20 Things in 20 Days: Clue #20

To celebrate the launch of Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler, I'm blogging clue #20 for the 20 Things in 20 Days Scavenger Hunt. Answer clues and challenges to earn points toward the 20 Things grand prize, including 6 signed books from 2009 debut authors! Get a clue... June 11th-30th at 20 Things in 20 Days!



Today's clue:

In Twenty Boy Summer, Frankie often carries her video camera for capturing spontaneous and silly interviews. For 20 Things clue #20, our final clue, film a video interview of yourself or someone else about books, boys, summer, or some clever combination! Post your video on YouTube or other video sharing site and link to it here in the comments. 6 points. 1 to 2 extra points for super creativity, hilarity, or tomfoolery.

Wait... today's a bonus clue day!

For a chance to earn more points, check out today's bonus clue at Reading Rocks.

The Elite Series (and more) Winner!

Book Spot, you are the winner! Please e-mail your address to inbedwithbooks AT yahoo DOT com. Thanks to everyone who entered and shared the link. I hope ya'll enjoyed the trailer and plan to give Jennifer Banash a chance.

THE ELITE and IN TOO DEEP are available now; SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE releases July 7.

YA Book Carnival: Along for the Ride

The YA Book Carnival is hosted by Lauren of Shooting Stars Mag. It is a series of YA giveaways, by anyone, ending today, June 27. I should also tell people that I have another giveaway that ends tomorrow, June 28. It is for six books, including the entire Elite series by Jennifer Banash.

The winner of the Jonas Brothers giveaway is Kristi of Books and Needlepoint, who plans to give the book to her daughter.



Now, some of ya'll may have read my review of ALONG FOR THE RIDE by Sarah Dessen, which came out June 16th. Guess what? It debuted as #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.

In celebration, there's a contest for two copies over at Sarah-Land. But here at IBWB, I've got an ARC up for grabs.

Want it? Tell me your favorite energy food. What would you eat before a long bike ride? Me, I like a BBQ baked potato with cheese, butter, and pulled pork. I get dessert afterwards.

I'm also offering a lot of chances for bonus entries. Follow me, link to this contest, tell me your favorite Sarah Dessen (and why), and/or post the ALONG FOR THE RIDE widget.

Contest ends July 4.

Review: Naamah's Kiss

I sometimes stop by the blogs of authors whose books I like and/or think look interesting. Sarah Rees Brennan has started a new promotion, where she offers a new bit of fiction every Friday and a contest entry to anyone who spreads the link. Today's offering is the first half of a non-spoilery story set in the same world as her debut novel THE DEMON'S LEXICON.



By Jacqueline Carey

In my review of SANTA OLIVIA, I mentioned Carey's ability to change voice and style. After the self-contained SANTA OLIVIA, I had forgotten how globe-trotting the Kushiel books are. They're doorstops for a reason: the protagonist does quite a bit, cycling through several plots. Moirin's time in each of the three countries NAAMAH'S KISS takes place in could all form their own story. While Carey maintains the lush, slightly purple style that marks the other Kushiel books, she once more creates an original voice for the protagonist so you never feel you're reading Phedre or Imriel redux. (Phedre and Imriel being the universe's previous point of view characters. And as a bonus for those who don't like angst, Moirin is much less moody than Imriel.)

Moirin is more naive. She gives herself freely and doesn't know when to put her foot down so that people don't get hurt. This is partially because she was raised in almost isolation with her mother. Her culture is that of the Maghuin Dhonn, the bear witches, who previously played a part in KUSHIEL'S MERCY. (Between the different culture and several generations later aspect, those who haven't read the previous two trilogies can easily start with Moirin's story.) A boy, Cillian, is the first other person she spends any significant time with. She gradually becomes interested in book learning through their relationship, which partially affects her decision to leave Alba. Moirin is very aware that she's only Maghuin Dhonn through her mother, and she wonders about her place in the world.

I must admit, my favorite part is when Morin travels to Ch'in. (All the places and cultures in the Kushiel books are analogues of the real world. The dividing point is in the fictional world Jesus had a son who remained on Earth along with some angels who thought he had the right idea.) Along with her mentor and his other apprentice, Moirin comes to the aid of a princess in trouble. Anyone who's slightly familiar with Chinese folktales will recognize the story Moirin steps into. I enjoyed Carey's twist on it.

I suppose I should warn about the strong sexual component. Moirin is half d'Angelline, a culture that's very free about sex. That means there are heterosexual and homosexual scenes, many of which occur outside of marriage. If that's not your thing, this isn't the fantasy series for you. If you don't mind, I do recommend reading Carey.

I admit that when I picked up NAAMAH'S KISS I was already a Carey fangirl. But there's a reason I love her. Her writing has flow and wit, and her plots are clever. She tells exciting, epic stories while maintaining a tight focus on character. Then there's her focus on worldbuilding. The various cultures and how they interact is well-defined. Carey did her research in order to make a fantasy world with realistic politics and sociology. The only fantasy writer I trust more than Carey is Robin Hobb.

Books Read in 2009 (Weeks Twenty-Four and Twenty-Five)

I wanted to let ya'll know that next week marks half a year, so I'll try to do a summary of my reading thus far.

Week Twenty-Four



One More Bite (Jaz Parks, Book Five) by Jennifer Rardin (Review copy)

Queene of Light (Lightworld/Darkworld, Book One) by Jennifer Armintrout (Review copy, ARC)



ghostgirl: homecoming (ghostgirl, Book Two) by Tonay Hurley (Review copy, hardcover)

Curse the Dawn (Cassandra Palmer, Book Four) by Karen Chance (Bought, reread)



Midnight's Daughter (Dorina Basarab, Book One) by Karen Chance (Bought, reread)

My Bonny Light Horseman: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, in Love and War (Bloody Jack, Book Six) by L. A. Meyer (Library)



Streams of Babel by Carol Plum-Ucci (Library)

Week Twenty-Five



Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon (Review copy, ARC)

Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford (Review copy, ARC)



Surf Mules by G. Neri (Review copy, ARC)

Death's Shadow (Demonata, Book Seven) by Darren Shan (Library)



Magic in the Blood (Allie Beckstrom, Book Two) by Devon Monk (Bought)

Simply Irresistible (The Elite, Book Three) by Jennifer Banash (Review copy)



Thorn Queen (Dark Swan, Book Two) by Richelle Mead (Review copy, ARC)

Persistence of Memory (No series, but same universe as her other books) by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes (Library)



Mine Till Midnight (The Hathaways, Book One) by Lisa Kleypas (Bought)

Wicked Lovely (Faerie Chronicles, Book One) by Melissa Marr (Library)



No Such Thing as the Real World: by An Na, M.T. Anderson, Beth Kephart, K.L Going, Chris Lynch, Jacqueline Woodson (Library)

Persuasion by Jane Austen, ed. Linda Bree (Bought, textbook)