Thursday, February 24, 2011

HAUNTED

First for the winner of the anthology PLAYTHINGS OF THE GODS and a ten page critique - CORINNE!

Yesterday on Enchanted Inkpot I had the opportunity to interview the amazing Joy Preble. Consequently I also had the opportunity to read HAUNTED, the sequel to DREAMING ANASTASIA. And since Joy was kind enough to send me an autographed copy... I'M GOING TO PASS IT ON TO ONE OF YOU!!

All you have to do is be a follower of this blog. Hopefully spread the word. AND leave me a comment telling me your favorite fairy tale (and email so I can tell you if you win). That's it! Contest open through next wednesday and I'll announce the winner Thursday.

Now to help me review the book, I've asked the one and only, Evil Stepmother.

Me: So, Evil Stepmother, what makes you uniquely qualified to review this book?

ES: Well with a title that includes the word "evil" I completely understand where Baba Yaga, the witch, is coming from. We get a bad rap. Think of it from my point of view for a minute - here I am, a single mother, which in those days was even more difficult, trying to find suitable husbands for two - let's face it - less than desirable daughters. And who do I get saddled with? A blonde, goody-two-shoes, that talks to rats. But I digress.

Me: Uh huh. So what did you think of the book?

ES: Well I absolutely loved it! Especially that we got Baba Yaga's viewpoint along with the others. Just because she's eaten a few interlopers, doesn't mean she's all bad after all... And detachable hands? I never got any cool powers like that. Not that I'm bitter.

Me: Well thank you for being our guest!

What did I think? I absolutely LOVED it. I devoured the book. It isn't often that I can honestly say I liked the second book of a series better than the first. This was THAT good. I loved the characters, and the unique subject matter (Russian folklore).

Don't forget to leave me a comment with your email so I can contact you if you win!! It's THAT easy!

33 comments:

  1. ES definitely has hand-envy, I can tell. Awesome stuff, Lisa. HAUNTED sounds like a fascinating book.

    Favorite fairy tale - can it be current? I loved the movie ENCHANTED. What's not to love about Mc Dreamy fighting off evil bad guys and wearing a fancy suit?

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  2. Julie - that was an excellent movie! HAUNTED was better though. And I think Ethan can give McDreamy a run for his money.

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  3. Great review from the Evil Stepmother! My favorite fairy tale is Beowolf. Okay, so it's a Norse legend, but that counts right?!

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  4. As a Stepmother myself (though not an evil one), I appreciate ES's comments :) I'd love to win HAUNTED (email is aycockj(at)gmail(dot)com)

    My favorite fairy tale is The Shoemaker and the Elves--always loved that one.

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  5. Heather - definitely counts!!

    Jess - Ooh that's a good one too! All these great fairy tales that I haven't thought of in a while. So cool!

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  6. that's a fun and different way of doing a review. The book sounds fantastic :)

    If the contest is open to Aussies:
    lynfaw [at] gmail [dot] com

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  7. Lynda - glad you like it! I'll put your name in

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  8. Sounds like a good read. I love fairy tales and am hard-pressed to pick a favorite. But I've always loved East of the Sun and West of the Moon, in part because the title and journey the girl must take are so mysterious and eerie.
    sleuthwood (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  9. What a pretty cover! My favorite fairy tale is the beauty and the beast. I just love that one!

    jrkemer(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  10. Tricia - I'm embarrassed to say I am not familiar with that one! I'll have to check it out!!

    Jill - Isn't it gorgeous? I love it! And B&B is a classic!

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  11. Wahoo! Thank you again for the contest and I am so excited to have won. I got the eBook already!

    Corinne

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  12. I haven't heard of this one but the cover is so pretty and it sounds great.

    Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse

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  13. It sounds so good but I have won too much swag lately so I'll give everyone else a better chance at winning.
    ;)

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  14. Corinne - I'm so glad you're excited! Hope you enjoy!

    Angela - Isn't it pretty?? I love it!

    Lydia - Very kind of you, it isn't swag though - it's the actual book!

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  15. Oh, someone's VERY bitter. hahaha

    Great post!

    meredithfl at gmail dot com

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  16. Hi Lisa *waves* lovely to meet you :)

    I haven't read this series, but I loved your review, and must say, I absolutely adore that cover (I'm a sucker for anything purple!).

    I did love Snow White growing up :) rachael[dot]harrie[at]gmail[dot]com

    Hugs,

    Rach

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  17. I have Dreaming Anastasia on my Kindle and will be reading it soon! My fav fairy tale is...I'm not sure. Maybe Hansel and Gretel? Thanks for the book giveaway!

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  18. My favorite fairy tales are the ones associated with the ballets my mom took me to when I was a little girl. Sleeping Beauty was my favorite because it had a happy ending. But I was also fascinated by the dark endings of Swan Lake and Giselle.

    Russian folklore - some dark stuff! I'm currently researching Hungarian folklore/fairy tales. I'll tweet this contest but I am hanging my head with shame because I promised to tweet your last contest every day, and I totally forgot (I was out of town, schedule out of whack, will do better this time)

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  19. Fun interview :D

    I think my favorite fairy tale is Beauty and Beast or anything collected and told by The Brother's Grimm.

    jstantonchandler (at) gmail (dot) com

    Happy weekend!
    Jen

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  20. Meredith - so glad you liked it!

    Rachel - I'm so glad you found me! Nice to meet you too!!

    Laura - Ooh then you can really appreciate this book..

    Margo - no worries! I am VERY interested in the Hungarian folklore you spoke of. I have some Hungarian ancestry I've always been interested in writing about (at some foggy point in the future). I'd love to hear more!

    Jen - :D those are classics! Love them all.

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  21. This is like one of the best book reviews ever.

    Hmmm. Favorite fairy tale. I don't know. I love them all. I'll go with the Princess and the Pea.

    Love the cover. :D

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  22. Ooh I like that one too! I was in the musical version in HS (Once Upon a Mattress) that was fun.

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  23. My favourite fairy tale is the Little Mermaid.

    spav05(at)gmail(dot)com

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  24. Lunching on interlopers and detaching hands??? What's not to love? Sounds like a fun read! :)

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  25. Oh, no. I think my stack of books to read just became taller than the top of my head. Thanks, Lisa, for another fabulous recommendation. Baba Yaga just needs some protein, that's why she eats the interlopers. Favorite fairy tale, I'd like to say Peter Pan, but it's not really a fairy tale is it? Okay, Hans the Hedgehog. If you haven't read it, it's a real page turner.

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  26. Really, Leslie? Hans the Hedgehog? Oh and I just laughed so hard at your protein comment! Too funny...

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  27. Hey, hey....I'm giving away the arc of DIVERGENT I won on Veronica's blog if you're still interested!

    http://freckle-head.blogspot.com/2011/02/arc-contest-divergent.html

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  28. Great review, beautiful cover, and how generous to give away your autographed copy.

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  29. Angela - well I enjoy spreading the LOVE! ;D So glad you stopped in!

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  30. I'm reading Dreaming Anastasia right now, so I'd love to win this. Favorite fairy tale? Someone mentioned Beauty and the Beast; that's a great one. But I loved Little Red Riding Hood as a child and I'm so excited to see the movie Red Riding Hood coming out. khashway(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  31. Kelly - I'm so glad you entered! I know you'll love the book.

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