I'm honored to be part of Jill Williamson's cover reveal for her latest upcoming novel: a prequel to her dystopian Safe Lands Trilogy!

"Waiting on Wednesday"/"Can't Wait Wednesday" is a weekly meme now hosted by Wishful Endings, where you feature a yet-to-be-released title you're anticipating!

Title: Thirst (Thirst Duology #1)
Author: Jill Williamson
Release Date: November 21, 2019

About the Book:

"The end of the world is only the beginning. A waterborne disease has contaminated the world’s fresh water, decimating the human race. Seventeen-year-old Eli McShane and his friends flee the chaos and violence in Phoenix and journey north toward the rumored location of a safe water source. They add several to their number, including the mysterious Hannah, who is being hunted by a dangerous man. Desperation brings out the worst in many of the travelers, infecting even those closest to Eli. When division comes, will he be able to hold his group together or will each fall victim to their own thirst for survival?

Join some old friends from Glenrock and Jack's Peak in this thrilling first book of the Thirst Duology. Best-selling author Jill Williamson has brought back the breathtaking suspense of the The Safe Lands series in this chilling prequel that will leave readers panting for the next installment." 

Why I'm WoW about Thirst:
Jill Williamson is my absolute favorite YA author in Christian fiction right now. Though I adore her epic fantasy novels the most, The Safe Lands Trilogy was a mature dystopian entry in YA Christian Fiction that was sorely needed.  After following the stories of Levi, Mason, and Omar, Eli's great-grandsons in the Safe Lands, I'm very much looking forward to seeing how everything began ... It was this dystopian world that convinced me that Williamson writes some of the best teen male protagonists in Christian YA.

I also really love the cover art Emilie Hendryx designed! Below, you can see The Safe Lands Trilogy covers which were traditionally published with Blink YA.  I feel like the atmospheric sky and cloud elements tie the two series together --what do you think?  To learn more about the cover design process for the original Safe Lands books, be sure to check out my interview with Jill Williamson here!

I'm very excited to be part of Nadine Brandes' cover reveal for the final book in her dystopian Out of Time series!  It will be released on October 14th, making it one of my highest anticipated fall releases.  Keep reading for the full cover image and a couple of cool giveaways! (And yeah, this is also a late "Waiting on Wednesday" -- a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, where you feature a yet-to-be-released title you're anticipating!)

© 2016 Enclave Publishing

About the Book: (Highlight text to read only if you've finished books 1 & 2 - HUGE SPOILERS!)

What more can you sacrifice than your life? 

Parvin Blackwater is dead. At least…that’s what the Council—and the world—thinks. But her sacrifice tore down part of the Wall long enough to stir up hope and rebellion in the people. Now she will rise again. Strong, free, and fearless. 

Parvin and Solomon must uncover the mysterious clues that Jude left behind in order to destroy the projected Wall once and for all. Meanwhile, the Council schemes to new levels of technology in its attempts to keep the people contained. Can a one-handed Radical and a scarred ex-Enforcer really bring shalom to the world?

Why I'm "WoW" about A Time to Rise:
Basically, *that cliffhanger* at the end of book 2, A Time to Speak. ;-) *wink* Despite my initial hesitance, I've come to love this series --IMHO, easily one of the top Christian Dystopians published thus far.  See my reviews for the previous novels, A Time to Die, A Time to Speak, and my interview with author Nadine Brandes for more.

From the sneak peak glimpses, I thought that there would be more yellow/gold tones to the book cover, but it's growing on me.  The trilogy covers will look beautiful as a set ... can't wait to see the physical copies all together! Kirk DouPonce (DogEaredDesign) did an awesome job with all of them!

I guess Parvin's pink top and brown fur and leather skirt is official to cosplay now too, LOL.  Really eager to see how this book opens up --October can't come soon enough! 

What are some of your favorite trilogy/series book covers as a whole?  What do you like about them? Nadine Brandes fans, what do you think about A Time to Rise's cover? Any speculations (spoilers to a minimum please)?


About the Author:

 "Nadine learned to write her alphabet with a fountain pen. In Kindergarten. Cool, huh? Maybe that's what started her love for writing. She started journaling at age nine and thus began her habit of communicating via pen and paper more than spoken words. She never decided to become a writer. Her brain simply classified it as a necessity to life. Nadine is a stay-at-home author and writes stories about authentic faith, bold living, and worlds soaked in imagination. She lives in Idaho with her husband and works as a freelance editor. When she's not writing, editing, or taste-testing a new chai, she is out pursuing adventures. Visit Nadine at www.nadinebrandes.com, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter."

While there aren't any giveaways for A Time to Rise (I'd totally enter that if there were), there is a GoodReads giveaway for book 2, A Time to Speak.

Nadine also has a little giveaway for an adorable set of bookmarks shaped like characters from the series which you can enter below! (Left to right: Parvin, Hawke, Skelly, Jude, Reid, Elm, and Willow).


(Disclaimer: The giveaways above are run by Nadine Brandes, not The Artist Librarian.)

(c.) 2016 by Tyndale House Publishers

The Calling is Rachelle Dekker's follow-up to her romantic and suspenseful dystopian debut, The Choosing.  Dekker delves into exploring the concepts of fear, control, and hope while keeping you turning the pages with intrigue and suspense!

Title: The Calling [The Seer Trilogy #2]
Author: Rachelle Dekker
Published: 2016 by Tyndale House Publishers

About the Book:

Remko Brant had never been so sure of anything as escaping the Authority City with Carrington Hale. But bravado comes easy when you have nothing to lose. Now a husband, father, and the tactical leader of the Seers, Remko has never had so much at risk.

As he and his team execute increasingly dangerous rescue missions inside the city, they face growing peril from a new enemy. Recently appointed Authority President Damien Gold claims to be guiding a city shaken by rebellion into a peaceful, harmonious future. But appearances can be deceiving. In order to achieve his dangerous ambitions, Gold knows he must do more than catch the rebels—he must destroy the hope their message represents . . . from the inside out.

With dissension in his own camp—and the CityWatch soldiers closing in—Remko feels control slipping through his fingers. To protect those he loves, he must conquer his fears and defeat Gold . . . before one of them becomes his undoing.

The Artist Librarian Review:
In The Choosing, one of the characters I wanted to learn more about was Remko Brandt, so when I found out he was the main protagonist of The Calling, I was thrilled.  In The Calling, he's much more fleshed out as a character, moving beyond simply being Carrington Hale's love interest (and now husband).  It's a roller-coaster of emotions following Remko's and the rest of the Seers' (followers of Aaron and his Father) journey throughout the novel.  Dekker isn't afraid to ... remove characters from the story, so that feeling of, "no one is safe," kept me on the edge of my seat. 

New characters were also introduced in The Calling.  My favorites were Wire (the teenage tech expert) and Jesse (a young lone archer with a mysterious past).  While The Choosing honed in on the search for a serial killer, the suspense in this novel stems from much more intrigue.  My emotions are shot after reading this --as I got to know the rebel Seers, I didn't want to think of any of them betraying the group.  With hidden agendas, betrayals, and subterfuge, the stage is being set for an intense finale.

The only things I found incredulous were decisions made by a certain character near the climax.  Though it was believable that it could possibly happen if someone gave up hope, I couldn't wrap my head around it.  I basically wanted to give that person a slap on the head, but I digress ...

While The Choosing focused more on identity, The Calling mainly deals with fear.  This is one place where Dekker's writing really shines.  While the spiritual and conceptual elements of the novel are very strong, in context they are believable and it didn't feel too preachy.  I think it could easily cross over into the general market if the spirituality (with echoes of Christian themes) are seen as part of the worldbuilding.  While especially applicable to YA or teens because of the concepts of identity and fear, I feel that adult audiences would enjoy the novel as well.  It feels a bit more deeper than your ordinary YA dystopian. 

I appreciate that both of the novels in Dekker's Seer Trilogy thus far have had satisfying closures. While of course there were unfinished threads, they weren't major cliffhangers.  I didn't feel betrayed or played with, like a gimmicky "I can't believe the author ended the book like this!"  That being said, you will want to know what happens next --thank goodness book 3 comes out later this fall!

[Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes.]

As a part of The Calling blog tour, read on for an interview with Rachelle!

This book is written from Remko’s perspective. Did you face any challenges writing from a male point-of-view? 

There was definitely a looming pressure as I started to write the book. As a woman writer, I wanted to make sure Remko felt masculine and authentic, so I was constantly aware of how he sounded, and how he reacted. Once I got into a flow with his character though, it started to feel more familiar I didn’t have to think about it as much.

In the book you talk a lot about surrendering to fear. What does this look like and how does this help us to not be afraid? 

I think sometimes the natural reaction to fear is to hide from it, or try and push it away. It’s the idea that if we can’t see it then it must not be there, but we all know that unless dealt with the unseen things often come back to bite us. The only way to face fear is to walk through it; surrendering to Father God and letting Him reminder us of our true identity. Only then do we really see that the light within us is always greater than the fear we face.

The theme of identity from The Choosing continues in The Calling. Carrington reminds herself, “When you know who you truly are, you realize there is no war left to fight at all.” How does this statement apply to our Christian faith?

For me this is simply a reminder that God is still God. Regardless of my circumstance or how I view the world, the Father is constant and hasn’t changed. He has already won the fight, already conquered death, already set me free. It’s only when I forget who He calls me and who He is that I feel the need to fight against life instead of surrendering to Him and letting Him be God. 

Do you relate to any of the characters in The Calling in terms of how you’ve faced and handled fear in your life? How so? 

Of course, every character I write ends up having some reflections of things I’ve faced personally. You can only write what you know, as they say. I, very much like Remko, have the tendency to be in “my head” too much when faced with fear, and I struggle to let go of the need for control and simply surrender. That’s one of the main reasons I decided to write this story. 

What do you hope readers will take away from the story? 

I hope they take a moment to see themselves as children of the Father. I hope they see that true freedom and fearlessness rest in surrendering, and that when they stand with the Father than nothing can stand against them. There is incredible peace in that truth, and I hope, like I am beginning the experience, that readers feel that same peace. 

What can readers expect in the final book of the series?

Characters they know and some new ones I hope they’ll love! More questions of identity, and fear, but the characters will also be looking at forgiveness and letting go. I’m really happy with the way the final book played out, and I’m hoping readers will be as well.

Thank you, Rachelle!  With the ending of The Calling, I'm so glad that the last book is being released this fall!

About the Author: 

The oldest daughter of New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker, Rachelle Dekker was inspired early on to discover truth through storytelling. The Choosing was her critically acclaimed debut novel. Rachelle graduated with a degree in communications and spent several years in marketing and corporate recruiting before making the transition to write full time. She lives in Nashville with her husband, Daniel, and their diva cat Blair. Visit her online at www.rachelledekker.com.

What was the last book you anticipated or couldn't wait to be released?  Did it live up to your expectations?

Wow, I'm feeling way too accomplished for finishing this, but it was a lot of fun!  I saw Ally from The Scribbling Sprite participate in this book survey and I had to try it out!  Survey created by Jamie @ Perpetual Page Turner. See her original post for the link-up!  Most of the links below are my reviews of the book titles.

2015 Reading Stats

Number Of Books You Read: 141 (80 books/novels, 61 comic books/graphic novels), not counting picture books.
Number of Re-Reads: Er, I didn't really count this year ... I'd guess around maybe 5?  I also read 14 Attack on Titan manga twice.
Genre You Read The Most From: According to Goodreads, it's Dystopian, but half of that was the 20+ Attack on Titan manga and tie-in series. ;-)

Best In Books

1. Best Book You Read In 2015? (If you have to cheat — you can break it down by genre if you want or 2015 release vs. backlist)
--I don't have to to cheat!  As a soon-to-be-librarian who adores historicals, Beyond All Dreams by Elizabeth Camden (an academic librarian by day, award-winning author by night) was definitely my top pick of the year!

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t? 
--Wayne Thomas Batson's Dreamtreader trilogy.  WTB was one of the first "new" (i.e. not C.S. Lewis or Tolkien) Christian fantasy authors I discovered in high school.  I hadn't kept up with his books recently, so when the opportunity to review the last book in his new trilogy came up, I jumped at the chance to read them.  As I wrote in my review, it's a good middle grade Christian fantasy series.  However, I think maybe I've outgrown WTB or my expectations were too high ... I didn't love the books as much as I wanted to or thought I would.

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?
--It's a toss up between Nadine Brandes' A Time to Die (I can't believe what she did in the middle of, and at the end of the book!) or Jennifer A. Nielsen's The False Prince (maybe some will think the climax revelation cheap.  I almost felt betrayed for a moment, but I didn't realize it was happening until it was).


4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)? 
--I don't know anyone read them because of me, but the books I recommended the most this year was The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer.  The books I posted the most about were probably Dina L. Sleiman's Valiant Hearts novels or Nadine Brandes' Out of Time books, since I was fortunate to be invited to these awesome authors' book launch teams.



5. Best series you started in 2015? Best Sequel of 2015? Best Series Ender of 2015? 
--I'm going to be super technical and not count trilogies, so I'll say Susan May Warren's Christiansen Family series.  She alone has made me want to read more Contemporary Christian fiction.  Her characters are authentic, unperfect, and relateable ...
--Best sequel ... I'm sounding like a broken record, but A Time to Speak by Nadine Brandes. Attack on Titan, Vol. 2 is a close second because of what happens in it ... *no spoilers* Seeing episode 8 of the anime blew my mind and prompted me to read the rest of the manga ('cause couldn't wait watching 1 episode a week on Cartoon Network)!  =P
--Best series ender was definitely Winter by Marissa Meyer.  It took awhile to get there, but I think I needed all 800+ pages to say goodbye to those characters.

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2015? 
--I'll point to my Top 10 New-to-Me Authors of 2015 post, but I'll name Rachelle Dekker, since I'm ashamed to say I forgot to add her to that list.  Great YA dystopian debut with The Choosing --so much potential in this trilogy ... interested to see how it goes.

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone? 
--The best book I read that was out of my comfort zone was Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson or Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher.  If they weren't required reading for my Books & Media for Teens course, I probably would never have read these general market YA novels because the storylines didn't sound appealing to me, but as modern YA classics, they're good to know about and they're good discussion opportunities.

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
--I'm going to give this one to the Attack on Titan manga.  I borrowed volumes 1-14 from the library and I spent literally the whole night reading them until 3-4am and then freaked myself out when going upstairs to sleep ... Titans are scary.  ;-)

9. Book You Read In 2015 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
--The Attack on Titan Guidebook, in preparation/research for a Survey Corps uniform cosplay (Mikasa Ackerman, Sasha Braus, or Zoe Hanji?) ... maybe.  I couldn't write a review for Beyond All Dreams (Elizabeth Camden) without gushing uncontrollably, so I do want to reread and write a proper review this year.


10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2015?
Dauntless - Medieval era heroine armed with bow and arrow ... 'nuff said.
Batgirl of Burnside, Vol. 1 - Batgirl's costume re-design is perfect!  Love the practical and utilitarian design. 
Attack on Titan, Vol. 13 - Hajime Isayama isn't the best manga artist but this is my favorite cover of his.  My crew look so "badass" and epic ...  Please no one else dies ... ;-)  <3

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2015?
--Beyond All Dreams was just like a love letter to librarians, librarianship, and art, so I just ... that one for me was the most beautiful. 
Also, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman comes to mind.  Even though written in the 21st century, it had a really classic, British children's book feel, like it was timeless, despite the references to cell phones and such which clearly date it as modern.

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2015? 
 Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When the Stakes Are High.  A required reading for my Library Management course, but it emphasized several concepts that I think are important for communications.  It's not a perfect book, but a lot of interesting things to think about and consider when dealing with conflict.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2015 to finally read?
--Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card and The Giver by Lois Lowry.  I'm actually glad I didn't read these in middle or high school because I think I got more out of them as an adult ... but yeah, chalk these up to LIS books & media class required readings.

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2015? 
--Luke Callahan has an amazing scene in chapter 8 of Beyond All Dreams where he's encouraging his young nephew, an aspiring artist.  As an artist and creative myself, I found the whole chapter beautiful, but here's just a brief portion:

If you don't make it as a painter, funnel that passion into something else, but it doesn't have to die.  Do you think I would have turned that old boxcar into a traveling library if I hadn't been in love with poetry?  My love of poetry was a gift from God.  So is your passion for art, even though we don't know yet what form it will take.  If you don't make it as a painter, perhaps you'll be a great teacher.  Or a museum curator.  Maybe you'll become a rich industrialist and fund a museum.  Just don't limit yourself by thinking you already know God's purpose for you.

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2015?
--Shortest books were the picture books I read for LIS classes or preschool storytime at the library.  The longest book was Winter by Marissa Meyer at 824 pages.

17. Book That Shocked You The Most (Because of a plot twist, character death, left you hanging with your mouth wide open, etc.)
--Nadine Brandes' A Time to Die and A Time to Speak win this for sure ... all of the above while reading her books!  ;-)

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!) (OTP = one true pairing if you aren’t familiar) 
I probably shouldn't admit this, but I'm Team Eremika:  That is, 'shipping Eren Yeager and Mikasa Ackerman from Attack on Titan.  I love this pairing!  They have so much ... history together, I just can't see them with anyone else.  In real life, I might have some issues with their relationship (they're the points critics of this 'ship usually bring up), but I think they have the potential to really compliment and support each other (think what was "Everlark" in The Hunger Games trilogy).  But sometimes, I don't know why I even bother since I'm pretty sure romantic relationships aren't at the forefront of creator Hajime Isayama's mind (this is a shonen/action/"boys" manga, after all --romance isn't the focus).  There are little hints in the manga and anime, but they're not a couple yet (at the very least, there's a strong bond of friendship).  In all honesty, I probably wouldn't even be in this borderline horror?/dystopian fandom without this 'ship.  =P

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year 
--Trevn-Sar Hadar and Hinckdan (Hinck) Faluk, Prince Trevn was hands down my favorite character in Darkness Reigns, the part 1 e-book of Jill Williamson's new epic fantasy series, and his close bond of friendship with Hinck, his backman (and I guess, wingman) just makes me smile.  

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2015 From An Author You’ve Read Previously
--Beyond All Dreams and With Every Breath by Elizabeth Camden.

21. Best Book You Read In 2015 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:
--Ender's Game.  For a presentation, I had to read a minimum of two books from a Margaret A. Edwards award-winning author for my Books and Media for Teens class. I couldn't decide between Susan Cooper (The Dark is Rising sequence) and Orson Scott Card --After talking to my classmates, polling my friends on Facebook, and talking to a school librarian, I ended up choosing Card.

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2015? 
--Ooh ... snap, too many.   Uhm, the guys from The Lunar Chronicles probably won't count because it says "newest" ... so, I'll narrow it down to Luke Callahan (especially with a very romantic, sweet, swoon-worthy gesture/scene near the end of Beyond All Dreams), Jude and Hawke from Nadine Brandes' Out of Time trilogy (in the words of Megara, "I won't say I'm in love," but ... *yeah*), and Kael from Secrets Kept by J.L. Mbewe (I must know more about this angsty elf! LOL). ;-)

23. Best 2015 debut you read?
--As one of the only true debuts I read, The Choosing by Rachelle Dekker.


24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
--Nälu (J.L. Mbewe's Secret's Kept, Collum & the Darkwater forest (Patrick W. Carr's The Darkwater Saga), and the United States of the East/post-apocalyptic North America (Out of Time trilogy).

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
--Princess Ugg, Vol. 1 by Ted Naifeh (a princess from a viking-esque tribe is sent to be educated in a refined princess academy) & Kristy's Big Idea by Ann M. Martin, adapted by Raina Telgemeier (this Baby-Sitters' Club graphic novel was a nostalgia trip; a very well done adaptation).  Also Your Lefthanded Child by Lauren Milsom --even as a lefty, this was an eye-opener in a "that kind of makes sense" way ... =P 

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2015?
Probably A Time to Die and A Time to Speak.  Nadine Brandes, your books are emotional roller coasters --just sayin'. ;-)

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?
Because I don't normally read indies, Secrets Kept by J.L. Mbewe, but the librarianship-focused, Cosplay in Libraries: How to Embrace Costume Play in Your Library by Ellyssa Kroski, is a close second.

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?
--Nadine Brandes' Out of Time books.  Both of them.  Crushed in a good way, but ... my heart/soul. =P

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2015?
--Meanwhile by Jason Shiga --sort of a "chose your own adventure story" but crazier.  You have never read a graphic novel like this one. 

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
--A Time to Die by Nadine Brandes.  I love the book, but that certain character ... oh, I was so mad.  ;-)

Your Blogging/Bookish Life

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2015?

• Dreaming Under the Same Moon Rissi's one of the most prolific bloggers I "know" --she and her book/media review blog is such an inspiration (wanna be a blogger like you when I grow up)!  ;-)
• Britt the Book Nerd is a fellow LIS/Library & Information Science student (a.k.a. future librarian). ^_^

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2015?
--Hmm ... probably "Smart & Sassy in All the Right Ways" (Like a Flower in Bloom by Siri Mitchell)
 or my manga/anime/fandom review of Attack on Titan.  My favorite more "professionally written" review was something like "A Shockingly Good Fantasy" (The Shock of Night by Patrick W. Carr).

3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?
--One of the most popular (and personal) posts I wrote this year was "And They Said Speak Now: In Defense of Christian Romance", but my favorite non-review post I wrote this year was my "Dream Bookish Cosplays" for Top Tuesday.

4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?
--The opportunity to attend the American Library Association's Annual Conference (ALAac15) this summer was the best book-related event for sure!  For online or virtual events, the most amazingly organized and interactive launch team I've ever been part of was for Nadine Brandes' A Time to Speak --I met so many new book blogging friends through that!  A close second was being invited to be one of the hosts for Seekverville's Rockin' New Year's Eve blog party! 3,252 comments on one blog post I have never seen!  =)

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2015? 
--One of the best bookish life moments of the year was experiencing the Exhibit Hall at ALAac15 and also the "Young Gotham" panel there, where I briefly met the main writers and artists of Gotham Academy, Batgirl (of Burnside), and Grayson.  It felt like I was at a huge Comic Con(vention). ^_^

6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year? 
--Posting consistently.  I know you can schedule posts ahead, but between school, work, family, and more ... life happens.  Definitely going to try and co-ordinate better once summer comes! 

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
--According to Blogger, my top three posts are:

• "Dauntless Inspirations" (A Guest Post by author Dina Sleiman about her YA medieval novel, Dauntless).
• "Dragons: Race to the Edge (of Excitement)!" - A fandom post on the then-forthcoming Netflix series based on the How to Train Your Dragon film series.
• Finally, my "In Defense of Christian Romance" post mentioned earlier.

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

• "Animation Awards Season" (A look at the Oscar nominees for best animated feature film w/ videos!)
• My interview with dystopian YA author, Nadine Brandes (It was published on Star Wars Reads Day! Which of course, has nothing to do with dystopia, but ...) ;-)
• "Valiant Hearts MBTI with Dina Sleiman" (I customized MBTI graphics for this post and was a little disappointed more people didn't check post out, I mean, who doesn't like Myers-Briggs Type Indicators?)  =P

9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

• Cosplay, Comics, and Geek Culture in Libraries - A website created by an academic librarian/cosplayer Ellyssa Kroski, it's a treasure trove of information for librarians looking to incorporate fandom into their libraries.  Many contributing librarians write articles on programming, geeky arts & crafts, fandom, cosplay, book/media reviews, fandom life, and more!

10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
--I met my reading goal of 100 books for 2015.  More details in My Year of Books According to Goodreads 2015.

Looking Ahead 

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2015 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2016?
--Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas ... I don't know if it's my #1 priority, but it's part of a series I'm absolutely curious about, with all the hubbub about them.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2016 (non-debut)?
--A Time to Rise, the 3rd book in Nadine Brandes' Out of Time trilogy! 

3. 2016 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?
-- Currently, Curio by Evangeline Denmark, which was released earlier this month!

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2016?
--Nadine Brandes' A Time to Rise for series ending (Out of Time #3). For sequel, The Calling (book #2 of The Seer trilogy/series?) by Rachelle Dekker.

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2016?
--My first Top Ten of the month was all about my Bookish and Blogging Goals for 2016, but the main thing I want to do is add all my cosplay and costumes (with breakdowns and "making of"/walkthrough posts) to my blog.

6. A 2016 Release I’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:
I haven't read a 2016 release yet!

Whew!  If you've read all that, you deserve virtual brownie points!  So what do you think?  #QOTD: Feel free to answer one or a few of these questions in the comments, or if you've participated in the survey, I'd love to see your post! 

(c.) 2015 by Kodansha USA Publishing

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, where you feature a yet-to-be-released title you're anticipating!

Note: I've tried to edit some spoilers from the publisher's summary ... a strength of this manga are some of the crazy twists in the storyline! 

Title: Attack on Titan, Vol. 17
Creator: Hajime Isayama
U.S. Release Date: December 15, 2015 by Kodansha USA Publishing
Rating: T - Ages 16+ by the publisher

About the Book:

"Thanks to Rod Reiss, Eren finally knows the terrible truth behind ... Titan powers and the depth of his father’s crimes. The king orders ... Historia to kill Eren and restore the power of the Titans to its rightful place, but she chooses her own selfish path: survival. As the cavern crumbles around the Survey Corps, Eren must make another last-minute decision, with the lives of all his friends in the balance."

Why I'm "WoW" About Attack on Titan, Vol. 17:
You may remember my Fandom Friday feature on this crazy series earlier this year, where I briefly wrote about the combination of the manga and the anime (animated series) that hooked me into this dystopian, post-apocalypic series.

So the last manga volume released in August ended on. Such. A. Cliffhanger.  I was extremely tempted to throw it across the room (kind of).  Not only were was there a "Oh, no --you didn't just stop there!" moment, one of my favorite characters was injured and I'm hoping nothing horrible happens with that, though it has been a bit since a reoccurring character has been ... removed from the main storyline.  I've never followed a comic book or manga series before, so it's a different experience for me to be waiting every 3-4 months or so for the library to get a copy of the next volume.
The cover art for this volume is interesting and looks very calm compared to some of the other more intense covers.  The main characters look like the 15-year-old teenagers they should be rather than the hardened, battle-weary soldiers that they are.  I hope that means they'll be getting a well deserved break from the intense action of the previous volume, but who knows?

Are there any current manga or book series that you're following?  How do you cope with the wait time between books?

I apologize for dropping off the face of the "bloggersphere" again! This past weekend was our state library association’s annual conference and I presented my first LIS academic poster there: “‘Cos It’s More Than Just Play! Engaging Fandom in Public Libraries Through Cosplay.” It was an awesome experience, but because I was prepping for that, I didn’t get a chance to write any posts in advance. I haven’t done a Top Tuesday for a bit and this week’s theme from The Broke and The Bookish's blog was a neat way to look back at my list of books I’ve read this year (and a reminder that I need to update my goodreads account)!

So, in order by date read ...

Brian Selznick: The Invention of Hugo Cabret
--Required reading for my Books & Media for Children class. This Caldecott award winner’s strength is Selznick’s combination of story and illustrations. The visuals in this book are gorgeous!  Can't wait to read his other hybrid novels ...

Lois Lowry: The Giver
--Another required reading for my Books & Media for Children class. I had seen the film adaptation earlier this year –I had enjoyed that version, though I know the book purists weren’t thrilled with the "aging up" of Jonas. Perhaps because I had seen the movie first, it was kind of weird to think of a younger Jonas going through everything that he did. I never picked up the book as a teen because the summary/storyline didn’t really seem like it’d be my cup of tea, but I did enjoy it and I can see why it’s taught in many elementary, middle, and high schools.  Random fact: Lois Lowry herself took the photo of the older gentleman used on the original book cover!

Neil Gaiman: The Graveyard Book
--Though I don't think I'd ever be able to read his acclaimed Sandman graphic novels, I've always meant to read his children's books.  I thought I'd get to Coraline first (because I've been meaning to see the animated film), but again, this was required reading.  It felt almost timeless at times, but there are references to cell phones and other things that place it in the modern world.  It really had a British vibe to it and a bit dark, but for the most part, still appropriate for the target age group.

Dina L. Sleiman: Dauntless & Chivalrous --Totally fell in love with Dina's YA medieval historicals that are inspired by legendary figures such as Robin Hood or King Arthur and Camelot.  One author I'll definitely be keeping an eye on ... I'm hoping to try her earlier published work soon. My reviews of Dauntless and Chivalrous.

Susan May Warren: When I Fall in Love (#3), Take a Chance on Me (#1), It Had to Be You (#2)
--I first came upon When I Fall in Love, book 3 of the Christiansen family series, and was immediately drawn in by the story (I love cooking competitions and I grew up in Hawaii!) and taken by the characters.  I quickly borrowed the first two from the library and then fell behind on the series (which I'm going to remedy really soon).  I don't read a lot of contemporary fiction, but I'm totally won over by Warren's writing.

Becky Wade: Meant to Be Mine
--Another new-to-me Christian Contemporary Fiction author I read this year was Becky Wade.  A daring storyline with enough romantic tension that kept me flipping pages late into early morning hours to finish!  While readable as a stand-alone, I'm hoping to get to books #1 & #3 of the Porter series soon. =)

Jennifer A. Nielsen: The False Prince, The Runaway King, The Shadow Throne
--I initially selected The False Prince for an assignment in my Books & Media for Teens class this summer.  After my course was over, it was clear because of the ending that I'd have to continue reading the trilogy.  With short chapters and full of action, it's perfect for reluctant readers.  While it took me a bit to warm up to Sage (he was a bit too rogue for me personally), seeing his maturation and growth through his journey was rewarding.

J.L. Mbewe: Secrets Kept
--I remember stumbling onto Jennette's blog earlier this year and discovering a similar love of fandoms and fantasy.  While I don't usually review books from presses I'm not familiar with, I'm glad I did for Secrets Kept!  Her diverse characters and elaborate world building brought the novel to life and it's a welcome addition to the Christian fantasy genre.

Nadine Brandes: A Time to Die & A Time to Speak
--Along with Jennifer A. Nielsen, Nadine wins the award of "cliffhanger queen" this year ... =P  One of the things I love about being a book blogger/reviewer is having the opportunity to read books I might not normally give myself a chance to read.  I remember seeing A Time to Die around the book blogging world last year, but I hadn't heard of the publisher, so I ... kind of dismissed it.  Huge mistake that I'm glad I've rectified this year!  The Out of Time books are easily some of the the best Christian YA dystopians I've ever read. My review of A Time to Die & A Time to Speak.

Becky Cloonan & Brenden Fletcher: Gotham Academy, Vol. 1
--I was able to briefly meet these creators of Gotham Academy at #ALAac15 this summer, along with Karl Kerschl, who illustrates this new and gorgeously mysterious, slightly spooky, Nancy Drew-esque entry into DC Comics and Gotham lore.  While a lot of the "Bat-verse" and Gotham set stories starring Batman and co. are often a bit too dark for my taste, this series, aimed at middle grade, teen, and new comic book readers, is what would probably be rated "all ages appropriate" graphic novels. My review of Gotham Academy, Vol. 1.

Have you read any of these authors --what should I read next? What are some "new-to-you" authors you read this year you'd recommend? 

This week's Top Tuesday topic is from The Broke and The Bookish's blog:  "Halloween themed freebie -- your choice (ie. 10 best ghost stories, 10 things that scare you in books, 10 literary Halloween costumes, 10 vampire novels, 10 books that WILL scare you, 10 non-scary books for Halloween, 10 scariest covers, etc.)"  I don't really celebrate Halloween, but since I do costuming, I thought I'd share my list of top book characters I want to cosplay someday!  In no particular order ...



1. Kale Allerion in DragonQuest by TheArtistLibrarian on DeviantArt
Kale Allerion (The DragonKeeper Chronicles by Donita K. Paul)

(c.) 2015 by Enclave Publishing

Title: A Time to Speak (Out of Time #2)
Author: Nadine Brandes
Published: 2015 by Enclave Publishing

About the Book:

"What happens when you live longer than you wanted to? Parvin Blackwater wanted to die, but now she's being called to be a leader. The only problem is, no one wants to follow.

The Council uses Jude's Clock-matching invention to force 'new-and-improved' Clocks on the public. Those who can't afford one are packed into boxcars like cattle and used for the Council's purposes.

Parvin and Hawke find themselves on a cargo ship of Radicals headed out to sea. What will the Council do to them? And why are people suddenly dying before their Clocks have zeroed-out?"

The Artist Librarian's Review:
So if I thought Nadine Brandes' debut, A Time to Die, was an intense dystopian/survivalist novel, this sequel doubles the stakes, the action, the romance, and the cliffhanger ending!  After the devastating events at the end of Parvin's journey beyond the Walls, she returns to her "normal" life forever changed --and so are the people close to her.  But too quickly, she finds herself responsible for the survival of the remnant of her townspeople.  With her leadership, can they escape beyond the Council's reach? Can they survive beyond the Walls?  Can they unravel the mystery of the Clocks?

Brandes' dystopian world is expanded upon from the North American continent to the Southern Pole and back.  We get to see new locations such as Lost Angel on the west coast and the Antarctica base, each with their own flavors and perils.  We also get a glimpse into Prime, a High City, and its unique culture and technologies. 

The survival-against-nature aspect of this series is one that sets it apart from other dystopians I've read.  While I did have a literary suspension-of-disbelief-moment again, I think most of that comes from the fact that I haven't lived through freezing, snow-inducing weather, so a lot of the Antarctica scenes made me think, "you can't survive that in real life." (I'm sure you probably can, but this warmth-loving girl just probably can't.)  =P

Parvin continues her journey, growing both as a character and as a leader.  If A Time to Die was about Parvin discovering that God has a plan for her life, A Time to Speak is about the details.  Have you ever thought, "I know that God has a purpose for me, but what are those exact plans?" That's what Parvin's struggling with also:

"I don't think He wants us to keep asking and dwelling on His specific plan or will.  He wants us to dwell on and seek Him.  Then our decisions will be made from our love for and relationship with Him. We are free to take action in whatever means we want as long as we seek Him and allow Him to guide us" (330).

I love Hawke's words --they reminded me of something my mom told me when I was around that age and I was facing big "future" questions and wondering "How do I know if this is God's will for my life?"  She said we seek God and allow Him to guide us, but not to fret over decisions.  If we aren't going in the right direction, God will let us know --He'll shut those paths (like how Paul was prevented from going to Bithynia in Acts 16:7). 

Speaking of Hawke, he's one of several characters who are fleshed out in this novel and quickly became one of my favorites.  While Parvin and Hawke kind of had more of an "online" or digital friendship in the first novel, their relationship changes when they find themselves working closely together to save an innocent girl.  I really liked this progression.  The fact that both Parvin and Hawke have faults and the differences in their personalities and how they handle stress or hurt are realistic.  I also really appreciated the way they confront these differences and face them in a potentially romantic relationship.  I think that's something important for readers to see.  Their faults aren't glossed over just because they might be falling in love. 

A Time to Speak is another action-filled page turner that left the romantic in me completely satisfied.  But be warned: the ending is a huge cliffhanger which left me saying, "Did she just do what I think she did?!!!"  However, if Nadine Brandes has shown me anything from this series, it's that she's a bold author. She's unafraid to take risks and do the unconventional.  I'm absolutely dying to see how she opens the next novel in this series!

Brief reflection on content: Christian YA dystopian. Characters are injured, bloodied, killed,   etc. (but not graphically described).  A bit of romance as well (not to spoil, but I ship "BlackHawke"). =) I'd recommend to older teens and up, but of course, dependent on maturity, a younger teen may enjoy it as well. 

About the Author:

 "Nadine learned to write her alphabet with a fountain pen. In Kindergarten. Cool, huh? Maybe that's what started her love for writing. She started journaling at age nine and thus began her habit of communicating via pen and paper more than spoken words. She never decided to become a writer. Her brain simply classified it as a necessity to life. Nadine is a stay-at-home author and writes stories about authentic faith, bold living, and worlds soaked in imagination. She lives in Idaho with her husband and works as a freelance editor. When she's not writing, editing, or taste-testing a new chai, she is out pursuing adventures. A Time to Die is her first novel. Visit Nadine at www.nadinebrandes.com."

Any thoughts?  What is a book that absolutely left you hanging with the hugest cliffhanger?  Let me know in the comments (no spoilers, please)!
[Disclosure: As a part of this book's launch team, I received a digital advanced reader's copy (ARC) from the author for review purposes]

Author Nadine Brandes

I've recently come to know YA dystopian author Nadine Brandes through my blogging and am very excited to have the opportunity to interview her today and be a part of her launch team for her latest book, A Time to Speak, which releases October 16th!

Thanks so much for stopping by The Artist Librarian, Nadine! Let's start off with an elevator pitch: Describe the Out of Time Series in three wor--no, let's make that three sentences.
--These books are about a culture where everyone has a Clock telling them exactly how long they have to live. My main character — Parvin — has one year left on her Clock, but feel she’s wasted her life. She spends that last year trying to find purpose.

And they’re so intense!  My review of book 1, A Time to Die (I struggled not to spoiler anything) and stay tuned for my review of the sequel, A Time to Speak, coming soon!

Why dystopians? Like the fantasy and sci-fi genres, some Christians look at dystopians with a skeptical eye. Why do you write Christian Speculative Fiction and what would you say to convince someone to give it a shot?

--Well, I chose dystopian because I wanted to convey that there can be hope in even the darkest situations and darkest times. I write speculative fiction because sometimes it’s easier to understand the world when you step out of it for a time. [grin]

Personally, the fantasy and sci-fi genres have affected my walk with Christ and my journey in this world much deeper than real-life fiction. I guess that’s why I gravitate toward writing it. There’s power in created worlds. Besides, we were created to create. :)

I am also drawn to speculative fiction for similar reasons and only recently began reading more contemporary fiction.  Plus, it's just neat to see the world-building that goes on in fantasy or sci-fi books!

I was an art major, so I have to ask: Can you briefly describe the book cover art/design process for you as the author? How much input did you have? Is it what you envisioned?

--Kirk DouPonce from DogEared Design does my covers and he’s amazing! With book 1, A Time to Die, when I received the first draft it was like seeing my imagination on paper. Not a lot of authors can say that. Generously, Enclave Publishing and Kirk both allow me quite a bit of input. It’s more of a team effort, where Kirk and I will discuss ideas and then he’ll execute what he envisions will be best. That way he still gets creative freedom and I still get a say in the matter. I’m extremely pleased with the set-up.

That's wonderful!  I always enjoy learning how similar (or different) authors' experiences are with that process (such as Jill Williamson's).  As a reader, it throws me off when a book cover doesn't match the character descriptions in the text ... Kirk did a great job with your books and I can't wait to see what book 3's design will look like! 

 Today is the 4th annual Star Wars Reads Day (with events across the nation at local libraries and bookstores/comic book stores), so I thought I'd be fun to close out this interview with some Star Wars themed questions!

Ooh, I love this idea! *Didn’t know it was Star Wars Reads Day* :P

Original Trilogy or Prequel Trilogy?

ORIGINAL! duh. ;-) Always and forever.

Yes! *high fives*  Though I do love the costumes and lightsaber choreography in the Prequels, the Original Trilogy holds my heart ... With Episode VII: The Force Awakens coming out in December, I wonder what they'll call that trilogy ... "The Sequel Trilogy?" Hmm ...

Who is your favorite Star Wars character?

Han Solo. But isn’t he everyone’s? :) (My bestie’s favorite character is Boba Fett, so I guess that answers that question.)

Harrison Ford as Han Solo

Haha, I know.  <-- Han reference ;-)  I've seen fans of Boba Fett (or Mandalorians in general) called "Fandalorians" which I think is kind of a neat "fandom name" ... I've never been able to figure out what Star Wars fans are called ... Most of my favorite SW characters are from the books, but Princess Leia (and Luke Skywalker) are my favorite film characters. =)

The Death Star is heading to your home planet, what do you do?

Die. LOL. Oh, you mean that I’m on the Death Star while this is happening? Well, I’d try and snag a blaster from some oblivious stormtrooper and blast the controls off of that beam-director thing before Vader strangles me. Yup.

"That's no moon ... "

That would be a different time to die [okay, I'll stop with the references] ... Great answers!

Since it's Star Wars Reads Day, have you ever read a Star Wars novel?

No. But I’ve recently grown more interested in reading sci-fi. I used to be a fantasy-only girl.

Star Wars books are the only sci-fi novels I've read --not counting Ender's Game and dystopians (which are technically a sci-fi sub-genre), so if you ever want a recommendation on pre-2014 published SW novels, feel free to ask me, LOL!

Thanks so much Nadine! Anything else you'd like to share with the readers?

Thanks for chatting! I guess I’d like to ask readers…What do you want to know about me? I’m pretty open to answering all sorts of question. Ask in the comments! ;)

There you have it --feel free to ask Nadine any questions you have!  I was just perusing her "About" page on her website and saw she's a huge Miyazaki fan! I'm working on watching all of Studio Ghibli's films, so I'd ask her if she prefers watching his animated films with the English dub (voice overs) or in the original Japanese with English subtitles and why?  ;-)

More about Nadine:
"Nadine learned to write her alphabet with a fountain pen. In Kindergarten. Cool, huh? Maybe that's what started her love for writing. She started journaling at age nine and thus began her habit of communicating via pen and paper more than spoken words. She never decided to become a writer. Her brain simply classified it as a necessity to life. Nadine is a stay-at-home author and writes stories about authentic faith, bold living, and worlds soaked in imagination. She lives in Idaho with her husband and works as a freelance editor. When she's not writing, editing, or taste-testing a new chai, she is out pursuing adventures. A Time to Die is her first novel. Visit Nadine at  www.nadinebrandes.com" or check her on on social media sites such as Goodreads, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Google+.