Celebrating Debutantes 2016: Fear the Drowning Deep by Sarah Glenn Marsh (Author Interview + Giveaway)

Hi guys! For today, we are featuring one of the nicest authors that I know and one of the first authors that I ever contacted for Celebrating Debutantes 2016. It was a bit of a mistake - I thought her book was coming out from January to June, so emailed her way back. Anyway, stick around for a swag pack giveaway later on.

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What or who inspired you to write Fear the Drowning Deep? The inspiration for Fear the Drowning Deep came from something I read in the news: an article about a rare shark that had been spotted by fishermen (near Japan, if I recall) and it got me thinking about all the strange creatures in the ocean. It seems to me that people spend more time wondering about space, looking up, than they do wondering about what’s in the waters below us--way deep down, in the darkest places we can't see or reach...and the idea for Fear was born!

What kind of historical research did you do for the book? My research process was a bit unusual. For one thing, I found some great books first published in the 1800s on Manx mythology (mainly dealing with fairies and the Islanders’ customs and lore surrounding them), and read those/took notes! I also ordered some Manx history books directly from the Isle–I don’t recommend this though, unless you want to spend a TON on shipping!

I also went to YouTube to look up videos of the Isle of Man TT. This is a famous motorcycle race (for those who aren’t as enthralled by motorcycles as I am!) and my awesome biker dad had mentioned it to me several times growing up. Anyway, bikers from around the world flock to the Isle of Man for this big race around the island each year; it’s actually been happening since the early 1900s! Anyway, I watched videos of the TT to get a sense for the Manx landscape and the accents of the Manx people reporting on the race!

Could you tell us a bit about the historical period wherein Fear the Drowning Deep is set? What made you decide on this specific time period? Fear the Drowning Deep is set in the early 1900s--to be specific, 1913. This particular year felt right to me for Bridey’s story for a number of reasons. First, it was a year after the sinking of the Titanic, an event which confirmed Bridey's worst fears about the ocean. Second, this was a time in which there was very little technology on the Isle (relative to other places in the UK, which were quicker to adopt new tech as it became available). This was also a time when many on the Isle still upheld rich old traditions, and some still believed in the existence of fairies. All these things combined made 1913 on the Isle of Man feel like a distinctly magical time in which to set my story!

Could you tell us about the tasks, responsibilities and competencies of a witch's apprentice? Bridey herself would tell you that being a witch's apprentice is dirty work; her employer, Morag, hasn't swept her hearth in at least a decade. Sometimes, her duties involve going to the beach, even though that brings her much closer to the sea than she can stand. She's also always on the lookout for things that might please Morag--sea glass, driftwood, a piece of string; the witch's moods shift as swiftly as the wind. On the best days, being a witch's apprentice involves drinking tea and talking about the moon and mythical krakens.

What were the difficulties that you encountered while writing Fear the Drowning Deep, if any? How did you deal with them? Without getting too spoiler-y, writing the Big Bad in this book freaked me out! Also, Bridey’s so scared of the ocean that I often felt terrible about the things I was subjecting her to! In fact, I'd say that was the most difficult part of writing the book overall; I came to love all the characters (okay, okay, maybe not Mr. Gill...), and I often felt bad about ruining their lives (something I've since gotten over in my subsequent books...consider yourselves warned ;)). I dealt with it by writing an ending that was satisfying to me, and that I hope will be the same for readers!

What is your favorite part about writing your debut? Researching the mythology, definitely. I had a great time learning about and shaping what Bridey would be up against in her fight to save her town!

Have you been to Isle of Man? Could you share with us some of the places there that are highlighted in your book? I wish! I haven't been to the Isle of Man yet, though it's absolutely a goal of mine.

As for places that are highlighted in my book, certainly: while Port Coire, Bridey's hometown, is purely fictional, I situated it about five miles from the very real town of Peel. One of the awesome things about the town is Peel Castle, which was built in the 11th century by the Vikings. There's a supposed spectral black dog (known in Manx Gaelic, the language of the Isle of Man, as the "Moddey Dhoo") roaming the ruined castle, which is open to tour in the summers!

To the south of Peel town, there's the Calf of Man, an island that's home to a large colony of seals!

Another special place on the Isle is the Fairy Bridge, a stretch of road where it's customary to stop and greet the fairies (or "Mooinjer Veggey" as they're known in Manx!); it's considered unlucky not to greet them! Oh, and did I mention that Manx fairies aren't sweet like their English counterparts? Instead, they're quite tricky and fearsome!

Thank you!

About the Author:

Sarah Glenn Marsh is the author of the YA fantasy Fear the Drowning Deep from Sky Pony Press, the forthcoming Reign of the Fallen fantasy duology from Razorbill (Penguin), as well as several forthcoming children's picture books. An avid fantasy reader from the day her dad handed her a copy of The Hobbit and promised it would change her life, she's been making up words and worlds ever since. She lives in Virginia with her husband and her tiny zoo of four rescued greyhounds, a bird, and many fish.

When she's not writing, she's often painting, or engaged in nerdy pursuits from video games to tabletop adventures.

Find Sarah: | Website |

Book Description:

Hardcover, 304 pages
Expected publication: October 4th 2016 by Sky Pony Press

Witch’s apprentice Bridey Corkill has hated the ocean ever since she watched her granddad dive in and drown with a smile on his face. So when a dead girl rolls in with the tide in the summer of 1913, sixteen-year-old Bridey suspects that whatever compelled her granddad to leap into the sea has made its return to the Isle of Man.

Soon, villagers are vanishing in the night, but no one shares Bridey’s suspicions about the sea. No one but the island’s witch, who isn’t as frightening as she first appears, and the handsome dark-haired lad Bridey rescues from a grim and watery fate. The cause of the deep gashes in Fynn’s stomach and his lost memories are, like the recent disappearances, a mystery well-guarded by the sea. In exchange for saving his life, Fynn teaches Bridey to master her fear of the water — stealing her heart in the process.

Now, Bridey must work with the Isle’s eccentric witch and the boy she isn’t sure she can trust — because if she can’t uncover the truth about the ancient evil in the water, everyone she loves will walk into the sea, never to return.

Giveaway

What's up for grabs: Swag Pack including signed bookmarks, postcards, stickers, and a book-inspired necklace
Scope: International!

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Treat yourself to a complete #CelebratingDebutantes2016 experience. Click the image below for the full schedule and links to the posts!

Review: Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Book Description via Goodreads:

ARC, 326 pages

February 7, 2012, Putnam Juvenile

A Great and Terrible Beauty meets Cassandra Clare in this spellbinding fantasy

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word . . . especially after she finds her mother's diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.

Source: Jennifer Spotswood (Thank you!!)

My Thoughts:

Cate, Maura and Tess were beautiful, educated by their father and intentionally isolated from the other girls. Cate had always thought that keeping away from the other girls, not drawing attention to herself and to her sisters was the safe thing to do. But with her 17^th birthday and her intention ceremony just a few months away, she started having doubts, especially when more and more girls labeled as bluestockings were being accused as witches and arrested. I admired Cate's dedication and love for her sisters despite the constant tension between them. I loved how I was able to see the complicated happenings at the Cahill household.

In Cate’s world, girls were supposed to talk, act and dress properly. Women were naturally wicked according to the Brothers who preach in church. They were the source of temptation and they were the ones who ended up in an asylum after being accused of witchery. I find the norms of society difficult to bear with and terrifyingly strict. Since the death of Cate’s mother, Cate tried to stand as the protector of her sisters, caring for them, teaching them and warning them against the dangers of magic. But her task was hard to do especially when Maura never listened to her and Tess was too enthusiastic to use magic.

Paul was Cate’s childhood friend. He just came back from New London and he asked her hand for marriage. He was the sweet, fun and handsome boy-next-door type who knew Cate well. Although he was a bit too proud and overconfident, he definitely worked his charm on women. In the beginning, I wanted Paul for Cate. But that changed when Cate’s gardener, Finn Belastra entered the picture. Finn was the intelligent, eccentric, quiet and mysterious type. He was a keen observer with smart ideas, sharp thoughts and funny remarks. He could read and get Cate. But what I really liked about him was that he was a true gentleman and a passionate lover.

Enter the Brotherhood and Sisterhood. The Brotherhood was composed of men serving God who made sure that they kept everyone in line, by line I meant the ‘moral line.’ They preached, walked in that self-righteous way of theirs. They had the right to accuse and arrest girls for witchery. The brothers were scary. If I lived in that time, they would be on the top of my hate list. Their counterpart, the Sisterhood was composed of girls serving God and girls who were forced to join the Sisterhood, either because they didn’t want to marry or no one asked for their hand. But the Sisterhood also became a refuge for girls.

Born Wicked was generally filled with surprises. I kept gasping, staring wide-eyed at the pages every now and then. The novel grabbed me by the hand and led me deeper and deeper into its alternative historical setting. I loved reading about the dresses, corsets, tea parties, strict social norms, scandals and of course, witchery. The author’s attention to detail paid off. Nothing felt off. I think that the novel was backed up with enough research and this made everything even more believable and realistic. The pace was just right for me. It was just right for me to absorb all the details and establish the setting and allow me to get to know the characters.

Born Wicked is the enchanting, romantic, tragic story of Cate Cahill, one of the bravest heroines I’ve ever encountered. Witchery, romance, scandals and history packed in an engrossing YA novel. I highly recommend this to paranormal romance readers, historical readers, romance readers and witch enthusiasts!

Rating:

Review: Witch Song by Amber Argyle

Book Description via Goodreads:

Ebook, 319 pages

September 1, 2011, Rhemalda Publishing

The world is changing. Once, Witch Song controlled everything from the winds to the shifting of the seasons--but not anymore. All the Witches are gone, taken captive by a traitor. All but Brusenna. As the echo of their songs fade, the traitor grows stronger. Now she is coming for Brusenna. Her guardian has sworn to protect her, but even he can't stop the Dark Witch. Somehow, Brusenna has to succeed where every other Witch has failed. Find the traitor. Fight her. Defeat her. Because if Brusenna doesn't, there won't be anything left to save.

Source: Rhemalda Publishing via Teen Book Scene (Thank you!)

My Thoughts:

Witch Song was different from the books that I usually read. I’m used to reading dark witch novels. But this one wasn’t really dark. It was light but it preserved the adventure and the drama. It was full of wonder, magic and innocence that radiated from the main character, Brusenna (aka Senna.)

Senna’s growth as a person and as a witch was evident throughout the novel. From knowing little, being harmed and continuously threatened she became a witch who was sure of her powers. I loved seeing her grow as a character. The Senna in the beginning of the novel was so different from the Senna after the story. In her journey, she was accompanied by Joshen, her guardian. They went through a lot of obstacles and faced danger. Protective and sweet, Joshen added spice to the novel.

The first few chapters of the book reminded me of Crystal Bones. The medieval influence was evident in the novel and it was combined with a world of magic – the world of witches. Although it may sound typical, it was never predictable, never dull. Each destination in the novel had its own traits to brag about. The diverse characters gave life to the world of Witch Song.

What I loved the most was Argyle’s twist in the witch mythology. She connected witchcraft to nature. The existence of witches has been justified with the roles that they perform on earth. The spells in Witch Song were in couplet or poem form. They were so original, far from the usual Latin incantations present in YA books.

Witch Song has magic, adventure, danger and drama, a breath of fresh air and a perfect read for YA paranormal romance readers. With a smooth plot and beautiful writing, readers will fall inlove with this debut. 

Rating:

Review: Almost Final Curtain by Tate Hallaway

Book Description via Goodreads:

Paperback, 273 pages

May 3, 2011, NAL

Craving the spotlight is in her blood.

Ever since high school student Anastasija Parker discovered she was vampire royalty, her life has been sort of crazy. The half-vampire- half-witch just wants some normalcy, and trying out for the spring musical seems like the perfect fix.

But when the ancient talisman that stands between vampire freedom and slavery to witches is stolen, Ana has to skip rehersal and track down the dangerous artifact before someone uses it to make this year's curtain call her last...

Source: NAL & Kayleigh (Thank you!)

My Thoughts:

The humor that I loved in Almost to Die for was toned down in Almost Final Curtain. The story became darker as Ana faced the reality of her being a half-witch, half-vampire and her struggles with her lovelife. She could no longer be with the witches after failing her initiation, aside from her mom and her bestfriend, Bea. After refusing to join the vampires, Ana’s dad didn’t bother her anymore. She felt that she was stuck in the middle, neither vampire nor witch but possessed the strengths and weaknesses of both. It was a problematic situation that she will be stuck in forever.

Being betrothed to the vampire knight, Elias, has complicated Ana’s lovelife. He became one of the constants in her life – the guy who gave her time and listened to her ramble and whine. I found Elias to be endearing and a perfect gentleman. Despite harassment, danger and sarcasm, he kept on minding his manners, unruffled. In this novel, Ana spent more time with Elias. But Ana has a boyfriend in Nikolai, Elias’ rival. Nikolai was in a band and every girl wanted him. Most importantly, he was a vampire hunter.

I liked the background in the vampire world. Their origin, nature and customs fascinated me. The ancient talisman’s role in the lives of vampires and how it changed their fates was a nice touch, coupled with the history woven into it. Their music and revelry, surprisingly, were like the music and revelry of the fey. I was able to see another side to their wildness.

Some of the characters changed while the others stayed the same. Thompson, the jock at Ana’s school who hated her, started to be more civil and he even began to show his friendly side. I had my hunch about Thompson in book one. It was starting to show, floating to the surface but it hasn’t fully surfaced yet. Bea was still pining for Nik, taking every chance to be with him and to get one step closer to being his girlfriend. The big changes were in Ana’s parents, caused by the Nile goddess talisman. Throughout the novel, there were scenes planted that aroused my curiosity. The ending was the bomb of all secrets and twists. One twist in particular took me off guard. I never expected it.

Witty and humorous, with a darkness that lurks over the characters, Almost Final Curtain was an intriguing read. I recommend this to readers of vampire and witch novels and paranormal romance readers.

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Review: Bloodspell by Amalie Howard

Book Description via Goodreads:

ARC, 357 pages

June 1, 2011, Langdon Street Press

The spell was simple...

Cruentus Protectum (Defend the Blood)

But what do you do if your blood is your enemy?

Victoria Warrick has always known she was different. An outcast at school, she is no stranger to adversity. But when she receives an old journal for her seventeenth birthday, nothing prepares her for the dark secrets it holds -- much less one that reveals she's a witch with unimaginable power.

What's more, when she meets the dazzling but enigmatic Christian Devereux, she has no idea how much her life is about to change. Enemies will hunt her. Friends will turn on her. The terrible curse that makes her blood run black will stop at nothing to control her. And Christian has a sinister secret of his own...

Without knowing whom to trust, can Victoria survive her blood's deadly desires? Or will she lose everything, including herself?

Source: Langdon Street Press & Marissa (Thank you!)

My Thoughts:

Victoria – Tori – was an outcast at her school. She never really thought much about it. But what she didn't know then was that there was more to it. On her seventeenth birthday, her aunt Holly gave her a gift from her grandmother. The journal inside it held her family’s history and secret. She found out that she was a strong witch just like her ancestors. She struggled to accept this reality, even coming to the point that she intentionally stayed away from the journal and kept herself busy so that she would not think about it.

I have read novels about vampires and witches loathing each other but nothing comes close to Bloodspell. The history between vampires and witches that Howard weaved was captivating and heart-wrenching. I enjoyed reading about Tori’s ancestry. The journal itself generated so much intrigue that it has become one of the things that I looked forward to.

Tori’s blood was dangerous, craving spilled blood, death and sacrifice. It sang of dark desires and dark pleasures, infusing Tori with its evil nature. Not wanting to be like her ancestor, she struggled to control the blood, to prove that she was the master. I found Tori very human despite her gifts. She had that careful, sincere and concerned spark inside her that never vanished even as she embraced her powers. She sided with caution and refused to give in to her blood.

Tori and Christian’s relationship was a difficult one. Aside from it being forbidden, both of them were experiencing the strain between them as they both struggled to control their inner demons. Their moments together were so sweet that they made me smile. But at other times, I was gripping the book, emotionally aching from their problems. Christian craved Tori’s blood and he had to reign in the beast inside him, to make sure that he never slipped whenever they were together. Tori knew that her blood wanted to kill – even Christian – and took precautions too.

The action in Bloodspell was written well. It was as savage, inhuman and magical as the characters. I loved how the scenes reflected the true nature of vampires and witches. The aftermath of the fight scenes were also shown. During these scenes, the emotions of the characters, particularly Tori’s, were explored. Tori often felt disgust and fear as she remembered her joy at killing and winning. She was still vulnerable inside even though she was strong. The drawbacks of being a witch was as great as her power.

Bloodspell is a captivating tale of forbidden love bloodlust and danger. Deliciously dark, fast paced and beautifully written, this novel will get the attention of paranormal romance readers. I highly recommend this! This reminded me of Vampire Diaries (the TV series) when it comes to suspense, action and unpredictability.

Rating: