Friday 12 October 2018

10 Reasons Why You Need to Read My All-Time Favourite Series

The other week I finally picked up Strange the Dreamer. I don't know why I waited so long to read it because I adored the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series by Laini Taylor but now I like to think it was waiting for the right time to come into my life because this was certainly a case of reading the perfect book at the time I needed to read it and it quickly became my favourite book, like, ever.


It's the first book I ever tabbed because there were so many parts I didn't want to let just slip away. I wanted to hold onto them and cherish them and be able to return to my favourite moments whenever I wanted.

I gushed about this book a LOT on social media and I was so incredibly lucky to then be sent an early proof copy of Muse of Nightmares which I read straight after finishing Strange the Dreamer and, of course, absolutely loved. This has quickly become my new all-time favourite series and there was no way I could ever write a constructive review about either book so instead I wanted to share with you my top reasons for why you need to read this series.

1.) Laini Taylor has the most beautiful, lyrical, writing ever. I was lucky enough to attend a talk with Laini whilst she was on tour for Dreams of Gods and Monsters and she said she can spend hours tinkering around with sentence structure and you can totally tell. Every paragraph reads like poetry yet is so easy to read and sink into. Her writing is pure sorcery and like nothing else I have ever read. I ran out of purple sticky tabs whilst reading this series because there were so many quotes I needed to tab. I could easily get my whole body tattooed in Laini Taylor quotes and I may run out of skin before I'm done. If you love beautiful, otherworldly writing you need to read this series.

2.) Lazlo Strange loves books and I love him for it. The main character in Strange the Dreamer is Lazlo and he's a librarian and fellow book lover. From the start I had an instant connection with Lazlo in the only way that a book lover meeting a fellow book lover can. This series pays homage to the readers, the dreamers, the ones who believe in the impossible and because of that I think every reader can find a bit of themselves in Lazlo.

3.) Despite this book being classed as fantasy it actually has a great mystery at its heart. What was the city of Weep and what happened to it? Like Lazlo you quickly become consumed with needing the answers and that burning need to know more makes it so easy to fly through this book in the same way you would a mystery novel. Especially as the answers typically only lead to more questions in this series.

4.) Laini Taylor writes characters you come to care about with your whole heart. Even the secondary characters who we perhaps only get a handful of interactions with in each book I absolutely loved and want whole stories about.

5.) The characters are incredibly complex. In this series you get to hear from characters from opposing sides and each one is so morally grey. Even the characters considered the villains in this book have their reasons and I love how this series shows there are two sides to every story.

6.) If romance is your thing this book has the sweetest, purest romance ever that is literally something from a dream it's so perfect. Lazlo and Sarai are such cinnamon rolls and not to be dramatic, but I would die for them.

7.) A reoccurring theme with Laini Taylor's books is exploring what it means to be a monster and what it means to be a hero. She takes all the old stereotypes in books and shakes them up giving such depth to her characters and the reasons behind their actions, both good and bad.

8.) A large part of why I had such an intense connection with this series is because of the way Laini Taylor handles trauma. I have PTSD and suffer from nightmares and it's a theme that's covered in this series. She shows that there is hope and a way to move forward after trauma and it was a message I badly needed to hear.

9.) There's nothing worse than a brilliant first book and a rubbish finale that leaves you with so many questions, but both of these books are just as strong as each other and complement one another perfectly. It's an expertly plotted series that neatly ties all the threads together for a satisfying ending where all those burning questions I mentioned at the start are answered.

10.) And finally, if none of my above reasons have convinced you just look at the covers! They're absolutely breath-taking and a must for any book collector. I promise that the stories they hold inside are just as beautiful.

If you have yet to read this series, then frankly I am jealous of you because you have such a wonderful journey awaiting you. Now go ahead and get started already! There are mysteries to uncover and monsters to defeat. But before you go I want to share with you a quote from the book itself that I think captures this series perfectly.


"You’re a storyteller. Dream up something wild and improbable," she pleaded. "Something beautiful and full of monsters."

“Beautiful and full of monsters?"

“All the best stories are." - Strange the Dreamer

Tuesday 9 October 2018

Blog Tour: A Storm of Ice and Stars

Hello everyone! Today is my stop on the A Storm of Ice and Stars blog tour and I'm so excited to be bringing to you an interview I did with author Lisa Lueddecke all about folklore, mythology and life as an author. I hope you enjoy reading it!

Hi Lisa, welcome to the blog! Firstly, can you tell us a bit about A Storm of Ice and Stars

Hello, and thank you for having me on your blog! A Storm of Ice and Stars is a prequel novel to my first book, A Shiver of Snow and Sky. It is set at an earlier time, and follows a different set of characters. You don’t have to have read the first one to read this one, but you will probably get a lot more out of it if you do.

What can fans of your previous book A Shiver of Snow and Sky expect from this one?

If you loved the icy setting and the folklore in the first book, then you can expect more of that from the second book. Telling little stories within a bigger story is something that I love to do, especially if it adds to the history and depth of the world. We also get to explore a little bit more of the island of Skane in this book, which I loved doing.

I love the folklore and mythical creatures in your books. Are they based on any particular mythology? Or are they a product purely of your own imagination? 

I did a lot of reading of folklore and mythology when I started writing these books. Some things inspired me in one way or another, but mostly just reading about various things got my wheels turning, so to speak, and helped me to imagine a rich folklore for my own world. I really tried to immerse myself in Scandinavian legends and whatnot to get a feel for the environment and the lore, but Skane isn’t based off of any one place.

Your writing is so atmospheric and lyrical, are there any writers who influence your writing style? 

Reading Gail Carson Levine’s Ella Enchanted really inspired me to write fantasy. And although I don’t think that other writers’ writing directly influences my own, I always feel inspired when I read something by Leigh Bardugo (although I haven’t read all of her books).

What’s been your best moment as an author so far?

Honestly, doing my first event in London last year and getting to meet people who had read my book was a high point for me. It left me a bit teary. Even knowing that one person bought and read my book was life-changing.

What does your typical writing day look like? 

Prior to being pregnant and having my day to day life significantly changed, I would write from early morning until I felt like my creativity was waning. I have always loved writing in the very early morning, around dawn, as I feel like that’s when the day is new and exciting, and it makes me feel like anything can happen.

Do you have any advice for aspiring fantasy writers? 

Look for inspiration everywhere you are, in sunrises and sunsets, in rainstorms and snowstorms, and in everything that you do. A lot of scenes that I have written have been born from moments in my real life, in one way or another, whether dialog or setting descriptions. Understand your world, and have fun building it. If you aren’t having fun, that will be obvious to your readers.

What books would you recommend to fans looking for stories similar to your own?

I haven’t read the whole series yet, but I loved The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. It has a wintry setting, as well, and I just loved it. I have also started reading Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik, and although I haven’t finished it yet, I am loving the snowy landscapes and the mystery!

Can you tell us a bit about what you’re working on next? 

I’m working on something that I’ve always wanted to write. It’s been in the back of my mind for a while, so I’m exploring it and seeing where it takes me. I can’t say much about it right now, but I can assure you that it’s a fantasy.

And lastly, what three words best describe A Storm of Ice and Stars?

Frozen. Heartache. Bravery.


 A STORM OF ICE AND STARS by Lisa Lueddecke out now in paperback (£7.99, Scholastic) 

@LisaLueddecke www.lisalueddecke.com 

#ICEandSTARS
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