Martha Wells: The Siren Depths Review + Author Interview!

Title:  The Siren Depths (The Books of the Raksura #3)
Rating: 5 Roses
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Ages: 13 and up

     As the Raksura of the Indigo Cloud Court try to settle into their new home, emotions are running high and everyone is trying to find exactly where they fit, no one more than Moon the "solitary" consort. This is the longest he's stayed in one place and even though he wants to feel at home, he isn't comfortable being the precious commodity consorts are seen as. On top of that he and Jade have yet to clutch and thoughts of infertility plague him at every turn. 

These problems aren't anything compared to what is coming. A trial that will reveal Moon's past and challenge not only him but everyone involved, culminating an epic conclusion that could change everything forever.


So yes, I'm spazzing out!! This review is sooo long overdue but never you mind I am doing it now. So you guys know how I feel about this particular series [FYI: I LOVE IT!!!]. This final book in the trilogy did not disappoint. The imagery was there, the drama was there, the adventure was there and that tiny bit of romance that doesn't detract too much from the main parts of the story.

So I'm not going to be handing any spoiler titbits to you guys I however  will direct you to read my two previous reviews of  The Cloud Roads and The Serpant Sea which are one and two respectively in this series. So yes like I was saying it is definitely something you should try reading if you are into High Fantasy, excellent world building, and adventure!

                                                           
Okay now for the goodies, for those of you who are fans and those of you who have been wanting a little bit more....here is a little interview with the talented Martha Wells!

Martha Wells

BR:What inspired you to write the books of the  Raksura series?

 MW: I wanted to do something different than the more conventional fantasy I had been writing.  I wanted to see how far I could push my imagination, and I also wanted to work with characters who could travel long distances, so I could explore more the world in a single book.



BR: Is the Siren Depths the last instalment or will we be seeing more of Moon, Jade and the 
others?

 MW:As of now, I'm doing four short ebook-only novellas for the publisher, though I'm not sure when they're coming out yet.  At least two will be stories set after The Siren Depths, and the other two may be stories about Moon before he came to Indigo Cloud.

BR: When is your next book coming out (whether it is one about the Raksura or otherwise?)

 MW: I have a Star Wars novel coming out September 24 called Razor's Edge, which is part of their new Empire and Rebellion series.  Then I have a young adult fantasy, Emilie and the Sky World coming out in March 2014.  It's a sequel to Emilie and the Hollow World which came out this past April.

BR: Are there other books set in the same universe as the Racksura?

 MW: So far it's just The Cloud Roads, The Serpent Sea, and The Siren Depths.

 BR: Is there any thing else you would like fans and readers to know?

MW: Just that my web site is at www.marthawells.com  and I have some free short stories and other fun things there.
  MW: Thanks for interviewing me!

BR: Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions!

Martha Wells is the author of fourteen fantasy novels, including Wheel of the Infinite, City of Bones, The Element of Fire, and the Nebula-nominated The Death of the Necromancer. Her most recent fantasy novels are The Cloud Roads (Night Shade Books, March 2011), The Serpent Sea (Night Shade Books, January 2012), and The Siren Depths, (Night Shade Books, December 2012). Her YA fantasy, Emilie and the Hollow World, will be published by Strange Chemistry Books in April 2013, and her Star Wars novel will be published in October 2013.

She has also written a fantasy trilogy: The Wizard Hunters, The Ships of Air, and The Gate of Gods, all currently out in paperback from HarperCollins Eos. She has had short stories in the magazines Black Gate, Realms of Fantasy, Lone Star Stories, and Stargate Magazine, and in the Tsunami Relief anthology Elemental. She has essays in the nonfiction anthologies Farscape Forever, Mapping the World of Harry Potter, and Chicks Unravel Time. She has also written two media-tie-in novels, Stargate Atlantis: Reliquary and Stargate Atlantis: Entanglement. Her books have been published in eight languages, including French, Spanish, German, Russian, and Dutch.

If you would like to see more of Martha Wells' work or purchase any of her titles please use these links below:

Amazon

Goodreads

B&N

Florence

Author: Ciye Cho
Genre: Fantasy, Y.A
Age Group: teen+
Title: Florence
Expected publication date: July 1st

Blurb: Florence is seventeen and invisible, she has been for most of her life and she likes it that way. She isn't  popular and her clothes aren't in the latest fashions so being unnoticed is ideal. On a field trip to a small neighbouring island the unexpected happens and Florence is kidnapped by of all things a monstrous man with purple skin and yellow eyes. 

She finds herself in a world that differs a great deal from her own. delivered there to become a magical familiar for the heir to the throne. Niemela is this world under the sea and some how Florence must find a way to return to the surface.

My thoughts: First of all, I began to read the book at night while I was very tired. The opening was enough to keep me reading and then the adventure really began. I love books that have anything to do with the sea. As a girl who lives on one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean (Barbados for those of you who don't know) the sea has always been one of my favourite places.

The first thing I noticed was that the author had some knowledge of the sea, Some people attempt to write books about the sea when they have never ever seen it in person. You simply can't write about something you haven't seen no matter how much you've heard about it.

The Fantasy created by Ciye in this book is very different from most books I've read that contained mythical sea creatures. Oh don't get me wrong there pretty, but not in the way portrayed by most authors. All in all I really loved the story and I would recommend that anyone who is a lover of fantasy and adventure get a copy.

My Rating: 5/5

Now for your reading pleasure an Interview with Ciye Cho

Bajan Rosa: When the idea for Florence come to you?


Ciye: Almost a year ago. I thought it would be cool to write a book about merfolk. Something different and possibly unexpected. Something with multicolored merpeople as vivid as the corals in a reef. Something with living architecture and deep-sea volcanoes.


(really loved this concept!)


Bajan Rosa:  How old were you when you started writing the book and how old are you now?


Ciye: I was 25 when I started it. I'm now 26.


(A year wow! that's fast)

Bajan Rosa:  Was it hard to complete Florence?


Ciye: Yes and no. It was hard arranging all the details into a tidy package, but it was also fun taking an imaginary journey below the sea.

Bajan Rosa: What inspired the Characters, the Merpeople especially?


Ciye: I wanted the Niemelans to be a species ruled by purpose, order, and belonging. And with that in mind, I thought it would be interesting to have characters who weren't in sync with the rest of their kind. (For example, Yolee, who doesn't behave like her peers; Rolan, who keeps to himself; and Kiren, who has too many secrets to be an ordinary mer.)
As for Florence, I wanted to tell this story through the eyes of an outsider. I liked the idea that Florence is not only trying to escape... but also trying to discover where she belongs.

Bajan Rosa: Do you live close to the sea? Or did you do research and did this knowledge come in handy while you wrote your book?


Ciye: I live on the Gold Coast (in Australia), so the sea isn't that faraway. When I was a child, my parents brought me to Hamilton Island and I remember snorkeling there. The colors of the reef were dazzling! Like an underwater dream. So I guess those memories came in handy when I wrote "Florence."
However, I also watched a lot of documentaries (stuff like Blue Planet)... and of course, I read a lot of YA fiction.

If you would like to learn more about Cyie Cho you can find him on Goodreads, on his Website on Facebook or on Twitter. Cyie is also the author of  Shiewo: A Fantasy Flight to Adventure (Shiewo's Odyssey, #1)  Florence is Due out July 1st 2012

5 Roses for Five

Author: Christie L. Rich
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance YA
Age group: Teen
Title: Five (#1 Elemental Emnity)
Rosa's Rating: 5/5 for Five :)

Blurb: Sometimes, your life is crappy for a reason. Rayla Tate is a teenage girl, with dreams of going to college far, far away from her demanding life with her aunt and cousins. After all she's baby-sat them most of her life, doesn't she deserve a change? After Rayla's aunt refuses to let her go to college where she wants to, Rayla decides she dosen't need permission being 18 and all.

Little does she know, she is walking into a nightmare where she is the main attraction and prized possesion. You see Rayala is an elemental, one of the unique women who posses power over matter. Now she must never be alone lest she be taken, and she must try her best to avoid the Fea Lords who hunt her, at all cost. She finds  the beautiful Zach who she see's as a helper and maybe alot more, but is this human boy really what he seems?

Christie L. Rich's Five is a tale where Rayla learns the meaning of  action and consequence. I love a lot of things about this book, It flows well and the characters were very well portrayed. Ever single Lord was hot! Some of them good, some evil but all Hot!

The female characters (other than Rayla) were good too, the aunt was very believable and Rayla's reaction to her not allowing her to go away for college was what I'd do.

Overall The book was well written, If there were typos, or errors in syntax I did not see any and if you ask me that just goes to show how good the book was! If you are looking for a really good fantasy, with Romance and Fae this is the book for you.

Readers, Many of you have expressed to me how much you love to hear from the Authors. Well Christie has agreed to do an interview for you! You guys are lucky!

                                                   Author Interview

Christie L. Rich

Christie: Thanks so much for having me with you today!  I always love to do interviews, so I appreciate you asking me.

Bajan Rosa: It is always a pleasure to speak with an Author, so thank you! 

Bajan Rosa:  What do you like most about being an Author?
Christie: Creating new worlds.  There is nothing like submerging yourself into a world you do not know.  You explore with the characters and come to understand the workings of this new place right along with them.  It's exciting!

Bajan Rosa:  What was it like to create Five?
Christie:Fantastic! LOL. I've always loved to read, but this took the experience to a higher level than I thought possible.  Anything can happen while writing and that is a seduction all its own.


Bajan Rosa:  They are a lot of books about the Fae yours is unique how did you come up with it?
Christie:I've enjoyed stories about the fae my whole life. Faerietales are amazing, but I began to wonder if the fae had gotten a bad rap.  That's when I started thinking about them as people.  Some are good, and some not so much.

 Bajan Rosa:  Are there any characters you are especially fond of?
Christie: Fexlie-a little pixie that flitted into my mind on day on the way home from work.  She was such a strong character.  She was the one that introduced me to Rayla and the rest of the story flowed from there.  I will always have a special place in my heart to her for finding me.

Bajan Rosa:  Lastly When will the next book come out?
Christie: Genesis is near completion and I am hoping to release it by August.  The final book should be out around Christmas, but don't hold me to it.  LOL

There you go another great review!

                                            Author Bio
Christie L. Rich is a new and upcoming Author.  You can follow her on her blog, Or on twitter here, On Goodreads here, and to get your hands on her book you can either go to the top bar of this page and check out featured books, or, you can go here.

SelfSame A Must Read

Author: Melissa Conway
Genre: Fantasy, Mordern/Historical, YA, Romance
Age Group:Teen +
Title: SelfSame
Rosa's Rating: 5/5

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live two different lives? Well, Sorcha knows and so does Enid  they are two vastly different personalities. One of them lives in the past, one of them in the present, both of them are the same person.

Melissa Conway's SelfSame is a story of a teenage girl who's worries are much more troubling than studying for finals and pinning after boys. When she goes to sleep at night, she wakes up in a different world either in the past or in the future, her soul divided between two bodies.

This mixture of modern and historical story telling, makes for an extremely entertaining read with action on every page and a new mystery to uncover in each chapter. Readers will enjoy the tale of Enid/Sorcha  as she finds her way through her lives, romantic interests and problems galore.

This is truly a must read for any fan of good YA fiction and lovers of Fantasy.


Readers, would you like to know more about Melissa Conway, well today is your lucky day. She has agreed to answer these short questions about her writing for us.


                                              Author Interview

Melissa Conway

Bajan Rosa: How did you become interested in becoming an author?

Melissa: Like most writers, I was an avid reader first. I grew up devouring the works of Fantasy/Sci-fi greats such as Marion Zimmer Bradley, Anne McCaffrey and Andre Norton. In the back of my mind, I think I always knew I wanted to write a novel, but life got in the way for many years. Then one day I realized I couldn’t let excuses stop me anymore and I buckled down and began. That was eight books and several unpublished manuscripts ago!

Bajan Rosa: This idea of SelfSame is a unique one. What would you say inspired you?

Melissa: I’m a big fan of Jane Austen, and I often thought I would try my hand at a historical novel, but I don’t recall the exact chain of events that led to the inspiration behind SelfSame. Typically, my stories start with a mere wisp of an idea that I turn into a “What if?” Then my mind adds more kindling to that spark until I’ve got a good fire going. At some point, I start to get excited, thinking, “This might make a good book.”
 
Bajan Rosa:Was it hard to write such a complicated story and if so how did you manage?

Melissa: There are two kinds of writers, the kind who take a concept and plot it out carefully before they begin, and the kind who take that same concept and just run with it. I’m the latter - called a ‘pantser’ because we write by the seat of our pants! As with all my stories, I begin with a vague idea of where I want the plot to go. Then I think about my characters when I’m busy doing other things, like driving, cleaning house, etc. If I was to give my plotting process a name, I’d call it focused fantasizing. And I’ll let you in on a little secret: originally I had intended a different ending, but as I was writing the last chapters I realized I had inadvertently built in a way to make the ending more satisfying! It’s wonderful when the individual threads of a story all come together in the end.

Bajan Rosa: I truly speak for all those who have read the book, when I ask when is the next one due?

Melissa: Right now I’m working on the sequel to Xenofreak Nation. Truth be told, I put that off to write SelfSame because I was so enamored with the concept! At this point in time I don’t have a sequel to SelfSame planned, but I can’t say I haven’t thought about it. The story wraps up rather nicely, but with a little fudging I could probably continue on with it. I’ll have to see what my fans think. ;o)

Bajan Rosa: Finally, a lot of people out there want to become authors; what would you say to them about the process?

Melissa: First off, they’ll want to develop a healthy respect for proper grammar and punctuation. Then they’ll do themselves a big favor by reading a few books on how to write. This advice might seem pretty basic, but you’d be amazed at how many beginning writers think it doesn’t apply to them. One of the hardest things to grasp is that being an author doesn’t stop with having written down some words. No matter how beautiful those words may be, you still have to convince people to actually read them! Learn how to write a great blurb and an effective query. Develop an internet presence through social networking. And most important of all, take criticism gracefully. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: you can’t please everyone!


                                               Author Bio
 Melissa Conway is the author of four young adult ebooks. She is the founder of the book review site Booksquawk. Her website is here, her YouTube channel here, she blogs at Whimsilly and can be found on Facebook and Twitter.

Adventure in Shadowland

Author: C.M Gray
Genre: Fantasy
Age group: teen and up
Title: Shadowland

Rosa's Rating: 3.5/5

This is a story, about a story. A fantastical retelling of a great adventure of two friends who leave home after a devastating attack. A historical tale that will draw you in and entice you to read more. If you love stories about King Arthur, Saxons Knights and everything medieval with a flare of magic, tales of druids and serious battle then this is the book for you.

 C.M Gray's Shadowland is not for everyone, it is one of those stories where you have to read a while to get the point. My honest opinion of this book, is that it was good and could be considered epic, but only for those who enjoy this type of historical storytelling or are big fans of Arthurian Legend I myself am not.
Don't get me wrong it isn't boring and neither is it "traditionally" historical. The dialogue is very modern and entertaining. Only they are a lot of long winded bouts without dialogue, that some readers may find hard to get through. Overall thought it was a well written novel.

This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review, if you would like a free copy of C.M. Gray's Shadowland, please visit the link below get it while it's free:

Amazon

If you would like to know more about this author please visit these sites:

Goodreads
C.M. Gray's Blog