Katherine Arden | Whispers & Wonder

FEATURED

The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden

January 17, 2019

FEATURED

When I first began the Winternight Trilogy with The Bear and the Nightingale, I knew I had embarked on a journey so special, it would be one to stay with me well after it concluded. Now that I’ve closed the final pages of The Winter of the Witch, I can easily say…

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Hey there, everyone. No #QOTD today - I'd like to

Hey there, everyone. No #QOTD today - I'd like to instead talk about something that came to my attention yesterday, and I would like to share with you all. As children we viewed stories told as pure, unadulterated entertainment. I don’t know about you, but I would come home from grade school and watch the same Disney movies over and over because I couldn’t get enough of princes and princesses in fantastical lands. As I grew older, I realized that the songs and quotes I had memorized and the magical stories I had become so familiar with had such deeper meanings than what I originally remembered. The (not so) subtle messaging for children that only parents could truly appreciate, if you will. The Little Mermaid–changing yourself to feel more comfortable in your own skin. The Lion King–finding your courage to protect those you hold dear. Aladdin–desperately aching to change your lot in life. The list goes on and on. It makes you think: pressing societal issues we face today have been addressed decades ago…why can’t we seem to resolve problems that plague the world? As soon as I clicked on the article titled "Why Narnia Resonates More Than Ever This Summer" by Dale Hrabi, written for The Wall Street Journal, it brought all of these thoughts that have been floating around in my head to the surface for further examination. The article begins with the following blurb: "A beloved classic, ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ isn’t just enthralling. It’s a timely reminder that even in the darkest of seasons in America, there is relief in finding the courage to engage".
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This couldn't possibly be any more true. While facing down the pain and oppression blanketing our country, the only way to ensure change is to do something about it. It won't be easy, and it's going to hurt–the night is darkest just before the dawn–but we have to remain hopeful and fight until the sun breaches the horizon. I urge you to give it a read, which can be found at https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-narnia-resonates-more-than-ever-this-summer-11591802075 and share you thoughts. #whispersandwonder #response #fightforchange #itstimeforchange #childhoodfavorites

★ QOTD: Would you continue to use your everyday

★ QOTD: Would you continue to use your everyday technology if you knew it was monitoring your every move? ★
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Happy Wednesday, everyone! Today Whispers & Wonder is the final stop of the NO SIGNAL Blog Tour presented by the lovely folks over at Serpentine Books. NO SIGNAL by Jem Tugwell is an all-too-real Sci-Fi Thriller that tackles the idea of a government using embedded tech to monitor and track everyone's movement, past and present. If you knew your beloved cell phones or smart watches were actively controlling your lives, would you continue to use them?
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BLURB
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In a breathtaking follow-up novel to ‘Proximity’, Serge says it’s the ultimate Augmented Reality game. He’s chosen his Ten carefully – the reckless, driven and strong. He tests them. Ten become Four. DI Clive Lussac wants to fight the system that controls everything, but he’s ill and losing the people closest to him. In the middle of eco-protests, he’s lost four tourists. As Clive’s world unravels, he and his partners DC Ava Miller and DS Zoe Jordan race to find the tourists and the true reason behind the game. It may already be too late. A CONTROLLED POPULATION
The UK has embedded technology – iMe.
It knows where you are… all the time. It controls what you eat.
It has eradicated crime and made everyone healthy. A DEVASTATED WORLD
The world is on the brink.
The Government talks but doesn’t act.
It thinks it’s safe. TIME FOR CHANGE
Who will ignite it?
Who has the determination to see it through?
What will be sacrificed for the cause?
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⇢ Visit my blog for the all the book and tour info, an excerpt, and giveaway (UK Only)!
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@jemtugwellauthor #whispersandwonder #nosignal #jemtugwell #serpentinebooks #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #instabook #igreads #igbooks #bookphotography #bookaholic #booklove #coverlove #bookdragon #sff #sciencefiction #scifi #scifithriller #readersofinstagram #writersofinstagram #tbr #amreading #alwaysreading

★ QOTD: What are some of your favorite standalon

★ QOTD: What are some of your favorite standalone fantasy novels? ★
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Happy Tuesday, everyone! Hit me with some of your favorite standalones! SKULLSWORN by Brian Staveley, SWARM AND STEEL by Michael R. Fletcher, and BEST SERVED COLD by Lord Grimdark himself Joe Abercrombie are three of my favorite books of all time. The best part? They all exist in universes already established in series. You can of course read and thoroughly enjoy all of these without prior knowledge of the worlds they take place in, but they're all a huuuuge treat for those that are familiar with the characters and histories from prior novels. Quick thoughts:
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SKULLSWORN: Oh man, what a beautiful backstory to a beloved character. This book is crushing. SWARM AND STEEL: This book...this book. Vile and emotional and hilarious, I've never been so captivated. BEST SERVED COLD: Shivers, I love you, you beautiful bastard. What are some of your favorites?
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#whispersandwonder #qotd #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #instabook #skullsworn #brianstaveley #swarmandsteel #michaelrfletcher #bestservedcold #joeabercrombie #sff #fantasy #darkfantasy #grimdarkfantasy #igreads #igbooks #bookphotography #bookaholic #booklove #coverlove #bookdragon #amreadingfantasy #tbr #amreading #alwaysreading

★ QOTD: Is there a particular author you've been

★ QOTD: Is there a particular author you've been meaning to read more from? ★
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Happy Monday, everyone! Hope you all had a lovely weekend. I'm embarrassed to admit I've read next to nothing from the incomparable Neil Gaiman...go ahead and take away my SFF blogger card, I'll wait. I'm very much hoping to squeeze in at least a few over the coming months — Any of you have some favorites by him? Is there an author you've been meaning to read, but just can't quite get to?
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#whispersandwonder #qotd #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #instabook #neilgaiman #sff #fantasy #sciencefiction #comedy #darkfantasy #horror #graphicnovels #igreads #igbooks #bookphotography #bookaholic #booklove #coverlove #bookdragon #amreadingfantasy #tbr #amreading #alwaysreading

#SelfPubFantasyMonth . . . . . #bookstagram #books

#SelfPubFantasyMonth
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#bookstagram #booksofinstagram #selfpublished #indiebooklove #indieauthorsofinstagram #indiebooks #readindie #readersofinstagram #writersofinstagram #somethingiscoming

★ QOTD: Would you embrace or resent the responsi

★ QOTD: Would you embrace or resent the responsibilities of being a living legend? ★
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Happy Sunday, everyone! Today we're kicking off A KING'S BARGAIN Book Tour presented by Storytellers On Tour (@sot_tours). Be sure check out all the other stops, linked in my post on the blog. Tal Harrenfel is a name that has been sung from the lips of many a bard throughout the World, but how much of the legend is true? In A KING'S BARGAIN, we meet a man whose reputation weighs heavily upon his shoulders – while many see him as a hero, all he seems to remember is all the terrible things he's done. I'm not one for the spotlight, so I would most definitely resent the title of 'living legend'...how about you?
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Here's a snippet from my review of A KING'S BARGAIN by J.D.L. Rosell:
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A KING'S BARGAIN by J.D.L. Rosell is a captivating and inspiring epic coming-of-age, feel-good fantasy tale of legends and forging one’s own path. Within its pages, readers are immersed in a story illustrating the fragile balance of good and evil, an everlasting battle for sovereignty, and the importance of choice. Beautifully conveyed and steeped in myth and magic, the promise of adventure and discovery sinks its claws in, refusing to let go even after the final page is turned. Brilliant characterization, a gripping mystery, and a setting with a deeply rooted history, this is a must-read for all fans of classic and modern fantasy alike.
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RATING: ★★★★½
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⇢ Visit my blog for the full review and epic, ★INTERNATIONAL★ giveaway!
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@jdlrosell_author #whispersandwonder #storytellersontour #akingsbargain #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #instabook #igreads #igbooks #bookphotography #bookaholic #booklove #coverlove #bookdragon #sff #fantasy #epicfantasy #heroicfantasy #comingofage #readersofinstagram #writersofinstagram #tbr #amreading #alwaysreading #spfbo #spfbo6

★ QOTD: What are some of your favorite fantasy a

★ QOTD: What are some of your favorite fantasy adventures? ★
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Happy Saturday, everyone! Hope you're all having a relaxing weekend so far. While I appreciate all types of stories that take place in a variety of settings, huge, grand adventures always float their way to the top of my favorites. KINGS OF THE WYLD is Nicholas Eames' debut novel (I still find this hard to believe) and it has it all – engaging action, cracking humor, and tons and tons (and tons) of beautiful emotion. This is a tale of a father venturing to save his daughter, and his path is fraught with all manner of myth and monster, making for one hell of a rollercoaster ride. All I can say is this is one of the most remarkable stories I've ever read. An incredible epic fantasy blended with RPG elements, if you haven't yet read this, do yourself a favor and pick it up!
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@thebookofeames @orbitbooks_us #whispersandwonder #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #instabook #kingsofthewyld #theband #sff #fantasy #fantasybooks #epicfantasy #highfantasy #igreads #igbooks #bookphotography #bookaholic #booklove #coverlove #bookdragon #amreadingfantasy #tbr #amreading #alwaysreading #qotd

★ QOTD: Who are some of your favorite unconventi

★ QOTD: Who are some of your favorite unconventional characters? ★
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Happy Friday, everyone! Anyone have any special plans this weekend? Let's talk characters. I'm very much a fan of books with quirky, unconventional characters, and I find it easy to fall in love with books that are chock full of the unexpected. Angus Watson's YOU DIE WHEN YOU DIE, book one of his West of West series, showcases an incredible cast inspired by both Vikings and Native Americans. The former are better known as Hardworkers, but they're so very lazy with some...interesting habits. The latter is led by a band of magically-enhanced warrior women who kick ass and take names in increasingly violent ways. They're all ridiculous(ly awesome), but so endearingly charming. Finnbogi the Boggy, Keef the Berserker, Sassa Lipchewer, Sofi Tornado, Chogolisa Earthquake, Poloma Pronghorn, the list of great characters goes on and on and on. While this book tackles some pretty dark themes and isn't afraid to employ some gratuitous violence, the cracking—and at times vulgar—humor leaves room for many laugh out loud moments. I love these books to pieces...you should read them.
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@angus_watson_novelist @orbitbooks_us #whispersandwonder #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #instabook #youdiewhenyoudie #westofwest #sff #fantasy #fantasybooks #historicalfiction #darkfantasy #igreads #igbooks #bookphotography #bookaholic #booklove #coverlove #bookdragon #amreadingfantasy #tbr #amreading #alwaysreading

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