This week’s Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl) is about amazing book villains. While there is no shortage of memorable villainish characters out there, I wanted to go a little bit of a different direction with my post and focus on stories that repaint a well-known villain or villain archetype as the story’s protagonist. So here we go.
I feel like this list kind of had to include Elphaba, even though it’s not really a YA book (which is what I normally read and review). It’s a pretty dark book, but I was really fascinated with how Maguire incorporated the plot of the original Wizard of Oz story into this book and twisted things around to make a completely different story.
School for Good and Evil is a little more serious (classical?) in its fairytale-ish-ness than Ever After High, which really just made me love it even more.
I guess it’s not new for a witch to be the hero of the story, but I love the writing in this book and the creepy forest. Also, plot twists! I seriously need to finish reading this series.
Carlos DeVille pretty much stole the show for me in this book. I didn’t expect to be such a huge fan of a fairytale mash-up type cast, but now that I’m looking at my list, there are a bunch of those types of stories on here. And I really enjoyed them all. I could probably just do a top ten list of those.
Fairest was not my favorite book in the Lunar Chronicles, but it was cool to see a Levana origin story, and Marissa Meyer always does cool Easter egg type elements to her stories, so I enjoyed that aspect of it for sure.
Heartless is still on my to-be-read list. The Red Queen from Alice in Wonderland is one of those characters I can’t imagine being actually sympathetic, so I’m super interested to see what Meyer did with this one.
Somehow I didn’t realize this was an evil queen origin story when I picked it up, so I was super confused by how dark it was. I kept wanting Xifeng to resist or thwart her dark destiny, and kept being disappointed when she didn’t. Then about halfway through the book I read somewhere that it was supposed to be a retelling of how Snow White’s stepmother came to be who she was, and I was like, ohhhhhhh. Suddenly it all made sense. After that, I got into the story a lot more.
This one is still on my to-be-read list. I love the idea, though – an outcast witch girl who’s trying desperately to help someone only she ends up creating a big mess.
Another from my to-be-read list. In this one, the Sea Witch and Triton are brother and sister, and it’s his treachery which provokes her to witch-y-ness. Yeah, I really have to read this.
Who are your favorite novel villains?
Leave me a comment with your top favorites or a link to your list!
A trusted resource has a brand new look. Stephanie Morrill and Jill Williamson released their reference book for writers back in 2013. The updated version features a brand new cover plus new content about historical fiction and self-publishing. I’m excited to see the new stuff and add this one to my writing shelf.
Here’s some more information about Go Teen Writers: Edit Your Novel:
Go Teen Writers: Edit Your Novel
By Stephanie Morrill and Jill Williamson
Available November 2, 2018
About Go Teen Writers: Edit Your Novel
You know your first draft has problems, but what’s the best way to fix them? How do you know where to start editing? Or for many writers the bigger question becomes, “How do I know when I’m done?”
Popular bloggers Stephanie Morrill and Jill Williamson have been where you are, and they want to help you understand, and even come to love—yes, love—the editing process.
In this revised and updated edition of Go Teen Writers: Edit Your Novel, you’ll learn:
· Methods for efficiently editing your novel.
· What problems to look for in your manuscript and how to solve them.
· Where to start editing, and how to know when you’re done.
· How to keep track of your story’s character, storyworld, and setting details.
· How a critique group can help you.
· The pros and cons of traditional and self-publishing.
· An overview of pitching your novel and making writing your career.
· And much more!
Teaching yourself how to edit a first draft can feel hard, discouraging, and isolating. But using this guide, you’ll feel as encouraged, empowered, and capable—as if you had a writing coach sitting alongside you.
Where to find Go Teen Writers: Edit Your Novel
Keep up to date with release information and get a sneak peek at the first three chapters by visiting Go Teen Writers.
Rosie Boyes’ novel Snow Witch came out last week, and it’s another book I can’t wait to read. The story looks like a lot of fun, especially as we head into the holidays. I’m really excited to find out more about the Christmas curse and the mysterious St. Flurries. Read on to learn more about what inspired this unusual holiday story.
Q&A with Rosie Boyes
I find that a story was often inspired by a question. Was there a question that inspired you to write The Snow Witch?
I often imagine the thick snow-covered streets that Charles Dickens wrote about in A Christmas Carol, and the sense of wonder that Lucy Pevensie felt when she stepped through the wardrobe into Narnia – her small feet crunching through the fresh white snow – a puff of breath visible in the crisp, cold air. But due to climate change, a blanket of snow on Christmas day is rare, especially where I live in the south of England. Yet, every year, regardless, I ask myself… will it snow this Christmas? And that was the question that inspired me to write The Snow Witch.
Were there things about your favorite character or an awesome scene which you didn’t end up being able to include in Snow Witch?
Luckily, no, in fact, quite the opposite. After completing several edit checks, I sent my manuscript to a twelve-year-old boy who read the story and gave me his feedback. In his own words, he loved all of the characters apart from a snow creature called Pipit who he described as not very fun and needed more cheer. So, I wrote a new chapter, short and sweet, and in doing so, turned Pipit into an accidental hero. And strangely enough, the new chapter changed the whole dynamics at the end of the book.
Is there a scene or moment in your novel that really sticks with you? Can you tell us a little bit about it?
A chapter I found intense to write was when my main protagonist was cursed, and due to the curse, her family abandoned her when they believed she was dead. ‘Papa! Mama!’ she whimpered. ‘Don’t… leave… me…’ I hate sad scenes, I hate them with a vengeance. Yet, no matter how much the scene pulled on my heartstrings, I knew I had to leave it alone because it was a key element to the story.
I think it’s really cool and unusual to see a story about a curse (usually more of a Halloween theme) taking place around Christmas. What inspired this holiday mash-up?
I love snow! Love it! And I love the festive season mixed together with spicy yumminess and family hugs. So when I came up with the idea for The Snow Witch, I simply had to write a story set around Christmas-time. And into the mixture of the curse, I added three white mistletoe berries, a teaspoon of snow, two cat hairs, and…. well, I’ll let you read the story to find out what happens next.
What do you most hope that readers take away from your story?
Personally speaking, I enjoy reading books which blend an element of everything – fantasy, adventure, suspense, mystery, comedy, and maybe a little romance, all mixed up to make an unforgettable story. And so when it came to The Snow Witch, I wanted to evoke feelings, pure and simple. As an author, I want my readers to turn over a new page and not know quite what to expect. I want them to experience a rollercoaster journey until they finish the book, look around, perhaps a little disorientated because they don’t want the story to end. I want them to feel happy.
What is one question about The Snow Witch you are often asked by readers?
The question I often get asked is from my sister. Have you finished the story yet? When can I read it? In real life, she is an occupational therapist. She is warm-hearted and caring, funny, strong, empathetic and compassionate – in truth, she has all the characteristics needed to be a healthcare professional (but then I am a little biased!). Little does she know that I have loosely based her on a character in my book. Nurse Pamela Pintail, to be precise. It makes me wonder whether, subconsciously, I have based other characters on real-life people? Could it be you?
Rosie Boyes is a children’s author from the UK. She has been passionate about middle-grade books ever since she can remember. Her love of reading came at an early age when she escaped into classic stories, living out the lives of the characters she met. During her spare time, she dreams about dipping her toes in the sea, splashing through puddles, kicking up leaves in the autumn…
A GRANDFATHER CLOCK. A GLASS LOCKET. A POWERFUL CURSE UNLEASHED ON CHRISTMAS EVE.
Twelve-year-old Kitty Wigeon can’t wait for Christmas at St Flurries, a grand old manor house in the countryside, until one chilly night she vanishes without a trace.
One hundred years later… Still grieving over the death of their mother, Kes Bunting and his younger sister Star, are sent to live at St Flurries. They find a house steeped in mystery and brimming with secrets.
Who, or what, is making footprints in the snow?
And what evil force is taking a cold grip on Star?
Wrap up warm as you join Kes, and a cast of eccentric snow creatures, in a race against time to solve a hundred-year-old curse. Will he succeed? Or will the fate of his sister be decided by a shivery kiss from… the Snow Witch?
One of the books that caught my attention lately is Martin Hospitality by Abigayle Claire. It’s about a pregnant teenage girl who finds refuge with the Martin family. I love the sweet premise and couldn’t resist learning more about what inspired the story. Abigayle has graciously taken time to answer my questions, and I’m sharing her answers here. First, let me tell you a little more about the book.
Gemma Ebworthy is eighteen, pregnant, and alone. Now that she’s been evicted, she finds herself sleeping in a barn, never dreaming that tomorrow could bring kindness of a life-changing magnitude.
The Martins aren’t a typical family—even for rural Kansas. With more kids than can be counted on one hand and a full-time farm, Gemma must make a lot of adjustments to fit in. But despite their many differences, Gemma finds herself drawn to this family and their radical Christian faith.
When Gemma’s past collides with her yet again, she must begin revealing her colorful history. With every detail Gemma concedes, she fears she will lose the Martins’ trust and the stable environment she desires for herself and her unborn child. Just how far can the Martins’ love and God’s forgiveness go?
Q&A with Abigayle Claire
I find that a story was often inspired by a question. Was there a question that inspired you to write Martin Hospitality?
A crazy dream I had inspired Martin Hospitality, so I’ve never really thought about it from the question standpoint! But I suppose one of the questions I sought to answer was what would a family similar to mine look like to someone completely foreign to the faith and how might they be influenced.
Who is your favorite character? Were there things about him which couldn’t be included in the novel?
My favorite character in book 1 is actually Mr. Martin, a controversial character. (Although Gemma and Josiah are of course close seconds as the MCs.) I think about his past and future in relation to book 1 all the time, so yes! Lots not included that still shaped him as a character.
Is there a scene or moment in your novel that really sticks with you? Can you tell us a little bit about it?
Chapter 12 was actually the first chapter I wrote and takes place during a fall festival which makes me very happy. I also really love Gemma’s strength and all the tiny developments in that chapter with the drama.
In Martin Hospitality, Gemma wrestles with judgment and forgiveness. What made you want to write about these themes?
I think the themes came along easily with Gemma being a lost, pregnant teen. I wanted her to glimpse God through unexpected kindness long enough for her to stand up for herself and seek the God behind it in her own right. Plus, I think both judgment and forgiveness are things that both nonbelievers and believers alike deal with during their lifetime.
What do you most hope that readers take away from Martin Hospitality?
Tough question! One of the big things is God’s sufficiency. It sounds simple, but it’s so easy to forget. Gemma has to reach her own end over and over again and decide whether or not to trust God each time. But He is worth trusting, He is always there, and He is always capable. And often He’s just waiting to be asked.
What is one question about your novel you are often asked by readers?
“How did you write it?” The answer is that it wasn’t me. It came through a dream and developed a depth and intricacy that no amount of planning or editing on my part could have produced. Soli Deo Gloria.
I also get “Mr. and Mrs. Martin are your mom and dad, right?” from people who know me. While there are general similarities, I don’t consider them the same people by any means.
What have you read recently that you loved, or what’s one book on your reading list that you’re super excited about finally getting to read?
I just finished reading Fawkes by Nadine Brandes in September. I loved her other books, so I expected to like it, but the expansive themes and intense reality of the internal turmoil (with plenty of outside turmoil to make a great story of course!) really blew my mind. I’m already hoping to reread it soon which I don’t do often. Talk about changing people with your fiction! It’s wonderful to see characters grapple with their idea of God in a way that deepens your own faith.
Abigayle has been a writer ever since her mother taught her how to hold a pencil. However, she devoted more time to reading words with her green eyes than penning them with her left hand. Inspired by a crazy dream at the age of sixteen, she set off on a journey to self-publish her first novel, Martin Hospitality. Since then, Abigayle has devoted herself to sharing what she has learned through the mediums of freelance editing and her blog theleft-handedytpist.blogspot.com … when period drama films are not calling more loudly. None of her successes, including winning a 2017 Readers’ Favorite Award, would be possible without the support of her Savior, large family, and online community.
From two-time Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo comes a story of discovering who you are — and deciding who you want to be.
When Louisiana Elefante’s granny wakes her up in the middle of the night to tell her that the day of reckoning has arrived and they have to leave home immediately, Louisiana isn’t overly worried. After all, Granny has many middle-of-the-night ideas. But this time, things are different. This time, Granny intends for them never to return. Separated from her best friends, Raymie and Beverly, Louisiana struggles to oppose the winds of fate (and Granny) and find a way home. But as Louisiana’s life becomes entwined with the lives of the people of a small Georgia town — including a surly motel owner, a walrus-like minister, and a mysterious boy with a crow on his shoulder — she starts to worry that she is destined only for good-byes. (Which could be due to the curse on Louisiana’s and Granny’s heads. But that is a story for another time.)
Called “one of DiCamillo’s most singular and arresting creations” by The New York Times Book Review, the heartbreakingly irresistible Louisiana Elefante was introduced to readers in Raymie Nightingale — and now, with humor and tenderness, Kate DiCamillo returns to tell her story.
My Review
Confession: I haven’t read Raymie Nightingale, but when I got the chance to review Louisiana’s Way Home by Kate DiCamillo, I couldn’t pass it up. My family listened to Flora & Ulysses on our summer vacation a few years ago, and we all enjoyed it so much. I’ve also read Because of Winn Dixie and absolutely adore it, too. Kate DiCamillo is one of those authors where you just want to buy everything with her name on it because you know it’s going to be good.
And Louisiana’s Way Home is no exception. It’s packed with the same rich, unforgettable characters and incredible heart as the other stories I’ve read by her. I love Louisiana’s voice. You absolutely get the feeling a particular girl is telling every line. I love the way her relationships with each other character impact the story. The walrus-like minister is one of my favorites. In one scene, he cries, and it’s not at all the focus of the scene, but it so revealed the kind of person he is without making a big show. I loved it and wholeheartedly recommend Louisiana’s Way Home. And now I definitely have to read Raymie Nightingale!
Recommended for Ages 10 up.
Cultural Elements
Major characters are white or not physically described.
Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.
Romance/Sexual Content
None.
Spiritual Content
Louisiana’s granny tells her there is a curse on her family ever since her great-grandfather (a magician) sawed her great-grandmother in half and refused to put her back together again.
Louisiana seeks advice from a pastor whose office door sign says he offers healing words because she reasons that healing words are like a spell, and therefore, maybe he can lift the curse she believes is on her family. The pastor tells her that no, he can’t perform magic, but that telling her story to someone who listens to her can be a healing thing.
She sings at a church funeral.
Violent Content
This isn’t really violent, but Louisiana makes friends with a boy who steals items from a vending machine.
Drug Content
None.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Do you like long books? Even though I’m a fairly quick reader, I tend to avoid long books whenever possible. I like a book I can finish in a single sitting. But occasionally I come across some exceptions, though it’s admittedly pretty rare. (Even my review guidelines make note of this.)
This week, as part of Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, I’m sharing ten of the longest books I’ve ever read with a bit of a caveat. Obviously more than one of the Harry Potter books is over 600 pages. I only included the longest book in any of the series mentioned, but with the exception of Lady Midnight and Gemina (only because I haven’t gotten around to Obsidian yet), I’ve read the whole series.
Okay, this is a bit of a cheat, since The Deed of Paksenarrion is really a repackaged paperback with three books put together. It’s a whopper, though, and I devoured this mammoth novel in three days. I don’t know how exactly that happened, because at the time, my first daughter was just a few months old. It’s got some intense violence (read: torture) scenes but has a really cool spiritual tone to it, which is what really drew me to the story.
This might be my favorite book in the Harry Potter series, but if you ask me tomorrow, I might say my favorite is Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I don’t know. True story: Harry Potter was not allowed in my house growing up, so I didn’t read them until probably my mid- or late-twenties when someone was like, wait, you review young adult books and you haven’t read these? And I was like, oh. Yeah. I suppose I should do that. And I did, and yay!
Side note: I don’t think the ban on Hogwarts hurt me, honestly. I was so busy with so many other things and always had plenty of books to read that I didn’t really feel the loss. And the truth is, no matter what limits parents set during our growing up years, at some point we get to make decisions for ourselves. I repeat this to my daughter now when she’s irritated at boundaries. These are temporary. Someday you get to set your own boundaries. But for now, it’s my job to do what I think is healthiest for you. And I know that’s what my parents were doing.
Other side note: Harry Potter is allowed in our house. Also, my mom has read the books now, and loves a lot of things about them, like the message about the power of love.
I kind of had to read this book. It took forever to come out, and I’d followed the story of Eragon all the way to this point, so I wanted to know how it ended. The book felt long to me, though. It’s not a hard read, but it’s definitely one of those where some of the length comes from the sheer volume of minute descriptions of things. That’s not my favorite writing style, but in the fantasy genre, sometimes it works.
This book wrenched my heart. Oh, man. All the storylines from earlier books collided in this massive epic drama, and just… Wolf and Scarlet, y’all. That’s all I can say. I cried so many tears. I still love this series so much.
So… here’s another funny story. At the time that the Twilight books came out, I was in a large Christian writing group made up primarily of romance writers, and one of the bigger authors in the group wrote an email to everyone talking about how as writers, we needed to read this series and study what things about it made it so successful. So, okay, I read the series. And it was super addicting. I remember feeling like the descriptions of Bella’s depression when Edward left her in book two were so on point for bad breakup feels. I don’t think I’d read another book at that point which made me feel that way.
Later of course, I feel like I had a “hey, wait a minute” moment about Edward’s creepy watching-Bella-while-she-sleeps thing. And every time I watch this spoof about Twilight and Call of Duty (there’s some profanity and violence, sorry), I find myself nodding along to the character’s ridiculous sounding summary of Breaking Dawn. Because OMG RIGHT?! Also it makes me laugh. Every time.
Nevertheless, I’ve never been sorry I read those books, even though I have some issues with them.
This series. Jill Williamson is one of the authors I discovered through the Christian organization I mentioned above, and she’s so awesome, y’all. This is the sequel to her debut novelBy Darkness Hid, and it’s a great series. I love the fantasy elements and the vaguely King Arthur feel to it. If you haven’t read this series, please check it out.
Crank was the first novel-in-verse I’d ever read, and I ate it up. I’ve gone on to love other novel-in-verse authors like Sarah Crossan, Kwame Alexander, and Linda Vigen Phillips, but there’s something really special about the first time you encounter a style like this. If you don’t know already, Ellen Hopkins wrote Crank and Glass after going through the heartbreak of her own daughter’s addiction to methamphetamines. Her writing is gritty, and often goes to some dark places, but always has a strong message.
THIS SERIES IS SO FUN! This is definitely the kind of sci-fi novel that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s sort of like the hipster version of Star Trek? Maybe. Actually, I probably shouldn’t say that because some hipster will school me on the truly un-hipster-ish nature of the role cows play in the story or something. Anyway. Gemina made me laugh so much. I loved Illuminae for its quirkiness and the use of instant messages and descriptions of video feed as scenes. And the banter between characters! I’m a total sucker for great banter. So this one was a win for me.
Before I read this series by Laini Taylor, it had been a long time since I’d read a fantasy series which felt truly epic to me. The love story swept me away, but the minor characters – Raz and Ziri – absolutely stole the show for me in this book. It’s another one where the finale absolutely met every expectation I had and more. I keep stalling on reading Strange the Dreamer because I’m afraid I won’t like it as much as Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I know that’s silly, but there you go. So if you’ve read Strange, tell me how awesome it is.
(I just realized I somehow never reviewed the books in this series, and that’s… crazy. So I’m going to have to go back and reread them so I can post the reviews here.)
I actually read the first book in this series (Seraphina) because I was able to get an ARC for this book. So I pretty much read them both back to back, and I think that was a huge advantage. There’s such a broad cast and so much storyworld and culture that I feel like I would have lost some of it if I’d had a long gap between the books. It was definitely a fun read and well worth the time it took to get from one cover to the other. I liked the unusual take on dragons in this series, and Serafina’s development as she realizes the dragon part of her, which she’s always tried to hide and has been ashamed of, is exactly what her people need.
What’s the longest book you’ve ever read?
If you use Goodreads, there’s an easy way to figure this out. Simply go to your “Read” list. At the top, click the “settings” option and check the box next to “number of pages.” That will add a column to your list showing the number of pages in each book. You can then sort your list by that column and viola!
So which book is it? Let me know in the comments, and leave a link to your own Top Ten post. I’d love to check it out.
