“Pity it should be your wedding finger.” ~20th Queen of Wilde Island

Rosalind, the 21st queen of whom Merlin spoke in his prophecy, is cursed. Her left ring finger is that of a dragon’s claw, and for this she wears gloves her entire life. Until one day a dragon finds beauty in her claw, and takes her away. Rosalind will have to learn to embrace both sides of herself. Both man, and beast.

Too much death.

That’s my only complaint about the book. Too much death. I just felt weighted down and depressed whenever someone died. Once I even cried.

But other than that it’s a really fantastic read. It’s interesting to see how much a person can love someone, and yet what they’ll do to get what they want.

Simple enough review.

~Enna Isilee

Coming soon, a review of Mira, Mirror by Mette Ivie Harrison

Please check out the poll and vote if :

a) This layout/colors are better than the previous (Good)
b) This layout/colors are worse than the previous (Bad)
c) This I don't really like either layout/colors. They could be better (Better)

Thanks much!
~Enna Isilee

Tagged by Q

1. What's your favorite nursery rhyme?
Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater. Had a wife but couldn't keep her. Put her in a pumpkin shell and there he kept her very well. (First one that popped into my head. Not even sure that's correct.)

2. First chapter book you read.
Probably a Time Warp Trio or Magic Tree House book.

3. Do you read best in day time?
I read best any time.

4. Or when you are in bed?
*pokes answer to 3*

5. A funny or serious tone?
It all depends. I like funny, but it's generally the serious or especially well-written books that stick with me longest. If you can combine both (B1000) it's fantastic!

6. A favorite character who is a guy.
I've had a crush on Nawat from Trickster's Choice for a very long time. And I absolutely swoon over Book of a Thousand Days' Khan Tegus. *Swoon*

7. Some books you want to own.
"Too many to list. Your brain would explode. Trust me, it's for your own good."

8. And the first book that made you cry.
Probably The Westing Game or The Giver I can't remember which I read first, but I do remember that my mom read them to me and she could hardly finish through her tears.

I tag all those interested.

"Brandon is just the kind of man... whom every body speaks well of, and nobody cares about; whom all are delighted to see, and nobody remembers to talk to."
~Mr. Willoughby, Sense and Sensibility

The following is an interview with Jessica Day George discussing her latest book Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow.

(Wow, that sounded really... proper)

What made you decide to write a novel based on East of the Sun, West of the Moon?
East o' the Sun is my favorite fairy tale. I grew up with the P.J. Lynch illustrated picture book, and I always wanted to write a novel based on it, to really explore the whole story.











THANKS SO MUCH JESSICA!







Also, for those of you interested you can visit Jessica's Site at http://www.jessicadaygeorge.com/ and under Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow you can find a handy "Interview" link that has a video of Jessica talking about the book.

"The enthusiasm of a woman's love is even beyond the biographer's."

~Mansfield Park, Volume 2, Chapter 9

From what I’d heard of Napoli, I knew she was a pretty depressing author but as I was leaving the library I saw this book on the new books shelf and so I decided to grab it. After all, it said “And Irish Princess’ Tale” and who doesn’t love a good Irish Princess?

It’s the story of Melkorka. A Viking wants to marry her and in order to prevent it, she and her sister run away. They don’t get far however, because they are captured and sold as slaves. The sister escapes. Melkorka doesn’t.

At first it seems like a tale of magic and folly but as the story continues and horrible things are done to Melkorka. And the ending tries to be hopeful, but doesn’t exactly succeed.

I like it, surprisingly. I found it a good book. But it is NOT a happy book. Not in the slightest.

What saved it for me is that it’s based off a real event/legend. I thought that was interesting.

So read it if you wish. But you’ve been warned.

~Enna Isilee

Coming soon, a review of The Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan.

And I'll post the interview as soon as Jessica responds

A girl with no name, known simply as “the lass” or “pika” is given the ability to speak to animals, and the most beautiful name. She is taken to live with a great white bear for one year and one day and her family will become rich. But soon her true love is taken away from her and she must travel east of the sun and west of the moon to save him.

I. Loved. This. Book. It was simply wonderful! I don’t know what it is about fairy-tales turned into novels but I just can’t get enough! The characters were delightful and the mystery was entrancing. I loved Dragon Slippers but it doesn’t hold a candle to this book! Jessica, you’ve outdone yourself!

I didn’t even know it was out yet! I saw it a week ago at the bookstore (while meeting Rick Riordan) and my grandpa offered to buy it for me (I would have bought it myself but I have absolutely no money). I didn’t think it would be anything like it actually turned out to be. I don’t know why exactly.

Ah! Now I’m so excited for Dragon Flight I want more George! (or is it Day George? Is Day part of the last name? A middle name? A maiden name? Inquiring minds want to know.)

*squee!*

~Enna Isilee

Coming soon, an interview with Jessica Day George discussing Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow (squee!).
And a review of Hush by Donna Jo Napoli

There is a secret hour, in a secret place, and the people who know of it keep it secret. It’s not hard, they’re the only ones who know about it. Them… and the monsters.

Muahaha.

Nice stories. They seem long but they’re really easy to read. I’ve only read the first two. There are some parts that are fascinating. I love numbers and words, and this has a lot of numbers and words in it (if you don’t like numbers or words, don’t worry, you don’t have to think about them really hard).

It’s a pretty typical Westerfeld story and I have a little warning. I think Mr. Westerfeld went through some kind of… crisis between the first and second books because the first book it fine, a little tense in places but clean. The second book… confused me. All of a sudden it’s like the characters all learned how to cuss. And they aren’t afraid to do it either.

It’s not horrific. Nothing you don’t hear in a high-school hallway, but that’s no excuse. Language is language.

End.

~Enna Isilee

Coming soon, a review of Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George

"Perhaps I did not always love him so well as I do now. But in such cases as these, a good memory is unpardonable. This is the last time I shall ever remember it myself."
~Elizabeth Bennet

Which book do you irrationally cringe away from reading, despite seeing only positive reviews? Honestly?
Hm… I don’t know… I don’t like anything non-fiction. I’d have to say…
Is there a book I won’t read?

If you could bring three characters to life for a social event (afternoon tea, a night of clubbing, perhaps a world cruise), who would they be and what would the event be?
Easy peasy. Enna (Shannon Hale’s Enna Burning)… okay. Maybe this isn’t so easy.
But we’d go… and do…

I’m bad at this.

(Borrowing shamelessly from the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde): you are told you can’t die until you read the most boring novel on the planet. While this immortality is great for awhile, eventually you realise it’s past time to die. Which book would you expect to get you a nice grave?
Criss Cross. I know it won the newbery but YAWN.

Come on, we’ve all been there. Which book have you pretended, or at least hinted, that you’ve read, when in fact you’ve been nowhere near it?
Stargirl is the first one that comes to mind. Everyone seems to have read it… except me.

As an addition to the last question, has there been a book that you really thought you had read, only to realise when you read a review about it/go to ‘reread’ it that you haven’t? Which book?
Nada

You’re interviewing for the post of Official Book Advisor to some VIP (who’s not a big reader). What’s the first book you’d recommend and why? (If you feel like you’d have to know the person, go ahead and personalise the VIP.)
It depends on who it was. My first choice would be B1000 by Shannon Hale, but not everyone would be right for it.

A good fairy comes and grants you one wish: you will have perfect reading comprehension in the foreign language of your choice. Which language do you go with?
FRENCH! J’adore francais! Ah!

A mischievious fairy comes and says that you must choose one book that you will reread once a year for the rest of your life (you can read other books as well). Which book would you pick?
Enna Burning. It’s my favorite for a re-read.

I know that the book blogging community, and its various challenges, have pushed my reading borders. What’s one bookish thing you ‘discovered’ from book blogging (maybe a new genre, or author, or new appreciation for cover art—anything)?
I learned that summarization is not as easy as it seems. And it’s a bad idea to blog on a bad day. Very very bad.

That good fairy is back for one final visit. Now, she’s granting you your dream library! Describe it. Is everything leatherbound? Is it full of first edition hardcovers? Pristine trade paperbacks? Perhaps a few favourite authors have inscribed their works? Go ahead—let your imagination run free.
Linen covers, of all colors. With ribbon bookmarks attached. Warm wooden bookcases and a computer in the corner. All books signed, with personal messages (because I am very close friends with every author). A massage chair, a giant bean-bag, a comfortable arm chair with a foot rest, and finally a big warm bed, for those books that you just want to snuggle up with.

*sigh*

I tag: Cuileann, Taiger, Anidori-Isilee, and Maribeth-Kayla