Winner for Court Duel/Crown Duel
Mother Superior
...paging...
Mother Superior.
You have found favor from Google's random generator, and your book is waiting for you. Shoot us an email, and the book fairies will get right on it.
May your fingers get stuck to the pages and your brain get sucked inside,
fairiesandfrenchfries@gmail.com
Crown Duel and Court Duel - A Review and Giveaway
{Esther}
homina.homina.homina
That pretty much describes my relationship with Sherwood Smith books. But since that isn't very helpful or informative, I'll try my best to do justice to an author who deserves (in my opinion) to be up there with Neil Gaiman, J.K. Rowling and Susanne Collins. But don't take the word of a frizzy headed mom... you could also hear it from a much more knowledgeable (and cool), frizzy headed mom. Shannon Hale. Or, climbing up one more stratosphere, you could go read Orson Scott Card's own homina.homina.homina about Sherwood Smith.
I stumbled across Sherwood Smith, after going over Bethany's book list from last year. There was some hopeless confusion, where I thought Sherwood Smith was a tall, dashing, man who wrote Science Fiction. Instead I found "he" was a "she" and her books were something more akin to Jane Austen meets Merlin in King Arthur's court. Happy mistake, since I like SciFi about as much as I like taking the kids to the park on a holiday. But historical romance with a kickass heroine and a bit of magic? Bring it on.
These books aren't nearly as popular as I would have expected, and I think part of the problem is they're hard to describe. They aren't what some call "high concept", and you can't really describe them in one sentence
But if you can, imagine a story told from the perspective of a girl who's technically some sort of princess in a place that's so poverty stricken, it's like Detroit's alternate reality twin (if you can imagine Detroit with crumbling castles). She fights like a girl...which is to say...not that great, but she's so pissed at the man responsible for tearing apart the kingdom, she rushes headlong into doing whatever it is she can. She will not to go down without a fight, and since she's smart, naive, and hopelessly determined, you can't help but bite your nails and turn pages as fast as you can.
Now imagine that story told with all the subtly of Pride and Prejudice, with characters you bleed and die for. Someone please tell me I'm not the only one who thinks it sounds interesting. (Bethany's note: I agree so much that although I read some great books in 2010, this was the only one I put on my Christmas list. In fact, it was the only item on my Christmas list.)
Court Duel/Crown Duel was originally two books, but current edition has both books together under one cover. The second book is just as good, but with a lot more pretty dresses and court intrigue.
If I'm being entirely fair (which is only an attempt), there are some things that might not appeal to everyone. For instance, Jim would not be a huge fan of these books. Plot is king for him, and Crown Duel/Court Duel definitely is stronger in characterization than plot. Not that the plot is bad, it's just not the complicated puzzle that attracts some readers. It also starts kind of slow. It wasn't boring necessarily, it just didn't reveal it's true potential until a few chapters in. I know I could be snarkier, but how can you not love an author who has had her world building all drawn out on a beach ball since the 70's? Seriously.
Full confession:
a) I have studied and memorized the timeline and sections of history for Sartorias-Deles (the name of her "earth")
b) I bought this book for my family to read aloud (which speaks volumes). It's the rare book that is clean enough for my mom, romantic enough for my dad, and adventurous enough for my brothers.
c) Since January I have read almost all the books Sherwood Smith has published.
I'm kind of desperate for other people to read these books, so I can talk, make jokes, and elude to things without looking like I'm talking to myself. Clearly, I'm much more dependent on the whims of mainstream than I thought I was. So I'm giving away a copy of Crown Duel/Court Duel to someone. If you want that person to be you, leave a comment saying so before next Friday (the 25th).
Rules:
a) Only ask to be included if you really don't mind giving the book a try.
b) If I've oversold the book, don't blame me. I have fairly simple tastes.
c) A winner will be chosen by the random generator at midnight Friday, February 25th.
Fist to heart!
Pirate Booty: Reusing broken and tossed out jewelry
Esther:
There was a lot of old and broken jewelry I was studiously ignoring.
But Jamie convinced me to play pirates with him (we were pirates with flying dragons, which are uncomfortably warm to fly on this time of year), and we sailed through the skies in search of treasures hidden in...bathrooms. We hunted and poked through drawers until they relinquished the biggest pile of broken, misfit and ill used jewelry ever seen in dragon territory.
I actually procured a lot of this jewelry already broken, although Charlie can account for more than his fair share. People and stores will get rid of broken jewelry for incredibly little money. We're talking fist fulls of broken jewelry for a dollar. I take it home with the intention of patiently untangling it and making something new, but I forgot about a good chunk of it until now, when Jamie and his hot breathed dragon forced me to remember.
This was once a broach, but the pin was broken off. I tied ribbon on it because a) ribbon cannot be yanked off as easily by a toddler, nor broken. b) black ribbon is a strong statement in a world of delicate little chains. Good for layering too.
This was a BKE necklace that was ripped to shreds. I put what I had of it back together and added chain from a different necklace that I had taken the chain off and added ribbon (take some add some...switch it around).
This was the easiest fix. An orphaned chain was lonely in a box at Express, and this AE feather pendent was equally abandoned in a different store. I did nothing but introduce them. They seem happy together.
In the midst of our "Arghs" and "Rawrrs" as we rifled through pretty, shiny stuff, I came across this ring. It is from The Buckle I believe and I replaced the center pearl. I love the ring, but alas I do not like rings. They make me claustrophobic and hyperventilate if I can't get them off. It needs a better home, as I have many other rings clamoring for my attention (like my oft neglected wedding ring).
If you think you could provide a good home for it, drop me a comment and recommend the best book you've read recently. I've got Mockingjay sitting right next to me, itching to be in my fingers and it's what I'd rather *blush* be doing than playing pirates in 105 degree weather with my children *blush*.
I'll draw a winner randomly on Monday.
There was a lot of old and broken jewelry I was studiously ignoring.
But Jamie convinced me to play pirates with him (we were pirates with flying dragons, which are uncomfortably warm to fly on this time of year), and we sailed through the skies in search of treasures hidden in...bathrooms. We hunted and poked through drawers until they relinquished the biggest pile of broken, misfit and ill used jewelry ever seen in dragon territory.
I actually procured a lot of this jewelry already broken, although Charlie can account for more than his fair share. People and stores will get rid of broken jewelry for incredibly little money. We're talking fist fulls of broken jewelry for a dollar. I take it home with the intention of patiently untangling it and making something new, but I forgot about a good chunk of it until now, when Jamie and his hot breathed dragon forced me to remember.
This was once a broach, but the pin was broken off. I tied ribbon on it because a) ribbon cannot be yanked off as easily by a toddler, nor broken. b) black ribbon is a strong statement in a world of delicate little chains. Good for layering too.
This was a BKE necklace that was ripped to shreds. I put what I had of it back together and added chain from a different necklace that I had taken the chain off and added ribbon (take some add some...switch it around).
This was the easiest fix. An orphaned chain was lonely in a box at Express, and this AE feather pendent was equally abandoned in a different store. I did nothing but introduce them. They seem happy together.
In the midst of our "Arghs" and "Rawrrs" as we rifled through pretty, shiny stuff, I came across this ring. It is from The Buckle I believe and I replaced the center pearl. I love the ring, but alas I do not like rings. They make me claustrophobic and hyperventilate if I can't get them off. It needs a better home, as I have many other rings clamoring for my attention (like my oft neglected wedding ring).
If you think you could provide a good home for it, drop me a comment and recommend the best book you've read recently. I've got Mockingjay sitting right next to me, itching to be in my fingers and it's what I'd rather *blush* be doing than playing pirates in 105 degree weather with my children *blush*.
I'll draw a winner randomly on Monday.
Bling and Shiny Things - Necklace Giveaway
Bethany:
Alas, the end of accessories month is in sight! We have a bunch of posts and giveaways planned to cram into the last week, so here's a kickoff with a double giveaway post.
Before my little bundle of destructive curiosity arrived, I wore quite an assortment of necklaces, ranging from the cheap stuff I picked up here and there to the lovely items Kevin handpicked for me. Nothing consistently received as many and as varied compliments as (shhh, don't tell Kevin) the Avon Y-shaped necklaces that my grandma introduced me to years ago. People would chase me down in restaurants and theatres to ask me where I bought them. They work with a surprising number of necklines and have been available in pretty much every color (no, I don't sell Avon or even know anyone who does).
Having a baby sure didn't change the fact that I enjoy accessories, but it did change the kind of accessories I can wear. As Esther mentioned last week, teething necklaces might seem a bit gross to those unaccustomed to being covered in slobber 24/7, but when the baby drool starts dribbling, suddenly a cute little attachable teether seems like the most brilliant idea ever. And those prying little fingers can't snap them off as they so eagerly break everything else.
Teething Bling offers an assortment of donut-shaped teething pendants on a cord with a break-free clasp. They can be elegant alone or worn (as I do) as an accent along with nursing necklaces, which aren't for teething but are similarly strong and safe enough for constant tugging and twiddling (more on that later this week *wink wink*). Being a tactile person myself, I especially like to have things around Jack that he can touch and feel and chew without being constantly scolded or endangered.
Interested in an Avon Y-necklace or a silver Teething Bling pendant? Leave us a comment letting us know which you'd prefer! The giveaway ends next Monday, August 30th.
To recap, two winners will be chosen randomly from anyone who lives in the continental U.S. and...
A) Follows our blog (pretty please?).
B) Leaves a comment on this post noting which necklace is preferred.
