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There is a history to portrayals of the Madonna in art, and it spills over into portrayals of the angels too. It begins, I was taught, with St. Luke's portrait of Mary, and was respectfully copied by generations of artists with only modest changes.
Here is Cimabue's Madonna Enthroned with Angels and Prophets: Inclined head, three quarter profile, straight nose, wide eyes, small mouth, the Infant's profile a mirror image, the angels echoing the Madonna's features and pose.
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| Cimabue, Madonna Enthroned with Angels and Prophets, 1285-86 |
A hundred years later, here is the Wilton Diptych (1395–1399), in International Gothic style with gorgeous blues, and the same features, profile, pose, and echoing angels.
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| Wilton Diptych, 1395-1399 |
A little later, the Madonna and Child with Angels, by Fra Angelico, 1395/1400-1455. The faces are a bit different but follow the same pattern.
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| Madonna and Child with Angels, Fra Angelico, 1395/1400-1455 |
A hundred years later, Madonna and Child with Singing Angels, Sandro Botticelli 1445-1510. There has been a jump in sophistication; these could be portraits of people we meet today. This Madonna is shown face on, but still with the classic tilt to her head, and the angels' features are echos of each other.
 |
| Madonna and Child with Singing Angels, Sandro Botticelli 1445-1510 |
And that, dear readers, is why I painted the angels in the Huron Carol like this:
Swoonings by Jackie
SWEET TEMPTATION by WENDY HIGGINSSeries: Sweet Evil (Book 4)Paperback: 512 pagesPublisher: HarperTeen (September 8, 2015)Goodreads | Amazon
When bad-boy drummer Kaidan Rowe encounters good girl Anna Whitt, the girl chosen to vanquish the demons from earth, he can't stop thinking about her. The Nephilim son of the Duke of Lust, Kaidan tries to help Anna embrace a life of
By: Karen O'Lone-Hahn,
on 7/22/2015
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Another Side of Karen O'Lone-Hahn
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This little clay angel is a cinch to make. It could be easily adapted to using sturdy papers or stiffened gauze for the body and lightweight wood balls. I am using white stoneware clay and
Amaco Potters Choice Glazes.
The first thing to do is to roll out a nice slab around 1/4 " thick.
I use a small pattern roller meant for fondant that I got at the craft store, but you could really use anything to create the texture you desire.
Cut the slab into a circle the diameter that you wish to make the base. Mine was measured with a cool whip lid. Make a center mark and cut a straight line of clay from the out.
Fold the clay around on itself until it makes a nice tight sturdy base. If your clay is pretty wet, just a little pressure at the seams will keep it together. Other wise, score and slip.
I took the corner edge and gave it a little flip to add depth and interest. Roll balls of clay the size that you want your heads to be, poke a hole in them (to deter unfortunate kiln events) and attach to the bodies with slip.
A handy dandy miniature extruder (also bought at the craft store in the clay section) is great for making textured spaghetti hair.) If your clay is wet enough, just put it on there and give it a gentle push to attach. otherwise slip it on neatly.
From the scraps of you slab, cut the angel wings to the desired shape and attach with slip to the backs. My little praying hands evolved from the wing leftovers but you can fashion them any way you wish. Have fun and
Happy Christmas in July!
By: Kim,
on 5/7/2015
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Well, it’s the end of an era isn’t it? I wasn’t even a little bit nervous that this book would fail to deliver on all the promise of its predecessors and I am so happy to tell you that I was right in my confidence. If you are looking for heart pounding action, a fierce but all too human heroine, the swooniest of swoons and, of course, intense creepiness you will find it, and more, in End of Days. Like World After, End of Days picks up almost immediately where its predecessor left off. Penryn is reunited with both Raffe and Paige, but they are still plagued with problems. The world is still a mess, overrun with angels, humans, and other monsters. Raffe still needs his wings back and Paige needs help steering back to humanity. As is to be expected this book is super creepy. You thought you’ve... Read more »
The post End of Days: Review + Giveaway appeared first on The Midnight Garden.
HazeWritten by: Paula WestonPublished by: Tundra BooksPublished on: September 9, 2014Ages: New AdultProvided by the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.
Gaby and Rafa are back!!! Last year I fell in love with the Rephaim and Pan Beach residents introduced in Paula Weston's
Shadows. That tale was packed with action and building a fascinating world where the children of fallen angels fight to keep humans safe from demons. The best thing about the book is it was only the first. Now Haze is here to continue this story.
Gaby's journey to unravel the web of deceit and false memories she has fallen into continues. The last memory she has of her brother Jude was of him dying in a car crash. But if the car crash wasn't real for her, maybe it wasn't for him either. In that case, where is her twin??
Luckily, Gaby has the mysterious and attractive Rafa to help her follow Jude's trail and introduce her to the other Rephaim, which might be the most difficult part- she steps right into a world fraught with tension and division and she doesn't know who is her friend and who is her enemy from her past life. How do you work beside others to kill demons when you can't even trust them?
Gaby is lucky that she has her best friend from Pan Beach, Maggie, and she knows Maggie is true. Sadly, she knows Maggie has also been dragged into this demon war mess, and has to make sure Maggie is protected too.
Gaby is such a great central character. Her disconnect between her current self and what people tell her about her past self, and especially her past morals, makes her vulnerable despite her physical strength, and without ever veering into whiny. Will she ever develop back into the Gabe who dated the arrogant Daniel? I hope not, I like to see her with Rafa, despite the fact that Rafa won't tell Gaby what was up with them before she landed in Pan Beach.
One of the fun things the fabulous author, Paula Weston, did for the bloggers on the tour was to tell us which character matched our personality the most! I was afraid I would end up being Daniel, we both have a tendency to know what is best for everyone who is not ourselves. But I was so happy to find out that I am most like Micah!
The easy going guitar playing half-angel was Gabe's best friend in the Sanctuary. He, Jude, Rafa, and Gabe were inseparable before Jude and Gabe disappeared. When Gaby comes back he is quick to reacquaint her with the other Rephaim, and tries to play peacemaker between the Sanctuary Rephaim and Rebel Rephaim. Micah is a stand-up guy and I hope to see more of him in
Shimmer and
Burn.
This book ends on a cliffhanger, and I cannot wait to see how it is resolved. Shimmer comes out next autumn and I hope the time passes quickly before I am back in Gaby's world.
Visit the other stops on the Haze tour today!
Summer at MissFictional’s World of YA Books
Jillian at Centre of the Universe
Crystal at WinterHaven Books
Lisa at Turning PagesDon't forget to check out the home of the
Blog Tour at Tundra Press to see what other fabulous places Haze is visiting this week, where there will be giveaways, interviews, and more!
Audiobook review by Elisa
DREAMS OF GODS & MONSTERSWritten by: Laini Taylor Narrated by: Khristine Hvam Length: 18 hrs and 11 mins Series: Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Book 3 Format: Unabridged Release Date:04-08-14 Publisher: Hachette Audio Program Type: Audiobook
Audible
In this thrilling conclusion to the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy, Karou is still not ready to forgive Akiva
By:
Bianca Schulze,
on 5/2/2014
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Veteran Hollywood film and TV writer Laurice Elehwany Molinari bursts into the children’s book world with an outstanding debut novel, The Ether: Vero Rising—a fantastical middle grade story on good vs. evil.
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Jen Robinson,
on 5/1/2014
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Book: Dreams of Gods & Monsters (Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy, Book 3)
Author: Laini Taylor
Pages: 624
Age Range: 13 and up
Dreams of Gods & Monsters is the final books in Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone series. (See my reviews of Book 1 and Book 2). If you have read the previous books, you will certainly wish to read Dreams of Gods and Monsters. I think that it wraps up the series in a quite satisfactory manner, while leaving the door open for other books set in the same world.
As in all of Laini's books, the prose in Dreams of Gods and Monsters is rich and evocative, particularly when addressing love and longing. The characters are so fully developed that even when they surprise you, you find their change/growth consistent. The world-building in this series is very strong, with this third book in particular making the history of Eretz (and Earth as conceived by Laini) more clear. The plot is full of twists and surprises, including a character newly introduced in the final book who plays a pivotal role.
I will confess that I had to put this book aside about half-way through, and read something else. The characters were facing so much suffering that I needed a break. But once I came back to Dreams of Gods and Monsters, I read eagerly to the end, and was pleased by the interweaving of plot strands as well as the personal resolution for Karou.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes (though in truth one could open this book at random and find something lyrical and worth quoting on nearly every page):
"Out of betrayal and desperation, amid hostile beasts and invading angels and a deception that felt like an explosion waiting to happen, somehow, here was a beginning." (Page 30, Karou)
"So much to rue, but to what end? All unlived lives cancel one another out. She had nothing but now. The clothes on her back, the blood in her veins, and the promise made by her comrades. If only they would keep it." (Page 110, Karou)
""My wife likes to say that the mind is a palace with room for many guest. Perhaps the butler takes care to install the delegates of Science in a different wing from the emissaries of Faith, lest they take up arguing in the passages."" (Page 274, a Professor of Science)
"No one would understand it, but who cares? She'd just glare at them until they went away. That worked in almost any situation." (Page 419, Zuze)
Dreams of Gods and Monsters is a must-read conclusion to the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series. If you haven't read the first two books, and you enjoy fantasy novels with strong characters (particularly strong female characters) and lavish world-building, you are in for a treat. Gather up all three books, and immerse yourself in Laini Taylor's world of angels and monsters, battles and resurrections, suffering and love.
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (@LBKids)
Publication Date: April 8, 2014
Source of Book: Purchased it on Kindle
FTC Required Disclosure:
This site is an Amazon affiliate, and purchases made through Amazon links (including linked book covers) may result in my receiving a small commission (at no additional cost to you).
© 2014 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook.
DREAMS OF GODS & MONSTERS
Daughter of Smoke & Bone 3
by Laini Taylor
Series: Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Hardcover: 624 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (April 8, 2014)
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Review of Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Review of Days of Blood and Starlight
In this thrilling conclusion to the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy, Karou is still not ready
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By: Andria,
on 3/10/2014
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Print Length: 250 pages
Publisher: Entangled: Teen (January 7, 2014)
Sold by: Macmillan
Buy the book: Amazon
Penelope is a witch, part of a secret society protecting humans from demon attacks. But when she was a child, a demon killed her parents—and stole her magic. Since then, she’s been pretending to be something she’s not, using her sister’s magic to hide her own loss, to prevent being sent
Short Stories of Heaven is a wonderful resource for children and their families who are dealing with loss and terminal illness, as well as people who are looking for a way to explain the afterlife to children.
By: Mark Miller,
on 9/6/2013
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From the land of Empyrean
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The ONE series is about raising awareness and raising funds for charity. Along the way, we get a little emotional, but sometimes have some fun. The latest story has a little of both.
2013 Story Eight
The Trucker Angel
by Janet Beasley
This is where knowing the author in person becomes such a treat. Everything that Janet wrote in this story is as honest and sincere as she is in real life. Normally, the author's stories are flights of fancy and epic adventures. I jokingly say this is mature writing for her.
All kidding aside, this story is packed with emotion and faith. She speaks briefly about her mother's condition, but one can read its effect throughout the entire piece. This story is sentimental without being sobby and mystifying without being cheesy.
The big question for me is "Did she see what she says she saw?" The answer may simply be that we all see what we need to see at certain moments in our life. An element of confidence and security comes from our faith. We feel good knowing that a higher power is watching out for us. Ultimately, I feel that is the author's message and one worth sharing.
About the book: 100% of the author’s proceeds will be donated to Bridge to Ability Specialized Learning Center, a not-for-profit organization serving the educational and therapeutic needs of fragile children with severe physical and cognitive disabilities.
www.BridgeToAbility.org. The authors, creator and publisher are in no other way affiliated with this organization.
Mark Miller’s One 2013 is a spiritual anthology examining True-Life experiences of Authors and their Faith. As the series evolves expect to discover what it means to have faith, no matter what that faith is and no matter where they live. Remember that we are all part of this One World.
In Story Eight, Janet Beasley tells of a supernatural experience that reaffirmed her faith. Before she was a best-selling author, she was a daughter. One of her simple pleasures has always been lunch with her mother. During one of these outings, Janet and her mother witnessed the unexplainable and believe it saved their lives.
About the author: Janet Beasley, best selling author of The Hidden Earth Series (a six novel series), is successfully carving her niche` in the inspirational epic fantasy genre for middle grades and YAs. Even the young at heart are enjoying the escape her writing style presents.
Her debut novel, Maycly the Trilogy, raised to the top 3 on the Amazon Religious Fantasy charts, and landed ahead of the Hunger Games on yet another. By appearing at local and out-of-state events, book signings, and speaking engagements, audiences are now perking up when they hear this author’s name…and it’s not just for her fantasy novels. Janet works with her sister and full time illustrator, Dar Bagby, to create more than just stories. Volume 1 Maycly the Trilogy expands by leaps and bounds with two companion books (a full color illustration book and a cook book), as well as an online memorabilia shop, and amazingly enough – gourmet dog treats.
Janet is multi-talented when it comes to her creativity. She excels in multi-media presentations, event planning, has developed a training center and its curriculum for AV technicians, and produced – directed – and served as a theater technician. She has written fiction - non-fiction – stage plays - and an autobiography. She has crafted award winning poetry, been published in anthologies, and trade specific magazines.
Janet enjoys the outdoors by kayaking and hiking with her husband, and photographing nature. She also loves animals (dogs are her favorite), spending time with her family, and baking cupcakes.
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I’m excited!
My topic: The Part-Fairy Survival Kit
On Tuesday, 10 AM Pacific, I will be interviewed as part of the Guardian Gateway Telesummit. It looks super cool. My topic is The Part-Fairy Survival Kit! I’ll cover:
- the secret to seeing and hearing the Fairy Realm
- learn how Nature can help you heal
- find out if you are part fairy and what you need to survive and thrive
Here’s Details:
I am excited to share with you a FREE one-of-a-kind event taking place this month: The Guardian Gateway Telesummit.
Twenty teachers are coming together to show you how to connect and work with the high-vibrational Beings—angels, unicorns, faeries, dolphins, plant spirits, power animals, and more—who are guardians and supporters of your gifts and soul purpose.
My colleague Kim Wilborn will be interview 20 powerful teachers who will show you how to work with the Guardian Energy that is SO wanting to help each one of us… and the world.
There’s no cost to attend, and even if you can’t attend the talks live, you will get access to each replay for 48 hours.
I cordially invite you to be my guest at this wonderful event. You’ll learn how to work with the High-Vibrational Beings who are waiting to:
- ~ Bring solutions to your everyday problems
- ~ Assist you in everything you do
- ~ Give you the wisdom and support you need to live your best life
- ~ Help you discover and live your life purpose
- ~ Raise your vibration and improve what you attract into your experience
- ~ Assist you in manifesting your heart-based desires
- ~ Provide an unshakable support system
You’ll experience:
- ~ Jean Slatter: Learn How to Hire From the Heavens
- ~ Steven Farmer: Receiving Guidance from the Spirits of Nature
- ~ Linda Shay: Joyful Spirit Dolphins…At Your Service
- ~ Sue Storm: Angels for Prosperity
- ~ Pam Montgomery: Discovering Your Personal Plant Spirit Ally
- ~ Ronni Ann Hall: The Part-Fairy Survival Kit
- ~ Cordelia Brabbs: Your Miracles Team
- ~ Raven Many Voices: Dragons – Finding Your Fire Within
- ~ Monique Hunt: Connect with Your Spirit Guide council
- ~ Elvia Nina Roe: Meet Your Angels
- ~ Helen Oceanheart: Open Your Heart to the Whales and Dolphins
- ~ Max Ryan: Raising Your Vibration with the Angels
- ~ Kimberly Mulrooney: Angels on Call
- ~ Lesley Morrison: The Healing Wisdom of Birds
- ~ Annie Day: Tree Spirit Healing
- ~ Carrie Hart: Power Animals Unleashed
- ~ Theolyn Cortens: The Teachings of the Nephalim
- ~ Bernadette Wulf: Faeries Among Us
- ~ Robbie Holz: Working with a Celestial Team
If you would like your life to be easier, happier, and more in alignment with your Soul Purpose, register today for the FREE [http://www.mcssl.com/app/?Clk=4956000] Guardian Gateway Telesummit.
“See” you there!
By:
Author Steven Clark Bradley,
on 12/20/2012
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Steven Clark Bradley's Underground Controversy
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________________
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Available Now!!! Available Now!!! Available Now!!! The Second Republic: E-Book version Get it at: http://www.writewordsinc.com/serepaacvo2...
What would America do if we were faced with a horrendous terrorist attack that no amount of security could stop? In “The Second Republic – Patriot Acts Part II,” the President of the United States is confronted with a radical underground secret cabal that has targeted America with a domestic bio-terror attack that dwarfs the assault unleashed on September 11, 2001. This second book in the Patriot Acts trilogy takes the reader inside the White House where treachery and terrorism boils below its underbelly. While trying to avoid invoking emergency powers that could destroy American constitutional freedoms, a former Special Ops officer, now the President of the United States, races to stop a deadly virus, which has killed thousands of innocent Americans.This Fisher Harrison saga, The Second Republic, is an action thriller that could appear on any of today’s headlines, on any given day with a plausible scenario for the death of humankind that is too frighteningly conceivable for comfort.When Too Much Security Can Kill You!Steven Clark Bradley Click Here To Read An Excerpt From
The Second Republic______________________
Author Susan Whitfield Interviews with
Author Steven Clark Bradley
My Definition of the the modern
American Presidency
"An office sought and achieved by a candidate according to the rules set out in the US Constitution who, once elevated to high office, proceeds to ignore, disavow, repudiate, deviate from and misappropriate the powers and limitations prescribed, declared and demanded therein."
-Steven Clark Bradley
Four lessons For Willow Morgan
- Kassadia's Triumph
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ISBN-10: 1594316937 ~~~ ISBN-13: 978-1594316937
So, How Do You Feel, Just Now?
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Introducing Patriot Acts by Steven Clark Bradley
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A reworking of an image/card from two years ago. This one is on my December promo postcard. Sure is a lot of fun to change this up from time to time and add new angels and animals, etc. My personal favorites are the dog-angel, cat-angel and mouse-angel!
5 Stars The Shepherd Girl of Bethlehem: A Nativity Story Carey Morning Alan Marks 32 Pages Ages: 4 + …………………….. Inside Jacket: The shepherd’s young daughter helped with the sheep every single day. How she longed to help through the night as well; but her father said it was too dark and she needed sleep. [...]
Ami Blackwelder stopped by the virtual offices to chat about her new book, She Speaks to Angels. After the interview, you can enter for a chance to win a digital copy! Check out what Ami has to say her book.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.
[Ami Blackwelder] Ami Blackwelder is a romance suspense writer in the paranormal, scifi and historical genres. Growing up in Florida, she graduated UCF and in 1997 received her BA in English and additional teaching credentials. Then she packed her bags and travelled overseas to teach in Thailand, Nepal, Tibet, China and Korea. Thailand is considered her second home now. She has always loved writing and wrote poems and short stores since childhood; however, her novels began when she was in Thailand.
Having won the Best Fiction Award from the University of Central Florida (Yes, The Blair Witch Project University), her short fiction From Joy We Come, Unto Joy We Return was published in the on campus literary magazine: Cypress Dome and remains to this day in University libraries around the USA. Later, she achieved the semi-finals in a Laurel Hemingway contest and published a few poems in the Thailand’s Expat magazine, and an article in the Thailand’s People newspaper. Additionally, she has published poetry in the Korea’s AIM magazine, the American Poetic Monthly magazine and Twisted Dreams Magazine.
http://amiblackwelder.blogspot.com
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about She Speaks to Angels?
[Ami Blackwelder] She Speaks to Angels
"I tried not to sound hysterical, but it’s not every day you find out the paranormal is hunting you."
What if everything you believed was a lie?
A Suicide
Seventeen year old Allison Maney attends Millennium High School in Manhattan. Nothing out of the ordinary, unless you consider the occasional suicides at the school. At least that is what everyone is told, what everyone believes. But Tommy Bachelor was a popular football player; why would he jump off the roof of the school?
Dangerous Liaisons
When Dameon pays attention to Ali, she couldn’t be more excited, because for the past three months he was all she could think about. But now that Dameon is finally pining for her affections, she is becoming more and more wrapped up in a clique of three who, as new transfers to the school, are proving to be trouble. But at least Dameon loves her, doesn’t he?
A Soul Purpose
The underworld of angels and demons have one thing on their mind: Earth. Demons want to do what they want. Angels want to protect humans from these rogue angels, AKA: Demons
A Suspenseful Romance
Caught between Dameon and Kian, the suicide and the clique of three, Ali won’t know who to trust…or who to love, because for Allison Maney, everything i not exactly what it seems.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?
[Ami Blackwelder] I like thrillers/mysteries and I like angels and weaved the two together. The characters just flowed out of me. I knew I wanted certain characters, like Ali and her two friends that she had since middle school. I knew I wanted Da
What happens when a moody teenage angel is forced to attend high-school?
Griffin's Fire is the second installment in
Darby Karchut's Terrae Angeli young adult fantasy series, published by
Twilight Times Books. I didn't read the first book in the series and have to say that I was a bit lost at the beginning of the
story. Fortunately, not for long. Karchut provides only the essential bits of backstory and I was soon engulfed in Griffin's world. As far as the first book,
Griffin Rising goes, suffice to say that Griffin is a supernatural being known as a Terrae Angeli, a being who has the ability to control Fire, Water, Wind and Earth and who, like a guardian warrior, helps humans who are in danger. Book I is all about his apprenticeship, relationship to his mentor, love for a mortal girl and 'fall' into the world of mortals when he's banished from the Terrae Angeli.
I've got a story for you.
It's about a couple and the night they almost lost their baby girl.
One cold winter night, this couple slept in their bed while their baby girl slept in her crib close by. Sometime during the night, the woman noticed her grandmother standing in front of their bed.
Her grandmother had died the year before.
The woman didn't think it weird that her dead grandmother stood in front of her. She was just excited to see her. The woman and her grandmother were so close and she missed her so much. Unfortunately, the grandmother died before she even got a chance to meet the baby girl. The woman excitedly told her grandmother about her new life.
"GaGa! You've got to see her! She's so beautiful."
All GaGa said was, "Check the baby."
"Yes, but GaGa, I'm so excited. You should see her! She..."
"Check the baby."
This went on for a few minutes before GaGa started to fade away. The woman cried, "No GaGa! Don't go! I miss you so much! And the baby...you've got to see her!"
"Check the baby."
Finally, GaGa was gone. The man heard the woman call out for GaGa, but he didn't see GaGa. He shook the woman awake and asked what was wrong. The woman described what happened and her excitement at seeing GaGa again. Finally, she told him all GaGa said was, "Check the baby."
The both decided to see what GaGa was talking about. When they checked the crib, what they saw made their hearts stop. Their baby girl was blue in the face...not breathing. Scared and alarmed, they rushed her to the hospital where the doctors worked to bring the child back to life.
They succeeded. The couple breathed a sigh of relief.
GaGa sav
Release Date: September 27th, 2011
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Age Group: Young Adult
Overall: 5 out of 5 Stars (
Unputdownable!)
Categories: Paranormal, Romance, Angels, Reincarnation, Magic
Goodreads Page Read in March 2012Summary:Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.
When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?
My Opinion:
I started this book without having read any reviews, so I didn't know what to expect. Laini's world definitely blew me away. I was not expecting that!
The writing style of this book is so light and at the same time, intense; I couldn't put it down (but there were times when I had to). Taylor's descriptions made my imagination soar through the cities she wrote about, imagining scenes, towns, people, like a good book is supposed to do.
We start out not knowing who Karou is, or where she comes from; we only know that she has a lot of secrets, like her family and Brimstone, the closest thing to a father she has. With her blue hair, she's a rebel that seeks the truth about herself, but at the same time, does not want to disappoint mighty Brimstone.
Her human friend Zuzana, is an ordinary girl, your typical teenage friend. I'd love to see more of her, see how she progresses in the story. Karou keeps many secrets from her, but she's still loyal to her, and that says so much about her character. She's definitely an anchor for Karou, who's losing touch with everything that means something to her.
There are so many characters worthy of mentioning, but then this post would be very long. Karou's "monster" family is extremely caring, I started loving them just as much as Karou does.
The veil between our world and the Other Side (I read the book in Spanish; how do you call Brimstone's world?) is thinner than Karou
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2011, 432 pp, ISBN: 0316134023
Recap:Karou's past is a mystery - even to herself. She has no idea where the hamsas - devil's eye - tattoos on her palms came from. She has no memory of parents or siblings. The only home she has ever known is Brimstone's shop and her family of chimaera-monsters.
Now 17-years-old, Karou isn't a little girl anymore and she has had to make a home for herself in the human world. But it's almost impossible to make friends when half of your time is spent running through magical portals, collecting teeth for your otherworldly family.
Just when it seems that her life couldn't get any more complicated, Karou meets Akiva. An angel. An angel who almost kills her. And then she falls in love.
Review:Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone opens with perhaps my favorite opening lines, ever. And that is saying a lot:"Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love. It did not end well."
Doesn't that just grab you? And really, that could have just been my entire recap. Because this book has a lot going on, but those two lines get at the crux of the whole thing.
Backing up... I've been wanting to read Daughter of Smoke and Bone for a good, long while now. Especially since it was announced as one of the Contenders in SLJ's BoB. But, I was a little wary of the "angel/devil" aspect. I've never read an "angel book." And I actually do believe that angels and demons exist in real life. So, I just wasn't sure how I would react to these fictional forces of good and evil. But as I read Karou and Akiva's story, I quickly came to the conclusion that these angels and demons are, duh, fictional - and nothing like the forces that I believe exist in reality. Once I got past that, I could fully immerse myself in Laini Taylor's wildly imaginative world of "good" versus "evil."
12 Comments on Daughter of Smoke and Bone, last added: 3/13/2012
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?
Angels are still new for me, so I am intrigued by this book. The cover for Archangel of Mercy by Christina Ashcroft is beautiful! The fact that the premise looks interesting, too, is a bonus. I love the textures and the colors, and the wispy spread of his wings. His hair doesn’t quite do it for me, but the rest of this cover is so pretty!
| Between an angel and a desperate woman comes salvation and a raw passion that challenges them at every turn…
When Aurora Robinson attempts to open a rift between dimensions to embrace her true heritage, an arrogant Archangel is the only one who can save her from the jaws of hell. And while she owes Gabriel her life, she’s determined not to fall at his feet-despite the desire she feels whenever they’re together. After his wings were brutally destroyed millennia ago, Gabriel has no compassion for humans like those who ruined him and betrayed the ones he loved. But when he inexplicably finds himself defying ancient protocols to rescue a woman from a fate worse than death, he is shocked by the searing attraction he feels for a mortal. As the ancient forces that seek to punish Aurora for her actions close in, Gabriel offers the tempting woman protection at his private sanctuary. But as they both succumb to their desires, they discover an even deeper connection-one that threatens to consume them. |
In stores December 2012
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S.R. Johannes is the author of Untraceable, as well as the newly released MG novel On the Bright Side. Shelli dropped by the virtual offices to share why she thinks angels are so popular in fiction.
The Rise of Angels in YA by S.R. Johannes
Angels seem to be popular these days, especially in young adult. With On The Bright Side, I wanted to expand the talk of angels into tween and middle grade. Which meant it needed to be fun and interesting.
But why have angels been so important in recent years?
One – I think angels offer some a connection to religion that may not be addressed enough in fiction today. I think kids begin questioning God and the world at a very young age. And sometimes, they may have questions that they can’t voice or even understand.
Two – Good angels show us balance– with the pure white angel on one side representing the good side; while the dark angel is on the other side representing the darker side. This relates to us as humans struggling to balance the parts of us that are good with the pieces of us that may be negative or angry. I think that is why dark angels and demons have shown up in fiction lately – the dark side is a curious place to investigate. With angels – we know there is a good side so it provides comfort. I think kids struggle with balancing these 2 sides of themselves even from a young age.
Three – I also think with the difficult things our society has gone through since 911, angels have been discussed more because they can be comforting to some people. They also represent safety in the unknown.
I wanted Gabby to be an angel. But I wanted her removed from religion and everything we think angels are. So I called her a Bright and called Heaven, Cirrus. All to break through the religious perceptions. I also made Gabby human-like – she has a good side and a bad side. I think this allows kids to relate to her and understand – we all have those moments we are not proud of.
I hope On The Bright Side allows kids to step away from their religious beliefs and the idea of perfection. To look at some of the questions we all have about life and death. Also show them about balancing all those good and bad feelings or decisions that sometimes come with puberty. I want kids to realize that no one – not them, their parents or even angels are perfect. That we all make mistakes and it’s okay.
No one is perfect – not even a Bright.
Thank you!
You can learn more about Shelli by visiting her website and by following her on Twitter.
You can purchase On The Bright Side by clicking the link below (it is only .99 for a limited time, so grab it now!)
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Finally the snow is gone and the garden looks beautiful. Erna