Review: The Midnight Star (The Young Elites #3) by Marie Lu

The Midnight Star (The Young Elites #3) by Marie Lu

Published: October 11, 2016

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

There was once a time when darkness shrouded the world, and the darkness had a queen.

Adelina Amouteru is done suffering. She’s turned her back on those who have betrayed her and achieved the ultimate revenge: victory. Her reign as the White Wolf has been a triumphant one, but with each conquest her cruelty only grows. The darkness within her has begun to spiral out of control, threatening to destroy all she’s gained.

When a new danger appears, Adelina’s forced to revisit old wounds, putting not only herself at risk, but every Elite. In order to preserve her empire, Adelina and her Roses must join the Daggers on a perilous quest—though this uneasy alliance may prove to be the real danger. 

My Thoughts
“There was once a time when darkness shrouded the world, and the darkness had a queen.”

Fantastical conclusion to an explosive series! The Midnight Star is just another example of Marie Lu’s exceptional ability to take her readers on a quest that is nothing short of high octane adventure and mind-blowing intrigue. YA Fantasy at its BEST!

In this final installment to The Young Elites, we journey with Adelina Amouteru has she continues to spiral down a dark path with both her powers and reign as queen. She faces her enemies head on with her ability to wield dark illusions and suffering, and she’s gained the fear of her people. The only one she can trust is Magiano, and even he can’t keep her safe from the threats she faces at every turn. When the world begins to show signs of destruction, Adelina must align with her enemies and rejoin the Elites as they travel to the Realm of Gods to save her people from the darkness that lies ahead.

Marie Lu definitely made some bold decisions in this story with both her characters and plot direction. The Midnight Star takes us down a dark path that Adelina experiences, and it was definitely an emotional exercise. It did not escape my notice that despite having the story told in multiple perspectives, where we heard from Raffaele, Maeve, Magiano, Teren and Violetta, the only first person narrative was from Adelina. It was like Marie Lu was forcing her audience to experience Adelina’s darkness firsthand. Great perspective that added a dark edge to the story.

Also, I loved how Lu was daring enough to make some bold sacrifices throughout her story with both characters and plot direction. Despite not wanting to lose some of the characters I connected with, it added credibility and substance to the story. I applaud Marie Lu for making the decisions she made, and I truly sensed she did it to advance the story and not for shock value. Well done!

As far as the emotional strength in this story, I would rate it a TEN! I’m not a crier when it comes to reading, but let me tell you… there were some moments that I felt the familiar tightening of my jaw and sting in my eyes. That only goes to show how completely I connected with the story and characters. What an experience!

Overall, it’s no secret I’m a huge fan of YA Fantasy, but only when it’s exceptional to the likes of Rowling, Marchetta and Lu. I’m willing to invest my time in this genre when I trust the author has the ability to create a fantastical journey, and Marie Lu is up there with the best in this genre. Loved it much!

5 Snowflakes

Author Event & Signed Book Giveaway: Marie Lu Author of The Young Elites

Author Event: Marie Lu Author of The Rose Society

Vromans Bookstore Pasadena, CA

October 2015

I always enjoy attending author events at Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena, CA.  Last week, I shared a spotlight of this bookstore that highlights why I love attending their events. To view my post on Vroman’s Bookstore, you can go HERE. 

 So when I heard Marie Lu would be promoting her newest release The Rose Society, I was excited to meet my long-time partner in book crime Rachel from The Readers Den for the event.   To make this evening even more exciting, we learned that it was being recorded for a popular podcast, First Draft Live with Sarah Enni, so I encourage you to go to iTunes and look up the podcast First Draft Live to hear the full interview of the event.

Joining Marie Lu for a discussion on the scary side of YA literature was Margaret Stohl, Anna Carey and Kali Wallace.  They all showed up dressed in their Halloween best.  One of Lu’s fans dressed as the character of The Young Elites, Adelina Amouteru.

This event was filled with all sorts of fun moments including a raffle of some of Marie Lu’s favorite things, as well as 10 ARC giveaways of Shallow Graves by Kali Wallace, which Rachel was lucky enough to win! Congrats Rachel! Also, there were authors in the audience including the writers of Illuminae, Amie Kaufmanand Jay Kristoff!

Overall, it was fun to hear how the authors responded to questions about writing scary stories and villainous characters.  So to hear the entire interview, be sure to check out First Draft with Sarah Enni.

Lastly, I was fortunate enough to get my copies of The Young Elites, The Rose Society and Legend signed by Marie Lu.  I also bought an additional paperback copy of The Young Elites by Marie Lu to giveaway here! This giveaway is open to US Residents only. Be sure to fill out the rafflecopter and share a thoughtful comment about this post. Happy reading.

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Blog Tour: The Young Elites Series by Marie Lu & WinterHaven's Villain Post

Image Rights: Yahoo Images

Today, we’re excited to join Penguin Random House for Marie Lu & the Villain Squad tour! We have a lot to share about Marie Lu’s most recent series The Young Elites, and we also wanted to join in on the fun as I transform into a villain right before your eyes! Well not really a bad villain because well… that’s not my style, but if given the opportunity, I could pull out some superpowers that could bring down my enemy! So check this out!

The Young Elites (The Young Elites #1) by Marie Lu

Published October 7, 2014
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Purchase Links:  Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.
Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

My Thoughts

Brilliant and Fantastical Journey!

I applaud Marie Lu for flexing a new muscle in writing The Young Elites, where she takes her readers into a fantasy world filled with a cast of complex characters and a plot that continually builds momentum from beginning to end. Lu continues to play to her strengths, which we first saw in her dystopia series Legend, where she weaves political turmoil alongside layered agendas among her characters.

Click here for my original review post.

4 Snowflakes

The Rose Society (The Young Elites #2) by Marie Lu
Expected publication: October 13, 2015
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

From New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu comes the second book in the exhilarating Young Elites series

Once upon a time, a girl had a father, a prince, a society of friends. Then they betrayed her, and she destroyed them all.

Adelina Amouteru’s heart has suffered at the hands of both family and friends, turning her down the bitter path of revenge. Now known and feared as the White Wolf, she and her sister flee Kenettra to find other Young Elites in the hopes of building her own army of allies. Her goal: to strike down the Inquisition Axis, the white-cloaked soldiers that murdered her love, the Crown Prince Enzo Valenciano.

But Adelina is no heroine. Her powers, fed only by fear and hate, have started to grow beyond her control. She does not trust her newfound Elite friends. Teren Santoro, leader of the Inquisition, wants her dead. And her former friends, Raffaele and the Dagger Society, want to stop her thirst for vengeance. Adelina struggles to cling to the good within her. But how can someone be good, when her very existence depends on darkness?

My Thoughts

Absolute perfection!! 

Where most second installments suffer from middle book syndrome, The Rose Society carries no such affliction. This book is a perfect blend of intrigue, dark fantasy and rival forces that have the reader sitting at the edge of their seat!

Click here for my original review post.

5 Snowflakes

And now for the fun!! As part of this blog tour we were asked to turn ourselves into a villain. For those of you who have read The Rose Society, we saw Adeline tap into the darker side of her character and she was known and feared as The White Wolf.

In the spirit of tapping into my inner villain and residing in WinterHaven's world, I would call myself SnowStorm.

My superpower would consist of blizzarating my enemies through my reading glasses and creating snowstorms that drive everyone to seek shelter indoors to their reading nooks. 

If I had to call on my villain squad I'd have my roomies Amber, Britt, Crystal, Milka and Tina help me bring down my enemies. #squadgoals!!

 GIVEAWAY TIME!!

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ARC Review & Giveaway: The Rose Society (The Young Elites #2) by Marie Lu

The Rose Society (The Young Elites #2) by Marie Lu

Expected publication: October 13, 2015
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

From New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu comes the second book in the exhilarating Young Elites series

Once upon a time, a girl had a father, a prince, a society of friends. Then they betrayed her, and she destroyed them all.

Adelina Amouteru’s heart has suffered at the hands of both family and friends, turning her down the bitter path of revenge. Now known and feared as the White Wolf, she and her sister flee Kenettra to find other Young Elites in the hopes of building her own army of allies. Her goal: to strike down the Inquisition Axis, the white-cloaked soldiers that murdered her love, the Crown Prince Enzo Valenciano.

But Adelina is no heroine. Her powers, fed only by fear and hate, have started to grow beyond her control. She does not trust her newfound Elite friends. Teren Santoro, leader of the Inquisition, wants her dead. And her former friends, Raffaele and the Dagger Society, want to stop her thirst for vengeance. Adelina struggles to cling to the good within her. But how can someone be good, when her very existence depends on darkness?

My Thoughts
Quote from an uncorrected proof. “A pledge to drive fear into those who will confront us. To bind us together… I pledge myself to the Rose Society, until the end of my days. I will do everything in my power to destroy all who stand in my way.”

Absolute perfection!! 

Where most second installments suffer from middle book syndrome, The Rose Society carries no such affliction. This book is a perfect blend of intrigue, dark fantasy and rival forces that have the reader sitting at the edge of their seat!

The Rose Society picks up immediately where The Young Elites left off. Adelina is on her own after the death of Enzo has the Dagger Society turning their backs on her, and Teren the leader of the Inquisition wanting her dead. As she gathers a small force including her sister Violetta, Sergio and Magiano, they use their powers to overthrow the existing rulers that seek to destroy the malfettos.

Throughout the book, you see how Adelina’s power is fueled by hate and fear. However, as her powers become stronger and out of her control, we see a more sinister side of Adelina than ever before. Now known as the White Wolf, Adelina doesn’t hesitate to destroy or kill anyone in her way, which is both heartbreaking and emotional because we lose a part of Adelina's humanity as she rises to power.

Adelina has become one of the more darker characters Marie Lu has ever written, and she nailed it!! I can't wait for the next installment... What does Lu have up her sleeve??? My guess... Explosive excellence.

5 Snowflakes

Enter for a chance to win an
ARC edition of The Rose Society by Marie Lu!
 Simply fill out the rafflecopter and share with us a dark fantasy you've enjoyed in the past.  This giveaway is open to U.S. Residents only.

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Upcoming Release (Review & Giveaway): The Young Elites by Marie Lu

The Young Elites (The Young Elites #1) by Marie Lu

Expected publication: October 7, 2014

Publisher: Putnam Books for Young Readers 

I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

My Thoughts 
Book quote from an ARC edition: Embellish your flaws. They will turn into your assets. And if you become one of us, I will teach you to wield them like an assassin wields a knife. So. Tell me little wolf. Do you want to punish those that have wronged you?

Brilliant and Fantastical Journey!

I applaud Marie Lu for flexing a new muscle in writing The Young Elites, where she takes her readers into a fantasy world filled with a cast of complex characters and a plot that continually builds momentum from beginning to end. Lu continues to play to her strengths, which we first saw in her dystopia series Legend, where she weaves political turmoil alongside layered agendas among her characters.

Adelina Amouteru is a Young Elite recruit that has the power of illusion and the ability to trick one’s perception of reality. She was plagued with the blood fever at an early age, which cost her an eye and a scar running across her face, as well as bright silver hair that puts the final touches on her malfetto status. To be considered a malfetto is an abomination because the people of Kenettra believe those that were plagued with the fever, scared and later prove to have special abilities were bad luck and should be eliminated.

Book quote from an ARC edition: Some hate us, think us outlaws to hang at the gallows. Some fear us, think us demons to burn at the stake. Some worship us, think us children of the gods. But all know us.

Throughout the novel, I sensed Adelina’s bitterness and rage. What captivated me most was how she used those emotions to wield her powers and at times destroy her surroundings. From the moment I came across this character, I had no issues in sympathizing with her despite some of her dark moments.

Enzo Valenciano is the leader of the Dagger Society of Young Elites that has the power to ignite fire. He’s the rightful prince to the crown but was banished by his sister because of his malfetto status. Enzo, along with his Dagger recruits, train endlessly to hone their abilities and someday take over the thrown and restore safety to all malfettos.

Enzo was an extremely easy character to fall for. His reserved nature and strong presence marked him as a player to keep my eye on.

Teren Santoro is the leader of the Inquisition, who despite his malfetto status has aligned with the queen to destroy The Young Elites and maintain power.

Normally, Teren would be the character I quickly align with because of his anti-hero status, but I’m still struggling to gather any sympathy for him. That’s not to say it won’t happen, but I’m not quite there yet.

In The Young Elites, we enter a world that feels both magical and powerful as Marie Lu once again proves that she can hypnotize her readers with her writing and world building. I can’t wait to dive into the second installment of this series to continue the journey.

Song Choice Ugly Side

4 Snowflakes

Be sure to enter our ALA Giveaway that includes an ARC edition of The Young Elites by Marie Lu along with two other books!
You can click HERE to view the ALA post and giveaway details, and below is the rafflecopter to enter to win. Remember, this giveaway is for US Residents only. Good luck!

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Waiting on Wednesday, #55

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we can't wait to get our hands on.

Here's my selection for this week...

The Young Elites (The Young Elites #1) by Marie Lu
Expected publication: October 7, 2014
Publisher: Putnam Books for Young Readers

I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

I'm a huge fan of Marie Lu, and I was facinated by her Legend series from beginning to end..   I just know her upcoming series, The Young Elites will be just as captivating, so I can't wait to get my hands on this novel.

With any luck, I might just land one this weekend when my lovelies Crystal (my roomie here at WinterHaven and Rachel (one of my book besties at The Reader's Den) will be meeting for a fun time in  Las Vegas this weekend for the 2014 Annual ALA Convention. I'm sure I speak for my cronies as well when I say, we are so excited to get the chance to talk to publishers and meet some of our favorite authors. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures and share the event with everyone when we return. So stay tuned!!!

Sooo, what book are you waiting on???

Review: Champion (Legend #3) by Marie Lu

Champion (Legend #3) by Marie Lu

Publication Date: November 5, 2013

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

The explosive finale to Marie Lu’s New York Times bestselling LEGEND trilogy—perfect for fans of THE HUNGER GAMES and DIVERGENT!

He is a Legend.
She is a Prodigy.
Who will be Champion?

June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic—and each other—and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government’s elite circles as Princeps Elect while Day has been assigned a high level military position. But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them once again. Just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic’s border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country’s defense. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything he has. With heart-pounding action and suspense, Marie Lu’s bestselling trilogy draws to a stunning conclusion.“You once told me why you chose ‘Day’ as your street name... Every morning, everything’s possible again. Right?” I want to take her face in my hands again, kiss her cheeks and study her dark, sad eyes, and tell her I’ll be okay.

My Thoughts
PHENOMENAL! ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL!

“You once told me why you chose ‘Day’ as your street name... Every morning, everything’s possible again. Right?” I want to take her face in my hands again, kiss her cheeks and study her dark, sad eyes, and tell her I’ll be okay.

The year is 2132 and the Republic is at war with the Colonies. They have threatened to strike alongside their allies if the Republic fails to produce an antidote for a virus that is overtaking their cities. As the Colonies put pressure on the borders and capital of the Republic, there are three players in this game that can shift the pieces of the chess board.

Anden, the Republic’s Elector, is tasked with rounding allies to fight against the Colonies, as well as obtaining an antidote that will stop the plague from spreading. June, the Princep Elect, is tossed into a dangerous dance between the Republic and the one she cares for. She has been asked to convince Day, the people’s hero, to help rally the citizens and allow the Republic to run experiments on his brother Eden in the hopes of finding a cure that will put an end to the plague and keep their Republic intact.

As the pieces shift into place, June and Day must battle political agendas and determine how and if they can survive this war that threatens not only their lives but their friendship and love for one another.

I just can’t express how absolutely exhilarating it was to journey through Marie Lu’s final installment in her Legend series. It’s quite rare for me, as of late, to continue on with installments despite my initial enthusiasm, but Marie Lu’s books are truly an exception. I've loved every installment because she clearly writes with passion and continually delivers a story that doesn't compromise her end goal, nor sacrifices characters in needless fashion. To those authors out there failing fantastically at concluding a series, Marie Lu can offer you a lesson in EPIC.WIN!!

I feel confident in saying that I rarely compare books to my all-time favorites. It doesn't do anyone justice. However if I didn't share how Legend is the closest I've come to satisfying my Hunger Games palate, I’d be selling this series short. Where dystopic fiction can be one of the more difficult genres to deliver consistent character development and logical world-building, I truly feel Marie Lu has mastered the skill and technique to pen a powerful and convincing dystopic adventure.

In Champion, Lu did a flawless job in directing her cast of characters with grace and conviction. I fell for Anden, June, and Day completely in this installment. These three characters each delivered a worthy performance and not one page or chapter was wasted when it came to winning me over and having me root them on as they served their Republic.

Anden, the Republic’s Elector, gained the most sympathy from me because he lived in the shadows of his father's reign who committed many atrocities through The Trials, plagues and executions. However, Anden still mourned his father’s death because he was good to him and put him before any political agenda. When Anden sees the hatred his people have for the previous Elector, he’s forced to suppress the pain of losing someone he loved and find a balance to lead with a different strategy yet exhibit the strength and power that’s required to gain the loyalty of the Republic. The burden on his shoulders was incredible and I admired how he played his part.

June exploded off the pages in Champion. I always held a distant affinity toward this character, but she truly made some powerful and emotional moves in this book that had me connecting with this character more so now than ever before. She made some tough choices with courage and conviction, especially around the position she held in the Senate and her desire to fight in the front line. There were moments where she managed to tear at my heart, but never without gently folding it back together and making sure I wasn't completely destroyed.

“Sometimes, the sun sets earlier. Days don’t last forever, you know. But I’ll fight as hard as I can. I can promise you that.”

Day... Daniel... call him what you will… he was amazing inChampion! He played the part of nation’s hero, loyal brother and determined ally to a fault! There was one moment in the book when he traveled back to his home that simply rendered me speechless and emotional spent. I will never forget that scene in the book. The journey his character took in this last book was delivered with precision. I could not have imagined a better way to end his story.

Lastly, I have to mention that the political development in this installment was perfectly balanced to ensure the plot was substantiated with the right amount of background, but not too noisy in details that you lose interest, if you will. As Lu carefully weaves in the political environment needed to set the stage, she never loses sight of the struggle happening among her main characters. I feel Marie Lu did a flawless job in directing her cast of characters and developing a solid plot throughout the novel.

Overall, amazing job!! Thank you Marie Lu for sharing this unforgettable journey with your readers. You delivered! You really did!!

5 Snowflakes

Waiting on Wednesday, #39

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we can't wait to get our hands on.

Here's my selection for this week...

.

Champion (Legend #3) by Marie Lu

Publication Date: November 5, 2013

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

The explosive finale to Marie Lu’s New York Times bestselling LEGEND trilogy—perfect for fans of THE HUNGER GAMES and DIVERGENT!

He is a Legend.
She is a Prodigy.
Who will be Champion?


June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic—and each other—and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government’s elite circles as Princeps Elect while Day has been assigned a high level military position. But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them once again. Just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic’s border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country’s defense. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything he has. With heart-pounding action and suspense, Marie Lu’s bestselling trilogy draws to a stunning conclusion.

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one pining with a vengeance for the final installment of Marie Lu's Legend Trilogy. I can't believe how quickly this series is coming to a close!! I've been lucky enough to get my hands on the ARCs for the first two books, so I'm truly hoping my luck hasn't run out. Because there aren't very many series out there that I've conscioiusly made an effort to keep up with, Legend being a HUGE exception, I am very excited to get my hands on the finale to June and Day's adventure. 

Sooo what book are you waiting on???

Author Event: Breathless Reads Tour 2013

Mrs. Nelson’s Bookstore in La Verne, CA on Monday, February 2013

Last week, I found myself hauling through rush hour traffic in Southern California to get to this amazing author event. It was rather closer to me, but when you live in SoCal, an 18 mile drive can take anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour. But, I'm going to see authors, so I'm not complaining. =}  Lucky for me, I had my book friend Rachel from The Readers Den save me a seat, which not only gave me a chance to catch up with her on our book gossip for the week, but also enjoy the event.

For this author event, I had the pleasure of attending The Breathless Reads Tour hosted by Penguin Books at Mrs. Nelson’s Bookstore in La Verne, California. I love this little quaint store, and I find myself visiting it quite often because no matter how big the author names, I can always count on an intimate setting where there’s plenty of opportunity for interaction with the authors.  

There were four awesome authors in the panel, including:

Jessica Khoury author of Origin, Marie Lu author of Legend, Brenna Yovanoff author of Paper Valentine, and Andrea Cremer author of Nightshade

There was an editor from a neighboring newspaper at the event that hosted the question and answer session of the event. I have to say, I loved her pre-selected questions because they gave me a TON of insight into this group of authors that ranged from influences to book crushes to advice for aspiring authors. So let me share with you what I learned.

Marie Lu

The authors were asked what were some of the unexpected challenges they face in writing that they never would have anticipated prior to entering this profession. Marie Lu mentioned how it surprises her that half of the year is spent not writing, but rather participating in author events and engaging in social media to spread the word about her books. She goes from a solitary situation to a social situation, which has been both fun and interesting. 

Andrea Cremer

They were then asked how trends and pop culture play a part in their writing and it seemed like the consensus was that it is always part of their subconscious but as Andrea Cremer put it, she tries not to let the issues “trump her story.” She did mention that music plays a significant part in her writing and she produces a playlist for her books.

Brenna Yovanoff

When the author panel was asked if they ever had an issue “reigning the story in” for the sake of their YA audience, I had to smile at Brenna Yovanoff’s honesty that her first drafts are always rather violent and the “reining in” happens at the editing stage. She refuses to reign in the emotional aspect of her stories because she feels they need to be authentic to her style. They did seem to be in agreement that today’s writing is not getting racier, but rather today’s authors are making an honest attempt to address current topics.  They feel their YA audience knows what’s real and what’s not, so the best approach is to be truthful in their writing because their readers seem to appreciate that.. for the most part.

One of my favorite questions of the night was if the panel could pick an author to have dinner with, who they would choose. My favorite response came from Andrea Cremer. She picked Neil Gaiman and went on to share her obsession that’s not really an obsession as far as she's concerned, ~emphatic nod~ but really she has an obsession over this man. I loved her animated approach to answering this question and my only advice to Neil Gaiman is if he bumps into her at the grocery store ~whispers~ it’s not accident. Just saying… J

Jessica Khoury

One of the final questions centered around advice to up and coming authors. I always enjoy this question as well, not because I’m a writer (which I’m not BTW), but it shows how authors have grown from their experience and what they hope to impart on the newbies. My favorite response came from Jessica Khoury who shared that as it’s always good to do plenty of reading and writing as part of your profession, it’s also important to put the pen down and engage in the real world where you can “have your own adventures” and visit new places. By building your repertoire of experiences… that’s where your story begins. Loved that piece of advice!!

As I mentioned, this event was well attended but still quite intimate, so it really allowed the readers to chat with the authors when the book signing began. At the beginning of the event, I received an event postcard, which I was able to get signed by all four attending authors. I will be including this author keepsake with my giveaway. So let me tell you about that.

So, I have to share that I had the pleasure of borrowing Rachel’s Prodigy book before it was released and read that fantastical book. I had no intention of getting another copy of the book for myself. However, as Rachel knows, I’m easily influenced and all she had to do was show me the pretty colors, beveled edges and gorgeous layout and I found myself running up to the register and buying myself a copy. Thanks Rachel, it looks pretty on my shelf. Good call! J 

For one lucky follower, I was able to get a copy of BOTH Legend AND Prodigy signed by Marie Lu as well as a copy of Paper Valentine signed by Brenna Yovanoff. One lucky WinterHaven follower will get all THREE books and the signed Author Keepsake card. Just fill out the rafflecopter and share a thoughtful comment of the event or about these authors/books. Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway