A Dream Within A Dream: Twisted Tragedy Blog Tour: Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart (Magic Most Foul #2)
Author: Leanna Renee Hieber

Genre: YA Paranormal
Release Date: November 1, 2012
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Description:

For Natalie Stewart, a normal life has never seemed so far away. Her only solace, Lord Jonathan Denbury, is wanted for murder. To clear his name, Denbury must return to England and assume the role of his demon doppelganger. But Natalie begins to doubt his true motives, especially as a new gentleman begins whispering in her ear. Natalie and Denbury may be able to visit each other in their dreams, but they can't escape the darkening shadows. Amid spontaneous explosions, friends turned enemies and dangerous secrets revealed, there's still a demon who has Natalie's scent, and someone is trying to resurrect the ultimate evil.

The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart is the second book in the Magic Most Foul series - a young adult paranormal series that follows Natalie Stewart as she continues to unravel the mystery behind Lord Denbury and the dark magic surrounding him. Once Denbury is accused of murder, things take an unexpected twist and he must travel to England to stop the demon that has taken his form. Natalie begins to suspect his true motives and must determine what's real and what's dark magic before it's too late for both Denbury and herself.

This is a fantastically unique and absorbing second book in an exciting and mysterious paranormal series. The characters are completely realistic and likable, especially the heroine of Natalie, who is not the usual main character seen in most novels. Denbury proves to be a dashingly handsome and mysterious character and he keeps both Natalie and the reader on their toes trying to figure him out. The setting of the novel is very richly detailed and full of descriptions that easily enable the reader to immerse themselves in the environment. The Victorian era New York and England fit the scene perfectly for the creepy storyline. The plot itself is refreshing and utterly unique - there isn't anything else like it out there. It breathes fresh air and a wonderful new voice into the YA paranormal genre. The narrative is set up as journal entries by Natalie with some newspaper articles and letters mixed in, much like a real journal would contain. I think this way of presenting the story brings the reader deeper into the thoughts and feelings of Natalie and thus gives us an inside view of the events as they unfold. The book is very well written and fast paced, which made this impossible to put down. There is a great mix of genres - paranormal, action, mystery, adventure, and romance - that's sure to keep readers enthralled. Overall, this is an enchanting second book in a refreshingly unique series that readers will simply devour.

Classic Inspiration: Leanna discusses where her interest in Gothic literature stems from and the importance of loving classic novels.

The first author I can recall having a profound effect on me as a pre-teen was Edgar Allan Poe. I was entranced by his stories, enraptured by his poetry. I felt like he and I saw stories with the same eyes; his ability to weave the macabre with the beautiful defined my earliest style. I’ve been a Goth girl ever since, at least in spirit. ;) And while being a Goth girl doesn’t necessarily correlate with being a Gothic novelist (Gothic literature having its own separate definition and trajectory than “Goth” culture), there are most certainly parallels. Books like The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Phantom of the Opera, Frankenstein, Dracula, these books excited my keen flair for the dramatic, my interest in the supernatural and satisfied my craving for rich vocabulary. Big words are sexy. And the historical context of the classics allowed for another fantasy world to be taking place; delving into another time entirely. You are what you read as a writer, and the most formative novels, the ones I connected to on the viscerally dramatic and soulful level in a way I found only Gothic fiction could really do, are what defines me today. My books all pay homage to classic novels in one way or another. My goal in life is to be a “gateway drug to 19th century literature”. It’s my hope that sharing my love of the classics, using them as the building blocks of my storytelling as a modern Historical Fantasy author, keeps me tethered to my earliest inspirations, the closest fires to my muse.

An author, actress and playwright, Leanna grew up in rural Ohio, graduated with a BFA in Theatre, a focus in the Victorian Era and a scholarship to study in London. She adapted 19th Century literature for the stage and her one-act plays have been produced around the country. Her novella "Dark Nest" won the 2009 Prism Award for excellence in Futuristic, Fantasy, or Paranormal Romance. The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, first in the "Strangely Beautiful" saga of Gothic Victorian Fantasy novels (Barnes & Noble Bestseller) won two 2010 Prism Awards (Best Fantasy, Best First Book) and was optioned for musical theatre adaptation currently in development. DARKER STILL: A Novel of Magic Most Foul, begins a Gothic paranormal saga set in 1880 New York City, named an INDIE NEXT title; a recommended buy by the American Book Association, a Scholastic book fairs "Highly Recommended" title and is a finalist in the 2012 Daphne du Maurier awards for excellence in Mystery/Romantic Suspense.

Leanna is a proud member of member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, and the International Thriller Writers. She is a proud co-founder of Lady Jane's Salon Reading Series in New York City. A member of Actors Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA, Leanna works often in television and film. She is playing the role of Deputy Kellion in Auror's Tale web-series. When not writing or on set, she loves a good Goth club, adventuring about her adopted hometown of New York City, where she resides with her real-life hero and their beloved rescued lab rabbit.

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