Kristin Cashore Tomorrow!

Kristin Cashore will be signing books tomorrow, October 11th at 1pm in Books & Books.

Books & Books
265 Aragon Avenue
Coral Gables, Florida

"It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. In King City, the young King Nash is clinging to the throne, while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. War is coming. And the mountains and forest are filled with spies and thieves. This is where Fire lives, a girl whose beauty is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her. Exquisitely romantic, Kristin Cashore’s Fire (Dial, $17.99) is the companion to the highly praised Graceling but has an entirely new cast of characters, save for one person who plays a pivotal role in both books. You don’t need to have read Graceling to love Fire. But if you haven’t, you’ll be dying to read it next."

As always, hope to see you all there. And don't forget to bring your best graceling outfit!

-The YAthenaeum Team

Fire - REVIEW and GIVEAWAY

Lorena's review of Fire by Kristin Cashore

Back in 2008 when a friend brought me an ARC of Graceling, I had no idea what I was getting myself into, this new world of the Seven Kingdoms with new people I knew nothing about. I'm not sure what it was that hit me, but by the time I was done turning the last page, there was nothing I wanted more than to immerse myself in the world of the gracelings a become a part of their story.

Now, far beyond the mountains, across Grella's Pass, a new story unfolds for me.

In the hills of the Dells there is rumored to live a woman so beautiful, that the mere sight of her will cost you not only your free will, but your entire being. Fire, a seventeen-year-old woman, has the power to read and control minds, she is the last of her kind, the human monster. Her father, a human monster much like herself, was a man both feared, and adored. He taught Fire to control her powers, to make men kneel before her. A power that she never wanted. Now the Dells are riddled with war, they have become a land where enemy spies may lurk behind any corner. So when Prince Brigan comes to beg for Fire's help, she'll realize there's more at stake than the secrets of the innocent, but the fate of the kingdom as well.

This book it just, wow, I can't even begin to describe how much I loved reading it. It's the perfect mix of joy, sadness, despair, and love, that when put together create this amazing character named Fire. She is perfect in every way possible, and that, is her sin. If you enjoyed Graceling, you will NOT want to miss this. I'll admit, I was a little sad that the story didn't touch up on Katsa or Po. But, though it's only a companion novel to the original story, it does share a key character to both stories. Goes to show how much one man can change the world. I've thought it over all summer, and in all honesty, I can't pick which one I like best. I just know that Fire has so much going for it, the drama, the inner demons, the romance! Amazing? No. Beautiful? Perhaps. There just aren't any words that can accurately describe just how much I enjoyed this book.

Fire really does have something for everybody. To fans of action, romance, and mystery alike, this book is just waiting to fall into your hands.



You can read Lorena's review of Graceling over on this post.

Now on to the fun stuff.

This upcoming Sunday, Kristin Cashore will be, pardon the pun, gracing Books & Books with her presence. So, why not build up a little hype with a giveaway!

Sorry, once again, this will only be open to those who can attend the event to pick up their prize.

:Rules:.

• Tell us, if you could have a grace, what would it be, and why?
  
• E-mail your answer to YAthenaeum@yahoo.com or comment below.
  
• Be sure to include your name.
• You must be present at the event to claim your prize.
  
• Deadline: October 11th at 9a.m. Eastern Time

.:Ways to Enter:.

• +1: Comment or e-mail with your ideal grace.
• +1: Link this contest to your blog, facebook, twitter, etc. Each link is a separate entry, but make sure you give us each to receive credit.
• +1: Attending the signing. Book will be raffled at the event.

.:Prizes:.

1 Contestant will receive:

• (1) Signed copy of Fire by Kristin Cashore

Good luck, and hope to see you all there!

-The YAthenaeum Team

Graceling- REVIEW

Lorena's review of Graceling by Kristin Cashore

I’ve always been cautious when reading fantasy related adventure novels. So when I first picked up Graceling, I figured, oh hey look, another fantasy/adventure/romance/potato chips combo novel, great. But it just ended up being so much more than that. Sure it had all the aspects of your fantasy/adventure/romance/potato chips combo novel. But it’s story ran so much deeper than the usual “Let’s ride across vast fields on horse/dragon/rhinoceros, for we must save the world”. It’s characters all carrying their own burdens, and reacting to them in ways that can only be described as the truest human emotions. One of the most complex characters being Katsa; the girl graced with killing.

In the Seven Kingdoms, a select few are born with gifts called graces. They are known as Gracelings. Some may have very useful graces like predicting the weather, or a great sense of navigation; while some may only be able to climb tall trees, or speak backwards at will. Katsa, niece to king Randa, has been able to kill a man with her bare hands, since she was eight. She was raised on training grounds, mastering every weapon, every skill, making her the ultimate weapon. It isn't something that she enjoys but it is something that she has come to accept. While on a mission for The Council to retrieve the Prince Tealiff, she encounters another Graceling whose presence makes an impression on her. Later, she encounters him again and learns that he is Tealiff's grandson and a Prince in his own right. The meeting with Po will prompt her to make a decision that will change the course of her life and her world…

And that’s not even a fifth into the book!

There are just so many aspects of the novel that make it such a great read. So much to wonder at about this book - the characters, so strongly drawn; the excitement and suspense; and Cashore's writing; so simple, yet wonderfully descriptive. She tells so much in so little, and I want nothing more than to spend more time in these character's lives. It really is a wonderful book, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone.