A Dream Within A Dream: Sarah Zettel

The Other Sister
Author: Sarah Zettel
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Release Date: August 28, 2018
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Description:

Two sisters. One murder plan.

Geraldine Monroe is the bad sister. Reckless and troubled, she ran away shortly after the mysterious death of their mother twenty years ago.

Marie, on the other hand, has always been the good sister. She is the obedient daughter and a loving mother to her son.

Now Geraldine has come home, for good it seems, and no one--not the aunts or uncles or cousins--really knows why. The most suspicious of all is Martin Monroe, the father who rules the extended family and their small town with a poisonous combination of money and coldheartedness. But even he doesn't realize what the truth is: that the sisters have become allies in a plot to kill him.

Bound by blood and a need to right the past, Geraldine and Marie set their plan in motion. When old secrets and new fears clash, everyone is pushed to the breaking point...and the sisters will learn that they can't trust anyone, not even each other.

PRAISE FOR THE OTHER SISTER:

"Sarah Zettel's The Other Sister is as dark and twisted as they come; a compelling and sinister psychological thriller in which every character is deeply flawed, their desire for revenge understandable and relatable. With its intricate web of secrets long buried, readers won't be able to stop turning the pages!"
--- Karen Dionne, internationally bestselling author of The Marsh King's Daughter

"An exhilarating ride full of twists and turns, this page-turner will leave you guessing until the very end!"
--- Steena Homes, New York Times bestselling author of The Forgotten Ones

"Sarah Zettel is an author to watch."
--- VOYA

"This is a book about so many different things, and that is something I love about Sarah Zettel's fiction. We get intimate looks at characters, but also a dangerous and multifaceted big picture as well."
--- littleredreviewer.wordpress.com

Sarah Zettel is an award-winning author. She has written eighteen novels and multiple short stories over the past seventeen years in addition to practicing tai chi, learning to fiddle, marrying a rocket scientist and raising a rapidly growing son.

WEBSITE: http://www.sarahzettel.com/

TWITTER: @sarah_zettel

FACEBOOK: @sarahzettelsbooks

(2) Hardcover copies of The Other Sister - Open to US/CAN only!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for BAD LUCK GIRL hosted by Random House Children's Books! Today I have my review of the book to share and don't forget to enter the giveaway to win your own copy!

Bad Luck Girl (The American Fairy #3)

Author: Sarah Zettel

Genre: YA Historical/Fantasy

Release Date: May 27, 2014

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Description:

Fans of Libba Bray's The Diviners will love the blend of fantasy and jazz-hot Chicago in this stylish series.

After rescuing her parents from the Seelie king at Hearst Castle, Callie is caught up in the war between the fairies of the Midnight Throne and the Sunlit Kingdoms. By accident, she discovers that fairies aren't the only magical creatures in the world. There's also Halfers, misfits that are half fairy and half other--laced with strange magic and big-city attitude. As the war heats up, Callie's world falls apart. And even though she's the child of prophecy, she doubts she can save the Halfers, her people, her family, and Jack, let alone herself. The fairies all say Callie is the Bad Luck Girl, and she's starting to believe them.

A strong example of diversity in YA, the American Fairy Trilogy introduces Callie LeRoux, a half-black teen who stars in this evocative story full of American history and fairy tales.

Supports the Common Core State Standards.

Praise:

“Callie and Zettel bring this stellar trilogy to a satisfyingly sentimental conclusion.” – Kirkus Reviews, Starred

“Zettel brings the street life, locales, and culture of jazz-age Chicago into the imagery of her fantasy, packing the story with incident, adventure, and even, on the sidelines, information.” – The Horn Book

Bad Luck Girl is the third and final book in the American Fairy Trilogy. The book continues to follow our main character - Callie - as she tries to get her life back to normal after rescuing her parents. The quiet doesn't last long before Callie is caught up in a war between two fairy kingdoms - the Midnight Throne and the Sunlit kingdoms. During the fight, Callie's world is turned upside down when she learns that fairies aren't the only fantastical creatures on earth. There are also Halfers - creatures who are half fairy and half other - who are misfits with big attitudes and odd magic. Callie knows that she's supposed to be the child of the prophecy, but she's beginning to doubt everyone and everything around her - especially herself. When the fairies dub Callie the "Bad Luck Girl," she's starts to believe it's true. Will she be able to call upon her strength and magic to save everyone she loves and must protect - including the Halfers - or will she let everyone down?

This is a completely unique blend of several genres that combine to create a magnificent story with complex characters and serious situations. The author does a fantastic job of mixing fantasy with historical fiction, romance, action, and adventure throughout the book and the series. On top of spanning several genres, the books also touch on serious topics like race, self confidence, and love. All of these things come together to make a incredibly magical trilogy that will leave readers entranced from the first page. I loved Callie as the main character. She's strong, smart, devoted to her family and her people - but we see that she has her faults too - like doubting herself and having issues with confidence. She's a very realistic character and I found myself rooting for her from the beginning. The plot of the book was tense as the two fairy kingdoms finally come to war. I was eager to see how things were going to play out and what would happen in the end. I have to say that the author tied up the trilogy nicely, without leaving readers hanging or questions unanswered. The writing was great - a quick pace with vivid imagery and descriptions that made it feel like I was right alongside Callie the entire time. This is definitely a book/series that I would recommend to fans of the genre, along with those who enjoy something fresh and different with an original story.

Sarah Zettel is the critically acclaimed author of more than twenty novels, spanning the full range of genre fiction. Her debut novel, Reclamation, won the Locus Award for Best First Novel. Her second release, Fool’s War, was a 1997 New York Times Notable Book, and the American Library Association named Playing God one of the Best Books for Young Adults of 1999. Her novel Bitter Angels won the Philip K. Dick Award for best science fiction paperback in 2009. Her latest novel, Dust Girl, was named as one of the best young adult books of the year by both Kirkus Reviews and the American Library Association. Zettel lives in Michigan with her husband, her rapidly growing son, and her cat, Buffy the Vermin Slayer. (Taken from Goodreads)

Author Links:

http://www.sarahzettel.com/

http://www.twitter.com/sarah_zettel

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sarah-Zettel/173689036006158?ref=ts