A Dream Within A Dream: Meg Kassel

Showing posts with label Meg Kassel. Show all posts

September 7, 2018

Keeper of the Bees Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

Keeper of the Bees
Author: Meg Kassel
Genre: YA Paranormal
Release Date: September 4, 2018
Publisher: Entangled Teen

Description:

“Beauty and the beast like you’ve never imagined!” —New York Times bestselling author Pintip Dunn

KEEPER OF THE BEES is a tale of two teens who are both beautiful and beastly, and whose pasts are entangled in surprising and heartbreaking ways.

Dresden is cursed. His chest houses a hive of bees that he can’t stop from stinging people with psychosis-inducing venom. His face is a shifting montage of all the people who have died because of those stings. And he has been this way for centuries—since he was eighteen and magic flowed through his homeland, corrupting its people.

He follows harbingers of death, so at least his curse only affects those about to die anyway. But when he arrives in a Midwest town marked for death, he encounters Essie, a seventeen-year-old girl who suffers from debilitating delusions and hallucinations. His bees want to sting her on sight. But Essie doesn’t see a monster when she looks at Dresden.

Essie is fascinated and delighted by his changing features. Risking his own life, he holds back his bees and spares her. What starts out as a simple act of mercy ends up unraveling Dresden’s solitary life and Essie’s tormented one. Their impossible romance might even be powerful enough to unravel a centuries-old curse.

Books in the Companion Series:

Keeper of the Bees is easily one of my favorite books of this year so far. I absolutely loved Black Bird of the Gallows when I read it last year, so I had high hopes and expectations for this companion novel. I was not disappointed in the least. It was just as good as BBotG and I loved it more than I thought I was going to. Every single aspect of the story was wonderfully done from the characters to the plot and everything in between.

One major thing I want to talk about is the author's writing style. The book is written in alternating perspectives - both Essie and Dresden. Both of their sections of the story is told from the first person point of view, which is by far my favorite style. I think the reader gets to connect on a deeper level when the author uses this writing style, which definitely happened with Essie and Dresden for me. I loved getting to know each of them throughout the book. They each were realistic in their own ways with flaws and positive traits, which allowed me to identify with them both early on in the story. I also loved watching Essie and Dresden's relationship begin, change, and then grow as the book progressed. I was hooked from the very first sentence and didn't quit reading until I had finished the entire book in one sitting.

The other aspects of the book were well done - the author uses detailed description and vivid imagery to bring the story to life. We got to learn some of the history of the curses that involve the Harbingers, Beekeepers, and Straw Men in BBotG, and I loved getting to learn even more in this book. The lore behind each of them as well as the background and the curse is incredibly intriguing to me and I hope the author writes another book in the same world so we can learn more. I can't recommend this book highly enough - as well as the companion novel, Black Bird of the Gallows. Perfect for fans of YA fantasy, paranormal, contemporary, and romance. I'll be waiting and praying for another book in this fascinating and enchanting world!

Meg Kassel is an author of fantasy and speculative books for young adults. A graduate of Parson's School of Design, she’s been creating stories, whether with visuals or words, since childhood. Meg is a New Jersey native who lives in a log house in the Maine woods with her husband and daughter. As a fan of ’80s cartoons, Netflix series, and ancient mythology, she has always been fascinated and inspired by the fantastic, the creepy, and the futuristic. She is the 2016 RWA Golden Heart® winner in YA and a double 2018 RITA® finalist for her debut novel, Black Bird of the Gallows.

Author Links:

Website: http://megkassel.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/megkassel

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seemegwrite/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/megkasselauthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8353652.Meg_Kassel

Amazon

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September 13, 2017

Black Bird of the Gallows Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

Black Bird of the Gallows

Author: Meg Kassel

Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal

Publication Date: September 5, 2017

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Description:

A simple but forgotten truth: Where harbingers of death appear, the morgues will soon be full.

Angie Dovage can tell there’s more to Reece Fernandez than just the tall, brooding athlete who has her classmates swooning, but she can’t imagine his presence signals a tragedy that will devastate her small town. When something supernatural tries to attack her, Angie is thrown into a battle between good and evil she never saw coming. Right in the center of it is Reece—and he’s not human.

What’s more, she knows something most don’t. That the secrets her town holds could kill them all. But that’s only half as dangerous as falling in love with a harbinger of death.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33509076-black-bird-of-the-gallows

Black Bird of the Gallows was one of my most anticipated releases of 2017. I have to admit that I had really high hopes for it and was worried that it wouldn't end up being everything I wanted. Happily, that wasn't the case at all. I completely adored this book! Every aspect of the story was well done and I have no real complaints - except that I want more! I'm still kind of on a book high from this one and don't want to ramble, so I'm going to break down the major points I liked.

Plot: The description had me immediately intrigued and I knew I had to read this one. But, it turns out that it doesn't really do the book justice. There's a lot more going on than a supernatural hottie, a romance, and some sort of impending doom. I haven't read any other book quite like this one, which is impressive with the genre. It definitely brought a breath of fresh air into the overflowing genre. The plot was a lot deeper than I imagined. The paranormal aspects - harbingers, magic, curses, etc. were all incredibly fascinating to me. I adored learning everything I could about it all - the history of all the beings/creatures, the beginnings of the curses, what exactly each entity was and did - I could have lived in that world forever. The author brought it all to life right before my eyes and I wanted to soak up all of it and more. Some parts of the story were inevitable - the doomed romance between the main character and the mysterious new guy, a big obstacle or battle where the story peaks, the villain trying to take out the main character, etc. These are all essential for any story, and the author did a fantastic job mixing the elements together to create a fresh YA paranormal novel in an overwhelming genre.

Characters: I loved both Angie and Reece. They were both well rounded characters with complex emotions and developed personalities. Both were surprisingly realistic and easy to connect with, and I liked getting to know each of them throughout the book. One thing I have to make a note of was the lack of depth for any of the other characters. A few minor characters (Jenny, Deno, Angie's dad) seemed semi-rounded, but the rest were all flat and stereotypical background players. Not that it really bothered me so much, because they didn't play a very big part in the plot itself.

Writing Style: I can't go without making some sort of mention about the author's choice of writing style. This is always a big point for me and can essentially make or break a book. In this case, the author wrote the story in the first person point of view - from Angie's perspective. This is my favorite style, and I'm so happy that she chose to tell the story this way. I loved getting to know Angie on such a personal level - one that isn't possible in any other POV. I got to feel like I experienced it all right alongside Angie and could almost feel everything like I was there. I think it was a perfect fit for the story, and I'm so glad that it was done this way.

Romance: I can't go without mentioning the romantic aspect of the story, since it plays a pretty big part. I normally don't like a lot of romance when reading a novel - especially when it's a genre outside of romance. For instance, this was a YA paranormal, so I wouldn't usually like a strong romance because it overshadows the main plot. However, the romance between Angie and Reece plays an integral part of this story and was essential to the plot. I didn't mind it in the least. Actually, I really liked watching them get to know each other and seeing their feelings develop throughout the story. I don't usually consider myself a mushy person when it comes to relationships in books, but I was all about this one and ended up loving every bit of it.

Overall, I have to say that this was one of the best books I've read this year. I came into it with pretty high hopes and got pretty much everything I could have wanted. I very highly recommend this one to fans of YA, fantasy, paranormal, and romance.

Meg Kassel is an author of paranormal and speculative books for young adults. A New Jersey native, Meg graduated from Parson’s School of Design and worked as a graphic designer before becoming a writer. She now lives in Maine with her husband and daughter and is busy at work on her next novel. She is the 2016 RWA Golden Heart© winner in YA.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Three (3) winners will receive A Black Bird of the Gallows canvas tote bag (11“x14”) which includes a custom made crow pendant and ball chain, bookmark and stickers, $10 Amazon Gift Card (INT)

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September 6, 2017

Release Week Blitz + Giveaway: Black Bird of the Gallows by Meg Kassel

Hello Readers! Welcome to the Release Week Blitz for

Black Bird of the Gallows by Meg Kassel

presented by Entangled Teen!

Grab your copy today!

Congratulations Meg!

Black Bird of the Gallows

Author: Meg Kassel

Publication Date: September 5, 2017

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Description:

A simple but forgotten truth: Where harbingers of death appear, the morgues will soon be full.

Angie Dovage can tell there’s more to Reece Fernandez than just the tall, brooding athlete who has her classmates swooning, but she can’t imagine his presence signals a tragedy that will devastate her small town. When something supernatural tries to attack her, Angie is thrown into a battle between good and evil she never saw coming. Right in the center of it is Reece—and he’s not human. What's more, she knows something most don't. That the secrets her town holds could kill them all. But that’s only half as dangerous as falling in love with a harbinger of death.

His soft voice clashes with the intensity of his gaze. “You’re adorable when you’re trying to be mad at me. You needn’t work so hard at it, though. We aren’t meant to be adversaries.”

“I, um…” My thoughts disband, leaving nothing for communication purposes. I’m adorable? Adorable has many definitions. I think my dog is adorable, for example. “That…wasn’t what I was going to ask you.”

He inclines his head. “Okay, then. Ask.”

But that “adorable” echoes through me, clinking around like a penny down a well. “What are we meant to be, then?”

His lips curls up at the corners. “That wasn’t your question, either.”

Meg Kassel is an author of paranormal and speculative books for young adults. A New Jersey native, Meg graduated from Parson's School of Design and worked as a graphic designer before becoming a writer. She now lives in Maine with her husband and daughter and is busy at work on her next novel. She is the 2016 RWA Golden Heart© winner in YA.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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August 16, 2017

Excerpt Reveal + Giveaway: Black Bird of the Gallows by Meg Kassel

Black Bird of the Gallows
Author: Meg Kassel
Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal
Release Date: September 5, 2017
Publisher: Entangled Teen

Description:

A simple but forgotten truth: Where harbingers of death appear, the morgues will soon be full.

Angie Dovage can tell there’s more to Reece Fernandez than just the tall, brooding athlete who has her classmates swooning, but she can’t imagine his presence signals a tragedy that will devastate her small town. When something supernatural tries to attack her, Angie is thrown into a battle between good and evil she never saw coming. Right in the center of it is Reece—and he’s not human.

What's more, she knows something most don't. That the secrets her town holds could kill them all. But that’s only half as dangerous as falling in love with a harbinger of death.

I’m seriously questioning the wisdom of coming here. Who is this boy? Who are these people? I may not want these answers. Whatever illusion I had been weaving about this being a normal family can’t be true. This is a family, yes, but one putting on an elaborate show to appear to be something they are not. “Everyday life can’t be so bad,” I say lightly, eager to change the subject before I start luring myself down a hole. “You have a beautiful home, a nice family. You’re popular at school. Kiera Shaw certainly likes you.”

He turns his gaze to me, slowly. “Kiera Shaw? You think I like her?”

“I don’t know what you like.” I don’t blink. I don’t look away. “I know only what I’ve seen.”

Reece leans close, gently entering my personal space. Close enough to put me on edge, but not close enough to intimidate. His voice is silk on gravel. His narrowed eyes glitter down at me. “And what, exactly, have you seen, Angie?”

Shivers race up my skin. I want to defuse this so badly, but I feel like this is a challenge I can’t lose. “I’ve seen and heard things that don’t make sense. Things I can’t understand.” I shift my gaze to my crow sitting on a branch above my head. It watches me with an intensity that would scare me if I wasn’t accustomed to it. “Tell me about the crows.”

He shakes his head. “Sorry. Either you know about them, or you don’t.”

My jaw tightens, even as I step toward him. I can feel his body heat. His clean, guy scent fills my senses with a unique magnetism that draws me close. Closer still. “I will find out.”

His gaze sweeps my face, lingering on my lips. “I hope not.” His breath warms my temple, sending a shiver under my skin. “There are worse things out there than a few watchful birds.”

“Like what?” I’m breathless, damn him. My words are barely audible.

His lashes fan low over his eyes. The narrow space between us crackles with tension. “Oh Angie, you don’t want to know.”

Meg Kassel is an author of fantasy and speculative books for young adults. A graduate of Parson's School of Design, she’s always been creating stories, whether with visuals or words. She worked as a graphic designer before realizing the thing she did for pleasure (writing) was something she should do for real. Meg is a New Jersey native who lives in a log house in the Maine woods with her husband and daughter. A fan of ’80s cartoons, Netflix series, and ancient mythology, Meg has always been fascinated and inspired by the fantastic, the creepy, and the futuristic. When she’s not writing, Meg is reading, hanging out with her family, hoarding peanut butter cups, or playing video games. She is a two-time finalist and the 2016 winner of the RWA Golden Heart© contest in YA.

Website: www.megkassel.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/megkasselauthor
Twitter: @megkassel
Instagram: @seemegwrite
Tumblr: www.tumblr.com/blog/megkassel

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January 23, 2017

Cover Reveal: Black Bird of the Gallows by Meg Kassel

I'm SO excited to be helping reveal the cover for BLACK BIRD OF THE GALLOWS today! I've been really excited for this book, but after seeing the cover - now I'm absolutely DYING to get my hands on a copy! Check out this gorgeous cover!!

Black Bird of the Gallows

Author: Meg Kassel

Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal

Expected Release Date: September 5, 2017

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Description from Goodreads:

A debut novel about a teenage girl who discovers the new boy next door is a harbinger of death, and who must find a way to survive in a town destined for tragedy.

A simple but forgotten truth: Where harbingers of death appear, the morgues will soon be full. Harbingers settle in places where tragedy is about to strike, then feed on the energy of the dying. Then, they leave. Off to the next doomed place. No one wants a family of harbingers of death as neighbors, but that’s exactly what seventeen-year-old Angie Dovage gets when Reece Fernandez moves in next door.

Angie knows the mysterious boy is more than he appears, but can’t imagine that his presence heralds a tragedy that will devastate her small community. But her fears run deeper than Reece’s inevitable departure, because where harbingers of death go, grotesque, ruined creatures called Beekeepers follow. And where Beekeepers go, fear and chaos and death follows.

Angie wants to protect everyone she cares about, but stopping the Beekeepers involves a choice that will claim her life or Reece’s soul. She will learn the price of both.