Category: Compassion & Acceptance of Differences

Book Review | #whoaretheclan | “Riders of the Storm” by Julie E. Czerneda Jorie reads #TheClanChronicles for #RRSciFiMonth!

Posted Monday, 9 November, 2015 by jorielov DAW Books, Julie E. Czerneda, Penguin Group (USA), Riders of the Storm, Stratification trilogy, The Clan Chronicles 0 Comments

Acquired Book By: I was chosen to participate in Julie E. Czerneda’s #timeandstarstour on behalf of the seventh volume of The Clan Chronicles ‘This Gulf of Time and Stars’. Ahead of reading that installment, I reached out to the author to sort out a way to read her entire series spilt between two trilogies: a prequel and the inaugural trilogy which launched the series as a whole. She offered to have DAW Books send me the series in paperback editions to help me sort out the hours I would need to read them as I could only use inter-library loan which has a built-in delay from receiving books via your local library.

Thus a book parcel from her publicist at DAW arrived forthwith and gave me the two trilogies ahead of ‘This Gulf of Time and Stars’. I received a complimentary copy of ‘Riders of the Storm’ the second novel of the prequel trilogy better known as Stratification. I was not obliged to post a review or share my impressions or opinions on behalf of these stories. I am posting my thoughts for my own edification and to help encourage new readers to meet the characters Czerneda created especially if like me, they are discovering The Clan Chronicles for the first time!

Continuing onward inside The Clan Chronicles:

As I disclosed on my review of Reap the Wild Wind this is my first reading of the works by Julie E. Czerneda. This is my continuing journey deep into the heart of The Clan Chronicles whilst conversing on Twitter via the tag #whoaretheclan.

One of my favourite moments when reading serial fiction is slipping back inside a world I’ve become comfortable exploring with such an ease it would appear no time had shifted off the clock since my last visit. Thus, I happily found myself quite entrenched inside Riders of the Storm due to how Czerneda carefully took up the strings of where the last tapestry of this saga left off and stitched me inside the very next chapter of where our small band of Yena were gathered together. They might have been exiled together, but the eclectic nature of the Yena of whom were following Aryl wherever she felt they could live in peace spoke volumes to her ability to unite her Clan.

Notation on the Cover Art: I haven’t been this excited about original cover art for a series in quite a long time, as the artwork for The Clan Chronicles is such a wicked sweet gift to the reader! Each cover is a bit of an insight not only towards the story within the pages of the novel but a bit of clue towards understanding the Clan as a whole. They are portraits of a moment in the ‘life’ of the Clan as true to form as if someone took a photograph and caught them just as they were. It’s such a clear picture of Cersi and the Clan, that I look forward to putting the images and the story together each time I pick up one of the volumes!

Riders of the Storm

Synopsis on the Back Cover:

Julie E. Czerneda's Trade Pact Universe trilogy introduced the Clan, refugees from the world of Cersi who built an empire few people even knew existed.

Reap the Wild Wind and Riders of the Storm return to an earlier point in the Clan's history, before they left Cersi. Known as the Om'ray, they are divided into widely scattered tribal Clans, constrained from advancing beyond a certain point by two powerful races - the Oud and the Tikitik.

Then Om'ray Aryl Sarc - gifted with a forbidden Talent - upsets the long-maintained balance between the three species, and she and her supporters are exiled from Yena Clan, taking with them Enris Mendolar, a young man who left Tuana Clan on the ritual journey to find a mate. When they finally find a new home in the mountains, it is the ruined, deserted village of Sona, a forgotten Clan. And this seeming haven soon becomes the focus of conflict.

First Aryl discovers that the Oud who destroyed Sona haven't left. Instead they are hunting for relics of a long-vanished, legendary race with the aid of Trade Pact agents. Then the Tikitik deny the Oud claims that Aryl's people are the Sona Clan, insisting the territory now belongs to them. When blood is spilled, Aryl must become Clan Speaker to try to negotiate for peace.

Other Om'ray arrive, including some determined to learn the secret of Aryl's Talent. And even as she struggles with the perilous situation in Sona, Enris must take desperate measures to try to save his own clan from the destructive power games of the Oud and Tikitik. But will the price of Sona's survial prove too high. . .?

Places to find the book:

Borrow from a Public Library

Add to LibraryThing

ISBN: 9780756405618

on 7th July 2009

Pages: 471

Published By: DAW Books (@DAWBooks)
an imprint of Penguin Group USA

The Clan Chronicles:

Reap the Wild Wind (Stratification trilogy, No.1)
Riders of the Storm (Stratification trilogy, No.2)
Rift in the Sky (Stratification trilogy, No.3)
A Thousand Words for Stranger (Trade Pact Universe, No.1)
Ties of Power (Trade Pact Universe, No.2)
To Trade the Stars (Trade Pact Universe, No.3)
This Gulf of Time and Stars (Reunification, No.1)

Available Formats: Paperback and Ebook

About Julie E. Czerneda

Julie E. Czerneda Photo Credit: Roger Czerneda Photography

Since 1997, Canadian author/editor Julie E. Czerneda has shared her love and curiosity about living things through her science fiction, writing about shapechanging semi-immortals, terraformed worlds, salmon researchers, and the perils of power. Her fourteenth novel from DAW Books was her debut fantasy, A Turn of Light, winner of the 2014 Aurora Award for Best English Novel, and now Book One of her Night`s Edge series.

She began her first fantasy series: Night’s Edge with A Turn of Light, winner of the 2014 Aurora Award for Best English Novel. A Play of Shadow followed, winning the 2015 Aurora. While there’ll be more fantasy, Julie’s back in science fiction to complete her Clan Chronicles series. Reunification #1: This Gulf of Time and Stars, came out in 2015. #2: The Gate to Futures Past released September, 2016. Volume #3: To Guard Against the Dark, follows October 2017.

An award-winning editor as well, Julie’s edited/co-edited sixteen anthologies of SF/F, including the Aurora winning Space Inc. and Under Cover of Darkness. Her most recent anthology is the 2017 Nebula Award Showcase, published May 2017, a singular honour.

Next out will be an anthology of original stories set in her Clan Chronicles series: Tales from Plexis, out in 2018. When not jumping between wonderful blogs, Julie’s at work on something very special: her highly anticipated new Esen novel, Search Image (Fall 2018).

Biography updated November 2017
Photo Credit: Roger Czerneda Photography

Posted Monday, 9 November, 2015 by jorielov in Blog Tour Host, Blogosphere Events & Happenings, Book Cover | Notation on Design, Book Cover | Original Illustration & Design, Book Review (non-blog tour), Canadian Literature, Compassion & Acceptance of Differences, Death, Sorrow, and Loss, Equality In Literature, Hard Science Fiction, Jorie Loves A Story Cuppa Book Love Awards, Library Catalogues & Databases, Local Libraries | Research Libraries, Mother-Daughter Relationships, Sci-Fi November, Science Fantasy, Science Fiction, Space Opera

Book Review | #whoaretheclan | “Reap the Wild Wind” and “Brothers Bound” by Julie E. Czerneda Jorie reads #TheClanChronicles for #RRSciFiMonth!

Posted Sunday, 8 November, 2015 by jorielov A Thousand Words for Stranger, Brothers Bound, DAW Books, Julie E. Czerneda, Penguin Group (USA), Reap the Wild Wind, Stratification trilogy, The Clan Chronicles 4 Comments

Acquired Book By: I was chosen to participate in Julie E. Czerneda’s #timeandstarstour on behalf of the seventh volume of The Clan Chronicles ‘This Gulf of Time and Stars’. Ahead of reading that installment, I reached out to the author to sort out a way to read her entire series spilt between two trilogies: a prequel and the inaugural trilogy which launched the series as a whole. She offered to have DAW Books send me the series in paperback editions to help me sort out the hours I would need to read them as I could only use inter-library loan which has a built-in delay from receiving books via your local library.

Thus a book parcel from her publicist at DAW arrived forthwith and gave me the two trilogies ahead of ‘This Gulf of Time and Stars’. I received a complimentary copy of the 10th Anniversary Edition of ‘A Thousand Words for Stranger’ which includes the novella “Brothers Bound” and a complimentary copy of ‘Reap the Wild Wind’ which starts the prequel trilogy better known as Stratification. I was not obliged to post a review or share my impressions or opinions on behalf of these stories. I am posting my thoughts for my own edification and to help encourage new readers to meet the characters Czerneda created especially if like me, they are discovering The Clan Chronicles for the first time!

My interest in reading The Clan Chronicles:

When my path originally crossed with Ms Czerneda I wasn’t quite sure which of her series (of science fiction or fantasy) I wanted to read first as she has such a wonderfully diverse collection of stories I could choose amongst. I decided to ask Ms Czerneda last November what her Top 5 selections would be for a new reader of her collective works, to which she responded by saying: A Thousand Words for Stranger; Beholder’s Eye; In the Company of Others; Species Imperative; and A Turn of the Light.

From these selections, I was quite overjoyed in finding my local library held within it’s ILL (inter-library loan) database A Turn of Light – of which I must have requested at least four times over the past year, and each month it arrived, I was unfortunately unable to read it. Survival the first novel of Species Imperative was found quite accidentally at a local thrift store where I picked up the hardback edition. It’s gently read and will happily be read during this year’s Sci Fi Experience – the sci-fi event which follows Sci Fi November! As for A Turn of Light I want to focus on Fantasy after my science fiction readings, and thereby tentatively plan to read it in February.

I hadn’t known the title of the novel I would reviewing for Ms Czerneda for her upcoming November blog tour until mid-September 2015 when we both reconnected with each other to knit my participation together. I had originally focused on her fantasy writings as I have come to realise how much I love the world-building in fantasy the past few years. I used to read quite a heap of sci-fi and fantasy more than two decades ago, but hadn’t picked up a renewal of interest until two years ago when I discovered Jackie Gamber’s Leland Dragon series.

Fearing I might not have time enough to read the first six books of The Clan Chronicles ahead of my tour stop on the 11th of November, I asked which books I should attempt to ILL from my library ahead of reading the seventh in the series. Ms Czerneda offered to have the books sent to me giving me the chance to read them at my leisure and not worry about the time delays seeking them through inter-library loan services, for which I was quite grateful. When the book parcel arrived from DAW Books, I had the biggest smile on my face you could imagine as I carefully pulled out the six books which set the foundation of The Clan Chronicles.

Leading up to my tour stop on Wednesday, I will be tweeting and blogging my impressions of the six books prior to when we meet This Gulf of Time and Stars. I am looking forward to hearing readers thoughts on behalf of this series if they have already read the trilogies as much as seeking comments from readers who might be watching my readings during #RRSciFiMonth. It’s going to be an adventurous few days here on Jorie Loves A Story!

Reap the Wild Wind
by Julie E. Czerneda
Illustrator/Cover Designer: Luis Royo
Source: Direct from Publisher

Synopsis on the Back Cover:

A Thousand Words for Stranger, the first novel in The Trade Pact Universe trilogy, introduced the Clan, refugees from the world of Cersi who built an empire few people even knew existed.

Reap the Wild Wind turns to an earlier period in the Clan's history, before they left Cersi. At this time they are known as the Om'ray, and are divided into widely scattered tribal Clans, each of which must remain in its own allotted portion of Cersi, constrained from advancing beyond a certain point by two powerful races - Oud and the Tikitik - that have technological and scientific advantages over them. The three races coexist based on three individual principes: 1) the world has always been divided this way and must remain so; 2) Passage - a once in a lifetime event when individual Om'ray are permitted to cross all territorial boundaries in search of a mate - must be honored by all; 3) nothing on Cersi can be allowed to change.

Reap the Wild Wind opens at a pivotal moment where beings from the Trade Post have begun to explore Cersi, upsetting the balance between the three races. It is a time, too, when young Aryl Sarc of the Yena Clan is on the verse of mastering the forbidden secret of the M'hir - a secret that could prove the salvation or ruin of her entire species...

Genres: Science Fiction

Places to find the book:

Borrow from a Public Library

Add to LibraryThing

ISBN: 9780756404567

Also by this author: Riders of the Storm, Rift in the Sky, A Thousand Words for Stranger, Ties of Power, To Trade the Stars, This Gulf of Time and Stars, Julie E. Czerneda Interview (#futurespasttour), The Gate to Futures Past, Guest Post (Web Shifters series) by Julie E. Czerneda, Guest Post: Julie E. Czerneda (Clan Chronicles Finale Tour), To Guard Against the Dark

Published by DAW Books

on 4th September 2007

Format: Paperback Edition

Pages: 464

Published By: DAW Books (@DAWBooks)
an imprint of Penguin Group USA

The Clan Chronicles:

Reap the Wild Wind (Stratification trilogy, No.1)
Riders of the Storm (Stratification trilogy, No.2)
Rift in the Sky (Stratification trilogy, No.3)
A Thousand Words for Stranger (Trade Pact Universe, No.1)
Ties of Power (Trade Pact Universe, No.2)
To Trade the Stars (Trade Pact Universe, No.3)
This Gulf of Time and Stars (Reunification, No.1)

Available Formats: Paperback and Ebook

About Julie E. Czerneda

Biography updated November 2017
Photo Credit: Roger Czerneda Photography

My Review of Brothers Bound:

Originally I hadn’t fully grasped how to read The Clan Chronicles, and I was thankful to the author to help me work out the appropriate order for a first-time reader! She suggested I begin with this novella ahead of reading ‘Reap the Wild Wind’ as it is a precursor to that story.

It’s an interesting premise, where you are attached through a biometric interface to a dog and presumably the dog can also ascertain your thoughts and feelings as much as you can his through this device. Vasi isn’t openly gracious in being chosen for this task, as he’s still a bit uncertain how he feels about dogs and the tethered existence he has with said dog; he’s forever complaining a bit about how tied down he feels whilst put in a position of guardian and protector at the same time.

This interface is a method of trying to gain closer access to resolving a mystery that no one else has had a chance to make head-way against. Teams of three different originating species are placed in ‘triads’ to form the best plan of attack in regards to where they should search next as they are attempting to finally put a measure of understanding on the unknown. Their mission is full of hazards, the least of which is scaling a mountain at the peak of winter when the snow pack is at it’s deadliest load. I had a sense there was going to be an avalanche even before the snow shifted it’s weight and encased the triad under it’s buckling of ice and snow.

This short story is a lesson in understanding differences and for finding a commonality of acceptance and tolerance for each other through a unique set of means set to give advantage to those seeking what is not yet found. The advantage in this case was the uniqueness of Vasi’s direct communication with the dog and how both dog and he were able to communicate their feelings. Vasi is of a race where this communication is limited to those outside his species; yet with the biometric interface he felt as though the dog understood him on equal terms. This experience led Vasi to seek out the humans who had perfected the interface as a method of continuing to align himself with someone who might accept him as he is instead of trying to work with someone they do not understand.

One of the best moments is towards the end where Vasi and the humans learn an important gift is being open to the possibilities of connection without prejudice and disregard for what is not yet understood. Differences do not have to be a reason not to get along with each other but sometimes, it’s helpful that those who work together come from different backgrounds in order to gain the most return. Read More

Posted Sunday, 8 November, 2015 by jorielov in Blog Tour Host, Blogosphere Events & Happenings, Book Cover | Notation on Design, Book Cover | Original Illustration & Design, Book Review (non-blog tour), Canadian Literature, Compassion & Acceptance of Differences, Death, Sorrow, and Loss, Equality In Literature, Hard Science Fiction, Jorie Loves A Story Cuppa Book Love Awards, Library Catalogues & Databases, Local Libraries | Research Libraries, Mother-Daughter Relationships, Sci-Fi November, Science Fantasy, Science Fiction, Space Opera

Book Review | “Reading the Sweet Oak” by Jan Stites

Posted Thursday, 29 October, 2015 by jorielov Jan Stites, Lake Union Publishing, Reading the Sweet Oak 0 Comments

Acquired Book By: I am becoming a regular tour hostess and reviewer for BookSparks, as I began to host for them in the Spring ahead of #SRC2015. I am posting my Summer Challenge reviews during November due to the aftereffects of severe lightning storms during July and August. As I make amends for the challenge reads I was unable to post until Autumn; I am also catching up with my YA challenge reads and the blog tours I missed as well. This blog tour marks one of the books I felt curious to read independent of the previous selections. I look forward to continuing to work with BookSparks once I am fully current with the stories I am reading for review.

I received a complimentary copy of “Reading the Sweet Oak” direct from the publicist at BookSparks in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

Why this title stood out to me to read:

I fancy family centered stories inasmuch as relationship-based Romances as I grew up in a close-knit family where it was key to maintain the connection to both the past and the present. I grew up with living histories of my relatives who were not alive at my birth, of whom, I felt a close bond too all the same due to how their stories were translated through memories.

I think we need more stories of home and hearth showing how courage and strength of family can overtake adversity as much as it can become the glue that binds you through the uncertainty of life itself. Without a circle of people to sound off when times are tightly taut with stress or to celebrate when life enfolds you with blissitudes that launch smiles as round as the moon; it’s a hard walk to find where you fit inside the world.

I have held a deep appreciation for multi-generational sagas for a long time as well; not only for those historicals which arch over centuries but for inter-connected story-lines where characters are of different age and station in their lives. To find a story about a grand-daughter and her grandmother facing the world together felt like a good fit for a next read! Especially since family can denote different things to different people – in this case, a young girl came to live with her grandparent when her parent(s) had passed; finding both comfort and freedom. I like finding stories which curate a non-traditional family life because there are as many families out there as their are fish in the sea.

Reading the Sweet Oak
by Jan Stites

Along the banks of the Sweet Oak River, deep in the heart of the Ozarks, a romance novel book club takes five women on stunning journeys of self-discovery.

After losing first her husband, then her daughter, seventy-eight-year-old grandmother Ruby wants to teach her risk-averse granddaughter, Tulsa, that some leaps are worth taking, no matter how high the potential fall. Tulsa loves her grandmother dearly, but she has a business to run and no time for romance—not even the paperback version. But when Ruby ropes her into a book club, Tulsa can’t bring herself to disappoint the woman who raised her.

Together with Ruby’s best friend, Pearl, as well as family friends BJ and Jen, the women embark on an exploration of modern-day love guided by written tales of romance. What they discover is a beautiful story that examines the bonds of friendship and the highs and lows of love in all its forms.

Places to find the book:

Borrow from a Public Library

Add to LibraryThing

ISBN: 9781503945159

on 29th September 2015

Pages: 375

Published By: Lake Union Publishing
Available Formats: Paperback, Audiobook and Ebook

About Jan Stites

Jan Stites is the author of the novels Edgewise and Reading the Sweet Oak . She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri and a master’s degree from Purdue University, both in history and English.

She has held a multitude of jobs, including screenwriter, screenwriting instructor at San Francisco State University and the University of California–Berkeley, waitress, secretary, middle school teacher, scuba diving travel writer, journalist, transcriber for doctors and documentary filmmakers, teacher in Kenya and the Yucatán, and translator for American doctors in Mexico.

She is from Missouri, where she has vacationed extensively in the Ozarks. She currently resides in Northern California with her husband.

Website | Facebook

Posted Thursday, 29 October, 2015 by jorielov in 21st Century, Bits & Bobbles of Jorie, Blog Tour Host, BookSparks, Brothers and Sisters, Coming-Of Age, Compassion & Acceptance of Differences, Equality In Literature, Indie Author, LGBTTQPlus Fiction | Non-Fiction, Modern Day, Mother-Daughter Relationships, Siblings, Small Towne USA, Vulgarity in Literature, Women's Fiction

Blog Book Tour | “Avelynn” by Marissa Campbell #histfic for readers curious about Vikings yet attached to Saxons with moxie!

Posted Monday, 12 October, 2015 by jorielov A Thomas Donne Book, Avelynn, MacMillan Publishers, Marissa Campbell, St. Martin's Griffin, St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Publishing Group 0 Comments

Acquired Book By: I was selected to be a tour stop on the “Avelynn” virtual book tour through HFVBT: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. I received a complimentary ARC copy of the book direct from the publisher St. Martin’s Press, in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

There is something about the Vikings:

Ever since I was a young girl who enjoyed her history lessons in grammar school, you could say I had a healthy fascination with the Vikings. They were painted quite the brogue and rough turnt bunch of warriors of whom you wouldn’t seek to cross if you had any sense of mind about your well being; yet within those whim-some chapters of text about who they were and who they weren’t (as let’s be honest, textbooks rarely were the tell-all place to find truth out of history) a curiosity of mind developed.

I yearned to read more about them and to uncover fact from fiction inasmuch as find a way to seek out stories about them that perhaps softened their plight and plunder on history’s fabled chapters. I wouldn’t have minded a romanticised view of their lives but I would have appreciated truism if it wasn’t brokered to be bent towards violent gore nor of brutality for the sake of it rather than for the authenticity. Vikings at mere mention stroke the coals of memories most of us have about what we were taught vs what we might have learnt on our own accords.

Whether or not, I knew enough about them prior to reading Avelynn is not in question but to have a curiosity about a community of people who enticed me to find stories set around their lives is worthwhile because it is something I was wondering if others were curious about too. I know this only my first foray into Viking fiction, as the only other story I can lay thought upon having seen prior to reading this story is How to Train Your Dragon Parts I & II where the Vikings are seen in all their familiar glory! Lest, I mention how wicked awesome those films were!?

Avelynn
by Marissa Campbell
Source: Publisher via Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

One extraordinary Saxon noblewoman and one fearless Viking warrior find passion and danger in this dazzling and sensuous debut.

Marissa Campbell’s debut novel is a winning combination of romance, history, and adventure sure to appeal to fans of Diana Gabaldon.

It is 869. For eighteen years, Avelynn, the beautiful and secretly pagan daughter of the Eadlorman of Somerset has lived in an environment of love and acceptance. She hasn’t yet found a man to make her heart race, but her father has not pressured her to get married. Until now. With whispers of war threatening their land, her father forces Avelynn into a betrothal with Demas, a man who only covets her wealth and status. The dreaded marriage looming, she turns to her faith, searching for answers in an ancient ritual along the coast, only to find Alrik the Blood-Axe and sixty Viking berserkers have landed.

Alrik is unlike any man she has ever known, strong and intriguing. Likewise, he instantly falls for her beauty and courage. The two stumble into a passionate love affair, but it’s more than just a greedy suitor who will try to keep them apart.

As the Saxons and Vikings go to war, Avelynn and Alrik find themselves caught in the throes of fate. Can they be true to their people as well as to each other?

Genres: Feminist Historical Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Spirituality & Metaphysics

Places to find the book:

Borrow from a Public Library

Add to LibraryThing

ISBN: 978-1250063939

Also by this author: Avelynn

Published by St. Martin's Griffin

on 8th September 2015

Format: Paperback ARC

Pages: 320

Published By: St. Martin’s Griffin via St. Martin’s Press
imprints of St. Martin’s Publishing Group,
which is now a part of MacMillian Publishers
Available Formats: Paperback, Ebook

Converse via: #Avelynn

About Marissa Campbell

Marissa Campbell is a published freelance author, and co-author of the award-winning, spiritual self-help book Life: Living in Fulfillment Every Day.

Her debut historical fiction AVELYNN, was published through St. Martin’s Press, September 2015. She self-published her sophmore release Avelynn: The Edge of Faith. She is a proud member of the Historical Novel Society, Romance Writers of America, Writer’s Community of Durham Region, and local critique group B7.

When she is not writing, she is busy looking after her wonderful children, spending time with her fantastic husband, hanging out with her awesome friends, teaching yoga, dancing, laughing, and having fun!

Author's biography updated October 2016.

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

2015 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

Posted Monday, 12 October, 2015 by jorielov in 9th Century, Action & Adventure Fiction, ARC | Galley Copy, Arthurian Legend, Bits & Bobbles of Jorie, Blog Tour Host, Book Cover | Notation on Design, Book Trailer, Bookish Discussions, Bookish Films, British Literature, Brothers and Sisters, Canadian Literature, Compassion & Acceptance of Differences, Crime Fiction, Debut Author, Debut in United States, Debut Novel, Earthen Magic, Earthen Spirituality, England, Equality In Literature, Fantasy Fiction, Folklore and Mythology, Gods & Goddesses, Heroic Bloodshed, Historical Fiction, Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours, Historical Mystery, Jorie Loves A Story Cuppa Book Love Awards, Marriage Rituals, Passionate Researcher, Reader Submitted Q&A, Rituals for the Afterlife, Saxon | Viking History, Siblings, Superstitions & Old World Beliefs, Warfare & Power Realignment, Writing Style & Voice

Blog Book Tour | “Bearskin” by Jamie Robyn Wood

Posted Tuesday, 22 September, 2015 by jorielov Bearskin, Cedar Fort Inc, Jamie Robyn Wood, Sweetwater Books 0 Comments

Acquired Book By: I am a regular tour hostess for blog tours via Cedar Fort whereupon I am thankful to have such a diverse amount of novels and non-fiction titles to choose amongst to host. I received a complimentary copy of “Bearskin” direct from the publisher Sweetwater Books (imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc) in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

Fairy-tale Re-tellings are my new ‘niche’ of interest:

When the author first approached me about hosting her debut novel on it’s blog tour, I was in the midst of sorting out how to resolve my lightning damages and switchover to a new ISP provider who could stablise my issues with connectivity. Lightning proved to be a humdinger of a nightmare this past Summer, and losing my ability to read whilst I blog was one of the losses I sustained whilst mother nature proved her salt and power. Blessedly Ms Wood did contact me, as I hadn’t known too much about Bearskin prior to when she contacted me – I was aware of it coming up on the calendar for Cedar Fort’s blog tours, as I like to stay ahead of what is coming down the pipe, but as far as what it involved and what the story might be based upon, I was a bit in the dark!

She mentioned to me it was based on two separate fairy-tales “Bearskin” and “East of the Sun and West of the Moon”, which intrigued me outright – as I have sorted out that ‘fairy-tale re-tellings’ is fast becoming a new ‘niche’ of interest of mine! It is credited to the writers behind Sweetwater Books whose stories have captured my imagination and inspired me forward to seek out other re-tellings based on fairy-tale lore.

I did a bit of research to uncover BEARSKIN was writ by the Brothers Grimm and East of the Sun and West of the Moon was included in The Blue Fairy Book – one of the collections of tales which tipped a curious hat for me to include on my neverending ‘need to read’ lists! To combine origins of lore from both Germany and Norway respectively is quite the feat to undertake, and rather than expand my readings about the particulars of both fairy-tales, I decided knowing their origins was enough to whet my appetite ahead of reading Wood’s spin on them!

Due to her inspiring first contact, I decided to mark myself down for this blog tour, however, I was already on a short break from signing up for new blog tours as I was slowly falling behind on my CF hosting duties – the lighting and the time offline was not working in my favour!

This is why this week is going to be heavily focused on Cedar Fort’s releases, as I’m using the last day of the tour for BEARSKIN as a jumping stone towards becoming current! Coming up next will be Ann Farnsworth’s The Throne of David followed by Summer Campaign by Carla Kelly on Saturday, with two reviews on Sunday being featured: The Tulip Resistance by Lynne Leatham Allen and The Haunting of Springett Hall by E.B. Wheeler! The latter of which will kick-off my participation in PERIL where we (book bloggers) focus on tales of Mystery, Suspense, and Horror! For me, this includes ghost stories and psychological suspense such as the kind Wheeler writes!

In regards to fairy-tales, what appeals to me is how contemporary writers are re-envisioning the tales in such a creative way as to help us dip back into their folds without the Brothers Grimm versions leaving us in a fit of nightmares! I’ve not yet read any of the originals, as I previously learnt the fairy-tale versions I grew-up on myself were watered down and were not even a hint of their forebearers! I apparently appreciate a gentler side to fiction, especially when it comes to fairy-tales and the fantasy worlds just past our own imaginative realms!

Notation on the Cover Art Design:

What truly hits you as you pick up the book for the first time is the closeness of the bear and the vivid emotional state of the person underneath the cloaked hood. The entire image is quite evoking – even the title makes you ponder the truer meaning behind the word and if by chance, the bear and the bear’s essence can be transmorphed somehow onto another entity that is not Ursidae in nature. Part of my early inklings of thought were to wonder if this was part shapeshifter or part animal spirit guides – something that would interconnect the lead characters with the bear. I accidentally had a spoiler revealed to me whilst googling ‘shapeshifting’ and reading a brief portion of this article! Although it didn’t spoilt the story – if anything, my fantasy instincts are starting to kick-in again! Besides I’m the one who loves a shifter named Bannon from the Leland Dragons series!

Bearskin
by Jamie Robyn Wood
Source: Direct from Publisher

When their mother, an evil enchantress, tries to convince Conrad, Moiria, and Heppson to follow her ways, each one must decide where the line lies between good and evil, magic and myth. But it will take more than good intentions to defend their kingdom against the danger that's coming.

Based on the Bearskin fairy-tale, this young adult fantasy is filled with intricate plot twists and an impossible romance that will keep you guessing.

Genres: Fairy-Tale Re-Telling, Fantasy Fiction, YA Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction

Places to find the book:

Borrow from a Public Library

Add to LibraryThing

ISBN: 9781462117161

Published by Sweetwater Books

on 8th September 2015

Format: Paperback Edition

Pages: 288

Published By: Sweetwater Books (@SweetwaterBooks),
an imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc (@CedarFortBooks)

Available Formats: Paperback, Ebook

About Jamie Robyn Wood

Jamie Robyn Wood is a full-time wife and mother and a part-time fantasy writer and essayist. Jamie never imagined the wind could blow so hard and so cold until she moved to the Midwest. Now she prefers to hunker inside the house with a cup of hot chocolate and a story to write. Bearskin is her first novel. She, her husband, their five children, and their “pet” squirrels currently reside in Coralville, Iowa.

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I am positively smitten by ‘shifters’:

I was completely unaware of my attraction to shapeshifters until I met Bannon in Jackie Gamber’s YA Fantasy series the Leland Dragons (of which I have happily blogged about quite a heap!) and then, happily I found myself empathic to the shifter in AshleyRose Sullivan’s alternative historical PNR Silver Tongue except to say, I hadn’t had the pleasure of flushing out my appreciation of the diversity of characters within Silver Tongue at the time of my review. I was under a time constraint for personal and tech reasons, so I truly wanted to blog as much as I could about the heart of the novel saving the best bits to share during Sci Fi November + the Sci Fi Experience this upcoming November through January.

The entire idea behind shapeshifters was not completely foreign to me in concept because I grew up watching DS9 where Odo regularly made an appearance and was one of my favourites to watch on the series. It wasn’t until Bannon that I fully understand the soul behind the shifters and of their struggle to merge between worlds of who they are: part human, part ‘something’ other than human. It’s an interesting psychological angle to encourage in the crafting of stories, especially in Fantasy because it undercuts the humanistic side of the character’s spirit.

I haven’t yet read the collection of Harry Potter novels, but Harry’s Uncle is quite dear to me and I credit his character (via the motion pictures) as being part of my inclination towards seeking out more shifters in literature whilst full credit still remains with #EuphorYA (where I discovered ‘werecats’; as tweeted about). Although if you run a search for my chattering on Twitter you will find this hodgepodge collection of tweeting; even if I made a small bit of a mistake in which raptor species Bannon truly is! Oy vie!

And, I cannot end a discussion about shifters without drawing attention to a wonderful shifter inside EDC Johnson’s PNR debut Moonflower, a novel I dearly want to re-read prior to the second novel’s release! I definitely wanted to spend more time inside her world and properly take up residence for a spell! The note she wrote to me on her website is very dear to my heart, as each time I meet a book which leaves me spellbound, the review which is featured on my blog becomes a note of gratitude back to the author!

Not surprisingly, all my shifter favourites are within the YA Lit side of reading!

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

2015 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

Posted Tuesday, 22 September, 2015 by jorielov in #JorieLovesIndies, After the Canon, Animals in Fiction & Non-Fiction, Balance of Faith whilst Living, Bears, Bits & Bobbles of Jorie, Blog Tour Host, Bookish Discussions, Cedar Fort Publishing & Media, Compassion & Acceptance of Differences, Debut Author, Debut Novel, Equality In Literature, Fairy Tale Fiction, Fantasy Fiction, Folklore and Mythology, Historical Fiction, Illustration for Books & Publishing, Indie Author, Inspirational Fiction & Non-Fiction, Inspired by Stories, Jorie Loves A Story Cuppa Book Love Awards, Re-Told Tales, Shapeshifters, Spirituality & Metaphysics, YA Fantasy