Blog Tour Guest Post Morgan Rhodes!

 Today on WinterHaven Books I am squeeing from the rooftops because the AMAZING Morgan Rhodes is stopping by!!  I am in LOVE with her Falling Kingdoms series and I can't believe that our blog was chosen as a tour stop for her!  And she typed up a pretty awesome guest post!  Seriously my year has been made!!  

I asked Morgan

Which titles do you think will hold your readers captive while waiting for The Falling Kingdoms next installment? 

See below for her answer and some great distractions!

1. THE PRINCESS BRIDE – The movie or the book by William Goldman is a light, humorous, and unforgettable twisted fairytale that will sweep anyone away to another world. Virtually, of course. Truly a fantasy classic.

2. GAME OF THRONES by George R.R. Martin – Falling Kingdoms is often referred to as “Game of Thrones for Teens” since both series feature a fight for the throne between warring kingdoms and a large cast of characters set in a gritty fantasy land, so I must mention it as a mega amazing book series and TV series to binge read or watch if you’re looking for that type of tale. Just keep in mind, GoT is definitely R-rated when it comes to sexytimes and violence and not for the faint of heart!!

3. VAMPIRE ACADEMY by Richelle Mead – Looking for some non-sparkling teenaged vampires to go with your snazzy elemental magic? How about some shocking twists and unexpected deaths? *cue dramatic music* This is one of my favorite series ever (along with its sequel series Bloodlines), and well, pretty much anything by Richelle. These characters will seriously take over your life and you’ll be frantically turning the pages to find out what happens next.

4. AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER – This isn’t a book, it’s an animated TV show, but it has everything a Falling Kingdoms reader would want – elemental magic, war, betrayal, deception, romantic ships, REAL ships, humor, action, and mega elemental magic!! The way I learned about this show in the first place was someone telling me how much Prince Zuko reminded them of Prince Magnus. I’ve watched most of the first season and…yeah, he sure does!

5. REIGN – Again, not a book, but a castle-set, historical fantasy with kings and queens and magic and fabulous costumes? That seems very Falling Kingdoms to me! (I may change my mind when I actually get around to watching it – it’s available to binge watch on Netflix, right??)

6. LORD OF THE RINGS – I shall now hang my head in shame and admit I’ve never read the books by J.R.R. Tolkien…but the movies? So amazing, each and every one of them…including the recent Hobbit trilogy. Fun fact: The elves of LOTR were a definite inspiration for my immortal Watchers in Falling Kingdoms.

7. SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN – No, seriously. Not for the story or the acting, although Chris Hemsworth is really quite…….. Um, sorry, I got distracted for a moment there. I remember watching the trailer for this movie and thinking that if Falling Kingdoms became a movie or TV show (hey, one can hope!!), THIS is what I’d want it to look like. The cinematography is fantastic and worth watching for alone. (Whispers: I actually kinda loved this movie.)

8. AN EMBER IN THE ASHES by Sabaa Tahir – A truly killer YA fantasy by an incredibly talented debut author…this book will sweep you away to a gritty, spectacular world of brewing rebellion, brave heroines, shadowy assassins, and dangerous romance…made all the better when one realizes there is a sequel in the works!

9. RUSH: THE GAME TRILOGY by Eve Silver – Okay, enough with the fantasy. How about a palate- cleanser of some seriously kickass sci-fi in which a girl is pulled from her real life into a game world where she has to fight aliens with the ultimate fate of the human world at stake? BRING IT ON, Y’ALL!

10. A BOOK OF SPIRITS AND THIEVES by (yours truly) Morgan Rhodes – This is the spinoff/companion series to Falling Kingdoms! Partially set in our “real” world and partially in the world of Falling Kingdoms, two sisters discover an ancient book that leads them to a power hungry secret society and a porthole to another world full of magic and danger. I’m working on the sequel right now and it’ll be out June 2016, which will help bridge the gap a bit before Falling Kingdoms #5 in December 2016!

Happy Reading!

Morgan

Morgan thank you so much for this!  These are great picks and I know I will definitely use them between  now and when the next installment of The Falling Kingdom's comes out!

About Morgan Rhodes:

Morgan Rhodes lives in Ontario, Canada. As a child, she always wanted to be a princess -- the kind that knows how to wield a sharp sword to help save both kingdoms and princes from fire-breathing dragons and dark wizards. Instead, she became a writer, which is just as good and much less dangerous. Along with writing, Morgan enjoys photography, travel, reality TV, and is an extremely picky, yet voracious reader of all kinds of books. Under another pen name, she’s a national bestselling author of many paranormal novels. Falling Kingdoms is her first high fantasy. 

Tumblr / Twitter / Facebook 

Click on each cover to visit Goodreads and to find out more information about each book.

Be sure to follow the rest of the tour!

http://theirishbanana.blogspot.com	The Irish Banana Review	12/7 - interview
http://addictreaders.blogspot.com/	Addicted Readers	12/7 - review
http://aperfectioncalledbooks.blogspot.com/	A Perfection Called Books	12/8 - review
www.bookiemoji.com	Bookiemoji	12/8 - Would You Rather?
http://winterhavenbooks.blogspot.com/	WinterHaven Books	12/9 - guest post
http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/	Once Upon a Twilight	12/10 - Review & giveaway
http://www.twochicksonbooks.com/	Two Chicks on Books	12/11 - guest post
http://www.jessabellareads.org	Jessabella Reads	12/11 - review
http://www.myfriendsarefiction.com	My Friends Are Fiction	12/14 - guest post
Http://www.amidsummernightsread.com	A Midsummer Night's Read	12/15 - Book Playlist
http://darkfaerietales.com/	Dark Faerie Tales	12/15 - review
www.iceybooks.com	IceyBooks	12/16 - Top 10 list
http://thedailyquirk.com	The Daily Quirk	12/17 - review & giveaway
http://www.mundiemoms.blogspot.com	Mundie Moms	12/18 - interview
http://hollywoodnewssource.com/	Hollywood News Source	12/18 - review

Review: Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes

Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: December 3, 2013
Purchase: Amazon

The road to power... is paved with blood and magic.

Cleo is now a prisoner in her own palace, forced to be an ambassador for Mytica as the evil King Gaius lies to her people.
Magnus stands to eventually inherit the new kingdom but is still obsessed with his feelings for his adopted sister, Lucia.
Lucia is haunted by the outcome of the breathtaking display of magic that allowed her father to capture the kingdoms.
Jonas watched at the palace gates a troop of rebels behind him, waiting for him to tell them how he plans to overtake King Gaius.

After a bloody siege, Auranos has been defeated, its young queen orphaned and dethroned. The three kingdoms—Auranos, Limeros, and Paelsia—are now unwillingly united as one country called Mytica. But the allure of ancient, dangerous magic beckons still, and with it the chance to rule not just Mytica, but the whole world over...

At the heart of the fray are four brave young people grappling for that magic and the power it promises. For Cleo, the magic would enable her to reclaim her royal seat. In Jonas's hands, it frees his nation, and in Lucia's, it fulfills the ancient prophecy of her destiny. And if the magic were Magnus's, he would finally prove his worth in the eyes of his cruel and scheming father, King Gaius, who rules Mytica with a punishing hand.

When Gaius begins to build a road into the Forbidden Mountains to physically link all of Mytica, he sparks a long-smoking fire in the hearts of the people that will forever change the face of this land. For Gaius's road is paved with blood, and its construction will have cosmic consequences.

My Thoughts:
PEOPLE!!  This book OMG this book!!  Morgan Rhodes has crafted a fantasy that is so brilliant and just my gawd just everything I have EVER wanted in a fantasy novel.  This is YA at its absolute finest and my favorite book of 2015!

Rhodes definitely does not suffer from middle book syndrome.   Rebel Spring is just as explosive as its predecessor and honestly even more so in some areas.  The story is so intricately woven throughout that every page has a purpose.  There are no wasted words or filler here let me tell you.  I am completely blown away by what this author has created.  COMPLETELY!

Again I won't go into the story because it's a very complicated one and one that I know I won't do justice to.  And honestly I don't want to spoil it for anyone.  The story is that good to where I would totally tell all my friends to go in blind.  Don't read a synopsis, don't read a summary, just go in and experience.  I have never said that before so that should tell you something.

I've come to find out that Rhodes is fearless with her characters and will kill anyone off at the drop of hat.  I think she's killed off like ten people so far and everyone of them was important!  Who does this!!??  Even after so many have been killed off I still find myself shocked when it happens.  I'm beginning to get a little blood lust myself though because now when I smell death in a scene I'm starting to chant die die die!  This I know can't be a good thing, but I blame Rhodes and her fearlessness!

The characters have continued to grow and change and a few scare me more in this one.  Magnus is a loose cannon and I'm terrified of what his plans ultimately are.  I'm also finding is fascinating that so many characters have an evil streak!  This appeals to the darker side of me and I love it!  I was shocked at quite a few dark turns this book took, but it totally fits right in with the story and I have no complaints.

One thing I find hilarious is the romance in this series. I've just said that Rhodes will kill anybody and this has proven to serve more than one purpose.  I despise love triangles and throughout this story I've smelled a few of them. Well let me tell you if these pesky triangles bother you too, then you need not worry.  Every time I would groan and think NO I don't want a triangle within a few chapters one side of the triangle would meet their end.  LOVE THIS!  I again know this isn't quite normal for me to feel, but really what better way to deal with triangles??  I think this should be standard in books now with love triangles!

I'm beyond excited to continue on with this series.  It is beyond epic and one that I will definitely not let fall to the wayside as I have done with so many series as of late.  Bring on Gathering Darkness!

Another Blizzard Read!

Review:Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: December 11th, 2012
Purchase: Amazon

In the three kingdoms of Mytica, magic has long been forgotten. And while hard-won peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest now simmers below the surface.

As the rulers of each kingdom grapple for power, the lives of their subjects are brutally transformed... and four key players, royals and rebels alike, find their fates forever intertwined. Cleo, Jonas, Lucia, and Magnus are caught in a dizzying world of treacherous betrayals, shocking murders, secret alliances, and even unforeseen love.

The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

It's the eve of war.... Choose your side.

Princess: Raised in pampered luxury, Cleo must now embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of magic long thought extinct.

Rebel: Jonas, enraged at injustice, lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country cruelly impoverished. To his shock, he finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.

Sorceress: Lucia, adopted at birth into the royal family, discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Heir: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, firstborn son Magnus begins to realise that the heart can be more lethal than the sword.... 

My Thoughts:
Holy majoely!!  When people said Falling Kingdoms was exactly like Game of Thrones (my favorite show ever) I was like yeah okay it's YA how can in be exactly like a show that is so very far from YA.  Well I stand completely corrected!  Game of Thrones has murder, war, blood, spies, kings, and magic.  Falling Kingdoms has murder, war, blood, spies, kings, and magic too!  Really the only different I found is that Game of Thrones has dragons and Falling Kingdoms doesn't...yet.

Now don't think that this is a rip off of Game of Thrones.  Falling Kingdoms can definitely hold it's own and the actual storyline is completely different I assure you.  I honestly like Rhodes storyline better than my favorite show so that should tell you something!

I won't even try to summarize this book, there's just too much going on.  Rhodes weaved an incredible story and its only just starting with this book.  I was completely captivated from the beginning and it took me only 2 days to read this 400+ page book. The story is that good.  I loved that i never knew what was coming on the next page and I learned really early on that Rhodes is ruthless with her characters. Just when you start to care about somebody BAM they die!  I mean who does this so early on in a series!  Since these characters who were major characters in my eyes were sacrificed so early on I honestly can't wait to meet who sticks around.

There were two things that bothered me though and they were both oddly enough the romances for certain characters.  I didn't like that one was so fast and the other I didn't like it involved siblings.  The one that was fast could have been okay if the author would have shown more scenes between the two involved.  If I had seen their love grow I could have accepted it a bit more.  The other well siblings that doesn't need much explanation.  I will say that events happened to help with both of these situations so I was a happy camper by the end.

I also didn't mind the insinuation of triangles.  Morgan Rhodes does a great job at incorporating the plot lines that you just feel like everything is there for a reason.

I know just from this first book this story will be EPIC!!!  I know I haven't given much detail about this story, but really with epic high fantasy it's just too hard!  Everything about this book was spot on and incredible.  That's what you need to know!  To tell you anything would be taking away the joy of meeting Cleo, Jonas, Theon, and Mangus for the first time and you need to meet them without knowing who they are.  Trust me you don't want to know too much!!

This is another blizzard read for me and I know the rest of the series will be the same.  Morgan Rhodes you are brilliant!!

Blizzard Read

 

Spotlight & Giveaway: Morgan Rhodes

 I am probably one of the last people in the blogger universe who hasn't read the Falling Kingdom series by Morgan Rhodes.  I've wanted to for awhile and it has been on my tbr for well forever, but I kept pushing it aside for some reason.  When I was approached by Penguin to join in the promo for the upcoming fourth book in the series, I jumped at the chance because I knew it was time to start these bad boys!  The first book in the series is over 400 pages and I read 300 in one day!  Yes it is that amazing!  I can't believe I waited so long!  Thank you Penguin for giving me the push I needed!  My review will definitely be up soon because I know I will devour the rest of Falling Kingdoms tonight!

Okay on to the promo part of the spotlight! As part of the promo I was asked to describe what kingdom I would love to rule.  After much thought I ruled out Game of Thrones because everyone who rules dies and well I don't want to die and I ruled out Morgan Rhodes world because I need to know what happens in the first few books before I queen myself ruler.  I don't want to queen myself and then 3 books later find out my kingdom doesn't even exist anymore!  So, I decided I would love to rule the Dark Court in Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely series.  

Yes I am bringing the old school back with this one!  I love Fae stories and Marr's series was so dark and I loved how evil her Dark Court Faeries were.  If you ask my blog roomies they will tell you I love all the dark things so this would totally suit my darker side!  Plus I could wear all kinds of fun costumes and would totally have wicked powers! 

What world would you love to rule???

If you haven't picked up Morgan Rhodes series then you are missing out!  

Here's what you need to know abut the series!

Series Page / Website / Facebook / Goodreads

 Pre-order Frozen Tides releases 12/15/2015

About the Author:

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

Giveaway!  
3 winners will each receive the first 3 books in the Falling Kingdoms series.
Hosted by Penguin
Fill out the form below to enter.

Open to US residents only

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser Tuesday #100 Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

Welcome to Teaser Tuesdays! Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: Grab your current read Open to a random page Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! My Teaser Tuesday is for the following...

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes                  Publisher: Razorbill      Published: December 11, 2012  Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
In the three kingdoms of Mytica, magic has long been forgotten. And while hard-won peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest now simmers below the surface.
As the rulers of each kingdom grapple for power, the lives of their subjects are brutally transformed... and four key players, royals and rebels alike, find their fates forever intertwined. Cleo, Jonas, Lucia, and Magnus are caught in a dizzying world of treacherous betrayals, shocking murders, secret alliances, and even unforeseen love.
The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?
It's the eve of war.... Choose your side.
Princess: Raised in pampered luxury, Cleo must now embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of magic long thought extinct.
Rebel: Jonas, enraged at injustice, lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country cruelly impoverished. To his shock, he finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.
Sorceress: Lucia, adopted at birth into the royal family, discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.
Heir: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, firstborn son Magnus begins to realise that the heart can be more lethal than the sword.... 

Teaser #1 ebook page 53/293

"Just keep one thing in mind as you embark on this arrangement with your new bodyguard..."
She looked at him sharply. "What's that?"
He held her gaze. "He's not royal either."

Teaser #2 ebook page 77/293

And she also wished very much that she could share her won secret, the one she'd been hiding for nearly a month--the one no one knew. No one at all.


*PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here if you don’t have a blog Thanks!

Review: A Book of Spirits and Thieves by Morgan Rhodes

A Book of Spirits and Thieves (Spirits and Thieves #1)by Morgan Rhodes
Expected publication: June 23rd 2015 by Razorbill 

Worlds collide in this suspenseful, page-turning Falling Kingdoms spin-off series, which explores a whole new side of Mytica—and an even darker version of its magic.
Crystal Hatcher, Modern-day Toronto: It’s a normal afternoon in her mother’s antique bookshop when Crys witnesses the unthinkable: her little sister Becca collapses into a coma after becoming mesmerized by a mysterious book written in an unrecognizable language.
Maddox Corso, Ancient Mytica: Maddox Corso doesn’t think much of it when he spots an unfamiliar girl in his small village. Until, that is, he realizes that she is a spirit, and he is the only one who can see or hear her. Her name is Becca Hatcher, and she needs Maddox to help get her home.
Farrell Grayson, Modern-day Toronto: Rich and aimless Farrell Grayson is thrilled when the mysterious leader of the ultra-secret Hawkspear Society invites him into the fold. But when he learns exactly what he has to do to prove himself, Farrell starts to question everything he thought he knew about family, loyalty, and himself…. Fate has brought these young people together, but ancient magic threatens to rip them apart.

My Thoughts

I am a super fan of Morgan Rhodes' Falling Kingdoms series so I knew the second I heard about her new book I had to get my hand on it. Thankfully, I was lucky enough to snag a copy from Penguin's First To Read Program (which I love btw). While I knew what to expect from Morgan's writing I went into this one with a clean slate. I have to say I enjoyed the fantasy world much more than the current day portion of the story. 

As you can tell from the blurb, This story broken into 3 different P.O.V's yet they all have a common thread, the mysterious book. So without giving to much away I will give you a brief run down. A mysterious book shows up at the Hatcher's book store. Crystal opens it and her sister Becca gets somehow transported in a non corporeal form into the world of Mytica while her body seems to be in a coma in her world. Crystal must somehow learn the secrets her family has been hiding for generations before it is to late for her sister and for herself. Farrell is part of a secret society that dole out justice to the creeps of the world and has a leader who has the ability to magically heal people. Maddox has a very unique ability to call spirits to himself and trap them. His evil caretaker has been using him to scam towns people across the land of Mytica. He will learn that his power is so much more than he thought especially when a spirit names Becca shows up and shakes his foundation to the core. See how that came full circle there?? Well, I can't get into much more without spoiling but just know that things get pretty twisted up together. The Falling Kingdoms fan will have fun making the connections.

In true Morgan fashion the world building is incredible!! I just loved the Maddox point of view. I wasn't to impressed with the two present day plot lines BUT once they all tied managed to link up I really thought it was quite brilliant. The level of thought and planning that was put into this really blew me away. 

That being said there was a few things I was disappointed by. All three stories felt really rushed to me for some reason. I felt like I couldn't never quite grasp one plot to much before it was switched again. Under normal circumstances I love multiple view points but these weren't quite deep enough for me. I think there was a clear lack of character development which may be resolved in later books. I guess we shall see.The ending was also quite abrupt, so abrupt that I asked my good friend to tell me what happened as i thought my e-arc had somehow cut off. Aside from those few qualms, I thought this was strong start to a new adventure I can't wait to take!!

3 Snowflakes

Waiting On Wednesday - A Book Of Spirits and Thieves by Morgan Rhodes

Welcome to Waiting On Wednesday here at

 Winterhaven Books!

This is a feature created by Jill at Breaking The Spine where we share some books we are anxiously awaiting.

This week's pick...

A Book of Spirits and Thieves (Spirits and Thieves #1)by Morgan Rhodes
Expected publication: June 23rd 2015 by Razorbill

Modern-day sisters discover deadly ancient magic in book 1 of this Falling Kingdoms spin-off series! Worlds collide in this suspenseful, page-turning Falling Kingdoms spin-off series, which explores a whole new side of Mytica—and an even darker version of its magic. Crystal Hatcher, Modern-day Toronto: It’s a normal afternoon in her mother’s antique bookshop when Crys witnesses the unthinkable: her little sister Becca collapses into a coma after becoming mesmerized by a mysterious book written in an unrecognizable language. Maddox Corso, Ancient Mytica: Maddox Corso doesn’t think much of it when he spots an unfamiliar girl in his small village. Until, that is, he realizes that she is a spirit, and he is the only one who can see or hear her. Her name is Becca Hatcher, and she needs Maddox to help get her home. Farrell Grayson, Modern-day Toronto: Rich and aimless Farrell Grayson is thrilled when the mysterious leader of the ultra-secret Hawkspear Society invites him into the fold. But when he learns exactly what he has to do to prove himself, Farrell starts to question everything he thought he knew about family, loyalty, and himself…. Fate has brought these young people together, but ancient magic threatens to rip them apart.

I just adore Morgan Rhodes so very much. She writes high fantasy at it's best. I am currently reading this one now and am completely immersed!! If you are a fantasy lover that likes stories from multiple viewpoints give her a try.