you are reading!
I think what I'll do is give you a nice overview of several authors here. Then for the rest of the week, I will get in depth through some of my different social sites.
Without further ado:
Robert Ford is the author of The World of Hek, a supernatural series, and Curse of the Translucent Monster.
Wenona Hulsey offers paranormal YA with Burden of Blood.
Sam Lang, another horror author, has the Reprisal series and looks to be starting a zombie collaboration called Severed.
S. L. Schmitz breathes new life into Bram Stoker's Dracula with Mina's Daughter, a steampunk series.
These are the authors and that was only a sampling of what they offer. Watch for more posts and tidbits all week.
By: Alkelda,
on 10/19/2011
This past weekend, the House of Glee attended Steamcon III, an annual steampunk convention. This year's theme was 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. We were all dressed nicely, though Lucia was the only one who had a proper alt-Victorian ensemble. Then again, as Steampunk empress Diana Vick says, "Steampunk needs historical accuracy like a dirigible needs a goldfish."
Alisa's Totally Random Blog has a nice overview of Steamcon III, plus many great photos. Favorite costumes of mine included a friend's deep-sea diver costume for the bathing suit competition, the lady with the ship on her head, and the humorous deep-voiced fish. Lucia made a couple of friends, one of whom you can see here. She was enchanted with a lady who went by the name of Princess Eugenie, and they had a spirited talk about which of Princess Eugenie's castles would be the best place for the next ball.
One of the highlights of Steamcon III was the Amphitrite Society Afternoon Tea, during which the bathing suit competition took place, followed by the gorgeous cello playing and singing of Unwoman, a.k.a. Erica Mulkey. Visit her site, listen to her music, feel the chills.
One of my few purchases of Steamcon (and don't think I wasn't tempted by many beautiful, wonderful creations!) was Unwoman's album Casualties. The House of Glee also assented for Lucia to have a silhouette done when the artist, Kerry Cook, overheard us talking and said that she offered half price for children's silhouettes.
Here is the result:
Silhouette by Kerry Cook
We have plans to attend Steamcon IV, which will take place closer to Halloween. Its theme is Victorian Monsters. I joked that I planned to go as a Morlock, but in actuality, I'm drawn more toward aviator chic. It would be fun to dress as Deryn Sharp from Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan trilogy, and make a badge ribbon that says, "Barking Spiders!" (There's even a Leviathan contest going on to win Deryn's flying cap and goggles, which you can enter here.) Then again, sometimes I just want to wear silk bustled skirts. In lieu of fabulous dressmaking skills, I am keeping my eyes open for inspiration in thrift shops.
By: Jennie,
on 10/28/2011
Dylan/Derwyn, Alek, and the Leviathan are off to Japan when they make a detour to Siberia, to pick up a most unusual cargo, including Dr. Tesla. Tesla claims he has a weapon that is so terrible it’s sure to end the war. The Lady Boffin thinks he’s bonkers, but Alek wants to end this war, especially as it looks like Tesla will give the weapon to the British and use it against the Austrians. The Leviathan then heads to North America where our characters get entangled with actresses, media moguls, reporters, and Mexican rebels.
The main conflict is Tesla and his new weapon. Tesla is more than a little... unhinged and he’s a polarizing figure, especially between Alek and Derwyn. His weapon to end the war is clearly parallel with the nuclear bomb and the tensions at the end of WWII and adds interesting twists to the history.
I loved all the history woven in-- the stuff we now about and remember, and the stuff we may have never learned, and the semi-obscure (like the 1908 Tunguska explosion).
A most fitting end. Just wonderful. I wanted more time in Japan than we got*, but I did like the portrayal of America and William Randolf Hearst. I also liked the history woven in of battling newspapers and Mexican politics at the time. Plus, just the right amount of Derwyn/Alek drama and suspense and some super-exciting scenes on top of the Leviathan during a hurricane.
I loved, loved, loved, loved, loved this trilogy. I might have to buy it. I want to reread all of it in the middle the night.
*I’ll admit it, I was hoping for a Chinese detour, not a Russian one. I did really enjoy the extra history thrown in with the Russo-Japanese War-- a good reminder that conflict is always larger, longer, and deeper than we remember.
Book Provided by... my local library
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By: Casey (The Bookish Type),
on 10/29/2011
(Farrar, Straus and Giroux BYR, 10/11/11)
(Atria, 10/18/11)
By: Casey (The Bookish Type),
on 11/12/2011
NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.
NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?
HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?
Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.
Humans and18 Comments on In My Mailbox: November 7 - 13, 2011, last added: 11/13/2011Display Comments Add a Comment
14 Comments on In My Mailbox: October 3 - 30, 2011, last added: 10/30/2011
The Brits are pissed, aggressive cannon fire kind of pissed
You seem to have us confused with someone else.
We always send a gunboat.
When Brits are "pissed", they are drunk.
Most Americans learn this when a Brit announces "I'm pissed" and said Americans ask what they have done to offend.
Bea can’t imagine taking command of the Desire
Then what the hell is she doing being first mate?
Agree that the box is an annoying MacGuffin if we don't know what's in it: Tell us what's in it. And the title seems contrived.
I liked the first paragraph, but it got confusing after that. Why were guns directed at them? Did the traitor turn thier employers against them? And what's the deal with the box? What does it have to do with anything, if the the traiter left it behind?
I get that the Desire is a de facto pirate ship. I don't get why anyone would go after the box. I really get confused when the mercenaries hire mercenaries to kill mercenaries for the other mercenaries who are being killed. By mercenaries. Over a box. Better be one helluva box.
The voice is getting in the way of clarity, but you have the right idea, so good luck. Looking forward to a rewrite.
Agree with everyone else: too many events here. I've lost track of the story, though I can feel it in there, and there's a good voice.
We do need at least a hint of what could be in that box. Didn't the employer say anything about it? And I can't believe they didn't open it when they got hold of it, in case it was worth more than they were going to be paid - particularly if the employer failed to tell them so much else. Or did your traitor purloin it before they had a chance?
Also, the shores of Reno? As in Nevada? I'm sure you've got a good explanation about why Nevada has a shoreline in your story, but it threw me out of the query as I considered this. Also, you don't want to risk someone thinking you were sloppy.
Nitpicking aside, what you've got so far sounds like fun. Good luck.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding this, but is the goal of the story to get to Reno and gamble?
I want to get on that airship.
I'm not sure whether the lines about pissed Brits are worth the space. That cannon fire needs to be specified as 'aggressive' is a weak joke, and what would any robbed party be but angry?
Maybe cut some of the action that anyone could expect, and give us the story? What's at stake? Why is Bea so broken up by her captain's death? Find Bea's storyline and follow it, rather than tossing in yet another complication.
Alas! You have fallen into the synopsis trap, where you try to recap all the various plot twists and turns in your query.
Try again, focusing on character and world instead of plot, i.e.:
The last thing Bea ever wanted was to go pirate. But ever since that unlucky hand at Montenegro cost her her own ship, Bea's been forced to get by as best she can. Usually with the help of a bottle of absinthe.
When a German gentlemen offers a fortune for relieving a merchant ship of a small box, Bea thinks her days of scraping by are finally over. However, their employer conveniently forgot to mention the military and hordes of guards protecting this cargo - which contains a secret that could bring down an empire.
Now her captain is dead, her crew is fracturing, and Bea's left holding the bag - and the box. If Bea can't put aside her bottle and strap on the captain’s aviator cap, her high flying days are over.