New Book Alert: Rolf’s Quest by Aubrey Wynne–Excerpt and Giveaway

Rolf’s Quest by Aubrey Wynne
Book 1 of the A Medieval Encounter Series
E-Book, 202 pages
Plato Publishing
February 1, 2017
ASIN: B01N6IY5E9
Genre: Historical Romance/Fantasy

Book Blurb:

A wizard, a curse, a fated love…

When Rolf finally discovers the woman who can end the curse that has plagued his family for centuries, she is already betrothed. Time is running out for the royal wizard of King Henry II. If he cannot find true love without the use of magic, his line will end.

Melissa is intrigued by the mystical, handsome man who haunts her by night and tempts her by day. His bizarre tale of Merlin, enchantments, and finding genuine love has her questioning his sanity and her heart.

From the moment Melissa stepped from his dreams and into his arms, Rolf knew she was his destiny. Now, he will not only battle against time and a powerful duke, but defy his king and the gods to save her.

Buy the Book: AMAZON | B & N | ITUNES | KOBO

England 1154

The woods were dim with the day nearly at an end. They would not reach the next town before dark. She picked up her heavy skirts and walked farther into the trees; the quiet and solitude wrapped around her like a balm. Her horse followed, snatching at a random leaf that still clung to a branch. Common sense told her to turn around, but a noise—no, a song —floated over the stillness.

Without thought, Melissa moved toward the sound. She approached the edge of the forest and stopped just behind a large oak. A man stood on a hill, beckoning to someone or something. His voice captured her, bound her to the spot, and her eyes fixed on the scene.

Silhouetted against the blood–orange sun sinking into the horizon, the dark, powerfully built figure slowly raised his right arm toward the evening sky. The sides of his mantle fluttered in the autumn breeze as a hawk screeched in answer. He raised his left arm, and the howl of wolves echoed through the air in obedient response.

A sudden gust of air swirled the black, heavy cloak around the legs of the man, sending leaves flying about his feet as if they were commanded to dance. Melissa watched from behind the tree and held her breath, for fear of being discovered.

His resonant voice rose in a chant that captivated, then soothed. It spoke to her, beckoned her. She clutched at the rough tree bark to resist the physical pull. Then the chant abruptly ceased.

His head snapped around and golden eyes locked onto hers. His gaze seemed to pierce her very soul, and her body pulsed with excitement as he pushed back the hood, exposing raven hair and the chiseled features of an extraordinarily handsome face. The rising moon glinted off his chain mail, his hand now resting on his sword hilt. She gasped, her gaze transfixed on the most magnificent creature she had ever seen.

Distant voices threatened to encroach upon this moment of fate. She pushed the sound to the back of her mind and focused only on the mysterious man in front of her. The urge to move closer overwhelmed her, and she stepped away from the shelter of the tree. Her feet moved of their own will, and her arms reached out to this stranger who now filled her with an intense need.

The voices behind her grew louder. Footsteps rustled dead leaves and brush, intruding on the enchantment. Her mind, not yet ready to let him go, struggled to stay in his world. But the mystical influence receded, and she knew he had released his hold over her. An inexplicable emptiness took its place.

Melissa reluctantly turned toward the commotion behind her, certain he would be gone when she looked back over her shoulder. Would she see him again? Her father had spoken of a wizard rumored to have the ear of the king. Her mind a tangle of unexplained questions, she bowed her head and attempted a look of repentance as her father approached.

“Daughter! What were you thinking to wander off alone?” She heard more worry in his tone than anger. “These are hard times. I fear too many thieves lurk near the main roads.”

“Yea, my lord.” The relief on his face caused her to regret the impulse for a moment of privacy.

She cast one last glance at the hill but spied only a single hawk, circling low. The bird landed on a nearby branch, observing the group. As Melissa admired its beauty, her heart raced. One hand covered her chest as her eyes locked onto a pair of golden ones. It cannot be him. Unless...

The bird seemed to read her thoughts. With one sharp cry, the winged creature took flight and disappeared over the trees. She reached out to stop him, but he vanished into the night.

 

About Aubrey Wynne:

Bestselling and award-winning author Aubrey Wynne resides in the Midwest with her husband, dogs, horses, mule and barn cats. She is an elementary teacher by trade, champion of children and animals by conscience, and author by night. Obsessions include history, travel, trail riding and all things Christmas.

Her short stories Merry Christmas, Henry and Pete’s Mighty Purty Privies won the Preditors & Editors Reader’s Choice in 2013 and 2014. Dante’s Gift, the first in A Chicago Christmas series, received the 2016 Golden Quill, Aspen Gold and Heart of Excellence awards.

Her upcoming series “A Vintage Romance” was inspired by tales of her stepfather, who served for the British Air Force in WWII. Wynne’s medieval fantasy series “Medieval Encounters” will launch in 2017 with Rolf’s Quest.

Find Aubrey Wynne: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

Tour Wide Giveaway:

There is a tour wide giveaway for either a $10 Amazon Gift Card or a signed copy of Rolf’s Quest.  Entries are made via the Rafflecopter widget below.  Please note that this giveaway is coordinated by Tasty Book Tours and any questions should be directed to them.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Follow the Tour!

On Tasty Book Tours Website

 

 

Copyright © 2017 by The Maiden’s Court

New Book Alert-Book Blast: The Witch of Napoli by Michael Schmicker + Giveaway

The Witch of Napoli by Michael Schmicker
Paperback & e-Book, 342 pages
Published: January 15, 2015 by Palladino Books
ISBN: 0990949028
Genre: Historical Fantasy

Book Blurb:

Italy 1899: Fiery-tempered, erotic medium Alessandra Poverelli levitates a table at a Spiritualist séance in Naples. A reporter photographs the miracle, and wealthy, skeptical, Jewish psychiatrist Camillo Lombardi arrives in Naples to investigate. When she materializes the ghost of his dead mother, he risks his reputation and fortune to finance a tour of the Continent, challenging the scientific and academic elite of Europe to test Alessandra’s mysterious powers. She will help him rewrite Science. His fee will help her escape her sadistic husband Pigotti and start a new life in Rome. Newspapers across Europe trumpet her Cinderella story and baffling successes, and the public demands to know – does the “Queen of Spirits” really have supernatural powers?

Nigel Huxley is convinced she’s simply another vulgar, Italian trickster. The icy, aristocratic detective for England’s Society for the Investigation of Mediums launches a plot to trap and expose her. The Vatican is quietly digging up her childhood secrets, desperate to discredit her supernatural powers; her abusive husband Pigotti is coming to kill her; and the tarot cards predict catastrophe.

Praised by Kirkus Reviews as an “enchanting and graceful narrative” that absorbs readers from the very first page, The Witch of Napoli masterfully resurrects the bitter 19th century battle between Science and religion over the possibility of an afterlife.

Praise for The Witch of Napoli:

“Impressive…an enchanting, graceful narrative that absorbs readers from the first page.” -Kirkus Reviews

Where to Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | RJ Julia

About Michael Schmicker:

Michael Schmicker is an investigative journalist and nationally-known writer on the paranormal. He’s been a featured guest on national broadcast radio talk shows, including twice on Coast to Coast AM (560 stations in North America, with 3 million weekly listeners). He also shares his investigations through popular paranormal webcasts including Skeptiko, hosted by Alex Tsakiris; Speaking of Strange with Joshua Warren; the X-Zone, with Rob McConnell (Canada); and he even spent an hour chatting with spoon-bending celebrity Uri Geller on his program Parascience and Beyond (England). He is the co-author of The Gift, ESP: The Extraordinary Experiences of Ordinary People (St. Martin’s Press). The Witch of Napoli is his debut novel. Michael began his writing career as a crime reporter for a suburban Dow-Jones newspaper in Connecticut, and worked as a freelance reporter in Southeast Asia for three years. He has also worked as a stringer for Forbes magazine, and Op-Ed contributor to The Wall Street Journal Asia. His interest in investigating the paranormal began as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Thailand where he first encountered a non-Western culture which readily accepts the reality of ghosts and spirits, reincarnation, psychics, mediums, divination,and other persistently reported phenomena unexplainable by current Science. He lives and writes in Honolulu, Hawaii, on a mountaintop overlooking Waikiki and Diamond Head.

Find Michael Schmicker: Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway:

Please note that this is a tour wide giveaway and therefore it is not hosted by me.

To enter to win one of two copies of The Witch of Napoli simply enter the form below.

Rules:

• Giveaway starts on April 20th at 12:01am EST and ends at 11:59pm EST on May 1st.
• Giveaway is open to residents in the US, UK, AUS/NZ only and you must be 18 or older to enter.
• Winners will be chosen via GLEAM and notified via email.
• Winners have 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.
• Please email Amy @ hfvirtualbooktours@gmail.com with any questions.

The Witch of Napoli Book Blast

 

Follow the Tour!!

On Twitter: #TheWitchofNapoliBookBlast   #HistoricalFantasy   #Paranormal  

On HFVBT Tour Page

 

Copyright © 2015 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin

A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin
Book 4 of A Song of Ice and Fire series
Unabridged, 33 hr. 56 min.
Random House Audio
Roy Dotrice (Narrator)
December 15, 2011
★★★½☆☆

Genre: Fantasy/Historical Fantasy

Source: Downloaded audiobook from Audible

“With A Feast for Crows, Martin delivers the long-awaited fourth volume of the landmark series that has redefined imaginative fiction and stands as a modern masterpiece in the making.
After centuries of bitter strife, the seven powers dividing the land have beaten one another into an uneasy truce. But it's not long before the survivors, outlaws, renegades, and carrion eaters of the Seven Kingdoms gather. Now, as the human crows assemble over a banquet of ashes, daring new plots and dangerous new alliances are formed while surprising faces—some familiar, others only just appearing—emerge from an ominous twilight of past struggles and chaos to take up the challenges of the terrible times ahead. Nobles and commoners, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and sages, are coming together to stake their fortunes...and their lives. For at a feast for crows, many are the guests—but only a few are the survivors.”

So, I think this was my least favorite in this series thus far and it is due to the way the author chose to break up the story. Books 4 and 5 take place at relatively the same time, but address different areas of the kingdom – I believe book 4 is primarily in the south and book 5 is primarily in the north. The problem here was that we are introduced to so many new narration characters and see fairly little of the characters we have grown to love (or hate) throughout the first 3 books. We are introduced to the more of the Greyjoy’s of the Iron Isles and to the Martell’s of Dorne. I can say that I honestly did not care at all about these characters or anything that they did in the book. This is likely because they are hardly referenced in the first three books (especially the Dorne characters) and because we don’t have enough of the characters we are familiar with here. Jamie Lannister who has grown to be among one of my favorite narrators (the other two being Jon Snow and Tyrion Lannister) was so boring in this book. Noticeably missing from this book was the wit and relief of Tyrion Lannister’s chapters. I found that the chapters I was looking forward to were the Cersei Lannister because things were actually happening in her chapters and I loved getting into her head – she is her own brand of crazy, that is for sure. And, I will say, I couldn’t believe what happened to her at the end of this book!!! The rest of the chapters felt stagnant and stifling. There are no chapters set with Daenerys or the Wall. I think I would have much preferred if the author chose to break the book up by time rather than geographic location.

My other issue is the obviousness of repetition here. In the last book is was about the song of the bear and the maiden fair. This time it was Jamie’s fixation with the men he believes are sleeping with his sister. The constant repetition of his exact words drove me crazy!

Throughout the book is the impression that everything is going to come to a head soon. The different kingdoms are shifting, opinions are changing amongst the locals, and those who were strong before are maybe not as strong now. I wonder who is going to come out on top!

I am looking forward to book 5 as this will likely include those characters who I love and missed in this installment.

★★★☆☆

You know what is funny? How different my opinion was of the narration on this book over the proceeding book when they are narrated by the same narrator. In my prior review, I called the narration “enjoyable”. I would classify it this time as “annoying”. I really didn’t like the narrator’s voice this time around. I was talking about the narration with a colleague at work and he described part of the narration as sounding like a “constipated old Scottish lady”, which I had to agree with. I really wish I had the time to read it in traditional book form.

Author George R. R. Martin has written these additional books in the series: A Game of Thrones (book 1), A Clash of Kings (book 2), A Storm of Swords (book 3), and A Dance with Dragons (book 5). The series has been adapted into a television series by HBO – which has been very faithful to the book. You can follow the production of the show on the following blog, Winter is Coming. You can also visit George R. R. Martin's website for additional information about the books.

My reviews of other books by this author:

• A Game of Thrones
• A Clash of Kings
• A Storm of Swords

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Best Fantasy Books
• Cuddlebuggery

 

Here are some choices for purchasing the book: Amazon, B&N, RJ Julia (my fav indie bookstore).

 

Copyright © 2014 by The Maiden’s Court

Interview with Kari Edgren

Good morning everyone!  If you have this Columbus Day off I hope you are enjoying it and have great weather.  Today I have the opportunity to welcome Kari Edgren, author of Goddess Born, to The Maiden's Court.  Please take a minute to read the interview and welcome her!

 

Your novel, Goddess Born, seems to encapsulate a lot of different, seemingly distinct, concepts – Celtic goddesses, the Quakers, 1700’s Colonial America – how did you bring all of these ideas together when conceiving your novel?

Goddess Born is a blended genre of romance, historical, and fantasy. The story took its first breath while I watched my son run up and down a lacrosse pitch, alternating between passing a hard rubber ball and beating the opposing players with a metal stick. During one particularly long game, I found myself thinking about the ancient Celts, most likely because they also had a tendency to hit each other with sticks. The fantasy element came somewhere near halftime on the heels of another random thought that went something like, “it would be so cool to have a superpower.” The connection came to me at once: Celt + superpower = descendant of the Tuatha Dé. It just went from there, and by the end of the game I had the backbone for Goddess Born.

It took a few more weeks to decide the exact setting and time period, and I finally ended up in 1730 Pennsylvania for several reasons: I love American Colonial history, the story needed an indentured servant and be set when there was still a risk of a witchcraft accusation, and I didn’t want to butt up against the Revolutionary War. As for the Quakers, it would have been impossible to write about Colonial Pennsylvania without including them as they founded the Colony in 1681 and made up a good portion of the population.

If you had to describe your novel with one sentence – how would you describe it to someone that doesn’t know anything about it?

Goddess Born is NA Historical Romance with a paranormal twist.

When you are supposed to be writing or otherwise working on your novel, what is the biggest distraction for you?

Research! I love to research and can spend hours at a time doing it. I may start off looking for mid eighteenth century transatlantic sailing times and two hours later be reading about paste-on mouse fur eyebrows or mouth plumpers. For the Goddess Born series, I accumulated a library of 60+ books, and wouldn’t know where to even start for an estimate of time spent on the Internet for additional research.

What has the publishing process been like for you?  Have you found anything particularly challenging or surprisingly easy?

A crazy long road with lots of ups and downs—so fairly typical! For 99% of authors, publishing comes after an inordinate amount of rejection, letdown, and waiting. Months and months of waiting. The hardest part has been the story’s blended genre, as it made it more difficult to ‘shelf’. The surprisingly easy part for me was getting over the rejection. If anything, it helped me become a better writer.

I see that this is to be a trilogy, is it a safe bet to guess that those books are what you are currently working on? Or are you working on something else?

The second book is in final edits with Carina right now and I’ve got two scenes left in the third book before that goes off to my editor—so yes! I am still living, breathing Goddess Born everyday.

Can you tell us anything about the trilogy?

In book two, A Grave Inheritance, Selah’s trades the Colonies for England where she will face both the nobility and an ancient enemy of the Goddess Born. Book three moves to Ireland and that’s all I can say for now without giving too much away. And of course, there will be lots of Henry and Selah in both books.

Thank you for hosting me today!

Kari Edgren is the author of the Goddess Born series. In 2010 and 2011 she was a semifinalist for the Amazon Break Through Novel Award. In 2013, she was a RWA Golden Heart finalist. Ms. Edgren enjoys writing both historical and contemporary fiction, so long as there’s a spark of paranormal. She resides on a mountain top in the Pacific Northwest where she spends a great deal of time dreaming about the sun and torturing her husband and children with strange food and random historical facts.

For more information please visit Kari Edgren’s website. You can also find her at the following sites: Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Sign Up for Kari Edgren’s Newsletter.

Here are some choices for purchasing the book: Amazon, B&N, Carina Press.

Book Blurb:

1730 Pennsylvania

The power to heal is her divine gift—the fear of discovery, her mortal curse.

Selah Kilbrid is caught between two worlds. A direct descendant of the Celtic goddess Brigid, she is bound by immortal law to help those in need. Yet as a human, she must keep her unique abilities hidden or risk being charged as a witch. The Quaker community of Hopewell has become a haven for religious freedom—and fanaticism—and there are those who would see her hanged if the truth were revealed.

For eighteen years, Selah safely navigates the narrow gap between duty and self-preservation—until the day an ambitious minister uncovers her secret. Already tempted by Selah’s large estate, he soon lusts for her power as well, and demands marriage in exchange for his silence.

Terrified, Selah flees to Philadelphia where she strikes a deal with an arrogant stranger. It doesn’t matter that she suspects Henry Alan harbors his own dark secrets. Once he agrees to the scheme, Selah refuses to look back. But as unseen forces move against her, she’s unsure which poses the greater danger—a malignant shadow closing in from outside or the fire that threatens to consume her heart.

You can follow along with the rest of the tour by visiting the HFVBT site or on Twitter with the following hashtag: #GoddessBornBlogTour.

 

Copyright © 2014 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin

A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin
Book 3 of A Song of Ice and Fire series
Unabridged, 47 hr. 40 min.
Random House Audio
Roy Dotrice (Narrator)
March 11, 2004
★★★★☆

Genre: Fantasy/Historical Fantasy

Source: Started reading paperback from my fiancé’s collection; downloaded audiobook from library

“Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, victim of the sorceress who holds him in her thrall. Young Robb still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons still left in the world. And as opposing forces maneuver for the final showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost limits of civilization, accompanied by a horde of mythical Others—a supernatural army of the living dead whose animated corpses are unstoppable. As the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords...”

There were times when this book was brilliant and times when it dragged – looking back on the experience (and after watching the most recent season of the HBO show) I would lean more toward the brilliant. Martin continues his epic story in which we are thrown right back into the civil war as all the contender fight for the crown. You have three sorts of story settings – the North and Beyond the Wall, the South and the seat of the kingdom, and across the sea. I really enjoyed what was happening on and beyond the wall, possibly because it is an area that hasn’t yet been affected directly by the war.

There are some GREAT scenes – and certainly things that you would NEVER see coming. This is something that Martin is great at, creating shocking moments. And as expected there are just a few deaths (not a spoiler as Martin has killed off MANY characters in the 3 books I have read so far). If you have seen the most recent season of the show you have some idea of what I’m talking about. Some people are turned off by some of these scenes or having characters they like dying – but I think it is the sign of a good author to be willing to kill of a character for the sake of moving the story forward.

With regard to characters, especially narrating characters – I have definite opinions on 4 of them (there are 12 narrators this time).

• Jon Snow: As mentioned above, one of my favorite sections of the book is the beyond the wall sections. I think Jon has evolved possibly the most out of all the characters and I find him very interesting.
• Jamie Lannister: Another character who makes some major life changes. He became a much more likeable character and someone who I’m cautiously considering rooting for in future books.
• Tyrion Lannister: He is a hilarious man and I could read his scenes all day long
• Catelyn Stark: I pretty much can’t stand the woman. She is always complaining, do the exact wrong thing, and I essentially have no sympathy for her at all. Harsh? Probably.

The rest of the characters are good, don’t get me wrong, but they just sort of fall somewhere in the middle.

I would say that I enjoyed books 1 and 2 more than this third installment (again the dragging chapters between big events), but still a great book overall and I look forward to reading the next book.

★★★★☆

The narration was enjoyable – the length was incredible! I realize that the book is right around 1,000 pages, but I didn’t imagine it would be so long to listen to! That is a lot of time to commit to a listen.

Author George R. R. Martin has written these additional books in the series: A Game of Thrones (book 1), A Clash of Kings (book 2), A Feast for Crows (book 4), and A Dance with Dragons (book 5). The series has been adapted into a television series by HBO – which has been very faithful to the book. You can follow the production of the show on the following blog, Winter is Coming. You can also visit George R. R. Martin's website for additional information about the books.

My reviews of other books by this author:

• A Game of Thrones
• A Clash of Kings
• A Feast for Crows

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Cuddlebuggery
• Best Fantasy Books

Here are some choices for purchasing the book: Amazon, B&N, RJ Julia (my fav indie bookstore).

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: Mermaid by Carolyn Turgeon

Mermaid by Carolyn Turgeon

ARC, Paperback, 256 pages

Broadway

March 1, 2011

★★★★☆

Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale Revisited

Source: Received through Amazon Vine Program for review

“Two sheltered princesses, one wounded warrior; who will live happily ever after? 

Princess Margrethe has been hidden away while her kingdom is at war. One gloomy, windswept morning as she stands in a convent garden overlooking the icy sea, she witnesses a miracle: a glittering mermaid emerging from the waves, a nearly drowned man in her arms. By the time Margrethe reaches the shore, the mermaid has disappeared into the sea. As Margrethe nurses the handsome stranger back to health, she learns that not only is he a prince, he is also the son of her father's greatest rival. Sure that the mermaid brought this man to her for a reason, Margrethe devises a plan to bring peace to her kingdom. 

Meanwhile, the mermaid princess Lenia longs to return to the human man she carried to safety. She is willing to trade her home, her voice, and even her health for legs and the chance to win his heart….

A surprising take on the classic tale, Mermaid is the story of two women with everything to lose. Beautifully written and compulsively readable, it will make you think twice about the fairytale you heard as a child, keeping you in suspense until the very last page.”

Prior to reading Turgeon’s take on the classic tale The Little Mermaid by Hans Christen Andersen, the only knowledge I had of this story was the Disney movie version. I assumed that the tale was probably a little different but didn’t know to what extent. What you get in Turgeon’s novel is very similar to the classic tale (less like the Disney movie) and a great fleshing out of the characters and backstory.

Mermaid is told from the dual perspectives of Princess Margrethe and Mermaid Princess Lenia. Each chapter alternates between narrators but continues the flow of the story – it never feels choppy. Turgeon writing style will compel you forward at a frantic pace at times but at other times slow you down to simply enjoy the surroundings. In this way she is able to place you right into the emotions of both of the main characters and truly see things from their perspectives.

I was very happy with the ending of this story. I found myself rooting for one character over another and I was hoping that the ending would turn out to support that character. Turgeon does a very good job of making you think you know how it will end, but there is certainly a curveball thrown in there for good measure. I enjoyed this ending much more than the original ending of the fairy tale because it is more rewarding for the reader who has just spent 240ish pages making a connection with these characters – versus the 10 or so of the fairy tale.

The only real negative that I found in this story was the characterization of Prince Christopher. While the two girls and other periphery characters are fleshed out and given some motivation, I felt like Christopher was lacking. He is given very little backstory and his motivations for his emotions and reactions are not wholly supported. It was a little difficult to really feel like he was the handsome prince that everyone was in love with – a little two dimensional. If he had been given more to work with I think it would have been that much better.

If you would like to preview the story before reading it, why not try out this book excerpt?

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• The Book Smugglers
• Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | RJ Julia 

Also by Carolyn Turgeon

Godmother

The Fairest of Them All

Rain Village


Find Carolyn Turgeon: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest 

 
Copyright © 2011 by The Maiden’s Court

Movie Review - Red Riding Hood

Red Riding Hood
Appian Way

100 mins.

March 11, 2011

Rated: PG-13

Grimm’s fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood is one that probably all children learn at some point in their childhood. Here, Catherine Hardwicke, director of another film you may have heard of, Twilight, brings the tale to the screen with a more supernatural tone.

I will say that I was a little torn about this movie before seeing it. The trailer (posted below) looks great but they kept promoting it as “from the director of Twilight”, like I did above, and that made me a little uneasy. I have had no desire to see or read the Twilight series, so I was hoping that it wouldn’t be too similar.

The actual tale as told by the brothers Grimm is only 4 pages long, so they really had to flesh out the story to get it to the 100 minutes you see on screen. That being said, they really created a world for the story to take place. It is a sort of medieval type village – which looked great on film. There was a pretty cool festival that took place too. They switched the regular old wolf to a werewolf, which even that I was ok with because it added to the sense of hysteria that there was from time to time when these sorts of witch hunts took place. You were able to get a sense of the legends and fears that people would have had about the supernatural. All of the main features of the Grimm story are here – the wolf, the way they get rid of the wolf, the red cloak, the “Grandma, what big eyes you have!” lines – it was all there and integrated well with the rest of the story they created.  The ending was an interesting twist that was welcomed even though I would have preferred a different ending for the characters involved.

There is the requisite girl torn between two equally hunky guys – one being the good guy and one more  of the “bad boy” type. Great to look at! I found myself rooting for the bad boy of course, doesn’t everyone?!  There were some overtones of Twilight, the above mentioned girl torn between guy scenario, werewolves, and would you believe that Taylor Lautner was considered for the role of the "bad boy"?  Talk about being type cast - let's put him in another film about...werewolves!

I thought that the cast was well selected. Amanda Seyfried was a good choice for Red, in this film known as Valerie. The two men she is torn between (Max Irons and Shiloh Fernandez) were better than I expected. But the guy who really knew is part and did it well was Gary Oldman – he was the guy brought into town who knows how to get rid of the werewolf – and he was creepy and mean!

Overall, I thought the film was wonderful and better than my expectations. It is by no means an award winning film (unless for the set design, which was awesome) but still enjoyable to watch. I will be getting this on DVD when it comes out – maybe even a splurge for on Blue-ray? As my boyfriend also enjoyed it and several of my guy friends wanted to see it, I would say that you might be able to con that man in your life to seeing it with you(!).

PG-13 for some violence, creative terror scenes and sensuality

Check out the trailer:

Copyright © 2011 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin

A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin

Book 2 of A Song of Ice and Fire series

Mass Market Paperback, 1,009 pages

Bantam Spectra

September 5, 2000

★★★★½☆

Genre: Technically Fantasy, I’m going to classify it as Historical Fantasy as it has strong medieval elements and has frequently been compared to the Wars of the Roses.

Source: My boyfriend’s personal collection

“Transporting readers into a forgotten land of revelry and revenge, wizardry and warfare, A Clash of Kings is a tale in which maidens cavort with madmen, brother plots against brother, and the dead rise to walk in the night. Here a princess masquerades as an orphan boy; a knight of the mind prepares a poison for a treacherous sorceress; and wild men descend from the Mountains of the Moon to ravage the countryside. Set against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, the price of glory may be measured in blood. And the spoils of victory may just go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel and the coldest hearts. For when rulers clash, all of the land feels the tremors.”

Last year, my boyfriend, Nick, and I read the first book in A Song of Ice & Fire series, A Game of Thrones, together over the course of several months. We wrote a two part review of the first book – you can find my portion here and Nick’s portion here. We started this second book back in early summer of 2010, but then with moving and everything I think it was November before we finished it. Plus it’s over 1,000 pages, so finding time to read that much together takes a little work. I thought it was only fitting that Nick have a little bit of say in this review as well, so there will be asides throughout from him.

In this book series, every chapter has an alternating narrator. You see the world from their perspective and from their place in the world. All of the characters are spread over the vast world of Westeros and beyond so it is quite helpful to have narrators in the different areas so you can more easily keep track of what is happening (although I would recommend you keep some notes, because there is often many, many pages before you will come across that character again and you will likely have forgotten what is happening anyway). Most of the main narrators from book 1 are back again – with the notable except of Robb Stark (whose exploits we hear a lot about but don’t have the opportunity to hear from – which I missed). We also meet some newer narrators – some are people we haven’t heard from before, but others were merely characters prior to being elevated to narrator status.

Nick says: My personal favorite is not related to the nobility at all - Davos Seaworth. He is a daring rogue who saved the denizens of a castle from starvation by smuggling onions in to them under the cover of night. He is now lovingly referred to as the Onion Knight, and gives us a fresh perspective on the goings-on of the court.

The very most basic premise of this volume in the series can be summed up like this – everyone wants to be, and proclaims himself to be, king. Each faction has a representative and they are all doing battle with one another (Renley for House Baratheon, Stanis for House Baratheon (the true Baratheon heir), Robb for House Stark, and Joffrey for House Lannister). And then you have Daenerys of House Targaeyen who is in the Free Cities and believes she is the true heir to the Iron Throne.

Let’s take a look at those vying for the throne since they really are what this central premise of the book is about – hence A Clash of Kings.

• Renley is the pretty boy, youngest brother of the three Baratheons. His brother Robert was the king of Westeros and his seat being now open has left the region in turmoil.
• Stanis is the middle Baratheon brother – believing he is the true heir to the throne because he is Robert’s next oldest sibling. He doesn’t support the reign of his nephew Joffrey. He has been living on the island of Dragonstone and the people of the main country do not really know him well.
• Joffrey is the son of Robert and his wife Cersei Lannister – he is also only 13 years old and mostly rules how his Lannister relations instruct him to.
• Robb is the son of Eddard and Catelyn Stark. The Stark family are the Lords of the North and were very close with King Robert. He is leading those from the North as an alternative to the Lannister rule (the Starks and Lannisters have been perpetual enemies).
• Daenerys is the daughter of King Aerys who held the throne of Westeros prior to him being killed and his throne usurped by the eventual King Robert. She believes that she has the right to rule because she is a true heir.
  

Nick says: Throughout all of these battles, a bright red comet blazes across the sky. It is very interesting to read how each hopeful ruler believes that the comet is a heavenly sign of THEIR right to the throne.

There are some awesome battle scenes throughout the book. It is also filled with the requisite back-stabbing, intrigue, the best laid plans going awry, and just when you think you have it all figure out – the game changes.

And they never let you forget…Winter is Coming…whatever that means – at this point we don’t really know. But it is certain foreshadowing for the books to come.

Nick says: I like to think it has to do with the evil lurking beyond The Wall to the North – an ancient force that is in the perfect position to strike while the rest of Westeros squabbles over titles and power.

A wonderfully written sequel that never has a dull moment. There is a lot of character development and we get to see some changes happen in some people, but I think there will be much more of that in book 3.

Besides the first book, A Game of Thrones, there are two others that have been currently released, book 3 –A Storm of Swords and book 4 – A Feast for Crows. The highly anticipated release of book 5 – A Dance with Dragons is still floating out there to be released at some point (although the date has been pushed back a million times). There is a television series being made from these books airing on HBO starting in April 2011. The first season looks to follow the first book very, very closely. You can follow the production on the following blog, Winter is Coming.

Here is an inside look at the upcoming show from HBO. Just watch this and I bet you will be sucked in. I will for sure be tuning in!

Book Review: A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
Book 1 of A Song of Ice and Fire series

Mass Market Paperback, 835 pages

Bantam Spectra

August 16, 2005

★★★★½☆

Genre: Technically Fantasy, I’m going to classify it as Historical Fantasy

Source: My boyfriend’s personal collection

Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens.

Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; and a determined woman undertakes the most treacherous of journeys. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

This represents one half of the review of this book. My boyfriend, Nick, and I read this together (and are currently reading the second book) so we thought it might be cool to split the review in half and tailor it to our blogs. His blog, Lions and Men, focuses mostly on science fiction and fantasy books – so he will be covering the fantasy aspect as well as the characters of this book. My review will focus on the historical fiction type aspects as well as the story itself. Please stop by Nick’s blog for the other part of the review. You will also find comments from each of us throughout the reviews.

While technically classified as a fantasy series, I would push for a classification of a form of historical fantasy. The world that the story takes place in is fictional and there are some supernatural elements – but the lifestyle is very much like that of medieval Europe. There are kings and queens, castles, tourneys, and wars, politics and intrigue. This book (and the rest of the series) would fit right in for a historical fiction reader. While reading you almost forget that this does not take place in Europe. The descriptions are so detailed that the world and its people absolutely come alive.

Nick says: George R. R. Martin is no stranger to bending genres. For example, his novel Fevre Dream incorporates the Civil War South and vampires. By doing this, his novels definitely appeal to a broader audience. Even if you hate fantasy novels, you won’t be disappointed by Thrones!

The book is structured where each chapter is narrated by a different character – mostly the Stark family with a few others thrown in for good measure. This layout allows the reader to get into the minds of each of these characters and really develop a strong feeling for them – positive or negative, you will definitely have your favorites. As the story progresses, these characters spread out over the vast world and through the shifting narrators you get to see what is going on all over Westeros.

Nick says: This way of storytelling definitely molds the way you are introduced to the world of Thrones. By focusing only on one character at a time, each chapter only gives you a sliver of the story. Chapter by chapter, mysteries arise, and yet the book as a whole gives the reader an all-encompassing feeling of closure. Thus, Martin blends the best aspects of first person and third person omniscient.

This is the first book in a series of seven – with four having been published so far. If you look at the whole series as one book – book one serves as an introduction and exposition. You learn who all of the key players are, their back stories, whose side they are on, where their loyalties lie, among other things. These will become very important in the following books. While this serves as an introduction to the characters, so much happens in their lives in this book, you will not be bored.

There is to be a series made from these books on HBO likely to premiere in Spring 2011. A card and board game has been made from these books as well – I have played a little, but always lose terribly to my boyfriend!

A definite worth-while read.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• The Literary Snob
• S. Krishna’s Books

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | RJ Julia

Also by George R.R. Martin:

A Clash of Kings (Book 2)
[My Review]

A Storm of Swords (Book 3)
[My Review]

A Feast for Crows (Book 4)
[My Review|

A Dance with Dragons (Book 5)

Find George R.R. Martin: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Copyright © 2010 by The Maiden’s Court

Guest Post - Nick, on George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones

First let me say what an honor it is to be able to post on my girlfriend's blog, and to be a part of something she loves so much! My name is Nick, and it's nice to meet you all. I've heard only good things! A few months ago, I began to read an epic novel called A Game of Thrones, by George R. R. Martin. This tale, while often classified as "fantasy", seemed to be so much more about the lives and times of the characters in their fictional world, and less about magic and over-the-top plots. This led me to make the following offer to Heather:

"Let me read the story to you." After all, she had nothing to lose, and the book always seemed to be more of a historical fiction than a fantasy (historical fantasy?) anyway. Of course, A Game of Thrones is no short bed-time story that one reads in a single sitting. Quite the opposite, in fact. It is an 807 page novel, and only the first of a seven book series called A Song of Ice and Fire.

I will save most of the summary for the inevitable review, but I will say now that A Game of Thrones is full of intrigue, twisting plots, love, lust, and many characters that are portayed in such a way that they make you wish that they actually were real.

In lieu of a book trailer, feel free to watch the following video composed of art inspired by the series. I hope it piques your interest!


What is more, A Game of Thrones will be adapted to the small screen in the coming months. The pilot has been filmed, and will be airing on HBO soon. The cast includes Sean Bean (Lord of the Rings) and Peter Dinklage (The Chronicles of Narnia - Prince Caspian). For more information, feel free to check out the blog "Winter is Coming" , who has been following the adaptation from the beginning.

I am excited that I was able to turn Heather on to such a great book, and I hope that you consider picking up a copy as well!

Copyright © 2009-2011 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: Going Bovine by Libba Bray

Going Bovine by Libba Bray

Hardcover, 480 pages

Delacorte Books for Young Readers

September 22, 2009
★★★★ ½☆

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Source: Personal Collection

"Can Cameron find what he’s looking for? 

All 16-year-old Cameron wants is to get through high school—and life in general—with a minimum of effort. It’s not a lot to ask. But that’s before he’s given some bad news: he’s sick and he’s going to die. Which totally sucks. Hope arrives in the winged form of Dulcie, a loopy punk angel/possible hallucination with a bad sugar habit. She tells Cam there is a cure—if he’s willing to go in search of it. With the help of a death-obsessed, video-gaming dwarf and a yard gnome, Cam sets off on the mother of all road trips through a twisted America into the heart of what matters most."

Cameron is your normal 16 year old boy – that is until he finds out that he has Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease or the human version of mad-cow. While lying in his hospital bed he is visited by a punk fairy who tells him he must go on a journey to follow clues that will eventually lead to finding a cure for his disease. Cameron takes this trip with a talking lawn-gnome and a dwarf and has many crazy adventures. But will all of these adventures lead to his cure?

I couldn’t stop laughing throughout this entire book. The almost 500 pages just flew by; I was having such a good time. Bray creates her own words to describe things (which is something I do ALL the time) and is really in-tune to how teenagers talk and act. I was disappointed by the ending, but not because it wasn’t good, but because I wanted more of it. I wanted more adventures; Cameron was a totally lovable character.

I still have to say that my favorite part of the book was the first chapter. There is just something so hilarious about what goes on in 5 year old Cameron’s mind as he rides the It’s a Small World ride at Disney.

I think that this book was a great depiction of Bray’s personality. I really enjoyed listening to her read this book at the author event I went to and she is a wonderful person.

Here is the crazy book trailer for Going Bovine:

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Teen Reads
• Electrifying Reviews

Buy the Book:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | RJ Julia

Also by Libba Bray:

The Gemma Doyle Trilogy:

A Great and Terrible Beauty (Book 1)
[My Review]

Rebel Angels (Book 2)

The Sweet Far Thing (Book 3)

The Diviners series:

The Diviners (Book 1)

Lair of Dreams (Book 2)

 

Stand Alone Novels:

Beauty Queens
[My Review]

 

Find Libba Bray: Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

 

 

Copyright © 2009 by The Maiden’s Court