Mundie Moms

Thursday, January 28, 2016

REIGN OF SHADOWS by Sophie Jordan / Blog Tour: Book Review & Giveaway




Hello and welcome to today's stop in the REIGN OF SHADOWS blog tour! Today's stop features a giveaway (be sure to enter at the end of this post), as well as my review for Sophie Jordan's upcoming release! First, here's a little bit about the book. 

ABOUT THE BOOK


By: Sophie Jordan
Published by: Harper Teen
To Be Released on: February 9th, 2016
Series: Reign of Shadows #1
Purchase from: Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | iBooks | The Book Depository
Add it to Goodreads 
Rating: 4 Stars - I Enjoyed It
* I received an ARC from the publisher to review, in exchange for my honest review

Seventeen years ago, an eclipse cloaked the kingdom of Relhok in perpetual darkness. In the chaos, an evil chancellor murdered the king and queen and seized their throne. Luna, Relhok’s lost princess, has been hiding in a tower ever since. Luna’s survival depends on the world believing she is dead.

But that doesn’t stop Luna from wanting more. When she meets Fowler, a mysterious archer braving the woods outside her tower, Luna is drawn to him despite the risk. When the tower is attacked, Luna and Fowler escape together. But this world of darkness is more treacherous than Luna ever realized.

With every threat stacked against them, Luna and Fowler find solace in each other. But with secrets still unspoken between them, falling in love might be their most dangerous journey yet.

With lush writing and a star–crossed romance, Reign of Shadowsis Sophie Jordan at her best.


I am a huge Sophie Jordan fan. I love her YA books, especially the ones that have those well written fantasy elements, swoon worthy romances, and action packed scenes. If you've not yet picked up one of Sophie's books, you're missing out. I'm really excited about her newest series, Reign of Shadows. While this book may have had a slow start for me, and I may have felt the pacing was a little off at times, I am so glad I stuck with this book! I went from feeling not connected to the story for some of the first half, to feeling like I couldn't turn the pages fast enough for the second half. 

Reign of Shadows is an interesting blend of fantasy and dystopia. I really liked how these two elements worked together in this story. Normally I'm not a huge fan of dystopia, but it worked out well for Reign of Shadows, particularly with the freaky creatures that live within this book's dark world. The world itself is a fascinating one. It's a dark and dangerous place that for the most part has been without light for the last seventeen years, except for the midnight. The time of day have offers a little bit of light. It added a lot to the story, and what the characters dwell with. From dwellers who feed on people, to huge rabbit eating bats. This is one world I wouldn't want to venture out in, unless of course I had Fowler and Luna with me. 


It took me a while to really connect with both Luna and Fowler, but once I did, I ended up loving these two characters. Luna has lived in a tower for much of her life, and has rarely been out doors. There's a reason for why she's been there. Despite her little contact with the outside world, I liked that those entrusted to protect her, have trained her and have taught about the world outside. Luna is far from helpless, and I loved that she 'sees' and experiences the world differently than those around her. I admired her fearlessness, and her attention to detail. That alone is crucial in her ability to survive in the outside world.


Fowler is a character who was harder to like, but once I did, I ended up loving him. He's definitely been through his fair share of hell. The world he's lived in has changed him, which is excepted given all the death and destruction he's witnessed. I really liked the way Luna and Fowler's story intertwined. They both do their fair share of saving each other. I loved how they both change each other, for the better, more so Fowler than Luna. I liked their little moments together. The little touches, the glances and their nearness to each other. Those moments are ones Sophie Jordan writes so well. She builds up to just the right moment between the two characters, so that when things finally start heating up, you want to yell FINALLY!


Of course, just as things start heating up, shocking secrets get revealed. Talk about a great twist at the end of this book! I was not excepting that twist, though I totally should have. Sophie Jordan what have you done to me! I need the next book. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in this series. I just wish I didn't have to wait so long for it be released. 



ABOUT SOPHIE JORDAN


Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.

A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.

In less than three years, her first book, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller's List.



Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

ENTER TO WIN


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Follow the Tour


See Sophie Jordan on Tour

  • St. Louis, MO
  • February 9, 2016
  • Main Street Books, off-site at Spencer Road Library, 7 PM
  • Naperville, IL
  • February 10, 2016
  • Anderson’s Bookshop, 7 PM
  • Washington, D.C.
  • February 11, 2016
  • Politics & Prose, off-site at the Bethesda Library, 7 PM
  • Fairfax, VA
  • February 12, 2016
  • Barnes & Noble, 7 PM
  • Bensalem, PA
  • February 13, 2016
  • Barnes & Noble, 1 PM
  • New York City
  • February 14, 2016
  • Books of Wonder, 4 PM
  • *Billed as “Epic Reads Presents: A Date with Royalty”

Shadowhunters TV Series: Episode 3: Dead Man's Party / Review



We're now three weeks into the Shadowhunters TV series. This week's episode, Dead Man's Party, has all three of us sharing our thoughts on what we watched. This week's review is a little bit different than my previous reviews of the series, which you can read here, and here. This week our snark, and say it how it is attitudes, may be much more present than normal. We'd love to know what you thought of this week's Shadowhunters episode. Please feel free to share your thoughts below in the comments.




Katie's Thoughts


 I don't even know what I just watched, but it wasn't good, and I wish I could unsee most, if not all of it. Forget about the descent to hell, this week it was more like the descent into every one's pants. What was with the sex scenes/sensual scenes?! Yes, I have issues with the characters using sex to get what they want. Those scenes weren't just over the top, they were completely unnecessary. The everyone seducing everyone took away from the intelligence of the characters. They don't use seduction to get what they want. I'm a little miffed that the crucial seen between Jace & Clary in the greenhouse got cut from the TV series, and in it's place we get an episode full of sex and some troubling sexual seduction.


Let's talk about the scene with Jace watching Brad the vampire groping Clary. This entire scene was horrible, and completely uncharacteristic of Jace. Jace actually respects Clary, and women. He would never use Clary to get something he wanted. The fact that he allowed Brad to grope her, and use her in the manner he did to the vampire's motorcycle, was disgusting. Then there's the Izzy and Meliorn scene. They could have kept with the scene from the book, and it would have been just fine. I didn't need to see the unnecessary sex scene between them. The scene with Camille and Simon was, I don't even know what the heck that was, but it was a waste of air time. I couldn't help but laugh at the horrible, "Don't worry, my little caramel...." line. Wow.... I couldn't even take these vampires serious, and in the book they're a bit terrifying. 


Ed Decter has totally lost me with this episode. I have held out hope with the series, but after this disastrous episode, I'm not so sure. Thankfully the acting outshines the horrible script writing. The were a couple good things from this episode, like Simon and Alec. They continue to be my favorite characters. I love the way Alberto and Matthew bring their two characters to life. They are completely believable in the way they deliver their lines, down to their mannerisms. I also liked getting a very small glimpse of book Jace. I liked getting to see more of Izzy and Alec together, and I liked the end (and not just because the episode was finally over) with Simon and Clary. The scene between them summed up their relationship; Clary has always loved Simon as a best friend, and Simon has always loved Clary more than a friend. 


I wish I could say I'm hopeful about next week's episode, but I'm still trying to process what I just watched this week. One things for sure, I wasn't a fan, I'm not even sure I'll continue watching the series.



S
ophie's Thoughts


This episode should've been called "There is a Downworlder in My Pants". Everyone seduces everyone in the name of discovering secrets. Meliorn and Izzy were an unnecessary sexy aside.  Seelies can't lie and some things I can't unsee. 


Speaking of that, Camille comparing Simon to chocolates. "Don't worry, my little caramel...". That line has got to be one of the cheesiest vampire lines I have ever heard. It's almost as bad as "you're my own, personal brand of heroin" from that other poorly scripted (albeit much loved movie). Also, I didn't know vampires can stop time (for a well placed info dump)?!?!

The things I liked outweigh the badly acted, sexy asides.  I continue to love Alec. He is that voice of reason that was portrayed in the book. I adore his "this is a bad idea" moments. Matthew delivers them so believably. Simon. I love him, too, and Alberto brings him to life in such a sweet,  bumbly way.  He's so much like BookSimon. And before I forget, JACE ON A MOTORCYCLE! That's always fun to watch. The last scene with Clary and Simon was pretty book-perfect. Their relationship as well as Jace and Alec's is pretty well done. I think the chemistry between the actors overrides the badly written script.

Will I keep watching? Sure, for now.



Emmaly's Thoughts


This episode was very dialogue heavy, as my husband said as he walked in around the graveyard scene, "they just talk all the time, when are they going to do something" I also think the sex (or what your saw of them) scenes were unnecessary. Surely Izzy could have had that conversation with Meliorn with out it being so much about the sexy times. That along side the Camille and Simon scenes were a little over the top. But again the main cast were awesome. I think I saw the real Jace I know and love from the book tonight, when he is fighting with Alec and looking at Clary on the roof.  And Simon oh Simon was just like the book. The banter between the main cast will defiantly keep me watching.




Tune in! Shadowhunters airs on Tuesday nights at 9/8 pm CST on Freeform. *All image's found here and here, and are property of ShadowhuntersTV.com.

Cassandra Clare Talks Lady Midnight and Shadowhunters TV with Publisher's Weekly



Earlier this week, Cassandra Clare talked Lady Midnight, writing, and Shadowhunters TV with Publisher's Weekly. While you can read the entire article here, I've included two of PW's questions, and Cassie's answers below.


You always have some cool contest or giveaway for your readers when you release a new book. What are you planning for Lady Midnight 
Well, I really wanted to be able to sign the entire first run of Lady Midnight but then they told me how many books that would be (at least 600,000) and I realized no human being could do that. I’m aware of what signing 150,000 copies [of The Fault in Our Stars] did to John Green. So I remembered that when Suzanne Collins hurt her wrist and couldn’t autograph any copies of Mockingjay, she had a special stamp made that she used during her tour but then retired, never to be used again. So I asked if we could create some kind of unique stamp and I would stamp as many books as I could, which still turned out to be less than they were going to actually print. So we drafted a bunch of people with connections to the book – the designer, the editor, the president of Simon and Schuster – and we had stamping parties to get it done. So if you get a stamped book, it was done by me or by somebody very close to the production of the book.
All this and a TV show, too! Freeform [formerly ABC Family] just launched Shadowhunters, its own series based on the books. Did you get to have any input? 
I’m actually not involved at all. I mean, I did visit the set but I am as clueless as the next person as to what will happen next. Well, I do know a little, but I wasn’t involved in writing it and I didn’t have right of approval or get a consultant fee or anything like that. But, of course, all my readers always come to me with questions about it. That’s the thing about having a close relationship with your fans: they think to ask me first even though the TV series is really a completely separate thing that doesn’t have anything to do with me or the books. I think that will change. I think fans of Pretty Little Liars have finally separated the books from the show. [The show] is a riff on my work, not my work. A lot of people want to know, ‘Why aren’t you involved?’ and the real answer is, if I insisted on being involved, nobody would have bought the rights to make it. That’s just not the way these things work except in very special circumstances. And I’m okay with that.

Read more of Cassandra Clare's interview with Publisher's Weekly, here. Lady Midnight will be out on March 8th, 2016! You can find out more about it, and where to pre-order it at here.

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