The Boneless Mercies by April Genevieve Tucholke {review + giveaway}

The Boneless Mercies
by April Genevieve Tucholke
♦publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
♦release date: October 2nd, 2018•
♦hardcover, 384 pages
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦stand-alone, retelling
♦source: from publisher for review consideration

A dark standalone YA fantasy about a band of mercenary girls in search of female glory.

Frey, Ovie, Juniper, and Runa are the Boneless Mercies—girls hired to kill quickly, quietly, and mercifully. But Frey is weary of the death trade and, having been raised on the heroic sagas of her people, dreams of a bigger life. 

When she hears of an unstoppable monster ravaging a nearby town, Frey decides this is the Mercies' one chance out. The fame and fortune of bringing down such a beast would ensure a new future for all the Mercies. In fact, her actions may change the story arc of women everywhere.

{Review}

I've long been a fan of April Tucholke's signature bizarre and stylistic storytelling, and when I heard she would be putting it to a high fantasy tale, I couldn't have been more excited. Her gorgeous writing has always given such a fantastical and eerie feel to contemporary stories, I could only imagine how unique her take on the mythical tale legend of Beowolf would be. I admit, I wasn't that familiar with the source material but it didn't stop me from diving headlong into this retelling.

The Boneless Mercies themselves...wow. What a dynamic group of women. Frey, Juniper, Ovie, and Runa--a sisterhood in the best sense of the word. Each had their own strengths and complicated weaknesses.  Each had their own reasons for being in the life they led...and for maybe wanting out. I love how closely they worked together, how they knew each other so deeply and bolstered each other up. I love that it was a gender-bent, feminist take on this legend without making all men villainous and hateful. There was even Trigve, a man who traveled with them and fought by their side---his backstory and his unconventional relationship with Frey added so much to the story.  For each of the characters in turn, there were moments of anger and passion and quiet inner searching as they journeyed to try their hand at defeating a legendary beast. This story was hideously bloody at times, heartbreaking at many times, and thoughtful and completely unputdownable(*) though the entire thing.  April Tucholke does it again. 

(*On a side and very personal note, I say unputdownable, even though I did at one point, actually put it aside. In the beginning, it takes the time to really show what the Boneless Mercies do--they are, quite literally, human reapers. They are paid by the sick or suffering or their family to take someone's life as a mercy killing and it shows them doing this for people of all ages.  Because of things going on in my life, this was too painful and too emotional of an idea for me and I had to set it aside.  Still, a while later, I was called back to this book, a journey and battle that I knew April would make into a beautiful story, so I picked it up again. It lured me in and, yes, after that it was unputdownable!)

{ABOUT THE AUTHOR}

April Genevieve Tucholke is the author of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, Between the Spark and the Burn, and Wink Poppy Midnight. She also curated the horror anthology Slasher Girls & Monster Boys. She has received five starred reviews and her novels have been chosen for the Junior Library Guild, Kids' Indie Next picks, and YALSA Teens Top Ten. When she's not writing, April likes walking in the woods with her two cheerful dogs, exploring abandoned houses, and drinking expensive coffee. She has lived in many places around the world, and currently resides in Oregon with her husband.

WEBSITE   •   TWITTER  •   INSTAGRAM

Purchase the book:  Indiebound  •  BookDepository  •  Amazon

International Giveaway!

Winner's choice of edition: US Hardcover or UK Paperback

Both are gorgeous so I wanted to give you the choice! :D

Ends 11/15 at 11:59 PM
Must be 13 or older or have parent permission.

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Boneless Mercies: A quick Q&A and a giveaway!

So excited and honored to be today's stop on the tour for

The Boneless Mercies

by April Genevieve Tucholke!!!

I am a ridiculously huge fan of April's work---(exhibit A & exhibit B LOL) her writing just completely mesmerizes me every time. She is a master of eerie atmosphere, a queen of the unexpected plot twist, and has a beautifully bizarre storytelling and writing style that just speaks to me. So you can imagine my thrill at seeing her tackle a fantasy retelling of Beowolf! I've just started in on it and I can tell you, her words have already got me entranced. ♥

But today, I have a lightning quick Q & A with April herself and {ta-da} a super awesome giveaway of a gorgeous finished copy of Boneless Mercies and a custom-made necklace! 

~Q & A with April Tucholke~

•What three women from history or literature would you want on your Boneless Mercies crew?

Amelia Earhart

Lyanna Mormont

Sacagawea

•Are there any characters in Boneless Mercies that are inspired by people in your own life?

Trigve was inspired by an art student that I knew in college, but I created the other characters out of thin air.

•What kinds of books did you read as a teen and who is your favorite author of all time?

I read a lot of fantasy as a teen—The Chronicles of Narnia, Sabriel, Watership Down, A Wizard of Earthsea, and sci fi—A Wrinkle in Time (and the entire Time Quintet series), Ender’s Game, andInterstellar Pig. I also read the goths—Poe and the Brontes, as well as classic mysteries like Sherlock and Agatha Christie. The only contemporary realistic books I can remember reading was the great Austin Family series by Madeleine L’Engle.

Favorite author of all time? Susanna Clarke.

{ABOUT THE AUTHOR}

April Genevieve Tucholke is the author of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, Between the Spark and the Burn, and Wink Poppy Midnight. She also curated the horror anthology Slasher Girls & Monster Boys. She has received five starred reviews and her novels have been chosen for the Junior Library Guild, Kids' Indie Next picks, and YALSA Teens Top Ten. When she's not writing, April likes walking in the woods with her two cheerful dogs, exploring abandoned houses, and drinking expensive coffee. She has lived in many places around the world, and currently resides in Oregon with her husband.

WEBSITE   •   TWITTER  •   INSTAGRAM

Purchase the book:  Indiebound  •  BookDepository  •  Amazon

{ABOUT BONELESS MERCIES}

A dark standalone YA fantasy about a band of mercenary girls in search of female glory.

Frey, Ovie, Juniper, and Runa are the Boneless Mercies—girls hired to kill quickly, quietly, and mercifully. But Frey is weary of the death trade and, having been raised on the heroic sagas of her people, dreams of a bigger life.

When she hears of an unstoppable monster ravaging a nearby town, Frey decides this is the Mercies' one chance out. The fame and fortune of bringing down such a beast would ensure a new future for all the Mercies. In fact, her actions may change the story arc of women everywhere. 

*        *        *        *        *

And on to the giveaway!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway Giveaway sponsored by the lovely folks at Macmillan! US addresses only please.

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme created by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It lets us all gush about what soon-to-be released books we are jumping-up-and-down excited for.

The Boneless Mercies
by April Genevieve Tucholke

hitting shelves October 2nd 2018  

from Farrar, Straus & Giroux BYR

Frey, Ovie, Juniper, and Runa are the Boneless Mercies—girls hired to kill quickly, quietly, and mercifully. But Frey is weary of the death trade and, having been raised on the heroic sagas of her people, dreams of a bigger life. 

When she hears of an unstoppable monster ravaging a nearby town, Frey decides this is the Mercies' one chance out. The fame and fortune of bringing down such a beast would ensure a new future for all the Mercies. In fact, her actions may change the story arc of women everywhere.

Full of fierce girls, bloodlust, tenuous alliances, and unapologetic quests for glory, this elegantly spun tale challenges the power of storytelling—and who gets to be the storyteller. Perfect for fans of Maggie Stiefvater, V.E. Schwab, and Heidi Heilig.

My thoughts: A new April Tucholke book!!! This is really all I need to know, but  it doesn't hurt that the description sounds absolutely awesome. Her storytelling always floors me, and her eerie and sometimes bizarre way with words and atmosphere may not be everyone's cup of tea---but man is it ever mine! Couldn't be more excited!!

What book are you eagerly anticipating this week?

Speaking of Wink Poppy Midnight...

So if you read my previous post, you'll know how much I adored this lovely, bizarre, extraordinary book. If not, see my review here. Well, today, Wink Poppy Midnight hits the shelves! Happy Book Birthday, WPM!! :D

 LOL :D  

And at this lovely news, I feel compelled to get this into my blog reader's hands! :D 

So here comes a giveaway! 

Open internationally, one finished copy of gorgeousness :)

Enter away! :D

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Wink Poppy Midnight by April Genevieve Tucholke {review}

Wink Poppy Midnight
by April Genevieve Tucholke
♦publisher: Dial Books
♦release date: March 22nd, 2016
♦hardcover, 352 pages
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦stand-alone
♦sounce: from publisher for honest review

Every story needs a hero.
Every story needs a villain.
Every story needs a secret.

Wink is the odd, mysterious neighbor girl, wild red hair and freckles. Poppy is the blond bully and the beautiful, manipulative high school queen bee. Midnight is the sweet, uncertain boy caught between them. Wink. Poppy. Midnight. Two girls. One boy. Three voices that burst onto the page in short, sharp, bewitching chapters, and spiral swiftly and inexorably toward something terrible or tricky or tremendous.

What really happened?
Someone knows.
Someone is lying.

Review: I make it no secret---I like my stories bizarre and a little bit twisted. Stories that lead you off one way and then explode your mind with things you might never have seen coming, and in completely off-the-wall ways. I like them haunting, enchanting, mind-boggling. Stories like Never Let Me Go, The Accident Season, The Walls Around Us,...undeniable weird and eerie, but completely awesome.  Yes, what I'm saying here, is that Wink Poppy Midnight falls right in line with these wonderful examples of books that are just my taste. Weird, wild, heart-crushing. Absolutely loved every page.

The dynamic of these three characters feels like an enigma, you get an inkling from the get-go (and the synopsis lends to this as well) that you're going to get more from these characters than they initially seem. Midnight seems lonely and a bit tortured, longing to get away from his unhealthy "thing" with Poppy and gets swept along in Wink's whimsical fairy tale view of everything. Poppy seems to lay everything out so straight that there could be no denying her brand of evil. And Wink keeps you guessing if she's just spacey or incredibly naive or just above it all--or maybe something else.

There are times when the writing is literally like reading poetry, with a very defined repetition and rhythm that really hammers the thoughts, feelings, or vivid imagery that each character is trying to convey home.  I loved the use of alternating POV and the short chapters, each one like little intense bursts of voice and thought. Sigh---just writing this review makes me want to read it again right this second. I know this brand of weird won't be everyone's cup of tea, especially with a somewhat not-exactly-cut-and-dry ending.  But this was definitely my kind of book.

*ABOUT THE AUTHOR*

April Genevieve Tucholke is the author of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea and its sequel, Between the Spark and the Burn. She loves classic horror movies and coffee. She has lived in many places, including Scotland, and currently resides in Oregon with her husband.

Add Wink Poppy Midnight to Goodreads

Pre-order: Indiebound  •  BookDepository  •  Amazon

Waiting on...

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It lets us all gush about what soon-to-be released books we are jumping-up-and-down excited for.

Today I've got a Penguin two-fer! I just couldn't decide between them.  

Wink Poppy Midnight

by April Genevieve Tucholke

hitting shelves March 22nd,  2016 

from Dial Books

The intrigue of The Virgin Suicides and the "supernatural or not" question of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer coalesce in this young adult mystery, where nothing is quite as it seems, no one is quite who you think, and everything can change on a dime.

Every story needs a hero.
Every story needs a villain.
Every story needs a secret.

Wink is the odd, mysterious neighbor girl, wild red hair and freckles. Poppy is the blond bully and the beautiful, manipulative high school queen bee. Midnight is the sweet, uncertain boy caught between them. Wink. Poppy. Midnight. Two girls. One boy. Three voices that burst onto the page in short, sharp, bewitching chapters, and spiral swiftly and inexorably toward something terrible or tricky or tremendous.

What really happened?
Someone knows.
Someone is lying.

For fans of Holly Black, We Were Liars, and The Raven Boys, this mysterious tale full of intrigue, dread, beauty, and a whiff of something strange will leave you utterly entranced.

My thoughts: Okay, so, aside from the Virgin Suicides comparison (we'll just ignore that, not a fan), this book looks absolutely amazing. Plus its April Tucholke and her writing is the most gorgeous, perfectly haunting thing ever. And this cover!! Will there be posters? Please let there be posters. 

The Dark Days Club

by Alison Goodman

hitting shelves January 26th,  2016 

from Viking Books for Young Readers

New York Times bestseller Alison Goodman’s eagerly awaited new project: a Regency adventure starring a stylish and intrepid demon-hunter!

London, April 1812. On the eve of eighteen-year-old Lady Helen Wrexhall’s presentation to the queen, one of her family’s housemaids disappears-and Helen is drawn into the shadows of Regency London. There, she meets Lord Carlston, one of the few who can stop the perpetrators: a cabal of demons infiltrating every level of society. Dare she ask for his help, when his reputation is almost as black as his lingering eyes? And will her intelligence and headstrong curiosity wind up leading them into a death trap?

My thoughts: I've heard awesome things about this author's work. Plus the moment a synopsis mentions a "stylish and intrepid demon hunter"  and the "shadows of Regency London", you've pretty much got my attention! Also, I was so glad to see this cover for the US release---no offense to anyone, but the other cover shown on goodreads is a bit of a pink nightmare! 

What are you excited for this week? 

Becky's View: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genvieve Tucholke
♦publisher: Dial/Penguin
♦release date: August15th, 2013
♦hardcover, 360 pages
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦series: Between, book 1
♦source: from publisher for honest review

You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town… until River West comes along. River rents the guest house behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard.

Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more?

Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery... who makes you want to kiss back.

Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

Review:

You hold this book in your lap, stare for just a moment taking in the breathtaking cover. Then you open it up, start to read, and fall head-long into a dark and disturbing story that is thick with atmosphere.   

Violet and Luke live in their decaying cliff-side mansion, their negligent artist parents have taken off to Europe and the family money has run out. To keep them going, Violet decides to rent out their guest house---and along comes River West. With his mystery, worldliness, and crooked smile, (not to mention a gift for cooking) he draws the somewhat sheltered Violet in immediately. She’s an interesting character: unsocial but sweet, often consults with her dead grandmother for advice, and marches to her own drum. River seems so kind to her and has this sort of old-world charm, but you just know something is off with him.  While some will think she falls for River just a little too fast, rest assured that she falls into suspicion of his actions just as quickly.  To be very honest, I have mixed feelings about the love story.  It was mesmerizing in a horrific sort of way.  It’s hard to say much more without spoilers, but I often found myself hoping they wouldn’t end up together. 

The story as a whole was gorgeously told. It’s so incredibly creepy and has such a mysterious, sinister air from start to finish.  There is a very artsy, small-town Twilight Zone feel to it.  The scene in the cemetery with the town’s children running amuck with stakes, hunting down the Devil, was chilling.  The author lets loose imagery of nightmarish monsters in deep dark caves, ghostly little girls delivery warnings, and bloody gore in the town square. The writing and storytelling in Between the Devil and Deep Blue Sea is YA gothic horror at its very best, and when this series continues, I’ll definitely be eager to find out where the story goes next. 

Find April Genevieve Tucholke online: Website  •  Twitter 

Purchase the book:  Amazon  •  BookDepository  •  Indiebound

Cover Story - 4 Gorgeous new covers!

Some especially gorgeous covers were revealed in recent weeks and I have to share. I am in love with all of these.  LOVE ♥

Afterglow by Karsten Knight

WOW.  I actually was not a huge fan of the cover of book 2, but this is STUNNING.  Might help that plumerias are one of my favorite flowers. :)  The swirling flame is perfect and the dark detail of all the lava rock. 

Ashes on the Waves by Mary Lindsey
Love this, especially the cool, creepy victorian house looming in the background.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

I can't WAIT to see this in person.  It looks awesome on the screen, but I know those sheer cliffs are going to look super dramatic in person.  Plus, I'm a total font geek. Love cool fonts and this one is fantastic.

If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin
You just know from one look at this that its going to require tissue. Her position and the rain just convey heartbreak to me.