Posts Tagged "Fantasy"

Wicked Lovely fans will love this.

Author of the books, Melissa Marr, has posted a deleted scene from Fragile Eternity (the third book in her faery series) on her blog.

Click here to view it.

Superpowers are awesome – unless you actually have them, as Avery does. There’s only so much he can pass off as “adrenaline” before people start to get suspicious. Probably it’s best to lie low so guys in white lab coats don’t come and carry him away, to find out what makes his freakish body tick. Who wants to be vivisected? But flying under the radar is a whole lot harder when you can actually fly. It’s dangerous to be different, so for now he’ll pretend to be normal, unremarkable Avery – a dull boy – anything to keep his secret safe.

It’s not every day you wake up and realise that you can fly, wake up and realise that you’re actually a whole lot more ‘special’ than you first thought you were. Avery isn’t stupid; he knows that he has to hide his powers from the world. Hiding his true self is something Avery becomes an expert at and soon learns that constantly having to cover for yourself can be the most isolating thing in the world.

Enter Cherchette. She’s the keeper of secrets – everyone’s secrets. She knows about Avery, and she wants to help. Suddenly Avery finds himself surrounded by people like him, people who are miraculously gifted in ways similar to his own talents. Suddenly, being special doesn’t feel so lonely anymore. But can Avery trust Cherchette? And what about his new friends? He’s not stupid, he’s seen the superhero movies a thousand times over: revealing one’s secret identity always lands the hero in trouble. Always.

This is one of those novels where I feel like I can’t say too much, or I’ll give the whole thing away. What I can tell you, though, is that Dull Boy has all the elements of a good superhero tale.

A nerdy kid turned superpro? Check!
Superpower? Check!
Secret Identity? Check!
Crazy costume? Check (sort of!)
A secret mission or desire to save the world? Check!

Avery displays all the qualities audiences expect of hero tales. He’s kind and passionate, just like Clark Kent. He harbours a thirst for justice, just like Batman. And deep down he’s just your average, run of the mill American kid, just like Peter Parker. I’m almost certain that readers will be able to relate to Avery on many levels, and I’m even more certain that you’ll become invested in his story. I mean, if someone like Avery can be ‘super’, why can’t someone like you?

A true superhero tale in all its glory! A must read for ‘super’ fans everywhere.

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If you’re in New York City tomorrow (that’s Sunday June 7, 2009) head on down to Books of Wonder. Holly Black is doing a book signing for Troll’s Eye View with Ellen Datlow, Ellen Kushner, and Delia Sherman. The event is scheduled to run from 1-3pm.

Set in the same world as her previous series, The Study Series, Maria V. Snyder tantalizes readers with another complex, masterful story set in a magical world so convincing that she’ll have you believing that it’s actually real. Being a huge fan of The Study Series, I opened Storm Glass with huge expectations. It didn’t take too long for me to realise that Maria V. Snyder was not going to disappoint me, either.

Opal Cowan is good with glass. Really good. There is only one other person in all of Sitia that can equal her talent, and that’s her father. She has been living in The Keep for the last few years trying to learn the art of magic, but magic, it seems, is not one of Opal’s stronger points. She did successfully help Liaison Yelana trap a whole bunch of evil souls once, but since then Opal hasn’t had a whole lot of luck learning how to use magic. The other students at The Keep call her a One-Trick-Wonder. Consequently, Opal is a bit of a loner.

But Opal underestimates her abilities and lacks the self-confidence required to identify and nurture her talents. You see, Opal isn’t just good with glass – she’s incredible. She has created a communications system for the Master Magicians out of ‘magical’ tiny glass creatures. Master Cowan believes in Opal, even if she doesn’t believe in herself, and when the Stormdancers orbs start shattering, killing Stormdancers in the process, Master Cowan orders Opal to accompany her on a mission to their caves to investigate the reason the orbs are shattering.

The recipe for the Stormdancers’s glass orbs is a big secret, and the glassmakers in their tribe are the only ones that know it. But Opal is smart and figures it out quickly. Then the glassmakers that know the recipe start dying – or rather, they’re murdered – and Opal finds her life in danger. Ulrick – a fellow glassmaker and good friend – appoints himself as Opal’s bodyguard. But Ulrick has a vested interest, you see. He’s hopelessly in love with Opal and would do anything to keep her safe. Opal feels a little spark with Ulrick, but there’s no raging fire, if you know what I mean.

Then there is Kade, a Stormdancer. When it comes to Kade, Opals insides explode like fireworks. But Kade isn’t interested in Opal – he’s too caught up in mourning the death of his twin to notice anything else. Would it be wrong of Opal to enter into a relationship with Ulrick – someone she only has luke-warm feelings for – when she feels so strongly for someone else?

The true scope of Opal’s power is astonishing, but she seems to be the only one who can’t see it. So when she’s kidnapped and forced to realise her power for herself in order to save her own life and the life of the one she loves, the outcome will leave readers gaping in amazement.

Storm Glass is a lesson in confidence and demonstrates that in order to reach one’s full potential, you must believe in yourself first and foremost. In this suspenseful page-turner Maria V. Snyder explores the depths of human relationships and evidences that love, honesty and compassion are far more powerful than magic ever could be. Opal is a bit of a door-mat and at several points throughout the novel, I found myself wishing that Opal would just grow a pair already. I’m happy to report that she does.

This is one for the underdogs of the world. You can be great, too, if you just believe in yourself first.

Storm Glass is scheduled for release on April 28, 2009.

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Hey folks, check out the cover of Noel’s new novel:

Pretty spiffy, huh? Fans of Evermore, her first novel in The Immortals series, will be pleased to know that Blue Moon is due for release on 08.04.09!