Half-Breed Queen, by L.A. Hendricks: Mini-Review/Spotlight/ Giveaway!!

Welcome to this stop on the tour for

Half-Breed  Queen,

sponsored by 

Bewitching Book Tours!!

 

Half-Breed Queen

(The Skatia Narratives, Book 1)

L.A. Hendricks

Trade Paperback, 332 pages

Illipsium Media

February 1, 2015

Cover Artist: 

L.A. Hendricks

Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction

 Devastating tragedy puts 14-year-old high school freshman Marla Owens, on a fast-paced journey of survival, revival and coming of age. Driven by a force she can't begin to understand and a burning need to find out the truth, she heads toward her mother's home in North Dakota. She soon learns more about herself and her family than she could have ever imagined — her mother was royal heir to the powerful Skatian throne! And now the Skatian people need her to protect their world from those who wish to conquer it.

In a classic tale of good versus evil, set on Earth and beyond, a young girl fights to survive to become a young woman—and the reluctant queen of Skatia. Who can she trust? Will she be able to control her own immense abilities and justified anger to do what's right? One thing's for sure: Marla's not in Texas anymore! 

Incredible as it may seem, I do have a mini-review for this book, in spite of not having an excerpt to include in this post. Since I didn't have an excerpt, I went to the Amazon reader, and opened up the preview for this novel.

Right away, I could tell I'm going to love this book! Why? Well, the characters are very engaging; I saw that right off the bat!  Indeed, the family dynamics are so heartwarming!

Andilyn Tanner and George Owens are very different people and love each other deeply; Andilyn possesses abilities George is not aware of, but yet, they have a very loving relationship. As for their daughter, Marla Marie Owens, she, too, is totally unaware of her heritage.

I love how Andilyn pushes their daughter to have a closer relationship with her father. It really warms my heart....

Another plus is that this is a biracial couple. I always love such stories!

From what I've read in the Amazon reader, this promises to be a richly-textured paranormal novel, with great action, twists and turns, otherworldly excitement, and beautiful family dynamics to boot! Heck, I'm ordering my print copy right away!!

Amazon/Barnes & Noble/Tunes/Kobo

L.A. Hendricks is an IT project manager by day and science fiction/fantasy novelist by night. A longtime lover of words, she reads science fiction, fantasy and paranormal romance novels regularly (when there is time).

When not reading, writing or working, L.A. can most often be found watching football or basketball with her adorable cat, Mona.

 Website/The Skatian Narratives/Facebook

Twitter/Goodreads

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Shelf Candy Saturday #151: The King of Attolia, by Megan Whalen Turner

Welcome to Shelf Candy Saturday!

This is my weekly feature

showcasing beautiful covers!

It also provides information, if available,

on their very talented creators!

For more information

about Shelf Candy Saturday,

simply go HERE.

Here's my choice for this week!

The King of Attolia
(The Queen's Thief, Book 3)
Megan Whalen Turner
Hardcover, 400 pages
Greenwillow Books
January 24, 2006
Fantasy, Historical Fiction, 
Young Adult Fiction

My Thoughts About This Cover

In order to 'qualify' for a "Shelf Candy Saturday" post, a cover has to capture my attention immediately and intensely. The cover above has certainly done both!

This image has a winning combination of boldness and meticulous detail that is extremely appealing to me. The overall composition is made up of large, very dynamic shapes and angles. Compositional tension is created by the young man's arm and hand, which direct the eye to the left, being met by the strong perpendicular movement of the sword. The feminine hand placed on the young man's shoulder also creates movement and tension, as the eye shifts from the hand on the sword hilt, to the hand on the shoulder.

Speaking of hands, the two pictured here create another sort of tension -- that between masculine and feminine forces -- that is also quite appealing visually, as well as psychologically. The young man's hand shows strength of will, as well as an implacable harshness. The hand on his shoulder seems to be urging that these qualities be tempered with compassion and mercy. The young man's head is bowed. I think he's not only accepting his destiny as a strong leader, but is also listening to the gentle advice of the woman whose hand rests on his shoulder.

The boldness of the main shapes and angles is contrasted with the meticulous, rich detail in the sword hilt, the young man's sleeve (I wonder what the repeated patterns on the sleeve mean), and the beautiful, ornate frame for the book's title. I love to let my eyes roam all over the cover, only to then  dwell on the gorgeous details, and then shift back to the main shapes. This, too, creates compositional tension.

The font is a classic one -- rather like ancient Roman lettering. It does fit this cover very well, reinforcing the concepts of strength and indomitable will shown  by the young man.

The style of this brilliant cover reminds me of the work of the German artist Hans Holbein the Younger, who created portrait masterpieces in the 16th century. I feel that the creator of this cover was probably influenced by this great master. This is very evident when one compares the cover above with Holbein's portrait below. The same contrast between large, bold shapes and meticulous detail are also present in the Holbein work. However, the cover artist has made these qualities his own, and is not merely copying the older master.

Portrait of Sir Thomas More

Hans Holbein the Younger

Oil and Tempera on Oak

1527

Frick Collection, NYC

(Wikipedia, Public Domain)

The cover's creator is Vince Natale, who studied at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, and graduated from the duCret School of Art in Plainfield, New Jersey. He has created book covers and other commercial works, as well as fine art, and has won numerous awards.

Of course, I can't wait to add this treasure to my collection! 

Online Links

Interview: Chachic's Book Nook

(includes beautiful illustrations)

Vince Natale Website

Concept Art for Queen's Thief Series 

Facebook

Hans Holbein the Younger

Holbein the Younger: Taschen

What do you think of this 
week's cover?
Please leave a comment 
and let me know!

Feature & Follow Friday #1: How do you write your reviews?

Welcome to Feature & Follow Friday!!

This weekly hop is hosted by  

Rachel @ Parajunkee's View, and 

Alison @ Alison Can Read!!

You can find the rules at the links above.

Join in the fun and make new blogging friends!

Every week, 2 new blogs are featured!

This week's featured blogs are:

Books * Coffee * Life * Adventures *

and 

Book Blog Bird !!

Here is this week's question, 
contributed by

How do you write your reviews?

This is a very interesting question! I see book reviews as essays in which I can freely express my feelings and opinions regarding the book in question. 

Some bloggers use a style in which they list the pros and cons of a book. Others give a book stars for each of the various elements -- plot, characterization, world-building, and writing style -- including the cover's visual appeal, as well. They then give the book an overall rating. Still other reviewers use an essay style, punctuated by gifs. Many reviewers also include quotes from the book.

I prefer to use a straight essay style. The first paragraph usually lets my readers know my overall impression of a book. For instance, I'll write things like, "I wasn't sure I would like this novel, as it's not my usual type of read. However, I've been very pleasantly surprised!"  So, this tells my readers, right away, whether or not I'm giving the book my wholehearted approval.

Next, I briefly discuss the overall plot and why I like or dislike it.  I try not to go into too much detail, though, since I do include a plot synopsis along with my reviews, so why repeat it in the actual review? I do refer to the plot, but very loosely.

Then I go on to describe the characters, without giving too much away. I tell my readers exactly why I love or hate the most important characters. Characterization is, in my opinion, one of the most important things about fiction, whether it's a short story or a full-length novel. If characters fall flat, if readers can't relate to them, the whole novel or story fails to immerse the reader in the writer's invented world, and the characters won't seem to be real people to the reader.

Another very important aspect of a novel is  the world-building,  and especially so in the fantasy, historical fiction, PNR, UF, or SF genres.  

If the world-building doesn't ring true, then the readers won't be able to get lost in the story. I point out such details as possible anachronisms, in the case of fantasy or historical fiction. This is obviously not applicable to Steampunk novels, since they take place in alternate universes. Thus, anachronisms are supposed to be a part of the settings in these books. 

It's very obvious when the author has done meticulous research, if necessary, for the world  they have created. On the other hand, such research is not always essential, as in the case of fantasy and SF. Writers in these genres, are, of course, free to invent entirely new worlds.

Writing style is very important to me, as well. I take into account the different styles in literary and popular fiction. I love descriptive, poetic passages in literary fiction. As for popular fiction, I do like some description, but I understand that the way the plot moves is considered even more important in this type of fiction. Readers expect more action and plot twists, for example, so I mention these elements in my reviews. If these are illogical, or not particularly effective, I will be sure to mention that; again, without spoilers.

I occasionally review nonfiction, too. This type of book requires a different approach. I not only give my overall impression of the book, but analyze the validity and helpfulness of the author's points. Research is even  more crucial for this type of book, as nonfiction usually presents facts in order to prove the author's thesis. So, if there are any inconsistencies, I will point these out. 

In the case of nonfiction, the writing style is also very important to my appreciation of the book. Some authors can  be very boring in the presentation of their material. Others are so simplistic in their style, it provides little to no intellectual enjoyment at all. I believe in a happy medium!

As an eclectic reader, I like to review several different genres, although, for a long time now, I've been reading and reviewing mostly Young Adult Fiction. No matter what I'm reading, though, I take my reviews very seriously. When the time comes to actually write the review, I feel a little nervous, wondering what I'm going to write, how I'm going to express my views. However, when I start typing, the words just seem to flow, and surprising insights find their way onto the "page". Still, in spite of my initial ease in setting down the words, that doesn't mean I will publish the review just as I've written it the first time. I will usually re-read it and revise it at least twice before publishing it. Even after it's posted, though, I will tweak it a few more times. I'm constantly on the lookout for typos, for instance, as I hate to publish anything that does not look professional. I'm also very aware of awkward sentences or phrases.

Most of the reviews I've done have been about books that I have picked out and purchased myself. Sometimes, I write reviews as part of a blog tour. Whether it's a personal review, or one intended for a blog tour, I make sure it reads well and has no obvious mistakes before I publish it.

To me, one of the most enjoyable things involved in blogging about books is writing reviews! The process of writing one  not  only makes me think, but it also gets me feeling about all the aspects of the book I've read. Thus, writing book reviews is a perfect combination of left and right-brain activities. It's a creative activity, which puts me in a state of mind in which everything just flows, and I lose track of time....

As for my review policies and rating system, you can find them -- together with sparkly stars provided by Parajunkee -- HERE.

I hope to be writing and publishing book reviews for a long time to come!
     

Next Week's Question

How many books have you got 
on your TBR list?
Suggested by:
Obsessive Compulsive Reader




These are my follow preferences.
The links are in my sidebar.

 Be sure to visit the rest of
the participating blogs!!

 

Shelf Candy Saturday #150: Golden Daughter, by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

Welcome to Shelf Candy Saturday!!

This is my weekly feature

showcasing beautiful book covers!

It also provides information,

if available, on their very talented creators!

For more information

about Shelf Candy Saturday,

simply go HERE.

Here's my choice for this week!

Golden Daughter 

(Tales of Goldstone Wood, Book 7)

Anne Elisabeth Stengl

Trade Paperback, 584 pages

Rooglewood Press

November 10, 2014

Christian Fiction, Fantasy,

Young Adult Fiction

My Thoughts About This Cover

This is another absolutely glorious cover!  Of course, the color blue predominates, but there's also a very beautiful shade of pink -- hot pink. This is the only shade of the color I like. I don't like pale pink at all. This tone, though, is simply gorgeous, and combines very well with the blue.

As I stated in last week's post, I find circles immensely appealing, so it was to be expected that I would be attracted to this cover. Circles are perfect shapes, after all, so they carry a message of completion, of wholeness that strikes a chord with me. They are also, as Brian from Babbling Books pointed out in his comment to last week's post, frequently to be found in Oriental art. Thus, I was not surprised to find that the young woman on the cover is of Oriental descent. 

Although my favorite animal is the horse, I like the presence of the cat on this cover. Somehow, I find that this animal is a perfect addition to the image.

The young woman seems to be testing the water, which is a little rough, and could be a danger to her and the cat. I wonder, though, whether she's creating some sort of water magic, instead.

Getting back to the circle, could this be some sort of time portal, or entry to a supernatural world? It's interesting that the roiling clouds have the same shade of pink of the young woman's kimono.....are they somehow related to her? Only by actually reading the book would I be able to find out.....

I also love the font used for the title -- it's so graceful, yet understated, and forms a nice contrast with the author's name. I think the same font was used for both the title and the author's name, but the title is all in lower-case letters, while the author's name is all in caps. I find that this contrast adds to the cover's contrast and appeal.

The brilliant artist who created this masterful cover is Julia Popova. She is a photographer and digital artist from Russia, and lives in Novosibirsk. She's well versed in PhotoShop and other techniques, including watercolor. When I visited her website, I found her portfolio breathtaking!

Online Links

Website 

Facebook
Deviant Art
Cruzine 

Pinterest 

Facebook 

   

What do you think of my 

choice this week?

Please leave a comment

and let me know!

Mini-Review/Excerpt/Giveaway!! The Violet Hour, by Andrea L. Wells

Welcome to this stop in 
the blog tour for

The Violet Hour, sponsored by

Bewitching Book Tours!!

I'm featuring an excerpt with mini-review,

and BBT is sponsoring an 
AWESOME giveaway!!

The Violet Hour

(The Violet Hour, Book 1)

Andrea L. Wells

Trade Paperback, 324 pages

Infinity Publishing

May 11, 2015

Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy,
Young Adult Fiction

Still shocked over her mother’s mysterious death, California socialite Logan Keller is handed a one-way ticket to her long lost roots in Wyoming where love, deceit and danger await. Though she could forget everything staring into Luke Callahan’s eyes, Logan is quickly thrust into a fight for survival. Taking fate into her own hands, she begins unraveling the dangerous deceptions that abound at every turn. Her father is keeping secrets and Luke is keeping more. But Logan is keeping the biggest secret of them all.
The Violet Hour is a page-turning, captivating twist of young romance and the paranormal.

I have to confess that the very first thing that attracted me to this book was the gloriously beautiful cover! However, if the only thing a book has going for it is a gorgeous cover, it will obviously fail to pull a potential reader into it.
I'm very happy to report that, based on the teaser and excerpt below, I do believe this novel promises to deliver a great reading experience!
For instance, I can see that Wells is very adept at building suspense through vividly described details. This gives her writing a sort of cinematic quality that makes me want to see the movie adaptation of this novel. This is truly impressive for a debut author. I predict that this novel will be an amazing, YA winner!!

I sat up and pulled my knees in close to my chest.  Electricity flared in the air as Luke inhaled.

“You know, Logan, you’re not who I expected you to be,” he said, taking a long thought-filled pause.  “I thought the next twelve months were going to be hell living with a California socialite, but you’re pretty amazing.  I guess I owe you an apology.”

“So, it’s a good thing that I’m nothing like you expected?” I asked.

“It’s a really, really good thing.”

As I started to smile back he craned his neck to look away from me.  His eyes focused.  Something black flashed across the road but I was more scared by Luke’s reaction.  The warmth had vanished from Luke in a heartbeat.  The object stopped moving toward us when it got to an opening between the trees.  Even though I could feel Luke’s concern, I leaned forward toward the window, curious.  It was a wolf – a really big wolf, staring directly at us with bright green eyes.  It was close enough I could see quick breaths escape into the crisp rain-drenched air.  I was startled when the engine roared to life.  Luke threw the car into reverse, and I nearly slammed into the dash as the sound of gravel scattered everywhere.  He quickly jockeyed around and pulled back onto the road heading home.  I kept my eyes on the wolf until he was no longer in sight.

“Was that a wolf?” I asked.  Everything happened so quickly, I had to be sure.

“Yes,” he spit.

“I’ve never seen a wolf before – that thing was huge.”

Luke immediately turned to look at me with an expression that I couldn’t begin to read.

“What’s going on?” I pressed, puzzled.

When he looked toward the road and didn’t answer, I knew my question needed to be more specific to get results.

“Why are you freaking out?  It was just a wolf.”  I was worried.  He had gone from warm and comforting to moody and distant over such a small thing and I second-guessed how quickly I had fallen for him.

“Because I need to get you home, it’s getting late,” he muttered, failing to control his tone.

“That doesn’t make any sense, Luke.  I have no curfew and you flaked as soon as you saw the wolf.”

“Wolves are dangerous.”

“We were in the car,” I countered.

“Doesn’t matter.” 

Amazon US/Amazon UK
Amazon CA
Barnes & Noble
The Book Depository

The Violet Hour Series has been begging to escape Andrea’s subconscious for more than five years.  Focusing on a wonderful career, handsome husband and two beautiful children by day, she began feverishly penning the series by night.  Now a full-time writer, Andrea debuts The Violet Hour.

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

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