Blog Tour Wrap Up and Giveaway Winners

September 12, 2016September 21, 2016 byjehunterLeave a comment

The blog tour for Tales of a Redheaded Sea-Witch ended on September 9th, and as today is the start of a new week, it seems like a great time to do the wrap up.

Thank you to all the bloggers who took the time to read and write and post about Tales of a Redheaded Sea-Witch. I loved seeing all the posts, and I loved reading what everyone thought of Sea-Witch. My favourite comment was a plea to not have Caesar turn into a bad guy—which is amazing since Caesar has his own book coming out in a couple weeks. Black Depths 3.5 is called Doomed Seas, and is about where Caesar is, and what he’s up to while Nessa is running around with Amynta and Teranth in Black Depths. I’ll have a blurb to post within the next week, so be sure to check back soon and see what it’s all about!

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I’ve just drawn the names of the giveaway winners and sent an email, so if you subscribed to my newsletter, make sure you check your inbox. Winners, please send me your address ASAP so I can get your copy in the mail, along with your bonus email. For anyone who didn’t win, but would like a book mark, if you send me your address, I will send you a bookmark just like the one pictured. If you haven’t had a chance to see all of the blog posts about Sea-Witch, I’ve copied the list and the links below. Happy Reading!

JEH

Blog Tour Schedule –

September 5^th

Preeti’s Panorama https://preetispanaroma.wordpress.com Review

3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy,&,Sissy, Too! http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com Promo Post

Loves Great Reads https://lovesgreatreadsblog.wordpress.com/ Promo Post

What Is That Book About www.whatisthatbookabout.com Promo Post

September 6^th

CBY Book Club http://cbybookclub.blogspot.com/ Promo Post

Books,Dreams,Life http://staceyschneller06.wordpress.com Review

Cover2Cover http://www.chocomeiske.com Promo Post

September 7^th

Hear Me Out! http://shakyradunnauthor.wix.com/seerofwords#!heartheseer/z4ftd Review

fundinmental http://www.fundinmental.com Review

Comfort Books www.comfortbooks.org Promo Post

Kara the Redhead http://karatheredhead.blogspot.com/ Promo Post

September 8^th

grammy’s bookshelf http://grammysbookshelf.blogspot.ca/ Promo Post

Happy Tails and Tales Blog http://happytailsandtales.blogspot.com Review

The Silver Dagger Scriptorium http://silver-dagger-scriptorium.weebly.com/ Review

deal sharing aunt www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com Promo Post

September 9^th

books are love http://hello-booklover.tumblr.com Review

A New Look On Books http://anewlookonbooks.wordpress.com Promo Post

Just Us Book Blog http://justusbookblog.blogspot.com/ Promo Post

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Young Adult · Young Adult Books

Don’t Write Me Beautiful…

September 11, 2016September 21, 2016 byjehunterLeave a comment

An Essay on Heartbreaking Beauty in Young Adult Fiction

I’ve read a lot of young adult fiction, and it all seems full of love intestests who are “heartbreakingly”, “painfully”, or “achingly” beautiful. If you’ve read a book with one of the above descriptions, please raise your hand.

Yep. That’s what I thought. It’s all around. And it’s overdone.

I’ll be the first to admit that when I was attempting to write my first young adult novel, everyone in it was beautiful. The girls had long, flowing hair and smooth skin, the boys were chisled and handsome. And then I took my manuscript to a professional writer and she said point blank: “Not everyone’s beautiful.”

And I realised, this is true. Not everyone is beautiful. In fact, most people aren’t. When I thought about all the boys I dated when I was in high school, they definately were’t heartbreakingly beautiful (no offense, ex-boyfriends of mine). Was a heartbreakingly beautiful boyfriend something that I wanted? Maybe—but only because I thought it would show every girl in my homeroom that I was better than them. That it would somehow prove that I was also beautiful and amazing and awesome. But what I actually wanted was to be wanted. To be loved. So why do amazingly beautiful, flawless people exist in young adult fiction? And do we need them?

My answer is no. We don’t. I mean, I don’t necessarily want a hero that’s hard on the eyes here. But I want someone with substance. And I think the problem with writing a young adult hero that is “painfully beautiful” is that it doesn’t translate on the page. For one, I have a difficult time imagining such a beautiful person, and if I do, they all look like Ian Summerhalder. But I don’t want to imagine every hero to look the same. I want my hero to be unique from story to story. I want to love someone for more than their looks. I want to love someone because they refuse to eat pizza with their hands, or make sure every cat they come across on the street has a home, or calls their grandmother every Sunday, or spends every dime they have bailing me out of jail, or wrecking their favourite pair of jeans because I’ve just gotten stuck in quick sand. I want a voice that sends shiver up my spine and a touch that lights me on cold fire and an intelligent mind that challenges me when I’m behaving like vicious, stuck-up, prideful cat.

Is it possible that characters in popular young adult fiction are beautiful because we all want to be beautiful? Maybe. But I don’t need books that make me feel bad about myself, thank you. We’re all pretty enough. I’m pretty enough. A hero with a sharp brow or an average face is pretty enough, too.

I think, in the end, that this is why I loved Peeta so much in the Hunger Games, because he was normal. And maybe why I liked Bella in Twilight—because she was average and shy and somewhat awkward (though I think she is more “beautiful” after her transition, which we didn’t really need because we already loved her at this point)(also, don’t get me started on the beauty of the vampires). I should point out that I only find such “achingly” beautiful characters in Young Adult books of certain genres. It’s pretty rare to come across a “painfully” beautiful hero in a young adult book of realistic fiction. So ask yourself, why is that? It’s because it isn’t real. It’s fiction. Keep that in mind as a reader, all these beautiful people—they’re works of art. They aren’t real. And YOU, real YOU, are beautiful enough.

And for all the writers out there, branch out! Don’t rely on the physical description of your character to interest your reader. Dig deeper. Make a regular Joe a magnetic soul, and make me fall in love with someone who truly feels, acts—and looks—real.

JEH

J. E. Hunter is the author of the Black Depths Series. Tales of a Redheaded Sea-Witch, and Broken Tide, the first two books of the series can be found on Amazon, Kobo, iBooks, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords. The third book, Dark Shores, was released April 1, 2016. The fourth and last book of the Black Depths series, Twisted Currents, will be released in the fall of 2016, after Dead Water and Doomed Seas, two Novellas featuring Caesar.

book review · Young Adult · Young Adult Books

What I’m Listening To: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

September 11, 2016September 21, 2016 byjehunterLeave a comment

A Young Adult Audiobook Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Early this week, I mentioned I was going out on a long road trip. Audiobooks always make the time go faster, so for this trip I borrowed a copy of Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Taylor, Laini Unabridged Edition (September 27, 2011) (associate link), as presented by Hachette Audio and performed by Khristine Fran. I’d heard about the book a few times and seen it around. It sounded interesting enough (and was immediately available) so I picked it up. I was pleasantly impressed.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone begins by following the Story of Karou, who lives in Prague, and whom we slowly find out isn’t quite human. I found it a bit slow to start, there is action right away, but not too much knowledge, which means I didn’t immediately understand where the story was going. But the writing is beautifully descriptive, which I love in an audiobook, and the dialogue was snappy and fun. There was a shift three-quarters of the way through the book, which changed the pace a bit, and slowed things down at a moment when I wanted them to pick up, but then I fell into the second story and began enjoying everything again.

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The audiobook itself was well done. The narrator overall did a pretty good job voicing the characters. I especially liked her voice for Brimstone and Zuzana. There were a couple points where the voice for Karou got a bit high-pitched for my liking, but they were few and far between.

The whole, side 1 vs side 2 storyline is a bit old hat (I found this a bit like The Girl at Midnight, though both stories are very unique), but this book is well done with strong characters. My only real complaint would be all the discussions about how “beauty doesn’t matter”, yet everyone in the book is “achingly” beautiful I *almost* wanted to puke. But enough about that. Well, not enough. I wrote a short essay about that, which I’ll post tomorrow.

But for now, if you’re looking for a good Young Adult Fantasy Story on Audiobook, this might be the one for you.

4/5 Stars.

Blogging · book review · Young Adult · Young Adult Books

What I’m Reading: The Shadow Hour by Melissa Grey

September 1, 2016September 21, 2016 byjehunterLeave a comment

Well, I finally did it. I finally read those last ten pages of The Shadow Hour by Melissa Grey. Yay. It might have taken me forever, but I loved this book. I really wish that life hadn’t been so full of interruptions and that I could have read The Shadow Hour (associate link) in a shorter time frame, since I hate when I begin to forget what’s happening.

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I read Girl At Midnight last summer, and ever since I’d been looking forward to the sequel, and it didn’t disappoint. Echo is a lovely heroine, the right amount of fierceness and vulnerability. The characters are all stars, really, but Jasper was my favourite in this book. Full of action, The Shadow Hour didn’t disappoint. There were a few nit-picky things about it though, like the purposeful use of cliches’ that grated my nerves just a little bit, but for the most part, I could forget about these lines and move through the story. There was a lot happening, and rarely a slow moment, so it was easy to keep moving (when life didn’t interrupt).

Now, the only thing I hate about reading new releases is how long you have to wait for the next book in the series. Summer 2017 can’t come fast enough, I can’t wait to read more of Echo’s adventures.

5/5 Stars

JEH

book review · Young Adult · Young Adult Books

What I’m Reading: Mechanica by Betsy Cornwell

August 26, 2016September 21, 2016 byjehunterLeave a comment

YA Book Review: Mechanica by Betsy Cornwell

Mechanica (associate link) by Betsy Cornwell, is a Cinderella Story. Now, Cinderella is probably my second favorite fairy tale (after the Twelve Dancing Princesses), so I thought I would like this book. And I did like Mechanica, but I didn’t love it. But I did love the cover, which is why I picked up the book.

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The first bit that slowed me down was the beginning. Right at the start the author gives us a couple of chapters of backstory about the main character Nicolette. Okay, this is a Cinderella story, I don’t need background, I already know how the main character (who is later called Mechanica), got to be in her present situation

And because of all the background, the pace felt really slow.

But there were some things I really did like about the book. I liked the steampunk element, and I loved the description. My favorite was the Night Market, and if you’ve read the book you’ll know why. I could have stayed at the Night Market forever. But while there was a fair bit of tension, there just was not enough action, and there really could have been.

It appears that this book is the first in a series, with the second book due out next year. I’ll be honest. I’m not likely to read book 2, as there are many other series I’ve enjoyed more. However, I still found the book pleasing to read, if not exciting.

3/5 Stars.

book review · Young Adult · Young Adult Books

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

August 8, 2016September 21, 2016 byjehunterLeave a comment

It’s been a slow week for my blog. I apologize. But there was the little teeny-tiny book that was release on Sunday called Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two (Special Rehearsal Edition Script): The Official Script Book of the Original West End Production(associate link). You may have heard of it. Well, possibly not that full titled, but the shorter one: Harry Potter 8. Well, after a crazy start to my week, I cracked open the golden tome of goodness, and just couldn’t stop reading. I finished the book very quickly, as it’s a play, it’s much quicker than any of J.K Rowling’s previous novels (with the exception of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Tales of Beedle the Bard, and Quiddich Through The Ages). Anyway, it’s quick. Like lightning. Which meant that after spending a few short hours with Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, I went into heavy withdrawal.

Again.

It’s been a long time since I first got over Harry Potter. And now here I am, feeling like I have to get over him all over again. Only it isn’t so much Harry this time, as Albus, and wasn’t Ron great, too? He’s always great. If you’ve read it, I’m sure you can commiserate with my misery. It was great, but too brief. I want more. I need more. When can I get more?

And these questions don’t seem to go away.

For Rowling, and HP, as always, 5/5 stars.

book review · Young Adult · Young Adult Books

YA Book Review: The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong

August 2, 2016September 21, 2016 byjehunterLeave a comment

The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong, is the third book of the Darkest Powers Trilogy. Like the other two books in this series, I read this back in 2012. This is what I wrote in my book journal:

Finally Chloe smartens up and makes some obvious decisions. Sometimes I think there’s nothing that irritates me as much as a novel that allows the reader to know something L-O-N-G before the main character does. The entire way through the Darkest Powers Trilogy, I was amazed by the lacking of locations. This was definitely more of a character driven young-adult paranormal book, than a world driven book. I’m not sure it was my type. It was well written throughout, but not as heart-thumping as it could have been.

I gave the book 3/5 stars.

book review · Paranormal · Young Adult

YA Book Review: The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

July 23, 2016July 26, 2016 byjehunterLeave a comment

YA Book Review: The Summoning (Darkest Powers Book 1) by Kelley Armstrong

I read this book in 2011, so it’s been a while. But as part of my project to put as many book reviews up on my site as I can, I’m going back in time to review this one. Good thing I’ve kept a book journal for over six years now.

The Summoning (Darkest Powers, Book 1)(associate link), by Kelley Armstrong, is the first book in a YA Paranormal Series about a girl named Chloe. Right from the start we know that Chloe is different, and she’s about to go through a whole world of hardship.

In my journal from a few years ago, this is what I wrote:

I’ve seen these books on the shelves for quite some time now, so I finally decided to buy them for my ereader since I’d be travelling, and I just got around to reading the first one. I was pleasantly surprised. A couple times the text seemed to jump from here to there, and I wondered if my ereader was skipping pages (it wasn’t). The story was rather engaging, but not quite as descriptive as I would have liked, but I definitely want to continue reading to discover what happens to Chloe.

As you can see in the picture from my journal, I gave The Summoning 4/5 stars. I’ll post my review of book 2 and 3 later this week.

Fairy Tales · Young Adult

My Life as a Fairy Tale

July 19, 2016July 20, 2016 byjehunterLeave a comment

I’ve been reading a fair amount of stuff lately that’s been inspired by the classic fairy tales. I love fairy tales. I often love retellings. But there are some fairy tales I love more than others.

When I was a kid, my favorite tale was Cinderella. This may have had something to do with the fact that we owned two Disney fairy tale books, Snow White, and the aforementioned Cinderella. Well, my older sister declared early on that Snow White was her favourite, and since sharing never really works with kids, I decided that Cinderella was my favourite. It was a default choice, and whether or not Snow White ever stood a chance, I’ll never know. I used to daydream about secret worlds, fairy godmothers, and magical castles. I used to wish I could step into a fairy ring and disappear into a magical world. I tried. Nothing ever happened.

When I was was slightly older, I was exposed to more fairy tales. The real, dark, Grimm fairy tales. My favourite book was the old one of my mother’s, in which I found the Twelve Dancing Princesses. Maybe it was the picture inside. Maybe it was all the trees made of diamonds or the thought of dancing all night. But I loved this story. And it has been my favourite fairy tale ever since.

Alas, my life is nothing like a fairy tale. Just to give you an example, here is the story of my life in fairy tale format:

J. E. Hunter grew up among the glittering, golden prairies with two loving parents and an older sister who was occassionally mean to her, but nothing like the step-sisters in Cinderella. At the precious age of 16, Hunter was forced to get a job to pay for the nice clothing she wanted to wear, and the books she had a desperate desire to read. Hunter was offered a job in a hamburger joint, and began making burgers for the masses, though she was often put on french fry duty instead. Occassionally, the Overlord would yell at Hunter, but she was strong, and she never cried. One day, she burnt her arm. One day, she was suspended for missing a shift to attend a familiy holiday. Hunter had had enough. Hunter decided that she must change her destiny. Hunter ventured down the short path to the local University. Hunter never met a prince, never fell down a rabbit hole, and never saw a glass slipper, fairy godmother, or a pumpkin that could turn into a coach. What Hunter did see was a bunch of books, plenty of paper, and a few mean professors. Hunter found a good job, got married, and is now attempting to live happily ever after by writing books.

It’s hardly romantic. But hey, it’s not the end of my journey, so maybe there’s a fairy godmother out there yet. On thing I’m pretty sure of, is that no matter how old I get, I’ll never stop wishing for someone to be looking out for me. Especially if they can grant wishes. Because wouldn’t it be awesome to have even one wish granted? No, to decide on that wish…

Need some new fairy tale books to relieve the magic? What’s your favorite story?

Young Adult

What I’m Reading: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Mass

June 29, 2016March 1, 2023 byjehunterLeave a comment

YA Book Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

I was pretty excited to read this second series by Throne of Glass author Sara J. Maas. And I have to say that my feelings about A Court of Thorns and Roses are pretty mixed. You can find my review of Throne of Glass here.

Loosely based on the fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast, A Court of Thorns and Roses(associate link) takes place in a fantastical land of High Fae and Fairies, into which a human girl, Feyre, is thrown. While this book can be found alongside the Throne of Glass books in the young adult section of the book store, let’s get one thing straight – this is not a young adult fairy tale, this is clearly New Adult. There are some fairly explicit sexual scenes in this book, not to mention some pretty gory violence. This might surprise some people who are looking for more of the typical innocent cut-scene type stuff seen in young adult fiction. The problem, it seems, is that “New Adult” is mostly a theoretical category of fiction, and not yet a reality. Also, while the book had these “gritty” sex scenes, I didn’t feel like it needed it. They could have been toned way down and the story might actually have been better.

Now, because of that, my review of this novel is fairly mixed. I liked the story, but what I loved was the unique world of Fairies Maas has created. But A Court of Thorns and Roses is primarily a romance, and I felt that Feyre was constantly being rescued by very handsome, very powerful men. This was pretty unlike the Throne of Glass universe (though, arguably, Caeleana is still rescued by many men in those books, too). And I’m not a big fan of books like this. I like adventure, I like boldness, and I like heroines that don’t have to be rescued. I also don’t like drop-dead gorgeous men…much (give me men with substance).

All of that said, I still enjoyed ACOTAR, but not as much as TOG. And then there is still that pesky issue of this being classified as teen fiction… Yeah, I’m a bit torn. It was good, but could have been better. I’ll give it a 3/5. I’ll probably read the next book in the series, but it’s not something I feel I need to pick up immediately.

J. E. Hunter is the author of the Black Depths Series. Tales of a Redheaded Sea-Witch, and Black Depths, the first two books of the series can be found on Amazon, Kobo, iBooks, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords. The third book, Dark Shores, was released April 1, 2016. The fourth and last book of the Black Depths series, Twisted Currents, will be released in the fall of 2016.