Mundie Moms

Friday, May 8, 2015

Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare Coming MARCH 2016!

COVER ART NOT FINAL

Cassandra Clare shared some exciting news. Lady Midnight info and pre-order info is now up on Shadowhunters.com! Here's what she shared

Lady Midnight info and preorderableness now up on Shadowhunters.com! (No, this is not the cover. It’s a temporary placeholder.) That water looks scary, though…
Also, 768 pages! Yow!

Lady Midnight

Available March 2016

It’s been five years since the events of City of Heavenly Fire that brought the 
Shadowhunters to the brink of oblivion. Emma Carstairs is no longer a child in 
mourning, but a young woman bent on discovering what killed her parents and 
avenging her losses.

Together with her parabatai Julian Blackthorn, Emma must learn to trust her 
head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches across 
Los Angeles, from the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches 
of Santa Monica. If only her heart didn’t lead her in treacherous directions…

Glitz, glamours, and Shadowhunters abound in this heartrending opening to 
Cassandra Clare’s Dark Artifices series.

Pre-Order From: Amazon | Simon & Schuster 

The Shadowhunters TV Series News: McG Confirmed Photography Will Begin May 25h



This week we're receiving all kinds of exciting news about The Shadowhunters TV series. Not only have learned who Clary is, McG confirmed on Twitter that photography for The Shadowhunters will be begin on May 25th. He tweeted this picture, and the tweet below.


We are scheduled to start photography on Monday May 25.

He also shared a picture of the script! 


Time to make he script perfect for out extraordinary cast

I'm really hoping that the rumors circling about how horrible the script is, are false. Apparently there there is a site where you can pay to purchase the script, and from what some sites have posted of it, it's cringe worthy. However, there are also various versions of script, and who knows which version is being posted. I'm holding out hope. One thing is for certain, this cast is AWESOME!


The Novice by Taran Matharu; Blog Tour: Author Interview + Giveaway



We welcome Taran Matharu to Mundie Moms today. He's the author of the just released, The Novice: Book One in the Summoner Trilogy.

ABOUT THE BOOK

 
When blacksmith apprentice Fletcher discovers that he has the ability to summon demons from another world, he travels to Adept Military Academy. There the gifted are trained in the art of summoning. Fletcher is put through grueling training as a battlemage to fight in the Hominum Empire’s war against orcs. He must tread carefully while training alongside children of powerful nobles. The power hungry, those seeking alliances, and the fear of betrayal surround him. Fletcher finds himself caught in the middle of powerful forces, with only his demon Ignatius for help.

As the pieces on the board maneuver for supremacy, Fletcher must decide where his loyalties lie. The fate of an empire is in his hands. The Novice is the first in a trilogy about Fletcher, his demon Ignatius, and the war against the Orcs.
Purchase from: amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound | Book Depository | goodreads

THE INTERVIEW

I  was lucky enough to get chance to ask Taran a few questions about his story and, of course, asked all the important questions about his world, the characters and oh yes, even potential romance.

MM: From the sample  of The Novice on wattpad and the synopsis, I must say I find your mythology fascinating. It reminds me a little of classic fantasy worlds. So I have to ask a little about your inspiration and especially the pairing of summoners and demons -- what was your inspiration for this magical world?

Taran: That’s a tough question! It’s definitely a combination of all the fantasy elements that I love, with my own take on each of them. So for example the multiple races came from books, films and videogames such as Warhammer, Warcraft, Lord of the Rings, Redwall, Skyrim. The magical school was inspired by books like The Earth Sea Quartet, Discworld and of course Harry Potter. The demons themselves were inspired by my love for cryptids and mythological creatures around the world, with Pokemon and the summoning class in videogames contributing too. There are a whole lot of other inspirations, both personal and historical, but I think I’ll leave it there before I write a whole essay on it!

MM: Stories with a magical academy setting usually become my very favorites. Tell us a little bit about Vocans Academy. What can a new student like Fletcher expect to see when he enters through its doors?

Taran: The academy itself is in an old castle, dark, brooding and surrounded by a deep moat. Vocans is more than just a school. It’s also a military academy, so there is a focus on being trained as a warrior rather than just a mage. The walls are lined with tapestries and paintings of battles against the orcs. War memorabilia such as orc clubs, arrowheads and ancient armour are kept in glass cases for all to see.

In the basement are the old dungeons and arena, where orcs were once imprisoned and executed for the entertainment of the soldiers that inhabited the castle long ago. That is where noviciates learn swordplay and are pitted against each other in the end of year Tournament. I’ll leave the rest for the readers to discover on their own ;).

MM: Nobles, orcs, elves and dwarves -- that's quite a cast, and I'm sure it's full of political tension. Can you tell us about the reason for the Hominum Empire's war against the orcs? And how are battlemages used in the war?

Taran: The Third Orc War begins 15 years before The Novice. On a cold, winter night, an orc tribe slaughters the entire population of Raleighshire in an unprovoked raid, including a family of nobles. Their bodies are tied to trees along the jungle border as a warning. In response to this atrocity, Hominum’s new king begins to deforest their jungles. After eight years of bitter fighting, the Third Orc War is officially declared. It is this war that the protagonist, Fletcher, becomes embroiled in.

Most battlemages are nobles, acting as officers in the military. The Celestial Corps are the aerial contingent, riding their demons into battle in the skies above the jungle, against Wyvern riding orc shamans. Battlemages often act in a supporting role, protecting their troops from projectiles with shield spells and healing the injured. At the same time, they will often go on the offensive, using fire, lightning and telekinesis spells to decimate their opponents.

MM: If Fletcher, the protagonist and future battlemage, could tell Mundie Moms one thing (before we start reading his story) what would it be?

Taran: He would probably offer to sponsor you at Vocans and capture a demon for you! He’d then tell you all the different species of demon that have been discovered and try to work out which would suit you best.

MM: And we have to ask, is there a tiny bit of romance in this book? You know how MMs love their kissy scenes.

Taran: There is a tiny bit, but not a full-fledged romance. It’s certainly teased and there is some flirting. I wanted to leave the readers a chance to ship the characters first ;).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Taran was born in London in 1990 and found a passion for reading at a very early age. His love for stories developed into a desire to create his own during early adolescence, beginning his first book at 9 years old.

Straight after graduating with a First Class degree in Business Administration, Taran was keen to explore a new avenue and get inside the publishing world, landing an internship in Digital Sales at Penguin Random House, from June to September 2013.

Thereafter, while taking time off to travel, Taran began to write ‘Summoner’ in November 2013 at the age of 22, taking part in ‘Nanowrimo 2013’.

Thanks to Wattpad.com and updating daily, its popularity dramatically increased, reaching over 3 million reads in less than six months.

After being featured by NBC News, Taran decided to launch his professional writing career and has never looked back.

His SUMMONER trilogy will be published in Spring 2015 by Hodder Children’s in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and British Commonwealth, Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan) in the US and Canada, Heyne in Germany, Crown in Taiwan, Planeta in the Spanish speaking world and Record in Brazil. Book 1 will be published by EKSMO in Russia, Ecliptic in Bulgaria and Alpress in the Czech Republic.

Follow Taran on twitter facebook | wattpad | goodreads

ENTER TO WIN
Many thanks to Taran and MacTeen Books for sponsoring a giveaway. Scroll down and enter for a chance to win ONE hardcover of The Novice (U.S. only):


For more interviews, reviews, guests posts and chances to win the giveaway, be sure to follow the blog tour stops:

Tuesday May 5  Bookish Antics

Wednesday May 6  A Life Bound By Books

Thursday May 7  SciFiChick

Friday May 8  MundieMoms

Monday May 11  WinterHavenBooks

Tuesday May 12  Forever Young Adult

Thursday May 14   MacTeenBooks Blog

Friday May 15   Working for the Mandroid

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