Kicking off this year's event is a fairytale retelling that is a companion to one of my favourite reads. Kill Me Softly surprised me, and I immediately wanted Viv's story after I had finished. Luckily, Sarah Cross has written that story and we'll all get to experience her take on the Snow White tale in January.
If you haven't already checked out the first novel, Kill Me Softly, consider it your task for the month of December.
Just check out this Goodreads synopsis and you'll be eager to get caught up in time for the release of Tear You Apart
An edgy fairy tale retelling of "Snow White" set in the world of Kill Me Softly for fans of Once Upon a Time and Grimm.If you love fairytales this should immediately be bumped up your wishlist as these novels blend together multiple fairytales effortlessly and I am dying to see what twist she's put on the Snow White tale.
Viv knows there's no escaping her fairy tale curse. One day her beautiful stepmother will feed her a poisoned apple or shove a poisoned comb into her scalp or hire her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Henley, to hunt her down and rip out her heart before she breaks his. In the city of Beau Rivage, no matter how much you fight it, your marchen mark is your destiny.
Yet, when Viv receives an invitation to the swank underground club where the Twelve Princesses escape to dance each night, she thinks she might have found a loophole to her date with death. There she meets Jasper, the thirteenth prince. Her prince. The prince that is destined to save her when her curse comes to call.
But constant nights of partying get old fast. The royal family is ruled with an iron fist by their patriarch, who gloats over the fact that no one can challenge him without his name. And Viv doesn't love Jasper (in fact, she kind of loathes him) and she doesn't want to be an underworld queen--it's a living death.
So when Henley finds his entry into the underworld as a champion set to solve the secret of the Twelve Dancing Princesses in order to save her, Viv takes the rules of fairy tales into her own hands. No matter her curse, no matter her fate, she can't lose the only boy who's ever had her heart.
Sarah Cross rewrites the fate of Snow White in her smart, edgy follow-up to her acclaimed Kill Me Softly.
I got Sarah to design an ice flavour for her book, spill some secrets and share the shiver inducing first line from Tear You Apart in this amazing Q and A.
1 Describe Tear You Apart in three words.
Dark, twisted, magical
2 If someone were to make an ice cream flavour for your book, what might be included?
Tear You Apart's signature ice cream would have to be apple flavored. Maybe apple-cinnamon ice cream with a red "poison" candy-apple swirl and dagger-shaped cookie pieces. It could be called "Blood Red Delicious."
3 Can you share a secret about your book (either it's world, it's characters, or something that helped inspire the story)?
Some of the scenes in Tear You Apart are set in an underworld nightclub where the Twelve Dancing Princesses go to dance, so of course I had music on the brain while I was writing the book. One album that really clicked for me and seemed to fit the mood of the story was Marina and the Diamonds' Electra Heart. Other songs on my TYA playlist: Ke$ha's "Dancing with Tears in My Eyes," Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "Heads Will Roll," and Fiona Apple's "Criminal."
4 This (and the novel that comes before it) are a mash up of fairytales. Which fairytale is your particular favourite?
My favorite fairy tale is Hans Christian Andersen's "The Steadfast Tin Soldier." I also love Madame d'Aulnoy's fairy tales and Marie-Jeanne L'Héritier's "The Subtle Princess." My favorite fairy tale that I've retold is . . . a spoiler. But if you've read Kill Me Softly, you can probably guess based on that.
5 If you could travel to anywhere, in any time period, when and where would you want travel?
Do I get bonus language skills with this trip back in time? If so, I'd visit Japan during the late Tokugawa period (1820s-30s would be my pick), and I'd probably go to Edo (Tokyo) and cross my fingers that I didn't arrive on a day the city was burning down.
6 What three things do you need while revising?
Patience, perspective, & good advice.
7 If possible, please share the first line of Tear You Apart. (only answer if not too spoilery).
The very first line of Tear You Apart is: I want you to bring me her heart. Her heart--that's what you want, too. .
That first line is AMAZING, and I would love to try "Blood Red Delicious" ice cream. I want to thank Sarah for answering these questions for me.
Tear You Apart is released Januaray 27th but you can pre-order it now (and pick up Kill Me Softly in stores immediately)
As an added bonus, Sarah Cross is releasing a short story novella that is set in the same world, and mixes together some interesting fairytales of it's own will be released in December.
You can pre-order this one as well for many electronic reading devices, and I looking forward to returning to this stunning world as soon as it's released. You can add it to your Goodreads account in the meantime.
Be sure to check back later on during the event for a chance to win one of my featured titles!
You can follow Sarah Cross on Twitter, visit her official website, and learn more about the book from the publisher website.
Do you like fairytale retellings? Have you read Kill Me Softly? Let me know in the comments.
I had to opportunity to read an eARC of this and it was PERFECTION. I didn't know that there was a cover for Twin Roses!
ReplyDeleteAmber Elise @ Du Livre
I love the covers!! and the books look amazing :)
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