Mundie Moms

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Book Review: Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick


Published by: Simon & Schuster
Released on: October 4th, 2011
Source: Bought
4 stars: I Really Enjoyed It

The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They've overcome the secrets riddled in Patch's dark past...bridged two irreconcilable worlds...faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust...and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for—and their love—forever. -quoted from Goodreads

Picking up right where Crescendo leaves off, Silence begins in heartbreaking way as Nora is found months after her kidnapping with no memory of what's happened during that time period and before that. If trying to piece the last few months together was hard enough, her mother is dating Nora and Patch's enemy, and her arch enemies father, her best friend is keeping something from her, her mother isn't totally honest with her, Scott is back and wants to help her and a mystery guy named Jev keeps popping up when Nora least excepts it.

There were times I felt that the beginning of story was a little repetitive, which given what happened to Nora made sense. I thought Becca did a great job at working Nora's memory less with recounting certain events that happened in Crescendo into Silence's storyline. What I got a little bit frustrated at with the story is Nora's inability to piece things together quicker. She's a character whom I thought was always on the ball, and I didn't find it believable that it took her so long to put things together, especially when a few things like her connection to Patch were so obvious both to her and me as a reader. Once things do come back to her, the story really took off for me and I found myself having a hard time putting the book down.

Oh Patch... sigh. I liked that Becca not only had Nora falling in love with Patch all over again, but she allowed me to do the same thing. He did some things in Crescendo that really ticked me off, and now that I understand why he did them and knowing what he's now gone through made it much easier for me to forgive him. Plus who doesn't enjoy some fabulous Patch moments where he's waring with himself to just give into Nora and tell her everything, vs keeping her in the dark. His devotion to Nora is even more fierce than before, and for good reason. The stakes are much higher and there's so much more to lose, not to mention the war between the fallen and archangels is hanging on the horizon. Thank you Becca for delivering some wonderful swoon worthy Patch moments we've come to love.

In true series fashion, Becca continues to treat fans with some great plot twists, danger, action, excitement, and some fabulous swoon worthy scenes. If you're a fan of this series, I highly recommend picking this book up. Given the unexpected ending, I'm really looking forward to the next and final installment to this series. If you get a chance to, pick up and read the fabulous extra in the Silence copies found at Walmart and Sam's Club. I loved getting to read a scene from Patch's point of view. Silence is a great addition to the Hush, Hush series.

The Faerie Ring Blog Tour: Author Interview

I am so excited to have debut author, Kiki Hamilton on the blog today! I've been in love with this story for over a year now, when Kiki first approached me about reading it. If you've not picked The Faerie Ring up it, I highly recommend it. You can read my 5 star review for it.


London, 1871
Orphaned and picking pockets in London’s Charing Cross station to support not only herself, but her ‘family’ of orphans, sixteen year-old Tiki steals the Queen’s ring and thinks she’s solved their problems. That is, until Rieker, a pickpocket from the North End, suspects her in the theft and tells her that the ring is really a reservoir that holds a truce between the British and Faerie courts.

When he warns her that the fey will do anything, including murder, to recover the ring, Tiki is unsure whether to believe him or not. To complicate matters, Rieker seems to know something about the unusual birthmark on Tiki’s wrist. But when Tiki and her family are threatened the game changes.

In a dazzling debut that takes you from the gritty slums of Victorian London to the glittering ballrooms of the Royal Palace to the menacing Otherworld, you won’t want to miss this thrilling tale of mystery, adventure and romance.


I absolutely LOVE your debut, The Faerie Ring. You've created this beautiful blend of love, adventure, paranormal characters and of course a fabulous setting. What was your favorite element to write about?
Thank you so much! You are such a wonderful support to so many authors!!! As a debut, I especially appreciate your enthusiasm!

I loved writing about Victorian London. It just seems like a mysterious, magical era with endless possibilities for adventure. But I also loved writing about my characters and following them around the City to see what was going to happen next!Thank you so much! You are such a wonderful support to so many authors!!! As a debut, I especially appreciate your enthusiasm!
What's one thing you admire about Tiki?
What I admire about Tiki is that she will fight for what she believes in and she’ll fight to protect those she cares about, even when it frightens her to do so.

We are huge fans of the Victorian London setting. What do you find most fascinating about this era (I'm including a picture of the lovely map that's featured in your book below for our readers to see)?
I think the dichotomy of beliefs is fascinating. There was such technological advances occurring but at the same time, belief in mysticism, in the spirit world, in the Otherworld, was still commonplace and strongly embedded in society.

I really enjoy your story's faerie mythology. Did you find it hard to create a unique lore around a popular paranormal character to make it your own for your story?
No, I didn’t find it difficult at all. What I tried to do was be respectful of common mythology that is well-known, but then to thread that with my own imagination. I liked starting from the base of the Seelie and UnSeelie court, which is widely referenced in many works, but then being able to create my own world from that foundation.

If I were headed off to London right now (don't I wish), what is one place you'd tell me I needed to visit? Ah….that’s a tough one. I absolutely loved Windsor Castle and St. Georges Chapel. Ah….that’s a tough one. I absolutely loved Windsor Castle and St. Georges Chapel. Prince Leopold is buried there along with Henry the VIII and all sort of famous historical figures. The Queen lives at Windsor most of the time so you get to see the rooms where she entertains heads of state and the opulence is truly jaw-dropping.

I also loved the parks, St. James Park is particularly beautiful and of course, is featured in THE FAERIE RING.

Westminster Abbey is amazing in so many ways – the architecture, the history of the building, the notable people buried there and the events that have occurred within its walls. Mind-boggling, really.

So many fantastic places in London – but that’s where I’d start. Fingers crossed you get to go!!

Speed Round Questions
:

Victorian London or modern day London?
Modern day London – I think I like the sanitation and the women’s rights a bit better now.

A day at the Beach or a trip to the Mountains?
The beach, though I love the mountains too. I guess it depends if I’d have to walk uphill for a long time or not in the mountains. :-}

Camping outdoors or staying in a hotel?
Well, I’ve done lots of both, but probably at this age I’d choose the hotel. With a pool, please.

It's movie night, do you see romance or comedy?
Always the romance. I’m a sucker for a good love story.

If you had 2 hrs of down time today, do you read or write? I always write. Though I should read I
I always write. Though I should read more…more…

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Thank you so much for being with us today Kiki! I really enjoyed your answers and getting a glimpse into the writing and creative process behind The Faerie Ring.

Thank you SO MUCH for featuring me on your blog and for arranging this AWESOME blog tour for THE FAERIE RING!!! I am very grateful!!
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Be sure to follow the entire Blog Tour
and don't forget to enter for your chance to win copies of the Faerie Ring at the stops indicated!

Visit Kiki on her website| blog| Twitter| facebook

You can keep up with all the latest The Faerie Ring news by following The Faerie Ring site. Learn more about the story, meet the characters, see a map of 1871 London, and read reviews about the book.

Purchase The Faerie Ring from: Amazon| Barnes & Noble| Indie Bound| The Book Depository| Powell's Books| Books A Million

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