The winner of the 2019 Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award is Scythe by Neal Shusterman, The first book in his Arc of the Scythe trilogy introduces a world where humanity has conquered death. There is no aging, no disease, no poverty, no war. Earth is ruled by an omniscient "cloud" called the Thunderhead and to deal with overpopulation, a group of humans called Scythes randomly cull the population. Against their wishes, the main characters, Citra and Rowan, are chosen to train to be scythes. The sequels Thunderhead and The Toll are also available for this thought-provoking and engrossing series. The 2020 nominees are unusually heavy on historical fiction. I will review those titles in this month's blog, as well as briefly mention the other nominees.
Allies by Alan Gratz is a fictionalized account of D-Day, which weaves together individual experiences from six different operations in settings across Europe. The narrative covers a sea invasion, French citizens and Resistance fighters on land, soldiers arriving by air, but focuses repeatedly on Dee, a German fighting on the American side and hiding his identity from his best friend Sid, a Jewish American soldier. The account is historically accurate, but covers a very diverse cast of main characters. In the end all the stories come together, showing that it took a great deal of cooperation to defeat the Nazis in WWII.
Like a Love Story by Adi Nazemian is set in NYC in the 80s and examines the AIDS epidemic through the eyes of three teenage friends. Judy, whose uncle is living with AIDS, has befriended Art and defends him against homophobic classmates. When Reza, who is questioning his sexuality, arrives, things get complicated. Reza pairs off with Judy, even though it's Art he's really attracted to. When Reza finally admits he's fallen for Art, Judy is shattered. Her uncle, who is not long for this world, helps them navigate this rift in their friendship and what it means to be part of the LBGTQ community during this devastating time.
Lovely War by Julie Berry blends fact with fantasy. Set in a Manhattan hotel during WWII, Greek God Hephaestus catches his wife Aphrodite with his brother Ares. To exonerate herself, she weaves a story of love during wartime, which focuses on four different characters. Aubrey, an African American musician, Colette, a bereaved Belgian singer, Hazel, a British pianist and her lover James. Alternating between past and present, the story finds Colette and Hazel volunteering in France, where they meet Aubrey, who quickly falls for Colette. Meanwhile, James is on the front experiencing firsthand the devastation of war. As the mortals' stories play out, Aphrodite is teaching her husband about the ups and downs of true love.
The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys focuses on Francisco Franco's fascist rule of Spain. Set in Madrid 1957, the story introduces 18-yr-old Daniel Matheson, who is staying at the luxurious Castellana Hilton with his Texas oil baron dad and Spanish mother. He meets Ana, a hotel employee, who worries about losing her job, as he pursues a relationship with her. Trying to find a subject for his entry into a photo competition, Daniel goes out each day and captures disturbing images of local people trying to survive under Franco's regime. He goes to Ana's village and meets her parentless siblings and becomes aware of a government and church collusion, which involves stolen children. Ultimately he heads back to the U.S, with his parents and newly adopted sister and submits an award-winning portfolio. Eighteen years later he returns to Spain with his sister and reconnects with Ana. Official quotations from academic and foreign service archives are interspersed among the chapters.
Additional Blue Spruce nominees include
Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff - 1st in a sci fi series about intergalactic travel
Bloom by Kevin Panetta and Savanna Ganucheau - Graphic novel about about two boys who fall in love over baked goods.
Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte - Fantasy about a thief and an upstanding citizen who work to solve a murder mystery, falling in love in the process.
Guts by Raina Telgemeier - Graphic novel about author conquering childhood anxieties.
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O'Connell - Graphic novel about a girl in a toxic relationship with a popular girl who is using her.
A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir - 3rd book in the An Ember in the Ashes series.
To learn more about the Blue Spruce Award go to https://www.coloradobluespruceaward.org/
Showing posts with label Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award. Show all posts
Thursday, February 6, 2020
Friday, February 9, 2018
Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award
Yesterday at the CCIRA convention in Denver, the 2017 Blue Spruce winner, Six of Crows by Leigh Barduga, and the 2018 nominees were announced. The winner focuses on six dangerous outcasts in the magic infused city of Ketterdam, who are offered vast sums of money to liberate a scientist from a maximum security prison. Kaz, who heads the crew, recruits his friends to help him with the heist. The story is told from multiple points of view and along the way readers find out each person's backstory, which leads them to Kaz's gang. This page turner ends with a cliff-hanger ending, followed by the sequel Crooked Kingdom.
The 2018 nominees include several previously reviewed in this blog, including Everything, Everything, by Nicola Yoon, The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Saenz, Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, and The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas. In addition to these titles, the following novels are up for the 2018 award.
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
Two sisters leave their cruel father to attend Caraval-a faraway once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show. Along the way one is kidnapped and the other is aided by a mysterious sailor and finds herself enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak and magic.
Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller
When the pirate king discovers that a legendary treasure map can be found on an enemy ship, his daughter Alosa knows there is only one pirate for the job - herself. Leaving behind her beloved ship and crew, Alosa deliberately facilitates her own kidnapping to ensure her welcome on the ship.
The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron
Canaan is a quiet city on an idyllic world, hemmed in by high walls, but every 12 years the town breaks out in a chaos of bloody violence, after which all the people undergo the Forgetting, in which they are left without any trace of memory. But Nadia has never forgotten.
Kill All Happies by Rachel Cohn
Victoria Navarro has one night to throw the ultimate graduation party at Happies, a legendary restaurant that is closing. She hopes to say goodbye to lifelong friends and make sure her crush never forgets her, but all doesn't go as planned.
The Marvels by Brian Selznik
The author of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, once again employs pen and ink drawings, as well as text, to tell the story of the Marvels, a brilliant family of London actors.
Nyxia by Scott Reintgen
Emmet accepts an interstellar space contract, but learns en route that to win the promised fortune, he and the other recruits face a brutal competition, putting their very humanity at risk.
Refugee by Alan Gratz
Three teens separated by continents and decades embark on harrowing journeys in search of refuge. Joseph flees Nazi Germany in 1930, Isabel leaves Cuba on a raft to America in 1994 and Mahmoud begins the journey from Syria to Germany in 2015. Surprising connections tie their stories together.
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
John Green's latest novel focuses on Aza whose OCD threatens to derail her attempt to get control of her life, as she pursues the mystery of a fugitive billionaire.
Wax by Gina Damico
Poppy Palladino, with the help of a wax boy called Dud, attempts to uncover an evil plot that threatens her hometown of Paraffin, Vermont.
We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach
The lives of 4 high school seniors intersect weeks before a meteor is set to pass through Earth's orbit with a 66.6% chance of striking and destroying all life on Earth.
To read more about the award and find book talks for the new nominees go to http://www.coloradobluespruceaward.org/
The 2018 nominees include several previously reviewed in this blog, including Everything, Everything, by Nicola Yoon, The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Saenz, Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, and The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas. In addition to these titles, the following novels are up for the 2018 award.
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
Two sisters leave their cruel father to attend Caraval-a faraway once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show. Along the way one is kidnapped and the other is aided by a mysterious sailor and finds herself enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak and magic.
Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller
When the pirate king discovers that a legendary treasure map can be found on an enemy ship, his daughter Alosa knows there is only one pirate for the job - herself. Leaving behind her beloved ship and crew, Alosa deliberately facilitates her own kidnapping to ensure her welcome on the ship.
The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron
Canaan is a quiet city on an idyllic world, hemmed in by high walls, but every 12 years the town breaks out in a chaos of bloody violence, after which all the people undergo the Forgetting, in which they are left without any trace of memory. But Nadia has never forgotten.
Kill All Happies by Rachel Cohn
Victoria Navarro has one night to throw the ultimate graduation party at Happies, a legendary restaurant that is closing. She hopes to say goodbye to lifelong friends and make sure her crush never forgets her, but all doesn't go as planned.
The Marvels by Brian Selznik
The author of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, once again employs pen and ink drawings, as well as text, to tell the story of the Marvels, a brilliant family of London actors.
Nyxia by Scott Reintgen
Emmet accepts an interstellar space contract, but learns en route that to win the promised fortune, he and the other recruits face a brutal competition, putting their very humanity at risk.
Refugee by Alan Gratz
Three teens separated by continents and decades embark on harrowing journeys in search of refuge. Joseph flees Nazi Germany in 1930, Isabel leaves Cuba on a raft to America in 1994 and Mahmoud begins the journey from Syria to Germany in 2015. Surprising connections tie their stories together.
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
John Green's latest novel focuses on Aza whose OCD threatens to derail her attempt to get control of her life, as she pursues the mystery of a fugitive billionaire.
Wax by Gina Damico
Poppy Palladino, with the help of a wax boy called Dud, attempts to uncover an evil plot that threatens her hometown of Paraffin, Vermont.
We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach
The lives of 4 high school seniors intersect weeks before a meteor is set to pass through Earth's orbit with a 66.6% chance of striking and destroying all life on Earth.
To read more about the award and find book talks for the new nominees go to http://www.coloradobluespruceaward.org/
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award
The CO Blue Spruce YA book award winner was announced at the CCIRA conference today, along with the new nominees for 2017. The 2016 winner is The Amazing Book is Not on Fire by Dan Howell and Phil Lester. The authors are Youtube sensations who share their awkward teenage lives on the internet. The 2017 nominees include *All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven, Carry On by Rainbow Rowell, * The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig, *I Was Here by Gayle Forman, Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee, Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, *The Smell of Other People's Houses by Bonnie Sue Hitchcock, Still Life with Tornado by A.S. King, *Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum, Thicker Than Water by Kelly Fiore, This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp, and The Treatment by Suzanne Young. Those that are starred have already been reviewed in this blog.
Carry On is a companion book to Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl. In Fangirl, twins Wren and Cath write fan fiction for a fantasy book whose main character is Simon Snow, a wizard who has been compared to Harry Potter. Carry On is Simon's story. Unlike Harry, Simon is not a very good wizard. He can't get his wand to work, his roommate may be a vampire, and he has a monster running around wearing his face. This book appeared on many best books of 2015 lists, including Time magazine and School Library Journal.
Outrun the Moon is a wonderful historical fiction about 15-year-old Mercy Wong who lives through the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. She lives in Chinatown, but finagles her way into attending St. Clare's School for Girls. Mercy is an outcast at school until the earthquake forces her and her classmates into a temporary camp at the park, where she rises to the occasion and helps those around her survive. A sequel is said to be in the works.
Six of Crows is the first in a duology starring six dangerous outcasts in the magic infused city of Ketterdam, who are offered vast sums of money to liberate a scientist from a maximum security prison. Kaz, who heads the crew, recruits his friends to help him with the heist. The story is told from multiple points of view and along the way readers find out each person's backstory which leads them to Kaz's gang. This page turner ends with a cliff-hanger ending, followed by the sequel Crooked Kingdom.
Still Life with Tornado, the latest by A.S. King, involves a 16-year-old artist, Sarah, who is devastated when a piece she created for a show is destroyed. She wonders if life is really worth living. She has a dysfunctional family, her brother is missing, her art teacher is dismissive and cruel, and she has lost her ability to draw. Her 10, 23 and 40-year-old selves help her navigate the waters of depression, as she wanders the city trying to find a reason to go on. This book appears on many best books of 2016 lists including The New York Times and Booklist.
Thicker Than Water is a heartbreaking story of family tragedy and drug addiction. Cecelia Price is locked up and forced into treatment, after being accused of killing her brother. After her mom dies, CeCe's brother, a star soccer player, is injured and gets addicted to painkillers. As his life spirals downward, and their father is in denial, CeCe takes matters into her own hands to try to save the family.
This Is Where It Ends is a story about 54 minutes during a school shooting. The story is told from the perspectives of four different teens, who all know the shooter and have reason to fear him. During a school assembly at Opportunity High in Alabama, the troubled teen locks the doors and begins shooting, randomly killing staff and students. Two boys who were not in the auditorium mastermind a rescue operation. This debut novel also made many best books of 2016 lists.
The Treatment is the sequel to last year's nominee, The Program, about a futuristic society, that deals with teenage depression and suicidal tendencies, by wiping the troubled teens' memories. The followup finds teens working with rebels to put an end to the program. Protagonists Sloane and James find the key to unlocking their memories, so they can take down The Program, lies with the Treatment, a pill that can bring back their memories but at a high cost.
Promotional activities, book talks and author responses are available at www.coloradobluespruceaward.org.
Carry On is a companion book to Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl. In Fangirl, twins Wren and Cath write fan fiction for a fantasy book whose main character is Simon Snow, a wizard who has been compared to Harry Potter. Carry On is Simon's story. Unlike Harry, Simon is not a very good wizard. He can't get his wand to work, his roommate may be a vampire, and he has a monster running around wearing his face. This book appeared on many best books of 2015 lists, including Time magazine and School Library Journal.
Outrun the Moon is a wonderful historical fiction about 15-year-old Mercy Wong who lives through the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. She lives in Chinatown, but finagles her way into attending St. Clare's School for Girls. Mercy is an outcast at school until the earthquake forces her and her classmates into a temporary camp at the park, where she rises to the occasion and helps those around her survive. A sequel is said to be in the works.
Six of Crows is the first in a duology starring six dangerous outcasts in the magic infused city of Ketterdam, who are offered vast sums of money to liberate a scientist from a maximum security prison. Kaz, who heads the crew, recruits his friends to help him with the heist. The story is told from multiple points of view and along the way readers find out each person's backstory which leads them to Kaz's gang. This page turner ends with a cliff-hanger ending, followed by the sequel Crooked Kingdom.
Still Life with Tornado, the latest by A.S. King, involves a 16-year-old artist, Sarah, who is devastated when a piece she created for a show is destroyed. She wonders if life is really worth living. She has a dysfunctional family, her brother is missing, her art teacher is dismissive and cruel, and she has lost her ability to draw. Her 10, 23 and 40-year-old selves help her navigate the waters of depression, as she wanders the city trying to find a reason to go on. This book appears on many best books of 2016 lists including The New York Times and Booklist.
Thicker Than Water is a heartbreaking story of family tragedy and drug addiction. Cecelia Price is locked up and forced into treatment, after being accused of killing her brother. After her mom dies, CeCe's brother, a star soccer player, is injured and gets addicted to painkillers. As his life spirals downward, and their father is in denial, CeCe takes matters into her own hands to try to save the family.
This Is Where It Ends is a story about 54 minutes during a school shooting. The story is told from the perspectives of four different teens, who all know the shooter and have reason to fear him. During a school assembly at Opportunity High in Alabama, the troubled teen locks the doors and begins shooting, randomly killing staff and students. Two boys who were not in the auditorium mastermind a rescue operation. This debut novel also made many best books of 2016 lists.
The Treatment is the sequel to last year's nominee, The Program, about a futuristic society, that deals with teenage depression and suicidal tendencies, by wiping the troubled teens' memories. The followup finds teens working with rebels to put an end to the program. Protagonists Sloane and James find the key to unlocking their memories, so they can take down The Program, lies with the Treatment, a pill that can bring back their memories but at a high cost.
Promotional activities, book talks and author responses are available at www.coloradobluespruceaward.org.
Friday, February 12, 2016
CO Blue Spruce YA Award and 2016 Nominees
The Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award winner for 2015 is The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Familiar to John Green fans, as well as a major motion picture, the beloved book about a young cancer survivor probably needs no further description. The 2016 Blue Spruce nominees have also been announced. Several of the books have already been reviewed in this blog, including Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, and I'll Give You the Sun (2015 Prinz Award winner) by Jandy Nelson. Two nominees are sequels to reviewed books that were nominees last year: Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes is the sequel to Falling Kingdoms and Ice Like Fire by Sara Raasch is the sequel to Snow Like Ashes. The Selection is the first in a dystopian Cinderella series by Kiera Cass and The Young Elites is the first in a dystopian series by Marie Lu. The Amazing Book is Not on Fire by internet sensations Dan Howell and Phil Lester is a collection of writings from their series and The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks probably owes its nomination to the movie version starring Scott Eastwood and Britt Robertson. The three final nominees that I would like to discuss in more detail are An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir, The Program by Suzanne Young and I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai.
An Ember in the Ashes, the first book in a new fantasy series inspired by Ancient Rome, introduces Elias Veturius, the son of the military commandant in the Martial Empire, and Laia, a Scholar whose parents led the Resistance before their mysterious deaths. When Laia’s grandparents are killed and her brother is taken prisoner, she agrees to go undercover for the Resistance if they will rescue him. She poses as the personal slave of the commandant of the Blackcliff Academy where Elias trains. Although Elias would like to desert, he is chosen to undergo trials in a competition to become the next emperor. He and Laia find themselves falling in love as they become unwitting comrades in the trials that are filled with magic and supernatural challenges. Already optioned by Paramount pictures and sold to 19 international markets, this series is sure to be a winner. The sequel, The Torch Against the Night, will be out in August.
The Program is the first in a duo-logy about a program designed to deal with a teen suicide epidemic. The book focuses on Sloane, a teen whose brother committed suicide in front of her. Fighting depression, her only solace is her boyfriend James, who is her support system. When James is committed to the Program, which will wipe his memories, Sloan despairs and ultimately is sent to the Program as well. The book is divided into three parts, reflecting her life before, during and after her treatment. Fighting to resist losing all her memories, she is aided by a troublemaker named James, and when she is released, she has one key memory which will help her fight the system. In the sequel, The Treatment, James and Sloane rekindle their romance and are on the run in this exploration of the relationship between memory and identity.
I am Malala is an autobiography written by Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Prize winner in history. It tells the story of a young Muslim Pakistani girl who was taught to stand up for what she believes. When the Taliban took control of her region, they dramatically reduced the rights of women, denying them education and freedom of movement. Malala fought for her right to be educated and on October 9, 2012, she was shot point-blank while riding the bus home from school. Defying all odds, she survived and began her campaign of peaceful protest. This book is available in adult and young adult versions. I would recommend the YA version which includes exclusive photos and material that complement her story, detailing how one young person can inspire change in the world.
Book talks for all twelve Blue Spruce nominees, as well as tips for promoting the award, are available at www.coloradobluespruceaward.org.
An Ember in the Ashes, the first book in a new fantasy series inspired by Ancient Rome, introduces Elias Veturius, the son of the military commandant in the Martial Empire, and Laia, a Scholar whose parents led the Resistance before their mysterious deaths. When Laia’s grandparents are killed and her brother is taken prisoner, she agrees to go undercover for the Resistance if they will rescue him. She poses as the personal slave of the commandant of the Blackcliff Academy where Elias trains. Although Elias would like to desert, he is chosen to undergo trials in a competition to become the next emperor. He and Laia find themselves falling in love as they become unwitting comrades in the trials that are filled with magic and supernatural challenges. Already optioned by Paramount pictures and sold to 19 international markets, this series is sure to be a winner. The sequel, The Torch Against the Night, will be out in August.
The Program is the first in a duo-logy about a program designed to deal with a teen suicide epidemic. The book focuses on Sloane, a teen whose brother committed suicide in front of her. Fighting depression, her only solace is her boyfriend James, who is her support system. When James is committed to the Program, which will wipe his memories, Sloan despairs and ultimately is sent to the Program as well. The book is divided into three parts, reflecting her life before, during and after her treatment. Fighting to resist losing all her memories, she is aided by a troublemaker named James, and when she is released, she has one key memory which will help her fight the system. In the sequel, The Treatment, James and Sloane rekindle their romance and are on the run in this exploration of the relationship between memory and identity.
I am Malala is an autobiography written by Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Prize winner in history. It tells the story of a young Muslim Pakistani girl who was taught to stand up for what she believes. When the Taliban took control of her region, they dramatically reduced the rights of women, denying them education and freedom of movement. Malala fought for her right to be educated and on October 9, 2012, she was shot point-blank while riding the bus home from school. Defying all odds, she survived and began her campaign of peaceful protest. This book is available in adult and young adult versions. I would recommend the YA version which includes exclusive photos and material that complement her story, detailing how one young person can inspire change in the world.
Book talks for all twelve Blue Spruce nominees, as well as tips for promoting the award, are available at www.coloradobluespruceaward.org.
Sunday, February 8, 2015
2015 Blue Spruce Award winner and more
Cinder, the first book in Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles, won this year's Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award. This re-imagining of the Cinderella story set in a futuristic dystopian world introduces Cinder, a cyborg who is a gifted mechanic on a plague ridden planet which is under attack by ruthless aliens led by Queen Levana. When Cinder is called in to work on one of Prince Kai's droids, her life becomes intertwined with his, and she finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle and a forbidden romance. The sequel, Scarlet, a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, introduces new characters, Scarlet and Wolf, to the tale and Cress, a retelling of Rapunzel, adds Cress and Thorn to the mix. In January Fairest, a prequel that tells Queen Levana's story was released and the final book Winter will come out in November 2015. If you haven't already enjoyed this series, you have some entertaining reading ahead.
The 2016 Blue Spruce nominees include three new fantasy series that I would highly recommend. Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes paints a complex world where three kingdoms are vying for power, as Hawks known as Watchers survey the conflict from above. Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch introduces Primoria, a world where the kingdom of Spring has defeated Winter and enslaved all but eight of the surviving Winterians. Those eight are hoping to regain the slain Winterian Queen's magic locket and restore her son to the throne. In The Winner's Curse Marie Rutkoski crafts a world of aristocrats and slaves, where a general's daughter falls in love with a slave with royal heritage.
In Falling Kingdoms three kingdoms, Auranos, Paelsia and Limeros, are struggling for supremacy. A prophecy foretells the birth of a powerful sorceress, ancient legend tells of a ring that provides mastery over the Kindred, four elemental crystals that give their owners god-like power, and Hawks oversee the struggles, hoping to find the Kindred and reclaim power for themselves. Cleo, an Auranian princess who sister is dying, travels to a dangerous land looking for magic to cure her. Jonas, a Paelsian rebel who brother was killed by Cleo's fiance, leads the people's revolution in that land and is looking for revenge. Prince Magnus and his sister Lucia live in Limeros where people are plotting to overthrow Cleo's father, who temporarily is in control. War is on the horizon and these four young people are caught in the middle of it. A quest to find the Kindred, as well as the sorceress who can control all the elements ensues. As the book draws to a close there are many tantalizing questions left unanswered. Rebel Spring and Gathering Darkness, the next two books in the six book series are available. Fans of complex fantasy series will want to read all six.
Snow Like Ashes finds Meira, an orphan who is a Winterian warrior-in-training, in hiding with six other warriors and Prince Mather, the heir to the throne. Meira is in love with Mather, but is deemed unworthy to be his queen. Sixteen years prior to the opening of the book, King Angra of the kingdom of Spring defeated the kingdom of Winter, enslaved its people and stole the Royal Conduit, a locket used by Winter's female ruler to magically aid her country. Meira is able to reclaim half the locket from its hiding place (the other half is around King Angra's neck) but leads Spring scouts back to the Winterian camp. The refugees must flee to the kingdom of Cordell where Meira meets the delightful Prince Theron and discovers she has been betrothed to him in exchange for Cordell's help in killing King Angra. There is a dramatic twist at the end that is both believable and unpredictable and will leave readers clamoring for the sequel Ice Like Fire which is due in 2015.
The Winner's Curse is the first book in the Winner's Trilogy. When Kestrel, the daughter of an Valorian general, buys Arin, a handsome Herrani slave, at an auction, she is not quite sure what motivated her to do so. She soon finds that Arin is cultured, musically gifted, and involved in plotting a Herrani uprising. As they spend more and more time together, they cannot deny their mutual attraction. Tables turn when the Herranis take over the city and Kestrel becomes Arin's prisoner. She uses her skills as a military strategist and gambler in a risky plot to free herself and negotiate peace. The satisfying ending allows this book to be read as a stand alone; however, unfinished elements of the love story will entice readers to pick up The Winner's Crime which comes out in March 2015.
To read about the rest of the 2016 Blue Spruce nominees go to http://www.coloradobluespruceaward.org/
The 2016 Blue Spruce nominees include three new fantasy series that I would highly recommend. Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes paints a complex world where three kingdoms are vying for power, as Hawks known as Watchers survey the conflict from above. Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch introduces Primoria, a world where the kingdom of Spring has defeated Winter and enslaved all but eight of the surviving Winterians. Those eight are hoping to regain the slain Winterian Queen's magic locket and restore her son to the throne. In The Winner's Curse Marie Rutkoski crafts a world of aristocrats and slaves, where a general's daughter falls in love with a slave with royal heritage.
In Falling Kingdoms three kingdoms, Auranos, Paelsia and Limeros, are struggling for supremacy. A prophecy foretells the birth of a powerful sorceress, ancient legend tells of a ring that provides mastery over the Kindred, four elemental crystals that give their owners god-like power, and Hawks oversee the struggles, hoping to find the Kindred and reclaim power for themselves. Cleo, an Auranian princess who sister is dying, travels to a dangerous land looking for magic to cure her. Jonas, a Paelsian rebel who brother was killed by Cleo's fiance, leads the people's revolution in that land and is looking for revenge. Prince Magnus and his sister Lucia live in Limeros where people are plotting to overthrow Cleo's father, who temporarily is in control. War is on the horizon and these four young people are caught in the middle of it. A quest to find the Kindred, as well as the sorceress who can control all the elements ensues. As the book draws to a close there are many tantalizing questions left unanswered. Rebel Spring and Gathering Darkness, the next two books in the six book series are available. Fans of complex fantasy series will want to read all six.
Snow Like Ashes finds Meira, an orphan who is a Winterian warrior-in-training, in hiding with six other warriors and Prince Mather, the heir to the throne. Meira is in love with Mather, but is deemed unworthy to be his queen. Sixteen years prior to the opening of the book, King Angra of the kingdom of Spring defeated the kingdom of Winter, enslaved its people and stole the Royal Conduit, a locket used by Winter's female ruler to magically aid her country. Meira is able to reclaim half the locket from its hiding place (the other half is around King Angra's neck) but leads Spring scouts back to the Winterian camp. The refugees must flee to the kingdom of Cordell where Meira meets the delightful Prince Theron and discovers she has been betrothed to him in exchange for Cordell's help in killing King Angra. There is a dramatic twist at the end that is both believable and unpredictable and will leave readers clamoring for the sequel Ice Like Fire which is due in 2015.
The Winner's Curse is the first book in the Winner's Trilogy. When Kestrel, the daughter of an Valorian general, buys Arin, a handsome Herrani slave, at an auction, she is not quite sure what motivated her to do so. She soon finds that Arin is cultured, musically gifted, and involved in plotting a Herrani uprising. As they spend more and more time together, they cannot deny their mutual attraction. Tables turn when the Herranis take over the city and Kestrel becomes Arin's prisoner. She uses her skills as a military strategist and gambler in a risky plot to free herself and negotiate peace. The satisfying ending allows this book to be read as a stand alone; however, unfinished elements of the love story will entice readers to pick up The Winner's Crime which comes out in March 2015.
To read about the rest of the 2016 Blue Spruce nominees go to http://www.coloradobluespruceaward.org/
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