TWO YEARS AGO TODAY...

...I was walking through a Barnes and Noble.
I saw this book:
I'd seen it before, and once on another occasion I'd even picked it up. But two years ago today,
I bought it. I brought it home. I read it.
And I kid you not, my reading experience has never been the same. And I finally realized the audience that I primarily wanted to write for: young teens (older ones too, but targeting the younger ones).
So thanks, PJ, for opening up the door to Young Adult fiction.
It's been a fun and crazy ride. And it's not over yet.
:)


Most of us read YA, if not almost exclusively. What was that one book/series that really got you into the YA genre?

ARC Review - Much Ado About TEMPESTUOUS

Tempestuous (Wondrous Strange, #3) - Lesley Livingston

Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy
# of pages: 361 (ARC)
Published by Harper Teen
Releases December 21, 2010
Have you read the Wondrous Strange series yet? You should. You really, really should. The final book in this, the *best* faerie series currently in print, releases next week on the 21st. This would be just a fabulous time to begin this series, especially you high schoolers, since you guys are almost (if not already) out for the holidays.
I grabbed at Tempestuous immediately after closing the back cover of Darklight, intent on figuring out how the heck everything would go down in this final installment. Darklight's ending was, to say the least, a real shocker for me...and to be honest, I was a bit apprehensive about the direction the story was taking. I was thinking, "Oohhh, I don't know how I feel about this. This is really not what I expected. Whatever will happen next?" Well, the author certainly didn't disappoint, and out of a complete left-field plot twist came a captivating finale to a beloved series. Without spoiling anything, if you've read Darklight, and the ending made you say, "What in the world?!" rest assured that you will most definitely be pleased with how everything plays out.
So in addition to Kelley and Sonny, the cast of the WS series has been energetic, enigmatic, and hilariously lovable. I've mentioned before how cool a concept it is to have four faerie courts - one for every season - and the folkloric creatures represented in the series (kelpies, creepy sirens akin to vampires, storm hags - YEAH, and ogres, oh my!) are brilliantly crafted. And although they're maniacally evil, the Wee Green Men were (ssshhh!) some of my favorite characters. These ain't your Lucky Charms leprechauns - these are strangely fascinating sociopaths who can terrify and entertain simultaneously. And Robin Goodfell0w/Puck/"Bob" is the *best* portrayal of the character I've encountered in YA fiction. In fact, nobody blends faerie lore with the witticisms of Shakespeare's plays better than Lesley Livingston. If you're looking for anything remotely Midsummer/Auberon-Titania/Shakespeare's take on faeries, you just need to get introduced to this series.
The Wondrous Strange series has nearly singlehandedly restored my love of faerie lore and folk tales. From start to finish, the series was strong, witty, thorough, and downright entertaining, and for that, the author deserves immense praise. The Bard himself would be so pleased.
So (boys and) girls, read the WS series over the Christmas break, then return to your teacher and regale her with "Lord, what fools these mortals be!," "We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep." When she claps her hands in glee and exclaims, "You've been reading Shakespeare over the break!" you can give her a toothy grin and say, "Nope, been reading Lesley Livingston's Wondrous Strange series, published by Harper Teen."
P.S. Don't forget the toothy grin :D