Monday Montage is a weekly meme I began in order to create a redeeming quality for the dreaded... DUN DUN DUN (creepy sound you hear when something.. creepy.. happens)...
... Monday...
It's cool, don't fret.. because, hopefully, this post will lift your spirits and get you giggling, smiling, thinking about or looking forward to a wonderful, fabulous, take-you-to-another-world book.
My Monday Montage is going to consist of elements from the book I just finished ~ Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard. I'll be honest ~ my review wasn't exactly glowing, but this is a fun, enjoyable, fast-paced read (review posted here) :).
::book cover::
::because you know I can't have a post without a book trailer::
::totally fun::
just click the image ~ you'll know what I mean
::parasol, anyone?::
::evolution?::
::haha::
::haha again::
::eleanor's overall opinion of corsets::
::beware::
Hope that shakes your Monday Blues or at least made you chuckle :P p.s. none of the images are mine, in case you were wondering :)
The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…
Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—
The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.
And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.
Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.
necromancy\ne-krə-ˌman(t)-sē\ :
conjuration of the spirits of the dead for purposes of magically revealing the future or influencing the course of events
What I liked:
Zombies + the 19th century = what's not to like?
Eleanor Fitt
The slow growing feelings between Daniel and Eleanor
No insta-love!
Realistic, if slightly expected, ending
Lots, lots, lots of mystery
Ghosts
A glimpse into 1800s
What I didn't like so much:
Not enough zombie action
Writing style ~ occasionally
Something Strange and Deadly wasn't exactly what I expected. This wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but I kinda felt misled as the opening chapter immerses us into zombiness and then *POOF* ~ hardly a zombie in sight. In all fairness, the author doesn't use the word "zombie," she used the word "Dead," so I guess my high hopes are my own fault. These walking corpses aren't the result of a disease, and you can't get contaminated with a bite ~ is not typical "zombie" mojo. Instead, there's more hocus pocus involved including grimoires, sacrificial power, and necromancy. Pretty cool take, but, again, not what I expected.
Eleanor is an admirable heroine ~ stubborn, brave, determined, curious, and smart. She's a little down on herself, especially when it comes to her place in society. As any woman with her own mind in that time period, Eleanor was too loud and too unladylike for society's taste. As a result of her inability to "fit in," her relationship with her brother is very important, and when he refuses to show, she'll do whatever it takes to find him. She runs into more than she bargained for in her search and discovers herself and more people like her along the way.
Eleanor's relationship with Daniel felt pretty darn real. Like I said, no "insta-love." In fact, they didn't even seem to like each other at first, each assuming the worst of the other. It's not until they actually get to know each other (like normal people in the real world) that they begin to admire and feel something for each other. It's awesome because we didn't get the whole heart-throbbing shebang in one book ~ there's lots of room for their relationship to grow ~ if it does, that is ;).
The story line was pretty imaginative ~ I mean murder, mystery, action, romance, betrayal... enough said. I can't say that it felt slow, because everything happens pretty suddenly throughout every portion of this book, but I think it was the writing style that I felt held it back. Eleanor would always think about what she was going to do before she took action, and it felt redundant. She'd also repeat everything someone told her as a question or exclamation, and I kept wanting to shake her and ask, "You really didn't understand that the first time around???" It was as if the author didn't trust the readers to understand what was going on, so it had to be reiterated just to make sure. Towards the end this habit changed drastically, giving the reader a decent flow and the feeling of growing potential for the rest of the series.
The world building was great, I felt connected to the characters, and it was pretty sweet how Dennard incorporated not only grimoires and witchery (or sorcery, whatever), but zombies, ghosts, and the appropriately dubbed Spirit-Hunters. All kinds of paranormal with a little steampunk thrown in :).
I'd give this book 3 out of 5, if you're counting. I liked it, enjoyed reading it, but it didn't have that WOW factor that would merit a higher rating from me. I didn't get hooked until the very end, so maybe that's why I feel kinda "meh" about it. Okay, maybe "meh" is a little harsh so I'll say "not super excited." Good story though, with a fabulous ending that left me o so curious, so I'll definitely be reading the next. :)
mm mm mm.. Nothing like a hot meme first thing in the morning.. How do you get in on the yumminess created by the lovely ladies over at YA Bound? Take a book you're reading or just recently finished and do tell what made you SWOON. You know, heart pounding, skin tingling, breathe taking, butterflies-wreaking-havoc-in-your-tummy moments.
Shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag #YABound, post it here in the comments, or grab the adorable button above and share it on your blog!
Mine is plucked from Susan Dennard's Something Strange and Deadly. Gotta love Daniel and his never-ending snarkiness ~ that, and there's no insta-love in sight. Great, believable, slow-growing romance...
As if scrutinizing the shape of my cheek, he leaned closer until I could feel his breath.
Then his lips touched my skin--only the slightest brush along my cheekbone.
My breath caught, and my heart with it. But I didn't pull away. I couldn't. I knew if I moved, if this moment ended, my chest would ache with hollowness forever.
He slowly drew back his hand. I twisted my face to his and before he could retreat, I reached out and pressed my good hand against his stomach.
He sucked in a breath, and I bit back my own gasp...
"Eleanor." His voice was so low, I could barely hear it. "Eleanor, we can't do this."
So this is still Should Be Reading's Teaser Tuesday, but I'm gunna add some more tidbits and make it my own. You might meet characters, get enveloped in the fabulous world of an author's mind, or get a little taste of the history involved in a particular story ~ any which way, you'll get a deeper look at the innards of a wonderful book, and hopefully, if my plan works, you'll be thirstin' for more ;).
::my teaser is plucked from::
The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…
Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—
The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.
And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.
Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.
Meet Miss Eleanor Fitt, "of the Philadelphia Fitts." She cracks me right up with her sarcasm, undeniable rebellion, and with how she sees every social situation she finds herself in to be what it really is ~ a ridiculous affair. She's brave, curious, but sees herself in this strange, almost degrading light, as if she knows she was born in the wrong century and is unacceptable according to the standards of her time. She does her best to be like the others to make her slightly crazy, materialistic mother happy, but Eleanor can't help but stand out with a mind of her own and a voice she isn't afraid to use.
::here are a few thoughts from Eleanor::
"Mama wanted me to remember my Grecian bend...Supposedly it was an enticing pose to the modern man. I couldn't imagine why since it made us look like camels who expected at any moment to be ridden by our masters."
"Blazes, he was cocky. And entirely too dashing for his own good--or for my own good, rather."
"In half a heartbeat he was beside me tugging me into his arms. His lips parted, but if to speak or to kiss, I never found out."
"'Miss Fitt, you know curiosity gets men killed.'
I grinned. 'Then I daresay it's good I'm a woman.'"
"The closest corpse, a skeleton of gleaming bone and shredded flesh, tottered to a stop. Its exposed skull rotated toward me, and though its sockets were empty, I knew it sensed me."
The video below is Got Me Wrong by Alice in Chains...Everyone interprets it differently ~ for me, I take it to be about a person who doesn't often find love...has found it...it's "wrong", but "something's gotta turn out right..." This song reminds me of Eleanor's and Daniel's relationship... They are pulled toward each other but each push the other away due to the different worlds they each come from... They judge each other, but to me, it seems more like they are trying to find reasons to dislike each other rather than admit there is a smidgen of admiration...
I can't friggin' wait for this book to come out.. Zombies in the 1800s? Yes, please :). It seems I'm not the only one who's itchin' to get their hands on this book ~ it's the one y'all voted to be my July Giveaway :).
As a little treat, I thought I'd share the book trailer, and I'll also inform you that the official site for the book is giving away a signed copy here. (Of course, I'm also doing a giveaway **link** .. Not signed, but, hey, still pretty awesome!)
As some of you may have noticed, I put this month's giveaway up to your vote. It was between three highly anticipated new releases: Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols, Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness, and Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard.
It was interesting to see how the voting went ~ to see which book my fellow bookies craved the most.
And you picked ~
Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard
The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…
Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—
The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.
And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.
Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.
Zombies in the 1800s? Who wouldn't want to read about that? Honestly, I'm super excited this was the one with the most votes, because it's the one I woulda picked it just sounds completely amazing :)
(This is my FIRST international giveaway :) We'll see how it goes!! So enter away my friends!)
I'm trying to do a giveaway every month ~ they are just SO much fun ~ and this month I want to do something a little different than just picking a book and throwing it out there. I want you to pick. On the right hand sign you'll notice a poll asking "What book do you want to read in July?"... Well, all the books listed are, from what I've gathered from other blogs and my own personal opinion, *highly anticipated* reads of the summer. You'll have until July 7th to vote, and you can vote once per day :).
Here are the contestants:
"Together we lifted our feet and stepped into the unknown"—the thrilling sequel to the New York Times bestseller A Discovery of Witches
Deborah Harkness exploded onto the literary scene with her debut novel,A Discovery of Witches, Book One of the magical All Souls Trilogy and an international publishing phenomenon. The novel introduced Diana Bishop, Oxford scholar and reluctant witch, and the handsome geneticist and vampire Matthew Clairmont; together they found themselves at the center of a supernatural battle over an enchanted manuscript known as Ashmole 782.
Now, picking up from A Discovery of Witches’ cliffhanger ending,Shadow of Night plunges Diana and Matthew into Elizabethan London, a world of spies, subterfuge, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the mysterious School of Night that includes Christopher Marlowe and Walter Raleigh. Here, Diana must locate a witch to tutor her in magic, Matthew is forced to confront a past he thought he had put to rest, and the mystery of Ashmole 782 deepens.
Deborah Harkness has crafted a gripping journey through a world of alchemy, time travel, and magical discoveries, delivering one of the most hotly anticipated novels of the season.
The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…
Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—
The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.
And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.
Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.
A sexy and poignant romantic tale of a young daredevil pilot caught between two brothers.
High school senior Leah Jones loves nothing more than flying. While she’s in the air, it’s easy to forget life with her absentee mother at the low-rent end of a South Carolina beach town. When her flight instructor, Mr. Hall, hires her to fly for his banner advertising business, she sees it as her ticket out of the trailer park. And when he dies suddenly, she’s afraid her flying career is gone forever.
But Mr. Hall’s teenage sons, golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson, are determined to keep the banner planes flying. Though Leah has crushed on Grayson for years, she’s leery of getting involved in what now seems like a doomed business — until Grayson betrays her by digging up her most damning secret. Holding it over her head, he forces her to fly for secret reasons of his own, reasons involving Alec. Now Leah finds herself drawn into a battle between brothers — and the consequences could be deadly.
Completely fell in love with A Discovery of Witches and it feels like I've been waiting *forever* for the sequel. Can't friggin' wait!
Deborah Harkness exploded onto the literary scene with her debut novel, A Discovery of Witches, Book One of the magical All Souls Trilogy and an international publishing phenomenon. The novel introduced Diana Bishop, Oxford scholar and reluctant witch, and the handsome geneticist and vampire Matthew Clairmont; together they found themselves at the center of a supernatural battle over an enchanted manuscript known as Ashmole 782. Now, picking up from A Discovery of Witches’ cliffhanger ending,Shadow of Night plunges Diana and Matthew into Elizabethan London, a world of spies, subterfuge, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the mysterious School of Night that includes Christopher Marlowe and Walter Raleigh. Here, Diana must locate a witch to tutor her in magic, Matthew is forced to confront a past he thought he had put to rest, and the mystery of Ashmole 782 deepens. Deborah Harkness has crafted a gripping journey through a world of alchemy, time travel, and magical discoveries, delivering one of the most hotly anticipated novels of the season.
The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…
Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—
The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.
And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.
Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.
