Thursday, October 29, 2015

M9B Two for Thursday Book Blitz: Crown of Ice by Vicki L. Weavil and To Bear an Iron Key by Jackie Morse Kessler with Giveaway #T4T


T4T-Banner
 
Welcome to this week’s Two for Thursday Book Blitz #T4T presented by Month9books/Tantrum Books!
 
Today, we will be showcasing two titles that may tickle your fancy, and we’ll share what readers have to say about these titles!
 
You just might find your next read!
 
This week, #T4T presents to you:
Crown of Ice by Vicki L. Weavil and To Bear an Iron Key by Jackie Morse Kessler
Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!
 
Crown-of-ice-Cover
Thyra Winther's seventeen, the Snow Queen, and immortal, but if she can't reassemble a shattered enchanted mirror by her eighteenth birthday she's doomed to spend eternity as a wraith. Armed with magic granted by a ruthless wizard, Thyra schemes to survive with her mind and body intact.
Unencumbered by kindness, she kidnaps local boy Kai Thorsen, whose mathematical skills rival her own. Two logical minds, Thyra calculates, are better than one. With time rapidly melting away she needs all the help she can steal. A cruel lie ensnares Kai in her plan, but three missing mirror shards and Kai's childhood friend, Gerda, present more formidable obstacles. Thyra's willing to do anything – venture into uncharted lands, outwit sorcerers, or battle enchanted beasts - to reconstruct the mirror, yet her most dangerous adversary lies within her breast.
Touched by the warmth of a wolf pup's devotion and the fire of a young man's desire, the thawing of Thyra's frozen heart could be her ultimate undoing.
add to goodreads
 
 
WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:
 
“Crown of Ice was great young adult fantasy novel. It offers an interesting and refreshing retelling of Snow Queen fairytale, but also so much more – realistic, confident and a bit bad heroine, magic, cute animals, subtle romance, …”Dragana, The Paisley Reader
 
“Crown of Ice, is a luscious and fantastical retelling of the Snow Queen.”Tina, Goodreads Reviewer
 
“A solid YA adventure with teenagers who learn so much about themselves, and each other. Even the expected happily ever after offers believable surprises that underscore the maturity and independence they each have gained.” All Things Urban Fantasy
 
about-the-author
 
Vicki Weavil 11
Vicki Lemp Weavil was raised in a farming community in Virginia, where her life was shaped by a wonderful family, the culture of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and an obsession with reading. Since obtaining her undergraduate degree in Theatre from the University of Virginia, she’s gone on to acquire two masters degrees, living in places as diverse as New York City and rural North Carolina. She’s currently the library director for a performing an visual arts university. Vicki loves good writing in any genre, and has been known to read seven books in as many days. She enjoys travel, gardening, and the arts. Vicki lives in North Carolina with her husband, son, and some very spoiled cats.
Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Tumbler
 
TBAIK-Cover-v2
This richly-imagined universe from an acclaimed fixture of YA storytelling introduces a the young witch Bromwyn, a strong heroine who wields great power. Five years ago, Bromwyn refused a gift from the powerful fairy king. Tonight, on Midsummer, that decision comes back to haunt her. When her best friend Rusty picks the wrong pocket, he and Bromwyn are all that stand between their village and the rampaging fairies who have pushed through the World Door. If they cannot outwit the fairy king and queen before the World Door closes at sunrise, the friends will lose everything--their village, Bromwyn's magic, and Rusty's life.

add to goodreads
 
 
WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:
 
If you want to get lost in magic and spend some time away from this grey, dreary world of reality, then look no further.” – Nicky Peacock, Author
 
“his was a really strong little book--a wonderful start to a brand new series, and I think it's safe to say I'll be looking for more of Jackie Morse Kessler's work!”Kels, Literature Obsessed
 
“This is a great tale about the transitions in youth and of true friendship. It also depicts the emotional wounds caused from misjudgment and rejection.” – LuAnn, Rockin Book Reviews
 
about-the-author
 
JMK
Jackie Morse Kessler grew up in Brooklyn, NY, with a cranky cat and overflowing shelves filled with dolls and books. Now she’s in Upstate NY with another cranky cat, a loving husband, two sons, and overflowing shelves filled with dragons and books (except when her sons steal her dragons). She has a bachelor’s degree in English and American Literature, and yet she’s never read any Jane Austen (with or without zombies). She also has a master’s degree in media ecology. (The living study of technology and culture. Which is cool, but she still can’t figure out how to use Tweetdeck.) 
Jackie spends a lot of time writing, reading, and getting distracted by bright and shiny new ideas. (She just came up with a new idea right now.) She has a weakness for chocolate and a tendency to let her cat take over her office chair.
Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
 
Giveaway
Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!
 
Chapter-by-Chapter-blog-tour-button
 

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan


Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness
by Susannah Cahalan
Description
A gripping memoir and medical suspense story about a young New York Post reporter’s struggle with a rare and terrifying disease, opening a new window into the fascinating world of brain science.
One day, Susannah Cahalan woke up in a strange hospital room, strapped to her bed, under guard, and unable to move or speak. Her medical records—from a month-long hospital stay of which she had no memory—showed psychosis, violence, and dangerous instability. Yet, only weeks earlier she had been a healthy, ambitious twenty-four year old, six months into her first serious relationship and a sparkling career as a cub reporter.
Susannah’s astonishing memoir chronicles the swift path of her illness and the lucky, last-minute intervention led by one of the few doctors capable of saving her life. As weeks ticked by and Susannah moved inexplicably from violence to catatonia, $1 million worth of blood tests and brain scans revealed nothing. The exhausted doctors were ready to commit her to the psychiatric ward, in effect condemning her to a lifetime of institutions, or death, until Dr. Souhel Najjar—nicknamed Dr. House—joined her team. He asked Susannah to draw one simple sketch, which became key to diagnosing her with a newly discovered autoimmune disease in which her body was attacking her brain, an illness now thought to be the cause of “demonic possessions” throughout history.
With sharp reporting drawn from hospital records, scientific research, and interviews with doctors and family, Brain on Fire is a crackling mystery and an unflinching, gripping personal story that marks the debut of an extraordinary writer.

My Review:

This story, which really happened, catalogues the horrific illness that befell the author some years ago. It played out just like an episode of House, as mentioned in the description, though the real life House in this didn’t come on the scene until Susannah’s team of doctors realized they had nothing left to give. Particularly terrifying and heartbreaking is the fact that Susannah lost a part of who she was from this. It seems that she’ll never quite be the same, despite that her recovery in itself is miraculous.
What I really liked about this book was how thorough it was in portraying the progression of the disease. I found the snippets of Susannah’s notes, the catalogues of her behaviors and footage of videos taken while she was hospitalized, and the documented points of view of her friends and family fascinating. What’s even more amazing is that she had to turn to these. The disease pretty much warped or wiped her memory during the worst of it.
That being said, this reads more like a journal or extended account of facts, rather than a story. It isn’t a narrative. The timeline unfolds, the disease’s symptoms emerge, and Susannah battles her way through to the other side and beyond, but it still reads like someone else’s account. There’s also some jumping around. It isn’t quite a chronological timeline, and certain data and interview results are sprinkled in much later in the book than their related events, sometimes repeating from another perspective. Still, it’s a gripping read.
Overall, I really liked this story. It was a chilling account of a real life medical mystery that very nearly could have sent Susannah into a mental institution for the rest of her life, which likely would have been short due to the progression of the disease. Folks who enjoy non-fiction or stories where someone overcomes great odds will likely enjoy this one.
I borrowed the review copy of this book from the local library so that I could read it for my book club.

-----

 Intrigued? Pick up a copy at Amazon.com and let me know what you think of it.


Thursday, October 15, 2015

M9B Two for Thursday Book Blitz: Red Magic series by Jen McConnel with Giveaway #T4T


T4T-Banner
 
Welcome to this week’s Two for Thursday Book Blitz #T4T presented by Month9books/Tantrum Books!
 
Today, we will be showcasing two titles that may tickle your fancy, and we’ll share what readers have to say about these titles!
 
You just might find your next read!
 
This week, #T4T presents to you:
The Red Magic series by Jen McConnel!
 
Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!
 
JMcConnel_DaughterofChaos_eCover_900x1350
Witches must choose the path they will follow, and Darlena Agara is no exception. She’s been putting it off long enough, and in her case, ignoring it has not made it go away. In a moment of frustration, Darlena chooses to follow Red Magic, figuring she had outsmarted the powers that be, since there’s no such thing as Red Magic. But alas, Darlena’s wrong (again) and she becomes a newly declared Red Witch. 
Her friends are shocked and her parents horrified by the choice Darlena has made. As a Red Witch, she now governs one third of the world’s chaos. She is the walking personification of pandemonium, turmoil, and bedlam, just as the patrons of Red Magic would have it to be. 
But Darlena believes there must be more to Red Magic than chaos and destruction, and she sets out on a journey to achieve balance. Only doing so puts her at odds with the dark goddess Hecate, who simply will not allow Darlena to quit. She encourages Darlena to embrace who and what she is and to leave good magic to the good witches. If only Darlena could, life would be simple, and she would not be the Daughter of Chaos.
DAUGHTER OF CHAOS is the first in a YA paranormal trilogy.
add to goodreads
 
 
WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:
 
At the beginning, this novel is reminiscent of other popular fantasy novels like the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling and the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan, but it quickly takes on a life of its own that will appeal to science fiction, fantasy, and young adult fans alike. Darlena’s struggles mirror issues that many teens face, making her a relate-able and likable main character. This is a title with wide appeal that will fly off the shelves.” – Voya Magazine
 
“Daughter of Chaos by Jen McConnel is a refreshing twist to the YA paranormal genre!”Dianne, Tome Tender
 
“Witches and Greek gods! This seriously couldn't get any better.” – Kelly Hashway, Author
 
Gods of Chaos
The gods of chaos cannot be trusted. 
Since battling her best friend, Darlena’s grip on Red Magic has been shaky. She heads to Scotland after the Winter Solstice in search of another Red Witch. 
On a sightseeing excursion with girls from her hostel, Darlena arrives at The Vaults, a mysterious underground city beneath Edinburgh. But there is something there that make Darlena’s instincts go haywire, as she lets loose a defensive burst of Red Magic, putting everyone around her in danger. 
If there was ever a time when Darlena needed the help of another Red witch, it was now. But beware the witch who wields Red Magic.
add to goodreads
 
 
WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:
 
“I think I'm in love. This book had a totally different ending than what i thought it was. I was honestly surprised.”Goodreads Reviewer
 
“'Gods of Chaos' is the phenomenal second installment in a young adult paranormal series.”Stephanie, A Dream Within A Dream
 
“There are many twists and turns in this book. The ending was totally unexpected and completely epic.” Intellectual Vixens
 
about-the-author
 
Jen McConnel
Jen McConnel now lives and writes in the beautiful state of North Carolina. When she isn't crafting worlds of fiction, she teaches writing composition at a community college. Once upon a time, she was a middle school teacher, a librarian, and a bookseller, but those are stories for another time.
Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
 
Giveaway
Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!
 
Chapter-by-Chapter-blog-tour-button

Thursday, October 8, 2015

M9B Two for Thursday Book Blitz: My Sister's Reaper and My Tethered Soul by Dorothy Dreyer with Giveaway #T4T


T4T-Banner
 
Welcome to this week’s Two for Thursday Book Blitz #T4T presented by Month9books/Tantrum Books!
 
Today, we will be showcasing two titles that may tickle your fancy, and we’ll share what readers have to say about these titles!
 
You just might find your next read!
 
This week, #T4T presents to you:
The Reaper's Rite series by Dorothy Dreyer!
 
Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!
 
My Sister's Reaper
Sixteen-year-old Zadie’s first mistake was telling the boy she liked she could bring her dead sister back to life. Her second mistake was actually doing it. 
When Zadie accidentally messes with the Reaper’s Rite that should have claimed her sister Mara, things go horribly wrong. Mara isn’t the same anymore—Zadie isn’t even sure she’s completely human, and to top it off, a Reaper is determined to collect Mara’s soul no matter what. Now Zadie must figure out how to defeat her sister’s Reaper, or let Mara die … this time for good.
add to goodreads
 
 
WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:
 
I felt that the author did a great job with her character developement. She was very vivid in her details and I felt like they were people I would meet on the street.” – Michelle, Goodreads Reviewer
 
“My Sister’s Reaper was a great paranormal, YA novel. Dreyer did an awesome job at creating Zadie’s linage and having it make complete sense.”Tyler, Jolley Chronicles
 
“Okay, reapers, zombies, and death? Yeah, I was definitely reading this one.” – Kelly Hashway, Author
 
My Tethered Soul
Months have passed since Zadie faced her sister’s Reaper, during which time she's been under her mentor's magical protection. But now that she's turning 17, that protection is about to run out. When dark forces lure Zadie to wander at night, she's manipulated into committing unspeakable acts. With her friends and family at risk, Zadie must try to use her powers to break free from the Reaper's grasp, or surrender to the Reaper's Rite, which can only lead to death.
add to goodreads
 
 
WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:
 
“The series is magnificent and should be on the best sellers list!!”Holly, Author
 
“Dorothy Dreyer continues the fast-paced, heart pounding journey she started in My Sister's Reaper, delivering a YA paranormal romance filled with believable characters battling unbelievable odds.”Katie, Author
 
“Ms. Dreyer has upped the ante in terms of characterization, suspense, some down-right spooky scenes, and a playful sense of humor, particularly in the dialogue between her teen protagonists.” Stuart, Author
 
about-the-author
 
Dorothy Dreyer
Dorothy Dreyer has always believed in magic. Born in Angeles City, Philippines, to a Filipino mother and American Father, Dorothy grew up a military brat, living in Massachusetts, South Dakota, Guam, New Jersey, and New York. She now lives in Frankfurt, Germany, with her husband, two teens, and two Siberian huskies. Dorothy not only writes books with some element of magic in them, but has a fondness for reading those kinds of books as well. She also enjoys movies, chocolate, take-out, and spending time with family and friends. She’s known to make a pretty sweet cupcake when she has the time. She also tends to sing sometimes, so keep her away from your Karaoke bars.
 
Giveaway
Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!
 
Chapter-by-Chapter-blog-tour-button

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Fantasy Review: The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It did have an end, sort of. I vaguely remember bits of the second movie in this, but as I'd blocked that one out, I can't say how well it compares to the book. This is an odd story, but I liked it.

So, this is a story within a story, with two distinct adventures built in. Then again, hints would have the reader believe they are also part of the story in a never-ending cycle of storytelling and belief that fuels the good in our world and keeps the fantasy land of Fantastica whole and healthy.

First, the story of Bastian stealing the book and hiding away in his school's attic to read it takes center stage. For those who have seen the movie called The Neverending Story, this part of the book is the source of that movie. I must say this is the part that I liked the most. Following Atreyu in the book as he tries to solve the mystery of The Nothing and save Fantastica. It kind of surprised me that his horse talked and that the big guy from the movie who sent him on his quest was supposed to be a centaur. Other things were also nice surprises, like the Childlike Empress taking a more active hand in saving her world than in the movie. Then again, I think the movie was fantastic: scary and awesome, adventurous and whimsical.

The second part of the story picks up after Bastian is pulled into Fantastica and begins making his wishes. This part corresponds to the second Neverending Story movie, which was aweful. The book version is ok and shows Bastian wishing and building Fantastica and its history up. The only problem is that he only has as many wishes as he has memories, and if he runs out before he can return to the real world, he'll be trapped in Fantastica forever.

So, there's some plot here, but the story just bounces along and starts many smaller offshoot tales that are for another day (If you remember the first movie, that's how it ends. Turns out that's a rather common theme throughout this book). On the good side, the two main stories do resolve, quite well, and the rest, well, they leave plenty of room for the reader to imagine their own outcomes.

And, perhaps the best part, is I finally learned what Bastian named the Childlike Empress. I was never able to make it out in the movie. Then again, it was a stupid name in the book, and unlike that which was implied in the movie, it wasn't his mother's name.

So, overall, it's a good story, highly whimsical, with two distinct plotlines in one overarching one that implies the reader is also included. The nature of wishes, of selfish philanthropy, and learning to love who you are are all explored through Bastian's journey. And the idea that losing yourself in the book is not only an escape for you but of benefit to mankind is also nice.

I'd recommend this to folks who enjoyed the movie and to folks who love to read, particularly fantasy books.

I borrowed this book from the local library.


View all my reviews




Friday, October 2, 2015

M9B Friday Reveal: Chapter Two Reveal for Nameless by Jennifer Jenkins with Giveaway


M9B-Friday-Reveal-Bannernew
 
Welcome to this week’s M9B Friday Reveal!
 
This week, we are revealing CHAPTER TWO of
Nameless by Jennifer Jenkins
presented byMonth9Books!
 
NAMELESS is in development for film by Benderspink! That’s the same company who optioned Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen and produced the I AM NUMBER FOUR film!
 
Jennifer is also one of the co-founders of Teen Author Boot Camp, and works with amazing authors like James Dashner and Brandon Sanderson to help teens master the craft or writing. New York Times bestselling author Jessica Day George read NAMELESS and loved it!:

"Jenkins brings edge-of-your-seat adventure to this intriguing new world. I can’t wait to read more!”
 
Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!
 
Nameless_450x675
Four clans have been at war for centuries: the Kodiak, the Raven, the Wolf and the Ram. Through brutal war tactics, the Ram have dominated the region, inflicting death and destruction on their neighbors. 
Seventeen-year-old Zo is a Wolf and a Healer who volunteers to infiltrate the Ram as a spy on behalf of the allied clans. She offers herself as a Ram slave, joining the people who are called the “nameless.” Hers is a suicide mission – Zo’s despair after losing her parents in a Ram raid has left her seeking both revenge and an end to her own misery. But after her younger sister follows her into Rams Gate, Zo must find a way to survive her dangerous mission and keep her sister safe. What she doesn’t expect to find is the friendship of a young Ram whose life she saves, the confusing feelings she develops for a Ram soldier, and an underground nameless insurrection. Zo learns that revenge, loyalty and love are more complicated than she ever imagined in the first installment of this two-book series.
add to goodreads
 
Pre-order Links:
 
excerpt
 
 
Chapter 2 ~~~Zo~~~ The cold air traveling over Zo’s skin smelled strangely mineral. She walked blindfolded with Tess in her arms, and the tip of a spear at her back. She memorized the turns as they prodded her forward, knowing it would do little to help if she couldn’t pass whatever trial the Ram leader had in store. The path sloped down and the moist air grew colder. Her foot caught on a rock and Zo fell to her knees, sending Tess flying into the darkness. Hands grabbed Zo’s collar and hoisted her back to her feet.   “Carry the small one,” the leader ordered.   “Zo?” Tess’ voice cracked, weak and distant.   “I’m here,” said Zo, straining to see through the blindfold.   She didn’t want her sister to say more. Her accent might betray them both.   The ground leveled beneath them, and a guard yanked off the blindfold, taking a chunk of Zo’s dark hair with it. She didn’t cry out.   They couldn’t hurt her.   She looked at the limp form of her sister in the arms of a bare-chested Ram guard and crumbled at the contradiction. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. If only Tess hadn’t followed.   If only …   Guards lined the opposite wall. Shadows from the torchlight made the scowls on their faces all the more sinister. Each carried a round shield at his back, a spear in hand, and a short sword at his hip.   A redheaded boy lay on a narrow bed in the center of the room silently weeping. His body was long, but judging from his young face, he couldn’t have been much older than twelve or thirteen. The deep wound just above his hip swam in dark red blood. He whimpered while biting down on a stick.   Zo didn’t ask questions. “I need blankets!” she yelled, as she washed her hands in a basin of scalding water. With pulsing, red hands, she took a stack of linens from a supply table and pressed it to the wound. The boy kicked and jostled.   “Hold him down or he’ll bleed out!” shouted Zo.   No one moved.   Two women in white robes came in through a different tunnel entrance carrying woolen blankets. When they saw Zo, they froze.   “Help me!” Zo snatched the blankets from their hands and rolled the boy onto his side. Lifting his legs, she wedged blanket rolls under his good hip. The redheaded boy cried out in pain but Zo needed to keep the wound above his heart. She wrapped a bandage around his trunk, keeping as much pressure on the open wound as possible.   The boy’s skin turned alabaster from blood loss. Zo yanked more blankets from the hands of the women, covered him up, and rubbed warmth into his arms and legs while muttering the words of one of her mother’s blessings. “Hold as still as you can,” she whispered into his ear. “You’re going to be fine. I promise.”   Zo approached the intimidating line of Ram soldiers.   Each wore animal hide trimmed with fur. Thick leather straps crisscrossed their chests housing a variety of evil-looking weapons. “Where is my pack? It has the medicines I need.” The men barely moved, barely blinked, with hands clasped behind their backs like dangerous statues of unfeeling.   The bald leader shook his head. A taunting, wicked, grin stretched across his face. Tess whimpered from one of the dark corners of the cave. Water dripped from the jagged, rock ceiling. The quiet symphony of sounds and silence contrasted with Zo’s rapidly beating heart.   She swore and darted to the opposite wall where the healers stood just as still and lifeless. “Do you have any pseudo ginseng root?”   The aging healer looked over to the Gate Master, shook his head, and looked down at his hands. So they would put this boy’s life in danger just to see if she would fail? I shouldn’t be surprised.   Zo ran back to the steaming water and plunged four inches of her long braid into the basin. Sweat dripped from her forehead. She scrubbed the crusted mud from her hair and went to the closest soldier, holding out the dark braid. “Cut it,” she said.   His gaze swept over her body before fixing on her face.   His lips curled into a crooked grin.   She hated when men looked at her that way.   “Cut it!” she yelled, eyeing the knife at his hip, wondering if she had any chance of taking it from him without meeting a quick death.   A young soldier to his left stepped out of rank. His long dark hair was tucked behind his ears, his brows knit together and a muscle in his neck leapt as he frowned. The unexpected flash of his dagger made Zo scream. A small segment of her braid dropped to the ground and the young soldier took his place back in line, ignoring the disapproving scorn of the Ram leader. Zo gasped as she snatched up the braid. She stumbled over to the sink again to rinse the hair one final time to prevent infection. Convinced the hair was clean, she darted back to the boy and removed the crimson-soaked dressing from the wound. The blood had slowed, but not enough. He’d die if this didn’t work.   She shoved the hair into the wound and piled the excess on top.   The boy screamed then passed out.   Zo placed her hands over the mound of hair and uttered words of healing. The flame of her energy flickered as she willed the blessing to take effect. Her head swayed without permission as she reapplied a bandage.   When Zo finished, she slumped to the floor before they carried her and Tess away.   ~~~Gryphon~~~   Joshua’s dried blood tugged on Gryphon’s arm. A deathly plaster, equal parts unforgiving and taunting. He scratched away at the memory of the ambush, the way young Joshua’s eyes doubled in size when the arrow entered his side. It was Gryphon’s fault. He’d let the kid come with his mess unit against his better judgment.   It was his fault.   Gryphon took the mountain trail home from the caves. He attacked the climb like he would any enemy. After the first mile his legs warmed. After the second they burned. He welcomed the dull pain creeping through his fatigued muscles. Pain equaled progress. With enough pain he might outpace his grief. Joshua.   Gryphon sprinted the last hundred yards of the climb. The wind picked up as he reached the summit overlooking the ocean below. High waves crashed into the cliff wall. An arctic spray carried on the breeze, stinging Gryphon’s eyes.   He turned and showed the ocean his back, casting his gaze over the valley of the Ram. Wind whipped his dark brown hair and made the metal of his weapons clink together. From this view he could see far beyond the training grounds and housing complexes, past the fields where hundreds of Nameless bent over acres of dying soil. Even beyond the fabled wall of Ram’s Gate that corralled the vast lands of his people.   He felt powerful. In control.   Not like this morning when he couldn’t slow Joshua’s bleeding.   The twenty members of Gryphon’s mess unit were encouraged to sleep in the barracks, even though many of them were married men. Unity meant everything to a Ram mess unit. Gryphon abided this and every other command issued by his leaders with exactness. But tonight, the thought of facing his brothers of war with all their questions and condolences seemed too much.   No. Tonight he would hide behind the walls of his inheritance like a child hides behind his mother’s skirt. The brick-and-plaster house sat back on a five-acre plot. It was one of the furthest family plots from the main gate and the center of town. A red sun dipped behind the towering wall of Ram’s Gate, casting an ominous glow around the house as Gryphon climbed the dirt path. The solid oak door whined with complaint as he nudged it open.   “Who’s there?” Gryphon’s mother reached the entry with her arms and hands covered in white flour and her graying bun sitting at an angle on her head. She studied Gryphon and the corners of her mouth sank into the frown he’d come to associate with his childhood.   “Wash the blood off your hands.” She retreated back to the kitchen without another word.   Gryphon leaned his long spear and shield against the wall and sloughed off his pack. He turned and noticed the rusted metal shield mounted above the hearth. His cheeks colored in shame. He looked away, but it didn’t stop the boiling wave of anger that always came when he looked at his father’s shield.   The symbol of his family’s disgrace.   Despite Gryphon’s countless protests, his mother refused to take it down. “It’s good to remember,” she would say. Then she’d go out into the forest where she thought no one could hear her and cry, rocking back and forth with her hands wrapped firmly about her stomach. As if she’d fall apart if she didn’t hold herself together.   No matter how hard he worked in the training field, that shield would always hang over his head. Always. In the kitchen, Gryphon plunged his hands into a basin of water. As he scrubbed, the water turned the color of salmon flesh.   His mother kneaded her palm into a batch of dough with more force than necessary. She used her forearm to push aside a clump of silver hair that fell into her face. “How many?” she asked with her back to him.   Gryphon couldn’t scrub his hands hard enough. “One. We were ambushed.” His excursions used to be so boring. They used to go weeks without running into another clan, but lately …   “Who?” His mother stood up straight, prepared to take the news like a strong Ram woman was meant to.   “Joshua.” Gryphon felt his control slip. He chewed on his tongue until he could steel his emotions. “Spear,” was all he trusted himself to say.   Joshua wasn’t a member of a mess unit yet. The System didn’t allow thirteen-year-olds to join. He had still been in training, but he’d begged to go, and Gryphon—his mentor— didn’t have the heart to turn him down.   “Will he live?” she asked, kneading the dough again.   “I … ” Gryphon cleared his constricting throat, thinking of the dirty Nameless girl they’d let work on Joshua in the cave.   “I don’t think he will.”
 
about-the-author
©NicholeV Photography, LLC 2008. http://actions.nicholeV.com. This work is registered and protected under US and international copyright laws. Any violation of this copyright will be diligently prosecuted.

With her degree in History and Secondary Education, Jennifer had every intention of teaching teens to love George Washington and appreciate the finer points of ancient battle stratagem. (Seriously, she’s obsessed with ancient warfare.) However, life had different plans in store when the writing began. As a proud member of Writers Cubed, and a co-founder of the Teen Author Boot Camp, she feels blessed to be able to fulfill both her ambition to work with teens as well as write Young Adult fiction. 
Jennifer has three children who are experts at naming her characters, one loving, supportive husband, a dog with little-man syndrome, and three chickens (of whom she is secretly afraid). 
Visit her online at jajenkins.com
Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Instagram
 
Giveaway
 
Button