Showing posts with label Joanne Rendell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joanne Rendell. Show all posts

March 25, 2020

Between Burning Worlds Blog Tour: Review

https://fantasticflyingbookclub.blogspot.com/2020/02/tour-schedule-between-burning-worlds.html


Between Burning Worlds (System Divine #2)
Author: Jessica Brody & Joanne Rendell
Genre: YA Fantasy/Retellings/Science Fiction/Dystopia
Release Date: March 24, 2020
Publisher: Simon Pulse
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Synopsis:

Les Misérables meets The Lunar Chronicles in the out-of-this-world sequel to Sky Without Stars that’s an “explosion of emotion, intrigue, romance, and revolution” (Stephanie Garber, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Caraval series).

A thief.
An officer.
A guardian.
All from different backgrounds, but sharing one same destiny…

The planet Laterre is in turmoil. A new militant revolutionary group has emerged calling themselves “The Red Scar” and claiming responsibility for a spate of recent bombings. The infamous rebels known as the Vangarde believe that in order to bring about a peaceful revolution, their charismatic leader, Citizen Rousseau must be freed from prison right away. Otherwise the bloodshed will only escalate.

Soon Marcellus, Chatine, and Alouette all find themselves pulled into battle with extreme consequences.

Marcellus is determined to uncover his corrupt grandfather’s plan to seize Laterre—even if that means joining the Vangarde.

Aloutte, trying to unearth the truth about her past, becomes a captive of Marcellus’s grandfather, the general.

Chatine, who is serving time on Bastille, hopes to escape the brutal and horrifying reality of the prison moon.

But the failed attempt to break Citizen Rousseau out of prison launches Aloutte, Chatine, and Marecellus into the middle of a dangerous war for control of Laterre. And in the midst of it all is the legend of a secret and dangerous weapon that could mean complete and absolute power to any that wields it.
I've been dying to read Between Burning Worlds ever since I finished reading the first book in the series. I have to admit that I went into it with pretty high hopes and expectations because I loved the first book so much and I wasn't let down in the least. I basically adored every single part of the novel - from the world building and setting to the characters and the wonderful science fiction plot mixed as a retelling of Les Miserables, it was everything I hoped for and more.

I loved the three main characters - Chatine, Marcellus, and Alouette. They were each realistic with positive traits and flaws, which made each of them easy to identify with in their own way. I loved getting to know each of them separately, as their own character, as well as seeing how their relationships with the other characters began and grew throughout the novel. The plot was intense and the science fiction angle put it on a whole new level that definitely makes it stand out from anything else out there right now. It's wholly original and completely unique - which is hard to find anymore these days. I loved the world building and enjoyed getting to know the history of Laterre, the past including the Last Days, as well as the intricate details of this planet and its people. The authors used fantastic descriptions and vivid imagery to bring this world to life in front of our eyes and made it easy for me to imagine I was there among the main characters while everything was happening during the story. I'm really hoping this is going to be a series because I definitely want - no, need - more. I'm excited to see where the authors and plot will take us next. I very highly recommend this book to fans of YA fiction, science fiction, fantasy, retellings, and re-imaginings.
 

Jessica Brody

Jessica Brody knew from a young age that she wanted to be a writer. She started self “publishing” her own books when she was seven years old, binding the pages together with cardboard, wallpaper samples, and electrical tape.
After graduating from Smith College in 2001 where she double majored in Economics and French and minored in Japanese, Jessica later went on to work for MGM Studios as a Manager of Acquisitions and Business Development. In May of 2005, Jessica quit her job to follow her dream of becoming a published author.

Since then, Jessica has sold over twelve novels for teens, tweens, and adults including 52 Reasons to Hate My Father, The Karma Club, My Life Undecided, and the three books in the Unremembered trilogy, the first of which is currently in development as a major motion picture by the producers of The Vampire Academy, Zero Dark Thirty, Life of Pi, and Slumdog Millionaire. In 2016, she will release two new contemporary novels, A Week of Mondays (August) and Boys of Summer (April), and in 2017, her debut middle grade novel entitled, Addie Bell’s Shortcut to Growing Up, will hit bookstore shelves.

Jessica also writes books for the Descendants: “School of Secrets” series, based on the hit Disney Channel Original movie, Descendants!

Jessica’s books are published and translated in over twenty foreign countries. She currently splits her time between California and Colorado.
 
Joanne Rendell
Joanne Rendell is the author of four novels and holds a PhD in English Literature. She teaches fiction writing to teens and kids, as well as online writing classes at Udemy.com and Lynda.com. Joanne is a board member for the youth Shakespeare company, New Genesis Productions. With her husband and son, she divides her time between New York City and New Paltz, New York.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

March 24, 2019

Sky Without Stars Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

http://fantasticflyingbookclub.blogspot.com/2019/02/tour-schedule-sky-without-stars-system.html


Sky Without Stars (System Divine #1)
Author: Jessica Brody & Joanne Rendell 
Genre: YA Retellings/Science Fiction
Release Date: March 26, 2019
Publisher: Simon Pulse
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Synopsis:



A thief. An officer. A guardian. 

Three strangers, one shared destiny...

When the Last Days came, the planet of Laterre promised hope. A new life for a wealthy French family and their descendants. But five hundred years later, it’s now a place where an extravagant elite class reigns supreme; where the clouds hide the stars and the poor starve in the streets; where a rebel group, long thought dead, is resurfacing.

Whispers of revolution have begun—a revolution that hinges on three unlikely heroes…

Chatine is a street-savvy thief who will do anything to escape the brutal Regime, including spy on Marcellus, the grandson of the most powerful man on the planet.

Marcellus is an officer—and the son of a renowned traitor. In training to take command of the military, Marcellus begins to doubt the government he’s vowed to serve when his father dies and leaves behind a cryptic message that only one person can read: a girl named Alouette.

Alouette is living in an underground refuge, where she guards and protects the last surviving library on the planet. But a shocking murder will bring Alouette to the surface for the first time in twelve years…and plunge Laterre into chaos.

All three have a role to play in a dangerous game of revolution—and together they will shape the future of a planet.

Power, romance, and destiny collide in this sweeping reimagining of Victor Hugo’s masterpiece, Les Misérables.
I've been waiting to read Sky Without Stars for what seems like ages now. Ever since reading the description mentioning it was a futuristic/science fiction retelling of Les Mis - I knew it was going to be amazing. I have to admit that I went into it with pretty high hopes and expectations and I wasn't let down in the least. I basically adored every single part of the novel - from the world building and setting to the characters and the wonderful plot mixed as a retelling of Les Miserables, it was everything I hoped for and more.

I loved the three main characters - Chatine, Marcellus, and Alouette. They were each realistic with positive traits and flaws, which made each of them easy to identify with in their own way. I loved getting to know each of them separately, as their own character, as well as seeing how their relationships with the other characters began and grew throughout the novel. The plot was intense and the science fiction angle put it on a whole new level that definitely makes it stand out from anything else out there right now. It's wholly original and completely unique - which is hard to find anymore these days. I loved the world building and enjoyed getting to know the history of Laterre, the past including the Last Days, as well as the intricate details of this planet and its people. The authors used fantastic descriptions and vivid imagery to bring this world to life in front of our eyes and made it easy for me to imagine I was there among the main characters while everything was happening during the story. I'm so glad that this is just the beginning to a series because I definitely want - no, need - more. I'm excited to see where the authors and plot will take us next. I very highly recommend this book to fans of YA fiction, science fiction, fantasy, retellings, and re-imaginings.




Jessica Brody is the author of more than 15 books for teens, tweens, and adults including Addie Bell’s Shortcut to Growing Up, A Week of Mondays, Boys of Summer, 52 Reasons to Hate My Father, and the three books in the sci-fi Unremembered trilogy. She’s also the author of the Descendants: School of Secrets series, based on the hit Disney Channel original movie, Descendants. Her books have been translated and published in over 23 countries and Unremembered and 52 Reasons to Hate My Father are currently in development as major motion pictures. She lives with her husband and four dogs and splits her time between California and Colorado. 

Visit her online at JessicaBrody.com. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram @JessicaBrody
 
Joanne Rendell is the author of three novels and holds a PhD in English literature. She teaches fiction writing to teens and kids and is a board member for the youth Shakespeare company, New Genesis Productions. With her husband and son, Joanne divides her time between New York City, and New Paltz, New York. Visit Joanne at JoanneRendell.com.






Pre-order Campaign:
Pre-order a hardcover of SKY WITHOUT STARS by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell from a participating indie bookstore* before March 26, 2019 and you’ll receive an exclusive Sky Without Stars Gift Pack, including the following:
  • A limited edition two-sided 12”x 16” poster featuring the ONLY available colored version of the book’s world map 
  • A Sky Without Stars bookplate, signed by both authors 
  • A Sky Without Stars postcard 
  • A Sky Without Stars bookmark
The gift pack will be included with your book when it is shipped or picked up in store.
*Click here for participating stores. 
Win a copy of SKY WITHOUT STARS by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell (US Only)
Starts: March 20, 2019
Ends: April 2, 2019