Must-read romances: 'Between,' 'Dissonance,' 'The Winter King'
Between by Megan Whitmer
What it's about (courtesy of Spencer Hill Press):
When a supernatural freak of nature forces her family to separate, 17-year-old Charlie Page must turn to her frustrating (yet gorgeous) neighbor, Seth, to help reunite them. Seth whisks Charlie to Ellauria — a magical world filled with the creatures of myths and legends —and tells her of the Fellowship, the group charged with protecting mystical beings from human discovery. (All except Bigfoot: that attention whore is a total lost cause.) But when Charlie learns that she's under the Fellowship's protection herself, well, "stressed" is an understatement.
Ellauria should be the safest place for Charlie while the Fellowship works to find her family, but things in the mystical realm aren't what they seem. Magic is failing, creatures are dying, and the Fellowship insists Charlie holds the key to saving everyone. With her family still missing and the danger in Ellauria growing, Charlie doesn't know who she can trust. She's dealing with a power she never asked for, falling for a guy she can't have, and being forced to choose between her destiny and her heart. And if she chooses wrong, she could destroy magic forever.
Charlie may be in over her head.
Why you should read it: This is fantasy YA at its best, and I loved traveling through Ellauria and in the ins and outs of the Fellowship. Megan has created a complete world full of magic, creatures, power growing in Charlie. Charlie is also one of my favorite heroines, she's so strong and full of life. Her evolution isn't from weak girl to strong woman, but strong girl into a powerful woman. I also loved the descriptions of the creatures. Readers are in for a treat (if you are of the magically inclined). Now let's talk about Seth … Seth is great. His back-and-forth with Charlie had me laughing and loving their relationship growth. I simply cannot wait for the sequel!
Some questions for Megan Whitmer …
Your heroine in one word?
Megan: Determined.
Your book in one word?
Megan: Whirlwindy (Is that a word? I like making up words.).
What are you working on right now?
Megan: Book two of the Between trilogy!
Epic one-liner from Between?
Megan: I want to kiss you just to know what it's like.
Dissonance by Erica O'Rourke
What it's about (courtesy of Simon & Schuster):
Delancy Sullivan has always known there's more to reality than what people see. Every time someone makes a choice, a new, parallel world branches off from the existing one. Eating breakfast or skipping it, turning left instead of right, sneaking out instead of staying in bed ~ all of these choices create an alternate universe in which an echo self takes the road not travelled and makes the opposite decision. As a Walker, someone who can navigate between these worlds, Del's job is to keep all of the dimensions in harmony.
Normally, Del can hear the dissonant frequency that each world emits as clear as a bell. But when a training session in an off-key world goes horribly wrong, she is forbidden from Walking by the Council. But Del's not big on following the rules and she secretly starts to investigate these other worlds. Something strange is connecting them and it's not just her random encounters with echo versions of the guy she likes, Simon Lane.
But Del's decisions have unimaginable consequences and, as she begins to fall for the Echo Simons in each world, she draws closer to a truth that the Council of Walkers is trying to hide -- a secret that threatens the fate of the entire multiverse.
Why you should read it: First off, I love this cover — one of my favorites! Next, the premise is so different I couldn't wait to jump in. Del can see and walk into alternate worlds … dimensions and universes, and sometimes she makes the wrong decisions. I love how Del "meets" Simon and how their relationship grows. It's interesting watching Delancy and Simon's spicy romance and how their chemistry explodes. The only thing I wanted to see more of was action. I needed some violence, some big villain or climax. I want to see more of Del and Simon (and Eliot) in the next book and I hope we get to really see more action.
Some questions for Erica …
Your heroine in one word?
Erica: Determined
Your book in one word?
Erica: Twisty.
What are you working on right now?
Erica: Finishing up Dissonance 2 and surviving summer break. (Is it September yet?)
Epic one-liner from Dissonance?
Erica: "It's always raining when I kiss you."
The Winter King by C.L. Wilson
What it's about (courtesy of Avon):
Wynter Atrialan, the Winter King, once lived in peace with his southern, Summerlander neighbors, but when the prince of Summerlea steals Wynter's bride and murders his young brother, Wynter calls upon a dangerous Wintercraig magic called the Ice Heart and marches against Summerlea.
After three bitter years of battle, a victorious Wynter arrives at Summerlea's royal palace to issue his terms of surrender. The prince of Summerlea stole Wynter's bride and slew Wynter's Heir. He wants the loss replaced. The Ice Heart is consuming him. Wynter hopes holding his own child in his arms will rekindle the warmth in his heart before he becomes the monster of Wintercraig legend, the Ice King.
The Summer King has three very precious daughters whom he loves dearly. Wynter will take one of them to wife. She will have one year to provide him with an Heir. If she fails, he will send her to face the mercy of the mountains and claim another princess for his wife. And so it will continue until Wynter has his Heir or the Summer King is out of daughters.
The plan is perfect — except for one small detail. The Summer King has a fourth daughter. One of whom he is not so fond. And she is a fiercely passionate creature, with a temper as volatile as the forces of her weathergift, the power of storms.
Why you should read it: This was my first C.L. book, and I was pleased it was a stand-alone and that I enjoyed it so much! There was a lot of steam and some of those lines Wynter threw Khamsin's way???? Sizzle! I loved Khamsin. She was so free (unwanted but free), and it allowed her to grow into the woman she was. And Wynter … I felt so bad for him, I normally don't like the whole he-man raider, but I did like Wynter a lot. C.L. did a great job with the characters. I loved the secondary characters almost as much as the main ones, and I found myself wanting to know more about them. I will warn readers: It's a bit long. In true high-fantasy fashion, the book is almost 600 pages (a beast!). So there were some parts that dragged a bit, but it has it all: steam, romance and action, action, action!
Some questions for C.L. …
Your heroine in one word?
C.L.: Courageous.
Your book in one word?
C.L.: Yummy.
What are you working on right now?
C.L.: The Sea King, stand-alone fantasy romance set in Mystral (world of The Winter King), featuring characters from The Winter King.
Epic one-liner from The Winter King?
C.L.: "I know your scent, wife. I would know it anywhere." (not one line, but close :) )
Jessie Potts, also known as Book Taster, adores books in all forms. She also does reviews for RT Book Reviews magazine and works in the submissions department at Dreamspinner Press. You can follow her on Twitter (@BookTaster).