tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68941808794970674232024-03-13T13:04:12.203-04:00Gilded Page ReviewsAshleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16741648925159230330noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894180879497067423.post-20618494057315348952013-11-30T09:00:00.000-05:002013-11-30T14:53:22.836-05:00Hex Appeal Part 2<table>
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<th>Title: Hex Appeal<br>
Author: Edited by P.N. Elrod<br>
Genre: Anthology, Horror, Urban Fantasy<br>
Format & Pages: Paperback, 356<br>
Publication: St. Martin's Griffin, 2012<br>
Source: Borrowed<br>
Rating: <img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"> <img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png">
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Welcome to the second part of reviews for the anthology Hex Appeal! I hope you enjoyed the reviews in the first part. If you didn't check them out, you can <a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/2013/11/hex-appeal-part-1.html">here</a>. Now on to the second set of reviews.<br>
<a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/2013/11/hex-appeal-part-2.html#more">Read more »</a>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16741648925159230330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894180879497067423.post-29578025903056789932013-11-25T09:00:00.000-05:002013-11-25T09:14:31.525-05:00Hex Appeal Part 1<table>
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Title: Hex Appeal<br>
Author: Edited by P.N. Elrod<br>
Genre: Anthology, Horror, Urban Fantasy<br>
Format & Pages: Paperback, 356<br>
Publication: St. Martin's Griffin, 2012<br>
Source: Borrowed<br>
Rating:<img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png">
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Hex appeal is an anthology for horror short stories that tend to contain those sexy, romantic twists. Since there are multiple stories, I am going to break up the anthology in two parts. I want to give each story the attention it deserves and keep the post from being as long as my arm. Anywho, let’s get on with the reviews!<br><a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/2013/11/hex-appeal-part-1.html#more">Read more »</a>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16741648925159230330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894180879497067423.post-52740301356155422242013-11-21T15:50:00.000-05:002013-11-21T15:50:13.505-05:00NaNoWriMo 2013I am sure that you all have noticed a gradual decline in reviews being posted on here. Well, that is because I was working my tush off over in NaNo land. As of yesterday, November 20th, with ten days to spare, I hit the 50,000 word goal. Yay!!! That is the most that I have ever written in such a short period of time and it is also rivaling how much I have written, ever. This is a huge accomplishment for me, and while I may think what I wrote is boring, at least I have something to work it. I am going to take a break from it before I dive into editing, give my brain more time to percolate on what I have done. So for those of you out there yelling at me to start posting reviews again, well I am here to tell you that reviews will start going up.<br><br>
For those of you still plowing ahead on your novels don’t stop! It’s all about pushing through the hard stuff, through those scenes that don’t seem to want to be written. I found what really got me moving were word sprints and word crawls. Some of you may be asking, huh, what are those? Well a word sprint is where you write nonstop for a set period of time. I preferred the 15-20 minute sprints with a 5-10 minute break in between. Any longer of a break and I would lose my focus. Word crawls are narrative type adventures that have word sprints, wars, mystical enimies to slay or papers to write that help motivate you towards your goals. They make it fun to write those hard sections because you are competing now. I found my favorites to be the <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/forums/word-wars-prompts-sprints/threads/149527">Hunger Games Crawl</a> as well as the <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/forums/word-wars-prompts-sprints/threads/150176">RPG crawl.</a><br><br>
Another thing I found that helped when I was really stuck was to work on world building. I write primarily fantasy, so world building is an important aspect that needs to be covered. Most of the time I get the setting of my story and the characters all set to go, but the world building is sparse. I fly by the seat of my pants and if it works in my story, then it becomes a part of the world. But this led me to not really knowing what I was doing with the story. Does the MC have a chance to change her social status? Is there magic and what are its consequences? <br><br>
These questions played an important part in my story, even if they were subtle elements. So when I was stuck, I consulted Lee Killough’s <i>Checking on Culture</i>. This book is a lifesaver. It has various categories such as habitat, religion, humor, etc. that are further explained with some questions and examples. Even if you do not think that part of your world will come into play, just reading over certain sections can give you a creative boost. It certainly did for me. I got to know my world at a more in-depth level, so when I was needing a few extra words or a bit more to add to my setting, I could draw on these random things I thought about. It is definitely something you should look into.<br><br>
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</center> Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16741648925159230330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894180879497067423.post-31710904863940084022013-11-10T15:12:00.001-05:002013-11-10T15:12:27.813-05:00Freebies!Well today I only have one freebie, but still, one if better than none right?<br>
As a disclaimer, I must say that I have not read this work so I cannot comment on it. If you pick it up, let me know how you like it!<br>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XxCPSZzlIU0/Un_oO_boK7I/AAAAAAAAAOY/S9T4xNUfbcc/s1600/KIRI+MARU+FREE+PROMO+smallest.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XxCPSZzlIU0/Un_oO_boK7I/AAAAAAAAAOY/S9T4xNUfbcc/s320/KIRI+MARU+FREE+PROMO+smallest.jpg" /></a>
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Like Laura's work? Here is a list of all her upcoming freebies:
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rmtIThlYGGA/Un_oghhYuRI/AAAAAAAAAOg/CZ4HIFkMyik/s1600/FREE+PROMO+(All+Titles)+Laura+L,.+Sullivan+smallest.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rmtIThlYGGA/Un_oghhYuRI/AAAAAAAAAOg/CZ4HIFkMyik/s320/FREE+PROMO+(All+Titles)+Laura+L,.+Sullivan+smallest.jpg" /></a></center>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16741648925159230330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894180879497067423.post-10854509902875902702013-11-09T09:00:00.000-05:002013-11-09T13:40:53.363-05:00Perfectible Animals-Thomas Norwood<table>
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<th>Title: Perfectible Animals<br />
Author: Thomas Norwood<br />
Genre: Sci-Fi, Dystopian<br />
Format & Pages: E-book, 324<br />
Publication: Self-Published, 2013<br />
Source: Author<br />
Rating:<img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" /><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" /><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" /><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HalfHeartRater_zps31c1c2cf.png" />
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<i>“It's 2065. Environmental and social chaos are poised to disrupt all life on Earth.<br /><br />
Michael Khan, a geneticist struggling to save his wife from a deadly virus, is recruited by a secret organization to engineer the next stage in the evolution of Homo sapiens: highly immune to disease and extremely cooperative.<br /><br />
When the military learns of his research, they force him to help create a bio-weapon to be used against invading forces.<br /><br />
Desperate to save humanity before they wipe themselves out, Michael genetically modifies over one hundred children. Ironically, they start to breed diseases that are deadly to Homo sapiens, and he is arrested for bio-terrorism.<br /><br />
Now, Michael isn't only fighting for the life of his wife, but for himself, his modified children, and millions of civilians about to be wiped out by diseases he is responsible for creating.<br /><br />
The problem is -- he can't save them all.”</i><br />
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<i>Perfectible Animals</i> is Thomas Norwood’s debut novel. The focus is on Dr. Michael Khan as he is arrested and interrogated for terrorism against Australia. The story starts in the present where Khan is getting ready to leave the country in order to protect some children. What is so special about these children we do not know. Suddenly, Khan is taken and transported to a secret location. Here he is questioned concerning a project he has been working on.<br />
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The majority of the story is told via flashbacks. Khan being taken and then charged comprises a very small part of the plot. I find the way the story is told, through flashbacks and occasionally during prison interviews, to be very creative. It kept me reading because I knew that something had happened and I wanted to know what it was that led up to him being arrested. This helped me get through some of the duller parts of the novel. At first, some of the flashbacks seemed completely disjointed from the story, but as I kept reading everything came together.<br />
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Khan as a character is likeable. His drive and determination are something I quite admire. In his situation I think I would have caved under the pressure and stress of his life. He was someone I was rooting for and while the ending was not all I wanted it to be, it was the best ending for the novel.<br />
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The pacing of the book was good. It was quick enough to keep me reading, but there were some parts that I found boring or unnecessary. I think this may have been taken care of if the flashbacks were made shorter and more of his time in prison was included. I also found that the amount of medical terms, while necessary to the story, threw the pacing off for me. I had to slow down and really try to understand what was going on. If the medical terms were somehow dulled down I think I would have really enjoyed the story a lot more.<br />
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Overall, the story was enjoyable, even though it was not as action packed as I like my stories to be. The world was well created and realistic. The characters were enduring and varied, with differing personalities and reactions to the situations in which they are placed. If the pacing was a bit faster with the flashbacks more broken up, I would have really enjoyed it.<br />
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16741648925159230330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894180879497067423.post-21986705573773996512013-11-04T08:00:00.000-05:002013-11-05T09:05:04.244-05:00Poison-Bridget Zinn<table>
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<th>Title: Poison<br>
Author: Bridget Zinn<br>
Genre: Fantasy, YA<br>
Format & Pages: Hardcover, 276<br>
Publication: Hyperion, 2013<br>
Source: Borrowed<br>
Rating:<img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"></th>
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<i>“Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly skilled potions master, is the only one who knows that her kingdom is on the verge of destruction-which means she is the only one who can save it. With no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom’s future ruler, who also happens to be her best friend.<br><br>
But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart…misses.<br><br>
Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the King’s Army and her potioner ex-boyfriend Hal. At least she’s not alone. She’s armed with her vital potions, a too-cute piglet, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can’t stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?”</i><br>
<a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/2013/11/poison-bridget-zinn.html#more">Read more »</a>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16741648925159230330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894180879497067423.post-36685904618003355842013-11-02T11:37:00.002-04:002013-11-02T11:38:55.949-04:00Steampunk Originals: Open Call<center><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TAf9p7t9Qcs/UnUcbovlmWI/AAAAAAAAAOA/dGL-aEbkhUo/s1600/Saturday+Spotlight.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TAf9p7t9Qcs/UnUcbovlmWI/AAAAAAAAAOA/dGL-aEbkhUo/s1600/Saturday+Spotlight.jpg" /></a></center>
<center><h1>Steampunk Originals</h1></center>
Steampunk Originals is an open-call comic anthology series focusing on steampunk brought to you by Arcana Studios. You heard right, open-call! So if you are an artist, I have got the details you want.<br><br>
<center>Submission Guidelines</center><br>
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<li>Call for 1-12 page, full color, steampunk-themed comics. Open to art of all styles/ media and stories of all tones/ genre. Subject matter is completely open-ended. Implied cursing/ nudity only.</li>
<li>Arcana is launching a line of steampunk titles (also called Steampunk Originals) and will be scouting the volumes for talent and properties they feel can carry their own books. (If they are interested in licensing a property or commissioning additional work, terms will be negotiated directly with the specific creators [without pressure or obligation].)</li>
<li>Writer, Pencilers, Inkers, Colorists, and Letterers may join the group independently. Work is not assigned. Everyone is asked what role(s) he/ she might like to play and tagged in apt calls. Interested creators are introduced to one another. Once they chat, if they determine it's a good fit and they're on the same page, we lock it in. This process is repeated to fill other roles as needed.
<li>Solo Creators, Creators with their own teams and comics for reprint are welcome. Anyone working alone, with his/ her own team, or submitting a comic for reprint may be as autonomous as he/ she chooses as long as the comic fits the guidelines and is turned in by the deadline. The group is a resource not a requirement.
<li>All Comics and properties remain creator-owned. The anthology is fully non-exclusive.</li></ul>
<center><b>The deadline for submission for the 5th volume is January 6th.</b></center><br>
All submission are evaluated using an objective rubric. This removes personal bias from the selection process and grants specific reasons why one submission is in and another is out. All submissions are critiqued in group. If a creator's comic doesn't make the cut, he/ she is welcome to revise and resubmit to a future volume.<br><br>
If you would like more information concerning Steampunk Originals and the 5th volume, you can check out their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/SteampunkVol5/">Facebook page</a>. There you can find the full details for the project as well as others you may want to collaborate with.
Happy Steampunking!
Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16741648925159230330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894180879497067423.post-57967152307840306982013-10-30T09:00:00.000-04:002013-10-30T11:59:35.111-04:00Song of the Sword-Edward Willett<table>
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<th>Title: Song of the Sword<br>
Author: Edward Willett<br>
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy<br>
Format & Pages: Paperback, 330<br>
Publication: Lobster Press, 2010<br>
Source: Borrowed<br>
Rating:<img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HalfHeartRater_zps31c1c2cf.png">
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<i>“After several years in foster care, Ariane is trying to start a new life with her aunt. But her frightening premonitions keep getting in the way. The moment water touches her skin, she sees visions of a lake, a lady, and a sword. When a staircase opens up in the middle of Wascana Lake, and the water begins singing to her, she has no choice but to answer the call.<br><br>
Ariane learns she descends from the Lady of the Lake, and the stories she thought were legend suddenly become a real life nightmare. Now, she and her unexpected companion, Wally Knight, are charged with finding the scattered shards of Excalibur before Merlin can use them to restore his limitless power.<br><br>
But how can a troubled teen and her brainy sidekick outwit the ancient, ruthless sorcerer?”</i><br>
<a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/song-of-sword-edward-willett.html#more">Read more »</a>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16741648925159230330noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894180879497067423.post-29115975063993938102013-10-25T19:14:00.000-04:002013-10-25T19:14:42.660-04:00Children of Fire-Drew Karpyshyn<table>
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<th>Title: Children of Fire<br>
Author: Drew Karpyshyn<br>
Genre: Epic Fantasy<br>
Format & Pages: Hardcover, 488<br>
Publication: Del Rey, 2013<br>
Source: Borrowed<br>
Rating: <img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HalfHeartRater_zps31c1c2cf.png">
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<i>“Drew Karpyshyn has made his mark with imaginative, action-packed work on several acclaimed videogames, including Mass Effect and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, as well as in a succession of New York Times bestselling tie-in novels. Now Karpyshyn introduces a brilliantly innovative epic fantasy of perilous quests, tormented heroes, and darkest sorcery — a thrilling adventure that vaults him into the company of such authors as Terry Goodkind, Brandon Sanderson, and Peter V. Brett.<br><br>
Long ago the gods chose a great hero to act as their agent in the mortal world and to stand against the demonic spawn of Chaos. The gods gifted their champion, Daemron, with three magical Talismans: a sword, a ring, and a crown. But the awesome power at his command corrupted Daemron, turning him from savior to destroyer. Filled with pride, he dared to challenge the gods themselves. Siding with the Chaos spawn, Daemron waged a titanic battle against the Immortals. In the end, Daemron was defeated, the Talismans were lost, and Chaos was sealed off behind the Legacy — a magical barrier the gods sacrificed themselves to create.<br><br>
Now the Legacy is fading. On the other side, the banished Daemron stirs. And across the scattered corners of the land, four children are born of suffering and strife, each touched by one aspect of Daemron himself — wizard, warrior, prophet, king.
Bound by a connection deeper than blood, the Children of Fire will either restore the Legacy or bring it crashing down, freeing Daemron to wreak his vengeance upon the mortal world.”</i><br>
<a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/children-of-fire-drew-karpyshyn.html#more">Read more »</a>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16741648925159230330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894180879497067423.post-74950510092889621872013-10-22T09:00:00.000-04:002013-10-22T10:11:43.944-04:00A Conspiracy of Alchemists<table>
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<th>Title: A Conspiracy of Alchemists<br>
Author: Liesel Schwarz<br>
Genre: Steampunk<br>
Format & Pages: Hardcover, 336<br>
Publication: Del Rey, 2013<br>
Source: Borrowed<br>
Rating: <img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png">
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<i>“In a Golden Age where spark reactors power the airways, and creatures of Light and Shadow walk openly among us, a deadly game of Alchemists and Warlocks has begun.<br><br>
When an unusual cargo drags airship-pilot Elle Chance into the affairs of the mysterious Mr. Marsh, she must confront her destiny and do everything in her power to stop the Alchemists from unleashing a magical apocalypse.<br><br>
Discover the thrilling new series that transforms the elements of urban fantasy and paranormal romance into pure storytelling goal.”</i><br>
<a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-conspiracy-of-alchemists.html#more">Read more »</a>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16741648925159230330noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894180879497067423.post-83440662789229098372013-10-20T09:00:00.000-04:002013-10-21T14:37:01.937-04:00Sunday Summary 10/14-10/20Hello everyone! Halloween is coming pretty quick. I cannot wait, as it is my favorite holiday. Have any of you read any chilling novels lately?<br><br>
I started off the week with of <i><a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/mist-susan-krinard.html">Mist</i></a> by Susan Krinard. This urban fantasy melds the worlds of ancient Norse mythology and modern day San Francisco beautifully.<br><br>
After that we take a darker turn as I reviewed <i><a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/incarceron-catherine-fisher.html">Incarceron</i></a> by Catherine Fisher. This dystopian novel set in a living prison will have you thinking philosophically without you even realizing.<br><br>
I threw in a lovely outlook on the coming <a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/nanowrimo-outlook-2013.html">National Novel Writing Month</a>. I hope you take a look and join me as I embark on this adventure for the first time.<br><br>
Finally we come to the Saturday Spotlight. This time the light shines on <i><a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/deadish-naomi-kramer.html">Dead (ish)</i></a> by Naomi Kramer. This short piece was quite humorous. It was a nice break from my normal reading. So if you are looking to break the monotony without committing a lot of time, definitely take a look.<br><br>
In the week coming, there will be a review on Liesel Schawrz’s breakout novel <i>A Conspiracy of Alchemists</i>. After, we will take a look at Drew Karpyshyn’s <i>Children of Fire</i>. The Saturday Spotlight will remain a mystery to keep with the oncoming Halloween festivities.
Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16741648925159230330noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894180879497067423.post-86512715784611528762013-10-19T09:00:00.000-04:002013-10-19T09:42:43.744-04:00Dead(ish)-Naomi Kramer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X53fN6O1pg4/UmFpuc70VrI/AAAAAAAAANg/3EUeMVPq998/s1600/Saturday+Spotlight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X53fN6O1pg4/UmFpuc70VrI/AAAAAAAAANg/3EUeMVPq998/s320/Saturday+Spotlight.jpg"></a></div>
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<th>Title: Dead(ish)<br>
Author: Naomi Kramer<br>
Genre: Horror, Humor<br>
Format & Pages: ebook, 53<br>
Publication: Self-published, 2010<br>
Source: Own (Free Purchase)<br>
Rating:<img alt="Heart Rater Original photo HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" border="0" src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img alt="Heart Rater Original photo HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" border="0" src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img alt="Heart Rater Original photo HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" border="0" src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png">
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<i>“Linda's had a bad day. First her boyfriend killed her. Then she woke up, still on this boring plane of existence, and with an odd obsession about her missing body. Mike won't tell her what he did with her body, and she can't find the stupid thing herself. There's only one thing she can do - torment the bastard until he coughs up the information.”</i><br>
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Disclaimer: While this is a rather short piece, it has quite a lot of foul language and some adult content. This is not suitable for children.<br>
<a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/deadish-naomi-kramer.html#more">Read more »</a>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16741648925159230330noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894180879497067423.post-16068419988027936842013-10-18T12:53:00.000-04:002013-10-18T12:57:03.656-04:00NaNoWriMo Outlook 2013 Hey everyone! <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/">National Novel Writing Month</a>, affectionately shortened to NaNoWriMo, is fast approaching. In two short weeks, writers will embark on the task of writing 50,000 words in a single month. There will be sweat, tears, screams and heartache as we push our boundaries and characters to limits we never knew existed. This being my first time doing the full NaNoWriMo in November, I am certainly excited.<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://nanowrimo.org/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.nanowrimo.org/assets/main/press-start-fa915ffe8a6fb32bb3eabf7f771620b4.png" /></a></div>
After hemming and hawing over whether to do some planning or fly by the seat of my pants, I finally sat down and looked through my old notebooks and binders for some inspiration. After doing this year’s Camp NaNoWriMo events, one with no planning and one with planning, I knew that I needed to at least solidify a story and get the main characters fleshed out. When I had planned, I was able to reach my 30,000 word goal much easier than my 10,000 word goal when I had nothing to go off of. <br><br>
I finally picked a story I started working on when I was a child. Even though there is not much of a plot, I kept returning to those hastily written words. Reading back over what I had actually gotten down was quite entertaining. Apparently I was obsessed with hot pink and puffy sleeved dresses. But it did lay a foundation for a budding story that has been percolating in my subconscious for some time now. I have to do a good amount of legwork, but things are tickling at the edges of my mind. It has me geared up and ready to start strong when the first of November comes around.<br><br>
Is anyone else planning on participating in NaNo this year? What are you going to be working on? Let me know in the comments!Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16741648925159230330noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894180879497067423.post-61444717084379622052013-10-17T09:00:00.000-04:002013-10-17T10:00:16.138-04:00Incarceron-Catherine Fisher<table>
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<th>Title: Incarceron<br>
Author: Catherine Fisher<br>
Genre: Dystopian<br>
Format & Pages: Hardcover, 442<br>
Publication: Dial Books, 2007<br>
Source: Borrowed<br>
Rating: <img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png">
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<i>“Incarceron is a prison unlike any other: Its inmates live not only in cells, but also in metal forests, dilapidated cities and unbounded wilderness. The prison has been sealed for centuries, and only one man, legend says, has ever escaped.<br><br>
Finn, a seventeen-year-old prisoner, can’t remember his childhood and he believes he came from Outside Incarceron. He’s going to escape, even though most inmates don’t believe that Outside even exists. And then Finn finds a crystal key and through it, a girl named Claudia.<br><br>
Claudia claims to live Outside-her father is the Warden of Incarceron and she’s doomed to an arranged marriage. If she helps Finn escape, she will need his help in return.<br><br>
But they don’t realize that this is more to Incarceron than meets the eye. Escape will take their greatest courage and cost far more than they know.<br><br>
Because Incarceron is Alive.”</i><br>
<a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/incarceron-catherine-fisher.html#more">Read more »</a>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16741648925159230330noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894180879497067423.post-28790828660346284802013-10-15T12:57:00.001-04:002013-10-15T12:57:42.839-04:00Mist-Susan Krinard<table>
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<th>Title: Mist<br>
Author: Susan Krinard<br>
Genre: Urban Fantasy<br>
Format & Pages: Paperback, 382<br>
Publication: Tor, 2013<br>
Source: Borrowed<br>
Rating:<img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HalfHeartRater_zps31c1c2cf.png">
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<i>“Mist lives a normal life. She has a normal job, a normal boyfriend, and a normal apartment in San Francisco. She never thinks about her past if she can help it.<br><br>
She survived. That’s the end of it.<br><br>
But then a snowy winter descends upon San Francisco. In quick succession, Mist is attacked by a frost giant in a public park and runs into an elf disguised as a homeless person on the streets…and then the man Mist believed was her mortal boyfriend reveals himself to be the trickster god Loki, alice and well after all these years.<br><br>
The normal life for which Mist fought so hard is falling apart. But thankfully, Mist isn’t quite so normal herself. She’s a Valkyrie, and she’s going to need all her skill to thwart Loki’s schemes and save modern Earth from the ravages of a bottle of the gods.”</i><br>
<a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/mist-susan-krinard.html#more">Read more »</a>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16741648925159230330noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894180879497067423.post-70905613277985819572013-10-13T15:07:00.000-04:002013-10-13T15:07:40.753-04:00Sunday Summary 10/07-10/13 To start things off, I just want to mention the little <b>poll</b> I have up on the left sidebar. I want to continue to improve Gilded Page Reviews, but to do that I need to know what you, my wonderful readers, want to see. So please take a minute to complete and poll. If you have any ideas or input, let me know in the comment section below!<br><br>
I kicked off the week with <a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/2013/09/keys-to-kingdom-lord-sunday-garth-nix.html"><i>Lord Sunday</i></a>, the exciting conclusion to Garth Nix’s Keys to the Kingdom series. What a fantastic series for adults as well as children. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did.<br><br>
I then moved on to something a bit different for me to review, a mystery. <a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-weed-that-strings-hangmans-bag-alan.html"><i>The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag</i></a> by Alan Bradley is quite a book of surprises, full of twists and turns.<br><br>
Finally, I ended the week with my Saturday Spotlight. This week the spotlight shined on Glen Solosky and his piece <a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-abominable-sruvius-glen-solosky.html"><i>The Abominable Sruvius</i></a>. Check out my review of this delightful tale.<br><br>
Looking forward, I hope to start the week strong with a review of Mist by Susan Krinard. After that is a mystery until we get to the Saturday Spotlight which will feature Dead(ish) by Naomi Kramer.
Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16741648925159230330noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894180879497067423.post-81429135133621844892013-10-12T10:22:00.000-04:002013-10-12T10:23:22.406-04:00The Abominable Sruvius-Glen Solosky<center>
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<th>Title: The Abominable Sruvius<br>
Author: Glen Solosky<br>
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy<br>
Format & Pages: Ebook, 215<br>
Publication: Self-Published, 2012<br>
Source: Author<br>
Rating:<img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png">
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<i>Ravma Sruvius, believed to be responsible for thousands of deaths, is the most hated figure in the history of the Var dominion.<br><br>
According to legend, he built a secret weapon high in the loft of his mysterious laboratory, and used it to sink half the royal navy. He was captured soon after, but even dungeon walls couldn’t stop the rat-like villain from vanishing without a trace.<br><br>
Now, twenty years later, after young Bergey Fenwick and his friends overhear a plot of invasion against their kingdom, they uncover a trail of clues leading to the only person who can save them—Ravma Sruvius himself. More powerful than ever, he now controls forces that make his last weapon look like a popgun by comparison.<br><br>
But can Sruvius—callous, twisted, possessed of an overriding hatred for the king—be coerced into using his incredible scientific genius to save the dominion, or is he bent on destroying it?<br><br>
Or is it possible that he has an entirely different agenda—something no one could ever have guessed?</i><br>
<a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-abominable-sruvius-glen-solosky.html#more">Read more »</a>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16741648925159230330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894180879497067423.post-41554287748443483742013-10-10T10:00:00.000-04:002013-10-10T10:00:05.566-04:00The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag-Alan Bradley<table>
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<th>Title: The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag<br>
Author: Alan Bradley<br>
Genre: Mystery<br>
Format & Pages: Hardcover, 358<br>
Publication: Delacorte Press, 2010<br>
Source: Borrowed from Library<br>
Rating:<img alt="Heart Rater Original photo HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" border="0" src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img alt="Heart Rater Original photo HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" border="0" src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img alt="Heart Rater Original photo HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" border="0" src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png">
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<i>“From Dagger Award-winning and internationally bestselling author Alan Bradley comes this utterly beguiling mystery starring one of fiction’s most remarkable sleuths: Flavia de Luce, a dangerously brilliant eleven-year-old with a passion for chemistry and a genius for solving murder. This time, Flavia finds herself untangling two deaths-separated by time but linked by the unlikeliest of threads.<br><br>
Flavia thinks that her days of crime-solving in the bucolic English hamlet of Bishop’s Lacey are over-and then Rupert Porson has an unfortunate rendezvous with electricity. The beloved puppeteer had had his own strings sizzled, but who’d do such a thing, and why? For Flavia, the questions are intriguing enough to make her put aside her chemistry experiments and schemes of vengeance against her insufferable big sisters. Astride Gladys, her trusty bicycle, Flavis sets out from the de Luc’s crumbling family mansion in search of Bishop’s Lacey’s deadliest secrets.<br><br>
Does the madwoman who lives in Gibbet Wood know more than she’s letting on? What of the vicar’s odd ministrations to the catatonic woman in the dovecote? Then there’s a German pilot obsessed with the Brontë sisters, a reproachful spinster aunt, and even a box of poisoned chocolates. Most troubling of all is Porson’s assistant, the charming but erratic Nialla. All clues point toward a suspicious death years earlier and a case the local constables can’t solve-without Flavia’s help. But in getting so close to who’s secretly pulling the strings of this dance of death, has our precocious heroine finally gotten in way over her head.”</i><br>
<a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-weed-that-strings-hangmans-bag-alan.html#more">Read more »</a>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16741648925159230330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894180879497067423.post-43841093842429442042013-10-08T10:27:00.000-04:002013-10-08T10:27:53.035-04:00Keys to the Kingdom: Lord Sunday-Garth Nix<table>
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<th>Title: Keys to the Kingdom: Lord Sunday<br>
Author: Garth Nix<br>
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy<br>
Format & Pages: Paperback, 317<br>
Publication: Scholastic, 2010<br>
Source: Own<br>
Rating:<img alt="Heart Rater Original photo HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" border="0" src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img alt="Heart Rater Original photo HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" border="0" src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img alt="Heart Rater Original photo HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" border="0" src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img alt="Half Heart Rater photo HalfHeartRater_zps31c1c2cf.png" border="0" src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HalfHeartRater_zps31c1c2cf.png">
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<i>“The House is falling apart, and when it is destroyed, all existence will be destroyed with it. Arthur Penhaligon and his friends Leaf and Suzy are caught in the chaos, separated by events but drawn together in their fight to survive. They must use every power at their disposal-magical or practical-to defeat the enemies attacking them from all sides.<br><br>
For Arthur; the most formidable challenge comes from Lord Sunday, the most elusive of the Trustees of the Will. Lord Sunday’s magic is unlike anything Arthur has encountered before-and his secrets have the potential to destroy not only Arthur but also all the people he holds dear.”</i><br>
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Disclaimer: We have finally come to the final book in the Keys to the Kingdom series by Garth Nix. As usual, I will try to keep spoilers down to a minimum, but that is not always possible. Check out this page <a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/p/reviews.html">here</a> for the rest of the reviews in the series.<br>
<a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/2013/09/keys-to-kingdom-lord-sunday-garth-nix.html#more">Read more »</a>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16741648925159230330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894180879497067423.post-31526998541596825192013-10-06T22:23:00.000-04:002013-10-06T22:23:54.679-04:00Sunday Summary 09/30-10/06Hey everyone! It is good to be back in the swing of things. So let’s look at what happened this week.<br><br>
We started off the week with a look at <a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/2013/09/indie-reviewer-lists.html">Indie Reviewer Lists</a>. These are great resources for authors looking for reviewers. I looked at two sites and briefly discuss what makes them so good for authors and reviewers alike.<br><br>
On Tuesday I reviewed <a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/dracula-un-dead-dacre-stoker-and-ian.html">Dracula: The Un-Dead</a> by Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt. What a way to kick off the haunting season!<br><br>
Thursday we moved one step closer to the conclusion of Garth Nix’s Keys to the Kingdom series by finally meeting <a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/keys-to-kingdom-superior-saturday-garth.html"> Superior Saturday</a>! What a lady she is, too.<br><br>
On Saturday I introduced my Saturday Spotlight, a feature highlighting self-published and indie authors. Give them a round of applause for all the hard work they have done! Our first spotlight goes to <a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/faerie-tales-revelations-trilogy-book-1.html">Faerie Tales: Revelations Trilogy: Book 1</a>by Fiona Skye. <br><br>
Looking ahead, we will finally be getting to the exciting conclusion of Garth Nix’s Keys to the Kingdom series with <i>Lord Sunday</i>. We will also get a little bit of mystery with Alan Bradley’s <i>The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag.</i> Our Saturday Spotlight will shine on Glen Solosky's <i>The Abominable Sruvius</i>, so stay tuned. It is going to be an exciting week!
Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16741648925159230330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894180879497067423.post-20469316737891050112013-10-05T12:00:00.000-04:002013-10-06T21:32:31.288-04:00Faerie Tales: Revelations Trilogy: Book 1 (Volume 1)-Fiona Skye<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rrXKgzvuYx8/UlIN_dlfVxI/AAAAAAAAANA/Uf0tT5WNa0o/s1600/Saturday+Spotlight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rrXKgzvuYx8/UlIN_dlfVxI/AAAAAAAAANA/Uf0tT5WNa0o/s1600/Saturday+Spotlight.jpg" /></a></div>
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<th>Title: Faerie Tales: Revelations Trilogy: Book 1<br />
Author: Fiona Skye<br />
Genre: Fantasy<br />
Format & Pages: ebook, 215<br />
Publication: Casa Cielo Press, 2013<br />
Source: Author<br />
Rating:<img alt="Heart Rater Original photo HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" border="0" src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" /><img alt="Heart Rater Original photo HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" border="0" src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" /><img alt="Heart Rater Original photo HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" border="0" src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" />
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<i>“Riley O'Rourke is a werejaguar responsible for exposing the world of the Preternatural to the rest of Humanity. But not all the things that go bump in the night are happy with the new world order.<br /><br />
The Queen of the Winter Court, a cruel and vicious faerie, is determined to punish Riley for her role in the Night of Revelations and sends some of the nastiest storybook characters imaginable after her.<br /><br />
Salvation comes from the Summer Queen, who asks Riley to steal a magical artifact from the Winter Queen, a mirror that will determine the winner in the eternal war between the Fae Courts. Riley's reward for returning the mirror is the protection of the Summer Court.<br /><br />
Joining Riley on this quest are her mentor, a 3,000-year-old vampire, and Riley's lover, a federal law enforcement agent with a secret of his own.<br /><br />
Their successful completion of this quest has unexpected consequences that could doom the entire world.”</i><br />
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The story opens with a recap of what happened during and after the Night of Revelations. The narrator, an unknown person at this moment, recounts their role in the whole affair. The first two chapters are a bit of an info dump. Though the information is necessary, it could have been told in a better way, such as through a T.V. interview.<br />
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The story starts to move along after that. We find out that the main character and our point of view is Riley O’Rouke, a werejaguar. I found the plot in and of itself to be very interesting. Four years after the Night of Revelations, the Queen of the Winter court threatens Riley. Riley is now tangled in the very tricky affairs of the Fae folk. Turning to various sources, she creates new friendships and attempts to defend herself. After an attack, Riley decides to do a quest for the Summer Queen in exchange for protection.<br />
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I did find that there was a bit too much focus on Riley’s love interest, David. David does play a significant role in the main plot, but I found that their love affair was the direct focus far too many times and detracted greatly from the overall whole of the novel. In saying this, I will also say that I am not a romance person by nature, so I could find its overabundance due to that. What David really is, though, was very original and quite a surprise.<br />
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I did find the descriptions and actions of the characters a bit repetitive. While there were some great choices in vocabulary, they were far flung from one another. Instead, the same words are used multiple times within paragraphs of each other creating tedium in the writing.<br />
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Overall, I liked the story. Skye sticks with traditional themes when it comes to Fae, but gives them new life in this world she has created. If it was spruced up a bit and the language more varied, I think I would have greatly enjoyed it.<br />
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Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16741648925159230330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894180879497067423.post-86928790803046606822013-10-03T10:34:00.000-04:002013-10-03T10:34:55.753-04:00Keys to the Kingdom: Superior Saturday-Garth Nix<table>
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<th>Title: Keys to the Kingdom: Superior Saturday<br>
Author: Garth Nix<br>
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy<br>
Format & Pages: Paperback, 278<br>
Publication: Scholastic, 2008<br>
Source: Own<br>
Rating:<img alt="Heart Rater Original photo HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" border="0" src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img alt="Heart Rater Original photo HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" border="0" src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img alt="Heart Rater Original photo HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" border="0" src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img alt="Heart Rater Original photo HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" border="0" src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png">
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<i>“Arthur Penhaligon has wrested five of the Keys from the Trustees of the Will, but gaining the Sixth Key poses a greater challenge than any before. Superior Saturday is the oldest Denizen and the most powerful sorcerer within the House. She has thousands of sorcerers at her command and has been preparing for the Rightful Heir and the Will’s escape all along.<br><br>
As Saturday’s schemes become more evident, Arthur is beset on all sides. The House is behind destroyed and only the Keys can hold back the tide of destruction. Arthur’s home city is under attack. His allies are unreliable. He can’t get into the impregnable Upper House, and even if he does, finding the Sixth Part of the Will and the Sixth Key might not be enough to stop Saturday’s ultimate bid for power.”<br><br></i>
Disclaimer: Superior Saturday is the sixth novel in Garth Nix’s Keys to the Kingdom series. Unless you have read the previous novels, I suggest you check them out before this review. My reviews for them are over <a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/p/reviews.html">here.</a> This novel also runs right into Lord Sunday in such a way that I would suggest having both books available to you before reading Superior Saturday.<br>
<a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/keys-to-kingdom-superior-saturday-garth.html#more">Read more »</a>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16741648925159230330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894180879497067423.post-4093161218865501282013-10-01T11:13:00.002-04:002013-10-01T11:13:26.646-04:00Dracula: The Un-Dead-Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt<table>
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<th>Title: Dracula: The Un-Dead<br>
Authors: Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt<br>
Genre: Horror<br>
Format & Pages: Paperback, 389<br>
Publication: New American Library, 2009<br>
Source: Own<br>
Rating:<img alt="Heart Rater Original photo HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" border="0" src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img alt="Heart Rater Original photo HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" border="0" src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img alt="Heart Rater Original photo HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" border="0" src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img alt="Heart Rater Original photo HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" border="0" src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png">
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<i>“London, 1912. A quarter of a century after Count Dracula apparently “crumbled into dust,” Quincey Harker-son of Jonathan and Mina Harker-leaves law school to pursue a career on the stage, only to stumble upon troubled production of Dracula directed and produced by Dram Stoker himself.<br><br>
As the play plunges Quincey into the world of his parent’s terrible secrets, death begins to stalk the original band of heroes who defeated Dracula a quarter century ago. Could it be that the count survived and is now seeking revenge? Or is there another, far more sinister force at work whose relentless purpose is to destroy anything and anyone associated with Dracula, the most notorious vampire of all time?<br><br>
Dracule the Un-Dead is the true sequel to Bram Stoker’s class novel, cowritten by his direct descendant and a well-known Dracula historian. Dracule the Un-Dead provides answers to all the questions that the original novel left unexplain, as well as new insights into the worl of iniquity and fear lurking just beneath the surface of polite Victorian England.”</i><br>
<a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/dracula-un-dead-dacre-stoker-and-ian.html#more">Read more »</a>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16741648925159230330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894180879497067423.post-25041431525465406732013-10-01T09:08:00.000-04:002013-10-15T13:25:22.009-04:00Keys to the Kingdom: Lady Friday-Garth Nix<table>
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<th>Title: Keys to the Kingdom: Lady Friday<br>
Author: Garth Nix<br>
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy<br>
Format & Pages: Paperback, 304<br>
Publication: Scholastic, 2007<br>
Source: Own<br>
Rating:<img alt="Heart Rater Original photo HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" border="0" src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img alt="Heart Rater Original photo HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" border="0" src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img alt="Heart Rater Original photo HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" border="0" src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png"><img alt="Heart Rater Original photo HeartRater_zps372caef9.png" border="0" src="http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/writingashes/Gilded%20Page/HeartRater_zps372caef9.png">
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<i>“Four of the seven trustees have been defeated and their Keys taken, but for Arthur Penhaligon, the week is still getting worse. His friends have been captured by the Piper, and the New Nightling army still controls most of the Great Maze. Meanwhile, Superior Saturday is causing trouble wherever she can, including turning off all the elevators in the House and blocking the Front Door to prevent escape.<br><br>
Amidt all this trouble, Arthur must weigh an offer from Lady Friday that is either a cunning trap for the Rightful Heir, or a golden opportunity he must seize before Superior Saturday or the Piper beats him to it. The race to find the secret of the Middle house is on-and Arthur is in the thick of it.”<br><br></i>
Disclaimer: Lady Friday is the fifth novel in Garth Nix’s Keys to the Kingdom series. While I always try to keep spoilers to a minimum, I strongly suggest you read the preceding four novels in the series before reading this review. You can find my reviews for those novels <a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/p/reviews.html">here.</a><br>
<a href="http://gildedpagereviews.blogspot.com/2013/09/keys-to-kingdom-lady-friday-garth-nix.html#more">Read more »</a>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16741648925159230330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6894180879497067423.post-47001246806282698722013-09-30T17:11:00.001-04:002013-09-30T17:11:07.507-04:00Indie Reviewer ListsWhile I was perusing through Poets and Writers online <a href="http://www.pw.org/daily_news">Daily News</a> section, I came across a wonderful little <a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/how-to-find-reviewers-for-self-published-books_b75950">How to Find Reviewers for Self-Published Books</a> by Jason Boog. It briefly mentioned indie authors often struggle to find reviewers for their work. This makes it tough for piece to become known or garner interest. Two sites were mentioned that complied lists of reviewers willing to read indie authors in various genres, <a href="theindieview.com">The Indie View</a> and <a href="http://bookbloggerlist.com/">Book Blogger List.</a><br><br>
Being the curious reviewer I am, I decided to check these sites out. Boy was I impressed. They were extremely helpful for those authors struggling to find reviews. Not only did both sites compile lists of willing reviewers, but they link to the reviewers guidelines, their genres as well keep the list up to date. These sites are doing a great service in helping self-published and indie authors expand their audience.<br><br>
I found these resources to be invaluable, not only to Indie Authors, but to reviewers as well. On The Indie View, you can do an interview, link your Indie Reviews and find some freebies. Just from being listed I had increased page views. Both sites are a great help in expanding your brand and increasing traffic. For the authors, they also do interviews as well as have an author listing that people can go looking through. <br><br>
If you are an Indie Author, definitely look into these sites. They are a great help. If you are a reviewer looking to expand your site, find new reads, or already review Indie Authors, check them out. You will like what you find. The process to join the list is quite simple, so give it a go.
Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16741648925159230330noreply@blogger.com0