Blog Tour: Into Darkness by @Hayley__Barrett

Into Darkness

by Hayley Barrett
Release Date: August 17th 2015
Double Dragon Publishing

Summary from Goodreads:

Fifteen-year-old Alexandra Spencer’s life was not supposed to turn out this way. She was not supposed to go on trial for a crime she did not commit. She was not supposed to be found guilty. And she was not supposed to be sent to Elder Grey Detention Centre, a place of horrors many don’t survive.

She is however, supposed to be the daughter of the wealthiest, most influential man in the post-apocalyptic New Zealand city of New Phoenix.

But apparently, she isn’t.

Shell-shocked and struggling to understand why she is no longer a member of the city’s ruling family, Alexandra is torn from her privileged life by the churlish young guard, Will Metcalfe, and forced to trek for three weeks through deadly wilderness to her place of imprisonment. Her journey with Will is a constant battle for survival, where she is never sure who is the real enemy. It is also journey into the truth about the safe and lavish world from which she has been cast. Through Will, she learns of a mutant race called Drifters living in the wilderness who are being preyed upon by New Phoenix’s guards—Drifter’s blood being a life saving cure-all elixir for the city’s inhabitants.

As Alex struggles to cope with her new life in Elder Grey, an act of friendship ends in tragedy. When someone she thought was an enemy pulls her from her despair, Alex discovers that old friends cannot be trusted, prejudice is another word for fear, and trust, not blood ties, make a family.

Add to Goodreads

Buy Links:

Amazon│Kobo Books│iBooks

Excerpt – Into Darkness

Will tried to speak, but no sound came from his mouth. He looked at me as if he wanted an answer, but I couldn’t know what he’d asked me. He touched the top of my arm, his lips moving but not his vocal chords. This time when I didn’t answer, he shook me by the shoulders.

I wriggled free, hating his hands on me after what Eton had been about to do. Will tried to speak again. His lips moved. Alexandra. I understood, but he wasn’t making any sound. He threw me a spare shirt from his pack and I vaguely recalled mine was ruined. Worse than ruined, it had a rip down the centre. I took his shirt, but couldn’t move my eyes from the ghastly sight of Eton’s fatal wound, let alone think about getting changed.

Will shook his head, and closed his eyes for a second. When he opened them, I swear he said, “I’m sorry, Alexandra.”

Then he slapped me.

Everything came back into sharp focus—the river babbling, birds singing, sand flies buzzing around my face, and the fact that my shirt was wide open. I quickly pulled Will’s light blue guard’s shirt over my head, and registered for the first time the faintly metallic smell of blood.

“Alex,” said Will. “Are you okay?”

“You hit me.” I touched the place he’d marked my cheek, as if that was the worst thing that had happened to me in recent minutes.

“I had to do something to stop you screaming.”

“I wasn’t screaming.” Someone had been though—perhaps it was me. “Is he dead?”

Will nodded once, and then crouched over Eton’s pack, his dark curls falling onto this cheek. He riffled through the contents, intent on finding something within.

“You killed him?” I could hear the rising panic in my voice. “You killed Eton?” Will didn’t answer. “Why?”

“To stop him, of course.” He spoke quietly, radiating silent anger.

About the Author

Hayley Barrett began writing in the aftermath of the devastating Christchurch earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 as a way of escaping from the ongoing terror of the natural disaster. Not totally happy with her efforts, in 2012 she commenced a novel writing course. Into Darkness, her first novel, is the result of the course and two years hard work.

Hayley lives in Rolleston, ten minutes south of Christchurch, New Zealand, with her husband and three children. When she isn’t driving her kids to their sports practices, games and other after school activities, she enjoys playing squash, relaxing in the sun and reading. Most days she wishes there were more hours available to spend writing. 

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Tour Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours

#PitchSlam #TeamSlytherin!

I like doing comps. I always enter quietly, not wanting to draw attention to myself, especially because I rarely get through to final rounds. I'm pretty sure it's the New Adult that's not borderline erotic contemporary. My books are clean, mostly, and usually not quite contemporary.
But... I MADE IT INTO PITCHSLAM! Go Team Slytherin! I'm pretty excited as you can tell. My manuscript is a Historical Romance, which is going back to my Kiya bestselling roots, but yet, it gets endless form rejections. So this tells me that I shouldn't give up yet.
I know my preferred age group is flooded with tropes and everyone believes it's all about the contemporary romances about sleeping around, but I truly believe New Adult can be so much more than that. My books sell relatively well, and get a majority of positive reviews, so I must be onto something.
I'm not going to change what I write to fit trends or expectations. I write from the heart, pure and simple. I'm not going to conform to please others. I want to write something that opens people to new things and makes them feel good when they're done.
So I want to thank the Team Slytherin mentors, for seeing the potential and giving me a chance. I think my book rocks, but I really do feel like I'm swimming against the current. Having my manuscript make the final round makes me feel as if someone has finally thrown me a paddle.

Review: Link by Summer Weir

From Goodreads:
For seventeen-year-old Kira, there’s no better way to celebrate a birthday than being surrounded by friends and huddled beside a campfire deep in the woods. And with a birthday in the peak of summer, that includes late night swims under the stars.

Or at least, it used to.

Kira’s relaxing contemplation of the universe is interrupted when a piece of it falls, colliding with her and starting a chain of events that could unexpectedly lead to the one thing in her life that's missing—her father.

Tossed into a pieced-together world of carnivals and gypsies, an old-fashioned farmhouse, and the alluring presence of a boy from another planet, Kira discovers she’s been transported to the center of a black hole, and there’s more to the story than science can explain. She’s now linked by starlight to the world inside the darkness. And her star is dying.

If she doesn’t return home before the star’s light disappears and her link breaks, she’ll be trapped forever. But she’s not the only one ensnared, and with time running out, she’ll have to find a way to save a part of her past and a part of her future, or risk losing everything she loves.

Dreamy, fluid, and beautiful, Link pairs the mystery of science fiction with the minor-key melody of a dark fantasy, creating a tale that is as human as it is out of this world. 

My Thoughts:
I just want to say that I read this in it's early stages and loved it! When I heard Summer had signed, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a finished copy. More than that, I want the second book! Hahaha!
That said, I love that a year and a half has passed since I read this. I remembered enough to still feel connected, but at the same time, it felt so new. There were scenes I'd forgotten or I'm sure are new since I read it before.
I love this book. The premise is so unique and well thought out. Traveling to another world through a dying star that's being sucked into a black hole? That's pretty neat. And the best part is that it's well executed. The characters are believable and likable, and leave you wondering what's happening below the surface.
I'm all about love interests, but this one I'm really torn about who I want to see Kira end up with. For most of the book I was all about Zane, I love a good lifelong friend turned lover story, but at the end, Evan really made me waver. I just don't know, which is why I need book 2!
How Kira is all connected into everything shows how well plotted out this series is going to be. This is a must read, and a clean read for an added bonus.

Cover Reveal: Sachael Desires by Melody Winter

About Sachael Desires:

During her ordeal with the Sect, Estelle Bailey dreamt of escaping back into the arms of the sea—and Azariah. But freedom came at a price, and though she’s back with the Sachael who’s stolen her heart, she’s also land-bound until the next full moon. And with the threat of Orontes looming ever larger behind them, Azariah, Estelle, and Michael—her once-captor turned rescuer and friend—are on the run.

Following Michael's lead, they seek sanctuary amidst the natural beauty of the Orkney and Shetland Islands until Estelle can complete her next submergence ritual and Azariah can whisk her away to the safety of Saicean.
​ ​
Secrets, betrayals, and old enemies await them, though, and as events spiral out of control, Azariah makes a decision that puts all their lives at risk, forcing Estelle to face a journey she never wanted to take. With time running out and tempers running high, her only hope to save the man she loves lies in a reconciliation between two kingdoms who despise each other.

Book Two in the Mine Series, Sachael Desires further expands on the intricate underwater world of the Sachaels, and the hostility and isolation of not belonging.​

Add to goodreads

About Melody Winter:

Growing up, Melody Winter showed a natural ability in art, a head for maths, and a tendency to write far too long English essays. Difficult to place in the world when she graduated, she pursued a career in teaching, but eventually ended up working in Finance. Melody is convinced the methodical time she spends working with numbers fuels her desire to drift into dream worlds and write about the illusory characters in her head.

Melody Winter lives in North Yorkshire, England, with her husband and two sons. When not dealing with football, rugby, and a whole plethora of ‘boy’ activities, she will be found scribbling notes for her stories, or preparing for another trip to the beach. With an obsession for anything mythical, Melody revels in reading and writing about such creatures. In fact, if she wasn’t such a terrible swimmer, she’d say she was a mermaid.

Sachael Desires is her second book in the New Adult Romantic Fantasy series - the 'Mine Series'.

Learn more about Melody Winter on her website, twitter or facebook.

Guest Post: How I Write—In Pictures by Sue Wyshynski

What’s great about humans is that we all find unique ways of doing things—whether it’s baking a dozen cookies or organizing our favorite books on a shelf. Who knows why or even how these fun differences come about?

Here’s a photo collection of some of my writing quirks.

1. Bring on the pencils, pens, notebooks, notepads!

I always start on paper. I find the words flow easier and I can get closer to the characters. The Butterfly Code manuscript consumed approximately a dozen notebooks.

2. A pocket with every purse.

Ok, not every purse, but it’s true. Most of my purses have pockets to carry notebooks. I like to walk and write outside.

3. A never-ending collection of writing books.

I love reading about how others perform the writing craft! It’s often insightful and always interesting. Besides, the point at which a person believes they know everything there is to know in their chosen field is the point at which they stop growing. Never stop!

4. Writing in the wild.

Here’s me out writing in the park. It’s wonderful place to be distraction free.

5. Desk with a view.

When I’m done writing for the day, I come home and transfer it all onto my computer. This is my stand-up writing table and my favorite view!

The Butterfly Code took around four years to complete, including plotting, editing, and book design. For those of you who read it, my greatest hope is that you enjoy it.

I am so grateful to my host for having me as a guest on this blog. Thanks to everyone for letting me share a little bit about how I write!

Drop me a line any time, I can be found at suewyshynski.com. I’d love to hear from you.

The Butterfly Code

My friends say Hunter Cayman’s dangerous.
They say he’s a threat to everyone in town.
I’m not so sure.
As he stands before me in this crowded club with the lights shining around us, I catch something good under Hunter’s dark facade. Something decent and profound.
I don’t know who or what to believe.
But I will find out the truth.
Aeris Thorne is expecting a restful vacation in the remote town of Deep Cove. But on a stormy night, she meets the alluring and mysterious Hunter Cayman, and her life takes an exhilarating turn. Aeris is both drawn to him and determined to find out what he’s hiding. It’s clear Hunter has found success with the high-security lab on his vast estate. But what Aeris doesn’t know is that he’s tormented by a secret: the truth behind his research. As he and Aeris are drawn together, the walls he’s built to protect himself threaten to crumble. At the same time, she begins to wonder if she’s found the key to unraveling her own tragic past. When Aeris’s life is threatened, Hunter is forced to make an impossible decision about her future—one that could change everything.

Author Details:

Sue Wyshynski’s writing style has been described as immersive, emotional, and action-packed.

According to Sue, “Writers must do more than write; they must try to speak to the hearts of the world.”

Sue wants to connect with you.
TWITTER
FACEBOOK
WEBSITE

Amazon Link:

is.gd/romancenovel

Guest Post: Research, Research, Research By Madelyn Hill

As a historical romance writer, there is a lot of research needed in order to get the details correct. In my case, I write mainly Scottish historicals. While I stick to a specific time period and location, I always need to tweak and flesh out important factors such as location, clan, and the nuances of clan allies and foes.

When I first started writing, the Internet was just a dream in some techie’s eye. This meant camping out at the library and copying reams and reams of facts, images, and maps. Now, the Internet had made life easier, but can I always trust my resources? My rule of thumb is to verify the fact three times. I use various search engines, databases (including Wikipedia) as well as clan websites, Scottish organizations, personal interviews and once in a while a trip to the library is needed. Some may argue about the accuracy of Wikipedia, however for every article you find that warns of the errors, there are just as many that touts the accuracy of the wiki.

Mainly, I love research. Perhaps it’s the nerd in me, but I love digging for more and more details and then stumbling upon a little gem of a fact. For my book, Heather In The Mist, I found tuft of white lavender was good luck in a bridal bouquet and the bouquet is “smashed” over the bride’s head at the end of the ceremony. Of course there were other facts I found along the way from clothing to food to clan relationships.

I “pre-research” when I have a story idea—this is where a story idea prods the direction of the research and I get basic facts. Then, I find a location. (Location is KEY and needs to be fully researched!) The world has changed and it is important to find a map from the time period in which you are writing. Again in Heather in the Mist, there is a loch and falls near the keep and they are fabled to be haunted. I didn’t add the haunted part to my story, but the loch and the falls are featured in the story. Therefore, finding historical images of the landscape can help set the scene and influence characters actions and reactions. In conjunction to this, I research local wildlife so I can pull those critters in when it fits in the story. I add the images to a Pinterest board for the book and this helps me keep a visual connection to my characters, setting, and other images that may prompt inspiration.

The bottom line is I write fiction, so there can be leeway in some facts. For example, I have created fictional clans that work better with the plot. However, this does not mean I have a pass in regards to historical accuracy. I feel we owe it to our readers to give an authentic experience. In some regards an author has creative license. Fantasy and futuristic writers create worlds for their audience and since they created the world, they can do what they want. They are not handcuffed by actual history and facts such as historical and contemporary writers. For those genres informed readers would call us on faulty research.

What do I do with all of the information? I used to create binders for each book. Now, I create a folder on my computer for each book and then subfolders for research, manuscript, images, etc. I also have a “writer’s ramblings” at the beginning of the manuscript with the physical description of each main character, clan or family name, family tartan image, map, and personality traits such as Goals, Motivation, & Conflict and an endearing trait. This makes it easy for me to check the information while writing so I don’t have to search for a specific file.

So, my question for you is; Are you a historical detail stickler? Or, do you like just enough detail to flavor the story?

Author Bio:
Madelyn Hill has always loved the written word. From the time she could read and all through her school years, she'd sneak books into her textbooks during school. And she devoured books daily. At the age of 10 she proclaimed she wanted to be a writer. After being a "closet" writer for several years, she sent her manuscripts out there and is now published with Soul Mate Publishing. And she couldn't be happier! 

A resident of Western New York, she moved from one Rochester to another Rochester to be with the love of her life. They now have 3 children and keep busy cooking, watching their children's sporting events, and of course reading!

Social Networking Links:

Website: www.madelynhill.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madelyn.hill.94

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorMaddyHill

Pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/madelynhill68

Back Cover Blurb:
Forced to wed to save her clan, Lady Rogan Cameron agrees to wed without love. 
What her father doesn’t know is Lady Rogan has plans of her own—plans to keep her from a loveless marriage. Can she save the clan before she has to say “I do?” 

Ian Albright abolished all ties to Scotland after his family betrayed him and he is now nursing a wounded ego due to an unfaithful fiancée. He pledges never to return to his home until the fateful day he accepts an invitation to his dear cousin’s wedding. The minute he sees his cousin’s betrothed, his heart is captured. If only she didn’t belong to another . . . 

Lady Rogan and Ian have known each other since they were young and bent on vexing each other. Now, the only thing they find vexing is the fact Rogan is betrothed to another. Together they fight their growing attraction while investigating the forces bedeviling the clan. Yet at every turn their foe appears and wreaks havoc. When tragedy strikes, their hopes are dashed again. 

Can Lady Rogan and Ian’s love win when fate seems determined to keep them apart?

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B015EFRB6G/

Blog Tour: Rhapsody (The Teplo Trilogy #2) by Ayden K. Morgen

Title: Rhapsody (The Teplo Trilogy #2)

Author: Ayden K. Morgen 

Genre: Erotic Romance Suspense

Cover Designer: Mayhem Cover Creations

Release Date: October 19, 2015

Join the Release Party

After Anton Vetrov brutally murders a young girl as a warning to Tristan Riley, the broken DEA agent believes the best thing for Lillian Maddox to do would be to stay far, far away from him. But Lillian knows a thing or two about fear, and she's not willing to let the man she loves push her away that easily. If he won't fight for them, she will... even if that means risking her life to prove she's strong enough to live in his world.

Her plan ends in disaster when she's dragged out of Teplo at gunpoint, forcing Tristan onto a collision course with the Vetrov family and Pedro Francisco. With nothing left to lose except the only woman who has ever mattered to him, he will do whatever it takes to stop Vetrov and Francisco from ever hurting her again.

But he doesn't know they've been waiting for him to make his move. When he does, all hell breaks loose, and his life is on the line. It's up to Lillian and the DEA to save him, and she's terrified they won't make it in time.

Thrust headlong into a violent, bloody confrontation with the Vetrov family, Lillian comes face to the face with the heartbreaking realization that maybe she doesn't belong in Tristan's world, after all. When the smoke clears, will he be able to convince his ballerina that she's the best thing for him, or will he lose her and the chance at a real future once and for all?

Amazon ~ Smashwords

"What's so funny?" he demanded softly.

"Sometimes life just fucking sucks," she said, giggling again. "I think your mouth is rubbing off on me."

"Mmm," he growled playfully and flipped her over until she was lying beneath him. He grinned down at her, the shadows that'd crept into his eyes during their conversation gone, replaced with happiness, softness. "I noticed that. You called me baby."

"I did," she murmured, staring up at him.

His grin widened. "You called me baby once before, you know."

"Did I?"

"Mmhmm." He nuzzled his face against her throat. "When I fucked you against the front door. I think I like hearing you call me baby almost as much as I like hearing you scream my name, beautiful. You sound so good screaming my name." He nipped her throat.

"Tristan," she whimpered, writhing beneath him as his wicked words sent heat through her all over again.

"You sound good whimpering it, too," he murmured. "Fuck, Lillian, everything you do drives me crazy." He pressed a soft kiss to her temple before dropping back down beside her and dragged her into his arms once more. "Every time I'm near you, I'm turned on."

"It's the same for me," she whispered.

"Is it?"

"Yes, all the time. When you look at me or touch me… I don't know, it's like an addiction, I think. I crave more and more of you every time." Her brow furrowed as she traced the line of his abs with one finger. "Is it really like that for you, too?"

"All the time, sweetheart," he murmured, kissing the top of her head. "I can't get enough of you." He reached out and grabbed her hand, dragging it down his body and placing it over his crotch. He was hard again, his cock like steel in her palm. "You keep me like this, Lillian."

She smiled and curled her hand around his length, stroking softly. "I like knowing that."

"Fuck." He arched his hips into her hand before wrapping his own hand around hers and gliding it up and down his erection. Far too soon, he stilled her hand and pulled away, causing her to groan in protest. He chuckled and twined their fingers together again, placing them on his chest, over his heart. "Rest, beautiful. I've been all over you tonight."

"I like having you all over me," she grumbled. She loved having him all over her.

"I like being all over you," he answered with another soft chuckle at her petulant tone. "But you need a break or you'll be too sore to move, and there's no fucking way I'm going to be able to keep from sinking myself into you at least once tomorrow."

Well, she couldn't very well argue with that, now could she?

"Fine, but only for the rest of the night," she warned him, not willing to go any longer than that before feeling him again. The things he did to her… he could do them every day of forever and she'd die happy. She wanted him to do them to her every day of forever.

God. Forever. Was it too soon to want that?

Tristan and Lillian's Netflix Watch List

Tristan and Lillian don't spend a lot of time in front of the television, but when they do have time, they love to snuggle up and watch their favorite shows and movies... or not watch them as the case may be! Here's what's on their lists and why.

Tristan

·         Narcos – This is a new series, but it's surprisingly good. It captures the messed up reality of drug trafficking, while humanizing the people behind the scenes.

·         Arrow – A man with a past? A man on a mission? That's not familiar at all!

·         From Dusk Til Dawn: The Series – Because it's a cartel of vampires. Which is basically every cartel ever. Tristan can relate.

·         Three Kings – Risking everything to screw a bad guy and save a life? Tristan is down with that.

·         Without a Paddle – Even the most ridiculous of missions can have value.

·         Beowulf – Lillian is slowly showing Tristan the value of literature and the classics.

·         Gangland – Gangs piss Tristan off. It never hurts to spend a little time getting to know them better, especially in his line of work.

·         Inside Cocaine Wars – Another docu-series about the job. Getting to know some of the other agents with the same mission is always helpful.

Lillian

·         Phantom of the Opera – What isn't to love about Phantom of the Opera? The story is haunting, beautiful, and timeless.

·         Center Stage – If anyone can relate to being told they aren't good enough, Lillian can. Jody is so much like her.

·         Cyberbully – Another one that hits close to home for Lillian. Bullies are everywhere, and they are brutal.

·         Dollhouse – Echo is a total badass. And she's not what anyone expects.

·         The Originals – Two words: Joseph Morgan. Does she really need another reason?

·         Being Human (U.K.) – The original U.K. version is the way to go with this one. It's got a little bit of everything, and is so good.

·         Ballet 422 – She may no longer be in the world, but she misses performing. This documentary lets her relive those moments she loved.

·         Half the Sky – Lillian has traveled the world and seen oppression firsthand. This documentary tells the story well, and gives her hope for the future.

Ayden lives in the heart of Arkansas with her childhood sweetheart/husband of eleven years, and their five furry minions. When not writing, she spends her time hiking, reading, volunteering, causing mischief, and building a Spork army. Ayden graduated summa cum laude with her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Forensic Psychology in 2009 before going on to complete her graduate degree in CJ and Law. She currently puts her education to use in the social services and CJ field. 

Ayden also writes Young and New Adult fantasy under the penname A.K. Morgen.

 

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website 

Ravished (The Teplo Trilogy #1)

Amazon

  Amazon Bundle

Amazon

Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by 

CQ Historicals

From Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Bobbi (Roberta) Rivers disguises herself as a young man in order to fight in the Civil War. She dares this mission for two reasons: first to fight for the country she loves, and second to find her older brother who came up missing in the Battle of Gettysburg. Bobbi joins up with the 27th Infantry of Michigan Volunteers, and the story follows their real life time line through many battles including The Crater and The Wilderness. On her quest, Bobbi finds herself also battling issues within herself, like fear, trust, strength, morality, and falling in love.

My Thoughts:

I loved this book. A bit of history, a bit of romance and a great heroine.

Bobbi starts out in search of her brother, Robert, who went missing during the Battle of Gettysburg. In her heart she knows he's still alive, so disguises herself as a boy to join the Union Army.

After an adventurous train ride, then journey on foot, Bobbi finds herself with the 27th and is assigned to bunk with Toby. Toby is seriously my new heart throb. He's sweet and optimistic despite the war and carnage he is surrounded by. Being from Texas, he has abandoned his home and family to fight for the Union army. This alone reflects how big of a heart he has, and how determined he is.

Bobbi also makes friends with a nurse, Cora, who almost immediately picks up the fact that she is female. Cora helps her hide certain female habits and gets her through some tough times adjusting to army life.

There are other great characters too; sweet Woody, brave Kenny and many more.

All in all, an enjoyable read. Being Aussie, I don't know a whole lot about the American Civil War, so I used good old google maps to help me with the locations.  I believe this would be a good read for teens who have no real interest in history as a means to pique their interest. Bobbi is strong and easy to relate to, especially as she goes through her emotional dilemmas that would naturally come up during war time.

From Goodreads:
The slaughter of the Spartan Three Hundred at Thermopylae, Greece 480 BCE—when King Leonidas tried to stop the Persian army with only his elite guard—is well known. But just what did King Xerxes do after he defeated the Greeks?

Fifteen-year-old Thaleia is haunted by visions: roofs dripping blood, Athens burning. She tries to convince her best friend and all the villagers that she’s not crazy. The gods do speak to her.

And the gods have plans for this girl.

When Xerxes’ army of a million Persians marches straight to the mountain village Delphi to claim the Temple of Apollo’s treasures and sacred power, Thaleia’s gift may be her people’s last line of defense.

Her destiny may be to save Greece...
...but is one girl strong enough to stop an entire army?


My Thoughts:
Night of Pan is a fascinating tale about the Oracle of Delphi and her rise to her position during a tumultuous and well renowned time of Greek history. It follows Thaleia as she runs from her wedding and meets the god Pan. This meeting changes the course of her life as she soon comes to realize she is the mouthpiece of the gods, and has the ability to potentially save Greece from the Persians.
This is not a YA read, it's definitely more adult with the heavy internal dialogue and overly flowery language. Although it's not as "mature" as an adult book, I think young readers could easily get bored and distracted by the lack of action verses the heavy description and lyrical language. In my opinion, it feels like I've walked into a high school history class, and while some teens might love this, I think the majority won't. This "heavy" writing, although beautiful and poetic, makes the pace slow. The story doesn't get to the actual war until after halfway through the novel. *spoiler*
Being a history nerd, I wasn't surprised by her youthful engagement to a considerably older man. This goes along with supporting the rest of the historical aspects in showing accuracy and establishing how different the setting is to our modern culture. I can't fault the history. But the fact that Thaleia ran away from the arrangement shows how reckless she is, and how she refuses to conform, a potentially dangerous trait in her time. In fact, it made me struggle to place her in that time. She feels too much like a modern day high school girl, whereas culturally the norm would be for her to be ready to marry and be a mother. This, among other examples of Thaleia's behavior, clashes with how historically accurate the rest of the book reads. It's like a contemporary YA character has been placed into a thesis or journal. Separately they are great, but together it's a bit jarring.
As I said, the writing is beautiful, and imagery colorful. It tells a well known tale from history through a new perspective.