Book Review: Dragonfly by Julia Golding

One of the most pleasant surprises of 2015 was this book: Dragonfly by Julia Golding. I was expecting rote YA fantasy - what I got was a sensitive, moving, and action-packed examination of cultural and religious conflict and cooperation.

Here's the synopsis from Goodreads:

Princess Taoshira of the Blue Crescent Islands is appalled when she is ordered to marry Prince Ramil of Gerfal. And he's not too pleased, either. She is used to a life of discipline, ritual, and splendor. He is used to hunting and carousing. They hate each other on sight. But both of their countries are under threat from a fearsome warlord, and the only chance of peace is to form an alliance.

When Tashi and Ram are kidnapped, they fear there's no escape--from their kidnappers or from each other. Can they put aside their differences long enough to survive ambush, unarmed combat, brainwashing, and imprisonment? And will the people they meet on their adventure--including a circus strongman, a daring rebel leader, a sinister master of spies, and the best female fighter they have ever seen--help them or betray them to the enemy?

Arranged marriages, clashing religions, warlords on the move, and two teenagers who really just want to be their own people - this is the backdrop for Dragonfly. Though the novel takes place in a fantasy landscape, the peoples deal with a lot of the same problems: bigotry, religious and cultural differences, duty verse desire, and serious threats to our countries and ways of life.
.

Here are 3 more reasons why you should read Dragonfly:

1. An authentic and empathetic portray of religious and cultural diversity: Apparently this is one of my 2015 themes, since it seems to have cropped up in a lot of the books I read this year. If you are looking for a book that tackles these issues head on, but in a fantasy landscape, look no further.

2. The worldbuilding. This plays into #1. I felt totally immersed in the fantasy landscape. The depth of the world really drew you into the story and helped you care about all of the many people and allegiances. The religious systems added to this as well, with the antagonist's brutal, bloody religion, Tashi's goddess and ritual centered system, and Ram's casual Germanic god system, all in tension and playing into the plot.

3. The examination of faith. Specifically Tashi's faith. Saying any more would be severe spoiler territory about one of the strongest/most compelling parts of the book. I liked how Ms. Golding handled Tashi's belief system being challenged, and how Tashi had to make her faith her own. This was a very interesting plot element (and it had quite a bit to do with the plot). Also, the persecution she faced was raw and realistic. Persecution is a terrible, terrible thing, and all too real and relevant today.

Minor Quibbles: Since I have taken a vow of review honesty, I must put down a few of these (since I had them)

1. The romance felt a little slapdash, almost like an afterthought. (Or like it was required?) I really would have liked to see more of the developing friendship first. The characters chemistry as friends was better, and I would have liked to see them take their time.

2. Some of the side characters detracted from the main story. They were introduced fairly late, and I just didn't care as much about them, and they were a distraction. I feel like their stories might have been better saved for future books.

Overall: 3.75 out of 5 stars. An intelligent fantasy novel about compromise, faith, courage, and doing the right thing, Dragonfly really stands out from the crowd. Tashi is a uniquely strong heroine, and she was probably my favorite part of the book.

A Pair of Spoiler-Free Mini Reviews: Winter by Marissa Meyer, and Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho

I decided to combine these two because they are both pretty popular and much buzzed about, so there will probably be reviews everywhere.

These covers are so beautiful.

First up is Winter, the long-awaited conclusion to Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles. Here's a quick synopsis if you're unfamiliar with the series:

Starting with Cinder, Marissa Meyer has taken familiar fairy tales and re-imagined them in a futuristic society threatened by Lunars: moon-dwellers with powerful perception-altering abilities that can make you see them as angelic beauties, someone else, or overpower your mind entirely.
The Lunars hold a tenuous peace with the peoples of Earth, and the tyrannical Lunar Queen Levana has been pursuing a matrimonial alliance with the young Emperor Kaito (Kai) of the Eastern Commonwealth. The problem is, he's currently held by a band of rebels, led by Cinder, a cyborg who is also the missing Lunar Princess.
The rebels are a motley crew: Iko the droid, Thorne the dashing criminal, Cress the painfully shy computer whiz, and Wolf the former Lunar warrior. Missing from their ranks is Scarlet, a human held captive on Luna, and currently the pet of the Lunar Princess Winter.
In Winter, everything comes to a head as our heroes are scattered, separated, and hunted down by Levana. Cinder must decide if she'll accept her true identity and all it entails, as the rest of her band make their own choices and deal with the consequences in an epic conclusion to the NYT bestselling series.

So now that you have a basic idea of the story, here's what I thought about Winter.

In short, Winter delivered almost everything: great storytelling and neat prose, expert handling of a large cast of characters, lots of action, real heart, and a fitting resolution. I felt like Meyer really worked hard to bring this series to its most logical and satisfying end, and she never sacrificed character for theme or story. As expected, Princess Winter (and to some extent, her guard Jacin) took center stage, but I didn't feel like the other characters got shorted. Though Winter was a whopping 800 pages, it never felt slow or too long, which is impressive.

And yes, I promised no spoilers, so I will give you my 3 favorite things about Winter instead:

1. Kai and Konn Torin. Okay, this may seem underwhelming to you, but scenes with these two were almost my favorite part of the book! Kai went from being a lovable, charming, but rather dippy seeming prince in Cinder, to one of my favorite characters and a truly brave ruler. Alongside his capable but stern adviser Torin, Kai attempts to navigate a hostile world, loads of responsibilities, and his own heart. Their (almost) father-son relationship got a little more center stage (I love Torin's wry humor), as Kai was cut off from the rest of the major characters for quite some time. Marissa Meyer is releasing a follow up short story collection, and one of them features the beginning events of Cinder from Kai's perspective. As you can imagine, I'm pretty excited about this.

2. Authentic Diversity. Our cast is a group of misfits of different races, cultures, and belief systems. Yet we're never hit over the head with it. Every character has a motive and a drive, and even Queen Levana has a chance to show her layers. And then we have Cinder's outcast status, and the discrimination she's faced as a cyborg, as well as Winter's mental imbalances. Even with a story as big as this one, Meyer never forgets the humanity of her characters, and this makes them relatable even when it seems like they shouldn't be.

3. Linh Cinder. I love Cinder. She is probably my favorite take on Cinderella - ever. Cinder is forced to make difficult decisions and step out of obscurity for the sake of others. Her character arc comes to a fitting conclusion, and I am sad to see her go.

Though there was a lot more I liked about the book, I don't want to ruin it for anyone!

Overall: 4.5 stars. Marissa Meyer finishes big with this action packed finale. Winter has something for everyone: a little romance, a lot of adventure, and a colorful cast of characters you'll be sorry to leave.

Another pretty cover :)

Sorcerer to the Crown, the debut novel by British author Zen Cho, is the first book in a planned trilogy about English magicians.

Here's the Goodreads Synopsis:

At his wit’s end, Zacharias Wythe, freed slave, eminently proficient magician, and Sorcerer Royal of the Unnatural Philosophers—one of the most respected organizations throughout all of Britain—ventures to the border of Fairyland to discover why England’s magical stocks are drying up.
But when his adventure brings him in contact with a most unusual comrade, a woman with immense power and an unfathomable gift, he sets on a path which will alter the nature of sorcery in all of Britain—and the world at large…

Do you like Gail Carriger's steampunk novels, anything by Georgette Heyer, or Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell? If so, you might enjoy the whimsical Sorcerer to the Crown. Though it started off a bit slow, once the story got going, it really got going. The worldbuilding was great, and the prose was effervescent and full of witty, quotable lines.

So what were my three favorite things about Sorcerer to the Crown?

1. The aforementioned prose. Like Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen, Cho's prose is overflowing with humor, for example:

 “I should advise you not to stop there, but set fire to his house, too, and sell his children to pirates. That is the only way he will learn”  Excellent advice, no?

Or how about this interesting observation:

"A female may be poor or delicate or a spinster, but it does seem ill-advised of Miss Liddiard to combine all three.”

Sorcerer to the Crown is above-all a charming book, as the quotes probably suggested.

2. Zacharias. A former slave who has become the reluctant leader of England's magicians, he's a studious, proper fellow and I loved him to pieces. I loved how Cho kept revealing his character through little bits - he's the reserved sort, and never one to brag, and you hardly realize the depth of both his courage and his ability until the end!

3. It was fun. In a sea of adult novels that are trying to be realistic, gritty, intellectual, or challenging, Sorcerer to the Crown just seems like a book the author wanted to write. Now I don't mean it's shallow, because it isn't! But, unlike most of the magicians in the book, it isn't pretentious. There are interesting observations on everything from colonial politics to women's positions in society, but they never distract you from the story.

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars. A delightful Regency fantasy with a touch of darkness, and plenty of material for sequels, Sorcerer to the Crown features a unique protagonist and a strong female lead. Zen Cho is an author I'd love to see more of.

So have you read either of these books, or do you plan on reading them? Do you like fairy tale retellings? If so, do you have a favorite? How about magicians and 19th Century England?

Beautiful Books #1: NaNoWriMo 2015 edition!

So, Beautiful People is changing tack this month and going into NaNo mode. Normally I'd be featuring my current WIP, The Last Coffee Shop (which was my epic NaNo failure last year). But in the hope that I might actually "win" this year, I'm going to flesh out my NaNo idea along with the theme.

Picture Credit

As always, a big thank you to Skye and Cait for doing this meme. Make sure you check out their respective blogs: Paper Fury (Cait) and Further Up and Further In (Skye). To learn more about Beautiful People, click here.

1. How did you come up with the idea for your novel, and how long have you had the idea?

Well, I love butlers/the idea of butlers, and I've always wanted to write a book with one for a protagonist. I also wanted to write something very different from any of my other books. I also wanted to get out of my "writing comfort zone," and challenge myself to write about types of characters/themes I don't normally!

 As for how long . . . just came up with it (on my way to work) a few days ago!

2. Why are you excited to write this novel?

As I said, I haven't written anything like it. And I've found that really weird books tend to keep my interest the longest! And I'm already in love with the characters-which is the only way a book and me happen, anyhow.

3. What is your novel about, and what is the title?

Set in an alternate 19th century, where the continents have never split, and primeval monsters roam the earth. All the nations combined long ago to protect their young people, building a walled continent and letting the youngsters live in relative peace and luxury. But outside the walls, the rest of humanity struggles to survive, and expand westward for more resources. My story centers on a sweet, but naive young lady who makes the (ill-advised) decision to accompany her titled boyfriend behind the walls, disguised as his manservant. But naturally, things don't go as planned when 1. Her bf's scandalous sister comes along, and 2. Ghastly murders, disappearances, and rumors of dastardly deeds.

WHAT KIND OF SUPERHUMAN PERSON HAS A TITLE AT THIS STAGE?

-I've given it the silly working title of "The Butler Did It," because it was the first random thing I thought of.

4. Sum up your characters in one word each. (Feel free to add pictures!)

Apparently, some people put much more prep and thought into NaNo than me. But I will do my best! (Note: All art is properly credited to the artist. I can (tragically) take credit for none of it)

1. Ernestine Grey (MC-also known as Ernest or Ernie) - Impetuous

Make this kid a few years older and BAM! Perfection.

2. Atlantis de Carrefour (her boyfriend*) - Ambiguous

Time Traveler by Seunghee Lee

3. Pasifica "Sif" de Carrefour (his sister) - Overwhelming

vershitel by alice-insain on Deviantart.com

4. Mrs. Klaus (Sif's maid/chaperone) - Sleepy

Basically your average Victorian matron. Or is she??

4. Sydney Smith (the surprisingly young (?) head butler/house manager/servant) - Dubious
I couldn't find exactly what I wanted (guys are hard!) - but an older Haruma Miura with darker/longer hair and some Gallic (French/Spanish in my AU) blood . . . I can see it. (And he's my cool "butler" tribute character!)

^^Haruma Miura, if that wasn't obvious

5. Ronin Kuznetzov (commander of the Siberian Volki squadron) - Scary
A note - I basically picture all of the Volki as a Eurasian fusion of samurai, cage fighters, and survivalists. So this pic could be any of his squad members.

Copyright Christopher Perez. Source

Those are the major players as of now. My NaNo projects tend to mutate. Extravagantly.

5. Which character(s) do you think will be your favorite to write? Tell us about them!

Ernestine, because she's different. I usually avoid the lovelorn ingenues, so this is very against type for me. Of course, Ernestine has hidden depths and all sorts of good qualities. She's a hard worker, and she is an excellent manservant/junior butler. Also, she's very loving, open-hearted, and surprisingly resilient. (Which is good, because the romance goes about as far south as you can imagine . . . *evil laugh*)

Sydney is another character I'm excited to write. I anticipate writing about his passive aggressive relationship with Atlantis, and his master/apprentice/brother relationship with the disguised Ernestine. Is he really fooled by her male disguise though, I wonder? And of course, he's my "cool, mysterious" character. And he's named after Sydney Carton (<3<3<3)

6. What is your protagonist’s goal, and what stands in the way?

To live happily ever after with Atlantis de Carrefour and be acknowledged as his social equal.

Well, their social status (she and her two brothers were raised by the family butler, which is where Ernie got her skills. They are old, old blood, but somewhat out of fashion). The de Carrefours are wild and sensational and very popular. Rich and titled, Atlantis has promised that he'll prove her worth to the world . . . And as far as Ernestine sees, this is the only barrier (Spoilers: she's wrong).

Where is your novel set? (Show us pictures if you have them!)

In the City of Nations (a giant walled nation that is pretty central on The Continent). As I said above, I am visualizing an Earth where the continental separation is minimal. However, I've basically adapted/adopted world cultures, and fused them. The West is untamed and dangerous, but people need room to spread, so they're always trying to build railroads out that way. And did I mention there are primeval monsters?

What is the most important relationship your character has?

Her bond with her adoptive father and her older brothers (though they ran off to join the navy, which she hasn't forgiven them for.
Also, Atlantis, who surprised her by returning her affections after they grew to know each other last season.

How does your protagonist change by the end of the novel?

She's more self-aware, and she values herself more. She's also stronger and wiser, though undoubtedly scarred by what she experienced. Basically, her arc takes her from "Kind but naive girl," to "older, wiser, stronger, more confident young woman." Her personality doesn't change, and she still has struggles, but this is where I hope she'll end up.

What themes are in your book? How do you want your readers to feel when the story is over?

It's a subverted Cinderella, in a way. So courage in the face of adversity and bad choices, perseverance, owning your own decisions, coming of age, friendship, valuing yourself, that sort of thing. Though I normally focus on "story" than "theme" and hope the themes follow along!

I hope they have a rollicking good time, and like the characters as much as I do. And I want them to feel like they need to read more of my books, you know?!

BONUS! Tell us your 3 best pieces of advice for others trying to write a book in a month.

Weeeelll, considering that I am an epic NaNo-failer, I don't feel qualified for this. But I have finished in a month before, and I don't give up on my NaNo projects, so here goes:

1. Take a few little breaks to read a few chapters of a totally different book, or watch a movie.

2. DON'T EDIT. This will kill your word count.

3. Don't worry about writing a masterpiece. And if the story isn't coming, throw in something crazy and random and keep going. You can always edit/rewrite the minute December rolls around.

So that is my super random (and very last minute) NaNo idea. Would you read it? Any thoughts? Do you like alternate history? (I love it!) Are you doing NaNo, and if so, what are you writing about? Feel free to add me as a buddy!

Footnote:

*Boyfriend is not technically an accurate Victorian term (1909 is the first recorded usage in the romantic sense, I believe). But that is hair-splitting for the purpose of my BP post.

TTT: Top 10 Books You Should Read if You Like ___________ (Bookseller Expertise Coming in Handy Here)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted and created by The Broke and the Bookish. To participate, click here.

Image Source

I thought I'd combine two of my jobs on paper: mixing drinks and recommending books, and set up this list like book cocktails. So each number has a combo of popular books/series/authors/franchises, and then the resulting "mix" is what you should read. Got it?

Top 10 Books You Should Read if You Like These Popular Books/Authors

1. If you like Percy Jackson and MARVEL/DC Superheroes:

The Jack Blank Adventures by Matt Myklusch

An orphan hero, check. 

Killer robots, check. 

Ninjas, flying cars, supervillains, check. 

There's even time travel.

This fun series straddles YA and MG and will appeal to both kids and their parents

2. If you liked Matched and Divergent:

Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien

Reviewed it here

In a dystopian future, young midwife Gaia Stone must choose between her duty and rescuing her parents. And making that choice will cause her to question everything she knows. This is one dystopian novel that won't remind you of The Hunger Games. And the heroine is a midwife.

3. If you liked Twilight and anything by Jane Austen

The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy (and By These Ten Bones) by Clare B. Dunkle

For the record, THK trilogy is, in principle, nothing like Twilight. So if you're not a Twilight fan (I'm not either), don't write this one off. It has a similar story feel, and there is a lot of Jane Austen inspiration. In the first book, a charismatic (but ugly) goblin king chooses orphaned Kate to be his bride. As can be expected, Kate has a lot to say about this. In the sequels, there are lots of elves.* And By These Ten Bones is a Scottish werewolf romance/thriller.

4. If you like The Scorpio Races and Code Name Verity

Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin

I just reviewed this on the blog, but I had to include it because it was so fresh and different (and I loved it). Basically, it's alternate history with motorcycle racing, a strong heroine, and a minor dash of fantasy.

5. If you like Naruto and Star Wars

The Young Samurai Series** by Chris Bradford

Okay, so it's samurai, not ninja (there are ninjas though). And there is zero magic, and no spaceships. But the basic story of a spunky boy--an outsider in a traditional, proud culture--who must become a warrior and navigate a hostile world, and deal with both friends and enemies . . . I basically just described Naruto and Star Wars.

6. If you like The Hunger Games and Les Miserables (the Musical***)

The Kestrel (Westmark #2) by Lloyd Alexander

This is actually the second book in the Westmark trilogy (and you should read them all). One of the best novels about war, the consequences, and how war affects kids. I suppose it is more comparable to Mockingjay - and it handles the same themes with more wisdom and heart.

7. If you like The Walking Dead and The Maze Runner

 Rot and Ruin (or the Joe Ledger series) by Jonathan Maberry 

Whether you are 15, 25, or older, I dare you not to root for Benny Imura and his friends in their fight to survive. Now, I'm not keen on zombies, but these books are about so much more. They are coming of age, friendship, heroism, Bushido, survival novels. And Tom Imura**** is in them. The Joe Ledger novels are pretty good too (action thrillers with a side of zombie).

8. If you like the Gemma Doyle trilogy and The Infernal Devices

The Iron Codex series by Caitlin Kittredge

Steampunk fantasy that is better than the cover would make it seem. Everyone in Aoife Grayson's family has gone mad on their 16th birthday (a fate she's trying to avoid, obviously). Monsters, machines, a touch of romance, eccentric characters, and more monsters= a recipe for fun.

9. If you like Artemis Fowl and Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children

The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud

An eerie, wry book where ghosts are commonplace, and only young Psychic Investigators can deal with the epidemic of spirits. The characters are lovable, the ghosts are actually kind of creepy, and the book is a fast paced mystery/adventure. A great Halloween pick.

10. If you like Cruel Beauty and A Thousand Nights

Keturah and Lord Death by Marine Leavitt

A girl follows a stag into a forest, gets lost, and almost dies. But when Death shows up, he's a handsome and stern young lord, and Keturah isn't ready to die. Keturah strikes a bargain with Death, telling him a story to stall her end. If she can find her true love in twenty-four hours, she'll be free from Death, but things don't turn out exactly how she plans.

Footnotes:

*ELVES! They have a strong rivalry with the goblins.

**One of my favorite series - ever. If you are into Japanese history, then you should check them out.

***The musical condensed most of the themes, and some of the characters, and made it much more sellable.

****

Book Review: Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin (and Why You Should Read It)

My avalanche of 1-3 star reads finally stopped this last weekend, when I picked up Ryan Graudin's Wolf by Wolf. Thank you to Little Brown and Co. Books for Young Readers/Hachette Book Group for this ARC! (Wolf by Wolf will be available October 6th, 2015) Note: Cover and quote might not be final.

Love this cover.

“These were the names she whispered in the dark.

These were the pieces she brought back into place.

These were the wolves she rode to war.” 

― Ryan Graudin, Wolf By Wolf

I read The Walled City earlier this year, and really enjoyed it. Wolf by Wolf was better, with a tighter story and more developed main characters.  Like with TWC, Wolf by Wolf takes actual history for its inspiration. But this time, there's a fantasy twist. Here's a rundown for you:

Set in an alternate 1956, Wolf by Wolf imagines a world where the Axis powers reign triumphant, and their victorious alliance is celebrated each year by a cross-country motorcycle race. The 1955 victor was the only girl, Adele Wolfe, and she had a rare opportunity to dance with Hitler himself after winning the race. That up-close look at the elusive Führer is one that resistance groups would gladly die for. But it seems impossible. 

Yael, a young resistance member, just might be able to make the impossible happen. A Jewish girl who survived terrible experiments and escaped from concentration camp, Yael can skin-shift, altering her appearance to resemble any girl she has seen. If she can imitate Adele Wolfe, infiltrate the race, and win, Yael might get close enough for a second Operation Valkyrie. 

Yael has been trained to fight and survive, and she has spent the last year practicing both racing and imitating Adele Wolfe down to the tiniest detail, but there are two major problems: Luka, who has a bitter romantic history with Adele, and much more serious, Adele's twin brother Felix. Yael will have to fool them both, and defeat them along with all of the other competitors, if she wants to complete her mission.

Alternate history, what-ifs, human experiments, motorcycles, infiltration, how could this not sound amazing? But all that aside, this was a strong novel with an epic concept. And here are five reasons you should read it:

1. Yael. I loved Yael so much. A little Winter Soldier and all survivor, she was sympathetic, hardcore, and brave. She (understandably) had a hard time trusting others, but she wasn't afraid to love or feel for the people in her past. She wanted to think well of people, and she put her mission ahead of her own interests.

 Also, I loved her interactions with Adele's brother Felix. Felix was brave, adorable, and loyal and Yael really didn't know how to handle this. Humor, and some surprisingly touching moments, resulted from this. (But she's not Adele, so, ouch!)

2. The story. I really enjoyed the movie Valkyrie, and I find revolution/resistance novels tend to resonate with me. Wolf by Wolf was definitely character centered, with Yael's inner war against the Axis ideals, and what it took from her, taking more of the focus than the overall plot. Also, the fact that Yael was Jewish, while important to the story, wasn't shoved in your face. Likewise with a cast of mainly German and Japanese teens.

3. Alternate history. Though Graudin definitely had to bend and shape history to her story, she did a great job of projecting how the world might have looked if things were different. From the tensions between Germany and Japan, to the disinterest of the US, to the eventual fall of Britain, it felt like she put a lot of time and thought (and research) into this historical fantasy novel.

4. The skin-shifting. I guess this relates to #1. I loved how the story just went with this slightly outrageous premise. I mean, scheming Nazi scientists? But it just worked, and the shifting was worked into the greater themes and character development. Also, Yael's ability reminded me a bit of X-Men's Mystique. Yael had similar identity problems due to always wearing someone else's face. Also like Mystique, she tended to distance herself from her feelings and thoughts because of this.

5. Nothing was neat, tidy, or easy. Everything from the motorcycle race, to the ending, to Yael herself unraveled a bit. There was no quick fix. Especially when it came to playing Adele while dealing with Luka and Felix. Yael was always teetering toward failure, and I really wasn't sure (till the end) how things would pan out. That's a rare occurrence.

Minor Quibbles:

Yes, I loved this book so much, but I did have a few tiny issues. Like with TWC, the characters (other than Yael) were a bit thin for my liking. In particular, I would have liked to read more about the Japanese racers (there was some, but I wanted more).

 Luka was a James Dean meets Thor type, and I wasn't particularly interested in reading about him, but that's purely personal. However, I did like how Yael handled his interactions with "Adele." Talk about an interesting situation there.

Other than that, this was one of my favorite books this year, and I am so thrilled that she is writing a sequel! The fallout from the ending just begs another round, and Yael is a heroine I would gladly read a series about.

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars. An exciting alternate history with a strong heroine, lots of action, and a fascinating premise. Recommended for fans of The Hunger Games, Valkyrie, The Scorpio Races, The Maze Runner, Code Name Verity and X-Men.

Character Spotlight: Orlando of Thessaly (Knight of the Blue Surcoat)

I am working through some posts on my upcoming novel, Knight of the Blue Surcoat (description here), and last month, I did a post about the protagonist, Melora. However, Melora isn't the only important character in the novel. In fact, there is a second main character, Prince Orlando of Thessaly, and it's time to introduce him to the blog. (All pictures are either in the public domain, or my own, and were inspirations for Orlando)

A Macedonian statue of Alexander the Great (link)

Who is Orlando?

Orlando is the third (and youngest) son of King Gustavus of Thessaly. Thessaly, of course, was a large region in the middle of Ancient and early Greece, and was known as Aeolia in the writings of Homer (and other early writers). It was famous as the home of "heroes" Jason and Achilles, and was renowned for its horses. Both of those facts actually come up in KotBS.

As the youngest son (or the spare*), Orlando has devoted much of his time to besting his brothers Jason and Heracles in every subject, in the hopes of getting Gustavus to acknowledge him. This has backfired, making his brothers despise and envy him. To escape his gloomy home, Orlando studies Greek, Latin, and history, and horse training. This has left him little time for socializing, and he has only one real friend, his manservant Hector. Of course, if you asked him, Orlando would say the stallion Pégosos was his best friend. Orlando raised Pégosos from a foal, and has trained him into one of the most spirited and excellent war horses in Thessaly.

Image Source

Image source

 Pégosos is said to be descended from Poseidon's horses (like Pegasus, his namesake), and I imagine him as a cross between the traditional Thessalian horse (left) and the White Friesian (right).

Orlando's Family:

Orlando's mother died when he was five, and like all children, he was devastated. His brothers and father mocked him for his easy emotions, and Orlando quickly learned to hide his feelings from them (though he finds it unnecessary and fatiguing).

Jason and Heracles are significantly older than Orlando, and model warrior princes. As such, they used Orlando as a whipping boy until the latter became skilled enough to defeat them. After years of incessant training in everything from hand-to-hand combat to javelin throwing, Orlando is a phenomenal soldier and warrior. His brothers, if possible, hate him even more than before.

Gustavus, as king of Thessaly with a healthy heir and second son, was indifferent to Orlando from the beginning. He views his easy-going youngest son as superfluous, and has little in common with him. Despite this, Orlando has always striven for his father's love and favor, even when Gustavus continues to ignore him.

Naturally, Orlando chafes under these conditions, and he decided to seek his fortune elsewhere. Word from Rome was that the British court was the place for a man to prove his mettle, and Orlando decides that he'd rather chance the cold northern shores than stay home any longer.

Orlando and Melora:

Fun loving and mischievous, but just a little arrogant, Orlando expects the Britains to be a pack of savage brutes. He is surprised to find them more welcoming to a man of his talents than anyone in Thessaly, and he becomes a bit of an overnight celebrity. 

The attention doesn't go to Orlando's head (it embarrasses him). Instead, Orlando is intrigued by the grim-faced Princess Melora, who observes silently and dislikes him from the beginning. He decides to befriend her, but his good intentions get misconstrued by Melora's serious suitors. The intense Sir Mador, in particular, seems offended by both Orlando's easy manner and careless skill.

I colored it :) However, thanks to my pesky scanner, it looks a lot better in real life.
The crayons and colored pencils (belonging to my little sister) didn't blend so well, but what can you do?

Orlando and Tournaments:

As a newcomer to Arthur's court, Orlando is expected to take part in any tournaments or competitions. This is partly so the others can watch his skill for sport, and partly so he can prove himself their equal. He came all the way to Britain trying to prove himself, so he's eager to compete against the legendary Knights of Arthur. Still, he isn't combative by nature, and he has zero desire to make enemies.

However, he can't stop other people from feeling threatened by him.

I don't even know . . .

A note on the names and setting:

The Knight of the Blue Surcoat is a novelization of a Irish-Arthurian ballad. All of the main characters' names come from this ballad and Arthurian lore, but I've basically anglicized them, or used a more standardized spelling. The Red Hall (my equivalent of Camelot) is in early medieval Wales, and the rest of the books locations are also based on real world, early medieval locales.

Footnotes:
*I keep referring to Orlando as "the spare," which isn't very nice of me. (Note: this is not an authorized definition). Basically, a spare is a royal back-up plan. If you lose the heir to battle or treachery, the next son can still take the throne and produce his own heir. A third son is even better, like a back-up for the back-up. And that's Orlando.

Mini Book Reviews: Moribito 1 and 2 by Nahoko Uehashi

I have never seen the anime Seirei no Moribito (Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit), but I randomly picked up the first novel several years ago. I loved how unique it was, but I only got around to the second one this week. I actually liked the second one, Guardian of the Darkness, even better. If you are interested in Japanese folklore, manga and/or anime, or strong heroines, then read on.

Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (Moribito #1) by Nahoko Uehashi

Spectacular, isn't it? 

Covers and blurbs are from Goodreads.com:

Balsa was a wanderer and warrior for hire. Then she rescued a boy flung into a raging river -- and at that moment, her destiny changed. Now Balsa must protect the boy -- the Prince Chagum -- on his quest to deliver the great egg of the water spirit to its source in the sea. As they travel across the land of Yogo and discover the truth about the spirit, they find themselves hunted by two deadly enemies: the egg-eating monster Rarunga . . . and the prince's own father. 

I don't remember when my love of Japanese culture and history developed (I just know I was really little, and that it was probably brought on by a book of Japanese folktales). I read every book on samurai and ninja that my childhood librarians could find, and then I went on to books about Japan itself and its fascinating history. Next came the (inevitable) calligraphy, kanji, and manga.

So with all that as a preface, I was poised to love Moribito. But there's a lot more to like about this novel than the setting.

Let's start with Balsa. She's thirty years old, a wandering warrior and spear-for-hire. Not only is she a (believably) proficient fighter, she's also a humble, kind woman with a lot of heart. Her backstory may be tragic, but she hasn't let it hold her down. Just read this description:

“Balsa seemed invincible, endowed with powers no other warrior could match, but in her profile he could glimpse the shadow of a young girl, hurt and buffeted by a cruel and hopeless fate. If he had never experienced what it was like to be at the mercy of fate himself, he would not have noticed, but now he could see it with unbearable, heartrending clarity.” 
― Nahoko Uehashi, Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit

In Guardian of the Spirit, Balsa's travels find her in the island kingdom of Yogo. She saves the crown prince from a "freak"accident, which gets Balsa involved in something much bigger than she realized. Prince Chagum has a secret: he carries the great egg of the Water Spirit, which he must deliver to the northern sea. This has made him the target of an egg-eating monster and his own father. Chagum's mother rightly suspects the king, and she hires Balsa to protect the young prince. On the way, Balsa and Chagum develop a delightful relationship, a cross between mentor-student and siblings. Naturally, there is a lot of action, as a lone warrior woman attracts both interest and suspicion, and Balsa truly enjoys a fight.

The writing is lovely, but narrative heavy. The pacing and storytelling also differ from a typical Western novel. Its not a challenging read, but there are thought-provoking explorations of everything from gender roles to philosophical and religious differences in cultures. Also, this is one of the better translated novels I've read (applause for translator Cathy Hirano), and there are superb illustrations by Yuko Shimizu.

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars. In short, Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit is a breath of fresh air in the fantasy genre, with a unique heroine and an action-packed story that will appeal to guys, girls, teens, and adults.

Moribito II: Guardian of the Darkness (Moribito #2) by Nahoko Uehashi

"Conflict seems to follow those who learn to fight. If I could, I would spare you a life of bloodshed. But I have no choice."
― Nahoko Uehashi, Moribito: Guardian of the Darkness

Blurb and cover from Goodreads.com:

Balsa returns to her native Kanbal to clear the name of Jiguro, her dear mentor, who saved her life when she was six years old. But what should be a visit of truth and reconciliation becomes a fight for her life when she learns that Jiguro had been a member of King Rogsam's personal bodyguard. After Jiguro fled Kanbal with her, Rogsam sent the other bodyguards after them one by one--Jiguro's best friends, whom he had to kill to protect Balsa. Now, with the help of two Kanbalese children, Balsa must unwind the conspiracy surrounding Jiguro and the mystery of the Guardians of the Dark. 

If anything, Uehashi's strengths as a worldbuilder are even stronger with the second Moribito installment. The layers to her fantasy landscape keep peeling back for even more fascinating elements to be revealed. Oh, and there is a lot more food description in this one. It made me hungry.
Guardian of the Darkness takes up where Guardian of the Spirit left off, as Balsa
heads home to clear her beloved mentor's name. On the way, she saves another child (a pair of children, actually) from a fearsome cave spirit. This good deed ends up causing Balsa heaps of trouble, as she realizes that the events of her childhood were farm more nuanced and sinister that she imagined. Despite her best efforts, Balsa finds herself dragged into plots and intrigue, and a fight for her life and that of her nation.

Again, there is a lot of narrative, and the story has a rapid clip. However, the real reason to read this is Balsa herself. Her history is explored a little more, as well as her feelings and motivations. She is an incredible heroine that you can both empathize with and root for. And she is so very cool.

As a side note, the treatment of Jiguro (Balsa's mentor), his family, and the collateral damage his leaving caused, were all very well done.

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars. Another strong entry with great action, an awesome lead, and an exciting fantasy landscape.

And here's my biggest complaint:  the eight other books in the series have never been translated into English! Just another reason I should learn Japanese, I guess . . .*
But don't let that disappointing fact stop you from reading these two novels! They work just find as stand alone works.

Here's a challenge for you: off the top of your head, can you name any Japanese MG or YA novel that has been translated for English speakers? If you can, tell me in the comments so I can go find it. Have you read Moribito, or seen the anime?

Footnotes:

*I wish I was one of those people that languages clicked with. Alas, that is not the case. My language abilities are embarrassing at best . . . really bad for a writer, you know?

Extra! Extra! Read All About It! My Book Will Be In Print, 2016!

So, peoples of the internet, I hinted a few weeks ago that I had big writing news, and here it is:

My debut novel, Knight of the Blue Surcoat, is scheduled to be published with Neverland Publishing in Summer 2016. This is really early on (ink fresh on the contract and all that), but it is a huge deal to me and a major life goal!

Neverland is a small, independent house out of Florida, specializing in print (paperback) editions and ebooks. Indie, of course, means that there is no machine behind things, and I'll have to do a lot of promoting and marketing myself. And that is fine with me! I have a book, and the book is getting published, I will shout it from the mountaintops if I must. (See what a life goal can do to an introvert?)

So details, details. I haven't mentioned Surcoat (I haven't mentioned a lot of my books) on the blog, but today I aim to change that. Starting right now, you can expect a weekly post about Knight of the Blue Surcoat, the characters, and why I think you might like it. I'll start with a blurb:

Knight of the Blue Surcoat by R. L. Hendrian 

 Being King Arthur’s daughter isn't easy, but being his only heir is a nightmare. Sixteen-year old Melora has struggled with her role ever since her older brother was trampled to death in a hunting accident. Her father raised her to be a warrior queen, but Melora is too valuable to be allowed to test herself beyond the castle walls. She is trapped, surrounded by suitors who want her kingdom, and suffocated by her parents’ love. She wants to escape, but how can she leave when even the sight of a horse makes her paralyzed with fear?
Prince Orlando is expendable. His arrogant brothers and distant father were thrilled for him (and his prize stallion) to leave tiny Thessaly. Orlando heard tales of Arthur’s court, where men are measured by their worth. He came to prove himself; he didn’t plan on Melora. Her fear of horses is a challenge Orlando is willing to take, but befriending the princess earns him powerful enemies, including the wizard Merlin and Melora's many suitors.
When Merlin curses Orlando to eternal imprisonment in the Celtic Otherworld, only Melora can save him and break the curse. But first, she’ll have to get on a horse. Melora travels from British shores to the coast of India on a madcap quest to find the keys to unlocking Orlando’s prison. Melora must overcome warriors, outsmart kings, and face her deepest fears if she wants to get Orlando out alive. Even if she can break the curse, will there be anything of Orlando left to save?

So, there you have it, my debut novel, and I'm SO EXCITED!!!

Granted, the publication process is a long one, so I'll be bursting at the seams for about a year. Assuming all goes well, I should have an exact release date by next Spring. Having seen a bit of the process from the inside, I know just how much time this all can take, but I wanted to spread the word now.

This announcement also serves as a call for future readers. If you love fantasy or King Arthur and are interested in reading review copies, I am starting a list. If you are a blogger or reviewer who thinks they'd like an (eventual) ARC, comment here, and I'll put you on a list for later contact.

SO EXCITED!!

TTT: Top 10 Fairytales I Want to See Retold (Even if I Have to Do It Myself)

Image Credit

It's Top Ten Tuesday Time again, and the theme this week is awesome: Top 10 Fairy Tales/Retellings /Tales you want retold, etc. If you want to participate, here are the details. As always, thanks a bunch to the lovely bloggers over at The Broke and the Bookish who host this weekly meme.

Anyhow, I have a lifelong obsession with fairy tales, folktales, legends and myths. My voracious reading habits had my childhood librarians scrambling for new collections on interloan every week.

The point is, I have read hundreds of retellings, but there are plenty of untapped tales out there, which leads me to my take on this week's theme:

Top 10 Fairy Tales I Want Retellings Of, Pronto

1. The Marsh King's Daughter - Hans Christian Andersen

Artist: Anne Anderson

$100 says here's one fairy tale that Disney will never touch. I honestly think I want to read a retelling because I'd be impressed if someone could make this crazy weird story into a good book! First off, the narrators are storks, which is probably the least strange thing about it. It is a mixture of Viking and Egyptian settings, Christianity and Norse Mythology. There is a gorgeous ghost priest, a bratty heroine, and a frog-skin suit. Interested? The link above takes you to a condensed version (it's also really long!).

2. How Six Men Traveled Through The Wide World - The Brothers Grimm

It's basically the version of The Avengers that Marvel didn't go with. 

We have six unlikely heroes: 

1. An angry soldier (he served his country well and only got three farthings)

2. A man who can pick up trees as if they were corn (specific here)

3. A huntsman who can shoot the eye off a fly two miles away (Take that, Hawkeye!)

4. A man who can blow great gusts out of his nostril, enough to power seven windmills two miles away (I'm not joking)

5. A runner who removes his legs when they get tired. He can run faster than birds fly when both legs are on.

6. A man with a cap on one ear: if he straightens it, a frost fills the sky and all the birds drop dead (a really useful skill, somewhere, I think). 

Anyhow, they think that maybe, all together, they might be able to get on in the world. You think? If this can't be a book, I want it to be a movie that parodies Avengers and The Expendables. (There was a great semi-retelling of this story with sisters instead, and I cannot remember what it was called!)

3. The Story of a Boy Who Went Forth to Learn Fear - The Brothers Grimm

If you haven't noticed, I like strange fairy tales. TSoaBWWFtLF needs a much shorter title if it's going to get anywhere in the world, but it has always been one of my favorites. Regardless, this story is exactly what it says in the title: there's a boy who doesn't understand fear (or in some versions, he doesn't know how to shiver), so he gets sent to a terrifying haunted house that has plagued the locals. Naturally, nothing frightens him, so he deals with it in a practical fashion (it's pretty funny too). After macabre weirdness worthy of Neil Gaiman, the boy eventually winds up with money and a wife who teaches him how to shudder (a sensible girl, she uses cold fish down the back, that always works).

4. The Clever Wife - Chinese Folk Tale

"The Clever Wife" is a typical fairytale theme, but one of my favorites is the great Chinese story about Fu-hsing's wife. One of the best parts about this story is that Fu-hsing actually realizes how wise his wife is, and he both values and supports her. He's so thrilled about his wife, that he posts up a scroll about her. The local magistrate sees it and misunderstands, and he brings loyal Fu-hsing in to examine him. The magistrate sets him three impossible tasks. Naturally, Fu-hsing's clever wife is up to the task, and they outwit the magistrate as a team. Now that's a relationship.

5. The Death of Koschei the Deathless (Marya Morevna) - Russian Fairy Tale, collected by Andrew Lang

If you want some high-octane action and daring, look up any Slavic tale featuring Koschei the Deathless. A powerful, immortal sorcerer or king, he is often an antagonist. In the tale above, he plays a role in the story of Prince Ivan (basically the Russian version of the ubiquitous Jack). Don't be fooled by all the giving sisters in marriage at the beginning: this story is basically reversed East of the Sun and West of the Moon with Ivan hunting down his warrior princess wife, Marya Morevna, after Ivan makes the mistake of pitying the crafty Koschei. This book just begs to be written.

6. The Son of Seven Mothers - from Tales of the Punjab, collected by Flora Annie Steel

An inventive Indian tale about a boy who is raised as the communal son of his father's seven wives. His father is duped into discarding all seven in favor of a witch, mayhem ensues, and The Son of the title goes on an epic adventure. Another story that is just waiting for the novel.

7. Manabohzo, the Mischief-Maker - Native American Folktale

This giant trickster is basically the North American version of Loki, always pulling pranks and duping those around him. His adventures are usually hilarious, and his clever schemes are delightful. He spends most of the above story making everyone look ridiculous.

8. The Stones of Five Colors and The Empress Jokwa - Japanese (and Chinese) Fairy Tale

Twenty-five feet tall, an able ruler, and a smart woman, Empress Jokwa once mended the broken heavens. This is that story (and there are warriors, an evil wizard, and lots of adventures). Still, I have a lot of questions about this marvelous tale. How does Jokwa feel about being so tall, for starters.

9. The Happy Hunter and The Skillful Fisher - Japanese Fairy Tale

Image Copyright: Iya-chen

I love this Japanese story about two talented (but rival) brothers, and think it would make a great novel. Or a manga (check out the awesome illustration by iya-chen above). Basically, the Hunter and Fisher decide to switch roles for a day, which doesn't go well. The Hunter loses his brother's prized fishhook, which brings the Fisher's simmering resentment to the fore. Despite the Hunter's best efforts, his brother is still furious. Eventually, the Hunter goes on a quest for the hook, and gets into a lot of adventurous scrapes. But will his brother ever forgive him?

10. The Master Thief - Nordic Fairy Tale

I think this is pretty self-explanatory. The youngest son of a poor man seeks his fortune, falls in with a band of robbers, and becomes a Master Thief. Basically it's a string of adventures where he cons people, finds a wife, and becomes the leader of the robber band. It's pretty funny too.

So there you have it. Did I pick any of your favorites, or add ones you'd never heard of? (Bonus points if you've read The Marsh King's Daughter). What fairytale would you like to read a retelling of? Would you read any of these if they were novels?