Mundie Moms

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Book Review- Father of Lies


By Ann Turner
Published by Harper Teen
Released on Feburary 8th, 2011
Source- ARC to read/review from publisher
3.5 stars- It's A Good Read

Truth or Lies?

Lidda knew, with a clarity that was like a candle in a dark room, that all had changed; something was loosed in the village—Devil or not—and they would pay for it, every last man, woman, and child.

Fourteen-year-old Lidda has always known she was different. She longs to escape Salem Village and its stifling rules—to be free to dance, to sing, to live as she chooses. But when a plague of accusations descends on the village and witch fever erupts, L idda begins to realize that she feels and sees things that others can't, or won't. But how will she expose the truth without being hung as a witch herself?

Gripping and emotional, Ann Turner's retelling of the Salem witch trials captures one girl's brave soul-searching amidst a backdrop of fear and blame (quoted from Goodreads)

Father of Lies is the re-telling of the Salem Witch Trials, but with a few twists. Unlike some of the stories that are written surrounding this event, Ann Turner brings her story to life by keeping crucial historical parts of the story, as well as introducing a new perspective on these events. Keeping some of the names we've all read about it before, Ann introduces a fresh face to the story with her character Lidda. Ann not only puts Lidda at the center of the Witch Trails, but Lidda hears and sees the devil, whom is thought to be the reason why so many of the village's people are going crazy. Lucian doesn't mean any harm to Lidda, in fact, she's drawn to this dark, good looking, powerful being, who lurks in her shadows. She realizes that Lucian has nothing to do with the evil that has come to Salem.

What drew me to Lidda is she's one of the few characters to think for herself. So goes against the norm as so many of the Puritan women and even people during this time do not think for themselves and allow the "father" to think for them. Through out the story I found myself torn between thinking Lidda is either hallucinating, like so many of the other towns people are as they claim to see the devil in various forms, or she has bi-polar. Lucian is constantly communicating with her, and no one else, as no one can see or hear him except Lidda. I liked at the end of the story Ann talks about both bi-polar and the Salem Witch Trails more in depth, and outside of what is discussed in the story.

Ann molds her story perfectly, as it's so easy to understand why so many innocent people were killed and accused of being witches. Seeing this happen through Lidda's eyes brought realism to the story, as Lidda's friends where both the girls being accused and the ones going around accusing innocent people of being witches. Lidda is a character I came to admire, as in a time period when women weren't allowed to think for themselves, and let alone voice their opinions, she's the only one who stands up and says anything about the mass hysteria and all the lies that are being said. In the end you're left wondering if Lidda really is suffering from a mental illness or maybe she is telling the truth and really can see and talk to the devil. Either way, this girl has a strength and backbone no one else had.

I really enjoyed the setting, as it's rich in detail and I felt like I was getting a glimpse of what it was like in Salem, MA in the 1600's, with the social structure, beliefs, family dynamics and so on. I think Ann does the best job at bringing this story to life. If you're a fan of reading about this time period, I would recommend picking this book up.

Guest Post- YA Fantasy Guide's 5 Must Have Debut Books

Today I'm excited to have one of our affiliates, YA Fantasy Guide on our blog. Recently I asked Stacey what 5 debut author recommendations she had for us.
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Don't you love books? Lucky for us, they're lots of great books coming out in 2011! I could list some amazing names for you like Melissa Marr and Cassandra Clare, but I'm sure you already know about those. Instead, I made a list of five debut young adult fantasy authors that I'm personally excited about. The list order is based on release dates.

Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney (Published: February 8, 2011)
Freak. That's what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna's own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma.
When the darkest outcasts of Faerie—the vicious wood elves—abduct Navin, Donna finally has to accept her role in the centuries old war between the humans and the fey. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous half-fey dropout with secrets of his own, Donna races to save her friend—even if it means betraying everything her parents and the alchemist community fought to the death to protect.

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton (Published: February 15, 2011)
First there are nightmares.
Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.
Then come the memories.
When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic, and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries. On her seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend anything was just a dream.
Now she must hunt.
Ellie has power that no one can match, and her role is to hunt and kill the reapers that prey on human souls. But in order to survive the dangerous and ancient battle of the angels and the Fallen, she must also hunt for the secrets of her past lives and truths that may be too frightening to remember.

A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford (Published: February 22, 2011)
Eden didn't expect Az.
Not his saunter down the beach toward her. Not his unbelievable pick-up line. Not the instant, undeniable connection. And not his wings.
Yeah.
So long, happily-ever-after.
Now trapped between life and death, cursed to spread chaos with her every touch, Eden could be the key in the eternal struggle between heaven and hell. All because she gave her heart to one of the Fallen, an angel cast out of heaven.
She may lose everything she ever had. She may be betrayed by those she loves most. But Eden will not be a pawn in anyone else's game. Her heart is her own.
And that's only the beginning of the end.

Hourglass by Myra McEntire (Published: May 24, 2011)
Since the age of fourteen, Emerson Cole has seen strange things – dead things – swooning Southern Belles, soldiers, and other eerie apparitions of the past. She’s tried everything to get rid of the visions: medication, counseling, asylums. Nothing’s worked.

So when Emerson's well-meaning brother calls in yet another consultant from a mysterious organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to give it one last try.

Michael Weaver is no ordinary consultant. He's barely older than she is; he listens like no one she's ever met before; and he doesn't make her feel the least bit crazy. As Emerson ventures deeper into the world of the Hourglass, she begins to learn the truth about her past, her future--and her very life.

Possess by Gretchen McNeil (Published: August 23, 2011)
Fifteen-year-old Bridget Liu just wants to be left alone: by her overprotective mom, by the hunky son of the police officer who got her father killed, and by the eerie voices which she can suddenly and inexplicably hear. Turns out the voices are demons--the Biblical kind, not the Buffy kind--and Bridget possesses the rare ability to banish them.

San Francisco's senior exorcist and his newly assigned partner from the Vatican enlist Bridget's help with increasingly bizarre and dangerous cases of demonic possession. But when one of Bridget's oldest friends turns up dead in a ritualistic sacrifice that mirrors her father's murder, Bridget realizes she can't trust anyone. An interview with her father's murderer reveals a link between Bridget and the Emim: a race of part-demons intent on raising their forefathers to the earth in human form. Now Bridget must unlock the secret to the Emim's plan before someone else close to her winds up dead, or worse--the human vessel for a Demon King.
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Stacey O'Neale is a full-time writer and co-owner of the Young Adult Fantasy Guide. She’s had several articles and book reviews published, but spends most of her writing time on the revisions to her debut young adult fantasy novel. You can read her advice for aspiring writers on her blog The YA Fantasy Freak or you can follow her on Twitter.

Recent Book News- City of Fallen Angels, Vanish, Illusions, Supernaturally


Just in case anyone missed the news, L.K. Madigan's husband made a post about a trust fund being set up for their son, so he can attend college. If you click on her highlighted link, it will take you to her site and I've also included the donation information here.

There's been a lot of great book news lately and this is some of the news we were excited about hearing this week-


Published by Simon and Schuster
To Be Released on April 5th, 2011

Our most exciting news this week has been reading the ENTIRE 1st Chapter of City of Fallen Angels & the pre-ordering our limited edition SIGNED copies of City of Fallen Angels via Barnes and Noble.

Published by Harper Teen
To Be Released on September. 6th, 2011

To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.


Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?


In bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s dramatic follow-up to Firelight, forbidden love burns brighter than ever (quoted from Goodreads)

I'm in cover love! This cover is just as stunning as the cover for Firelight. I'm really, looking forward to jumping into the Draki world and finding out what happens next for Jacinda, Cassian and Will. Okay, really I want to know more about Cassian. My guess is Tamra is on the cover..... what do you guys think?


Published by Harper Teen
To Be Released on May 3rd, 2011

Our friends/affiliates over at Late Bloomers recently teased their followers with a list of things we will find in Illustions (no spoilers) and along with this list, they are also giving away an ARC for Illusions. Be sure to visit their site to enter to win-

1. At least one male character is shirtless.
2. There is a major fight.
3. You will find out more about the mystery.
4. Not all is as it seems in Laurel's small town.
5. You will meet new fae.
6. You will get an inside experience in the mind of one of Laurel's love interests.


Supernaturally has a NEW release date- August 30th, 2011!!

2010 was a huge year for releases, but 2011 looks like it's going to be a phenomenal year. There are so many awesome books being released, that I can't wait to read.

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