Stacking The Shelves, Vol. 13: Of Elementals and Elves

July 18, 2015July 13, 2015 / saraletourneau / 19 Comments

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly event hosted by Tynga’s Reviews that shares the books (both physical and virtual) that you recently purchased, borrowed from a fellow reader or the library, won from a giveaway, or received as gifts. Stacking The Shelves will post on Saturdays as new books are added to my shelves.

First of all, a huge and sincere apology to anyone who’s waiting on my response for blog tags and awards! I needed to focus on more deadline-driven articles first, and everything kind of came to a head all at once. 😦 I’m hoping to start catching up before my trip to Writer’s Digest Conference at the end of the month, and then continue when I’m back.

Now, books. Yes. Two new ones, and they are…

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Waiting On Wednesday, Vol. 7: “Siren’s Fury” by Mary Weber

May 6, 2015April 24, 2015 / saraletourneau / 15 Comments

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming book releases that I’m looking forward to. My WOW postings won’t be weekly, but they’ll come on Wednesdays when my blogging schedule is open and when I add a yet-to-be-published book to my wishlist.

This Wednesday, I’m waiting on Siren’s Fury, the second installment of the Storm Siren Trilogy by Mary Weber. Her debut novel Storm Siren was entertaining and gritty, thanks to its use of elemental magic, unique characters, and resonant themes that were perfect for a YA audience. Part of me is still reeling from the ending, too. Not many YA fantasies take a gamble like Weber did in Storm Siren (if you read the book, you know what I’m talking about); and since it both gutted me and convinced me that I NEED to read the sequel as soon as it comes out, that gamble paid off. From the sounds of the blurb below, Siren’s Fury could be a wild, steampunk-flavored ride. But it also confirms my worst fears about Storm Siren‘s last scene. 😦 This might be a tough read… But the cover’s purdy, wouldn’t you agree?

Siren’s Fury (Storm Siren Trilogy, Book #2)
Mary Weber
Fantasy / Young Adult
Publication Date: June 2, 2015
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository / Goodreads

Synopsis:

“I thrust my hand toward the sky as my voice begs the Elemental inside me to waken and rise. But it’s no use. The curse I’ve spent my entire life abhorring—the thing I trained so hard to control—no longer exists.”

Nym has saved Faelen only to discover that Draewulf stole everything she valued. Now he’s destroyed her Elemental storm-summoning ability as well.

When Nym sneaks off with a host of delegates to Bron, Lord Myles offers her the chance for a new kind of power and the whispered hope that it may do more than simply defeat the monster she loathes. But the secrets the Bron people have kept concealed, along with the horrors Draewulf has developed, may require more than simply harnessing a darker ability.

They may require who she is.

Set against the stark metallic backdrop of the Bron kingdom, Nym is faced with the chance to change the future.

Or was that Draewulf’s plan for her all along?

What book(s) are you waiting on this Wednesday? Are you also looking forward to Siren’s Fury?

Interview with Mary Weber, Author of “Storm Siren”

October 27, 2014October 27, 2014 / saraletourneau / 11 Comments

You never know what you’ll discover – or who you’ll meet – thanks to magazines and social media. I first read about Mary Weber and her debut YA fantasy novel, Storm Siren, in Writer’s Digest, then got caught up in the Twitter buzz that followed over the summer. The hype was well-deserved, in my opinion. Storm Siren is a vivid, visceral, and inspiring tale of a young Elemental girl’s struggle to control her storm-wielding powers, save her homeland from impending war, and defeat her inner demons. It’s a brave and unique story that stands out in the crowded YA fantasy market, and one that fans of the genre shouldn’t miss!

Today’s I’m super-excited to have Mary here to talk about Storm Siren and her journey to becoming a published author. What advice does she have for yet-to-be-published writers? What would she do if she visited Faelen, the world she created for Storm Siren? Oh, and who would like a sneak peek into Storm Siren‘s sequel, Siren’s Fury? *raises her hand* Without further ado… Continue reading →