I often find the final book in a trilogy plays a pivotal part of how I view the series as a whole. If successful and well-written, I will return to it over and over again.  If lackluster or disappointing, it can dim the excitement and joy I felt for the earlier installments.  Read on for my review of  Curse Bound --author J.L. Mbewe's conclusion to her debut fantasy trilogy ...


Title: Curse Bound (The Hidden Dagger #3)
Author: J. L. Mbewe
Published: 2019 by BrokenSeed Books

About the Book:

"Kael's worse fears have come true. Betrayal has shaken the Guardian Circle, the High Guardian is dead, and Ayianna and Prince Vian are in the hands of the Sorceress, but he and his companions must finish their quest, before they can attempt a rescue mission. Unfortunately, Desmond's parting gift left them stranded on the western cliffs of Nälu. Jathil, once heir to the throne of Arashel, believes her father will aid them, but first she must face the crimes of her past. When she does, she could never believe the outcome, nor the rippling effect it would have on the nations. Meanwhile the Alliance braces for war, but division threatens to undermine their efforts. When Nerissa returns from Ganya with the dragon regiment, she discovers a bigger problem. The curse bound are waking. As the quest nears completion, Kael is forced to choose between his heart and duty, and neither choice bodes well with him. Either way, he will face the Sorceress and her armies sooner or later. The battle for Nälu has begun and there can be only one victor."

The Artist Librarian Review:

It's bittersweet to come to the end of this trilogy that I started reading nearly 5 years ago with Secrets Kept.  Curse Bound covers events immediately after Darkened Hope and follows several different groups of characters from the original quest: Ayianna and Prince Vian traded their lives for the safety of their friends and are now captive in the heart of enemy territory.  Kael, Jathil, and Tariq frantically search for the final ingredient to craft a life-saving tonic.  Finally the remnants of the Guardian Circle prepare for war in the city of Praeten and watch over the sleeping cursed bound citizens in Kvazkhun.

Though it's been over a year since I last read this series, I was able to quickly reacquaint myself through the character list at the beginning of the book which spotlights each main character and their role in the series thus far.  I think it would be possible for someone to jump straight to Curse Bound, but reading the trilogy through would be more preferred to give background and foster connection to the characters.  The story continues where it left off from the previous book at full speed. 

Appropriately, considering the title, much of the conflict of the novel comes through curses: Some are physically affecting curses, like the harpy curse which threatens to consume Ayianna or the Sorceress' curse on the plains' people that compel them to serve her.  Others are subtle, like Kael's struggles to overcome his past failures or Vian's status as the marked firstborn of King Valdemar that makes him a target of Semine, who is convinced that his sacrifice will allow her evil mistress Raezana to rise again.

While I did enjoy the conclusion of this trilogy, I did feel a slight letdown on the ending in regards to the fate of one antagonist, because the story feels complete minus that one character.  However, I have a feeling that perhaps it was intentionally left open-ended by the author so she can return to this story world and write more about Nälu in the future ... Other than that, I think overall, with diverse characters, detailed world building, and a subtle spiritual thread, The Hidden Dagger Trilogy is a solid indie debut for author J. L. Mbewe and is unique entry in the growing Christian Fantasy market.


[Disclosure: I received a complimentary ARC of this book for review purposes through the participation of this blog tour.]

About the Author

Writing as J. L. Mbewe, Jennette is an author, artist, mother, wife, but not always in that order. Born and raised in Minnesota, she now braves the heat of Texas, but pines for the Northern Lights and the lakes of home every autumn. She loves trying to capture the abstract and make it concrete. She is currently living her second childhood with her wonderful husband and two precious children who don’t seem to mind her eclectic collections of rocks, shells, and swords, among other things. Here, between reality and dreams, you will find her busily creating worlds inhabited by all sorts of fantasy creatures and characters, all questing about and discovering true love amid lots of peril. Her debut novel, Secrets Kept, was nominated for the 2014 Clive Staples Award. Her second novel, Darkened Hope was a semi-finalist for the 2017 Alliance Award.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, July 8^th

• Sparks of Ember: Spotlight & Book Excerpt
• Kathrese McKee: Author Interview
• Safe Return Doubtful: Character Interview
• Starlight Reviews: Book Review of Curse Bound

Tuesday, July 9^th

• The Heart of a Scribe: Guest Post on Writing
• Imperial Scribis: Book Review of Secrets Kept
• The Artist Librarian: Guest Post on Music of Nalü

Wednesday, July 10^th

• Elisabeth Wheatley: Author Interview
• Fairies, Fantasy, and Faith: Guest Post on World-Building

Thursday, July 11^th

• The Quirky Book Nerd: Book Review of The Hidden Dagger Trilogy
• The Genre of Imagination: Author Interview
• Unicorn Quester: Guest Post of Characters as My Little Pony

Friday, July 12^th

• Jessica Belmont: Book Review of Curse Bound
• Unicorn Quester: Video Book Review

Saturday, July 13^th

• She Hearts Fiction: Book Review of Curse Bound
• The Artist Librarian: Book Review of Curse Bound

Sunday, July 14^th

• Unicorn Quester: Blog Tour Wrap-Up

I loved featuring fantasy author J.L. Mbewe as a guest blogger several years ago where she shared the inspiration behind some of the styles and clothing of her world of Nälu.  This week on July 11th, Curse Bound, the final book in The Hidden Dagger Trilogy will be released!  To celebrate, Laura A. Grace of Unicorn Quester has organized an awesome blog tour I'm happy to participate in and I have the honor of hosting Jennette on my blog again --this time to talk about the music of her diverse fantasy world!  Don't forget to read on after for info about a special Facebook Party (with prizes!) and find links to the rest of the blog tour:


I know. It sounds funny, doesn’t it? It’s a book. Why would we even think about the music you would find within the pages of a book? It’s not like you can listen to it while you’re reading. YET. Although, I have heard rumors and people talking about possibly creating the technology to couple music while you’re reading. Personally, I don’t think I’d like it, but that’s a different post for a different time. Ha!
When we write, we aren’t just creating pictures with words. We are immersing you in another time and place, a place rich with color, smells, flavors, and sounds. I might have gotten a little carried away with world-building, but today, it all pays off. I get to share a little about the sounds you would hear if you were to visit some of the places within Nälu.

And IF you’ve read A Princess No More, you will have greater insight into a certain pivotal scene in Curse Bound. But we are getting ahead of ourselves.





This is just a taste of some the music behind the scenes. When building the world, I didn’t assign music to all the cultures and people groups. I went deeper when the scene called for it. Like when I mention the music. To be able to describe what Ayianna or the other characters were hearing, I wanted to hear it for myself. Or at least, I had to know what kind of instruments they might hear or be available to them. Thanks for having me, Jen!

 [Thank you for giving us a glimpse of the music you envisioned in your stories, Jennette!  I might pull up a playlist of these types of music next time I read your books!  Readers: Do you listen to music when you read?   Why or why not?  I occasionally will listen to instrumentals or soundtracks that I think fit the book I'm currently reading.] 

About Cursed Bound

"Kael's worse fears have come true. Betrayal has shaken the Guardian Circle, the High Guardian is dead, and Ayianna and Prince Vian are in the hands of the Sorceress, but he and his companions must finish their quest, before they can attempt a rescue mission. Unfortunately, Desmond's parting gift left them stranded on the western cliffs of Nälu. Jathil, once heir to the throne of Arashel, believes her father will aid them, but first she must face the crimes of her past. When she does, she could never believe the outcome, nor the rippling effect it would have on the nations. Meanwhile the Alliance braces for war, but division threatens to undermine their efforts. When Nerissa returns from Ganya with the dragon regiment, she discovers a bigger problem. The curse bound are waking. As the quest nears completion, Kael is forced to choose between his heart and duty, and neither choice bodes well with him. Either way, he will face the Sorceress and her armies sooner or later. The battle for Nälu has begun and there can be only one victor."

 

About the Author

Writing as J. L. Mbewe, Jennette is an author, artist, mother, wife, but not always in that order. Born and raised in Minnesota, she now braves the heat of Texas, but pines for the Northern Lights and the lakes of home every autumn. She loves trying to capture the abstract and make it concrete. She is currently living her second childhood with her wonderful husband and two precious children who don’t seem to mind her eclectic collections of rocks, shells, and swords, among other things. Here, between reality and dreams, you will find her busily creating worlds inhabited by all sorts of fantasy creatures and characters, all questing about and discovering true love amid lots of peril. Her debut novel, Secrets Kept, was nominated for the 2014 Clive Staples Award. Her second novel, Darkened Hope was a semi-finalist for the 2017 Alliance Award.

 

Party Time! 

Curse Bound is coming soon! Join us as we celebrate its release on July 11th, 2019 at 7pm - 10pm CST. There will be plenty of bookish fun, games, and giveaways. AND we have special guests Kyle Robert Shultz, Lindsay A. Franklin, and Jenelle Leanne Schmidt who will be joining us and sharing about their books.
 

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, July 8^th

• Sparks of Ember: Spotlight & Book Excerpt
• Kathrese McKee: Author Interview
• Safe Return Doubtful: Character Interview
• Starlight Reviews: Book Review of Curse Bound

Tuesday, July 9^th

• The Heart of a Scribe: Guest Post on Writing
• Imperial Scribis: Book Review of Secrets Kept
• The Artist Librarian: Guest Post on Music of Nalü

Wednesday, July 10^th

• Elisabeth Wheatley: Author Interview
• Fairies, Fantasy, and Faith: Guest Post on World-Building

Thursday, July 11^th

• The Quirky Book Nerd: Book Review of The Hidden Dagger Trilogy
• The Genre of Imagination: Author Interview
• Unicorn Quester: Guest Post of Characters as My Little Pony

Friday, July 12^th

• Jessica Belmont: Book Review of Curse Bound
• Unicorn Quester: Video Book Review

Saturday, July 13^th

• She Hearts Fiction: Book Review of Curse Bound
• The Artist Librarian: Book Review of Curse Bound

Sunday, July 14^th

• Unicorn Quester: Blog Tour Wrap-Up

Can you believe it's July? We're halfway through 2019! I've loved reading ever since I can remember --my parents say I learned to read from the paper television listings back in the day ... Though teens can technically still be children since they're minors, I decided my limit my range for "childhood" --any juvenile books I remember reading from when I was a toddler to 10 years old. This Top Tuesday prompt is from That Artsy Reader Girl's blog feature, Top Ten Tuesday.


1. It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw (1941)
--Spilled milk takes on the forms of various objects, flora, and fauna ... or is it? This is one of the first books I remember reading! I really should find a nice copy for my personal collection. And make a felt board version for my Storytime.

2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (1969)
--A peckish caterpillar searches for food and the journey leads to a spectacular transformation. I can hardly believe Eric Carle is pushing 90 years old! This was my introduction to die cut pages (those holes!) and the fruits on all those flaps looked so yummy and Carle's collage art is the best. I also distinctly remember an episode in Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood where Fred Rogers visited Carle in his studio and learned some of the techniques Carle uses in his work ...

3. Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina (1940) --A cap seller (who transported his inventory by wearing it in a tall stack on his own head) runs into trouble in the form of a group of monkeys in a tree. My mom often read to my siblings and I when we were kids ... from picture books like this one to novels like The Chronicles of Narnia. This was one of my favorites from that time.

4. The Pony Engine adapted by Doris Garn, illustrated by Gregorio Prestopino (1957?)
--Also known as The Little Engine That Could --this is the copy I remember having as a kid!

5. I Spy series by Jean Marzollo, photos by Walter Wick (1992-2012)
--My family enjoyed the Where's Waldo series, but our favorite "look and find" series was definitely I Spy and the crazy-detailed photography from Walter Wick. We'd pour over the photos and pick our favorite objects on each page or make up stories where we'd have to chose a certain number of items from each spread ...

6. Anno's Math Games series by Mitsumasa Anno (1980s) --I remember enjoying these fun books in elementary school along with the Usborne Puzzle Book series!

7. Little House Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, illustrated by Garth Williams (1932-1971)
--These are the first novel-length books I remember reading as a 3rd grader (probably?) It was a sad day when my mom retired our family's box set while I was in college ... Broken and creased spines, discolored pages, those paperbacks were read countless times (mostly by me, once or twice by my younger sister). I want to get a hardcover set someday ...

8. American Girl series by various authors and illustrators (1986-Present)
--Besides the Little House books, I "blame" American Girl for my love of historical fiction that started way back as an eight or nine year old reading these series. My favorite stories were Felicity Merriman's (1770s) and later also Kit Kitteridge (1930s) when she was introduced. I still try to read the historical line of books we get in the library system to keep up (now I have the perfect excuse as a children's librarian)!

9. Nancy Drew Mysteries by Carolyn Keene, various illustrators (1930-Present) --Nancy Drew fed my reading addiction for many years, first the original 56 mysteries, the continuing mysteries, and later spin offs like the Nancy Drew & Hardy Boys Super Mysteries. I have so many mixed feelings about the upcoming 2019 CW "adaptation" of these beloved characters ... Reading some of the recent reboot comic book series from Dynomite has prepped me for a darker/edgier Nancy, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna like it! ;-)

10. Boxcar Children Mysteries by Gertrude Chandler Warner, various illustrators (1924-Present) --I actually was introduced to the Boxcar Children after Nancy Drew and that was when I remember learning to search the library catalog when it was a plain black screen with white text. The year my family began reading the series, we also began utilizing the interlibrary loan system and maxed out several family members' cards as we tried to read all of them! Even as a twenty-something college student, I would keep up reading the latest Boxcar Children Mysteries just to say I had read them all (I finally stopped that at #130).

Do you remember any of these books? What are some of your favorite childhood stories? Let me know in the comments!

Over the years, I have read hundreds of books, and on occasion, I have run into several characters that reminded me a bit of myself.  This Top Tuesday was a fun theme to try out and is from the That Artsy Reader Girl blog.

"I looked at him, and saw myself." - Hiccup Haddock III (DreamWorks' How to Train Your Dragon)



1. Felicity Merriman (American Girl Series by Valerie Tripp):
--The American Girl series and Little House on the Prairie books got me into historicals when I was in elementary school.  While Felicity and I don't really have a lot in common personality-wise (she felt much braver than me and abhorred "proper lady" things like sewing and such), she was the first book character that had siblings in the exact same gender and order as I did (until my youngest brother came along).  I also could totally relate to her as the eldest and her relationship with Nan the "perfect younger sister" too!

2. Meg Murry (A Wrinkle in Time et al. by Madeleine L'Engle):
--From the very first chapter, Margaret "Meg" Murry came alive and was instantly relatable as a young tween/teen.  Meg was also the oldest child and her feelings of awkwardness, ordinariness, and dislike/frustration with herself (I think self-loathing is too harsh a term, but you know what I mean) ... I felt she was just like me (minus her genius level math skills).  Watching Meg grow up throughout the books made me hope that those awkward adolescent phases would pass and that I might run into a Calvin O'Keefe of my own someday ...

3.  Lehman Bardon (The DragonKeeper Chronicles by Donita K. Paul)
--While I adore and slightly relate to the protagonist wizard apprentice and DragonKeeper, Kale Allerion, I chose to list Bardon, the by-the-book squire introduced in the second novel of this series.  Initially, Kale thinks of him as a strict, stuffy rule follower, but I could relate to Bardon's caution and introvert tendencies.  Being thrust on a quest because his superior denies him the chance to become a squire, the young lehman questioned what his future would hold if unable to continue down the path to knighthood that he had trained for his whole life.  That uncertainty of the future was something I was familiar with when I first read the series as a young adult ...

4.  Jennifer Lim (Sushi Series by Camy Tang):
--While I love all of the cousins in the Sakai family, Jennifer Lim was the one whose personality seemed closest to my own.  I'm thankful that Camy Tang chose to write a novella for Jen after she finished the trilogy covering her other cousins, but I've always wished that it could have been a full length novel like the other girls got ... Not sure if Zondervan still has publishing rights for the Sushi Series, but if so, they TOTALLY dropped the ball when they could have hyped up this series as the Contemporary Christian Fiction alternative to Crazy Rich Asians (which was also published years before CRA)!

5.  Barriss Offee (Star Wars Legends novels by various authors)
--Before the animated Clone Wars series messed it up, I really liked Barriss Offee --serious, studious, compassionate ... I could relate to her type of upbringing and balancing what you were taught and how that works when the rest of the world doesn't share all of those views ...

6.  Matthias (Redwall by Brian Jacques)
--There's so many characters that Brian Jacques created that I love, but Matthias was the first.  He's clumsy, makes mistakes, but he doesn't give up and becomes a legendary hero in his own right. 

7.  Jill Pole (The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis)
--In case you haven't sensed a theme with these characters ... I relate to those ordinary, everyperson types.  Jill isn't brave at first, but through Aslan and her adventures in Narnia, finds her voice and the courage to stand out and be a hero.

8.  Princess Yona (Yona of the Dawn manga by Mizuho Kusanagi)
--A sheltered princess forced to grow up quickly after her father loses the throne to an usurper, I can relate to Yona's slight obliviousness at times, but also to her sense of justice and desire to rely on herself and not trouble others.

9.  Elinor Dashwood (Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen)
--I always picture myself as the least emotional sister, the one the holds it together, the oldest, responsible one ... Kind of like Elinor.  While she's not my favorite Austen heroine (it's Lizzy Bennett of course), I think she's the one who's the most like me.

10. Rose Campbell (Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott)
--Even though it was written over 100 years ago, Rose was going through a lot of things girls everywhere do when growing up. I could relate with Rose in many aspects ... troubles with superficial friends, temptation to do things (i.e. read books) that parents or guardians don't want you to, wanting to make a difference with your life, using your gifts for good, trying to discover your heart and letting yourself fall in love ... not that I've fallen in love, when Mac Campbell is out there setting high standards, LOL.

Who are some literary characters that you relate to?

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the publication of Jill Williamson's first novel, By Darkness Hid, she is offering special limited HARDCOVER editions of her popular Christian Fantasy trilogy as a reward in her Kickstarter campaign to fund audiobook recordings of the series ...

"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: Blood of Kings Trilogy
Author: Jill Williamson
Re-Release Date: Fall 2019 by Enclave Publishing

About By Darkness Hid (Book #1):

"Given the chance to train as a squire, kitchen servant Achan Cham hopes to pull himself out of his pitiful life and become a Kingsguard Knight. When Achan's owner learns of his training, he forces Achan to spar with the Crown Prince--more of a death sentence than an honor. Meanwhile, strange voices in Achan's head cause him to fear he's going mad. While escorting the prince to a council presentation, their convoy is attacked. Achan is wounded and arrested, but escapes from prison--only to discover a secret about himself he never believed possible."

Why I'm WoW about The Blood of Kings Trilogy:
I think I won a copy of By Darkness Hid from a book blog or some giveaway.  I had seen the book online before, but it was published by Marcher Lord Press (now known as Enclave), a smaller, kind of indie Christian Speculative Fiction press and ... I don't know, I never thought to give it a shot.  I still remember being only a few chapters into the book and thinking, "This is pretty mature for Christian Fantasy," --but in a good way!  Most of the Christian Fantasy I'd read previously were aimed at kids or teens, but reading this as an adult, I felt like it was an engaging read for teens and adults equally.

 (While I later found and enjoyed authors like Patrick W. Carr, who writes Christian Fantasy aimed at adults and teens, his first book wasn't published until 2013.)  The world-building is wonderfully done and best of all the characters:  Jill writes some of the best, most real, and believable teen male protagonists I've seen in Christian Fiction.  Her female protagonists are wonderful too, as well as the supporting cast of characters, but for some reason, I'm always drawn to her teen male characters, which is unusual for me ...

Anyway, Jill's Kickstarter to create audiobooks of this amazing trilogy has been fully funded for ALL THREE BOOKS!  But there's still just under two days left if you want to join in a snag a copy of the series in hardcover AND get the audiobook versions as well (the lowest tier for that is $80, but it breaks down to about $13.33 each for 6 books, which is a pretty great price for a hardcover and audiobook on discs.  I'm also excited since Jill revealed on social media that the hardcovers will have a new author's note and upgraded map as well.

There's some other cool rewards like these book cover pillows too!!!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jill Williamson (@jill_williamson_author) on May 1, 2019 at 11:59am PDT

 So awesome, right???  If you're interested, you can learn more about the different reward tiers and all the details about this Kickstarter campaign, but be sure to join in quick, since there's just under two days to go! 


  [No compensation from the author or publisher etc. was received for this post, I'm just a fan who really loves this series!!!]

One of the new hobbies I dove into this year was bullet journaling --a customizable planner/journal system that you create yourself.  It's taken the social media world by storm (especially Instagram) and consequently, I've begun to look into lettering and other methods to decorate and be more creative in my bullet journaling.  These three art journals from the Ellie Claire line of Worthy Publishing would be great for anyone who enjoys things like Bible art journaling, adult coloring books, lettering or bullet journaling!

paper momentos or keepsakes, a ribbon bookmark, a elastic band closure (a must have in my opinion since there is the pocket element), and a elastic loop on the spine to hold a favorite pen.  A cloth spine helps the binding lay pretty flat as well.
Published: 2018 by Worthy Publishing
Review:
This journal is a companion of sorts to calligrapher Krystal Witten's Faith & Lettering DIY book.  Filled with small practice prompts, step-by-step "how to draw" visuals, and 15 minute drills, you can incorporate what you've learned in your Bible art journaling, devotions, Scripture lettering/calligraphy, and more.  Witten's inspirational letter art is featured in full color next to lined paper (left) and also dot grids (below).

Examples of sidebar/column style lettering art (popular in large margin Bibles designed for art journaling) are also included, with space to trace over the Bible passage or design, and blank spaces to practice.  Interspersed are "Pro Tip" 15 minute practice sessions which highlight different types and aspects of lettering/calligraphy to work on daily.  Examples include serif/san serif fonts, flourishes, banners, and other elements.

This journal also measures 7"x9", includes an elastic loop at the spine to hold a pen or two, and flat lay binding from a flexible cloth spine.

I've already begun incorporating some new elements into my bullet journal thanks to these books (see my Instagram @TheArtistLibrarian for some sneak peeks)! 

Do you enjoy bujo, lettering, or adult coloring?  What are your favorite creative outlets?

[Disclosure: I received complementary copies of these journals from the publisher for review purposes.]

"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! Today, I am happy to be participating in the official cover reveal of Nadine Brandes' next historical fantasy, Romanov!

Title: Romanov
Author: Nadine Brandes
Release Date: May 7, 2019 by Thomas Nelson

© 2019 by Thomas Nelson

About the Book:

"The history books say I died.

They don’t know the half of it.

Anastasia “Nastya” Romanov was given a single mission: to smuggle an ancient spell into her suitcase on her way to exile in Siberia. It might be her family’s only salvation. But the leader of the Bolshevik army is after them . . . and he’s hunted Romanov before. Nastya’s only chances of survival are to either release the spell, and deal with the consequences, or enlist help from Zash, the handsome soldier who doesn’t act like the average Bolshevik. Nastya’s never dabbled in magic before, but it doesn’t frighten her as much as her growing attraction for Zash. She likes him. She thinks he might even like her . . . That is, until she’s on one side of a firing squad . . . and he’s on the other."

Why I'm "WoW" about Romanov:
So when everyone thinks about a historical fantasy retelling of Anastasia Romanov's story, I'm sure most picture the 1997 Don Bluth animated musical ... Or at least, I did as seen in my bookstagram post below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Artist Librarian (Jen) (@theartistlibrarian) on Sep 27, 2018 at 1:35amPDT

While the actual life of Anastasia Romanov is quite tragic, she's had a vivacious fictional life in various films, novels, and even a Broadway musical mostly based on the aforementioned animated movie. Because of my love for Don Bluth's Anastasia and enjoyment of Nadine's previous books ... Let's just say my expectations are high! It's gonna be a loooong wait until May 2019.

Also, this cover!  My initial reaction was that while the layout was well composed and designed beautifully (art school wasn't a total waste, guys, haha) --I was concerned that it doesn't quite scream YA fiction --it looks like it could be an adult historical novel (perhaps an intentional thought?) ... nothing says fantasy about it either. But it is growing on me the more I look at it and I have seen similar YA fic covers ... =)

To get updates and learn more about author Nadine Brandes, be sure to check out her website!

What do you think of the cover? Have you read any historical fantasy novels? Want to talk about the animated (or Broadway) Anastasia? Leave a comment below! Also, if you've participated in "WoW" feel free to share!

Throwback Thursday to a novel I read for my Books and Literature for Young Adults course during "library school." We had to chose an ALA (American Library Association) Teens' Top Ten nominated novel and write a "booktalk" and review for it.

© Scholastic

Title: The False Prince (The Ascendance Trilogy #1)
Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen
Published: 2012 by Scholastic

"One of the great books I finished last week was The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen, whom you may know as the author of the Underworld Chronicles, a humorous fantasy series.  This is the first book in the Ascendance trilogy, and was voted #2 of the 2013 Teens' Top Ten. If you enjoy medieval styled fantasies (or even if you don't), The False Prince is definitely worth a look.

'Four boys, one treacherous plan, and an entire kingdom to fool.'

The land of Carthya hovers on the brink of war and needs a strong king to lead its people.  Nobleman Bevin Conner schemes to save the kingdom (and gain some power himself) by placing King Eckbert's long lost second son, Prince Jaron, onto the throne.

There's just one problem:  Most of the nobles assume Prince Jaron to be dead after pirates attacked and destroyed his ship five years ago. 

Taking four orphan teens who resemble the young prince, Conner gives them two weeks of intense training in swordsmanship, riding, history, manners --the education of a royal. The deception will give them a life of wealth and power beyond their dreams. But only one boy can be chosen:

Will it be quiet and humble Latamer?
Tobias, intelligent and eager to please?
The most athletic and strong, Roden?
Or will it be Sage, a defiant street thief?

When it is revealed just how devastatingly far Conner is willing go for his deception to succeed, the teens realize their lives hang perilously at sword point.  Can they even trust each other in this world of secrets, intrigue, and lies?  Full of action, readers will keep the pages turning in this fast paced adventure novel.

Can a pauper become a Prince? 
Find out in book one of the Ascendance trilogy by Jennifer A. Nielsen."

Medieval style fantasy worlds were my favorite as a teen. While only 342 pages long, The False Prince has 54 short chapters. I wouldn't be surprised if it was written with reluctant readers in mind.

Our protagonist Sage has sarcastic, quick wit, and an even quicker tongue which often gets him in trouble. While female characters were a bit lacking, they were there in a supportive friendship role, but I think it worked with this type of fast paced, tight plot. Oh, and that plot twist! Maybe some will think it cheap (I felt almost betrayed for a moment), but I don't think teens would be disappointed with the ending.

The novel also plays with themes of identity:  Is your role in life something you can pick up, try out and cast aside? Teens often experiment with who they are as they discover or mold their identity, how they want others to see them, etc. so I saw echoes of that in this story, though with much higher stakes. One review I read called it "Game of Thrones meets The Hunger Games." Content-wise, it's a bit of an exaggeration, but you can see elements from those series such as medieval political intrigue and teens caught up in a life or death, high stakes competition.  All in all, I enjoyed this novel and quickly went to seek out the remaining books in the trilogy.

Anyway, you probably noticed my blogging frequency totally drop these last few years and I'm about to tell you why ...

After graduating from library school, the only full time librarian positions I could find were temporary, substitute positions. I basically was a substitute librarian for about a year which was both exhilarating (both confirming my love of children's and teen librarianship and that this was what I felt God was showing me I was meant to do) and nerve-wracking (the uncertainty of temporary positions, having no work benefits and paying for my own insurance and things like that).  I learned A LOT and then I was interviewed for and hired for a permanent position as a Circulation Assistant in my local public library system.  I took it, seeing it as "my foot in the door" since my librarian applications seemed to go nowhere (it appears that I didn't have enough experience as a librarian to be interviewed).

But while I know it's a blessing to have a permanent full time job and also have learned a lot in my current position, I've really struggled with my desire to be a librarian ... It's been hard to watch other librarians and reference staff do their job and wish that I was there instead.  I've also been on a handful of librarian interviews during the past year and not been selected each time ... Perhaps internally, I was a bit arrogant in assuming that I'd be able to find a permanent librarian position easily within a year of graduation.  I used to think, "If I could just get interviewed, just give me a chance, and I'll get in." But I haven't been the right fit for all these libraries, I guess ... or maybe I'm not good at interviews?  These experiences have been very humbling and also make me doubt myself at times, though I'm really trying to look at these "rejections" through a positive lens.


However, I came across a box of these "received for review" books recently ... Even if I've ordered or promoted these titles in person, I still have a backlog of reviews I should write about and submit online.  I apologize deeply to the authors and publishers who have been waiting for so long.

So my plan is to post at least 4 times a month, ideally 1-2 times a week, half of that being reviews and the other half fun stuff like lists, pics, cosplay progress/tutorials (like I've wanted to forever), maybe some posts about my new hobbies (i.e. collecting K-Pop albums and music since last year and Bullet Journaling this year) ... I also would like to update my blog with a new look or layout, BUT my priority will be posting new content first.

My first read of 2018! I'm glad the review date got extended for this tour, but I can't believe I never got around to reading one of Roseanna M. White's books before! Music and mystery in Europe during the first world war makes for an intriguing storyline...

Title: A Song Unheard [Shadows Over England #2]
Author: Roseanna M. White
Published: 2018 [Bethany House Publishers]

About the Book:

If Betraying Her Heart Means Saving Countless Lives, Will She Find the Courage?

Willa Forsythe is both a violin prodigy and top-notch thief, which makes her the perfect choice for a critical task at the outset of World War I--to secure a crucial cypher key from a famous violinist currently in Wales.

Lukas De Wilde has enjoyed the life of fame he's won--until now, when being recognized nearly gets him killed. Everyone wants the key to his father's work as a cryptologist. And Lukas fears that his mother and sister, who have vanished in the wake of the German invasion of Belgium, will pay the price. The only distraction he finds from his worry is in meeting the intriguing and talented Willa Forsythe.

But danger presses in from every side, and Willa knows what Lukas doesn't--that she must betray him and find that key, or her own family could pay the same price his surely has.

The Artist Librarian's Review:
I first heard of Roseanna M. White when she was still an indie author, but I'd always wanted to read her historical fiction.  Now I'm wondering why I took so long to do so!  

A Song Unheard continues not long after the events of A Name Unknown (the first title in this series). Though there are slight spoilers regarding the protagonist of the previous book (as usual with trilogies in the romance genre), I felt like it can be successfully read as a stand alone (since I haven't read the first book yet).  Willa Forsythe's adoptive family of street urchins and strays possess unique "talents" that lead mysterious Mr. V to recruit them for secret government assignments. The musically gifted Willa is tasked with getting close to violinist Lukas De Wilde, whose father was a cryptologist and is perhaps in possession of a valuable cypher key.


Though some might say that Willa's photographic-musical-memory is too much of a trope (she can pretty much play any piece of music after hearing it once), I think it was plausible just enough to work --or at least, I had a willing suspension of disbelief.  I liked that the mystery/suspense aspect isn't as intense ... it was like a romantic historical cozy mystery (with spies)!  I also enjoyed the second storyline that takes place in Germany-occupied Belgium.  While the climax and conclusion wraps up a little too neatly, as a HEA (happily ever after) fan, I can't really complain.  The romantic and faith elements were satisfying to me as well, but my favorite part was Willa's brother, Barclay --I sincerely hope he's the protagonist of the next book (I ... think I personally connected with him as much as Willa).  I also felt like the historical elements were such that I felt like I learned a lot (just because I was less familiar with the time period) but without info dumps.  So overall, I enjoyed my first Roseanna M. White novel and am planning to find a couple of her previous historicals to read this year.  Do you have any suggestions?

About the Author:  

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

 What's the most memorable novel you've read that features music (historical setting optional)?

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

Can you believe it's a new year? Hoping to make this blog more active in 2018 --What have you been up to lately?

Title: A Song Unheard [Shadows Over England #2]
Author: Roseanna M. White 
Published: 2018 [Bethany House Publishers]
About the Book:

Willa Forsythe is both a violin prodigy and top-notch thief, which makes her the perfect choice for a crucial task at the outset of World War I—to steal a cypher from a famous violinist currently in Wales. Lukas De Wilde has enjoyed the life of fame he’s won—until now, when being recognized nearly gets him killed. Everyone wants the key to his father’s work as a cryptologist. And Lukas fears that his mother and sister, who have vanished in the wake of the German invasion of Belgium, will pay the price. The only light he finds is meeting the intriguing Willa Forsythe. But danger presses in from every side, and Willa knows what Lukas doesn’t—that she must betray him and find that cypher, or her own family will pay the price as surely as his has.

Behind the Scenes with Roseanna M. White:
I started playing the piano when I was 7. I didn’t discover any long-dormant genius or anything, but I liked it. When my sister quit, I kept playing. In middle school, I switched teachers, and moving from the lady at my church that I knew so well to someone who was just my piano teacher made a difference in how I applied myself. It deepened my love of music. We all know how some random moments stand out forever in our memory. One such for me happened on the school bus. I was sitting with my best friend, talking about the new piano piece I was learning. “Via Delorosa” means Road of Sorrow, and it’s a song that tells musically about Jesus’ journey to Golgotha—ending with the faint chime of the nails being driven into his palms. As my beloved Mrs. Peto went through this song with me the night before, I remember her circling a D♯ that I’d missed and saying how important that note was. That it made the whole line weep. That it would make the hearers weep. An epiphany so huge I had to share it with my friend. A well placed sharp could make music weep! Who knew? That was but one lesson Mrs. Peto taught me in how music could evoke things words never could. A woman of strong faith, she also taught me how a song could preach the Gospel. Music can be medicine. It can be hope. It can be tears. It can be truth. Music can be Jesus to a hurting heart that turns its back on words. This is a lesson I never forgot, and I had it always in mind as I was writing A Song Unheard. In this story, both my hero and heroine are musicians—violinists. But Willa (who is SO STUBBORN) wouldn’t listen to words of faith from any of the people in her life “suddenly spouting such nonsense.” But then, in her darkest hour, she hears a slip of melody. And she realizes it’s the Lord. I pray as readers move through the story of Willa Forsythe—violin prodigy and top-notch thief—that their spirits’ ears hear more than words, more than just a story. I pray they hear the Lord whispering that ultimate song. The one that says, “I love you.” Want to hear the song Willa eventually wrote in the book? You can! The violin music in this trailer is officially dubbed “Willa’s Song” and written specifically for this book. I hope you enjoy it!

A Song Unheard ~ Book Trailer from WhiteFire TV on Vimeo.

Thanks for the inside look Roseanna! Check back for my review later this week!

About the Author:
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.