Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Tour Review/Giveaway!! Withering Rose, by Kaitlyn Davis




Welcome to the Withering Rose 
Blog Tour, sponsored by
YA Bound Book Tours!!

For my stop, I'm featuring a review!
There's also a tour-sponsored giveaway!!



Withering Rose
(Once Upon A Curse, Book 2)
Kaitlyn Davis
Kindle Edition, 314 pages
May 17, 2016
Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, 
Fairy Tale Retellings, Romance, 
Science Fiction, Young Adult Fiction




Note
This cover totally ROCKS.
Please see my post about it, HERE.




**A USA Today Recommended Series!**

What if Beauty was cursed, and the Beast was the only one who could save her? Don't miss Withering Rose, a dystopian romance from bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis that reimagines the classic fairy tale of "Beauty & The Beast".

"As the heat finally disappeared, I felt the bloom blossom in the very core of my soul, a rose just like my name--a ticking clock hidden behind a façade of beauty. From that moment on, my life would become a countdown, and all I could do was wait and watch as the petals of time slowly started to fall."

Omorose Bouchene has a secret--magic. There's only one problem. At the age of seven, an earthquake struck, catapulting her into a new world. A land made of skyscrapers and cell phones. Fast cars and fluorescent lights. A land where magic isn't supposed to exist and anyone who wields it is the enemy.

But after ten years of hiding, she's desperate to find a place where she can be free. Because all magic comes with a curse, and her curse is time--every ounce of power she uses strips days off of her life. The clock is winding down, and the only option left is to escape to the realm of the Beast. But the king of monsters isn't what he seems. And the more Omorose opens her heart, the more she comes to realize that the only person she may need to fear is herself.

*This is the second book in Once Upon A Curse, a series of interconnected stand-alone novels all set in the same fantasy universe.* 


Purchase Links

Print Edition


Note
Complimentary digital review copies were available 
for this tour, but I chose to buy my own, as I 
was really intrigued by the story!


Many female readers love the "Beauty and the Beast" fairy tale, and I count myself among them! So I never get tired of reading retellings of this famous story. This particular one is a very imaginative retelling, too. Davis seamlessly combines four genres in this novel, something which is quite fascinating! In addition to the story itself, it was this combination that drew me to the novel. (Of course, the romance was a very strong convincing factor, as well!)  

Another thing that drew me was the awesome cover, which was created by the author herself. I was also very happy to discover that there was a wonderful tale behind the beautiful cover!

The magic wielded by Princess Omorose comes with a deadly price -- a curse that takes her life away, little by little. Paradoxically, it's very beautiful magic; Omorose can infuse plants with vitality, making them thrive. She can literally transform a barren landscape into a garden bursting with gorgeous flowers and plants.

Omorose's life as a princess has been transformed when an earthquake hits her world, throwing her and her father into the world of humans who not only have no magic, but also share a profound hatred for it.

It is this magic that she must strive to conceal in her new, futuristic surroundings, and she's feeling more and more out of control every day....so she sets out to find the Beast she's heard so much about, off in the mountains, where no human dare tread. She hopes that he can give her some answers.

The Beast's magic is of another type -- he's a shapeshifter. He can take on several animal forms, but usually prefers to shift into a wolf or bear. His 'beastliness' is more in his character, and there's a very good reason for it. 

It's fascinating to see how the author moves the action from the futuristic, dystopian world in which Omorose and her father are forced to live, into the fantasy world of the Beast. The contrast between the two is very well carried out. In fact, the world building is very believable, and draws the reader right into the story. 

The romance between Omorose and the Beast, whose real name is Cole, is very sweet, although I did think it was a bit rushed. However, it totally enchanted me! The contrasts between Cole and Omorose made their relationship very interesting, and highlighted the differences between their two worlds, as well.

I loved how Omorose took her future into her own hands, as she left the dreary underground world she shared with her father, and went off to seek answers. She had lived for several years holding back her magic, and she was tired of living this lie. 

I also loved Cole, the Beast. He was at bottom a gentle soul, although a fierce defender of his people, as well. And when he fell for the young princess, learning about her curse, he immediately began to try his best to help her find a way to undo it. Once he began to trust her, his tenderness emerged, and it was wonderful to experience it!

The beginning of their relationship is tentative, and full of misunderstandings on both sides.  But gradually, they each begin to let down their guard. There's a climactic moment when Omorose thinks she has killed Cole, and she suffers a lot of guilt and pain because of it. But everything turns out all right in the end, and her relationship with this mysterious Beast, who hides so many secrets, continues to blossom.

The writing in this novel is simple and direct, yet beautiful. Davis is very skillful at creating the right atmosphere, and her characters come alive as one reads. This novel certainly adds to the lore of this timeless fairy tale!

Another element of this story I loved was Omorose's devotion to her father, although she must initially defy him. Even as she gets involved with the perplexing Cole, she never forgets her dad, whom she had been forced to leave behind, still living in that stifling underground world.

This concern with a parent is something that's not typical of YA novels, which mostly feature teens and young adults who have little relationship with their parents. I was reminded of another exception to this, though -- a series of novels in which the female protagonist was similarly concerned about her father: The Twilight Saga. Of course, this made me love Withering Rose all the more!

Yet another thing I loved about this novel was the deeper themes explored by the author, such as the quest for inner meaning, the power of family love, a strong concern for the environment, and the strength to be combined in a romantic relationship in which the lovers share idealistic goals. This is not just a fluffy romance. It might appear to be so on the surface, but it's much more profound than that! 

In addition to the tender love story and powerful themes, this novel has action, great world building, and a setting that will make all lovers of fantasy and science fiction eager to enter the unique world created by this author. I heartily recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fairy tales, feisty heroines, tender, vulnerable heroes, great heroic quests, and gorgeous, poignant magic

I already own the Kindle edition of this novel. Now I'm thinking of buying the paperback, since I much prefer printed books! 
    

MY RATING:        




 This is Book 1 in the series.



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30332541-gathering-frost


RAVE REVIEWS for Gathering Frost!

"My favorite thing about this book is the action. Jade isn't a sleeping princess. She's the best fighter and so fierce in her 'empty' state, I felt like this was an urban fantasy, with all the steam of a romance, and it was almost perfect for me."
Jessie Potts, USA Today, Happy Ever After Blog

"Davis writes with confidence and poise, and the story's many twists and turns stave off predictability and allow readers to become immersed in a starkly magical world filled with last hopes." 
 Publisher's Weekly

"Gathering Frost is just awesome in every way. Beautiful prose, lots of heart-wrenching emotion, action and romance, a great, unstoppable villain, and a smart, tough heroine who will fight for what she wants."
Geeks in High School

"The writing is flawless as always, and I must say, way to take a classic and make such a creative and wonderful twist to it.... It's well thought out and is unbelievably magnificent. I seriously couldn't put it down. Wait! I never actually put it down! I started and finished in one sitting, because it's just that good. This one is a MUST READ."
Happy Tails and Tales Blog





Purchase Links

Print Edition
Kindle Edition












Bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis writes young adult fantasy novels under the name Kaitlyn Davis and contemporary romance novels under the name Kay Marie. 

Always blessed with an overactive imagination, Kaitlyn has been writing ever since she picked up her first crayon and is overjoyed to share her work with the world. When she's not daydreaming, typing stories, or getting lost in fictional worlds, Kaitlyn can be found indulging in some puppy videos, watching a little too much television, or spending time with her family. If you have any questions for her--about her books, about scheduling an event, or just in general--you may contact her at: KaitlynDavisBooks@gmail.com

To stay up-to-date with all of Kaitlyn's new releases, sign up for her new release newsletter here: TinyLetter.com/KaitlynDavisBooks


Website/Goodreads/Twitter
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Pinterest/Amazon




To access the complete tour 
schedule, just click on 
the button below!


http://yaboundbooktours.blogspot.com/2016/03/blog-tour-sign-up-withering-rose-once.html



 

8 comments:

  1. Those are awesome covers and I may have to check the books out - they sounds interesting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Barb!

      Yes, they definitely ARE AWESOME!! I do prefer the one for "Withering Rose", but they're both beautiful.

      I need to read "Gathering Frost" next. I know I'll enjoy it just as much as I did this one!

      Thanks for the nice comment!! :)

      Delete
  2. I know I already said it on Twitter but...THANK YOU!!! Such a fantastic review and I'm so honored by your words! Thank you so very much for taking a chance on Once Upon A Curse and for sharing my series with your fans!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi, Kaitlyn!

      Oh, you're SO very welcome!! You're such a sweet person! I appreciate that you thanked me on Twitter, yet took the time to come over to my blog and thank me here, too!! HUGE HUGS!!!! <3 :)

      I'm so glad you enjoyed reading my review!! Thanks so much for the compliment!! I, too, am honored by your visit and comment here!!

      You're very welcome for my taking a chance on "Withering Rose"! It was SO worth it! I think that Indie authors deserve to be heard! I sure hope a lot of my readers will be motivated to read this series, just as I have been! Because now I want to read the first book, "Gathering Frost", and the future books that will come along.

      Thanks again for your visit, and especially for the lovely comment!! <3 :)

      Delete
  3. Gorgeous review! We adore Beauty & the Beast, and this sounds so good! Thank you for putting this on our radar and for sharing the giveaway! :)

    ~Michele & Mckenzie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Michele & Mckenzie!

      Oh, thank you so much!! I adore the "Beauty and the Beast" fairy tale, too, and so, I love to read retellings of it! Even the Twilight books are related to this story!

      You're very welcome for the sharing of the book and giveaway! I hope you get to read it soon! And good luck on the giveaway!!

      Thanks for the lovely comment!! "HUGS TO YOU BOTH*!!! <3 :)

      Delete
  4. I love Beauty and the Beast re-tellings. This sounds wonderful, Maria. And what an insightful review you've written. I will definitely be adding this to my wish list. Thank you for your great review.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Wendy!

      Yes, I do, too!! And this one is indeed wonderful!

      Thank you so much for the compliments about my review! I greatly enjoyed writing it!

      Thanks for the visit, as well!! :)

      Delete

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